New Blog
I have started a new blog. This one will no longer be updated. My new blog is in it's primary stages, so stay tuned for a more refined blog. :) You can check it out here.
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2.06.2009
2.06.2009
Delight in the Saints
I just read Psalm 16 today. I love verse 3- "As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight."
David delighted in the Saints. I do too.
Here are just a few saints that have impacted me and have brought great joy to me:
Jessica- God brings such joy into my life through you every day. Every day. You are a precious saint and I love who you are. I have seen you take the challenges of life head-on and come out even more beautiful than before. You bring such joy to me!
James Edwards- God has changed my life through you James. James is a fairly new Christian. God has opened James' eyes to see the beauty of God's Word and his excitement for what God has said to us has inspired me. James has shed his old identity, that had him crippled with insecurity, and he began celebrating his new identity by beginning to lead at 412.
Walter & Danna Hightower- I have watched Walter and Danna serve tirelessly within the body and have watched them shepherd their home team with great care. You guys are a constant source of encouragement to me.
Mom & Dad- Your prayers for Jessica and Hudson and me, your servant's heart, and your generosity are still changing me.
Jonathan Thornbrough- You have been bought with a price. You are now a valiant warrior of the faith. We will fight together, friend.
Marianne Webb- There is nothing more beautiful than a woman who is confident in who she is because of her trust in our Savior. Your love for the Word and for a dying world leads out within our church! Press on, friend!
Oh there are more- I see the saints every day. I see them on Sunday mornings. My delight!
Ryan, John, Jonathan, Stan, Steve A, Scott & Kelli, Kenny V, Joe, Jose, Steve W, Gladys, Pam, and many more. Thank you for the joy that you bring to me.
David delighted in the Saints. I do too.
Here are just a few saints that have impacted me and have brought great joy to me:
Jessica- God brings such joy into my life through you every day. Every day. You are a precious saint and I love who you are. I have seen you take the challenges of life head-on and come out even more beautiful than before. You bring such joy to me!
James Edwards- God has changed my life through you James. James is a fairly new Christian. God has opened James' eyes to see the beauty of God's Word and his excitement for what God has said to us has inspired me. James has shed his old identity, that had him crippled with insecurity, and he began celebrating his new identity by beginning to lead at 412.
Walter & Danna Hightower- I have watched Walter and Danna serve tirelessly within the body and have watched them shepherd their home team with great care. You guys are a constant source of encouragement to me.
Mom & Dad- Your prayers for Jessica and Hudson and me, your servant's heart, and your generosity are still changing me.
Jonathan Thornbrough- You have been bought with a price. You are now a valiant warrior of the faith. We will fight together, friend.
Marianne Webb- There is nothing more beautiful than a woman who is confident in who she is because of her trust in our Savior. Your love for the Word and for a dying world leads out within our church! Press on, friend!
Oh there are more- I see the saints every day. I see them on Sunday mornings. My delight!
Ryan, John, Jonathan, Stan, Steve A, Scott & Kelli, Kenny V, Joe, Jose, Steve W, Gladys, Pam, and many more. Thank you for the joy that you bring to me.
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1.06.2009
1.06.2009
A Christmas outrage
I read this blog on Desiring God's Website. It reminded me of how outrageous the whole experience must have been for Joseph. I think you will enjoy this.
(by Jon Bloom)
Joseph's Painful Decision
Mary wasn’t herself. Joseph had sensed some urgency in her request that he meet her at “their” tree. She was staring at the ground. She seemed burdened.
“Mary, is something wrong?”
She looked up at him intensely. “Joseph… I’m pregnant.”
A blast of shock and disbelief hit him, blowing away all his coherent thoughts for a moment. His legs quavered. He grabbed at the tree to steady himself. It felt solid, rooted.
He stared at her. He was numb. No words came. Everything seemed surreal.
Mary was still looking at him with her intense eyes. He saw no shame in them. No defensiveness, no defiance. Not even tears. They looked…innocent. And they were searching his eyes for an answer.
Mary broke the charged silence. “What I need to tell you next I don’t even know how to say.”
Joseph leaned harder into the tree, bracing himself. He looked down to Mary’s feet. Her feet. They looked just the same as they did when he believed she was pure.
That was what made everything so strange. Mary looked as chaste as she ever did. If she had been the flirtatious type or had some discernable character weakness, this news might have been comprehendible. But Mary was literally the very last person Joseph would have suspected of unfaithfulness. He could not imagine her with another lover. He didn’t want to know who it was.
“What I’m going to say is will be very difficult to believe. But will you hear me out?” Still looking at Mary’s feet, Joseph’s nod was barely detectable.
“I have not been unfaithful to you.”
Joseph lifted his eyes to hers. Rape? That might explain her innocence. But why wouldn’t she tell me—
“God has caused me to become pregnant.”
This statement flew around his mind, looking for a place to land. It found none.
“Joseph, I know how it sounds. But I’m telling you the truth.” Then Mary described an angelic visit and the message she had received. She was to bear a son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, who would be called the Son of the Most High who would sit on David’s throne forever. God was the baby’s father. Mary was pregnant with the Messiah.
Mary sounded as sane as ever. Nothing about her was different—except that she was claiming to be pregnant with God’s child. He felt like his brain was exploding. Was she adding blasphemy to adultery? He could not conceive of her being capable of either.
“I…I don’t even know what to say to you, Mary. I can’t even think straight. I need to be alone.”
Joseph spent the late afternoon walking up on the brow of the hill that overlooked Nazareth. Things were clear up there. From this 500-foot perspective he could see the Sea of Galilee to the east, and to the west he could just see the blue Mediterranean on the horizon. But he could not see how Mary’s story could be true. He could not recall anything like it in the Torah. “God, show me what to do,” he pleaded.
The sun was setting as Joseph walked back toward the nearly finished house that was to be their home—the house he had dreamed just that morning would someday know the happy voices of his and Mary’s children. That dream was now dead. His decision was made. Mary’s claims were too incredible, maybe even delusional. He needed to end the betrothal, but he resolved to do it as quietly as possible, shielding Mary from avoidable shame. He still loved her.
That night he fell asleep, exhausted from grief. And then the angel came to him and his world was flipped right side-up.
There is an encouraging lesson to draw from this story. Joseph was a just man (Matt. 1:19) and assessed the situation in the integrity of his heart, and, I assume, with a deep trust in God. He made the best decision regarding Mary that he could. It turned out to be the wrong one. But God, full of mercy, intervened. He gently corrected Joseph and gave him the guidance he needed.
He will do the same for us as we trust him.
(by Jon Bloom)
Joseph's Painful Decision
Mary wasn’t herself. Joseph had sensed some urgency in her request that he meet her at “their” tree. She was staring at the ground. She seemed burdened.
“Mary, is something wrong?”
She looked up at him intensely. “Joseph… I’m pregnant.”
A blast of shock and disbelief hit him, blowing away all his coherent thoughts for a moment. His legs quavered. He grabbed at the tree to steady himself. It felt solid, rooted.
He stared at her. He was numb. No words came. Everything seemed surreal.
Mary was still looking at him with her intense eyes. He saw no shame in them. No defensiveness, no defiance. Not even tears. They looked…innocent. And they were searching his eyes for an answer.
Mary broke the charged silence. “What I need to tell you next I don’t even know how to say.”
Joseph leaned harder into the tree, bracing himself. He looked down to Mary’s feet. Her feet. They looked just the same as they did when he believed she was pure.
That was what made everything so strange. Mary looked as chaste as she ever did. If she had been the flirtatious type or had some discernable character weakness, this news might have been comprehendible. But Mary was literally the very last person Joseph would have suspected of unfaithfulness. He could not imagine her with another lover. He didn’t want to know who it was.
“What I’m going to say is will be very difficult to believe. But will you hear me out?” Still looking at Mary’s feet, Joseph’s nod was barely detectable.
“I have not been unfaithful to you.”
Joseph lifted his eyes to hers. Rape? That might explain her innocence. But why wouldn’t she tell me—
“God has caused me to become pregnant.”
This statement flew around his mind, looking for a place to land. It found none.
“Joseph, I know how it sounds. But I’m telling you the truth.” Then Mary described an angelic visit and the message she had received. She was to bear a son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, who would be called the Son of the Most High who would sit on David’s throne forever. God was the baby’s father. Mary was pregnant with the Messiah.
Mary sounded as sane as ever. Nothing about her was different—except that she was claiming to be pregnant with God’s child. He felt like his brain was exploding. Was she adding blasphemy to adultery? He could not conceive of her being capable of either.
“I…I don’t even know what to say to you, Mary. I can’t even think straight. I need to be alone.”
Joseph spent the late afternoon walking up on the brow of the hill that overlooked Nazareth. Things were clear up there. From this 500-foot perspective he could see the Sea of Galilee to the east, and to the west he could just see the blue Mediterranean on the horizon. But he could not see how Mary’s story could be true. He could not recall anything like it in the Torah. “God, show me what to do,” he pleaded.
The sun was setting as Joseph walked back toward the nearly finished house that was to be their home—the house he had dreamed just that morning would someday know the happy voices of his and Mary’s children. That dream was now dead. His decision was made. Mary’s claims were too incredible, maybe even delusional. He needed to end the betrothal, but he resolved to do it as quietly as possible, shielding Mary from avoidable shame. He still loved her.
That night he fell asleep, exhausted from grief. And then the angel came to him and his world was flipped right side-up.
There is an encouraging lesson to draw from this story. Joseph was a just man (Matt. 1:19) and assessed the situation in the integrity of his heart, and, I assume, with a deep trust in God. He made the best decision regarding Mary that he could. It turned out to be the wrong one. But God, full of mercy, intervened. He gently corrected Joseph and gave him the guidance he needed.
He will do the same for us as we trust him.
1 comments
12.15.2008
12.15.2008
A Glimpse of a Pain-Free Life
I was encouraged by this blog from John Piper. Hope you are too...
(Author: John Piper)
Here is a three-second experience that might encourage you.
I was sitting at my desk slowly reading and praying over Job 29 and 30. The thought came over me that at this moment I am pain-free. In fact, I feel very good. I feel warm and content. Almost cozy. As if in a blanket by a fire on a cold evening with a good book and a friend.
The next thought that came over me—came over is what I mean—was that this pain-free euphoria will not last. My back pain will increase. My joints will stiffen. My eyes will grow dim. My hearing will become more muffled. My memory will weaken. My mind will slow down. My balance will make me stumble. And warm moments like this will decrease to the point where there is only discomfort interrupted with pain.
For a split second there was a deep and threatening sense of loss. A kind of nostalgic sorrow. Not fear, but sadness. The thought of never having these moments again was like a deep ache. But this sense of loss was more of an echo than a sound in its own right. As soon as it came it was fading away.
In its place, came over me—and this too was fleeting, as much as I wanted it to stay—a conquering and freeing sense of what would be true after death. Its primary effect (as odd as this sounds) was to make me feel free from shame at possible ridicule from unbelievers in moments of personal evangelism. This was all within seconds. It was like a fleeting spiritual taste of heaven and the resurrection.
I saw and felt, as through a clicking camera shutter, everlasting pain-free life. Everlasting warmth. Everlasting guilt-free days. Everlasting friendship with the most interesting and caring Person in the universe. Everlasting expectancy, as on a child's Christmas morning. Everlasting amazement, as at the first sight of the Himalayas. Everlasting tension-free relationships where everyone knows that everyone will take what is said in the true way. Everlasting calamity-free enjoyment of everything good, without any danger of idolatry, because the Source of all good is loved above all.
All this happened in about three seconds.
The taste that is left (poorly recorded here) is strong enough to make me pray: O Lord, pour out your Holy Spirit on me and my family and my church, so that the reality of heaven and the resurrection and the new earth will be known and spiritually seen—if only through shutter speeds of illumination—that in this hope we will be the most anxiety-free, regret-free, grumbling-free, selfishness-free witnesses to the greatness of Christ the world has ever known.
(Author: John Piper)
Here is a three-second experience that might encourage you.
I was sitting at my desk slowly reading and praying over Job 29 and 30. The thought came over me that at this moment I am pain-free. In fact, I feel very good. I feel warm and content. Almost cozy. As if in a blanket by a fire on a cold evening with a good book and a friend.
The next thought that came over me—came over is what I mean—was that this pain-free euphoria will not last. My back pain will increase. My joints will stiffen. My eyes will grow dim. My hearing will become more muffled. My memory will weaken. My mind will slow down. My balance will make me stumble. And warm moments like this will decrease to the point where there is only discomfort interrupted with pain.
For a split second there was a deep and threatening sense of loss. A kind of nostalgic sorrow. Not fear, but sadness. The thought of never having these moments again was like a deep ache. But this sense of loss was more of an echo than a sound in its own right. As soon as it came it was fading away.
In its place, came over me—and this too was fleeting, as much as I wanted it to stay—a conquering and freeing sense of what would be true after death. Its primary effect (as odd as this sounds) was to make me feel free from shame at possible ridicule from unbelievers in moments of personal evangelism. This was all within seconds. It was like a fleeting spiritual taste of heaven and the resurrection.
I saw and felt, as through a clicking camera shutter, everlasting pain-free life. Everlasting warmth. Everlasting guilt-free days. Everlasting friendship with the most interesting and caring Person in the universe. Everlasting expectancy, as on a child's Christmas morning. Everlasting amazement, as at the first sight of the Himalayas. Everlasting tension-free relationships where everyone knows that everyone will take what is said in the true way. Everlasting calamity-free enjoyment of everything good, without any danger of idolatry, because the Source of all good is loved above all.
All this happened in about three seconds.
The taste that is left (poorly recorded here) is strong enough to make me pray: O Lord, pour out your Holy Spirit on me and my family and my church, so that the reality of heaven and the resurrection and the new earth will be known and spiritually seen—if only through shutter speeds of illumination—that in this hope we will be the most anxiety-free, regret-free, grumbling-free, selfishness-free witnesses to the greatness of Christ the world has ever known.
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12.09.2008
12.09.2008
Don't read this. It will waste your time.
There are 22 billionaires in the DFW area. 3rd only to New York and Moscow, Russia. I don't know what I am more surprised about- Dallas having 22 billionaires or Moscow having more than that.
I had no idea.
Dang.
I had no idea.
Dang.
1 comments
11.21.2008
11.21.2008
Congo
Though pressed for time, I sat down to read an article in the NY Times about injustice in the Congo, and how Americans may be funding the injustice everyday without even realizing it.
Here are a few clips from it:
- This is Africa’s resource curse: The wealth is unearthed by the poor, controlled by the strong, then sold to a world largely oblivious of its origins.
-“Without knowing it, tens of millions of people in the United States may be putting money in the pockets of some of the worst human rights violators in the world, simply by using a cellphone or laptop computer,” Senator Durbin, a Democrat, said at the time.
You can check out the entire article here:
Congo’s Riches, Looted by Renegade Troops
Be sure to check out the audio/visual slideshow as well.
I long to be a person that makes a difference in the world. Sometimes I feel pretty helpless, but that doesn't mean I am without excuse for my inaction. In my head and in my heart I hate injustice. But why do I accept it?
Here are a few clips from it:
- This is Africa’s resource curse: The wealth is unearthed by the poor, controlled by the strong, then sold to a world largely oblivious of its origins.
-“Without knowing it, tens of millions of people in the United States may be putting money in the pockets of some of the worst human rights violators in the world, simply by using a cellphone or laptop computer,” Senator Durbin, a Democrat, said at the time.
You can check out the entire article here:
Congo’s Riches, Looted by Renegade Troops
Be sure to check out the audio/visual slideshow as well.
I long to be a person that makes a difference in the world. Sometimes I feel pretty helpless, but that doesn't mean I am without excuse for my inaction. In my head and in my heart I hate injustice. But why do I accept it?
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11.18.2008
11.18.2008
Socks
Where are all of my socks going? Does anyone else have trouble keeping up with socks? They literally disappear at our house.
Gah!
Gah!
1 comments
11.11.2008
11.11.2008
And the "Father of the Year Award" goes to... (drumroll please)
"If you can see it, you can achieve it." That's a motto that some people live by and I think it's just plain kooky. When I think of raising a boy, I know my visions of grandeur will be replaced by visions of reality. My older brother, Wade, has twin boys who are now 4. And (bless his heart), Halloween brought the funk to Wade. When I checked my email this morning, this is what I received from Wade:
Subject: Father of the Year
Hey Guys,
Lisa was gone. Daddy is on duty. No problem.
Friday
Pick up kids at 3:30 from school. Check.
Kids take nap. Check.
Take kids to Fall Frolic at church for Halloween. Check.
Lisa forgot to mention "Don't let the kids sleep too late."
We were there by 7:50.
They pull the plug at 8.
Father of the Year.
P.S. To compensate, I took the kids to McDonalds for chicken, toys, playground and icecream. McDonalds is closed at 8pm for the next 5 days for remodeling.
Love
Wade Walker
Founder
US Golf Events, US Golf Designs
I do, however, believe the phrase "A picture is worth a thousand words."
-kyle
Subject: Father of the Year
Hey Guys,
Lisa was gone. Daddy is on duty. No problem.
Friday
Pick up kids at 3:30 from school. Check.
Kids take nap. Check.
Take kids to Fall Frolic at church for Halloween. Check.
Lisa forgot to mention "Don't let the kids sleep too late."
We were there by 7:50.
They pull the plug at 8.
Father of the Year.
P.S. To compensate, I took the kids to McDonalds for chicken, toys, playground and icecream. McDonalds is closed at 8pm for the next 5 days for remodeling.
Love
Wade Walker
Founder
US Golf Events, US Golf Designs
I do, however, believe the phrase "A picture is worth a thousand words."
-kyle
1 comments
11.03.2008
11.03.2008
2 Questions & 3 Keys
-more thoughts from John 5:1-18
The Scribes and Pharisees were wrestling with 2 basic questions:
1. What constitutes work on the Sabbath? What kind of work is forbidden by God on the Sabbath?
Notice that they completely miss the heart of their faith. They miss the heart of the Sabbath commandment. They miss the very heart of God. And because of that they completely miss God Himself. Not working is not the primary issue. Keeping the day Holy is the primary issue. Not working is a means to the end of keeping it holy. The Pharisees focus on the means and not the end. They came up with a list of 1521 things you could not do on the Sabbath. Their very attempt to not work was work! Do you ever feel like even when you rest, you can't rest? A life lived outside of the acknowledgment of the Living God is a restless life.
2. Does God work on the Sabbath? If so, what kind of work does God do?
Most Scribes agreed with Philo of Alexandria, the 1st century Jewish philosopher. He said, “God never ceases creating, but as it is the property of fire to burn or snow to be cold, it is the property of God to create.”
Dr. Raymond Brown shares his thoughts, "In particular, divine activity was visible in 2 ways. People were born and people died on the Sabbath. Since only God could give life and only God could deal with the fate of the dead in judgment, this meant that God was active on the Sabbath."
3 Keys
Brown goes on to cite Rabbi Johanna who put it this way: "God has put in His hand 3 keys which he entrusts to no one else. The key of rain, the key of birth, and the key of the resurrection of the dead. It was clear to everyone that God used these 3 keys on the Sabbath."
So when we read in Genesis 1 that God rested, it doesn’t mean that God sat back and took his hands off of creation to let it go it’s own way. God continues to work by sustaining creation moment by moment. We would see complete chaos if God were to cease working for one second. God uses the 3 keys.
Now listen to Jesus speak:
One of the solid facts of history was that Jesus of Nazareth was crucified because he angered the temple authorities by the way he acted on the Sabbath and by the way he spoke to justify his actions. Some healing was allowed on the Sabbath- so that was not the problem. The violation was in what Jesus told the lame man to do. “Take up your bed and walk.” Both are explicitly prohibited on the Sabbath. The Misnah- The carrying of things from one domain to another and the carrying of an empty bed is prohibited. Jesus knows the rules and he deliberately breaks them.
The POINT? Jesus Christ is in the business of making people whole and will not let human rules get in the way.
But what really angers the temple authorities is his justification for his actions.
John 5:17 got Jesus crucified.
“My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
The Jewish people would say “The Father” but they would never have said “My Father.” Jesus expressed a unique relationship with the one who is working on the Sabbath. And then Jesus adds “and I myself am working.” Jesus of Nazareth from Galilee, the Son of Mary, is claiming the right to do on the Sabbath what only the Living God can do. He is, in that statement, claiming the right to use the 3 keys. Never lose sight of the basic fact: Jesus was crucified because he broke the Pharisees Sabbath rules and because he justified his actions by claiming divine right to do so.
His actions by themselves were enough to get him into trouble. But his words caused the temple authorities to seek to kill him. Kill him! Religious men who wanted to follow God wanted to kill a man who healed someone in need. Why kill a man who makes people whole? Because in their minds they heard a claim of equality of God. They had to respond. They were the protectors of Israel’s theology. They could not ignore him. They could see that he was not a lunatic. They saw a man named Jesus who walked into a room and for some reason, just because of his mere presence, all rules were suspended! "Who does he think he is?"
Jesus is a man who was so impassioned with making people whole regardless of societal norms and glorifying His father that it got him killed.
That's what happens when we attach rules to how God should respond. The moment we begin to call the shots for God is the moment we begin to walk in the footsteps of the Pharisees. May we be focused on Jesus and how He acted and spoke, and seek to get rid of everything else that is simply peripheral.
~ Once again, thank you to Darrell Johnson for his insight on John 5
The Scribes and Pharisees were wrestling with 2 basic questions:
1. What constitutes work on the Sabbath? What kind of work is forbidden by God on the Sabbath?
Notice that they completely miss the heart of their faith. They miss the heart of the Sabbath commandment. They miss the very heart of God. And because of that they completely miss God Himself. Not working is not the primary issue. Keeping the day Holy is the primary issue. Not working is a means to the end of keeping it holy. The Pharisees focus on the means and not the end. They came up with a list of 1521 things you could not do on the Sabbath. Their very attempt to not work was work! Do you ever feel like even when you rest, you can't rest? A life lived outside of the acknowledgment of the Living God is a restless life.
2. Does God work on the Sabbath? If so, what kind of work does God do?
Most Scribes agreed with Philo of Alexandria, the 1st century Jewish philosopher. He said, “God never ceases creating, but as it is the property of fire to burn or snow to be cold, it is the property of God to create.”
Dr. Raymond Brown shares his thoughts, "In particular, divine activity was visible in 2 ways. People were born and people died on the Sabbath. Since only God could give life and only God could deal with the fate of the dead in judgment, this meant that God was active on the Sabbath."
3 Keys
Brown goes on to cite Rabbi Johanna who put it this way: "God has put in His hand 3 keys which he entrusts to no one else. The key of rain, the key of birth, and the key of the resurrection of the dead. It was clear to everyone that God used these 3 keys on the Sabbath."
So when we read in Genesis 1 that God rested, it doesn’t mean that God sat back and took his hands off of creation to let it go it’s own way. God continues to work by sustaining creation moment by moment. We would see complete chaos if God were to cease working for one second. God uses the 3 keys.
Now listen to Jesus speak:
One of the solid facts of history was that Jesus of Nazareth was crucified because he angered the temple authorities by the way he acted on the Sabbath and by the way he spoke to justify his actions. Some healing was allowed on the Sabbath- so that was not the problem. The violation was in what Jesus told the lame man to do. “Take up your bed and walk.” Both are explicitly prohibited on the Sabbath. The Misnah- The carrying of things from one domain to another and the carrying of an empty bed is prohibited. Jesus knows the rules and he deliberately breaks them.
The POINT? Jesus Christ is in the business of making people whole and will not let human rules get in the way.
But what really angers the temple authorities is his justification for his actions.
John 5:17 got Jesus crucified.
“My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
The Jewish people would say “The Father” but they would never have said “My Father.” Jesus expressed a unique relationship with the one who is working on the Sabbath. And then Jesus adds “and I myself am working.” Jesus of Nazareth from Galilee, the Son of Mary, is claiming the right to do on the Sabbath what only the Living God can do. He is, in that statement, claiming the right to use the 3 keys. Never lose sight of the basic fact: Jesus was crucified because he broke the Pharisees Sabbath rules and because he justified his actions by claiming divine right to do so.
His actions by themselves were enough to get him into trouble. But his words caused the temple authorities to seek to kill him. Kill him! Religious men who wanted to follow God wanted to kill a man who healed someone in need. Why kill a man who makes people whole? Because in their minds they heard a claim of equality of God. They had to respond. They were the protectors of Israel’s theology. They could not ignore him. They could see that he was not a lunatic. They saw a man named Jesus who walked into a room and for some reason, just because of his mere presence, all rules were suspended! "Who does he think he is?"
Jesus is a man who was so impassioned with making people whole regardless of societal norms and glorifying His father that it got him killed.
That's what happens when we attach rules to how God should respond. The moment we begin to call the shots for God is the moment we begin to walk in the footsteps of the Pharisees. May we be focused on Jesus and how He acted and spoke, and seek to get rid of everything else that is simply peripheral.
~ Once again, thank you to Darrell Johnson for his insight on John 5
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10.30.2008
10.30.2008
Learning from the Pharisees
cre⋅scen⋅do Part 2
-a continuation of Sunday's message from John 5:1-18
The celebration of the Sabbath was at the heart of 1st Century Judaism. There is no way to exaggerate the importance of the Sabbath. If you were a Jew in the 1st Century then you were constantly aware of the Sabbath. The 4th Commandment was at the heart of who they were as a people and for one big reason it was the central point of their faith. They were convinced that all of Israel's problems were due to them breaking the 4th Commandment. There are passages in Isaiah and Ezekiel that give them good reason to feel that way. We should not pound on the religious leaders too much for wanting to protect the Sabbath. There was something justifiable in their conviction. Scripture tells us that when we pay attention to the Sabbath then it signals to others that we are faithful to the Living God. It shows others that we know that we are not God- we keep the command of God.
Exodus 31:13-14. “You shall surely observe my Sabbaths, for this is a sign from me to you throughout your generations that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you; therefore you are to observe the Sabbath for it is holy to you and anyone who defames it shall surely be put to death for whoever does any work on it shall be cut off from among my people."
When God’s people stop working for one day a week and start worshipping and pursuing the Living God, it is a sign that they know who really rules the world. The opposite is also true. When God’s people no longer rest once a week it is a dramatic sign that they no longer believe that God reigns (Darrell Johnson). The Pharisees were deeply concerned that they would automatically pay the price for their disobedience to the Sabbath. They were protecting their people, their pride, their faith, their country, their theology, their families. And I believe that we pay the price when we do not take seriously the practice of the Sabbath. Darrell Johnson says it this way: "It’s not an imposition on the human species. It’s an exposition of the human species. God did not arbitrarily come up with this rule. It’s built into the fabric of our humanity. God does not impose it on us. It exposes what we are intended to be. It is about the rhythm of life. It is about how we are to function. The Pharisees rightly cautioned us that we ignore the Sabbath at our own peril. Our pace of life today is a violation of creation. The Pharisees are on to something and we should not dismiss it too quickly."
So pause this week. Stop working. Slow down for one day. Love your family. Play together. Acknowledge God for a whole uninterrupted day. It's who God created you to be. Maybe we can learn a lesson from the Pharisees after all...
Based on lecture notes from Dr. Darrell Johnson...
-a continuation of Sunday's message from John 5:1-18
The celebration of the Sabbath was at the heart of 1st Century Judaism. There is no way to exaggerate the importance of the Sabbath. If you were a Jew in the 1st Century then you were constantly aware of the Sabbath. The 4th Commandment was at the heart of who they were as a people and for one big reason it was the central point of their faith. They were convinced that all of Israel's problems were due to them breaking the 4th Commandment. There are passages in Isaiah and Ezekiel that give them good reason to feel that way. We should not pound on the religious leaders too much for wanting to protect the Sabbath. There was something justifiable in their conviction. Scripture tells us that when we pay attention to the Sabbath then it signals to others that we are faithful to the Living God. It shows others that we know that we are not God- we keep the command of God.
Exodus 31:13-14. “You shall surely observe my Sabbaths, for this is a sign from me to you throughout your generations that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you; therefore you are to observe the Sabbath for it is holy to you and anyone who defames it shall surely be put to death for whoever does any work on it shall be cut off from among my people."
When God’s people stop working for one day a week and start worshipping and pursuing the Living God, it is a sign that they know who really rules the world. The opposite is also true. When God’s people no longer rest once a week it is a dramatic sign that they no longer believe that God reigns (Darrell Johnson). The Pharisees were deeply concerned that they would automatically pay the price for their disobedience to the Sabbath. They were protecting their people, their pride, their faith, their country, their theology, their families. And I believe that we pay the price when we do not take seriously the practice of the Sabbath. Darrell Johnson says it this way: "It’s not an imposition on the human species. It’s an exposition of the human species. God did not arbitrarily come up with this rule. It’s built into the fabric of our humanity. God does not impose it on us. It exposes what we are intended to be. It is about the rhythm of life. It is about how we are to function. The Pharisees rightly cautioned us that we ignore the Sabbath at our own peril. Our pace of life today is a violation of creation. The Pharisees are on to something and we should not dismiss it too quickly."
So pause this week. Stop working. Slow down for one day. Love your family. Play together. Acknowledge God for a whole uninterrupted day. It's who God created you to be. Maybe we can learn a lesson from the Pharisees after all...
Based on lecture notes from Dr. Darrell Johnson...
Funny or Not Funny?
So I was reading my good friend Rob's blog this morning and I watched a video that made me laugh out loud in the little coffee shop that I office out of. Be patient and wait for it- 2 1/2 minute mark. I had to steal it from Rob, who stole it from one of his friends, and wanted to share with you, along with a few other vids that I find pretty funny. Do you think the same way as I do?
Funny or Not Funny?
#1
FUNNY OR NOT FUNNY?
#2
FUNNY OR NOT FUNNY?
#3
FUNNY OR NOT FUNNY?
#4
FUNNY OR NOT FUNNY?
Funny or Not Funny?
#1
FUNNY OR NOT FUNNY?
#2
FUNNY OR NOT FUNNY?
#3
FUNNY OR NOT FUNNY?
#4
FUNNY OR NOT FUNNY?
1 comments
10.29.2008
10.29.2008
cre⋅scen⋅do
cre⋅scen⋅do [kri-shen-doh]
On Sunday I mentioned that I was barely scratching the surface of John 5. My intention was to preach on John 5:1-18, but unfortunately time would only allow me the privilege of covering the miracle itself. The point of John 5:1-18 is that Jesus Christ is in the business of making people whole and He will not let human rules get in the way. On Sunday I talked about the great news that Jesus is the only One who can make us whole, but was unable to point out convincingly with time restrictions that His passion for doing so got Him killed. I want you to know that it appears in John 5 that the reason John included this story was not simply to point out the goodness of Jesus and His ability to make the invalid whole and well. John seems to be moving us quickly from the pool-side to the cross.*
John wants us to know in chapter 5 that this is the beginning of the end for Jesus. G. Campbell Morgan said it this way- “On the human level, what Jesus did that day, and what He said that day, cost him his life. They never forgave Him.” It is a historical fact that Jesus received the death penalty because of what he did and said on the Jewish Sabbath. I point out the historical factuality of this because we must see that Christianity is about something that actually happened, not merely somebody's ideas. So, when you follow John to the pool at Bathesda, and as you watch Jesus heal a man who had been an invalid for 38 years, be sure to pause a moment and take it all in. On the surface- think of the determination of this paralyzed man to get into the waters when they are stirred. Think of the man stepping in front of him to jump into the pool. Think of the panic that wipes his face clear of determination. See his anger and rage at the "lucky one" who was able to beat him to the waters to be "healed." Take it all in. But don't miss what is happening on a much greater scale. What Jesus was doing was getting himself killed in the process of making a man whole. (Or some may say that I have my sentence flip-flopped: Jesus was making a man whole in order to get Himself killed.) It's a snapshot of the grand scale story of Jesus and you and me. His passion to make us whole and to bring us to God is what killed Him. But we must see that this was no mistake! Jesus didn't just stumble through John 5. Jesus knew exactly what He was doing. He was picking a fight here! I cannot begin to fathom all that was happening here.
What seemed to be a sweet story of the goodness of Jesus and his desire to make us all whole turns into a snapshot of Jesus on his way to the cross. We begin to see men who wanted to follow God, to please God, and to protect the theology of their nation morph into the killers of God Himself. Our stroll that we take with John alongside the pool at Bathesda on that beautiful day turns out to be the swirling of the spiritual realms and not the pool, the beginning of the end for our savior Jesus. Jesus' act of mercy sparked the crescendo of the cruel fight between religious people and God.
More to come tomorrow...
* I am indebted to Dr. Darrell Johnson from Regent College in Vancouver for his insights on the Gospel of John. I truly treasure his wisdom and exposition of the stories of Jesus that I have grown up reading and hearing with much ignorance.
On Sunday I mentioned that I was barely scratching the surface of John 5. My intention was to preach on John 5:1-18, but unfortunately time would only allow me the privilege of covering the miracle itself. The point of John 5:1-18 is that Jesus Christ is in the business of making people whole and He will not let human rules get in the way. On Sunday I talked about the great news that Jesus is the only One who can make us whole, but was unable to point out convincingly with time restrictions that His passion for doing so got Him killed. I want you to know that it appears in John 5 that the reason John included this story was not simply to point out the goodness of Jesus and His ability to make the invalid whole and well. John seems to be moving us quickly from the pool-side to the cross.*
John wants us to know in chapter 5 that this is the beginning of the end for Jesus. G. Campbell Morgan said it this way- “On the human level, what Jesus did that day, and what He said that day, cost him his life. They never forgave Him.” It is a historical fact that Jesus received the death penalty because of what he did and said on the Jewish Sabbath. I point out the historical factuality of this because we must see that Christianity is about something that actually happened, not merely somebody's ideas. So, when you follow John to the pool at Bathesda, and as you watch Jesus heal a man who had been an invalid for 38 years, be sure to pause a moment and take it all in. On the surface- think of the determination of this paralyzed man to get into the waters when they are stirred. Think of the man stepping in front of him to jump into the pool. Think of the panic that wipes his face clear of determination. See his anger and rage at the "lucky one" who was able to beat him to the waters to be "healed." Take it all in. But don't miss what is happening on a much greater scale. What Jesus was doing was getting himself killed in the process of making a man whole. (Or some may say that I have my sentence flip-flopped: Jesus was making a man whole in order to get Himself killed.) It's a snapshot of the grand scale story of Jesus and you and me. His passion to make us whole and to bring us to God is what killed Him. But we must see that this was no mistake! Jesus didn't just stumble through John 5. Jesus knew exactly what He was doing. He was picking a fight here! I cannot begin to fathom all that was happening here.
What seemed to be a sweet story of the goodness of Jesus and his desire to make us all whole turns into a snapshot of Jesus on his way to the cross. We begin to see men who wanted to follow God, to please God, and to protect the theology of their nation morph into the killers of God Himself. Our stroll that we take with John alongside the pool at Bathesda on that beautiful day turns out to be the swirling of the spiritual realms and not the pool, the beginning of the end for our savior Jesus. Jesus' act of mercy sparked the crescendo of the cruel fight between religious people and God.
More to come tomorrow...
* I am indebted to Dr. Darrell Johnson from Regent College in Vancouver for his insights on the Gospel of John. I truly treasure his wisdom and exposition of the stories of Jesus that I have grown up reading and hearing with much ignorance.
0
comments
10.28.2008
10.28.2008
Jesus & Me
I was thinking about myself yesterday. That's normally not good when that happens. It gets me to wondering how God could put up with me. I really was thinking about this yesterday evening. God is holy- and I would not be able to stand for a second in his presence. I am embarrassed to admit this, but there are days when I don't offer up ONE prayer to God. I can think all day about our church and our people without whispering a prayer to God on their behalf. There are people who don't know God who offer up more prayers than me! If I just got a glimpse of Him, His glory would consume me on the spot!
BUT
This morning I have been thinking about Jesus. That's always a good thing.
- I wonder if, while laying in His manger, He looked beyond the adoring (and scared!) face of Mary and saw the stars and the constellations that He made and He named.
- I wonder about what He was like when he was a child. I wonder what His conversations with God were like when He was 4 years old. I wonder how much Mary and Joseph must have laughed at their little bundle of joy and energy behind closed doors at their house when he was a little guy.
- I wonder what kind of sense of humor He had. Did he have a hard time not laughing when someone broke wind?
- I wonder who his best friends were when he was a teenager and if they ever thought he was "a little odd." I wonder if there was a point when they decided not to like Him. Or if their parents warned their kids to stay away from Jesus- He was too dangerous.
- I wonder what Jesus thought about when He laid down at night and drifted off to sleep. I wonder what He dreamed about. Did He have nightmares about His future? I wonder if He dreamed about Heaven.
- I think about how it must have been obvious that He had so much love in His heart when he hung out with his buddies. I wonder how Jesus would have responded and how his body language must have changed when his buddies would sin (against Him!).
- I wonder how teenagers today could live like the teenager that Jesus was.
- I wonder how often Jesus specifically told people "I love you." Did He start exchanging those words with "God loves you"?
- I wonder how old Jesus was when people who were staring Him in the face started wondering "Is that man, or is that God talking?" Was He a 15 year-old causing people behind closed doors to ask "Seriously, who is that kid?"?
- I wonder if Jesus would have ever hung out with me. I wonder, had I been alive then, if I would have wanted to hang out with Him.
- I wonder if there were certain children who knew Jesus well and saw Him as kind of their "God-father." I am not trying to be funny. I am serious. I wonder if they ran to Him when they would see Him. I wonder if they ever tackled Him with big hugs or covered his eyes from behind and played the "Guess who?" game. And I wonder if He always got it right. I wonder if those same kids understood what happened to Jesus when He was suddenly gone. Mere babes trying to figure out where Jesus went... And I wonder how their moms and dads tried to explain to their children why Jesus was arrested and "went to heaven." I wonder what they thought when they gathered with Him the day that He ascended back into Heaven.
- I wonder if there were any who followed Jesus from a distance who decided that He was not legit. I wonder if they second-guessed themselves even when they were old, gray, and wrinkly.
- I wonder if the blind man who received the gift of sight followed Jesus long enough to lay his eyes on the mangled body of Jesus.
- I wonder if I would have cared about the same things as I do today had I walked with Him on this earth.
- I wonder where I would go in this life if I spoke with Him non-stop and walked with Him every day. I wonder where, just me following Him, would take me. Would I move to Turkey? Would I fall in love with the people in Mexico? Or Indonesia? Or would I make people mad at our church? Would they want to hear what I had to say?
-I wonder what I would spend my money on if He were physically present with me every moment of the day?
He changes the way I think about myself. I begin to think less of me and more of Him. He changes the way I think about God.
When your heart beats faster when you think of Jesus, that means something. Mine did this morning. This is what it means to truly be alive.
once dead.
now alive.
once blind.
now seeing.
once grasping.
soon touching.
I can't wait to see Jesus.
BUT
This morning I have been thinking about Jesus. That's always a good thing.
- I wonder if, while laying in His manger, He looked beyond the adoring (and scared!) face of Mary and saw the stars and the constellations that He made and He named.
- I wonder about what He was like when he was a child. I wonder what His conversations with God were like when He was 4 years old. I wonder how much Mary and Joseph must have laughed at their little bundle of joy and energy behind closed doors at their house when he was a little guy.
- I wonder what kind of sense of humor He had. Did he have a hard time not laughing when someone broke wind?
- I wonder who his best friends were when he was a teenager and if they ever thought he was "a little odd." I wonder if there was a point when they decided not to like Him. Or if their parents warned their kids to stay away from Jesus- He was too dangerous.
- I wonder what Jesus thought about when He laid down at night and drifted off to sleep. I wonder what He dreamed about. Did He have nightmares about His future? I wonder if He dreamed about Heaven.
- I think about how it must have been obvious that He had so much love in His heart when he hung out with his buddies. I wonder how Jesus would have responded and how his body language must have changed when his buddies would sin (against Him!).
- I wonder how teenagers today could live like the teenager that Jesus was.
- I wonder how often Jesus specifically told people "I love you." Did He start exchanging those words with "God loves you"?
- I wonder how old Jesus was when people who were staring Him in the face started wondering "Is that man, or is that God talking?" Was He a 15 year-old causing people behind closed doors to ask "Seriously, who is that kid?"?
- I wonder if Jesus would have ever hung out with me. I wonder, had I been alive then, if I would have wanted to hang out with Him.
- I wonder if there were certain children who knew Jesus well and saw Him as kind of their "God-father." I am not trying to be funny. I am serious. I wonder if they ran to Him when they would see Him. I wonder if they ever tackled Him with big hugs or covered his eyes from behind and played the "Guess who?" game. And I wonder if He always got it right. I wonder if those same kids understood what happened to Jesus when He was suddenly gone. Mere babes trying to figure out where Jesus went... And I wonder how their moms and dads tried to explain to their children why Jesus was arrested and "went to heaven." I wonder what they thought when they gathered with Him the day that He ascended back into Heaven.
- I wonder if there were any who followed Jesus from a distance who decided that He was not legit. I wonder if they second-guessed themselves even when they were old, gray, and wrinkly.
- I wonder if the blind man who received the gift of sight followed Jesus long enough to lay his eyes on the mangled body of Jesus.
- I wonder if I would have cared about the same things as I do today had I walked with Him on this earth.
- I wonder where I would go in this life if I spoke with Him non-stop and walked with Him every day. I wonder where, just me following Him, would take me. Would I move to Turkey? Would I fall in love with the people in Mexico? Or Indonesia? Or would I make people mad at our church? Would they want to hear what I had to say?
-I wonder what I would spend my money on if He were physically present with me every moment of the day?
He changes the way I think about myself. I begin to think less of me and more of Him. He changes the way I think about God.
When your heart beats faster when you think of Jesus, that means something. Mine did this morning. This is what it means to truly be alive.
once dead.
now alive.
once blind.
now seeing.
once grasping.
soon touching.
I can't wait to see Jesus.
1 comments
10.22.2008
10.22.2008
Preaching What is True and Precious
(Author: John Piper)
A word to preachers. Truth and falsehood is a good pair of categories to use when deciding what to preach. Speak truth not falsehood.
But there is another crucial pair of categories. God tells Jeremiah that he must use this pair if he would be faithful:
Therefore thus says the Lord: "...If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. (Jeremiah 15:19)
In deciding what to preach make these two judgments: Is it true and is it precious? Preach what is both. If it is true, preach it with authority. If it is precious, preach it with passion.
One great reason why some preaching leaves people unmoved is that preachers seem unmoved. Is this precious or isn't it? That is the question in the hearts of the people. If it is, why don't you sound like it?
The great battle of preaching is to see what's true and to savor what's precious. Weak seeing and weak savoring are a curse to God's people.
Brothers, plead for deliverance from this curse. The ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. They are more precious than gold and sweeter than honey (Psalms 19:9-10).
A word to preachers. Truth and falsehood is a good pair of categories to use when deciding what to preach. Speak truth not falsehood.
But there is another crucial pair of categories. God tells Jeremiah that he must use this pair if he would be faithful:
Therefore thus says the Lord: "...If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. (Jeremiah 15:19)
In deciding what to preach make these two judgments: Is it true and is it precious? Preach what is both. If it is true, preach it with authority. If it is precious, preach it with passion.
One great reason why some preaching leaves people unmoved is that preachers seem unmoved. Is this precious or isn't it? That is the question in the hearts of the people. If it is, why don't you sound like it?
The great battle of preaching is to see what's true and to savor what's precious. Weak seeing and weak savoring are a curse to God's people.
Brothers, plead for deliverance from this curse. The ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. They are more precious than gold and sweeter than honey (Psalms 19:9-10).
Grace, Cowboys, T.O. & Glorifying God
I am a huge Cowboys fan, which by default has made me blind to character analysis of heroic players suiting up in the Silver and Blue. The Cowboys have traditionally (at least for the last 20 years) employed players based on talent and not so much on character and integrity. Jerry Jones is not looking for guys to talk politics with or go to church with. He is looking for guys who can win a Super Bowl.
One such character, Terrell Owens, or affectionately known by Terrell as T.O. is the perfect example. T.O. is a freak of an athlete. Team-mates have described him as one giant muscle. He is a beast. But his off-the-field and on-the-field antics have made him kind of a villain across the nation. Yesterday after the Cowboys win over the Bengals, T.O. mentioned that he was just thankful for the opportunity and wanted to give all the glory to God. Now, I am not making any judgments on T.O. But what I want to ask is, "If T.O. is sincere, would we be able accept it?" Do we carry around this idea of who is and who isn't worthy of giving God glory? I have noticed that T.O. is different, and have recently been disappointed with some of his post-game comments that have left me with the impression that he is still the selfish T.O. that ruined Philly. But regardless of whether or not that is true- have I set myself up as judge as to when someone can give God glory and when someone can't?
If I would have seen and heard the centurion, who was put in charge of killing Jesus (recorded in Luke 23:47), praise God then sadly I think I would have had a problem with that. I would have said that he was not fitting to give glory to God. But for some reason, I get this sense that his praise was particularly glorifying to God as he stood at the foot of the cross. And I get this sense, that in T.O.'s journey of faith (or some version of it), God may just be smiling. Maybe it comes down to Christians having a problem with grace. Do I struggle with the Loving Father's bent to love the wayward son, or the criminal on the cross, or the adulteress woman, or the self-seeking millionaire football celebrity?
One such character, Terrell Owens, or affectionately known by Terrell as T.O. is the perfect example. T.O. is a freak of an athlete. Team-mates have described him as one giant muscle. He is a beast. But his off-the-field and on-the-field antics have made him kind of a villain across the nation. Yesterday after the Cowboys win over the Bengals, T.O. mentioned that he was just thankful for the opportunity and wanted to give all the glory to God. Now, I am not making any judgments on T.O. But what I want to ask is, "If T.O. is sincere, would we be able accept it?" Do we carry around this idea of who is and who isn't worthy of giving God glory? I have noticed that T.O. is different, and have recently been disappointed with some of his post-game comments that have left me with the impression that he is still the selfish T.O. that ruined Philly. But regardless of whether or not that is true- have I set myself up as judge as to when someone can give God glory and when someone can't?
If I would have seen and heard the centurion, who was put in charge of killing Jesus (recorded in Luke 23:47), praise God then sadly I think I would have had a problem with that. I would have said that he was not fitting to give glory to God. But for some reason, I get this sense that his praise was particularly glorifying to God as he stood at the foot of the cross. And I get this sense, that in T.O.'s journey of faith (or some version of it), God may just be smiling. Maybe it comes down to Christians having a problem with grace. Do I struggle with the Loving Father's bent to love the wayward son, or the criminal on the cross, or the adulteress woman, or the self-seeking millionaire football celebrity?
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comments
10.06.2008
10.06.2008
Golden Rule Moments
John Ortberg speaks about "Golden Rule Moments" in his sermon called "Whatever you do, do this!". Any moment, any time, any place, any job, any setting, any interaction with any human being- on a shuttle bus, at the grocery store, at the gas station or the coffee shop or at home around the dinner table- could be a golden rule moment. "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." If this was such an important thing to Jesus- if it sums up the Law and Prophets- then why don't we act on this more often? It's a way to give our faith legs. Sometimes our faith can seem too abstract and it's kind of something that morphs from year to year, but not from day to day.
If we were to see every interaction with people throughout the day as a Golden Rule opportunity, then our faith would constantly be morphing- in a great way! In a way that looks more like Jesus. How long will I wait to become more like Jesus in this way? Every day, every interaction is an opportunity to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. There is moral meaning and content in every moment of the day. I am at the coffee shop right now, and I am about to engage the spiritual realms, take part in the battle for eternity, please my Heavenly Father, and fulfill the Law and Prophets by doing something as simple as following the little rule that we heard when we were children- the Golden Rule.
I will live this day with Golden Rule eyes.
If we were to see every interaction with people throughout the day as a Golden Rule opportunity, then our faith would constantly be morphing- in a great way! In a way that looks more like Jesus. How long will I wait to become more like Jesus in this way? Every day, every interaction is an opportunity to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. There is moral meaning and content in every moment of the day. I am at the coffee shop right now, and I am about to engage the spiritual realms, take part in the battle for eternity, please my Heavenly Father, and fulfill the Law and Prophets by doing something as simple as following the little rule that we heard when we were children- the Golden Rule.
I will live this day with Golden Rule eyes.
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comments
10.02.2008
10.02.2008
Dancin Machine
I would like to give a shout out to my brother Rob- "Shout Out! Hi-Oh!"- for drawing my attention to this video. My wife (a dancin machine) and I have had dance-offs within the confines of our family room but unfortunately did not have the opportunity at our wedding reception. Check this out- pretty funny. And yes, I am kind of upset that it was not my idea.
4
comments
9.15.2008
9.15.2008
belly
I eat way too much ice cream and way too many gummy bears.
That's a fact, Jack.
That's a fact, Jack.
0
comments
9.11.2008
9.11.2008
Poetry
I have always enjoyed the flair of truth-laden creativity. Some people just have it. They can strike up deep emotion with the stroke of a pen- not in some manipulative way- but because unmovable truth is exposed in some beautiful way. After reading a devotional from John Piper, I decided to read the book of Lamentations. It was an emotional 30 or 45 minutes. Jeremiah, was staring at the streets of Jerusalem watching the demise of the land and people that he loved- watching children beg for food from their mothers, and their mothers in return ("compassionate women" keep in mind) cook their own children for food. And Jeremiah's response- a poem. Lamentations. An emotional, truth-saturated, painful poem with glimpses of hope. I read it and I saw America- a people who have forsaken God and people who are starving for the food of the Word. Lamentations is an incredible piece of work. Even if you were to take it out of the Bible and place it in a school textbook, it would still be gorgeous. Not only is it beautifully written, it's a poem that God wants us to read and to reflect upon and be changed by. It is a poem from God to us.
I hope to become a decent poet. I hopet to become a poet. Suffice it to say, it will take a while. I will leave you with one that I wrote in high school. It's breathtaking, I know. I hope to have some that are more meaningful to share as God continues to shape my mind from mush to masterpiece. I have started some and it will take weeks or months to finish. But here is a poem that I received an A for in high school.
"Eek"
"Eek" cried the kitten,
I hit it with a mitten.
"Eek" cried the cat;
I hit it with a bat.
"Eek" cried the bear;
I hit it with a chair.
"Eek cried the dog;
I hit it with a log.
"Eek cried the anteater;
I wacked it with my weed-eater.
That's right. An A. Feel free to leave your own masterpiece here.
I hope to become a decent poet. I hopet to become a poet. Suffice it to say, it will take a while. I will leave you with one that I wrote in high school. It's breathtaking, I know. I hope to have some that are more meaningful to share as God continues to shape my mind from mush to masterpiece. I have started some and it will take weeks or months to finish. But here is a poem that I received an A for in high school.
"Eek"
"Eek" cried the kitten,
I hit it with a mitten.
"Eek" cried the cat;
I hit it with a bat.
"Eek" cried the bear;
I hit it with a chair.
"Eek cried the dog;
I hit it with a log.
"Eek cried the anteater;
I wacked it with my weed-eater.
That's right. An A. Feel free to leave your own masterpiece here.
0
comments
9.09.2008
9.09.2008
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