Life Encompassed
How often I have said,
“This will never do,”
Of ways of feeling that now
I trust in, and pursue!
Do traverses tramped in the past,
My own, criss-crossed as I forge
Across from another quarter
Speak of a life encompassed?
Well, life is not research.
No one asks you to map the terrain,
Only to get across it
In new ways, time and again.
How many such, even now,
I dismiss out of hand
As not to my purpose, not
Unknown, just unexamined.
Donald Davie from Collected Poems
Mark Jarman, in Body and Soul: Essays on Poetry, comments: This poem reminds me of the limitations of critical understanding and opinion, and also of the importance and necessity of growth in the life of the mind.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Happiness Is In The Heart, Not In The Circumstances.
Happiness is in the heart, not in the circumstances.
Life Lesson
What most people need to learn in life is how to love people and use things instead of using people and loving things.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
It’s Not a Slam at You
It’s not a slam at you when people are rude—it’s a slam at the people they’ve met before.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Some people grin and bear it; others smile and do it.
Some people grin and bear it; others smile and do it.
Annie Lamott on Hate
"You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do."
--Annie Lamott Traveling Mercies; although on page 22 of Bird by Bird she attributes this quote to "my priest friend Tom"
--Annie Lamott Traveling Mercies; although on page 22 of Bird by Bird she attributes this quote to "my priest friend Tom"
George Carlin on Obscenity and Indecency
"The whole problem with this idea of obscenity and indecency, and all of these things — bad language and whatever — it's all caused by one basic thing, and that is: religious superstition," Carlin told the AP in a 2004 interview. "There's an idea that the human body is somehow evil and bad and there are parts of it that are especially evil and bad, and we should be ashamed. Fear, guilt and shame are built into the attitude toward sex and the body. ... It's reflected in these prohibitions and these taboos that we have."
--The Associated Press. George Carlin's Obit, June 23, 2008
--The Associated Press. George Carlin's Obit, June 23, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Absolute Power
There’s an old adage that says, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” While this may seem absolutely true, it’s absolutely false. There is only one who has ever known absolute power, and that is God. Yet He is the only one who has never abused His power. This is exactly what separates God from the rest of us. He really is different from who we are without Him. In fact we find that God does exactly the opposite of what we would expect with unlimited power.
(p.77)
Corruption is not an issue of power; it is an issue of passion. Power simply allows us to unleash our passions. What is hidden when we are powerless is exposed when we are empowered. With absolute power what you see is what you get. The power and authority that Jesus held did not change Him but allowed us to see Him in His purest form. The reason it appears that power corrupts is that power magnifies what is hidden within us. We can appear to have integrity when in fact all we are is powerless. It is not an act of integrity to treat someone well or justly when we are afraid of him or feel powerless to do otherwise. You cannot call someone “moral” simply because he is restrained from acting on his deepest desire. Otherwise Hannibal Lecter would be considered the ultimate expression of morality simply because he was strapped into a straitjacket. He’s not moral just because he can’t eat you. True morality in this case would be that he no longer wants to have you for dinner.
(p. 78 -79)
--From Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus
(p.77)
Corruption is not an issue of power; it is an issue of passion. Power simply allows us to unleash our passions. What is hidden when we are powerless is exposed when we are empowered. With absolute power what you see is what you get. The power and authority that Jesus held did not change Him but allowed us to see Him in His purest form. The reason it appears that power corrupts is that power magnifies what is hidden within us. We can appear to have integrity when in fact all we are is powerless. It is not an act of integrity to treat someone well or justly when we are afraid of him or feel powerless to do otherwise. You cannot call someone “moral” simply because he is restrained from acting on his deepest desire. Otherwise Hannibal Lecter would be considered the ultimate expression of morality simply because he was strapped into a straitjacket. He’s not moral just because he can’t eat you. True morality in this case would be that he no longer wants to have you for dinner.
(p. 78 -79)
--From Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Life After Death According to Spock
“Above all,” Spock said, “the universe is ordered by logic, in both the realm of normal space that we inhabit and the other dimensions we have observed. Even in the chaos of quantum and subspace mechanics, we can see the elegant symmetry of the universe.” (p. 191)
Yet they were here now, and looking to him for a palliative that would relieve them of the pain they were in. And as their teacher, he would do his best to ease their passage.
“Surak tells us to find order in chaos,” he explained, “so that we may better understand the nature of all that is. When asked about the possibility of life after death—a realm most often left to less practical philosophers—Surak said, ‘It would be illogical for the universe to create complex, reasoning beings only to dispose of their minds when their bodies no longer functioned.’”
That principle was the basis of the Vulcan practice of preserving the Katra—the sentient soul of the dying—in the Hall of Thought. Unfortunately, none of this students would have their minds saved in such a way.
Few of them had mastered the required mental techniques for the transfer of the Katra to a living being. And even if all of them had the skills, there would be no one to whom they might transfer their Katras.
Still, Spock knew that the universe was logical, and trusted that the natural order was not wasteful. That granted him the ability to accept what would come. (p.192)
from Crossover (Star Trek TNG novel) 1995 by Michael Jan Friedman
Yet they were here now, and looking to him for a palliative that would relieve them of the pain they were in. And as their teacher, he would do his best to ease their passage.
“Surak tells us to find order in chaos,” he explained, “so that we may better understand the nature of all that is. When asked about the possibility of life after death—a realm most often left to less practical philosophers—Surak said, ‘It would be illogical for the universe to create complex, reasoning beings only to dispose of their minds when their bodies no longer functioned.’”
That principle was the basis of the Vulcan practice of preserving the Katra—the sentient soul of the dying—in the Hall of Thought. Unfortunately, none of this students would have their minds saved in such a way.
Few of them had mastered the required mental techniques for the transfer of the Katra to a living being. And even if all of them had the skills, there would be no one to whom they might transfer their Katras.
Still, Spock knew that the universe was logical, and trusted that the natural order was not wasteful. That granted him the ability to accept what would come. (p.192)
from Crossover (Star Trek TNG novel) 1995 by Michael Jan Friedman
The Bible Has the Habit of Telling It Like It Is
3D. Personalities
Lewis S. Chafer, founder and former president of Dallas Theological Seminary, puts it this way: “The Bible is not such a book a man would write if he could, or could write if he would.”
The Bible deals very frankly with the sins of its characters. Read the biographies today, and see how they try to cover up, overlook or ignore the shady side of people. Take the great literary geniuses; most are painted as saints. The Bible does not do it that way. It simply tells it like it is:
The sins of the people denounced – Deuteronomy 9:24
Sins of the patriarchs – Genesis 12:11-13, 49:5-7
Evangelists paint their own faults and the faults of the apostles – Matthew 8:10-26; 26:31-56; Mark 6:52; 8:18; Luke 8:24, 25; 9:40-45; John 10:6; 16:32
Disorder of the churches – I Corinthians 1:11; 15:12; II Corinthians 2:4; etc.
Many will say, “Why did they have to put in that chapter about David and Bathsheba?” Well, the Bible has the habit of telling it like it is.
(p. 23)
from Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell.
Lewis S. Chafer, founder and former president of Dallas Theological Seminary, puts it this way: “The Bible is not such a book a man would write if he could, or could write if he would.”
The Bible deals very frankly with the sins of its characters. Read the biographies today, and see how they try to cover up, overlook or ignore the shady side of people. Take the great literary geniuses; most are painted as saints. The Bible does not do it that way. It simply tells it like it is:
The sins of the people denounced – Deuteronomy 9:24
Sins of the patriarchs – Genesis 12:11-13, 49:5-7
Evangelists paint their own faults and the faults of the apostles – Matthew 8:10-26; 26:31-56; Mark 6:52; 8:18; Luke 8:24, 25; 9:40-45; John 10:6; 16:32
Disorder of the churches – I Corinthians 1:11; 15:12; II Corinthians 2:4; etc.
Many will say, “Why did they have to put in that chapter about David and Bathsheba?” Well, the Bible has the habit of telling it like it is.
(p. 23)
from Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell.
Go and Serve Jesus: A Dialogue
Reading
Scripture Matthew 10:24-39
Reader 1:
Ha! The preacher thinks we should go and serve Jesus. Does the preacher have any idea what that means, you know, leaving the comforts of home. People won’t understand what we are doing. They will think we are nuts! Even our own families won’t get it! Go and serve Jesus? Not me.
Reader 2:
Well, now, the preacher has got it right. If we sit here, or stand here, and proclaim our faith, and sing the great songs, but do nothing we are just spitting in the wind. We really need to do something. People don’t have to understand. God understands. That’s what’s really important. You’re not doing this for the approval of people; you are doing this for God.
Reader 1:
Yeah, right! Listen, God has lots of do-gooders to get things done. What makes you think you can do something special? Are you better than everyone else?
Reader 2:
No, I’m not better than anyone else. I just want to serve God. I want to act on what I say. I know it won’t be easy. That doesn’t matter. I just want to serve. You are welcome to serve also.
Reader 1:
Not me. I can’t serve. I won’t serve. My service is coming to church once a week. That’s all I have to give.
Reader 2:
Perhaps that’s enough for now. Just wait and see. Don’t close the doors to service.
from Cokebury's Worship Connection for Year A, Sixth Sunday after Pentecost June 22, 2008
Scripture Matthew 10:24-39
Reader 1:
Ha! The preacher thinks we should go and serve Jesus. Does the preacher have any idea what that means, you know, leaving the comforts of home. People won’t understand what we are doing. They will think we are nuts! Even our own families won’t get it! Go and serve Jesus? Not me.
Reader 2:
Well, now, the preacher has got it right. If we sit here, or stand here, and proclaim our faith, and sing the great songs, but do nothing we are just spitting in the wind. We really need to do something. People don’t have to understand. God understands. That’s what’s really important. You’re not doing this for the approval of people; you are doing this for God.
Reader 1:
Yeah, right! Listen, God has lots of do-gooders to get things done. What makes you think you can do something special? Are you better than everyone else?
Reader 2:
No, I’m not better than anyone else. I just want to serve God. I want to act on what I say. I know it won’t be easy. That doesn’t matter. I just want to serve. You are welcome to serve also.
Reader 1:
Not me. I can’t serve. I won’t serve. My service is coming to church once a week. That’s all I have to give.
Reader 2:
Perhaps that’s enough for now. Just wait and see. Don’t close the doors to service.
from Cokebury's Worship Connection for Year A, Sixth Sunday after Pentecost June 22, 2008
The Car Salesman's Story
Jesus had only one face. When we show different sides of ourselves to different people, we become two-faced at the very least. When we lack integrity, we find ourselves being several people, depending on the circumstance. We subdivide our lives and justify our differing value systems based on the context. Our character becomes a product to be sold. We become personality salesmen rather than people of substance.
Once Kim was considering buying a red car. It was amazing how quickly the salesman began to share with us his story of how his wife was at first apprehensive when he bought her a red car, but overnight she came to love it. Kim, in her unflappable way, looked at him and said, “If I was considering a blue car, would it have been a blue car your wife had come to love?” (p. 72)
--From Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus
Once Kim was considering buying a red car. It was amazing how quickly the salesman began to share with us his story of how his wife was at first apprehensive when he bought her a red car, but overnight she came to love it. Kim, in her unflappable way, looked at him and said, “If I was considering a blue car, would it have been a blue car your wife had come to love?” (p. 72)
--From Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus
Monday, June 9, 2008
Living Water and the Woman at the Well: A Sermon Outline by Keith Badowski
Living Water and the Woman at the Well
Sermon outline by Keith Badowski
1. Samaria—located between Galilee and Judea. Place to be avoided. Jewish origins, intermarried. Jews felt Samarians distorted Jewish faith. Samaritans believed Jews had compromised truth while in exile in Babylon. Jesus came for purpose, instead of going around. Messiah to the WHOLE world. ANOINTED one, sent by God—to the whole world.
2. Jesus’ method of conveying his message to be understood by ALL used objects at hand. Object lesson to reveal Spiritual Truth. Used Metaphor. Water = salvation, washed clean of sin. Thirst = yearning for connection with God. Sin breaks connection with God.
3. Deep down we all know Right vs. Wrong. We’re hardwired by the creator. C.S. Lewis quote from Mere Christianity, see Book One “Right and Wrong As A Clue to the Meaning of the Universe”.
4. Doing wrong, sin, breaks relationship with God and others. Notice that the woman comes to the well during the day to avoid others. Jesus knows she is lonely, i.e. thirsty for connection. Living water offer gets her attention.
5. Metaphor of Living Water is appropriate. Arid climate, daily need to draw water, worse task in daytime. Jesus tied his spiritual message to her actual physical needs and experience. She understood, paid attention.
6. Still had to overcome obstacles, but Jesus let nothing stop him.
a. the Jewish vs. Samaritan barrier
b. gender
c. need for food
d. her efforts to hide her core problem
How willing are WE to traverse obstacles to share living water with others?
7. Are WE willing to go to those people and places others avoid?
When we represent Christ to others we need to take more time.
a. build trust
b. no judgment
c. meets needs
d. patience to develop intimacy, willingness to admit hurts, regrets, mistakes
e. Intro Jesus, forgiveness. Our opportunity to offer Living Water.
8. Jesus persisted despite her side-stepping. “I have no husband.” Temple worship controversy. Like so many, she dodged admission of wrong doing. Some lie, web of deception to cover up. The woman is ashamed but didn’t outright lie or flee. She perceived his connection to God and power. Jesus knew her whole life, so he might also satisfy her thirst for release, a new start, connection with God.
9. Jesus did not berate or ignore her. He welcomed the opportunity to teach truth. Neither Samaritan nor Jew has lock on Worship style (contemporary vs. traditional), the correct building (temple) to worship in, or location. None of those details matter. What matters to God is TRUTH and SPIRIT. Holy Spirit and Truth of God, Jesus is the source. Do WE worship in truth and spirit here?
10. Woman doesn’t understand all Jesus says, at least not fully. But she understands the Messiah is coming. He will reveal TRUTH, explain everything. Jesus knows she is ready for BIG TRUTH that He is the Messiah.
11. Her response is VERY BIG. She immediately tells others. Come hear! He told me everything I did. In her JOY she wants others to receive Living Water too! Freedom from the burden of sin, reunited connection to God. As a result, many Samaritans believed in Jesus.
12. What had been your response to Jesus’ Living Water? Nearly as Joyful? Inclusive of others? Nearly as effective as this woman at the well?
Sermon outline by Keith Badowski
1. Samaria—located between Galilee and Judea. Place to be avoided. Jewish origins, intermarried. Jews felt Samarians distorted Jewish faith. Samaritans believed Jews had compromised truth while in exile in Babylon. Jesus came for purpose, instead of going around. Messiah to the WHOLE world. ANOINTED one, sent by God—to the whole world.
2. Jesus’ method of conveying his message to be understood by ALL used objects at hand. Object lesson to reveal Spiritual Truth. Used Metaphor. Water = salvation, washed clean of sin. Thirst = yearning for connection with God. Sin breaks connection with God.
3. Deep down we all know Right vs. Wrong. We’re hardwired by the creator. C.S. Lewis quote from Mere Christianity, see Book One “Right and Wrong As A Clue to the Meaning of the Universe”.
4. Doing wrong, sin, breaks relationship with God and others. Notice that the woman comes to the well during the day to avoid others. Jesus knows she is lonely, i.e. thirsty for connection. Living water offer gets her attention.
5. Metaphor of Living Water is appropriate. Arid climate, daily need to draw water, worse task in daytime. Jesus tied his spiritual message to her actual physical needs and experience. She understood, paid attention.
6. Still had to overcome obstacles, but Jesus let nothing stop him.
a. the Jewish vs. Samaritan barrier
b. gender
c. need for food
d. her efforts to hide her core problem
How willing are WE to traverse obstacles to share living water with others?
7. Are WE willing to go to those people and places others avoid?
When we represent Christ to others we need to take more time.
a. build trust
b. no judgment
c. meets needs
d. patience to develop intimacy, willingness to admit hurts, regrets, mistakes
e. Intro Jesus, forgiveness. Our opportunity to offer Living Water.
8. Jesus persisted despite her side-stepping. “I have no husband.” Temple worship controversy. Like so many, she dodged admission of wrong doing. Some lie, web of deception to cover up. The woman is ashamed but didn’t outright lie or flee. She perceived his connection to God and power. Jesus knew her whole life, so he might also satisfy her thirst for release, a new start, connection with God.
9. Jesus did not berate or ignore her. He welcomed the opportunity to teach truth. Neither Samaritan nor Jew has lock on Worship style (contemporary vs. traditional), the correct building (temple) to worship in, or location. None of those details matter. What matters to God is TRUTH and SPIRIT. Holy Spirit and Truth of God, Jesus is the source. Do WE worship in truth and spirit here?
10. Woman doesn’t understand all Jesus says, at least not fully. But she understands the Messiah is coming. He will reveal TRUTH, explain everything. Jesus knows she is ready for BIG TRUTH that He is the Messiah.
11. Her response is VERY BIG. She immediately tells others. Come hear! He told me everything I did. In her JOY she wants others to receive Living Water too! Freedom from the burden of sin, reunited connection to God. As a result, many Samaritans believed in Jesus.
12. What had been your response to Jesus’ Living Water? Nearly as Joyful? Inclusive of others? Nearly as effective as this woman at the well?
Thomas Edison: Being Always Right
A long career of being always right made it impossible for Thomas Edison to endure being wrong. Committed thoroughly to the use of direct electrical current, Edison unscrupulously fought the use of alternating current. He lobbied New York State into adopting a.c. for its newly devised electric chair (and a.c. is indeed more efficient in electrocution than direct current), and then he pointed with great horror to the electric chair as an example of the deadly nature of a.c.
(p.158)
from Isaac Asimov’s Book of Facts, edited by Isaac Asimov
(p.158)
from Isaac Asimov’s Book of Facts, edited by Isaac Asimov
Myth vs. Jesus
I SAW IT WITH MY OWN EYES
3B. Eyewitnesses
The writers of the New Testament either wrote as eyewitnesses of the events they described or recorded eyewitness firsthand accounts of the events.
II Peter 1:16
“For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.”
They certainly knew the difference between myth, legend and reality. A professor of a world literature class in which I was speaking asked the question, “What do you think of Greek mythology?” I answered with another question, “Do you mean, were the events of the life of Jesus, the resurrection, virgin birth, etc., just myth?” He said, “Yes.” I replied that there is one obvious difference between these things applied to Christ and these things applied to Greek mythology that is usually overlooked. The similar events, such a the resurrection, etc, of Greek mythology were not applied to real, flesh and blood individuals, but rather to mythological characters. But, when it comes to Christianity, these events are attached to a person the writers knew in time-space dimension history, the historic Jesus of Nazareth whom they knew personally.
The professor replied, “You’re right, I never realized that before.”
S. Estborn in Gripped by Christ explains further the above. He relates that Anath Nath “studied both the Bible and the Shastras. Two biblical themes in particular deeply engaged his mind: first, the reality of the Incarnation, and second, the Atonement for human sin. These doctrines he sought to harmonize with Hindu Scriptures. He found a parallel to Christ’s self-sacrifice in Prajapati, the Vedic creator-god. he saw too, a vital difference. Whereas the Vedic Prajapati is a mythical symbol, which has been applied to several figures, Jesus of Nazareth is a historic person. ‘Jesus is the true Prajapati,’ he said, ‘the true Savior of the world.’” 6/43
J.B. Phillips. cited by Blaiklock, states, “I have read, in Greek and Latin, scores of myths but did not find the slightest flavour of myth here. Most people who know their Greek and Latin, whatever their attitude to the New Testament narratives, would agree with him . . .
“A myth may be defined as ‘a pre-scientific and imaginative attempt to explain some phenomenon, real or supposed, which excites the curiosity of the mythmaker, or perhaps more accurately as an effort to reach a feeling of satisfaction in place of bewilderment concerning such phenomena. It often appeals to the emotions rather than the reason, and indeed, in its most typical forms, seems to date from an age when rational explanations were not called for.’” 3/47
(p.5)
from Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell.
3B. Eyewitnesses
The writers of the New Testament either wrote as eyewitnesses of the events they described or recorded eyewitness firsthand accounts of the events.
II Peter 1:16
“For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.”
They certainly knew the difference between myth, legend and reality. A professor of a world literature class in which I was speaking asked the question, “What do you think of Greek mythology?” I answered with another question, “Do you mean, were the events of the life of Jesus, the resurrection, virgin birth, etc., just myth?” He said, “Yes.” I replied that there is one obvious difference between these things applied to Christ and these things applied to Greek mythology that is usually overlooked. The similar events, such a the resurrection, etc, of Greek mythology were not applied to real, flesh and blood individuals, but rather to mythological characters. But, when it comes to Christianity, these events are attached to a person the writers knew in time-space dimension history, the historic Jesus of Nazareth whom they knew personally.
The professor replied, “You’re right, I never realized that before.”
S. Estborn in Gripped by Christ explains further the above. He relates that Anath Nath “studied both the Bible and the Shastras. Two biblical themes in particular deeply engaged his mind: first, the reality of the Incarnation, and second, the Atonement for human sin. These doctrines he sought to harmonize with Hindu Scriptures. He found a parallel to Christ’s self-sacrifice in Prajapati, the Vedic creator-god. he saw too, a vital difference. Whereas the Vedic Prajapati is a mythical symbol, which has been applied to several figures, Jesus of Nazareth is a historic person. ‘Jesus is the true Prajapati,’ he said, ‘the true Savior of the world.’” 6/43
J.B. Phillips. cited by Blaiklock, states, “I have read, in Greek and Latin, scores of myths but did not find the slightest flavour of myth here. Most people who know their Greek and Latin, whatever their attitude to the New Testament narratives, would agree with him . . .
“A myth may be defined as ‘a pre-scientific and imaginative attempt to explain some phenomenon, real or supposed, which excites the curiosity of the mythmaker, or perhaps more accurately as an effort to reach a feeling of satisfaction in place of bewilderment concerning such phenomena. It often appeals to the emotions rather than the reason, and indeed, in its most typical forms, seems to date from an age when rational explanations were not called for.’” 3/47
(p.5)
from Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
“Let’s Get to Work”: Sermon Outline by Keith Badowski
“Let’s Get to Work”: Sermon Outline by Keith Badowski
Matthew 21:28-32 (NIV)
Matthew 5:41-42 (NIV)
1. So, does my title suggest I’m talking about “works theology”? Doing hard labor on earth to earn our way into heaven?
Once there was a company that put out an instant cake mix. You only had to add water. It didn’t sell. Market research showed that people thought it sounded TOO EASY; it couldn’t be any good. They reformulated the mix so the instructions were to add water and one egg. It sold fine after that.
Some people are tempted to believe that God’s plan of salvation is to easy too.
2. Ephesians 2:8-9 “By grace you have been saved through faith . . ., it is the gift of God, not of works.”
God’s formula is not about to be changed.
Works do not earn salvation. Works show gratitude, devotion, willingness to yield yourself to God who blesses you whether you work or not. (Of course, chances are if the message of Jesus’ free gift has penetrated your heart and you are grateful for his forgiveness of your sins, you’re going to WANT to work—to express your return of the love God first extended to you.)
3. Did it ever occur to you that if you trust Jesus for your salvation/ forgiveness of your sins/ eternal life . . . you ought to maybe trust him to direct the way you live now?
Isn’t it possible that what he asks (not demands) has your own best interests at heart?
4. Serving others, as many can attest, feels good! Nothing gives the same satisfaction.
Albert Schweitzer was quoted as saying, “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”
5. Jesus wants WILLING workers who chose Him FREELY, VOLUNTARILY do His work in the world. He doesn’t resort to guilt trips or any kind of manipulation to get us up and out of our seats.
Well, sometimes He can light a fire under us to get us moving. . .
6. Once there was a member of a motorcycle gang who a couple days earlier became a believer in Jesus. The only thing he knew to do was to go to church. As he made his way to sit in the 2nd row, the people of the congregation stared at him as he passed. They whispered to each other about his burliness, his leather chaps, his nose ring. As he sat down, the pastor announced, “We need a helper in to work in the nursery this morning. Can I get a volunteer please?” No one came forward, so the pastor asked again, “We really need a helper in the nursery this morning. Please step forward if you can help out.” Meanwhile the biker was praying, “Lord, I don’t know if you want me to help out, but I will take it as a sign from you that I should if he asks a third time.” The pastor made the third request when no one responded to the first two, so the biker raised his hand, stood up and started walking to the front . . . followed by 50 mothers who suddenly rose to their feet.
7. God shouldn’t have to send a burly biker to get us involved and on our feet.
Why not a motive of gratitude? A desire to show the world in action who Jesus is—the one who acts to help others, who sets himself aside for our well-being.
8. Jesus calls us to enact his grace and love by how we respond to the needs of others.
He wants us to pay no mind to whether the recipient DESERVES love and grace. That’s hard to do at 1st.
Jesus always asks his disciples to do tasks that 1st seem hard, unpleasant.
9. Sacrifice time. As if it’s “OUR time.”
Hard effort, physical strain at times.
Outside our comfort zone.
If we see such difficulties ahead we might delay our choice to serve.
“If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice” –Rush
10.
"Did I ever tell you about the young Zoad,
who came to a sign at the fork of the road.
He looked one way and the other way too
The Zoad had to make up his mind what to do.
Well, the Zoad scratched his head,
and his chin, and his pants—
and he said to himself “I’ll be taking a chance.”
If I go to place One, that place may be hot,
so how will I know if I like it or not.
On the other hand, though, I’ll feel such a fool
If I go to Place Two and find it’s too cool,
in that case I may catch a chill and turn blue.
So Place One may be best and not Place Two.
“Play safe!” cried the Zoad.
“I’ll play safe, I’m no dunce.
I’ll simply start off to both places at once.”
And that’s how the Zoad who would not take a chance
went no place at all with a split in his pants."
--Dr. Seuss
11. Option: remain indecisive when Jesus calls us to serve.
Like the Second son, say “Yes” but do “No”.
Sit quietly and hope he’ll forgot the whole conversation.
Opportunity: be like the First son. He may have said “No” fearing it was too hard or just not for him. But 5 minutes or 2 years later, we can CHANGE OUR MIND.
12. . . . get to work, give the mission to serve our best try.
Realize that God supplies wisdom, power, resources, guidance—to accomplish what it is He asks. God acts through us—He must because what He asks is too HARD to do without Him.
13. Hard Requests:
Someone strikes you, insults, snubs, or criticizes you, FORGIVE THEM. Be vulnerable, risk another stab in the back, love your enemies.
Be GENEROUS, even when the world is take, take, take.
Someone pressures you to work for them, look for EXTRA things you can do for them, go beyond their demands, showing God’s generosity and grace by working HARDER and doing MORE.
14. Be open handed with your resources, not just your leftover pocket change, but your checkbook, your car, your skills, and know-how, your tools, any of your possessions. YOURS? They don’t actually belong to you. They’re on loan from the Creator. Use what you “have” to improve the situation of another person.
15. I know of 3 Christian men who have loaned or given vehicles to needy individuals who are unlikely to ever pay them back. I know 3. I wonder how many Jesus knows. I wonder how many Jesus wants?
16. Jesus has given us a free gift of salvation. Jesus demands no works, no payment. He sets us free because he loves us. He hopes we will seek his directions, his instructions to devote ourselves to working on his behalf.
Matthew 21:28-32 (NIV)
Matthew 5:41-42 (NIV)
1. So, does my title suggest I’m talking about “works theology”? Doing hard labor on earth to earn our way into heaven?
Once there was a company that put out an instant cake mix. You only had to add water. It didn’t sell. Market research showed that people thought it sounded TOO EASY; it couldn’t be any good. They reformulated the mix so the instructions were to add water and one egg. It sold fine after that.
Some people are tempted to believe that God’s plan of salvation is to easy too.
2. Ephesians 2:8-9 “By grace you have been saved through faith . . ., it is the gift of God, not of works.”
God’s formula is not about to be changed.
Works do not earn salvation. Works show gratitude, devotion, willingness to yield yourself to God who blesses you whether you work or not. (Of course, chances are if the message of Jesus’ free gift has penetrated your heart and you are grateful for his forgiveness of your sins, you’re going to WANT to work—to express your return of the love God first extended to you.)
3. Did it ever occur to you that if you trust Jesus for your salvation/ forgiveness of your sins/ eternal life . . . you ought to maybe trust him to direct the way you live now?
Isn’t it possible that what he asks (not demands) has your own best interests at heart?
4. Serving others, as many can attest, feels good! Nothing gives the same satisfaction.
Albert Schweitzer was quoted as saying, “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”
5. Jesus wants WILLING workers who chose Him FREELY, VOLUNTARILY do His work in the world. He doesn’t resort to guilt trips or any kind of manipulation to get us up and out of our seats.
Well, sometimes He can light a fire under us to get us moving. . .
6. Once there was a member of a motorcycle gang who a couple days earlier became a believer in Jesus. The only thing he knew to do was to go to church. As he made his way to sit in the 2nd row, the people of the congregation stared at him as he passed. They whispered to each other about his burliness, his leather chaps, his nose ring. As he sat down, the pastor announced, “We need a helper in to work in the nursery this morning. Can I get a volunteer please?” No one came forward, so the pastor asked again, “We really need a helper in the nursery this morning. Please step forward if you can help out.” Meanwhile the biker was praying, “Lord, I don’t know if you want me to help out, but I will take it as a sign from you that I should if he asks a third time.” The pastor made the third request when no one responded to the first two, so the biker raised his hand, stood up and started walking to the front . . . followed by 50 mothers who suddenly rose to their feet.
7. God shouldn’t have to send a burly biker to get us involved and on our feet.
Why not a motive of gratitude? A desire to show the world in action who Jesus is—the one who acts to help others, who sets himself aside for our well-being.
8. Jesus calls us to enact his grace and love by how we respond to the needs of others.
He wants us to pay no mind to whether the recipient DESERVES love and grace. That’s hard to do at 1st.
Jesus always asks his disciples to do tasks that 1st seem hard, unpleasant.
9. Sacrifice time. As if it’s “OUR time.”
Hard effort, physical strain at times.
Outside our comfort zone.
If we see such difficulties ahead we might delay our choice to serve.
“If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice” –Rush
10.
"Did I ever tell you about the young Zoad,
who came to a sign at the fork of the road.
He looked one way and the other way too
The Zoad had to make up his mind what to do.
Well, the Zoad scratched his head,
and his chin, and his pants—
and he said to himself “I’ll be taking a chance.”
If I go to place One, that place may be hot,
so how will I know if I like it or not.
On the other hand, though, I’ll feel such a fool
If I go to Place Two and find it’s too cool,
in that case I may catch a chill and turn blue.
So Place One may be best and not Place Two.
“Play safe!” cried the Zoad.
“I’ll play safe, I’m no dunce.
I’ll simply start off to both places at once.”
And that’s how the Zoad who would not take a chance
went no place at all with a split in his pants."
--Dr. Seuss
11. Option: remain indecisive when Jesus calls us to serve.
Like the Second son, say “Yes” but do “No”.
Sit quietly and hope he’ll forgot the whole conversation.
Opportunity: be like the First son. He may have said “No” fearing it was too hard or just not for him. But 5 minutes or 2 years later, we can CHANGE OUR MIND.
12. . . . get to work, give the mission to serve our best try.
Realize that God supplies wisdom, power, resources, guidance—to accomplish what it is He asks. God acts through us—He must because what He asks is too HARD to do without Him.
13. Hard Requests:
Someone strikes you, insults, snubs, or criticizes you, FORGIVE THEM. Be vulnerable, risk another stab in the back, love your enemies.
Be GENEROUS, even when the world is take, take, take.
Someone pressures you to work for them, look for EXTRA things you can do for them, go beyond their demands, showing God’s generosity and grace by working HARDER and doing MORE.
14. Be open handed with your resources, not just your leftover pocket change, but your checkbook, your car, your skills, and know-how, your tools, any of your possessions. YOURS? They don’t actually belong to you. They’re on loan from the Creator. Use what you “have” to improve the situation of another person.
15. I know of 3 Christian men who have loaned or given vehicles to needy individuals who are unlikely to ever pay them back. I know 3. I wonder how many Jesus knows. I wonder how many Jesus wants?
16. Jesus has given us a free gift of salvation. Jesus demands no works, no payment. He sets us free because he loves us. He hopes we will seek his directions, his instructions to devote ourselves to working on his behalf.
Confession: a Devotion from the Upper Room June 4, 2008
Confession
Read James 5:15-20
When you realize your guilt . . . you shall confess the sin that you have committed.
-Leviticus 5:5 (NRSV)
WE know we are supposed to confess our sins and seek forgiveness. But imagine finding not a forgiving God but a judge who is about to sentence us to life in prison. How would that change our outlook on confession?
The answer to the question is: it doesn't have to. Having accepted Christ into my life six days after my arrest, I stood before the judge knowing that I could not both stand for Christ and lie on the witness stand. So, I confessed and, according to the penalty prescribed by law, was given a life sentence. Confessing was one of the most difficult things I have ever done, but ironically it was also the most rewarding. God took the small faith I had when I told the truth in court and began a work that has sustained me for over 20 years in one of the world's toughest prisons. I do not think this would have been possible had I refused to confess my sin and to live for God.
By confessing our sins before God and people, we also confess our total reliance upon God's grace and mercy. The measure of mercy we receive depends on our willingness to admit our shortcomings. Our reward is a closer, more intimate relationship with the One who someday will judge the world.
Richard Ryan (Ohio, U.S.A.)
Prayer
Lord, help us to lay our sins at the foot of the cross and to humbly seek your face. Grant us your loving mercy. Amen.
Thought for the Day
Even when we fear our sins, we can confess them and find forgiveness
Prayer Focus
For courage to confess our sins
from The Upper Room, June 4, 2008
Read James 5:15-20
When you realize your guilt . . . you shall confess the sin that you have committed.
-Leviticus 5:5 (NRSV)
WE know we are supposed to confess our sins and seek forgiveness. But imagine finding not a forgiving God but a judge who is about to sentence us to life in prison. How would that change our outlook on confession?
The answer to the question is: it doesn't have to. Having accepted Christ into my life six days after my arrest, I stood before the judge knowing that I could not both stand for Christ and lie on the witness stand. So, I confessed and, according to the penalty prescribed by law, was given a life sentence. Confessing was one of the most difficult things I have ever done, but ironically it was also the most rewarding. God took the small faith I had when I told the truth in court and began a work that has sustained me for over 20 years in one of the world's toughest prisons. I do not think this would have been possible had I refused to confess my sin and to live for God.
By confessing our sins before God and people, we also confess our total reliance upon God's grace and mercy. The measure of mercy we receive depends on our willingness to admit our shortcomings. Our reward is a closer, more intimate relationship with the One who someday will judge the world.
Richard Ryan (Ohio, U.S.A.)
Prayer
Lord, help us to lay our sins at the foot of the cross and to humbly seek your face. Grant us your loving mercy. Amen.
Thought for the Day
Even when we fear our sins, we can confess them and find forgiveness
Prayer Focus
For courage to confess our sins
from The Upper Room, June 4, 2008
The Price of Significance
“Would you be willing to give your life to save the world if no one ever knew your name? If anonymity was the price you would have to pay for significance, would it be too great a price? To live a life of courage is not a guarantee of prestige or adulation, but there is a freedom in humility. It doesn’t matter anymore what anyone else thinks or what others say. It only matters if you live and die fulfilling the mission you were born for.” (p.62-63)
--From Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus
--From Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus
Proud, Arrogant . . . Llamas??
In South America the llama serves as the cultural metaphor for pride. To keep a heard of llamas corralled, you don’t even need a fence. All you need is one rope circling around the herd to keep them enclosed. Just by placing it at a height beneath the head and base of the neck, the llamas are secured in this makeshift pen. Rather than stooping beneath the rope, the llamas stand tall, but remain captive. They either refuse or are physically incapable of bending their necks, and thus are seen as a symbol of arrogance. (p.61)
--From Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus
--From Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Joke: Sermon Appreciation
Woman to pastor: “You don’t know how much your sermons have meant to my husband since he lost his mind.”
--Tal Bonham quoted in Holy Humor:Inspirational Wit and Cartoons (p.6) by Cal and Rose Samra
--Tal Bonham quoted in Holy Humor:Inspirational Wit and Cartoons (p.6) by Cal and Rose Samra
Joke: Start Close to the End
A keynote speaker at a convention of priests came to the dais, shuffled his notes, scanned his audience, and said, thoughtfully:
“Where to begin? Where to begin?”
A voice in the crowd yelled: “As close to the end as possible!”
--Fr. Norman J. Muckerman, CSSR Liguori, MO quoted in Holy Humor:Inspirational Wit and Cartoons (p. 5-6) by Cal and Rose Samra
“Where to begin? Where to begin?”
A voice in the crowd yelled: “As close to the end as possible!”
--Fr. Norman J. Muckerman, CSSR Liguori, MO quoted in Holy Humor:Inspirational Wit and Cartoons (p. 5-6) by Cal and Rose Samra
'Mutual Love for Others' --Mother Teresa
“Some visitors to Calcutta asked me to tell them something that would be useful for them to lead their lives in more profitable way. I answered, ‘Smile at each other. Smile at your wives, at your husbands, at your children, at all. Let mutual love for others grow each day in all of you.’”
--Mother Teresa, Heart of Joy quoted in Holy Humor:Inspirational Wit and Cartoons (p.22) by Cal and Rose Samra
--Mother Teresa, Heart of Joy quoted in Holy Humor:Inspirational Wit and Cartoons (p.22) by Cal and Rose Samra
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
When the Church is a Good Example: A sermon outline by Keith Badowski
When the Church is a Good Example
Sermon outline by Keith Badowski
I. The church is an encouragement and a good example when . . .
A. WE maintain the faith despite trials and attacks.
B. WE share the gospel near and far.
C. WE believe in Christ as the Center: results in Faith, Love, Hope. Faith in Christ leads to Good Works, Spread the Gospel, Expectation of Christ’s return.
II. Persecution
A. THEN: angry mobs. NOW: individual attacks & cultural attacks.
B. Cynicism, criticism—examples
C. Entertainment & Fantasy of pleasure in a godless world.
1 Thessalonians 1:6
Acts 17:5
persecution and affliction
angry mobs—not the type of persecution we face today.
Today’s attacks are individuals:
“Christianity is a crutch.”
“I’m too smart for that.”
“Christianity is bigotry in disguise.”
“Why should those religious people force their ideas on me or my children?”
Culture of TV and movies—sexuality and violence
Constructs in the mind a fantasy world where a godless world seems pleasurable and mostly harmless. The media assists in tempting us to turn away from God.
Barbara Mandrell sang to her son Nathan: Jesus Loves Me, This is the Day the Lord had Made, Jesus Loves the Little Children. Yet the first song he sang was All My Exes Live in Texas.
In response to this attack, should WE become activists? Should we picket and boycott the studios, the networks?
No. See 1 Thessalonians 4:11
WE are instructed to live a quite life. Simply turn off the TV when lies and temptations are being broadcast, avoid godless movies (which might mean avoiding quite a few movies these days).
Don’t get steeped in politics and protests. That often turns into a quest for human-centric power. And it’s totally unnecessary.
More importantly WE ought not to get distracted from our God-given main focus of winning others to Christ.
“Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip.” –Will Rodgers
III. Characteristics of a Good Example (Paul & Thessalonians)
A. Be an open book, sharing your life with others openly so they can see you God sees you—Accountability.
B. Focused on Christ & Holy Spirit
C. Allowing faith to translate into action.
D. Abandoning idols, i.e. Materialism
E. Demonstrating confidence & patience in the hope of Christ’s return.
IV. A Good Example Sets Aside Phony Evangelism
A. Overly simplified statements of belief
B. Hypocritical
C. People pleasing, ignoring the dangers of sin, candy-coating, could be false. (No talk of sin, judgment, repentance)
D. Value on charm and charisma (in the worldly sense)
E. Pressure of positions and authority
V. Good Examples Practice True Evangelism
A. Only the truth of God spoken, keeping to the central Gospel of Jesus Christ.
B. God pleasing, God tests our hearts and witnesses all we say and do—broadcast on the “Big Transmitter”
C. Out of centeredness in Christ, spread the Gospel beyond immediate surroundings.
VI. Your Are Prepared to Evangelize Epworth!
A. The Thessalonians had many fewer resources than we do today:
1. Jewish scriptures not published, had to be taught and memorized, shared by voice alone. WE have multiple translations widely in print, easily accessed and accessible.
2. The Apostle Paul only stayed a short time, 3 Sabbath’s of preaching. WE have heard numerous sermons in our lifetimes, Sunday school, and many testimonials.
3. The Thessalonians had the Holy Spirit. Ditto US: Holy Spirit
4. The Thessalonians had no written Gospel or letters in print, no New Testament at all. Paul’s letter was their first such material resource. WE have an extensive church history, a vast wealth of Christian literature, and a thriving Christian publishing industry.
VII. Response to Persecution
A. Then: the Thessalonians persisted in faith and spread the Gospel, did not focus on eliminating opposition. Now: WE should do the same.
B. Attacking the opposition via politics and protest distracts from focus on Christ.
C. Be teachers and examples, not of the world, but set apart.
Humility in Spiritual Leadership
When I first came to Mosaic, we were only attenders. I had no intention of ever becoming the pastor of this community of faith. We had been there about a year when we accepted the church’s invitation to replace the former pastor of twenty-four years.
The church had an annual leadership retreat where those who had accepted a certain level of responsibility would meet and plan for the future. Attendance was mandatory, and from all that I heard and read was not negotiable. The leadership guidelines clearly stated that any leader who did not attend would be released from his position. I have never been a big fan of policies and rules and always try to keep them to a minimum, but if they exist, I am pretty committed to fleshing them out. My view is that you shouldn’t have any policies that you are not willing to implement or back up. That’s why the fewer the better. But since I was entirely new to the process, I was trying to be careful to respect all the procedures that were in place.
As the meeting began and I stepped into my new role, I casually announced that it was good to see all of our leaders present and reminded them that any leaders who were not there would, of course, be removed and could pick up again the next year. It wasn’t really that big of a deal. I just assumed everyone was there. I didn’t know the history, so I was certain this was an annual leadership realignment.
Almost immediately after I stepped down, one of our staff members ran to me in a state of panic and asked me what in the world did I think I was doing. Confused, I asked him what he meant. He explained that they never removed leaders who do not attend. I reminded him that it was a written policy. He quickly corrected me with the unnerving clarification that it’s only said, never upheld.
Fortunately, it seemed I had caused no major damage until early Sunday morning when I received an unexpected phone call. It was one of the elders of the church. He had been newly elected and had been serving only as long as I had been lead pastor, but he was a long-standing member of the church. He had come in the ‘70s, and for nearly a decade had been personally mentored by the former pastor, who was still on the board of elders.
The phone call began with, “Pastor, we have a problem.” He quickly began to explain that he was not at the leadership retreat. His wife had been at the meeting and had called him to inform him he was no longer an elder.
My heart was in my throat, and my stomach was in knots. I couldn’t believe what I had done. I would have never knowingly dismissed an elder in such a public and trivial manner. Not only is it insensitive to the individual, but it’s really bad leadership.
I quickly moved toward damage control. I said, “Rick, I’m sure you had a good reason for not being there.”
He responded, “No, I just chose not to come.”
I countered, “No, Rick, I’m certain there was a good reason. Was there a family issue? A work-related issue?”
He said, “No, I went to a ball game instead.”
I wanted to scream at him and tell him, “Work with me, man!” but it was no use. I accepted his resignation over the phone.
Rick Yamamoto is genuinely one of the most humble men I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. I didn’t know him well, but this experience fast-forwarded our relationship by years. After he resigned he asked what he could do to make amends for his error in judgment. He would be willing to watch all the tapes and insisted on going before the congregation and asking for forgiveness. From his perspective, he had dishonored my leadership as the new pastor and had not lived up to his commitments.
It was the next Wednesday night service when I invited Rick to step up to the podium and share with the congregation. He began with such contrition that it brought a deafening silence throughout the whole building. He spoke in terms of failure, sin, and repentance. His language carried the heaviness of a tragic, moral failure. As he began to speak, I realize what was happening. Everyone was rushing to judgment. The natural conclusion was that Rick had resigned his eldership as a result of a significant violation. I imagine either adultery or embezzlement came to mind.
After expressing the depth of his sorrow, he went on t explain that he had carelessly neglected his responsibility to be at the leadership retreat. You could almost feel the shock and relief in the air. At the same time, the genuineness of Rick’s humility and the determination of this man to live under authority established a level of respect for spiritual leadership like we had never known. Rick was not only one of our elders, but also a successful businessman who managed a two-billion-dollar investment firm. In his lack of pridefulness, the texture of his humility made him not only value but comfortable with spiritual submission. He became living proof that individuals of great power can live under submission.
Immediately after offering his resignation, Rick stepped down as the congregation watched in silence. I stepped to the podium and thanked Rick for his humility and his willingness to be a person under authority. I then asked the congregation if this wasn’t exactly the kind of person we wanted as an elder. I moved to immediately reinstate Rick as an elder. Through acclamation, we instantly recalled Rick to his position of spiritual leadership. Rick serves as an elder at Mosaic to this day and is one of my closest friends and partners in ministry. (p. 58 -60)
--From Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus
The church had an annual leadership retreat where those who had accepted a certain level of responsibility would meet and plan for the future. Attendance was mandatory, and from all that I heard and read was not negotiable. The leadership guidelines clearly stated that any leader who did not attend would be released from his position. I have never been a big fan of policies and rules and always try to keep them to a minimum, but if they exist, I am pretty committed to fleshing them out. My view is that you shouldn’t have any policies that you are not willing to implement or back up. That’s why the fewer the better. But since I was entirely new to the process, I was trying to be careful to respect all the procedures that were in place.
As the meeting began and I stepped into my new role, I casually announced that it was good to see all of our leaders present and reminded them that any leaders who were not there would, of course, be removed and could pick up again the next year. It wasn’t really that big of a deal. I just assumed everyone was there. I didn’t know the history, so I was certain this was an annual leadership realignment.
Almost immediately after I stepped down, one of our staff members ran to me in a state of panic and asked me what in the world did I think I was doing. Confused, I asked him what he meant. He explained that they never removed leaders who do not attend. I reminded him that it was a written policy. He quickly corrected me with the unnerving clarification that it’s only said, never upheld.
Fortunately, it seemed I had caused no major damage until early Sunday morning when I received an unexpected phone call. It was one of the elders of the church. He had been newly elected and had been serving only as long as I had been lead pastor, but he was a long-standing member of the church. He had come in the ‘70s, and for nearly a decade had been personally mentored by the former pastor, who was still on the board of elders.
The phone call began with, “Pastor, we have a problem.” He quickly began to explain that he was not at the leadership retreat. His wife had been at the meeting and had called him to inform him he was no longer an elder.
My heart was in my throat, and my stomach was in knots. I couldn’t believe what I had done. I would have never knowingly dismissed an elder in such a public and trivial manner. Not only is it insensitive to the individual, but it’s really bad leadership.
I quickly moved toward damage control. I said, “Rick, I’m sure you had a good reason for not being there.”
He responded, “No, I just chose not to come.”
I countered, “No, Rick, I’m certain there was a good reason. Was there a family issue? A work-related issue?”
He said, “No, I went to a ball game instead.”
I wanted to scream at him and tell him, “Work with me, man!” but it was no use. I accepted his resignation over the phone.
Rick Yamamoto is genuinely one of the most humble men I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. I didn’t know him well, but this experience fast-forwarded our relationship by years. After he resigned he asked what he could do to make amends for his error in judgment. He would be willing to watch all the tapes and insisted on going before the congregation and asking for forgiveness. From his perspective, he had dishonored my leadership as the new pastor and had not lived up to his commitments.
It was the next Wednesday night service when I invited Rick to step up to the podium and share with the congregation. He began with such contrition that it brought a deafening silence throughout the whole building. He spoke in terms of failure, sin, and repentance. His language carried the heaviness of a tragic, moral failure. As he began to speak, I realize what was happening. Everyone was rushing to judgment. The natural conclusion was that Rick had resigned his eldership as a result of a significant violation. I imagine either adultery or embezzlement came to mind.
After expressing the depth of his sorrow, he went on t explain that he had carelessly neglected his responsibility to be at the leadership retreat. You could almost feel the shock and relief in the air. At the same time, the genuineness of Rick’s humility and the determination of this man to live under authority established a level of respect for spiritual leadership like we had never known. Rick was not only one of our elders, but also a successful businessman who managed a two-billion-dollar investment firm. In his lack of pridefulness, the texture of his humility made him not only value but comfortable with spiritual submission. He became living proof that individuals of great power can live under submission.
Immediately after offering his resignation, Rick stepped down as the congregation watched in silence. I stepped to the podium and thanked Rick for his humility and his willingness to be a person under authority. I then asked the congregation if this wasn’t exactly the kind of person we wanted as an elder. I moved to immediately reinstate Rick as an elder. Through acclamation, we instantly recalled Rick to his position of spiritual leadership. Rick serves as an elder at Mosaic to this day and is one of my closest friends and partners in ministry. (p. 58 -60)
--From Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus
Monday, June 2, 2008
Manuscript Accuracy: Shakespeare vs. the Bible
“It seems strange that the text of Shakespeare, which has been in existence less than two hundred and eight years, should be far more uncertain and corrupt than that of the New Testament, now over eighteen centuries old, during nearly fifteen of which it existed only in manuscript . . . With perhaps a dozen or twenty exceptions, the text of every verse in the New Testament may be said to be so far settled by general consent of scholars, that any dispute as to its reading must relate rather to the interpretation of the words than to any doubts respecting the words themselves. But every one of Shakespeare’s thirty-seven plays there are probably a hundred readings still in dispute, a large portion of which materially affects the meaning of the passages in which they occur.” (p. 20)
from Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell. McDowell is quoting an unnamed writer of an article found in the North American Review.
from Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell. McDowell is quoting an unnamed writer of an article found in the North American Review.
Tired of Speaking Sweetly
Tired of Speaking Sweetly
Love wants to reach out and manhandle us,
Break all our teacup talk of God.
If you had the courage and
Could give the Beloved His choice, some nights,
He would just drag you around the room
By your hair,
Ripping from your grip all those toys in the world
That bring you no joy.
Love sometimes gets tired of speaking sweetly
And wants to rip to shreds
All your erroneous notions of truth
That make you fight within yourself, dear one,
And with others,
Causing the world to weep
On too many fine days.
God wants to manhandle us,
Lock us inside of a tiny room with Himself
And practice His dropkick.
The Beloved sometimes wants
To do us a great favor:
Hold us upside down
And shake all the nonsense out.
But when we hear
He is in such a "playful drunken mood"
Most everyone I know
Quickly packs their bags and hightails it
Out of town.
From The Gift by Sufi poet Hafiz, translated by Daniel Ladinsky
Love wants to reach out and manhandle us,
Break all our teacup talk of God.
If you had the courage and
Could give the Beloved His choice, some nights,
He would just drag you around the room
By your hair,
Ripping from your grip all those toys in the world
That bring you no joy.
Love sometimes gets tired of speaking sweetly
And wants to rip to shreds
All your erroneous notions of truth
That make you fight within yourself, dear one,
And with others,
Causing the world to weep
On too many fine days.
God wants to manhandle us,
Lock us inside of a tiny room with Himself
And practice His dropkick.
The Beloved sometimes wants
To do us a great favor:
Hold us upside down
And shake all the nonsense out.
But when we hear
He is in such a "playful drunken mood"
Most everyone I know
Quickly packs their bags and hightails it
Out of town.
From The Gift by Sufi poet Hafiz, translated by Daniel Ladinsky
Mesmerized by Imitation Waterfall
“You cannot follow Jesus and remain the same. The journey itself will change you forever—not only your priorities, but your passions. It alters not only your direction, but your desires. It transforms not only your actions, but your values. It makes you just like Christ and unlike anyone else. It is nothing less than leaving the fake for the real. There is great risk in abandoning the artificial in pursuit of the authentic. Yet if we’ve never known the real thing, it is easy to understand why we are mesmerized with the best versions of the imitation.
Over the years we’ve developed a wonderful friendship with a family in New Zealand. Some of the Crawford clan recently crossed the ocean to enjoy our place here in Los Angeles. I remember when I took them to Downtown Disney. I eagerly brought them to one of my favorite spots, where a miniature waterfall produces a soothing sound as it works its way over rocks into a small pool. I have to admit I was a bit thrown back when Phillip’s response was a somewhat non-responsive, ‘Come to New Zealand, and we’ll show you the real thing.’ What did I expect from residents of Middle Earth?
I realized my appreciation was shaped by the context in which I live. In comparison to a city filled with endless concrete, even a façade of the natural gained my admiration. From their vantage point, even the most beautiful expression possible from the skilled hands of men was inadequate in comparison to the majesty of the awe-inspiring work of God.
As strange as it may seem, to discover what it really means to be truly human, the only one we can turn to is God. In all of our efforts, rather than confess that we have lost our way, we have set the course of our lives on a misdirected view of greatness. We have chosen to build facades and to build them on foundations of sand, which leads us back to where we began.” (p. 34-35) See Matt. 7:24-27
--From Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus
Over the years we’ve developed a wonderful friendship with a family in New Zealand. Some of the Crawford clan recently crossed the ocean to enjoy our place here in Los Angeles. I remember when I took them to Downtown Disney. I eagerly brought them to one of my favorite spots, where a miniature waterfall produces a soothing sound as it works its way over rocks into a small pool. I have to admit I was a bit thrown back when Phillip’s response was a somewhat non-responsive, ‘Come to New Zealand, and we’ll show you the real thing.’ What did I expect from residents of Middle Earth?
I realized my appreciation was shaped by the context in which I live. In comparison to a city filled with endless concrete, even a façade of the natural gained my admiration. From their vantage point, even the most beautiful expression possible from the skilled hands of men was inadequate in comparison to the majesty of the awe-inspiring work of God.
As strange as it may seem, to discover what it really means to be truly human, the only one we can turn to is God. In all of our efforts, rather than confess that we have lost our way, we have set the course of our lives on a misdirected view of greatness. We have chosen to build facades and to build them on foundations of sand, which leads us back to where we began.” (p. 34-35) See Matt. 7:24-27
--From Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus
Faith to Move Mountains, Prayer to Move the Hand of God
“Have faith in God. Amen I tell you that whoever says to this mountain ‘Be raised and thrown into the sea’ and has no doubts in his heart but believes that what he says is happening, it shall be his. So I tell you all what you pray and ask for, trust that you get it and it shall be yours. And when you stand praying forgive if you have anything against anyone so your Father in Heaven may also forgive you your wrongs.” (112)
Jesus in Mark’s gospel, translated by Reynolds Price in Three Gospels.
The video below from the Charlie Rose show features Reynolds Price:
Jesus in Mark’s gospel, translated by Reynolds Price in Three Gospels.
The video below from the Charlie Rose show features Reynolds Price:
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