Imagine what it would be like if there was this huge, global collections scam that preyed on the unsuspecting. The Fraudulent Collections Agency continually harasses everyone, sending them notices of delinquent accounts, demands payment and threatens with imprisonment.
An uninformed public pays up and continues to buy the lie that more is owed. They take the harassing calls, buckle to the threats and cower to the demands when in fact nothing is owed! The debt that was once on the books was paid a long time ago. As a matter of fact, the company was brought up on fraud charges and a judge found them liable and condemned the CEO and his lackeys to prison. They are out on appeal but their case will not be overturned and it's just a matter of time before they have to report to prison. Until that time, they are busy perpetrating their fraud and duping poor, unsuspecting people with their convincing tactics.
Wouldn't that scenario be crazy?
Believe it or not, this happens everyday! Satan and his evil minions are busy perpetrating a fraud on humanity telling them they owe a huge debt. Daily, people buy the scam and sell all they have to pay off a debt that is not due. They either don't know that the debt has been paid or they don't believe it. Christ has paid the debt of sin, conquered the penalty of death and restored the credit and standing of man in Himself. Done! Finished!
Next time you get one of those harassing, guilting, shaming collection calls that condemn you. Hang up on the evil schmuck and go back to watching American Idol.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Hiatus
I'm going to take a few weeks off writing to regroup and bring fresh material. Please register for updates and when I start writing you will receive an email notice of new articles.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Monday, February 26, 2007
Emancipation!
When Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 he declared that all slaves "from thenceforward shall be forever free". He also stated that anyone holding slaves would be in rebellion against the United States.
Now I'm sure there were many freed slaves who did not know of the their freedom and there were rebellious slave owners who did not want their "slaves" to know the truth. They may have rationalized their control by stating, "They won't be able to handle freedom. They are like children or worse animals that need to have a master." Whatever their rational, they did not want to lose their power and control and economic benefits of having the "one up" position.
But what happened when the news of freedom moved onto the plantation? Did the "slaves" remain slaves? Some did, of course, but most celebrated and received the news with joy. I'm sure fear was mixed in with the joy, because with freedom comes much responsibility; but, those who embraced the truth were forever changed. This change forever altered the power structures and systems even though the powers have continuously sought new ways to enslave and keep the upper hand.
You probably see a correlation coming. Christ has emancipated the whole world in His life, death and resurrection. He has defeated death and secured our resurrection in Himself - He is the Resurrection and Life and ALL will be raised in Him!
The question today and on the last day is do you want freedom? Do you want Jesus? He has emancipated you and broken the chains of death's slavery and exposed it for the empty power that it is. Do you love life or death? Freedom or slavery? Choose...
Now there are powers and systems that have done well hiding the truth of your emancipation. They have built big buildings and empires selling you what has already been freely given.
They have held out the threat of death's beating if you don't jump through their hoops for their personal gain. Not knowing the truth and having the mind of slave, what were you to do? You acted as slaves and said "Yes Masta!"
Hear today this proclamation: Christ has set you free and overcome your death! You will be raised in Him as surely as He is Lord of All and Above All! Choose - freedom or "slavery".
Now I'm sure there were many freed slaves who did not know of the their freedom and there were rebellious slave owners who did not want their "slaves" to know the truth. They may have rationalized their control by stating, "They won't be able to handle freedom. They are like children or worse animals that need to have a master." Whatever their rational, they did not want to lose their power and control and economic benefits of having the "one up" position.
But what happened when the news of freedom moved onto the plantation? Did the "slaves" remain slaves? Some did, of course, but most celebrated and received the news with joy. I'm sure fear was mixed in with the joy, because with freedom comes much responsibility; but, those who embraced the truth were forever changed. This change forever altered the power structures and systems even though the powers have continuously sought new ways to enslave and keep the upper hand.
You probably see a correlation coming. Christ has emancipated the whole world in His life, death and resurrection. He has defeated death and secured our resurrection in Himself - He is the Resurrection and Life and ALL will be raised in Him!
The question today and on the last day is do you want freedom? Do you want Jesus? He has emancipated you and broken the chains of death's slavery and exposed it for the empty power that it is. Do you love life or death? Freedom or slavery? Choose...
Now there are powers and systems that have done well hiding the truth of your emancipation. They have built big buildings and empires selling you what has already been freely given.
They have held out the threat of death's beating if you don't jump through their hoops for their personal gain. Not knowing the truth and having the mind of slave, what were you to do? You acted as slaves and said "Yes Masta!"
Hear today this proclamation: Christ has set you free and overcome your death! You will be raised in Him as surely as He is Lord of All and Above All! Choose - freedom or "slavery".
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Is Your Life in Your Big Toe?
I know it is a crazy question, but are you in your big toe? Did your big toe have to invite you into it in order for it to be alive? Did your big toe have to recognize that it was always getting stumped and confess that and then pledge to stop hitting the couch in the middle of the night in order for you to enter into your big toe and give it life? Has your big toe confessed, committed, been dunked or sprinkled and then started to read, give and share with other toes the necessity of inviting life into it?
Of course not! Your life is already in your toe and it lives and moves and has its existence in your body. It doesn't have to do anything to get your life - it already has it.
Likewise, the earth is the Lord's and everything in it. Where can we go where He is not?
Salvation is not committing to the Lord. It is not making Jesus Lord. It is not inviting Jesus into your heart (as if He weren't already there). Salvation is surrendering to the reality that the Lord of All has always been here and the life you live is not your own!
Go wiggle your toes!
Of course not! Your life is already in your toe and it lives and moves and has its existence in your body. It doesn't have to do anything to get your life - it already has it.
Likewise, the earth is the Lord's and everything in it. Where can we go where He is not?
Salvation is not committing to the Lord. It is not making Jesus Lord. It is not inviting Jesus into your heart (as if He weren't already there). Salvation is surrendering to the reality that the Lord of All has always been here and the life you live is not your own!
Go wiggle your toes!
Friday, February 16, 2007
Pinch your mate!
Have you pinched your spouse lately? If you haven’t, you might want to! So many times we get into fights with our mate and we are convinced that THEY are the problem. With contempt in our hearts and minds, we see our mate as a buffoon and if they would just get their act together we would be happy.
The problem with this is that we are failing to see what the real problem is. The scriptures tell us that our battles and conflicts aren’t with flesh and blood; rather, our battle is with things spiritual. Evil sneaks in and picks fights between us as if we are roosters in a cock fight. We are pitted against each other and before we know it we are in a mortal battle to save our significance, worth, or beloved-ness.
Instead of fighting your mate, turn and attack the problem that is coming between you. Let them know you are “on their team” and are unwilling to let things come between you. If you have to - pinch your mate. Better yet, pinch yourself!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Mission Accomplished not Mission Possible!
"Moreover, as it was the death of all mankind that the Savior came to accomplish, not His own, He did not lay aside His body by an individual act of dying, for to Him, as Life, this simply did not belong; but He accepted death at the hands of men, thereby completely to destroy it in His own body."It is amazing how quickly we have moved from salvation accomplished to salvation possible. We have moved from Good News to believe to a Good Offer to opt into.
Athanasius
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:1-7
Jesus has been accomplished it - Believe!
Happy Valentine's Day
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Vine and Branches
Imagine a vine with countless branches growing from it. The branches draw their life from the branch and are alive in the vine. Some branches are heavy with fruit, others slightly, and yet others not at all; but, all live and grow and have their being in the vine.
The branches do not generate life in themselves but have the life of the vine in them. If the branches were to be cut off from the vine, they would eventually disintegrate and cease to be. There is no life apart from the vine - apart from the vine the branches can do nothing!
Now, think about what happens to the branches if the vine dies. The branches follow suit - they die, too. The branches cannot keep the vine alive and they cannot exist without the vine. The whole system of vine and branches are headed down the path to ruin - they are doomed.
Now consider what happens if the dead vine comes back to life and once again has life flowing through the vine and out to the branches. The whole system is re-birthed and alive! The branches are restored to new life and are free to bare much fruit.
What happens to the vine, happens to the branches. The branches are completely dependent upon the vine and their welfare is bound up in the vine - for good or ill.
Jesus is the Vine, we are the branches. What happened to Jesus, happened to us! What happens to Jesus, happens to us! That is why the scripture tell us that when we come to the place in our life when the light bulb comes on and we recognize that Jesus is the Vine (Lord) and that this Vine that was once dead and is now raised to life, something amazing occurs in us. This amazing liberation of heart and soul can only be described as salvation. We are saved FROM the fear of death - we have been raised with the Vine! We are saved TO new life - the Vine's life is in us!
When the Good News of the Vine reaches us branches and we rest in the truth, much fruit begins to be expressed in us. We have come to believe that apart from the Vine we can do nothing - even exist!
Thanks be to the Vine!
The branches do not generate life in themselves but have the life of the vine in them. If the branches were to be cut off from the vine, they would eventually disintegrate and cease to be. There is no life apart from the vine - apart from the vine the branches can do nothing!
Now, think about what happens to the branches if the vine dies. The branches follow suit - they die, too. The branches cannot keep the vine alive and they cannot exist without the vine. The whole system of vine and branches are headed down the path to ruin - they are doomed.
Now consider what happens if the dead vine comes back to life and once again has life flowing through the vine and out to the branches. The whole system is re-birthed and alive! The branches are restored to new life and are free to bare much fruit.
What happens to the vine, happens to the branches. The branches are completely dependent upon the vine and their welfare is bound up in the vine - for good or ill.
Jesus is the Vine, we are the branches. What happened to Jesus, happened to us! What happens to Jesus, happens to us! That is why the scripture tell us that when we come to the place in our life when the light bulb comes on and we recognize that Jesus is the Vine (Lord) and that this Vine that was once dead and is now raised to life, something amazing occurs in us. This amazing liberation of heart and soul can only be described as salvation. We are saved FROM the fear of death - we have been raised with the Vine! We are saved TO new life - the Vine's life is in us!
When the Good News of the Vine reaches us branches and we rest in the truth, much fruit begins to be expressed in us. We have come to believe that apart from the Vine we can do nothing - even exist!
Thanks be to the Vine!
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Acceptance
The most powerful way to transform yourself or others is through acceptance. When you find yourself struggling with hiccups and hangups, do you beat yourself up with negative self talk? When those around you are acting out in ways that annoy you, do you respond harshly?
We are most open to correction from those who are accepting and affirming. We have all had those authority figures in our lives that could speak directly to us, even firmly correct us, and we listened to them because we knew they were committed to our best interest. At the end of the day, we knew they loved us and cared.
When we are struggling with our own hangups, start with accepting yourself. Instead of condemning yourself with harsh, shaming comments, seek first to understand where those hangups came from. Understanding doesn't mean agreeing or embracing as viable, but you can never transform something until you understand it.
In the same way, invest in understanding others before you start trying to change them. Honor where they are coming from and then offer another way in love.
When I start to get anxious when climbing up a ladder, I can approach myself with condemnation - "Gosh, what's wrong with you? It's just a stupid ladder! Buck up and climb, you wimp!" This approach rarely works.
"Why am I anxious (oh my soul)? What? Oh, OK! You are afraid I will fall again and lose another hand. That really hurt you when you lost lefty falling out of that tree. Body, you're afraid that I will be careless and break another arm. I promise I will be careful and watch my footing. We have to get up that ladder and complete this task. You can keep me on my edge by keeping me a little nervous but you can't rule me. Let's get this done together."
I know that may seem odd to talk to yourself that way but who better talk to you that way than you? If someone else talked to you in such a supportive way, you would like them and be influenced positively. Treat yourself in the same manner. Love others the way you love yourself!
After loving yourself, you will be better equipped to deal graciously with others and you will see transformation occurring around you and within.
We are most open to correction from those who are accepting and affirming. We have all had those authority figures in our lives that could speak directly to us, even firmly correct us, and we listened to them because we knew they were committed to our best interest. At the end of the day, we knew they loved us and cared.
When we are struggling with our own hangups, start with accepting yourself. Instead of condemning yourself with harsh, shaming comments, seek first to understand where those hangups came from. Understanding doesn't mean agreeing or embracing as viable, but you can never transform something until you understand it.
In the same way, invest in understanding others before you start trying to change them. Honor where they are coming from and then offer another way in love.
When I start to get anxious when climbing up a ladder, I can approach myself with condemnation - "Gosh, what's wrong with you? It's just a stupid ladder! Buck up and climb, you wimp!" This approach rarely works.
"Why am I anxious (oh my soul)? What? Oh, OK! You are afraid I will fall again and lose another hand. That really hurt you when you lost lefty falling out of that tree. Body, you're afraid that I will be careless and break another arm. I promise I will be careful and watch my footing. We have to get up that ladder and complete this task. You can keep me on my edge by keeping me a little nervous but you can't rule me. Let's get this done together."
I know that may seem odd to talk to yourself that way but who better talk to you that way than you? If someone else talked to you in such a supportive way, you would like them and be influenced positively. Treat yourself in the same manner. Love others the way you love yourself!
After loving yourself, you will be better equipped to deal graciously with others and you will see transformation occurring around you and within.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Hamster's Wheel
Jesus told us to do the taste test when it comes to religious teaching. Bad fruit comes from bad trees and good fruit comes from good trees. One of the ways that we can determine whether or not to swallow what we are hearing is to ask this question:
"Does this throw me back on myself or does this have me coming to Jesus and resting?"
Religion is full of calls to mount the hamster's wheel. Do this. Do that. Do! Do! Do! Excuse me, but this is dodo! The Gospel News is a declaration of DONE in Jesus!
Religionists will give you detailed lists of the things you need to do to gain God's favor, receive His blessings and get forgiven. These prophets of Baal will instruct you in many things to slash yourself to get God to hear you.
Jesus invites all the weary and loaded up people to come to Him and find rest. He knows how the road is wide with people flocking down the path of religion and winding up with destruction. He also knows how counter-cultural it is to narrow yourself to rest in Him and build your life on Him and His finished work. Building your life on Jesus is the only foundation that will stand the storms of life. Your long list of things to do for Jesus will never cut it and will never last the test of time.
If you are tired of the hamster's wheel of religion, you can climb off any time. Trust that all that is required of you has been done for you by Christ Jesus. It is done - you can stop trying to hold your spiritual tongue just right!
"Does this throw me back on myself or does this have me coming to Jesus and resting?"
Religion is full of calls to mount the hamster's wheel. Do this. Do that. Do! Do! Do! Excuse me, but this is dodo! The Gospel News is a declaration of DONE in Jesus!
Religionists will give you detailed lists of the things you need to do to gain God's favor, receive His blessings and get forgiven. These prophets of Baal will instruct you in many things to slash yourself to get God to hear you.
Jesus invites all the weary and loaded up people to come to Him and find rest. He knows how the road is wide with people flocking down the path of religion and winding up with destruction. He also knows how counter-cultural it is to narrow yourself to rest in Him and build your life on Him and His finished work. Building your life on Jesus is the only foundation that will stand the storms of life. Your long list of things to do for Jesus will never cut it and will never last the test of time.
If you are tired of the hamster's wheel of religion, you can climb off any time. Trust that all that is required of you has been done for you by Christ Jesus. It is done - you can stop trying to hold your spiritual tongue just right!
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Word of God
"You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." John 5:39-40
It seems to me that the scriptures, being inspired by the Holy Spirit, would point people to Jesus. The Holy Spirit is always pointing to Jesus and is determined that we know the Father's Son. The whole of the scriptures is about revealing the relationship of the Father and Son and our inclusion in their relationship through the Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
We know the Father through the Son, who has made Him known, and He shares their relating with us through the Holy Spirit. "From the Father, through the Son, and in the Holy Spirit" is what I heard and read J.B. Torrence (great, Scottish theologian) say on several occasions.
To reduce the Christian life to living the Bible is to miss the point altogether. The Father did not send His Son to give us the Bible so that we can have an instruction manual by which to live. He has given Himself to us through His Son and in the Spirit so that we might have fellowship with them.
The scriptures are so beneficial in their revealing the Son to us. The Spirit is always using the scriptures to draw us to the Son and to paint us a picture of what living in relational participation looks like. But there are those that want to replace God with the Bible and exalt it above Jesus.
"Thank you, Jesus, I've got this covered - I have your Word and have mastered it!" That is what Pharisees always do - give me the words, those I can manipulate, control and master. The difficulty is that the Word cannot be manipulated, controlled or mastered, for He is the Lord of the Universe and when we draw near to Him we are the ones who are transformed.
We honor scriptures when we recognize they bow their knee to Jesus and guard ourselves from our propensity to ditch the Author and go for the words.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Molesting Eden
As I reflect on the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, it seems to me to be more like a molestation than anything else. A molester always places themselves between the innocent and the protector and sets themselves up as the new friend. In doing so, they then hurt the innocent and it sets off a cascade of pain.
Adam and Eve were not created perfect - they had limitations. They were created "very good". They were created out of nothing and for the purpose of knowing Life through abiding in the Word - Jesus. As a branch rests in a relationship to the vine, man was created to rest in a relationship with God through His Son.
They didn't have a conscience, they had no knowledge of good and evil. What they had was life and relationship with God. All was very good! They were very innocent.
The serpent strutted into their life and positioned itself between the innocent children of God and God Himself. What did he do? He drove a wedge between God and the innocents by calling into question the goodness of God. This is the master work of a molester. "Your parents have left you. They are mad at you. They are not coming back." The hissing lie was God was holding out on Adam and Eve. He really doesn't want you to have life!
The second step was to shame the children. You are flawed - you SHOULD be like God. In other words, the way you are created is flawed. "You are strutting around here with your fly undone, making a fool of yourself, and God doesn't have the common decency to let you know how foolish you look and are. He's holding out on you!"
At this point, Adam and Eve exchanged the truth for a lie. They moved from "God is good and we are loved" to "God is bad and we are flawed". In that moment, the panicked trauma bond is established and the molester is now sought out for the fix.
"What do we do?!"
"Simple, eat the fruit in the middle of the garden and you will be fixed!"
Adam and Eve did just that but far from fixing themselves, they were now cast into a greater despair - they had been molested! To add insult to injury, the serpent now condemns the ones he has robbed of their innocence and tells them - "When God finds out he is going to kill you! Hide, I think I hear his footsteps!"
"Don't look at me! You will see how disgusting I am! Let me distract you from seeing me by masking my shame with these temporary things. There, how do you like me now?"
Our God is a loving and good God and he saw right through the situation. He knew that his children didn't arrive at their shameful conclusions by drawing close to Him and resting in His embrace. He knew that this dis-ease with Him had a source outside of Him.
"Who told you these things about your self? That didn't come from me!"
Lovingly, he explained the implications of talking to strangers and being molested. "It is going to hurt like Hell, children!"
Then he turned His eyes toward the "evil one" and gunned for him. "I will crush you even if it kills me! Just wait!"
Turning His eyes back to His children, dressed in failing coverings, He covered them with "flesh" skins and said, "Come, we have to get you away from the Tree of Life, I can't let you get stuck this way. I have better plans for you!"
Adam and Eve were not created perfect - they had limitations. They were created "very good". They were created out of nothing and for the purpose of knowing Life through abiding in the Word - Jesus. As a branch rests in a relationship to the vine, man was created to rest in a relationship with God through His Son.
They didn't have a conscience, they had no knowledge of good and evil. What they had was life and relationship with God. All was very good! They were very innocent.
The serpent strutted into their life and positioned itself between the innocent children of God and God Himself. What did he do? He drove a wedge between God and the innocents by calling into question the goodness of God. This is the master work of a molester. "Your parents have left you. They are mad at you. They are not coming back." The hissing lie was God was holding out on Adam and Eve. He really doesn't want you to have life!
The second step was to shame the children. You are flawed - you SHOULD be like God. In other words, the way you are created is flawed. "You are strutting around here with your fly undone, making a fool of yourself, and God doesn't have the common decency to let you know how foolish you look and are. He's holding out on you!"
At this point, Adam and Eve exchanged the truth for a lie. They moved from "God is good and we are loved" to "God is bad and we are flawed". In that moment, the panicked trauma bond is established and the molester is now sought out for the fix.
"What do we do?!"
"Simple, eat the fruit in the middle of the garden and you will be fixed!"
Adam and Eve did just that but far from fixing themselves, they were now cast into a greater despair - they had been molested! To add insult to injury, the serpent now condemns the ones he has robbed of their innocence and tells them - "When God finds out he is going to kill you! Hide, I think I hear his footsteps!"
"Don't look at me! You will see how disgusting I am! Let me distract you from seeing me by masking my shame with these temporary things. There, how do you like me now?"
Our God is a loving and good God and he saw right through the situation. He knew that his children didn't arrive at their shameful conclusions by drawing close to Him and resting in His embrace. He knew that this dis-ease with Him had a source outside of Him.
"Who told you these things about your self? That didn't come from me!"
Lovingly, he explained the implications of talking to strangers and being molested. "It is going to hurt like Hell, children!"
Then he turned His eyes toward the "evil one" and gunned for him. "I will crush you even if it kills me! Just wait!"
Turning His eyes back to His children, dressed in failing coverings, He covered them with "flesh" skins and said, "Come, we have to get you away from the Tree of Life, I can't let you get stuck this way. I have better plans for you!"
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Another Great Quote!
My wife, Robin, shared this quote with me that she read today as she has been reading the following book:
From Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala:
One Sunday about 20 years ago, back in our days in the YWCA, I said something impromptu while receiving new members into the church that has stuck with us ever since. People were standing in a row across the front before me, and as I spoke, the Holy Spirit seemed to prompt me to add, "And now, I charge you, as pastor of this church, that if you ever hear another member speak an unkind word of criticism or slander against anyone - myself, another pastor, an usher, a choir member, or anyone else - you have authority to stop that person in mid sentence and say, 'Excuse me - who hurt you? Who ignored you? Who slighted you? Was it Pasor Cymbala? Let's go to his office right now. He will get on his knees and apologize to you, and then we'll pray together, so God can restore peace to this body. But we will not let you talk critically about people who are not present to defend themselves.'"New members, please understand that I am entirely serious about this. I want you to help resolve this kind of thing immediately. And meanwhile, know this: If you are ever the one doing the loose talking, we will confront you."
To this very day, every time we receive new members, I say much the same thing. It is always a solemn moment. That is because I know what most easily destroys churches. It is not crack cocaine. It is not government oppression. It is not even lack of funds. Rather, it is gossip and slander that grieves the Holy Spirit.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Too Little Time!
Life is short and I have come to the conclusion that it is too short to belabor points and try to convince those who don't want to be convinced. There comes a time in everyone's life when, like the Apostle Paul, you have to shake the dust off your feet and go on to new fields of ministry.
For four years I ministered at a church as Associate Pastor and taught openly, plainly (some would disagree) and passionately the Gospel of Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. When I stepped down due to a heavy work load, I remained as a member - teaching as I always did.
Some appreciated it, some endured it, some couldn't stand it. What did I teach?
For four years I ministered at a church as Associate Pastor and taught openly, plainly (some would disagree) and passionately the Gospel of Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. When I stepped down due to a heavy work load, I remained as a member - teaching as I always did.
Some appreciated it, some endured it, some couldn't stand it. What did I teach?
- God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit living in a great fellowship of love, life and beauty.
- We were created from the overflow of their life and given a share in their life through the Son. We are the sons and daughters that God has always wanted!
- We exist in union with Jesus - always have and always will.
- Union doesn't mean fellowship - only those who love Jesus will appreciate that union.
- God actually reconciled the whole world to himself in Christ's life, death, resurrection and ascension and we are all presented to the Father spotless and free from blemish in Jesus.
- We are all called to believe this fantastic news and no longer live for ourselves but Christ who died for us and was raised again.
- When we look at anyone, we can no longer see them apart from this amazing inclusion in Christ and this shapes how we relate to all people.
- The church is not a place where we have a corner on the God market, but a place where the news has been embraced. We are therefore ambassadors (newsboys) telling the most beautiful news in the world to as many as possible - eager that they, too, rest from their religious strivings and relate to God as he truly is - the loving Father, Son and Spirit - not judge.
For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.2 Corinthians 2:15-17
Friday, January 26, 2007
Back to Posting Monday
I am swamped with phone calls and emails with the launch of Marathon Makeover this weekend. I will be back to posting on Monday.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Out of Nothing...
When God created us, He created us out of nothing. We were given a share in the life of the Word - that is Jesus - and in union with Him we have existence.
When Adam and Eve sinned, they began back down the path toward nothingness. This was the plight of humanity that Christ took upon Himself to undo. Life Himself secured our existence by taking into Himself our non-being death and destroyed it, overcoming it in His resurrection.
What I am at present trying to get my head around is the idea of nothingness. If the truth of our existence is that we exist in loving union with the Son who is in fellowship and union with the Father and Spirit, then to live out of any other center than that union is to not truly exist.
Evil is non-being, the "negation and antithesis of good*" and a lie is a vapor - the absence of reality. When you don't abide in the embrace of Jesus you are a ghost and the "real you" doesn't appear.
Any living in rejection of the love of God is destined to fail, not because of a fiery judgment at the hands of God but because lies and nothingness can't prevail. On the last day, anything that is not real will be consumed by the fire and the only thing that will remain is the real you - the you loved and embraced and accepted by the Father, Son and Spirit.
Why wait until that day and go through this life not really being? Why waste the time and gift of life by going around living as if you weren't already made right? In Jesus Christ you will always find your true self. Whenever you approach Him you will hear your true name - Beloved!
Leave your nothingness and live in Reality.
Add your thoughts to this post!
*Athanasius - The Incarnation of the Word of God
When Adam and Eve sinned, they began back down the path toward nothingness. This was the plight of humanity that Christ took upon Himself to undo. Life Himself secured our existence by taking into Himself our non-being death and destroyed it, overcoming it in His resurrection.
What I am at present trying to get my head around is the idea of nothingness. If the truth of our existence is that we exist in loving union with the Son who is in fellowship and union with the Father and Spirit, then to live out of any other center than that union is to not truly exist.
Evil is non-being, the "negation and antithesis of good*" and a lie is a vapor - the absence of reality. When you don't abide in the embrace of Jesus you are a ghost and the "real you" doesn't appear.
Any living in rejection of the love of God is destined to fail, not because of a fiery judgment at the hands of God but because lies and nothingness can't prevail. On the last day, anything that is not real will be consumed by the fire and the only thing that will remain is the real you - the you loved and embraced and accepted by the Father, Son and Spirit.
Why wait until that day and go through this life not really being? Why waste the time and gift of life by going around living as if you weren't already made right? In Jesus Christ you will always find your true self. Whenever you approach Him you will hear your true name - Beloved!
Leave your nothingness and live in Reality.
Add your thoughts to this post!
*Athanasius - The Incarnation of the Word of God
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
A Marathon Isn't 26.2 Miles...
I was interviewed for an upcoming article on our Marathon Makeover and the reporter asked me what life applications I had learned from training for and training others for a marathon. For me it was easy. The thing I have learned the most is that a marathon isn't 26.2 miles - it is one mile 26.2 times.
Whenever I have run a marathon, I have not been able to focus on the whole picture, that is too overwhelming. By breaking down the process into bite-sized pieces, I have been able to get through the enormous task. Life works this way.
Instead of focusing on the whole picture of the surmounting task(s) before you, break the task into what you can accomplish today. Slice the task into small deli-style slices and start chewing.
Most everyone I know can walk or run one mile. If that is the case, and if they are persistent enough, they can accomplish a marathon if they keep moving.
What are you facing in your life that you need to overcome? Break it down into small steps and focus only on those steps and keep moving. In time, you will get through the whole marathon task.
Whenever I have run a marathon, I have not been able to focus on the whole picture, that is too overwhelming. By breaking down the process into bite-sized pieces, I have been able to get through the enormous task. Life works this way.
Instead of focusing on the whole picture of the surmounting task(s) before you, break the task into what you can accomplish today. Slice the task into small deli-style slices and start chewing.
Most everyone I know can walk or run one mile. If that is the case, and if they are persistent enough, they can accomplish a marathon if they keep moving.
What are you facing in your life that you need to overcome? Break it down into small steps and focus only on those steps and keep moving. In time, you will get through the whole marathon task.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Sharing Love
"For God is good - or rather, of all goodness He is Fountainhead, and it is impossible for one who is good to be mean or grudging about anything. Grudging existence to none therefore, He made all things out of nothing through His own Word, our Lord Jesus Christ; and of all these earthly creatures He reserved especial mercy for the race of men."
St. Athanasius
I read those sentences over and over and wondered what in the world Athanasius was saying. Then it hit me - God, in His goodness, is full and overflowing and out of that fullness God created. Like a husband and wife full in their love for each other who decide to have children, the Father, Son, and Spirit in their fullness determined that their love was too good to keep to themselves.
In other words, God created not out of need but out of fullness! God is a philanthropist that has so much that the only natural thing to do is share - not hoard.
When we start with a bored, lonely god who creates out his need to be worshiped or glorified, what we have is an egocentric god. A god that needs fixing. That idea even shapes our understanding of the cross. The cross becomes aimed at changing God's attitude and appeasing His hurt feelings, because after all, it's all about Him.
God as Trinity tells us that God has never been egocentric. The Father, Son and Spirit have always been other-centered and the fountain of all love - God is love! The cross is not an instrument to appease an angry god, in whose hands we are held (i.e. Jonathan Edwards), but the surgeon's scalpel used to remove the diseased condition of our humanity. God, in His other-centered love, determined to save us even it killed Him.
God is full of love for you!
St. Athanasius
I read those sentences over and over and wondered what in the world Athanasius was saying. Then it hit me - God, in His goodness, is full and overflowing and out of that fullness God created. Like a husband and wife full in their love for each other who decide to have children, the Father, Son, and Spirit in their fullness determined that their love was too good to keep to themselves.
In other words, God created not out of need but out of fullness! God is a philanthropist that has so much that the only natural thing to do is share - not hoard.
When we start with a bored, lonely god who creates out his need to be worshiped or glorified, what we have is an egocentric god. A god that needs fixing. That idea even shapes our understanding of the cross. The cross becomes aimed at changing God's attitude and appeasing His hurt feelings, because after all, it's all about Him.
God as Trinity tells us that God has never been egocentric. The Father, Son and Spirit have always been other-centered and the fountain of all love - God is love! The cross is not an instrument to appease an angry god, in whose hands we are held (i.e. Jonathan Edwards), but the surgeon's scalpel used to remove the diseased condition of our humanity. God, in His other-centered love, determined to save us even it killed Him.
God is full of love for you!
Friday, January 19, 2007
Truth vs. Tradition
The thing about truth that is amazing is that truth is truth regardless of whether or not anyone believes it. Long before anyone believed that the world was round... it was. While others believed the moon was made of cheese... it wasn't. Truth is truth.
Somehow we have come to believe in the Christian faith that our belief in something is what determines the veracity of it. Unless you believe in Jesus you are not reconciled by Him. Unless you believe in Jesus you are not included in Him.
I recognize that is the traditional point of view but it is neither biblical or truth. In Acts 17:28, Paul, speaking to a group of Athenian pagans, tells them that in Christ they live and move and have their being." - They are already in Christ. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul states that ALL THINGS are held together IN Christ and that God was pleased to reconcile all things to Himself in Christ. He goes on to emphasize this point by declaring "whether things on earth or things in heaven" all have been restored to the Father in and through Jesus.
When you start with a faulty, traditional premise - only those in Christ get to heaven - to hear this news is to assume that the person is crossing over into the realm of heresy. "Universalism! Universalism!" they cry and begin to build the fires for the burning at the stake. Protect a tradition that is neither biblical or true.
Thomas Erskine in his essays on the "Unconditional Freeness of the Gospel" states:
"I think that a lot of the theoretical difficulty on this matter has arisen from the habit of considering heaven merely as a reward, and hell merely as a punishment. Pardon, or forgiveness, is viewed as the deliverance from hell, and the introduction into heaven."
also,
"Heaven then is the name for a character conformed to the will of God, and hell is the name for a character opposed to the will of God. The idea therefore of having heaven without holiness, is like the idea of having health without being well; it is a contradiction in terms."
and more,
"Christianity is like a divinely revealed medical treatment for diseased spirits. Heaven is the name for health in the soul, and hell is the name for disease. The design of Christianity is to produce heaven, and to destroy hell."
Finally,
"Forgiveness, or pardon, is not heaven any more than a medicine is health. Pardon is proclaimed freely and universally; it is perfectly gratuitous, unconditional and unlimited. But heaven is limited to those who are sanctified by the belief of the pardon."
The truest thing about us all is that we have been included in Jesus - always have, always will - and that when He died, we died (II Corinthians 5:14); and when He was raised up we were raised up (Ephesians 2:6).
When we come to know the truth we are set free (John 8:32) and heaven begins to be produced in our soul. To not believe the truth is to live in denial (and when has that ever worked?).
Walk in the truth of Jesus!
For further reading on Thomas Erskine go to this site.
Somehow we have come to believe in the Christian faith that our belief in something is what determines the veracity of it. Unless you believe in Jesus you are not reconciled by Him. Unless you believe in Jesus you are not included in Him.
I recognize that is the traditional point of view but it is neither biblical or truth. In Acts 17:28, Paul, speaking to a group of Athenian pagans, tells them that in Christ they live and move and have their being." - They are already in Christ. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul states that ALL THINGS are held together IN Christ and that God was pleased to reconcile all things to Himself in Christ. He goes on to emphasize this point by declaring "whether things on earth or things in heaven" all have been restored to the Father in and through Jesus.
When you start with a faulty, traditional premise - only those in Christ get to heaven - to hear this news is to assume that the person is crossing over into the realm of heresy. "Universalism! Universalism!" they cry and begin to build the fires for the burning at the stake. Protect a tradition that is neither biblical or true.
Thomas Erskine in his essays on the "Unconditional Freeness of the Gospel" states:
"I think that a lot of the theoretical difficulty on this matter has arisen from the habit of considering heaven merely as a reward, and hell merely as a punishment. Pardon, or forgiveness, is viewed as the deliverance from hell, and the introduction into heaven."
also,
"Heaven then is the name for a character conformed to the will of God, and hell is the name for a character opposed to the will of God. The idea therefore of having heaven without holiness, is like the idea of having health without being well; it is a contradiction in terms."
and more,
"Christianity is like a divinely revealed medical treatment for diseased spirits. Heaven is the name for health in the soul, and hell is the name for disease. The design of Christianity is to produce heaven, and to destroy hell."
Finally,
"Forgiveness, or pardon, is not heaven any more than a medicine is health. Pardon is proclaimed freely and universally; it is perfectly gratuitous, unconditional and unlimited. But heaven is limited to those who are sanctified by the belief of the pardon."
The truest thing about us all is that we have been included in Jesus - always have, always will - and that when He died, we died (II Corinthians 5:14); and when He was raised up we were raised up (Ephesians 2:6).
When we come to know the truth we are set free (John 8:32) and heaven begins to be produced in our soul. To not believe the truth is to live in denial (and when has that ever worked?).
Walk in the truth of Jesus!
For further reading on Thomas Erskine go to this site.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Listening to Friends and Family Members
At this time of year, I start my Marathon Makeover training program with which I will train others to finish the Chicago Marathon. This is my fourth year to do this and I have seen 125 people cross the finish line after 26.2 miles and most of them were couch potatoes when they started.
What is interesting to me is that every year I have to contend with participants who are being counseled by their friends and family members NOT to do a marathon.
"That's stupid!"
"You're going to hurt yourself."
"That's a selfish waste of time."
On and on it goes and sadly too many people listen to their friends and family. They are trying to be helpful and keep you from failing - Never try anything big and you won't be disappointed - but the message is "you are too fragile to handle disappointment."
If you are going to make it in this world, there comes a time when you have to stop listening to your friends and family and run your own race. They have a limited perspective of you, after all, they knew you when you were in diapers or where a 7th grade dork.
What is interesting to me is that every year I have to contend with participants who are being counseled by their friends and family members NOT to do a marathon.
"That's stupid!"
"You're going to hurt yourself."
"That's a selfish waste of time."
On and on it goes and sadly too many people listen to their friends and family. They are trying to be helpful and keep you from failing - Never try anything big and you won't be disappointed - but the message is "you are too fragile to handle disappointment."
If you are going to make it in this world, there comes a time when you have to stop listening to your friends and family and run your own race. They have a limited perspective of you, after all, they knew you when you were in diapers or where a 7th grade dork.
"While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Matthew 12:46-50
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