Language and communication

From my reading this morning, Peterson speaks of three kinds of language.  Language 1 is primary, what we learn first.  It’s the communication between a parent and an infant child, the language of intimacy, of relationship and trust. Language 2 is informational and language 3 is motivational.   We most often use 2 and 3.  But 1 is the language of prayer.

Sitting here this morning with Sunshine and her tennis ball game.  Because we spend this time together I have learned that when she barks a certain way it’s because she wants me to retrieve her ball.  It’s either rolled behind something, gotten too close to Bob or she just want me to roll it back to her. However if I’m watching her I can usually tell what she wants before she barks – that my attention is required.

Spending time with is the key in communication; that and an expectancy that something will come from the time spent.  This is what prayer can be.  Perhaps that sounds a bit selfish – what can I get but it’s really more of how can I know God better, how can I learn His language, His will and purposes.  While we mostly need words to communicate, He does not.  He is able to do so on a much deeper level.

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  (Rom 8:26-17)

A morning muse

To “hear Him speak” it is necessary to spend time with Him, time in His word, time to be still, time to listen rather than talk.  It’s not easy to quiet before Him because we usually have so much we want to say - but it can be done.  It begins with a desire to just “be with Him”.  It’s not something we can manipulate.  It comes from a surrendered heart, a heart in need of and ready to tremble at His word.

Know too that it is His desire to meet with us as well.  In fact, it is His desire that draws us to Him.  He is the initiator and the lover of our souls.  We were created in His image, so that we could have an intimate and personal relationship with Him but on His terms and not our own.

Be still and know - - - He’s waiting.

The story of Simeon in the temple has always had special meaning for me.

Early in my life as a Christian I use to babysit for my pastor’s family.   When I first started they had two girls but as time went on they had a baby boy.  I can remember the first time I got to sit with him.  They had some church function to attend and so I got to stay with the baby.  I remember sitting at their kitchen table, holding this little being in my arms –so small and so very vulnerable.  I was suddenly overwhelmed with the thought of what it was like to hold the baby Jesus and what an amazing thing God did in taking on human flesh – not only human flesh, but that of an infant, totally dependent upon others for his very existence.  I was both humbled and in awe of such a sacrifice of love

In writing these words they seem so inadequate to describe something that so profoundly changed something in my heart – that if He could love me to enough to take on such frailty and dependence, that I could certainly trust Him with my life.

And so I can identify with dear old Simeon and the joy he must have known to see and hold his Savior.

We are not to make friends with the world or compromise with its ways. We are called to die to its ways and live for Christ. (Paraphrase of Tozer/The old cross and the new)

Abba, I must admit there is fear and trembling in my heart as I read this article this morning.  There is a difference between friendship with You and a familiarity without a true regard for just Who You are.  Help me to never take for granted or in any way diminish You or all that You have done.  My old life is not my friend but has become my enemy, as is any attitude or behavior that separates me from You.  The “world” too in no friend, though there is much beauty and spender to be seen, this is not my home.  I am an alien in a strange land on a journey towards home.  You are my home.  In all things, please direct my path and keep my heart fixed upon You.

Remembering

It’s remarkable to me how a picture can bring up so many wonderful memories and warm emotions, remembering times in my life that were just magical and full of wonder.  Those memories are a part of me, a part of who I am.

I think that’s why God would so often tell Israel to “remember” some event or to “write it down” because we can so often forget, with all the distractions of our everyday lives, just how magical and full of wonder our lives really are.

Random thoughts

Abba, I was thinking this morning about a discussion I had with someone about missing the relationships, the connections that I had in a community we were once a part of and of that time in my life.  They expressed that perhaps they weren't real but were just pretend but I choose to believe they were “for a season”. 

It occurred to me that sometimes we all pretend because we may not "feel" the way we think we should – Forgiveness, for example.  We know we should but deep down we aren’t fully capable of it and so we try to act like we forgive.

I think we’re all works in progress and sometime we just have to accept what is offered as genuine because it may be the best that can be offered at the time.

I’m reminded of the difference between Paul and Barnibus’ reaction to John Mark.  I don’t think either was wrong but each reacted according to their own personalities and visions.  I also believe that as a result John Mark grew in the maturity of his faith.

I think too it has something to do with our expectations.  People are going to disappoint us - and sometimes we disappoint ourselves.  We can choose to let the disappointment divide us or we can choose to allow grace to overcome the disappointment.

Help me, Father, to be an instrument of Your grace

Dogs and Leashes

As you know, we have had a number of golden retrievers over the years which we love to take with us on our adventures. One of our pups (Autumn) does much better on a leash.  She tends to wander off where she shouldn’t so we keep her on a leash, at least initially, for her own protection and our peace of mind. 

We had another pup (Shadow) who never required a leash.  He would always stay by our side and would come when called.  He seemed to know we had his best interest at heart and would choose to remain near us rather than wander off on his own.

Both were allowed to enjoy our adventures, but Shadow enjoyed a freedom because we knew he would obey.

I see God’s commandments are like the leash – they are there to keep us safe and are necessary until we learn to trust the Master, that He knows what’s best for us, and to listen for His voice.

We love them both and I know they both love us, but I can’t help but feel that Shadow’s love for us is what kept him close.  Autumn loves us too, in fact she loves to snuggle, but her “wander-lust” will often cause her to leave us in pursuit of her doing her own thing.  Therefore, the leash is necessary.

When our love for the Master is greater than our desire to wander, that is where our true freedom is found.

It is not activity which glorifies God -

. . it is character, it is what you are, and the way you react to a situation. 

Abba, Help me to be a woman of character, like that of Jesus.  I cannot in my own strength.  I know this all too well.  Each day I allow some situation to get the upper hand and my attitude shows just how un-like Jesus I can be.  The phase "acceptance with joy" comes to mind. So rather than anger, resentment or frustration, gives me eyes to see the blessing in the raindrops and the tears - Your mercies in disguise.

Nearness is likeness - excerpts from Tozer

The sense of God being remote – rule out the concept of space.
God is not here or there but carries here and there in His heart.  He fills heaven and earth as the ocean fills the bucket that is submerged in it, and as the ocean surrounds the bucket so does God in the universe He fills.  God is not contained: He contains.

God created us as living souls and gave us bodies through which we can experience the world around us and communicate with one another.  When man fell through sin, he began to think of himself as having a soul instead of being one.  It makes a difference whether a man believes that he is a body having a soul or a soul having a body.

We tend to be body-conscious and the concept of near and far seem quite natural to us. The Lord said of Israel “Their hearts are far from me”.  Here is the definition of far and near in our relation to God.  The words refer not to physical distance, but to likeness.  It is dissimilarity that creates the sense of remoteness.  Two creatures may be so close physically that they touch, yet because of dissimilarity of nature be millions of miles apart.

For the moral unlikeness between man and God the Bible uses the word alienation.  The truth is He is nearer to us than we are to ourselves.  What we cannot do, Christ did. The new birth makes us partakers of the divine nature and the work of undoing the dissimilarity between us and God begins.

So when we feel a sense of remoteness: It may be temporary, so trust God in the dark until the light returns. And/or look to your inner life for wrong attitudes or evil thoughts, confess them and put them away.  God was never away in the first place.

"For love, we will climb mountains, cross seas, traverse desert sands, and endure untold hardships . . .

Without love, mountains become unclimbable, seas uncrossable, deserts unbearable, and hardships our lot in life." ― Gary Chapman, The Five Love Languages

I know Chapman is focusing on marriage, but I think this is true for us all, including those who are single – to find that the love of Christ (His for us and ours for Him) is just as real, even more so, than that found in marriage.

We were not designed to live alone but were made for relationship but I believe it must start with our relationship with our Father – and that this is all that is needed to find fulfillment in this life.  From that relationship we find the capacity to love others and to be loved by others.

I know of those who are married but are still alone because they have settled for less.

Our souls will always be restless (and unfulfilled) until we first find our rest in Him.

Journaling

Journaling – a way of tracing the hand of God upon one’s life  . . . to celebrate the power of God in the midst of my own weakness. . . a testimony of the faithfulness of God in my life. . . to perceive the divine whisper, to transform into print, the still, small voice of God. (MacDonald)

I am and have been for years – a journalner.  I can’t image a day without it.  I have decades of spiral notebooks filled with my most inner thoughts and conversations with my heavenly Father, times of such sweet and intimate communion with my Lord that I can hardly believe they're real – but I know they are, because I’ve written them down.

So when I came upon MacDonald’s section on Journal keeping as a way to listen to God, of bringing order into our private world – something inside me reacted with sheer joy and a shout of Amen!

So if you’re looking for a way of drawing closer to Him, take some time alone, grab a notebook and something to write with and just tell Him what’s on your heart by writing it down.  And in the in-between times, when you’ve said what’s on your heart - be still and listen, don’t get rushed but wait expectantly.  It may take some time but His desire is to be in communion with us, to tabernacle with us.  He just needs a willing and receptive heart and time to speak.

Not sure where I'm going with this but . . .

I was thinking this morning of all the conflicting noise that surrounds us today, that divides us today. Everyone has an opinion and feels the need to express it to the rest of us . . . myself included.  God is NOT the author of confusion but our enemy sure is and he is exploiting it to the max.  We don’t have to agree to get along, we just have to be willing to be gracious to one another, to listen and try to understand what is being said.  No one gets it right all the time.  We are, after all, all sinner who have fallen short of the glory of God.  So let’s not villainize those who see things differently.

Sometime, however, we just have to part ways – when our opinions and values become more important than a relationship.  That sounds a bit harsh, but there is a level of differences, extreme differences, which I find are a barrier to any real relationship.  (Keep in mind that I’m an introvert and can only handle just so many relationships to start with.)  I wish these folks no ill will, nor do I think any less of them, but if I find no common ground I say it’s time to just move on. To be at peace with others sometimes requires separation.  Boundaries and fences do make for good neighbors.

For me, personally, the common ground that most often keeps me in a relationship is Jesus.  While I may not agree with their views and opinions, I can accept them as a fellow follower of Christ.  Acceptance does not mean agreement – it just means a willingness to remain – one beggar telling another beggar where to find food. We are to pursue peace (Heb 12:14) and if it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. (Rom 12:18).

In the midst of all the noise, take a moment to stop, be still and listen for His voice  - and where He leads, follow.

About a garden

That inner spiritual center – a garden, a place of potent peace and tranquility, a place where the Spirit of God comes to make self-disclosure, to share wisdom, to give affirmation or rebuke, to provide encouragement, and to give direction and guidance.  A quiet place where there is the absence of busyness, the defiling noise, of confusion.

This quote is from a book I am currently reading called Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald and it reminded me of the following:

Many years ago at a conference the speaker asked us to image our inner lives as a garden. We were to ask Jesus to come in and to allow Him to pull out the weeds.  It has always stuck with me, the image I had of Him joyfully, and with get abandon, pulling out the weeds and tossing them aside.  As I remember there was quite a lot of work for Him to do, and He was tireless in His efforts.  There was such a sense of rejoicing.  He and I both found such pleasure in uprooting and getting rid of the weeds so that my garden could produce the fruit for which it was intended.

Today, while there is still work to be done, there is that place of peace and tranquility, a place of quiet confidence and rest.  I am so very blessed in knowing that my life is in His hands. That my garden is being tended to by The Great Gardener.

A memory

Several times lately I have been reminded of a time, a long time ago, when I hit the wall and broke down in tears, deep soul wrenching tears as I sat on the floor of the chapel at Holy Comforter Church.  I remember one of the things I was aware of was to avoid false Jesuses.  I became aware that many would “come in His name” but there is only One true Jesus and I wanted desperately to make sure He was the one I followed. 

I remember too at that moment recalling a scene in Hinds Feet, where Much Afraid is climbing the mountain, alone. It’s storming around her and she’s clinging to the cleft in the rock.  The Shepherd comes to her and asks something like – what if all the promises weren’t true, would you still follow me?  And her response is “yes” and I realized that would be my response as well.  Because He is so much more that the promises.  He is love and all that is good and right, it’s not about what He gives, but Who He is.

I know I’m not all that He has called me to be, at least not yet, but I am so confident in His love that I can keep climbing.  I have come to know that His Spirit is strong in me – that has nothing to do with me but all because of Him.  I don’t know why He has chosen me, there are so many who are so much “bigger” than I am, so much “more” than I am but that doesn’t seem to matter to Him – He just loves me and I am so very grateful and will continue to rejoice in His amazing love.

Some thoughts regarding washing feet

The secret to harmony and unity is learning, practicing and accepting the washing of one another’s feet.

He/Judas took the sop from Jesus' hand, and that was the final chance he had. When he did, Satan entered into him, and Judas was no longer his own master in any degree at all. . . Jesus sacrificed himself in order to save his disciples; Judas sacrificed Jesus in order to save himself. Those two philosophies dominate the world today.

Is there, then, a point of no return?

In this final appeal, Jesus is directing a word to the holders of the two basic attitudes present, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives any one whom I send receives me." That is a word to the disciples, and to us, that when someone comes to us to wash our feet, to help us with some problem of sin or error in our life, we are to remember that this person is sent by Jesus. Therefore it is Jesus himself who is standing before us. It is he who is offering to wash our feet. And we are not to resent this kind of ministry on the part of others. We are not to say, "You have no right to come to me. This is my own private affair; you have nothing to do with it." But we are to remember that "He who receives any one whom I send," Jesus says, "receives me." Let us not, like Peter, fall into the error of rejecting the indispensable ministry of cleansing which Jesus offers. (Stedman)

Often times that “someone” that Jesus sends is His Spirit, although He is always at work – when He reveals our wrong, our sin, through our conscience and gives us the opportunity and the privilege of repenting and “receiving” Jesus (of having our feet washed).

(As an aside, in typing this out I at first typed “repeating” rather than “repenting”.  What a difference one letter can make – there’s a lesson there, not sure just what it is though.)

Lessons from the storm

 – that there does reside in people a desire to help those in need, to be our brother’s keeper, so to speak.  It has to do with our consciences, given by our Father and a part of His purpose that we should love one another.  This goes above and beyond our being Americans (although I must confess I am proud to be one) – rather than our independence it reveals our dependence on each other.  For man was not meant to live “alone” but in relationship and community.  I personally believe that starts with our communion with God our Father, through faith in His Son and the working of His Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds.

In the storms in is helpful to remember that the storm won’t last, that He is in the storm with us and has promised to get us through to the other side.

What to do about John Mark

What a reminder this is that we are dealing with the God of the Second Chance! Some may have muffed things badly in a ministry, or failed in some area of life. Oftentimes in the world, no second chance is offered, but the God of grace offers a second and even a third and fourth chance.  (Stedman/Col 4:10)

I have always found comfort in the story of Paul and Barnabus and their parting of the ways because of John Mark.  I think both had legitimate reasons for their positions, there was not a right and wrong answer – God used both.

Paul didn’t want to take a chance that John Mark would bail on him again.  He didn’t trust him.  When someone has betrayed you – while you can forgive them – it is not always wise to put yourself in a position where they are apt to betray you again.  Paul was no stranger to adversity and needed someone he could count on.

Barnabus, on the other hand, wants to give John Mark a second chance (he is after all a son of encouragement).  He probably saw something in John Mark that was worth developing.  He could just as easily have been betrayed but was willing to risk it.  In the end it appears John Mark rose to the occasion.  And finally he was reconciled with Paul and was even given his approval.

I see value in both and more importantly God was able to use both for His purposes.  Often times I’ve seen Christians part company for all kinds of reasons.  I just believe that God can use these divisions for His own purposes.  And sometimes these divisions are necessary because we can become too comfortable and set in our ways.

I think it’s important to remember that ultimately God is in charge.  As long as we are seeking Him and walking towards Him, we will also be drawing closer to one another and eventually our divisions will cease. Hard to imagine at times, but I believe it’s true.

I heard someone the other day say:

"My grandson was a bit sullen the other day when I was correcting him about something. When I asked him why he was acting that way he said, "Because you're always accusing me." That gave me pause. I did not realize it looked like that to him. I did not think I was always accusing him---I am sure I was not---but to him it looked that way. I realized I had better change and approach things differently."

That got me thinking of how differently we can perceive the same thing.  It seems even “eye witnesses” can have differing accounts of the same event, of what they see or don’t see.  I think that’s what makes knowing the truth so difficult at times.  Our own biases and histories can get in the way.  I think that’s why a criteria for truth must lie outside of one’s self – to define truth that isn’t based on personal opinion or momentary emotions.

God’s word says knowing the truth will set you free. . .because truth doesn’t depend on me.  His word is true – from the beginning to the end, unchanging, to be trusted and relied upon.  What a comfort to know that I don’t have to figure it all out, that He has done that for me.

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men (Col 3:23)

I try to remind myself of this on a daily basis.  Though I don’t always succeed it’s worth the effort to try and develop this practice.  As the saying goes, we play for an audience of one and often the most menial task can have the greatest impact – on others and on ourselves.

I often think of David as a young boy. He was a shepherd who spent his early years caring for sheep.  As I understand it, sheep are pretty mindless animals and really need someone to look after them, but then that’s another story.

I know that all that time David spent alone, tending the sheep – a rather lowly and menial task – that God was preparing him for something much bigger.  I have always wanted a heart like David’s because he was known for having a heart for the Lord.  What a truly wonderful thing to be known for.  I think a large part of his heart development occurred during his early years spent in the lowly task of tending sheep.  So when I hear “whatever you do” I think of David.  So often the things we do go without notice or at least it appears that way.  But there is One who knows our every move.  I want my moves to be for Him, directed by Him and to rejoice in those moments when it’s just between the two of us.  So whatever I do, rather seen or unseen – I want it to be all for Him.

Monuments

There is, today, this movement to remove historical monuments that have a negative connotation - that represent a not so favorable view of who we were and where we come from.  I’m just glad that the writers’ of the Bible, guided by the Holy Spirit, chose to portray humans just as they are – warts and all, so to speak, because none of us get it right all the time.  Part of maturing is learning from our mistakes, accepting the fact that we are flawed – and learning to change and move forward.

I am a sinner saved by grace.  Because of His grace I want to extend it to others and would hope that others would be willing to extend it to me.  Just a thought.

Break my heart for what breaks Yours.

Father, I am so grateful that I am forgiven.  Without Your forgiveness I could not breathe.  Help me, cause me to grow beyond being forgiven to be changed and conformed into the image of Jesus.  Clean out the clutter in my heart and let me start anew, as when You were my first love, to be a participant in Your plans and to rejoice in loving and being loved by You.  Thank You that You will complete the work You have begun in me – we’ve come a long way, but we have a ways to go and I know that You are not done with me yet.  To be a builder of bridges not walls.  To live out of the fullness in You rather than the emptiness in me.  My life is in Your hands.  Oh the joy of knowing that I am Yours.

Commandments

The old commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. 

The new commandment to love as I have love you. (Jesus)

This is so opposite of what the world says.  The world says that we should look out for ourselves. That I have my rights to do or say or be what I want; that “I” always comes first.  Even in loving our neighbors there is a certain amount of “self” involved.  Treating others the way we would like to be treated. 

But Jesus takes it to a whole new level of surrendering by giving up His life for ours.  He then gave us His Spirit so that we could live and love as He did.

It’s a process – this dying to our “selves” and living for others.  It’s day to day, moment to moment. But in the end, we shall behold Him - face to face and our joy will be complete.

Some thoughts on Thomas Goodwin's story

Thomas Goodwin, a seventeenth-century Puritan pastor, wrote that once he saw a father and son walking along the street. Suddenly the father swept the son up into his arms and hugged him and kissed him and told the boy he loved him – and then after a minute he put the boy back down. Was the little boy more a son in the father’s arms than he was down on the street? Objectively and legally there was no difference, but subjectively and experiential, there was all the difference in the world. In his father’s arms, the boy was experiencing his sonship.

When the Holy Spirit comes down on you in fullness, you can sense your Father’s arms beneath you. It is an assurance of who you are.  (Keller)

Father, I love this story and how it explains experiencing Your love and our position as Your children. And I pray for more and more of those moments of being held in Your arms; of squeezing You and feeling Your compassion flow out; of just resting against Your breast and feeling the warmth of Your embrace and having my heart beat in rhythm with Your own.

Last night Brant was reading the obituary of a woman whose life was a picture of “worldly” success, she was loved and spent her life in giving to others.  It mentioned how her and her wife’s faith had carried them through her struggle with cancer – But nowhere did it mention You.  And I can’t help but think she had no idea of Who You are.  What did she have faith in? and where is she now?

We humans can do all the right things but for all the wrong reasons, because our hearts are empty until they are filled by You.

There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death. (Pro. 14:12: 16:25)

The choice is do we believe You and Your word revealed or not.

A morning thought

I was listening this morning to a teaching by Alistair Begg on the prodigal son – a favorite story by a favorite story teller.  In talking about the prodigal’s return and the father's warm welcoming home he describes the father’s embrace and said “when you squeeze Him compassion comes out because He is full of compassion”.  I just love that image of pressing into the Father and being enveloped by His compassion.  No “I told you so” or “you should have”s just the Father’s  embrace.  What amazing love and what amazing joy to be His child. 

Dinner guests

Reading this morning a commentary on Luke 14:7-11 about pride and humility, the author said "True generosity springs from a heart full of mercy and compassion." and ended with a simple prayer -"And purify my love for others . . . "

This got me thinking about my own heart which lead to thinking about Jesus washing the disciples feet - so this is my prayer.

Yes, Lord, purify my heart.  Thank You that You have washed it clean but as with feet, it needs a daily rinsing off.  Show me how to guard it in a way that allows it to be broken by those things that breaks Yours but is strong and steady in the face of whatever may come my way; that responds to the needs of others with love and compassion but is not fooled by the deceitfulness of sin – in myself or in others.  Thank You that You have given me a new heart and that it beats with the rhythm of Your own and that it is safe and secure within Your hands.

All from a parable about dinner guests :)

A morning muse

Father, when I read about prayer, as I did this morning, I always feel myself to be lacking in that area and I find myself wondering why I seem to struggle so.  I want to be a woman of prayer, who continually and persistently “inquires” of You, and yet how much of my day is just given over to “auto-pilot” or worse trying to figure it all out on my own.

The other night, in the parking lot of Wal-mart, I looked up and was overwhelmed by the beauty of the sun setting, the colors were just spectacular and I just had to stop for a moment to take it all in – a moment of such awe and wonder and worship.  But I was also struck by how people were just going about their business and didn’t seem to notice or appreciate the gift of the glory of that moment.

I think, at times, prayer is like that for me.  Here is this incredible gift of being able to enter into communion with You, at any moment, and instead I get lost in the day to day routines of life.  Father, forgive me for my not being more persistent in prayer.  Awaken in me the desire to pray and to remember just who I am and my need for Your guidance and direction in my life.  I remember once hearing it said, it’s not Your assistance I need but Your existence in my life.  You lead, and I'll follow.

Yes, I do set aside time to “be with You” but I want more of You – not moments but constantly and continually in Your presence.  Yes, Lord, let’s work on that – and thank You for the desire.

A wall and the Door

Reading this morning about the narrow door; that Jesus is the only door that will lead to salvation.

And then listening to a teaching on “the wall”, the dark night of the soul, those times when God seems absent.  When all of our efforts to draw close to Him don’t seem to be working.  At these times we tend to make a judgment call about God based on feelings - - - on our experience - or lack of experience – with God

These are, in fact, opportunities and times for God’s kindness to bring us deeper into His love, beyond what our flesh can manufacture.

Every Christian will go through this, probably multiple times—you’re not doing something wrong.

 “God now sees that they have grown a little, and are becoming strong enough to lay aside their swaddling clothes…so He takes them down from His arms and teaches them to walk on their own feet; which they feel to be very strange, for everything seems to be going wrong with them. “  (John of the Cross 1619)

The good news is that we do not struggle alone.  God is with us and his grace is sufficient!

Jesus is the door that will take us through the wall.

                

Is it a wing or a weight?

Heb 12:1  . . . let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us.

This verse always reminds me of the following bit of wisdom I heard many years ago:

"I once heard someone say, “If it’s not a wing, it’s a weight.” That’s good, but how can we tell the difference between a “wing” and a “weight”? In general terms, a “wing” is something that facilitates our walk of faith, while a “weight” is a hindrance to it. A wing facilitates a life of faith. A weight is anything that hinders us from carrying out our calling, something non-essential to our mission which consumes time and energy that could be better used in advancing God’s kingdom. A weight may be one thing for one believer and something else for another. A parachute would be unnecessary baggage for a mountain climber, but it is essential for a sky diver. A Christian may take up golf because it provides an opportunity to associate with non-believers and thus affords an opportunity to share the gospel with them as they play. For another, Christian golf may only be an unprofitable waste of time and money that could have been better used in other activities."

There are things in our life that aren't really sinful but are merely hindrances that can keep us from running effectively the race God has for us. (1 Cor 10:23)

Our choices are not always between right and wrong, but between something that may hinder us and something else that may not. Is there a weight in your life you must lay aside?

Excepts from Keller on Identity

As humans we need a sense of self that is durable and unchanging and a sense of value and worth.

Western culture – individualism: assigning your own identity.  You have to create and then achieve your own identity.  You are your desires, dreams and choices.  But these desires are often conflicting and changing.  When we take a good thing, such as our work, and make it an identity factor; a justification for our existence.

Quentin: You know, more and more I think that for many years I looked at life like a case at law, a series of proofs. When you’re young you prove how brave you are, or smart; then, what a good lover; then a good father; finally, how wise, or powerful, or what-the-hell-ever. But underlying it all, I see now, there was a presumption. That I was moving on an upward path toward some elevation, where—God knows what—I would be justified, or even condemned—a verdict anyway. I think now that my disaster really began when I looked up one day—and the bench was empty. No judge in sight. And all that remained was this endless argument with oneself—this pointless litigation of existence before an empty bench. Which, of course, is another way of saying—despair. (Arthur Miller, After the Fall)

When good writing was my only goal, I made the quality of my work the measure of my worth. For this reason, I wasn’t able to read my own writing well. I couldn’t tell whether something I had just written was good or bad, because I needed it to be good in order to feel sane. I lost the ability to cheerfully interrogate how much I liked what I had written, to see what was actually on the page rather than what I wanted to see or what I feared to see. (Benjamin Nugent)

As a Christian our identity is found in something or someone outside of our selves. It’s found in Him.  “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out."  John 10:3

A reflection

I was listening to a teaching by T. Keller on hope.  He mentions Tolkien’s writings on fairy stories.  He say's the reason for their popularity is they convey what we are longing for: to step outside of time; to escape death; to love without parting; to hold communion with non-human beings and to see good triumph over evil.  These stories bring out a certain kind of joy.  For the Christian that joy is a memory trace of how life was meant to be – and will be again.

I think this is also the reason we find such beauty in creation, we are moved by nature singing the praises of its’ Maker.  It calls us in to be united with its beauty in worshiping our Maker and a reminder that our Maker loves us.