Action

Procrastinating... it may not be a sin.  It is also probably not a sin to fret and feel uneasy about the procrastination.  But it doesn't get one any closer to this:

     You are the light of the world... let your light shine before
     men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father
     in heaven.

     Matthew 5: 14-16

God, coincidence and pop quizzes

Read the bible, pray and ask for guidance.  Along the way:

Sometimes the meaning of a familiar biblical passage suddenly becomes clear.  Sometimes one stumbles upon the implications of an oft heard concept.

Oh.  So that is what God wants.  Ah, that is a better way of dealing with a situation.  There’s comfort, relief and resolution.  God wants us to learn.

Yes, “this is working” one says to himself while trying to practice what is preached.  “Easier and better, too,” one may add when applying principle and spirit as initial situations arise.

Yet; similar situations and circumstances continue to show up.  Some disguised, some seemingly more difficult to deal with.  Coincidence, one could logically point out.  Maybe so.  More likely – God gives pop quizzes.

                     (clip art courtesy of this site.)

God bless

God has given us so much.  Thank you Father.

Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.

May God bless all His children today.

Scripture - is the soup ready yet?

The clouds are moving from east to west this morning.  This is highly unusual for southeastern Michigan; usually the weather comes in from the west.  I noticed the clouds just as I was finishing another reading of the Gospel of Matthew.

A number of things struck me during the few weeks that I was reading Matthew.  Some involved “simple” concepts I had not paid much attention to in prior readings (e.g. “the fiery furnace” that the wicked may be thrown into, see Matthew 13: 17-50).  Others involved a few passages that have recently impacted my life.  I was reminded of one point a spiritual friend made about reading scripture.  Here’s a paraphrase:

The soup’s not ready

It smells good.  You can see it simmering.  But it just ain’t quite right until it’s done.  Until the cook says it’s ready.

You can taste it now, but you won’t get the full and intended effect and nourishment.

It’s like that with God’s teachings.  You can read a biblical passage dozens of times.  You can listen to sermons and attend biblical study groups about the passage.  You can even think you get it, can think you understand it.  But you won’t get the full and intended nourishment of it until you’re ready.

Are you ready for what God is pointing out? 

        (clip art courtesy of this site.)

and again... The Lord's Prayer

... for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him... Matthew 6:8

Jesus went on to say this [the traditional version of The Lord's Prayer] is how one should pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever.

Amen

Matthew 6:10-13

Bing or Google “The Lord’s Prayer” and you will quickly learn that 1000s of Christians, perhaps hundreds of 1000s, say this or a similar version daily.  I’m one.  And I usually say it more than once a day.

                     (the image was found here)

There is also another verse or two I recite daily.  For comfort, or as a reminder.  I also usually find myself giving thanks and praying, in a little more detail, to both the Father and the Son.  As for the Spirit, I ask both God and Jesus for increased receptivity and wisdom to the nudges and guidance given.

Does all of this help?  I'm not sure it's a matter of help, or 'merely' something I'm supposed to do... must do perhaps.  But - yes, yupper, you betcha it's a help.  A big help.  As commonly said, "God works in mysterious ways" (and I couldn't agree more.  how about you?  aren't you able to point to this, that and the other and say to yourself you knew no way, but...).

Prayer

It's helpful to give thanks to God daily.  And there are verses from the Bible that may give comfort and joy almost every day.

I'm thankful that Christ and the Spirit exist; that they are in me, beneath me, above me and all around me.  I am thankful for another morning, another day - to let go and let God.    

Doctrinally correct aka To mention God, religion and the Bible… or not to mention.

Surfing through Christian blogs, videos and such produces a wealth of information.  There’s plenty of educational and informative material along with a surprising amount to enjoy and make one smile, sometimes laugh out loud.  There’s also a lot to disagree with, and a few things to make one shudder.  The video below has a little bit of all these things.

One point asserted by the video’s producer:  Too many entertainers, and others on stage or in a public forum, are doctrinally incorrect when they speak of God, religion and the Bible.  She thinks that’s wrong and often harmful, particularly because of the [huge] audience some are able to reach.  I couldn’t disagree more.

I do agree that it sometimes appears ludicrous that a particular person, given the context of lifestyle or a particular performance, even mentions God.  One example might be a thug rapper who has just finished a piece filled with slappin bitches and hos along with other nonproductive, greedy, disrespectful and violent acts.  As to many “religious” remarks made, I also agree that one may legitimately question whether or not the speaker ever stepped into a church or opened the Bible.

Still; isn’t it better to hear something said about God or religion than hear something about devil worship, white supremacy or the like?  Isn’t it good to just hear God mentioned, rather than entirely ignored, in a public forum?  If something is said that raises a few eyebrows – well, isn’t it a positive that there may be comments and debates about the nature and meaning of God and Christianity?

If only doctrinally correct assertions about God, Christ, the Spirit and the Bible were allowed in public… there wouldn’t be too many made by those of us who aren’t preachers or theologians.  And I imagine there are many who could question much of what some of them have to say.  Hmmmm… I wonder who should decide whether or not something is doctrinally correct.  I also wonder if there should be some criteria as to whether or not a particular person was righteous enough to utter it.

Let Go, Let God – revisited

(photo courtesy of City Dance Theatre: "Let Go, Let God" at DanceAmerica competition; find more here.)

I’ve noticed a few things since last writing about “Let Go, Let God” a few weeks ago.  First, having accidentally discovered some understanding of the meaning of the concept, I’ve made some conscious attempts to apply it.  One tangible result: I fret a whole lot less just doing what I can [or must] and leaving the worldly outcome to itself.  It IS a relief, a definite easing of the burden(s) I used to feel.  Secondly, well here again is what I was subsequently told was the applicable scripture:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.   Matthew 11:28-30.

This didn’t quite make sense to me intellectually; I’ve long thanked Christ, and still do, for carrying my yoke.  It is, and has been, of immense help.  However; I have now also tried to take the yoke Jesus offered and learn from him.  It’s… interesting.  The burden IS light.   At the same time I find myself “inadvertently” involved in a learning process.  Kind of a ‘what would Jesus do’ type of thing.  Usually after the fact, and I can’t say that I’m measuring up to his standards.  But, and here’s the main point, it’s another part of the Christian growth process – one of those ‘Oh, so that’s what that means.  Better try harder, try to do what I should, and try to tap into what the Spirit is nudging me about.”

Flabbergasted

One can find artistic and talented Christians everywhere.  Many are superb at what do, and don’t beat one over the head being more righteous than thou.  Some can tell an engaging story, a few are downright funny.   

My favorite book title is Lamb, The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal.  Matthew, Mark and company didn’t disclose much as to most of Jesus’ life; Biff filled the gap.  I’m now halfway through another book where the title caught my attention.  It also touches upon the topic of Christianity.  The name is Flabbergasted, by Ray Blackston.  I was delighted to find a laugh out loud gem.

One character in Flabbergasted is a Baptist pastor that surf fishes for sharks and pets them on the head before sending them back to sea.  The main character, Jay, a stockbroker in his late twenties, relocates to South Carolina and begins attending church to meet women.  He also joins a men’s group where he’s able to find Proverbs (east of Psalms, west of Galatians) and questions such as “any impure thoughts this week?” [with all nine in attendance raising their hands].  Many of the ladies rotate their Sunday worship, engaging in “denominational hopscotch,” and email church ratings based upon the quality of guys.  The woman of Jay's dreams, met at a Presbyterian church, turns out to be a missionary in the jungles of Ecuador.

In my late twenties (and as a 30 and 40 something) the last place I would have went to meet women was a church.  Much of my non-working time was spent in smoky, seedy bars; places where everything and anything was for sale.  My taste in nonfiction wasn’t much different, but I’ve always had a weak spot for humor [a further clue as to my taste:  One of my favorite authors is Mark Twain (surely you know he wrote more than Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn)].  It took me a few decades to realize Christians also have a sense of humor, who would have thunk?

You can see blurbs about the books that Ray Blackston has written, along with some of his insight and activities here.  I will be picking up more of his books and grinning as I read them.  You may wish to do the same.

Can't say it enough

Thank you God.
Thank you for a way when I saw none.

Thank you Jesus.
Thank you for carrying my yoke.
Thank you for letting me carry yours.

Thank you Spirit.
Thank you for nudges and guidance.
Thank you for providing direction.
Thank you for the receptivity of others to your power.

Let Go Let God

Another striking design: it’s featured on a number of Café Press products e.g. T-shirts and tote bags that you may find here.

Let Go and Let God

Nice button, don't you think?

You can buy it for $2.00 here (nope, I don’t get a cut). 

"Let go, let God" aka Another piece of the jigsaw puzzle

Let go, let God.  Sounds easy enough.  In actuality it’s very difficult.  The way we’ve been taught, the American way, involves controlling situations and events to maximize advantage.  For most important or troublesome matters there are dozens of things to consider, and a virtually infinite amount that could be done,

Take a common scenario – financial difficulties.  We might consider changing careers or employers, appeasing and/or negotiating with the landlord and creditors, cutting expenses, etc.  Just consider the job situation; here are some of the things that could be done:

1.      update the resume

2.      do a cover letter

3.      customize the resume and cover letter for different positions

4.      contact and verify references

5.      send out and post resumes

6.      create or update profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn and other sites

7.      upgrade the cellphone for accessing email and the web

8.      upgrade the computer for Skype and video conference capacity

9.      network

10.  clean up and/or update the wardrobe for interviews and conferences

11.  look for more places to send out and post resume

12.  do more networking and maintain regular contact

13.  write and post blogs and articles for a showing of expertise

14.  on and on and on

Moreover, one can’t help but consider and plan timing, scenarios, locations and mood enhancers for all of the above.  Next - evaluate one’s approach and all factors after each call, meeting and response (or lack thereof) and then modify/fine tune as necessary.

Whew.  There’s so much that could be done.  And isn’t it funny how one best handles one thing seems to depend upon what happens with this, that and the other thing?

I was beginning to drive myself crazy with one of those common troublesome scenarios we all end up dealing with sooner or later.  I didn’t consciously think about letting go, letting God.   I just did it.  I had to.  I couldn’t handle it on my own.  I prayed - a lot – and just quit worrying and trying to do this and that and every little thing.

Let go, let God.  I think I know what it means now.  I know one effect is somewhat like taking a mini vacation and merely delighting in what each day brings.  And He provided a way when there was no way.  Amazing.

Here’s one of the scripture passages attributed as the source of the phrase “Let go, let God”:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.   Matthew 11:28-30.

As to our part in the “let go, let God” approach - part of the trick may be to simply do what one must.  The “musts” can be few.  Somehow, we know what they are.  Do what can be done and don’t worry.  Yeah, that important call may be better made at a time other than at 4:55 pm on the Friday of an upcoming three day holiday weekend.  But make the call.  Don’t wait until you’ve lost that twenty pounds, have a new hair style and it’s a worry free sunny morning with the moon in Venus.

Go with what you have.  Don’t wait until everything has been perfectly coordinated.  Don’t try and rework your entire life before making a single call.  Don’t worry about the liklihood of success.  Don’t try to pretend your blueberry muffin is a vanilla cupcake with strawberry frosting.  God put you where you are; do your part.  Do what you must.  Let God take care of the rest.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

(clip art courtesy of this site)

Children are a gift from the Lord.

This morning Amari showed me a book entitled What Every Child Needs.  It’s a small, flip the pages calendar type book with daily encouragement for moms.  My favorite 3 and ½ year old turned to the first page which said “Children are a gift from the Lord”; she wanted me to put her name after “To” and mine after “From”.  I did it, and she smiled.  I smiled too.

(Image from Christian clip art and graphics here)

First take the plank out of your own eye

There are portions and passages of the Bible that immediately speak to me.  At other times, the meaning and impact comes much later.

An incident came up recently.  I moaned and groaned to myself and others about how, when and if a particular chore was done.  The details aren’t important because there have been way, Way, WAY too many similar situations.  A vague recollection of a verse came to mind; I looked for it and found:

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay not attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (emphasis added) Matthew 7:3-5

It finally dawned upon me that I’ve always been real, real good at seeing a speck of sawdust in another’s eye.  I’ve been equally proficient at ignoring the lumberyard in my own eyes.  Insight can be humbling.

Here a click, there a click

Bible Verse Motivational John
by James Davidson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(You may find this print and more at the AllPosters site under Christianity Posters here)

Sunday

Birds chirping at dawn,

morning coffee with raw honey.

The colors of late spring,

blooming purple, orange, red, pink and yellow.

Wispy clouds in a blue sky,

a slight breeze and dogs barking behind hedges

on a stroll to the park.

Stopping and looking both ways at the corners,

holding hands with a three year old

who giggles on the climb

to the top of a slide, says “wheeee” going down.

Other children kicking a soccer ball,

still more playing catch.

An afternoon nap, coffee with milk

and slowly reading the New York Times

while rocking on the porch.

Thank you Father.

Only through Christ?

Are Muslims, Jews and a host of others condemned to hell, or eternity as a few specks of dust, because they haven’t accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior?  Does a righteous life or fervent belief in one God count for nothing on the Day of Judgment if one is not Christian?

The cartoon is by David Hayward, the Naked Pastor.  You may find out about him and his artwork here.

The Lord's Prayer

Art print by Jennifer Pugh

(You may find this print and more at the AllPosters site under Christianity Posters here)

The end of the world… Saturday?

A reporter and photographer grabbed me early this afternoon as I was walking off a sleepless night.  I was asked what I thought about some preacher proclaiming the world would end this Saturday.  I hadn’t heard anything about it, was ignorant about a date being set, but answered anyway, “I hope we have longer than that.”

My response was true enough; but everyday I say the Lord’s Prayer with emphasis on “Thy will be done.”  Each day I acknowledge God’s presence and stamp on the world.  I also attempt to make daily contributions to His kingdom.  I can’t say that I’m prepared for the Day of Judgment but feel that I’m moving in the right direction.

There’s a small plaque on my wall that says:

What you are is God’s gift to you.

What you become is your gift to God.

I often look at it; sometimes shudder about the past, more often renew resolve to become…

Still; I hope we have longer than Saturday.  How about you?

The surfing Christian

God Watches You Google.  Provocative title isn’t it?  You can read it with a click - http://www.challies.com/technology/god-watches-you-google.  It’s a featured piece by a guy named Tim Challies who has a site ranked as the #1 Christianity blog.

For mind boggling information, inspiration and entertainment, take a look at the Christian Category in Blog Rank (http://www.invesp.com/blog-rank/Christianity) and start surfing.  I clicked on one blog title because the name amused me (http://www.nakedpastor.com/) and so did a bunch of hilarious and insightful cartoons:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/nakedpastor.

Christianity spread like wildfire – how come? (the short version)

The early evangelists went around saying, "You hear about Jesus?  The one who did such and such and said this and that?  He rose from the dead.  Really!  Yeah, I saw him AFTER he was crucified.  So did Matthew, Thomas and a bunch of others - in different places and at different times.  Sure, I'll tell you more about him..."

Yes, Christ really rose from the dead.  Now THAT was news.  Good news.  No wonder people everywhere wanted to hear more.

(a more detailed version, making reference to both a scientific and historical basis for the resurrection being real, and not merely poetic license for exaltation, is available in the preceding post of the same title.)

Christianity spread like wildfire – how come?

Christian churches sprang up all over the Middle East, Eurasia and Europe within a few years of the crucifixion of Jesus.  How did it happen so quickly?

Jesus died for us, and then rose from the dead.  They taught that in Sunday school when I was a boy, I suspect they still do.  The impact of resurrection eluded me for many years.  I viewed it as a prime example of a “God thing”; one of those once in history type miracles – this one occurring as a means of bringing us closer to God because His son lived as a man.

Is the resurrection of Jesus simply a faith based concept?  Or did it really happen?  Does it matter?

The resurrection could be an enabling mechanism of sorts.   Does it make a difference if it was due to individual or collective visions and a bit of poetic license?  Part of our deity trod the earth just we do.  It may be easier to pray to Jesus because of his understanding and compassion for human weakness and concerns.  After all he wasn’t always way up there in heaven like God; he lived and interacted as one of us.

A few years ago I attended bible study sessions about discipleship.  They centered on a series of 30 minute videos where a pastor took a group of young folks on a walking tour to many of the spots where Christian communities sprang up as the “good news” spread.  All had developed within a few decades of Jesus being crucified; they extended beyond the Middle East, going well into Eurasia and Europe.  The pastor asked the youth if they had the belief and commitment to truly be disciples and spread the word like those early believers.

Think of the incredibly strong belief and commitment necessary to emulate the accomplishments of the pioneers of Christianity.  Keep in mind that Christianity spread like wildfire.  Why?  Some attending the study sessions thought many people were receptive to a new faith because it was based on loving and sharing church centered communities.   I could only suspect that it was another example of God’s will, a way that He showed folks the path we were meant to follow.

Paul, Peter and others named in the New Testament were touched directly by Jesus.  Hence they had extraordinary belief and motivation.  But there were only a handful of such men.  How were so many churches established so quickly in so many places?  Why were the words of a few men so persuasive?  It was puzzling.

I looked once more at Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  I read the Gospel of Thomas and other books and letters that didn’t make it into the Bible.  I perused the works of Josephus to glean a further understanding of the times.  It was still difficult to understand how or why Christianity grew and developed so rapidly.

Then, during this past Easter season, I saw a two hour TV show involving the Shroud of Turin.  A team of graphic experts used cutting-edge 3D software to bring the face of Jesus to light (http://www.history.com/shows/the-real-face-of-jesus).  The technology was highlighted via recreations of lifelike sightings of Jesus after his resurrection.  The show was well done; the effect of it on me was akin to my initial amazement at the many historical and archeological discoveries over the past century or so.  Over an over they provided solid evidence that the people, places and events in the bible were real.  I was left with the thought that the resurrection of Jesus was also the literal truth.

There is now a scientific basis to believe that the resurrection of Jesus really happened; that it wasn’t a matter of vision, metaphor or exaggerated poetic license to make a point.  Is there also a historical basis?

N.T. Wright is widely regarded as one of the premier scholars involved in the historical study of Jesus.  In his book, The Challenge of Jesus, he maintains that Christianity was not just a kingdom of God movement.  It was, from the onset, a resurrection movement; the belief in resurrection was unquestionable and not merely a central belief but the central driving force of early Christianity.[i]  As to those in the earliest churches, “The only explanation for their behavior, their stories, their symbols and their theology is that they really believed Jesus had been reembodied, had been bodily raised from the dead.”[ii]

Mr. Wright, ever meticulous, added further perspective:

The resurrection narratives of the Gospels, for all their puzzling nature and apparent conflicts, are quite clear on three points.

First, the sightings of and meetings with Jesus are quite unlike the sort of heavenly visions or visions of a figure in blinding light of dazzling glory or wreathed in clouds that one might expect in the Jewish apocalyptic or mystical traditions.  They are not, that is to say, attempting to describe the sort of thing one would expect if what he or she wanted to say was simply that Jesus had been exalted to a position of either divinity or at least heavenly glory…

Second, the body of Jesus seems to be both physical, in the sense that it was not a nonmaterial angel or spirit, and transphysical, in the sense that it could come and go through locked doors.  As I read the Gospel accounts, I have a sense that they are saying, in effect, “I know this is extraordinary, but this is just how it was.”…

Third, the accounts are quite clear that the appearances of Jesus were not the sort of thing that went on happening during the continuous existence of the early church.  Luke did not suppose that his readers might meet Jesus on the road to Emmaus.  Matthew did not expect his audience to meet him on a mountain.  John did not suppose that people were still liable to come upon Jesus cooking breakfast by the shore…[iii]

Christianity did not come into being “simply” by the power of the life and teachings of Jesus.  It was not “simply” faith or God’s will.  It was that Christ was truly resurrected.  Those that saw believed; it was a one time, totally unique happening.  They could not only convey the extent and reason for their belief, but also they were compelled to do so - and they did it far and wide.  The time had come for God’s kingdom to dawn, for a new agenda which trusted in Jesus for the way of bringing that kingdom to life here on earth.

The resurrection of Jesus actually occurred.  There is both scientific and historical basis for it.  Thanks to a TV program on the History Channel and the scholarship of N.T. Wright I’m no longer puzzled as to how and why Christianity spread so far and so rapidly.  One could even say it’s an affirmation of faith.  The reality of resurrection mattered; it was the good news.

PawPaw Dave ©2011

(Image of the empty tomb and crosses from Christian clip art and graphics at http://www.cc-art.com/)

---

[i] N.T. Wright, The Challenge of Jesus, (InterVarsity Press, 1999), chap. 6, p. 133

[ii] Ibid., p. 137

[iii] Ibid., p. 146

The Spiritual Snowball Effect

The spiritual snowball began with two cases of frozen chicken and some cheese.  Roger grabbed them before they went into a dumpster.  It was three summers ago at a food brokers’ show.  He offered them to a friend, saying his own refrigerator and freezer was full.  There was too much for Jon and his wife Sarah to eat or store; they gave some to people across the street.  As it turned out, there were hordes of people in need of food – and the Lord provided.

Roger’s wife was a broker that wholesaled quality food to restaurants, bars, school systems, etc.  She told her husband that none of the food brokers returned foodstuffs to storage units after a show.  How much might be unused, and exactly when it would be available, was uncertain; charitable organizations usually couldn’t or wouldn’t come to pick it up.

Roger didn’t think wasting food was right.  Jon told him he knew plenty of people that would really appreciate food.  Roger began going with his wife to shows all over the Midwest, and started bringing more boxes to Jon and Sarah.  They could contain anything from whole, ready for slicing, deli turkey to six pound cans of corn or mixed-fruit and all sorts of breadstuff.

A few boxes turned into a dozen cases.  Much of the food was frozen or perishable.  It had to be stored or used soon.  Sarah enlisted the help of two ladies in the Section 8 building across the street.  She told them to bring carts, take as much as they wanted, and, “if you can, give a little to someone else.”

It wasn’t long before Roger also gathered goods when the broker had excess inventory, food lines were dropped or a storage location was moved.  A dozen or so cases turned into enough to fill a large pick-up, both bed and cab.  Jon helped unload onto his back porch as well as into the kitchen and dining room.  Sarah began calling more people to come get free food.

Take a peek at one day last August; there were dozens milling around the back porch:

“Mussels, mussels.  Anybody want mussels?”  shouts Beth, Sarah’s daughter,  “We’ve got hot chicken wings, chicken nuggets and chicken strips.  We have all types of fish fillets plus spiced apple, chocolate, and carrot cake mixes.  We have wheat bread, French bread and cinnamon rolls.  Who wants what?”

Sarah sorted through the various cases.  Auntie Linda helped fill the bags and carts people brought over. Connie’s teenage nephews carried boxes to cars for older folks.  Rose made deliveries to men and women unable to get around without crutches or walkers.  Carl took rolls, sausages, pasta and spaghetti sauce to those in need at his church.  Angela baked cakes for a birthday parties in the senior community room.  Joanne cooked hot meals for a blind widower and a wheelchair bound woman.  Lots of folk, many without money to ever buy extras, shared their blessings.  

This has now been going on for almost three years: often every few weeks, but sometimes a month or more goes by.  There’s usually a few days notice that something may be available, sometimes just a couple hours.  Lots of people have had a chance to contribute or share; many do.

Roger hasn’t gone to church in decades.  He doesn’t think about ministries or missions.  He simply gathers food and makes deliveries, sometimes in-between and around a 16 hour work day.  Once he spent most of a freezing night under his pick-up, repairing it so he could get and deliver a full truckload to Jon and Sarah.  He often makes a 90 mile special round trip.  Roger turned away, red in the face, when told about how one woman tearfully gave thanks because all her money was just spent on car repairs with nothing left to feed her four kids.

Roger says he just doesn’t like food going to waste.  Jon says he just unloads some boxes.  Sarah says she just makes a few calls.  Rose says she just drives a few miles.  Angela and Joanne say she they just like to cook. 

No one thinks they’ve done much.  Things just started rolling, got bigger.  Some say it was the Holy Spirit in action.

PawPawJack©12/14/10

[a pen name of PawPaw Dave.  By the way, it's all still rolling along]

     

 

 

   

Jesus was a sissy… or so they taught

They put Jesus up on a pedestal and said we should emulate him.  They said he was a role model for a young man.  Jesus?  Not to many men of my generation - even those, who like me, regularly attended church service and Sunday school in our youth.  We were only taught about the bland, goody-goody, whitewashed version of Christ that had little inspirational or practical application.

It was hard to get beyond maxims that only seemed workable inside the sweet and comfy walls of a church.  This was exemplified by the vanilla version of ‘turn the other cheek’ that we were taught.  It simply didn’t work in urban and blue collar neighborhoods; to us it would mean being constantly bullied, teased, and ridiculed as well as having to take the long way home from school or playground.  Not many teenage boys aspired to be gentle as a lamb. We hadn’t a clue that Jesus may have been speaking of major league chop busting.

We missed out on learning of the fire inside of Jesus, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I did not come to bring peace but a sword.”  Matthew 10: 34.  We missed out on learning of his high expectations for us, “… From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”  Luke 12: 48.

We never had the faintest clue that Jesus was an extremist, that he pursued a radical path… that he chose a unique kingdom model to unveil God’s plan.  N. T. Wright fully elaborates on this in The Challenge of Jesus (yes, one must wade through an academic’s grandiloquent and dusty style but his approach and learned insights are well worth the time).  One example involves the Temple, the heart and center of Judaism during the time of Christ.  Jesus did not merely overthrow some tables and level a charge against a few money changers, “… you have made it a den of thieves.”  Mark 11: 15-17.  His attitude was not one of reformation; Jesus was attacking a sacred symbol and undercutting the official system.  He was announcing a new agenda, putting the focus on himself as the way to bring the Kingdom of God at hand.

Jesus was not a docile do-gooder that most teenage boys bursting with testosterone, idealism and rebellion had little desire to follow.  He was a forceful, dynamic revolutionary.  Imagine that.  How were we to know that there was more to him than the watered down version?

Christianity embraces the meek, mild and weak.  Yet; Jesus was none of these things.  Christ was strong, determined and innovative; his message is one of challenge.  Challenge that goes to the very core of guidelines and expectations for a person and society.  Do they teach that in the bible studies and Sunday school classes of your church?

Help me Jesus

this morning, this afternoon, tonight and - God willing - again tomorrow.

Amen.

Sharing faith

Technology and the internet have opened the door and made it easier to communicate the message with polish and pizzazz.   This site - Sharefaith, Media for a modern church:  http://www.faithclipart.com/fca/home.do - provides ideas and templates for ministries and church websites, bulletins, newsletters, email, etc.

Need direction?

There is somewhere to turn…

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path.

Proverbs 3:5,6.

(Cited in a pocket Bible under 'Needing Guidance' on the pages "WHERE TO FIND HELP, when.")

(Image from Christian clip art and graphics at http://www.cc-art.com/)

Thank you Father

Thank you Father.
Thank you for all that has been given.
Thank you for your love, mercy and blessings.
Thank you for warmth, shelter and opportunity.
Thank you for family and friends.
Thank you for the Son and the Spirit.
Thank you for another day.

Need help?

We are not alone - ask!

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God;

Philippians 4:6.

(Cited in a pocket Bible under 'Anxious' on the pages "WHERE TO FIND HELP, when.")

Scared?

He is there for all of us...

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1: 7.

(Cited in a pocket Bible under 'Afraid' on the pages "WHERE TO FIND HELP, when.")

Tired?

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Galatians 6: 9,10.

(Cited in a pocket Bible under 'Weary' on the pages "WHERE TO FIND HELP, when.")

Good morning

We've been given another day.  A day starting with the rising sun casting a golden glow on tree limbs and growing buds.  A day to welcome a change in seasons, another chance to begin anew.

(Image from Christian clip art and graphics at http://www.cc-art.com/)

Together

Faith requires trust in God.  It also involves a community, a common striving to contribute to the kingdom.  The guidance, wisdom and shared experience of fellow Christians help keep us on the path.

(Image from Christian clip art and graphics at http://www.cc-art.com/)

Another delight...

the joy of a child - just being alive.

(Image from Christian clip art and graphics at http://www.cc-art.com/)

One more morning

Thank you Father for one more morning.  For sight of the dawn coming earlier and buds on the trees.  For the sound of birds chirping.  For the smell of coffee and the taste of honey.  For the feeling of slow stretches.  For belief.

One more time

Lift up your hands

Lift up your spirit.  Twice.

Anytime

Spend some time listening to a choir praise and thank God... at your leisure.  Thanks to modern technology you can be standing in a small church, swaying and clapping your hands with the congregation.

Every day and on weekends

Praise and thanks are given in dark rooms, at the movies and on stage.  Over 2 and 1/2 million viewers clicked on this video:

Looking for inspiration?

Looking for inspiration?

Searching for answers?  Looking for performances or creative works by those proclaiming their faith?  Trying to find fresh or penetrating insight on Christianity?

One may try Google, Bing or YouTube; I did this morning and found this:

Christians

www.Pronto.com·Find Christians at Great Prices.

(perhaps the savvy SEO folks will give a cash discount)

As winter turns into Spring

Please Lord

may the Spirit flow within and through me,

circle around me, stand beneath me

and float above me.

Please Lord

may I have the wisdom to understand

the nudges and guidance of the Spirit.

And may I have wherewithal –

the strength and stamina,

the focus and the discipline

to do as Thy will.

All kinds of ways

Sitting still on a sunny afternoon, lying down half asleep, kneeling in a darkened room and walking as the night sky changes into shades of purple, gray and blue… there is an infinite amount of time, positions and places to pray.

Look around

Sometimes we see a sign of belief, or receive affirmation, in a chance encounter or while taking an unexpected detour.  Messages and reminders of faith, inspiration and encouragement are everywhere, some of them unknown and unseen until God lights them up with a neon rainbow of colors.

Often we need only look and listen.

And remember we are not alone.

Fix me Jesus

Just before setting forth how we should pray [reciting the ‘Lord’s Prayer’] Jesus said, “… for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”  Matthew 5:8.

God is taking care of me in remarkable ways; still, there are some needs with which I think that I must play a part in addressing.  The manner and method of doing so isn’t clear.   I continue to struggle with a lifetime of lessons that have not yet been learned; the enormity of my own deficiencies can be overwhelming.  So… I pray:  Fix me Jesus.

.

Thank you Father, thank you for what your Son has done... and can do.

Fix me Jesus.  Please.

Let go, let God

There are shorthand expressions that Christians commonly use; one example is ‘let go, let God’.

Let go, let God:  it’s a concept that one can welcome, even cause a sigh of relief.  Plus, it seems simple enough to put into practice… initially.  It’s more difficult to apply when facing daily, monthly and eternal reality.  What, when and how much of a part must we play?

Here’s a common dilemma when facing an obstacle:  how long should we try to chip away at it, climb over it or find a way around it?  Or is it infinitely thick, high and wide.... a barrier, a sign that we’re heading in the wrong direction?

What exactly is God’s message?  How do we discern our part?  What signs may be taken as affirmation?  Scholars could write books about it; pastors can point out endless variations; fellow Christians will tell you to pray.  Myself?  I muddle along. Perhaps you have answers or suggestions.  If so… 

In his care

Thank you Lord.

Thank you for healing.

Thank you for carrying my yoke.

Thank you for your intercession

with our Father.

Thank you for enabling me to be more

receptive to the Spirit.

Thank you for nurturing my faith.

Thank you for helping with my unbelief.

Thank you Jesus.