Monday, February 23, 2009
Things I've Done This Weekend
1. Participated as an usher in my brother's wedding
2. Put over 600 miles and counting on the rental car
3. Wore a tux for the first time since my wedding
4. Rode in a stretch suburban
5. Shoveled snow (we've had about 9 inches since I've been here)
6. Had a little jam session with my cousin Anneke who plays guitar
7. Reconnected with lots of family members, especially those I'm staying with
8. Didn't go to church (or get up at 5am) on Sunday morning.
9. Hung out at a family gathering
10. Eaten some REALLY GOOD glutton free apple pie.
On tap for today: Lunch with Mom and Dad, Movie with Mom and Dad, drop my cousin at the (teeny tiny) airport, maybe a stop by my alma mater, and dinner with some old family friends.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Committees
"Committees are an invention of man in the 20th century that should never have crept into the church."
Agree? Disagree?
Agree? Disagree?
Monday, February 16, 2009
Seeing Your Father
I play a game with my 6 month old Aidan where I sit on the floor and do half-summer-saults while holding him in my hands or on my lap. He loves it and gives me this big smile as I say, "Wheee!!" I always have him facing me, but a couple days ago I did it once where he was facing out and could not see my face as I rocked him way back and then forward.
Anne was watching and noticed that when he was facing away, he almost started crying--you know, when the eyes get big and then the lower lip comes out and starts to quiver. I turned him around facing me and did it again, and the big smile returned.
I was always holding on to him, but he couldn't see me. When God starts giving us tumultuous times, whether they be big or small, I think having faith like a child involves seeing Him and trusting him in our circumstance. When we're not in control, knowing that He's got us, fixing our eyes on Him, may help us to move closer to the kind of faith that can say when life is a bit crazy, "Wheee!!!"
Anne was watching and noticed that when he was facing away, he almost started crying--you know, when the eyes get big and then the lower lip comes out and starts to quiver. I turned him around facing me and did it again, and the big smile returned.
I was always holding on to him, but he couldn't see me. When God starts giving us tumultuous times, whether they be big or small, I think having faith like a child involves seeing Him and trusting him in our circumstance. When we're not in control, knowing that He's got us, fixing our eyes on Him, may help us to move closer to the kind of faith that can say when life is a bit crazy, "Wheee!!!"
Chew on This
Thoughts from this morning's CLC group:
--"You can't fake being faithful." Agree? Disagree?
--"In order to be holy (1 Peter 1:13-16), we must seek out fresh encounters with Christ."
--"when you fall, what is your soft place to land?"
--I found myself also noting the correlation as we studied 1 Peter 5:5-7, then directly afterward studied 1 Cor. 9:6-10. Do you see a correlation there?
--"You can't fake being faithful." Agree? Disagree?
--"In order to be holy (1 Peter 1:13-16), we must seek out fresh encounters with Christ."
--"when you fall, what is your soft place to land?"
--I found myself also noting the correlation as we studied 1 Peter 5:5-7, then directly afterward studied 1 Cor. 9:6-10. Do you see a correlation there?
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
"They" to "we"
Acts 16:9-10 is the first of three texts in Acts where the writer/narrator goes from speaking in 3rd person plural to 2nd person plural--"they" to "we." The physician Luke was an educated man and someone whom Paul considered to be one of his closer co-laborers in the work of the ministry.
This transition makes one simple point--at some point, we must get in on the "we" part of serving Jesus. We can't just notice and take in all the things that other people are doing for Jesus and not participate ourselves. The timing of this in a believer's life looks different for each person, but let me assure you, its not years and years after becoming one.
Luke became a "companion." When you decide to invest in the lives of other people, to sacrifice your time and efforts, to take up your cross (as Jesus referred to it), you become more connected with the community of people around you who are doing the same. You develop friendships and bonds around following Jesus hard and seeking to build his church. Together, you move forward and see lives changed, people healed, relationships restored, sins forgiven. It's worth every bit of the sacrifice.
This transition makes one simple point--at some point, we must get in on the "we" part of serving Jesus. We can't just notice and take in all the things that other people are doing for Jesus and not participate ourselves. The timing of this in a believer's life looks different for each person, but let me assure you, its not years and years after becoming one.
Luke became a "companion." When you decide to invest in the lives of other people, to sacrifice your time and efforts, to take up your cross (as Jesus referred to it), you become more connected with the community of people around you who are doing the same. You develop friendships and bonds around following Jesus hard and seeking to build his church. Together, you move forward and see lives changed, people healed, relationships restored, sins forgiven. It's worth every bit of the sacrifice.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Do What It Says
On what standard or basis do we live our lives as Christians day to day? The answer that anyone who has been doing church for a while is "The Bible." Of course, that is the right answer, but do we sometimes just have the right answer but not live it out? How many people in churches today read the Bible on a regular basis, and look to God in His Word for sustenance, wisdom, truth, and practical instruction? I know some of you readers do exactly that. Sadly, some Christians haven't opened a Bible except on Sunday mornings in a long time.
I confess, daily devotions have always been a struggle for me. It was always about "doing devotions" and feeling tremendously guilty when I failed to do them. I disappointed God by neglecting Him and his Word. But guilt in this circumstance needs to lead to desire, a desire for God and his Word. A desire to live the life that he has for me. Lately that desire has rekindled. It started when I read Luke over Christmas break. I started into Acts and I'm only halfway through. But the more I dig in and read and study, I'm finding my relationship with God growing.
Do you feel disconnected from God? Do you need an answer? Do you feel something missing in your life? Try reading his Word. Then try doing what it says.
I confess, daily devotions have always been a struggle for me. It was always about "doing devotions" and feeling tremendously guilty when I failed to do them. I disappointed God by neglecting Him and his Word. But guilt in this circumstance needs to lead to desire, a desire for God and his Word. A desire to live the life that he has for me. Lately that desire has rekindled. It started when I read Luke over Christmas break. I started into Acts and I'm only halfway through. But the more I dig in and read and study, I'm finding my relationship with God growing.
Do you feel disconnected from God? Do you need an answer? Do you feel something missing in your life? Try reading his Word. Then try doing what it says.
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