So It’s Power You Want

{ February 18, 2011 @ 12:35 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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Admit it or not, we all want power.  Maybe we want it in different increments than others, but we all want it.

There is something on our list of day to day or even bigger things that we wish we could “turn the rudder” on.

For some there is a particular circumstance that would be great to avoid.  For others there is a relationship that they wish they could “fix.”  Some would literally like to change the course of weather and nature.

Our thirst for power has 2 focuses:

  • God-ward: Most of what we wish would could control are things that are far out of our hands–circumstances, people, situations.  Most of us would likely say we don’t want “total” power just enough to control some small aspects.  The problem with that is in order to control small details of life, we would need to make changes that would have far-reaching effects.
    • circumstances: should we have control in some of the smallest circumstances, we would a] beg off others lives and alter their courses and b] miss some crucial development in our own lives.  If it weren’t for the circumstances used to shape and mold and sometimes break us down, we would not grow to be the people that we are.  In 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, we read that Paul and others were so oppressed that they had the sentence of death in them (as if to wish for death as a release).  And Paul writes that the reason they were in such a circumstance is so that they would trust in God.
    • relationships: we think that we would like to have a small amount of power over our relationships–to make people think or feel or respond the way we think they should in certain situations. The fact that there is any part of us that want to control another’s feelings or thoughts is evidence that we couldn’t be trusted with that power if we had it. We don’t know the meaning of a “little” power.  In the show (and recent movie) “Bewitched,” the main character “Samantha” has power over many parts of the world and though she knew she shouldn’t, the temptation to use it was irresistible.
  • Man-ward: Though some would desire to conquer all, there are likely a greater majority who simply wish to not feel overpowered by others.  Either way this is really a journey much more into selfish insecurity and fear than a true “balance of power.”
    Throughout man’s sordid history there have always been the “have’s” and “have-not’s.”  Though this is due to many factors, our own unstoppable thirst has caused us to have some egregious horrors–such as slavery, inquisitions, and crusades.  But even in these terrible moments, the power is very limited to wealth, death and destruction.  LIMITED…to death?! Yes.  Read on.

There are great equalizers to these power struggles:

  • God-ward: May we never forget who has the power. Ephesians 1:13, 14 speak about the Spirit of God being in us (those who are redeemed) and verses 18-20 say that there is a power that is in us that is so great it was used to raise the dead–Christ after He had been crucified.  But that power is IN us not from us.  And we must remember that we have power at work in us–from God–that has already brought us from the dead (Ephesians 2:1). And as far as death goes…what is that to fear.  Hear what Jesus has to say in Luke 12:4, 5.

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:17 is that God would give us wisdom.  Proverbs 9:10 tells us that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.  We should be so concerned with Him and what He has to say that no threat of limited power from man can quench us.  In fact Jesus asks a difficult question in John 5:44.

How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

  • Man-ward: Ephesians 2:1-3 makes it very clear.  It doesn’t matter what your last name is, where you family came from, what amount of spending power you have, all people have one thing exactly in common. We all came from the same depraved, disobedient, God-denying place. It levels the field very quickly to know that all people have the same base problem.  There is no power struggle where there is no power! And where we came from there was no power.  Verse 1 states it clearly, we were DEAD.  Dead people don’t have power.  Upside?! verse 4.

You’re a Christian…So What?!

{ February 10, 2011 @ 11:08 am } · { Portico }
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You a Christian?

Have you been:

  • redeemed?
  • covered by the marvelous grace of Christ? (see Eph. 1:1-14).
  • purchased by the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ applied to you?

Great.  Then we know that your eternity is settled (see verse 13–you are sealed!)

Are you a disciple?

That’s the real question.

First a definition: A disciple starts with the idea that he or she is not capable, left alone, to be and do what God is requiring and calling toward.  God redeems people, puts His Spirit in them to guide them and direct them and to maintain a desire in our hearts to follow Him.  1 John 4 says that we love Him because He first loved us.  He loved you.  Are you now pursuing Him back?  Here are some things to ask yourself:

Are you:

  • striving  to know Him through His Word? God has left a record of Himself.  He has revealed Himself.  He has done so in nature (Ps. 19:1, Romans 1:20), but He has gone much farther by giving us a written record of who He is and what He has to say about us. If you are going to grow to be like Him you must know what He says. You must be striving to know Scripture well! Do you know the love of God only through experience? Then how do you answer when tough times come? Only with truth–the revealed word of God!!
  • learning to see from His perspective? When Paul begins his prayer in Ephesians 1:15, he is praying for people who have received Christ’s redemption.  He prays for them that they would see clearly with wisdom and understanding–that they would be enlightened in their thinking.  We call this illumination–God’s Spirit living in us (v. 13) and working through us to enlighten us to the truth of God’s scripture as we read it.  Paul is praying that the Ephesians would see things the way God does.  Proverbs 9:10 says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  So we can’t look at our lives from the way we want to see them and expect to understand what God is saying.  We must approach our lives from the fact that what God says is truth.  We can then interpret our lives and their circumstances accordingly.

More to come…stay tuned

You’re a Christian…What Does That Mean?

{ February 9, 2011 @ 1:52 pm } · { Portico }
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What we say

A large percentage of the American (even the world) population claims to be Christian.  It is a term that is only used in the New Testament 3 times.  The rest of the time those who are said to be following Christ are called “disciples,” “fellow-heirs,” “saints” (not the ones from N.O.).  What does it mean for us to name ourselves with Christ? As a Christian that is what we say, “I am named with Christ.”

God used the hand of Paul to the Ephesians to make some clear points to make sure we know what He did, how He did it, and why.

Ephesians 1:7 answers “Who, What, Where, How”

Who: “In Him”–Christ–all things start and end with God and God’s means of reaching, loving and saving (redeeming) man is done through Christ.  Christ is the focal point of scripture, the only human to live above human depravity, and the only God (little g or big G) to sacrifice Himself to save (redeem) humans.

What: “Redemption…the forgiveness of sins” I didn’t join some group of people trying to convince God that we are worthy of affection.  I was sold in slavery by my own brokenness–out of control.  I was destined to do one thing: live my entire life slaving for something that would never reward me, benefit me, love me, protect me, or even spare my life.  I would die a slave to an unrelenting, unforgiving master.  But I was bought off the trading block.  I was…REDEEMED.  The One who bought me bought my freedom and I am His.  And I am now His slave, but His chains are freedom and love. And the work I do for Him is beneficial to Him and me.

Where: “through His blood”–Since sin came into the world and all sin (Rom. 5:12), and from the first life ever taken on behalf of humans (Gen. 3:21),  death would always follow sin.  Mankind was hopeless unless someone could be righteous enough to redeem the human race and be its new “Adam.”  Christ’s life was just that. And His blood is the ONLY sacrifice acceptable to God.  Through it, we have the redemption.

How: “in accordance with the riches of God’s grace”–grace is not to the smarter, wiser or most spiritually-prone.  Grace is just that–granted.  God, who needed nothing to be complete, made mankind in His image (like Him–emotions, will, etc.), saw man sin against Him and turn from Him. And yet because of the character–including the love–of God, out of His own grace, brought redemption to man through the death of His own Son and sacrifice (Gen. 22:8; Ps. 98:1; Is. 63:5).  He did it.  And we are the recipients.

Verses 5 and 6 answers “Why”

Why: “in accordance with His pleasure and will–to the praise of His glorious grace.” All of this is for His own pleasure and to the praise of His grace.  All things that God does ultimately return to Himself.  He does all things to bring Himself glory and pleasure–He must!! He is the Most High so all things must be geared toward Him.  If He gives grace to humans it brings glory to Him, but are humans not better off for it?  If He takes unrighteous people and redeems them and begins to bring righteousness to them, does He not display His power and might and cause people to be in awe of Him? Yes! But the best thing that could happen to us is that God would bring righteousness to us!

Verses 4 and 5 handle the “When”:

When: “For he chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ.”–It was always part of God’s plan to have Christ be the means by which God would bring us redemption and be adopted into His family.  Not only that, but we are also said to be chosen “to be holy and blameless in his sight.”

What God says

There is so much more to “being a Christian” than claiming a certain “religion” or attending services at a Christian church.  In fact, we understand in Scripture that being a Christian has VERY LITTLE to do with us.  It is “IN HIM.”

Reflections of a 30-year old Part 2

{ January 26, 2010 @ 12:06 pm } · { Thoughts }
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I’ve learned that managing a full schedule is mostly about managing me.

It finally dawned on me that no matter how busy I was, I was always “too busy.”

My schedule is probably the most full it has ever been.  But I find myself feeling as energized and personally successful as I ever have.  Granted, there is always room to grow, but I am doing better at managing my schedule.  Honestly, I am doing better at managing me.

The problem was not my calendar, although keeping a digital version on my smart phone has been an immense aid. The problem was I didn’t have good boundaries on when to say yes, when to say no and when to not speak at all.   I had a hard time leaving one place for another thinking I was cheating one area.

The more I began to realize that if I see things for how they are, stop thinking I could fix everything and that all things hang on my shoulders (which, by the way, is a VERY prideful and arrogant thought), the more I realized I have to know my priorities and capabilities and work out of those.  The rest is beyond me and out of my control–much like the majority of life.

Young guys reading this: manage your emotions, manage your priorities, manage your pride, befriend a calendar and pray.

Plan like you have your whole life left.  Live like it will end today.

No man is fit to command another that cannot command himself. –William Penn

Reflections of 30 year old

{ January 25, 2010 @ 2:23 pm } · { Thoughts }
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I’ll start with a few things I have really gotten my mind around this past (my final as a 20-something) year:

When I am forgiven, I am forgiven.

It is one thing to walk up to a friend who I have hurt or offended or put out and sincerely apologize, walk away and know I have done what is right.  Forgiveness is up to them.

It seems entirely different to do so to the King of the Universe who IS the definition of Righteousness! However, for the most peace I have enjoyed with the King in 30 years, when John says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive them, that’s for REAL.  Out of a broken spirit (Psalm 51:17) when I confess my unrighteousness to God, He flat out forgives it–no religious duty–THAT’S WHY CHRIST DIED!

My wife is not the girl of my dreams.

(she knows this by the way)

And thank God for it!

Paul says “when I was a child, I thought like a child, but when I became a man, I put that stuff away (loose translation 1 Corinthians 13:11).

I had in my mind what a wife should be.  My “dream girl” was one who played well into my insecurities, pandered to my ridiculous thoughts, and compensated for every corner of my dark and fearful heart.

What I later realized is if I had married that woman, she would have been, not the girl of my dreams, but the worst nightmare.

In the joys, the excitement, the tears, the difficulties, God uses M. in incredible ways to grow me and make me very aware of my need for the       redemptive Gospel in all areas of my life.  I cannot hide from her, and I am so thankful for her.

I can grieve deeply about someone I have never met.

This past year, M. was carrying a baby, C. for name purposes, and God in His infinite wisdom saw to take C. to be with Him.  I don’t question God’s plan because it is wise (btw His foolishness is wiser than the wisdom of man 1 Corinthians 1:25), but I found great surprise in the way that, having never met C. personally, and only having some funky pictures (sorry C., you know this is true), I grieve deeply over this child.

God has vividly taught me that children are a blessing from the Lord, and parents are at best, wonderful stewards and incubators of a life created by the King.  Yet the pain remains.  And I am glad.  Sorrow is a part of understanding the brokenness of this place, and the greatness of our Redeemer. (Ecclesiastes 1:18).

My Mother is way too beautiful to have two children who are 30!

enough said.

Preparation to communicate God’s Word is extremely crucial and completely useless.

I have the opportunity VERY often to stand in front of people and communicate what God has written in His Bible and what I believe is culturally efficacious.

I have learned that I MUST prepare with great discipline, great fervor and certainly much prayer.  This is crucial so that when I stand to speak I may have purged as much ignorance and self as possible whereby I may “get out of the way.”

That said, my preparation is completely useless.  Regardless of my time and effort, If God does not speak when I stand, NOTHING meaningful is said.


community groups

{ May 28, 2009 @ 2:35 pm } · { Ministry }
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I am excited about the start of community groups.  For a semester now we have been building to this.  So much of the difficulty in the Christian life can be contributed to the “Lone Ranger” approach.  God never intended for us to be isolated.  In fact, to be isolated is in direct opposition to the very intent of Christ.

Paul refers to Christians as being in the “Body of Christ.”  1 Corinthians 12 says each member has a particular role, and all members need one another.

Tonight begins our college-age men’s community groups.  You can’t get in a large group what you can in a small one.  This is the chance for college-aged men to build up the shores that make us warriors, kings, servants, and those who love vehemently.

Check out the Facebook group for more details.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=84155974705

otherwise, agnostic

{ May 8, 2009 @ 3:15 pm } · { Thoughts }
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otherwise i might be agnostic–at the most

possibly the only thing keeping me from being agnostic is the teaching on the Trinity (that God is three persons in one being)
(for whatever knock-off the Matrix took, I’m pleased to believe that Christ does not resemble Keanu Reeves–I would seriously struggle with that).

as I read Romans 3 I am reminded not only of why I serve God, but of why I would serve no other if not the God of the Bible.

  • whether Jewish or Gentile (Gentile: anyone but a Jew), all are found sinful under the law of God. God’s law calls for perfection, righteousness.
  • regardless of heritage and outward duty or sacrifice, all are inwardly weak and unable to attain God’s standard of perfection.
  1. Jesus made this clear in Matthew 5 when He said things such as, “you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
  2. there is more at stake than how things look on the outside.
  3. to the pharisees–the ones constantly imposing rules and calling out fault in others–he said, “You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.”

without Christ we are all under God’s judgment, and rightfully so.

In Romans 3:23-26

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Because of the righteousness of God, I have trust that He is good.  If God were not just and righteous–though some think this makes God mean and demanding–I would have no reason to believe Him.  If not for His own goodness, what would stop Him from being a moody, mean-spirited kid with a magnifying glass and us as the ants?  His righteousness and justice make Him trustworthy

Because of the love that is incarnate (not personified, but actually love in the flesh) in Jesus, I would have no chance to stand before God (not just in eternity, but now) and have anything to say to Him.  He is righteous and demands righteousness.  I have none on my own.  Because of Christ I have imputed (put on me on my behalf by someone else) righteousness, sealed by the Spirit of God.

Now, because of the nature of God, triune (three parts in one) demands for righteousness, has a love that self-sacrifices to provide righteousness, and guarantees it, Romans 3:26 says this:

“…that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

If God is not just, then I can’t trust His love.  And if God does not love, then I have no hope in light of His righteousness.  And if I have no Spirit to insure my salvation, then I am in constant worry.

If God were not triune, then the best I could offer is agnosticism (not knowing for sure if there is a “god”).

results

{ May 7, 2009 @ 11:27 pm } · { Thoughts }
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who I am defines what I do.  if I see a failure of my hands, it originated in my heart.   though I may have access to knowledge and to intellect, if it is not applied in real time, it is merely proposed.  what I do comes directly from who I am.

“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

“As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.” Proverbs 27:19

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21

if my heart is set on my own good and my own fortune, that is what I will seek–and I will be worse for it.

“…man is too big for this world.” –Arthur Pierson

and ironically man is in this world.  and the end of man best be something grander than man, or he is left lacking.

crooked

{ May 7, 2009 @ 4:51 am } · { Thoughts }
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the whole of our existence hangs in a tension of irony and perplexity.  Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned–”  Sin did not simply get passed from human to human (though that is true), sin entered the world.  Prior to the sin of Adam, the whole of the earth and all that is in it, gave glory to God as it was intended.  Since then, all things are broken and filled with inequality.  As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 1:15 “What is twisted cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted.”

The glory had to be restored in another way.  There had to be another “Adam.” Romans 5:15 “But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!” Because of the righteousness and substitute of Christ, God ushered into man a means by which he may bring glory to God.  All things are twisted.  And it is so that we may be aware that Christ is man’s only hope of salvation and the only means by which any may glorify God.

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