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From Discipline to Desire

May 19, 2009

Several weeks ago, while attending a church-planting conference, a conviction developed inside of me that I was not spending enough time with God.  Not being overly mystical, I nevertheless felt that God was telling me to mark out more time for Him—time to pray, time to read Scripture devotionally, and time to journal my thoughts, prayers, and struggles.  This conviction hit me when I learned of thousands of Eastern Christians in the Orient who are setting aside 3 hours a day for prayer and personal Bible study.

Therefore, I began the discipline of marking out time for God.  Thinking that I should begin and end my day with God, I began to get up earlier and stay up later so that my time with Him did not take away from my time with family, friends and work.  And what better way, then to start and end the day, with God?

And I must confess that it began only as a discipline.  The first morning, when my alarm sounded at 5:30am, was a rough one.  I hit the coffee maker before I hit the Word.  But the second morning was easier.  And the third easier still.  Also, spending an hour in prayer and devotional study was not easy.  What to pray?  What to read?  How to keep from falling asleep?  That’s why they call it discipline, I suppose, because it’s not easy.

However, my discipline is now being transformed into desire.  I’m anticipating my times with God in the morning.  I’m finding the television in the evening to be monotonous.  I’m looking forward to my prayer journal, and my devotional books, and maybe most, my Bible.  I’m reading things that challenge me—and I like to be challenged—things that could change me.  My passion for God is being renewed once again—and I find myself spending more time with Him throughout the day (and appreciating Him in my work and in my play).  Discipline has become desire.

I wonder how many other areas of my life need the catalyst of discipline.  It takes discipline to exercise but eventually it becomes a desire.  It takes discipline to love the unlovable, but eventually the unlovable become desirable.  How many areas of our lives could God transform if we were willing to accept His discipline and embrace self-discipline?  I don’t know for sure, but I do know that my spiritual disciplines have become spiritual desires—and for this I rejoice.

Posted in church, culture, Family, religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment »

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Waiting on God

May 13, 2009

In Genesis 15 and 16 we discover an epic dilemma in the life of Abraham and Sarah.  The dilemma is that Sarah is barren and cannot produced an heir, and that she is now well beyond her child-bearing years.  Therefore, in Genesis 15 Abraham decides to choose his highest-ranking servant Eliezer as his heir.  But when Abraham prays about this decision, God intervenes and says “no.” 

Then in Genesis 16 Sarah suggests that Abraham should take her servant Hagar as a surrogate wife and conceive with her, producing an heir vicariously.  Apparently, Abraham likes this idea and (rather than praying for direction) sleeps with Hagar, who conceives.  This creates all sorts of struggles within the family—prompting feelings of inadequacy and bitterness for Sarah, and rivalry for Hagar.

The bigger problem is that Abraham and Sarah, rather than waiting on God’s plan and promise to be fulfilled, decide to take matters into their own hands.  This creates all sorts of trouble for them and even for us today (if you know your history).

For us, it means that we must wait on God’s will to become evident in our lives–we cannot run ahead of His will.  Things must take place in His time.  We need to be diligent and proactive, but everything we do should be (1) bathed in prayer; (2) approved by the Word; and (3) affirmed by godly Consults; because the consequences of going ahead of God can be disastrous.

Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor in vain.  Unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.”

Posted in church, culture, Family, Politics, religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

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The Way of Success, or the Spirit

May 9, 2009

In my devotional time today I read Genesis 13 which is part of the Abrahamic narrative.  In the narrative both Abraham and his nephew Lot have become incredibly wealthy.  They have left their homeland to follow God, they have experienced some bumps and bruises along the way, but in this chapter they find themselves in the land of Canaan (otherwise known as the Promised Land).

The particular land they choose to inhabit is not big enough for both men.  Their flocks are so vast, their possessions so many, that division develops between the Family.  Their workers and shepherds begin fighting and it becomes evident that something must change.  They simply cannot share the land any longer.  They must separate for the sake of family unity.

So Abraham gives his nephew Lot the choice of land.  There are two regions.  One is very fertile, and one is not so much.  The former is prosperous, but the latter is not.  Abraham tells Lot to pick his region, promising to inhabit whatever land Lot leaves behind.  As most of us would do, Lot picks the fertile and prosperous land where he will have the greatest opportunity and chance for success.

But there is more to this story than meets the eye.  It’s a lesson in the classic tension between spirituality and success.

Abraham takes the moral high-ground of working for family peace and harmony while Lot takes the ambitious road of prosperity and success.  And Abraham’s choice will be blessed by God while Lot will suffer the consequences.  Abraham’s family will be established and become a great nation.  Lot’s marriage will be destroyed and his entire family line will be corrupted.  And it all started with the choice to make success and prosperity a higher calling than family and faith.

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For God’s Sake: Stop Praying for Safety!

May 7, 2009

As I go back and read through my prayer journal I see a recurring theme: the prayer for safety.  “God, please keep my family safe, please keep my marriage safe, please keep my children safe.”  Two weeks ago when I was traveling across country I was praying for “travel safety.”  When ever I listen to others pray I often hear them calling on the Lord for “safety.”  But as I’m spending time in prayer and study this morning I’m convicted that we need to stop praying for safety.

Did Abraham pray for safety as he left his homeland to follow the Lord?  Did Moses pray for safety when he confronted the king of Egypt?  Did David pray for safety before he faced the Philistine Gladiator?  Did Daniel pray for safety when prayer was outlawed in Babylon?  Did Jesus pray for safety, ever?  Did the early church leaders make the issue of safety part of their prayers?  The answer is no.  They didn’t pray for safety.  They prayed for boldness, power and purpose; but rarely if ever prayed for protection and safety.

Why do we pray for safety?  Are we still too materialistic and naturalistic?  Are we afraid of death or disaster?  Are we afraid of failure?

I think that great men and women of God would rather go down in glorious failure than to live boring, uneventful lives that make no tangible difference in the world!  They are far less concerned about their own comfort and far more concerned about God’s Kingdom.  They pray for the opposite of safety.  They pray for danger!  They want to walk in the footsteps of Christ.  They want to be counted among the great cloud of witnesses ushering in the Kingdom of God.  But they do not want to be safe.

I’m tired of safety.  I’m bored with the 9 to 5, Monday to Friday grind.  I’m tired of low-vision and safe-living.  I’m ready to go to whomever and wherever the Lord leads me.  May God send me to Chicago, or to New York, or to Haiti, or to London, or to Nairobi, or to Moscow, or to Brisbane; but may he not condemn me to living a safe life!

Posted in church, Family, religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment »

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Understanding the Bible

May 5, 2009

A friend on Facebook posted a thought-provoking quote that I’d like to share:

“The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because the minute we understand, we are obliged to act accordingly.”            —Soren Kierkegaard

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Don’t Stop Serving

May 4, 2009

A noticeable thing happens among Christians when they go through rough times.  They stop serving.

We see this happen on a regular basis.  A marriage gets tough, a job is lost, a family member faces a troubling medical diagnosis, and people stop serving.  They say, “It’s not a good time for me right now.  I need some time away.  I’m in no shape to serve.”

We think this is an improper response to trying times. 

Life is hard.  We all acknowledge this.  But when trouble strikes us we’re shocked.  Someone else might lose their job.  Someone else might be diagnosed with cancer.  Someone else’s marriage might be in trouble.  We expect this.  But we act as if we are immune.  And when these problems actually strike our own lives, we retreat.

Maybe we blame God.  Maybe we feel like we’ve kept up our end of the bargain.  Maybe we think that God isn’t keeping up His end.

But Scripture promises trouble for all followers of Jesus; indeed for all people.  Scripture promises that trouble, hardship, famine, nakedness, and danger will attack the followers of God—but also promises that such things cannot seperate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35).  God does not promise to deliver us from such valleys, He promises to be with us when we walk through them (Psalm 23:4).

For some reason we blame God when bad things happen.  When good things happen we take credit—we are competent, successful, responsible, and accomplished.  But when bad things happen it’s God’s fault.

Scripture says we should not blame God, that the bad things that happen in the world are a direct result of humanity’s fleshly desires, not a result of God’s sovereignty (James 1:12-14).

In our opinion, hard times don’t prevent us from serving but they enable us to serve more.  When we face disease, we are enabled to understand and serve others who are diseased.  When we face the loss of a job, we find we have more time to serve not less.  When our marriages suffer we discover the tipping point and know that we need to make positive changes in order to fulfill our vows before God.

So our challenge in hard times is simple:  Don’t stop believing and don’t stop serving.  It may create opportunity for spiritual joy and spiritual growth that we could not have imagined.

Posted in church, culture, Family, religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment »

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Swine Flu

April 29, 2009

There’s a lot of hype and hysteria about the swine flu.  The next few weeks will tell how serious or not serious this thing might be.  But for now there’s not a lot that we can do but pray for health, hope for the best, wash our hands, and keep our eyes open.

When I heard that a Chicagoland school had closed I must confess that I had second thoughts about sending my sons to school—but at this point it seems best just to be vigilant.

I talked to my wife (who is an RN) and my neighbor (who is also an RN) and was reminded that tens of thousands of people die every year in the US with influenza, without hype or hysteria.  We have to remember that bad news sells newspapers and, honestly, the modern media can’t be trusted anyway.

Our trust has to be in God.  He is sovereign over everything that happens and nothing takes place outside of His will—good or bad.  We have to believe that He has our best interests in mind and that He does not promise to deliver us from all the troubles of this life, but to help us to navigate them successfully and with a servant’s heart.  Whatever we face will simply be an opportunity to grow in our faith and to serve those in need.

Besides, I’m not about to live my life in fear—not even for one moment!  In Matthew 6 Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…, who of you by worring can add a singly hour to his life…!“

Posted in church, culture, Family, Politics, religion, Uncategorized | 7 Comments »

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CS Lewis (and more) on Friendship

April 28, 2009

In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out.  By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets.  Now that Charles [a good friend to Lewis and Tolkien] is dead, I shall never again see Ronald’s [Tolkien] reaction to a specifically Charles joke.  For from having more of Ronald, having him “to myself” now that Charles is away, I have less of Ronald… In this, Friendship exhibits a glorious “nearness by resemblance” to heaven itself where the very multitude of the blessed (which no man can number) increases the fruition which each of us has of God.  For every soul, seeing Him in her own way, doubtless communicates that unique vision to all the rest. (from CS Lewis’ essay entitled “Friendship.”)

CS Lewis is saying that one cannot know themselves without properly knowing others.  In other words, we are not complete people without community—without friends.

In Philippians 1:3ff the Apostle Paul writes, “I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the Gospel.”

I am truly grateful for those friends who help me to be “me,” who are strong where I am weak, who lift me up when I am down; those friends for whom I grieve when we are apart, who are indeed closer than family and have thus become family.  Such friends bring joy that is unexpressible and partnership that is unbreakable.  Such friends are a rare treasure, a pearl of great price, and one of my great hopes for Heaven.

Posted in church, culture, Family, religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments »

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Jesus Fishes–the Symbol of True Religion?

April 23, 2009

Yesterday, while driving past“The Holy Land Experience,” we spotted a minivan with four Jesus Fishies plastered to it’s rear (the Holy Land Experience is a religious Disney World of sorts).  And we wondered what, if anything, the driver of the minivan was trying to do  and/or accomplish with the Jesus fishes.

Was it a sign of testimony?  Was it a mark of spirituality?  Was it a statement of faith?  Were they going to the Holy Land Experience?  Without knowing the driver, we can’t know the motive.  But we think it dangerous to make such outward displays of faith.  Not dangerous to others but dangerous to the one making the display.

The temptation is to see such things as symbols of “true” religion.  As notches on our spiritual belts.  As tangible demonstrations of authentic faithfulness.  But the temptation doesn’t square with biblical Christianity.

James 1says that “true religion” is to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  Psalm 1 says the “blessed man” is the one who “delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night.”  And Ecclesiastes 12: 13 says that the “whole duty” of man is to “fear God” and “obey His commands.”

Our point is that it’s easy to put Jesus Fishies on our cars, and it’s easy to boycott Disney and go to the Holy Land Experience (although we think it’s stupid), but it’s not so easy to “look after orphans and widows” and it’s not easy to “fear the Lord and keep His commandments” and it’s not easy to “meditate on God’s Law day and night.”  A Jesus Fish might look spiritual to some, but God is looking for something deeper.

Posted in church, culture, Family, religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

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An Awe-Inspiring Moment

April 20, 2009

Today I stood on the banks of the Atlantic Ocean and started out at the vast expanse.  As the waves crested and crashed into the banks of sand, I momentarily paused to think of the magnitude and power of the One who created it all.  I was impressed by His power, His glory, and His creative abilities.  It was a brief but awe-inspiring moment (this was only my third trip to the ocean and it still hasn’t lost it’s luster).

So tonight as I lay in my hotel bed, I began to journal about the majesty of the ocean and about it’s ability to bring glory to the God.  And as I finished with my thoughts I randomly opened my Bible to an obsecure chapter, Psalm 93, which says:

“The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed.  He has girded Himself with strength.  Surely the world is established so that it cannot be moved.  Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting.  The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.  The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea.”

Posted in church, Family, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments »

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