Hey, Y'all,
Sorry this has taken a bit to get out to you--been slightly busy this week at work (what is it about "short weeks" that makes them a little extra-crazy?), also been scheming--errr--planning a really cool program set for June 30th (stand by for further shameless plugs :-) as well as getting ready to preach this Sabbath and, finally, well, I guess it just took me a little while to get these thoughts just right (hey, I'm an editor, what do you want from me?!? :-)
So, though the wishes are now a bit belated, I hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend--I certainly did, managed to completely disconnect for a couple days and decompress from a phenomenally stressful couple of weeks/months/years (just in time of course to re-compress this week--oh well :-) Also had some time to realize again how gratifying the previous weekend was, especially because I got to see friends and family, some of whom I hadn't seen in far too long--thanks for making the effort and coming out (you know who you are :-) I am truly grateful to have you in my life. And to those who couldn't make it but wanted to--I know, and I totally understand. You were missed :-)
This weekend I was privileged to attend a wreath-laying ceremony on the flight deck of the (former) USS Midway. First of all, I've always liked Memorial Day--more than most holidays, I suppose--because it's all about concepts I value and respect immensely: real sacrifice, true honor, genuine idealism. Anyway, I figured there'd be a few of us standing around (after all it was fairly early in the morning and it was a long weekend), but I was very pleasantly surprised as more and more people (of all ages) arrived--families, boy and girl scouts in uniform, proud old codgers wearing their uniforms or VFW garrison caps--in all we numbered over 250. How cool is that? I love this town. My kind of people.
Anyway, we all rose and stood at attention as the color guard paraded and then posted the colors and the national anthem was played, then the speakers spoke briefly before we stood solemnly once more as Taps was sounded and the wreaths were reverently dropped into the bay while the destroyer USS Bunker Hill slipped silently by with her sailors manning the rails, rendering honors to the fallen as well. Utterly moving. Indescribably so...
One of the speakers used a couple of lines from favorite quotes of mine (one from the Tomb Of The Unknowns at Arlington, the other from Lincoln's Gettysburg address) to speak of the fallen. He reminded us that the purpose of Memorial Day is not merely to sleep-in and barbecue; we must teach the rising generations that there are those who rest in honored glory, having given the last full measure of their devotion, for these ideals.
As the service wound down, it occurred to me that Memorial Day is almost exactly 6 months before (and after :-) Thanksgiving (and Veterans' Day as well, I might add)--so that's kind of cool, huh? Two almost equidistant opportunities each year to scrape off some of the cynicism and selfishness I've accumulated and deeply feel and express and think about gratitude.
And then it occurred to me that long before all of these men and women I admire, these patriots, gave their all, Christ gave the last full measure of His devotion for me, and for you, that we might truly live, free. Hmmm...now how often do I remember that?
Funny, too, that all of this tied in beautifully with the conversation we'd just had (during a truly "superior" vespers at the James estate :-) about thankfulness and humility, and as I "threatened" to send out Hezekiah Walker's "Gratefulness" (BTW thanks Art for introducing me to quite seriously one of the greatest songs I've ever heard), here indeed it is. Put on some headphones, play it in your car, irritate your neighbors if you must, but play it loud, this song warrants it; close your eyes if you have to, and really listen to the message...and remember.
You've been prayed for today...
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Vast Difference
Hey, Y'all,
So as promised, we're back discussing Philip Yancey's book "Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?" and today's quote addresses some queries we've all no doubt had sometime...
All my friends have some similarities to me and some differences...Every relationship spawns a kind of dance between "the self" and "the other." How much more so with a holy, ineffable God, who both lives here with us as well as in the realm of spirit?
I am overwhelmed by the vastness of God, the imbalance or asymmetry of any creature's relationship to such a being. "Since it is God we are speaking of, you do not understand it. If you could, it would not be God of which we speak," said Saint Augustine. True. How strange to think that we who barely comprehend ourselves are approaching a God we cannot possibly comprehend...
In prayer I am approaching the creator of all that is, someone next to whom I feel immeasurably small. How can I do anything but fall silent in such presence? Moreover, how can I believe that anything I say matters to God?...
In one hand I hold the truth of God's vastness, and in the other hand I hold the truth of His desire for relationship, for intimacy with us...I gaze at the stars and marvel at the apparent insignificance of the entire human experiment; then I read the passage of scripture (and it is just one of many like it) that says that, just as a mother with her child, God "rejoices over us with singing." Only lately have I understood that it is the vast difference between God and us what allows this very capacity. God operates by vastly different rules. God's infinite greatness, which we expect to diminish us, in fact makes possible the closeness the we--and He--desire.
How amazing is that? His vastness, my tiny-ness, His interest, my disbelief, His insistence, my acceptance--and subsequent awakening (rebirth?) into a new and far better existence, right here, right now.
It is no wonder then that David wrote both
"When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars you set in place, what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?"
and
"The Lord is my shepherd--I have everything I need."
You've been prayed for today...
So as promised, we're back discussing Philip Yancey's book "Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?" and today's quote addresses some queries we've all no doubt had sometime...
All my friends have some similarities to me and some differences...Every relationship spawns a kind of dance between "the self" and "the other." How much more so with a holy, ineffable God, who both lives here with us as well as in the realm of spirit?
I am overwhelmed by the vastness of God, the imbalance or asymmetry of any creature's relationship to such a being. "Since it is God we are speaking of, you do not understand it. If you could, it would not be God of which we speak," said Saint Augustine. True. How strange to think that we who barely comprehend ourselves are approaching a God we cannot possibly comprehend...
In prayer I am approaching the creator of all that is, someone next to whom I feel immeasurably small. How can I do anything but fall silent in such presence? Moreover, how can I believe that anything I say matters to God?...
In one hand I hold the truth of God's vastness, and in the other hand I hold the truth of His desire for relationship, for intimacy with us...I gaze at the stars and marvel at the apparent insignificance of the entire human experiment; then I read the passage of scripture (and it is just one of many like it) that says that, just as a mother with her child, God "rejoices over us with singing." Only lately have I understood that it is the vast difference between God and us what allows this very capacity. God operates by vastly different rules. God's infinite greatness, which we expect to diminish us, in fact makes possible the closeness the we--and He--desire.
How amazing is that? His vastness, my tiny-ness, His interest, my disbelief, His insistence, my acceptance--and subsequent awakening (rebirth?) into a new and far better existence, right here, right now.
It is no wonder then that David wrote both
"When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars you set in place, what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?"
and
"The Lord is my shepherd--I have everything I need."
You've been prayed for today...
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
From Him, Through Him, To Him...
Hey, Y'all,
Yeah, I know, I said we'd get back to Yancey's book on prayer this RST, but maybe it's the lack of sleep, or maybe it's the fact (like I told a friend of mine earlier: been waiting seems like forever to say) that I just got done with my final final finally (yep, fully embracing my inner geek tonight! can't take me anywhere :-) (hey, I did say I haven't been sleeping much of late, right?!?!).
Anyway, as I was saying, don't know what it is exactly, but I (not-so) randomly ran across this passage in Romans and it really really struck me--and interestingly enough, it does segue nicely back to Yancey's book as you'll see later. So here it is...
Oh, the depth of the riches
of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable His judgments,
and His paths beyond tracing out!
Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been His counselor?
Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
Romans 11:33-36
Just...perfect for where my (somewhat addled) mind is tonight...
And you've been prayed for.
Yeah, I know, I said we'd get back to Yancey's book on prayer this RST, but maybe it's the lack of sleep, or maybe it's the fact (like I told a friend of mine earlier: been waiting seems like forever to say) that I just got done with my final final finally (yep, fully embracing my inner geek tonight! can't take me anywhere :-) (hey, I did say I haven't been sleeping much of late, right?!?!).
Anyway, as I was saying, don't know what it is exactly, but I (not-so) randomly ran across this passage in Romans and it really really struck me--and interestingly enough, it does segue nicely back to Yancey's book as you'll see later. So here it is...
Oh, the depth of the riches
of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable His judgments,
and His paths beyond tracing out!
Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been His counselor?
Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
Romans 11:33-36
Just...perfect for where my (somewhat addled) mind is tonight...
And you've been prayed for.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
P.S. "Remember"
P.S. One last not-so-random thought before we get back to Yancey's book on prayer (funny how this was touched on yesterday both in the sermon and in Sabbath School--go Trina and Olya!).
If you worry that you can't remember those last texts (and others) when you need 'em...stand by for another gratuitous shout-out to the fellas of the men's group...(Fellas! :-) In said august gathering we have lots of passages that seem to come up repeatedly, and thanks to our brother Ellis this one has become one of the classics--it's John 14:26 (right before John 14:27 above, in case you missed it) and yeah, it addresses our (sometimes? usually?) balky memory:
"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."
So there you have it--we talked about God's Word and His Spirit's ability to allow us to see things more clearly (especially within ourselves--not always an easy thing--or maybe it's just me :-), and we talked about His recipe for peace (the good stuff--not that cheap counterfeit the world gives), and if you forget any of it, don't worry, He says He'll even remind you. How cool is that?
You've been prayed for today...
If you worry that you can't remember those last texts (and others) when you need 'em...stand by for another gratuitous shout-out to the fellas of the men's group...(Fellas! :-) In said august gathering we have lots of passages that seem to come up repeatedly, and thanks to our brother Ellis this one has become one of the classics--it's John 14:26 (right before John 14:27 above, in case you missed it) and yeah, it addresses our (sometimes? usually?) balky memory:
"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."
So there you have it--we talked about God's Word and His Spirit's ability to allow us to see things more clearly (especially within ourselves--not always an easy thing--or maybe it's just me :-), and we talked about His recipe for peace (the good stuff--not that cheap counterfeit the world gives), and if you forget any of it, don't worry, He says He'll even remind you. How cool is that?
You've been prayed for today...
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
"Then" -- God's Recipe For Peace
OK, so a couple of you suggested we make the next RST about the two texts we closed our last RST with--Philippians 4:6,7 and John 14:27 (slackers! check 'em out yourselves!:-) Truth be told, these texts speak pretty well (at least on occasion) to the state of our lives so I'm always up for talking about 'em, and for me, especially right about now, I'm feelin' 'em (and deeply :-)
Here's the first one in the NIV: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
It sounds like this in the NLT: Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Love (and hate :-) that little word "then." I have no trouble remembering the part about "you will experience God's peace" but I often gloss over the fact that the word immediately preceding that phrase is "then" which of course implies it's an "if-then" proposition--actually, it implies nothing, it comes right out and says it: don't worry about anything, pray about everything, tell Him what you need, thank Him for what He's already done, and THEN you'll experience God's peace. How true is that?
Then...
The text in John goes like this in the NIV: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
And like this in the NLT: I am leaving you with a gift, peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.
Love that little phrase "I do not give to you as the world gives." Man, is THAT the truth. "Stuff" might be able to distract me and soothe me for a little while, but peace? Real, actual, peace? Nope; just one Source, and that's the truth.
So there you go, God's anxiolytics. Read 'em again, slowly this time, 'cause they really do contain His recipe for peace...
You've been prayed for today...
Here's the first one in the NIV: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
It sounds like this in the NLT: Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Love (and hate :-) that little word "then." I have no trouble remembering the part about "you will experience God's peace" but I often gloss over the fact that the word immediately preceding that phrase is "then" which of course implies it's an "if-then" proposition--actually, it implies nothing, it comes right out and says it: don't worry about anything, pray about everything, tell Him what you need, thank Him for what He's already done, and THEN you'll experience God's peace. How true is that?
Then...
The text in John goes like this in the NIV: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
And like this in the NLT: I am leaving you with a gift, peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.
Love that little phrase "I do not give to you as the world gives." Man, is THAT the truth. "Stuff" might be able to distract me and soothe me for a little while, but peace? Real, actual, peace? Nope; just one Source, and that's the truth.
So there you go, God's anxiolytics. Read 'em again, slowly this time, 'cause they really do contain His recipe for peace...
You've been prayed for today...
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Discerner, Judge, Evaluator...My Light
Hey, Y'all,
The other day I ran across this verse I hadn't thought about in a while--good to remember it. It's Hebrews 4:12, and here's how it sounds in a few different versions, a great way BTW to understand subtly different shades of meaning from texts--you should try it, you'll see how much richer your understanding of the passage becomes. Also BTW, BibleGateway.com is a very user-friendly (and free!) on-line resource--check it out.
Here it is in the NKJV: For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
And this is what it sounds like in The Message: His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it, no matter what.
Love that, and gotta say I have found it to be true--His word, His Spirit's work on my heart and mind, have a way of cutting through the noise and the clutter and lay me open to myself, clearing away "doubt and defense" and allowing me to discern the truth about "the thoughts and intents of my heart," or as the NLT puts it, "It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires," something I might not necessarily see real clearly. Is this always fun? No. Is it always enlightening and a good thing? Definitely.
The Amplified Bible explains it like this: For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (the soul) and the spirit, and of joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.
So here's praying for you today...may you have clarity and understanding, and subsequently His peace that passes understanding (for more on that check out Philippians 4:6,7 and John 14:27).
The other day I ran across this verse I hadn't thought about in a while--good to remember it. It's Hebrews 4:12, and here's how it sounds in a few different versions, a great way BTW to understand subtly different shades of meaning from texts--you should try it, you'll see how much richer your understanding of the passage becomes. Also BTW, BibleGateway.com is a very user-friendly (and free!) on-line resource--check it out.
Here it is in the NKJV: For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
And this is what it sounds like in The Message: His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it, no matter what.
Love that, and gotta say I have found it to be true--His word, His Spirit's work on my heart and mind, have a way of cutting through the noise and the clutter and lay me open to myself, clearing away "doubt and defense" and allowing me to discern the truth about "the thoughts and intents of my heart," or as the NLT puts it, "It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires," something I might not necessarily see real clearly. Is this always fun? No. Is it always enlightening and a good thing? Definitely.
The Amplified Bible explains it like this: For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (the soul) and the spirit, and of joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.
So here's praying for you today...may you have clarity and understanding, and subsequently His peace that passes understanding (for more on that check out Philippians 4:6,7 and John 14:27).
Friday, May 4, 2007
Who Can Be Against You?
Hey, Y'all,
Well, the week (and the semester and school year for some of us :-) is drawing to a close--thank God. Got this a few days ago from my friend Olya and it's based on a quote of Max Lucado's (which I've read before but I forget in which book). Anyway, it's good stuff, especially for a Friday night (thanks, OlgaMona!)...
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31
The question is not merely, “Who can be against us?” You could answer that one. Who is against you? Disease, financial strain, busy-ness and exhaustion...Calamities confront, and fears imprison. Were Paul’s question solely, “Who can be against us?” we would list our foes and then (try to) fight them. But that is not the question he asked. The question is: "IF GOD IS FOR US, who can be against us?"
The first four key words in this verse deserve our attention. Slowly read the phrase, “God is for us.” Pause for a minute before you continue. Now read it again, aloud this time. "God is for us." OK, now repeat the phrase four times, this time emphasizing each word slightly differently. Come on, please, you’re not in that big of a hurry--do it, you'll see what I mean--like this:
GOD is for us.
God IS for us.
God is FOR us.
God is for US.
God is for you. Within reach of your prayers is the "knower" and maker of everything. God is for you!
God is for you. Not “may be,” not “has been,” but “God is for you!” Today. At this hour. At this very moment. As you read this sentence, He is with you. He could not be closer than He is right this second. His loyalty won’t increase if you are "good" nor lessen if you are "bad." He is for you. Period.
God is for you. Turn to the sidelines: that’s God cheering your run (or walk)(or crawl). Look past the finish line: that’s God applauding your steps and encouraging you onward and upward. Too tired to continue? That's Him reaching down to carry you. Too discouraged to fight? That's Him picking you up. God is for you.
God is for you. If He had a calendar your birthday would be circled. If he drove a car, your name would be proudly adhered on his bumper. Did you know he has a tattoo? Want to know what it says? “I have written your name on my hand,” He declares in Isaiah 49:16. “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?” God asks in the previous verse (v. 15). What a bizarre question, huh? I mean, you mothers, can you imagine feeding your infant and then later asking, “What was that baby’s name again?” No! Of course not! I’ve seen you. You stroke their hair, you touch their face, you say and sing their name over and over. Can a mother forget? No way. But “even if she could forget…I will not forget you,” God pledges.
God is with you...God is for you.
You've been prayed for today...
Well, the week (and the semester and school year for some of us :-) is drawing to a close--thank God. Got this a few days ago from my friend Olya and it's based on a quote of Max Lucado's (which I've read before but I forget in which book). Anyway, it's good stuff, especially for a Friday night (thanks, OlgaMona!)...
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31
The question is not merely, “Who can be against us?” You could answer that one. Who is against you? Disease, financial strain, busy-ness and exhaustion...Calamities confront, and fears imprison. Were Paul’s question solely, “Who can be against us?” we would list our foes and then (try to) fight them. But that is not the question he asked. The question is: "IF GOD IS FOR US, who can be against us?"
The first four key words in this verse deserve our attention. Slowly read the phrase, “God is for us.” Pause for a minute before you continue. Now read it again, aloud this time. "God is for us." OK, now repeat the phrase four times, this time emphasizing each word slightly differently. Come on, please, you’re not in that big of a hurry--do it, you'll see what I mean--like this:
GOD is for us.
God IS for us.
God is FOR us.
God is for US.
God is for you. Within reach of your prayers is the "knower" and maker of everything. God is for you!
God is for you. Not “may be,” not “has been,” but “God is for you!” Today. At this hour. At this very moment. As you read this sentence, He is with you. He could not be closer than He is right this second. His loyalty won’t increase if you are "good" nor lessen if you are "bad." He is for you. Period.
God is for you. Turn to the sidelines: that’s God cheering your run (or walk)(or crawl). Look past the finish line: that’s God applauding your steps and encouraging you onward and upward. Too tired to continue? That's Him reaching down to carry you. Too discouraged to fight? That's Him picking you up. God is for you.
God is for you. If He had a calendar your birthday would be circled. If he drove a car, your name would be proudly adhered on his bumper. Did you know he has a tattoo? Want to know what it says? “I have written your name on my hand,” He declares in Isaiah 49:16. “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?” God asks in the previous verse (v. 15). What a bizarre question, huh? I mean, you mothers, can you imagine feeding your infant and then later asking, “What was that baby’s name again?” No! Of course not! I’ve seen you. You stroke their hair, you touch their face, you say and sing their name over and over. Can a mother forget? No way. But “even if she could forget…I will not forget you,” God pledges.
God is with you...God is for you.
You've been prayed for today...
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
When No One Else Is Listening
Hey, Y'all,
Today's RST brings us back to Yancey's book on prayer and expresses an idea I've mulled over but haven't really been able to put into words--Nancy Mairs does so pretty elegantly here:
"Who one believes God to be is most accurately revealed not in any credo but in the way one speaks to God when no one else is listening."
There is an awful lot of doublespeak and contradiction (and frankly straight distortion) in how God is described and "represented" by His followers, but at the end of the day, here's the truth: no matter what I say I believe, how I speak to God, how I approach Him, reveals the truth of who I believe Him to be.
Do I speak to Him like some celestial Santa Claus? Do I get irritated and short 'cause sometimes He seems more like a balky ATM than The One who has promised to supply my every need? ("but Lord I really really need this particular something...").
Do I approach Him confidently and comfortably as Paul said I should (and as I would any true friend), or meekly, like He is a vaguely irritable and gruff acquaintance who'd just as soon be left alone as be bothered by me?
Do I even speak to Him at all?
Who you believe God to be is most accurately revealed not in any credo but in the way you speak to God when no one else is listening.
I remember reading a quote that says that God is Love; not merely that 'God has love' or 'God feels love.' No. God IS love. The actual embodiment of self-sacrificing, 'I love you so much I would literally do anything to help you' love.
Believe that? Really?
So how do you speak to Him?
You've been prayed for today...
Today's RST brings us back to Yancey's book on prayer and expresses an idea I've mulled over but haven't really been able to put into words--Nancy Mairs does so pretty elegantly here:
"Who one believes God to be is most accurately revealed not in any credo but in the way one speaks to God when no one else is listening."
There is an awful lot of doublespeak and contradiction (and frankly straight distortion) in how God is described and "represented" by His followers, but at the end of the day, here's the truth: no matter what I say I believe, how I speak to God, how I approach Him, reveals the truth of who I believe Him to be.
Do I speak to Him like some celestial Santa Claus? Do I get irritated and short 'cause sometimes He seems more like a balky ATM than The One who has promised to supply my every need? ("but Lord I really really need this particular something...").
Do I approach Him confidently and comfortably as Paul said I should (and as I would any true friend), or meekly, like He is a vaguely irritable and gruff acquaintance who'd just as soon be left alone as be bothered by me?
Do I even speak to Him at all?
Who you believe God to be is most accurately revealed not in any credo but in the way you speak to God when no one else is listening.
I remember reading a quote that says that God is Love; not merely that 'God has love' or 'God feels love.' No. God IS love. The actual embodiment of self-sacrificing, 'I love you so much I would literally do anything to help you' love.
Believe that? Really?
So how do you speak to Him?
You've been prayed for today...
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