When I was younger, I was an idealist. My ideals were casual postulates begging to be tested by the equation of life. Inside the subsets, behind the decimals, and by exponential force of experience I came to the sum of reality. Many of my ideas were false and some needed to be adjusted slightly.
In high school we had to make a portfolio of what we viewed as an ideal life. I went through and chose a castle for a home, a luxury car, and fictitious neighbors and pets. Those were secondary categories to what was on the first page: my wife.
For me, the equation was simple: high school girlfriend, college fiancé, graduate wife. It was a leisurely romp through the low plains. Instead I find that it is a a complex formula with irrational numbers and infinite variables not a graduated cylinder of exact science.
I do not know why my naivety was so vast, but its hold was euphoric; the feeling that the world would work out for me. I was the Catholic Church pre-Galileo and I was the earth of my dark universe. Perhaps it was the wonderment of adolescence or the rush of hormonal tide that gathered a library of fiction regarding love. More than likely, it was simply my inexperience.
Through my life, the idea of being in love has been at least a peripheral focus. The problem is, I didn't realize that in order to be in love, you first have to love. What I mean is that being in love is a state of being that is predicated by love itself...
Monday, October 27, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Our Depth of Perception is Reality
I park cars on the weekends. Usually imports like Porsche or Lexus, but occasionally the Tijuana bred Ford Escort wagon. Our policy is to back into parking spaces. I am horrible at this. I guess a lot on the distance between the rear bumper and stationary objects. Why do I guess? Because I have a problem with depth perception.
I found out about the problem when I was in high school. It was during baseball season and my batting skills seemed highly diminished from previous seasons. It was not that I could not see the ball, it was that I could not judge its the spin on the ball, or the stitches, or its position in relation to myself.
Once I recieved glasses to help correct this issue, it was much easier to see the ball's spin, stitches, and position. At first, it was difficult to get my physiological responses to sync. I went so long without good eye sight that my coordination was off. As the season progressed, my coordination began to come together and I ended up hitting about sixty points higher with glasses than without them.
I found out about the problem when I was in high school. It was during baseball season and my batting skills seemed highly diminished from previous seasons. It was not that I could not see the ball, it was that I could not judge its the spin on the ball, or the stitches, or its position in relation to myself.
Once I recieved glasses to help correct this issue, it was much easier to see the ball's spin, stitches, and position. At first, it was difficult to get my physiological responses to sync. I went so long without good eye sight that my coordination was off. As the season progressed, my coordination began to come together and I ended up hitting about sixty points higher with glasses than without them.
What was the difference before and after glasses? It was not sight, I could see without them. It was my perception or depth of perception. We can make all kinds of general assumptions based on basic perception, but if we are not viewing things through the correct lens, we will strikeout every time.
That is why sometimes we need to take a second look. Our initial impression of life is not always the most accurate. Next time you find yourself in a difficult situation, slow down and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Things may not be what they seem. The reason why many of us fail to overcome small circumstances is that we fail to see the real reason behind opposition.
Opposition can be practical or spiritual. That is why we need the Holy Spirit to guide us. If we decide to go to war against assumed spiritual forces and the issue is actually practical we are beating the air and accomplishing nothing. Conversely, if we simply view life naturally we ignore the admonitions of the Bible that we war not against flesh and blood, but principalities and powers.
So how do we determine what's what? We must ask questions. Ask the person who seems to be opposing you, ask yourself if you have addressed all the practical reasons, ask mature Christians, ask mature non-believers, and ask how you got into the confrontation. Once you ask the questions, the answers will fall into place and your response will be better suited for the situation.
Key Verses
I Samuel 16:7, Ephesians 6:12, John 14:26
Monday, October 6, 2008
So, Jesus Talked About Money Part 1
I've heard it said so many times that Jesus talked about money more than any other subject. Why did He talk about money so much? Most people assume that money is an important issue. This is a simplistic answer that does not even begin to placate my inquisitional palate.
I don't think Jesus was really interested in money for money's sake. He was interested in it because, just like today, people are engrossed in it as a an end instead of a means to an end. What I mean is that people look at money not as a flowing resource, but as an answer to life's problems. This is the thinking Christ was addressing in His ministry. It was not so 2000 years later someone could talk about the prosperity gospel.
Let's get a couple of things straight. Even though Jesus referred to money several times, most of His miracles concerned physical healing. After many of these healing miracles He would address their spiritual state by saying things like "your sins are forgiven" and "go and sin no more."
Very rarely do you see the point of Jesus miracle directly impose on the territory of finance. In fact, only one time does Jesus do a financial miracle. If finances are so important to God, then why only one financial miracle?
I don't think Jesus was really interested in money for money's sake. He was interested in it because, just like today, people are engrossed in it as a an end instead of a means to an end. What I mean is that people look at money not as a flowing resource, but as an answer to life's problems. This is the thinking Christ was addressing in His ministry. It was not so 2000 years later someone could talk about the prosperity gospel.
Let's get a couple of things straight. Even though Jesus referred to money several times, most of His miracles concerned physical healing. After many of these healing miracles He would address their spiritual state by saying things like "your sins are forgiven" and "go and sin no more."
Very rarely do you see the point of Jesus miracle directly impose on the territory of finance. In fact, only one time does Jesus do a financial miracle. If finances are so important to God, then why only one financial miracle?
Monday, September 29, 2008
Caught Up In History
Ever notice that old country music, aka hillbilly music, has a distinctly Hawaiian sound coming from the steel guitar? Why? Because Nashville hadn't yet developed the non-Polynesian tuning we know today. Why does that matter to me? It's not the sound that intrigues me, it is the story. Further, do you know where the hillbilly comes from? Hillbilly originally referred to Scottish or Irish settlers who lived in the Appalachians. billie is a synonym for fellow and hill stands for hill. So Hillbilly would be a fellow who lives in the mountains or foothills.
This is how life presents itself to me. I have information coming in through various sources and I process them with the knowledge I already possess on the subject. I fit things together like puzzle pieces, then I stand back and admire the intricate tapestry of time. I am woven into it, my part may be a swift cross stitch or it may be a centerpiece. I do not care. If I spent my time wondering about greatness I would never achieve it.
There is a quote that someone says. I find it ridiculous. It goes something like, "Do something so big, God would be embarrassed to not show up." Really people? Either God has directed you to do something or He has not. We can build large monuments like the Bakkers and Swaggarts and Billy Graham and the Tower of Babel and He will show up.
He shows up every time to thwart the imperialist leanings of men. He shows up every time we think we are so big that we don't need Him. He shows up every time Billy calls the audience to respond to an altar call. Make no mistake, God is there.
The ramifications of the quote by itself are preposterous. It is a dare that screams "I am doing something...so honor it!" But God is no respector of man. And what is the definition of big? Is it the granduer of a stadium and 50,000 people crying out to God in unison? Is it giving change to a bum on fourth and then walking away? What is big? Are we stretching our imagination into the territory of vanity?
Why was Jesus so "big?" It was because He magnified the Father. He was tangible, He alone was righteous, He was God incarnate in flesh. How can we be "big?" By living like Jesus. By being tangible to people; that is to be felt by the needy, to be seen by the poor, to love your neighbor and listen when they need to pour out there troubles. We are big when we are little. When we are humble and lift of Christ, even as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness. He is the answer. There is nothing in us but Christ that can prevail. We can be big by being righteous; by living justly and by loving mercy.
The life that honors God is the life that God shows up in. At the end of our existence will we step back and say, "the crowds were there, but they were fickle. The stadiums were full, but no one responded." Or will we say, "I went into the crowds and gave them what I had in Christ. That is the only answer I know."
Please, look at life and where you are as the story of time. Everything that has happened thus far as led to you like a single stitch and weave from beginning with Adam to the end of Omega. See the tapestry, make the stitch, do your part.
This is how life presents itself to me. I have information coming in through various sources and I process them with the knowledge I already possess on the subject. I fit things together like puzzle pieces, then I stand back and admire the intricate tapestry of time. I am woven into it, my part may be a swift cross stitch or it may be a centerpiece. I do not care. If I spent my time wondering about greatness I would never achieve it.
There is a quote that someone says. I find it ridiculous. It goes something like, "Do something so big, God would be embarrassed to not show up." Really people? Either God has directed you to do something or He has not. We can build large monuments like the Bakkers and Swaggarts and Billy Graham and the Tower of Babel and He will show up.
He shows up every time to thwart the imperialist leanings of men. He shows up every time we think we are so big that we don't need Him. He shows up every time Billy calls the audience to respond to an altar call. Make no mistake, God is there.
The ramifications of the quote by itself are preposterous. It is a dare that screams "I am doing something...so honor it!" But God is no respector of man. And what is the definition of big? Is it the granduer of a stadium and 50,000 people crying out to God in unison? Is it giving change to a bum on fourth and then walking away? What is big? Are we stretching our imagination into the territory of vanity?
Why was Jesus so "big?" It was because He magnified the Father. He was tangible, He alone was righteous, He was God incarnate in flesh. How can we be "big?" By living like Jesus. By being tangible to people; that is to be felt by the needy, to be seen by the poor, to love your neighbor and listen when they need to pour out there troubles. We are big when we are little. When we are humble and lift of Christ, even as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness. He is the answer. There is nothing in us but Christ that can prevail. We can be big by being righteous; by living justly and by loving mercy.
The life that honors God is the life that God shows up in. At the end of our existence will we step back and say, "the crowds were there, but they were fickle. The stadiums were full, but no one responded." Or will we say, "I went into the crowds and gave them what I had in Christ. That is the only answer I know."
Please, look at life and where you are as the story of time. Everything that has happened thus far as led to you like a single stitch and weave from beginning with Adam to the end of Omega. See the tapestry, make the stitch, do your part.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
This morning was my first class. I came in, received my temporary gi and then headed for the mat. We stretched and learned three different moves. Each one was practical and easy to follow. After fourty minutes of practice we ended by sparring. My limited knowledge of the art caused a lot of exertion with meager results.
I am definitely sore and ready for more on Tuesday.
I am definitely sore and ready for more on Tuesday.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Wrestling With God
Once, I observed the closed combat art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. During grappling, the first thing I noticed was that the main strategy is to create as much space between you and your opponent as possible. Once that space is established, the next step is to use the opponents pressure on your body to create pressure on his by finding a hook and reversing his hold. If all goes right, the final step is submitting your opponent.
How many times have I tried to wrestle with God about the issues of life? I am a Christian and therefore the Holy Spirit is inside of me and seals me to God as an adopted son. Despite this close relationship it seems, at times, that I like to create as much space as possible between myself and Him while still maintaining my Christianness. After all, God will forgive, right?
So although my being is intimately entangled with Him, I am still trying to push him away. I exert pressure and try to find a hook to reverse the hold and submit diety. Unfortunately, there is a reason He is called Almighty God. No matter how much I rebel in attitude or action, there is nothing that can separate me from His love.
When I am tired of fighting I either give up or get out of his clasp and walk away on my own. When I give up I submit and He lets me go with a reminder, much like Jacob's that He is in control. When I walk away, He lets me wander until I come back and admit my finite nature. Either way, I will submit. I can do so at His hands or at the world's.
When Jacob got off the ground that night, he was not rewarded because he wrestled with God in rebellion, it is because he perservered with God and with man. He did not give up after 14 years of working for a dishonest man, nor did he give up when his hip was dislocated. He continued to persevere.
Read the following verses about perserverance. Then pray that you would persevere with God and not wrestle against Him. Finally, thank God for His promises to you.
1 Timothy 4:16
Hebrews 10:36
Hebrews 12:1
James 1:3-4, 12
James 5:11
2 Peter 1"5-7
Revelation 2:3
How many times have I tried to wrestle with God about the issues of life? I am a Christian and therefore the Holy Spirit is inside of me and seals me to God as an adopted son. Despite this close relationship it seems, at times, that I like to create as much space as possible between myself and Him while still maintaining my Christianness. After all, God will forgive, right?
So although my being is intimately entangled with Him, I am still trying to push him away. I exert pressure and try to find a hook to reverse the hold and submit diety. Unfortunately, there is a reason He is called Almighty God. No matter how much I rebel in attitude or action, there is nothing that can separate me from His love.
When I am tired of fighting I either give up or get out of his clasp and walk away on my own. When I give up I submit and He lets me go with a reminder, much like Jacob's that He is in control. When I walk away, He lets me wander until I come back and admit my finite nature. Either way, I will submit. I can do so at His hands or at the world's.
When Jacob got off the ground that night, he was not rewarded because he wrestled with God in rebellion, it is because he perservered with God and with man. He did not give up after 14 years of working for a dishonest man, nor did he give up when his hip was dislocated. He continued to persevere.
Read the following verses about perserverance. Then pray that you would persevere with God and not wrestle against Him. Finally, thank God for His promises to you.
1 Timothy 4:16
Hebrews 10:36
Hebrews 12:1
James 1:3-4, 12
James 5:11
2 Peter 1"5-7
Revelation 2:3
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