Confident not Overconfident

“…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2Ti1.7

These words address the spirit and manner of our Christian witness. The word translated “fear,” means to be timid. We are not to be timid about our faith. The Holy Spirit does not lead people cowardly but confidently forward. He after all, knows where He is going. I do not think it wise to make any decision out of fear or doubt, much less speaking up about ones faith in Christ. I once had a pastor friend who told me that if he is given the privilege of choosing the topic of conversation, he will always turn it toward Jesus Christ. God has used this man to bring scores of people to Christian faith.

Now I do not believe that this verse is encouraging, a God in your face, kind of witness. Some Christians bear witness in such an arrogant manner, that people who often turn from Christian faith are really turning from a cocky representation of it. I think in some instances, the weaker ones belief in something the louder they become when speaking about it. It is almost as though they are trying to persuade themselves that what they are saying is true. Have you ever heard someone shouting that two plus two equals four? Confidence is quietly expressed.

Notice that the Spirit of our witness is energized by love and restraint. A confident witness is not excessively forceful but calculates what is needed to clarify, assist or serve others. Our witness expresses the meekness of Christ. His meekness is power under control, an active passivity, turning the other cheek, giving when robbed, returning good for evil, encouragement for insult. We are encouraged to be a confident not overconfident witness. 2/28/07 ts

Confident not Overconfident

“…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2Ti1.7

These words address the spirit and manner of our Christian witness. The word translated “fear,” means to be timid. We are not to be timid about our faith. The Holy Spirit does not lead people cowardly but confidently forward. He after all, knows where He is going. I do not think it wise to make any decision out of fear or doubt, much less speaking up about ones faith in Christ. I once had a pastor friend who told me that if he is given the privilege of choosing the topic of conversation, he will always turn it toward Jesus Christ. God has used this man to bring scores of people to Christian faith.

Now I do not believe that this verse is encouraging, a God in your face, kind of witness. Some Christians bear witness in such an arrogant manner, that people who often turn from Christian faith are really turning from a cocky representation of it. I think in some instances, the weaker ones belief in something the louder they become when speaking about it. It is almost as though they are trying to persuade themselves that what they are saying is true. Have you ever heard someone shouting that two plus two equals four? Confidence is quietly expressed.

Notice that the Spirit of our witness is energized by love and restraint. A confident witness is not excessively forceful but calculates what is needed to clarify, assist or serve others. Our witness expresses the meekness of Christ. His meekness is power under control, an active passivity, turning the other cheek, giving when robbed, returning good for evil, encouragement for insult. We are encouraged to be a confident not overconfident witness. 2/28/07 ts

On Finding Jesus' Tomb (A letter to a friend)

Dear N,
The only article I could find on finding Jesus’ tomb was the one put out by BBC yesterday. I quite agree with you about it being a “publicity stunt, or a case of mistaken identity,“ probably both. But, on the whole I think the cause of such claims runs deeper. Last years blockbuster, “The Da Vinci Code,” simply demonstrates that many people are inclined to believe just about anything even if it is fabricated and has no factual evidence to back it up. I was amazed to watch a news anchor on the conservative Fox News Broadcast speak to a fellow commentator on the film as though it was historically possible even though the book was clearly a work of fiction. People confuse fact and fiction all of the time. Christians accuse unbelievers of doing this and Christians themselves are accused of it by those who do not accept the claims of Christ.
The whole of the matter centers of course, on what does one do with the claims of Jesus. The problem isn’t what to do with the moral teachings and life of Christ but how to reconcile them to His central claim to be God in human flesh. If one accepts that claim, then believing the resurrection is only logical. If you remember our discussion in class about C. S. Lewis’s tri-examination of Christ as either, Lord, liar or lunatic. If one is not willing to accept Lewis’s reasoning, the only other possible way of viewing Christ’s claim is that someone might say that it was not Christ who made these claims but his disciples.
I would answer someone by telling them that a Christian’s faith in Christ is also a faith in the character of the men and women who witnessed His resurrection. In this way God has tied us to those first disciples. I think God finds great pleasure in joining people to each other. We are given good reason to believe the witness of those who physically saw and touched Jesus after His resurrection. After all, these are not the kind of people who would lie about something like this. They did not financially profit by claiming to have witnessed the resurrection. Just the opposite in fact. History bears out that these people suffered and sometimes greatly so for declaring what they had seen. It seems inconsistent to view these men as liars, fabricating what would be the greatest lie in history when their manner of living was centered around all that we commonly accept as moral and good. They were not only committed to telling the truth but to unselfishly living for the well being of others. It would be truthful to say that they were not the kind of people who would deliberately deceive. The disciples also do not write like delusional fanatics. It seems to me that the integrity of their godly character demonstrated in loving even sacrificial actions, strengthens the witness of their words. When all is said and done, the disciples who claimed to have witnessed the miracle of Christ were trustworthy people. Why would we not believe them? When one considers the character of what they taught, and the moral make up of their lives, it makes blessed good sense to believe them.
I think that the faith of most is challenged more by conflicting desires than by reason. I would dare say that if you or I saw Jesus in the flesh we would still yield to our sinful desires. It is not so much faith verses reason as it is faith verses lust. People do not want to believe the claims of Christ because our hearts are inclined toward living under our own rule, rather than God’s. We naturally seek to justify, even if only by some fabrication, our self-centered existence. It is this self-centeredness that He has come to change. That He is still doing it everyday, is one of the evidences that He is in truth a resurrected Savior.

Read again these words as though reading them for the first time. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” 1Jo1

On Finding Jesus' Tomb (A letter to a friend)

Dear N,
The only article I could find on finding Jesus’ tomb was the one put out by BBC yesterday. I quite agree with you about it being a “publicity stunt, or a case of mistaken identity,“ probably both. But, on the whole I think the cause of such claims runs deeper. Last years blockbuster, “The Da Vinci Code,” simply demonstrates that many people are inclined to believe just about anything even if it is fabricated and has no factual evidence to back it up. I was amazed to watch a news anchor on the conservative Fox News Broadcast speak to a fellow commentator on the film as though it was historically possible even though the book was clearly a work of fiction. People confuse fact and fiction all of the time. Christians accuse unbelievers of doing this and Christians themselves are accused of it by those who do not accept the claims of Christ.
The whole of the matter centers of course, on what does one do with the claims of Jesus. The problem isn’t what to do with the moral teachings and life of Christ but how to reconcile them to His central claim to be God in human flesh. If one accepts that claim, then believing the resurrection is only logical. If you remember our discussion in class about C. S. Lewis’s tri-examination of Christ as either, Lord, liar or lunatic. If one is not willing to accept Lewis’s reasoning, the only other possible way of viewing Christ’s claim is that someone might say that it was not Christ who made these claims but his disciples.
I would answer someone by telling them that a Christian’s faith in Christ is also a faith in the character of the men and women who witnessed His resurrection. In this way God has tied us to those first disciples. I think God finds great pleasure in joining people to each other. We are given good reason to believe the witness of those who physically saw and touched Jesus after His resurrection. After all, these are not the kind of people who would lie about something like this. They did not financially profit by claiming to have witnessed the resurrection. Just the opposite in fact. History bears out that these people suffered and sometimes greatly so for declaring what they had seen. It seems inconsistent to view these men as liars, fabricating what would be the greatest lie in history when their manner of living was centered around all that we commonly accept as moral and good. They were not only committed to telling the truth but to unselfishly living for the well being of others. It would be truthful to say that they were not the kind of people who would deliberately deceive. The disciples also do not write like delusional fanatics. It seems to me that the integrity of their godly character demonstrated in loving even sacrificial actions, strengthens the witness of their words. When all is said and done, the disciples who claimed to have witnessed the miracle of Christ were trustworthy people. Why would we not believe them? When one considers the character of what they taught, and the moral make up of their lives, it makes blessed good sense to believe them.
I think that the faith of most is challenged more by conflicting desires than by reason. I would dare say that if you or I saw Jesus in the flesh we would still yield to our sinful desires. It is not so much faith verses reason as it is faith verses lust. People do not want to believe the claims of Christ because our hearts are inclined toward living under our own rule, rather than God’s. We naturally seek to justify, even if only by some fabrication, our self-centered existence. It is this self-centeredness that He has come to change. That He is still doing it everyday, is one of the evidences that He is in truth a resurrected Savior.

Read again these words as though reading them for the first time. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” 1Jo1

Charity is a Skill to be Practiced not a topic to be Discussed

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1Jo3.18

Consider what it would be like to take a karate class and six months later discover, that all you could do was talk about karate. No doubt, we would probably fire our martial arts instructor. Karate is something you do, not something you describe with words. I am afraid that through the years we have substituted Christian education for discipleship. It seems that today’s Christians are able to converse at length about Christianity but have little experience in practicing it. True discipleship teaches the disciplines not just knowledge about the disciplines. Listening to Christ, talking to Christ, living in community and worship, even acts of charity are skills to be practiced not topics to be discussed.
It is generally observed that people are inclined to too much talk and not enough action. I think we are told to restrain our words if for no other reason so that we may unleash our energy in action. Perhaps a Sunday School class could better teach Christian charity meeting each week in the inner city to repair someone’s home, than meeting in a church room to only talk about the importance of doing so. 2/27/07 ts

Charity is a Skill to be Practiced not a topic to be Discussed

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1Jo3.18

Consider what it would be like to take a karate class and six months later discover, that all you could do was talk about karate. No doubt, we would probably fire our martial arts instructor. Karate is something you do, not something you describe with words. I am afraid that through the years we have substituted Christian education for discipleship. It seems that today’s Christians are able to converse at length about Christianity but have little experience in practicing it. True discipleship teaches the disciplines not just knowledge about the disciplines. Listening to Christ, talking to Christ, living in community and worship, even acts of charity are skills to be practiced not topics to be discussed.
It is generally observed that people are inclined to too much talk and not enough action. I think we are told to restrain our words if for no other reason so that we may unleash our energy in action. Perhaps a Sunday School class could better teach Christian charity meeting each week in the inner city to repair someone’s home, than meeting in a church room to only talk about the importance of doing so. 2/27/07 ts

A Good Indication of Good Intentions

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” 1Jo4.9

The road to eternal life is paved with God’s good intentions. You can tell a great deal about someone by looking at their aims and ambitions. It is God’s ambition to restore us to life. God’s love has been clearly demonstrated among us in Jesus. Though we are a rebellious lot, choosing the nightmare of our self-rule, He patiently seeks our return to Him.
I think it important to note that God’s aim for us is life, not religion. The words of Christ is that he came that we might have life and have it to the full. The abundant life is measured in the meaning which the Creator has assigned to it. Christ has come to restore us to that meaning, to our created purpose, which is to know the value of life under the reign of His Father. Our selfishness has made us suspicious of Him. That is why He has given us a good indication that we can trust His good intentions. He sacrificed the very life of His one and only Son, to pay our life debt. Now that the debt has been paid, we are given access to re-ascend in faith by making His intentions our own. This is what we ask by saying, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” 2/26/07 ts

A Good Indication of Good Intentions

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” 1Jo4.9

The road to eternal life is paved with God’s good intentions. You can tell a great deal about someone by looking at their aims and ambitions. It is God’s ambition to restore us to life. God’s love has been clearly demonstrated among us in Jesus. Though we are a rebellious lot, choosing the nightmare of our self-rule, He patiently seeks our return to Him.
I think it important to note that God’s aim for us is life, not religion. The words of Christ is that he came that we might have life and have it to the full. The abundant life is measured in the meaning which the Creator has assigned to it. Christ has come to restore us to that meaning, to our created purpose, which is to know the value of life under the reign of His Father. Our selfishness has made us suspicious of Him. That is why He has given us a good indication that we can trust His good intentions. He sacrificed the very life of His one and only Son, to pay our life debt. Now that the debt has been paid, we are given access to re-ascend in faith by making His intentions our own. This is what we ask by saying, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” 2/26/07 ts

What’s in store?

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer29.11-13

Father spoke these words to me in some of the darkest days of my life. I can never hear these words of promise without linking them to that event. Like most of His words to me, He has had to repeat them time and time again. I am amazed with how patient He is, I am such a slow learner. I actually woke this morning anxious about a number of things. I smiled when I turned on the laptop and found this passage to be the selected reading for this day.
Most of the issues in life which weigh us with worry, are, most of the time, beyond our control. Generally they also have something to do with our future. Father assures those who trust Him, that there is nothing beyond His control. He also promises that we not only have a future but that His intentions for our lives are always good.
What is in store for those who look to Him, not forgetting that we often look to Him best in trial? It was during those darkest days and I remember as though it were yesterday, my pastor spoke these words from the pulpit, “Your best days are in front of you.” 2/24/07 ts

What’s in store?

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer29.11-13

Father spoke these words to me in some of the darkest days of my life. I can never hear these words of promise without linking them to that event. Like most of His words to me, He has had to repeat them time and time again. I am amazed with how patient He is, I am such a slow learner. I actually woke this morning anxious about a number of things. I smiled when I turned on the laptop and found this passage to be the selected reading for this day.
Most of the issues in life which weigh us with worry, are, most of the time, beyond our control. Generally they also have something to do with our future. Father assures those who trust Him, that there is nothing beyond His control. He also promises that we not only have a future but that His intentions for our lives are always good.
What is in store for those who look to Him, not forgetting that we often look to Him best in trial? It was during those darkest days and I remember as though it were yesterday, my pastor spoke these words from the pulpit, “Your best days are in front of you.” 2/24/07 ts

Plowing Straight and True

Do they not go astray who devise evil? Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness. Pr14.22

The imagery of this verse is powerful. The Hebrew language is one of word pictures. The picture painted here, is of a person plowing in a field. Now I know something about this. As a young man I would sometimes visit a farmer friend. I would sit in the tractor with him while we talked. I was always amazed at how straight he could plow all the many rows in a field. One day, I asked him how he did this. He explained that before he started to plow, he would pick a spot on the far side of the field and stay fixed on it. By simply keeping that focus, once the first pass was straight, all the others would follow.
The verse above could literally be translated, Do not those who plow evil wander all over the place like a drunken man, but faithful and reliable are those who plow good.
The condition of the field we plow is determined by our focus when we plow. If the focus of our life is on all that is good and wholesome then the field of our life will follow all that is good and wholesome. Many people wander all over the place because they have no meaningful focus in their life. Christ offers us a meaningful life by directing us to a singular focus. Let all that you do be done for the glory of God. We glorify God simply and truthfully when we enjoy all that He desires to be for us. We are able to rise each day with this wonderfully singular focus: to enjoy life by finding our greatest pleasure living for His pleasure. We glorify God when we experience the supreme value of loving Him.
The only time a person looks back when plowing is when they reach the end of the row. Living with the supreme purpose of finding God our greatest reward, means that when we reach the end of one row and look back we will not have wandered aimlessly. Plow with focus and the lines in your field will be straight and true. 2/23/07 ts

Plowing Straight and True

Do they not go astray who devise evil? Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness. Pr14.22

The imagery of this verse is powerful. The Hebrew language is one of word pictures. The picture painted here, is of a person plowing in a field. Now I know something about this. As a young man I would sometimes visit a farmer friend. I would sit in the tractor with him while we talked. I was always amazed at how straight he could plow all the many rows in a field. One day, I asked him how he did this. He explained that before he started to plow, he would pick a spot on the far side of the field and stay fixed on it. By simply keeping that focus, once the first pass was straight, all the others would follow.
The verse above could literally be translated, Do not those who plow evil wander all over the place like a drunken man, but faithful and reliable are those who plow good.
The condition of the field we plow is determined by our focus when we plow. If the focus of our life is on all that is good and wholesome then the field of our life will follow all that is good and wholesome. Many people wander all over the place because they have no meaningful focus in their life. Christ offers us a meaningful life by directing us to a singular focus. Let all that you do be done for the glory of God. We glorify God simply and truthfully when we enjoy all that He desires to be for us. We are able to rise each day with this wonderfully singular focus: to enjoy life by finding our greatest pleasure living for His pleasure. We glorify God when we experience the supreme value of loving Him.
The only time a person looks back when plowing is when they reach the end of the row. Living with the supreme purpose of finding God our greatest reward, means that when we reach the end of one row and look back we will not have wandered aimlessly. Plow with focus and the lines in your field will be straight and true. 2/23/07 ts

There will be no Police in Heaven.

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” 1Jo4.18

I remember well the utter fear I had of my father’s anger. That fear kept me from many wrongful actions. Fear of punishment will often motivate people to do the right thing, even if they desire to do wrong. But this kind of fear is all about forced compliance and while necessary here on earth, fear cannot enable us to live in heaven. Many initially come to God in fear of punishment but once with Him, they find and must find, fear replaced by love. Far better to obey God because you love Him not because you are afraid of Him. Every parent would say the same for their children. Better the child who chooses to honor their mother and father as a desire of the heart rather than by some external compliance growing out of a fear of being caught.
Think about it. Would you want your neighbors to drive through your neighborhood at a safe speed only because of a fear of the police or because they loved your children and would never endanger them.
The City of God will be ruled by love alone. There will be no police in heaven. There will be no need for them. Only those perfected in love will be allowed to drive within her gates. 2/22/07 ts

There will be no Police in Heaven.

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” 1Jo4.18

I remember well the utter fear I had of my father’s anger. That fear kept me from many wrongful actions. Fear of punishment will often motivate people to do the right thing, even if they desire to do wrong. But this kind of fear is all about forced compliance and while necessary here on earth, fear cannot enable us to live in heaven. Many initially come to God in fear of punishment but once with Him, they find and must find, fear replaced by love. Far better to obey God because you love Him not because you are afraid of Him. Every parent would say the same for their children. Better the child who chooses to honor their mother and father as a desire of the heart rather than by some external compliance growing out of a fear of being caught.
Think about it. Would you want your neighbors to drive through your neighborhood at a safe speed only because of a fear of the police or because they loved your children and would never endanger them.
The City of God will be ruled by love alone. There will be no police in heaven. There will be no need for them. Only those perfected in love will be allowed to drive within her gates. 2/22/07 ts

Primum non nocere

"Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Ro13.10

“Primum non nocere” is the Latin phrase which means, "First, do no harm." This expression summarizes one of the core guidelines taught to all medical students. The premise behind this instruction serves to remind physicians that anything they do to help the patient should not do more harm than good. It is generally accepted that when you cut someone open in war you are trying to harm them but the same action on an operating table is seeking to heal. One can see why this precept is spoken over the shoulder of a young medical student as they are at the same time told to split open the patient’s chest with a scalpel. Do you see that what seems only a negative, is in truth a positive encouragement. The doctor is being told, “Go ahead, and cut them. You are not doing this to harm but to heal.”

Love’s wisdom expresses, primum non nocere as a prohibitive commandment not to commit adultery with your neighbors spouse, or steal from them or murderously take their life. If you first do no harm then you keep all these prohibitions. But love’s wisdom also expresses, primum non nocere not only as a prohibition but also as permission to sometime hurt your neighbor if it will heal them. All parents need to hear these words when spanking a young child; or restricting their freedom or refusing to give financial support that enables harmful choices. The precept also applies when a friend sharply rebukes a friend before they do something foolish. First do no harm, sometimes encourages us, “Go ahead and hurt them. You are not doing this to harm but to heal. 2/21/07 ts

Primum non nocere

"Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Ro13.10

“Primum non nocere” is the Latin phrase which means, "First, do no harm." This expression summarizes one of the core guidelines taught to all medical students. The premise behind this instruction serves to remind physicians that anything they do to help the patient should not do more harm than good. It is generally accepted that when you cut someone open in war you are trying to harm them but the same action on an operating table is seeking to heal. One can see why this precept is spoken over the shoulder of a young medical student as they are at the same time told to split open the patient’s chest with a scalpel. Do you see that what seems only a negative, is in truth a positive encouragement. The doctor is being told, “Go ahead, and cut them. You are not doing this to harm but to heal.”

Love’s wisdom expresses, primum non nocere as a prohibitive commandment not to commit adultery with your neighbors spouse, or steal from them or murderously take their life. If you first do no harm then you keep all these prohibitions. But love’s wisdom also expresses, primum non nocere not only as a prohibition but also as permission to sometime hurt your neighbor if it will heal them. All parents need to hear these words when spanking a young child; or restricting their freedom or refusing to give financial support that enables harmful choices. The precept also applies when a friend sharply rebukes a friend before they do something foolish. First do no harm, sometimes encourages us, “Go ahead and hurt them. You are not doing this to harm but to heal. 2/21/07 ts

Love Doesn’t Keep Score

“Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” Pr17.9

Love doesn’t keep score. God’s word tells us that we love when we keep no record of the wrongs incurred against us. Now this is important, because if one doesn’t know the score, one can’t very well repeat it. I think we need to draw a twofold distinction to properly understand these words. First, we are encouraged to cover any offense against us but this does not mean that we cover up our own offenses. When it comes to our offenses, we are to confess them. When it comes to the offenses of others, we are to conceal them. In what sense? This is the second distinction. We should not understand these words to mean that we cover up , a wrong doing (as in Watergate) but to cover it in the sense of paying the debt. The idea is that we remit an offense. We pay the debt or we cancel the debt. God remits our transgressions because Christ has covered the debt, paid it, if you will, by His death. As His followers, we too are told to remit all offenses against us. By canceling the debt or by absorbing the abuse, we like Christ, cover it.
When this verse tells us that repeating the matter separates close friends, it would involve repeating it not just to others as in gossip, or repeating it to the offending party, as in bringing up the past, but also by repeating it to our own heart, reopening the wound instead of letting it heal. Nothing good comes from reliving an offense and love knows only to seek good. Love doesn’t keep score because it is committed to crossing the finish line with someone, rather than ahead of them. 2/20/07 ts

Love Doesn’t Keep Score

“Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” Pr17.9

Love doesn’t keep score. God’s word tells us that we love when we keep no record of the wrongs incurred against us. Now this is important, because if one doesn’t know the score, one can’t very well repeat it. I think we need to draw a twofold distinction to properly understand these words. First, we are encouraged to cover any offense against us but this does not mean that we cover up our own offenses. When it comes to our offenses, we are to confess them. When it comes to the offenses of others, we are to conceal them. In what sense? This is the second distinction. We should not understand these words to mean that we cover up , a wrong doing (as in Watergate) but to cover it in the sense of paying the debt. The idea is that we remit an offense. We pay the debt or we cancel the debt. God remits our transgressions because Christ has covered the debt, paid it, if you will, by His death. As His followers, we too are told to remit all offenses against us. By canceling the debt or by absorbing the abuse, we like Christ, cover it.
When this verse tells us that repeating the matter separates close friends, it would involve repeating it not just to others as in gossip, or repeating it to the offending party, as in bringing up the past, but also by repeating it to our own heart, reopening the wound instead of letting it heal. Nothing good comes from reliving an offense and love knows only to seek good. Love doesn’t keep score because it is committed to crossing the finish line with someone, rather than ahead of them. 2/20/07 ts

Holding Hands

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1Co13.7

We are told that God is love. Is it any wonder then, that love is described the appropriate dynamic for all things. The driving force in love is goodness. We love when we seek what is good for those around us.
Love is appropriate because love appropriates. It takes to itself the welfare of others and seeks to shore up all weakness. Love will bear with the failings of others without comment. Love will look to God for those who can’t lift up their eyes and hope beside those who have lost all hope. Love is said to find suitable strength to endure trial, with others, and for others, because God Himself is the sustaining goodness behind such actions. When we live in love, we are said to live in God. As we live in Him He also is living in us. It humbling then to realize, that it is really His hand, using our hand, to hold the hand of those in need. 2/12/07 ts

Holding Hands

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1Co13.7

We are told that God is love. Is it any wonder then, that love is described the appropriate dynamic for all things. The driving force in love is goodness. We love when we seek what is good for those around us.
Love is appropriate because love appropriates. It takes to itself the welfare of others and seeks to shore up all weakness. Love will bear with the failings of others without comment. Love will look to God for those who can’t lift up their eyes and hope beside those who have lost all hope. Love is said to find suitable strength to endure trial, with others, and for others, because God Himself is the sustaining goodness behind such actions. When we live in love, we are said to live in God. As we live in Him He also is living in us. It humbling then to realize, that it is really His hand, using our hand, to hold the hand of those in need. 2/12/07 ts

Be My Valentine

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Jo.13.35

Before one pledges to follow another, it would be wise to consider why we are following them and where they are leading us. Speaking of Himself, Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.” In other words, we can know that Christ comes from God, and is a true disciple of the one God because He was lifted up on the cross. We are told to measure His words by His actions. His obedience to God by laying down His life on our behalf explains why we pledge our loyalty to Christ. He is worthy of our devotion because of His expressed devotion, not only to His Father, but to us. We pledge ourselves to Him because He has pledged His very life to us.
Where is Christ leading us? He tells us plainly, that we are His disciples when we follow Him in sacrificial love. The Father directed Christ to lay down His life for us. He directs us to lay down our lives for each other. Every February we commemorate the sacrifice of St. Valentine who, according to one tradition, was martyred for his devotion to Christ but measured by his love for others. In defiance of Claudius, who sought better soldiers by banning marriage, Valentine secretly joined couples in holy matrimony. He was caught and executed, because he was expressing his love for Christ by loving others. The truth is that every time one Christian sacrifices for the well being of another we echo that one supreme sacrifice and show ourselves His disciples. Why do we follow Christ? His love of course.
Where is He leading us? To love, of course. When you think about it, Christ is telling us, “Be my Valentine.”
2/14/07 ts

Be My Valentine

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Jo.13.35

Before one pledges to follow another, it would be wise to consider why we are following them and where they are leading us. Speaking of Himself, Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.” In other words, we can know that Christ comes from God, and is a true disciple of the one God because He was lifted up on the cross. We are told to measure His words by His actions. His obedience to God by laying down His life on our behalf explains why we pledge our loyalty to Christ. He is worthy of our devotion because of His expressed devotion, not only to His Father, but to us. We pledge ourselves to Him because He has pledged His very life to us.
Where is Christ leading us? He tells us plainly, that we are His disciples when we follow Him in sacrificial love. The Father directed Christ to lay down His life for us. He directs us to lay down our lives for each other. Every February we commemorate the sacrifice of St. Valentine who, according to one tradition, was martyred for his devotion to Christ but measured by his love for others. In defiance of Claudius, who sought better soldiers by banning marriage, Valentine secretly joined couples in holy matrimony. He was caught and executed, because he was expressing his love for Christ by loving others. The truth is that every time one Christian sacrifices for the well being of another we echo that one supreme sacrifice and show ourselves His disciples. Why do we follow Christ? His love of course.
Where is He leading us? To love, of course. When you think about it, Christ is telling us, “Be my Valentine.”
2/14/07 ts

Its incredibility is its most credible witness.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Jo3.16

There is a magical phenomenon witnessed in Biblical literacy. After reading the hundreds of stories contained in the Bible, one begins to see that all the stories melt into one grand tale, told again and again. The verse above has been called the greatest verse in Scripture. The reason for this, is that it captures shortly and sweetly, that one story told in the Book of books, His story. My students are beginning to see this phenomenon for themselves. Every Old Testament narrative adumbrates, foreshadows, draws a picture if you will, of God’s one and only Son. The story of Jesus is told over and over again. He is the seed of the woman who crushes the head of the serpent, the animal skins used by God to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve. Christ is the ark, in which Noah and family found refuge from the flood, the seed of Abraham in whom all the nations will be blessed. Christ is Jacob’s ladder to heaven, the ram provided in the sacrifice of Isaac. He is the Passover lamb, whose blood stays the hand of God’s judgment.
Hundreds of stories told over thousands of years and each, an echo, of the simple truth, that God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son. Only God could tell a tale such as this. Its incredibility is its most credible witness. Every nation and every culture seems also to have stories which shadow the substance found in Christ. Christ is seen everywhere because Christ is everything. Trust in Him, O my soul, and find your hearts desire, the fulfillment of your deepest longing. Jesus, name above all names. 2/13/07 ts

Its incredibility is its most credible witness.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Jo3.16

There is a magical phenomenon witnessed in Biblical literacy. After reading the hundreds of stories contained in the Bible, one begins to see that all the stories melt into one grand tale, told again and again. The verse above has been called the greatest verse in Scripture. The reason for this, is that it captures shortly and sweetly, that one story told in the Book of books, His story. My students are beginning to see this phenomenon for themselves. Every Old Testament narrative adumbrates, foreshadows, draws a picture if you will, of God’s one and only Son. The story of Jesus is told over and over again. He is the seed of the woman who crushes the head of the serpent, the animal skins used by God to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve. Christ is the ark, in which Noah and family found refuge from the flood, the seed of Abraham in whom all the nations will be blessed. Christ is Jacob’s ladder to heaven, the ram provided in the sacrifice of Isaac. He is the Passover lamb, whose blood stays the hand of God’s judgment.
Hundreds of stories told over thousands of years and each, an echo, of the simple truth, that God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son. Only God could tell a tale such as this. Its incredibility is its most credible witness. Every nation and every culture seems also to have stories which shadow the substance found in Christ. Christ is seen everywhere because Christ is everything. Trust in Him, O my soul, and find your hearts desire, the fulfillment of your deepest longing. Jesus, name above all names. 2/13/07 ts

Dress Rehearsal

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1Pt1.13

There are many useful knots when one is rock climbing. Often when Brenda and I are going out of town I will practice tying various knots, while she drives. I will tie them again and again. One reason I do this, is that being able to make certain knots quickly, efficiently, and sometimes, even with only one hand, comes in handy went hanging fifty feet off the ground. One does not wish to worry about how to tie a one hand bowline when performing a self rescue. The idea is that you rehearse, before the actual performance.
Now the same thing is true in efficiently living out many expressions of the Christian life. We should prepare our minds for action before action is required. We rehearse our responses, so that we will in truth, respond, rather than react. One example would be our interaction with others. Say a person insults you. We are encouraged to let our speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that we will know how to answer each person. Notice that one prepares the mind beforehand, so that they will know how to respond when the insult occurs. We have all had conversations with others in our mind. Many times, these make believe conversations are the dress rehearsal before the performance. This is one of the reasons why Christians have always put emphasis on teaching and reflection. God’s Word tells us the proper response to life’s various encounters. The need for these mental dress rehearsals has numerous applications. Now, is the time to prepare my response to lust, to anger, to worry or fear. One should not wait for the crisis to occur, instead, we ready our responses ahead of time. Preparing the mind for action enables a self-controlled response rather than an out of controlled reaction. It is before I am slapped on the cheek, that I do the dress rehearsal to turn the other. 2/9/07 ts

Dress Rehearsal

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1Pt1.13

There are many useful knots when one is rock climbing. Often when Brenda and I are going out of town I will practice tying various knots, while she drives. I will tie them again and again. One reason I do this, is that being able to make certain knots quickly, efficiently, and sometimes, even with only one hand, comes in handy went hanging fifty feet off the ground. One does not wish to worry about how to tie a one hand bowline when performing a self rescue. The idea is that you rehearse, before the actual performance.
Now the same thing is true in efficiently living out many expressions of the Christian life. We should prepare our minds for action before action is required. We rehearse our responses, so that we will in truth, respond, rather than react. One example would be our interaction with others. Say a person insults you. We are encouraged to let our speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that we will know how to answer each person. Notice that one prepares the mind beforehand, so that they will know how to respond when the insult occurs. We have all had conversations with others in our mind. Many times, these make believe conversations are the dress rehearsal before the performance. This is one of the reasons why Christians have always put emphasis on teaching and reflection. God’s Word tells us the proper response to life’s various encounters. The need for these mental dress rehearsals has numerous applications. Now, is the time to prepare my response to lust, to anger, to worry or fear. One should not wait for the crisis to occur, instead, we ready our responses ahead of time. Preparing the mind for action enables a self-controlled response rather than an out of controlled reaction. It is before I am slapped on the cheek, that I do the dress rehearsal to turn the other. 2/9/07 ts

Love the Devil, you Say?

"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven." Mt5.44

Once I had a student raise his hand and ask if this verse meant that we should love the Devil, since he also is our enemy. Young people ask questions like this all the time. Not to be dismissed, the question directs us to consider exactly what Christ means. Christ is not telling us to have good feelings toward our enemies. The love described here refers more to actions than to emotions. We may love our enemies and at the same time hate what they do. To love our enemy is not to feel good about them but to do good to them. We are told that God "makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." In that since, we could say that God loves even the Devil, because as God sustains the life of every living thing, so He is sustaining the life even of his Archenemy. We can be sure that every breath we take is processed into life by His hand. Were God, for a microcosmic moment, cease to uphold the simplest processes of life, all would pass away into nothingness. This of course is as true of the Devil, as it is angels and men.
Now I am not sure how I could do some real good to the Devil but I do have a good sense of how I might do real good to my neighbor who happens to be my enemy. I am also sure that by helping some enemies we perhaps have helped the devil in disguise if you catch my meaning. I believe Hitler was once saved from drowning by a priest.
The point is this, when we do good to those who would harm us we are acting like our Father in heaven. We evidence ourselves His sons and daughters. All the good we render to others is a good we render not only to ourselves but to His Kingdom. Is it not beautiful to behold our soldiers distributing food and medical supplies to our enemies. We conquer our enemies by loving them with such actions. Doesn’t history bear this out. 2/8/07 ts

Love the Devil, you Say?

"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven." Mt5.44

Once I had a student raise his hand and ask if this verse meant that we should love the Devil, since he also is our enemy. Young people ask questions like this all the time. Not to be dismissed, the question directs us to consider exactly what Christ means. Christ is not telling us to have good feelings toward our enemies. The love described here refers more to actions than to emotions. We may love our enemies and at the same time hate what they do. To love our enemy is not to feel good about them but to do good to them. We are told that God "makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." In that since, we could say that God loves even the Devil, because as God sustains the life of every living thing, so He is sustaining the life even of his Archenemy. We can be sure that every breath we take is processed into life by His hand. Were God, for a microcosmic moment, cease to uphold the simplest processes of life, all would pass away into nothingness. This of course is as true of the Devil, as it is angels and men.
Now I am not sure how I could do some real good to the Devil but I do have a good sense of how I might do real good to my neighbor who happens to be my enemy. I am also sure that by helping some enemies we perhaps have helped the devil in disguise if you catch my meaning. I believe Hitler was once saved from drowning by a priest.
The point is this, when we do good to those who would harm us we are acting like our Father in heaven. We evidence ourselves His sons and daughters. All the good we render to others is a good we render not only to ourselves but to His Kingdom. Is it not beautiful to behold our soldiers distributing food and medical supplies to our enemies. We conquer our enemies by loving them with such actions. Doesn’t history bear this out. 2/8/07 ts

Trickle Down Righteousness

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. Pr21.21

If we are not accepted by God because of our personal works of righteousness but through our faith in Christ, why do Christians feel the need to do what is right. Well, for one reason, it is common knowledge that doing what is right is the right thing to do. We know that it is, even when we don’t do it. That we don’t always do what is right, is an important clue that something is wrong inside us. That something is one reason, though we might not know it at first, why we come to Christ. We look to Him, not only to forgive us when we do wrong, but to fix us somehow, so that we can do those things we know are right and good and true. He begins that healing the moment we invite Him into our lives. He will finish it the moment we enter completely into His.
Self-righteous people do right for all the wrong reasons. It is when we abandon our egotistical expressions of pride, that we are able to pursue right for all the right reasons. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.” Those who come to Christ are brought into a right relationship with the Father. To borrow a Regan expression, our right relationship with God begins to “trickle down.” All that is right with Him, starts to trickle down into all of our other relationships. We desire to be right with our spouse and our neighbor. Christ will even bring us into a right relationship with ourselves and all created things such as work and play. We pursue what is right not to merit God’s blessings but because we have them in Christ. They are simply trickling down on everything else. 2/7/07 ts

Trickle Down Righteousness

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. Pr21.21

If we are not accepted by God because of our personal works of righteousness but through our faith in Christ, why do Christians feel the need to do what is right. Well, for one reason, it is common knowledge that doing what is right is the right thing to do. We know that it is, even when we don’t do it. That we don’t always do what is right, is an important clue that something is wrong inside us. That something is one reason, though we might not know it at first, why we come to Christ. We look to Him, not only to forgive us when we do wrong, but to fix us somehow, so that we can do those things we know are right and good and true. He begins that healing the moment we invite Him into our lives. He will finish it the moment we enter completely into His.
Self-righteous people do right for all the wrong reasons. It is when we abandon our egotistical expressions of pride, that we are able to pursue right for all the right reasons. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.” Those who come to Christ are brought into a right relationship with the Father. To borrow a Regan expression, our right relationship with God begins to “trickle down.” All that is right with Him, starts to trickle down into all of our other relationships. We desire to be right with our spouse and our neighbor. Christ will even bring us into a right relationship with ourselves and all created things such as work and play. We pursue what is right not to merit God’s blessings but because we have them in Christ. They are simply trickling down on everything else. 2/7/07 ts

When Right Things are Used in Wrong Ways.

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. Pr21.21

I find it hard at times, to get past my personal baggage. The word righteousness, somehow conjured up feelings of resentment, especially toward authority figures or worse, toward a self appointed authority seeking to impose personal scruples on me. Now my problem is that Scripture speaks a lot about righteousness and because the topic keeps coming up, I have felt the need to try and drop my baggage and get a better picture of what it means to be righteous.
One thing that has helped me, is trying not to draw too sharp a distinction between moral rightness and everyday sensible rightness. In a practical sense, we understand that right is right. There is a right way to open a bottle and a right way to approach God. If there is a right way, then there would also be a wrong one. Try opening a beer bottle upside down. Scripture tells me that one wrong way to approach God is by trusting my personal rightness. I can do right things but use them in wrong ways. I have to remind myself everyday, that though I try to do right, I still do wrong. God accepts me not because of personal works of righteousness but because of His mercy freely offered in Christ. All the mercy that I receive from God, comes from the accomplishments of Christ at the cross. A person does not get right with God, so much as they are made right with Him. Christ accomplishes this, we only accept it, and we do so, when we accept Him. It is interesting that what is right can be used wrong. It is right to feed the poor, it is wrong to feed the poor and use it as a bargaining chip with God. God loves what is right but He does not approve when right things are used in wrong ways. 2/6/07 ts

When Right Things are Used in Wrong Ways.

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. Pr21.21

I find it hard at times, to get past my personal baggage. The word righteousness, somehow conjured up feelings of resentment, especially toward authority figures or worse, toward a self appointed authority seeking to impose personal scruples on me. Now my problem is that Scripture speaks a lot about righteousness and because the topic keeps coming up, I have felt the need to try and drop my baggage and get a better picture of what it means to be righteous.
One thing that has helped me, is trying not to draw too sharp a distinction between moral rightness and everyday sensible rightness. In a practical sense, we understand that right is right. There is a right way to open a bottle and a right way to approach God. If there is a right way, then there would also be a wrong one. Try opening a beer bottle upside down. Scripture tells me that one wrong way to approach God is by trusting my personal rightness. I can do right things but use them in wrong ways. I have to remind myself everyday, that though I try to do right, I still do wrong. God accepts me not because of personal works of righteousness but because of His mercy freely offered in Christ. All the mercy that I receive from God, comes from the accomplishments of Christ at the cross. A person does not get right with God, so much as they are made right with Him. Christ accomplishes this, we only accept it, and we do so, when we accept Him. It is interesting that what is right can be used wrong. It is right to feed the poor, it is wrong to feed the poor and use it as a bargaining chip with God. God loves what is right but He does not approve when right things are used in wrong ways. 2/6/07 ts

Never Moody

“He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.” Ps33.5


It is said that you know a person when you can predict their actions. In many ways, Scripture tells us that this is true of God. Now it is true, that He has done some unpredictable things, like asking Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice, but when it comes down to it, we can count on God to always act a certain way. To say that God is predictable, is just another way of saying He is faithful to His own essential character. God is predictably devoted to what is right. Can you imagine if God were moody, one day loving right but the next preferring wrong. What if He decided to be unfair, unjust, unloving, unkind. This of course is unimaginable. Praise God that it is. I have asked my students the trick question if they believe that God can do anything. They are surprised when I tell them that Christians have never espoused that He can. We teach our children that God can do all that is consistent with being God. God cannot do wrong. He cannot be unjust, or decide one day to not be all knowing. Just as a person cannot stop being a person, God cannot stop being God. He is a law unto Himself. This is why, He ultimately allows men to choose hell over heaven. Because He is love, He does not force Himself on people. One essential quality of love, is that it must be freely given.
You can count on a faithful person to be faithfully faithful. If we think about it, we count on God’s faithfulness everyday. We know that when we pray to Him, we will never find Him to be moody. 2/5/07 ts

Never Moody

“He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.” Ps33.5


It is said that you know a person when you can predict their actions. In many ways, Scripture tells us that this is true of God. Now it is true, that He has done some unpredictable things, like asking Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice, but when it comes down to it, we can count on God to always act a certain way. To say that God is predictable, is just another way of saying He is faithful to His own essential character. God is predictably devoted to what is right. Can you imagine if God were moody, one day loving right but the next preferring wrong. What if He decided to be unfair, unjust, unloving, unkind. This of course is unimaginable. Praise God that it is. I have asked my students the trick question if they believe that God can do anything. They are surprised when I tell them that Christians have never espoused that He can. We teach our children that God can do all that is consistent with being God. God cannot do wrong. He cannot be unjust, or decide one day to not be all knowing. Just as a person cannot stop being a person, God cannot stop being God. He is a law unto Himself. This is why, He ultimately allows men to choose hell over heaven. Because He is love, He does not force Himself on people. One essential quality of love, is that it must be freely given.
You can count on a faithful person to be faithfully faithful. If we think about it, we count on God’s faithfulness everyday. We know that when we pray to Him, we will never find Him to be moody. 2/5/07 ts

I am Overwhelmed.

“But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.” Ps59.16

I found laughter in pain that night You sat with me. Remember?
I had almost broken my neck, riding too fast on my mountain bike. Unable to take that curve at the bottom, I went over the bars, briefly sailed through the air, then crashed on a rock strewn path. I appreciate that You were the one who decided that I would almost, break my neck. I did get hurt. I was also aware that it was You who allowed it. Waking every night in agony, deprived of sleep for days on end, I tried praising You. I remember cursing You too. Then one middle of the night, with that invisible knife twisting in my neck and shoulders, and, just when I thought I could take no more, I found myself laughing. We laughed together. We laughed and laughed. I did wonder if I was losing my mind. Yet at the same time I sensed it was You tickling me, showing me an experience I had never known.
We went outside to sit in the hot-tub, hoping maybe the muscles would relax. Looking at the star filled sky, you showed me a different kind of beauty. Because of my pain, I found myself praying for others in pain. I asked you to remember them, those who live day in and day out with unrelenting agony. Slowly at first, there was a dawning awareness that You were remembering them. You were remembering them even as I was praying and I was praying for them because You willed it. I felt Your pleasure and realized that you brought me to this place so that I could intercede with greater meaning. I felt somehow privileged, that in some small way I was allowed to share in the sufferings of Christ. I will sing in the morning because of the song you have taught me in the night. I am Overwhelmed. 2/3/07 ts

I am Overwhelmed.

“But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.” Ps59.16

I found laughter in pain that night You sat with me. Remember?
I had almost broken my neck, riding too fast on my mountain bike. Unable to take that curve at the bottom, I went over the bars, briefly sailed through the air, then crashed on a rock strewn path. I appreciate that You were the one who decided that I would almost, break my neck. I did get hurt. I was also aware that it was You who allowed it. Waking every night in agony, deprived of sleep for days on end, I tried praising You. I remember cursing You too. Then one middle of the night, with that invisible knife twisting in my neck and shoulders, and, just when I thought I could take no more, I found myself laughing. We laughed together. We laughed and laughed. I did wonder if I was losing my mind. Yet at the same time I sensed it was You tickling me, showing me an experience I had never known.
We went outside to sit in the hot-tub, hoping maybe the muscles would relax. Looking at the star filled sky, you showed me a different kind of beauty. Because of my pain, I found myself praying for others in pain. I asked you to remember them, those who live day in and day out with unrelenting agony. Slowly at first, there was a dawning awareness that You were remembering them. You were remembering them even as I was praying and I was praying for them because You willed it. I felt Your pleasure and realized that you brought me to this place so that I could intercede with greater meaning. I felt somehow privileged, that in some small way I was allowed to share in the sufferings of Christ. I will sing in the morning because of the song you have taught me in the night. I am Overwhelmed. 2/3/07 ts

Better than You Can Imagine

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” 1Co2.9

I remember a scene in the Star Wars Saga when Luke was trying to persuade Han to help him rescue the princes. He told him that there would be a big reward. Han inquired, “How big?“ Luke replied, “More than you can imagine.“ Not to be out done, Han replied, “I don’t know, I can imagine a lot.“
When we consider the incredible imagination that Father has endowed in each of His children, the promise above is staggering. People ask me all the time if I think we will work in heaven, if we will be able to fly, if we will know our loved ones when we get there? The other day I was telling Brenda how much fun it was going to be to put all the ideas I have into building a house. She skeptically asked, “And when do you think we will be able to afford to build a house?“ I explained that I was not referring to this place where everything rots, but the next where nothing will. She asked me if I really thought that I would be able to do that in heaven.
Some of us have more questions about the eternal state than others. I really do believe that many things that we experience here we will experience there, only without all the horrors of sin. Christ said as much, when he told us that He will eat and drink with us in the coming Kingdom. All in all, I can imagine a lot when it comes to my wish list for glory. I am not silly enough to believe that God will grant us all or even more that we can imagine, but we can rest in the certainty that it will be better than we can imagine. 2/2/07 ts

Better than You Can Imagine

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” 1Co2.9

I remember a scene in the Star Wars Saga when Luke was trying to persuade Han to help him rescue the princes. He told him that there would be a big reward. Han inquired, “How big?“ Luke replied, “More than you can imagine.“ Not to be out done, Han replied, “I don’t know, I can imagine a lot.“
When we consider the incredible imagination that Father has endowed in each of His children, the promise above is staggering. People ask me all the time if I think we will work in heaven, if we will be able to fly, if we will know our loved ones when we get there? The other day I was telling Brenda how much fun it was going to be to put all the ideas I have into building a house. She skeptically asked, “And when do you think we will be able to afford to build a house?“ I explained that I was not referring to this place where everything rots, but the next where nothing will. She asked me if I really thought that I would be able to do that in heaven.
Some of us have more questions about the eternal state than others. I really do believe that many things that we experience here we will experience there, only without all the horrors of sin. Christ said as much, when he told us that He will eat and drink with us in the coming Kingdom. All in all, I can imagine a lot when it comes to my wish list for glory. I am not silly enough to believe that God will grant us all or even more that we can imagine, but we can rest in the certainty that it will be better than we can imagine. 2/2/07 ts

The Love that Creates all other Loves

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Dt6.4-5 (ESV)

There are many things to love in life and it is possible, at least in the present state, that our love for them may run in competition with our love for God. Now this happens when our love for God is not first and foundational to all other loves. When our love for Him is the basis for all other loves we can hardly love them enough. Our problem is not loving people or even animals too much. The sin is that we love God too little. When we love Him with all our heart and seek Him as no other, we will find ourselves loving others more. And, not only will we love them to a greater degree, our love will be a wiser, and better love. The reason is that our love for God will shape all other loves in excellence. If we love anything or anyone more than we love God, we are in truth, not seeking what is best and in the end, we will not be loving them at all. If God is not first in our affections, then all other affections will come to ruin.
C. S. Lewis put it this way, "When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now.... When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased."
Augustine described it thus, “We love thee too little, when we love anything together with thee, that we do not love because of thee.”
We can be assured that when God commands us to love Him with our all, He is not telling us to love others less. He desires that all our loves grow out of, are directed and supported by a unique, one of a kind love for Him. 2/1/07 ts

The Love that Creates all other Loves

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Dt6.4-5 (ESV)

There are many things to love in life and it is possible, at least in the present state, that our love for them may run in competition with our love for God. Now this happens when our love for God is not first and foundational to all other loves. When our love for Him is the basis for all other loves we can hardly love them enough. Our problem is not loving people or even animals too much. The sin is that we love God too little. When we love Him with all our heart and seek Him as no other, we will find ourselves loving others more. And, not only will we love them to a greater degree, our love will be a wiser, and better love. The reason is that our love for God will shape all other loves in excellence. If we love anything or anyone more than we love God, we are in truth, not seeking what is best and in the end, we will not be loving them at all. If God is not first in our affections, then all other affections will come to ruin.
C. S. Lewis put it this way, "When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now.... When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased."
Augustine described it thus, “We love thee too little, when we love anything together with thee, that we do not love because of thee.”
We can be assured that when God commands us to love Him with our all, He is not telling us to love others less. He desires that all our loves grow out of, are directed and supported by a unique, one of a kind love for Him. 2/1/07 ts