here's your option...

I said that I would leave you an alternate avenue to interact with these upcoming toics. so, if you are afraid to leave your comment on this blog here's an alternate email that you can use.

respondtoheaven@yahoo.ca

Are you looking at going to "The Golden Compass"? check out Al Mohler's response to this new big screen blockbuster.
Should Christians see this movie given the fact that the author of the trilogy, of which this movie is the first, is an atheist and claims that his books are designed to kill God?

Question: Why are atheists, who claim there is no God, work so hard at trying to convince us that there is no God? If they are correct - why spend so much time and energy on trying to convince others?

Why Be Moral?

Some of my research into the validity of the Bible and it's claims has lead me to some very interesting viewpoints. This one I share with you because it stirred me up. I know it will do the same for you. Here is the link and a short quote. Check it out for yourself and ask yourself how you might respond after reading it. Have fun.

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/richard_carrier/moreland.html

"It should now be clear that the Christian theism that Moreland defends provides no better reasons to be moral than secular humanism, and on many of the very same points as well as others Moreland does not examine, humanism may actually provide more compelling arguments."

See, I told you.

Let's get started

So, you may notice that there's a small survey at your left. That's right I wold really like to hear what you have to say regarding the topics, Heaven & Hell. I will be asking several questions over the next 6-8 weeks to help formulate some of the content for my classes. Yes, you now have the opportunity to contribute to a dynamic and fundamental task of speaking about our final destinations. I will be posting an email site that you can access if you want to get more involved. I'm looking forward to the process and the journey that this will be. Hey, why don't you get into it? More later.

Help Me Out...

OK, I'm doing a series of classes on the topics of Heaven and Hell. Tell me one or two things that you might want to know about both locations. (assuming that you subscribe to them - if not tell me why) I am reading other resources but I also want to hear from you. Does anyone out there know how I can create and post a small survey? More on this later.

Responding to Authority

Yesterday as I was traveling with my family to our friend’s house for some good eats, great dessert and even better time of hanging out and talking about our lives, we came across a police road block.

As good citizens we stopped and after some cordial chit-chat I was asked to produce my driver’s license. It turns out the police were checking to make sure that people were driving legally.

OK, that’s nice but what does that have to do with your blog?

Well, it made me think about us Christians. How many times have we had someone come up to us and ask us about our lives? Or even more threatening, when was the last time someone came up to you to talk about visible sin in your life? Ok. Forget about the flesh and blood - What about when God has pointed out something in your life? How do you respond?

Do we respond like many other people responded to the police asking for their driver’s licenses? Do we feel like it is a waste of time? Are we in too much of a hurry to think about how were getting where we’re going? Do we even despise the intrusion? How do you respond to authority? How do you respond to God’s authority over your life?

Maybe next time we’re stopped and asked to give a reason for the direction we’re going, maybe we should think twice about our reaction. There just might be a bigger and deeper meaning behind the situation.

Storms

Storms

Some may think of me as crazy. Some think of me as a true West Coaster. Call me almost anything you want because I like it when it rains. There have been times when I have been able to sit and watch the unfolding of a storm like it was a great concert. Starting small then building to the crescendo. I can still remember the deafening sound of thunder rolling through the sky. There also have been times when I have walked through the pouring rain. No thunder, no lightening, no awe – just getting soaked.

I don’t know what it is about the rain that makes me feel this way. Most people hate it. Some tolerate it. But I like it. Is it because it reminds me of the difference between me and God? My power versus His? Or does it carry with it some deeper meaning?

Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away, washed away

 They can come without warning and bring terrible anguish.
Destroying everything in it’s path. Unrelenting and unforgiving. Wielding a raw
unbridled power – they bring terror to even the most seasoned of men…

" On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”" (Mark 4:35-41, NKJV)

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear...And grace my fears relieved...

How precious did that grace appear...The hour I first believed

The idea of a sovereign God isn’t talked about very much these days. It seems that the idea of an all-powerful (omni-potent) Being arises only when we want something or when we want to blame someone. But what about the storms in our lives? Could they be ‘acts of God’ just like those we see around the world? Or are they a product of our poor choices and consumptions? Inner struggles come and go. Sometimes like a storm. Unpredictable. Unrelenting. Unforgiving.

And don’t we cry out like those men in the boat? Don’t you care that I am perishing? Don’t you care that my boat is beginning to fill with water?

I wonder what would happen in our lives if we were to examine more closely the words of Jesus…, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no ( little ) faith?”

One thing I know, when I’m walking in the rain my mind travels to these and many other words that call me to place my faith in someone who’s bigger and more powerful than any storm I encounter. In some sense Jesus can be just as unpredictable and unrelenting but the similarity stops there. Jesus is most-forgiving, most-gracious and the Holy Spirit empowers me to move on. Sometimes its in an ‘exceedingly fearful’ way because I have just witnessed His unbridled power. Peace, be still. Sometimes its in a way that I cannot help but cry. Allowing the rain to mix with the tears. And as the rain washes them away I am filled with a sense of awe towards God. As His word permeates my mind, bubbling up from my heart and my soul, I move forward.

" In that day you will say: “I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”" (Isaiah 12:1-6, NIV)

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now I'm found

Was blind but now I see so clearly

new and improved?

Hey everyone,

I'm sorry that it's been so long since I have posted anything. A lot of it had to do with our privacy filter and my inability to post through it. So I gave up until recently. But now it seems to have been fixed and I am freed to write once again. I'm working through Romans right now and I am particularly transfixed on the aspect of being released from the captivity of one master (sin) only be be placed within the captivity of another (righteousness). Read Romans 6:15-23 to find out what I'm working through. Also, our care group will be begining a "drive by" in the book of Isaiah. I know this will prove to be inspiring as well as convicting. So look for that coming down the lane near you. So, welcome back. It's been a long time. Let's grab some coffee and sit and converse about Faith, Life and Biblical Literacy. Until later...

Hell on the Rise?

There seems to be an increase in activity of discussion and thought regarding the issue of Hell. In a periodical that my denomination publishes it seems that the idea of a place called Hell is alive but not very well.

At the end of one article I am asked a question by it's author. "Is it possible, through study and synthesis of the best of these views [literal, real place of punishment;a non-literal place where one experiences the absence of God; an idea of soul-annihilism] to arrive at a perspective on judgement that is scriptural, logical and praiseworthy?

I felt like saying...I'm sorry but haven't you read the Gospels? Haven't you read Ephesians, Galatians or Romans? What about Jude?

In my opinion this author has it backwards. Don't we have a mandate as Christ-followers to first search the scriptures and see what they have to offer before we turn to any "synthesis" of the best of any ideas?

As for logical, wouldn't it seem logical that if there is a place called Heaven that there would (without sounding like a dualist) be a place called Hell? We have been given the Good News about Jesus Christ, so logically, would there not be a Bad News?

And what about praiseworthy"? While I am not advocating the celebration of anyone going to Hell, can we not praise God that His holiness and righteousness is upheld by judgment? I could think of no other topic more praiseworthy than the the one which deals with my sinful condition, a most Holy God and the exercise of His Holy mercy over me rather than His Holy judgment.

Maybe I missed the point but I liked the way a pastor ended his article on this topic.

"for many years now it's been fashionable to minimize hell and scorn those who pursue salvation as a type of 'fire insurance'. One would hope that those who find Jesus as 'fire insurance' would also discover the blessings and joys of this heavenly relationship. But if the danger of hell is real, then fire insurance is prudent, and hardly to be scorned."

Again, maybe I missed the point - you tell me.

Sola Gratis

you tell me...

What was the main reason for Jesus' death?

But a Breath....

For those who are patiently waiting, or might have given up... Here's my next installment.

Our Bible study group is currently following the pastor's pulpit schedule . That means we're tracking through the Psalms. As I was preparing for our group session on Psalm 62, I came across an interesting rabbit trail.

It starts in verse 9...

"Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie; to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity." (KJV)

"Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath." (ESV)

Now you may be wondering where's the rabbit trail? Look closely. The word used by the psalmist for "Breath" and for "Vanity" come from the same root word, "Habel". Which is the same word Eve used to name her second son, Abel.

Now, often in the culture of the Old Testament, parents would wait to give their child a formal name that would suit them and help describe something of their character. We who live in the western world who are used to naming our children right after birth sometimes miss this important nuance.

This discovery lead me to Genesis 4. In the beginning of that chapter we find the account of the birth of Cain and the birth of Abel. Presumably, when the two have reached adulthood, they bring their sacrifices before the Lord and we find that the Lord looks upon Abel's with acceptance and upon Cain's with disapproval. The result? Anger on Cain's part. His younger brother beat him out. Then comes a short verse that peaked my interest.

"Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him."

And herein lies the crux of the rabbit trail. What did those two talk about? Did Eve, waiting to name her son until later in his life (yet it happened before this event), sense some propensity within Abel to be somewhat boastful? Or did she name her son with the thought in mind that their lives were but a breath compared to the life that they forsook in the Garden? We're not sure. In fact, the Bible doesn't tell us. But let's pretend that Abel was given his name deliberately. Further, let's consider that Cain was talking to Abel about the Lord's disapproval ofhis offering. Then in a fashion that would fit the name, Abel began to boast about his seemingly victory over Cain. That somehow the Lord loved Abel more than Cain. You know about sibling rivalry? Mom loves me more than you! Could it be that at that moment, when Abel was telling Cain how much the Lord loved Abel and how the Lord refused Cain's sacrifice, and all the emotional issues that surround our need for acceptance and our value in the eyes of others; could it be at that moment Cain's anger arose with a vengeance that would not be satisfied until Abel's very blood soaked the ground?

"rose up against him...and killed him"


Nice. But what about the end of the trail? Does it leave us here? Maybe. Read on.
Do we have a propensity for looking upon our lives and comparing it to others less fortunate? What about when we look upon those who are "richer" than us? Do we think that God loves someone more than ourselves? Are we envious to the point of anger?

Maybe this trail ends with nothing other to say than Abel, vanity and breath share the same word. Fine. But at the risk of developing something that's not there in the text, let's continue.

Maybe this rabbit trail has a lot to say about how we view ourselves, the poor and the rich. Maybe it's a reminder that when all our lives are placed in the balance they are but a vapor. Maybe it's a reminder that in light of eternity, our place in this world means less than our place before a Holy God. A God that is described in Psalm 62 as the One who is a rock, a fortress, a refuge and the only salvation for our souls.

You tell me.

Deo soli gloria

Doomed, the sequel.....

So, was he doomed from the start? Several avenues await our exploration.

One such street sign may indicate for us a community that resides within the idea that all of the disciples were doomed from the beginning. For all had the capacity to reject and turn away at a moments notice. Alas, Judas, through a series of circumstances and events became the one who would betray Jesus. All were chosen to be disciples; eleven were chosen for glory and one was passed over. How do we deal with that? How do we deal with the portion of scripture that might suggest this?

“I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction”

Another such street sign might point for us a way into a community which says that Jesus chose the twelve with a full knowledge that one of them would be the betrayer. However, as to whom in particular it would be Jesus did not know until the moment of truth. This might fit well with our consciences but what about the concept that being fully God would mean that Jesus would be omniscient? (all-knowing)

"But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?"

"But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?"

"But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side,"

"Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?”

Still a third avenue open for discussion would be one that reveals a community that believes in the idea that Jesus in his choosing of the twelve, chose Judas because Jesus already knew that Judas was the one appointed by the Father. Judas’ heart would be hardened by his experiences with Jesus and God would not allow Judas’ eyes to be opened. This option seems to grate against our sense of equality. Why would God harden Judas’ heart? This hardening might suggest an activity of God that seems contradictory to His very nature. Yet, other areas of scripture reveal for us a sense of God’s active participation in the hardening of hearts.

Pharaoh.....King Saul......

"For it was the Lord’s doing to harden their hearts so that they would come against Israel in battle, in order that they might be utterly destroyed, and might receive no mercy, but be exterminated, just as the Lord had commanded Moses."

So, the wrestling continues. The questions, open ended. Scripture, always right. Forever true. Our hearts melt within us as we seek to understand the deeper things of our faith. Do we stand in awe or to our knees do we fall? Do we sing hallelujah or are able to speak at all? Doomed from the start? Maybe, maybe not. But could the answer lie within all three avenues? Salvation, by the grace of God alone – through the faith of men alone.

HMA²

Doomed from the Start?

Sometimes there are those moments in life when we look upon an event and say to ourselves, ‘they never had a chance’. Whether it is a sports team outmatched by their opponent, a small fishing boat sinking in a harsh winter storm or a locust infested field. We tend to look at the two sides and think, ‘where is the balance?’, ‘I can’t believe it happens this way’, and so on.

Deep inside I think we all crave balance. We all crave fairness and equality. We fight for the freedom of our wills and the right to exercise options. And most would not only fight for their own sense of balance but also for those whom might not be able to fight for themselves.

What do we do when we see events that, from our perspective, seem unfair? How do we react when someone is left out? Do we look back and wonder why? Do we continue on our way without a second thought?

Consider a man who was, through no application of his own, one of the twelve. We presume that he was somewhat religious. We presume that he saw something in the man from Galilee that made him think about change. Inner change. Social change. Economic change. Political change. Maybe he was an opportunist. Maybe he was a curious onlooker. One thing is for certain. When he was standing in a crowd of men and women, the Galilean picked him.

“…and chose from them twelve…”

And we know the rest of the story. He followed. He listened. Then certain issues began to creep out of him.

“Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

Noble, but read on…

“He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief.”

And so our minds begin to change. The man chosen becomes a man who chooses. And we might confidently say that he turned his back on the Word. He is the one who passed over the opportunity for change. Maybe he could only foresee a change in his world. Not the world. And we write him off.

Then we come to a most interesting crossroad. We are allowed a glimpse into one of the most intimate of conversations. Jesus of Nazareth praying to the Father.

“While I was with them I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled”

That’s right. Jesus guarded all of them but one. Not one of them has been lost, except one.

Hearts stop. Breathing becomes silent. We re-read. Pause. Once more, “…not one of them has been lost except the one…”.

Was Judas doomed from the beginning? Was he chosen because it was determined that he would be the one to betray? Couldn’t they all have been able to betray?

More to follow…

you want it, you got it

Well, thanks to all who participated in the contest. The winner was my wife. (did you think it would really be you? if it was then I would have to bake two cheese cakes!) You can now visit this link and find my rantings elsewhere. As for this blog, it will return to it's regular content. I hope you're happy. Until then...

http://www.rantingrhino.blogspot.com

contest?

Hey, while talking about my new blog with my wife a great idea came to my mind. Why not have a contest to see who can come up with the most creative yet accurate (and may I say PG) name for my blog. You have one week to respond. The winner will recieve a double chocolate cheescake baked by me. (my wife just gasped). Good Luck.

ps. for those of you who are known to us yet are lacking in the blog posting dept., you can call us, email us or write us your entry. Please limit your entry to three submissions. Happy hunting.

Confused?

Well, apparently some people have been suffering through my rants on this blog post and wondering how they relate to Sola Fide, Sola Gratis, Sola Scriptura. Well, suffer no more. This blog will return to it's regular posting of faith and life and thought and you can read the rants on my new blog. (I can't believe that I am going to have two blogs - I'm such a freak) Unfortunately, I'm following in my Irish, German, Scottish and Canadian roots and can't decide what the new blog will be named. I'll post it soon. (or later, given the consistency of my blogging lately). Until then...

Fight Back

Ok. So here’s the thing. I was listening to the radio today during my day at work and the topic of “tipping those who serve you” came up. And I had to reflect on those whom had served me today and I had to ask the question, “who really cares?”

Should I tip everyone that serves me? I was in the wholesaler’s office today. He helped me with my order. He was courteous and good natured (probably because he didn’t want me to reach over the counter and strangle him) but should I have tipped the man for doing his job? And what about the clerk at 7-11? He helped me. Helped me understand that a hot dog and slurpee are cheaper if you buy it in a combo. He even smiled when I gave him the exact change. But deep inside was he resentful that I didn’t dig a little deeper and throw some more denarii his way – just for doing what we all expect 7-11 clerks to do? Oh, and lets not forget about the guy at the gas bar. After spending a fortune of the company’s money to fill my gigantic work van, this guy filled my cup with coffee. Smiled at me and even said “you’re welcome!” (all behind his bullet proof encased cubical that only had enough room for him, a pot of coffee and a dozen bags of stale potato chips. If this guy sneezes he’s got no chance at avoiding the vortex of wind that will rebound off the 2 inch thick glass. And that’s just the glass on his prescription eyewear. But the question needs to be asked. Do I need to tip every freakin’ person who helps me out? Do I get tipped if I go the extra mile and wipe down the counter tops after plunging some guys toilet? I just don’t understand how people have come to expect that people will tip. It’s like people will take jobs in the restaurant business at a lower wage because the tips are great. Well here’s a thought – what if people decided to tip lower or even better – not at all. Would you still be happy with your job? Would you be content that you have done your job, the job people expect you to do when you serve them, and receive nothing in return?

It’s almost every cotton pickin’ place I go into has this little tip jar, karma kup, gratuity bowl or something else that is intended to make you feel pity or shame if you don’t put something in there. Well it’s time to fight back. Its time to say ‘no’ to the pressure of giving in to the thought that we should tip just because it’s the Canadian thing to do. Here’s an idea, if you want a gratuity, do something for it. Don’t expect it. Earn it. And if you don’t receive one, well maybe you should think about that for a minute. At least until the next sucker comes in and sits down at your table. What’s on special today?

You Can Do It...?

Home Depot. You can do it, and we can’t help. I can’t believe the freakin huge conglomerate called Home Depot has little or no selection when it comes the very things that made them so successful. I’m ranting about the fact that when I want to get information and pricing details on a certain band saw this freakin store only has two options. So, I go and look anyway. When I walk into the crib area there’s no one around to talk to. Shocking. Hey here’s an idea let’s put every available “Home Depot Rep” in the gardening or toilet paper section because that’s where all the people really shop anyway. After searching through the tool crib to find what I’m looking for there’s only two options. The first one is the top of the line 500 freakin dollar, 200lb saw that only a school, fab shop or a prison is going to buy. My second option? Hoping to find a step down from the hernia maker I’m hoping (and the key word here is hoping) to find a saw in the 200-250 dollar range that’s suitable for a garage. And what do you think I find? Fischer Price has invaded Home Depot. The saw is brightly colored ,plastic covered and is priced @ $98.00 and weighs in @ 90lbs! Give me a break. I guess it serves me right to think that a warehouse type franchise monster like Home Depot would want to spare the square footage to actually store tools that matter. And forget about complaining to anyone. The only way I could complain would be to go outside to the Allan block center, make my way through the manure bags, and the 400 freaking gallon planters, catch a seminar on weed eaters and hopefully (there’s that word again) talk to someone before they run off on their break or shift change or smoke break or whatever Home Depot people do when they’re not actually on the floor. Maybe I’ll go to the toilet paper section next time.

Skating with freakin' Celebrities

I sat down to watch a show that I have come to find pretty funny and what show comes on instead? Skating with Celebrities! What a stupid show, I can’t believe that someone actually thought (or maybe they didn’t) about teaming up ex Olympic caliber figure skaters with washed up and who really cares anyway, ex-t.v. celebrities and oh don’t forget about Bruce freakin’ Jenner. I mean what a dumb show. As you can tell I’m not a real fan of figure skating to begin with but this show has totally turned me off from any hope of trying to figure out what a sow-cow is or a triple axle whatever really is. And to add to the pile, one of the male ex-figure skaters has been caught cheating on his wife with the partner that this stupid show teamed him up with. Now there’s something for the ratings! Before you cry me a river about how the show is so great and condemn me for not even giving it a chance, I have watched two episodes that almost gave me episodes. I can’t believe the rip off attempt that this show has been employing. Can we please break away from the “American Idol” panel of judges? Can we not think of any better system of judging than trying to match personalities? If I was that Simon guy I’d be pretty ticked off that people are trying to cash in on my style. And have you seen Bruce Jenner? The guys a walking plastic surgery ad. And the people still treat him like he just won the decathlon last year! People, he won it twenty years ago! Get over it. Are you that desperate for champions that you have to hold onto the guy for this long? Give me a break. This show has done nothing to try and convince me that figure skating is hard work. What about a biography on some current skaters and what they have to go through every day.A show that would open up the inside story on all the sacrifice and dedication and pain and tears and triumphs that the sport grinds you through – from when you’re a three old learning how to skate without cutting your fingers off to the Olympic stage where you’re trying not to throw up because you’ve got the world country on your back. Oh yeah I forgot, there’s no ratings in that. I guess it isn’t a coincidence either that Entertainment Tonight had Tanya Harding on their show during the middle of this freakin’ show. What a joke. And you know what the worst part of it is? Besides the fact that they bumped a show that I like, beside the fact that they ran this show as a re-run so we could watch the gut-wrenching tension all over again, and beside the fact that this show is dumb, do you know what the really big joke is? It’s that we watch it in the first place. We just sit on our couch and suck it all in. I think I’d rather go to the dentist. Pass me the Novocain with the remote.

Timing

As I am looking out my home office window I reflect upon the issue of timing. How is it things happen when they do? How is it that we can spend hours planning and strategizing and visioning and yet have so little control over the issue of timing? Sports teams refer to the second half of their season as “gearing up” for the playoffs. Like the first half of the season was just for fun and doesn’t really count. Golfers refer to the issue of timing as a series of events starting from the moment they walk onto the first tee box until the last putt at 18. My good friend the mechanic refers to timing in the sense of performance and endurance. But is this all there is in regards to timing? Is timing an issue that we can control, manipulate or even generate? Timing. Working so hard to achieve the magnificent all the while hoping that your timing is right.

I continue to look out my window and think about other issues surrounding timing.

When will my kids come screaming into my office looking for adoration and acceptance?

When will my phone ring with someone trying to pry my vote?

When will my wife come in looking for an answer as to why lunch cost me $15.00?

When will Jesus come back?

When will the children of God start taking seriously the word of God?

When will the church burn bright in this darkened world?

When will I decide to be a difference maker in my world?

When will I decide to let go of my need for the control of timing and allow my God to show me His timing?

I watched a segment of a conference where the once up and coming leader of a video production company rose from the obscure to the national scene only to watch his 14+ years of blood sweat and tears come to an end. Was it because of his lack of endurance? Was it because of his lack of performance? Was it because of his failure to strategize, plan and vision cast? No. He was successful in all these variables. What happened was that his dream and his timing became more important to him than his God. His work for God became his motivation for living and ministry. And God called him to task.

“Is your dream more important to you than I am?” What a gut check.

The speaker quoted CS Lewis…”the man who has everything and God is no better off than the man who has only God.”

But how does this tie into the idea of timing? Let me attempt to answer.

When we are searching for God’s will for our lives we have a tendency to try to control the timing. We might pray for action, but we want it on our terms. We might be active in knocking while we seek but we neglect (intentionally?) to knock on all the doors. We might be searching for God’s answers within the broader context of our dreams instead of seeking those dreams within the context of God’s will and plan for us. I have witnessed my children trying to put a square peg into a round hole. It is not pretty or very quiet. In most cases the peg and the board go flying through the air. Could it be that as we are trying to get our timing right we are trying to put our square pegged dreams into the round holes of God’s plan? If my children explode with emotion because they can’t fit the peg into the hole, what happens to me when I get God’s timing confused with my timing? Maybe God’s answers to our prayers are in the form of the question, “Is this more important to you than I am?” The answer might be harder to accept that we think. In the mean time, wait. Seek. And wait some more.

Symbols...

I don’t know what it was that set me off but it sparked something inside of me that has not released it’s grip on my mind since we last debated.

It all started when we were talking about churches and their seemingly new need to “re-style”, “re-tool” even “re-shape” the gospel of Jesus. We were discussing how a church strikes a balance between delivery and content. We were the epicenter of the post-modern.

Then came the topic and the ensuing discussion. “Should a church abandon the symbols associated with Christianity so that those who come to our churches won’t be offended by them?”

And like Emeril Legace….BAM! BAM! There it was. Wiggling on the floor just waiting to be pounced upon like tigger and the unsuspecting rabbit.

My Temperature rising. My Emotion building. Words squeezing out…

NO! NO! NO! I found myself at that critical intersection where no lights govern and everyone is obeying the 4-way stop signs.

We as a church cannot abandon the symbols that represent the very organic, living body that we as followers of Christ (or in old school language – Christians), we as a church cannot abandon the symbols that represent our faith.

We believe in the cross. It was on a cross where a Palestinian jew hung beaten and bruised for our sins. It is bare because he died on it, he was buried after being taken down from that rugged cross, placed in a borrowed tomb and that tomb is empty because on the third day, God rose him from the dead.

Too many people since that blood-covered weekend have either died for it or on it. because of their allegiance to the man who was crucified as the king of the Jews. The cross represents the grace and forgiveness of a loving God while at the same time addressing the wrath and justice of a holy and sometimes angry God.

"I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18, NLT)
"God’s way seems foolish to the Jews because they want a sign from heaven to prove it is true. And it is foolish to the Greeks because they believe only what agrees with their own wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended, and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense." (1 Corinthians 1:22-23, NLT)
I love the people that come to our house each week looking to understand how this life we live as Christians makes a difference. I love it when we debate the very things that are central and deeply important. They drive me to understand and integrate at deeper levels the reasons behind a reasonable faith. They are fellow sojourners on this piece of rock that spins in perfect harmony and balance.

As for the symbols, my devotion to them is far less than my devotion to my King and Savior. But as for their value to the church…