I wrote a few months ago about how Jesus is misperceived by the culture (See "Warrior"). People tend to equate him with Santa Claus or other such benevolent, fictional personalities that really just want everyone to be happy and live a harmonious existence with everyone else. He was just a good man with some great ideas. A community organizer.
With this revisionist Jesus, spiritual warfare also gets dumbed down.(Think of the classic scene in which both a diminutive devil and an angel are perched on opposite shoulders, of some uncertain putz, each directing him as to a course of action.) Lately, the Christian community seems to have the audacity to believe that we can slightly alter the rules of the game to a kinder, gentler sort of play (no hitting above the waist), change the name (I've heard both "spatial" and "ga-ga"now used to describe the game that I knew as a child as "dodgeball"), and hope that more people will want to play. Is mankind so conceited that we actually believe that it's all about us rather than realizing that we are involved in an ancient war that we did not start and are unable to finish? Against powers and principalities against which we are unmatched in our own strength? (see Ephesians 6:12-18). We will not shake our opponents' hands at game's end, commend them on their strategy, and retire to the clubhouse to discuss the highlight reel over refreshments. What's at stake here is much greater. And this is for keeps.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesian 6:12 KJV
Monday, July 30, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Update
While I admit that I haven't anything terribly insightful to post today, I thought that perhaps I should just make note of the fact that I have not fallen off of this great spinning orb.
The last few weeks have been busy. My husband and I celebrated our twentieth wedding anniversary at the end of May and in June, witnessed our oldest graduate from high school, then turn eighteen in a one-two-punch that effectively ended his childhood. So, I have been taking it all in and letting the old bean process those and the other events that have occupied my days.
I am hoping for some epiphany that is blog-worthy and/or a breakthrough from this season of difficulty that we've been in that I've been sharing about in previous posts for the last two or so years (Yes. We are still there. And yes, God is still good). In the meantime, I am enjoying my summer and hoping that you are, as well.
The last few weeks have been busy. My husband and I celebrated our twentieth wedding anniversary at the end of May and in June, witnessed our oldest graduate from high school, then turn eighteen in a one-two-punch that effectively ended his childhood. So, I have been taking it all in and letting the old bean process those and the other events that have occupied my days.
I am hoping for some epiphany that is blog-worthy and/or a breakthrough from this season of difficulty that we've been in that I've been sharing about in previous posts for the last two or so years (Yes. We are still there. And yes, God is still good). In the meantime, I am enjoying my summer and hoping that you are, as well.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Family
Yesterday was the National Day of Prayer. I decided that rather than commute to the church that I attend in the city, I would go and pray at a church near where I work, that has posted hours for their observance of the day on a sign outside the building for a few weeks. I called ahead to confirm the time and headed over.
While I am not particularly shy, walking into a room with a group of strangers gathered around a conference table, who aren't expecting me was a bit daunting. Everyone was friendly as the pastor introduced everyone, gave us instructions on the seven areas about which we would be praying, and asked us to pick one area about which to pray aloud. Researchers state that many individuals place public speaking ahead of death on their list of greatest fears. But anxiety aside, I was there to petition the Lord about my country which is so desperately in need of His touch. So, I shut my eyes and waited for my turn.
Once we began to pray, the particular details of those seven or so individual faces, melted away. While we were different heights, weights, and skin colors, I immediately noticed a family resemblance. These folks had our father's heart. It was a blessing to gather at the table with them.
"Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!" Psalm 133:1
While I am not particularly shy, walking into a room with a group of strangers gathered around a conference table, who aren't expecting me was a bit daunting. Everyone was friendly as the pastor introduced everyone, gave us instructions on the seven areas about which we would be praying, and asked us to pick one area about which to pray aloud. Researchers state that many individuals place public speaking ahead of death on their list of greatest fears. But anxiety aside, I was there to petition the Lord about my country which is so desperately in need of His touch. So, I shut my eyes and waited for my turn.
Once we began to pray, the particular details of those seven or so individual faces, melted away. While we were different heights, weights, and skin colors, I immediately noticed a family resemblance. These folks had our father's heart. It was a blessing to gather at the table with them.
"Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!" Psalm 133:1
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Flushed
I was talking with our accountant over the phone last week as she finalized our 2011 return. She needed clarification on a few things so I was explaining the circumstances to her. Having done our taxes for about fifteen years, she remarked that we have had it rough for the last five years, or so. I offered the expression that I picked up from my cousin: "Yeah, we've been 'circling the drain' for about five years." ( Thank you Kim, I love that expression, beaucoup!) She laughed and advised that we keep our arms out, so that we don't go down. (I love the mental image of that too). I retorted that, as things have been going, our arms would likely just break off.
While, Sherri and I shared a good laugh about that, the truth is I am sure that even if we do lose our battle against the drain, get sucked down, shredded by the disposal into a billion tiny fragments, and subsequently scattered to the four corners of the earth, nothing will be lost. I know the Master Plumber-- the same God who called the dry bones scattered in the valley that Ezekiel visited to assemble and live again. I know that he can resurrect every casualty of adverse circumstance. And, I know that he's got this.
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."
John 11:25-26
While, Sherri and I shared a good laugh about that, the truth is I am sure that even if we do lose our battle against the drain, get sucked down, shredded by the disposal into a billion tiny fragments, and subsequently scattered to the four corners of the earth, nothing will be lost. I know the Master Plumber-- the same God who called the dry bones scattered in the valley that Ezekiel visited to assemble and live again. I know that he can resurrect every casualty of adverse circumstance. And, I know that he's got this.
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."
John 11:25-26
Thursday, March 8, 2012
3-D
About a decade ago, 3-d images were all the rage. It seems that you couldn't enter a shopping mall without seeing a group of individuals, gathered around a picture while contorting themselves into all sorts of unnatural postures to find the hidden treasure. To my untrained eye there was never anything more than a canvas containing a million tiny pixels. But, if I observed the crowd long enough, some one would inevitably see the image, in their delight exclaim, "Oh, I see it. It's a B-2 bomber!", and then try to help everyone else see it. ("Close your left eye, and assume the Karate Kid pose.") To me, however, it remained mere dots on paper. I was one of the poor slobs that could never see it, try as I might. And, I really wanted to see it.
That's how it seems to be with faith in Christ. Once you've had a moment of "seeing" like Paul on the road to Damascus (who's seeing was ironically accompanied by the temporary loss of his eyesight) and Isaiah who's encounter with the living God made him also see himself for who he really was, there is no going back. Faith reveals the hidden treasure that once seen, there is no ability to unsee.
Though, I missed out on countless opportunities to see 3-d images leap off of canvases and share in the excitement of having seen them, I am so thankful for the privilege of daily encountering the living God who continues to reveal himself to me (no contortion, required). Like those individuals at the mall, I want everyone to see.
"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."
Luke 10:25
"For the message of the cross if foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
1 Corinthians 1:18
That's how it seems to be with faith in Christ. Once you've had a moment of "seeing" like Paul on the road to Damascus (who's seeing was ironically accompanied by the temporary loss of his eyesight) and Isaiah who's encounter with the living God made him also see himself for who he really was, there is no going back. Faith reveals the hidden treasure that once seen, there is no ability to unsee.
Though, I missed out on countless opportunities to see 3-d images leap off of canvases and share in the excitement of having seen them, I am so thankful for the privilege of daily encountering the living God who continues to reveal himself to me (no contortion, required). Like those individuals at the mall, I want everyone to see.
"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."
Luke 10:25
"For the message of the cross if foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
1 Corinthians 1:18
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Science
I curled up on the couch next to my hubby after work last night, and caught the end of a program on PBS that he had been watching entitled, The History of Science: Can We Have Unlimited Power? As the title indicates, the show chronicled the time line of scientific discoveries about energy, and detailed how those discoveries led to inventions that changed our way of living.
There were two things of particular interest to me. The first was the work of scientist Alessandro Volta, who studied the Torpedo fish. By examining the dissected anatomy of this fish to learn the source of the electric charge that it emitted to stun it's prey, he was able to replicate the design and produce what came to be known as the "voltaic pile." We know it as the battery. Had this fish not been designed, but simply the result of random chaos, this replication would have been impossible. As far as I know, it is not possible to exactly replicate chaos, as it has no rhyme or reason. And, designs come from designers; even the simple ones.
The other was the discovery of radium. At first, it was thought to be producing energy out of nowhere in defiance of the first law of thermodynamics-the conservation of energy which states that, "there is no new matter or energy coming into existence and there is no new matter or energy passing out of existence." It was later understood, however, that radium's output of energy resulted in a loss of mass. As it gives off energy, it decomposes and becomes something else, like lead. That spoke to me, once again, about how the natural mirrors the spiritual. As we surrender ourselves to God, and allow the light of Christ to shine through us, we shrink away--losing "mass" and become a new creation. That is exactly what I am trying to do.
"He must become greater; I must become less." John 3:30
There were two things of particular interest to me. The first was the work of scientist Alessandro Volta, who studied the Torpedo fish. By examining the dissected anatomy of this fish to learn the source of the electric charge that it emitted to stun it's prey, he was able to replicate the design and produce what came to be known as the "voltaic pile." We know it as the battery. Had this fish not been designed, but simply the result of random chaos, this replication would have been impossible. As far as I know, it is not possible to exactly replicate chaos, as it has no rhyme or reason. And, designs come from designers; even the simple ones.
The other was the discovery of radium. At first, it was thought to be producing energy out of nowhere in defiance of the first law of thermodynamics-the conservation of energy which states that, "there is no new matter or energy coming into existence and there is no new matter or energy passing out of existence." It was later understood, however, that radium's output of energy resulted in a loss of mass. As it gives off energy, it decomposes and becomes something else, like lead. That spoke to me, once again, about how the natural mirrors the spiritual. As we surrender ourselves to God, and allow the light of Christ to shine through us, we shrink away--losing "mass" and become a new creation. That is exactly what I am trying to do.
"He must become greater; I must become less." John 3:30
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Quiet
Last year, I wrote that I love January for a variety of reason that I then went on to list in detail. It's still true. I love January!
After the clamor of the holidays (which I love equally) on that first day that school resumes and I send my children off to continue learning, there is a stillness and quiet that sweeps over the house and envelopes me like a warm blanket. It is luxurious and delicious; almost palpable. It never ceases to delight me. And after having filled my belly with the fellowship of friends and family, taking tours of other views from other heads, I am ready for January. For in such moments, thick will quietness, I am most present in his presence. That is the ultimate peace on earth.
After the clamor of the holidays (which I love equally) on that first day that school resumes and I send my children off to continue learning, there is a stillness and quiet that sweeps over the house and envelopes me like a warm blanket. It is luxurious and delicious; almost palpable. It never ceases to delight me. And after having filled my belly with the fellowship of friends and family, taking tours of other views from other heads, I am ready for January. For in such moments, thick will quietness, I am most present in his presence. That is the ultimate peace on earth.
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