Monday, November 24, 2008
Random quote to ponder
I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity.- Gilda Radner
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Christmas thoughts...
I've been stumped all day trying to figure out what to write on for the apologetics for the UP Frontline bulletin. Funny, huh? I usually can pull out an argument pretty easily. The problem is that Christmas time is the time (especially in the Philippines) where everyone becomes especially focused on Jesus (even those who are anti to the Christian faith tolerate us as much). So it's kind of hard. Where is the deep theological debate about Christianity that needs to be defended when we talk about Christmas?
First of all, no, this is not the article. This is random thoughts to help my mind begin flowing. See, what comes to mind is how everyone says that Christmas is about good will to all men, giving, and loving. And many even say "Jesus is the reason for the season." But do we live like it? It seems whenever Christians talk about Jesus being the reason for the season, they shift and make a very plastic response and even go to the extremes and bash everythign else that is non-manger scene with the holiday. Is this right to do? Don't give me a pat answer. See, Jesus is the reason for the season. But how did the shepherds respond? Did they suddenly become all quiet and sober and walked over. No, they dashed off to find the birth of the Christ! Why is it that in the time that celebrating Jesus is encouraged is the same time that Christians don't go about in joy about Jesus and sharing their excitement? Why can't we just openly talk about Him and what He has done, which we don't even do all year?
The Bible says that one of the fruit of the spirit is Joy. Are we joyful? And I don't mean in our hearts. I mean are we joyful to the point that it is overflowing so that every single person we encounter feels the joy and the love of Christ from each moment of contact we have with them? Do we? Do you?
Can you just imagine what it might have been like on the night of Jesus' birth SPIRITUALLY? Like what happened right there? BAM! Jesus came down. God became man. Why? For us. For me. For you. For you, yes, (insert your name here). It's like if it was a boxing fight, sin was the tough little super feather weight boxer giving us a problem. Then in walks Jesus - UFC super heavy weight champion. He just steps in the ring and you know it is over. It's a time to celebrate. To just know that your savior is here, that the end has come, that victory is back. To have the long wait over. It must be like the joy someone has when they meet the person they are going to marry. This is it. The wait is over. And it was worth it. Jesus could have come down as a guy 30 years old and have been teh mysterious travelr who walked into town like a western. But no, he came as a baby. Humble beginnings physically, but he was always God and fully God the entire time. the angels went nuts! Can you imagine how the shpehreds felt? Just seeing Angels go crazy cheering and singing and praising God for how awesome He is. This is it! This is the time! Celebrate for yoru Lord has returned! All of creation had been waiting since the fall for Christ to come. And He came.
Have you ever seen The Matrix? I liked the way Tank said it when he said that, "If Morpheus is right and you're the one? Man, these are exciting times." These are exciting times. ]
So let us celebrate and tell everyone WHy we are celebrating. And how do we celebrate? by letting our joy for the Lord and our love overflow to EVERYONE - whether in gifts or in kindness, but firstly in sharing to others what God has done for us.
First of all, no, this is not the article. This is random thoughts to help my mind begin flowing. See, what comes to mind is how everyone says that Christmas is about good will to all men, giving, and loving. And many even say "Jesus is the reason for the season." But do we live like it? It seems whenever Christians talk about Jesus being the reason for the season, they shift and make a very plastic response and even go to the extremes and bash everythign else that is non-manger scene with the holiday. Is this right to do? Don't give me a pat answer. See, Jesus is the reason for the season. But how did the shepherds respond? Did they suddenly become all quiet and sober and walked over. No, they dashed off to find the birth of the Christ! Why is it that in the time that celebrating Jesus is encouraged is the same time that Christians don't go about in joy about Jesus and sharing their excitement? Why can't we just openly talk about Him and what He has done, which we don't even do all year?
The Bible says that one of the fruit of the spirit is Joy. Are we joyful? And I don't mean in our hearts. I mean are we joyful to the point that it is overflowing so that every single person we encounter feels the joy and the love of Christ from each moment of contact we have with them? Do we? Do you?
Can you just imagine what it might have been like on the night of Jesus' birth SPIRITUALLY? Like what happened right there? BAM! Jesus came down. God became man. Why? For us. For me. For you. For you, yes, (insert your name here). It's like if it was a boxing fight, sin was the tough little super feather weight boxer giving us a problem. Then in walks Jesus - UFC super heavy weight champion. He just steps in the ring and you know it is over. It's a time to celebrate. To just know that your savior is here, that the end has come, that victory is back. To have the long wait over. It must be like the joy someone has when they meet the person they are going to marry. This is it. The wait is over. And it was worth it. Jesus could have come down as a guy 30 years old and have been teh mysterious travelr who walked into town like a western. But no, he came as a baby. Humble beginnings physically, but he was always God and fully God the entire time. the angels went nuts! Can you imagine how the shpehreds felt? Just seeing Angels go crazy cheering and singing and praising God for how awesome He is. This is it! This is the time! Celebrate for yoru Lord has returned! All of creation had been waiting since the fall for Christ to come. And He came.
Have you ever seen The Matrix? I liked the way Tank said it when he said that, "If Morpheus is right and you're the one? Man, these are exciting times." These are exciting times. ]
So let us celebrate and tell everyone WHy we are celebrating. And how do we celebrate? by letting our joy for the Lord and our love overflow to EVERYONE - whether in gifts or in kindness, but firstly in sharing to others what God has done for us.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Loving your enemies
What does ti mean to really love your enemies? Many times we say something like, "I can love them, but that doesn't mean I have to like them." Come on. Did Jesus love us that way? Did Jesus say, "I love you, but that doesn't mean I have to like you." Then, how are we to love our enemies? Jesus said we should love one another the way Christ loves the church, which means we should be willing to die for one another. Ummm...can you imagine going to the person that you have so many problems with and that treats you like crap no matter how nice you are to them and telling them that you are going to die so that they may live?
Okay, you may be saying, I get it. But it's not practical. I don't see how I can end up doing this without being a hypocrite or without being plastic. So here's an interesting thing - pray for them. I know, it's so easy to say and so easy to do. Is it?
I always hear people complaining about authorities - the government, the admin of their company, etc. Why is it that we don't pray for them? And I mean seriously pray that God will protect them and let them experience Him in their lives? Why do we not pray for other churches and ministries? Why do we feel that we're the only ones that we should pray for?
I don't know. It's something to challenge yourself with. Can you approach God's thrown and pray for the peopel who have hurt you and genuinely want them to grow closer to God and be blessed by knowing Him more? Can you let go of that bitterness and judgment and say that God has a plan for their lives too?
There are so many times people tell me it is hopeless - the economy is hopless, we might as well move to canada. But why does it have to be so? Why is the solution always running? WHy is it not standing up in the face of hardship and say that God is going to get you through this? We must stand strong, pray for the country God has put us in. We have to pray for the people. We have to look past finanical hardship and realize that there's a much more dire problem to be concerned about. We must be concerned that peopel are going to hell every day and that there are a great many Christians who don't care. We have to ignite a fire in ourselves and in others so that we all become true disciples of Christ.
Anyway, there are just some thoughts. I'm teaching a class tomorrow and it's going to be awesome. It's about relationships, and it really made me think about how we relate to others, and that's where this blog came from.
Don't ever ever get satisfied with yoru life in God - always strive to know Him more to grow closer to Him, to spend every moment with Him. Make Him be the number one in your life.
Okay, you may be saying, I get it. But it's not practical. I don't see how I can end up doing this without being a hypocrite or without being plastic. So here's an interesting thing - pray for them. I know, it's so easy to say and so easy to do. Is it?
I always hear people complaining about authorities - the government, the admin of their company, etc. Why is it that we don't pray for them? And I mean seriously pray that God will protect them and let them experience Him in their lives? Why do we not pray for other churches and ministries? Why do we feel that we're the only ones that we should pray for?
I don't know. It's something to challenge yourself with. Can you approach God's thrown and pray for the peopel who have hurt you and genuinely want them to grow closer to God and be blessed by knowing Him more? Can you let go of that bitterness and judgment and say that God has a plan for their lives too?
There are so many times people tell me it is hopeless - the economy is hopless, we might as well move to canada. But why does it have to be so? Why is the solution always running? WHy is it not standing up in the face of hardship and say that God is going to get you through this? We must stand strong, pray for the country God has put us in. We have to pray for the people. We have to look past finanical hardship and realize that there's a much more dire problem to be concerned about. We must be concerned that peopel are going to hell every day and that there are a great many Christians who don't care. We have to ignite a fire in ourselves and in others so that we all become true disciples of Christ.
Anyway, there are just some thoughts. I'm teaching a class tomorrow and it's going to be awesome. It's about relationships, and it really made me think about how we relate to others, and that's where this blog came from.
Don't ever ever get satisfied with yoru life in God - always strive to know Him more to grow closer to Him, to spend every moment with Him. Make Him be the number one in your life.
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