This sounds stupid, but I think I had used to take the cross too lightly because, being God and all-powerful, dying didn't seem like as big a deal. You can do anything and just come back to life, like when you play a video game and you die. You can just restart.
But there it is in the description of the events at Gethsemane: Jesus' anguish and fear and ultimately, obedience.
Why did Peter fall asleep when Jesus asked him to stay awake with him? I'm guessing he didn't really grasp what was going to happen. It's interesting to me that, Jesus asks him to just stay with him and be awake with him. It reminds me that Jesus really was flesh and blood and not just some ethereal, higher-order being. He felt the same things you or I feel. He loved Peter and, knowing what was coming, He looked to hold tight to someone he loved.
And of course, Peter fails. Twice.
In my favorite episode (Out of Gas) of my favorite show (Firefly), there's a scene when the captain's sending his crew out in shuttles (think: life boats) so they can stay alive as long as possible. He stays alone on the ship, on the chance that someone might answer a distress beacon and a crewmember says, "Come with us! This isn't the sailing the high seas, you don't have to go down with the ship! You don't have to die alone!"
He replies, "Everyone dies alone."
Yes, I know it's a TV show and written by a person, trying to tell a story. But there is an emotional truth there. For example, I know that when my mom and dad were sick, there was a point when I stopped holding out hope for a miracle and just felt like the best I could do was to be with them, or make sure someone in my family was with them, when they finally passed.
It's terrible, the thought of just being alone, no one really caring enough to stay with you when you're about to fall into an endless, black abyss. And, after listening to a lot of Tim Keller, I am convinced that what Jesus was cut off from was a lot more terrifying since, to begin with, he had a much more visceral connection with his Father than we do.
I don't know that I'll ever understand what was so worth-saving about people, since every single person seems to me to be about 94%-unworthy, 5%-nauseating, 1%-worthy. I'm thankful, but I don't understand...
Friday, February 18, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Ephesians 5:1-20
In this chapter, Paul is outlining things people do and ways people act, which are in direct conflict with belief in Christ.
It doesn't seem so much to be, "do (or don't do) these things, and you won't get your passport to Heaven"
Rather, it's, "if you accept that Christ loved you, these things/acts are unnatural and contradictory to the love you've accepted"
There's a lot of metaphorical use of "light" in this passage.
In v.8, the NRSV says, "you were darkness, but now...you are light..."
Followers of Christ are called "light" and "children of light"- maybe meant to instill the idea of embodying, being the physical manifestation of light, and spreading that light.
In v.9 "...the fruit of the light..."
There's the idea of the result of exposure to light being restored to "good and right and true"
v. 11 "...the unfruitful works of darkness..."
The flip side of the above, that if light bears fruit, darkness bears its anti-fruit...
v 13-14 "...everything exposed by the light...everything that becomes visible is light."
And the goodness and correctness of exposing dark things to light in order to make them visible thereby turning them back to "light"
Still churning in my mind, hopefully I'll have some good spiritual butter by the end of the day. :)
It doesn't seem so much to be, "do (or don't do) these things, and you won't get your passport to Heaven"
Rather, it's, "if you accept that Christ loved you, these things/acts are unnatural and contradictory to the love you've accepted"
There's a lot of metaphorical use of "light" in this passage.
In v.8, the NRSV says, "you were darkness, but now...you are light..."
Followers of Christ are called "light" and "children of light"- maybe meant to instill the idea of embodying, being the physical manifestation of light, and spreading that light.
In v.9 "...the fruit of the light..."
There's the idea of the result of exposure to light being restored to "good and right and true"
v. 11 "...the unfruitful works of darkness..."
The flip side of the above, that if light bears fruit, darkness bears its anti-fruit...
v 13-14 "...everything exposed by the light...everything that becomes visible is light."
And the goodness and correctness of exposing dark things to light in order to make them visible thereby turning them back to "light"
Still churning in my mind, hopefully I'll have some good spiritual butter by the end of the day. :)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Romans 14:1-12
Wow, another challenging devotional.
Truth be told, I generally find the Christians at my workplace to be unlikable.
They're Republican sock puppets and spend a lot more time hand-wringing about big government and taxes and wealth redistribution than about helping the poor or the disadvantaged.
One guy is the type who will spend all night in flame wars with atheists on user interest group distribution lists. He's the kind of guy who likes to stand over someone and gloat that he won and he was smarter.
Another guy clearly gives off the vibe that, he is a superior person for his spirituality.
Yet, they are both Christians. I feel like Paul is almost telling me, "spend less time worrying about how they live as Christians and worry about your own self."
But isn't the weak-faithed vegetable eater too dependent on works versus faith? Yes, at the end of the day, it's between that person and God, but isn't it a clearly wrong spiritual place to be in? Maybe I need more context. I'm ordering that study bible today... :)
Truth be told, I generally find the Christians at my workplace to be unlikable.
They're Republican sock puppets and spend a lot more time hand-wringing about big government and taxes and wealth redistribution than about helping the poor or the disadvantaged.
One guy is the type who will spend all night in flame wars with atheists on user interest group distribution lists. He's the kind of guy who likes to stand over someone and gloat that he won and he was smarter.
Another guy clearly gives off the vibe that, he is a superior person for his spirituality.
Yet, they are both Christians. I feel like Paul is almost telling me, "spend less time worrying about how they live as Christians and worry about your own self."
But isn't the weak-faithed vegetable eater too dependent on works versus faith? Yes, at the end of the day, it's between that person and God, but isn't it a clearly wrong spiritual place to be in? Maybe I need more context. I'm ordering that study bible today... :)
Monday, February 14, 2011
Matthew 10:1-33
Before PB kicked off the inaugural UNL men's discipleship group, he & I talked about the idea that, some idea or teaching from studying Jesus will make us uncomfortable or challenge our preconceived notions of Jesus.
I readily accept some aspects of Jesus as a revolutionary. The way He has the greatest compassion for the suffering, the downtrodden. I'm onboard with His rejection of the world's allegiances and hierarchies for His father's.
Yet, some aspects are more difficult to accept and this devotional chapter is very frank about them. The life of the original disciples was difficult. They were not to take payment, nor generally worry much for their material comfort. They were told they would make powerful enemies, understand that those who did not listen would be condemned to terrible suffering and drive families against one another. They were to be prepared to give up their lives in the faithful fulfillment of Jesus' commission to spread the word.
Honestly, I'm probably too preoccupied with material comfort. Not in the sense of fantasizing about driving sweet rides or sipping champagne. Not even about the social stature you have as a wealthier person; I really don't care about that. But I do associate money with providing a (maybe illusory) sense of stability and security.
I don't enjoy the idea of the non-listeners burning in Hell. My parents never believed in Jesus, nor my grandmother who's still alive. I don't enjoy the idea of pitting son against father or brother against sister over faith. Though, to be accurate, Jesus never says, "Relish the day, and do a little victory dance, when families clash and break apart over Me."
A little outside of today's devotional is Mat 10:37, where Jesus outright says:
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
Do I love Jesus more than Elliott & Colby? Man, I can tell you that it's not a slam dunk...
Basically it boils down to, "Drop everything you think is important to you, to spread My message. It, and you by proxy, will cause turmoil and division. You will be persecuted, probably jailed and possibly executed." That's what it takes to call yourself a disciple. Tough medicine...
I readily accept some aspects of Jesus as a revolutionary. The way He has the greatest compassion for the suffering, the downtrodden. I'm onboard with His rejection of the world's allegiances and hierarchies for His father's.
Yet, some aspects are more difficult to accept and this devotional chapter is very frank about them. The life of the original disciples was difficult. They were not to take payment, nor generally worry much for their material comfort. They were told they would make powerful enemies, understand that those who did not listen would be condemned to terrible suffering and drive families against one another. They were to be prepared to give up their lives in the faithful fulfillment of Jesus' commission to spread the word.
Honestly, I'm probably too preoccupied with material comfort. Not in the sense of fantasizing about driving sweet rides or sipping champagne. Not even about the social stature you have as a wealthier person; I really don't care about that. But I do associate money with providing a (maybe illusory) sense of stability and security.
I don't enjoy the idea of the non-listeners burning in Hell. My parents never believed in Jesus, nor my grandmother who's still alive. I don't enjoy the idea of pitting son against father or brother against sister over faith. Though, to be accurate, Jesus never says, "Relish the day, and do a little victory dance, when families clash and break apart over Me."
A little outside of today's devotional is Mat 10:37, where Jesus outright says:
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
Do I love Jesus more than Elliott & Colby? Man, I can tell you that it's not a slam dunk...
Basically it boils down to, "Drop everything you think is important to you, to spread My message. It, and you by proxy, will cause turmoil and division. You will be persecuted, probably jailed and possibly executed." That's what it takes to call yourself a disciple. Tough medicine...
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Isaiah 40:1-26
Reading today's devotional was a reminder to me that God is to be trifled with. Sometimes I forget that. I tend to focus on how the He loves us and how He shares in our sorrows nature of Him.
But, He is the Creator of everything and, if He chose to, could whisk away human existence with a thought. He is eternal and powerful beyond the scope of human comprehension and, in consideration of those things, frankly He is to be feared and respected.
But, He is the Creator of everything and, if He chose to, could whisk away human existence with a thought. He is eternal and powerful beyond the scope of human comprehension and, in consideration of those things, frankly He is to be feared and respected.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Isaiah 40:27-31
Does God actively intervene in our daily lives? Does he actively renew us and make us stronger when we're weak? Seems like today's devotional answers, "Yes"
Honestly, I have a hard time with this. I'm sure there are Christian children, all over the world in terrible circumstances, who desperately pray for strength but they end up living and dying in horrifying ways.
You could rebut that scenario with the idea that their story isn't written, that in Heaven they won't suffer at all. But somehow that feels like, still not quite fair.
This sounds like the "Why do bad things happen to good people" question, but it's really not. It's about God's promise that, for those who wait for Him, he
will renew their strength. Granted, he doesn't say how or when, it just seems like sometimes, in my admittedly not-the-whole-picture view of things, sometimes the hurting faithful are left unrenewed.
Maybe then, that's the question of faith: how much you're willing to concede that you really don't always know the whole story or things might not be what they seem...
Maybe it's not exactly right to directly superimpose ourselves (today) as the intended audience that is addressed in this chapter. In other words, maybe these words were specifically for whom they were written for at the time, and we're supposed to understand it in that context.
Also, maybe I've misinterpreted the entire passage and it's specifically about renewing spiritual strength while waiting for Him...
I need to get a good study Bible.
Honestly, I have a hard time with this. I'm sure there are Christian children, all over the world in terrible circumstances, who desperately pray for strength but they end up living and dying in horrifying ways.
You could rebut that scenario with the idea that their story isn't written, that in Heaven they won't suffer at all. But somehow that feels like, still not quite fair.
This sounds like the "Why do bad things happen to good people" question, but it's really not. It's about God's promise that, for those who wait for Him, he
will renew their strength. Granted, he doesn't say how or when, it just seems like sometimes, in my admittedly not-the-whole-picture view of things, sometimes the hurting faithful are left unrenewed.
Maybe then, that's the question of faith: how much you're willing to concede that you really don't always know the whole story or things might not be what they seem...
Maybe it's not exactly right to directly superimpose ourselves (today) as the intended audience that is addressed in this chapter. In other words, maybe these words were specifically for whom they were written for at the time, and we're supposed to understand it in that context.
Also, maybe I've misinterpreted the entire passage and it's specifically about renewing spiritual strength while waiting for Him...
I need to get a good study Bible.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
1Thessalonians 5:12-28
Reading this closing of Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians reminded me of my mom's first letter to me when I went away from home for the first time for an overnight camp in 6th grade. The end of the letter is where you put the stuff you really don't want the other person to forget; the "if you don't remember anything else, remember this" stuff.
It makes such perfect sense and if you're like me, you find yourself nodding along as you read. But, if you are like me, it's a different animal when you have to apply it personally. Like when someone does something evil to you, you get that feeling of blood pounding in your ears and the only idea in your brain is settling the score. Or, when someone is recounting their umpteenth SOB story and you want to shout at them to quit being such a pathetic sissy. Or when you find yourself in a personal health or job crisis and, you really can't find that place in your heart that rejoices or gives thanks. When it comes time for real-life application, it's much harder to live it out than it is to agree while you're reading.
But, Paul's writing to a church, not a single person. I think this is why we need to worship God in a church; in a community of like-minded believers. When you're weak or you need to be reminded of the right thing, your community is supposed to be there to strengthen you. And, you're supposed to do likewise when members of your community are struggling. It's like the penguins all taking turns in the center and the outside of the huddle. No one is strong all of the time, but together, we can help keep one another faithful and living it out, rather than letting it stay on the page.
Maybe that's what this discipleship is about...
It makes such perfect sense and if you're like me, you find yourself nodding along as you read. But, if you are like me, it's a different animal when you have to apply it personally. Like when someone does something evil to you, you get that feeling of blood pounding in your ears and the only idea in your brain is settling the score. Or, when someone is recounting their umpteenth SOB story and you want to shout at them to quit being such a pathetic sissy. Or when you find yourself in a personal health or job crisis and, you really can't find that place in your heart that rejoices or gives thanks. When it comes time for real-life application, it's much harder to live it out than it is to agree while you're reading.
But, Paul's writing to a church, not a single person. I think this is why we need to worship God in a church; in a community of like-minded believers. When you're weak or you need to be reminded of the right thing, your community is supposed to be there to strengthen you. And, you're supposed to do likewise when members of your community are struggling. It's like the penguins all taking turns in the center and the outside of the huddle. No one is strong all of the time, but together, we can help keep one another faithful and living it out, rather than letting it stay on the page.
Maybe that's what this discipleship is about...
Friday, February 4, 2011
2 Corinthians 4:11-15
In these verses, Paul talks about being fearlessly faithful to Christ even in the face of death, being confident that if you were to die, just like Jesus you would be raised up as well.
It's hard to fathom in the here and now. First, living in America, even if you believe in Chuck Norris and wear tin foil hats and put on your underwear on the outside of your pants, no one can really "punish" you for any of that. Yesterday as we prayer-walked through the mall, the idea of going up to a random stranger talking about Christ, faith, hope...honestly it conjured mental images of folks who wander around the streets, handing out pamphlets and wearing sandwich boards.
But, are those guys the ones who are doing more of the right thing? Nowdays, it seems like the preferred avenue of evangelism is the "long sell." Cultivate a relationship, earn, if not trust, at least respect and try hard not to be weird. When the opportunity presents itself, put forth a dignified and gracious testimony that will fall on friendly and maybe receptive ears.
Are we lesser Christians than the early Corinthians? Paul wrote these words to prepare the Corinthians for the possibility of death in the name of Christ. It's almost like Paul feels emboldened to proclaim the gospel widely, because he's playing with house money; even if they crucify him, he's telling the Corinthians not to worry because they'll be raised up by God alongside Jesus anyways.
In my life, I won't die for proclaiming the gospel. At worst, they'll look at me and see the sandwich board guy. But instead of being more bold, I'm more reticent.
On the other hand, maybe the early Christians had more of a backed-into-a-corner mentality, where it was more of a "fight or flight" choice. Given those choices, maybe it was just simpler. I honestly don't think, there was anything "more special" about people from those days. Maybe not as much in this particular passage, but in other passages the topics Paul broaches indicate that the early church had similar church problems/dynamics as we do today. So, they probably weren't that much better or worse than we are now...People are, after all, people.
This is the first devotional blog I've written at night, before bed. I definitely feel like I can organize my thoughts a bit better, since I've had time to let it marinate on the mind... Maybe this week I'll try writing at night.
It's hard to fathom in the here and now. First, living in America, even if you believe in Chuck Norris and wear tin foil hats and put on your underwear on the outside of your pants, no one can really "punish" you for any of that. Yesterday as we prayer-walked through the mall, the idea of going up to a random stranger talking about Christ, faith, hope...honestly it conjured mental images of folks who wander around the streets, handing out pamphlets and wearing sandwich boards.
But, are those guys the ones who are doing more of the right thing? Nowdays, it seems like the preferred avenue of evangelism is the "long sell." Cultivate a relationship, earn, if not trust, at least respect and try hard not to be weird. When the opportunity presents itself, put forth a dignified and gracious testimony that will fall on friendly and maybe receptive ears.
Are we lesser Christians than the early Corinthians? Paul wrote these words to prepare the Corinthians for the possibility of death in the name of Christ. It's almost like Paul feels emboldened to proclaim the gospel widely, because he's playing with house money; even if they crucify him, he's telling the Corinthians not to worry because they'll be raised up by God alongside Jesus anyways.
In my life, I won't die for proclaiming the gospel. At worst, they'll look at me and see the sandwich board guy. But instead of being more bold, I'm more reticent.
On the other hand, maybe the early Christians had more of a backed-into-a-corner mentality, where it was more of a "fight or flight" choice. Given those choices, maybe it was just simpler. I honestly don't think, there was anything "more special" about people from those days. Maybe not as much in this particular passage, but in other passages the topics Paul broaches indicate that the early church had similar church problems/dynamics as we do today. So, they probably weren't that much better or worse than we are now...People are, after all, people.
This is the first devotional blog I've written at night, before bed. I definitely feel like I can organize my thoughts a bit better, since I've had time to let it marinate on the mind... Maybe this week I'll try writing at night.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
1 Corinthians 4:9-16
...there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. The world is often unkind to new talents, new creations. The new needs friends.
--Anton Ego, Ratatouille.
I read this verse probably 4 times before I thought to look up the definition of apostle (the 2nd one listed). It's not easy to be an early adopter (to borrow from techie parlance) of anything. Karen generally forbids me to buy the first generation of any new trinket. Remembering that Paul is writing here as one of the first Christians, made the entire passage a bit more understandable.
It's easy for a shall we say, "less-diligent" Christians like myself to forget that there was no precedence for Paul and the other apostles who were the first to do some of the very radical things they did for the sake of the gospel. They didn't just defend and champion the despised and lowest in society, they joined them. And, in his own words, "When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we speak kindly." Who did that? Who does that now? Darwin would have nosebleeds.
It's unlikely anyone up until then was doing this kind of thing. And if they were, it's even more unlikely they were doing it for an express purpose like bringing this type of good news: that God sent his son, in human form, to Earth to live, teach and ultimately suffer persecution, betrayal, humiliation and torture for no good Earthly reason, but to atone for the sin that prevents you or I from having the God-intended relationship with Him!
From the outside looking in, it's pretty easy to understand how it must've looked like "a spectacle" performed by "fools" This doesn't even account for "foolishness" like voluntarily-upside down crucifixion.
But all that is not for chest-thumping. In verse 16, Paul urges us "to be imitators of me" As crazy as it may look on the outside, it is good and correct for us to obey, suffer gladly, to be cast among the least of us, and to bless our persecutors for Jesus' sake...
Neither here nor there, but I found it kind of humanizing to see that, Paul felt the costs of his early discipleship as he writes in verse 12, "...we grow weary from the work of our own hands."
--Anton Ego, Ratatouille.
I read this verse probably 4 times before I thought to look up the definition of apostle (the 2nd one listed). It's not easy to be an early adopter (to borrow from techie parlance) of anything. Karen generally forbids me to buy the first generation of any new trinket. Remembering that Paul is writing here as one of the first Christians, made the entire passage a bit more understandable.
It's easy for a shall we say, "less-diligent" Christians like myself to forget that there was no precedence for Paul and the other apostles who were the first to do some of the very radical things they did for the sake of the gospel. They didn't just defend and champion the despised and lowest in society, they joined them. And, in his own words, "When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we speak kindly." Who did that? Who does that now? Darwin would have nosebleeds.
It's unlikely anyone up until then was doing this kind of thing. And if they were, it's even more unlikely they were doing it for an express purpose like bringing this type of good news: that God sent his son, in human form, to Earth to live, teach and ultimately suffer persecution, betrayal, humiliation and torture for no good Earthly reason, but to atone for the sin that prevents you or I from having the God-intended relationship with Him!
From the outside looking in, it's pretty easy to understand how it must've looked like "a spectacle" performed by "fools" This doesn't even account for "foolishness" like voluntarily-upside down crucifixion.
But all that is not for chest-thumping. In verse 16, Paul urges us "to be imitators of me" As crazy as it may look on the outside, it is good and correct for us to obey, suffer gladly, to be cast among the least of us, and to bless our persecutors for Jesus' sake...
Neither here nor there, but I found it kind of humanizing to see that, Paul felt the costs of his early discipleship as he writes in verse 12, "...we grow weary from the work of our own hands."
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
1 Corinthians 9:15-27
The language in this passage is kind of trippy and I'm pretty sure I don't get it.
Here's my caveman interpretation:
v15-17: Paul is emphasizing that there's nothing to brag about in proclaiming the gospel, because proclaiming the gospel is, the words of Chris Rock, just what you're supposed to do!
v18: No clue. Was the gospel not free at some point? Perhaps a privilege of only certain classes of people? And I have no clue what the full use of rights in the gospel means.
v19-22: My favorite verse in this passage is: I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. You can't save everyone. In fact, to be pedantic, you could argue that you don't save anyone. But the result of saving some, makes it worth it for Paul to walk in the footsteps of many different lifestyles he wouldn't otherwise have to.
v23: So beautiful. Paul feels like the lucky guy who brings the big Publisher's Clearinghouse check to people's houses and shares a little bit in their joy...
v24-27: You are the athlete, the race is your life, the prize is your relationship with God through Christ. Live purposefully by training and disciplining and focusing to that end.
Here's my caveman interpretation:
v15-17: Paul is emphasizing that there's nothing to brag about in proclaiming the gospel, because proclaiming the gospel is, the words of Chris Rock, just what you're supposed to do!
v18: No clue. Was the gospel not free at some point? Perhaps a privilege of only certain classes of people? And I have no clue what the full use of rights in the gospel means.
v19-22: My favorite verse in this passage is: I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. You can't save everyone. In fact, to be pedantic, you could argue that you don't save anyone. But the result of saving some, makes it worth it for Paul to walk in the footsteps of many different lifestyles he wouldn't otherwise have to.
v23: So beautiful. Paul feels like the lucky guy who brings the big Publisher's Clearinghouse check to people's houses and shares a little bit in their joy...
v24-27: You are the athlete, the race is your life, the prize is your relationship with God through Christ. Live purposefully by training and disciplining and focusing to that end.
I Can Haz Corinthians!
I should really do a better job of paying attention to which verses are actually for devotionals.
1 Corinthians 1:10-17
This verse reminded me of a CNN article(http://bit.ly/eDDluf) about Pastor Francis Chan quitting his church because he felt like he (not Jesus) was too much in the focal point of Cornerstone church.
Not to pump up my own pastor too much but under PB's watch, this principle is pretty consistently reinforced at United Life. I can think of at least 2 different occasions (one a conversation, one a sermon) where PB's quite clear that the church, the messenger and the message are solely for bringing people into deeper relationship with Christ. They're meant to be as minimally intrusive as possible in making that happen. In truth, I've been guilty of focusing more on United Life than on my own relationship with God Himself. I'm thankful Ben's been there to recalibrate me.
Paul's message and warning then, nearly 2000 years ago, still applies today. People are just wired to worship (or "fall in love with" or "become infactuated with" if you prefer those terms) something. Even when the clear purpose is to worship God, people end up effectively worshipping the church or the pastor (through what they do/spend their time thinking about).
1 Corinthians 1:10-17
This verse reminded me of a CNN article(http://bit.ly/eDDluf) about Pastor Francis Chan quitting his church because he felt like he (not Jesus) was too much in the focal point of Cornerstone church.
Not to pump up my own pastor too much but under PB's watch, this principle is pretty consistently reinforced at United Life. I can think of at least 2 different occasions (one a conversation, one a sermon) where PB's quite clear that the church, the messenger and the message are solely for bringing people into deeper relationship with Christ. They're meant to be as minimally intrusive as possible in making that happen. In truth, I've been guilty of focusing more on United Life than on my own relationship with God Himself. I'm thankful Ben's been there to recalibrate me.
Paul's message and warning then, nearly 2000 years ago, still applies today. People are just wired to worship (or "fall in love with" or "become infactuated with" if you prefer those terms) something. Even when the clear purpose is to worship God, people end up effectively worshipping the church or the pastor (through what they do/spend their time thinking about).
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
How I Connect With God
Naturalist: 10
Activist: 11
Traditionalist: 12
Sensate: 13
Enthusiast:16
Intellectual: 17
Contemplative:17
Ascetic:18
Caregiver: 20
Activist: 11
Traditionalist: 12
Sensate: 13
Enthusiast:16
Intellectual: 17
Contemplative:17
Ascetic:18
Caregiver: 20
1 Corinthians 1:1-10
Not really related to today's devotional, but there was something really perfect about sitting in a nearly empty cafeteria, in the morning with the sun streaming through the windows, and sipping a hot Americano.
Many moons ago when I took a Myers-Briggs assessment, I was classified ESTJ, though that characterization seems odd to me now. I don't consider myself extroverted, more times than not preferring solitude and quiet to a crowd and clatter. Anyways, notes of interest:
1 Cor 1:4, Paul gives thanks to God for Christians everywhere being "enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind-" Truthfully, I can't remember the last time I prayed a word of thanks to God for enrichening someone other than me. I have prayed for God to help people who are hurting or in their times of need, but not so much with the gratitude for something good for someone else...
Today, in the Western world, do we live in a more self-centric, self-involved age? Or is it just me? Now versus just 20 years ago, we're certainly availed a much larger array of vehicles for personal expression , e.g. tumblr, twitter, facebook, blogs, etc... Just a hunch, but it seems to me the notion of a shared fate or stake in one another has faded since Paul's time...
1 Cor 1:5, According to Paul, we're enriched in speech and knowledge of every kind. That's interesting to me, because I definitely don't feel any smarter or more eloquent. But, on the flip side:
1. With say, exercise, it's hard to tell you're getting stronger, you just notice one day, that the weight you lifted 4 weeks ago, you can lift more times. Or that you can run faster/longer than you used to be able to. In other words, maybe it's a slow process that occurs without you even consciously noticing. Tim Keller mentioned in some sermon or another that the Bible often uses botanical metaphors for growth, because you can't see a fruit tree growing and you don't see the process of it's bearing bruit. Maybe it's like that...
2. I definitely acknowledge that in the process of understanding, accepting and living in grace, your perspective definitely experiences shifts.
1 Cor 1:8, I puzzled on this verse a bit, because if you read it a certain way, it almost sounds like Paul is saying that Jesus will build you up (buttercup~) to a point where "you may be blameless on the day of our Lord..." And, of course, we're saved by faith alone. No one (Jesus aside) has ever been able to live a blameless life on their our own. I'm chalking it up to a translation thing. Read in another way, you could look at the same verse as saying that His grace is strong enough bouy you until the end.
Many moons ago when I took a Myers-Briggs assessment, I was classified ESTJ, though that characterization seems odd to me now. I don't consider myself extroverted, more times than not preferring solitude and quiet to a crowd and clatter. Anyways, notes of interest:
1 Cor 1:4, Paul gives thanks to God for Christians everywhere being "enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind-" Truthfully, I can't remember the last time I prayed a word of thanks to God for enrichening someone other than me. I have prayed for God to help people who are hurting or in their times of need, but not so much with the gratitude for something good for someone else...
Today, in the Western world, do we live in a more self-centric, self-involved age? Or is it just me? Now versus just 20 years ago, we're certainly availed a much larger array of vehicles for personal expression , e.g. tumblr, twitter, facebook, blogs, etc... Just a hunch, but it seems to me the notion of a shared fate or stake in one another has faded since Paul's time...
1 Cor 1:5, According to Paul, we're enriched in speech and knowledge of every kind. That's interesting to me, because I definitely don't feel any smarter or more eloquent. But, on the flip side:
1. With say, exercise, it's hard to tell you're getting stronger, you just notice one day, that the weight you lifted 4 weeks ago, you can lift more times. Or that you can run faster/longer than you used to be able to. In other words, maybe it's a slow process that occurs without you even consciously noticing. Tim Keller mentioned in some sermon or another that the Bible often uses botanical metaphors for growth, because you can't see a fruit tree growing and you don't see the process of it's bearing bruit. Maybe it's like that...
2. I definitely acknowledge that in the process of understanding, accepting and living in grace, your perspective definitely experiences shifts.
1 Cor 1:8, I puzzled on this verse a bit, because if you read it a certain way, it almost sounds like Paul is saying that Jesus will build you up (buttercup~) to a point where "you may be blameless on the day of our Lord..." And, of course, we're saved by faith alone. No one (Jesus aside) has ever been able to live a blameless life on their our own. I'm chalking it up to a translation thing. Read in another way, you could look at the same verse as saying that His grace is strong enough bouy you until the end.
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