There is a Middle Eastern way to teach camels to become useful to their masters. The way it works is that when a camel is young, the teacher will continue to pile object upon object on the camel's back until it is so weighted down that it has no choice but to kneel down. The teacher then begins to take weight off of the animal's back. When the camel feels it can, it will rise up. The teacher will then tap the camel on the hump to kneel. Of course, the camel, being immature and stubborn will not readily kneel so the patient teacher will again pile burdens on the camels back, occasionally tapping on the camel's back until it kneels again. Eventually the camel kneels with just a gentle tap on the back and becomes a willing tool for it's master.
How much does this sound like us? If we learn to kneel in prayer and look to our Master for instruction, our burdens will be light.
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV 28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Jesus in the Temple
We had an interesting and lively discussion last evening in Bible study. We have been studying the book of Luke and we were in chapter 2. When we started talking about Jesus as a child of 12 in the Temple(vs.41-51), people started asking alot of questions and providing various opinions. I must say, I found this very exciting because you can read a passage over and over and it's like you're skimming the surface and then SPLASH! you're immersed in it.
Several points here:
1. In that culture and time, a child was not considered responsible for his or her own sins until the age of 13. Jesus was 12 at the time.
2. If Jesus were of age and in the Temple telling the teachers of His intimate relationship with His Father, He probably would have been drug out and stoned.
3. No self- respecting Jew would have said "My Father". They might have said "Our Father".
4. Some translations say in vs. 49, "in My Father's house". I like the more literal Greek, "about My Father's affairs."
5. Mary was most likely relaying this message to Luke years later and held these memories dear to her heart.
Questions:
1. Did Jesus "sin" when He chose to disappoint and worry His parents in vs.48?
2. How did He know about "His Father's affairs"?
3. In vs. 48 again, If His parents were amazed at His knowledge, who taught Him?
4. vs. 50. Why would His parents not understand His statement, considering their hidden knowledge of His conception?
Several points here:
1. In that culture and time, a child was not considered responsible for his or her own sins until the age of 13. Jesus was 12 at the time.
2. If Jesus were of age and in the Temple telling the teachers of His intimate relationship with His Father, He probably would have been drug out and stoned.
3. No self- respecting Jew would have said "My Father". They might have said "Our Father".
4. Some translations say in vs. 49, "in My Father's house". I like the more literal Greek, "about My Father's affairs."
5. Mary was most likely relaying this message to Luke years later and held these memories dear to her heart.
Questions:
1. Did Jesus "sin" when He chose to disappoint and worry His parents in vs.48?
2. How did He know about "His Father's affairs"?
3. In vs. 48 again, If His parents were amazed at His knowledge, who taught Him?
4. vs. 50. Why would His parents not understand His statement, considering their hidden knowledge of His conception?
Monday, September 19, 2005
Where The Buck Stops
“To pass the buck” is an American colloquialism signifying to evade accountability by passing it on to someone else. President Harry S. Truman had a card on his desk bearing the words, “The Buck Stops Here.” The motto meant that blame for just about everything stopped at his desk. He would not, or could not, blame someone else for failure by a federal government agency.
President George Bush evidently adheres to the same motto. He accepts blame for real and alleged failure by the federal government to respond adequately to Hurricane Katrina. “I accept responsibility,” he said. The buck sits on his desk.
That may be good politics, but it is nonetheless silly. It is not the President’s job to micro-manage government handling of disasters such as befell New Orleans and neighboring communities. It is not within the scope of his office to answer for the respective performances of the designated first-responders to local disasters.
Thinkers who argue about federalism and states’ rights generally agree that – given the Constitution as it stands – police and fire departments are local agencies that answer to local communities, not to the federal government. Accordingly, the Louisiana National Guard takes its orders from the governor of Louisiana, not from anyone in Washington. Only under grievous circumstances would the President try to usurp the rights and powers of state and urban agencies.
That, of course, is precisely what President Bush should have done. We now know that New Orleans’ mayor was incompetent and Louisiana’s governor no better. While they dithered, the President should have sent the Louisiana National Guard into New Orleans. Of course, if he had done so, he’d have been savagely criticized for what his critics now say he should have done but did not do. They would drop every buck on his desk.
Presidents are expected to take the blame for national disasters in which they played a part. John F. Kennedy authorized the Bay of Pigs debacle in Cuba. Because it was a federal action, he was held responsible for it. The buck was on his desk.
Israel’s King David understood accountability. For his arrogance (which was shared by the people), God sent a plague that killed 70,000 people. David was horrified. “I am the one who has sinned and done wrong,” he confessed. “These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall upon me and my family.”[1] David knew that the buck was on his desk. The plague was his fault.
Hurricane Katrina was nobody’s fault. The flooding in New Orleans was nobody’s fault except, perhaps, politicians who – in spite of repeated warnings that a Category 4 or 5 hurricane would hit someday – failed to allocate funds for bigger and better levees. On whose desk did that buck stop? And who failed to evacuate the city in time? Not the President. It is sweet of him to accept responsibility, but unless it is politically astute, it is quite silly. The buck for the mess in New Orleans does not stop on President Bush’s desk.
Don Cole.
President George Bush evidently adheres to the same motto. He accepts blame for real and alleged failure by the federal government to respond adequately to Hurricane Katrina. “I accept responsibility,” he said. The buck sits on his desk.
That may be good politics, but it is nonetheless silly. It is not the President’s job to micro-manage government handling of disasters such as befell New Orleans and neighboring communities. It is not within the scope of his office to answer for the respective performances of the designated first-responders to local disasters.
Thinkers who argue about federalism and states’ rights generally agree that – given the Constitution as it stands – police and fire departments are local agencies that answer to local communities, not to the federal government. Accordingly, the Louisiana National Guard takes its orders from the governor of Louisiana, not from anyone in Washington. Only under grievous circumstances would the President try to usurp the rights and powers of state and urban agencies.
That, of course, is precisely what President Bush should have done. We now know that New Orleans’ mayor was incompetent and Louisiana’s governor no better. While they dithered, the President should have sent the Louisiana National Guard into New Orleans. Of course, if he had done so, he’d have been savagely criticized for what his critics now say he should have done but did not do. They would drop every buck on his desk.
Presidents are expected to take the blame for national disasters in which they played a part. John F. Kennedy authorized the Bay of Pigs debacle in Cuba. Because it was a federal action, he was held responsible for it. The buck was on his desk.
Israel’s King David understood accountability. For his arrogance (which was shared by the people), God sent a plague that killed 70,000 people. David was horrified. “I am the one who has sinned and done wrong,” he confessed. “These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall upon me and my family.”[1] David knew that the buck was on his desk. The plague was his fault.
Hurricane Katrina was nobody’s fault. The flooding in New Orleans was nobody’s fault except, perhaps, politicians who – in spite of repeated warnings that a Category 4 or 5 hurricane would hit someday – failed to allocate funds for bigger and better levees. On whose desk did that buck stop? And who failed to evacuate the city in time? Not the President. It is sweet of him to accept responsibility, but unless it is politically astute, it is quite silly. The buck for the mess in New Orleans does not stop on President Bush’s desk.
Don Cole.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
With One Hand Tied Behind Our Backs
I went to my bible study Tuesday night at the church. It's given by one of the teaching pastors. He asked if anyone had heard what happened after the last service. He said that 2 families had gotten into a fight. He didn't elaborate, but now it's out there. Right away my alarm system went up that this wasn't cool. Needless to say, at break, as I sat in my chair waiting for the study to resume, I heard no less than 5 people discussing the incident. I could have screamed! I mean seriously, we don't need to worry about satan using the unsaved or his demons to destroy us Christians. It seems like we do a good enough job all by ourselves.
I constantly see instances where we tear each other down. Sometimes even destroying a brother or sister in the name of Jesus Christ. People throw around terms like, "righteous indignation", or chastising someone who doesn't live up to the standards that we ourselves could never attain. There seems to be so much judgement flying around out there and not enough compassion, or coming along aside one another.
I was just thinking about Jesus and how he would correct people; and it seems like He was only slightly forceful or aggressive when speaking with the "Holier than Thou" sect. (Pharisees, Saducees, Jewish Tribunal). When dealing with His beloved disciples and followers and many people that were concidered the dregs of society, He was gentle, compassionate, and understanding of their flaws. He said Himself that He did not come into the world to judge but to save it. And in John 8:15 He said that we judge in human terms while He doesn't. We shouldn't cause others to stumble. 1 Cor. 10:32.
I have been SO guilty of being too liberal with my tounge and not stopping to think of who I'm hurting or the consequences of my actions. I truly feel that by my lack of spiritual maturity, I helped tear apart a church family instead of coming along side and bringing my brethren together. So I truly am the worst of these. But the point is that we are to grow and mature and learn from our trials and temptations to use that awful tounge to spread juicy stuff about those we are to love the most. Never forget that we are called to be the Light in this World for those unsaved family, friends, and aquaintances around us. So, let's stop tearing down and start lifting up.
I constantly see instances where we tear each other down. Sometimes even destroying a brother or sister in the name of Jesus Christ. People throw around terms like, "righteous indignation", or chastising someone who doesn't live up to the standards that we ourselves could never attain. There seems to be so much judgement flying around out there and not enough compassion, or coming along aside one another.
I was just thinking about Jesus and how he would correct people; and it seems like He was only slightly forceful or aggressive when speaking with the "Holier than Thou" sect. (Pharisees, Saducees, Jewish Tribunal). When dealing with His beloved disciples and followers and many people that were concidered the dregs of society, He was gentle, compassionate, and understanding of their flaws. He said Himself that He did not come into the world to judge but to save it. And in John 8:15 He said that we judge in human terms while He doesn't. We shouldn't cause others to stumble. 1 Cor. 10:32.
I have been SO guilty of being too liberal with my tounge and not stopping to think of who I'm hurting or the consequences of my actions. I truly feel that by my lack of spiritual maturity, I helped tear apart a church family instead of coming along side and bringing my brethren together. So I truly am the worst of these. But the point is that we are to grow and mature and learn from our trials and temptations to use that awful tounge to spread juicy stuff about those we are to love the most. Never forget that we are called to be the Light in this World for those unsaved family, friends, and aquaintances around us. So, let's stop tearing down and start lifting up.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
This morning
I was talking with God on my way to work this morning and I was thinking of times when I've felt like my prayers were not strong enough to get an answer from Him. Isn't that silly? I mean, of course He wishes to answer our prayers... If, and that's a big word, IF it is in His will or if we are following His will, which to me is pretty close to the same thing. Then of course, I start feeling guilty... like, what am I holding out on Him about, or what am I not allowing Him to have total control of or me submitting to. God forbid I should be deliberate about it. At those times, I drive myself crazy because I slip back into those patterns of guilt and self condemnation. It's nice to know that someone's got your back when you're wallowing in those murky places. I pray for my family daily, and not just the perfunctory mass prayer, but sometimes even a pleading, supplicating prayer. I know my wife prays for me like that and I wonder if it's okay to ask others to make a commitment to pray for me daily. Strength in numbers and all.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
The Other Side of the Desert
The Other Side of the Desert.
How do you use your power?
While studying on Matt. 4 about Jesus’ 40 days in the desert this was brought to mind. It said that after fasting and being alone in a barren place, Jesus was hungry. While the story leaves to our imagination what Jesus endured in the desert, one can only imagine what must have gone through his soul.
The story suggests that the Tempter came along at what appeared to be a moment of weakness in Jesus’ life. The goal was to get Jesus to use his power to save himself.
Evil used sustenance, beauty and power to tempt Jesus.
How often are you tempted by sustenance, beauty and power?
I know there are times when I am feeling lonely, tired, hungry and weaker than usual that I want to use my power to save myself. I want to depend on myself to relieve myself of what I am facing or have just faced.
But the story teaches that Jesus never used his power to save himself, rather he used it to resist the temptation to save himself.
He used his power to continually trust God.
He used his power to resist the voice that wanted to take him down and chose to listen to the Voice within that reminded him of who he was as God’s son.
He allowed God to sustain him.
Imagine if we used our power in the same manner. Imagine if we used our power to resist the temptation to save ourselves from what the world tempts us to think is the right way. Imagine if we used our power to simply trust God.
Imagine if we used our power to listen to the Voice within that reminds us that we belong to God.
I am not suggesting that we are Jesus, I am suggesting that we need to silence and resist the voices in the same manner he did.
In order to do that, we must know who we are as children of God.It is when we are tired, hungry, alone, and weak that we need to speak out against those things that want to steal away God’s desire for us.
The story ends by telling us that the devil left him and the angels came and attended him.
This story ultimately reveals Jesus’ identity, and it can remind us of our identity.We always need to be reminded of who we are as God’s beloved. Our fear and pain may tempt us to seek sustenance, beauty and power, but the truth is that by holding on, God will not leave us alone, but will send his angels to attend to us-- especially when we have just walked through the desert.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Led Zeppelin rethunk
Thank You..."And so today, my world it smiles, Your hand in mine, we walk the miles, Thanks to You it will be done, for You to me are the only One. Happiness, no more be sad, happiness....I'm glad. If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving You. When mountains crumble to the sea, there will still be You and me." (Plant/Page 1969)
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
String 'em up!
I stopped by a friends home yesterday and she was watching Oprah who was doing a show from an area that had been devastated by Katrina. She said that she had been crying with Oprah and Faith Hill, so I know that it touched her heart. Here's the troubling part. The next words out of her mouth were, "Some heads gotta roll." (Needless to say, this floored me, coming from a follower of The King of Peace.) I asked what she meant and she said that she thought that we needed to find out why it took so long to help these people and who was responsible for that and they needed to answer for that and be thrown out of office and that she even e-mailed Oprah and suggested that with her clout she could make this happen. She asked if I agreed and I said that I didn't. She said that it was good that at least one of us cared. I told her that it wasn't that I didn't care, but I didn't think we should be acting like- In the name of Jesus, heads gotta roll. She said that righteous indignation was okay. I think that is a misrepresentation of righteous indignation, which if you look at our example; He was indignant when people were deliberately oppressed or taken advantage of. I don't feel that any mistakes that were made were deliberate. Mistakes were definitely made. All over the place. For one, I don't think anyone thought it was going to be as bad as it was, especially when so much media emphasis is put on categories and mph. Also, the canal wall breakage was devastating. Anyway, I said that my wife and I had been praying for not only the families affected but also the people directing the relief effort and all the volunteers. With all that said, here's what that conversation lead me to think about this morning.
I have to say that mob mentalities really scare me, because at times, we humans seem barely better than animals. I've seen it happen too many times with terrible results. Just look at our past. Lynchings, race riots, gay bashing, the witch hunts, the crusades, or more recently, the looting and violence after the hurricane; or how about the release of a criminal named Barabbas and the hanging of our sinless Savior on a cross because they were offended by Him. Why, because He insulted their pride? All examples of mob hysteria and "righteous indignation."
God's Word tells us:
Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke6:37
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John3:17
Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord. Romans12:19
We all remember the story in John 8 where Jesus asks for he who hasn't sinned to cast the first stone and then asks the accused where her condemners are.
And finally, let us pursue peace and not let bitterness spring up like it teaches us in Hebrews 12:14-15. Jesus said we ought always to pray. That means without ceasing. If we are always talking with Him, it doesn't leave any room for bitterness and vengeance.
I have to say that mob mentalities really scare me, because at times, we humans seem barely better than animals. I've seen it happen too many times with terrible results. Just look at our past. Lynchings, race riots, gay bashing, the witch hunts, the crusades, or more recently, the looting and violence after the hurricane; or how about the release of a criminal named Barabbas and the hanging of our sinless Savior on a cross because they were offended by Him. Why, because He insulted their pride? All examples of mob hysteria and "righteous indignation."
God's Word tells us:
Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke6:37
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John3:17
Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord. Romans12:19
We all remember the story in John 8 where Jesus asks for he who hasn't sinned to cast the first stone and then asks the accused where her condemners are.
And finally, let us pursue peace and not let bitterness spring up like it teaches us in Hebrews 12:14-15. Jesus said we ought always to pray. That means without ceasing. If we are always talking with Him, it doesn't leave any room for bitterness and vengeance.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Released and Embraced
Jesus allowed even Judas to come close. What does that say about God's love?I was reading about Judas today and was reminded at how often I intentionally betray God. As I meditated, I wondered when was the last time I sold God out with a kiss? That is, when did I pretend to be a friend of God only to doubt in my soul that He really has it under control? When was the last time my fear about trusting God to be who God claims to be allowed me to deny God? It is often when I lose perspective on who God is that I am so willing to sell-out, even for just a moment.Betray comes from the Latin word tradere, which means "to hand over." Anytime I betray God I essentially hand myself over to my doubts, fears, selfishness, insecurities and systems of injustice. I look around my world and I recognize my indifference I realize that I am not living into the love of God. I am not trusting that love is the bigger, perhaps more difficult, way. This probably happens more often than I am aware, but the story of Judas demonstrates that I shouldn’t lose myself in my guilt and think that I am beyond God’s mercy and forgiveness for when I do, I essentially kill myself. The guilt that leads me into believing that God is incapable of loving me or forgiving me.Like Judas, who returned the coins, there are those who sometimes want to remind you of your falleness; folks who want to keep you down for your indiscretions. Judas allowed those voices to remind him of his betrayal rather than his friendship with Jesus to remind him of his chosenness. We must hear the voice of love calling our names reminidng us that it is finished, to turn back and come home. Just as I need to forgive others to release myself from bondage or resentment, I need to forgive myself to release myself from the bondage of guilt. Forgiveness is not about accepting unacceptable behavior, but the release of the self-destruction associated with unforgiveness and the resentment and guilt associated with it. God did that for us.Through Jesus, God did for humanity what we couldn’t do for ourselves. He removed the noose that we placed around our necks and smothered us instead in love and strangled hate, unforgiveness, and death forever. Reminding us that we are loved beyond our comprehension, even when we think we don’t deserve to be loved, no one is out of reach of the arms of Love that embrace us all like babes where we are made alive forever.
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