Today, Pastor Norm spoke about the different steps we should all take as believers in fulfilling the mission and vision of Christ Church, and of God's call for us in the world. One of those steps is engaging in genuine fellowship. I used to think that our time as Christians is better spent among those who don't know Christ, that our only purpose is to get out there and spread the Good News to those who need to hear it. Why spend time among fellow believers? Isn't that the equivalent of "preaching to the choir?"
These questions I used to ask to myself and to others were a way to mask what was lacking within me. I've known all my life that true fellowship is essential to maintaining and growing one's faith, but I was too ashamed of my lack of faith to show it to others. (Wouldn't they be able to tell that I was a fraud?) When I did engage in fellowship, it was far from genuine for me. And my claims that spreading the Good News to others is our only purpose as Christians...well, I knew in my heart that I had never spoken a word of Jesus to unbelievers, because deep down inside, I was one of them. Oh, the power of Satan when we allow him to control us!
Now that Jesus is so much more to me than a Sunday school story, I depend on fellowship to keep me going. Just like exercise programs are so much more successful if they include a buddy system, so too is the strength and power of our faith if we surround ourselves with those who will encourage us and keep on the straight path. The disciples spent a great deal of time spreading the Word to others, but think of how much time they spent together and with Jesus. It wasn't just because they liked each other and enjoyed hanging out. They needed each other for the important work they were called to do. We need each other just as much.
Fellowship brought me out of a deep poverty of faith and utter starvation for God. Now that I've allowed Jesus into my heart and my life, I depend deeply on fellowship for encouragement and discipline. Few things are more profound than a rebuke from a brother or sister in Christ, and few things are as important as learning and growing from it. Certainly, few things are as powerful as followers of Christ who strive to know, love and serve Him more.
Yes, we are commanded to share the Good News with those who do not yet know or accept it. But there's a reason that Christianity thrives, despite the continual assaults against it - there's unparalleled power in the body of Christ when we choose to support each other in faith. Amen!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Being Still
"Obedience is the fruit of faith; patience, the bloom on the fruit." ~ Christina Rossetti
I don't know about you, but I have a hard time being patient sometimes. I often get frustrated by the little things, such as traffic not moving as quickly as I'd like, or the satellite connection for my TV not rebooting fast enough. Other times, I grumble about the bigger things in life, wondering when certain milestones will be reached, if ever. As faithful as I try to be in my daily life, I am continually guilty of allowing myself to get caught up in the frantic speed of modern life. Can you relate? "There never seem to be enough hours in the day." How many times have you said or heard that? We count on certain things happening at certain times, and when they don't, our schedules (and sometimes our lives) are thrown off track.
I have a Bible verse on the wall of my family room at home. It's Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth." It's a daily reminder to me that God is in control, so I need only look to Him and be still. Being still is not easy for most of us, certainly not for me. But it can be done.
Last month, my daughter and I visited some friends in Colorado. As we neared the top of Pike's Peak on the cog railroad, I was so overcome by the glory of God's creation, I cried right there in the packed train car. Suddenly, none of the things I fret about in daily life mattered one bit. In that moment, I was fully immersed in the glorious simplicity of being still in God's presence. That very same night, I was awestruck by the sheer number of stars in the sky, having never seen such a sight in the skies over Southwest Ohio.
We don't have to be in the midst of the Rocky Mountains to rest in God's glory. We need only remember that God is our Father, Jesus is our Savior, and the Holy Spirit dwells within us, no matter where we are. If such truth doesn't stop us in our tracks and move us to tears, nothing will. Be still, friends, and know that He is God.
I don't know about you, but I have a hard time being patient sometimes. I often get frustrated by the little things, such as traffic not moving as quickly as I'd like, or the satellite connection for my TV not rebooting fast enough. Other times, I grumble about the bigger things in life, wondering when certain milestones will be reached, if ever. As faithful as I try to be in my daily life, I am continually guilty of allowing myself to get caught up in the frantic speed of modern life. Can you relate? "There never seem to be enough hours in the day." How many times have you said or heard that? We count on certain things happening at certain times, and when they don't, our schedules (and sometimes our lives) are thrown off track.
I have a Bible verse on the wall of my family room at home. It's Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth." It's a daily reminder to me that God is in control, so I need only look to Him and be still. Being still is not easy for most of us, certainly not for me. But it can be done.
Last month, my daughter and I visited some friends in Colorado. As we neared the top of Pike's Peak on the cog railroad, I was so overcome by the glory of God's creation, I cried right there in the packed train car. Suddenly, none of the things I fret about in daily life mattered one bit. In that moment, I was fully immersed in the glorious simplicity of being still in God's presence. That very same night, I was awestruck by the sheer number of stars in the sky, having never seen such a sight in the skies over Southwest Ohio.
We don't have to be in the midst of the Rocky Mountains to rest in God's glory. We need only remember that God is our Father, Jesus is our Savior, and the Holy Spirit dwells within us, no matter where we are. If such truth doesn't stop us in our tracks and move us to tears, nothing will. Be still, friends, and know that He is God.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Letters After Our Names
Recently, I applied for a job with an area college that would have me doing very similar work as to what I do now. The position required a Master's degree, with a Ph.D preferred. I have two Bachelor's degrees, so obviously this was an impediment. I sent my resume anyway, since my experience so closely aligned with the job description. Meanwhile, a friend who knew someone at the college asked her acquaintance if someone with my education would have a chance of landing the job. She was told no, that my lack of an advanced degree would result in a complete lack of respect among my would-be colleagues and superiors. "They wouldn't even take her seriously," she said.
Upon hearing this, I was understandably offended. It seemed that my lack of an advanced degree would not be an obstacle to successfully performing the duties of the job, but rather it would fail to satisfy the elite expectations of those in charge. I truly understand the value of a quality education, as well as the importance of certain credentials for certain jobs. (I would not want someone without a medical degree performing surgery on me). If I had a Ph.D., you bet I would be proud if it. However, I've met more than a few folks whose academic credentials mask an utter absence of common sense and people skills. There are times when having letters after one's name is nothing more than...well, letters.
After I got over my feathers being ruffled, I was reminded of the manner in which God engages His children in the work of His kingdom. While God uses individuals of all skill levels, with all manner of academic achievements, He is perhaps best known for using the "least" among us to accomplish His greatest works. Throughout history, God has consistently used the weak to lead the strong and the humble to overtake the powerful. I fall somewhere in the middle, yet I know that God also has a purpose for my life. My ultimate job is to serve Him and His children.
All of this has brought about a great peace within me that has permeated my job search. I am confident that God will lead me where I am meant to go, and when I get there, I will do my work with an eye on His will for my life and for His kingdom. In the meantime, I just might add some letters after my name: D.O.C., Disciple of Christ. I dare any Ph.D. to challenge the power of that credential. After all, Christ is not a "philosophy." He is the Way and the Truth and the Life.
Upon hearing this, I was understandably offended. It seemed that my lack of an advanced degree would not be an obstacle to successfully performing the duties of the job, but rather it would fail to satisfy the elite expectations of those in charge. I truly understand the value of a quality education, as well as the importance of certain credentials for certain jobs. (I would not want someone without a medical degree performing surgery on me). If I had a Ph.D., you bet I would be proud if it. However, I've met more than a few folks whose academic credentials mask an utter absence of common sense and people skills. There are times when having letters after one's name is nothing more than...well, letters.
After I got over my feathers being ruffled, I was reminded of the manner in which God engages His children in the work of His kingdom. While God uses individuals of all skill levels, with all manner of academic achievements, He is perhaps best known for using the "least" among us to accomplish His greatest works. Throughout history, God has consistently used the weak to lead the strong and the humble to overtake the powerful. I fall somewhere in the middle, yet I know that God also has a purpose for my life. My ultimate job is to serve Him and His children.
All of this has brought about a great peace within me that has permeated my job search. I am confident that God will lead me where I am meant to go, and when I get there, I will do my work with an eye on His will for my life and for His kingdom. In the meantime, I just might add some letters after my name: D.O.C., Disciple of Christ. I dare any Ph.D. to challenge the power of that credential. After all, Christ is not a "philosophy." He is the Way and the Truth and the Life.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Satisfying the Thirst
After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, He said (in order to fulfill the scripture), "I am thirsty." John 19:28
Yesterday, my husband and I met his dad and brother at the Great Miami River bike path in Middletown to walk our dogs. It's a year-round weekend ritual that's been going on for quite a few years now. We walk from the West Middletown bridge to just past the Germantown Road bridge, and back again. Round-trip, it's close to seven miles. When it's hot, as it was yesterday, it can feel like a long seven miles. As we neared the end of our walk, all I could think about was having a tall, cold glass of lemonade when we got home. To say I was parched would be an understatement.
The above verse from the Gospel of John is incredibly telling about the deepest desires of our Lord. I can't begin to imagine the agony of crucifixion, especially for Jesus, who took upon the sins of the world on the cross. It is perfectly reasonable and understandable that in the midst of such agony, Jesus was thirsty. I was longing for a drink at the end of a summer stroll, so how could Jesus not thirst a thousand times more? Yet even though those around Him responded to His statement in a literal way, I suspect that physical thirst is not what Jesus meant.
Every word Jesus spoke while on earth was God-breathed. Everything He said and did while among us was with a clear purpose from God. I believe that for Christ to say "I am thirsty" at such a profound moment of His ministry on earth must mean something more than the desire for His tongue to be cooled. When Jesus knew that all was now finished, He said (in order to fulfill scripture)... His work on the cross was complete, so why was His thirst an important thing to mention?
I believe that Christ's thirst refers to His thirst for the souls of mankind. He had paid the price for our sins on the cross, and having done so, wanted nothing more than for all people to come to Him for salvation. It's why He was sent to earth to begin with. How could His physical thirst ever begin to compare with His thirst for souls?
We can help satisify Christ's thirst in two ways: First, we can satisfy our own thirst for Him. All human beings are created with a soul-thirst for that which we cannot fill on our own. Our attempts at self-fulfillment amount to drinking the waters of the ocean - it fills us with salt, which creates greater thirst and takes us that much closer to self-destruction. Only Jesus can quench us so that we will never thirst again. Secondly, we can lead others to the well-spring of life found in Jesus. The world is full of people who are dying of thirst. If we can usher them to the well of Jesus, then we can satisfy their thirst and that of Christ.
We need God, and God wants us. Isn't that wonderful? By loving and living for Christ, not only are we satisfying our own greatest need, but we are also satisfying God's greatest desire. So, let us take the cup of Christ and pass it on to all we encounter. Let us drink and be filled with His glorious love!
Yesterday, my husband and I met his dad and brother at the Great Miami River bike path in Middletown to walk our dogs. It's a year-round weekend ritual that's been going on for quite a few years now. We walk from the West Middletown bridge to just past the Germantown Road bridge, and back again. Round-trip, it's close to seven miles. When it's hot, as it was yesterday, it can feel like a long seven miles. As we neared the end of our walk, all I could think about was having a tall, cold glass of lemonade when we got home. To say I was parched would be an understatement.
The above verse from the Gospel of John is incredibly telling about the deepest desires of our Lord. I can't begin to imagine the agony of crucifixion, especially for Jesus, who took upon the sins of the world on the cross. It is perfectly reasonable and understandable that in the midst of such agony, Jesus was thirsty. I was longing for a drink at the end of a summer stroll, so how could Jesus not thirst a thousand times more? Yet even though those around Him responded to His statement in a literal way, I suspect that physical thirst is not what Jesus meant.
Every word Jesus spoke while on earth was God-breathed. Everything He said and did while among us was with a clear purpose from God. I believe that for Christ to say "I am thirsty" at such a profound moment of His ministry on earth must mean something more than the desire for His tongue to be cooled. When Jesus knew that all was now finished, He said (in order to fulfill scripture)... His work on the cross was complete, so why was His thirst an important thing to mention?
I believe that Christ's thirst refers to His thirst for the souls of mankind. He had paid the price for our sins on the cross, and having done so, wanted nothing more than for all people to come to Him for salvation. It's why He was sent to earth to begin with. How could His physical thirst ever begin to compare with His thirst for souls?
We can help satisify Christ's thirst in two ways: First, we can satisfy our own thirst for Him. All human beings are created with a soul-thirst for that which we cannot fill on our own. Our attempts at self-fulfillment amount to drinking the waters of the ocean - it fills us with salt, which creates greater thirst and takes us that much closer to self-destruction. Only Jesus can quench us so that we will never thirst again. Secondly, we can lead others to the well-spring of life found in Jesus. The world is full of people who are dying of thirst. If we can usher them to the well of Jesus, then we can satisfy their thirst and that of Christ.
We need God, and God wants us. Isn't that wonderful? By loving and living for Christ, not only are we satisfying our own greatest need, but we are also satisfying God's greatest desire. So, let us take the cup of Christ and pass it on to all we encounter. Let us drink and be filled with His glorious love!
Friday, August 5, 2011
Surrounding Oneself with God
Plant what is right and good for yourselves. Gather the fruit of lasting love. Break up your ground that has not been plowed. For it is time to look for the Lord, until He comes and pours His saving power on you. (Hosea 10:12)
I have read that as time goes by, Americans are becoming more and more depressed. Despite our relative wealth as a nation, despite technological advances that have made many aspects of our lives easier, we are less happy than we used to be. Why? I don't know, but I would suspect it has something to do with the things with which we surround ourselves. Think about it: The news is full of stories of crime, political backstabbing, celebrity scandals and doomsday predictions. Many television shows are crime dramas that attempt to out-do each other with gore and sensationalism. Many other so-called reality shows afford ordinary people 15 minutes of fame with which to sell their souls in the name of publicity. Our newspapers have full pages devoted to police reports and grand jury results. The fashion world tends to push the false virtue of showing more skin, which only serves to make us feel worse about the way we look. No wonder we're depressed!
I am as guilty as the rest when it comes to some of my entertainment choices. I'm thankful, however, for reruns of "Little House on the Prairie" and "The Andy Griffith Show," which are simplistic (even boring) by today's standards, but at least I'm not traumatized after watching them. It's sad that shows like that would never even be proposed to TV producers today, let alone aired. That speaks volumes about our priorities as a nation, doesn't it?
So what are we to do? Sure, we can throw out our television sets, but that seems a bit impractical. We could refuse to listen to or read the news, but then we might miss out on important announcements. Maybe we should add something to our daily routine - reading our Bibles. In the morning, instead of watching the news while eating our cereal, we could leave the TV off and instead read a few passages in the Bible. What a great way to start the day! In the evening, instead of settling in for the "hottest show on TV," perhaps we could sit on our porches or patios and read the Bible. It's full of plenty of "can't miss" stories!
What we choose to surround ourselves with is a lifestyle choice. If you want to lose weight, you have to make a conscious effort to avoid unhealthy foods and eat healthier ones. It's something that takes a determined mindset and a deep sense of resolve, but if you stick with it long enough, it eventually becomes a habit. Note to America: Want to feel less depressed? Reach for the Bible. Reading God's Word regularly is a habit guaranteed to produce positive results!
I have read that as time goes by, Americans are becoming more and more depressed. Despite our relative wealth as a nation, despite technological advances that have made many aspects of our lives easier, we are less happy than we used to be. Why? I don't know, but I would suspect it has something to do with the things with which we surround ourselves. Think about it: The news is full of stories of crime, political backstabbing, celebrity scandals and doomsday predictions. Many television shows are crime dramas that attempt to out-do each other with gore and sensationalism. Many other so-called reality shows afford ordinary people 15 minutes of fame with which to sell their souls in the name of publicity. Our newspapers have full pages devoted to police reports and grand jury results. The fashion world tends to push the false virtue of showing more skin, which only serves to make us feel worse about the way we look. No wonder we're depressed!
I am as guilty as the rest when it comes to some of my entertainment choices. I'm thankful, however, for reruns of "Little House on the Prairie" and "The Andy Griffith Show," which are simplistic (even boring) by today's standards, but at least I'm not traumatized after watching them. It's sad that shows like that would never even be proposed to TV producers today, let alone aired. That speaks volumes about our priorities as a nation, doesn't it?
So what are we to do? Sure, we can throw out our television sets, but that seems a bit impractical. We could refuse to listen to or read the news, but then we might miss out on important announcements. Maybe we should add something to our daily routine - reading our Bibles. In the morning, instead of watching the news while eating our cereal, we could leave the TV off and instead read a few passages in the Bible. What a great way to start the day! In the evening, instead of settling in for the "hottest show on TV," perhaps we could sit on our porches or patios and read the Bible. It's full of plenty of "can't miss" stories!
What we choose to surround ourselves with is a lifestyle choice. If you want to lose weight, you have to make a conscious effort to avoid unhealthy foods and eat healthier ones. It's something that takes a determined mindset and a deep sense of resolve, but if you stick with it long enough, it eventually becomes a habit. Note to America: Want to feel less depressed? Reach for the Bible. Reading God's Word regularly is a habit guaranteed to produce positive results!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Thoughts on Forgiveness
If the wounds of millions are to be healed, what other way is there except through forgiveness? ~ Catherine Marshall
Forgiveness...If ever there was a topic to stir debate and emotion, it is this one. It is one of the single most important concepts in the Christian faith (and many other belief systems), yet it is as clear as mud for many. I suspect that there are as many definitions for the word forgiveness as there are people on the planet. In a recent discussion of this topic, a family member spoke of the forgiveness of murderers, rapists and other outcasts of society. He said, "Yes, we should forgive them, but they still need to die." Others of us around the table laughed at the contradiction in his statement, but he didn't get the joke. To him, forgiveness has boundaries.
My loved one is certainly not alone, is he? Whether we want to admit it or not, we all have parameters we construct to make the practice of forgiveness fit more neatly into our lives. We all create loopholes based on circumstances we deem inexcusable. The old saying, 'it's easier to forgive an enemy than a friend' has some basis in truth, doesn't it? I was once hurt terribly by an "outcast" I barely knew, but I was able to forgive that person much more quickly than loved ones who had hurt me much less severely. Is the person who hurt me badly more deserving of my forgiveness? Are loved ones who hurt me mildly any less deserving of it?
Therein lies the problem. Jesus never said, "Follow this three-tiered system for forgiveness: If so-and-so falls into category 1, then they deserve your full forgiveness immediately. If so-and-so falls into category 2, then they still deserve forgiveness, but make them sweat it out a while. And if so-and-so falls into category 3, well, I'm sorry but forgiveness does not apply." Jesus calls on us to forgive always, in all circumstances. He calls us to forgive "seven times seventy." No boundaries. No loopholes.
The next time I grapple with my obligation to forgive someone, I need only remember that my sins, the hurt I have caused, are part of the suffering Jesus experienced on the cross, and the reason He died and rose again. Without the forgiveness Jesus gave us on the cross, we would be sentenced to eternal separation from God. If I can be forgiven for playing a part in killing God's only Son, then surely I can forgive one of His children for hurting me. And knowing that Jesus did all this so I could live fully in Him, surely I can also forgive myself. Amen?
It's not easy, but then...what was it Mom always said? Nothing worthwhile ever is.
Forgiveness...If ever there was a topic to stir debate and emotion, it is this one. It is one of the single most important concepts in the Christian faith (and many other belief systems), yet it is as clear as mud for many. I suspect that there are as many definitions for the word forgiveness as there are people on the planet. In a recent discussion of this topic, a family member spoke of the forgiveness of murderers, rapists and other outcasts of society. He said, "Yes, we should forgive them, but they still need to die." Others of us around the table laughed at the contradiction in his statement, but he didn't get the joke. To him, forgiveness has boundaries.
My loved one is certainly not alone, is he? Whether we want to admit it or not, we all have parameters we construct to make the practice of forgiveness fit more neatly into our lives. We all create loopholes based on circumstances we deem inexcusable. The old saying, 'it's easier to forgive an enemy than a friend' has some basis in truth, doesn't it? I was once hurt terribly by an "outcast" I barely knew, but I was able to forgive that person much more quickly than loved ones who had hurt me much less severely. Is the person who hurt me badly more deserving of my forgiveness? Are loved ones who hurt me mildly any less deserving of it?
Therein lies the problem. Jesus never said, "Follow this three-tiered system for forgiveness: If so-and-so falls into category 1, then they deserve your full forgiveness immediately. If so-and-so falls into category 2, then they still deserve forgiveness, but make them sweat it out a while. And if so-and-so falls into category 3, well, I'm sorry but forgiveness does not apply." Jesus calls on us to forgive always, in all circumstances. He calls us to forgive "seven times seventy." No boundaries. No loopholes.
The next time I grapple with my obligation to forgive someone, I need only remember that my sins, the hurt I have caused, are part of the suffering Jesus experienced on the cross, and the reason He died and rose again. Without the forgiveness Jesus gave us on the cross, we would be sentenced to eternal separation from God. If I can be forgiven for playing a part in killing God's only Son, then surely I can forgive one of His children for hurting me. And knowing that Jesus did all this so I could live fully in Him, surely I can also forgive myself. Amen?
It's not easy, but then...what was it Mom always said? Nothing worthwhile ever is.
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