I'm not too proud to admit that my wife and I hoard our change. Well, perhaps hoard isn't a good term; we collect it, only to eventually cash it in. It's always amazing (a) how much actually collects over time and (b) how it comes in handy at the most opportune of times.
As I was at the local Coinstar the other day, I heard a strange "clink" as I was pouring my coins into the feeding tray. I felt around the slot below where the reject coins end up. Sure enough, there were a few strays there, so I fed them back into the top with the other coins. "Clink" once again. So as I pulled out the "round two" reject, I noticed something different in the feel of this coin. Instinctively, I glanced down to notice Washington's head where it belonged on this quarter, but the date caught my eye and caused a double take. No wonder it felt strange: it was minted back in the day when they actually used silver! My immediate thought was this: the machine rejects the more pure and is more willing to accept the more alloyed coins.
What an apt commentary on society today, I thought. How quick we are as a culture to embrace the things that are less pure as if they are somehow synonymous with "new and cutting edge" and hence more laudable. One author recently bemoaned how our culture has "lost the ability to blush." Things that were once held in modesty are now trumpeted; and sometimes the more perverse the better. From reality t.v. to our tabloid appetite for reading material, we keep accepting a greater and more "alloyed" product while rejecting the pure. The eventual end product will be an all out disdain for anything pure.
But perhaps the cure would be found in a resurgence of valuing what is pure. Whether it ties into our purchasing power, or simply our thought life, it's there for us to recapture. Scripture implores us:
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praise worthy-think about these things." (Phil. 4:8)
Sounds like pretty clear marching orders to fight the disdain for purity. If we were to occupy ourselves with what is pure and allow that which is not to languish, perhaps it would curb the disdain for purity and instead, reverse the trend. Are you game?
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Steve Jobs, The Life, and Sovereignty
Leaping to the front of the news pack, passing up Amanda Knox's joyous return and the epic choke of the Red Sox, was yesterday's story, and today's continuation, of the passing of Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, Inc. Much of the story line here in the Northwest has dealt with the speculation of what life would be like had Apple never gotten off the ground: no I-Pods, no I-Touch, no Mac, no I-Pad, no "anything" Apple. "Would we have made it?" one commentator postulated.
The larger question that must be asked, especially by those of us who profess to have been changed internally by the Holy Spirit's indwelling, is not one of how could we have existed without our "Shuffle" or "I-Tunes account" but "what was the condition of the soul of Steve Jobs?" He was one greatly loved by his Heavenly Father, as are all of us. His relationship with Jesus Christ is not something I can speak to, however, as (a) I did not know the man, and (b) the Lord alone knows the heart.
I have heard, however, excerpts from a commencement address given by Mr. Jobs at Stanford a few years back. In the address he offered what amounted to, in my estimation anyway, a glimpse into his world view. He said (and this is a lose paraphrase) that you cannot connect the dots of life looking forward, but only when looking backwards. Whether he knew it or not, this is a picture of sovereignty, to some degree. There is a grain of truth to what he was saying. Whether that thought stemmed from a world view that includes God, I cannot say. I found it interesting, nonetheless, that he was describing the workings of a sovereign God; a God for whom there is never an "oppps!"
Often, in our lives, the future does appear to us to be random dots that really seem to make little sense and seem fairly disjointed, until we look in the rear view mirror of our life and see how God took and created a sovereign pattern comprised of those same dots.
When commenting on this quote of Mr. Jobs', a local news commentator here in Seattle said, "Life just has a way of working out." To which I was ready to agree, if by "life" you mean "The Life"...the one mentioned in John 14:6, who said of himself "I am the way, the truth, and The Life..." Yes, The Life DOES have a way of working things out, of connecting the dots in life. And the greatest need anyone has, whether they create brand new operating systems that have never been considered, or exist in life, never finding themselves on the front page of the Times, is to live in subjection to "The Life." He alone is the one that connects the dots..that brings life together. It's called sovereignty.
The larger question that must be asked, especially by those of us who profess to have been changed internally by the Holy Spirit's indwelling, is not one of how could we have existed without our "Shuffle" or "I-Tunes account" but "what was the condition of the soul of Steve Jobs?" He was one greatly loved by his Heavenly Father, as are all of us. His relationship with Jesus Christ is not something I can speak to, however, as (a) I did not know the man, and (b) the Lord alone knows the heart.
I have heard, however, excerpts from a commencement address given by Mr. Jobs at Stanford a few years back. In the address he offered what amounted to, in my estimation anyway, a glimpse into his world view. He said (and this is a lose paraphrase) that you cannot connect the dots of life looking forward, but only when looking backwards. Whether he knew it or not, this is a picture of sovereignty, to some degree. There is a grain of truth to what he was saying. Whether that thought stemmed from a world view that includes God, I cannot say. I found it interesting, nonetheless, that he was describing the workings of a sovereign God; a God for whom there is never an "oppps!"
Often, in our lives, the future does appear to us to be random dots that really seem to make little sense and seem fairly disjointed, until we look in the rear view mirror of our life and see how God took and created a sovereign pattern comprised of those same dots.
When commenting on this quote of Mr. Jobs', a local news commentator here in Seattle said, "Life just has a way of working out." To which I was ready to agree, if by "life" you mean "The Life"...the one mentioned in John 14:6, who said of himself "I am the way, the truth, and The Life..." Yes, The Life DOES have a way of working things out, of connecting the dots in life. And the greatest need anyone has, whether they create brand new operating systems that have never been considered, or exist in life, never finding themselves on the front page of the Times, is to live in subjection to "The Life." He alone is the one that connects the dots..that brings life together. It's called sovereignty.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
A Step Backwards
I guess deep down most of knew that this day would come at some point; a day when our cultural accommodation comes to full bloom as a denomination. Rather than stand for very clear, unambiguous orthodoxy, we've bowed our knee to the altar of a "progressive" theology. I think it must grieve an immutable God.
With a vote in favor of dropping the previously approved ordination standards from the Presbyterian Book of Order by the Twin Cities Presbytery, now 87 presbyteries, a simple majority, has approved this reduction in criteria for what it means to be in leadership in our church. Now the determination of who should and who should not lead will reside with each ordinating body. This in my mind is a schematic for incongruity. But then again, the whole issue is, really.
However, I can cling to the fact that the church ultimately is the Lord's regardless of how efficient we think we've been in wrestling control from him. Sure, for a season we might think we're winning, but in the end we might be in for a surprise if this is our take on who really owns the church! My hunch is that he will guard his Bride fiercely. I am grieved, however, that we've once again played the harlot. So perhaps, given the context, the words from Hosea ought to be heeded: "Come, let us return to the Lord." (Hosea 6:1)
With a vote in favor of dropping the previously approved ordination standards from the Presbyterian Book of Order by the Twin Cities Presbytery, now 87 presbyteries, a simple majority, has approved this reduction in criteria for what it means to be in leadership in our church. Now the determination of who should and who should not lead will reside with each ordinating body. This in my mind is a schematic for incongruity. But then again, the whole issue is, really.
However, I can cling to the fact that the church ultimately is the Lord's regardless of how efficient we think we've been in wrestling control from him. Sure, for a season we might think we're winning, but in the end we might be in for a surprise if this is our take on who really owns the church! My hunch is that he will guard his Bride fiercely. I am grieved, however, that we've once again played the harlot. So perhaps, given the context, the words from Hosea ought to be heeded: "Come, let us return to the Lord." (Hosea 6:1)
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Things That Go Beep in the Night
I'm generally a pretty good sleeper. I'm not quite as good as my youngest who claims that sleeping is actually her profession! However, when there are sounds that aren't part of the usual flow of the evening, or early morning, that's when I find myself awakened. Like last night. What is it with smoke detectors only doing their "battery low" chirp in the night? You don't ever hear them at noon, or at the dinner hour. Only between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. does it seem that they realize their power is fading and that they had better alert someone to their need for a new Energizer or Ray O' Vac. Now I know that this is actually a good thing. In spite of the ensuing grogginess for the lack of sleep from 2 am on, I realize that this fail safe is designed to not allow undue procrastination which might result in loss of life. It's a warning; a warning that you might be in danger of a larger catastrophe if not attended to. Sometimes the warnings come in larger measure. This past weekend a Boeing 737 suffered a tear in the fuselage above the passengers while cruising somewhere near 35,000 feet. The tear was around five feet in length. Fortunately, the flight landed in Yuma, Arizona without further incident. It was a warning. A warning that there was significant fatigue in the body structure of this airplane. As more planes are inspected, due to this warning, further fatigue is being noticed and hopefully, tragedy averted. Scripture, especially in the prophetic writings, are filled with warnings as well. Some are heeded, some are ignored. Generally, when ignored, tragedy strikes. Jesus himself spoke with warnings. Matthew's gospel records the Seven Woes, all beginning with the phrase (in the NIV) "Woe to you" which in a way is saying, "I'm warning you." Largely, it is a warning against hypocrisy. On the heels of that set of warnings, he begins to talk of end times; again, a warning of sorts to be ready. I don't think any believer can watch the drama unfolding in the Middle East right now and not think that in a way, it's a warning. Scripture is clear that what happens in that region of the world is central to any eschatology. And while I'm not a proponent of taking every event that unfolds and trying to attach it to a time line of certainty, I am convinced of the centrality of that area to the unfolding of God's ultimate plan for the consummation of his church. As Billy Graham once said when asked about a date for the second coming, "We're closer today than we were yesterday." That about sums up my level of comfort with nailing down a time and date. To watch the events unfold in that geographically small but eschatolocially huge area and NOT think that these are at least "birth pangs" is to scripturally have our heads in the sand. It's a warning, I believe. And in that sense, Jesus' words ring clear: "Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." (Matthew 25:13 NIV)
Thursday, February 24, 2011
What Money Will Make Us Do
I'm sure many heard of the snafu at the Super Bowl this year as regards the seating of certain fans. Evidently there was a section of seats that were constructed at the last minute in order to hold what they knew would be a record setting attendance due to the popularity of the two competitors; namely Pittsburgh and Green Bay. One slight oversight, however; the seats were not assembled in enough time to allow them to be properly inspected and deemed worthy. Therefore, those that were to be seated in those areas were treated to viewing the game on a big screen outside the stadium. Needless to say, this was a less than adequate compromise in the eyes of those fans.
So when the dust settled and Green Bay took the Lombardi trophy back to its new home in Green Bay, some of those displaced fans made a bee line to their local attorney to file suit. Now, one would expect them to somehow be compensated for this obvious oversight on the part of the stadium crew. And herein lies the blatant greed (my opinion). They were given tickets for next year's game, they were reimbursed for their transportation costs to this year's ill fated game, they were compensated for their hotel expenses for this year, and they were paid, in some cases, three times the face value of their tickets. Some of those tickets were valued at $900. So, what will money, or the quest for it, make us do? When someone is out nothing for travel, nothing for a hotel stay, is given a free ticket to the most coveted NFL game of the year, AND in some cases handed $2700, the quest for greenbacks will cause us to say "no" to generosity in favor of greed. Unbelievable.
But unfortunately, that's not the only thing we'll do. We'll also redefine marriage.
Yesterday's news carried the report that our present presidential administration will no longer take the side of traditional marriage being between a man and a woman. And what is one of the flash points for this decision? I quote the Wall Street Journal from Thursday, February 24, 2011:
"One of the cases that prompted the shift was filed by Edith Windsor, who sued after the federal government refused to recognize her 2007 marriage to her partner Thea Spyer. After Ms. Spyer's death, Ms. Windsor faced a $350,000 estate tax on her inheritance from her partner, a tax she wouldn't have incurred had her marriage been recognized by the federal government."
So, on account of money, we're willing to take what is clearly lined out in God's Word and decide that it's no longer applicable, as long as money's involved! In spite of the government arguing for the defense of marriage just weeks earlier, a major shift takes place largely due to money. And realistically, there is a connection here between the two cases; the Super Bowl greed and the Defense of Marriage "re-define." Greed says "God can't do enough, I've got to help him out." The re-defining of God's Word says "God doesn't understand this culture, I've got to help him out." Either way, it smacks of an arrogance that is really at the root of all sin.
So when the dust settled and Green Bay took the Lombardi trophy back to its new home in Green Bay, some of those displaced fans made a bee line to their local attorney to file suit. Now, one would expect them to somehow be compensated for this obvious oversight on the part of the stadium crew. And herein lies the blatant greed (my opinion). They were given tickets for next year's game, they were reimbursed for their transportation costs to this year's ill fated game, they were compensated for their hotel expenses for this year, and they were paid, in some cases, three times the face value of their tickets. Some of those tickets were valued at $900. So, what will money, or the quest for it, make us do? When someone is out nothing for travel, nothing for a hotel stay, is given a free ticket to the most coveted NFL game of the year, AND in some cases handed $2700, the quest for greenbacks will cause us to say "no" to generosity in favor of greed. Unbelievable.
But unfortunately, that's not the only thing we'll do. We'll also redefine marriage.
Yesterday's news carried the report that our present presidential administration will no longer take the side of traditional marriage being between a man and a woman. And what is one of the flash points for this decision? I quote the Wall Street Journal from Thursday, February 24, 2011:
"One of the cases that prompted the shift was filed by Edith Windsor, who sued after the federal government refused to recognize her 2007 marriage to her partner Thea Spyer. After Ms. Spyer's death, Ms. Windsor faced a $350,000 estate tax on her inheritance from her partner, a tax she wouldn't have incurred had her marriage been recognized by the federal government."
So, on account of money, we're willing to take what is clearly lined out in God's Word and decide that it's no longer applicable, as long as money's involved! In spite of the government arguing for the defense of marriage just weeks earlier, a major shift takes place largely due to money. And realistically, there is a connection here between the two cases; the Super Bowl greed and the Defense of Marriage "re-define." Greed says "God can't do enough, I've got to help him out." The re-defining of God's Word says "God doesn't understand this culture, I've got to help him out." Either way, it smacks of an arrogance that is really at the root of all sin.
Monday, February 7, 2011
A Quick Pit Stop
I am about to show my ignorance when it comes to auto racing. I know absolutely nothing. I barely can tell you the difference between NASCAR and Hot Wheels. But I do know, from time to time, drivers must take a pit stop.
And, I've even seen, at times, drivers pull into the pit just slow enough to grab a cup of water, or Gatorade, or whatever might be in the cups, from some kind of fancy cup holder at the end of a telescopic pole, and then speed right back onto the track. My understanding is that the temperature inside those cars while wearing the kind of fireproof suits they have to wear brings about quite a thirst. If they aren't properly hydrated, they run the risk of passing out; never a good idea while driving a piece of machinery that fast!
I took a pit stop last week. I had the opportunity to attend the Desiring God for Pastors conference in Minneapolis. It was a three day conference focused solely on prayer. It featured some great speakers, great times of worship, and, for me personally, a great pit stop.
If you're like me, life tends to move, at times, at breakneck speed. And, like the race car drivers, some of that moving is around and around to the point of near dizziness. And, especially in the ministry where we are giving out so much of the time, it is easy to become spiritually dehydrated. But that condition is not something that only affects pastors. It can happen to anyone who is in a position of giving out; parents, students, spouses, employees, you name it. So let me ask you a somewhat pointed question; "Are you in need of a pit stop?"
I think the most logical analogy to the pit stop is that daily time with God. Are you setting aside time to be refreshed? Maybe, with your particular schedule, you aren't able to pull off the track for very long (to press the analogy) but only are able to slow enough to grab the cup of Gatorade off the pole. Or, maybe your time does allow for longer stops; to actually fuel up, even change the oil perhaps.
I have found that the most helpful tool in enabling that kind of time to occur is to budget for it. For me, it begins the night before with getting to bed at a reasonable time. My most productive time is early morning. It might not be the same for you. But the one need that is universal is to come and drink from the source of Living Water; Jesus. One of the speakers at this conference said the following: When we take hold of God, He takes hold of us. Are you overdue? Why not put on your blinker, slow down, and pull in!
And, I've even seen, at times, drivers pull into the pit just slow enough to grab a cup of water, or Gatorade, or whatever might be in the cups, from some kind of fancy cup holder at the end of a telescopic pole, and then speed right back onto the track. My understanding is that the temperature inside those cars while wearing the kind of fireproof suits they have to wear brings about quite a thirst. If they aren't properly hydrated, they run the risk of passing out; never a good idea while driving a piece of machinery that fast!
I took a pit stop last week. I had the opportunity to attend the Desiring God for Pastors conference in Minneapolis. It was a three day conference focused solely on prayer. It featured some great speakers, great times of worship, and, for me personally, a great pit stop.
If you're like me, life tends to move, at times, at breakneck speed. And, like the race car drivers, some of that moving is around and around to the point of near dizziness. And, especially in the ministry where we are giving out so much of the time, it is easy to become spiritually dehydrated. But that condition is not something that only affects pastors. It can happen to anyone who is in a position of giving out; parents, students, spouses, employees, you name it. So let me ask you a somewhat pointed question; "Are you in need of a pit stop?"
I think the most logical analogy to the pit stop is that daily time with God. Are you setting aside time to be refreshed? Maybe, with your particular schedule, you aren't able to pull off the track for very long (to press the analogy) but only are able to slow enough to grab the cup of Gatorade off the pole. Or, maybe your time does allow for longer stops; to actually fuel up, even change the oil perhaps.
I have found that the most helpful tool in enabling that kind of time to occur is to budget for it. For me, it begins the night before with getting to bed at a reasonable time. My most productive time is early morning. It might not be the same for you. But the one need that is universal is to come and drink from the source of Living Water; Jesus. One of the speakers at this conference said the following: When we take hold of God, He takes hold of us. Are you overdue? Why not put on your blinker, slow down, and pull in!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Holding Out Hope
I looked longingly out my window just the other day toward our deck. As I watched the rain melt the snow off the cover of the barbecue, the thought occurred to me "I sure enjoyed this place during the summer!" It actually birthed a little hope in me, in spite of watching the multiple forms of precipitation that only Seattle suburbs get to enjoy! "At some point", I assured my fainting, if not soaked, spirit, "at some point, the sun will shine again and this rain will be a distant memory." Highly optimistic words for January!
As I sat there feeling sorry for the gray skies and persistent rain I had to endure, I thought of those for whom the clouds of depression or doubt or illness seem a long way from lifting. I know there are those that look out their windows never being able to escape the haunting realization of a terminal disease. Some peer outside only to have the rain remind them of the continuing void of loss due to recent death, either physical, or relational, or both.
It would be too cavalier to simply say "Hey, the sun will shine again for you!" I don't know what they're going through, I don't know how deep their depression might be, so I can't say that. I can, however, point to the one who loves them and cares deeply for them, even in the midst of the clouds and rain. Psalm 42:5 reads, "My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan..." And then, further on in the same psalm, verse 11 reads "Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." I think the key word in that whole verse is "yet." To me, it echos with a thought which says "Regardless of what I feel like, regardless of my circumstance, I WILL praise him." It is a matter of the will. It is a decisive move.
But what to praise Him for? How about the final part of verse 11: "...my Savior and my God." Can you muster the strength today to praise him for your salvation? After all, what other means could we have employed to accomplish that? The easy answer is "none." So we can at least, in the midst of rain, clouds, gloom, or whatever, praise Him for doing what he alone could do: save us! "Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
As I sat there feeling sorry for the gray skies and persistent rain I had to endure, I thought of those for whom the clouds of depression or doubt or illness seem a long way from lifting. I know there are those that look out their windows never being able to escape the haunting realization of a terminal disease. Some peer outside only to have the rain remind them of the continuing void of loss due to recent death, either physical, or relational, or both.
It would be too cavalier to simply say "Hey, the sun will shine again for you!" I don't know what they're going through, I don't know how deep their depression might be, so I can't say that. I can, however, point to the one who loves them and cares deeply for them, even in the midst of the clouds and rain. Psalm 42:5 reads, "My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan..." And then, further on in the same psalm, verse 11 reads "Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." I think the key word in that whole verse is "yet." To me, it echos with a thought which says "Regardless of what I feel like, regardless of my circumstance, I WILL praise him." It is a matter of the will. It is a decisive move.
But what to praise Him for? How about the final part of verse 11: "...my Savior and my God." Can you muster the strength today to praise him for your salvation? After all, what other means could we have employed to accomplish that? The easy answer is "none." So we can at least, in the midst of rain, clouds, gloom, or whatever, praise Him for doing what he alone could do: save us! "Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
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