Loneliness comes over us sometimes as a sudden tide. It is one of the terms of our humanness, and, in a sense, therefore, incurable. Yet I have found peace in my loneliest times not only through acceptance of the situation, but through making it an offering to God, who can transfigure it into something for the good of others.
Elisabeth Elliot
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
How should I think about Islam?
Brother Daniel is a former Muslim, now a missionary in an undisclosed Islamic country. He conducts outreach efforts to Islamic leaders and pastoral training for new converts. My sister shared this sermon with me, after hearing Daniel speak to a missions conference in Kentucky (Fall 2009).
"From the time that there was no Time, there was God. He created man in his own image. All the offspring of Adam became sinners. Now it is God, who is sinless, took the form of a human being in order to restore us to his image. The Bible said that there is no mediator between God and man, only Christ Jesus. The Bible tells us that Christ was before all things. All that has been created is through Christ Jesus. All that you are doing is sharing the Light and bringing people to the Kingdom of God. It is not an assignment. It is not something you should even be worried about. It is telling people about Christ…he came to pay the penalty for sin. God is a just God and he must punish sin.
Islam does not know that Jesus Christ is God. That Jesus Christ came to save. Christ said, “The evil one comes only to kill and destroy…I came that you may have life.”
We have the words of Hope, but we are keeping them to ourselves!!!"
Thursday, September 16, 2010
In His Words (a coversation with my boss)
Cate, your generation has been sold the bill of good about tolerance. "Tolerance is the highest ideal, the best way to live in peace, the American way." Is it? What about what Christ said, that we're all evil? Jesus Christ didn't preach a mantra of tolerance. But he did out talk about, and live, love. Our mistake is equating the two. Tolerance is NOT love. Love is sacrificial; love fights against anything that will harm the beloved; love is active, sometimes results in intervention, and comes personal cost.
Our country was founded on the very Christian idea that liberty is only possible when men are virtuous, as opposed to carnal, licentious, and indolent. Good and evil are realities, and virtue is virtue only when it moves from theory to practice. In my eyes, defending the freedoms enjoyed by American citizens, regardless of gender or race, is a virtue. And by "defending," I mean actively ensuring that no one abridges or abolishes these freedoms.
When Frank Gaffney investigates and reports that 80 percent of the mosques built in the U.S. are built with money from Saudi Arabia (Wahabbi Islam), as an American, I am concerned. Shari'a law is a revered cornerstone of their religion, and is incompatible with the rule of law here in the United States. When I ask for further information about what these mosques are teaching, or how they are being funded, I am not asking a bigoted question - I'm asking a national security question. I'm not adverse to the teachings of Muhammad because I hate Muslims, but rather because I love the liberty found in Christ and I want ALL men to experience it.
In Matthew 5:43, Jesus commanded us to emulate his example: "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor & hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies & pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."
On 9-11, what I was feeling was exactly hate. Throughout the hours and days that followed, I was praying, "Lord, take this hate away from me! Give me clear thinking, let me step up and do what needs to be done to defend this country- but let me not hate!
Several years went by, and I came to work here at Smyrna Ministries. Day after day, I read incidents of persecution, Muslims killing Christians, and I thought, "Is this going to lead me back to hate?"
I wrestled with this, but then I realized that these Christians dying at the hands of their tormentors are free, and it is the Muslims who are enslaved in bondage.
When Jesus condemned sin and commanded love, he was only echoing what his Father in heaven had said centuries earlier: "Do not go about spreading slander among your people, and do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. Do not hate your brother in your heart...and do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself, for I AM the LORD" (Leviticus 19:16-18).
When it comes to love and tolerance, the world is competing for your loyalty. It wants you to sell out to their definition, and enter an ethical arena where everything is gray, and virtue can claim no superiority to vice. Hold fast to what Christ taught, and remember: Tolerance is over-rated. Love is not.
Our country was founded on the very Christian idea that liberty is only possible when men are virtuous, as opposed to carnal, licentious, and indolent. Good and evil are realities, and virtue is virtue only when it moves from theory to practice. In my eyes, defending the freedoms enjoyed by American citizens, regardless of gender or race, is a virtue. And by "defending," I mean actively ensuring that no one abridges or abolishes these freedoms.
When Frank Gaffney investigates and reports that 80 percent of the mosques built in the U.S. are built with money from Saudi Arabia (Wahabbi Islam), as an American, I am concerned. Shari'a law is a revered cornerstone of their religion, and is incompatible with the rule of law here in the United States. When I ask for further information about what these mosques are teaching, or how they are being funded, I am not asking a bigoted question - I'm asking a national security question. I'm not adverse to the teachings of Muhammad because I hate Muslims, but rather because I love the liberty found in Christ and I want ALL men to experience it.
In Matthew 5:43, Jesus commanded us to emulate his example: "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor & hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies & pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."
On 9-11, what I was feeling was exactly hate. Throughout the hours and days that followed, I was praying, "Lord, take this hate away from me! Give me clear thinking, let me step up and do what needs to be done to defend this country- but let me not hate!
Several years went by, and I came to work here at Smyrna Ministries. Day after day, I read incidents of persecution, Muslims killing Christians, and I thought, "Is this going to lead me back to hate?"
I wrestled with this, but then I realized that these Christians dying at the hands of their tormentors are free, and it is the Muslims who are enslaved in bondage.
When Jesus condemned sin and commanded love, he was only echoing what his Father in heaven had said centuries earlier: "Do not go about spreading slander among your people, and do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. Do not hate your brother in your heart...and do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself, for I AM the LORD" (Leviticus 19:16-18).
When it comes to love and tolerance, the world is competing for your loyalty. It wants you to sell out to their definition, and enter an ethical arena where everything is gray, and virtue can claim no superiority to vice. Hold fast to what Christ taught, and remember: Tolerance is over-rated. Love is not.
Monday, November 16, 2009
2 Kings 5 - RICH TOWARD GOD
Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, "Now I KNOW that there is no God in ALL THE WORLD except in Israel. Please accept now a gift from your servant."
But the prophet answered, "As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing." And even though Naaman urged him, Elisha refused.
Elisha blatantly served God. No taint of personal gain clung to his obedience. Naaman couldn't pay for his healing. The God of Israel really was different than the other gods, & so were his followers.
Enter Elisha's servant, the ever-practical Gehazi. He's Elisha's servant. Doubtless, he went hungry along with Elisha. He knew what welcome relief Naaman's gift of silver would bring to their state of near-poverty.
Taking the "What he doesn't know won't hurt" approach, Gehazi sprints after Naaman's chariot, and asks for the silver. Embarrassed to ask it directly for himself or his master, Gehazi invents two needy young men, convincing Naaman that his silver will help out the friends of the prophet who just healed him.
Gehazi does all this in secret, and thinks he can lie to Elisah. Talk about compartmentalizing the power of God! Gehazi just SAW a man with leprosy healed by muddy river water. Yet instead of processing the miracle as an example of God's omnipotent & immanent involvement in human life, Gehazi is focused on how it will serve his personal needs. He lies to Elisha.
"Where have you been, Gehazi?" Elisha asked.
"Your servant didn't go anywhere," Gehazi answered.
But Elisha said to him, "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? 27 Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous, as white as snow.
There is something reprehensible about churches that make a profit off of their members, pastors who bleed their sheep, and Christians who see God not as Jehovah Provider, but as a the means to a well-fed life.
In Luke 12:21, Jesus minces no words. Those who store up treasure for themselves on earth will die & turn to dust. "This is what will happen to anyone who is NOT RICH TOWARD GOD."
Elisha rejoiced that Naaman found the one true God.
Gehazi rejoiced that Naaman was free-thinking with his silver.
Pesonal Application:
"Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants?"
The days are short, and Christians MUST love with actions, not just words. I don't EVER want to place my needs above the work of God. Especially because he already knows my needs and will provide. I don't want to run after chariots & make up sob stories to get a free lunch. It is NOT the time to take money, or accept payment for sharing the Gospel. It is time for the workers of the harvest to WORK!
But the prophet answered, "As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing." And even though Naaman urged him, Elisha refused.
Elisha blatantly served God. No taint of personal gain clung to his obedience. Naaman couldn't pay for his healing. The God of Israel really was different than the other gods, & so were his followers.
Enter Elisha's servant, the ever-practical Gehazi. He's Elisha's servant. Doubtless, he went hungry along with Elisha. He knew what welcome relief Naaman's gift of silver would bring to their state of near-poverty.
Taking the "What he doesn't know won't hurt" approach, Gehazi sprints after Naaman's chariot, and asks for the silver. Embarrassed to ask it directly for himself or his master, Gehazi invents two needy young men, convincing Naaman that his silver will help out the friends of the prophet who just healed him.
Gehazi does all this in secret, and thinks he can lie to Elisah. Talk about compartmentalizing the power of God! Gehazi just SAW a man with leprosy healed by muddy river water. Yet instead of processing the miracle as an example of God's omnipotent & immanent involvement in human life, Gehazi is focused on how it will serve his personal needs. He lies to Elisha.
"Where have you been, Gehazi?" Elisha asked.
"Your servant didn't go anywhere," Gehazi answered.
But Elisha said to him, "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? 27 Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous, as white as snow.
There is something reprehensible about churches that make a profit off of their members, pastors who bleed their sheep, and Christians who see God not as Jehovah Provider, but as a the means to a well-fed life.
In Luke 12:21, Jesus minces no words. Those who store up treasure for themselves on earth will die & turn to dust. "This is what will happen to anyone who is NOT RICH TOWARD GOD."
Elisha rejoiced that Naaman found the one true God.
Gehazi rejoiced that Naaman was free-thinking with his silver.
Pesonal Application:
"Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants?"
The days are short, and Christians MUST love with actions, not just words. I don't EVER want to place my needs above the work of God. Especially because he already knows my needs and will provide. I don't want to run after chariots & make up sob stories to get a free lunch. It is NOT the time to take money, or accept payment for sharing the Gospel. It is time for the workers of the harvest to WORK!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Praise Log
May 7 - praise God for late night runs, rain and sun, and HIS WORD. I am cut to the heart, adopted by God, done with sin, activated by love, eyes on Christ, past is dead, headed home, perplexed, persecuted, scorned and scorning, but saved saved saved saved saved by a God-man who imputed 33 years of his perfectly righteous life to me. covered, cleansed, concious of salvation and resolved in worship. He is KING, kneel and bring offerings. Sit with me, eat with me at the table of the underserving friends.
Prayer Log
Psalm 34:10 "The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing."
Prayer week of 10/19/2009 - for fellowship & meat.
Response 10/25/2009 - God provided fellowship AND more meat than I could eat. RAWR.
so glad i'm not a young lion...
Prayer week of 10/19/2009 - for fellowship & meat.
Response 10/25/2009 - God provided fellowship AND more meat than I could eat. RAWR.
so glad i'm not a young lion...
WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE???? LIVING ONES!
March 31 - a reminder from 2 Peter 3
I can't get over how STUPID humans are to stray from God. I've been perusing Jeremiah again, but today he (and me) needed a break...the Israelites are still breaking his heart. So i read in 2 Peter chapter three. The ESV is different than the NIV, and at the beginning he says he is trying to stir up our "sincere minds" by reminding us of all the good stuff God has done through Christ. Here's the meat part for today:
"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved,what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.(yay! we have a goal to wait for!)
Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace."
I can't get over how STUPID humans are to stray from God. I've been perusing Jeremiah again, but today he (and me) needed a break...the Israelites are still breaking his heart. So i read in 2 Peter chapter three. The ESV is different than the NIV, and at the beginning he says he is trying to stir up our "sincere minds" by reminding us of all the good stuff God has done through Christ. Here's the meat part for today:
"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved,what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.(yay! we have a goal to wait for!)
Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace."
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