I read Paul and I think, “Oh, crap.”  Does the Apostle Paul ever make you feel like that?  I love him because he doesn’t mince words; he tells it like it is with no concern for your feelings.  But, I feel anxious when reading him for all the same reasons!  Even Peter reassured people about reading Paul’s letters; they have always been frustrating and hard to swallow!

Even so, I have always found Paul’s epistles to be of much benefit to me spiritually.  It doesn’t matter how many times I read Romans, I will always stop every couple of verses with loads of thoughts to write down.  His theology just so layered.  The density of his letters, I think, accounts for why it’s so easy to overlook things.  Sometimes, something seemingly brand-new pops out of the text, when I know I’ve seen it hundreds of times before.  Such was the case the other day when I read this:

So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.
~1 Corinthians 4:1 (NIV)

The New American Standard refers to us as “stewards of the mysteries of God,” but I really liked the word picture that the NIV paints for us.  It seems so noble, so respected, so weighty.  It should be obvious to others that we are individuals whom God has trusted with the most important, secret things.  At least, that’s what Paul thinks.  I put a lot of stock in what Paul thinks, since Jesus chose him and everything.

So, when I read this, I was immediately convicted.  When I thought about what non-Christians probably think of me, here’s the list I came up with:

• Quiet
• A bit of a wet blanket
• Rule-follower
• Religious
• Hard-working
• Nice
• Sometimes, not so nice

Not all bad, but hardly a list that makes me think of an individual “entrusted with the secret things of God.”  Me?  Naw.  No way.

But Paul says, “Yes!”  Emphatically, yes!  It’s not about me or how smart I am.  Paul isn’t saying that I have earned some spiritual rank that makes me privy to inside information.  Paul is reminding me that my life should constantly point to Christ.  My consistent focus on eternal things should therefore make it obvious that I am controlled by a different operating system than unbelievers.  If it’s the real deal — if I am truly His servant — it should be unmistakable.  I’m different.

And for the record, I am beginning to think that some of these “secret things” or “mysteries” are things that become quite obvious to believers as we mature in the faith.  Things that stump the world, the “big questions of faith,” sometimes reveal themselves as small questions of little faith to those who get to know God and begin to see glimpses of eternity.  Not that I’ve got it all figured out by any means, but I have no trouble believing in a big God who is the final answer to all of our questions.  He has simply entrusted that knowledge to me.

And my job is to continually die to myself so that Christ can make Himself evident in my life.  We’re still working on that.

He must increase, but I must decrease.
~John 3:30

I cry every time.  You can usually see me half-singing, half-sniffing, half-choking on the words to these songs as I drive down the road, fanning my face to keep the tears at bay.  (Yes, I realize that was three halves, but what are you gonna do about it?)  It doesn’t matter that I’ve heard them both a million times, or that they’re old songs that have been on my iPod for a while.  These songs remind me of how our Redeemer works in unexpected ways through unexpected people, and I lose it each and every time I hear them.

What about you?  What songs make you cry?

November 28, 2009

I’m reading a new book, If God Were Real by John Avant.  It’s not deeply philosophical or theological, and it’s a pretty easy read.  I was actually slightly hesitant about it, because I think a lot of “Christian” books are a load of crap mass-marketed to pay for someone’s posh lifestyle… [But this book] was written by a pastor who has witnessed a deep sickness in the American church.  His premise is very obvious from his title — if God were real, or if we really believed he were real, our lives and our churches would be radically different.  It’s not that profound, really; it’s completely obvious.  But, he’s saying the types of things about the institution of Christianity that Jesus said about the Pharisees and priests.  They didn’t want to hear it then, and no one wants to hear it now.  He’s asking all the right questions — salvation-issue questions — but does it matter?  Will American “Christians” listen?  Will I listen?  What can I do to really be different?  What am I doing?  I want desperately to not waste my life.  I want to be a radical follower of Jesus.  But, what does that even look like in postmodern America?  I guess I’m currently on this quest to be a true follower.  Not a “good” Christian or an “upstanding” citizen, but a sold-out, I don’t care if I lose my job or home over it, eternal-perspective-seeing, desperately-loving follower of Jesus of Nazareth.  I mean, shouldn’t true believers be a little subversive?  Shouldn’t we be dangerous?  Peter and Paul were dangerous, and I don’t think their cultural setting is much different from ours.  We’re too comfortable.  The tragic thing is, the road to hell is a joyful, comfortable one.  My level of comfort is causing me to question my sincerity and my level of usefulness.  I want desperately to be useful.  I don’t want to live and die for a country, for a religious institution, for a way of life.  I want to live and die for the Creator, Savior, and Sustainer.  Anything less is a waste of my soul.  Oh, Father, teach me!

~Maranatha

You may remember that I recently reviewed a book that I didn’t want to read.  I still had mixed feelings about it in the end, but I concluded that it was quite well-written, albeit infuriating.  That book was chosen by my book club, as was the one I’m talking about today.  Because I questioned whether I should have spent the $14 on a book that may not bring me closer to Jesus, I decided to exercise my library card on City of Thieves, by David Benioff.  That was a good decision!

I will preface this (well, I guess I already prefaced it, but I’m gonna preface again) by stating that I am NOT a WW2 buff; I am only mildly interested.  In addition, I have very little curiosity about Russia, past or present.  The fact that this novel was set in Leningrad during the war should give you a slight inkling into my opinion of the book.  But, that inkling is not complete.

The book was explicit.  It was mostly just teenage boys talking, but it was as intrusive as if it had been detailing the degrading acts in real time.  Very vulgar terminology dropped into the dialog like little grenades, catching the reader (at least this reader) off-guard every time.  Perhaps this was meant to add credibility to the situation, as it was narrated by a then-17-year-old boy who was accompanied by a then-19-year-old soldier.  Perhaps boys talk like this.  Constantly.  As though they’re talking about the weather.  As though nothing is meant to be respected or kept private.  As though the language were acceptable enough for your grandmother.  But I was not entertained by it.

Those things aside, it was a decent story.  It was well-written, but I just wasn’t captivated.  It may be unfair of me to say these things, because I was distracted both by the vulgarity as well as by the fact that I was uninterested in the first place.  I did find the two main characters both hilarious and tragic, apart from everything else.  The horrors of starvation and isolation were evident, and there were some really heart-wrenching moments.

I can’t say it was a great book or a bad book.  What I can say is that it wasn’t for me.

Despite widespread protests by religious communities and human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan, unregistered religious activity is now banned under the restrictive new Religion Law which began in January 2009. In addition, minority religious communities have many barriers to gain legal status, Forum 18 News reports. “To register our many unregistered congregations we need to give the names and personal data of 200 members, which we will not do,”

Aleksandr Shumilin of the Baptist Union told Forum 18 earlier this month. In order to protect their congregations, leaders of evangelical churches have decided that registration is not an option.

Two mosques have been registered while Protestant churches and other religious minorities have not obtained legal status. Kyrgyzstan officials stated they will close churches in order to pacify Muslim majorities, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Christians in some villages face physical violence and eviction from ethnic Muslims.

Please Pray!

Pray that God will place a hedge of protection around believers in Kyrgyzstan as persecution increases. Pray that their testimonies would serve to draw many to Christ.

Pray for the government officials of Kyrgyzstan who are blinded to the truth. Ask the Lord to draw them near.

Source: Voice of the Martyrs’ Be-A-Voice Network

(I’m leaving out the obvious ones on purpose, because I don’t want to give the appearance of “ranking” those.)

Indoor Plumbing
I really can’t imagine having to go down to a river to “fetch” some water, and then having to heat it up in a bucket for washing.  You’d have fetch water for everything: you, your clothes, your dishes, your food…  No, thank you.  I always have liked the idea of prairie-living, but I would sincerely like to have a dishwasher, washing machine, and shower.  Thank You for Your providence in century-placement for this Angela.

Literacy
Reading and writing is not only central to our way of life, it’s become quite important in my spiritual life as well.  I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to learn basic literacy skills, so that I might function in society.  I’m also deeply grateful for the cultivation of a higher literacy, that I might learn deep things from deep people and know God more.  Literacy is something to be cherished.  Thank You for the marvelous gift of sharing ideas across centuries and continents.

Kitty Cats
I thank God for the silly joy my goofy feline brings me every day.  God is such a detailed Father, isn’t He?  He didn’t have to make puppies and kittens, but He did.  He knew what joy they would bring us.  He also knew that we wouldn’t know what we were missing if He just never made them.  But, He made them anyway.  And for as mouthy as my cat can be, I’m glad I have him.  Thank You for Your creative ways of showing love.

Deodorant
In my unique profession, I encounter many cultures and socio-economic situations.  I’ve learned to adapt, and my nose has learned to be less snobby when it comes to hygienic issues.  However, I am personally grateful for the use of deodorant in my life and in yours.  I think it makes us better friends.  Thank You for pleasing aromas.

Sunglasses
It’s scientifically proven that lighter-colored eyes are more sensitive to sunlight.*  I have blue eyes.  I squint a lot.  I loooove my sunglasses.  Thank You for protecting my eyeballs.

Glasses/Contacts, for That Matter
I have often considered what life would be like without modern luxuries, such as corrective lenses.  What implications would poor eyesight have had on my way of life or station in life 500 years ago?  Would it have affected my career options, provided I had options as a woman?  And I can’t imagine having never experienced the joys of perfectly seeing God’s earthly creation.  Thank You, for letting me see Your world as perfectly as possible in this life.

The Reformation
There are many practical ways that the Protestant Reformation has positively affected my life, not the least of which is having the Word of God in my language.  I get frustrated sometimes when the Church is split over silly things, but the issues surrounding the Reformation were not silly things.  I’m grateful for Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, and other leaders who were willing to risk their necks and their reputations to challenge what was wrong.  I’m grateful for different ideas, and for the opportunity to personally scrutinize them against the Word of God, without having to rely on someone else to tell me what to believe.  Thank You, for letting me know You through Your Word.

~THANK YOU, YESHUA~

*At least, I think I heard that once.

The water prevailed upon the earth one hundred and fifty days.  But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided.  (Gen. 7:24-8:1)

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. (Gen. 50:20)

David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph And Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand. (1 Sam. 23:14)

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Ps. 73:26)

For not from the east, nor from the west, Nor from the desert comes exaltation; But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another. (Ps. 75:6-8)

…this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. (Acts 22:23-24)

When they had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb.  But God raised Him from the dead; and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people. (Acts 13:29-31)

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:6-8)

For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong… (1 Cor. 1:26-27)

I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. (1 Cor. 3:6-7)

Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. (1 Cor. 6:13)

For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within. But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus; and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more. (2 Cor. 7:5-7)

For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.  (Gal. 3:18)

Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)… (Eph. 2:3-5)

For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. (Phil. 2:27)

For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. (1 Thess. 2:3-4)

I am thankful today for all of the “BUT GODs” in my life!!  (Thanks, Pastor, for the inspiration!)

Christian churches in Russia’s North Caucasus region (between the Caspian and Black Seas) are struggling amid the terror and trauma of the Islamic jihad and counterinsurgency, according to reports from Assist News Service (ANS). As the jihad intensifies, the future of the North Caucasus and its tenuous grip on religious freedom hang in the balance. The jihadists are foreign-backed Wahhabists who are linked to al-Qaeda, and many ofthem are foreigners. Fighting under the black flag of the “Caucasus Emirate,” they have escalated their attacks dramatically through the summer of 2009.

The remnant Russian Orthodox Church has ethnic ties and is closely associated with Moscow and the Russian army. The Protestants are mostly Baptist and Pentecostal. In some places, particularly in Chechnya, jihadists have totally eliminated the Christian presence. President Ramzan Kadyrov’s heavy hand in Chechnya has forced the terrorists to shift the focus of their jihad to neighboring Ingushetia.

Please Pray!

Experts project that if current trends continue, Russia will be majority Muslim by 2050 and Russia’s largely conscript army will be majority Muslim by 2015, according to ANS.

Pray that God will extend his mighty hand over the North Caucasus and thwart the plans of the jihadists to Islamize this province in Southern Russia.

Pray for the salvation of Muslims in Russia and elsewhere who are blinded to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pray also for the protection of believers in the North Caucasus. In the midst of the terror and turmoil, pray that they will be filled with peace and that their faith in Christ will not falter. Pray that they will sense God’s loving presence and not become dismayed.

Source: Voice of the Martyrs’ Be-A-Voice Network

I encourage you to carefully monitor the accumulation of saliva in your mouth today.  Look in the mirror and watch your mouth as you talk on the phone to friends or clients.  Take note of how long you speak before swallowing.  Inspect the corners of your mouth; monitor the areas around your lips and teeth.  Do you see little bubbles dancing back and forth as you enunciate?  Could someone literally reach out and touch your saliva, thus retrieving a dripping fingertip?

You might even consider doing randomized spit checks by suddenly looking down and opening your mouth to see if any liquid pours out.

I offer these suggestions as a gesture of genuine love.  It’s quite possible that your forgetfulness in spit-swallowing etiquette triggers a gag reflex in others.  If you are experiencing any level of difficulty or awkwardness in any relationship — business or personal — I encourage you to first check your body odor.  Then, check your spit.