When I was growing up in North Carolina I learned that I was pretty good in sports. This led me to play golf, basketball and football. I wanted to be best in basketball (that is THE sport in North Carolina). But I had a talent and giftedness in football. I soon learned, from a very good coach, that there was a process in football, if your desire was to become a good player. In order to excel you had to give up time ... time spent in practice paid off in games. You had to invest energy, because building muscle and skill meant expended energy, even in the hottest months of the year. You had to invest your mind in learning and repeating the plays so you could be in the right place at the right time. The coach told us to live, eat and breathe football during the season and in preparation for the season. Our work paid off ... we lost one game in our best year and left it all on the field. It felt good.
It occurs the me that there is a process expected by God. We learn it in the negative as we learn from the prophets. Hosea, a prophet in the Northern Kingdom, told the people of Israel that they invested their lives in the wrong things ... their time, energy, and minds were focused on things other than their God. They thought they had success and prosperity and they attributed this to the things that occupied their misguided lives. God was angry and called them 'prostitutes' selling out God's good things to gods, idols, practices, politics, empty rituals and false leaders.
We find out God has a process too. His process is to lead us, and the people of Hosea's time, back to him. In Hosea's prophecy it is clear that God's action here will be at great cost to the nation of Israel. Many will die. Many will be taken captive. They will be humbled and humiliated. God says that this is a consequence of their behavior and that their destruction is necessary to achieve their ultimate salvation.
This process is repeated as God, in the New Testament, models the destruction necessary for salvation by sending His Son to be destroyed so that ultimate victory can be won. It is a mysterious and humbling lesson. The question for us is ... are we willing to allow God destroy those things we have sold to the enemy so that self can be torn down to the basics. For it is there that God can do His work of salvation (by the way, the meaning of the name Hosea). Our lives will be a result of the process we choose. I am banking that God's way, though my way will be destroyed, will end me in the right place. What about you?
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Broken
I wonder ... at what time in history (of the Hebrews, of the Church, of our nation) do we really think we got it right? Biblically, there were few times that would resemble this standard. Some would say "the days of the Torah were 'the good old days.'" They surely haven't read the mistakes, the failures and the sins of God's chosen who failed their way to the promised land. The only way they had water to drink, fields to plow, pastures to tend and a place to live was God's provision and grace ... for God's glory. It wasn't the people of Micah's time who have God's judgement of their legal, political, religious and social systems judged and found wanting in the following passage ...
"With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.(Micah 8:6-8)."
It wasn't in Jesus' time as He condemned the leaders of His time for their religious, political, social and economic actions. It wasn't even in Paul's, Timothy's and John's time all of them passed on God's judgement and condemnation of the Church of that time. This week I read a disturbing article that seemed to be saying the Church of the last half of the 20th century somehow had it 'on the ball' and did great things to teach their children and their young adults (by the way, the children and young adults that raised current generations). As the 'messenger' to the Church at Good News (language from Revelation) I read Micah 8 and find the Church (present and past) wanting. People fear the word 'justice' as if it somehow isn't part of the Biblical lexicon of people called Christians. I find little mercy in the hearts of many Christians. And humility is looked down upon as weakness. But didn't Jesus model these traits? I believe we would do right to repent of our past failures to teach and model these traits. We should acknowledge that we are broken. I think we should ask God to teach us more about Micah's "great requirement." After all ... He has shown (in life, death and resurrection) what is good. Maybe we should listen. Pastor Randy
"With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.(Micah 8:6-8)."
It wasn't in Jesus' time as He condemned the leaders of His time for their religious, political, social and economic actions. It wasn't even in Paul's, Timothy's and John's time all of them passed on God's judgement and condemnation of the Church of that time. This week I read a disturbing article that seemed to be saying the Church of the last half of the 20th century somehow had it 'on the ball' and did great things to teach their children and their young adults (by the way, the children and young adults that raised current generations). As the 'messenger' to the Church at Good News (language from Revelation) I read Micah 8 and find the Church (present and past) wanting. People fear the word 'justice' as if it somehow isn't part of the Biblical lexicon of people called Christians. I find little mercy in the hearts of many Christians. And humility is looked down upon as weakness. But didn't Jesus model these traits? I believe we would do right to repent of our past failures to teach and model these traits. We should acknowledge that we are broken. I think we should ask God to teach us more about Micah's "great requirement." After all ... He has shown (in life, death and resurrection) what is good. Maybe we should listen. Pastor Randy
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Infinite
Isaiah (in Scripture) is having a difficult time describing God. I run into people every day who seem to have it all figured out, so if you are that person, please forgive some of what I am saying. Isaiah, who in the passage from last week saw the train of God's robe fill the temple, seemed to have a very solid connection to God. Yet, he always seemed to be at a loss to fully describe that God. On one hand God was so big and majestic that words do not do justice God's omniscience. On the other hand, Chapter 53 (this week's Scripture) shows a God who has become so small as to be common ... a servant and a despised/abused individual. Further, all of the abuse and the subject of being despised is because of our rebellion.
THAT is a mouthful and a mind-full. It describes a God that is infinitely big and infinitely small. That God is both omniscience (knowing everything infinitely) and transcendent (able to step outside of the omnipotent nature to enter our finite/broken situation). Michael Card wrote this lyrically in this way "He belonged to eternity, stranded in time" and called Jesus a "human baby bearing undiminished deity."
It is a paradox that has filled books, seminaries, classrooms, Sunday School discussions, sermons and is still far to big to be contained by what John said "all the books in the world." And it is mystery. Breathe it in ... grab onto God's love ... marvel at God's bigness ... reflect on the mystery and don't be arrogant enough to think that you have some special ability to understand it all. Let God be as big and as small as He desires!
Be His! Randy
THAT is a mouthful and a mind-full. It describes a God that is infinitely big and infinitely small. That God is both omniscience (knowing everything infinitely) and transcendent (able to step outside of the omnipotent nature to enter our finite/broken situation). Michael Card wrote this lyrically in this way "He belonged to eternity, stranded in time" and called Jesus a "human baby bearing undiminished deity."
It is a paradox that has filled books, seminaries, classrooms, Sunday School discussions, sermons and is still far to big to be contained by what John said "all the books in the world." And it is mystery. Breathe it in ... grab onto God's love ... marvel at God's bigness ... reflect on the mystery and don't be arrogant enough to think that you have some special ability to understand it all. Let God be as big and as small as He desires!
Be His! Randy
Monday, July 11, 2011
Too Easily Impressed
This afternoon Christopher and Benjamin will go see the new Transformer movie. I am sure that the special effects will be impressive. But as read from Isaiah 6 I am reminded that these artificial effects would pale in comparison to what a lonely prophet saw as God's robe filled the temple and Isaiah saw him "high and lifted up." The power and majesty here are really beyond our words to describe. Yet God does something amazing in the midst of this spectacular event. An angel comes down and touches Isaiah's lips with a hot coal in an act of forgiveness and cleansing. One man, one calling ... it seems that God is making a statement here.
Maybe God is saying one man can make a difference. Isaiah becomes the most prolific and most quoted prophet from that small fraternity of prophets. He confronts kings and self-impressed leaders. He predicts and pronounces great judgment. He tells of the birth, life and death of Jesus is accurate terms. He IS a difference- maker. The Good News is he is used by God.
Maybe God is saying that there is a message that must be told. That message is beyond any man and is about a God that will be revealed and will be known in spite of our apathy, idolatry, ruthlessness, self-focus and lack of understanding. God is certainly intent on getting His message out and will make sure it becomes known. Those who tell it and bring it to the people will be blessed with their service and persecuted if they do it honestly. The Good News is that he has a home in God's house.
And, maybe God is saying something about a process. In a world where we have been told to pray a prayer and we can get cheap grace from a powerful God, maybe God is telling us there is a process He has ordained for those who will follow Him. That process in Isaiah is to relate to God (God is big/holy/mighty ... I am totally undone in His presence), see ourselves clearly and repent (I am a sinner and I live with a community of sinners), allow God to touch us with His grace (Isaiah's lips are touched and He is made clean) and then 1) hear the need (who will go out with the message) and 2) respond (here I am Lord ... send me).
Read the story ... feel the power ... hear the call ... respond!
Maybe God is saying one man can make a difference. Isaiah becomes the most prolific and most quoted prophet from that small fraternity of prophets. He confronts kings and self-impressed leaders. He predicts and pronounces great judgment. He tells of the birth, life and death of Jesus is accurate terms. He IS a difference- maker. The Good News is he is used by God.
Maybe God is saying that there is a message that must be told. That message is beyond any man and is about a God that will be revealed and will be known in spite of our apathy, idolatry, ruthlessness, self-focus and lack of understanding. God is certainly intent on getting His message out and will make sure it becomes known. Those who tell it and bring it to the people will be blessed with their service and persecuted if they do it honestly. The Good News is that he has a home in God's house.
And, maybe God is saying something about a process. In a world where we have been told to pray a prayer and we can get cheap grace from a powerful God, maybe God is telling us there is a process He has ordained for those who will follow Him. That process in Isaiah is to relate to God (God is big/holy/mighty ... I am totally undone in His presence), see ourselves clearly and repent (I am a sinner and I live with a community of sinners), allow God to touch us with His grace (Isaiah's lips are touched and He is made clean) and then 1) hear the need (who will go out with the message) and 2) respond (here I am Lord ... send me).
Read the story ... feel the power ... hear the call ... respond!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Does God Speak?
Does God speak to us? You might get differing answers to that question according to who you ask. I will not speculate on answers from other people ... just my experience and the experience recorded in 1 Kings 19.
1 Kings 18 and 19 are important moments in the history of God's people. They involve a clear demonstration of God's (Yahweh's) power and a clear demonstration of the power of worldly gods. They show a people who clearly see God show His power yet they are still torn between pleasing their earthly king and pleasing the one true God. We even see the Lord's prophet (Elijah) feeling the loneliness and solitude of serving God. We reflect on how we sometimes feel when we are faithful to God and are, therefore, shunned by those we interact with daily. Elijah ... after seeing miracles right before his eyes ... asks ... "Where is the Lord's voice here?"
In 1 Kings 19 Elijah is hiding in a cave and he goes out to see a whirlwind, an earthquake and a fire pass in front of the cave. The Lord's voice isn't in any of these apparent examples of theophany (a physical appearance of God) because God sent them but is not 'in' them. But then the Lord speaks in a whisper giving the depressed Elijah instruction, a replacement (Elisha) and assurance that God always has a remnant (a group of people who do not bow to the gods of this world). I have heard that whisper. It doesn't come at my command but at God's direction. It leads, guides, gives strength, points out my many weaknesses and gives hope when my energy is spent. Sometimes I would not hear it if I wasn't listening for it. I've never heard it in a whirlwind, an earthquake or a fire. I have heard it in a whisper, spoken through other people, voiced by the words of my children and shouted from the pages of Scripture. Yes ... God speaks! The question then becomes, are you listening?
1 Kings 18 and 19 are important moments in the history of God's people. They involve a clear demonstration of God's (Yahweh's) power and a clear demonstration of the power of worldly gods. They show a people who clearly see God show His power yet they are still torn between pleasing their earthly king and pleasing the one true God. We even see the Lord's prophet (Elijah) feeling the loneliness and solitude of serving God. We reflect on how we sometimes feel when we are faithful to God and are, therefore, shunned by those we interact with daily. Elijah ... after seeing miracles right before his eyes ... asks ... "Where is the Lord's voice here?"
In 1 Kings 19 Elijah is hiding in a cave and he goes out to see a whirlwind, an earthquake and a fire pass in front of the cave. The Lord's voice isn't in any of these apparent examples of theophany (a physical appearance of God) because God sent them but is not 'in' them. But then the Lord speaks in a whisper giving the depressed Elijah instruction, a replacement (Elisha) and assurance that God always has a remnant (a group of people who do not bow to the gods of this world). I have heard that whisper. It doesn't come at my command but at God's direction. It leads, guides, gives strength, points out my many weaknesses and gives hope when my energy is spent. Sometimes I would not hear it if I wasn't listening for it. I've never heard it in a whirlwind, an earthquake or a fire. I have heard it in a whisper, spoken through other people, voiced by the words of my children and shouted from the pages of Scripture. Yes ... God speaks! The question then becomes, are you listening?
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