The alarm screams for your attention. You hit the snooze. Once. Twice. Even three times. But eventually, your eyes open and your bodies rises in defeat yet once again. Your day begins. And before you know it, you’re assaulted with words. They fight to get to the front of the line like kids in gym class. They come from every which direction. T.V. Radio. Facebook. Texts on your Droid or Iphone. Maybe it’s the kids in the room down the hallway or the noisy neighbors upstairs. Whatever the case, it has begun and your first words will affect you for the rest of the day. So who wins the war of the words?
Jesus is The Word. He is the first Word. He is God’s word to us, spoken in flesh and blood. A word with bones. A crucified and suffering word. A triumphant resurrected word. A priestly word. An interceding word. An incarnate word. An eternal word. The perfect and holy word. Of all the words, Jesus is the most important word. He is the preeminent word. He is before all other words.
Which word(s) win the morning battle? Which words stick? Which word(s) shape your heart and prepare you to understand and to respond to all of the other words that will come your way today? Which word will define all of the other words? Which word(s) do you say no to? Which word(s) will you say yes to?
John 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Thoughts on Sex and the Glory of God.
Thoughts on Sex & The Glory of God.
Last night at the Forum, somebody asked about sex in heaven. Will there be sex in heaven? If not, why not? The question lead to a conversation about the nature of heaven, God’s glory, and the purpose of all pleasures. Here is summation of what was shared.
• Marriage is a signpost that points us forward. Ultimately, it tells the story of the covenantal love between Jesus and His Church. Marriage on earth is a foretaste of the relationship we will enjoy with Jesus forever in heaven. Because it points forward to a greater reality, once that reality has come, the signpost is no longer needed. In fact, the signpost is inferior to the reality much like the sign directing you to the beach is inferior to the beach itself.
• Sex is the climax of pleasure. We experience this pleasure emotionally, physically, chemically, biologically, relationally, and personally. And yet this pleasure is simply a hors’ devours of the pleasure of enjoying God in His glory. That doesn’t make sex less. In fact it elevates it. But, we must not fall in love with the sign that is intended to wet our appetites for the even greater pleasure of communion with God in heaven.
• The material world matters. Often, Christians speak against materialism. But God, in at least one sense is very materialistic. He spoke the cosmos, (material) into existence. When He wanted to make himself know to people, He chose a physical world, a physical garden, and gave humans, the unique bearer’s of His image, physical bodies. When He came to rescue His people, He Himself came in a physical body. Heaven is not the escape from the physical world. Rather, heaven is the resurrection of the physical world, which is currently broken and groaning.
The Glory of God and Heaven make everything matter...
Last night at the Forum, somebody asked about sex in heaven. Will there be sex in heaven? If not, why not? The question lead to a conversation about the nature of heaven, God’s glory, and the purpose of all pleasures. Here is summation of what was shared.
• Marriage is a signpost that points us forward. Ultimately, it tells the story of the covenantal love between Jesus and His Church. Marriage on earth is a foretaste of the relationship we will enjoy with Jesus forever in heaven. Because it points forward to a greater reality, once that reality has come, the signpost is no longer needed. In fact, the signpost is inferior to the reality much like the sign directing you to the beach is inferior to the beach itself.
• Sex is the climax of pleasure. We experience this pleasure emotionally, physically, chemically, biologically, relationally, and personally. And yet this pleasure is simply a hors’ devours of the pleasure of enjoying God in His glory. That doesn’t make sex less. In fact it elevates it. But, we must not fall in love with the sign that is intended to wet our appetites for the even greater pleasure of communion with God in heaven.
• The material world matters. Often, Christians speak against materialism. But God, in at least one sense is very materialistic. He spoke the cosmos, (material) into existence. When He wanted to make himself know to people, He chose a physical world, a physical garden, and gave humans, the unique bearer’s of His image, physical bodies. When He came to rescue His people, He Himself came in a physical body. Heaven is not the escape from the physical world. Rather, heaven is the resurrection of the physical world, which is currently broken and groaning.
The Glory of God and Heaven make everything matter...
Monday, July 12, 2010
A night with the Seattle Sounders.
Last night, I was blessed with a pair of tickets to the Sounders game. They were the all inclusive tickets which meant that my wife and I got a break from the kids, and enjoyed an evening full of hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels, nachos, and other stuff that’s not good to eat on a regular basis. We had a great time, and got to learn some stuff along the way.
Imagine yourself standing amongst a large group of people. They have assembled on a Sunday evening for a great celebration. In unison, they stand and begin to sing songs together. They sing at the top of their lungs, sustaining a volume that will leave them hoarse by the end of the night. They stand together. They put their hands in the air and wave them. They stand in lines to receive a little something to eat and drink. They embrace one another. For a moment, people who had never before met, enjoy a few moments together as though they were long time friends.
Now, where are you? Where does this scene happen? Or perhaps its better to ask what is happening in the moment I just described. The scene I painted came from the Sounder’s game I attended last night. But it could have just as easily been a description of a Church service. Both are places where people gather. Both are times where people stand together to sing and lift their hands. Both are places where strangers become family. Both have people standing in lines to receive something. That’s because both are places where people gather for the purpose of worship.
People who are not yet Christians see Christian worship as odd. But the reality is that all people gather to worship. We all sing to our hero’s. We all stand to honor those we love and admire. In fact, we all want to wear somebody else’s Jersey. (Isaiah 61:10, Zechariah 3:1-4) We all identify ourselves with the success or failures of another person. Everybody worships.
To be continued…
Imagine yourself standing amongst a large group of people. They have assembled on a Sunday evening for a great celebration. In unison, they stand and begin to sing songs together. They sing at the top of their lungs, sustaining a volume that will leave them hoarse by the end of the night. They stand together. They put their hands in the air and wave them. They stand in lines to receive a little something to eat and drink. They embrace one another. For a moment, people who had never before met, enjoy a few moments together as though they were long time friends.
Now, where are you? Where does this scene happen? Or perhaps its better to ask what is happening in the moment I just described. The scene I painted came from the Sounder’s game I attended last night. But it could have just as easily been a description of a Church service. Both are places where people gather. Both are times where people stand together to sing and lift their hands. Both are places where strangers become family. Both have people standing in lines to receive something. That’s because both are places where people gather for the purpose of worship.
People who are not yet Christians see Christian worship as odd. But the reality is that all people gather to worship. We all sing to our hero’s. We all stand to honor those we love and admire. In fact, we all want to wear somebody else’s Jersey. (Isaiah 61:10, Zechariah 3:1-4) We all identify ourselves with the success or failures of another person. Everybody worships.
To be continued…
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Blown Baseball Calls, and America’s Favorite Idol.
Unless you live in a cave, you are well aware of the national crisis that unfolded last week. Yes, I am talking about the blown call delivered by James Joyce. Tiger’s pitcher Armando Galarraga was one out from being the 21st pitcher in MLB history to throw a perfect game. That all came to an end when Joyce called a batter safe, who after viewing the replay, was clearly out. What followed was unbelievable.
The media went crazy. ESPN had more updates on the situation than Ashton Kutcher has updates on Twitter. Additionally Joyce’s wikipedia page was hacked and vandalized and a new website (firejimjoyce.com) was launched only moments after the historic botch. To make things worse, Bud Selig refused to award Galarraga his perfect game. This only seemed to pour more fuel on the raging fire of fan frenzy.
Here’s the deal. I could care less about baseball. Personally, I think it’s lame. Guys stand around for a few hours watching the pitcher and catcher play ball just waiting to be invited to actually do something. It’s pretty boring if you ask me. But that’s not my point here.
We Westerners absolutely hate authority. Umpires are idiots. They are not allowed to call it how they see it. Their calls are only authoritative if we agree with them. If not, there is hell to pay. This is true in nearly every element of American culture.
Have you ever tried to clean up a massive oil spill? Probably not. But somehow, we have all become experts on the issue this past month. BP is incompetent. The Government is incompetent. The President is incompetent. Leaders are dumb and don’t know what they are doing. This is how we feel about everything. It reveals one of our favorite idols in the West, autonomy.
Nobody will tell us what to do. We are our own authority. Umpires only exist to make the calls that we think they should make. They have no authority over the game. The fan, who is probably over weight, never played a single inning of baseball in their life, and is halfway to inebriation nation with overpriced light beer, holds that sacred position. We only listen to them when they agree with us. We are the final authority thank you very much. The point isn’t whether or not Joyce made the right call. The point is who gets to make that call.
What say you?
The media went crazy. ESPN had more updates on the situation than Ashton Kutcher has updates on Twitter. Additionally Joyce’s wikipedia page was hacked and vandalized and a new website (firejimjoyce.com) was launched only moments after the historic botch. To make things worse, Bud Selig refused to award Galarraga his perfect game. This only seemed to pour more fuel on the raging fire of fan frenzy.
Here’s the deal. I could care less about baseball. Personally, I think it’s lame. Guys stand around for a few hours watching the pitcher and catcher play ball just waiting to be invited to actually do something. It’s pretty boring if you ask me. But that’s not my point here.
We Westerners absolutely hate authority. Umpires are idiots. They are not allowed to call it how they see it. Their calls are only authoritative if we agree with them. If not, there is hell to pay. This is true in nearly every element of American culture.
Have you ever tried to clean up a massive oil spill? Probably not. But somehow, we have all become experts on the issue this past month. BP is incompetent. The Government is incompetent. The President is incompetent. Leaders are dumb and don’t know what they are doing. This is how we feel about everything. It reveals one of our favorite idols in the West, autonomy.
Nobody will tell us what to do. We are our own authority. Umpires only exist to make the calls that we think they should make. They have no authority over the game. The fan, who is probably over weight, never played a single inning of baseball in their life, and is halfway to inebriation nation with overpriced light beer, holds that sacred position. We only listen to them when they agree with us. We are the final authority thank you very much. The point isn’t whether or not Joyce made the right call. The point is who gets to make that call.
What say you?
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Time To Pretend. Thoughts on the song by MGMT.
MGMT. Ever heard of them? I don’t know how to describe their music, but I do dig it. I was introduced to “Kids” while listening to Pandora at the Gym. There is something about their electronica sound that just grabs my soul. Next, I heard “Time To Pretend”. As I paid more attention to the lyrics I began to be captivated by what they were saying, not just how they were saying it.
The following are some of the lyrics from “Time To Pretend”:
I'm feeling rough, I'm feeling raw, I'm in the prime of my life.
Let's make some music, make some money, find some models for wives.
I'll move to Paris, shoot some heroin, and %#(* with the stars.
You man the island and the cocaine and the elegant cars.
This is our decision, to live fast and die young.
We've got the vision, now let's have some fun.
Yeah, it's overwhelming, but what else can we do.
Get jobs in offices, and wake up for the morning commute.
As I focused in on the lyrics, I noticed what was happening. They had carried a common and widely held worldview to its logical conclusion. If all that life amounts to is getting up early only to commute to a desk job so that we can return home and do it again, then what’s the point? What if John Lennon was right and there is no heaven or hell, then there is only earth, a morning commute, a less than satisfying job, taxes and a repeat button. What would be the point?
MGMT proposes another way to live. If it’s all pointless, then why not move to Paris, shoot some heroin, get some super model wives, divorce them after they have kids and loose their super-model look, drive elegant cars, and snort a bit of coke along the way. If the choice is early morning commute and desk job vs. heroin and super models, I think I know which one I would choose.
But even that decision doesn’t help the need for our souls to know why they exist. If we move to Paris, shoot the heroin, get the super model wife and upgrade her first chance we get, we will still, in the words of MGMT, “choke on our vomit and that will be the end”. If we pursue pleasure with all that we have and we end up in the ground because there is no heaven or hell, then even our pleasure was meaningless. When we are dead, we will no longer remember what we enjoyed in life and all of it will be meaningless. I guess in either case, all we can do is pretend, like MGMT suggests.
There is another option.
The following are some of the lyrics from “Time To Pretend”:
I'm feeling rough, I'm feeling raw, I'm in the prime of my life.
Let's make some music, make some money, find some models for wives.
I'll move to Paris, shoot some heroin, and %#(* with the stars.
You man the island and the cocaine and the elegant cars.
This is our decision, to live fast and die young.
We've got the vision, now let's have some fun.
Yeah, it's overwhelming, but what else can we do.
Get jobs in offices, and wake up for the morning commute.
As I focused in on the lyrics, I noticed what was happening. They had carried a common and widely held worldview to its logical conclusion. If all that life amounts to is getting up early only to commute to a desk job so that we can return home and do it again, then what’s the point? What if John Lennon was right and there is no heaven or hell, then there is only earth, a morning commute, a less than satisfying job, taxes and a repeat button. What would be the point?
MGMT proposes another way to live. If it’s all pointless, then why not move to Paris, shoot some heroin, get some super model wives, divorce them after they have kids and loose their super-model look, drive elegant cars, and snort a bit of coke along the way. If the choice is early morning commute and desk job vs. heroin and super models, I think I know which one I would choose.
But even that decision doesn’t help the need for our souls to know why they exist. If we move to Paris, shoot the heroin, get the super model wife and upgrade her first chance we get, we will still, in the words of MGMT, “choke on our vomit and that will be the end”. If we pursue pleasure with all that we have and we end up in the ground because there is no heaven or hell, then even our pleasure was meaningless. When we are dead, we will no longer remember what we enjoyed in life and all of it will be meaningless. I guess in either case, all we can do is pretend, like MGMT suggests.
There is another option.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Love your enemies...
In high school, I was introduced to a band named “Rage Against The Machine”. They blew my mind. Guitar solos that sounded like DJ’s on acid, guitar riffs as big as the Rockies, and a skinny guy named Zack de la Rocha who screamed like a demon at a Southern Baptist tent revival meeting. Unbelievable. One of their songs that captured my heart was titled: Know your enemy. Great riff for those of you who think Marshall full stacks are cool. (I’m one of you!) Very angry. Very UFC. Very cool.
I’m pretty sure Jesus likes Marshall full stacks and super star guitar riffs, but his message was quite different from that of “Zack of the Rock”. If he had written that song, it may have been titled, Know your enemy…so that you may love them well. I spent sometime mulling over his words recorded in Luke 6.
Luke 6:27-36
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
I have to admit. What Jesus is saying is pretty clear to understand. Love your enemies. Got it. But! Yeah…you see. I want to qualify that whole “enemies” word. I got into it with a guy just a week ago. He was talking about hating politicians. I quoted him Luke 6:27. His response was that Jesus’ imperative was irrelevant in his situation because the people he was hating were doing harm to others and Jesus wasn’t instructing us to love people who do harm to others.
I immediately thought to myself, if we aren’t supposed to love enemies who do harm, what sort of enemies is Jesus referring to? Is he talking about the enemies that do good to others? Is he talking about the enemies who agree with us and treat us with respect? Part of me wishes this were the case, because it would be much easier for me to accept that sort of an imperative. But I don’t think Jesus is talking about those sorts of enemies. In fact, I hope he wasn't because if he was and that is the sort of love he has, then I'm in big trouble!
Luke 6:35-36
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
I’m sure glad that God loves his enemies. I know that I’m on that list. I pray for strength to do likewise. God help me.
I’m pretty sure Jesus likes Marshall full stacks and super star guitar riffs, but his message was quite different from that of “Zack of the Rock”. If he had written that song, it may have been titled, Know your enemy…so that you may love them well. I spent sometime mulling over his words recorded in Luke 6.
Luke 6:27-36
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
I have to admit. What Jesus is saying is pretty clear to understand. Love your enemies. Got it. But! Yeah…you see. I want to qualify that whole “enemies” word. I got into it with a guy just a week ago. He was talking about hating politicians. I quoted him Luke 6:27. His response was that Jesus’ imperative was irrelevant in his situation because the people he was hating were doing harm to others and Jesus wasn’t instructing us to love people who do harm to others.
I immediately thought to myself, if we aren’t supposed to love enemies who do harm, what sort of enemies is Jesus referring to? Is he talking about the enemies that do good to others? Is he talking about the enemies who agree with us and treat us with respect? Part of me wishes this were the case, because it would be much easier for me to accept that sort of an imperative. But I don’t think Jesus is talking about those sorts of enemies. In fact, I hope he wasn't because if he was and that is the sort of love he has, then I'm in big trouble!
Luke 6:35-36
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
I’m sure glad that God loves his enemies. I know that I’m on that list. I pray for strength to do likewise. God help me.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Love In Action.
Last Sunday, we talked about the imperative to love. We ought to love others because Jesus has loved us. He doesn’t love us because we are lovely. He loves us because He loves us. We are to likewise love others. Simple enough.
Every Wednesday night, we gather to provide meals, clothing, and other essential supplies for those in need. Many people come from the woods where they live near our building. Well last week, I met a couple that ended up inviting me to their camp. As I got a better idea of what home looked like for them, I wondered how we could help.
I shared their story this past Sunday. In fact, one of the ladies who lives in the woods had joined us and was weeping while I told part of her story. What happened in response was beautiful.
I was immediately approached by a lady who wanted to provide some badly needed supplies. Yesterday (Monday) I picked up a load of brand new supplies including: sleeping bags, a propane cook top, propane bottles, a new pillow, cooking utensils, a tent, and some other helpful items.
I was also approached by another guy who had a ton of new camping gear that a former roommate had given to him. He wanted to know those items would be useful. They will be given away this Wednesday and will be put to good use immediately.
I also caught wind of a couple that helped serve dinners last Wednesday. They noticed that many of the people who had gathering to enjoy a hot meal could not enjoy drinks or desserts because they are diabetic. She is working on getting drinks and desserts that are made with Splenda instead of sugar so that all might enjoy the evening meal together.
Another gal noticed many of the women who come for meals are in desperate need of hygiene products. She is going to work on getting the needed supplies together so that that very practical need can be met.
Love is taking action. We ought to lay down our lives for others because Jesus laid down his life for us. You know what? It’s happening! Come be part of the mission at Coram Deo.
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