Privates - Jewels - Junk

Well, I guess as the language evolves so goes the culture - or is that reversed?

Privates:  This was to imply that the (taboo) was something that was not shared or discussed with others.

Family Jewels:  While perhaps an inappropriate allusion to the function, this term also correctly alludes to the value of their reproductive nature.

Junk:  Wow.  What a digression.  Does this not correctly state our culture's perception of not only reproduction, but the man's function in society? 

Family heirlooms are first private and treasured only internally.  Then they become public jewels and gems that we begin to buy and sell or use for currency.  Finally, they become so overly abundant and common that they become junk.

Kaleidoscope View

We have a tendency to view life as a kaleidoscope, ever changing from beautiful to strange to mysterious to fearful.  The problem with this perspective of life is that there is nothing constant other than the tube itself.  The only important thing is my small window and how quickly I can change it to something more beautiful than is currently apparent.

We need to get rid of the kaleidoscope that is restricting our view to tunnel vision and seems so appealing and entertaining, but at any moment could change and bring havoc.

We must live life through the lens of eternity; focused on the unchanging God-Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith and His eternal purpose for all of mankind.

Pointing to vs Pointing at

In the evangelical church during my short lifetime, it seems that we have focused on pointing out the flaws of sinful life. 

"Don't do this, that, or the other." 
"You don't want to wind up like that."
"Look at the way she is dressed."

Instead of pointing at the problems in the world, we are to be pointing to the One who can resolve those problems, Jesus Christ.

What does your FB say about you?

Is my life the sum total of my facebook statuses and comments?
Is facebook the window to my life as the eye is the window to the soul?

In a day and age when we are so compartmentalized, individualistic, and private, what is it that we share in the social networking realms of cyberspace with these so called "friends"? 

Just 10 years ago, it was popular to hear that one could determine what another's priorities were simply by reviewing one's calendar and checkbook.  Now, I believe, it is no longer necessary to know another person well enough to have that kind of access.  In today's world of rapidly advancing mass personal communication (not just media), each person is pushing his or her own private agenda; whether conscious or no, you are constantly and definitively declaring what is most important to you post-by-post.

My life IS the sum total of my facebook statuses and comments.
Facebook IS the window to my life.

So, what DOES your FB say about you?

Obedience and Subjection to Authority

We, as adults, do not tend to obey traffic laws.  I cannot tell you how many times I've prepared to cross the street, waiting on the "Walk" sign, when a crowd of people stroll right through the "Don't Walk" sign.  Rules are for other people.  We have the ability to look both ways and take care of ourselves, so we don't need to follow the rules.  Consider the speed limit (or suggestion), the yield sign, the red lights, etc.

Why is it that we as a nation expect our children to obey us, their teachers, or other authority figures? 

God says, "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God," Romans 13:1.

Am I living in obedience to God's commands?

Learning Christian

Learning to speak to God and learning to live like a believer are very similar to learning to speak a foreign language.

First
One must hear how native speakers sound and listen to how sounds and words are formed and combined.
--One must read the scriptures and spend time with others who are following God.

Second
One must attempt to attempt to speak and make one's own words and sounds alone and with a one-on-one tutor.
--One must make a personal effort alone to pray and seek God alone and with a mentor or discipleship partner, working through decisions with wise counsel.

Third
One must continue to practice constantly with others who do speak the language.  Further development is impossible without constant, continual, concerted practice. 
--One must consistently pray and seek God individually, one-on-one, in small groups, and in large groups. 

Fourth
One must practice reading and writing to follow on to proficiency.
--One must continually study scripture and begin teaching others.

American Bodies and Bank Accounts

We have too much on our plates, and we stretch our dollars too thin.


We Americans treat our bodies like we should treat our bank accounts and our bank accounts like we should treat our bodies:

* Too many deposits and not enough withdrawals for the body

* Too many withdrawals and not enough deposits for our bank accounts

Religion: A Pair of Cement Shoes

We are all born into the sea of life. The trouble is that we can’t swim and we have no flotation device. The weight of our sin is what causes us to drown. Quickly, we learn that we need something to aid us in the struggle for survival, so we go shopping.  The only real solution to our struggle is to look on the One, Jesus Christ, who walked on the sea of life and can't be purchased.  Unfortunately, we seek alternate solutions that only add to the weight dragging us under.

Some of the other options are ‘feel-good’ used oxygen tanks that promise life under water; but the promises are as empty as the tanks themselves, and the hope is short lived. These are like drugs that convince us that it is okay to drown; since everyone else is also drowning, it can’t be so bad. Sin is an empty oxygen tank.

Another type of option is religious interest, but any religion, as an end in and of itself, is merely idolatry.  Unless Christ is the heart or central focus, religion is just like a pair of cement shoes.  No matter how expensive, attractive, or comfortable the shoes may be, they cannot help you walk on the sea of life; their end is to speed your “sleep with the fishes.” 

Worse than an empty oxygen tank of sin which can be shed with a struggle, these cement shoes of religion are much more difficult to remove.

David’s Prayer (I Chronicles 29:10-20)

Far more significant than the prayer of Jabez recorded in I Chronicles 4:9-10, which was a prayer primarily focused on Jabez’s own circumstances and life, are the words of David’s prayer, which appears later in the same book. David’s prayer is recorded in much more detail. He begins by praising God, acknowledging who God is (10-13), recognizing who we are (14-16), and then our relationship of dependence upon God (17). Then David prays for God’s direction in the heart of the nation (18).

The most significant part of this prayer, however, is David’s prayer for his son Solomon, who is to become King (19). “Give to my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies and Your statutes, and to do them all, and to build the temple, for which I have made provision.”

What a beautiful picture of a father praying for a son. Give him a perfect heart 1) to follow your law with various picture phrases for the term and 2) to build the temple, for which I have made provision. How I long to lay a foundation that my son can build upon. How I long to gather the building materials, so that my son can build the temple of God. How I long for my life to be counted worthy to be built upon into something far greater than myself. That was David’s prayer.

What Language Does Your Church Speak, and What Are You Saying?

Imagine that you are in a building, and a voice comes over the intercom passionately declaring something that sounds urgent and extremely important.  However, you can’t understand a word of it.  Perhaps, the message is that the building is on fire; you’d never know.

Is this the way your church communicates?
I HAVE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU COULD EVER READ, AND HERE IT IS:

惟有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死，神的爱就在此向我们显明了。

The question can be directed toward the specific tongue of speech, but more appropriately, are you speaking in a way that your community and the world understand?  Raising your voice and talking slower is not the solution (it doesn't work with foreigners either); you must change your language [not the message].  What language does your church speak, and what are you saying?

We are Pawns on God’s Chessboard (Part 3)

[more reasons why I like this analogy]
8) Pawns are not powerful alone, but together they work for the benefit of their king; “…the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him…” (Luke 10:1).

9) Pawns sacrifice themselves to promote another pawn; “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus… made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant…” (Philippians 2:5-8).

10) Pawns become pieces when they reach the opposite side of the board, but they have to pass through many trials and battles to get there, or they wait at the instruction of the Master for these to pass them by; “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things’” (Matthew 25:21).

11) Pawns are weak, but in the Master’s game, they are strong; “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

“The king is not saved by a mighty army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a false hope for victory; nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who hope for His lovingkindness, to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and shield” (Psalm 33:16-20). The only safe place in the game of life is in the hand of the Master.

We are Pawns on God’s Chessboard (Part 2)

[more reasons why I like this analogy]
4) Pawns are attackers. Pawns attack other pawns and pieces on (forward) diagonals; “'Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine'” (1 Samuel 17:34-37).

5) Pawns are defenders. Pawns defend by not allowing enemy pieces to occupy squares and by standing between a more powerful piece or the king and enemy attacks; “… and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked…” (Nehemiah 4:18).

6) Pawns stay in their file until they see action of taking a piece; “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’” (Isaiah 30:21).

7) Pawns never stand on the back rank; “Go ye therefore…” (Matthew 28:19-20).

We are Pawns on God’s Chessboard (Part 1)

Once, a close friend told me that we are all pawns on God’s chessboard. He meant this in a somewhat negative sense in that we have no control over our position in life and that God is going to do whatever He wants with us as we are disposable.  Upon giving some thought to this analogy, I’ve determined that I like the analogy of being a pawn on God’s chessboard, and here’s why:

1) Pawns (and pieces) are of distinctive color in the game of chess. As Jesus said, “no one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24).

2) Pawns only advance; there is no retreat; “… the God of Israel will be your rear guard” (Isaiah 52:12).

3) Pawns take small steps. Aside from the first move, a pawn can only move one square at a time; “… if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’? So he went…” (2 Kings 5:11-14).

Title Imagery

Chess:
The pinned knight is caught defending his faith; he is immobile but not powerless while still in the game. Each pawn and piece serves to attack and defend in different ways. The knight does so in somewhat indirect ways. The knight is the only attacker who alone forces the enemy to take the knight or move his own king to evade check; the check presented by a knight cannot be blocked. It is one of the weakest pieces in the game, and it aids in victory only when coupled with other forces and while in the hands of a master. A knight (or a bishop) and king alone cannot win a game of chess. Any amateur can win a game when he has a queen or a rook coupled with his king, but to win a game with a bishop and knight takes a higher level of skill. Sometimes, I feel like a pinned knight, directly in the line of fire from an enemy piece, immobile while protecting the King Himself or another useful servant piece.

Culture:
The knight generally carries weaponry and armor just as a believer must take the sword of the spirit and put on the armor of God.  However, in an alternate light, among the weaponry a knight would carry is a sword. Swords are powerful when wielded by a disciplined, diligent study of swordplay; the old adage stands true especially in today’s time, “The pen is mightier than the sword.”