Alas, Feetcleaners, all 2 or 3 of you, my blogging energy has moved to a portion of my job. You may find my comments along with Angela Beise's (who ROCKS by the way) and a few other guest writers at the link below.
http://blog.lacroixchurch.org/blog/
Friday, May 15, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Wisdom II
The first two chapters of Proverbs are really quite incredible. Pure wisdom, pure sense. I only wish those who race toward foolishness could really hear it. I only wish I could live it in deeper ways. "God is a shield for those who walk with integrity." When we walk in duplicity, selfishness and deceit, we drop our shield and become vulnerable to that strange woman - foolishness. We become a wide open target to evil.
Lord, help me to walk with integrity by walking with you.
Lord, help me to walk with integrity by walking with you.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Easter
Lillies
Eggs
Bonnets
Is this the best we have?
Death is defeated. The victory is won!
Fear is cast out. Christ has risen!
It's more than the end of a season.
Our freedom goes beyond our Lenten diet.
Awake, my soul, to the Truth of Monday - everything is different.
My Redeemer lives!
Eggs
Bonnets
Is this the best we have?
Death is defeated. The victory is won!
Fear is cast out. Christ has risen!
It's more than the end of a season.
Our freedom goes beyond our Lenten diet.
Awake, my soul, to the Truth of Monday - everything is different.
My Redeemer lives!
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Wisdom
To help me through the book of Numbers, I have decided to read a chapter of Proverbs along with my normal reading. Good call Robert!
Proverbs 1 rocks. It has solidified my understanding that the primary way in which God deals with our disobedience and foolishness is to first call us out on it, asking us to turn away from it and back to Him. But if we refuse to listen, he doesn't zap us or grind us into the dirt; he simply let's us have our way and reap what we sow.
"Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them..."
It is not God who causes their calamity, but their own way, devices, complacency and turning away. This of course is not to say that all of our difficulties or troubles are caused directly by our own sin. Sin has corrupted and broken the good world that God created. Just as the tower that fell on some men in front of Jesus and the disciples was not the result of something they did, things that happen to us are not always the result of something we have done. But, certainly, our disobedience and folly have consequences.
Proverbs 1 rocks. It has solidified my understanding that the primary way in which God deals with our disobedience and foolishness is to first call us out on it, asking us to turn away from it and back to Him. But if we refuse to listen, he doesn't zap us or grind us into the dirt; he simply let's us have our way and reap what we sow.
"Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them..."
It is not God who causes their calamity, but their own way, devices, complacency and turning away. This of course is not to say that all of our difficulties or troubles are caused directly by our own sin. Sin has corrupted and broken the good world that God created. Just as the tower that fell on some men in front of Jesus and the disciples was not the result of something they did, things that happen to us are not always the result of something we have done. But, certainly, our disobedience and folly have consequences.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Remembering Melaina
I was asked to do the memorial service for a beautiful 3 year old girl named Melaina Cunningham. Melaina died due to complications with a congenital disease called Nemaline Myopathy. Working with the parents over the past week has reminded me of how nothing is more difficult than the death of one's child.
In Romans 8, Paul says that our current sufferings cannot come close to comparing to our hope and future glory in Christ Jesus. I appreciate this so much for a couple of reasons. First, Paul doesn't say we shouldn't be sad, or grieve, or be frustrated, angry, or even ask tough questions; instead he says these are realities, but realities that do not compare to what is coming. In other words, this hope and future glory does not eliminate our suffering, but prevents our despair.
"Church-folk" need to remember this when interacting with those who are hurting. Platitudes about streets of gold spoken as if this should alleviate the burden of a lost child are not helpful. We are to bear one another's burdens, not try to make them okay with pithy sayings.
Melaina was special; her absence is dreadful. We patiently wait in hope for the redemption of our bodies and our adoption as sons and daughters. Meanwhile, we groan...and the Spirit helps us.
In Romans 8, Paul says that our current sufferings cannot come close to comparing to our hope and future glory in Christ Jesus. I appreciate this so much for a couple of reasons. First, Paul doesn't say we shouldn't be sad, or grieve, or be frustrated, angry, or even ask tough questions; instead he says these are realities, but realities that do not compare to what is coming. In other words, this hope and future glory does not eliminate our suffering, but prevents our despair.
"Church-folk" need to remember this when interacting with those who are hurting. Platitudes about streets of gold spoken as if this should alleviate the burden of a lost child are not helpful. We are to bear one another's burdens, not try to make them okay with pithy sayings.
Melaina was special; her absence is dreadful. We patiently wait in hope for the redemption of our bodies and our adoption as sons and daughters. Meanwhile, we groan...and the Spirit helps us.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Leviticus
Okay, I'm in the dreaded book of Leviticus. Here's what I get from the first 6 or so chapters. Sin is a real problem, and dealing with it involves death and stench and blood. I don't think we have a really good grasp of the cosmic, communal, and spiritual impact of sin. Just like our faith is personal, but not private, so our sin may be personal but not private.
Perhaps that's where the power of confession rests. I've heard we are wounded in community and therefore are healed in community; perhaps it's just as true that we sin in community so we need repentance and mercy to occur in community. Even if we sin in secret, we are part of communities and these communities are impacted by our sin though we may not recognize it.
Perhaps that's where the power of confession rests. I've heard we are wounded in community and therefore are healed in community; perhaps it's just as true that we sin in community so we need repentance and mercy to occur in community. Even if we sin in secret, we are part of communities and these communities are impacted by our sin though we may not recognize it.
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