Highlights of My Life: 2012

Looking back, I'm pretty sure 2012 has been the biggest year for me. As I look back, here are some highlights:

• Left my teenage years behind (Jan 9)
• Started my job at ACR (Jan 10)
• Completed my associates in Christian Worlview at BCS (May 18)
• Took my first mission trip (July 7-Aug 6) 
• Preached my second sermon (July 29)
• Started learning biblical Hebrew (Aug 27)
• Started dating Emily (Oct 24)
• Got a new car (Oct 31)
• Spent my first Christmas away from home (Dec 25)

Of course there are many other things God has blessed me with, but these are some of the big one's. I would say that this past year has been the most pivotal for my personal growth. I thank God for His grace. Potentially the biggest accomplishment was spending $10 on shoes in 2012. :) I can't wait to see what He has in store for 2013! 

Shame and Suffering: Our Daily Cross

Jesus not only came to the world to die on the cross, but to suffer many things and then be killed on the cross. He didn't only choose a brutal death, but he chose a brutal life. He could've lived it up like a king, but he chose the road of suffering. 

By seeing Christ's sacrifice as more than just a moment on the cross, we can get a fuller picture of what it means to follow in his footsteps. Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Lk 9:23). 

The way that I see it, there are two options. You can either pick up a cross and follow Jesus on the road of suffering and ultimately death, or you can remain in the city, holding on to whatever life you have. Every day we are called to surrender the things of this world to God and choose the life of persecution, rejection, and suffering. Every day we are called to lose our lives for the hope that God will save them in the end. 

May we accept the shame of living lives that look foolish and ignorant. May we be willing to carry a cross out of the city of pleasure, lest the God we follow be ashamed of us. 

Not My Will

Jesus' prayer in the garden is incredibly significant for how we ourselves think about prayer. "And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, 'Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will'" (Mk 14:35-36). 

Although Jesus didn't know all things during his time on earth, there was one thing he did know. He knew that it was his task to die. He knew that his hour would come, and that he would be lifted up on the cross. When he asked for the Father to remove the cup from his hands, he knew that it was the cup of God's wrath that he was preparing to drink in his death. 

The incredible thing is that Jesus wasn't afraid to ask God to spare him. Jesus was willing to ask for temporary blessing because he knew that God could do anything. 

God can do anything. I repeat, God can do anything. Jesus didn't tell himself, well since God can only do what his sovereign will intends, I'm not going to pray for this to be lifted. Either Jesus knew that it was God's sovereign will for him to drink the cup of wrath, and he still miraculously prayed the contrary. Or Jesus in his finiteness didn't know whether or not it was God's sovereign will. 

Whatever the case may be, this grants us complete freedom to pray for anything. We never know what God's ultimate will is in a situation, but we do know that he can do anything. As long as we end our prayers with "Thy will be done," we can feel free to ask for anything.

A few verses later he admits that the hour has come (mk 14:41). Significantly though, this happens after his prayer for release...a release he may have known would never come.

A Christian's Hope

Someone asked me a few days ago what passage I would use to encourage someone who is facing 3 or 4 different cancers. Several passages came to mind, but then I discovered that the sick person may not be a Christian. I began to wonder. Is there any encouragement for someone who isn't a believer? Is there any hope for the one who doesn't follow God? 

Christians often forget the big picture. But when you're facing someone on the death bed, or when you've lost all that you have in a hurricane, we quickly turn our hearts, minds, and hope to eternal things. Deep down inside, we know that this world is not all we have. There is a better place, a lasting place. 

Perhaps a healthy practice would be to continuously ponder the eternal things. Perhaps we'd be far more content in light of the eternal promises, more secure in light of the eternal inheritance, more eager to witness in light of the eternal hell, more thankful in light of God's eternal grace. Perhaps the deathbed isn't the only place to see suffering working out for our good. Perhaps it isn't even the first place. 

I'm thankful that even though I missed two classes today because my car bumper was bashed in, I was reminded that God always has a plan. He really keeps things exciting and always reminds me that I don't know what's going to happen next. I'm just glad that I know He still loves me. Because of God, every day is a pretty good day. 

The Path of Fleeting Pleasure

There are two ways, two paths, two roads

One foolish and one wise

Both seek to build a fruitful house

Both hope to win the prize

An easy path, the foolish takes

He does not see the end

The path seems good, great joy it brings

But to his death will send

Even a laughing heart may ache

The end of joy be grief

If without thought the simple takes

The path of great relief 

In his folly, he breaks his house

And with his hands destroys

The path which seemed so good to him

Brought quickly fleeting joys

The wise man moves more carefully

Off sinful paths he goes

Although they promise laughter

He sees impending woes

He erects his house in wisdom

While folly tears hers down

The difference is not aims or goals, 

But the path on which their bound

[Inspired by Proverbs 14:1, 11-16]

Are Tattoos Biblical?

To begin, I don't think the Bible explicitly addresses the issue of tattoos. With that said, here are some issues that the Bible does address that may be relevant in considering a tattoo.

1. Honor your parents. Take serious consideration on their opinion/reaction to you getting a tattoo. Responses from parents will range from approval to disowning you as their child. Evaluate your parents position (positive, negative, neutral) and how strong it is. Make sure getting a tattoo is worth the dishonor it may bring to your parents. I know this will be more difficult for some than others. I just encourage you to consider it and give it the weight that God gives it in His Word. 

• In Ex. 21, God gives the death penalty for 4 crimes. (1) First degree murder, (2) stealing and selling other people, (3) striking your parents,  and (4) cursing your parents. 
• It's one of the ten commandments.
• Paul makes special note in Ephesians 6:2 that it is the first commandment with a promise. 
• We only have 7 recorded things that Jesus said on the cross. One of these is Jesus taking special pains to ensure that John will take care of His mother. 

2. Biblical stewardship. You're looking at a minimum of $40-$50 for a tattoo. As Christians, we believe our money is not our own and spending it should be for God's glory and kingdom. It's important to have justifiable reasons for what you spend. 

3. Christian testimony. What I'm referring to is not what the tattoo means to you, but to everyone else. How will your Christian brothers and sisters view your decision? Will it impact your ministry? Will it aid your ministry? What if your future spouse is opposed to tattoos? This category of 'Christian testimony' could potentially be a reason for or against getting a tattoo. 

The main thing is to check your motives. God looks past the outward reasons you give for your decisions and He sees your heart. I believe there can be good or bad motives for getting a tattoo. 

Faith to Fight the Devil

The enemy is cunning, 
The devil is so wise
For years he's practiced breathing
His death provoking lies

He makes your fight look easy
He makes you feel so strong
And keeps your eyes from seeing
The deadly road you're on

For if you knew the peril
The mortal doom you face
Then you would turn your heart to God
And run the faithful race

But he keeps you from thinking
There's danger in your sin
And that is why a heart at ease
Is satan's closest kin

He keeps the mind distracted
On every little thing
For if we don't see past the world
We're his eternally

He tells you to do lots of things
He keeps you busy working
So you won't have the time to see
That danger's closely lurking

The people of this nation
I wish that they could see
The danger in their virtue
Of productivity

It makes you feel so righteous
Or takes your mind off pain
But if you make it everything
You'll find you're just like Cain

It's not the work of your own hands
That makes your gift God's pleasure
It's faith that sees beyond the world
That makes your gift a treasure

Be free from Cain; have faith like Abel
For this is victory
The devil says your gift is good, 
But God sees underneath

He sees right past the gift you give
Into your very heart
By faith we overcome the world
For God has Satan barred

"By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts." - Hebrews 11:4

Easy Yoke; Hard Life

You say Your yoke is easy
You call Your burden light
So why is life so difficult?
Why is it such a fight?

The world keeps on attacking
Temptation makes its plight
The Darkness overwhelms us
But you still call it Light*

What makes Your law no burden?
How can our love be true?
My God, my God has conquered
From death to life we move

Because you overcame the world
The victory is sure
And when we place our faith in You
You help us to endure

You say Your yoke is easy
You call Your burden light
Perhaps it's not the struggle,
But Your promise through the fight

"His commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith." - 1 John 5:3-4

A Creature's Decision

Life would be easier if we had the complete wisdom and counsel of God in order to make the perfect decisions. It would also be nice if we had the sovereign power of God to keep our plans from failing. However, that is not our place as finite creatures. Because of our limits, the Christian life in regard to decision-making is much more difficult than most people think. This is because we often lack the foreknowledge and understanding necessary for making wise decisions. 

However, with a right understanding of our own weakness and an acceptance of our finite creaturliness, we are set free. We are free from the weighty obligation of having to possess the perfect understanding of our decisions. We are free from the burden of knowing exactly where our decisions will lead and in-errantly anticipating every result. In short, we are free from the obligation of trying to function as God in our own lives. We are free to be creatures when God is God. In this state, we don't have the burden of discovering knowledge or possessing full wisdom. Rather we are free to ask for and to receive the wisdom that we need from God's own hand and not ours. 

Thus, only as beggars are we filled and made complete. God is extremely gracious in giving us the wisdom that we need in the moment that we need it. Take comfort in knowing that God understands your path even when you don't. Don't spend all your time worrying about whether you made the right decision or not, God is in control and the decision is already made. Lose the reigns and let God take over. Surrender the lead to God and enjoy the dance. 

Decision making is a huge burden for the creature trying to replace God, but is a pleasure and an honor for the creature that acknowledges their own weakness, looks up to God with empty hands, and with child-like faith simply says, "please."

Trading Innocence

There was a time of honest innocence
Where life was fine, my God was near
But then I got this wicked notion
To trade my innocence and lose my ignorance

I could not accept who God had made me
It's often difficult to be a creature
So I reached out and took from that tree
The fruit of knowledge, oh curiosity!

Here I stand in a garden full of trees
I hold in my hand, the only fruit not for me
Oh dear God, when will I see?
True strength embraces innocence; that's humility

True Humility

True humility is not primarily right action; it's a right mindset, a proper heart-orientation, and a healthy dependence on God and others. For this reason, acting humble is less important than being humble.

True humility is not found in reaching down to someone else's level. If you think you're doing someone a favor by bending down to help them, you are not truly humble. A humble person doesn't treat others as less than himself, but sees them as more than himself. "...in humility count others as more significant than yourselves" (Phil. 2:3). 

True humility acknowledges it's own ignorance and hesitates to teach others. A humble person earnestly seeks the right words to help someone, but willingly admits when they just don't know. They are not quick to impose their opinions on others. "...let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger..." (Js. 1:19). This 'I'm right' pride often leads to heated disputes. 

True humility listens to others and learns from others. It is a student and not a teacher. It takes the 'weakest' of Christian brothers and willingly declares, "You have the Spirit of God in you. I will listen to your words and allow God to teach me things from you." (Personally, I've had God teach me through unbelievers, much less a Spirit-indwelt son of God).

I ask you to stop thinking of yourself as greater than others. Search out why you might think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, and pray that God would give you a proper view of yourself.

"Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant" (Mark 10:43). 

Firey Words

In many ways, words are like fire. The thing about fire is that it can be used for good or for evil. When contained and controlled fire can be used for good things like providing warmth, creating weaponry, or signaling for help. However, fire that is not under control can be extremely harmful. It can easily spread and become a huge and deadly forest fire. We all know that words can be very dangerous and hurtful. And all too often its damage spreads like wild fire. James describes this effect, "Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evils among the parts of the body" (James 3:5-6). However, words are not always a bad thing. Words can and should be used positively to build people up, spread the good news, and warn people of danger. Only when the tongue is under control can it function this way. Self-control is a result of the work of the Holy Spirit and must be given to us by God. Therefore, let us pray for God's mercy to give us gracious and edifying speech that does not harm others. "Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad" (Proverbs 12:25).

Deep Friendships; Shallow Soil

In times past, I've begun to see the value in the mundane, seemingly pointless, aspects of life. After all, how much of you friendships are formed from 'insignificant' things like shopping, sports, eating breakfast, sitting in a room doing nothing together, watching tv, eating lunch, doing yard-work, eating dinner, and even arguing?

One of my closest relationships is with my twin, Ben. Our deep conversations have been limited, and I can't think of a time (before I left for college) that we talked directly about God or the Bible, at least conversationally. Our friendship is formed on sports, food, stories about work, video games, ping-pong, fighting, etc.

Also, working with disabled people has helped build my appreciation for the 'little things' in life. I would consider JL from His Works as a really good friend. However, our friendship is founded on the fact that I can interpret what he ate for dinner last night. That makes him so happy. All of a sudden, such a meaningless conversation carries a lot of meaning.

In the end, I want to learn to appreciate and capture the small moments in life. After all, deep friendships are often founded in shallow soil. I want to learn to insert truths about God, the Bible, the Church, and the  Christian faith into my life. I want these things to become ingrained with the ordinary; an integral part of who I am and how I live. I don't want to separate the spiritual with the ordinary and I don't want to enjoy the ordinary without the spiritual.

I think one of the reasons I enjoyed Waiting for Godot so much is because the friendship between Estragon and Vladamir was so much like my relationship with Ben all those years. We never did anything significant together, yet nothing could pull us apart.

"Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" - 1 Corinthians 10:31

The Relevance of Resurrection

Many things shake our lives. It seems as though a catastrophe waits around every corner. The question is, "when life begins to shake you like a little boy shakes his etch-a-sketch, what will you do?" 

Two passages in Scripture point directly to the hope of the resurrection as the grounds for standing firm through all of life's hardships. 

The first is Philippians 3:20-4:1. Our citizenship is in heaven, not on earth. If heaven is our home, when was the last time you got homesick? Never forget, we do not belong here. Don't allow yourself to get too comfortable in this world. Never stop groaning with an eager longing to become a new creation. Remember, that one day Christ will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body by the very power that enables him to subject all things to himself! That power will not fail, we will indeed become like him. No matter what this life brings. Therefore, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. 

The second is 1 Corinthians 15:54-58. What is the worse thing that can happen to you? Death? Death has been defeated by Christ in his resurrection. It has no victory. It has no sting. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. Christ will reward every action in the next life. There is no wasted faithfulness. It will be worth it. It will not be in vain.

The only reason we have any hope is that Christ has risen from the dead. This should not be made sideline doctrine, placed on the mantle for everyone to see. It should be one of the most relevant aspects of our thoughts and desires. This is our only hope. You are a seed that will one day die and grow into something much different...much more grand. Praise God that Christ is risen! 

Daily Sacrifice

God deserves the best we have to offer. Leviticus helps show that. Animal sacrifices should be 'a male without blemish,' and grain offerings should be of fine flour. God doesn't want or deserve our second best.

It is important to note that while God requires our best, He doesn't even need our offering. If he were hungry, he would not tell us, for the world and all its fullness are his (cf. Ps. 50:12). Yes, God wants the cream of your crop, but he doesn't care about what your crop is. If you're not rich enough to give a lamb or a goat, He's perfectly happy with the two birds that you bring.

I'm just thankful that the 'best' we have to offer is actually accepted by God who owns everything. Now that's grace. Our good deeds have been prepared for us. Christ frees us to walk in them. The Spirit empowers us to obedience. It's amazing with all that God gives us that He can still call it our obedience and our faithfulness. So whatever your task is today, do it as unto the Lord.

Pleasure and Pain

The more I think about the world, the more I realize how brilliantly and intricately everything has been crafted by God.

Think about the fact that humans experience pleasure. There are things in life that genuinely make us happy. Anything from hugging someone you love, eating a piece of chocolate cake, riding a bike down a steep hill, or singing your favorite song. There are so many things in life that bring us pleasure!

However, no matter how much pleasure we experience on this earth, it never seems to be enough to satisfy us. It only builds in us the desire for more. More happiness. More joy.

And then there's pain, suffering, anguish. Anything from the loss of a loved one to a stubbed toe. We know from suffering that things in this world are not as they ought to be. Things could get better. Things should get better.

What if God created us so that we could only experience pain and suffering? When offered an eternity in heaven, we would probably respond with complacency. You see, the only reason we desire heaven is because we've already had a small taste of 'heaven on earth.' We can only desire everlasting joy because God has given us a very real taste of temporal joy. When you take a bite of cake, you are building a category of 'joy,' which God uses to point us to him.

What if God created us so that we could only experience pleasure? When offered an eternity in heaven, we would probably pass it up. Why would you choose heaven if you were perfectly happy on earth?

God has designed us as creatures who experience both pleasure and pain. Heaven draws us because it is in God's presence that we have fullness of joy. Already knowing what partial joy is, of course we're ready to experience joy in its fullness. Heaven also draws us because God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Not only will we have more of the good experiences in life, but we will lose all of the bad experiences.

So there you have it. Both pleasure and pain should instill in us a desire for heaven. I think that one without the other would make things very strange and difficult. Praise God for His wisdom!

Work and the Pursuit of Happiness

Take a look around. Have you ever wondered why the happiest people you know are so often the ones who live an average life and work an average job? One of the happiest people I know works part-time job behind a cash register making a little more than minimum wage. Why does he seem happier than the person who has everything? Which person really has more? The one who has more happiness, or the one who has more money (which is only a means to happiness)?

Here's a short word from the wonderful world of vanity (a.k.a. Ecclesiastes). 

1. Money doesn't satisfy the one who loves money (5:10). Remember that you cannot love God and money. If money doesn't satisfy the one who loves money then who should you love, God or money? 

2. After a long day of hard work, the laborer takes delight in sleep (5:12). I certainly hope you've experienced this. Nothing's better than climbing into bed when you're absolutely exhausted from the day's work. As you lay there under the covers, the bed somehow feels softer and your mind is at rest because you know that your work is done and you've earned your rest. Remember, you not only earn money when you work...you earn rest. Also, the blessing of sleep comes whether or not you earn enough to eat a lot or a little (5:12). 

3. In contrast, the rich man who does not work will not be able to sleep because of his full stomach (5:12). He does not partake in the laborer's rest. 

4. Not all hard workers enjoy their labor (5:13-17). Some people work relentlessly day and night, simply to lose their money on a whim. This is vanity and grasping for the wind. Plus, this man doesn't even enjoy the process of making money. Rather, he constantly eats the bread of anxious toil, with much vexation and discontentment. 

5. Some men do receive joy from their labor (5:18-20). These men not only enjoy the fruit of their hard work, but they enjoy the hard work itself, namely the lot which God has given them. It is only by the grace of God that someone can enjoy their labor as well as the fruit of their labor. That's why Solomon calls it "the gift of God" to accept your lot and to rejoice in your toil. 

6. You need God to enjoy life (6:1-2). There is an evil under the sun: "a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them." It is only by God's grace that we can accept the work He has allotted to us and enjoy the blessings of life and labour. 

Lie: money=happiness. 

Truth: love of money=idolatry, sin, and unhappiness. 

Lie: work=unhappiness

Truth: God=the Giver of all good gifts, especially work/rest

Prayers of the Saints

There is something very humbling about the nature of prayer. As my pastor would contend, the 'power of prayer' is really just the power of God. There is no inherent power in prayer. Thus, when God chooses to wrap Himself up in a cloud 'so that no prayer can pass through,' He shows that He owes us no obligations (Lam. 3:44). Prayer is not a vending machine. And if it is, then it only works when God wants it to.

I can only imagine the stories we'll hear in heaven. A missionary who was strengthened by the prayers of his sick mother thousands of miles away. A great pastor who survived college only because of the prayers of his six year old sister. Thousands of people who received new birth through the Holy Spirit in response to the prayers of faithful saints. How many of your own prayers God will show you the answer to. He'll take you aside and show you that He was listening, even though it felt like He wasn't.

One of my favorite things about prayer is that it levels the Christian playing field. When God is the one working, He can use any of His servants to perform the same task. He listens to the 40 year old pastor as well as the 10 year old girl. I'd like to think that God builds his church on the prayers of the young and the weak Christians. Perhaps for no other reason than to humble the strong and show off His strength.

Please continue to pray. Much of the fruit will not be seen until that Day, but continue to believe that it will be worth it. Prayer may very well be the most fruitful practice of the Christian life. The only catch is that you must believe that God hears and answers, and that can be difficult. May God give us eyes to see that He is working!

God Knows

As human beings, there are many times when we just want to be alone. To have no one present, no one watching. Although it is good to be 'alone,' this type of mindset can be dangerous. You see, what we mean by being alone is only partly true. Indeed, you may be the only human in the house, but to say you are 'alone' is to have weak eyes that do not look past the physical realm.

We know from Scripture that God is everywhere. David says in Psalm 139, "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?" God is not only in heaven, but also in the depth of hell, on the peak of every mountain, and at the bottom of every sea. There is no where you can run from him. There is no where you can go to be truly alone. 

How should this effect us?

1. We should have a holy fear of God. God is always in the room. He knows every thought that comes into your mind. He knows that you are thinking about him right now. He not only knows your actions, but also your thoughts, motives, and heart inclinations (cf. Hebrews 4:12). He knows that you foolishly try to hide the wicked things that you've done from his eyes, trying to cover them up and conceal your motives. His eye pierces much deeper than the 'eye of Sauron.' 

2. Conscious acknowledgement of God's presence should keep us from sinning. To say that you're going to be completely alone is completely absurd. It's also extremely dangerous. When we think we're 'alone' we are less afraid of sinning because there are no apparent consequences. The lie is that no one will see us do it. There will be no consequences. God is not as present as another human would be. But God is actually more present. He not only sees your body, but your heart, your mind, and your soul. Why do we act as though he isn't? True acknowledgement of God's presence should keep you from the sin that an acknowledgment of your dad's presence in the room would.

3. Apart from Christ, God's omnipresence is the most fearful thing in the world. The author of Hebrews says, "And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Every evil thought, every moment of envy, anger, bitterness and pride has been marked by God. You will be accountable to him for your deeds. Nothing goes unnoticed. Nothing goes unpardoned. That is terrifying. 

No wonder the next verse says, "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confessions." Christ was most ferociously tempted when he was 'alone' in the wilderness. Yet he stood the test and did not sin. Every thought was pure, every action undefiled. Because of Christ, we can enter before the throne of grace with confidence, knowing that none of your failures will not be ignored...but paid for at Calvary. 

Fear and Faith: Part IV, "Christ Our Healer"

One aspect of faith is fearing God as the all-powerful and all-encompassing God, and trusting that in his goodness and faithfulness he will use his power to deliver you from your bondage. Such was the faith of a woman in Mark 5 who had a discharge of blood for twelve years. She had spent all of her money visiting many physicians, but nothing seemed to work. I'm sure she began to doubt whether or not she could ever be healed.

Then one day the woman began to hear stories of a man who was in town. Word had it that he had the miraculous ability to heal people. She said to herself, "If I could touch even his garments, I will be made well." Other physicians had failed her time and time again, but she had an unusual feeling that this Jesus was actually able to heal her, even if she only touched the end of his cloak!

Immediately when the woman touched Jesus' garment she knew that she had been healed of her disease. Such power she had never known or imagined. Jesus felt this power going out from him and turned around looking for her. Then the woman, realizing that his power had filled and healed her, came to him in fear and trembling, fell before him, and told him the whole truth. She laid herself before him and didn't know what to expect. She knew he was strong enough to heal her, but was he good? A sigh of relief must have flooded over her soul when she heard him say, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."

I pray that this would be our reaction to experiencing firsthand the power of Christ! We should not be ignorant of his strength or ever lose sight of his power. We ought not to forget that the God of love and mercy could easily cast us into an eternity of torment. He has no restrains, he has no limits, and he has no obligations. We are pitiful, beggarly, and rebellious creatures who are constantly in need of his love and mercy.

We must come to Christ. This woman had a physical disease for twelve long years, but we have been spiritually in need of a physician for much longer. We have a disease that no other physician could ever heal. We ought to tremble in fear, telling Christ the whole truth. Oh how we should long to hear him say to us, "your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease!"

- Mark 5:24-34

Fear and Faith: Part III, "Beggars of Jesus"

After Jesus commanded the storm as well as his disciples to be at peace, his next encounter would be a spiritual one. As he entered the country of the Gerasenes, a man with an unclean spirit came bursting out of the tombs. He was a terrifying figure, and people had often bound him with chains. But time and time again he would break the shackles and chains that so loosely confined him. This man received his strength from a legion of demons and no one could control him. Until Jesus stepped on the stage.

When the demon-possessed man saw Jesus approaching he cried out loud, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me." Even this man acknowledged Christ's power and authority. The demons who were strong enough to subject an ordinary man were found themselves begging Jesus not to torment them and to allow them to enter into a nearby herd of pigs. Upon their request, Jesus gave them permission to do as they had asked. There were so many demons that they caused a herd of 2,000 pigs to run into the sea!

Not only did Jesus demonstrate power over the wind and the sea, but also over the demonic spiritual forces. Both were obliged to obey his commands and subject themselves to his will. On the first account, the disciples' response was a proper fear of Jesus. In this account, the people who had previously known the demon-possessed man (who was now dressed and civilized), may have been as afraid as the disciples had been. However, instead of staying with Jesus and trying to know him better, the people began to beg him to depart from their region.

As we saw with the Israelites, there is a fear that draws you in faith toward God as well as one that drives you away from God. These men were obviously the latter. The demon-possessed man was a good example of the former.

Mark 5:1-20

Fear and Faith: Part II, "Christ in the Storm"

The disciples' boat felt tiny amidst the devastating storm. Many of them had grown up as sailors and had doubtless experienced the terror of the sea, but this storm was different. The winds burst with incredible velocity and the waves were breaking into the boat. It was filling up with water and the disciples knew that it was only a matter of time until they were engulfed in the dreadful abyss of the sea. Darkness clouded their minds. Fear gripped their hearts. In desperation they looked for Jesus. Despite the rising tempests, they found their Teacher in the stern, sound asleep on a cushion. "They woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?'" They must have been wondering how he could have abandoned them in such a trivial moment.

Then Jesus "awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." Then he turned to his disciples and asked, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" 

What if Jesus had asked why they were so afraid before he calmed the storm? Their response probably would have beens somethings like "Why do you ask us why we are so afraid? The sheer impact of those waves are the most powerful force we have ever experienced. Why wouldn't we be afraid? We have every reason to fear, our lives are at stake." 

By standing up and calming the storm, Jesus answered their question. "This storm is not the most powerful force you've ever encountered. I am. Let me show you the power and authority that I exercise over my creation and you will no longer be afraid of the wind and waves" (not in the Bible). Jesus is that force with which none greater can be conceived. In response, "they were filled with great fear and said to one another, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?'" 

As created beings, fear is part of our nature. We will always be afraid of something because their will always be something greater than us. However, I think that it is wrong to be afraid of something less than God. He alone is worthy of our fear. Hopefully, the upcoming blogs will help us to see what a proper fear of God is compared to an improper one. For now, glory to God who is there in the storm! May we fear him above any other force, for he is above all things.

Mark 4:35-41

Fear and Faith: Part I, "God on Mt. Sinai"

Flashes of lightning, the blast of a trumpet, and the looming Mount Sinai covered in smoke caused the people of Israel to tremble in fear and distance themselves from God. Terrified of God and afraid for their very lives, the people of Israel said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die" (Ex. 20:19). Moses responded, "Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you..." (Ex. 20:20). What?!? Are the people of Israel suppose to fear God or not? Why does Moses say "do not fear" and in the same breath say "that the fear of him may be before you"?

We do need to fear God, but that fear can either cause us to run away from him in terror or to run toward him in faith. But what does it mean to fear the Lord? This is a difficult question. Scripture teaches much about this topic, and I'm looking forward to sharing a few insights on the relationship between fear and faith in the Gospel of Mark. 

So please join me in observing more closely some of the pieces of God's life here on earth. Jesus exercises power to calm storms, cast out demons, heal the sick and diseased, feed five thousand, and to walk on water. When encountered with the cosmological power of Christ, the proper response is not to be driven away in fear, but to be driven toward him in faith and love. I hope these next few posts will help inspire you to a proper awe of God, a purer worship of him, and a deeper love for King Jesus.

Christian Giving

A few passages about Christian giving to pray through. It would be good to think about what these promises are, what they mean, if you truly believe them, and how they may impact your giving.

"One gives freely, yet grows all the richer, another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered." - Proverbs 11:24, 25

"It is well with the man who deals generously and lends." - Psalm 112:5a

"[The righteous man] has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor." - Psalm 112:9

"Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." - 2 Corinthians 9:6

"He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way." - 2 Corinthians 9:10, 11

Transforming Love

I walked into Jeremy's room at 11:15pm, wondering whether he was going to be compliant or not. Every night the overnight staff encourages him to use the restroom so that he doesn't wake up wet. After about 5 min. of prompting him to use the restroom, trying to get him out of bed, Jeremy reluctantly moved his stack of blankets off. As soon as he got up I could see a small wet spot on his sheets. They needed to be cleaned. As he went to the bathroom, I changed his sheets. That didn't make him very happy though. He wanted his other one's and argued that they were not dirty. He told me several times that I had no right to wash his laundry and that it was his responsibility. Our debate grew more heated and about 10 min. had gone by since he got back in bed. I couldn't get him to put his cpap mask back on to go to bed. He argues about every little thing. As he got more irritated, I gave him several warnings, threatening to physically restrain him if he didn't stop yelling at staff. He told me that I had no right to "pin him on the floor" and that only his parents could do that. Then he mentioned something off-hand about going somewhere with his mom tomorrow.

At this point, my strategy changed. I shifted my demeanor from an assertive staff to a loving friend. I asked him about his trip with his mom and asked if he was going to have a good day tomorrow. With a little kindness, I was able to convince him that going to bed would enable him to have a good day tomorrow. He finally agreed. In fact, his change in demeanor was almost as fast as mine.

I guess it goes to show that a little love and genuine care can go a lot farther than the most assertive and logical arguments. I hope that being a loving friend is more important to me than being right.

Love Does not Envy or Boast

"Love does not envy or boast" -1 Corinthians 13:4.

These two words, envy and boast, are an interesting couple. At first they appear to be very different in nature. Envy is that man in the corner who is bitter because everyone else got a peanut butter bar. Boasting is that man who is proud because he is the only one to have received a peanut butter bar. Complete opposites, right?


Although they take on very different faces, envy and boasting are both rooted in a false sense of ownership, either over what someone else has (envy) or what you yourself have (boasting). 

- Envy is falsely assuming that something outside of your possession is rightfully yours and thereby wrongly desiring it.

- Boasting is falsely assuming that something inside your possession is rightfully yours and thereby falsely taking pride in it.

- Righteous jealousy, on the other hand, is rightly assuming that something outside your possession is rightfully yours and thereby rightly desiring it. 
- Finally, righteous boasting is rightly assuming that something inside your possession is rightfully yours and thereby taking pride in it.

I take these definitions to be self-evident and will not attempt to defend them here. 

As fallen humans, we deserve nothing and therefore have no room to boast. As Christians, we have been given the right to be called children of God (John 1:12) and therefore are able to make our boast in Christ who gives us that right. Only in Christ do you deserve what you own. Therefore, only in Christ can you boast in what you own. Apart from Christ boasting is both wrong and unloving. 

“Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14)

Wounds of Love

What does love look like? You may think that love is simply helping someone out and making them feel good. However, this is not always true. Sometimes true love hurts, even wounds the person you care for the most. You see, love is not just what makes people feel good right now; it's more than that. Love does what's ultimately best for that person, regardless of how it makes them feel right now. As a man-pleaser by nature and I struggle with this. Although I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, I should realize that there are times in life where the most loving thing I can do for someone may very well hurt their feelings.

Proverbs 27:5 says, "Better is open rebuke than hidden love." If someone has committed a wrong and is in need of rebuke, the loving thing to do is rebuke them. Feel free to call them out in order to help bring them to repentance. Notice that such "open rebuke" is better than "hidden love." This means that if you don't rebuke them, you're just hiding your love for them. You may genuinely love them and hope for their best, but if you do not do what's best for them (i.e. rebuke them), than your love is hidden from them. In your attempt not to hurt them, you fail to help them.

The next verse is even better. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy." You heard right, faithful friends wound each other. This is because sometimes it's necessary to hurt a friends feelings. Sometimes true love calls for that (i.e. rebuke). Our natural impulse is to affirm people and make them feel better even when they are wrong. However, "profuse are the kisses of an enemy." Don't whisper soft words into their ears or tickle them with false affirmations. That's what enemies do. When someone is someone is having cardiac arrest don't pat them on the back and tell them their doing fine, roll them over and start pounding them on the chest with harsh (but loving) compressions. Their brain needs oxygen, not affirmation.

If a father didn't discipline his son, his son may become spoiled and disobedient. If someone never rebuked his friends, they may continue in unrepentant sin. If a coach never made his players run laps, they may become a losing team. If a general never disciplined his troops, they may lose the war. If God never crucified his Son, Jesus would have never been exalted in the way that He did (cf. Phil. 2:9-11). This list goes on and may be applied to many different scenarios.

This principle of wounding love can and should be considered in every relationship. I don't want you to look for ways to hurt your friends, but I do want you to ask yourself, "What is going to be the most helpful thing to do (or not do) for this person in the long run, even if it may hurt for the time being?"

Singleness: Training Grounds for Marriage

What's the purpose of singleness? It's dangerous to think of singleness simply as a period where you can exercise your freedom and independence from family ties. Even the Bible compares getting married to sticking your head inside a yoke. So why shouldn't you enjoy being single while it lasts and leave the bondage of getting married to future attention?

This is a terrible way of thinking that does more to equip a man for marriage than eating peanut butter prunes on a plaid sofa. If marriage stresses the muscles of commitment, communication, organization, establishing priorities, and complete dependence on others, than why would you spend your singleness years relaxing those muscles in order to exercise your freedom, independence, autonomy, etc.?

Think about the fact that every married person was single before they got married. God gives us a season to lay a solid foundation upon which we and our families can stand. This is a time to exercise those muscles which will be essential for marriage. Most importantly, it is a time to grow more in love with God and to establish a greater dependence on Him. Any athlete will tell you that training is hard, but necessary. Any soldier will tell you that boot camp is painful, but equipping. If you spend your time in the boot camp of singleness eating cracker jacks and counting how many licks it takes to get to the bottom of a blow pop, you will not be prepared to enter into the warzone of marriage. You may find the person on the other side of the marriage yoke to be the only one ready to pull their weight.

Utilize this time to prepare. Do this by growing more into the image of Christ, the husband of the Church. Also, begin to seek wisdom early. The first time you think about how you'd like to raise your kids should not be when your wife is already pregnant. As Solomon says in Proverbs, "Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future" (19:20).

A Mountain of Difficulty

Imagine a 23 year old young man standing at the base of a mountain gazing up as it looms ominously over him. The journey ahead is both exciting and incredibly intimidating. Squinting his eyes as he peers upward, it is hard to imagine ever reaching the peak! He begins to grow discouraged, but then remembers something his father told him years ago.

"Son, I've been climbing now for thirty years and I want to share with you something that is essential for a successful climb. No matter how high the mountain is before you, the only way you'll ever reach the top is by taking it one step at a time. Remember the feeling of walked up what seems like a few stairs and then realizing that three stories is higher than you originally thought. So when you begin your journey, rather than being overwhelmed by the enormity of the task as a whole, focus on the little task right before your eyes. The only time you should step back and look at the entire mountain is in order to choose the smoothest coarse in which to travel. Once you've picked your route, put your head down and start climbing. It is in this way that you will avoid utter discouragement and failure."

I believe this principle applies to every difficulty you may encounter in life's long journey. In fact, as you may have already guessed, I invented this story in order to serve as a demonstration of this truth. When life gets incredibly busy and it seems like you have way too much to do, or when the task in front of you seems far too difficult, don't give up! I've seen many people freeze up because they spend too much time thinking about all that they need to do, while they fail to actually sit down and get started. Remember the old man's wisdom and just take the first step. Ask yourself, "What do I hope to do today...or even this hour?" You should only think about the plethora of items on your schedule long enough to plan the most effective route. Then get to work.

God will deliver you in His strength to the peak of your difficulties. Don't worry about the future, for "sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matt. 6:34). May God bless your journey to the peak.

More Grateful

I work with mentally disabled people who need helping eating, getting dressed, going to the bathroom, etc. They don't have the privilege of going places by themselves or doing all the things that we do on a daily basis. However, my point is not simply to talk about how little disabled people have. My purpose (in addition to appeasing David's blog requests) is to remind us of how much we have. The fact that we can do things by ourselves should not be taken for granted (including the fact that you're reading this right now).

God has given us so much! We should be more grateful. From the life in our lungs to the shoes on our feet. Be grateful. Remind yourself that it could be worse, it could be harder. God has given us amazing and incredible bodies. Just think about it. Right now my fingers are moving up and down on top of a keyboard in an extremely coordinated effort to push down specific keys of my choosing (although they keep springing back up against my will). Not only that, but my mind remembers where the keys are that I want and which keys I need in order to form the words that will communicate the message I desire. And I hardly even have to think about it! My body almost moves on its own, hardly a thought goes into it. And thought is all that goes into it. I think and my hands move. That's awesome!

Join me in being more grateful

Prayer

I've been considering my prayer life recently. It's a good thing to think about. Even Jesus' disciples asked him to teach them how to pray. Here's a few sporadic thoughts. 


- Give God your full attention. If you were having dinner with the president, you would never text during a conversation with them. When you pray, find a quit place with no distractions. 


- Be needy. Don't think that when you pray you are doing God a huge favor. He's the God of the universe and He doesn't need you. You need Him. Don't forget that when you come to Him.


- Don't be afraid to be brief. Don't pray for a long time just so that God will listen to you (cf. Matt. 6:7). There are certainly times for long prayers (Jesus prayed all night), but do not ramble as if God won't hear you unless you say it 50 times. 


- Be open and honest. One of the dumbest things you can do is try to hide your true feelings when talking to the one who knows everything. He knows when you're angry or proud, so be honest (and humble).


- Have variety. Do you have a friend who only calls when they need something? Don't be that person. Yes, come to God with requests, but also with adoration, thanksgiving, confession, and praise. Don't succumb to the deadly one-track prayers. 


- Be intentional. Any relationship takes intentionality. If you don't plan on praying, you most likely won't pray (just ask me). This is the most difficult for me. 


- Pray with faith. If you pray within God's will as revealed in Scripture, then have confidence that He will do it. Believe in your heart that God will answer prayer.

The Danger of Divided Devotion

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money" (Matt. 6:24). 


Please take the time to ponder how you think about your money and possessions in general (or lack thereof). Although it is not wrong to own things (otherwise I would be in trouble), I do not think we fully comprehend the weight or the implications of Jesus' words. My hope is that these three thoughts would provoke thoughts of your own.


First, if you love money then you hate God. Period. You cannot love and serve both of them at one time. Your heart will either be attached to God, or something else. Whatever the object may be, it is unworthy of your affection which belongs wholly to Christ. 


Second, this is a constant battle for the Christian. While you are on this earth, your heart will flip back and forth from God to something else and back again. However, you can never love them both at the same time. Imagine it this way. You are in a hallway between two kitchens. God is the cook in one kitchen and your idol is the cook in the other. You are able to serve either one, but you cannot serve both at one time. Just as you can never be in both kitchens at once!


Third, although this verse may seem extreme or exaggerated at, it is not a difficult concept to grasp. We know that a soldier cannot fight for two sides. Nor can an athlete play for two coaches. It's not that we don't understand how a person can't serve both God and money, it's that we don't want to understand. 


Not only is it impossible, but it's just plain stupid to try to serve both God and money. No one likes a person who's constantly on the fence about things. Imagine a quarterback who throws half of his balls to his receivers and the other half to the defenders. Such a quarterback would be despised by both teams. Likewise, you're not helping anyone by switching sides all the time. Find where your loyalties are and stick to it. Christ is worth your full devotion.