Let them merge (an outward bound life)

Human beings have a tendency to live inward bound lives*, thinking mostly of our needs and desires and using our time and resources to get them met. But we won't experience true joy unless we live an outward bound life, putting God and others before ourselves.

The Bible commands it:
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:4).

"As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people..." (Galatians 6:10).

Jesus sets the example:
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).

God loves to give us good gifts, but those gifts are ultimately meant to benefit more than just ourselves:

God blesses us so we can be a blessing to others (Genesis 12:2).

God comforts us so we can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:4).

Paul gives this promise to the Philippian church: "My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). This promise comes, however, as a response to the believers' selfless generosity to provide for Paul's needs.

Another place in the Bible makes this connection: "Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed" (Proverbs 28:27).

God gives us everything we need, not in order to be happy and comfortable, but in order to live a godly life (2 Peter 1:3). A godly life is one characterized by love for God and others.

God gives us the desires of our heart, not because we beg for them and depend on them for our happiness, but because our delight is in Him (Psalm 37:4).

He gives us His favor and makes us secure, not just for our own benefit, but so others may know that He has blessed us, that they may come to Him (Isaiah 60-61).

Our blessings are a responsibility: "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked" (Luke 12:48).

This kind of thinking is the complete opposite of human nature. The more we get, the more we want. If we don't make a conscious decision every day and every moment to live outward bound, we will default to living for ourselves.

Take, for example, driving. In Long Island we drive on the offensive, always trying to be the first to cut into traffic but not ever letting anyone merge in front of us. It seems like this is the only way to survive here, with so many cars on the road, and so many drivers on a mission to be first and fastest.

But I noticed when driving with my husband that he would often stop and signal for another driver to turn onto the road in front of him because there was no sign of a gap in the cars behind him. I was touched by these acts of generosity and decided to change my habits. It took some getting used to, but I am now more cognizant of situations where, if I were the other driver, I would really appreciate being waved into traffic. Occasionally the drivers behind me get upset that I slowed down for two seconds, but I'd rather be kind to the one driver who needs some grace than make sure that the many who are driving "inward bound" don't get offended.

Maybe being a considerate driver comes more naturally to you... maybe you're from the South where everyone is more relaxed ;-) There is surely some aspect of your life that is focused inwards where you could make an intentional decision to widen your perspective. Maybe it's where your money goes, how you spend your time, or how you choose your words. Maybe you just need to learn to be okay with letting someone else think that they are right.

"When you get to a place where you don't go for what you can get, but you go for what you can give, you're gonna see your life change tremendously."
-Eric Thomas

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*terminology taken from my pastor, Bert Crabbe, of True North Community Church

True Joy

People say that if you follow Jesus, you will be blessed. I agree. I just think it's important to note that our idea of blessing and God's idea of blessing don't always match up.

We say: "I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."
We think: I can get that job, win this game, finish this project, accomplish my dreams.
But the context says this statement is about finding contentment whether or not things go our way:

"Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:11-13).

Jesus says: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).
We think: A full life means a happy family, a nice house, two cars, money in the bank.....
But the rest of the Bible says that true life is living for Someone greater than yourself:

"And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again" (2 Corinthians 5:15).

"Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?' " (Mark 8:34-36).

We read: "You will fill me with joy in your presence" (Proverbs 10:28).
We think: Jesus fills me with a warm fuzzy feeling and gives me a happy life, taking my problems away.
But the rest of the Bible says that joy is based on our hope that God is good and everything will be worked together for good in some way, whether during this life or the next.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-4).

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance" (Romans 5:3).

"So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while" (1 Peter 1:6).

"We never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever" (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Paul describe his life as a faithful believer in this way: "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything" (2 Corinthians 6:10).

Yes, God blesses us with strength, life, and joy, but it doesn't always look like what we think it will.

Here are some insightful thoughts by another blogger on this topic: 4 Things Jesus Didn't Die For

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"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
-Isaiah 55:8-9

Wedding day disaster

Just as we experience actual troubles in life that are too much for us to bear alone (see previous post), we also experience worries - troubles that we rehearse in our minds - which engulf us if we don't release the burden to God.

I do this all the time. I think about what could happen, and I try to control the circumstances in my life to make things turn out the way I want. Yet: "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps" (Proverbs 16:9).

I'm reminded of my wedding. I put a year of planning and tons of effort into making it a great day. But only hours before the wedding ceremony, we found out that our caterer wasn't going to show up. Now when I say "we", I actually mean every single person but me. Thank God they didn't let me find out, because it would have been too much for me to handle.

So often I want to know what is going to happen, and I want to have my plans set, but if I really knew what the future held, or what all the underlying problems were, it would be too much for me to bear in the moment.

As I was getting ready to walk down the aisle and say "I do", and then while I was busy taking pictures to commemorate the day, I had no idea that my mom, my wedding planner, my brother's girlfriend, my dad's cousin, an old friend from my youth group days, and so many more people were hurriedly pulling strings and making things come together.

By the time I got to the reception, there were hors d'oeuvres, a main course, dishes, and silverware. And I had no idea there was a problem until it was already solved.

It's when things go wrong that I'm reminded of the goodness in people - in friends and family who help and encourage me, and in complete strangers who are willing to stop what they are doing and reach out.

When I think about what could go wrong is when I try to control every situation and make sure my plans are accomplished. When things actually do go wrong is when I realize that I have no control, and I need to trust in God's goodness to sustain me.

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"Rehearsing your troubles results in experiencing them many times, whereas you are meant to go through them only when they actually occur." -Sarah Young

"Worry robs us of our confidence that God notices and cares about the details of our lives." -Renee Swope

"O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head." -Psalm 139:1-5

Threshold

"God will never give you more than you can handle."

How many times have you heard that statement? I used to believe it.

But then I saw my friend lose first her dad, then her husband to cancer.

And I witnessed a coworker struggling with a chronic illness that caused her severe pain every day of her adult life.

I was amazed at their strength. But they themselves admitted they're not strong. They're simply choosing not be bitter, to rely on God, and to live their lives the best they can.

"God will never give you more than you can handle" is nowhere in the Bible. On the other hand, this is:

"We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life... But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God" (2 Corinthians 1:8-9).

In the letter quoted here, Paul talks about how we share not only in Christ's blessings, but also His sufferings. Even Jesus, the Son of God, bore more suffering than he could handle (Matthew 26:36-46).

God will allow you to bear burdens that are heavier than you can manage, and that's when you'll know how much you need Him.

Here are some much more eloquent accounts of how much we can handle, and what happens when that threshold is surpassed:

God will give you more than you can handle: I guarantee it

Stephen Colbert loves the thing he most wishes had not happened

Run like Keith

"We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed." -2 Corinthians 4:7-9

MLK

Out of all the important people in history, I admire Martin Luther King, Jr. more than just about any of them. I came across these quotes of his today and thought they fit well with what I was trying to say in my last post:

The late night cornet player (living with love)

I often think about all of the problems in this world - hunger, poverty, oppression, pollution, violence, you name it - and know that as a human being, it is my responsibility to be part of the solution. There are larger than life people in this world who are taking huge steps to end child trafficking, to give the destitute tools they need to live a prosperous life, to introduce sustainable practices for a better future... Compared with them, I feel that I offer so little. Compared with the problems, I feel overwhelmed and don't even know where to begin.

But comparison is a big mistake. It's like looking in a distorted mirror, and it's not going to help me be a better person. Jesus made it simple. He said that the most important thing we can do is to love God and love those around us (Matthew 22:37-40). For some people, that means going to another country and rescuing people from slavery. But for the ordinary person, it relates to how we live each day:

Smile - yours might be the only friendly face someone sees all day.
Be patient - that slow cashier might be having a long, difficult day.
Forgive - that guy who cut you off on the highway might be rushing home to a crisis, or maybe he's dealing with anxiety issues you know nothing about.
Give unsolicited help.
If someone asks you for help, give it ungrudgingly.
Find a person or organization you believe in, and give to them generously - with your time or money.
Reach out to someone who is lonely, or bitter, or unfriendly.

Let me give you an example of the last point. When I moved to a new apartment with my husband after getting married, we noticed that a neighbor somewhere was playing Taps on his trumpet several times each night. At first, we thought it was kind of neat, but then it got annoying, especially when he played at 11 pm and woke us up from our sleep. Through talking with our landlord, we found out that this neighbor did not get along with another neighbor, and he played Taps every night in order to annoy her. After this bit of news, every time our neighbor played, I would seethe inside, asking myself how anyone could be so rude and immature.

However, I've learned that when I have a judgment against someone, if I make an effort to get to know them, I have a better understanding of where they're coming from, and I no longer feel the need to judge. I started feeling like my husband and I needed to go to this man's house and meet him, maybe befriend him. I kept pushing the thought away, but it kept coming back, and eventually I convinced my husband to join me. I made a fruit salad, and we walked to his house and knocked on the door. We were expecting a bitter, somewhat elderly man and his wife.

When the door opened, what we saw was a very old man with long white hair and a long white beard. He invited us in, and we spent at least a half hour talking. It turns out our neighbor is a World War II veteran who was a B-17 pilot. He lives all alone and has trouble finishing a story without losing his train of thought. He is a survivor, not only of the war, but of a stroke and a heart attack. He is bored and lonely, and one of the few things he still knows how to do is play his trumpet (actually, a cornet, as he explained to us). Yes, he does annoy one of our neighbors, and she did take him to court because of it, but I don't believe annoyance is his intention.

We visit our new friend every week or two. Every time we knock on his door, he comes to the window and waves at us, then invites us in with a smile and talks and talks for as long as he can to keep us there. We may not be saving lives, or impacting thousands, but I am encouraged to know that we are making a positive difference in this one person's life.

I'm happy to know that my smile, or kind words, or decision to stop and let the car in front of me merge may be making someone's day a little better. And to know that without people like me making donations, the people and organizations I support wouldn't be able to do the amazing work that they do.

"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love."
-Mother Teresa

Love

The earth is full of God's unfailing love.

His love can be seen in nature...
The rising and setting of the sun each day.
The smell of the ocean and the sound of the waves.
Birds flitting from branch to branch.
The flowers pushing up through the ground as winter ends.

His love can be seen in human existence...
A life being formed from the joining of two cells.
Birth.
Baby's first smile, first steps, first words.
The bond between a baby and its parents.

But once we get past the baby stage, some even while we are yet babies, we begin to realize how much is wrong in this world.
There are natural catastrophes.
There is tragedy.
There are humans who do evil things.

And still, God's love can be seen in the midst...
Human resilience.
Friendship.
Forgiveness.
Compassion.
The people and organizations devoted to:
   end human trafficking
   lift their fellow man out of poverty
   make the world a better place.

So we can choose to focus on the ugly.
Or we can choose to focus on the beautiful.
We can ask God why He allows evil.
Or we can ask ourselves why we allow evil.
We can choose to grumble about all that is wrong.
Or we can do our part to make it right.

"The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love."
-Psalm 33:5

Who is Jesus? (part 2)

In my last post, I explained that Jesus of Nazareth claimed to be divine, based on what he said, and also on how others reacted to him. It was not only a statement he made once or twice, but it was the core of his message.

There are those who say that Jesus was a good teacher, but he wasn't God. However, how can a good, moral person, base their message and their life on one great big lie? If Jesus claimed to be divine but wasn't, then either he was a liar, or he was insane. (This is a point that C. S. Lewis makes in his book, Mere Christianity.)

Jesus taught that we must love our neighbor, and he demonstrated this principle in how he related to those around him, especially to the outcasts of society (the blind, lepers, tax collectors, Samaritans, prostitutes...). He raised the moral standards of the Old Testament (Matthew 5:17-48) and gave us the refined form of the Golden Rule (Luke 6:31, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Rule#Christianity). How could someone whose life is based on a lie live and teach such high moral standards?

If Jesus was not a liar, but was not God, then the only option left is that he was greatly deceived about his own identity and was mentally off-kilter. But then again, how could a deranged individual teach such meaningful messages? If he was not operating at maximum mental capacity, how could he as a young boy amaze the scholars of his day with his understanding? (Luke 2:46-47). When the religious leaders tried to trap him with difficult questions, how was he able to silence them with his responses? (Matthew 22:15-46).

Many opponents of Christianity disregard this argument on the basis that Jesus did not actually claim to be God, or that the Bible is not an accurate depiction of his life and teachings. That is why I wrote the two previous posts.

Another reason why the facts only add up if Jesus' claim to deity was true is the witness of his disciples. They were Jews, and the common Jewish belief was that the Messiah would be a conquering king who would restore the kingdom to Israel (Luke 24:19-21, Acts 1:6, http://www.jewfaq.org/mashiach.htm#Mashiach). They had no room in their image of the Messiah for suffering and death (Matthew 16:21-22). When Jesus was captured, the disciples all fled (Mark 14:50), and Peter, one of his closest disciples, denied three times that he even knew Jesus (Mark 14:66-71). In the days after Jesus' death, the disciples met behind locked doors because they were afraid (John 20:19-20).

After Jesus appeared to his disciples following his death and resurrection, they went from disillusioned, frightened, and helpless to outspoken and fearless. They boldly preached the message of Jesus, the resurrected Son of God. They were threatened, imprisoned, beaten, and martyred in an attempt to stop them from spreading the gospel, but they persevered, "rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus" (Acts 5:41). You don't have to read the Bible to find accounts of the persecution of early Christians; just look to any secular historical account.

Some people, in an attempt to explain away the resurrection of Jesus, have said that Jesus' disciples stole his body in order to convince others that he had risen from the dead. But a group of disillusioned deserters, too afraid to stand by Jesus while he was being arrested, could not have fabricated a story of Jesus' resurrection and held fast to their claims even through torture and death. They had to believe what they were preaching.

There is much more to say on the topic of Jesus' deity and resurrection, but it would require a book to write it all down, and books have already been written by C.S. Lewis (former atheist), Josh McDowell (former atheist), Nabeel Qureshi (former Muslim), and many others.

"Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord!'
"But he said to them, 'Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.'
"A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.'
"Thomas said to him, 'My Lord and my God!'
"Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.' "
-John 20:24-29

Who is Jesus?

Many people like to think that Jesus was a good teacher, but not divine. However,

(1) Jesus most definitely claimed to be divine.

(2) The facts only add up if his claim was true.

(1) This section about Jesus' claim to divinity is based on my belief in the accuracy of the Bible, which I addressed in my last post.

Some of Jesus' sayings may be misunderstood by us, who are reading them in a different language than the original, at a different time, in a different place, and ignorant of the religious and cultural context.

The Pharisees of Jesus' time, however, understood the context well, and understood his claims as blasphemy, so serious as to merit his death. In one situation, Jesus is talking to the Pharisees about his special relationship with God and his role on Earth. He ends by saying, " 'I and the Father are one.' "

"Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, 'I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?' 'We are not stoning you for any good work,' they replied, 'but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.' "

-John 10:30-33

Another instance of Jesus' claim to divinity appears in every gospel, again and again, when he calls himself the Son of Man. To some, this self-designation seems to support Jesus' humanity. However, the phrase "Son of Man" is actually a reference to a passage in Daniel 7:13-14:

"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed."

In case anyone thinks it's a leap of faith to assume that Jesus is referring to this passage when he calls himself the son of man, let's see what he says when he is on trial before the high priest before his crucifixion:

"The high priest asked him, 'Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?'

'I am,' said Jesus. 'And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.'

The high priest tore his clothes. 'Why do we need any more witnesses?' he asked. 'You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?'

They all condemned him as worthy of death."

-Mark 14:61-64 (See also Matthew 26:63-66)

In the gospels of both Matthew and Luke, Jesus asks his disciples who other people say he is and who they think he is:

" 'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I am?'

Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.'

Jesus replied, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.' "

-Matthew 16:15-17 (See also Luke 9:20-27)

Three gospels record an incident where Jesus heals a paralyzed man, and in so doing, makes it clear that he is on the same level as God:

"When Jesus saw [the] faith [of the man's friends], he said to the paralyzed man, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.'

Now some of the teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 'Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?'

Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, "Your sins are forgiven," or to say, "Get up, take your mat and walk"? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.' So he said to the man, 'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.' He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this!"

-Mark 2:5-12 (See also Matthew 9:2-8 and Luke 5:20-26)

These are just a few examples showing that, yes, Jesus was a good teacher, but at the heart of his message was his identity as the Son of God (Matthew 11:27) and the only way to the Father (John 14:6).

I will address point #2 in my next post.

Taking the Bible seriously

Not many people argue with the existence of Jesus of Nazareth, since there is as much evidence to support that he lived as there is for most other historical figures. This evidence comes from both Christian and secular sources, such as the prized writings of Josephus and Tacitus. Modern scholars are in agreement that Jesus existed, was baptized by John the Baptist, and was crucified by Pontius Pilate.

The disagreements start when it comes to the reliability of the New Testament in accurately depicting what Jesus said and did. Many people dismiss the Bible as mythology and refuse to see it as a historical document. Josh McDowell was one of these skeptics who set out to disprove the Bible but only ended up confirming its historicity. He states in his book, More Than a Carpenter, "If one discards the Bible as unreliable historically, then he or she must discard all the literature of antiquity. No other document has as much evidence to confirm its reliability" (revised and updated edition, copyright 2009, pg 87). Some of the reasons he cites are:

-The vast amount of early manuscripts that we still have available to us today (over 20,000). This rules out the idea that today's Bible is different from the original writings, since we can compare.
-The closeness of the text to the events they describe (all written by AD 80). No legend has ever been developed in this short amount of time.
-The fact that the writers of the New Testament were either eyewitnesses to the events they described or in close relationship with eyewitnesses.
-The fact that the books of the New Testament were circulated among those (some sympathetic to Christianity, and some opposed) who had witnessed the events and could have contested any false information.
-The evidence from secular writings and archaeological findings that verifies the accuracy of events recorded (i.e. - that Romans crucified Jesus, that Jesus was believed to be risen from the dead and was worshiped as God, and that his tomb was empty).

Another man that first set out to disprove the Bible, only to be convinced of its authenticity, was Nabeel Qureshi, once a devout Muslim, and now author of the book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus (very interesting book; I highly recommend it). He would not be convinced to embrace Christianity until he had spent years researching and considering every alternative, because the Muslim faith was so ingrained in him and so important to his family. This website has a PDF of "Expert Contributions" from different professors, researchers, and authors that expand on the themes in his book.

Are science and God incompatible?

As science advances, and we understand more about the world we live in, many people feel confident in saying that we don't need God anymore. God was for the people of the past who needed to invent a reason why the sun rose and set each day, explain what causes earthquakes, and understand how it is that life exists. But now we understand the scientific principles behind all of these phenomenon, so why continue with this blind belief in some supernatural being that we can't see or prove the existence of?

There are many problems with this argument. For one, the very fact that we can understand the universe, and that it is ordered and follows certain laws of nature, is evidence of an intelligent designer.

Furthermore, as science keeps uncovering new findings, we are realizing that there is a complexity to life that we never dreamed possible. Darwin did not even know of the existence of genes, but now we understand that life if made up of elaborate cells, which are directed by an intricate molecule called DNA. Scientists have discovered not only atoms, but subatomic particles. Darwin's theory makes sense if life is made up of molecular blobs, but could a single-celled organism really arise from nothing, and then develop into the complex multicellular organisms that exist today?

As we turn our attention from microscopic to macroscopic realities, exploring the solar system and beyond, we are finding that the Earth is so fine-tuned to support life that the chances of it being an accident are inconceivable.

Most everyone I know is trying to find out how to make their life purposeful. But how can there be purpose if we are all here by accident and created by blind evolution?

Do you believe in right and wrong? Where does your morality come from - did the process of evolution create it?

Here is a question that I remember hearing in 2001, from my atheist biology teacher - If we are made up of just chemicals, how can we feel emotions? How are we capable of love?

Science and God are not incompatible. Science explains how things work. The existence of God explains why they work in the first place.

"In the end, belief in God, especially the biblical God, is an act of faith. But so too is believing that our existence is simply the result of chance."
-Eric Metaxas: http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/12/26659

The scientific case for Intelligent Design: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2d7aKN-X5M

The history of the scientific theory of Intelligent Design: http://www.discovery.org/a/3207

What it means to be a Christian, part 2

In my last post, I wrote about how salvation is not a ticket to heaven but an entryway into a new way of life, where we do things that lead to eternal life. I pointed out that life is hard, with or without God. The difference for a Christian is that suffering goes hand-in-hand with hope, because we know that our troubles are temporary and that we don't have to depend on our own strength to get us through:

"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand" (Psalm 37:23-24).

This is the important point I left out of my last post... Salvation is not about our efforts. It's about our acknowledgment of and reliance on God's strength and goodness, like a child holding onto a parent's hand, depending on their guidance and protection. The most important lesson we can learn from our sufferings is that we are frail, like jars of clay, and in need of a power greater than our own...

"We have this treasure [the Good News of Jesus] in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body" (2 Corinthians 4:7-10).

This song came on my Pandora station while I was typing, and I thought it very appropriate:

What it means to be a Christian

What is salvation? You used to live for yourself - for your own happiness and success - which was often at the expense of others, or at the expense of what was right. This is called sin, and sin leads to death and judgment.

"But now [if you have surrendered your life to Jesus] you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life" (Romans 6:22).

Salvation is not an event, but the entryway into a new lifestyle. Suffering is part of this lifestyle.

Romans 8:17-18 says that we share in Jesus' suffering so that we may share in His glory, and that what we suffer now pales in comparison to the glory that is to come.

Olympic athletes train tirelessly for years to be able to compete in the games. They go into the process knowing that it's going to require sacrifice (devotion of their time, separation from family, pushing through the pain of physical training, injuries, disappointments...). But they know that if they want the glory of the gold medal, they have to endure the pain.

Becoming a Christian is a commitment to a way of life that is difficult but that leads to the greatest prize worth fighting for - holiness, eternal life, and a relationship with your heavenly Father.

I was listening to a really great sermon by Francis Chan, and he made an analogy that went like this: When you become a Christian, you enter into a war. What soldier comes back to his commanding officer after the first day of battle and complains, "They were shooting at meeee!!!" Yet so often, we as Christians do this: God, why is my boss treating me like this? God, why didn't you solve this problem for me? God, why do I have so many bills? God, why is life so hard? We have to realize that hardship is part of life, and becoming a Christian doesn't make the hardship go away. In fact, it often invites more hardship, but as a Christian, hardship has an eternal purpose.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." -2 Corinthians 4:16-18

*I left out a big part of what it means to be a Christian, but that will come in a later post.
*I've been writing about the topic of suffering since December. This post just describes a part of one aspect of it. The posts below are an attempt at understanding other facets of suffering.

Remembering God's goodness

Many times in the Bible, God commands His people to set up memorials, establish traditions, and keep records in order to remember the good things He has done for them. A New Testament example is the Last Supper, which Jesus told His disciples to do routinely in order to remember His sacrifice (Luke 22:19, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

Exodus is replete with examples of God setting up reminders for His people, starting with the Passover, when God leads the Israelites out of their bondage in Egypt.

Chapter 16 of Exodus tells how the Israelites grumble against Moses for taking them out of Egypt to starve, and God responds by sending them quail in the evening and manna in the morning (Exodus 16:13-15). God then says to keep some of the manna in a jar and preserve it for generations to come so that the Israelites will remember how God provided for them in the desert (Exodus 16:32-33).

Chapter 17 tells how the Amalekites attack Israel, and God gives Israel victory (Exodus 17:8-16 - it's a good story, could be the subject of a whole new blog post). God tells Moses to write it down so that it will be remembered (verse 14).

Sandwiched in between these two miracles that God performs on Israel's behalf, and these two ways that God attempts to keep the miracles in Israel's memory, is an account of the Israelites complaining again. They have no water and are going to die of thirst. Apparently they don't remember how God sent plagues on Egypt, parted the Red Sea, or gave them bread from heaven, and they think this is the end of the road. They're angry with God and with Moses. Moses asks God what he is to do, and God tells him to strike a rock, and out of it comes water (Exodus 17:1-7).

As I read these stories, I am baffled at how quickly the Israelites forget God's goodness and how easily they are convinced that not following Him would be better (Exodus 16:3). And yet, I do the same.

God gives me clear direction, such as when He led me to go to Honduras for a time. There was so much confirmation and providence. But a couple of weeks in Honduras, and I realized it was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I began to wallow in discontentment and question whether I could really stay there. Yet God was faithful, and the entire two-and-a-half years I was there, He provided for my needs, albeit at the last minute to teach me dependence on Him.

God blesses me beyond measure - a wonderful family, a great education, work, a car, a computer, an amazing husband... But then something happens. My job doesn't turn out to be so wonderful. My car dies. I have to wait in line at the grocery store, for goodness' sake. And suddenly my thoughts are focused on what's not right in my life instead of on the One who makes all things work together for good.

So I have a proposal. How about every time a negative thought enters my head, I counter it with a positive one... I'm so bored at work*... Thank God I have a job and more than enough money to live on. How about when I start to worry about what could go wrong, I bring to remembrance the good things God has done...My car is old, and it's making sounds that scare me. What if it needs a really expensive repair? How will I afford it?...Remember that time in Honduras when I didn't know how I'd pay for the next week's groceries? Then God dropped $500 in my lap.

Give it a try. Pay attention to your thoughts, and the next negative thought that comes up, replace it with something positive. Remember God's goodness.

*Note - The boredom at work does not refer to my current job, nor to any of my teaching jobs.

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7

The process of deliverance

I have been reading the book of Exodus and am struck by how many analogies can be drawn between the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt and our lives as Christians.

To begin with, God has a plan to deliver His people - to rescue us from our afflictions and to bless us with good things (Exodus 3:8, Romans 8).

But that doesn't mean life is easy.

I think that many people, when they think of the Exodus, think of the plagues God sent on the Egyptians and how He led the Israelites into freedom, parting the Red Sea to make their escape possible.

But we don't think so much about how the Israelites lived in slavery for 400 years (Exodus 1:11, Exodus 12:40). Ever since sin entered the world, life has been hard, and God allows His people to experience suffering. The difference between the suffering of God's followers and the suffering of those who don't belong to Him is that we have hope. God promised long before the Israelites became slaves that they would be enslaved and mistreated, but that He would deliver them (Genesis 15:13-14). Similar to when Jesus promised that His followers would have troubles but that in the end, they would overcome (Troubles).

Even when God initiates His plan to save His people, the suffering doesn't end. In fact, it gets worse. The first time Moses goes to Pharaoh to tell him to let God's people go, Pharaoh responds by working the Israelites harder (Exodus 5:6-21). The Israelites react as many of us do when life gets harder - they complain to Moses and blame him for this added misery. We assume that when bad things happen, someone must be to blame. Is God not as good as I thought He was? Is there someone in my life who is at fault? Did my own sin cause this? We fail to realize that when God acts, the Enemy feels threatened and needs to show that he is still powerful. I love the following example of this concept:

"So [in obedience to God's instructions] Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned the wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs" (Exodus 7:10-12).

I love this passage because it is an image of the truth that no matter how the Enemy tries to compete with God and make us trust more in the evil that is in the world than we trust in God, God's work always trumps the Enemy's. No matter how much goes wrong in your life, God is still more powerful, and His plan to do you good will be the one that triumphs.

" 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' " -Jeremiah 29:11

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28

He is still good

Since my last post about troubles in this world, my friend's husband lost his battle to cancer. And I kept asking God why. I just couldn't understand why He would take someone so devoted to Him, so useful to Him on Earth, and so dear to his family, home so early. It's hard not to be offended, knowing that God could have healed him yet chose not to.

But lately I've been challenged to meditate on Jesus' attributes and create a mental image of Him. What I see and feel are love and compassion. And when I bring my hurts to Him, I feel that what hurts me, hurts Him, too.

I don't think I'll ever understand why God didn't intervene the way I would've, except that God is not human. His ways are higher than mine, and His perspective is eternal.

I know that the troubles of this world pale in comparison with the glories of eternity. I know that God doesn't wish us any sorrows, but he allows them in our lives in order to shape us. He doesn't plan harm against us, but He is able to work everything together for good.

Just want to share my friend's post declaring her faith in the Comforter as she mourns her husband: https://ourlifeinfourbags.wordpress.com/2015/01/11/dear-keith-33/

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us... And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose... in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loves us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
-Romans 8