Archive for May, 2009

27
May

A Desk by the Window

By Chris 0 Comments
Categories: Church Plant, Ethics, Faith and Random

I actually feel very blessed to have my “tent-making” job by a window.  I complain but honestly God is in the details of my circumstances, BUT I really wish I had my way.  To have the luxury of supporting my family entirely from doing what I love – ministry.

Why does God insist on the long road – the job you hate, consent physical pain, delay of immediate joy?  Didn’t Jesus get the memo – accept Him and life gets better: more money, better friends, nicer clothes, and any job you want.

Peter had a lot to say on this issue.  He said, “Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want. (1 Peter 4.2)”

Ouch.  I think the part that says “…instead of being tyrannized by what you want,” hits the hardest.  Reminds me of the last LOST episode for the season where Ben asked Jacob, “What about me?” and Jacob responds “What about you!”  So often we assume because we are doing what Jesus expects or commands there is something in the works for us.  Our reward is Christ and no promise of friends, fame, or fortune. 

But this doesn’t mean God is absent.  When life gets really difficult, we can’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job (1 Peter 4.12).  You see if you find “life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it (1 Peter 4.19).”

Here is the conclusion I have come to – true freedom comes from pursuing what God wants and He wants us to care for His people with all diligence.  Not because you have to, but because you know that makes God happy.  Not calculating what you can get out it (salary), but acting out of spiritual impulse (God will provide my needs).  Not telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way (1 Peter 5.2-3).

I’ve come to the assumption that it’s unjust to ask people to live for Christ daily outside your sanctuary, if you sleep on the pews.  Actually, I think true Christianity comes from being the church without buildings and actually just living with people.  Maybe this is unorthodox but maybe the deeper truth of Christ is in getting our hands dirty and clothes frayed daily with the people we are sharing the Kingdom of God with?

Nonetheless, I’m content with who I am, and don’t want to put on self-importance.  God’s strong hand is on me; he’ll promote me at the right time. So I live carefree before God; he is most careful with me (1 Peter 5.6-7).

Disclaimer: I don’t really believe Christian = more, better, nicer, all-inclusive
13
May

Don’t Ever Forget

By Chris 0 Comments
Categories: Faith and Random

I have a confession.  Left to my own resolve I rush.  This causes me to miss so much and forget so easily.  There are those moments that I will never forget, images carved into my memory.  I’ll always remember a huge fight my parents had when I was about four. I can’t forget the smell of my grandfather’s woodshop. The first time I kissed my wife or touched of her hand will always been dear.  I won’t forget how beautiful she was on our wedding day.  And the moment my daughter was born is treasured.

I find remembering the special moments easy, but how about the bad?  The entire Bible is full of those remember commands.  It was the specific command God passed down to Israel through Moses. “Don’t ever forget that you were slaves in Egypt and God, your God, got you out of there in a powerful show of strength.  That’s why God, your God, commands you to observe the day of Sabbath rest (Deuteronomy 5.14-15).” 

I forget. I try to remember but when you have a garage with two cars tucked away inside, bedrooms for everyone including your desktop Dell, and running water in overflow – one forgets.  Maybe that is why the Agur (Proverbs 30) wrote asking that God give him neither poverty nor riches, but only his daily bread. Otherwise, he may have too much and forget God or may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of God.

It’s hard to remember.  We don’t want to remember the pain, life’s sting, and unwarranted grief.  It’s even harder to remember the past when it wasn’t your own.  The command to remember was equally directed toward future generations of Israel who would enjoy the suffering of their ancestors.  

I believe that the command to never forget is central to the gospel.  It’s central to how we interact with our world, “such were some of you” (1 Corinthians 6.11). So today take a moment to sit still, allow the hush to engulf you, and think back to who you were.  Think what Christ removed you from, delivered you to, and continues to promise.  To fellowship with Christ is not to forget the past, but to remember it; because it there that Jesus sat you free.