tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-201423982024-03-13T11:31:20.127-07:00The JourneyWhoever sets his foot on this way finds that life has become a journey on the road. (Bonhoeffer)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.comBlogger227125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-25188983279572520902015-11-11T13:20:00.000-08:002015-11-11T13:20:05.063-08:00Grace for Today<div class="MsoNormal">
If you think the idea of running a marathon is hard, you
should try training for one!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In my lifetime, I have now trained for, and competed in,
seven marathons. Over the course of the training, I have often found myself
battling the same defeating thought process. As the weekly miles add up, the
legs and body inevitably begin to fatigue. After a tiring 7 or 8 mile run on a
gruesome day in the Pacific Northwest, I will find myself looking ahead at my
training schedule. (Typically, I have mapped out a training plan of about 20-24
weeks from start to race day.) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My brain begins to jump ahead to the weeks to come, and my
emotions do as well. I will begin to think, “If today’s run was so challenging,
how will I complete the longer run this weekend?” Or, “This week is really
wearing me out- and next week is only harder!” Or, “If I’m this fatigued after
7 hard miles, how can I possibly push myself for 26 miles on race day?” As
these negative thoughts begin to pile up, and the fear within begins to rise.
Doubt and worry have a way of reaching up and grabbing the soul until I am
tempted to bag the whole thing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As this happens, I have developed a helpful mantra: Run the
next mile. Simply put, I try and focus on the only mile I can control: the one
I am on. When I start to worry about next week’s speed workout, I’ll tell
myself, “run the mile in front of you.” When I’m getting tired during a run and
wondering if I can make it home, I’ll say out-loud, “run the mile you’re on.”
When I find myself fearful at night about how I’ll perform on the day of the
race, I think to myself- you guessed it- “Just run the next mile.” Something
about this approach has a way of calming my spirit and focusing my emotions.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Recently at East Hills, I have been preaching through a
series on grace. “How does grace relate to training for marathons?” you may
ask. Well, in life, like in training, we have a tendency to begin looking
ahead. We might wonder if we have what it takes to forgive someone if they hurt
us again. We worry that our kids will grow up to make poor decisions, or choose
lifestyles that we disagree with. How will we maintain a positive relationship
if that happens? An old habit continues to rear its ugly head in our lives and
we fear we are powerless to ever change and be free. We see challenges looming
down the road in our workplace, and question whether or not we can handle it.
Fear assaults us in situation after situation- what if the diagnosis is cancer?
What if the car breaks down? What if a red cup at my favorite coffee shop
really does signal the end of Christmas celebrations in our culture? This kind
of fear can cripple us and steal the confidence of faith.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, may I suggest that you develop a mantra similar to mine?
Grace for today. One day at a time, God gives us grace for ourselves and for
others. In Scripture, the prophet Jeremiah declares, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i>Because of the Lord’s
great love we are not consumed,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i>For His compassions
never fail.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i>They are new every
morning,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i>Great is your
faithfulness. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 3.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<i>-Lamentations 3:22, 23<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Did you catch that? New <u>every</u> morning. Not every
week, or month or year. But each morning, a new supply of his compassion- His
amazing grace- is poured out for us. He gives us for today just what we need
for today. And He’ll do the same tomorrow, and the next day and the day after
that. Some days, we may only need a little of His grace. We’ll have it. Other
days, we may feel we need a truckload of grace, and we will have what we need
on that day, too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So when your emotions begin to creep up and grab your soul,
when fear of the future has paralyzed your progress, repeat after me: Grace for
today. Run the mile you’re on. Jesus said, “<i>Look
at the birds of the air- they do not sow or reap or stow away in barns, and yet
your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who
of you be worrying can add a single hour to his life? </i>(Matthew 6:26, 27)
Birds don’t worry about tomorrow. At least, I’m guessing they don’t- I’ve never
really asked. But the principle is good- God cares about us so much that He
will give us today exactly what we need. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we trust Him. We look to His grace. And when our heart
grows feeble at the thought of tomorrow, we can say, “Grace for today.” For
tomorrows marathon can worry about itself. His grace is yours today.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Run on!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-12873180836763145822015-03-10T14:20:00.000-07:002015-03-10T14:21:23.949-07:00Powerless or Powerful?<div class="Text">
Is AA off-base with step number one?<br />
<br />
As a people, we seem to have two basic schools of thought out
there as to how we should face problematic behaviors in our lives. The one
school, made most famous by Alcoholics Anonymous, says that I am powerless
against my addiction (step one of twelve). The other school, promoted by
well-intended Christians and secular psychologists alike, says that I can do
anything I set my mind to do. This approach feels quite Biblical, especially when
you attach to it the verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens
me”. Sounds nice. Empowering even. “Me and Jesus” can take on the world!</div>
<div class="Text">
<br /></div>
<div class="Text">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Text">
So which is it? These two lines of reasoning can’t possibly
co-exist, can they? They appear to be two radically different approaches to
health from completely opposite ends of the spectrum.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Text">
<br /></div>
<div class="Text">
Both have their merits. Consider the “powerless” mentality of AA.
To admit powerlessness is to acknowledge my need for others. Knowing my own
susceptibility to an ongoing struggle or addiction keeps me humble and open to
a process for change. On the other hand, the “powerful” mindset seems much more
positive and responsible. I am encouraged to grab life by the horns and be
master of my destiny; captain of my own ship. I embrace the truth that I can
become all God made me to be!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Text">
<br /></div>
<div class="Text">
As someone who wrestled with an addiction to pornography for over
15 years, this battle between the two schools of thought makes a ton of sense
to me. I have benefited from the positive merits of both schools. I have,
however, also found the pain, the shadow side, of each approach when taken
alone. The powerless approach can become defeating. A mantra of “I am
powerless” can become the excuse to give in when the soul no longer feels like
fighting. The powerful approach may feel more hopeful, but I have discovered,
like so many others, that it offers a false boast. No matter how empowered I felt,
I continually found my way back into the same old patterns. When this happened,
I was left with no choice but to conclude I wasn’t powerful enough, and the
guilt and shame game would get played all over again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Text">
<br /></div>
<div class="Text">
So I ask again, which is it? Like many of our problems, perhaps
the issue lies not in the answer, but with the questions itself. “Which is it”
implies immediately that one or the other <i>must</i>
be true, thus making the other false. But what if this isn’t a question of
either/or, but <i>both/and</i>? What if the
key to recovery and healthy living is to embrace both <i>simultaneously</i>?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Text">
<br /></div>
<div class="Text">
“Wait, wait,” you may respond, “These two ideas are fundamentally
opposed to one another. How could they possibly both be true?” Let me explain
from what I have seen and experienced. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Text">
<br /></div>
<div class="Text">
The starting place of healing and recovery is always humility: I
must be willing to admit I have a problem that I simply cannot solve on my own.
In that sense, I am powerless. I have learned countless times that when I place
myself in certain situations without safeguards or community around me, I will
do what I have done a thousand times before. And then, a thousand times I tried
to change without success. What choice do I have but to embrace that, in that
scenario, I am powerless? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Text">
<br /></div>
<div class="Text">
But here’s the key: <i>in that
scenario. </i>The scenario of my powerlessness, and yours, is one of isolation,
self-effort, and repeated patterns. In other words, I cannot do the same things
in the same ways and expect to get different results. Someone once called this
the definition of insanity. And in that sense, our struggles and addictions are
absolutely a form of insanity. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Text">
<br /></div>
<div class="Text">
What happens, though, if I change the scenario? If I recognize
that isolation, self-reliance, and repeated patterns are the graveyard of my
hopes, I can make a choice to change. I can move into safe places of community
where my story is heard and accepted. I can learn to trust God and His plan for
right living in this fallen world. I can develop new patterns of behavior that
develop healthy neurological patterns in my brain. When you and I do this, we
are no longer powerless. Because we recognize the scenario of our powerlessness,
we can choose to walk in places that lead to lasting health. This is a position
of power.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Text">
<br /></div>
<div class="Text">
Notice, however, where the power comes from. Is the power really
in me? I would say no- the power is in community, faith in God, and a renewed
mind. <b>I am powerful because I recognize
where I am powerless</b>. I believe this is what the Apostle Paul had in mind
when he said, “<i>So now, I am glad to boast
about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s
why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships,
persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I
am strong.” (II Corinthians 12:9,10) </i>Do you see that? Paul says I am weak
AND I am strong- the two working together hand in hand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Text">
<br /></div>
<div class="Text">
So here’s my conclusion: I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me <i>because I have embraced
that I am powerless. </i>I can gladly embrace my place of powerlessness <i>because I know that through Christ I can do
all things. </i>Do you see the interplay? Do you see how these two ideas, when
put together, actually enforce the message of the other? Powerlessness without
power is hopeless. Power without powerlessness is arrogant and alone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Text">
<br /></div>
<div class="Text">
This paradox should come as no surprise if you take a look at the
God of Ages and His eternal Word. Throughout Scripture, we are told that the
way to live is through dying; the way to joy is through pain; the way to
contentment is through self-denial and sacrifice. So also, <i>the way to power is through powerlessness- </i>two seemingly
contradictory ideas put into perfect harmony through the work of Christ in us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Text">
<br /></div>
<div class="Text">
So today, embrace that you are weak and powerless. Celebrate that
you are strong and powerful. And remember that you never want one without the
other.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Text">
<br /></div>
<div class="Text">
Journey in Freedom-<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="Text">
Nick<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-23560560204361972842015-02-11T13:36:00.000-08:002015-02-11T13:36:11.988-08:00An Open Letter to Sports Illustrated<div class="MsoNormal">
You may have heard the news this week that in a recent
survey, 72% of Americans view your popular annual swimsuit edition as a version
of porn. Most likely in the upper chambers of leadership at your company,
executives are laughing this off as a skewed survey and an antiquated
perception. “Real” men and “real” Americans know how to have fun and enjoy this
like any other good-ole American pastime, so they say. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But they are wrong. You are wrong. And you don’t even know
what you are doing to our culture.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know the world thinks you are harmless fun. You are not.
You are creating a picture of sex, and of women, that is unrealistic for nearly
every woman and every couple in America. You are creating ideals for our sons
that will become the filter through which every woman is judged. You validate
sexism, encourage us to judge a book by its cover, and implicitly agree that
women are material to be used to satisfy a man’s interest or cravings. In a
single issue, you are able to make a declarative statement that quickly
out-weighs all our advances in the fight for equality. Your pictures are more
powerful than many thousands of words. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You say you value women for their athletic ability, but your
magazine cover sends an entirely different message. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For several years of my life, I consumed you. I bought into
your lies and deception that it was just something guys enjoyed and it was no
big deal. I told myself it was really about the sports and I was just curious.
These lies led to a way of viewing the world that almost cost me everything. I
learned the truth in time and I stopped. And it’s time for you to stop. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know you believe that you are just one small player on a
big field where this is standard fare. But you need to realize you are leading
the way. You are setting a standard that opens the door for so many others to
follow in your path.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I dare you. Discontinue the issue. Put it to bed and
never awaken it again. Then see what happens to your bottom line and your subscription
rate. You think that sex sells, but it also repels. Make a statement that
sports and sex don’t have to go together for the American man to consume it. Lead
the way in teaching our children that men, and women, are valuable for who they
are and not for how they look in a bathing suit. Put our attention on their
skills and their athletic domination, and you will succeed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I dare you. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Until then, count me among the 72% percent who believe in my
heart that what you are selling is not harmless fun, but a sinister seduction
not worth the price on the cover. I, and millions like me, will not subscribe
to you or to your brand because we believe there is a better way. I encourage
you to find it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nick Stumbo<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-91975745185862939052014-07-31T16:13:00.003-07:002014-07-31T16:13:37.613-07:007 Principles of Freedom<div class="MsoNormal">
Five years ago, I was in jeopardy of losing my marriage.
Despite the countless promises I had made to my wife about change, I found that
was unable to avoid relapsing into pornography. Though I could not acknowledge
it at the time, this addiction had a control over me that I couldn’t
comprehend. Today, I am porn-free and enjoying a healthier marriage than ever
before. While I must continually guard my purity and my heart, I no longer
struggle with relapses into this behavior. So what changed? Here are seven
principles that I have found at work in my life and in the lives of many other
guys who have walked this same journey.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Get Honest. </b>One
of the things we all do with behaviors we’re hiding is to minimize them. This
means that we have spent a great deal of time convincing ourselves, and others,
that porn really isn’t a problem. We use lines like, “all guys do this”, “no
one is getting hurt”, or “I can stop anytime I want” to try and reduce the
guilt or negative emotions we feel. Freedom begins by confronting these lies.
Change will only occur when we say willingly and frequently to ourselves and
other trusted friends, “I have a problem and I need help.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Create Boundaries. </b>When
we are busy minimizing destructive behaviors, this keeps us from seeing how
vulnerable we are to acting out. If we want to establish freedom for the
long-haul, then we will have to make some major adjustments to how we do life.
Creating boundaries means that we look at the places where we are most
susceptible to accessing pornography and we deal with them. For example, I
don’t have a smart phone, but that’s okay. I’d rather have a dumb phone and be
a smart user! You will never regret setting your personal boundaries too high.
You will always regret the ones that were so low they were easy to step over or
ignore.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Join a Group. </b>Especially
for guys, we are guilty of thinking we can do just about anything on our own,
if we but set our minds to it. But the problem with this thinking, when it
comes to pornography, is that porn is a problem we got into <i>on our own</i>. It is through isolation and
separation from relationships that this problem grew to the level of addiction.
So, we cannot hope to find freedom on the same path. Freedom comes as we
process our journey honestly and openly with others who are doing the same.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Commit to the Long
Haul. </b>When it comes to not looking at pornography, will power and sheer
determination will never be enough. We aren’t looking to simply stop a
behavior; we are looking to process life differently. This means changing our
brains and the ways we react to certain stress or stimuli. Scientific research
reveals that true and lasting brain change takes a minimum of 2 years and as
long as 5! If we want to be free of porn for life, then we must embrace that
this journey, and this change, takes time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Proactive Check-Ins. </b>One
of the greatest faults with traditional approaches to accountability is the
relationship where one person says, “Call me and ask how I am doing.” In this
set-up, we are giving responsibility for our change to another person. If we
really want to change, then checking in with others is something we take
responsibility for, and we do it proactively. We commit to calling others a
minimum of three times in a week to report on how we are doing and what steps we
are taking to stay free. This move keeps us in charge of our own change.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Know Your Pattern. </b>The
problem for most of us with porn is that we know <i>when </i>we’ve looked at it (it’s pretty obvious) but we don’t have any
clue <i>why</i>. Far too many guys think of
a bout with pornography as an isolated, hormonally-fueled episode. But it’s
not. Our brain works on a complex system of punishments and rewards, and if we
keep returning to a behavior which we know we don’t want, it’s because our
brain has associated it with a reward. We must learn to recognize our pattern, <i>and then change how the pattern starts.</i>
If we only try to fight against viewing porn as we’re sitting alone in front of
a computer feeling tempted, this will be a losing battle. Winning starts when
we fight further up in the process. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Tell Your Story. </b>Telling
your story means you know where you have come from and what drives you. If we
know the pain, turmoil, and the joy of our own past, we begin to unlock the
secrets for what drives an addiction to pornography. Our struggle is rooted in
the deeper issues of what we believe about life and ourselves. As we learn to
see and tell our story accurately, we gain the power to change it. This is one
of the primary roles of a group in our lives- a safe, supportive place to start
telling our story. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I believe that if you were to remove any one of these
principles from my story, I would quickly be back where I started. Much like
the 6 or 8 cylinders of an engine must fire together in perfect sequence, so
these principles function concurrently to create real and lasting freedom in
our lives. Where do you need to begin? What principle have you been avoiding or
ignoring? Take that step today, and trust that God will bring freedom you way
as you do!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blessings-</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nick</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-42529700787371374002014-06-11T10:35:00.000-07:002014-06-11T10:35:11.252-07:00Violence In Our Schools<div class="MsoNormal">
Like many of you, I watched with sadness, anger, and regret
as school shootings continue to make headlines across our country. With two
such incidences in the Pacific Northwest recently, these tragedies feel closer
to home than ever before. East Hills has several Seattle Pacific alums here,
and so we grieve and pray with them for what occurred at their school.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the days and weeks to come, we will no doubt hear varied
opinions aired, with great vehemence, about what should be done to curb the
violence taking place in our schools. Tighter gun control! Heightened school
security! Closed-access campuses! These ideas, and many others like them, all
have merit and in some way might create greater safety for places of public
education. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But this week, I find myself reflecting on the deeper issues
of our society. What is happening in our humanity that this kind of violent
action seems to be more and more the norm rather than the exception? Why do so
many, especially young people, turn to aggression when life overwhelms them?
While I certainly don’t claim to have all the answers, I would like to share a
brief thought along these lines. Could it be that we have created a flawed
culture in which the ideals we teach inevitably lead to emptiness and a lack of
fulfillment? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our young people are taught today that life is a smorgasbord
of opportunity just waiting for them to enjoy. The message the media teaches
them is to fill their lives with good things, pursue pleasure, and prioritize
immediate gratification; after all, it’s all about you . Everyone can have what
they want, when they want, how they want. The downfall is that the proposed
promises of these messages always come up empty. Stuff doesn’t lead to
satisfaction. Pleasure doesn’t equate to real joy. Facebook friends and twitter
followers doesn’t create true relationships and deep connection. And so, as a
society, we are left wanting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Isaiah 55:1-2, the prophet declares, “<i>Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink- even if
you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk- it’s all free! Why
spend money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does
you no good? <b>Listen to me, and you will
eat what is good.</b> You will enjoy the finest food.” </i>Our society seems to
be gorging itself on food that doesn’t satisfy. And when we come up empty and
alone, violence is increasingly the answer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I believe with all my heart that Jesus is still the hope
of the world. Because for all our western culture can give- possessions, techy
toys, cool cars, and frappuccinos- culture hasn’t figured out how to give us
what we most need. Only God can meet us in the deep hunger of our souls. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How will our society be changed? How will gun violence be
curtailed? When people come to God to satisfy their true hunger, the world will
be changed. It starts with me and you; making sure that we find our joy and
satisfaction in Him. And having tasted the goodness of the Lord, we share this
message. We look to be light in dark places. We point others to the only source
of lasting joy and peace. And the more that people are pointed to Christ, the
fewer guns that will be pointed at others. May it be so.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-44000235826839637092013-08-19T10:55:00.001-07:002013-08-19T10:55:43.082-07:00Strange BehaviorsI was starting to list for myself this morning some of the strange behaviors that I willingly engage in for the love of running. I thought I'd share some of that list with you as a way to enter into a larger discussion.<br />
<br />
-Right now as I type this, I have an ice pack strapped around my left ankle. At my desk. At work. My left Achilles has been bothering me, and this is one of the few times I sit still long enough to ice!<br />
-Last night I slept with two socks on that same foot. Just the left foot. I've heard that keeping the foot warm is a key to recovery. It looks weird. It seems to help my ankle.<br />
-This year I have purchased three brand new pairs of shoes. I've never worn any of them in public. They are just for running. The shoes I wear around are all over a year old.<br />
-Last night I felt achy, sore and tired. So I got up early this morning, ran 8 miles, and I feel better than ever. <br />
-I don't eat French fries. I have found that any kind of deep-friend food has an adverse affect on my morning runs, so I avoid them during peak training. <br />
-I check the weather every night just to see what the temp will be in the morning.<br />
-I blow my nose into my shirt when I run. I've tried the farmer blow and it just doesn't work for me. You probably didn't want to know that. I could go even more graphic, but let's not go there.<br />
<br />
So why am I thinking about all these strange behaviors today? It occurs to me that in the name of our passion, we will do some pretty outrageous things. We willingly engage in behaviors that may seem odd or even ludicrous to others who don't share our passion. Imagine the frenzied fans at a Seahawks game with bright green spiked hair. Picture the crowds gathering at national scrapbooking and Star Wars conventions. Think of the lines of people camping out to be the first to own the next iPhone. More likely than not, one or more of these groups seem strange to you. You don't understand their passion, so their behavior is hard to comprehend. But you know at the same time that you have a similar passion in your life that may be misunderstood by others, be it Duck Dynasty, Starbucks, or vintage cars.<br />
<br />
This weekend at church, we talked about the life of the prophet Jeremiah. This guy lived boldly for God- what God told him to say, he said. What God told him to do, he did. And this made him look strange; very strange. It also offended and bothered a lot of people who didn't understand his passion. But here's the connection for me: Why is it that I am so willing to look strange when it comes to my hobby of running, but often so unwilling to look strange when it comes to my faith in Jesus? To be honest, when it comes to faith and Jesus in my life, I usually try to fit in. I want to look normal, average and regular. I don't want to offend or turn anyone away because of "strange behaviors." <br />
<br />
Somehow this feels out of sync to me. How could I bring the same attitude I have towards how others view my running that I do to how others view my faith? Could I be more bold to live out loud and let the crowd- be they skeptics or supporters- react however they want? Here are some paths I'd like to walk in, and thus be accused of strange behaviors:<br />
<br />
-I'd like to love more outrageously. When someone is hurting or in need, I want to be more proactive to go to extreme measures to show love. I don't do that very often.<br />
-I want to treat everyone like they have unsurpassable worth. I want to treat people who are nothing like me with the same kind of honor and respect I would give to the president if he walked into the room. That's hard to do.<br />
-I want to respond with grace and love when others grow harsh or mean. I want to bless bad drivers, not yell at them.<br />
-I want to talk more often about Jesus, how much he means to me, and how I really believe he's the hope of the world. I want to stop worrying about who's listening or how they might respond. <br />
<br />
You know, if I engaged in these behaviors, I would look strange to most people, especially to those who didn't understand my passion. But I do this all the time with running- why not with Jesus?<br />
<br />
What's on your list? How do you want to live so that others might see you as strange?<br />
<br />
On your journey, may you joyfully be strange for Jesus!<br />
<br />
NickAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-53746782452169194472013-07-29T12:42:00.003-07:002013-07-29T12:42:43.844-07:00On Hearing God
<span style="font-family: Life BT;">How does God speak to us? It seems like we often hear that a
key to faith is hearing God’s voice and then doing what He says. This is all
well and good when “the voice” of God we hear is through Scripture. In fact, we
could spend a lifetime simply trying to do what He says in His Word. But this
same Word also holds out another promise to us- that God is a God who continues
to speak. He has something to say about our personal situations and the
individual experiences we all have from day to day.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Life BT;">So, in the rush of life, how exactly does God speak to us?
Someone asked me this very question a few weeks ago. I thought for a bit about how
I personally attempt to listen to God. Like many others, I try to take some
time each day to be quiet before God, and then in a prayerful place to listen
to what God might have to say. As I pondered this approach, however, it
occurred to me that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very rarely if ever
have I heard God in that moment!</i> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Life BT;">Now that seems kind of strange, doesn’t it? I believe in a
God who is speaking and who wants to speak to me, yet when I actually go to
listen, I must honestly admit that I rarely hear anything. Perhaps you are
encouraged by this! Maybe you have grown weary of this kind of listening
because it feels like wasted time where very odd and random things pop into
your mind. Be at ease- you are not alone!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Life BT;">But back to the question at hand- how do we hear God speak?
I am not trying to create precedence here or say this is the right way, but I
want to share my experience because you may find similarities. What I have
found is that when I am setting aside time to hear from God, though I rarely
hear from Him in that moment, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very
often hear from Him in that season</i>. In other words, when I am being
consistent in this posture of listening, I will find that at other times in my
day, a voice or a thought will suddenly pop up and somehow in my soul I just
know it is God’s voice. An answer to a question. A new perspective. A lyric
from a song I haven’t thought of in ages. A verse in Scripture I haven’t read
in months. But there it is. To me, I feel like God has to catch me off guard in
these moments.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Life BT;">The more I think about it, the more this makes sense to me.
When I sit and pray, “God, I want to hear your voice,” whether I realize it or
not, I have many presuppositions in that moment. I have ideas of what God
should or shouldn’t say. I have ideas of what He will say and how He will say
it. I put up all these filters that make actually hearing His voice in that
moment difficult if not impossible. But in doing this, I believe that I am
somehow aligning my heart with His. I am opening up a portion of my soul and
making it more ready to receive. And at just the right moment, God speaks. When
I am not even aware of Him, He is aware of me and my need to hear His voice.
And so He speaks.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Life BT;">So though I rarely hear God “in the moment”, I will continue
to be one who listens. And when He catches me off guard and speaks just what I
needed to hear, I will be grateful that He spoke in His way, and His time. </span><span style="font-family: Life BT;">We have a speaking God. May we be a listening people!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Life BT;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Life BT;">How about you? Can you relate to this? How do you hear God?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-54716896125960349162013-06-26T13:27:00.003-07:002013-06-26T13:27:37.220-07:00Less than MagicalOne of the difficult decisions of our recent trip to Florida and the Magic Kingdom was what to do with our 18-month old son. He's at that challenging age where he's completely mobile and inquisitive, but not smart enough or old enough to really know better. After much consideration, we decided to leave him with my folks. In Montana. This meant a 5 and 1/2 hour drive before and after the trip for a drop off and pick up.<br />
<br />
On Sunday, I was driving back from Montana with our son, and along the way I found myself growing increasingly angry. For starters, some kind of construction activity on Snoqualmie Pass had added an hour to my trip. At one point, traffic had sat completely motionless for 15 minutes. The worst part for me was that all along this stretch, I never did see a single sign of active construction. It was a traffic jam created completely by, well, traffic.<br />
<br />
Next off, Luke decided that he didn't want to sleep. Even though it was 10 PM and he was very tired, he kept shaking himself awake. Was he afraid that if he drifted off to sleep I would leave him somewhere again? I don't know. So he's fussy, and then it starts to rain. Not Washington-gentle-mist kind of rain. More like South Pacific-drops-as-large-as-acorns sheet rain. And all of this begins happening as I round the I-5 bend near the Tacoma Dome, which all you north-westerners know is a notoriously busy and backed up section of road.<br />
<br />
So there I was- tired of driving, suffering from a 3-hour jet-lag that told me it was 1Am, trying to comfort a crying baby by myself in a pouring rainstorm with traffic all around me moving at 30 miles an hour. And how did I handle this? I got angry, and I found myself wanting to blame others; even irrationally. I wanted to blame my parents for not driving the whole way. I wanted to blame my wife for not going instead of me. I wanted to blame the rain, the other drivers, and even my 18-month old for not being smart enough to see that Daddy was about to blow so he should just pipe down.<br />
<br />
Amidst all of this frustration came a quiet moment of clarity. I would like to say that God spoke to me, but I'm just not sure- it could have been my own spirit. But a still voice whispered, "Remember, you chose this. This was the plan that <em>you </em>chose." This thought powerfully calmed the raging storm of my soul. When I regained the perspective that the current circumstances, though out of my control, were circumstances that I had willingly put myself into, I had renewed peace and strength to face them.<br />
<br />
I'm writing this today because of how often I think this happens for all of us. Life gets tough, we get angry, and the blaming begins. In some ways, it's human nature to look for ways to blame others for the problems we face. But I wonder if we step back enough and say to ourselves, "I chose this." Certainly, we didn't choose the unexpected problems or trouble, but in most of our challenges I think we can take ownership of choices we made to put ourselves in this position.<br />
<br />
So, your spouse may be angry and hurtful at times, but remember you chose to love for better or for worse. Now may just be a time of worse. A boss may have unrealistic expectations or be at times difficult to work with, but when you accepted the job you accepted those risks as well. Your child might be mean and disrespectful, but when you chose to become a parent, you willingly invited another free-willed being into your home. <br />
<br />
I think you see what I'm saying here. If we can willingly say to ourselves, "I chose this", we hold onto a perspective that gives us the ability to face the challenge with new strength. And rather than blaming, we are enabled to go to God and see His help. When we blame, we tend not to pray because the fault lies with someone else. Or we pray for them- that God will change them, change the weather, change our circumstances: we ask him to change everything <em>except ourselves.</em>When we look at our own choices, we can ask a gracious Father to give us the courage to face what needs to be faced with the kind of character He loves to give His children.<br />
<br />
So when the magic of a marriage, a job, a task, or a trip to Disney World fades, look for an opportunity to embrace your role in choosing. Rather than blaming, and giving in to anger, find ways to surrender to God and invite His help into your situation. Say to yourself, "I chose this" and to God, "Now help me to see it through." And He will help you.<br />
<br />
The rain will always fall, but you choose the kind of trip you will take through the storm. <br />
<br />
Peace-<br />
<br />
NickAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-27822487330024953112013-04-16T15:42:00.000-07:002013-04-16T15:42:06.716-07:00Tragedy in BostonThe events of this week from Boston have struck a chord in my heart. It is eery to see these images from a place I have been- to watch runners fall to the ground at the finish line- to watch medical personnel aiding the injured- hearing the screaming crowd- all of these things happened in 2004 when I ran the marathon. But it makes me sick to see all these same events connected to a bombing. I feel a kind of sickness that doesn't hit the stomach, but a little higher in the heart.<br />
<br />
Maybe that's why today I keep thinking of the saying from Proverbs that "A hope deferred makes the heart sick." (Proverbs 13:12) There were so many painful hopes deferred yesterday. A local gal from our area turned the final corner onto Boylston Street- a scene I remember well- only to be forced to stop. For any marathoner, this turn towards the glory of the finish line is etched forever in your memory, especially at Boston. For her, the life-long dream would end there with the banners and ticking clock within site. Hope deferred. For others, they had gone to cheer on a friends or family member as they put on their final kick at the end of the race, only to end up running for their lives away from that place, never to see the loved one finish. Hope deferred. For still others, a loved one or friend who had come to cheer them on in the race of their life will never come home again. Hope deferred. Heart sick.<br />
<br />
This complete Proverb says, "A hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." Many of us are watching these events unfold and are left with a deep longing in our chests. We long for a world where these events do not happen. We long for safety, peace and security. We long for a human experience marked by kindness and compassion, not anger and hate. But how will this longing be fulfilled?<br />
<br />
In my understanding, I only know of one place where we find a tree of life- God's eternal heaven. And something about events like yesterday makes us long for that place. A place where hope is not deferred, but is fully experienced in the presence of God. Events like yesterday always remind me that we live in a hope-deferred kind of time, but that Jesus came to produce a longing-fulfilled kind of world. In Christ, we find the fulfillment of our longings as we experience the "right now among you" kingdom that Jesus inaugurated through is death and resurrection. Yet we still experience hope-deferred moments day after day.<br />
<br />
So if, like me, you find yourself a bit heart sick these days, may it remind you we live in a broken world. A world that is not our home. But a new kingdom is breaking in, a kingdom of peace where longings are fulfilled. We live in place that is not yet all that God intended, and so He sent His Son. He sent Jesus to be our longing fulfilled and to lead us into life. May we cling tightly to him in the days to come.<br />
<br />
Peace as you run this journey- <br />
<br />
NickAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-51327190282208039812013-04-11T10:38:00.000-07:002013-04-11T10:38:22.339-07:00Is It Jesus Vs. Soccer?I don't normally re-post other people's material on my blog, but every once in awhile I find it worthwhile. This author says in a very upfront manner some of the things I have felt about parents trying to raise their kids in faith amidst a sports culture. I am challenged and encouraged by these words as I look at what choices we will make with our four young kids. I hope you find them meaningful as well-<br />
<br />
<div>
<a href="http://www.christianity.com/blogs/dr-james-emery-white/parents-sports-and-church.html" target="_blank">http://www.christianity.com/<wbr></wbr>blogs/dr-james-emery-white/<wbr></wbr>parents-sports-and-church.html</a><br /></div>
<h1>
Parents, Sports and Church</h1>
<span>Thursday, April 11, 2013</span>
<br />
I am about to enter into the most volatile subject imaginable. No, not
abortion or same-sex marriage, not even immigration reform or gun
control.<br />
Those are tame.<br />
I want to talk about parents, sports and the church.<br />
How many of you already felt your defenses go up, blood pressure rise, and claws and fangs extend?<br />
I’m kind of dumb, so I’m going to keep writing.<br />
But I am smart enough to say a few things before I go any further:<br />
*I believe that on the eighth day, God created ESPN.<br />
*I played organized sports from grade school all the way through to college.<br />
*All four of my children were involved in sports during their formative
years, from basketball to football, swim team to gymnastics. I even
coached many years of basketball when my boys were on teams with the
YMCA and AAU.<br />
*I believe sports are a good and healthy investment for parents to
make, even when it involves sacrifice to have your children involved.<br />
*Finally, I don’t reduce following Christ to attending church.<br />
Whew! There now – have I covered all my bases?<br />
So here’s the inevitable “but” you sense is coming…<br />
According to a new study published in the <em>Review of Religious Research</em>,
an examination of declining attendance at 16 congregations revealed
that many pastors place the most blame on children’s sports activities,
since both practices and competitions are increasingly “scheduled on
Sunday mornings at the very time when many churches traditionally have
provided religious education.”<br />
I’ve seen the same thing.<br />
I see parents letting almost every other extracurricular activity in
their child’s life take precedent over investments designed to make a
spiritual impression. Meaning soccer, or baseball, or swim team gets
first dibs on the calendar.<br />
For example, our church has a periodic event called “Family Night.”
It’s designed for the entire family to attend together, and highlights a
specific character trait through a program involving music, dance,
skits, video and more. Parents are then equipped to go further with
that trait with their children in the home, as well as through our
MecKidz program during the weekend services.<br />
It’s one of the more popular events in the life of our church, and
combined with our weekend MecKidz program for children birth-fifth
grade, it reaches thousands of parents and their children and
strategically serves parent’s efforts to build Christ-like character –
not to mention a relationship with Christ Himself – into their child’s
life.<br />
Yet I’ve actually overheard parents say things like, “Yes, we’re going
to do Family Night – we wouldn’t miss it for the world - but only until
soccer starts.” Or, “We’re doing MecKidz on weekends, but not once swim
team starts.”<br />
That’s a concern. And it isn’t about our church, much less it’s
attendance. I’m talking parent to parent, dad to dad, pastor to people.<br />
Think about what you’re saying. In fact, say it out loud, in front of a mirror. Listen to it.<br />
<em>“I will do spiritual things for my child’s sake until sports conflict, then sports win.” </em><br />
Do you mean it? Really? Is that how you want to prioritize things?<br />
When our kids were younger, my wife Susan and I saw this one coming.
We wanted our kids in those events every bit as much as anyone else.
But with some of the sports, there kept being conflict after conflict.<br />
So we decided to take a stand.<br />
For every team, every league, we’d put the same thing down when we
registered. We would ensure that there was at least one weekend service
our children could attend. Back then, it was Sunday mornings (we’ve
since added more days and service times). Further, we let the coaches
know, in advance, those select Friday evenings when “Family Night” would
be offered and we wouldn’t be able to participate.<br />
There was even a season in our church’s life when our boundaries
included not only every Sunday morning, but every Wednesday night. For
us that was important, too.<br />
But in all those years of parenting, involving four children, we never
once had a kid penalized. We never once had anyone kick us off a team.
We never once felt that we deprived our kids of anything substantive.<br />
And even if we had, who cares.<br />
That’s not important.<br />
Their <em>hearts</em> were.<br />
Their <em>character</em> was.<br />
What they were gaining <em>spiritually</em> was paramount .<br />
<em>That’s</em>what mattered.<br />
And they turned out fine – valedictorians and athletes, prestige
college acceptances and good marriages – all the things that parents are
so insecure about. But more important, all four know Christ intimately
(and are even in vocational Christian ministry).<br />
I’ve seen too many parents make sports their priority as if that’s what
it means to raise their children in a healthy and holistic way, only to
see that child travel far from God during their high school or college
years, or leave the faith altogether as a young adult.<br />
They had field hockey, basketball, or swim team, but they didn’t seem to end up with much of Jesus.<br />
Hear my heart: it’s not about choosing between Jesus and sports. At
least, it doesn’t have to be. But if it comes down to that choice, how
exactly does soccer rank over your child’s eternity? How is it we’ll
spend half a day travelling to a volleyball tournament, but fail to
protect an hour a week where they will learn about God?<br />
Let’s just say I watch my sports scores carefully.<br />
But I don’t see that one adding up to a win.<br />
James Emery White<br />
<br />
<strong>Sources</strong><br />
“The Main Reason for Declining Church Attendance: Children's Sports?,” Melissa Steffan, <em><a href="http://www.christianity.com/" target="_blank">Christianity</a> Today</em>, April 8, 2013, <a href="http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2013/04/the-main-reason-for-declining-church-attendance-childrens-sports.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+christianitytoday%2Fctliveblog+%28Christianity+Today+Liveblog%29&" target="_blank">read online</a>.<br />
“The Final Four, travel teams and empty pews: Research on sports and religion,” David Briggs, <em>The Association of Religion Data Archives</em>, April 3, 2013, <a href="http://blogs.thearda.com/trend/featured/the-final-four-travel-teams-and-empty-pews-research-on-sports-and-religion/" target="_blank">read online</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-84599332393599280132013-04-09T12:53:00.002-07:002013-04-09T12:53:22.534-07:00Do You Smile When You Run?Awhile back, I mentioned to someone that I was a runner. Sometimes, confessing this can feel like admitting to some kind of secret obsession or fetish, as non-runners tend to have a hard time understanding why anyone would <i>like</i> to run and choose to do so voluntarily. But I told this near-stranger that I loved to run. This fellow asked an interesting question back, "Do you smile when you run?" In his words, he said that every runner he had ever seen looked sad, angry, tired or a combination of all three.<br />
<br />
A few days later, I was out on a normal run and for whatever reason, I was not feeling it that day. My legs were sluggish and my brain wanted to call it quits early. But I thought of this guy's question about smiling when I run, and I realized that, in that moment, I was living out his stereotype of the angry-tired-sad runner look.<br />
<br />
So I made a decision. I decided that the next car that drove by I would greet as if it was my brother. My real brother lives in Wisconsin and it is highly unlikely that he would drive 2,000 miles to greet me on a run, so picturing my reaction to seeing him struck me as funny and a bit exorbitant. Due to this, the next car that drove by received a spontaneously wild wave of excitement from me that had to have left the driver wondering what on earth was wrong with that crazy runner.<br />
<br />
I did the same thing to the next car. And the next. And the next. After 3 or 4 cars, I actually found that I was enjoying it. I was laughing at myself and laughing at the reactions and thoughts that must be going through the heads of the unsuspecting drivers. Do you know what else happened? I started to feel good about the run. What only moments before had been drudgery suddenly felt like a party on the move. All of this happened because I chose a different persepctive- I intentionally put my mind and my thoughts on something that brought life and energy.<br />
<br />
There's a story kind of like this that occurs in the Bible. David, the man who would one day be king over all Israel, is in a bad place. His life is being threatened by King Saul. Assissins have come to his house and only narrowly missed him. Spears thrown from the hand of the king have pinned him to the wall. Plots are underway to end David's life. Because of this, he finds himself on the lam, running from the king and who knows how many others. He has no one with him, nothing for protection but an over-sized sword of Goliath, and he's forced to run into enemy territory. While there, he must pretend that he is crazy so as not to be killed but yet another hostile king.<br />
<br />
During this whole story, David pens the words to Psalm 34;<br />
<i>I will praise the Lord at all times.</i><br />
<i> I will constantly speak his praises.</i><br />
<i> I will boast only in the Lord;</i><br />
<i> </i> <i>Let all who are helpless take heart.</i><br />
<i> Come, let us exalt the Lord's greatness;</i><br />
<i> Let us exalt His name together! (Vs. 1-3)</i><br />
The irony of this Psalm is that none of the things David sings about have actually come to pass in his current situation. At the time of writing,, he is in a foreign land, being chased by Saul, and with no hope of a future kingdom on his mind. But these are the words he puts to a scroll. Why? <i>Because he chose a perspective.</i> Rather than the sad-weary-tired soldier look, he put his eyes on the Lord. He chose to focus not on his circumstances, but on the glory of God and the promise of His faithfulness. <i> </i>And so I believe that these words were not empty wishes which created a false hope, but that these words were powerful reminders of greater truths about God.<br />
<br />
So today, may I ask- where is your perspective? Are you looking at current circumstances in such a way that life and energy seem to be draining away step by step? Or are you consciously choosing to focus on the greater things of God and His purposes for you? Making that choice to look up could make all the difference in the world.<br />
<br />
At the very least, it could make the run a little lighter. And puzzle a few drivers as well!<br />
<br />
<i> Taste and see that the Lord is good.</i><br />
<i> Oh the joys of those who take refuge in Him! (Psalm 34:8)</i><br />
<br />
May you journey in His joy-<br />
NickAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-79311585875250765912013-03-25T14:47:00.004-07:002013-03-25T14:47:43.685-07:00Objects of Our SanctificationObjects of our sanctification. What on earth does that mean?<br />
<br />
Awhile back, my mentor suggested that God had allowed something into my life as an object of my sanctification- something that God was using to make me more like Jesus. In that case, it had been a relationship that was teaching me humility, patience and trust. Good things to learn, but usually only learned through trials and tough circumstances.<br />
<br />
Lately, my wife and I have really been wrestling with some attitudes and behaviors of our 8-year old. She can be a great joy, and great pain, within any given 10-second window. One thing we have noticed is how well she does when we can focus just on her. She thrives under attention and one-on-one time of any kind. But placed in a situation- any situation- where she has to share or accommodate the needs and interests of others (such as a 5-year old sister or a 4-year old brother) and she has the tendency to flip out. <br />
<br />
So the other day, I was thinking about this objects of sanctification idea and how it related to my 8-year old. We happened to be hanging out in my office together and I said to her, "Alyssa, I think you are an only child to whom God chose to give siblings in order to teach you how to share." She looked at me with excitement and replied, "Yeah, I told you I should be an only child!" Well, at least she had part of the message figured out.<br />
<br />
But we went on to have a nice little daddy-daughter conversation about what I meant. That sometimes God uses things to help us learn how to be more like Him, even things we don't necessarily like. (No, I did not use the term "objects of sanctification" with my daughter) While I am not sure if she totally grasped this concept, it still has me thinking today. What are the things God continues to use in my life to shape me? Where could it be said of my life, "I was made to do this, but God also gave me that to help me learn"?<br />
<br />
Some of my thoughts:<br />
I was made to perform and be up front, but God gave me weaknesses to learn to trust Him. <br />
I was made to lead, but God allows doubt and fear so that I learn to listen for His voice.<br />
I was made to accomplish, but God gives me relationships so I learn to slow down and put people ahead of tasks.<br />
<br />
What are your thoughts? What objects of sanctification has God placed in your life?<br />
<br />
May you see His shaping hand at work on your jouney-<br />
<br />
Nick<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-83982523232261152752013-03-13T12:36:00.000-07:002013-03-13T12:36:15.336-07:00Spring Training<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Spring tends to be a season of preparation. If you practice Lent, you make
intentional decisions to lay certain things down to make more room for God. You
determine to pick up certain things in order to have a greater focus on Christ
and His sacrifice. In doing this, you and I are communicating to our heart and our
brain that the Presence of Christ in us matters and is worthy of our attention.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If I am
honest, I am a long ways away from living in this constant awareness of His
Presence. There is an ideal I have of what this unbroken communion with Jesus
would be like, and most days I am nowhere close! I can either beat myself up
about this lack of faith and focus, or I can determine to prepare myself to live
in this way. I begin to practice. I train. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You may find
yourself in a season of preparation as well. Preparing to get married,
preparing to have kids, preparing for college, preparing for a new job- all of
these require a certain way of life. As a church, we are also in a season of
preparation in many ways- preparing for Easter, preparing to hire staff,
preparing to plant a church. In seasons like this, what parameters should guide
our behaviors? I would offer these four principles:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1. Do the hard work now so you can
enjoy less work later.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I think of
this every spring with my garden when I am busy tearing out unwanted growth,
trimming back bushes, and tiling up cold, hard soil. The more work I am willing
to engage in now, the better the summer will be. If I make the effort to ready
the soil of my garden, I can spend far less time pulling weeds in the summer. I
have to remind myself of this, or else the work just feels like drudgery. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Life works
this way. There are seasons in which we must invest heavily in something so
that it has the freedom to grow and flourish. You may be putting an extra focus
on your walk with Christ in these weeks- this will lead to a stronger
friendship with Him. You may be pouring countless hours into young children-
this will lead (hopefully!) to better adjusted adults who can contribute in the
world. You may be struggling mightily to change a behavior or addiction- this
will lead to a better, freer way of life. Be willing to engage in the hard work
now because life will flourish when you do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2. Endure unpleasant things because
better days are coming.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When I head
out to run on a cold, miserable February or March day, I rarely appreciate the
weather. I don’t like running in the rain, and I really don’t like running in
the wind. If, however, I let these elements stop me, I have just eliminated 6
months from the running calendar! Enduring some unpleasant runs in the early
spring gives me the ability to enjoy running on beautiful summer evenings and
in crisp autumn races. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Your season of
preparation may be causing you to face or experience many unpleasant things.
These adverse conditions may leave you wanting to quit. Don’t do it! Making
these sacrifices now will pay off. The author of Hebrews said, “No discipline
seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a
harvest of righteousness and peace<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=20142398" name="18"></a> for those who have been
trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11) You are training yourself to be able to receive
a good harvest!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3. Remember that unseen, little
things usually become visible big things.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Every
spring, the Major League Baseball season begins almost unnoticed by most of us
in the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle Mariners open practice usually around the
third week of February down in Arizona. Day upon day, they will take to the
field in the early morning hours and scoop ground balls, shag pop-flies, and
take swings in the batting cage. Few fans attend these workouts. Why? Because
they are BORING. But come April, 50,000 people will fill SafeCo field for
opening day. On that day, a thousand little things done by the players will be
on display in a big way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So is the
case for all of us. We may be engaging in practices that seem small in the
scope of life, and go unnoticed by almost everyone else. We get up early to
pray. We read the Bible with our children. We skip that extra snack or desert.
We practice kindness when we could have been rude. Choice after choice, we are
creating a life that will one day be on display for all to see. Don’t let the
hidden nature of these acts convince you they are unimportant. They mean
everything in the end!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4. This is a season; and season’s
change.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A final
principle to keep before you is that season’s change. You can’t plant seeds all
year-round. (Ok, I’m sure there are some that you can, but you know what I
mean.) You have a window of time to plant your garden or your flowers and then
the growing season ends. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Whatever
changes you are making right now will not be your focus forever. They shouldn’t
be. The kids will grow, the relationship will change, the habit will become a
routine- life has a way of changing. So focus on this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">as a season</i>. Bring intensity and discipline to this season because
you know it won’t last forever. Stagnation- or not changing- is what creates
despair and causes us to quit. Viewing your current commitment as a season may
give you the grace and strength you need to see it through. And God will be
with you. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, may all
our seasons of preparation become the fertile ground leading to new, and
greater, life in Christ.Journey on!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“There is a time<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=20142398" name="1"></a> for
everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: God has made
everything beautiful in its time.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=20142398" name="7"></a> He has also set eternity in the
hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=20142398" name="8"></a> what God has done from
beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:1, 10</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-43931658693422960792013-03-07T15:18:00.001-08:002013-03-07T15:18:22.584-08:00Go Kill SomethingAt East Hills, we have been challenging one another to read through the entire Bible chronologically in one year. This all sounds great until you realize that it takes more than a month to get through the law portion of Scripture. As an encouragement to folks, and for perspective, I offered this post for some perspective on all the gory, sacrificial details of Genesis-Deuteronomy.<br />
<br />
"As we continue to wind our way through the first five books of the Bible,
one of the things we can't help but stop and ask is, "why are there so
many laws in these books?" And, "why are they in the Bible?" For most of
us, I think we feel like there is little that we can gain today from
studying them, and we never hear them preached on, if not for more than a
passing reference here and there. This blog is an attempt at helping
all of us to understand the place these laws have in our faith today.<br />
<br />
If you think about it, these first five books were the only Bible the
Israelites had for quite some time. In fact, for several thousand years,
when Jews would ask the question, "How do we live in a way that is
pleasing to God?" these books- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and
Deuteronomy- were their answer. Their ONLY answer.<br />
<br />
So imagine if you had been alive many, many years ago before the Bible
came to be the Bible. You had no written record of what pleased God and
what didn't. One day, God came along to you and said, "Person, if you
sin, you should bring me a sacrifice!" With no other reference point,
you are going to have many, many questions. Such as, "what is sinful and
what isn't? What kind of sacrifice? Do all sins require the same
sacrifice? When do I bring the sacrifice? Where do I bring it? Do I
sacrifice it myself, or does someone else do that? What does it mean to
sacrifice something to begin with? Burn it? Kill it? Eat it?" All of
these questions and many like them would be logical, and expected
responses to God's command.<br />
<br />
In light of this, the length and specificity of all these books starts
to make a lot more sense! I have been told that even in the 1st century
at the time of Jesus, Jewish school boys were still required to memorize
the entirety of these books in school. Crazy as that may sound, it
actually makes a lot of sense when we remember that these rules were
their primary link to pleasing God.<br />
<br />
If reading all of these laws and commands does one thing for us, it
ought to make us eternally grateful for the work of Jesus Christ. His
sacrifice has ended the system of sacrifice (Hebrews 10) and made
righteous forever all who trust in His name. So as you read about bulls
and goats one more time, pause and thank Jesus for coming on your
behalf.<br />
<br />
So while Jesus made our approach to God much simpler, he actually made
the requirements infinitely more challenging! When you think about it,
Jesus summarized thousands of laws with two: Love the Lord your God with
all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as
yourself. Very simple, but very, very hard to do. It would actually be
much easier for us to follow the sacrificial system than to live out the
laws of love in every single thing we do.<br />
<br />
This is the amazing conundrum of Jesus. He raised the bar of God's
righteous standard even higher than the Old Testament law, but he
lowered the bar of acceptance. In the past, the people had to obey all
the commands <i>in order to be acceptable. </i>Jesus, however, made
everyone acceptable through His blood. Why? Because God knew that when
people understood they were loved and accepted by God already, they
would be empowered to go and live out his law of love.<br />
<br />
We can never hope to love God and others perfectly. But thanks to the
amazing love and grace of Jesus Christ, we have the freedom to try,
knowing that our acceptance before God isn't contingent on how well we
obey His law. How cool is that?<br />
<br />
So go for it. Go and love God and love others with all that you have.
And when you realize you've come up short, which you always will, fall
back into the amazing grace of Jesus Christ. And then go out and love
some more."<br />
<br />
May your journey through Scripture give you a deeper love for Jesus than ever before!<br />
<br />
Nick
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-50968487924737549062013-02-19T11:34:00.001-08:002013-02-19T11:34:03.457-08:00The Top Ten Things That Really Bug Me About East HillsYou know, sometimes being involved in a church community can be really annoying. Here are the top 10 things that really bug me about our church:<br />
10. At our weekend services, there is never enough time to say hi to all the people I want to talk to, and those I do talk to are so happy and energetic that they keep me talking too long.<br />
9. People remember things about me, like my birthday and my love of strong coffee (and then make jokes about it.)<br />
8. People keep inviting their friends to come and check out our church, causing problems with parking, kid's spaces, and seating.<br />
7. Even when I preach a message that I feel was poor, they insist on telling me that God used it and spoke really amazing stuff through me.<br />
6. Every time I confess a fault, sin or a weakness, they thank me. They actually tell me I'm a better leader for being real.<br />
5. When I challenge people directly and feel like maybe I've been a little too personal or confronting, they thank me for that, too. They say weird things like, "I really needed to hear that."<br />
4. When we make appeals to give generously to other ministries outside the church, they give way too much to those groups.<br />
3. They are so open to change and new ideas. It's hard to feel like I have enough of them! Or they say annoying things like, "I've just been waiting and praying for us to do something like this!"<br />
2. They are so agreeable. I have to work really hard just to get a single nay vote for anything we ever do.<br />
1. They want to know how I'm doing...really. They aren't satisfied to just hear "I'm good" and move on. They actually want to talk about my family, my time, and my soul.<br />
<br />
If you are part of the EHA community, I hope you appreciate this tongue-in-cheek recognition as much as I appreciate you. If you are reading this and not part of our community, my hope and prayer is that you find people on the faith journey that will treat you like this- that will be Christ to you.<br />
<br />
May your journey be filled with such annoying people-<br />
<br />
Nick Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-81955982921326814102013-02-06T10:51:00.002-08:002013-02-06T10:51:49.573-08:00The Conundrum of Lent Once again this year, we have decided as a church community to observe the season of Lent. Without fail, this announcement will elicit a few raised eye-brows from the crowd, and a few more questions about why we do this. Why observe Lent when we aren't a formal, traditional church? Why do Lent if we're not Catholic? Why do Lent and put ourselves under a kind of "bondage" when we are free in Christ?<br />
<br />
For many of us, however, we have found the experience of Lent to have an odd appeal to us, and in this post I want to try and explain why.<br />
In Hebrews 11:25, 26 we read,<br />
<i>Moses chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.</i><br />
<br />
While living in Egypt as a young man, Moses had the opportunity to choose a life of comfort, riches and ease. He could have lived out his days in the Pharaoh's palace and enjoyed the benefits of that life. Moses, however, chose differently. He realized that he was not at home in Egypt- that his real people and his real purpose lay somewhere else. So he intentionally did some very difficult things. He identified with the slaves. He followed the leading of God's Spirit. He stared down the Pharaoh and he took a million people through the Red Sea. Why? Because in his heart he believed in a better land, a better place, where God was leading him and the people. Sacrifices and hardship would be worth the journey. Giving up the treasures of Egypt would be a small sacrifice in comparison to living fully alive as the people of God.<br />
<br />
In many ways, I see us facing the same choice. In a metaphorical way, we live in the palace of Egypt- our modern life offers us a continual feast of self-satisfying pursuits and possessions. We have the choice to live out our days here, or we can choose as Moses did to sacrifice for a better land.<br />
<br />
I don't know about you, but the "treasures of Egypt" have a way of gripping my mind, and eventually my heart. Things that I once knew nothing about have become essentials in my day-to-day living- coffee, email, Kindle, Words with Friends, ESPN- the list could go on and on. As I hold these treasures in my hand, I realize that none of them are bad or sinful in and of themselves. They are tools and objects. But at the same time, I also realize that my hands, and my life, can be pretty full. Lent is an opportunity to willingly lay some of these things down for a time so that I might come before God with empty hands. Lent is a time to say, "God, show me how to follow you into a better land. This Egypt is not my home- I want to belong to your people."<br />
<br />
So, may I encourage you to enter willingly into a time of self-denial on some level? We might be tempted to see this as a yoke of slavery- doing without something we love- but we need to see that it is a bold attempt to throw off true slavery. You see, the treasures of Egypt will always keep us bound to Egypt, and this kind of slavery keeps us from belonging fully to God. Sure, on a spiritual level we are fully His already, but on a practical level we know this is not our full experience. We are captive to our possessions and our pursuits. What would it look like to throw off these captors and to journey with God into the wilderness of transformation? That is the purpose of Lent.<br />
<br />
What will you choose?<br />
If you know what you are laying down for Lent, post it below! <br />
<br />
May you know that God longs to lead you on a journey into His great reward-<br />
Nick<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-41989909033220356762012-12-17T13:18:00.002-08:002012-12-17T13:20:46.177-08:00Why So Much Evil?<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last week, of all weeks, I made a presentation to an apologetics class on the Problem of Evil. If God is so good and so powerful, then why is there so much evil? It would be just two days later that the horrific school shooting in Connecticut would occur.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, while these thoughts were not collected as an answer to the school shooting, they might give us some perspective on evil in general and where God stands in all of this. I'm offering this, not as a response to the tragedy in Newtown, but as some helpful ideas to wrestle with what see going on around us.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">William Hasker has said, "<span style="line-height: 115%;">For
at least a century and a half, the existence and prevalence of evil in the
world has been generally recognized as the single most formidable obstacle to
theistic belief." In other words, more people might believe in a good and just God if not for all the evil they see going on around them. I give these 5 potential answers for the problem of evil as a way in which we might reconcile the presence of evil with the reality of a loving God.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">1. <b>The Experiential Factor</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">One important question to ask it, "How do I define evil?" We live in a day and age where whatever I experience or believe is the most true thing that exists. This is true also of what we would call evil. We consider evil anything that is bad, harmful, or damaging to others. Yet, w</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">hat one culture considers evil may be considered normal in another culture a hundred years later. The point is, s</span></span>ometimes, in complaining about evil, we are merely saying that God isn't running the world the way we think He should from our perspective.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Scripture defines evil not as something that is bad or wrong, but as anything that is contrary to the will and nature of God. Take for example Adam and Eve in the garden- eating an apple wasn't bad, <span style="line-height: 115%;">hurtful,
or damaging, BUT it was contrary
to the voice of God. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">So, the first possible answer to the problem of evil is to make sure that we define evil appropriately, based on something higher than our own personal experience. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">2. <b>The Evidence of Creation</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b> </b></span>The problem
of evil is based on the idea that a good and loving God would make a perfect
world. But consider the marks of God’s creation <i>before</i> Adam and Eve sinned. (From Douglas Hall)</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">-Loneliness- “it is not good for man
to be alone.”</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">-<span style="line-height: 115%;">Limits- we are limited in existence,
power and intelligence. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">-<span style="line-height: 115%;">Temptation- an unholy desire to
exceed limits and become gods</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">-Anxiety- in Eve, a fear that she didn’t
have everything she needed for life</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Couched in
every one of these is the prospect for suffering. Suffering which God allowed
for.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">But we would
all agree that these “evils” exist for our own benefit- loneliness that we
might draw near to others, limits that we might stay safe and value life,
temptation in that we are free to exercise free will, and anxiety which teaches
dependence on God.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">An all
loving and all good God created this way! Struggle is
part of creating life- how we learn to become fully human! And in this
struggle, there will pain, and perhaps even things we would describe as evil.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The second
possible answer to the problem of evil is seeing the evidence of creation.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">3. <b>The Existence of Good</b></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Ho w do you
know something is good? No one argues
that we should do away with good. No one suggests we should stop being kind, or
loving or gracious. But how would we recognize any of these things without the
potential for evil?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">You have heard how scientifically,
“Dark” and “Cold” do not exist.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Darkness
is only the measure of the absence of light</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Coldness
is only the measure of the absence of heat</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">We
know dark and cold experientially but only through these do we also experience
the goodness of light and heat.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">A third
possible answer to the problem of evil is recognizing at as the absence of
good. We experience evil, but only because we also know what is good.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">4. <b>The Elevation of Free Will</b></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Most of the
arguments of evil I hear relate to gratuitous acts of violence or unjust
suffering. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">“Why did God
allow Hitler to live?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">“Why didn’t
God stop the drunk driver before he drank?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">“Why didn’t
God stop _________________.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">So, in other
words, we want God to step in and disrupt human free will when we think its
obvious that He should do so. We see certain times and decisions that God
should make, and the fact that He doesn’t causes us to doubt his existence.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Have you
ever hurt someone? Maybe you shouldn’t have been born! Maybe God should have stopped you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">"But I’ve
done lots of good!" we say. "I deserve to live."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">So now
again, WE are the standard of what God should do.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">But God has
prized and valued our free will- our ability to choose Him or reject Him, to
choose love or to choose hate, to choose peace or to choose evil- so much that
He treats us all the same. He soveriegnly chooses to keep his hands off.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I heard a
speaker telling his story, and he was crying out to God, “God, why didn’t you
keep me from this abusive person?” And he heard God say, “You can’t see how
much I kept off you.”</span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="line-height: 115%;">We only see
what God does allow. Does that mean it’s good? No necessarily. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">If anything, gratuitous and unjust displays evil ought to cause us to redouble our efforts
to preach the Kingdom and spread the Love of Christ, so that more and more
people will freely choose to follow Him and surrender to his rule.</span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"> Which
by the way, how significant is it when we choose to love Him? In light of the
freedom God allows for each one of us to choose evil, how awesome is it that we
can actually find Him?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">The fourth
possible answer to the problem of evil is seeing how highly God values our
freedom- our freedom to choose Him. God refused to create obedient little
robots.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">5. <b>The Example of the Cross</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><b> </b>In John 1:18 we read, "No one has ever seen God, but the unique One, who is himself God, is near to
the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Never has
God been more clearly revealed than on the cross. </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">If we want
to know how God feels about evil, the cross of Jesus is the clearest answer. </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">He permitted
this evil to happen, but He gave his very life to overcome the evil that was at work. Honestly, for me faith falls apart without the cross. But in the cross, I see God's answer to the problem of evil. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">The fifth
possible answer to the problem of evil is to point to the cross of Jesus Christ
and say, “That’s how God feels about evil.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">May these potential answers help you to process the evil that you encounter on your journey.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And may you know His peace-</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nick</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-83766215174019449532012-12-06T14:44:00.003-08:002012-12-06T14:44:39.030-08:00What to Make of EndingsA few weeks ago, a very good friend of mine came to me and told me that he was leaving the church. He said that God was stirring new things in his heart, and his season of ministry in Kelso had come to a close. This news, while not completely unexpected, came as a real blow. Over the next few days, I found myself really wrestling with this news, mostly focused on what I had done wrong or could have done differently.<br />
<br />
It was during this time that I noticed a book on my shelf; one another friend had passed on to me several months earlier called, <i>Necessary Endings</i> by Henry Cloud. Out of curiousity, I picked up the book and began to read. Never has a book been more perfectly suited to a time of need.<br />
<br />
As our whole church family processes this news, I offer some gleanings from this reading, particularly as it has spoken to my own soul about endings in general. Even if you are from beyond the EHA circle, which many of you are, I think these insights will help you face the unexpected shifts and changes that come into every life.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Change is a necessary part of life. Accept it.</b> One of the mistakes we make is to perceive every change, every ending, as negative. In this mindset, we have no choice but to fear transitions and fight them when they happen. But look at the world around you- cycles and season of change dominate every aspect of life. Life is filled with necessary endings. Endings are the reason most of us are not married to our prom date (and I am <i>very </i>glad for that.) Learn to recognize change as a natural, normal part of life.<br />
<br />
<b>Figure out why you are opposed endings. </b>Deeper motivations are usually lurking underneath the fears that surface in our life. When a change or an ending causes us to clench up in anxiety or worry, this is a prime opportunity to assess what is really driving us. Often times, motivations like comfort, safety, and a need for control are more at play than we realize. Good-byes are certainly hard, but the other emotions we feel, in addition to the sorrow, are worth our attention. Figuring out what really going on can be extremely helpful.<br />
<br />
<b>The pain of pruning produces the joy of new life.</b> Each year in the late fall, I pull out a big set of brush clippers and make my way around the yard. I chop back the apple trees, lop off rose bush branches, and ready the blueberries for winter. It seems like such a shame to discard so many good, healthy branches. But I know from experience this brings greater life to the plants. While endings are hard, they are very often the catalyst for new growth and change. Though I will greatly miss this friend, I am excited and confident about what God wants to do next. I can't totally see it yet, but I know it will be good.<br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Enjoy the season you
are in. </b>I had the privilege of enjoying seven years of ministry with this
friend. It was an enjoyable season. Now, we find ourselves in a season of
transition. Transitions, while more uncertain, can also be rich seasons of
learning, growing and change. Several months from now, we’ll find ourselves as a church in
another season as ministry moves forward. The point is, all of life occurs in
season. Sometimes we can be so in love with a season that was, or so anxious
for a season that is yet to be, that we forget the call we have to live fully alive in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this present season</i>. So while I may not
be looking forward to every change, I am looking forward to how this new season
will develop my soul, enrich my faith, strengthen old relationships and bring
new friendships onto the scene.</div>
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<br /></div>
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What changes, or necessary endings, are you encountering? What are you learning from them about God and about yourself?</div>
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<br /></div>
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May your journey be all the better because of what God teaches you through change-</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Peace,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nick </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-55309288407622835242012-11-09T12:57:00.001-08:002012-11-09T12:57:42.367-08:00What Kind of Roads Do You Build?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqwlbQOu_1sEwttIOT5o_76t4Ft0zKRH3QMzTuzeGZLWQuHUffoj3tPBD_2Gvslau2SFZj6b5BFLh_9dGqZkcsc0YNeAOqWJKSZzC__UMyuwPueM7xSf2ZDREU78iGlazX4y9og/s1600/Day1+053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqwlbQOu_1sEwttIOT5o_76t4Ft0zKRH3QMzTuzeGZLWQuHUffoj3tPBD_2Gvslau2SFZj6b5BFLh_9dGqZkcsc0YNeAOqWJKSZzC__UMyuwPueM7xSf2ZDREU78iGlazX4y9og/s320/Day1+053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Today, I stood at a unique spot in Sarajevo. As we visited a park on one of the many hills around the city, our host Todd Denius pointed out a road running parallel to the park. You can see this road somewhat in the picture if you look carefully over my shoulder. On my left-hand side (your right) is the Serbian Republic, while on my right-hand side (your left) is the Bosnian Federation. These are roughly the political equivalent of states, but with much greater division and animosity between them. There are many, many people living in these two areas that would <i>never</i> consider crossing the road to the other side. This road is a clear demarcation of one side from the other. For the Bosnians, it was "those guys" on the other side that started the war and put the city under a horrible siege for 3 long years. For the Serbs, they were simply repaying what had been done to them generations earlier.<br />
<br />
It occured to me today how often we build roads like these. The "us" versus "them" mentality sneaks into so much of what we do- our political system, how people vote on a bill, the way we defend certain rights, our side of the car, or the bed- we create parallel, dividing lines to keep us separated from those whom we perceive to be our enemies. Though they are often quite close to us, we look across our carefully crafted lines and rehearse the mental mantras we have against them. We stay on our side, they stay on theirs, and everyone can get along.<br />
<br />
In contrast to this, I thought today about the kind of roads that Jesus built. During his life, Jesus seemed to build many roads, but these roads never seemed to divide- they intersected. They transected. (Ok, you could argue that Jesus created a divide between himself and religious leaders of his day, but that's another blog for another day.) Jesus created pathways that reconnected the sick and the healthy, Gentile and Jew, rich and poor, down-trodden sinners to a loving God. Everything Jesus did seemed to be an effort to draw people together into a new kind of Kingdom; a kingdom marked by love, forgiveness, truth, and mercy. People didn't have to hide their stuff from him, because he knew about it already and forgave them anyway.<br />
<br />
I wonder- what kind of roads are you building in your life? Roads that divide, or roads that connect? Do you find yourself working towards healing, hope and restoration? Or do your actions create sides that draw up battle lines? I'm just wondering today because I think it's our human nature to create "us" versus "them" kind of divides. If this is true, than part of denying myself in order to follow Jesus will mean that I be willing to lay down this kind of construction. Even when I'm angry, even when I want to hate or ignore or turn against- even then I work on paths that reconnect people. That's what Jesus did for me with God, and I'm so glad that He did.<br />
<br />
May you be aware of the roads you build today. And when necessary, may you tear down the ones that divide in favor of ones that connect.<br />
<br />
Journey in His peace-<br />
NickAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-62302001081115306702012-11-05T10:10:00.001-08:002012-11-05T10:10:26.141-08:00Sarajevo SoonHey all-<br />
<br />
This week, I head to Sarajevo, Bosnia for a 12-day trip of connecting with believers, preaching in churches, and teaching a class at the Mostar Bible College, the only Christian higher-education option in the country.<br />
<br />
Recently, author Philip Yancey toured Bosnia and Croatia as two of his most popular books were translated into those languages. I am re-posting his thoughts and observations for you to consider as our team prepares to leave. May these insights prompt you to pray and intercede for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovnia. <br />
<br />
This is from his official site, PhilipYancey.com:<br />
<br />
<div class="post-3521 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-philip-yanceys-blog" id="post-3521">
<h1 class="entry-title">
Don’t Cry For Me, Sarajevo</h1>
<div class="entry-meta">
<span class="meta-prep meta-prep-author">Posted on</span> <a href="http://www.philipyancey.com/archives/3521" rel="bookmark" title="9:05 am"><span class="entry-date">November 2, 2012</span></a> <span class="meta-sep">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="http://www.philipyancey.com/archives/author/py" title="View all posts by Philip Yancey">Philip Yancey</a></span> </div>
<div class="entry-content">
On a book tour last month, as we were driving along the highway
from Croatia to Bosnia, traffic came to a sudden stop near the border.
Car doors opened, drivers stepped outside for a smoke, and everyone
speculated on what had caused the backup. An accident? Road work? No,
as it turned out: personnel were sweeping the adjacent fields for mines
left over from the war that ended 17 years ago. Welcome to the former
Yugoslavia. More than five million mines were planted during that war
and they continue to maim or kill unsuspecting farmers, hikers, and
children.<br />
<img alt="" class="alignright wp-image-3511" height="259" src="http://www.philipyancey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/abandoned-house.jpg" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;" title="abandoned house" width="346" /><br />
When we finally reached the border, the world abruptly changed. A
four-lane superhighway narrowed to a windy, potholed two-lane road.
Road signs now used both the Roman alphabet of Western Europe and the
Cyrillic alphabet of the East. Most obviously, every other house was
vacant, its interior gutted by fire bombs, a relic of the Serbs’ ethnic
cleansing campaign to force Croats and Bosnians from Serbian areas.<br />
“Who owns these homes now?” I asked my Croatian host. “Probably the
people who were chased away and live somewhere else now. But would you
want to go back and reclaim a home in the same town where your neighbors
raped your daughter and slit your wife’s throat?”<br />
In Sarajevo, our destination, East and West meet on the same street.
Standing in the bazaar, if you look one direction you’d swear you were
in Austria with its neat buildings, onion-dome churches, and sidewalk
cafes; look the other direction and you’d think you were in Istanbul
with its tea shops and covered Muslim women browsing in the spice
market. Indeed, not far from here bloody battles stopped Islam from
taking over Europe centuries ago, and no one has forgotten.The Balkans
dominated the news back in the 1990s. International leaders stood by
wringing their hands while the horrors of World War II seemed to be
playing out again on miniature scale. I could never keep the
adversaries straight back then, much less pronounce them, and the
villains seemed to change weekly. Who can make sense of the former
Yugoslavia?<br />
Under communism Yugoslavia forced three major groups (as well as
other minor tribes) to live together: Croatian Catholics, Orthodox
Serbians, and Bosnian Muslims. Before the 199os war Sarajevo had a
large population of each; now the city is 90 percent Muslim, with
greatly reduced Orthodox and Catholic populations and only a sprinkling
of Protestants (perhaps 800 out of 400,000).<br />
<img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3514" height="225" src="http://www.philipyancey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/gravestone-300x225.jpg" title="gravestone" width="300" />For
just shy of four years Serbian soldiers who inherited most of the
Yugoslavian army took up positions in the hills that surround Sarajevo
and strangled the city in a brutal siege, the longest in modern times.
An average of 329 grenades rained down on the city every day, and on
busy days ten times that number. Snipers cruelly picked off easy
targets: a seven-year-old Muslim girl, a 70-year old grandmother, a
medical worker administering aid. At least 11,000 civilians died during
the siege, including 1600 children. Bodies floated down the river that
now picturesquely winds through town. Cemeteries filled up so that the
dead had to be buried in a soccer field just down from the site of the
1984 Olympics.<br />
This was modern Europe, where such things were not supposed to happen
again, especially not here, the exact site of the assassination of an
archduke that triggered World War I. But it did happen, for 1443
horrific days of bombardment on a city that had no electricity, no heat,
gas, or telephone service. (Imagine the inconveniences of those
affected by Superstorm Sandy in the East, for <em>four years</em>, plus
relentless bombardment.) The main source of water was a brewery that
generously opened its supplies to those brave enough to dare the snipers
who fired down on them at will.<br />
The residents of Sarajevo lived on a diet of beans, macaroni, and
rice, humanitarian aid supplied largely by air from the UN and NATO
forces who controlled the airport. It took four months to dig a
half-mile tunnel under open fields to the airport, and at night as many
as 1000 Sarajevans crowded the tunnel to fetch the heavy loads of
rations that kept them alive. The entrance to the tunnel provided a new
target to snipers, who targeted any who braved the run during daylight
hours.<br />
Few buildings have been fully repaired even today, 17 years after a
cease-fire. Most bear the scars of bullet holes and shrapnel. Plaques
mark the spots where grenades fell among civilians: 27 died on this
corner, 40 in that pedestrian mall, 70 in a nearby food market. I
stayed in a Franciscan monastery, now restored, that had received 42
direct hits from grenades.<br />
<img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3523" height="46" src="http://www.philipyancey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Drop-Cap-I1.jpg" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px;" title="Drop-Cap-I" width="42" />n
the world exists only one human; everything else is statistics,” said
Jorge Luis Borges. Speaking with a few who had endured the siege, I
heard some of their poignant stories:<br />
<div style="padding-left: 60px;">
• “For nine days in a row we ate plain
pasta. We had no spices, no meat, no flavoring. My mother was so
desperate for flavor that she went out and gathered grass to sprinkle in
just to add a bit of variety and color. When we got something
different, like rice or powdered milk, we would throw a party.”</div>
<div style="padding-left: 60px;">
<img alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-3513" height="197" src="http://www.philipyancey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/fire-bldg-275px-Muzej_DR-crop.jpg" title="Bomb damage" width="275" />•
“Without heat, we would burn anything at hand in the winter to stay
warm. I had a newborn baby, born in the midst of that hell. We chopped
up heirloom furniture with an ax. You go numb after a while. One
Christmas a friend brought me a priceless gift: the dirt-covered root
system of a tree he had found somewhere. I cried. I have never
received a Christmas gift that meant so much, and I still have it. I
could not burn it. I tell you with shame, that gesture moved me more
than hearing that thirty more people died.”</div>
<div style="padding-left: 60px;">
• “The worst thing is, you get used to
evil. If we knew in advance how long it would last, we would probably
have killed ourselves. Over time, you stop caring. You just try to
keep living.”</div>
<div style="padding-left: 60px;">
• “I have two brothers. One joined the
Muslim army to fight against the siege. One escaped and served with the
Croatians. My sister was married to a Serb, who was conscripted to
serve with the forces besieging us. So many marriages were mixed like
that—Serb/Croatian, Croatian/Bosnian, Bosnian/Serb—and many of them
broke apart.”</div>
<div style="padding-left: 60px;">
• “Why such brutality? These were our
friends, our neighbors, now shooting at us, blowing up our homes.
Hannah Arendt writes about the banality of evil. The biggest criminals
were nice fathers and husbands, people I knew. They were like the
Nazis who would gas Jews in the day and then go home and listen to
concerts with their families.”</div>
<span style="text-align: justify;">Croatia was the first region to
resist the Serbs, who sought a Greater Serbia comprising most of the
former Yugoslavia. The Croats had no army to speak of, just a few tanks
left over from World War II and a handful of planes used for
crop-dusting. Improvising, they learned to drop propane tanks and water
heaters out of the crop dusters onto Serbian forces. To get around an
international arms embargo, they released some Mafia-type gangsters
from prison, gave them trucks full of money, and commissioned them to
find a black market in weapons. (As a reward, some of these criminals
now hold high government posts.)</span><br />
<div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Dubrovnic, Srebenica, Vukovar—these
names stand out as sites of the worst brutality, crimes that are even
now being tried before the International Criminal Court. More than
100,000 people died in the wars. In Srebenica Serbs rounded up every
male over the age of fifteen, 8000 in all, tied their hands behind their
backs, and shot them. Workers are still digging up the mass graves in
an attempt to identify the bodies.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To read the eyewitness reports from the
international court in the Hague is to read a litany of horrors: of
pregnant women cut open, their unborn babies smashed with rifle butts;
of gang rapes of girls as young as nine; of toddlers decapitated, their
heads placed in their mothers’ laps. There is only one explanation for
what happened, one Bosnian told me: “God overslept.”</div>
<div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_3516" style="width: 334px;">
<img alt="" class=" wp-image-3516" height="432" src="http://www.philipyancey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Zagreb-Bar.jpg" title="Zagreb Bar" width="324" /><div class="wp-caption-text">
I came across this poster promoting my talk on suffering posted in a Zagreb bar window!</div>
</div>
I came to this part of the world because two of my books, <em>Where Is God When It Hurts</em> and <em>What’s So Amazing About Grace,</em> had
just been published in the Croatian and Bosnian language. I had
prepared talks on grace, informed in large part by the splendid work of
the Croatian theologian Miroslav Volf, a faculty member first at Fuller
Seminary and now Yale Divinity School. With one exception, however, I
was asked to speak on suffering, not on grace. When I asked, “Are you
ready for reconciliation,” not one person answered Yes. The wounds are
at once too fresh and too old, for these disputes go back more than
seven centuries. “Every compromise is defeat,” said one Serbian leader.
And another: “Any reconciliation is betrayal.”<br />
To be sure, all sides shared guilt, not just the Serbs. Two Croatian
generals were sentenced for their crimes, and mujaheddin fighting with
Bosnians and Albanians fighting in Kosovo also committed atrocities.
Though the war ended, in part because of NATO bombing and the Dayton
Peace Accords, the disputes have not ended. The one nation of Yugoslavia
split into seven: Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Croatia, Montenegro,
Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Slovenia. Serbians ended up with the
largest share of territory, but ethnic minorities remain in each
country, including a “Serbian Republic” within the borders of Bosnia.
Conflict in the Balkans could erupt up again.<br />
Today Syria dominates the news, with a reprise of the kinds of
atrocities I heard about firsthand. It happened in Rwanda, of course,
and continues today in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Nigeria.
I could not help thinking of Gandhi’s remark that if you take the
principle “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” to its logical
conclusion, eventually the whole world will go blind and toothless. I
have never visited a place in such need of grace and forgiveness, and
yet so resistant to it.<br />
<img alt="" class="alignright wp-image-3512" height="346" src="http://www.philipyancey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Father-Markovic.jpg" title="Father Markovic" width="259" />One
afternoon in Sarajevo we were escorted by a cheerful Franciscan monk
named Ivo Markovic. He took us first to the Jewish cemetery on a hill
high above the city, one of the main lookout posts for Serbian snipers.
Every grave had been marred in some way, pockmarked by bullets,
gravestones overturned. I had read of Markovic in Miroslav Volf’s book <em>Free of Charge</em>.
In his village, Muslim Bosnians were the villains, massacring 21 men
including nine members of his family—all senior citizens, his
71-year-old father the youngest of them.<br />
The Franciscans lost most of their church members as Catholics moved
out of Sarajevo. Yet the monastery stayed behind, leading the frail
peace movement and distributing food and practical help. After the war
stopped, Father Markovic visited his home village. I will let Volf tell
the story:<br />
<blockquote>
Occupying the house in which his brother used to live was
a fierce Muslim woman. He (Markovic) was warned not to go there because
she brandished a rifle to protect her new home. He went anyway. As he
approached the house she was waiting for him, cigarette in her mouth and
rifle cocked. She barked: “Go away or I’ll shoot you.” “No, you won’t
shoot me,” said Father Markovic in a gentle but firm voice, “you’ll make
a cup of coffee for me.” She stared at him for a while, then slowly put
the rifle down and went to the kitchen. Taking the last bit of coffee
she had, she mixed in some already used grounds to make enough coffee
for two cups. And they, deadly enemies, began to talk as they partook in
the ancient ritual of hospitality: drinking coffee together. She told
him of her loneliness, of the home she had lost, of the son who never
returned from the battlefield. When Father Markovic returned a month
later she told him: “I rejoice at seeing you as much as if my son had
returned home.”</blockquote>
Did they talk about forgiveness? I don’t know. And in a sense, it
doesn’t matter. He, the victim, came to her asking for her hospitality
in his brother’s home, which she unrightfully possessed. And she
responded. Though she greeted him with a rifle, she gave him a gift and
came to rejoice at his presence. The humble, tenuous beginnings of a
journey toward embrace were enacted through a ritual of coffee drinking.
If the journey continues, it will lead through the difficult terrain of
forgiveness.<br />
<img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-3524 alignleft" height="46" src="http://www.philipyancey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Drop-Cap-I2.jpg" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px;" title="Drop-Cap-I" width="37" />ur
last day in Croatia we toured an odd tourist site that has gained
acclaim for its originality. It mainly displays items donated by lovers
who have broken up. Some are nostalgic: a wedding dress, the chiffon top
worn the night he told her it’s over, the sticky roller he used to
remove her cat’s hair. Others are bitter: an ax used to chop up her
music collection, a framed photo shattered into pieces, the side mirror
of his car that she broke off when she found it parked in front of a
rival’s apartment. A few items refer to other kinds of broken
relationships, such as the a <em>Newsweek</em> cover featuring Barack Obama with the note, “I really wanted it to work out.”<br />
The Museum of Broken Relationships, it’s called, and I can’t think of
a more appropriate symbol for that part of the world. A visit to the
Balkans gives a stark picture of what can happen among human beings
apart from grace. As I wrote in <em>What’s So Amazing About Grace?</em><br />
<blockquote>
If you ask a bomb-throwing teenager in Northern Ireland
or a machete-wielding soldier in Rwanda or a sniper in the former
Yugoslavia why they are killing, they may not even know. Ireland is
still seeking revenge for atrocities Oliver Cromwell committed in the
seventeenth century; Rwanda and Burundi are carrying on tribal wars that
extend long past anyone’s memory; Yugoslavia is avenging memories from
World War II and trying to prevent a replay of what happened six
centuries ago. Ungrace plays like the background static of life for
families, nations, and institutions. It is, sadly, our natural human
state.</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="entry-utility">
This entry was posted in <a href="http://www.philipyancey.com/archives/category/philip-yanceys-blog" rel="category tag" title="View all posts in Blog">Blog</a>. Bookmark the <a href="http://www.philipyancey.com/archives/3521" rel="bookmark" title="Permalink to Don’t Cry For Me, Sarajevo">permalink</a>. </div>
<div class="entry-utility">
</div>
<div class="entry-utility">
Thanks for praying. Journey in His grace-</div>
<div class="entry-utility">
Nick </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-75295613914970413802012-10-03T14:44:00.003-07:002012-10-03T14:44:51.998-07:00Chasing AlbertoAt the end of this week, I will be running a in a local 10k. When the event started a few decades back, world-renowned runner and coach Alberto Salazar came up to the race and set the course record with a still impressive sub-30 minute mark. While I plan to run hard and finish well, I know that even at my very best I will be lucky to come within 10 minutes of his accomplishment. That's humbling. On the other hand, I can also safely assume that my finish will be at least 10 minutes ahead of others on that day. We'll all toe the line together, but some will be slurping Gatorade and greeting their families at the finish while others slug through miles 4, 5 and 6.<br />
<br />
There is a principle here. On the road of life, there will always be people ahead of us, and there will also be people behind. No matter what arena of life we look at, some are running a quicker pace than we are, while others appear to be lagging behind. The important factor, I believe, is the mindset that we all take towards these other groups. <br />
<br />
The prevailing mindset of culture seems to be to look on those who are ahead of us with contempt. They are seen as the competition, and their success is to be viewed with a jealous, disbelieving glance. We find reasons to discredit their accomplishments and explain away why they seem to be achieving more than we are. For those who are behind us, we are taught in many ways by our culture to look back on them with arrogance, grateful that we are not stuck in the same mire that seems to be entrapping them. We count our lucky stars and look down on those who can't keep the pace.<br />
<br />
The problem with this state of mind is that we are left very isolated and alone. Jealous of those in front and disdaining of those behind, we are left to relate only with those who seem to be on par with us. Yet if we adopt this way of viewing life, that pool of people will be ever-decreasing.<br />
<br />
I believe we are called to live with a different view. Jesus once said that we should rejoice with those who rejoice, and that we should mourn with those who mourn. The Bible calls us to pray for those who are in authority over us and be glad when they are successful. We are invited to carry one another's burdens and encourage those who have fallen. From this perspective, we grow with and learn from those who are ahead. We allow their example to inspire us and to lead us to a better future. We also look back on those who struggle and enter into their world. We become their partners and offer them the strength and courage they need to succeed.<br />
<br />
In order to live in this mindset, we have to decide that the size of our heart is more important than our place in the pack. We embrace those who are ahead and those who are behind as fellow companions that God has put on this journey with us. And when we do, we find that we all have much more in common than we expected.<br />
<br />
You see, here's an incredible thought from the running world. Though Alberto Salazar can run much faster than I can, my guess is that he and I exert the same effort. We both give our all, while one is blessed with greater skill and more disciplined training, leading to faster results. (That's Alberto, by the way) At our core, though, we are both just men who love to run.<br />
<br />
So how do you view those who are ahead of you and those who lag behind? Have you inadvertently ended up in a lonely place, unable to partner with those who are either too far ahead or too far behind? Or could you begin today to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep? Because if you do, you will never be alone.<br />
<br />
While Alberto's record is safe from me for another year, I'm sure I will still think about his effort from that day long gone and be inspired to give my best. And hopefully I'll get to cheer on some stragglers towards the back of the pack, because in the end our goal is the same: to finish well.<br />
<br />
May you run this race with a multitude of companions-<br />
<br />
Nick Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-85486915730422583432012-09-25T12:13:00.001-07:002012-09-25T12:13:15.188-07:00The Self-Made Man MythThis past weekend, I had the awesome of privilege of hanging out with a fine group of guys at the annul Pure Desire Men's Leadership Conference. I was impressed at the level of depth and transparency I saw going on around me as guys shared their stories with one another. This is so rare in our culture today!<br />
<br />
These guys were living examples of how the cultural ideal of a "self-made" man is a myth that needs to be exposed. Some time ago, I wrote a short piece about this and thought I would put it out there again for your thoughts and encouragement. Here it is:<br />
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As "real men", we don’t
need help, right? Ha! Think about this. The conditions of the universe had to be perfect, out of
astronomical odds, for any of us to be here. The air we breath, the ground we build on and the temperature of our planet is uniquely designed to sustain life. What is more, two human beings you had never
met or heard of came together and created you. Your mother carried you in her
womb for 9 months, and a team of doctors and nurses carefully ushered you into
life. At that moment you had been entirely dependent on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">someone else </i>for everything in your life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And then we
grow up and leave others behind, right? Hardly! Every day you consume food that
has been either carefully cultivated from the earth, or that required the DEATH
of another being so you could eat. You get in a vehicle made by hundreds of
people and robots in a factory in Detroit or Ohio, while driving on pavement installed
by a dedicated construction crew. You wear clothes stitched by factory workers
in China and sip coffee carefully grown by farmers in Costa Rica. You work at a
job that in some way, shape or form is entirely dependent on others consuming
whatever product you produce, even if you “run” the company, Without customers,
there is no company. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At the end of the day, you go home and engage in some sort of
entertainment on devices built by others, shows acted by others, or sports
performed by others.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In every area of our life, we are dependent on a network
of others. So <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">help</i> is our
way of life. From this perspective, is it so hard to see that God is underneath
it all? And the help we MOST need is His. You see, I believe it would be
foolish to rely on the help of so many others in our life but somehow think we
don’t need the help of the One who created it all and loves us more than anyone
ever can. Real men know this: that no on is self-made, only God-made. We can either embrace this truth and discover the grand life He has for us, or ignore it and be the weaker for it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">May you know that One today,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nick</span></div>
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<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-6054513640691247612012-07-31T13:54:00.003-07:002012-07-31T13:54:37.225-07:00Power from On HighDo you ever find yourself feeling just a little blah? I'm not sure what it is exactly, but since returning from my three week vacation, I find myself feeling less than my best; a bit lethargic and somewhat groggy. I told a friend that it feels like my hours of sleep aren't accomplishing as much as they should be.<br />
<br />
Perhaps it's vacation hang-over. (From fun and searing sun, of course.) Perhaps it's too many hours behind the wheel or not enough hours with my head on a pillow. No matter what the cause, I just plain don't feel 100% these days.<br />
<br />
When I feel this way, I notice that it affects my prayer life. I begin to pray more often for power. I pray for God to "energize me". I ask God to "fuel me for His work." I plead for Him to "strengthen me and enable me" to do my best for His glory. In these prayers, if I am honest, I am asking God to put the pep back in my step and make me feel my best!<br />
<br />
So, the other day, it was humbling to come across this idea. An author in the prayer book I use put it this way. He said that when we begin to pray for God's power to come through in our life, we ought to remember that His power at its highest moment was foolishness to the world. God's power was and is most fully seen at the cross of Christ, and many to this day miss that power completely.<br />
<br />
What this said to me is that the power God seeks to give us (me!) may not be what we expect. Rather than making us feel good or be some type of supernatural energy drink, He may seek to empower us to serve, to love, and to give ourselves away. The expression of God's power in our life may actually seem like foolishness to others, and could even be mistaken as something un-powerful altogether. <br />
<br />
So, I am trying to stay open to this idea- that God's answer of power in my life might be divine enabling to give myself away for the good of others. When you pray for power, it may be the same. His answer to your prayers for power could seem at first as foolishness, but could ultimately result in great life and joy for others. This was the case with the cross of Christ. <br />
<br />
May you discover His life-giving power on your journey-<br />
Nick<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-55920942470475148682012-06-20T11:47:00.002-07:002012-06-20T11:47:30.766-07:00Weekend QuoteFor those of you who hang around East Hills, you may know that this weekend we launched a new sermon series called, "Detours." We want to look at how God uses the unexpected roads in our lives to shape us for our good and His glory.<br />
<br />
At the conclusion of this weekend's message, I read a quote without attributing a source. Here is the full quote (with a few extra paragraphs) by Simon Tugwell in his work <i>Prayer.</i><br />
<br />
<i>"</i>Another picture that our Lord loves to us is that of the shepherd who goes out to look for the sheep that is lost. So long as we imagine that it is we who have to look for God, then we must often lost heart But it is the other way about: He is looking for us. And so we can afford to recognize that very often we are not looking for God; far from it, we are in full flight from Him, in high rebellion against Him. And He knows that and has taken it into account He has followed us into our own darkness; there where we thought finally to escape Him, we run straight into His arms. <i> </i><br />
<br />
So we do not have to erect a false piety for ourselves, to give us hope of salvation. Our hope is in His determination to save us. And He will not give in!<br />
<br />
This should free us from that crippling anxiety which prevents any real growth, giving us room to do whatever we can do, to accept the small but genuine responsibilities that we do have. Our part is not to shoulder the whole burden of our salvation, the initiative and the program are not in our hands: our part is to consent, to learn how to love Him in return whose love came to us so freely while we were quite uninterested in Him. <br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We can let ourselves off that desperate question, Am I in
the right place? Have I done the right thing? Of course, we must sometimes
acknowledge sins and mistakes and we must try to learn from them; but we should
not foster the kind of worry that leads to despair. God’s providence means that
wherever we have got to, whatever we have done, that is precisely where the
road to heaven begins. However many cues we have missed, however many wrong
turnings we have taken, however unnecessarily we may have complicated our
journey, the road still beckons, and the Lord still waits to be gracious to
us.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">May you journey with the knowledge that God pursues you even when you run from Him...</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Nick </span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20142398.post-30675927859137702412012-06-14T13:53:00.001-07:002012-06-14T13:53:14.383-07:00The Five VowsThis past weekend at our Men's Retreat, I gave a little talk I called "Five Vows Real Men Make." This talk was a total rip-off from a sermon A.W. Tozer first gave called "Five Vows for Spiritual Power." I think it applies well to men because these five declarations stand in direct defiance of what our culture teaches about manliness.<br />
<br />
I thought you all might appreciate them, as they have universal application, and not just for men. These are "forgotten ideas" anymore in a culture obsessed with self, luxury, and pleasure. May you be challenged and reminded today of what real life in Christ looks like. (All of these words are Tozer's. If you want a longer version which also ran in the magazine <i>aLife</i>, let me know!)<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Some people object to taking vows,
but in the Bible you will find many great men of God directed by covenants,
promises, vows, and pledges. The psalmist was not averse to the taking of vows.
He said, “Thy vows are upon me, O God, I will render my praises unto thee”
(Psalm 56:12).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My counsel in this matter is that if
you are really concerned about spiritual improvement—the gaining of new power,
new life, new joy, and new personal revival within your heart—you will do well
to make certain vows and proceed to keep them. If you should fail, go down in
humility and repent and start over. But always keep these vows before you. They
will help harmonize your heart with the vast powers that flow out and down from
the throne where Christ sits at the right hand of God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are five vows I have in mind
which we do well to make and to keep. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.
Deal Thoroughly with Sin</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sin has been driven underground
these days and has come up with a new name and face. You may be subjected to
this phenomenon in the schools. Sin is being called by various fancy names –
anything but what it really is. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The whole thing is ridiculous,
because sin is still the ancient enemy of the soul. it has never changed. We’ve
got to deal firmly with sin in our lives. Let’s remember that “the kingdom of
God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy
Ghost.” Righteousness lies at the door of the kingdom of God. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.
Never Own Anything</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I do not mean by this that you
cannot have things. I mean that you ought to get delivered from the sense of
possessing them. This sense of possessing is what hinders us. All babies are
born with their fists clenched, and it seems to me it means, “This is mine!”
One of the first things they say when they begin to speak is “mine” in an angry
voice. That sense of “This is mine” ‘is a very injurious thing to the spirit.
If you can get rid of it so that you have no feeling of possessing anything,
there will come a great sense of freedom and liberty into your life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.
Never Defend Yourself</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are all born with a desire to
defend ourselves. And if you insist upon defending yourself, God will let you
do it. But if on turn the defense of yourself over to God, He will defend you.
He told Moses in Exodus 23: “I will be an enemy unto your enemies and an
adversary to your adversaries.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.
Guard Your Words about Others</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Never pass anything on—about anybody
else that will hurt him. “Love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). The
talebearer has no place in God’s favor. if you know something that would hinder
or hurt the reputation of one of God’s children, bury it forever. Find a little
garden out back – a little spot somewhere – and when somebody comes around with
an evil story, take it out and bury it and say, “Here lies in peace the story
about my brother.” God will take care of it. “With what judgment ye judge, ye
shall be judged.” If you want God to be good to you, you are going to have to
be good to His children. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.
Never Accept Any Glory</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God is jealous of His glory and He
will not give His glory to another. He will not even share His glory with
another. It is quite natural, I should say, for people to hope that maybe their
Christian service will give them a chance to display their talents. True, they
want to serve the Lord. But they also want other people to know they are
serving the Lord. They want to have a reputation among the saints. That is very
dangerous ground – seeking a reputation among the saints. It’s bad enough to
seek a reputation in the world, but it’s worse to seek a reputation among the
people of God. Our Lord gave up His reputation, and so must we.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These vows cut against the old human
nature. They introduce the cross into your life, and nobody ever walks back
from carrying his cross. When you make these vows, remember they strike at the
heart of your self-life and there is never a place to go back to. Turn
everything over to Him, and you’ll find your life begin to lift. You’ll blossom
in a wonderful way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Five Vows for Spiritual Power, <i>published by Christian
Publications, December 1990.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028057236879920077noreply@blogger.com1