Recently I have been thinking of what it would be like to blast off into space. I've never been one to read all about the astronauts and dream of "being one" some day, although I've been told that someone that walked on the moon was a distant relative of mine (so I'm sure I have an inside chance of being chosen to work for NASA!). But yet flying off into space has been on my mind the past few weeks.
I was intrigued by the work of the Rutan brothers - sending a home made space craft up and back a couple times to win a 10 million dollar prize. It wasn't the money, but the challenge that drew me, although the money would be a nice bonus. Just the fact of leaving the earth behind me, watching it in the rear view mirror as I went farther and farther away from ... everything.
Perhaps my interest has to do with how tired I have become of what the world has to offer. I seek a new world that God has planned for me.
However, just like the preparation that the astronauts have to go through, I can't expect to be ready without my own preparations. Jesus has challenged us to go to all the world, making disciples of all nations, and sharing the good news of a loving Father. That doesn't happen if I spend all of my time sitting in front of the TV, or putting in extra hours at the office. If I am going to do the job that God has given me, I have to do something.
So I want to start the countdown. I want to do something every day that leads to finishing the work that is before me. I want to go home!
Are you ready to start the countdown with me?
God bless you abundantly!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Transactional or Transformational Christianity?
In the world of Human Resources there is a rumbling that has everyone wondering what is going to happen with their chosen profession. For years the job of the Human Resources department, or as it used to be called, "Personnel," was to make sure that the employees were hired correctly, that all of their paperwork was in place, that they had accurately signed up for their benefits, and that, should it come to it, the employee was terminated legally. For years that was the sum and total of the responsibilities of the H.R. Manager.
But as businesses evolved, upper management started asking if that was a necessary role for a person or a department. Couldn't a manager be trained to carry out most of those tasks? In fact, if the process was simplified, wouldn't it be more effective to make most of those tasks "self-service," and have the new hire take care of them himself? As businesses moved into the electronic and computer-based world, it became obvious that many of these things could be done without the help of a Human Resources leader.
This trend towards self sufficiency was a wake-up call for the profession. They realized that if they were going to continue, they needed to recreate themselves. They saw that they needed to be involved with the strategy of the organization - to bring their understanding of the human side of business to the table to help the organization succeed. And in the successful businesses in America, that is exactly what is happening.
It reminded me of the need I have in my life. I have often focused on the "doing" of Christianity - the tasks that I felt demonstrated that I was a Christian. You know, kind of like the rich young ruler that came to Jesus; "All of those things I have done from my youth." The things that in the Human Resources world are called "transactional activities."
But those things don't result in true change. It's like rotating old tires on a car - they might be in a different place than they were before, but that won't put more tread on the tires! While I see the value of rotating tires, sooner or later I will have to do something about those bald tires....
The true change happens when we focus not on the tasks but on the core. That is what HR calls "transformational activities." And in Christianity our part is submitting our wills to Christ so He can change us from the inside out.
Romans 12:2 says, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." That's transformational talk. And if you want to know how that happens, I encourage you to read the prayer that Paul prayed in Ephesians 3:14-19.
Matthew West describes my feelings exactly in the words of his song: "I don't want to go through the motions..." How about you?
God bless you abundantly!
But as businesses evolved, upper management started asking if that was a necessary role for a person or a department. Couldn't a manager be trained to carry out most of those tasks? In fact, if the process was simplified, wouldn't it be more effective to make most of those tasks "self-service," and have the new hire take care of them himself? As businesses moved into the electronic and computer-based world, it became obvious that many of these things could be done without the help of a Human Resources leader.
This trend towards self sufficiency was a wake-up call for the profession. They realized that if they were going to continue, they needed to recreate themselves. They saw that they needed to be involved with the strategy of the organization - to bring their understanding of the human side of business to the table to help the organization succeed. And in the successful businesses in America, that is exactly what is happening.
It reminded me of the need I have in my life. I have often focused on the "doing" of Christianity - the tasks that I felt demonstrated that I was a Christian. You know, kind of like the rich young ruler that came to Jesus; "All of those things I have done from my youth." The things that in the Human Resources world are called "transactional activities."
But those things don't result in true change. It's like rotating old tires on a car - they might be in a different place than they were before, but that won't put more tread on the tires! While I see the value of rotating tires, sooner or later I will have to do something about those bald tires....
The true change happens when we focus not on the tasks but on the core. That is what HR calls "transformational activities." And in Christianity our part is submitting our wills to Christ so He can change us from the inside out.
Romans 12:2 says, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." That's transformational talk. And if you want to know how that happens, I encourage you to read the prayer that Paul prayed in Ephesians 3:14-19.
Matthew West describes my feelings exactly in the words of his song: "I don't want to go through the motions..." How about you?
God bless you abundantly!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Moments to Live
I've always been intrigued by the final words that people say before they die. I like to think it reveals what is the most central theme of their feelings - the deepest emotions and values. Perhaps. After reading a list of the last words of some people, I wonder if it also reveals how shallow people really are.
I've been thinking of dying recently. Not that I feel it is in my immediate future, but also I want to be honest and realize that it is not something that couldn't happen soon (my theory is that most people are surprised by their own deaths - we tend to think of ourselves as having more time than we really have!). Death is not something that I fear, but something I would like to avoid, and certainly delay as long as possible!
Here's where I am going with this: most people, when they know that they have only moments to live, don't spend that time thinking about new schemes to make money, or wishing that they could have just one more hour so they could clean the house. Most wish they could spend a few more minutes with friends and family, or clear up misunderstanding that might have caused a rift in a relationship. Most people want to make things right, with their fellow men and with God.
So what would happen to our personal worlds if we lived each day as if we only had moments to live? How would that affect our interactions with others? How would that impact our daily decisions? What would become the most important things to us if we knew we only had moments to live?
One of my new favorite texts comes from Romans, chapter 14 and verse 19. It says, "Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify (or build up) another." (NKJV) What stands out to me is that we need to actively seek (pursue) those things that bring peace into our world (not a passive process - that means we are not seeking our own selfish desires, but laying aside our wants and even needs to bring peace to relationships). We also will look for ways to put others ahead of us and build them up, not tear them down as is the norm for the world today.
How would our lives be different if we lived as Paul suggests? Wouldn't you be honored to have your tombstone say, "He lived to bring peace and elevate the lives of his fellow man?"
If you only have moments to live, how will you spend these final days?
God bless you abundantly!
I've been thinking of dying recently. Not that I feel it is in my immediate future, but also I want to be honest and realize that it is not something that couldn't happen soon (my theory is that most people are surprised by their own deaths - we tend to think of ourselves as having more time than we really have!). Death is not something that I fear, but something I would like to avoid, and certainly delay as long as possible!
Here's where I am going with this: most people, when they know that they have only moments to live, don't spend that time thinking about new schemes to make money, or wishing that they could have just one more hour so they could clean the house. Most wish they could spend a few more minutes with friends and family, or clear up misunderstanding that might have caused a rift in a relationship. Most people want to make things right, with their fellow men and with God.
So what would happen to our personal worlds if we lived each day as if we only had moments to live? How would that affect our interactions with others? How would that impact our daily decisions? What would become the most important things to us if we knew we only had moments to live?
One of my new favorite texts comes from Romans, chapter 14 and verse 19. It says, "Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify (or build up) another." (NKJV) What stands out to me is that we need to actively seek (pursue) those things that bring peace into our world (not a passive process - that means we are not seeking our own selfish desires, but laying aside our wants and even needs to bring peace to relationships). We also will look for ways to put others ahead of us and build them up, not tear them down as is the norm for the world today.
How would our lives be different if we lived as Paul suggests? Wouldn't you be honored to have your tombstone say, "He lived to bring peace and elevate the lives of his fellow man?"
If you only have moments to live, how will you spend these final days?
God bless you abundantly!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Where Did That Come From?
She tried to make herself as unobtrusive as she possibly could. It wasn't that she was afraid to be around people - it was more that she didn't know if she was doing the right thing. She clutched the small container to her breast as she hurried along.
Even now, just thinking of His words was enough to bring tears to her eyes. She was the one that had been sitting at His feet, listening intently to His words, barely hearing the clanking of the pots and pans in the kitchen. He had said something about Jonah - something about Him being in the earth for three days just like Jonah was in the belly of the great fish. She didn't want to believe her ears, but she was almost sure that He had said that He was going to die.
How could that be? Didn't He have the power to raise men from the dead? Why, her own brother had been raised from the tomb four days after he had died, and he was up and walking and praising God. He had been the one that had called her brother from the grave. How could someone like that die?
Now there was this big party to celebrate the works of this Man, and her brother was the invited guest. Because of her history and because she was a woman, she had been left off the guest list. But that didn't stop her. Even now she was headed there with a package that was feeling heavier and heavier with each step.
She paused. What was she doing? It had taken her life's savings - which hadn't been all that much, but would take her several years of hard work to replenish - just to purchase the box that contained the most exquisite and aromatic fragrance ever created. Some would think that this was an impulse purchase, but she had agonized for many days about what would be the right thing to do for Him. She tightened the sash on her robe and started again for the house on the hill.
She heard the sounds of the party long before she reached the gates to the elegantly designed mansion. As she hurried past the main part of the house she caught a glimpse of her brother, dressed in his best robe but still looking shabby amongst the group of learned men. But there was something about the way he held his head that almost gave him a regal look.
She found the way into the servants entrance, and walked quickly through the kitchen. She had learned that if she acted like she belonged in a place, people would be less likely to stop and question her. In the far corner she could see her sister busily cooking over a hot cauldron of spicy soup. Trying to keep from being seen, she stumbled over some pots of food that were being prepared, nearly falling onto one of the kitchen helpers that was busy setting out a plate full of delicacies. She waited for a scolding, but the harried girl was too frazzled to give her more than a scornful look.
It was like a maze, but she worked her way through the mass of humanity and into the inner part of the house. The guests were settling down around the low table, and as was the custom, her brother and the Master, the honored ones, were at the head of the table with their backs to her. She paused for only a moment, then dropped to her knees at the Master's feet.
She drew the alabaster box out from the folds of her robe and gently broke the fragile lid. Immediately the air around her was filled with the sweetest smell, and invigorated by the scent, she gently poured it on his feet. Using her long hair, she wiped the Master's feet, spreading the perfume with every stroke.
Suddenly she realized what she was doing. Where did this idea come from, she wondered? What was it that compelled her to give her all without consideration of the cost for the One who had saved her from a life of shame and death? She realized that only from her heart of love could such an extravagant gesture find a beginning.
By this time the other guests were noticing the aroma filling the air. Where could this fragrance be coming from, they asked. They immediately recognized the value and could only surmise that the host had generously provided such a pleasing fragrance.
But the host, sitting near the Master, knew what was happening. Where did she come from, he asked. He knew of her and her reputation - more intimately than anyone should know. And now she was pawing over this Man. Why, if He knew what manner of woman she was, He would never allow her to touch Him. But maybe He did know.... What kind of man would openly admit to knowing this kind of woman?
And the keeper of the coins, the master of the money bags, the greedy gatherer of the gold, immediately wondered: Where did a woman like this get that kind of money? If she was a true follower of the Man, she should have given me - er, I mean Him - all of the money that was used for such a frivolous and disgusting display of waste!
And the Man - He said something about how the story of her act would be shared around the world. That her ability to give from the heart unashamedly and without reservation was truly an act of love and worship. That she would be an example to all of how we should give everything when we worship Him.
And friends, that's that way I want to worship Him this week!
God bless you abundantly!
Even now, just thinking of His words was enough to bring tears to her eyes. She was the one that had been sitting at His feet, listening intently to His words, barely hearing the clanking of the pots and pans in the kitchen. He had said something about Jonah - something about Him being in the earth for three days just like Jonah was in the belly of the great fish. She didn't want to believe her ears, but she was almost sure that He had said that He was going to die.
How could that be? Didn't He have the power to raise men from the dead? Why, her own brother had been raised from the tomb four days after he had died, and he was up and walking and praising God. He had been the one that had called her brother from the grave. How could someone like that die?
Now there was this big party to celebrate the works of this Man, and her brother was the invited guest. Because of her history and because she was a woman, she had been left off the guest list. But that didn't stop her. Even now she was headed there with a package that was feeling heavier and heavier with each step.
She paused. What was she doing? It had taken her life's savings - which hadn't been all that much, but would take her several years of hard work to replenish - just to purchase the box that contained the most exquisite and aromatic fragrance ever created. Some would think that this was an impulse purchase, but she had agonized for many days about what would be the right thing to do for Him. She tightened the sash on her robe and started again for the house on the hill.
She heard the sounds of the party long before she reached the gates to the elegantly designed mansion. As she hurried past the main part of the house she caught a glimpse of her brother, dressed in his best robe but still looking shabby amongst the group of learned men. But there was something about the way he held his head that almost gave him a regal look.
She found the way into the servants entrance, and walked quickly through the kitchen. She had learned that if she acted like she belonged in a place, people would be less likely to stop and question her. In the far corner she could see her sister busily cooking over a hot cauldron of spicy soup. Trying to keep from being seen, she stumbled over some pots of food that were being prepared, nearly falling onto one of the kitchen helpers that was busy setting out a plate full of delicacies. She waited for a scolding, but the harried girl was too frazzled to give her more than a scornful look.
It was like a maze, but she worked her way through the mass of humanity and into the inner part of the house. The guests were settling down around the low table, and as was the custom, her brother and the Master, the honored ones, were at the head of the table with their backs to her. She paused for only a moment, then dropped to her knees at the Master's feet.
She drew the alabaster box out from the folds of her robe and gently broke the fragile lid. Immediately the air around her was filled with the sweetest smell, and invigorated by the scent, she gently poured it on his feet. Using her long hair, she wiped the Master's feet, spreading the perfume with every stroke.
Suddenly she realized what she was doing. Where did this idea come from, she wondered? What was it that compelled her to give her all without consideration of the cost for the One who had saved her from a life of shame and death? She realized that only from her heart of love could such an extravagant gesture find a beginning.
By this time the other guests were noticing the aroma filling the air. Where could this fragrance be coming from, they asked. They immediately recognized the value and could only surmise that the host had generously provided such a pleasing fragrance.
But the host, sitting near the Master, knew what was happening. Where did she come from, he asked. He knew of her and her reputation - more intimately than anyone should know. And now she was pawing over this Man. Why, if He knew what manner of woman she was, He would never allow her to touch Him. But maybe He did know.... What kind of man would openly admit to knowing this kind of woman?
And the keeper of the coins, the master of the money bags, the greedy gatherer of the gold, immediately wondered: Where did a woman like this get that kind of money? If she was a true follower of the Man, she should have given me - er, I mean Him - all of the money that was used for such a frivolous and disgusting display of waste!
And the Man - He said something about how the story of her act would be shared around the world. That her ability to give from the heart unashamedly and without reservation was truly an act of love and worship. That she would be an example to all of how we should give everything when we worship Him.
And friends, that's that way I want to worship Him this week!
God bless you abundantly!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Let it Shine, Let it Shine!
I've been thinking about what it means to shine...
In Matthew 5:16 Jesus says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." A few verses before that He said, "You are the light of the world." I Thessalonians 5:5 reminds us that "You are all sons of light and sons of the day."
So what does that mean? What is the light that we are supposed to be shining?
I remember as a kid someone took a glow stick (that plastic tube with a glass ampule inside that you bend and break so the two chemicals mix and it glows a green light for 20 minutes) and cut it open and spread the chemical around his mouth and on his face. In the dark he glowed - not really shined - but is that what we are supposed to do? Maybe not....
Let's go back to the first text: "Let your light shine so people see your good works..." Part One (letting your light shine) results in Part Two (people seeing your good works). Something about letting your light shine causes you to do good things, and people will notice those things. Notice that it doesn't say "Make your light shine." It says, "Let it shine." To me that means something happens that, as part of the transformation, the result is a "shining" that you allow to burst forth. But what is it that happens that causes the light to start shining?
It can't be something that happens naturally. Our sinful natures are far from beacons of light. So something has to transform us.
Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed to be born again (or "from above."). He made it clear it was not something that he could do on his own. Peter says "...having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever..." (I Peter 1:23).
Just like the fact that we cannot cause ourselves to be born again, this process is completely outside of our ability to make it happen. We can't do it. But we can be willing to submit and let God do it for us!
Imagine this! We are lost in the darkness and cannot find a way out. But Someone comes and says, "Hold on to My hand and I will lead you out of this darkness." All we can do is grasp on and follow. And as we walk we see that we are starting to change. Perhaps it starts with a lessening desire to go our own direction, and we start to enjoy the warmth of the hand that we hold. And something else is happening. We realize that we were not just in the dark - we were also blind, but we are starting to see. And we are starting to glow!
Now can you imagine saying this? "...giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated (transferred) us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:12-14)
Now does Matthew 5:16 make more sense? When we take God's hand and accept the gift of salvation - redeemed through the blood of His Son - we begin to change. Rather than hold it back, we let and even embrace the change, and we are transformed. The more we become like true members of His family, the more we become like Him, and Part One (letting our light shine) begins to take over. And people start to notice (Part Two). And they start asking questions.
That is when Part Three starts: "...and glorify your Father in heaven." Not because anything that we have done, but who we have become. All glory goes to God!
And that's how you know your light is really shining!
God bless you abundantly!
In Matthew 5:16 Jesus says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." A few verses before that He said, "You are the light of the world." I Thessalonians 5:5 reminds us that "You are all sons of light and sons of the day."
So what does that mean? What is the light that we are supposed to be shining?
I remember as a kid someone took a glow stick (that plastic tube with a glass ampule inside that you bend and break so the two chemicals mix and it glows a green light for 20 minutes) and cut it open and spread the chemical around his mouth and on his face. In the dark he glowed - not really shined - but is that what we are supposed to do? Maybe not....
Let's go back to the first text: "Let your light shine so people see your good works..." Part One (letting your light shine) results in Part Two (people seeing your good works). Something about letting your light shine causes you to do good things, and people will notice those things. Notice that it doesn't say "Make your light shine." It says, "Let it shine." To me that means something happens that, as part of the transformation, the result is a "shining" that you allow to burst forth. But what is it that happens that causes the light to start shining?
It can't be something that happens naturally. Our sinful natures are far from beacons of light. So something has to transform us.
Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed to be born again (or "from above."). He made it clear it was not something that he could do on his own. Peter says "...having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever..." (I Peter 1:23).
Just like the fact that we cannot cause ourselves to be born again, this process is completely outside of our ability to make it happen. We can't do it. But we can be willing to submit and let God do it for us!
Imagine this! We are lost in the darkness and cannot find a way out. But Someone comes and says, "Hold on to My hand and I will lead you out of this darkness." All we can do is grasp on and follow. And as we walk we see that we are starting to change. Perhaps it starts with a lessening desire to go our own direction, and we start to enjoy the warmth of the hand that we hold. And something else is happening. We realize that we were not just in the dark - we were also blind, but we are starting to see. And we are starting to glow!
Now can you imagine saying this? "...giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated (transferred) us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:12-14)
Now does Matthew 5:16 make more sense? When we take God's hand and accept the gift of salvation - redeemed through the blood of His Son - we begin to change. Rather than hold it back, we let and even embrace the change, and we are transformed. The more we become like true members of His family, the more we become like Him, and Part One (letting our light shine) begins to take over. And people start to notice (Part Two). And they start asking questions.
That is when Part Three starts: "...and glorify your Father in heaven." Not because anything that we have done, but who we have become. All glory goes to God!
And that's how you know your light is really shining!
God bless you abundantly!
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