It is not often that I feel an urgency to put my thoughts on paper, and to oppose such a peculiar state of mind is futile. Sometimes I like to revert to an objectively oriented style of writing; so as to make my point readily understood. There was this philosopher that I met about a year ago, who delivered his message in a much broader fashion. I enjoyed it because he didn’t stop to explain every point. He simply stated several relative points, and allowed his listeners to ponder them and arrive at their own conclusions.
As I’ve never attempted to pen an article in this manner, I hope that it will work as well as I imagine it should. I can’t help but wonder why it is that we want to categorize every little thing we feel (or don’t feel) and blame our actions on our emotional state. I’d rather that my actions preceded my emotions, and that they were directly related to each other. We are more accustomed to an inverse response. Our search for fulfillment should never overrule the underlying desire to do what is right.
This ineptitude to quantify comprehensibility is almost unbearable. There seems to be this passion that can only be identified as a projected fantasy. How can I pretend to love something that isn’t a present reality? It is so easy to affix our eyes on future achievements, without understanding that it is tangibly linked to the present. We understand the concept of work = success, but we don’t fully understand that our earthly work cannot be separated from our eternal work.
Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience life’s deepest joy; true fulfillment. – Anthony Robbins
When I read this statement two things came to mind. My instinctive reaction was to say yes absolutely, I cannot live a self-centered life and be happy living it. Secondly, I believe that you still have an obligation to discern for yourself an appropriate cause. If you spend your whole life working in the name of philanthropy you will become discouraged and ineffective. Our whole lives were essentially designed for one purpose only, and it is of utmost importance to align ourselves with a life-giving cause.
The other day I thought of this analogy. There is a Doctor who meets with each of his patients. He proceeds to prescribe the appropriate medication on a case-by-case basis. In the same way, we are each given a God given mandate, that if adhered to will result in full health. It is interesting to also ponder the reality that the Doctor will not refuse anybody, and that he offers healing to everyone that will receive it. Consequently we also are expected to take his healing power that lives within us to those who are broken. It seems to me that there is a certain ring to the words “cause and effect.”
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Halfway Gone
This summer I had the opportunity to run the half marathon in Regina, Sk. When I went to register I couldn’t help but notice that the half-marathon line didn’t look like the full-marathon line. There was a very distinct difference between those who run the half marathon, and those that run the full marathon. The half marathoners come in all shapes, sizes, and fitness levels. The full marathon runners are almost exclusively tall, skinny, and in very good physical shape. It is reasonable to conclude that there is a certain echelon of individuals that have dedicated their time and energy to do effortlessly what most other people could only do with great difficulty.
I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit this past week. We’ve all been told a thousand times that practice makes perfect. When I ran I did well,but if I had trained more I could have placed better. The point I’m trying to make is that it is easy to go “halfway”, but it requires a certain type of discipline and vision to see a dream through to completion.
The Kingdom of God works very similarly, but I want to make it very clear, that it is an inverted Kingdom. The last go first, the servant is honoured. We understand all these things, and yet our tendency is to get frustrated when we feel that we don’t measure up to what we expect that God wants from us. I came across this verse in Matthew 11:28-30
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
It is so remarkable that despite our failures, God is always there to work alongside us, He takes the pressure off. I heard someone say the other day that Faith = Risk. Sometimes you will have to push yourself further than you have every gone before. It should be an element of daily thought to ask yourself the question, “How old are my stories?” Everyday you have the chance to get up and start a brand new day… and write it’s happenings in the pages of history, and relay them, as an inspiration, to others.
I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit this past week. We’ve all been told a thousand times that practice makes perfect. When I ran I did well,but if I had trained more I could have placed better. The point I’m trying to make is that it is easy to go “halfway”, but it requires a certain type of discipline and vision to see a dream through to completion.
The Kingdom of God works very similarly, but I want to make it very clear, that it is an inverted Kingdom. The last go first, the servant is honoured. We understand all these things, and yet our tendency is to get frustrated when we feel that we don’t measure up to what we expect that God wants from us. I came across this verse in Matthew 11:28-30
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
It is so remarkable that despite our failures, God is always there to work alongside us, He takes the pressure off. I heard someone say the other day that Faith = Risk. Sometimes you will have to push yourself further than you have every gone before. It should be an element of daily thought to ask yourself the question, “How old are my stories?” Everyday you have the chance to get up and start a brand new day… and write it’s happenings in the pages of history, and relay them, as an inspiration, to others.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
The Absurdity of Purposely Aiming at Nothing
I felt impressed this week to share a couple of verses that tie together some of the points that I have discussed in the last number of weeks. I think it would be helpful for me to explain why it is that I’ve chosen to live in a manner that is right in the eyes of God. For the sake of keeping this short, I will mention a few different topics, but I will be happy to expound upon them further in the comment section, as well as in future blogs.
The primary difference between Christianity and any other religion is that you are not required to earn your salvation. Ephesians 2: 8-10 says:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
It is not that we aren’t required to do what God asks of us, but it is why we were originally created. God has a very specific plan and purpose for every single one of us.
I’ve had some conversations recently that have touched on the question, “How to live without fear?” Some people would simply prefer not to believe that there are consequences associated with moral compromises. It is quite commonly misunderstood that a Christian must never make a mistake, because if they do they will go to hell.
Natural fear is the opposite of faith, so if you refer back to the verse that I’ve cited from Ephesians, it becomes clear that salvation itself would be made impossible. Fear of God, is explained in Psalm 130:3-4 If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.
Basically the verse is saying that when we realize that God is so amazingly gracious, our response should be one of reverence and devotion in acknowledgement of our indebtedness.
More often than not people tend to believe that once they become a Christian they won’t be allowed to have a free-will. I don’t think that anything is more contentious, even within the Christian community. I will show you how it really doesn’t impede on your liberties, but rather allows for the experience of true freedom.
Paul is a man in the Bible who oversees the church in Thessalonica. He wrote two letters of encouragement to them. In 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12 he writes: Because we know that this extraordinary day (the day when Jesus will return) is just ahead, we pray for you all the time. We pray that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is so interesting how it says that God will “fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.” That verse speaks of the goodness of God, and how he has created each individual person with dreams and desires. He’s a good Father, and he wants nothing more than to show his love. His heart is for you to find purpose in life and live life as it was originally designed to be lived.
The primary difference between Christianity and any other religion is that you are not required to earn your salvation. Ephesians 2: 8-10 says:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
It is not that we aren’t required to do what God asks of us, but it is why we were originally created. God has a very specific plan and purpose for every single one of us.
I’ve had some conversations recently that have touched on the question, “How to live without fear?” Some people would simply prefer not to believe that there are consequences associated with moral compromises. It is quite commonly misunderstood that a Christian must never make a mistake, because if they do they will go to hell.
Natural fear is the opposite of faith, so if you refer back to the verse that I’ve cited from Ephesians, it becomes clear that salvation itself would be made impossible. Fear of God, is explained in Psalm 130:3-4 If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.
Basically the verse is saying that when we realize that God is so amazingly gracious, our response should be one of reverence and devotion in acknowledgement of our indebtedness.
More often than not people tend to believe that once they become a Christian they won’t be allowed to have a free-will. I don’t think that anything is more contentious, even within the Christian community. I will show you how it really doesn’t impede on your liberties, but rather allows for the experience of true freedom.
Paul is a man in the Bible who oversees the church in Thessalonica. He wrote two letters of encouragement to them. In 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12 he writes: Because we know that this extraordinary day (the day when Jesus will return) is just ahead, we pray for you all the time. We pray that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is so interesting how it says that God will “fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.” That verse speaks of the goodness of God, and how he has created each individual person with dreams and desires. He’s a good Father, and he wants nothing more than to show his love. His heart is for you to find purpose in life and live life as it was originally designed to be lived.
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