After church yesterday, a family took me down to "Sculpture By the Sea" at Bondi. We ate fish and chips on the wind-swept knoll overlooking the water. The sun was shining and the exhibition was "chockers" (full, packed) as we slowly shuffled down the path from Bondi beach to Tamarama. I learned that every cove is a specific beach and is a different suburb.
Like most art exhibits, some displays were more impressive than others. I'm pretty sure most of the time I don't "get" art. I appreciate the skill, craftsmanship, and creativity these artists pour into their craft. Some of the displays were large, others intricate, some labor intensive, and then there were ones just to shake your head at: what the heck is that supposed to be or represent? That is the product of six-month's work and ten thousands of dollars? Only humans can waste their time so well.
But there is at least one thing in common between the "struggling artist" and the Christian: the passion to pursue a goal other people do not understand, comprehend, or support. While an artist works for self-expression, a Christian lives for Christ to express Himself through him. I'm sure many people look at the lifestyle of a Christian and say, "All that trouble for what? What's the point of believing in God and pursuing a "relationship" with someone you can't even see?" Only someone who does not know God can think and speak like that! God exists as true as Christ lived on earth, and His creative power is the inspiration for countless artists. God is the original Artist, the Divine Creator who simply spoke the universe into existence. While we make things out of what have already have been made, God did not even have a canvas. God made His own clay by words alone, and then formed man and breathed into him a living soul. God is beautiful and His handiwork exalts His name.
The labor, struggles, and difficulties we face in life may not be regarded by some men as worthwhile, but through the eyes of faith we see differently than the world sees. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 reads: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." Let us work faithfully for the praise of One, our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ. His approval and glory ought to be our chief aim in all we do.
07 November 2010
04 November 2010
War Memorial
On Wednesday Mark and I visited the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. I uploaded some of the pictures to my flickr account which can be accessed by following the link on the right panel of the blog. In addition to a tranquil place of memorial, there is a museum which houses many replicas and actual uniforms, weapons, medals, planes, and stories from primarily the first and second world wars. Although primarily Australian in focus, there is a unique international flair. There are not only Australian relics, but many articles from Italian, German, and Japanese forces. It emphasized the world-wide scale of the war and how great the impact was on all people.
As I perused weapons designed for maximum destruction of humans, armor, and equipment, I could not think of war in any romantic terms. War is a terrible necessity sometimes brought upon a country or group of people. It is a great tragedy that war comes at the immense cost of human life. It is not only the man eviscerated or decapitated who personally experiences the pain of war. He often left parents, brothers, sisters, a wife, and children behind. War does, however, provide an opportunity for valor not displayed in times of peace. In times of great conflict some men wilt and yet others blossom. There was a painting and caption which commanded my attention.
This is a painting by Dale Marsh (1940) depicting "Ordinary Seaman Edward Sheean, HMAS Armidale." The caption reads: "'Teddy' Sheean was a loader for an Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun on HMAS Armidale. When the order to abandon ship was given, he made for the side, only to be hit twice by bullets of an attacking aircraft. 'None of us will ever know what made him do it,' wrote a shipmate after the event, 'but he went back to his gun, strapped himself in, and brought down a [Japanese] plane, still firing as he disappeared beneath the waves.'" Here is the story of an ordinary man doing a most extraordinary thing. His job was to load the gun, but when wounded he took it upon himself to strap himself in and fire upon the enemy. He showed great courage even when faced with his own mortality. Mr. Sheean took no thought for his own life, but gave himself willingly.
In war there are casualties. People are maimed, disfigured, and carry with them injuries that will affect the rest of their lives on earth. We are often insulated from the gritty horror of actual war and cannot comprehend the devastating emotional price paid by soldiers. As Christians, we are part of a spiritual battle which threatens to destroy our resolve, drown us in temptation, and isolate us from accountability and fellowship. When Christians stumble and fall into sin, instead of being moved to compassion with grace, other Christians often stand in judgment. Can you imagine that if Seaman Sheean had survived the conflict he was given the "cold shoulder" by his mates because he didn't obey orders and abandon ship faster? Ridiculous! Sometimes people just need a hug! Sadly we often stand in judgment of others when they face a divorce, fall prey to false teaching, commit suicide, or have views different from our own. It is not for us to judge: we ought to pray for compassion, grace, mercy, and truth exercised in love. Christians experience pain too. Sometimes there are injuries inflicted that we will carry for the rest of our earthly lives. We will not "get over" certain things we have experienced: but we can work through them. We were never meant to dwell in the valley of the shadow of death, but pass through guided by the Good Shepherd. Joy will come through our Savior as we walk in faith!
Our God promises times of refreshing by His grace. How wonderful it is to dwell together with brethren in unity! No man goes to war by himself, and God has not left us comfortless in the spiritual battle we find ourselves. He has promised us the victory through Jesus Christ and has given us the Holy Spirit. He has given us brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage, exhort, and travel with us through the hardships of this journey to everlasting glory. The peace that God brings which passes understanding is just as real as the trouble life brings our way. Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Jesus! Let us be valiant to love as Christ does, and always labor to edify one another faithfully.
As I perused weapons designed for maximum destruction of humans, armor, and equipment, I could not think of war in any romantic terms. War is a terrible necessity sometimes brought upon a country or group of people. It is a great tragedy that war comes at the immense cost of human life. It is not only the man eviscerated or decapitated who personally experiences the pain of war. He often left parents, brothers, sisters, a wife, and children behind. War does, however, provide an opportunity for valor not displayed in times of peace. In times of great conflict some men wilt and yet others blossom. There was a painting and caption which commanded my attention.
In war there are casualties. People are maimed, disfigured, and carry with them injuries that will affect the rest of their lives on earth. We are often insulated from the gritty horror of actual war and cannot comprehend the devastating emotional price paid by soldiers. As Christians, we are part of a spiritual battle which threatens to destroy our resolve, drown us in temptation, and isolate us from accountability and fellowship. When Christians stumble and fall into sin, instead of being moved to compassion with grace, other Christians often stand in judgment. Can you imagine that if Seaman Sheean had survived the conflict he was given the "cold shoulder" by his mates because he didn't obey orders and abandon ship faster? Ridiculous! Sometimes people just need a hug! Sadly we often stand in judgment of others when they face a divorce, fall prey to false teaching, commit suicide, or have views different from our own. It is not for us to judge: we ought to pray for compassion, grace, mercy, and truth exercised in love. Christians experience pain too. Sometimes there are injuries inflicted that we will carry for the rest of our earthly lives. We will not "get over" certain things we have experienced: but we can work through them. We were never meant to dwell in the valley of the shadow of death, but pass through guided by the Good Shepherd. Joy will come through our Savior as we walk in faith!
Our God promises times of refreshing by His grace. How wonderful it is to dwell together with brethren in unity! No man goes to war by himself, and God has not left us comfortless in the spiritual battle we find ourselves. He has promised us the victory through Jesus Christ and has given us the Holy Spirit. He has given us brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage, exhort, and travel with us through the hardships of this journey to everlasting glory. The peace that God brings which passes understanding is just as real as the trouble life brings our way. Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Jesus! Let us be valiant to love as Christ does, and always labor to edify one another faithfully.
02 November 2010
Be Ready!
Is Jesus coming? He has already come as a servant, a Savior who came to seek and save the lost. After His resurrection, Christ ascended up to heaven where He remains at the right hand of the Father. But scripture teaches us He will come again, this time as a conquering King. Jesus says in Revelation 22:12, "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work." Christians welcome the return of Christ because He will set up His rule upon this earth. Those who reject Christ and refuse to repent for their sin will face the fierce wrath of God for eternity. If they actually believed this, they would shake at the prospect of Christ's return.
The part of the shirt which really intrigues me is the ridiculous conclusion the shirt arrives at: Jesus is coming, so "LOOK BUSY." I would contend that "looking busy" will do nothing for those who have rejected Christ. Have they been busy about HIS business? Looking busy does not mean you are busy. When I was a kid, everyone looked busy doing work when the teacher was in the class. But as soon as the teacher stepped out of the room, it was not moments before kids were out of their seats, running around, and had someone posted as a lookout. When the teacher returned everyone ran back to their desks, picked up their pencils, and tried to look as studious as possible. Will God reward us for "looking busy" when He has commanded all men everywhere to repent? Acts 17:30-31 reads, "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."
God knows exactly what we're about. While we tend to focus on externals God looks upon the heart. The Pharisees looked busy. In fact, they appeared totally dedicated to God. But when Christ spoke to them, He compared them to whitewashed tombs: they appeared clean on the outside, but inside were dead rotting corpses. Just looking busy is hypocrisy. Matthew 24:45-51: "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Jesus is coming, and let us be watchful, prayerful, obedient, faithful and sober. Looking busy will not profit. Invite God to do an inner work within so we will be enabled to live righteously as we ought. Praise God for His warnings motivated by love for our good! Let us urgently do good for God's glory, for it is for this purpose we have been redeemed.
01 November 2010
Leading by Following
"Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses."
A quick glance over the men who gained great power in the world were men who did not follow God. They saw their rule as absolute, and their chief tactic to deal with opposition was systematic elimination. Men like Hitler, Pol Pot, and Stalin were particularly brutal and violent towards all who could be considered a threat. Because of their influence and the means available to them, they were able to exercise (though not fully!) ambition fueled by lust for power. These leaders had thousands of men to do their bidding, men who would kill and even die for their loyalty. But were these men great leaders? NO. Did they invest in leadership beyond themselves? No. Because they were led by the dictates of their own hearts they were delusional, power-hungry, sadistic, and murderous. They were unqualified to lead because they would not be led.
Jesus is the perfect leader because He followed God perfectly. We do not see Him seething with violence and seeking the destruction of the established government for self-promotion. He operated continually according to His Father's will. The focus of His leadership was not on Himself as leader, but His Father in heaven. Moses did not have a "vision" of the future that governed his life God had given him: he simply knew God and lived in obedience to Him. Moses followed God, and God lead him faithfully. A faithful leader as he is led by God leads others. Interesting isn't it, that submission is a huge part of being a leader?
When the church needed more leaders, the existing leadership had simple qualifications. Acts 6:3 reads, "Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business..." This was the same Spirit who enabled Jesus, Moses, and Joshua to lead. He is the same Holy Spirit who leads, empowers, and enables us to be leaders for God's glory today. Instead of self-promotion, sound leadership is Christ glorification. As we follow Christ, we can lead others without fear. We need not be suspicious, for our security is found in our Savior. Faith in God reveals itself in meekness.
Isn't it great how God's ways are greater than ours? Only God can use the foolish things to confound the wise, and in our weakness He is strong. As we live out our allotted days ordained by God, let us be led by Him. The better we submit to His lead the better leaders we will become.
Deuteronomy 34:9
Leadership is a quality rarely understood according to the context of scripture. People sometimes think to be a good leader one must be a visionary, be filled with confidence in his abilities, and in short be the best and brightest. This is not true according to the biblical model. In the Bible, the greatest leaders were always followers: they followed God, and He gave them the wisdom and authority to fulfill their role as leaders.
Jesus is the perfect leader because He followed God perfectly. We do not see Him seething with violence and seeking the destruction of the established government for self-promotion. He operated continually according to His Father's will. The focus of His leadership was not on Himself as leader, but His Father in heaven. Moses did not have a "vision" of the future that governed his life God had given him: he simply knew God and lived in obedience to Him. Moses followed God, and God lead him faithfully. A faithful leader as he is led by God leads others. Interesting isn't it, that submission is a huge part of being a leader?
When the church needed more leaders, the existing leadership had simple qualifications. Acts 6:3 reads, "Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business..." This was the same Spirit who enabled Jesus, Moses, and Joshua to lead. He is the same Holy Spirit who leads, empowers, and enables us to be leaders for God's glory today. Instead of self-promotion, sound leadership is Christ glorification. As we follow Christ, we can lead others without fear. We need not be suspicious, for our security is found in our Savior. Faith in God reveals itself in meekness.
Isn't it great how God's ways are greater than ours? Only God can use the foolish things to confound the wise, and in our weakness He is strong. As we live out our allotted days ordained by God, let us be led by Him. The better we submit to His lead the better leaders we will become.
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