Yesterday marked the first day of baseball season for the Grisez boys, and it was nostalgic for me to be back on the field as a third base coach. Both boys had two hits and scored a run, so it was a great boost to their confidence. One thing that is different about playing baseball in Australia is the absence of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Little League Pledge. Near the scoreboard of Little League fields all over America, the American flag flies. After stating the Pledge of Allegiance, the players recite: "I trust in God, I love my country, and will respect its laws. I will play fair, and strive to win, but win or lose, I will always do my best." Play ball!
I am happy to say the Pledge is still around, even after all these years - just like God! For me, saying that pledge is still a statement of fact. I do trust in God, I do love my country (currently Australia). I will play fair and do my best to win. When two teams show up to play no matter the sport, either team can win. One team could be better in every statistical category, have the best talent and equipment, and still lose. That is why the game is played and what makes it exciting: you never know exactly how things will play out. That's one of the amazing things about God. He does not operate in the way we would expect. He doesn't often tell us what He's planning to do. But if we trust Him, it will always be for the best.
An illustration to confirm this is still a vivid memory for me. A young man I knew dislocated his knee and experienced incredible pain. After he was given medication, he was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Upon seeing him, the doctor nonchalantly began to examine the leg and - snap! He quickly manipulated the leg back into place, causing excruciating pain for an instant. When the young man asked the doctor why he didn't warn him, the doctor explained that if he had told him what he planned to do, he would have resisted him. He used the tactic of surprise to quickly put the limb back into place safely so the healing could begin.
This is what God so often does with us. We experience pain and wonder, what is God thinking! How could he allow me to have such deep, excruciating, gut-wrenching pain? Trust the Good Shepherd, little lamb. He knows what parts of your life must be manipulated so the healing can begin. He will bring the relief and healing you desire. If the doctor did not adjust the leg, the young man would have remained a cripple. It was love and desire for restoration that motivated the doctor to cause a little pain. The young man now serves in the armed forces and the injury is only a distant memory.
No matter what you're going through, no matter how deep the searing pain, trust God. He never changes, and His thoughts are good towards us, to give us a future and a hope.
11 September 2011
08 September 2011
A milestone...and still miles to go!
Blogs are interesting animals. I suppose the motivation for regularly maintaining blogs are endless. For some it might be strictly cathartic, for others it might be the opportunity for self-revelation. Though an avid reader, I spend virtually no time reading blogs. Some are chronological family reports, while others are dedicated to political rant. I have the feeling that some blogs scream, "Look at me!" in a frantic attempt for significance in the vast yet cluttered cyberspace.
I am convinced people write blogs so people will read them. I write because I believe it is what God wants me to do. With the amount of writing I do in study and sermon preparation, it seems unnecessary for me to write more. This blog is a medium which allows me to share the truth He teaches me with others who care to hear it. Today this blog has notched over 10,000 page views from all over the world, and to me that is a significant milestone. Tack on another zero and that will be another milestone. If you are curious, the most views have come from these countries: United States, Australia, Malaysia, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. As great as it is to see people browsing the blog, my prayer (and yes, I pray that God uses this thing) is that through reading people would come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and be encouraged in their faith. One page-view God uses to this end is worth a billion views to me. In the end, I can take no credit because I have only done (and sometimes left undone) what is my joyful duty to do.
Thank you for taking the time to read. Just because someone puts in effort to write does not mean it is worth reading. I am humbled and blessed to have a LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ who gives us gifts which we can give back to Him for His glory. What gifts has God given you? How can you use them to bring honor and glory to His name? Whatever God has gifted you to do, do that thing. Do it well, seek to improve, and keep doing it. In a parable Jesus told, He illustrated the benefits of simple faithfulness. Matthew 25:21 says, "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'" You don't need to wait until heaven to hear well done. You don't need to physically die before you enter into the joy of the LORD. If you are obedient and faithful, you do well to enter into the joy of the LORD today!
I am convinced people write blogs so people will read them. I write because I believe it is what God wants me to do. With the amount of writing I do in study and sermon preparation, it seems unnecessary for me to write more. This blog is a medium which allows me to share the truth He teaches me with others who care to hear it. Today this blog has notched over 10,000 page views from all over the world, and to me that is a significant milestone. Tack on another zero and that will be another milestone. If you are curious, the most views have come from these countries: United States, Australia, Malaysia, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. As great as it is to see people browsing the blog, my prayer (and yes, I pray that God uses this thing) is that through reading people would come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and be encouraged in their faith. One page-view God uses to this end is worth a billion views to me. In the end, I can take no credit because I have only done (and sometimes left undone) what is my joyful duty to do.
Thank you for taking the time to read. Just because someone puts in effort to write does not mean it is worth reading. I am humbled and blessed to have a LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ who gives us gifts which we can give back to Him for His glory. What gifts has God given you? How can you use them to bring honor and glory to His name? Whatever God has gifted you to do, do that thing. Do it well, seek to improve, and keep doing it. In a parable Jesus told, He illustrated the benefits of simple faithfulness. Matthew 25:21 says, "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'" You don't need to wait until heaven to hear well done. You don't need to physically die before you enter into the joy of the LORD. If you are obedient and faithful, you do well to enter into the joy of the LORD today!
07 September 2011
Independence through Dependence?
I am about halfway through reading the memoirs of A.E. Wilder-Smith called Fulfilled Journey. He concisely describes his observations as to the cause of the "disintegration" of the modern education system. A couple of sentences stood out to me: "School is too often no more than a means for the manipulation of opinions and the leveling of society for ideological reasons. It is no longer for training in independent thought and the formation of one's own opinions based on facts and data. In such a school system the development of an independent personality is neither possible nor desired." (Fulfilled Journey, Wilder-Smith, pg. 202) I heartily endorse and agree with this observation as being true to my experience. In my university days it seemed the focus was more on freedom of speech and expression rather than freedom of thought.
I appreciate A.E. Wilder-Smith's perspective because he is a scholar, scientist, an intellectual, and also a Christian. A common misconception in the world today is this breed cannot possibly exist. If someone confesses belief in God and that the Bible is the inspired Word of God in some people's minds is the equivalent of a complete lobotomy. But history shows that the exact opposite is true: some of the most independent and intelligent minds believed in the existence of God and the veracity of scripture. Jesus is the prime example of independent thinking. Have you read the Sermon on the Mount? Jesus Christ, the man who claimed to be God-made-flesh, trumped the Law based upon His own authority, and rightly so. He dashed the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees with supernatural wisdom. He did not come from their schools of theology, but Jesus crushed them over and over until they were afraid even to question Him. When Jesus was crucified, rose from the dead, and ascended into heavenly glory, even then the light of truth did not pierce the darkness of their hearts and minds.
The idea that schools once were "for training in independent thought and the formation of one's own opinions based on facts and data" was almost a startling revelation. When I attended university, it was elementary for me to deduce between what was taught and what was believed. It was not long before philosophy teachers no longer taught philosophy, but proudly displayed their own philosophy as the standard. Biology and geology presented a similar experience: we were never taught how to think scientifically or do the work of a scientist, but to accept as fact only what actual scientists had already discovered. To pass the course, one only needed to regurgitate information. Ironically, every year or so the books were reprinted as new editions with changes and adjustments to accommodate recent scientific discoveries which rendered old facts obsolete. Our knowledge was limited to textbooks written according to the consensus of scientists much smarter than us or even our professors. Are professors allowed to teach independently of material they believe inaccurate based on facts - the same facts which will be rendered obsolete in mere months? Not if they want to keep their jobs.
Should we desire to develop an "independent personality?" The answer will differ based upon your worldview. If you believe that God has created all human beings in His own image individually with unique talents, gifts, and insights, the cultivation of an independent personality should be expected. But if you believe that we exist based on the random activity of chemicals, energy, from data that somehow appeared and assembled itself over time, an independent personality does nothing to aid evolutionary progress. I am convinced that the most independent people are those most dependent on God. They do not need to fear the consequences of being fired for their insolence to oppose the status quo, for these people do not even fear death! Christians are those who historically have joyfully faced the prospects of deprivation, loss of all things, even loss of life, for the excellency of the knowledge of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Paul states in Philippians 3:8-9, "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith..."
Man manipulates, but God convinces. He does not shout from the heavens, "Believe me or else!" In Isaiah 1:18 He says through the prophet, "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Jesus came to earth and allowed the best and brightest of the world to take their shots: He overcame every one. God does not force, but He draws us by His lovingkindness. He does not burden us with rules or ideology (though man is only too happy to oblige!) so we might stay in His favour, and will not crush us if we have questions or struggle to understand. John 8:31-36 says, "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." Praise God for allowing us to be free: free to think and speak, free to act, and free to live for His glory. You will never know freedom until you are freed by Christ.
I appreciate A.E. Wilder-Smith's perspective because he is a scholar, scientist, an intellectual, and also a Christian. A common misconception in the world today is this breed cannot possibly exist. If someone confesses belief in God and that the Bible is the inspired Word of God in some people's minds is the equivalent of a complete lobotomy. But history shows that the exact opposite is true: some of the most independent and intelligent minds believed in the existence of God and the veracity of scripture. Jesus is the prime example of independent thinking. Have you read the Sermon on the Mount? Jesus Christ, the man who claimed to be God-made-flesh, trumped the Law based upon His own authority, and rightly so. He dashed the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees with supernatural wisdom. He did not come from their schools of theology, but Jesus crushed them over and over until they were afraid even to question Him. When Jesus was crucified, rose from the dead, and ascended into heavenly glory, even then the light of truth did not pierce the darkness of their hearts and minds.
The idea that schools once were "for training in independent thought and the formation of one's own opinions based on facts and data" was almost a startling revelation. When I attended university, it was elementary for me to deduce between what was taught and what was believed. It was not long before philosophy teachers no longer taught philosophy, but proudly displayed their own philosophy as the standard. Biology and geology presented a similar experience: we were never taught how to think scientifically or do the work of a scientist, but to accept as fact only what actual scientists had already discovered. To pass the course, one only needed to regurgitate information. Ironically, every year or so the books were reprinted as new editions with changes and adjustments to accommodate recent scientific discoveries which rendered old facts obsolete. Our knowledge was limited to textbooks written according to the consensus of scientists much smarter than us or even our professors. Are professors allowed to teach independently of material they believe inaccurate based on facts - the same facts which will be rendered obsolete in mere months? Not if they want to keep their jobs.
Should we desire to develop an "independent personality?" The answer will differ based upon your worldview. If you believe that God has created all human beings in His own image individually with unique talents, gifts, and insights, the cultivation of an independent personality should be expected. But if you believe that we exist based on the random activity of chemicals, energy, from data that somehow appeared and assembled itself over time, an independent personality does nothing to aid evolutionary progress. I am convinced that the most independent people are those most dependent on God. They do not need to fear the consequences of being fired for their insolence to oppose the status quo, for these people do not even fear death! Christians are those who historically have joyfully faced the prospects of deprivation, loss of all things, even loss of life, for the excellency of the knowledge of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Paul states in Philippians 3:8-9, "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith..."
Man manipulates, but God convinces. He does not shout from the heavens, "Believe me or else!" In Isaiah 1:18 He says through the prophet, "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Jesus came to earth and allowed the best and brightest of the world to take their shots: He overcame every one. God does not force, but He draws us by His lovingkindness. He does not burden us with rules or ideology (though man is only too happy to oblige!) so we might stay in His favour, and will not crush us if we have questions or struggle to understand. John 8:31-36 says, "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." Praise God for allowing us to be free: free to think and speak, free to act, and free to live for His glory. You will never know freedom until you are freed by Christ.
06 September 2011
Somebody to Love?
Love is the ultimate pop-culture icon. The word and associated baggage are tramped around on a global stage, saturating music, movies, and all media. In the English language, "love" is a word so generic that the meaning has been diluted and virtually lost. "Love" has been reduced to the vague description of a feeling or a sexual act, a complete abandonment of the biblical description. Forget God, sing musicians: love is all you need. But what is love without God? What is our basis of love? Is it really nothing more than a casual excitement of glands? How does the world's idea of love differ from God's?
The Yardbirds sang long ago, "For your love I would give the stars above...For your love I would give you all I could." It is hard for us to detach love from sex, something which stunts our concept of love greatly. On one hand the Yardbirds were vying for physical intimacy, while at the same time petitioning for the affection and loyalty. Is it honorable to offer a bribe for love, even as money is offered to a prostitute for services rendered? How different from Christ is this offer! Jesus did not offer things He could not give (though He owns the stars and calls them all by name!). Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Love sacrifices without guarantee. Love is not contractual. Real love is not, "You give me your love, and I will then give you diamond rings and things brought to your door." Love is free and of grace.
Justin Bieber's hit "Somebody to Love" runs in a similar vein. He pleads over and over again, "I just need somebody to love." Playing on the natural desire on doting fans to BE loved, he tantalizingly portrays himself as one who longs to love - but hasn't found someone to lavish his love upon. "I need somebody...I don't need nothing else, I promise girl, I swear, I just need somebody to love." What rings hollow about this love is that it is an impersonal, false counterfeit. Justin is looking for "somebody" - not you and definitely not me! But will anyone do? We are left uncertain. Real love doesn't hold back for approval. God's love is unlimited and infinite, not solely for "someone," but offered freely to all! John 3:16 reads, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Justin sings about needing somebody to love: I wonder if he needs someone to love him? Do you need someone to love you?
Queen's song sums up the feelings of many people, but misses the forest for the trees. The first verse goes, "Can anybody find me somebody to love? Each morning I get up I die a little, can barely stand on my feet. Take a look in the mirror and cry, Lord what you're doing to me! I have spent all my years in believing you. But I just can't get no relief, Lord! Somebody, somebody! Can anybody find me somebody to love?" (punctuation mine) The longing to love and be loved go hand in hand. While Queen's focus is on the physical aspects of love, there is a clear ignorance of God's love! Jesus is somebody to love who loves us with an everlasting love, and through lovingkindness has drawn us to Himself (Jer. 31:3)! Man does not need more love than God can give. God's love satisfies completely, surpassing the love of men and women. All God has done is lavish His love upon unworthy, sinful, ignorant men like myself. "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so."
God is not waiting to prove His love to us: Jesus did that on the cross. God is not waiting for us to accept His love before He offers it to us: it has been offered already to all. We cannot earn His favor, nor gain the worthiness to receive it through the bribes of "good works," because God's love is a gift to be received. We can only reciprocate. How does the Bible describe this active, sacrificial love? 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." Love never fails. Unless you know Jesus Christ personally, you cannot comprehend this love. You have never experienced it, and you cannot give it. But you may have it! If you will submit to receiving the love of God through repentance and faith in Christ, your life will then be marked by this transforming love.
Are you looking for somebody to love? More importantly, are you willing to receive God's love through faith in Jesus Christ? It is only through the power of God that we can love how we were designed and intended to. 1 John 3:16 states, "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." Instead of giving you stars, flowers, diamonds, God saw fit to shed His own blood for you (Acts 20:28). That's real love, and it's really awesome! Receive His love today!
The Yardbirds sang long ago, "For your love I would give the stars above...For your love I would give you all I could." It is hard for us to detach love from sex, something which stunts our concept of love greatly. On one hand the Yardbirds were vying for physical intimacy, while at the same time petitioning for the affection and loyalty. Is it honorable to offer a bribe for love, even as money is offered to a prostitute for services rendered? How different from Christ is this offer! Jesus did not offer things He could not give (though He owns the stars and calls them all by name!). Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Love sacrifices without guarantee. Love is not contractual. Real love is not, "You give me your love, and I will then give you diamond rings and things brought to your door." Love is free and of grace.
Justin Bieber's hit "Somebody to Love" runs in a similar vein. He pleads over and over again, "I just need somebody to love." Playing on the natural desire on doting fans to BE loved, he tantalizingly portrays himself as one who longs to love - but hasn't found someone to lavish his love upon. "I need somebody...I don't need nothing else, I promise girl, I swear, I just need somebody to love." What rings hollow about this love is that it is an impersonal, false counterfeit. Justin is looking for "somebody" - not you and definitely not me! But will anyone do? We are left uncertain. Real love doesn't hold back for approval. God's love is unlimited and infinite, not solely for "someone," but offered freely to all! John 3:16 reads, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Justin sings about needing somebody to love: I wonder if he needs someone to love him? Do you need someone to love you?
Queen's song sums up the feelings of many people, but misses the forest for the trees. The first verse goes, "Can anybody find me somebody to love? Each morning I get up I die a little, can barely stand on my feet. Take a look in the mirror and cry, Lord what you're doing to me! I have spent all my years in believing you. But I just can't get no relief, Lord! Somebody, somebody! Can anybody find me somebody to love?" (punctuation mine) The longing to love and be loved go hand in hand. While Queen's focus is on the physical aspects of love, there is a clear ignorance of God's love! Jesus is somebody to love who loves us with an everlasting love, and through lovingkindness has drawn us to Himself (Jer. 31:3)! Man does not need more love than God can give. God's love satisfies completely, surpassing the love of men and women. All God has done is lavish His love upon unworthy, sinful, ignorant men like myself. "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so."
God is not waiting to prove His love to us: Jesus did that on the cross. God is not waiting for us to accept His love before He offers it to us: it has been offered already to all. We cannot earn His favor, nor gain the worthiness to receive it through the bribes of "good works," because God's love is a gift to be received. We can only reciprocate. How does the Bible describe this active, sacrificial love? 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." Love never fails. Unless you know Jesus Christ personally, you cannot comprehend this love. You have never experienced it, and you cannot give it. But you may have it! If you will submit to receiving the love of God through repentance and faith in Christ, your life will then be marked by this transforming love.
Are you looking for somebody to love? More importantly, are you willing to receive God's love through faith in Jesus Christ? It is only through the power of God that we can love how we were designed and intended to. 1 John 3:16 states, "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." Instead of giving you stars, flowers, diamonds, God saw fit to shed His own blood for you (Acts 20:28). That's real love, and it's really awesome! Receive His love today!
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