Culture, Life, Ramblings

The truth is, there is no truth.

The world, the public persona, the culture shouts to us from every screen and signboard is one of “not enough.” There is always one more improvement, always one more perfect solution, always “but wait, there’s more.”  Boiled down to a single phrase it could well be, “the truth of yesterday is not the truth today.” The truth is that there is no truth.  Our culture around us screams for the next big thing. The biggest and best of yesterday is nothing compared to the new and improved of today.  The common societal mantra goes even blatantly further with a wry smile, hinting that the best yet to come. The now is never enough. The truth of today is just a pale shadow of that new truth to come.

Technology promises a plethora of new and better.  Politics promise peace and prosperity.  Cars that can protect ourselves from our own stupidity.  Phones that will never get you lost. Better coffee, better food, better soda that tastes great with no sugar. Always a hopeful future.

Our society promises a kind of heaven on earth.  A world with stable ocean levels.  A world where all have access to clean water.  A world where everyone has free stuff.  A world where there is no money.  A world where the individual is not limited by anything.  Our culture promises a life of satiated desires and political correctness.  But this new world order has no meaning outside of the moment.  No current home will ever satisfy our personal homelessness. No current meaning of life will ever have meaning.  No hope of life now will ever be enough.  There is no joy of life in the now that is sufficient. Where is the satisfaction?

Our lives are bombarded by reality shows that nothing to do with reality.  There a talent shows that allow us to think, “that could be me.”  Commercials that proclaim the latest absolute bargain. We pay homage to the opinion of the latest celebrity for all our group-think. For the world, there is no “same yesterday, today and tomorrow.” Our culture says there is no constancy.

BUT THERE IS.  It is only when we realize that it is possible to be in the world and not be a part of it.  It is only when the constant of eternity is the foundation of our lives can there ever be true satisfaction in our nows.

Church, Personal, Psycolog

Family, family, family

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I have a grand-daughter that started a performance ritual a few years back.  Whenever an occasion arose to have all the relatives in one place, she would have all of us gather together in a big circle and hold hands. She would then start the swinging of hands repeating, “Family, Family, Family.” This little act of coming together as a family was from an inner desire to touch and feel a part of something more than herself.  I believe there is a need deep down within every human to want to be included in a family.  For adults, there is a need to create a family and within that an intrinsic feeling of love, of creation or a desire to leave something behind.

It would be easy for a secular family to put the family in a priority level from first to a much lower position.  Some people can’t have a bunch of kids.  Others simply don’t want children.  The social climate we live in seems to encourage family: deductions on our income tax, public support of schools for children, there is even special medical coverage for children that is not available for adults.

In the sphere of Christianity, where does this intersect with the family of God? Many Christians rightly say that God loves family. All throughout Scripture, families are given the task of rearing children in the Lord. Husbands and wives are commanded to be faithful to one another, and children to their parents. Paul writes that “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Tim. 5:8).  Conversely, Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26).

Following Jesus means belonging to two families, a natural family, and a faith family. Unlike His surrounding culture, what is most important to Jesus is the faith family: “Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother’” (Matt. 12:46–50).

Jesus’ call to join a new family generates an unavoidable loyalty conflict. Which family do I now owe my ultimate loyalty?  It is a dilemma which is not easily overcome.  We go through life as a Christian hoping that the test of our ultimate loyalty will not have to be faced.

So where does the Christian put the personal family and God’s family into the hierarchy of priorities?  Does the ranking and rating system of our beliefs require us to make a choice?  It is easy to put God first on our list: the issue arises when we must decide who to put in number two place: God’s family or my family.

While our natural families are still the most significant earthly relationships we have, we must learn to situate our natural families under an umbrella of the family of God—not as distinct social entities competing for time and attention but as members of the same family.

As Barna president David Kinnaman said,

Cultivating intergenerational relationships is one of the most important ways in which effective faith communities are developing flourishing faith in both young and old. In many churches, this means changing the metaphor from simply passing the baton to the next generation to a more functional, biblical picture of a body—that is, the entire community of faith, across the entire lifespan, working together to fulfill God’s purposes.

For those who don’t have a natural family, for those who choose not to have a natural family, for those who have lost their natural family, I have an invitation.  That invitation is to find a better family, a more important family, the family of God.

When we all gather together as a body of believers we need to grab and hand a repeat after my little grand-daughter and proclaim “Family, Family, Family.”  We should do it because there is no real separation between God and his family.

Life, Motivation, Personal, Psycolog

Transmission fluid and hamburgers.

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The only being that is completely self-sufficient is God, all others must and are driven to consume.  If you don’t, you die.  Whether it is good for you vegetables, or not so good for you half-pound hamburger covered with cheese and accompanied by greasy fried potatoes, you will consume.  Again, this is a motive or a decision point that you must come to order for you to live.  The desire to incorporate something outside of yourself is neither right or wrong, it is part of being God’s creation.  We come into the realm of good and bad is when we start making the decision as to how to satiate that desire.

I just pulled the bottom pan from a Dodge Dakota pickup transmission.  I was careful not to spill the slightly blackened, red fluid all over myself and the concrete behind my house.  It is my decision whether I pour it down the storm drain, or to pour it into the properly sealed container and take it down to the recycle center. It is my choice to do the responsible thing or the other way.  But it all boils down to what is my Christian responsibility.  What would God ask me to do with four quarts of used oil?

Sunday’s sermon, which did not include anything about used oil, helps me make the decision.  The preacher said, “I like the Savior part of Jesus, I have problems with the Lord part.”  I am saved by grace.  The Lord loves me, and I can’t stop Him from doing that act of love.  But, with my conversion, I have a responsibility to make decisions as He would have me make.  It is about who is in control.  It is about who is leading.  It is about who knows the correct path.  So what does this have to do with used petroleum products?  Two things:  Stewardship, and responsibility.

Adam and Eve’s first test before God, even before the forbidden fruit, was to take responsibility for the earth. It wasn’t an add-in later, it was not a sideline to be figured out when they had the time or the inclination.  It was a foundational understanding and requirement given to these two humans.  They were to be caretakers or stewards. Sometimes God limits Himself by letting his work become the responsibility of people. “I made this garden for you, it is perfect, it is filled with all kinds of animals, it has all that you need to consume, but it is your responsibility to keep it in order.” Or as the Message says, “God blessed them; Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge!  Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.”

The sovereign ruler of the universe and all human affairs gave Adam and Eve the job of a steward.  But more than that He gave them responsibility for the outcome. That responsibility for keeping a watchful eye over and active participation in the guarding and nurture of the world that they lived in.  We are, as Christians, directly responsible for the current state of our environment.

The earth and all life in it and on it are gifts from God.  They are to be shared and developed.  They are not there to be exploited.  Our actions have moral consequences.  The goods of the earth and the beauty of the world around us are to be enjoyed and even celebrated as well as being consumed. We have a responsibility, as much as lays within us, to be good stewards and take direct responsibility for the outcomes.  We must consider the generations to come when we make our decisions on consumption.

I will dispose of my used automatic transmission oil responsibility, not because I owe allegiance to a mother earth society, but because it is demanded of me by my Lord.

Comments.  Suggestions.  Rebuttal?

Bible Study, Life, Personal, Psycolog

Curiosity and the cat

What is so wrong with wanting to know something?  What is it that makes us have curiosity? Babies touch and place things in their mouths, all to know more about their small environment.  Curiosity is simply learning for learning’s sake.  It is wanting to understand ourselves and others.  It is wondering why things work.  Curiosity is a tendency to explore and know new things. We see people indulge in a traveling to look at new places, new things and new developments taking place outside their environment.

But it can also get us into trouble.  Eve could not resist eating of the fruit of the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden.  Lot’s wife could not stop herself from looking back on the destruction of the Sodom and Gamora. In Greek mythology, Pandora opened the box and let loose evil, sickness, and unhappiness. Early religious thinkers thought curiosity was sinful because a lust for knowledge was an attribute reserved for God.

Never-the-less it drives me.  I never seem to have enough knowledge.  I never seem to have enough information about a situation to decide on the alternatives.  And when I do make a choice of the viable options, I am not satisfied and continue to research and consequently second guess myself.  Frustrating.

Further, all this knowledge can well become a detriment to reasonable discussion.  I have been accused of being a know-it-all.  Even though I am constantly bombarded with questions, primarily because I usually have an answer, sometimes I just guess to display my mastery of all that is important.

Two ideas here in defense of the natural desire or motive of curiosity: It can open ourselves to God and it is a perfect solution to judgment.

Yes, curiosity killed the cat, but it does open the greatest discovery of all.  The New American Standard Bible states in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.”  Study of the Word of God can very well lead to the approval of God.  Curiosity can well point to God.

It is not as if God is standing well off our path of life and we must let our curiosity motivate a search hither and yon to find him. God is already at our door gently, patiently waiting for your curiosity to open the door.

The next time you start judging someone or some act, turn on the curiosity.  Ask yourself why that person or that act happened.  Put yourself in their shoes.  Ask questions of the why of the action or expression.  The very act of curiosity can well cause us to reassess our own judgmental attitude.

What do you think?  Add a comment.

Personal, Psycolog, Uncategorized

Acceptance

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“Larry, you are just too loud.”

People have said this to me constantly throughout my life.  I have been told that my brashness and overbearing attitudes need a little “softening”.  I tried to meter myself most of my life, but the same comments seem to be whispered where ever I go. It was OK to be a little loud as a kid, never-the-less as an adult it sometimes simply becomes too much.  Those around me, in meetings and gatherings, would simply interrupt my pontification and not let me finish my thought because I was monopolizing the conversation.  These efforts and comments seem to motivate me to get a little louder, a little more vociferous to make my point.

The older I get, all these gentle nudges, comments, and queues, the more frustrated I have become.  Why do my helpers always want to change me?  Do they think I can just flip a switch and become someone else?  Is there some magic button I can push to make myself more acceptable to those around me? If it were that simple.  I want to be accepted as I am.  I desire to be accepted.  I try to meter my speech sometimes just to get along.  But every effort to put on that mask for someone else, causes me to suffer.

I want to be appreciated.  I want people to include me. I want people to like me.  I want to be accepted for who I am.

Acceptance as a motivator or a desire has its good side and its bad side.  Acceptance as a desire or a motivator is a common thread in all.  We post on Facebook in the hope someone might just respond with acceptance.  We drive at or slightly above the speed limit because it is the accepted behavior.  It feels good when a compliment comes your way pertaining an idea or an effort of yours.  It warms your heard when someone goes out of their way to acknowledge your being a part of their lives.

On the other, more dark side, it can lead to judgments without examinations.  It can lead to shame used as a whip to bring someone into line with their expectations. Acceptance can be a very negative motivator when it becomes the only sign of self-worth.  Acceptance can be very negative when it is used against you.  Acceptance is terrible when it is the only thing that motivates you.  Acceptance by others can become the only measuring rod of your life, the only thing that marks your being loved.

So, hear me when I say to you:

You are a human being, you are an image-bearer of the Most High God.

You are accepted here.

You belong to this earth.

You belong at the feet of Jesus and are accepted.

You belong within and are accepted by a community of like-minded believers.

You deserve to be accepted for who you are.  Don’t let the rejecters and judgments of others tell you different.  Don’t buy into their schemes and lies.  You are accepted by God.

The Lord is my Shepherd, and that is all I need.

Comments?

Life, Personal, Psycolog, Ramblings

The why of the what.

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Why do you do the things you do? Why do you react to some people one way and others in another?  What causes me to want to go to a church that fills me with joy or even go to church in the first place?  What inner voice drives me to learn and share that learning?  Why do I write or even write about the subjects I do?  For that matter, why do I keep asking questions like these?  Others seem to ignore the why and are more concerned about the what.

To this end, I have researched and studied and digested numerous sources all the way from Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to Herzberg’s two-factor theory. I have self-analyzed myself to a point of frustration.

In the next couple of weeks, I plan to address what makes me, and for that matter, you and everyone else, what seems to motivate our actions.  Further, I will include the direct relationship to each of our motivations to God and how we choose to serve Him.

Prior to addressing the nine motives or desires, I have set specific criteria to each.  First criteria for each motive or desire is that it is amoral.  That is there is no cause for judgment in having one of these motives or desires.  The desires of the body are morally neutral.  Second is that each of these desires or motives can and often lead to moral decisions.  The why will turn to what.  Thirdly, our moral decisions based on these desires can be good, holy, and Godly.  Conversely, our moral decisions can be bad, sinful and ungodly. Lastly, as humans, we all have these motives or desires to one degree or other.  To ignore any of them is to ignore what God has put in us and how God made us.

So this is where I am going:

  1. Acceptance
  2. Curiosity
  3. Consumption
  4. Family
  5. Honor
  6. Idealism
  7. Independence
  8. Order
  9. Love
Life, Personal, Uncategorized, Worship

Expectation and Miracles

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There is a joke that goes something like this: Two people fell off a high skyscraper.  One was an optimist the other a pessimist.  You could hear them as they fell down to an adjacent river. The pessimist was screaming and cursing as he fell.  The optimist could be heard as he passed each floor, “So far so good.”

So many people do not like to raise their expectations because they do not want to be disappointed.  “Don’t pray for healing, just pray that the doctors will know what to do.”  I believe that God will only intercede where there is faith. Faith is an expectation, an understanding of who God is and what He is capable of.  And it is this expectation that, in turn, increased our faith. Our faith level rises to the level of our expectation.

If you expect nothing, you will get nothing!  Praying for others is important to both me and God.  Never-the-less, the expectation of the person needing the miracle is even more important. I learned many years ago not to pray for a miracle if a person doesn’t have the faith or desire one. It is not that my prayer of faith can’t promote a miracle, but when the miracle does happen, the receiver reduces it by their doubt.

If you need a miracle, you need to pray in expectation.  Remove the doubt, remove the lack of expectation and pray in faith believing. Come into his presence with faith believing with no lack of expectation.  Get pumped up for God’s outflowing.

WHAT ARE YOU BELIEVING FOR THIS WEEK?

John 14:13-14, And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

Comments?

Life, Personal, Politics

Current Culture is stealing our individuality

Time for my soapbox. Now, this is my opinion, but I have a problem with a culture that would say the giant collective has all the answers. It is a utopian vision of completeness in the here and now. The current culture pushes that there are answers to all the ills of our world and that answer is within reach through a change of culture. The philosophy being pushed by the current culture of self-sufficiency may well sound perfect, progressive, liberal, and people-centric. But with it this philosophy carries away with it control of our individuality. And that is what is so scary. As individuals, the more we provide the resources and authority to the establishment to do what they think is best, we also give up our own freedoms. Individually you don’t know what you are doing collectively.

Comments?

Theology

Who is God?

Placing a name or description, or even a title on Jesus has been debated for over 2,000 years.  Mark 8:27 Jesus asked what others said.  Who do men say that I am …?

When Jesus asked the question, “Who do men say that I am? He did not need the information.  He wanted to discover what was in the minds of the men and women who spoke of him. It does not matter what you call God.  As long as you do. This is the most important question which confronts people of all generation.

What is particularly important that the apostles should be instructed in the all-important fact of WHO Jesus is, and was, and shall be forever.  And that is the real issue.  We may well call Him by many names, never-the-less, the vital, the essence of who He was, is, and will always be must be unchangeable. A God that does not change.  Just because we call Him one thing does not change His being.  What we call Jesus is more of a personal thing. It speaks loudly our perception of God.   I had one lady in church that used the name of “Baby Jesus”, another would refer to God as “Daddy God”, and some would call Him Messiah, Christ, Lord, King, Father, or even Triune God Head.  And each describes what the individual is looking for in God.

Listen carefully as you pray.  What names do you use?  And please remember:

  1. You can’t change God
  2. You can’t change God’s will
  3. You can’t change God’s plan
  4. You can change God’s methodology because he still uses people.
  5. You can change you
  6. God can change you.

Comments?

Church

Welcome

Welcome home.  We are glad you are here, and it doesn’t matter why.

Please stop a moment and look around to those around you.  You will notice we don’t all look the same.  Some will be dressed as if they were going to the office and others like they are going on vacation.  It really doesn’t matter that much how we dress.  For that matter, we don’t sound the same.  We don’t smile the same.  You see that we are all uniquely designed.  But most of all, what is most important is that we are all uniquely loved. God loves all that is here, including you. God loves you in your specialness.

Here is a place for your individuality and specialness. This place is more like a hospital than a cathedral. It is a place where broken hearts are healed.  Broken relationships are mended. Broken minds are provided a place to recover. A place where broken dreams can be realized.

There is a place for you here.

Join us as we worship.  Join us as we are admonished.  Join us as we sing.  Join us as we enjoy community without judgment.

There is a place for you here.  We want to get to know you.  Don’t worry, you will fit right in. You uniqueness fills a gap in our own.

The Study of God and Life