I heard someone say recently that there is a logical answer to the question, "If a trees falls in the forest, and no one hears it, does it make a sound?" The commentator said that in order for sound to be sound, there must be a sound wave combined with a receiver (i.e., a recorder, an antenna, our ear, etc.). So the answer would be that the tree doesn't make a sound unless there is a receiver to complete the process.
Can beauty be beautiful if no one witnesses it? In my 40+ years of being around adult males in the military and the workplace, I can probably tell you that when you mention the word "beautiful" to a man, you will likely trigger a thought that involves women. Immature males will tend to regard the opposite sex as ugly, homely, cute, attractive, gorgeous or beautiful. Women will ascribe beauty to babies, puppies or heart-rending, happy-ending love stories. Artists of all kinds will see the beauty in their music or paintings or sculpture.
Beautiful is described as that which is pleasing to one or more of the senses, at a level that would give the subject a top rating. But while senses are always involved, real beauty goes well beyond surface aknowledgement. Even one of the characters in the Country Bear Jamboree at Disney World sings, "My woman ain't purty, but she don't swear none ...," recognizing that there are endearing qualities besides physical beauty.
A beautiful man or woman, for example, may behave so badly that the outer beauty fades and begins to not look so noteworthy. Inversely, someone who is not so "good looking" may be so overflowing with graciousness and a sweet spirit that, over time, the senses begin to see a real beauty, thus reconditioning them toward a better standard of judgment.
We get our "beholding" from God, our Father, who is always beautiful inside and out. He created us beautiful and packaged us individually (warts and all) so that we may learn to seek out and appreciate the beauty that HE sees in us. We are surrounded by physical beauty in land and sky and ocean, for which we give thanks daily. But nothing surpasses the beauty that is found in the human spirit. He gives us the creative spirit --- and the mandate --- to see beauty where none is apparent, and to encourage and bring that beauty to the surface, that we might walk in his ways as brilliant bouquets of life.
STEVE
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Like Father, Like Son
I never really knew my Dad. When he died in 2002, my aunt presented me with some information and a photograph which made me question if he was my real father. Reflecting on my past, I realized that my Dad and I got along OK, but we were never close. I know that many children do not get close to one parent or the other (or to either parent), but looking back it seemed that I was regarded more as an attachment to my Dad, rather than a son. On the other hand, my grandson can wiggle his ears just like my Dad. Go, figure.
Throughout the ages many have attempted to understand and make contact with our Creator. Lacking any specific, verifiable evidence, gods were developed to serve the purposes of man. Much like astrology, with its hit-and-miss prophecies, religious leaders would offer sacrifices and arrange elaborate rituals to appease the force that seemed to be guiding their lives. How easy it has been to control others by "revealing" that God wants this or that, and will bless or curse if we don't follow the leader's direction.
The Jews had a hit-and-miss relationship with God as recorded in the Old Testament. He walked in the garden with Adam, then condemned both Adam and Eve. Later he contacted Noah with a special assignment. Then he visited Abrahm, Isaac, and Jacob. Then Moses. Then some deliverers in Judges. Finally several prophets and kings. But as history unfolded, God's personal visits came few and far between.
What we really needed was someone to come directly from God and Heaven and tell us --- even show us --- what he and his Homeland were really like. Then came Jesus.
It doesn't much matter to me if he was born as a baby, or just showed up at John's baptismal service (like Melchizedek did to Abraham). As I stated in an earlier article, when he spoke as a man about his relationship with his heavenly Father, I was convinced. He told his disciples, "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. The Father and I are one." Now, some make the case that the second person of the Trinity [father, SON, and holy ghost] was just God in the flesh; otherwise, we would be worshipping two Gods. That he had this elaborate scheme in which he talked to himself and quoted himself --- in a sense, a form of duplicity that challenged our intelligence, in that we couldn't trust information from just one source.
However, Jesus told us that he came from his Father. That he prayed to his Father. That he spoke his Father's words. That he always obeyed his Father. That only his Father knew about the timing of the end. And that he was returning to his Father. And I believe him. If God could wiggle his ears, then so could Jesus.
One day I will be reconciled to two of my earthly fathers --- and one heavenly Father. And, joining with many brothers and sisters, alongside my big brother, Jesus, what a glorious day that will be!
STEVE
Throughout the ages many have attempted to understand and make contact with our Creator. Lacking any specific, verifiable evidence, gods were developed to serve the purposes of man. Much like astrology, with its hit-and-miss prophecies, religious leaders would offer sacrifices and arrange elaborate rituals to appease the force that seemed to be guiding their lives. How easy it has been to control others by "revealing" that God wants this or that, and will bless or curse if we don't follow the leader's direction.
The Jews had a hit-and-miss relationship with God as recorded in the Old Testament. He walked in the garden with Adam, then condemned both Adam and Eve. Later he contacted Noah with a special assignment. Then he visited Abrahm, Isaac, and Jacob. Then Moses. Then some deliverers in Judges. Finally several prophets and kings. But as history unfolded, God's personal visits came few and far between.
What we really needed was someone to come directly from God and Heaven and tell us --- even show us --- what he and his Homeland were really like. Then came Jesus.
It doesn't much matter to me if he was born as a baby, or just showed up at John's baptismal service (like Melchizedek did to Abraham). As I stated in an earlier article, when he spoke as a man about his relationship with his heavenly Father, I was convinced. He told his disciples, "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. The Father and I are one." Now, some make the case that the second person of the Trinity [father, SON, and holy ghost] was just God in the flesh; otherwise, we would be worshipping two Gods. That he had this elaborate scheme in which he talked to himself and quoted himself --- in a sense, a form of duplicity that challenged our intelligence, in that we couldn't trust information from just one source.
However, Jesus told us that he came from his Father. That he prayed to his Father. That he spoke his Father's words. That he always obeyed his Father. That only his Father knew about the timing of the end. And that he was returning to his Father. And I believe him. If God could wiggle his ears, then so could Jesus.
One day I will be reconciled to two of my earthly fathers --- and one heavenly Father. And, joining with many brothers and sisters, alongside my big brother, Jesus, what a glorious day that will be!
STEVE
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Things I Want To Be . . .
1. I want to be joyful.
In the Sony Pictures film The Pursuit of HAPPYness Will Smith plays a down-and-out single father (based on the true story of Chris Gardner) who struggles to overcome numerous setbacks in order to make a decent living for himself and his son (played by Will's own son, Jaden Smith). The film was very moving and well done, but it made me think about the difference between happiness and joyfulness.
Chris uses a tremendous amount of aggressiveness and determination --- not to mention hard work --- in order to finally make the transition from failing bone density scanner salesman to successful stockbroker. Happiness was always triggered by an object or event. A bed to sleep in (when they were homeless), a hot meal, a check to cash or a positive reception (such as the interview for the internship). Between these brief highs were lengthy lows filled with tension.
True joyfulness, on the other hand, goes well beyond the periodic beats of mental well-being. When we have a gathering and sustaining realization that God IS in control, and that our troubles have not been overlooked by him, that they are, indeed, used for our spiritual growth and development, then we will know joy. Joy that endures roadblocks, sadness and hardship.
2. I want to be loving.
Two passages in the New Testament pretty much say it all with regard to love in the highest order: Galatians 5:22, 23 (which lists characteristics alongside love that are really driven by it); and I Corinthians 13:4-8.
Love is joyful. It not only has joy, but spreads it. It's infectious.
Love is peaceful. It exudes calmness in the face of turmoil.
Love is patient. It doesn't fret, doesn't stress --- and doesn't tap its foot and point to its watch.
Love is kind. It doesn't believe in random acts of kindness. It's always kind.
Love is being good. It wants to portray an example of positive behavior that builds up, not tears down.
Love is faithful. It doesn't give up on you. It doesn't try to replace you. It doesn't even look at anyone else.
Love is gentle. It displays its strength in its humility. It treats the infant and the idiot with equal tenderness.
Love is in control of itself. It doesn't have to be boastful or prove anything or defend itself. It lets God do that.
Love does not envy. It needs nothing but what the heavenly Father provides.
Love is not rude. It seeks to meet other's needs, rather than its own.
Love does not get angry. It's fully aware that even "righteous anger" is probably not what God wanted it to act out.
Love keeps no record of wrongs. Past failures are just that --- in the past. TODAY is the day of salvation; TODAY you can turn your life around, with God's help.
Love doesn't delight in evil. It shuns it. Light and darkness cannot live together.
Love LOVES truth. It's so much easier to love when you don't have the baggage of lies and deception. Love's heart is laid bare.
Love always protects. It will not participate in tearing someone apart or humiliating them.
Love always trusts. Like an innocent child, love will reach out --- even when that trust is tried and found wanting.
Love always hopes. It sees the sunshine after the rain, the light at the end of the tunnel, the new flower bursting forth from the once-frozen ground.
Love always perseveres. It never gives up. It will always get back on its feet when knocked down. It will always reach for the Father's hand.
Love never fails. It's the one thing that binds our world together, across cultural divides, across doctrines, across political differences. It keeps the love-light ever burning.
I WANT TO BE JOYFUL and LOVING. What else could I possibly need?
STEVE
In the Sony Pictures film The Pursuit of HAPPYness Will Smith plays a down-and-out single father (based on the true story of Chris Gardner) who struggles to overcome numerous setbacks in order to make a decent living for himself and his son (played by Will's own son, Jaden Smith). The film was very moving and well done, but it made me think about the difference between happiness and joyfulness.
Chris uses a tremendous amount of aggressiveness and determination --- not to mention hard work --- in order to finally make the transition from failing bone density scanner salesman to successful stockbroker. Happiness was always triggered by an object or event. A bed to sleep in (when they were homeless), a hot meal, a check to cash or a positive reception (such as the interview for the internship). Between these brief highs were lengthy lows filled with tension.
True joyfulness, on the other hand, goes well beyond the periodic beats of mental well-being. When we have a gathering and sustaining realization that God IS in control, and that our troubles have not been overlooked by him, that they are, indeed, used for our spiritual growth and development, then we will know joy. Joy that endures roadblocks, sadness and hardship.
2. I want to be loving.
Two passages in the New Testament pretty much say it all with regard to love in the highest order: Galatians 5:22, 23 (which lists characteristics alongside love that are really driven by it); and I Corinthians 13:4-8.
Love is joyful. It not only has joy, but spreads it. It's infectious.
Love is peaceful. It exudes calmness in the face of turmoil.
Love is patient. It doesn't fret, doesn't stress --- and doesn't tap its foot and point to its watch.
Love is kind. It doesn't believe in random acts of kindness. It's always kind.
Love is being good. It wants to portray an example of positive behavior that builds up, not tears down.
Love is faithful. It doesn't give up on you. It doesn't try to replace you. It doesn't even look at anyone else.
Love is gentle. It displays its strength in its humility. It treats the infant and the idiot with equal tenderness.
Love is in control of itself. It doesn't have to be boastful or prove anything or defend itself. It lets God do that.
Love does not envy. It needs nothing but what the heavenly Father provides.
Love is not rude. It seeks to meet other's needs, rather than its own.
Love does not get angry. It's fully aware that even "righteous anger" is probably not what God wanted it to act out.
Love keeps no record of wrongs. Past failures are just that --- in the past. TODAY is the day of salvation; TODAY you can turn your life around, with God's help.
Love doesn't delight in evil. It shuns it. Light and darkness cannot live together.
Love LOVES truth. It's so much easier to love when you don't have the baggage of lies and deception. Love's heart is laid bare.
Love always protects. It will not participate in tearing someone apart or humiliating them.
Love always trusts. Like an innocent child, love will reach out --- even when that trust is tried and found wanting.
Love always hopes. It sees the sunshine after the rain, the light at the end of the tunnel, the new flower bursting forth from the once-frozen ground.
Love always perseveres. It never gives up. It will always get back on its feet when knocked down. It will always reach for the Father's hand.
Love never fails. It's the one thing that binds our world together, across cultural divides, across doctrines, across political differences. It keeps the love-light ever burning.
I WANT TO BE JOYFUL and LOVING. What else could I possibly need?
STEVE
Monday, January 22, 2007
Things I Don't Want To Be ... Part 4
10. I don't want to be possessive.
George Carlin once did a comedy skit about our obsessions with our possessions. He said we're always looking for a place to put our "stuff." That a house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it. That you've got to move to a bigger house, primarily because you've got more stuff. And how YOUR stuff is always more important than THEIR stuff. Even when you go on vacation, you're faced with the dilemma of how much stuff to pack, how much stuff to buy, etc..
We're born naked. We die empty-handed. In between is just stuff. My mother often said, "You never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul." And after my folks died, we did have to get a U-Haul to relocate their stuff.
Jesus said that we are to build up treasures in heaven, where moth and rust can't destroy, and thieves can't steal. I honestly don't believe that he would begrudge us our creature comforts. But when our focus is on acquiring, collecting or hoarding things, then we quickly forget the treasures that last, like kindness, generosity, caring and loving --- people, not things.
We can also be jealous and possessive of our time, an individual, our church or our hobby, to the point that our behavior reveals our unhealthy appetite. An appetite that grows. We can become enslaved by our possessions and not really enjoy them at all.
This may seem simplistic, but I see all the things that I have as on loan from God. Matthew 10:8 says, "Freely you have received, freely give." No, I'm not going to give you my address so that you can come and loot my house. (God may not want you to have it either.) But I'm learning more and more about sharing with those he has put in my path. And my wife and I are committed to freeing ourselves of our possessions before we proceed on our heavenly journey. We hope to have no U-Haul reserved for our stuff.
11. I don't want to be plagued by evil desires.
If you Google the term "evil desires," 16 out the first 20 hits will reveal sites that refer to sex either directly or indirectly. And 13 of the 16 are of a religious nature. The same search using just the word "desire" returns only 5 of 20 hits with any reference to sex. In my opinion sex is getting way too much play in what is really a more serious subject (which can include sex) --- that being pure desire that leads one to perform evil deeds.
For the record desire can be either positive or negative. I can desire to walk in God's will. I can desire that my children be loving, caring adults. These desires prompt me to pray to God, encourage my children and do things that will support these healthy goals. However, if I desire to see someone "get what they deserve," to take what isn't mine, to tell someone off or to be above someone in knowledge, good health, strength or possessions, then my desire is most unhealthy.
James (Bible, NT) points out that desire itself is not the sin, but is rather the seedbed for sin. That kind of desire springs from temptation, germinates, then gives birth to sin. The horror of it is that such a concoction begins in your mind. And it's difficult to turn it off. What can we do?
The first thing is to bring it to light. No, don't go blabbing it to everyone. If you have someone very close that you trust for wise counsel, it really does help to talk about it. But most importantly, confess it to the Creator of both mind and spirit. He's not likely to switch off the desire immediately. We are made free, which includes freedom to fail. But he will forgive you, love you and help you to redirect your thoughts to more noble ones. I really like the Apostle Paul's words in Philippians, Chapter 4: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable --- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy --- think about such things."
Next up: Things I Want To Be . . .
STEVE
George Carlin once did a comedy skit about our obsessions with our possessions. He said we're always looking for a place to put our "stuff." That a house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it. That you've got to move to a bigger house, primarily because you've got more stuff. And how YOUR stuff is always more important than THEIR stuff. Even when you go on vacation, you're faced with the dilemma of how much stuff to pack, how much stuff to buy, etc..
We're born naked. We die empty-handed. In between is just stuff. My mother often said, "You never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul." And after my folks died, we did have to get a U-Haul to relocate their stuff.
Jesus said that we are to build up treasures in heaven, where moth and rust can't destroy, and thieves can't steal. I honestly don't believe that he would begrudge us our creature comforts. But when our focus is on acquiring, collecting or hoarding things, then we quickly forget the treasures that last, like kindness, generosity, caring and loving --- people, not things.
We can also be jealous and possessive of our time, an individual, our church or our hobby, to the point that our behavior reveals our unhealthy appetite. An appetite that grows. We can become enslaved by our possessions and not really enjoy them at all.
This may seem simplistic, but I see all the things that I have as on loan from God. Matthew 10:8 says, "Freely you have received, freely give." No, I'm not going to give you my address so that you can come and loot my house. (God may not want you to have it either.) But I'm learning more and more about sharing with those he has put in my path. And my wife and I are committed to freeing ourselves of our possessions before we proceed on our heavenly journey. We hope to have no U-Haul reserved for our stuff.
11. I don't want to be plagued by evil desires.
If you Google the term "evil desires," 16 out the first 20 hits will reveal sites that refer to sex either directly or indirectly. And 13 of the 16 are of a religious nature. The same search using just the word "desire" returns only 5 of 20 hits with any reference to sex. In my opinion sex is getting way too much play in what is really a more serious subject (which can include sex) --- that being pure desire that leads one to perform evil deeds.
For the record desire can be either positive or negative. I can desire to walk in God's will. I can desire that my children be loving, caring adults. These desires prompt me to pray to God, encourage my children and do things that will support these healthy goals. However, if I desire to see someone "get what they deserve," to take what isn't mine, to tell someone off or to be above someone in knowledge, good health, strength or possessions, then my desire is most unhealthy.
James (Bible, NT) points out that desire itself is not the sin, but is rather the seedbed for sin. That kind of desire springs from temptation, germinates, then gives birth to sin. The horror of it is that such a concoction begins in your mind. And it's difficult to turn it off. What can we do?
The first thing is to bring it to light. No, don't go blabbing it to everyone. If you have someone very close that you trust for wise counsel, it really does help to talk about it. But most importantly, confess it to the Creator of both mind and spirit. He's not likely to switch off the desire immediately. We are made free, which includes freedom to fail. But he will forgive you, love you and help you to redirect your thoughts to more noble ones. I really like the Apostle Paul's words in Philippians, Chapter 4: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable --- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy --- think about such things."
Next up: Things I Want To Be . . .
STEVE
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Things I Don't Want To Be . . . Part 3
7. I don't want to be afraid.
Fear is related to cowardice but goes much further in that it spans a broad spectrum ranging from mild apprehension to absolute terror. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of danger, fear of sickness, fear of job loss, fear of death, fear of the unknown. You name it, you can be afraid of it. Some folks have a fear that good things won't last.
There is such a thing as healthy fear. I once was smacked in the head by a 1,000+ pound stallion. I don't dread horses now, but fear taught me to not make any sudden moves around them. The same healthy fear can protect you around high voltage electricity, steep mountain climbs, deadly weather conditions and the perils of war.
Franklin D. Roosevelt said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." The Bible says, "Perfect love drives out fear." When you feel the warmth of love, and find yourself loving in return, you may realize that there is no room left for fear.
8. I don't want to be anxious.
Along with it's companions, cowardice and fear, worry completes the package of mind-troubling conditions. A contemporary Christian group years ago produced a song called Today Is The Tomorrow That I Was Worried About Yesterday. It never made it as a hit, but it had a catchy tune and an awesome title. Whereas fear can, at times, prepare you for the worst, worry is just plain dumb.
Worry has to do with being anxious over things that are absolutely out of your control. Many times it is anticipation over events or actions that never materialize. Jesus asks, "Who, by worrying, can add one hour to his or her life? And who, by worrying, can add one inch to their height?" Medical science tells us that there is no proven connection between worry and gray hair. But anyone can "pull their hair out" over such a condition.
I find comfort in believing and accepting the fact that I am right where God wants me to be. If I am miserable, there is a purpose in it; I can learn from it. If I am joyful, enjoy the moment; don't stress over how long it will last. If "ignorance is bliss," then let me be stupid.
9. I don't want to be self-centered.
I've read that people who are such have a low self-esteem, and their behavior reinforces their need for acceptance and validation. The result is usually disappointing because nobody wants to be around them. As I see it we have two challenges to consider. First, how do I avoid being self-centered? A simple and effective solution is ask-and-answer. Be inquisitive of those around you. If you're not being asked a question, then ask one. If you are asked about yourself or your opinion, then answer with humility. Don't launch into a lengthy soliloquy that eventually puts people to sleep or makes them regret asking.
The second challenge is much more difficult to me: how to respond to people who are self-centered. I know the correct answer is to love them, but that's easier said than done. Our tendency is to say or do things that will shut them down (or at least shut them up), but that only ends in hurt. It takes practice and patience, but the goal is to briefly confirm that which is honorable in them, then redirect the conversation away from themselves to a mutual concern with more skillfully placed questions. Above all we must take care with our tone, choice of words and body language. Failure in any of these can hurt, and hurt deeply. I'm still working on both of these challenges. Pray for me.
Almost done. Stay with me.
STEVE
Fear is related to cowardice but goes much further in that it spans a broad spectrum ranging from mild apprehension to absolute terror. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of danger, fear of sickness, fear of job loss, fear of death, fear of the unknown. You name it, you can be afraid of it. Some folks have a fear that good things won't last.
There is such a thing as healthy fear. I once was smacked in the head by a 1,000+ pound stallion. I don't dread horses now, but fear taught me to not make any sudden moves around them. The same healthy fear can protect you around high voltage electricity, steep mountain climbs, deadly weather conditions and the perils of war.
Franklin D. Roosevelt said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." The Bible says, "Perfect love drives out fear." When you feel the warmth of love, and find yourself loving in return, you may realize that there is no room left for fear.
8. I don't want to be anxious.
Along with it's companions, cowardice and fear, worry completes the package of mind-troubling conditions. A contemporary Christian group years ago produced a song called Today Is The Tomorrow That I Was Worried About Yesterday. It never made it as a hit, but it had a catchy tune and an awesome title. Whereas fear can, at times, prepare you for the worst, worry is just plain dumb.
Worry has to do with being anxious over things that are absolutely out of your control. Many times it is anticipation over events or actions that never materialize. Jesus asks, "Who, by worrying, can add one hour to his or her life? And who, by worrying, can add one inch to their height?" Medical science tells us that there is no proven connection between worry and gray hair. But anyone can "pull their hair out" over such a condition.
I find comfort in believing and accepting the fact that I am right where God wants me to be. If I am miserable, there is a purpose in it; I can learn from it. If I am joyful, enjoy the moment; don't stress over how long it will last. If "ignorance is bliss," then let me be stupid.
9. I don't want to be self-centered.
I've read that people who are such have a low self-esteem, and their behavior reinforces their need for acceptance and validation. The result is usually disappointing because nobody wants to be around them. As I see it we have two challenges to consider. First, how do I avoid being self-centered? A simple and effective solution is ask-and-answer. Be inquisitive of those around you. If you're not being asked a question, then ask one. If you are asked about yourself or your opinion, then answer with humility. Don't launch into a lengthy soliloquy that eventually puts people to sleep or makes them regret asking.
The second challenge is much more difficult to me: how to respond to people who are self-centered. I know the correct answer is to love them, but that's easier said than done. Our tendency is to say or do things that will shut them down (or at least shut them up), but that only ends in hurt. It takes practice and patience, but the goal is to briefly confirm that which is honorable in them, then redirect the conversation away from themselves to a mutual concern with more skillfully placed questions. Above all we must take care with our tone, choice of words and body language. Failure in any of these can hurt, and hurt deeply. I'm still working on both of these challenges. Pray for me.
Almost done. Stay with me.
STEVE
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Things I Don't Want To Be . . . Part 2
4. I don't want to be unfair.
Since the beginning of time someone has cheated someone else. Jacob cheated Esau out of his birthright. King David cheated Uriah out of his wife (Bathsheba). Crooked merchants rigged their scales. Hank Williams Jr. wailed about Your Cheatin' Heart. Politicians cheated voters with underhanded polling practices.
Fairness is sought after in all aspects of our lives. Personal relationships, business affairs, sports events, to name a few. There's a common term to describe fairness; it's called "a level playing field." All players get an equal chance at winning the game based upon their own skills, neither team having an unfair advantage. Even in football the teams will switch ends each quarter to account for conditions, such as wind direction or the position of the sun.
Solomon tells his son in Proverbs 1:3 to "do what is right and just and fair." Many times unfairness is given in retaliation for unfairness received (or perceived). We must break this ugly cycle and promote fairness at all cost. God gives us the opportunity to level the playing field --- before he brings in the steam roller.
5. I don't want to be a pity party participant.
I write from experience. My precious wife has endured several of mine over our 38.5 years together. Interestingly enough, the word "pity" is quite honorable as a term that properly launches compassion, sympathy or empathy. It becomes dark when we turn it inward and let it breed misery or anger or frustration. Jesus taught us to deny ourselves. I believe he meant that by directing our attention to others, really caring, sincerely listening, obeying his direction for reaching out, we realize, first of all, that we are not alone --- a definite prerequisite for a decent pity party ("Woe is me; nobody loves me; everybody hates me ... I'm too sick, I'm too broke, etc."). Secondly, we are where God wants us to be --- even if it hurts for now. He IS speaking to you. You just can't hear him over the pity party favors. Be still, and know.
6. I don't want to be a coward.
Coward is a funny word because it seems like it should refer to the direction of cattle. But it gets its root from the latin word "cauda", meaning "tail." Combined with a French term it means, figuratively, to "turn tail." An animal faced with danger and losing the fight would typically tuck its tail and run. Coward can only be applied when danger or threat is faced, the result being not forcefully advancing, not advancing at all, or downright fleeing.
A necessary part of our development is this opportunity to face some sort of danger. Our bodies are designed to secrete adrenalin for just such occasions. The important thing, however, is to realize that fearing an enemy or an event does not label us as utter failures. It labels us as human. God's children, in fact. As we mature in his love and learn to obey his will, we will find it easier to face regular threats with boldness.
Oh, yeah, there's more to come.
STEVE
Since the beginning of time someone has cheated someone else. Jacob cheated Esau out of his birthright. King David cheated Uriah out of his wife (Bathsheba). Crooked merchants rigged their scales. Hank Williams Jr. wailed about Your Cheatin' Heart. Politicians cheated voters with underhanded polling practices.
Fairness is sought after in all aspects of our lives. Personal relationships, business affairs, sports events, to name a few. There's a common term to describe fairness; it's called "a level playing field." All players get an equal chance at winning the game based upon their own skills, neither team having an unfair advantage. Even in football the teams will switch ends each quarter to account for conditions, such as wind direction or the position of the sun.
Solomon tells his son in Proverbs 1:3 to "do what is right and just and fair." Many times unfairness is given in retaliation for unfairness received (or perceived). We must break this ugly cycle and promote fairness at all cost. God gives us the opportunity to level the playing field --- before he brings in the steam roller.
5. I don't want to be a pity party participant.
I write from experience. My precious wife has endured several of mine over our 38.5 years together. Interestingly enough, the word "pity" is quite honorable as a term that properly launches compassion, sympathy or empathy. It becomes dark when we turn it inward and let it breed misery or anger or frustration. Jesus taught us to deny ourselves. I believe he meant that by directing our attention to others, really caring, sincerely listening, obeying his direction for reaching out, we realize, first of all, that we are not alone --- a definite prerequisite for a decent pity party ("Woe is me; nobody loves me; everybody hates me ... I'm too sick, I'm too broke, etc."). Secondly, we are where God wants us to be --- even if it hurts for now. He IS speaking to you. You just can't hear him over the pity party favors. Be still, and know.
6. I don't want to be a coward.
Coward is a funny word because it seems like it should refer to the direction of cattle. But it gets its root from the latin word "cauda", meaning "tail." Combined with a French term it means, figuratively, to "turn tail." An animal faced with danger and losing the fight would typically tuck its tail and run. Coward can only be applied when danger or threat is faced, the result being not forcefully advancing, not advancing at all, or downright fleeing.
A necessary part of our development is this opportunity to face some sort of danger. Our bodies are designed to secrete adrenalin for just such occasions. The important thing, however, is to realize that fearing an enemy or an event does not label us as utter failures. It labels us as human. God's children, in fact. As we mature in his love and learn to obey his will, we will find it easier to face regular threats with boldness.
Oh, yeah, there's more to come.
STEVE
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Things I Don't Want To Be . . .
1. I don't want to be mean.
I've come to realize over the years that I have a serious face. Corners of the mouth turned down. Squinty, cloudy eyes that seem to be devoid of expression. I once had a boss who asked me why I was scowling. I didn't know I was scowling. In fact, inside I was feeling quite cheerful. However, being a contemplative, detail-oriented person (with a little obsessive-compulsiveness thrown in), I often forget that my face has slipped into neutral. Gotta work on that.
Movie cowboys used to say that an ornery person was "meaner than a rattlesnake." I guess that meant that the person (or snake) was ready to strike out at you for no apparent reason. Mean people appear to be absent of feeling, but inside they are just miserable. Beneath the bad behavior is a child of God who desperately needs love. Some have become so hardened that they reject any measure of kindness. But love is the most powerful force on our planet. Never underestimate it. And never, ever return meanness with a bigger helping of the same.
2. I don't want to be someone I am not.
"What you see is what you get." That line is used by folks who think that they are like that, but are very rarely anywhere near it. You see, our natural tendency is to adjust our behavior to favor someone we want to impress. We act attentive, complimentary, disturbed, angry, tough, bored, caring, empathetic, sympathetic, etc. --- with the purpose only to redirect the attention back to our own selves. Oh sure, we SAY we don't. And many times we may not even want to. But looking back afterwards, we are disappointed to realize that we did. God wants us to be who we are. He takes us as we are. Then, if we will let him, he will shape our character to a true level of openness and honesty that brings out the genuine best in others, as well as in ourselves.
3. I don't want to be a liar.
Putting aside the question, "Is it ever OK to lie?," (i.e., Rahab and the spies), liars are difficult people to live with. They receive the label by telling a few whopping lies, or by offering up a steady stream of untruths. Professional liars can even reach a point to where they can't separate truth from falsehood. The real danger here is that trust is violated. And trust is very difficult to restore once it has been crippled. Jesus said to let your "no" be "no" and your "yes" be "yes". "Anything beyond this comes from the evil one," he warned. And women, please, PLEASE, do not torment your men with questions like, "Honey, does this outfit make me look fat?" We're trying to do better, but there's no safe answer for those kind.
More to come. Stay tuned.
STEVE
I've come to realize over the years that I have a serious face. Corners of the mouth turned down. Squinty, cloudy eyes that seem to be devoid of expression. I once had a boss who asked me why I was scowling. I didn't know I was scowling. In fact, inside I was feeling quite cheerful. However, being a contemplative, detail-oriented person (with a little obsessive-compulsiveness thrown in), I often forget that my face has slipped into neutral. Gotta work on that.
Movie cowboys used to say that an ornery person was "meaner than a rattlesnake." I guess that meant that the person (or snake) was ready to strike out at you for no apparent reason. Mean people appear to be absent of feeling, but inside they are just miserable. Beneath the bad behavior is a child of God who desperately needs love. Some have become so hardened that they reject any measure of kindness. But love is the most powerful force on our planet. Never underestimate it. And never, ever return meanness with a bigger helping of the same.
2. I don't want to be someone I am not.
"What you see is what you get." That line is used by folks who think that they are like that, but are very rarely anywhere near it. You see, our natural tendency is to adjust our behavior to favor someone we want to impress. We act attentive, complimentary, disturbed, angry, tough, bored, caring, empathetic, sympathetic, etc. --- with the purpose only to redirect the attention back to our own selves. Oh sure, we SAY we don't. And many times we may not even want to. But looking back afterwards, we are disappointed to realize that we did. God wants us to be who we are. He takes us as we are. Then, if we will let him, he will shape our character to a true level of openness and honesty that brings out the genuine best in others, as well as in ourselves.
3. I don't want to be a liar.
Putting aside the question, "Is it ever OK to lie?," (i.e., Rahab and the spies), liars are difficult people to live with. They receive the label by telling a few whopping lies, or by offering up a steady stream of untruths. Professional liars can even reach a point to where they can't separate truth from falsehood. The real danger here is that trust is violated. And trust is very difficult to restore once it has been crippled. Jesus said to let your "no" be "no" and your "yes" be "yes". "Anything beyond this comes from the evil one," he warned. And women, please, PLEASE, do not torment your men with questions like, "Honey, does this outfit make me look fat?" We're trying to do better, but there's no safe answer for those kind.
More to come. Stay tuned.
STEVE
Friday, January 12, 2007
Woodshed Theology
Some years ago in a crusade message Billy Graham told the story of a heated argument between a teenager and his father. At one point the young man blurted out, "I didn't ask to be born!," to which the father replied, "Yes, and if you had, the answer would have been NO!"
It's true. We didn't ask to be born, but is that really a valid response to a life that isn't quite what we expected it to be? Who wouldn't want to live, as long as the conditions are always to our satisfaction? Plenty of money, excellent health and being surrounded by loving friends and family.
Discipline is a sensitive subject for me to write about. I grew up learning to obey the rules. In the military I was compelled to obey the rules. As a parent I enforced the rules. With all three experiences punishment was the method for restoring and maintaining order. While discipline and punishment are necessary to our development, I was clueless as to what they really meant. And for this I owe my daughters a great apology.
Discipline and punishment are often (but wrongly) used interchangeably to mean the same thing. Punishment is never effective if it breaks the spirit, causes lasting resentment or results in the punishee changing behavior only so as not to get caught, thus receiving more punishment. True discipline says, "I love you too much to allow you to behave badly." Now I never expected my drill sergeant to use that line on me. Military discipline is designed to bring a cohesive, single-minded structure to a unit with specific strategic goals. This type of training does tend to bring a measure of self-discipline into the life of the soldier that is often helpful following his or her tour of duty.
Discipline of our children, however, is much broader. It combines equal portions of love and tempered sternness to bring out the best behavior --- behavior that will mature, operate independently and be a vital source with which to raise the next generation. So how can we understand true discipline?
We get our cues from our Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus. I learned from God's rule book (the Bible) how to do good, but I never felt his love. Certainly not as I am now experiencing it. Looking back I can now see both his love and discipline at work in my life. Even while I wasn't getting it, he continued to care for me. He cared for me enough to let trials and stresses and heart attacks and failures and tears come into my life, not to harden me, but to mold me into his image. It's an ongoing process, and I am confident that he will see it through to perfection.
In an odd sort of way, discipline without love still gives a sense of security. But how much greater is guiding, loving, correcting, loving, directing? And did I mention Loving? That's exactly what we're getting from above every single day. Go and do likewise.
STEVE
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Salvation Nation
I'm currently reading a book by Professor Stephen Prothero (Boston University) called American Jesus: How the Son of God Became a National Icon. In it he charts the various approaches to Jesus throughout our nation's history from the Sacrificial Jesus of the Puritans and Jonathan Edwards to the Sweet Savior of D.L. Moody and Ira Sankey, from the Manly Jesus of Billy Sunday to the Hollywood Jesus (Jesus Christ, Superstar), from the Hippie Jesus of the Woodstock environment to the Successful Jesus (Dale Carnegie)... And on and on it goes.
But the common denominator over all these years has been the need for Jesus, in whatever form, from professed believers to the sub-cultures and even counter-cultures. Why? Quite simply, because we all need a Savior.
The broad road of Christianity is populated with those who have been taught, and thus believe, that his mission was to save us from a destiny in Hell because of our sins; that God means to harm us horribly if we don't "accept Jesus" as our Personal Savior and believe that he died in our place (even though we still must die), and all of our sins (past, present and future) will not be counted against us. Say the words, snap on the WWJD bracelet, and you're good to go.
The thing is, though, that Jesus himself never seems to talk about that. He did, however, talk plenty about how we are to live to be at peace and to please our Heavenly Father. You see, the greatest enemy of me is ME. I can't cop out with the well-worn phrase, "The Devil made me do it," because he DIDN'T. To be sure he TOLD me to do it, but he didn't actually "pull the trigger," so to speak.
We have this thing in us called Pride. The kind of pride that makes you boastful, arrogant, defensive, jealous and sometimes downright mean. I don't know where it came from, but it's the most used, multi-purpose Leatherman in Satan's tool belt. And I'm sure you have, as have I, met someone who will point out to you their lack of pride, thus demonstrating to you once again its power. Many times you don't even see it coming. As someone once said to me, "I might as well pat my own back; nobody else will."
Being a true Christian isn't rocket science. God wants us to have justice and mercy. Always do what's right (justice) and be kind and compassionate (mercy). Jesus taught us how to do it, then showed us how to do it. But he didn't have an ounce of pride. There's the rub. He died because his disciples were dull of hearing while he was with them in the flesh, and he told them so. He died so that the Heavenly Energizer (Holy Spirit) could come and remind them, with even more teaching, of the things they had heard. He told them that too.
We have his words. We have his Spirit. We just need to do the task that's set before us. When we recognize in the journey that we ARE accomplishing justice and mercy, then we're not as far along as we thought, because Pride will always take the credit. But when our lives become so immersed in the presence of the Father and the Son that we DON'T realize that we are, in fact, practicing justice and mercy ... aah then, Perfection is not far off.
And that's where he wants us to be.
STEVE
But the common denominator over all these years has been the need for Jesus, in whatever form, from professed believers to the sub-cultures and even counter-cultures. Why? Quite simply, because we all need a Savior.
The broad road of Christianity is populated with those who have been taught, and thus believe, that his mission was to save us from a destiny in Hell because of our sins; that God means to harm us horribly if we don't "accept Jesus" as our Personal Savior and believe that he died in our place (even though we still must die), and all of our sins (past, present and future) will not be counted against us. Say the words, snap on the WWJD bracelet, and you're good to go.
The thing is, though, that Jesus himself never seems to talk about that. He did, however, talk plenty about how we are to live to be at peace and to please our Heavenly Father. You see, the greatest enemy of me is ME. I can't cop out with the well-worn phrase, "The Devil made me do it," because he DIDN'T. To be sure he TOLD me to do it, but he didn't actually "pull the trigger," so to speak.
We have this thing in us called Pride. The kind of pride that makes you boastful, arrogant, defensive, jealous and sometimes downright mean. I don't know where it came from, but it's the most used, multi-purpose Leatherman in Satan's tool belt. And I'm sure you have, as have I, met someone who will point out to you their lack of pride, thus demonstrating to you once again its power. Many times you don't even see it coming. As someone once said to me, "I might as well pat my own back; nobody else will."
Being a true Christian isn't rocket science. God wants us to have justice and mercy. Always do what's right (justice) and be kind and compassionate (mercy). Jesus taught us how to do it, then showed us how to do it. But he didn't have an ounce of pride. There's the rub. He died because his disciples were dull of hearing while he was with them in the flesh, and he told them so. He died so that the Heavenly Energizer (Holy Spirit) could come and remind them, with even more teaching, of the things they had heard. He told them that too.
We have his words. We have his Spirit. We just need to do the task that's set before us. When we recognize in the journey that we ARE accomplishing justice and mercy, then we're not as far along as we thought, because Pride will always take the credit. But when our lives become so immersed in the presence of the Father and the Son that we DON'T realize that we are, in fact, practicing justice and mercy ... aah then, Perfection is not far off.
And that's where he wants us to be.
STEVE
Monday, January 8, 2007
Something To Die For
Two major events pierce our human existence on a regular basis, those being Birth and Death. One is greeted with joy, the other brings mourning. The purpose of birth is to populate the earth, as well as form a new creation in the likeness of father and mother. One purpose of death could be to de-populate the earth.
Outside of a few who claim to have lived previous lives, we all recognize that our beginnings only go back as far as we can remember, coupled with the testimony of those witnessing our birth. However, no one as yet has come back from the Other Side to explain the unknown in sufficient detail with credibility, in my opinion. Jesus did. Lazarus did too, but nobody recorded what he said about his time in the tomb for four days. And Jesus had plenty to say about the afterlife BEFORE he died. Because he had come from there.
Benjamin Franklin said, "But in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Some might want to add that they live in a country that is certain of death BY taxes. We all face the end of our lives in different ways. Lives snuffed out quickly in an accident or murder. Lingering diseases that end with the disease winning. Or bodies just wearing out and needing an eternal rest. In all cases the body must respond to the ultimate summons --- and yield.
I think that, since the end is inevitable, we should shift our focus to the purpose. Here's some basics, if you choose to believe them: Death is not a coffin, but a door; God loves you and wants you to trust him; You may be VERY surprised to find that what is beyond that door was not what you had expected (or had been taught); finally, God so wants you to live life to the full each day, because death is not the end, but more life with even greater experiences.
Jesus spoke a lot about doing his Father's will. He was the consummate, obedient Son. His death wasn't an accident. (By the way, you often hear, "He/she met an untimely death." Since when is it ever a good time to die?) Jesus died because God wanted him to experience everything that we felt and feared. The greatest importance of his death was that he was WILLING to die. No other voice could deter him from this mission.
God has mapped out a plan for each of us. We're on his time timetable. Our lives are filled with purpose. Our deaths are timely. By living or dying, we will always affect the lives of those around us. The writer to the Hebrews (NT) says that as long as it is called TODAY, we can change the course of our lives by becoming obedient to our creator. It is not likely that any of us will be literally nailed to a cross, but by following Christ we can willingly face any tribulation and, when the time comes, say, "It is finished. Into your hands I commit my spirit."
That's my prayer.
STEVE
Outside of a few who claim to have lived previous lives, we all recognize that our beginnings only go back as far as we can remember, coupled with the testimony of those witnessing our birth. However, no one as yet has come back from the Other Side to explain the unknown in sufficient detail with credibility, in my opinion. Jesus did. Lazarus did too, but nobody recorded what he said about his time in the tomb for four days. And Jesus had plenty to say about the afterlife BEFORE he died. Because he had come from there.
Benjamin Franklin said, "But in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Some might want to add that they live in a country that is certain of death BY taxes. We all face the end of our lives in different ways. Lives snuffed out quickly in an accident or murder. Lingering diseases that end with the disease winning. Or bodies just wearing out and needing an eternal rest. In all cases the body must respond to the ultimate summons --- and yield.
I think that, since the end is inevitable, we should shift our focus to the purpose. Here's some basics, if you choose to believe them: Death is not a coffin, but a door; God loves you and wants you to trust him; You may be VERY surprised to find that what is beyond that door was not what you had expected (or had been taught); finally, God so wants you to live life to the full each day, because death is not the end, but more life with even greater experiences.
Jesus spoke a lot about doing his Father's will. He was the consummate, obedient Son. His death wasn't an accident. (By the way, you often hear, "He/she met an untimely death." Since when is it ever a good time to die?) Jesus died because God wanted him to experience everything that we felt and feared. The greatest importance of his death was that he was WILLING to die. No other voice could deter him from this mission.
God has mapped out a plan for each of us. We're on his time timetable. Our lives are filled with purpose. Our deaths are timely. By living or dying, we will always affect the lives of those around us. The writer to the Hebrews (NT) says that as long as it is called TODAY, we can change the course of our lives by becoming obedient to our creator. It is not likely that any of us will be literally nailed to a cross, but by following Christ we can willingly face any tribulation and, when the time comes, say, "It is finished. Into your hands I commit my spirit."
That's my prayer.
STEVE
Friday, January 5, 2007
Obedience is Neat
Can't get that song out of my head --- You're one brick short of a load now, brother / ... / you're one fry short of a Happy Meal / ... / To pick you up, back on your feet / obedience is neat ... It's a little ditty by FFH called "Big Fish". It plays off of the story about Jonah (in the Bible, go to Psalms and take a right). You see, God wanted Jonah to obey. Jonah fled. God REALLY wanted Jonah for this mission, so he sent forth a series of unfortunate events. Jonah obeyed. Mistake Number Two was that Jonah presumed to know the outcome of his obedient act and was disappointed in the results. The book sadly ends without us knowing if Jonah finally understood. But my gut feeling is that he eventually got it. I also think the whole trip was as much for Jonah's development as it was for the repentance of the Ninevites.
We all are subject to someone. Parents. Siblings. Teachers. Supervisors. Even partnerships have a managing partner; CEO's report to the Board of Directors. The list is endless. There would be no leaders if there were no followers, and the result would be chaos. At the end of the day all creation is accountable to God.
Jesus said, "My yoke is easy, my burden light." He also said, "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first." But he was tasked by his heavenly Father to issue universal commands; slave and master alike are to obey him. He issued a number of imperatives, which I readily accept as commands. However, it seems that most every time he used the word "obey", the closest command in the proximity of that word was to love.
Over the years I have experienced being in authority, as well as being under the thumb of oppressive authority. But recently I have experienced the refreshing, freeing feeling of being obedient. Now before you eyeball my halo, let me explain.
You know the cartoon of the person with the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other? The angel is a do-gooder, and the devil wants you to have fun. I've not yet gotten a good grasp on Satan's role in this grand human experiment, but I have no problem believing that there are good and evil voices whispering in our ears. And sometimes old Lucifer has some pretty convincing (albeit deceiving) arguments. We get the task of deciding which one to obey. To be sure the Spirit's voice (Holy Spirit) is stronger, but our pride allows us to give the other voice more attention than it deserves.
God has been gradually increasing my consciousness of my shortcomings and has encouraged me to obey the teachings of his Son. It's wonderful to have a Father who will never give up on you. Even when your journey drags you down to the pit of sadness, despair and horror, he WILL get your attention, reinforce his love for you and .../spit you out on the dry land/.
And he has eternity in which to do it. Obedience is neat.
STEVE
We all are subject to someone. Parents. Siblings. Teachers. Supervisors. Even partnerships have a managing partner; CEO's report to the Board of Directors. The list is endless. There would be no leaders if there were no followers, and the result would be chaos. At the end of the day all creation is accountable to God.
Jesus said, "My yoke is easy, my burden light." He also said, "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first." But he was tasked by his heavenly Father to issue universal commands; slave and master alike are to obey him. He issued a number of imperatives, which I readily accept as commands. However, it seems that most every time he used the word "obey", the closest command in the proximity of that word was to love.
Over the years I have experienced being in authority, as well as being under the thumb of oppressive authority. But recently I have experienced the refreshing, freeing feeling of being obedient. Now before you eyeball my halo, let me explain.
You know the cartoon of the person with the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other? The angel is a do-gooder, and the devil wants you to have fun. I've not yet gotten a good grasp on Satan's role in this grand human experiment, but I have no problem believing that there are good and evil voices whispering in our ears. And sometimes old Lucifer has some pretty convincing (albeit deceiving) arguments. We get the task of deciding which one to obey. To be sure the Spirit's voice (Holy Spirit) is stronger, but our pride allows us to give the other voice more attention than it deserves.
God has been gradually increasing my consciousness of my shortcomings and has encouraged me to obey the teachings of his Son. It's wonderful to have a Father who will never give up on you. Even when your journey drags you down to the pit of sadness, despair and horror, he WILL get your attention, reinforce his love for you and .../spit you out on the dry land/.
And he has eternity in which to do it. Obedience is neat.
STEVE
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Jesus the Christ
OK, so most folks are probably aware that Christ was NOT his last name. The angel Gabriel told both Mary and Joseph to call him Jesus. Matthew said that the OT prophesied he would be called Immanuel, but nobody else in the NT ever used it. So we have Jesus (God Saves) and Christ (the Anointed One). But some gospel writers put it together in referring to him, and Paul and Peter used it frequently. Nowadays it's plastered everywhere, and some hotheads have formalized it by adding an H in the middle in their swearing. All are constant reminders of this household name that is well known worldwide by saints and enemies alike.
He's depicted as the holy babe of a vengeful God, the substitutionary sacrifice for our sins, the second person of the Trinity and our spiritual guide. I believe in him because I'm taking him at his word. Now I realize that someone long ago wrote that he said those things; as best we can tell, he never wrote anything. But I stand on my faith in him for two reasons: 1) I've never been so impressed with anyone's words, written or spoken, as I have this carpenter-prophet who boldly claimed to be the actual son of God; and 2) I have this unexplainable stirring within me (No, it wasn't the taco salad.) that won't let me go and says to me, "This is my son; listen to him."
So then if he's God's son, and I'm God's child by virtue of being created, that makes him my brother. How great is that? And coming straight from a perfect God, he had to be a perfect son. How many of us can boast of a perfect sibling? I'm an only child, but I hear that some siblings claim perfection, and that can be annoying. I think I was created perfect, but some bad stuff stuck to me on the way. Jesus was like teflon; nothing stuck to him. Another cool big brother trait.
He came back to life after his execution to prove to us that death is not the end, but a glorious rebirth. This gives tremendous hope to those who still fear the other side of the grave. I've been at death's door three times, and was given peace on each occasion --- ready to go, ready to stay.
Jesus said that God said that he could pass out some commands, like love God, love your neighbor, keep the spiritual laws that are already written on your hearts. That's fine by me, because I know that Jesus is not trying to pull authority away from his father. Instead he came to tell us and show us what his father was really like. I must and will serve anyone who can pull that off. But nobody else can even come close.
STEVE
He's depicted as the holy babe of a vengeful God, the substitutionary sacrifice for our sins, the second person of the Trinity and our spiritual guide. I believe in him because I'm taking him at his word. Now I realize that someone long ago wrote that he said those things; as best we can tell, he never wrote anything. But I stand on my faith in him for two reasons: 1) I've never been so impressed with anyone's words, written or spoken, as I have this carpenter-prophet who boldly claimed to be the actual son of God; and 2) I have this unexplainable stirring within me (No, it wasn't the taco salad.) that won't let me go and says to me, "This is my son; listen to him."
So then if he's God's son, and I'm God's child by virtue of being created, that makes him my brother. How great is that? And coming straight from a perfect God, he had to be a perfect son. How many of us can boast of a perfect sibling? I'm an only child, but I hear that some siblings claim perfection, and that can be annoying. I think I was created perfect, but some bad stuff stuck to me on the way. Jesus was like teflon; nothing stuck to him. Another cool big brother trait.
He came back to life after his execution to prove to us that death is not the end, but a glorious rebirth. This gives tremendous hope to those who still fear the other side of the grave. I've been at death's door three times, and was given peace on each occasion --- ready to go, ready to stay.
Jesus said that God said that he could pass out some commands, like love God, love your neighbor, keep the spiritual laws that are already written on your hearts. That's fine by me, because I know that Jesus is not trying to pull authority away from his father. Instead he came to tell us and show us what his father was really like. I must and will serve anyone who can pull that off. But nobody else can even come close.
STEVE
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