I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.
Christ, be with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left.
Christ when I lie, Christ when I sit, Christ when I arise.
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Salvation is of the Lord,
Salvation is of the Christ,
May your salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.
--St. Patrick
Monday, August 21, 2006
Monday, August 07, 2006
Resting in the mercy of God
Recently I have been reading through the works of Teresa of Avila. Included is a small collection of prayers that she wrote at various times after she had taken Communion. Some of them are quite stirring as she is overcome with the greatness, holiness, and majesty of almighty God. I will try to post a few over the next few days.
"O Lord, my God, Thou hast indeed the words of life (John 6:69), wherein, if we will seek it, we mortals shall all find what we desire. But what wonder is it, my God, that we should forget Thy words when our evil deeds have made us so infirm and foolish? O my God! God, God the Maker of all things created! And yet what are all things created, Lord, if Thou shouldst be pleased to create more? Thou art almighty; Thy works are incomprehensible (Job 9:10). Grant, then, Lord, that Thy words may never be absent from my thoughts.
"Thou sayest: 'Come to Me, all you that labour and are burdened: and I will comfort you' (Matthew 11:28). What more do we want, Lord? What do we ask for? What do we seek? Why are worldly people lost if not because they are seeking repose? O God! O God! What is this, Lord? How sad a pity! How blind of us to seek repose where it cannot possibly be found! Have mercy, Creator, on these Thy creatures. Reflect that we do not understand ourselves, or know what we desire, nor are we able to ask as we should. Give us light, Lord. Behold, we need it more than the man who was blind from his birth (John 9:1), for he wished to see the light and could not, whereas nowadays, Lord, no one wishes to see it. Oh, what a hopeless ill this is! Here, my God, must be manifested Thy power and Thy mercy.
"Ah, how hard a thing am I asking of Thee, my true God! I ask Thee to love one who loves Thee not, to open to one who has not called upon Thee, to give health to one who prefers to be sick and who even goes about in search of sickness. Thou sayest, my Lord, that Thou comest to seek sinners; these, Lord, are the true sinners. Look not upon our blindness, my God, but upon all the blood that was shed for us by Thy Son. Let Thy mercy shine out amid such tremendous wickedness. Behold, Lord, we are the works of Thy hands (Isaiah 64:8). Help us by Thy goodness and mercy."
Teresa of Avila (1569)
"O Lord, my God, Thou hast indeed the words of life (John 6:69), wherein, if we will seek it, we mortals shall all find what we desire. But what wonder is it, my God, that we should forget Thy words when our evil deeds have made us so infirm and foolish? O my God! God, God the Maker of all things created! And yet what are all things created, Lord, if Thou shouldst be pleased to create more? Thou art almighty; Thy works are incomprehensible (Job 9:10). Grant, then, Lord, that Thy words may never be absent from my thoughts.
"Thou sayest: 'Come to Me, all you that labour and are burdened: and I will comfort you' (Matthew 11:28). What more do we want, Lord? What do we ask for? What do we seek? Why are worldly people lost if not because they are seeking repose? O God! O God! What is this, Lord? How sad a pity! How blind of us to seek repose where it cannot possibly be found! Have mercy, Creator, on these Thy creatures. Reflect that we do not understand ourselves, or know what we desire, nor are we able to ask as we should. Give us light, Lord. Behold, we need it more than the man who was blind from his birth (John 9:1), for he wished to see the light and could not, whereas nowadays, Lord, no one wishes to see it. Oh, what a hopeless ill this is! Here, my God, must be manifested Thy power and Thy mercy.
"Ah, how hard a thing am I asking of Thee, my true God! I ask Thee to love one who loves Thee not, to open to one who has not called upon Thee, to give health to one who prefers to be sick and who even goes about in search of sickness. Thou sayest, my Lord, that Thou comest to seek sinners; these, Lord, are the true sinners. Look not upon our blindness, my God, but upon all the blood that was shed for us by Thy Son. Let Thy mercy shine out amid such tremendous wickedness. Behold, Lord, we are the works of Thy hands (Isaiah 64:8). Help us by Thy goodness and mercy."
Teresa of Avila (1569)
Thursday, July 27, 2006
To will one thing
The following is the introductory prayer to Soren Kierkegaard's book, Purity of Heart. It pretty much says it.
"Father in Heaven! What is a man without Thee! What is all that he knows, vast accumulation though it be, but a chipped fragment if he does not know Thee! What is all his striving, could it even encompass a world, but a half-finished work if he does not know Thee: Thee the One, who art one thing and who art all! So may Thou give to the intellect, wisdom to comprehend that one thing; to the heart, sincerity to receive this understanding; to the will, purity that wills only one thing. In prosperity may Thou grant perseverance to will one thing; amid distractions, collectedness to will one thing; in suffering, patience to will one thing. Oh, Thou that giveth both the beginning and the completion, may Thou early, at the dawn of day, give to the young man the resolution to will one thing. As the day wanes, may Thou give to the old man a renewed remembrance of his first resolution, that the first may be like the last, the last like the first, in possession of a life that has willed only one thing.
"Alas, but this has indeed not come to pass. Something has come in between. The separation of sin lies in between. Each day, and day after day something is being placed in between: delay, blockage, interruption, delusion, corruption. So in this time of repentance may Thou give the courage once again to will one thing. True, it is an interruption of our ordinary tasks; we do lay down our work as though it were a day of rest, when the penitent (and it is only in a time of repentance that the heavy-laden worker may be quiet in the confession of sin) is alone before Thee in self-accusation. This is indeed an interruption. But it is an interruption that searches back into its very beginnings that it might bind up anew that which sin has separated, that in its grief it might atone for lost time, that in its anxiety it might bring to completion that which lies before it. Oh, Thou that gives both the beginning and the completion, give Thou victory in the day of need so that what neither a man's burning wish nor his determined resolution may attain to, may be granted unto him in the sorrowing of repentance: to will only one thing."
Soren Kierkegaard (1846)
"Father in Heaven! What is a man without Thee! What is all that he knows, vast accumulation though it be, but a chipped fragment if he does not know Thee! What is all his striving, could it even encompass a world, but a half-finished work if he does not know Thee: Thee the One, who art one thing and who art all! So may Thou give to the intellect, wisdom to comprehend that one thing; to the heart, sincerity to receive this understanding; to the will, purity that wills only one thing. In prosperity may Thou grant perseverance to will one thing; amid distractions, collectedness to will one thing; in suffering, patience to will one thing. Oh, Thou that giveth both the beginning and the completion, may Thou early, at the dawn of day, give to the young man the resolution to will one thing. As the day wanes, may Thou give to the old man a renewed remembrance of his first resolution, that the first may be like the last, the last like the first, in possession of a life that has willed only one thing.
"Alas, but this has indeed not come to pass. Something has come in between. The separation of sin lies in between. Each day, and day after day something is being placed in between: delay, blockage, interruption, delusion, corruption. So in this time of repentance may Thou give the courage once again to will one thing. True, it is an interruption of our ordinary tasks; we do lay down our work as though it were a day of rest, when the penitent (and it is only in a time of repentance that the heavy-laden worker may be quiet in the confession of sin) is alone before Thee in self-accusation. This is indeed an interruption. But it is an interruption that searches back into its very beginnings that it might bind up anew that which sin has separated, that in its grief it might atone for lost time, that in its anxiety it might bring to completion that which lies before it. Oh, Thou that gives both the beginning and the completion, give Thou victory in the day of need so that what neither a man's burning wish nor his determined resolution may attain to, may be granted unto him in the sorrowing of repentance: to will only one thing."
Soren Kierkegaard (1846)
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Things needed for spiritual growth
Many are the things of which the believer has need in order to attain knowledge of God and virtue: deliverance from passions, patient acceptance of trials, the inner principles of virtues, the practice of methods of spiritual warfare, the uprooting of the soul's predilection for the flesh, the breaking of the senses' attachment to sensible objects, the utter withdrawal of the intellect from all created things; and, in short, there are countless other things which help us to reject sin and ignorance and to attain knowledge and virtue. It was surely because of this that the Lord said, "Whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive" (Matthew 21:22), stating simply that the devout must seek and ask with understanding and faith for all those things, and for those alone, which lead to virtue and knowledge of God. For all these things are profitable, and unquestionably the Lord gives them to those who ask.
--Maximos the Confessor (580-662)
--Maximos the Confessor (580-662)
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Recovering the art of sacrifice
A few weeks ago I followed a bunch of blog links (which for the life of me I cannot remember) and ended up at an interesting article written by a man who had met a rather sad character on a business flight. Since reading the article a few thoughts have been buzzing incessantly around in my mind. The events went something like this. The author of the article was seated by a man who was extremely successful in the television industry. He owned several stations, etc. He was a self-made man, and the amazing thing about him was that he had not completed university until he was nearly 35, because he had stopped his studies on several occasions to go back to work to support his other brothers and sisters. He had made numerous sacrifices for others in the midst of his efforts for his own advancement. (The exact details escape me.) Anyway, he had just come from the graduation of one of his children (he had six from two marriages), and he was expressing his dismay at how spoiled and selfish his own child was. The author of the article listened to all the man had to say, then made a comment that went something like this: "It seems to me that after you had such an uphill struggle in making your own way in the world, you did everything in your power to protect your children from any need for sacrifice or hard work, and now you have raised children that you can't respect."
Ka-WHAM! This hit me right between the eyes! Is there any society in all of history that is so spoiled, that has things so easy? I don't think so. And I will be the first to admit that there are times when I make every effort to be sure that my kids "don't go without." I have to think that maybe in the midst of all the comforts and conveniences, we might be losing the development of character, which is more important than the others, by far! Consequently, we are spiritually atrophied and often deformed. There is very little in the way of spiritual exercise, because we don't have to work for anything, we don't have to strive for anything, because God wants us to have it all. Our gospel has turned much of scripture on its head, and instead of us striving to live lives of gratitude to God, we make sure that just about every verse in the Bible is seen to be showing what God is going to do for us.
I remember when I was younger and zealous and idealistic, and all that kind of exciting stuff, one of my favourite scriptures was David's declaration at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite: "I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing" (2 Samuel 24:24). There was an element of cost in our discipleship. If it didn't cost, what was it worth? We almost wanted it to cost, because we had grasped the principle that sacrifice brings blessing. I had to admit that this verse had not crossed my mind for way too long. Nowadays a lot of churches do everything in their power to make the message of the gospel cost as little as possible. "We'll make this as easy as we can. Just let us know if we offend you in any way, and we'll change things for you."
I don't want to turn this into a monstrous rambling on, but I have been stirred to consider how I am living my life for my God, my family, other believers, and the world around me. Am I living a life that willingly embraces sacrifice? Am I sacrificing myself in ways that are going to bring the blessing of God in the eternal, unseen realm--where it really matters? Sacrifice has kind of become a dirty and forgotten word in our affluent, over-indulgent society. I realise that sacrifice just for the sake of sacrifice is of no value to anybody, least of all to me, but when there is a situation that means I can pursue my own wants or put others before myself, what is usually my first instinctive action? I'm going to make an effort to get the word "sacrifice" back into my regular vocabulary, and into my daily life, with God's help.
Ka-WHAM! This hit me right between the eyes! Is there any society in all of history that is so spoiled, that has things so easy? I don't think so. And I will be the first to admit that there are times when I make every effort to be sure that my kids "don't go without." I have to think that maybe in the midst of all the comforts and conveniences, we might be losing the development of character, which is more important than the others, by far! Consequently, we are spiritually atrophied and often deformed. There is very little in the way of spiritual exercise, because we don't have to work for anything, we don't have to strive for anything, because God wants us to have it all. Our gospel has turned much of scripture on its head, and instead of us striving to live lives of gratitude to God, we make sure that just about every verse in the Bible is seen to be showing what God is going to do for us.
I remember when I was younger and zealous and idealistic, and all that kind of exciting stuff, one of my favourite scriptures was David's declaration at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite: "I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing" (2 Samuel 24:24). There was an element of cost in our discipleship. If it didn't cost, what was it worth? We almost wanted it to cost, because we had grasped the principle that sacrifice brings blessing. I had to admit that this verse had not crossed my mind for way too long. Nowadays a lot of churches do everything in their power to make the message of the gospel cost as little as possible. "We'll make this as easy as we can. Just let us know if we offend you in any way, and we'll change things for you."
I don't want to turn this into a monstrous rambling on, but I have been stirred to consider how I am living my life for my God, my family, other believers, and the world around me. Am I living a life that willingly embraces sacrifice? Am I sacrificing myself in ways that are going to bring the blessing of God in the eternal, unseen realm--where it really matters? Sacrifice has kind of become a dirty and forgotten word in our affluent, over-indulgent society. I realise that sacrifice just for the sake of sacrifice is of no value to anybody, least of all to me, but when there is a situation that means I can pursue my own wants or put others before myself, what is usually my first instinctive action? I'm going to make an effort to get the word "sacrifice" back into my regular vocabulary, and into my daily life, with God's help.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Jesus, the washer of feet
Last week in the days before Easter Sunday our church had a series of half-hour meditations every evening of the week. It was a good time of spiritual preparation for the all-important events of Easter weekend. On the first night, we took a look at the time in the upper room when Jesus was with his disciples and when he washed his disciples' feet. This is a story I have heard, read, and recounted more times than I could count. Yet one or two points that my good friend, Ian Mathews, made really struck me.
The first point Ian made is that "Jesus knew". He knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father (John 13:1). He knew that Judas Iscariot had already been prompted to betray him (13:2). And he knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God (13:3). Jesus knew his position, his power, and that this was his moment of destiny. So what does he do in the light of that knowledge? In one sense, he could have done whatever he wanted--the end was near, he knew he was about to return to glory, he knew how the whole thing was going to play out. What speeches should he give? What rousing encouragement to the men sitting in the room, afraid and uncertain? There are no rousing speeches, no displays of glory; he washes his disciples' feet.
For some reason when I heard this it astounded me. We are so quick to focus on many aspects and actions of Jesus' life and ministry. We want to emulate him and laud him for diffent parts of his work and character. These days we tend to focus on the victorious and prominent aspects: Jesus CEO, King of kings, Conquering Lord, Risen Saviour, etc. All those things are good and right(okay, I'm not so sure about the CEO thing). But here, at his final meal with his disciples, the men that he was entrusting with his message and the proclamation of the kingdom, he sets them an example by washing their feet.
Then he takes it further: "you also should wash one another's feet." "No servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one that sent him" (13:16). A tall order, and one that we often choose to conveniently set aside.
I have been in some churches where they take this command literally. Some times it is after communion, and the basins of water will be brought out, and members of the church will wash each others' feet. There is something humbling about this, and it does bring a sense of close fellowship, but I have to confess that sometimes I think that would be the easy option.
I believe that if we are to follow Jesus' example of washing feet, it means looking out for others' needs before our own, just as a servant in a household would do. It means not always obsessing over whether or not we're getting our fair due, the recognition we deserve, our appropriate piece of the pie, whatever the pie may be. It means throwing off the mindset of this world that bombards us with the fact that we are indeed the centre of the universe and that our personal happiness and contentment should be at the top of everybody's agenda. It means being willing to sacrifice our own wants, desires, and plans for others.
There are so many pictures and images of Jesus in the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament. It's impossible to keep them all always before us. For awhile I think I want to dwell on him as the washer of feet. And by his grace and with lots and lots of help from him, I want to try to follow that example. "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them" (John 13:17).
The first point Ian made is that "Jesus knew". He knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father (John 13:1). He knew that Judas Iscariot had already been prompted to betray him (13:2). And he knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God (13:3). Jesus knew his position, his power, and that this was his moment of destiny. So what does he do in the light of that knowledge? In one sense, he could have done whatever he wanted--the end was near, he knew he was about to return to glory, he knew how the whole thing was going to play out. What speeches should he give? What rousing encouragement to the men sitting in the room, afraid and uncertain? There are no rousing speeches, no displays of glory; he washes his disciples' feet.
For some reason when I heard this it astounded me. We are so quick to focus on many aspects and actions of Jesus' life and ministry. We want to emulate him and laud him for diffent parts of his work and character. These days we tend to focus on the victorious and prominent aspects: Jesus CEO, King of kings, Conquering Lord, Risen Saviour, etc. All those things are good and right(okay, I'm not so sure about the CEO thing). But here, at his final meal with his disciples, the men that he was entrusting with his message and the proclamation of the kingdom, he sets them an example by washing their feet.
Then he takes it further: "you also should wash one another's feet." "No servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one that sent him" (13:16). A tall order, and one that we often choose to conveniently set aside.
I have been in some churches where they take this command literally. Some times it is after communion, and the basins of water will be brought out, and members of the church will wash each others' feet. There is something humbling about this, and it does bring a sense of close fellowship, but I have to confess that sometimes I think that would be the easy option.
I believe that if we are to follow Jesus' example of washing feet, it means looking out for others' needs before our own, just as a servant in a household would do. It means not always obsessing over whether or not we're getting our fair due, the recognition we deserve, our appropriate piece of the pie, whatever the pie may be. It means throwing off the mindset of this world that bombards us with the fact that we are indeed the centre of the universe and that our personal happiness and contentment should be at the top of everybody's agenda. It means being willing to sacrifice our own wants, desires, and plans for others.
There are so many pictures and images of Jesus in the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament. It's impossible to keep them all always before us. For awhile I think I want to dwell on him as the washer of feet. And by his grace and with lots and lots of help from him, I want to try to follow that example. "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them" (John 13:17).
Friday, April 14, 2006
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!
On the Crucifixion:
"You lived on earth, King of Heaven, to lead me to heaven--I who had been cast out of paradise.
You were born in the flesh of the Virgin to give me birth in the spirit.
You suffered insults to silence the mouths of my enemies who denounced me.
You abased yourself, you who are higher than all honours, in order to honour me, the dishonoured.
You wept to wipe the tears from my eyes.
You sighed, grieved, sorrowed to save me from sighing, grieving, suffering pain through eternity, to give me eternal joy and gladness.
You were sold and betrayed that I might be freed, I who was enslaved.
You were bound that my bonds might be broken.
You were submitted to an unjust trial--you who are Judge of all the earth--that I might be freed from eternal judgment.
You were made naked in order to clothe me in the robes of salvation, in the garments of gladness.
You were crowned with thorns, that I might receive the crown of life.
You were called the king in mockery--you, the King of all!--to open the kingdom of heaven for me.
Your head was lashed with a reed that my name should be written in the book of life.
You suffered outside the city gates in order to lead me, one who had been cast out of paradise, into the eternal Jerusalem.
You were put among evil men--you who are the only just one--that I, the unjust, might be justified.
You were cursed, the One Blessed, that I, the accursed, should be blessed.
You shed your blood that my sins might be cleansed away.
You were given vinegar to drink that I might eat and drink at the feast in your kingdom.
You died, you who are the life of all--in order to revive me, the dead.
You were laid in the tomb that I might rise from the tomb.
You were brought to life again that I might believe in my resurrection."
--St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
I always find it amazing that throughout the New Testament, when the word "crucified" or "slain" is used of Jesus Christ, it almost always in the present perfect tense in the Greek. In other words, "the Lamb who was slain" (Revelation 5:12) is a perpetual descriptive characteristic of the Son of God. Paul could say to the Galatians that "Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified" [present perfect] (3:1). It wasn't just a one-time thing; it is who He is for all of eternity!
When John is taken up to heaven while being shown the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the first representation of Christ that he sees is "a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain [present perfect--indicating a continuous state], standing in the centre of the throne" (5:6). And the praise that is being offered up by the heavenly beings is not because "You have taken dominion over the earth" or "You have judged all the wicked" or even "You have risen and ascended." No, the heavenly accolades centre on one all-important aspect of Christ's work: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation" (Revelation 5:9).
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and power!"
"You lived on earth, King of Heaven, to lead me to heaven--I who had been cast out of paradise.
You were born in the flesh of the Virgin to give me birth in the spirit.
You suffered insults to silence the mouths of my enemies who denounced me.
You abased yourself, you who are higher than all honours, in order to honour me, the dishonoured.
You wept to wipe the tears from my eyes.
You sighed, grieved, sorrowed to save me from sighing, grieving, suffering pain through eternity, to give me eternal joy and gladness.
You were sold and betrayed that I might be freed, I who was enslaved.
You were bound that my bonds might be broken.
You were submitted to an unjust trial--you who are Judge of all the earth--that I might be freed from eternal judgment.
You were made naked in order to clothe me in the robes of salvation, in the garments of gladness.
You were crowned with thorns, that I might receive the crown of life.
You were called the king in mockery--you, the King of all!--to open the kingdom of heaven for me.
Your head was lashed with a reed that my name should be written in the book of life.
You suffered outside the city gates in order to lead me, one who had been cast out of paradise, into the eternal Jerusalem.
You were put among evil men--you who are the only just one--that I, the unjust, might be justified.
You were cursed, the One Blessed, that I, the accursed, should be blessed.
You shed your blood that my sins might be cleansed away.
You were given vinegar to drink that I might eat and drink at the feast in your kingdom.
You died, you who are the life of all--in order to revive me, the dead.
You were laid in the tomb that I might rise from the tomb.
You were brought to life again that I might believe in my resurrection."
--St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
I always find it amazing that throughout the New Testament, when the word "crucified" or "slain" is used of Jesus Christ, it almost always in the present perfect tense in the Greek. In other words, "the Lamb who was slain" (Revelation 5:12) is a perpetual descriptive characteristic of the Son of God. Paul could say to the Galatians that "Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified" [present perfect] (3:1). It wasn't just a one-time thing; it is who He is for all of eternity!
When John is taken up to heaven while being shown the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the first representation of Christ that he sees is "a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain [present perfect--indicating a continuous state], standing in the centre of the throne" (5:6). And the praise that is being offered up by the heavenly beings is not because "You have taken dominion over the earth" or "You have judged all the wicked" or even "You have risen and ascended." No, the heavenly accolades centre on one all-important aspect of Christ's work: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation" (Revelation 5:9).
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and power!"
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Selective love
It seems that every day brings me way too many opportunities to face the fact that I am a selfish person. You would think that after nearly 44 years of living with me, I would not be surprised at myself any more, but I still am. Too often I am nothing but a self-centred pain. I guess this is more evident in the area of "loving others" than in any other area of my life.
I know I'm supposed to love people. That's Christian, right? That's what we're supposed to do. But if I'm honest, I think I love people that it is comfortable for me to love. I love my family. I love people that it's easy to get along with, who have the same interests as me. I love some of my college friends like they were family. But there are a lot of people that I don't really love, not really.
Those words of Jesus, "If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:46-48), ring in my ears over and over again. I have to ask myself: What am I doing to live the "extraordinary" life that Christ calls me to?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer describes this life as the perisson, the "extraordinary". He says, "It is 'the more', the 'beyond-all-that'. The natural life is one and the same for heathen and Christian, the distinctive quality of the Christian life begins with the perisson. ... It is the life described in the beatitudes, the life of the followers of Jesus, the light which lights the world, the city set on a hill, the way of self-renunciation, of utter love, of absolute purity, truthfulness, and meekness. It is unreserved love for our enemies, for the unloving and the unloved, love for our religious, political, and personal adversaries. In every case it is the love which was fulfilled in the cross of Christ" (The Cost of Discipleship).
Loving people really is of paramount importance. In his provocative book, Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller has this to say: "If a person thinks that you do not like them, that you do not approve of their existence, then your religion and your politics will all seem wrong to them. If they sense that you like them, then they are open to what you have to say. ... When I am talking to somebody there are always two conversations going on. The first is on the surface; it is about politics or music or whatever it is our mouths are saying. The other is beneath the surface, on the level of the heart, and my heart is either communicating that I like the person I am talking to or I don't. God wants both conversations to be true. That is, we are supposed to speak truth in love. If both conversations are not true, God is not involved in the exchange, we are on our own, and on our own, we will lead people astray. The Bible says that if you talk to somebody with your mouth, and your heart does not love them, that you are like a person standing there smashing two cymbals together. You are only annoying everybody around you. I think that is very beautiful and true."
We read this kind of teaching, and we think to ourselves, "Lord increase our faith." I don't see how I can do it! I think it was Oswald Chambers who said that the Sermon on the Mount is not a blueprint for Christian living, rather it is a description of the supernatural life that is utterly impossible without the life of Christ abiding within us. We know that it is the love of God that will touch the heart of man, but when we go to "reflect that love", sometimes it seems to go all wrong. Or many times it just doesn't go at all; we often don't seem to be in a very "reflective" mood.
It comes back to living the "extraordinary". How can I do it? Paul says that "God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us" (Romans 5:5). The Holy Spirit of God comes into our lives, and we are enabled to live a life filled with the supernatural love of God. It sounds easy, and quite simple, but it is a life-long pursuit of abiding and learning to trust in the Holy Spirit and his work in us.
I've been reading the biography of Samuel Logan Brengle, the great Salvation Army author, and here is the description of the day when he felt that he had truly experienced the Spirit of God: "I awoke that morning hungering and thirsting just to live this life of fellowship with God. Getting out of bed about six o'clock with that desire, I opened my Bible and while reading some of the words of Jesus, he gave me such a blessing as I never had dreamed a man could have this side of heaven. It was an unutterable revelation. It was a heaven of love that came into my heart. My soul melted like wax before the fire. I sobbed. I walked out over Boston Commons before breakfast, weeping for joy and praising God. Oh, how I loved. In that hour I knew Jesus, and I love him till it seemed my heart would break. I was filled with love for all his creatures. I heard the little sparrows chattering. I loved them. I saw a little worm wriggling across my path; I stepped over it; I didn't want to hurt any living thing. I loved the dogs. I loved the horses. I loved the little urchins on the street. I loved the strangers who hurried past me. I loved the heathen. I loved the whole world!"
The early church fathers used to echo Brengle's words. They said that the presence of the Holy Spirit would bring a baptism of love that would be beyond anything we could naturally create or understand. It is that love which will change the hearts of men and women.
We are called to love. Not just the people that we like or think are worthy of our love, but all people--good or bad, pretty or ugly, nice or nasty. We are to love. It comes only by the Holy Spirit of God. As we seek him, he will enable us to do that which we could never do ourselves. Lord teach me to love.
I know I'm supposed to love people. That's Christian, right? That's what we're supposed to do. But if I'm honest, I think I love people that it is comfortable for me to love. I love my family. I love people that it's easy to get along with, who have the same interests as me. I love some of my college friends like they were family. But there are a lot of people that I don't really love, not really.
Those words of Jesus, "If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:46-48), ring in my ears over and over again. I have to ask myself: What am I doing to live the "extraordinary" life that Christ calls me to?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer describes this life as the perisson, the "extraordinary". He says, "It is 'the more', the 'beyond-all-that'. The natural life is one and the same for heathen and Christian, the distinctive quality of the Christian life begins with the perisson. ... It is the life described in the beatitudes, the life of the followers of Jesus, the light which lights the world, the city set on a hill, the way of self-renunciation, of utter love, of absolute purity, truthfulness, and meekness. It is unreserved love for our enemies, for the unloving and the unloved, love for our religious, political, and personal adversaries. In every case it is the love which was fulfilled in the cross of Christ" (The Cost of Discipleship).
Loving people really is of paramount importance. In his provocative book, Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller has this to say: "If a person thinks that you do not like them, that you do not approve of their existence, then your religion and your politics will all seem wrong to them. If they sense that you like them, then they are open to what you have to say. ... When I am talking to somebody there are always two conversations going on. The first is on the surface; it is about politics or music or whatever it is our mouths are saying. The other is beneath the surface, on the level of the heart, and my heart is either communicating that I like the person I am talking to or I don't. God wants both conversations to be true. That is, we are supposed to speak truth in love. If both conversations are not true, God is not involved in the exchange, we are on our own, and on our own, we will lead people astray. The Bible says that if you talk to somebody with your mouth, and your heart does not love them, that you are like a person standing there smashing two cymbals together. You are only annoying everybody around you. I think that is very beautiful and true."
We read this kind of teaching, and we think to ourselves, "Lord increase our faith." I don't see how I can do it! I think it was Oswald Chambers who said that the Sermon on the Mount is not a blueprint for Christian living, rather it is a description of the supernatural life that is utterly impossible without the life of Christ abiding within us. We know that it is the love of God that will touch the heart of man, but when we go to "reflect that love", sometimes it seems to go all wrong. Or many times it just doesn't go at all; we often don't seem to be in a very "reflective" mood.
It comes back to living the "extraordinary". How can I do it? Paul says that "God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us" (Romans 5:5). The Holy Spirit of God comes into our lives, and we are enabled to live a life filled with the supernatural love of God. It sounds easy, and quite simple, but it is a life-long pursuit of abiding and learning to trust in the Holy Spirit and his work in us.
I've been reading the biography of Samuel Logan Brengle, the great Salvation Army author, and here is the description of the day when he felt that he had truly experienced the Spirit of God: "I awoke that morning hungering and thirsting just to live this life of fellowship with God. Getting out of bed about six o'clock with that desire, I opened my Bible and while reading some of the words of Jesus, he gave me such a blessing as I never had dreamed a man could have this side of heaven. It was an unutterable revelation. It was a heaven of love that came into my heart. My soul melted like wax before the fire. I sobbed. I walked out over Boston Commons before breakfast, weeping for joy and praising God. Oh, how I loved. In that hour I knew Jesus, and I love him till it seemed my heart would break. I was filled with love for all his creatures. I heard the little sparrows chattering. I loved them. I saw a little worm wriggling across my path; I stepped over it; I didn't want to hurt any living thing. I loved the dogs. I loved the horses. I loved the little urchins on the street. I loved the strangers who hurried past me. I loved the heathen. I loved the whole world!"
The early church fathers used to echo Brengle's words. They said that the presence of the Holy Spirit would bring a baptism of love that would be beyond anything we could naturally create or understand. It is that love which will change the hearts of men and women.
We are called to love. Not just the people that we like or think are worthy of our love, but all people--good or bad, pretty or ugly, nice or nasty. We are to love. It comes only by the Holy Spirit of God. As we seek him, he will enable us to do that which we could never do ourselves. Lord teach me to love.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Our horrible hungry heron
Living near the river, as we do, we almost daily see all kinds of wild waterfowl. Geese, swans, ducks, terns, black cormorants can be seen overhead on a regular basis. Each one of them is amazing to watch. I still stop in my tracks when I see a flock of geese passing by. But there is nothing quite like watching a heron in full flight. With its massive wingspan and its graceful flight, it is truly a beauty of creation. However... herons have a down side.
We have a small pond in our back garden, and when we moved into our house a few years ago we were delighted to see that the pond had a nice stock of gold fish, white gold fish, black pond fish, and other lovely species. But two years ago, we experienced the first of our visits by a heron. (Why they can't be satisfied with the fish in the river is beyond me.) One morning I looked out and this creature that is so beautiful when in flight, was looking pretty ugly to me as it was gulping down as many of our pond fish as it could get down its long, slim throat. The pond wasn't emptied of fish, but we suffered some pretty heavy losses.
I went out and bought a few tiny fish and began the process of restocking the pond. Last spring, which seems to be when the heron comes around, we were ready for it. We had the pond covered with wire strands to deter it from landing in our pond, and we tried to keep a vigilant watch for its invasive maneuvers. We made it through the year with no problems.
Then this past Monday morning at 7.20, I got a phone call from a neighbour boy. He said, "Bruce, you've got a heron on your roof. You better watch your fish." I went tearing out of the house and scared the big bird off, but within the hour it was back. Standing nearly 3 feet tall, it is a formidable and beautiful sight. But it was a sight I didn't want in my back garden. We put one of our dogs near the pond, and we tried to keep an eye out for the bird, but we weren't really watching like we should. Also, the wire netting over the pond wasn't in the best shape, because we're in the process of selling our house, so we haven't really been diligent in keeping up with the maintenance of things that we'll soon be taking down anyway.
Tuesday we had to go out for the day, and when we got back three bricks had been knocked from the edge of the pond into the water. But the fish were still there. I didn't really do anything further to deter the ravenous creature, and Wednesday morning I had to chase it away yet again. When I went to have a look at the pond, to my dismay I saw that virtually every fish was no longer with us. The heron had won the day.
This started me thinking about the way we guard the things in our life that really matter. (I have to be honest and admit that while I enjoyed the fish in the pond, I didn't spend most of Wednesday night weeping for their loss. They didn't remember me from one day to the next anyway.) Just like the heron, there are things that are out there always ready to cause us problems and bring loss to our lives. It may have been one or two years since we last encountered them, but they are still always around.
Some of these things are out in the world--sin, lusts, temptations, or as Peter says, the devil acting as a roaring lion looking for somebody to devour. We are to be on our guard, always aware that there is a battle going on, a battle with serious consequences. But other things are in our own hearts. Jesus said the problem with humans is not on the outside, but on the inside. It's the heart that drives these things and creates the problems. I guess that's why Proverbs admonishes us: "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (4:23).
I recognise that too often I get comfortable, and I forget that I am to be in a constant state of vigilant watching. It's easy to think that we've defeated a particular weakness in our lives, but the human heart is deceitful, and just when we think we've got the "all clear", look out! Here comes that same dastardly habit or bitterness or weakness again. We've got to be watchful of all things.
I guess it all starts with recognising the condition of our own heart. I remember the story of G.K. Chesterton, the great British writer. One of the London newspapers asked people to write in and say what they thought was wrong with the world at that time. Chesterton wrote to the editor and said, "Dear Sir, what is wrong with the world? I am. Yours sincerely, G.K. Chesterton." Recognising our own heart condition will mean that we also recognise the need for vigilance concerning ourselves. It will also mean that we have a lot less time for criticising and correcting everybody else around us.
We live in a world that is fallen. This isn't our final destination, but for now we live here. It pays to be diligent in keeping up a guard against Satan, the world, and our own heart. For the sake of my God, his church, and my family, I need to keep a watchful eye and an alert spirit, because I don't want those spiritual herons swooping in and robbing us of something that is precious and of eternal value while I'm having a lazy day, or in some cases, a lazy year.
"Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil,
to take part in wicked deeds
with men who are evildoers;
let me not eat of their delicacies" (Psalm 141:3-4).
We have a small pond in our back garden, and when we moved into our house a few years ago we were delighted to see that the pond had a nice stock of gold fish, white gold fish, black pond fish, and other lovely species. But two years ago, we experienced the first of our visits by a heron. (Why they can't be satisfied with the fish in the river is beyond me.) One morning I looked out and this creature that is so beautiful when in flight, was looking pretty ugly to me as it was gulping down as many of our pond fish as it could get down its long, slim throat. The pond wasn't emptied of fish, but we suffered some pretty heavy losses.
I went out and bought a few tiny fish and began the process of restocking the pond. Last spring, which seems to be when the heron comes around, we were ready for it. We had the pond covered with wire strands to deter it from landing in our pond, and we tried to keep a vigilant watch for its invasive maneuvers. We made it through the year with no problems.
Then this past Monday morning at 7.20, I got a phone call from a neighbour boy. He said, "Bruce, you've got a heron on your roof. You better watch your fish." I went tearing out of the house and scared the big bird off, but within the hour it was back. Standing nearly 3 feet tall, it is a formidable and beautiful sight. But it was a sight I didn't want in my back garden. We put one of our dogs near the pond, and we tried to keep an eye out for the bird, but we weren't really watching like we should. Also, the wire netting over the pond wasn't in the best shape, because we're in the process of selling our house, so we haven't really been diligent in keeping up with the maintenance of things that we'll soon be taking down anyway.
Tuesday we had to go out for the day, and when we got back three bricks had been knocked from the edge of the pond into the water. But the fish were still there. I didn't really do anything further to deter the ravenous creature, and Wednesday morning I had to chase it away yet again. When I went to have a look at the pond, to my dismay I saw that virtually every fish was no longer with us. The heron had won the day.
This started me thinking about the way we guard the things in our life that really matter. (I have to be honest and admit that while I enjoyed the fish in the pond, I didn't spend most of Wednesday night weeping for their loss. They didn't remember me from one day to the next anyway.) Just like the heron, there are things that are out there always ready to cause us problems and bring loss to our lives. It may have been one or two years since we last encountered them, but they are still always around.
Some of these things are out in the world--sin, lusts, temptations, or as Peter says, the devil acting as a roaring lion looking for somebody to devour. We are to be on our guard, always aware that there is a battle going on, a battle with serious consequences. But other things are in our own hearts. Jesus said the problem with humans is not on the outside, but on the inside. It's the heart that drives these things and creates the problems. I guess that's why Proverbs admonishes us: "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (4:23).
I recognise that too often I get comfortable, and I forget that I am to be in a constant state of vigilant watching. It's easy to think that we've defeated a particular weakness in our lives, but the human heart is deceitful, and just when we think we've got the "all clear", look out! Here comes that same dastardly habit or bitterness or weakness again. We've got to be watchful of all things.
I guess it all starts with recognising the condition of our own heart. I remember the story of G.K. Chesterton, the great British writer. One of the London newspapers asked people to write in and say what they thought was wrong with the world at that time. Chesterton wrote to the editor and said, "Dear Sir, what is wrong with the world? I am. Yours sincerely, G.K. Chesterton." Recognising our own heart condition will mean that we also recognise the need for vigilance concerning ourselves. It will also mean that we have a lot less time for criticising and correcting everybody else around us.
We live in a world that is fallen. This isn't our final destination, but for now we live here. It pays to be diligent in keeping up a guard against Satan, the world, and our own heart. For the sake of my God, his church, and my family, I need to keep a watchful eye and an alert spirit, because I don't want those spiritual herons swooping in and robbing us of something that is precious and of eternal value while I'm having a lazy day, or in some cases, a lazy year.
"Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil,
to take part in wicked deeds
with men who are evildoers;
let me not eat of their delicacies" (Psalm 141:3-4).
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
And dad's doing backflips!!
Once a quarter, our son, Josiah, goes on a two day soccer course. The local boys have two four-hour sessions of working on skills, plus they play several games in various teams. Josiah has been going for the past few years, and he always enjoys it. There is one thing, however, that has been ever elusive. That is the coveted "Goal of the Week." When Josiah was younger, he talked about it, but never expected to win it. More recently he has been getting close--honourable mention a couple of times, once he and one other boy were the best two goals, but the other boy got the trophy. Josiah never said much about it, but I knew he would be pretty pleased to finally win that one.
Well... yesterday it finally happened! My wife Pippa, our daughter Bethany, and I were there for the little awards ceremony that they always do at the end of the two days. And when it came time to announce the winner of "Goal of the Week", the coach said, "It was close again this time, but after some very good goals, the goal of the week goes to Josiah."
Josiah is a pretty low key guy. He just looked down at the ground and smiled. But that smile was speaking volumes to me. And what about me? I wanted to do backflips! I wanted to hug the coach (wholly inappropriate in most reserved British circles)! I wanted to duet with Louis Armstrong in a rousing chorus of "What a Wonderful World"!
I was probably more pleased about the event than Josiah was. I know how often he had gotten close but had not quite won the prize. And I knew that he didn't make a big fuss or complain about not winning, even when it was between him and one other boy. And I knew that this was a pretty special thing for him. Oh yeah, I was very pleased!!
This morning, while out on my morning dog walk, I was reflecting on this whole event and began to think of how often we forget that God is a loving Father who delights in us, and thoroughly enjoys our victories and achievements--those times when we overcome that major temptation, when we hold our tongue and don't give in to some serious anger, when we show kindness to that person that seems to be ignored most of the time like old wallpaper.
The words that were ringing in my ears were: "If you then, though you are evil... how much more will your Father in heaven?" (Luke 11:13). Does God do backflips over us? I wouldn't like to make a categorical statement on that one. Does he delight in us, his children? Absolutely! I think sometimes we get so caught up with "trying to get it right" that we forget that he is our "Abba, Father" and he loves to see us make good. I found that to be a pretty amazing thought!
Friday, February 17, 2006
The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible
Anybody who has ever heard me speak about the imbalance of Christian literature in the English speaking world as opposed to the rest of the world will know that I am about the last person who would recommend that Christians in the western world buy yet another Bible. However, this is one that I have to mention.
The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible was recently produced by Richard Foster's ministry, Renovare. The editors include Foster, Thomas C. Oden, Gayle Beebe, Lynda L. Graybeal, Dallas Willard, Walter Brueggemann, and Eugene H. Peterson. Each book of the Bible also has a commentary by an eminent scholar on that book.
But the great thing about the Spiritual Formation Bible is its theme of "The With-God Life". Everything about this Bible is designed to lead the reader into a life of continual union with God, learning to practice the presence of God. It offers numerous helps as to how that can be accomplished, and often breaks into the text of Scripture to challenge the reader to reflect on a particular point and how it relates to "my life". There are a number of essays that show how the Scripture develops this theme of "The With-God Life" from Genesis to Revelation.
The commentaries are not academic babble that will lose the average reader. Instead they are notes that point the reader to recognising the way that each particular text relates to their present situation. The comments are wide-ranging. I've seen quotes from Simon and Garfunkel songs, and I've seen recommendations to buy the book In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers by John Chryssavgis, as a starting point for understanding the spiritual discipline of Solitude. There are also excerpts from spiritual classics by writers such as Thomas a Kempis and Julian of Norwich.
One thing that may surprise readers is that the Inter-testamental books, or Apocrypha, is included. If you, like me, grew up in a conservative protestant home, you may think that the Apocrypha is not to be looked at, much less read. However, there is a great deal of valuable writing from that time, and the Renovare Bible, while not counting them as equal to the Scripture, certainly considers the apocryphal books as worthy of at least one reading. For example, I personally found the Greek rendering of the Book of Esther a great help as an additional text to the book by the same name found in the Old Testament.
All in all, this is a Bible I would highly recommend for any Christian who is serious about being transformed into the likeness of Christ. I think it is one of the greatest tools to be provided in a number of years.
The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible was recently produced by Richard Foster's ministry, Renovare. The editors include Foster, Thomas C. Oden, Gayle Beebe, Lynda L. Graybeal, Dallas Willard, Walter Brueggemann, and Eugene H. Peterson. Each book of the Bible also has a commentary by an eminent scholar on that book.
But the great thing about the Spiritual Formation Bible is its theme of "The With-God Life". Everything about this Bible is designed to lead the reader into a life of continual union with God, learning to practice the presence of God. It offers numerous helps as to how that can be accomplished, and often breaks into the text of Scripture to challenge the reader to reflect on a particular point and how it relates to "my life". There are a number of essays that show how the Scripture develops this theme of "The With-God Life" from Genesis to Revelation.
The commentaries are not academic babble that will lose the average reader. Instead they are notes that point the reader to recognising the way that each particular text relates to their present situation. The comments are wide-ranging. I've seen quotes from Simon and Garfunkel songs, and I've seen recommendations to buy the book In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers by John Chryssavgis, as a starting point for understanding the spiritual discipline of Solitude. There are also excerpts from spiritual classics by writers such as Thomas a Kempis and Julian of Norwich.
One thing that may surprise readers is that the Inter-testamental books, or Apocrypha, is included. If you, like me, grew up in a conservative protestant home, you may think that the Apocrypha is not to be looked at, much less read. However, there is a great deal of valuable writing from that time, and the Renovare Bible, while not counting them as equal to the Scripture, certainly considers the apocryphal books as worthy of at least one reading. For example, I personally found the Greek rendering of the Book of Esther a great help as an additional text to the book by the same name found in the Old Testament.
All in all, this is a Bible I would highly recommend for any Christian who is serious about being transformed into the likeness of Christ. I think it is one of the greatest tools to be provided in a number of years.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
When it all goes wrong
A couple of Saturdays ago, I was getting ready to sit down for the afternoon. I had just been to my son Josiah's football (soccer) match, and I was now settling down to prepare myself for the next Sunday morning when I was scheduled to speak at the church that we attend. I was just coming into the house from my office, which is across the back garden, when I noticed what looked like the remains of Josiah's bath water sitting all over the pathway around the down pipe from the upstairs bathroom. Well... we had been experiencing mysterious leaks in various pipes during the past few days, so this confirmed that something was very wrong. I had to acknowledge that we had drain problems. After my father-in-law and I made a couple of futile attempts to clear it, I called a real drain company to come in and fix the problem. The man arrived a couple hours later and quickly set to work on clearing my drains. He began using a very, very long plunging device with great gusto. I could hear all kinds of noise under the ground, and he assured me this was the pipe beginning to clear itself. It looked like he had the problem in hand, so I went inside to fix him a coffee while he was working. To my intense horror, as I walked into the kitchen, I saw that raw sewage was all over the sink area. I opened cupboards and found that the pressure of his plunging had forced this same sewage through every seam in the pipes, and we had the same unpleasant material all over the cupboards under the sink and everywhere in the cupboard where the washing machine sits. I went running out and asked the man if this should be happening. His reply was something along the lines of: "Definitely not. That is 100% wrong. It shouldn't be happening." I was relieved to hear that.
After a quick look over the situation, his conclusion was that something was badly wrong with the way our pipes worked. (I had come to that same conclusion myself.) We began the work of cleaning up the grand mess. He didn't stay as long as I would have liked, and I was left to the task of removing all the sewage from every possible nook and cranny. You see, we are in the process of selling our house, and the idea of people coming to view our house while it smelled like a decaying herd of buffalo didn't seem like a great idea.
The next 48 hours were hugely unpleasant ones for me and my wife, Pippa. We used bleach, pine-scent cleaner, more bleach, dog smell remover, more bleach. You get the idea. Slowly but surely things began to return to normal--apart from the fact that some frying pans were thrown away, since Pippa categorically refused to ever use them again for food that we would consume.
Three days later, the drain company came back and fixed the problem with our kitchen pipes. It needed to be done. We had not been aware of the cause of some minor problems we have had for some time in the kitchen, but when the BIG problem came, it allowed us to find the real problem and FIX it. Now, a couple of weeks later, the smell in the kitchen is pleasant and resembles food cooking rather than animals hibernating. And all the drains in the house, not just the kitchen, are working much better than they were before the catastrophe.
I realise that a few blocked drains is a minor problem in light of world peace or pandemic bird flu. But I can assure that for those 48 hours, we thought it was a pretty big problem. All of us have situations in our lives that sometimes go disastrously wrong--it may be a relationship, our health, a work situation, or any one of a hundred other things. The point is we live in a fallen world, and things often don't work out quite like we plan or hope.
What do we do when it all goes wrong? Sometimes, like in our situation, the big problem is an indication that something needs to be fixed. The little problems were there, but they were small enough that we were able to overlook or ignore them. Many times, maybe most of the time, this is true of the things in our lives. God often allows situations to get to the point where we can't ignore them any longer. Maybe we need to humble ourselves in a way that we haven't before, maybe we need to reconsider our priorities in life, or maybe we need to sit still and listen to God in case he has something that he has been trying to say for some time.
The other side of it is that sometimes there isn't always an easy answer like the "drain man" so quickly gave us. Sometimes we have to say, "I'm not sure, but God is still God." There may not always be a quick and simple answer, but even if mountains are giving way and the earth is shaking, God is still God (Psalm 46). He is faithful all the time.
As our world becomes increasingly unstable, and uncertainty causes a lot of people to live stress-filled lives, it is vital that we keep our minds set on the eternal nature of God and realise that he is indeed working all things to the good. It is entirely possible that things are going to get even more shaky. Those are the times when God is our shelter and rock of safety. He is in the process of conforming us to the likeness of his Son, and whether in good times or bad, his eternal purposes are certain to be fulfilled. That's a comforting thought.
After a quick look over the situation, his conclusion was that something was badly wrong with the way our pipes worked. (I had come to that same conclusion myself.) We began the work of cleaning up the grand mess. He didn't stay as long as I would have liked, and I was left to the task of removing all the sewage from every possible nook and cranny. You see, we are in the process of selling our house, and the idea of people coming to view our house while it smelled like a decaying herd of buffalo didn't seem like a great idea.
The next 48 hours were hugely unpleasant ones for me and my wife, Pippa. We used bleach, pine-scent cleaner, more bleach, dog smell remover, more bleach. You get the idea. Slowly but surely things began to return to normal--apart from the fact that some frying pans were thrown away, since Pippa categorically refused to ever use them again for food that we would consume.
Three days later, the drain company came back and fixed the problem with our kitchen pipes. It needed to be done. We had not been aware of the cause of some minor problems we have had for some time in the kitchen, but when the BIG problem came, it allowed us to find the real problem and FIX it. Now, a couple of weeks later, the smell in the kitchen is pleasant and resembles food cooking rather than animals hibernating. And all the drains in the house, not just the kitchen, are working much better than they were before the catastrophe.
I realise that a few blocked drains is a minor problem in light of world peace or pandemic bird flu. But I can assure that for those 48 hours, we thought it was a pretty big problem. All of us have situations in our lives that sometimes go disastrously wrong--it may be a relationship, our health, a work situation, or any one of a hundred other things. The point is we live in a fallen world, and things often don't work out quite like we plan or hope.
What do we do when it all goes wrong? Sometimes, like in our situation, the big problem is an indication that something needs to be fixed. The little problems were there, but they were small enough that we were able to overlook or ignore them. Many times, maybe most of the time, this is true of the things in our lives. God often allows situations to get to the point where we can't ignore them any longer. Maybe we need to humble ourselves in a way that we haven't before, maybe we need to reconsider our priorities in life, or maybe we need to sit still and listen to God in case he has something that he has been trying to say for some time.
The other side of it is that sometimes there isn't always an easy answer like the "drain man" so quickly gave us. Sometimes we have to say, "I'm not sure, but God is still God." There may not always be a quick and simple answer, but even if mountains are giving way and the earth is shaking, God is still God (Psalm 46). He is faithful all the time.
As our world becomes increasingly unstable, and uncertainty causes a lot of people to live stress-filled lives, it is vital that we keep our minds set on the eternal nature of God and realise that he is indeed working all things to the good. It is entirely possible that things are going to get even more shaky. Those are the times when God is our shelter and rock of safety. He is in the process of conforming us to the likeness of his Son, and whether in good times or bad, his eternal purposes are certain to be fulfilled. That's a comforting thought.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Aslan is no tame lion
A few days ago our family went to see "The Chronicles of Narnia" at the cinema. We loved the film, thought the story stayed pretty close to the book, and were amazed by the special effects and cinematography throughout. I must confess I didn't go with overly high expectations regarding how Hollywood would present Aslan, but I was pleasantly surprised as to how they kept all the major items in the story. It was toward the end of the movie that I was caught by something that was said. A couple of days later, I asked my son, Josiah, about it and he immediately took me to page and paragraph in the book. The quote goes something like this:
"One day you'll see him and another you won't. He doesn't like being tied down--and of course he has other countries to attend to. It's quite all right. He'll often drop in. Only you mustn't press him. He's wild, you know. Not like a tame lion."
As I replayed the graphic image of the resurrected Aslan coming up over the mountain peak in the big battle scene, and heard those words--"He's wild, you know"--again in my mind, I wondered if that might be part of the problem with much of Christianity in the western world. We've tried to tame Jesus Christ. Without realising it, we're gradually allowing ourselves to be conformed to the world, and we've lost the "wild" element of life in the Spirit, where "the wind blows wherever it pleases" (John 3:8).
Every government, every societal influence in the western world is trying to create a sterile environment where man is in control of everything and everyone. What we say, what we eat, what we believe is coming under tighter control all the time. This means that we don't care for things that are "not like a tame lion". Unfortunately, many within the Christian world have fallen prey to this antiseptic tendency.
We want people to follow Christ--but only if they feel comfortable with the idea, only if it makes them feel good about themselves, as long as no offence is caused. I can't imagine Jesus today walking into some of the churches and saying, "Take up your cross and follow me ... as long as you're okay with that, or it doesn't cramp your style." The wild Lion who keeps expanding the boundaries and leaping outside of the religious box doesn't fit with our modern world. He doesn't allow us to get comfortable or to establish our own parameters as to how he will work in our lives. No, he doesn't like being tied down.
Many people are leaving traditional Christianity and exploring all kinds of alternative spiritualities and pop religions. I would suggest the biggest reason for this is because we have lost our vision of the "wildness" of Jesus Christ who calls us to new adventures every day. Rather than pursuing an eternal relationship with the living God, we hold on to our human traditions, our religious positions, our flesh-pleasing habits and sins. We give him no opportunity to do his supernatural work of transformation. We end up reducing God to our lowest human common denominator.
If we invite him to take us on his great adventure, we may not be fighting great battle scenes in Narnia every day, but he brings his infinite love, creativity, life, and power into our lives, and transforms us into his image. Give him half a chance, and he will show up when we least expect it, and bring extraordinary things into our ordinary day-to-day lives. If we make a conscious decision to follow the Lion of Judah, and allow him to manifest his "wild" Spirit in our lives, we will find him leading us into an eternity of increasing delight and pleasure in union with our Creator God. This isn't just some Disney fantasy; this is the real thing.
"One day you'll see him and another you won't. He doesn't like being tied down--and of course he has other countries to attend to. It's quite all right. He'll often drop in. Only you mustn't press him. He's wild, you know. Not like a tame lion."
As I replayed the graphic image of the resurrected Aslan coming up over the mountain peak in the big battle scene, and heard those words--"He's wild, you know"--again in my mind, I wondered if that might be part of the problem with much of Christianity in the western world. We've tried to tame Jesus Christ. Without realising it, we're gradually allowing ourselves to be conformed to the world, and we've lost the "wild" element of life in the Spirit, where "the wind blows wherever it pleases" (John 3:8).
Every government, every societal influence in the western world is trying to create a sterile environment where man is in control of everything and everyone. What we say, what we eat, what we believe is coming under tighter control all the time. This means that we don't care for things that are "not like a tame lion". Unfortunately, many within the Christian world have fallen prey to this antiseptic tendency.
We want people to follow Christ--but only if they feel comfortable with the idea, only if it makes them feel good about themselves, as long as no offence is caused. I can't imagine Jesus today walking into some of the churches and saying, "Take up your cross and follow me ... as long as you're okay with that, or it doesn't cramp your style." The wild Lion who keeps expanding the boundaries and leaping outside of the religious box doesn't fit with our modern world. He doesn't allow us to get comfortable or to establish our own parameters as to how he will work in our lives. No, he doesn't like being tied down.
Many people are leaving traditional Christianity and exploring all kinds of alternative spiritualities and pop religions. I would suggest the biggest reason for this is because we have lost our vision of the "wildness" of Jesus Christ who calls us to new adventures every day. Rather than pursuing an eternal relationship with the living God, we hold on to our human traditions, our religious positions, our flesh-pleasing habits and sins. We give him no opportunity to do his supernatural work of transformation. We end up reducing God to our lowest human common denominator.
If we invite him to take us on his great adventure, we may not be fighting great battle scenes in Narnia every day, but he brings his infinite love, creativity, life, and power into our lives, and transforms us into his image. Give him half a chance, and he will show up when we least expect it, and bring extraordinary things into our ordinary day-to-day lives. If we make a conscious decision to follow the Lion of Judah, and allow him to manifest his "wild" Spirit in our lives, we will find him leading us into an eternity of increasing delight and pleasure in union with our Creator God. This isn't just some Disney fantasy; this is the real thing.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Hilary of Poitiers on The Incarnation of Christ
I was prepared to post some thoughts on the new year and what should be our motivation for the days ahead, but yesterday I read these thoughts on the Incarnation by Hilary of Poitiers in his book, On the Trinity. Hilary is another of the early writers who unfortunately are often forgotten these days.
He was born around 300AD and became a bishop in 350. He was embroiled in the Arian controversy, and was exiled from his post because of his orthodox views concerning Jesus Christ. In approximately 360, Hilary wrote his classic work on the Trinity. It is said of Bishop French of Lahore, one of the greatest of modern missionaries, that he always had a copy of On the Trinity in his hands and began a translation into Arabic for the benefit of the Muslims he was ministering to, since it was the best treatment of the Trinity that he had seen.
The following excerpts are regarding the Incarnation and the gratitude we should show to the almighty God who has reached down to man. It is well worth some quiet consideration:
"The Virgin, the birth, the Body, then the Cross, the death, the visit to the lower world: these things are our salvation. For the sake of mankind the Son of God was born of the Virgin and of the Holy Ghost. In this process he ministered to himself; by his own power--the power of God--which overshadowed her, he sowed the beginning of his Body, and entered on the first stage of his life in the flesh. He did it that by his Incarnation he might take to himself from the Virgin the fleshly nature, and that through this commingling there might come into being a hallowed Body of all humanity; that so through that Body which he was pleased to assume all mankind might be hid in him, and he in return, through his unseen existence, be reproduced in all. Thus the invisible Image of God scorned not the shame which marks the beginnings of human life. He passed through every stage: through conception, birth, wailing, cradle, and each successive humiliation.
"What worthy return can we make for so great a condescension? The One only-begotten God, ineffably born of God, entered the Virgin's womb and grew and took the frame of poor humanity. He who upholds the universe, within whom and through whom are all things, was brought forth by common childbirth; he at whose voice archangels and angels tremble, and heaven and earth and all the elements of this world are melted, was heard in childish wailing. The Invisible and Incomprehensible, whom sight and feeling and touch cannot gauge, was wrapped in a cradle. If any man deem all this unworthy of God, the greater must he own his debt for the benefit conferred the less such condescension befits the majesty of God. He by whom man was made had nothing to gain by becoming man; it was our gain that God was incarnate and dwelt among us, making all flesh his home by taking upon him the flesh of One. We were raised because he was lowered; shame to him was glory to us. He, being God, made flesh his residence, and we in return are lifted anew from the flesh to God.
"But lest perchance fastidious minds be exercised by cradle and wailing, birth and conception, we must render to God the glory which each of these contains, that we may approach his self-abasement with souls duly filled with his claim to reign, and not forget his majesty in his condescension. Let us note, therefore, who were attendant on his conception. An angel speaks to Zacharias; fertility is given to the barren; the priest comes forth dumb from the place of incense; John bursts forth into speech while yet confined within his mother's womb; an angel blesses Mary and promises that she, a virgin, shall be the mother of the Son of God. Conscious of her virginity, she is distressed at this hard thing; the angel explains to her the mighty working of God, saying The Holy Ghost shall come from above into you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you (Luke 1:35). The Holy Ghost, descending from above, hallowed the Virgin's womb, and breathing therein (for The Spirit blows where it will--John 3:8), mingled himself with the fleshly nature of man, and annexed by force and might that foreign domain. And, lest through weakness of the human structure failure should ensue, the power of the Most High overshadowed the Virgin, strengthening her feebleness in semblance of a cloud cast round her, that the shadow, which was the might of God, might fortify her bodily frame to receive the procreative power of the Spirit. Such is the glory of the conception.
"And now let us consider the glory which accompanies the birth, the wailing, and the cradle. The angel tells Joseph that the Virgin shall bear a son, and that that son shall be named Emmanuel, that is, God with us. The Spirit foretells it through the prophet, the angel bears witness; he that is born is God with us. The light of a new star shines forth for the Magi; a heavenly sign escorts the Lord of heaven. An angel brings to the shepherds the news that Christ the Lord is born, the Saviour of the world. A multitude of the heavenly host flock together to sing the praise of that childbirth; the rejoicing of the divine company proclaims the fulfilment of the mighty work. Then glory to God in heaven, and peace on earth to men of good will is announced. And now the Magi come and worship him wrapped in swaddling clothes; after a life devoted to mystic rites of vain philosophy they bow the knee before a Babe laid in his cradle. Thus the Magi stoop to reverence the infirmities of Infancy; its cries are saluted by the heavenly joy of angels; the Spirit who inspired the prophet, the heralding angel, the light of the new star, all minister around him. In such wise was it that the Holy Ghost's descent and the overshadowing power of the Most High brought him to his birth. The inward reality is widely different from the outward appearance; the eye sees one thing, the soul another. A virgin bears; her child is of God. An Infant wails; angels are heard in praise. There are coarse swaddling clothes; God is being worshiped. The glory of his majesty is not forfeited when he assumes the lowliness of flesh.
"So was it also during his further life on earth. The whole time which he passed in human form was spent upon the works of God. I have no space for details; it must suffice to say that in all the varied acts of power and healing which he wrought, the fact is conspicuous that he was man by virtue of the flesh he had taken, God by the evidence of the works he did."-- Hilary of Poitiers
Such is the enormous mystery and glory of our Lord's coming to earth. It goes a way beyond "Santa Clause is coming to town." He deserves our deepest gratitude.
He was born around 300AD and became a bishop in 350. He was embroiled in the Arian controversy, and was exiled from his post because of his orthodox views concerning Jesus Christ. In approximately 360, Hilary wrote his classic work on the Trinity. It is said of Bishop French of Lahore, one of the greatest of modern missionaries, that he always had a copy of On the Trinity in his hands and began a translation into Arabic for the benefit of the Muslims he was ministering to, since it was the best treatment of the Trinity that he had seen.
The following excerpts are regarding the Incarnation and the gratitude we should show to the almighty God who has reached down to man. It is well worth some quiet consideration:
"The Virgin, the birth, the Body, then the Cross, the death, the visit to the lower world: these things are our salvation. For the sake of mankind the Son of God was born of the Virgin and of the Holy Ghost. In this process he ministered to himself; by his own power--the power of God--which overshadowed her, he sowed the beginning of his Body, and entered on the first stage of his life in the flesh. He did it that by his Incarnation he might take to himself from the Virgin the fleshly nature, and that through this commingling there might come into being a hallowed Body of all humanity; that so through that Body which he was pleased to assume all mankind might be hid in him, and he in return, through his unseen existence, be reproduced in all. Thus the invisible Image of God scorned not the shame which marks the beginnings of human life. He passed through every stage: through conception, birth, wailing, cradle, and each successive humiliation.
"What worthy return can we make for so great a condescension? The One only-begotten God, ineffably born of God, entered the Virgin's womb and grew and took the frame of poor humanity. He who upholds the universe, within whom and through whom are all things, was brought forth by common childbirth; he at whose voice archangels and angels tremble, and heaven and earth and all the elements of this world are melted, was heard in childish wailing. The Invisible and Incomprehensible, whom sight and feeling and touch cannot gauge, was wrapped in a cradle. If any man deem all this unworthy of God, the greater must he own his debt for the benefit conferred the less such condescension befits the majesty of God. He by whom man was made had nothing to gain by becoming man; it was our gain that God was incarnate and dwelt among us, making all flesh his home by taking upon him the flesh of One. We were raised because he was lowered; shame to him was glory to us. He, being God, made flesh his residence, and we in return are lifted anew from the flesh to God.
"But lest perchance fastidious minds be exercised by cradle and wailing, birth and conception, we must render to God the glory which each of these contains, that we may approach his self-abasement with souls duly filled with his claim to reign, and not forget his majesty in his condescension. Let us note, therefore, who were attendant on his conception. An angel speaks to Zacharias; fertility is given to the barren; the priest comes forth dumb from the place of incense; John bursts forth into speech while yet confined within his mother's womb; an angel blesses Mary and promises that she, a virgin, shall be the mother of the Son of God. Conscious of her virginity, she is distressed at this hard thing; the angel explains to her the mighty working of God, saying The Holy Ghost shall come from above into you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you (Luke 1:35). The Holy Ghost, descending from above, hallowed the Virgin's womb, and breathing therein (for The Spirit blows where it will--John 3:8), mingled himself with the fleshly nature of man, and annexed by force and might that foreign domain. And, lest through weakness of the human structure failure should ensue, the power of the Most High overshadowed the Virgin, strengthening her feebleness in semblance of a cloud cast round her, that the shadow, which was the might of God, might fortify her bodily frame to receive the procreative power of the Spirit. Such is the glory of the conception.
"And now let us consider the glory which accompanies the birth, the wailing, and the cradle. The angel tells Joseph that the Virgin shall bear a son, and that that son shall be named Emmanuel, that is, God with us. The Spirit foretells it through the prophet, the angel bears witness; he that is born is God with us. The light of a new star shines forth for the Magi; a heavenly sign escorts the Lord of heaven. An angel brings to the shepherds the news that Christ the Lord is born, the Saviour of the world. A multitude of the heavenly host flock together to sing the praise of that childbirth; the rejoicing of the divine company proclaims the fulfilment of the mighty work. Then glory to God in heaven, and peace on earth to men of good will is announced. And now the Magi come and worship him wrapped in swaddling clothes; after a life devoted to mystic rites of vain philosophy they bow the knee before a Babe laid in his cradle. Thus the Magi stoop to reverence the infirmities of Infancy; its cries are saluted by the heavenly joy of angels; the Spirit who inspired the prophet, the heralding angel, the light of the new star, all minister around him. In such wise was it that the Holy Ghost's descent and the overshadowing power of the Most High brought him to his birth. The inward reality is widely different from the outward appearance; the eye sees one thing, the soul another. A virgin bears; her child is of God. An Infant wails; angels are heard in praise. There are coarse swaddling clothes; God is being worshiped. The glory of his majesty is not forfeited when he assumes the lowliness of flesh.
"So was it also during his further life on earth. The whole time which he passed in human form was spent upon the works of God. I have no space for details; it must suffice to say that in all the varied acts of power and healing which he wrought, the fact is conspicuous that he was man by virtue of the flesh he had taken, God by the evidence of the works he did."-- Hilary of Poitiers
Such is the enormous mystery and glory of our Lord's coming to earth. It goes a way beyond "Santa Clause is coming to town." He deserves our deepest gratitude.
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