Wow. I love these guys. So crazy that I wanted this for so long, and then, as always, God drops something on my lap, out of the blue, that was so much better than my plans. Exceedingly more than I ever asked or thought. Makes me regret my worry and doubt, but even more than that, I am in awe of His love, again I see evidence of him delighting in giving good gifts to His children.
Honesty, vulnerability, and shared vision: we would grow closer to Him, closer to each other, and closer to those around us. Love our neighbors. I really want to be looking to be a part of what He is doing, and not looking to do my own thing. I hope we continue to pray together too. It was so rich and exciting. Approaching the throne together, asking Him to use us in this place. Incredible.
I know that this will be stretching and quite a growing year, but to go in with fellow warriors, anticipating many of the battles ahead, and resting in the strength of the King of Kings--I can't help but be encouraged.
And archer is our house typeface.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
In Memoriam....
Pastor Jim read these words of Dr. King's in church yesterday:
"...A religion true to its nature must...be concerned about man's social conditions. Religion deals with both earth and heaven, both time and eternity. Religion operates not only on the vertical plane but also on the horizontal. It seeks not only to integrate men with God but to integrate men with men and each man with himself. This means, at bottom, that the Christian gospel is a two-way road. On the one hand it seeks to change the souls of men, and thereby unite them with God; on the other hand it seeks to change the environmental conditions of men so that the soul will have a chance after it is changed. Any religion that professes to be concerned with the souls of men and is not concerned with the slums that damn them, the economic conditions that strangle them, and the social conditions that cripple them is a dry-as-dust religion. Such a religion is the kind that Marxists like to see - an opiate of the people."
An incredible paragraph, that has implications with my last post, but not what I am thinking about right now.
What is the proper way to remember someone? To me, volunteering on MLK day is a lot like working in a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving. Its a nice gesture, but if its something you do once a year, then it isn't reflective of a heart-attitude, and likely is done more to make you feel good, than a deep desire to help the brokenness around you. I suppose a little is better than none at all--and help that is at its core selfish is still help, but I really would rather "volunteer" the other 364 days of the year rather than on MLK day, just because its perceived as the day you go help people. Most people don't really know who he was, or what drove him to do what he did, they just have a vague sense that he wanted racial equality, he was assassinated, and so we should help those in need. That's not how you remember someone.
Joshua 4 is about the memorial stones that the Israelites placed after they crossed the Jordan into Canaan. He tells them to place 12 stones at the place they crossed, "that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, 'what do these stones mean to you?' then you shall tell them ..." Memorials are a very Biblical concept, the most famous being the Lord's Supper. I also think to Jeremiah 31, "set up road markers, make yourself guideposts" so as to not go back down that road. He had to continually remind Israel what He had done for them, and where they had come from. I think He knows how prone we are to forget, to live in the immediacy of now (or in fear of the future) and forget the past, all that He has brought us through, and all that He has done for His people throughout history.
Its for that reason that I think it is good to honor them memory of Dr. King, but only if it is actually tied to who he was and what he said. It is good to read the words of some of his speeches, and glean from his wisdom and insight. I think though, he would be more honored by a lifestyle of service and reconciliation, rather than a few hours once a year...
"...A religion true to its nature must...be concerned about man's social conditions. Religion deals with both earth and heaven, both time and eternity. Religion operates not only on the vertical plane but also on the horizontal. It seeks not only to integrate men with God but to integrate men with men and each man with himself. This means, at bottom, that the Christian gospel is a two-way road. On the one hand it seeks to change the souls of men, and thereby unite them with God; on the other hand it seeks to change the environmental conditions of men so that the soul will have a chance after it is changed. Any religion that professes to be concerned with the souls of men and is not concerned with the slums that damn them, the economic conditions that strangle them, and the social conditions that cripple them is a dry-as-dust religion. Such a religion is the kind that Marxists like to see - an opiate of the people."
An incredible paragraph, that has implications with my last post, but not what I am thinking about right now.
What is the proper way to remember someone? To me, volunteering on MLK day is a lot like working in a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving. Its a nice gesture, but if its something you do once a year, then it isn't reflective of a heart-attitude, and likely is done more to make you feel good, than a deep desire to help the brokenness around you. I suppose a little is better than none at all--and help that is at its core selfish is still help, but I really would rather "volunteer" the other 364 days of the year rather than on MLK day, just because its perceived as the day you go help people. Most people don't really know who he was, or what drove him to do what he did, they just have a vague sense that he wanted racial equality, he was assassinated, and so we should help those in need. That's not how you remember someone.
Joshua 4 is about the memorial stones that the Israelites placed after they crossed the Jordan into Canaan. He tells them to place 12 stones at the place they crossed, "that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, 'what do these stones mean to you?' then you shall tell them ..." Memorials are a very Biblical concept, the most famous being the Lord's Supper. I also think to Jeremiah 31, "set up road markers, make yourself guideposts" so as to not go back down that road. He had to continually remind Israel what He had done for them, and where they had come from. I think He knows how prone we are to forget, to live in the immediacy of now (or in fear of the future) and forget the past, all that He has brought us through, and all that He has done for His people throughout history.
Its for that reason that I think it is good to honor them memory of Dr. King, but only if it is actually tied to who he was and what he said. It is good to read the words of some of his speeches, and glean from his wisdom and insight. I think though, he would be more honored by a lifestyle of service and reconciliation, rather than a few hours once a year...
Sunday, January 10, 2010
...Oh let me ne're forget, that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet...
Right now the wrong that is seeming so strong is not active, oppressive evil--as it often is--but rather seemingly insurmountable brokenness all around me. Been thinking very programmatically about development lately, or really about development as a means of poverty alleviation. And really, poverty alleviation as a cure for brokenness, and brokenness as a result of the fall. Doesn't work though, poverty (a relative term) is in itself a symptom of a greater problem, one that I can in no way solve. Without Christ, there is no hope, there is no help, and there is no salvation.
Editor's Note:
Ok, so before I continue...and I may not...Can I just say that God is at work! Incredible. As I continue to wrestle through all this:
- I am given a house to live in, in a neighborhood of image bearers, with a friend who has a similar vision for loving people.
- "When Helping Hurts" is a recurring them among people I dialogue with on this...
- JR Caines at East Ridge Pres preached on this very thing today, and DJ told me about it. (Read his sermon here.
- I've had some really challenging conversations with a number of people I respect, and I know of a few more who I will have the opportunity to dialogue with in the near future...
- I visited a church which I really liked, and can't wait to visit again--and they have a small group in my new neighborhood!
- Talked with Dad at length about some of my frustrations, and as always, he was able to give me some good insight and bring it all back to Jesus.
- I'll have to opportunity to explore this, in some fashion, at work--which will be quite the challenge, and will really test a lot of what I hold dear. Usually good, rarely fun.
- I'm encouraged. This stuff is well worth wrestling with, and while it seems that he didn't make me right, I know that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and it will all make sense in due time--ideally this side of heaven. (A little explanation: I was telling dad how I was frustrated that I seem to be wired to develop programs and systems, and at the same time given a heart for the needy and brokenness all around me--it also seems that programs and systems aren't the solution, but rather relationships--and so my heart seems to be at odds with my head.)
So, dear reader (both of you), be encouraged that I am encouraged.
Thanks.
I appreciate that.
Right now the wrong that is seeming so strong is not active, oppressive evil--as it often is--but rather seemingly insurmountable brokenness all around me. Been thinking very programmatically about development lately, or really about development as a means of poverty alleviation. And really, poverty alleviation as a cure for brokenness, and brokenness as a result of the fall. Doesn't work though, poverty (a relative term) is in itself a symptom of a greater problem, one that I can in no way solve. Without Christ, there is no hope, there is no help, and there is no salvation.
Editor's Note:
Ok, so before I continue...and I may not...Can I just say that God is at work! Incredible. As I continue to wrestle through all this:
- I am given a house to live in, in a neighborhood of image bearers, with a friend who has a similar vision for loving people.
- "When Helping Hurts" is a recurring them among people I dialogue with on this...
- JR Caines at East Ridge Pres preached on this very thing today, and DJ told me about it. (Read his sermon here.
- I've had some really challenging conversations with a number of people I respect, and I know of a few more who I will have the opportunity to dialogue with in the near future...
- I visited a church which I really liked, and can't wait to visit again--and they have a small group in my new neighborhood!
- Talked with Dad at length about some of my frustrations, and as always, he was able to give me some good insight and bring it all back to Jesus.
- I'll have to opportunity to explore this, in some fashion, at work--which will be quite the challenge, and will really test a lot of what I hold dear. Usually good, rarely fun.
- I'm encouraged. This stuff is well worth wrestling with, and while it seems that he didn't make me right, I know that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and it will all make sense in due time--ideally this side of heaven. (A little explanation: I was telling dad how I was frustrated that I seem to be wired to develop programs and systems, and at the same time given a heart for the needy and brokenness all around me--it also seems that programs and systems aren't the solution, but rather relationships--and so my heart seems to be at odds with my head.)
So, dear reader (both of you), be encouraged that I am encouraged.
Thanks.
I appreciate that.
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