I am seeing a new generation arise. And they are passionate. They are passionate about God's Word. They are passionate that it ought to be lived out - now.
I feel a bit of irony in all of this. Being a pastor of churches for 30 years, I have lived inside the repeating criticism of young people being shallow theologically and bent on emotional experience. Most commonly, it was the kind of thing said during the "worship wars" at any given church.
This is a generation that knows not hymns. They sing contemporary worship songs. They use guitars and drums, instead of an organ. Their music has a "beat." And they have cast aside many of the traditions that I grew up in.
I can criticize the casting aside of some tradition, for there is much to learn from those who have come before us. But what I cannot criticize is a motivation that comes from knowing the God of the present who says "Go" and "Proclaim good news and freedom to the oppressed."
What can I say? More power to them. Holy Spirit power, that is.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.
Isaiah 61.1 (ESV)
30 May 2011
18 May 2011
Get Rid of the S
Devo’s. Q.T. Quiet Time. Daily Bread. Time with God. Devotions.
Whatever you call it, it has been my assignment since the early days of following Jesus. And no doubt, it is a noble task. For how am I ever going to get to know God better if I do not spend time with Him? Taking time to read and study the Bible, as well as praying, are just plain essentials if you are going to grow in your faith.
For almost 40 years, devotions has been a task on my daily checklist that is done early and then crossed off. And if it is not done, it is an incomplete and ineffective day. In fact, it is a day that is ruined, because I have shown my priorities to be out of synch with what God requires of me.
And here lies the mystery. How is it that something that is meant to be a joy and a benefit turn into such drudgery?
Happily, the answer has not evaded me. The answer lies in that extra “s.” For years, I have been doing devotions, when all along what God has wanted is devotion. Devotion. Not devotions.
So, on my daily list, I still write “DEV” at the top, but I never cross it out. Devotion is not something done in the morning. It is done all day. And it is never finished.
In the end, I have decided, I do not want to be known for doing my devotions. I want to be known for my devotion to God.
Isn’t it odd that leaving one “s” off the end of a word can make so much of a difference?
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37.4 (NIV)
Whatever you call it, it has been my assignment since the early days of following Jesus. And no doubt, it is a noble task. For how am I ever going to get to know God better if I do not spend time with Him? Taking time to read and study the Bible, as well as praying, are just plain essentials if you are going to grow in your faith.
For almost 40 years, devotions has been a task on my daily checklist that is done early and then crossed off. And if it is not done, it is an incomplete and ineffective day. In fact, it is a day that is ruined, because I have shown my priorities to be out of synch with what God requires of me.
And here lies the mystery. How is it that something that is meant to be a joy and a benefit turn into such drudgery?
Happily, the answer has not evaded me. The answer lies in that extra “s.” For years, I have been doing devotions, when all along what God has wanted is devotion. Devotion. Not devotions.
So, on my daily list, I still write “DEV” at the top, but I never cross it out. Devotion is not something done in the morning. It is done all day. And it is never finished.
In the end, I have decided, I do not want to be known for doing my devotions. I want to be known for my devotion to God.
Isn’t it odd that leaving one “s” off the end of a word can make so much of a difference?
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37.4 (NIV)
01 May 2011
Is This Lie a Sin?
Three years ago, my favorite aunt died. Aunt Elinore died suddenly and unexpectedly. I still miss her. She only brought joy into my life. Only joy.
In a coordinated manner, her husband, my Uncle Earl, was my favorite uncle. He always had a smile on his face and a joke to tell. In contrast to the quick death of his wife, my Uncle Earl is dying a slow and painful death. Not for him, thankfully, but for the rest of us it is. He has memory loss, and whether you call it dementia, Alzheimer's, or just old age, it doesn't matter. It is slow and agonizing to those who love him much.
Uncle Earl thinks that Aunt Elinore is still with him. He is totally unable to get it into his mind that she is gone. He lives in the continual hope she is coming around the corner.
Their son, Earl Jr. (my cousin) had the sad duty to tell his dad, and my uncle cried long and hard the first time he heard the news. The next day, Uncle Earl had forgotten, and when Earl Jr. reminded him, he cried long and hard. Then came the next day, and you guessed it, my uncle cried long and hard at the news his wife had died.
Earl Jr. was in a spot no one wants to be in. Shall he speak only truth and watch his dad grieve anew every day? Or does he pretend his mom is still alive? Yikes! What a conundrum!
Compassionately, he chose the latter. His dad simply cannot get it. His mind is broken.
And as far as I can see, imperfect as it is, I believe my cousin is doing it right by lying to his father. Perhaps it is an adequate application of the biblical principle found in I Peter 4.8:
Love covers a multitude of sins.
In a coordinated manner, her husband, my Uncle Earl, was my favorite uncle. He always had a smile on his face and a joke to tell. In contrast to the quick death of his wife, my Uncle Earl is dying a slow and painful death. Not for him, thankfully, but for the rest of us it is. He has memory loss, and whether you call it dementia, Alzheimer's, or just old age, it doesn't matter. It is slow and agonizing to those who love him much.
Uncle Earl thinks that Aunt Elinore is still with him. He is totally unable to get it into his mind that she is gone. He lives in the continual hope she is coming around the corner.
Their son, Earl Jr. (my cousin) had the sad duty to tell his dad, and my uncle cried long and hard the first time he heard the news. The next day, Uncle Earl had forgotten, and when Earl Jr. reminded him, he cried long and hard. Then came the next day, and you guessed it, my uncle cried long and hard at the news his wife had died.
Earl Jr. was in a spot no one wants to be in. Shall he speak only truth and watch his dad grieve anew every day? Or does he pretend his mom is still alive? Yikes! What a conundrum!
Compassionately, he chose the latter. His dad simply cannot get it. His mind is broken.
And as far as I can see, imperfect as it is, I believe my cousin is doing it right by lying to his father. Perhaps it is an adequate application of the biblical principle found in I Peter 4.8:
Love covers a multitude of sins.
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