Relentless Pursuit

What my cats teach me about God part 2

2011-07-04T07:28:00.006-07:00

My black cat Neil is 13 years old now. When he was young, he used to defend his territory (my back yard patio) with a vengeance; I had to take him to the 24 hour animal hospital twice to get wounds cleaned after fights. Now, however, he is more tentative, and will meow at the window when an intruder is present. Several times I have then gone out and chased it away. I thought that was going to happen the other day when I saw him meowing and pacing, but Neil surprised me by running out the door when I opened it. A cat I call Black Cat With White Feet (BCWWF) was present, and he jumped up on the fence, but fell back to the ground. The two tussled, then Neil ran back inside the house. BCWWF climbed the fence again, I shouted “Go!” and he left. I went back inside to make sure Neil was not hurt. There was a lot of dust and dirt on his fur, but he was OK. Neil is such an object lesson for me. He didn’t need to fight that battle at all. He risked injury without needing to. Fortunately, everything turned out OK. I gave Neil treats and told him he was a good boy. I was proud of his courage, but there was no need for him to fight that battle because I would have gladly fought it for him.

What my cats teach me about God

2009-08-19T15:22:00.009-07:00

Biblical references to cats and dogs
Cats: Jesus is called “The lion of the tribe of Judah” (Rev 5:5)
Dogs: “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.” (Proverbs 26:11)
This proves that cats are better than dogs.
Just kidding! I love dogs too!

My two cats: Neil and Ravi.

In defense of cats: dogs are pack animals, cats are not. Their social interactions are different. If you don’t like cats, that’s fine, but don’t blame cats, blame God. He designed them.

Neil (the black cat, whose name means “champion”) is my “crown prince”. He is:

Handsome, elegant, and regal
Extremely skittish with anyone but me
High strung. His tail is often thrashing, something a favorite cat web site calls “flippety”
Sometimes ill tempered; will arise from the couch and go over and start picking on Ravi for no reason

How he reminds me of my relationship with God:

Part of the reason for Neil’s skittishness is his background: feral, traumatically separated from Momma, unsocialized as a kitten
I love his little quirks (like God loves His children)
I love it when he sits on my lap. I wish he would stay longer, but because he is so restless he usually only stays a little while and then moves on. How often does God wish we would spend more time with Him?

From the time I first adopted him at the age of 3 months I have fed him first thing every morning. But, if there is any delay in getting the canned food on the plate, he will begin to meow. “Don’t you trust me, Neil?”

Because of his medium length fur he occasionally gets tangles which will not come out. I cut them out with scissors, but it is very hard to do because he will not stay still and will not trust me. “Neil, I’m trying to help you!” Often I need to do it in multiple sessions because he gets so agitated, when I could have cut them all out the first time.

Ravi (the orange and white tabby, named after Ravi Zacharias the Christian apologist) is my “clown prince.” He is:

Good natured, laid back, and likes belly rubs; he will flop on the floor to get them.
Very funny and makes me laugh all the time

More destructive than Neil (claws the furniture) but I don’t care because he rolls over and looks adorable (am I co-dependent or what?)

How he reminds me of my relationship with God

I like to tell him “I picked you out!” (from the AZ Humane Society) and think about how God picked me out although I was not seeking Him.
I am the youngest of 6 children. My mother, who has since passed away, used to tell me “No matter how old you get, you will always be my baby.” It used to drive me crazy, and I didn’t like it when she would introduce me to her friends as “Bethie”. However, I do fondly think of Ravi as more of a kitten than Neil, and have pet nicknames for him, like “Ravi-Wan Kenobi” and “Sweet Boy”.

What I love about cats
Beauty – many color patterns which are God’s canvass
Agility, athleticism, body control, leaping ability
Ability to purr
Retractable claws
Their manner of walking is different from almost every other animal (legs on the same side move together)

According to the Animal Planet show “The Most Extreme”, the most extreme predator is … the domestic housecat. Because it kills for fun. Neil is a good hunter and sometimes brings in critters through the cat door. It’s slowed down a lot now that he is older, but he’s brought in birds (alive and dead), cockroaches, moths, cicadas, and small lizards. Once he brought in a caterpillar. I asked him: “Neil, what are you going to do with that?” Since it wasn’t fun to chase, he threw it up in the air in an attempt to have fun with it.

What I love about animals
You can touch them freely and it’s not weird
Communication is simplified
No hidden agendas – interactions are simple and straightforward

I never expected to have a cat. Adopting one seemed to happen by accident when my co-worker was giving away kittens born in his back yard. I used to think that I didn’t like cats. But after I got my first one I wanted another, and now I am so happy that I have them. Sometimes we don’t know what’s good for us.

Another Revelation about Revelation

2009-08-14T09:02:00.001-07:00

“Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake.” (Revelation 16:18)

Seven years ago I spent a day exploring Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Although it had been 22 years since the mountain exploded, evidence of destruction was as conspicuous as that of regrowth. When the narrator of one of the videos at the visitors’ center cheerfully announced, “The mountains in this range are still active, and will erupt again one day”, I looked around at Mt. St. Helens, Mt Rainier, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood, and a chill came over me as I thought of the above verse.

A Sobering Thought

2009-07-18T10:15:00.001-07:00

The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. (Revelation 16:2)

I’ve never been very interested in studying the end times, since even the 1st century Christians thought that Jesus was coming back in their lifetime. Every generation seems to hope that they will be the ones (at least, the ones who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture). However, I went out with a hospice nurse the other day, and we visited a client who has MRSA (an antibiotic-resistant infection that has become increasingly common). I asked how this woman could have contracted it, and she said that as health care workers, both she and I would probably test positive for MRSA … it’s around, sometimes having become part of the body’s normal bacterial flora, and people are not aware that they have it. She said that it can manifest as painful boils … and I immediately thought of the above passage.

Reflections on co-dependency

2009-05-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ … for each one should carry his own load. (Galatians 6:2a, 5)

Co-dependency involves doing too much for a person, because “each one should carry his own load”. A friend in a 12 step group gave me this definition of enabling: “Doing something for someone that the person needs to do for him or herself”. I do not believe that people are free from co-dependency when they let other people take care of their responsibilities without their help while they concentrate on taking care of their own responsibilities. I do not think that that approach is caring, I think it is selfish. It also does not demonstrate interdependence, which should define healthy relationships.

One of the keys is WHY you are helping the other person. If you are doing it to enhance your self esteem, then you may have good intentions, but you are not truly loving, because you are doing it for yourself and often out of compulsion. The main way that I can tell that I am enabling someone is when I start to resent them. Then I realize that I am helping them because I think I have to rather than because I really want to. Caring done out of compulsion is not true caring. True caring is done because you want to, and you don't care what the person's response is. It is giving an unconditional gift. God’s love is like that.

In addition to WHY you are helping the person, the other key is WHAT IS THE BEST WAY to help them. Usually the best way to help people is to empower them (unless they are truly not capable). The reason that this is better than doing it for them is because it helps them learn and grow as people, whereas doing something for them often results in them doing and learning very little. That is why I like my friend's question: "Am I doing something for this person that he/she needs to be doing for him or herself?" to determine if I am helping too much (i.e. enabling). Helping people with their ordinary day-to-day responsibilities is done when you WANT TO. I find that not only do I feel resentful towards people when I enable them, but they resent me also because I am not treating them like responsible, capable adults. Enabling is very destructive to relationships.

When people are going through difficult experiences (loss, illness, etc.) that is the time to help them even if you don’t want to (“carry each other’s burdens”) – that is sacrificial love. The amazing thing is that as we are conformed to the image of Christ, we WANT TO help people more and more, so it becomes a joy rather than a sacrifice.

A Disputable Matter

2009-03-19T10:26:00.000-07:00

“Accept those whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.” (Romans 14:1)

Division in the Church of Jesus Christ grieves me. A new Christian once asked me “Why are there so many different churches and denominations?” It was hard to answer! There is a lot of quarreling among different Christian groups.

“That they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:21)

Are you seeing that? I see some, but not as much as I would like. What did Jesus say would be the result of Christian unity? “That the world may believe.” Now, I’m not saying we should abandon the essential doctrines of the Christian faith. If we cannot unify around these, such as that Jesus was God, that He died on the cross to defeat the power of sin and death and make it possible for us to be reconciled to the Father, that He was resurrected, etc. then we cannot be in unity. The big question is, what is an essential doctrine and what is a disputable matter?

I believe that the role of women in the church is a disputable matter. My personal conviction is that women can Biblically take on a variety of roles in the church, including being a pastor, and I would defend my position with scriptural support. I know and am friends with other people who believe that women can Biblically take on only certain prescribed roles, also based on their understanding of scripture. I have seen some very severe division and fighting between the two sides over this issue. I wish both sides would agree to disagree on this issue so that we could be in unity “that the world may believe.”

Faith in What?

2008-07-02T08:43:00.000-07:00

Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.” (Mark 11:22)

I was raised Presbyterian and am now a member of an independent charismatic church. I often feel torn between these two worlds, between “sola scriptura” (a statement of the Reformation that the Bible alone should be the authority), and the reality that God still speaks to us today (John 10:27). One of the aspects of some streams of the charismatic movement that has always bothered me is the emphasis on faith as a kind of tool to be wielded. The other day I read the following, which I found very helpful:

“In some Christian circles an unhealthy emphasis is placed on positive thinking or positive confession – the idea that whatever we believe or verbally affirm will become a reality. Although it is a mark of vibrant faith to maintain a Biblical optimism in the face of obstacles, an overemphasis on positive thinking may come perilously close to the New Age idea that thought controls reality and that we are masters of the world. This view overlooks the mystery of God’s providence, his final control of all events.”
Douglas Groothuis, “Unmasking the New Age”, p. 172

As Mark 11:22 says, our faith is in God, not in faith itself.

Two Emus

2008-05-31T11:48:00.003-07:00

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only [Son], who came from the Father, full of grace and truth … Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:14, 16-17, TNIV)

Truth without grace is judgment … grace without truth is license.
Dr. Henry Cloud, Changes That Heal

There are two emus that live in a field that I pass by on my morning walk. Since encountering someone else feeding them bread scraps, I have been bringing my own bread along to feed them. Sometimes they act disinterested as they slowly come up to the fence, and at other times they sprint across the yard towards me, which is thrilling. Their owner told me that they have no names, and I have been considering what to call them, as I enjoy calling out and talking to the various animals that line my walk (horses, dogs, emus, and at various times cats, a buffalo, a goat, pigs, and burros). One emu has a straight beak and is more assertive, the other has a twisted beak and is more shy. I have decided to call the former emu “Truth” and the latter emu “Grace” to remind me of the importance and balance of these two attributes, perfectly embodied in Jesus Christ.

In Celebration of Narnia

2008-05-25T06:29:00.002-07:00

My favorite passage from the Chronicles of Narnia: Jill’s first encounter with Aslan the lion in The Silver Chair. She has sought and found a stream, but the lion lies in her path.

“Are you not thirsty?’ said the Lion.
“I’m dying of thirst,” said Jill.
“Then drink,” said the Lion.
“May I – could I – would you mind going away while I do?” said Jill.
The Lion answered this only by a look and a low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience.
The delicious rippling sound of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.
“Will you promise not to – do anything to me, if I do come?” said Jill.
“I make no promise,” said the Lion.
Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer.
“Do you eat girls?” she said.
“I have swallowed up boys and girls, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms,” said the Lion. It didn’t say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.
“I daren’t come and drink,” said Jill.
“Then you will die of thirst,” said the Lion.
“Oh dear!” said Jill, coming another step nearer. “I suppose I must go and look for another stream then.”
“There is no other stream,” said the Lion.

A New Adventure Begins

2008-04-14T19:43:00.003-07:00

I haven't posted anything in many months, having lost the momentum of wanting to write as well as being focused on completing my remaining nursing pre-requisites. I may start writing again when my current semester is over in May.

Meanwhile, I wanted to announce that I have just been accepted into upper division Nursing classes at ASU West; I will start the 16 month program in August. I have been working toward this goal for the last year and a half and am grateful for this opportunity. God is good!

Complacency

2007-10-28T06:42:00.000-07:00

“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

I’m thankful that Jesus understands my weaknesses. I have a love-hate relationship with them; sometimes I’m frustrated with my weaknesses and want to change, other times I feel comfortable and complacent and don’t desire change. Complacency is one of the biggest temptations that we in the United States face.

Hard Lessons

2007-10-14T08:58:00.000-07:00

“During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” (Hebrews 5:7-8)

Obedience and suffering are subjects that, like submission and waiting, are not the subjects of today’s popular Christian teachers. I find the above passage puzzling and intriguing: why would God need to “learn obedience”? It requires a better theologian than me to explain it. I can only speculate that it had to do with Jesus’ human nature. The flesh does not enjoy submission, suffering, and obedience, but as I reflect on my own experience I agree that they are great teachers.

God's Will

2007-10-07T05:40:00.000-07:00

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification.” (1 Thess 4:3)

"Those who cleanse themselves ... will be instruments for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work." (2 Tim 2:21)

When I hear the will of God referred to, it is almost always in the context of making a decision, like moving, staying at the same job or taking another, or choosing a school. I think that more emphasis should be placed on becoming more Christ like in character. If we become more like Jesus, then wherever we live, work, or go to school, or whatever we do, we will be better able to shine His light in that situation.

“We might think that God wanted simply obedience to a set of rules: whereas He really wants people of a particular sort." (C.S. Lewis)

Crushed

2007-09-30T05:18:00.000-07:00

The name Gethsemane means “oil press”. The following is a description of the production of olive oil in Ancient Israel.

“In the fall harvested olives were brought from the terraced orchards and spread out on the flat circular platform to be crushed with the heavy stone roller. The oil ran through the surrounding channel into the adjacent rock-cut vat.”

“He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

[References: MacArthur Study Bible note on John 18:1,
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~semitic/HOAI/adultmain.cgi?article=oil-wine.htm]

Waiting Hopefully

2007-09-23T05:26:00.000-07:00

“Those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” (Isaiah 40:31)

The word translated “wait” here in the NASB is translated “hope” in the NIV. It is the Hebrew word qavah which means:

To wait for, look for, expect, hope … Qavah is the root of the noun tiqvah, “hope” or “expectancy.” Qavah expresses the idea of “waiting hopefully.”
(Reference: “The New Spirit Filled Bible”)

Waiting, like submission (the subject of my last few posts) seems to be a neglected concept in our society. As I look around, so much change is needed -- in the world, in my life, in the lives of others, and in ministries that I am involved in. I see the need for injustices to be addressed, character to be developed, healings, breakthroughs in difficult circumstances … the list is endless. It’s easy for me to get discouraged about these things. I try to do what I feel called to do, use wisdom, and then wait on the Lord, but it’s hard to wait when necessary change doesn’t seem to be happening, or happening fast enough. I think the key to waiting without falling into discouragement and dissatisfaction is the attitude with which I wait: waiting hopefully.

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14)

Submission Part 4

2007-09-15T04:48:00.000-07:00

Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19)

"For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.” (John 6:38)

To me, these are among the most amazing statements that Jesus ever made. His perfect submission to his Father is mind boggling, because I am so aware of how my will drives me, and how difficult it is for me to put it aside. Seeking to be conformed to the image of Christ is this area alone is enough to occupy the rest of my life.

Submission Part 3

2007-09-05T06:30:00.000-07:00

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.” (Ephesians 6:5-7)

Last summer following my layoff from 24 years of software engineering, I took a temporary job working for my chiropractor when I determined that I wanted to take the plunge of changing careers to something more fulfilling. The doctor needed a new receptionist and it was a way to add structure and social contact to my life, make a little money, and try something more people oriented while putting together a transition plan. It was difficult because he had a much more authoritative style and a different approach to his employees than I was used to. In my software engineering job I had a lot of autonomy; my bosses trusted me and I took the initiative and only went to them when there was a problem I could not handle. In contrast, every aspect of the receptionist job was prescribed, including scripts for what I was supposed to say in various situations, and Dr. Dan was not used to trusting his employees (a concept that was completely foreign to me). At first I struggled mightily under what felt to me like a heavy and oppressive yoke that I had taken on; I was angry and resentful. However, I realized that I did ask him for the job, so I did my best to adjust to it by reading all the passages in the Bible about master/servant and master/slave relationships so that I could be a better employee. I came to see my submission to my boss and the job requirements as an opportunity to become more like Christ’s example in Philippians 2:5-8. A funny thing happened. As I stopped resisting Dr. Dan and became more willing to do whatever he asked, he started giving me more freedom, and by the end of several months we were working well together as a team. What had been a very frustrating experience for both of us at the beginning turned into a satisfying and productive working relationship.

Submission Part 2

2007-08-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

“Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:22)
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25)

So much has been written and said about the above verses that I don’t want to add too much, other than that the instructions to wives (Eph 5:22-24) have often been taught in isolation rather than together with the corresponding instructions to husbands (Eph 5:25-30), which results in distortion of the intent of the entire passage (all of the verses should be read, I just provided a few of them above for the sake of brevity). Mostly I provide them as a backdrop to a story in which I believe I gained some insight into them, despite the fact that I have never been married. First, some personal background: in my high school and college years, I was an ardent feminist who was easily angered by perceived male chauvinism. Over the years I became less zealous, as I noticed that my anger and indignation had no effect on the men I was angry at, so why bother? But, Eph 5:22-24 continued to bother me just to read them, as they seemed to me to be associated with abusive male dominance (as sadly, they frequently have been). In the Fall of 2005 I had the opportunity to go to Mississippi to do relief work for Hurricane Katrina. I announced the trip at church to recruit some people to go with me. One person who responded with interest was Marshia, who I hoped would go since she is a delightful woman and a very hard worker; she would have been a great asset to the team. However, when I later called Marshia to follow up, she told me, “Ted [her husband] says I shouldn’t go.” Although I didn’t say so, I was incensed. Sorry Ted, but the following thoughts went through my mind: “Mean Ted! Evil Ted! He’s preventing her from doing the Lord’s work! This is outrageous!” A few days later I saw Marshia and she told me, “I was in a traffic jam the other day for about an hour, and my knee is in a lot of pain from having to keep it in one position. I’m so glad that Ted had the wisdom to tell me not to go on the trip.” I was floored. Sorry Ted, for thinking those false and nasty thoughts about you. Sorry God, for not understanding that Your Word does have proper application, even if people sometimes misuse it.

The “S” Word

2007-08-18T22:28:00.000-07:00

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)

Submission. I jokingly called it the “S” word because the very sound of it sets many people’s teeth on edge. The idea of submission is distasteful to our fallen human natures; we want to be our own masters. Not long ago I was in a group of people where the subject of submission came up, and several men said “Oh, that’s an issue for women, not men.” That is not correct. Lest someone think that that is a liberal, feminist viewpoint, I like the footnote in the MacArthur Study Bible, written by John MacArthur, who would never be accused of being either a liberal or a feminist:

“Paul here made a transition and introduced his teaching about specific relationships of authority and submission among Christians (5:22-6:9) by declaring unequivocally that every spirit-filled Christian is to be a humble, submissive Christian. This is foundational to all the relationships in this section.”

Every Christian is called to submission, first of all to the Lord Jesus Christ, but also, as Eph 5:21 indicates, to other Christians. In addition, Christians are called to be subject to governmental authorities (Romans 13:1) and to employers (the modern day equivalent of master/servant or master/slave relationships for which there are many verses, such as Eph 6:5)

Eliminating corrosion

2007-08-12T08:14:00.000-07:00

“Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.” (Psalm 37:8)
I looked up the word “fret” at www.dictionary.com and found the following:

fret
–verb (used without object)
1. to feel or express worry, annoyance, discontent, or the like: Fretting about the lost ring isn't going to help.
2. to cause corrosion; gnaw into something: acids that fret at the strongest metals.
3. to make a way by gnawing, corrosion, wearing away, etc.: The river frets at its banks until a new channel is formed.
4. to become eaten, worn, or corroded (often fol. by away): Limestone slowly frets away under pounding by the wind and rain.
5. to move in agitation or commotion, as water: water fretting over the stones of a brook.
–verb (used with object)
6. to torment; irritate, annoy, or vex: You mustn't fret yourself about that.
7. to wear away or consume by gnawing, friction, rust, corrosives, etc.: the ocean fretting its shores.
8. to form or make by wearing away a substance: The river had fretted an underground passage.
9. to agitate (water): Strong winds were fretting the channel.

I thought it was quite interesting how worry, irritation, anxiety, discontent, etc. have a corrosive effect. They are unproductive, waste energy, and yes, are a kind of torment. Therefore I’m trying to get rid of them and apply this verse:

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (I Peter 5:7)

Helping People Without Enabling

2007-08-06T08:56:00.000-07:00

A friend gave me the following definition for enabling: “Doing things for people that they need to be doing for themselves.” In trying to help people, I have often fallen into this trap. I call it a trap because it doesn’t work; what ends up happening is that I do things for the person but feel resentful, while the other person enjoys having things done for him/her, resents me for babying him/her, or in most cases, some combination of the two. In seeking a way out of this trap, I use the following Scripture as a guideline:

Galatians 6:2,5 “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ … for each one should carry his own load.”

At first glance, this may seem like a contradiction, but it is not. The Greek word translated “burdens” is baros, which means “weight” or “heavy”, while the Greek word translated “load” is phortion which means “a task or service”. We are to help people carry burdens which are heavy on them; the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, etc. while each adult is to shoulder his or her own personal responsibilities (supporting him or herself, managing money, etc.). When helping people in crisis, take note of whether it is a normal event, or a repetitive situation caused by their own choices. If the latter, the goal should be to help them move toward responsible independence, or rather, appropriate interdependence – on God and on others. Not doing so creates unhealthy dependency which is not good for either party. Compassionate people with the gift of mercy are particularly prone to enabling. If you think you might be prone to this, ask yourself before helping someone, “Is this something that the person needs to be doing for himself?” [I wish there was a gender neutral possessive pronoun in English that could be applied to people]. If so, don’t do it. You will actually be helping the other person more by encouraging him to grow as a person by taking personal responsibility.

Example:
Helping: encouraging someone who is looking for a job, holding him/her accountable if necessary
Enabling: finding a job for someone

Again, I find that asking myself the question helps clarify the appropriate action in each situation. There may be other circumstances to be considered, such as mental illness, and someone who has not been used to taking personal responsibility for himself is going to take some time to learn how, but in general I find that people tend to be capable of more than we think they are and rise to the occasion.

24/7 Worship

2007-08-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

Since I discovered it last night, I have been watching video off and on of "Harp and Bowl" style worship and intercession (Rev. 5:8) in the Prayer Room at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City. It is amazing. I did not know that this existed. The huge majority of those worshipping and praying are young people late 20's to younger. There are several choices available, including audio only, but I'm glad I went for the video as it is extremely moving to see young people pouring out their hearts to God. According to the web site, you can try the service out free for seven days (I subscribed for a month of video for $10). The web site is www.ihop.org.

An addendum to my original post:

As I continue to watch this, I realize that some people are not going to like it at all, and that's OK. I have been sampling it for less than 24 hours so I don't know all of the content but from what I have seen so far there are a lot of repetitive praise choruses, so be forewarned. In fact, what I have seen is almost purely emotive expression (except for a part where young people lined up and prayed short prayers into the microphone, but those were fervent as well). I think that there's a place for emotive expression to God just like there's a place for apologetics presentations. I have a mind and I have emotions and I'm trying to figure out how to live in an appropriate balance. I wouldn't want to live in "The Prayer Room" at IHOP 100% of the time, but it's a place that I enjoy visiting.

It’s Hard to Help People

2007-07-28T11:50:00.000-07:00

Recently I went to a conference for faith-based organizations. The lunchtime speaker (Tracy Williams), who was quite humorous, said “It’s hard to help people!” I laughed quite hard (I think the people I was with at the conference thought that was a bit strange). The reason I laughed so hard is because it’s true! It’s hard to help people! And the principal reason why is because so many times, people don’t want to be helped! How many times have I seen things like an addict consumed by his addiction or a parent enabling her adult child, and my heart goes out to them. They are so in need of truth and freedom! But until the Holy Spirit convicts and shows them that fact, the best way we can help is to pray. Although we can do things like offer a struggling person support and accountability, or suggest that they go to a support group or Christian counselor, which may help if the person is truly motivated to change, in my experience, a breakthrough rarely occurs that way. Most people (including myself) have to come to the end of their rope, and the end of themselves, and cry out to Jesus for help – and then He answers and starts to do His work. That’s when we can come alongside a person. I am exactly the same way. I am so stubborn and willful that the Lord has had to practically break me in half in a major way at least three times over the course of my life to bring me back into intimate fellowship with Him (and he does so in less dramatic ways on a continual basis). But He is always faithful to do so. All praise and glory to Him.

Weak or Strong?

2007-07-17T09:47:00.000-07:00

Consider the following (italics mine):

And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God … I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling.

Now I … myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!

[The Greek word translated above “meek” is “tapeinos” which means:
depressed, i.e. (figuratively) humiliated (in circumstances or disposition), base, cast down, humble, of low degree (estate), lowly. Reference: http://strongsnumbers.com/greek/5011.htm]

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.

The above Scripture references are from:
I Cor 2:1,3 (TNIV)
2 Cor 10:1 (NASB)
2 Cor 12:7-10 (NIV)
Hebrews 11:32-34 (NIV)

They were all written by the Apostle Paul, that hard-charging, fearless … wait, is that really what Paul was like? I always thought so, but I Cor 2:1-3 in particular got me wondering. Notice the theme of weakness in the verses above. Could it be that Paul was not always fearless, but was one who used his weakness to bring glory to God as his weakness was turned to strength?

Quotes That I Like

2007-07-09T15:33:00.000-07:00

I think I will keep adding to this post periodically, because I like quotes. Where I do not know the attribution, I have not given one.

Lack of meaning does not come from being weary of pain, but being weary of pleasure.
G. K. Chesterton

Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.
C.S. Lewis

Humility is not thinking less of yourself. Humility is thinking of yourself less.
Rick Warren

I fear the materialism of the West more than the persecution of the East.
A Chinese pastor

God keeps giving Himself as long as we keep bringing that into which He can pour Himself. When we stop bringing, He stops pouring.
Alexander McClaren

God does only what we can't.
James MacDonald

The problem with Christianity is not that it has been tried and found wanting, but that it has been found difficult and left untried.
G.K. Chesterton

People are wounded in relationship and healed in relationship.

God builds His Kingdom through gifts of friendship.
John Dawson

Christianity is not a set of beliefs, but a relationship with the living Christ.
Josh McDowell

God made me for a purpose, for China. But He also made me fast, and when I run I feel His pleasure.
Eric Liddell

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
Jim Elliot

Choose to sin, choose to suffer.
James MacDonald

Common sense ain't common, and you are proof of that.
Jim Peters' (comedian/musicianary) Dad

Are you willing to become what you never had?
Iverna Tompkins

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Nothing changes if nothing changes.

Here I go ...

2007-07-09T06:12:00.000-07:00

I finally feel led to start a blog - thanks to Ron, Doug, Danny, Mary Lee, and Darrell for the modeling which provided inspiration.