Phin was less interested...
Also,
Ella has recently learned how to suck her two middle fingers.
And besides that, she's just cute
Thursday, June 16, 2011
A bite of June (yes, bite not bit)
We were excited to see POTC4
Phin was less interested...
Also,
Ella has recently learned how to suck her two middle fingers.
And besides that, she's just cute
Phin was less interested...
Also,
Ella has recently learned how to suck her two middle fingers.
And besides that, she's just cute
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Postmodernism and Worship
A paper I wrote in my last days of highschool. Keep in mind that after reading this paper a year later from writing it, I realize there was so much more I could have said and things I might change, but knowledge and wisdom come with experience and time, so bear with me.
Many people today believe that we should make worship services fit the times in order to bring people to Christ. Why? Because the traditional form of worship doesn’t seem to be “working.” Individuals want results in their churches, and they want it now. It’s as if everyone is racing to see who can “convert” the most people in the least amount of time. While we can’t just crawl into a hole, cross our fingers, and hope everything turns out alright in the end, we aren’t going to get very far by changing the gospel so that it fits different individuals’ needs.
At this time I will present two arguments on why I believe that Christians should not have “contemporary” worship services in order to “reach” postmodernists.
My first argument for not having contemporary worship services in order to reach postmodernists has to do with worship: the purpose of worship, the focus of worship, and the blessings of proper worship.
So what is the purpose of worship? The purpose of worship is to glorify God. It is for believers to come together to worship God corporately. In his book Postmodern Times, Gene Edward Veith says, “…as those who worshiped in traditional churches were always reminded, it [worship] is a matter of being gathered into His cross.”1 Psalm 100 calls us to worship the Lord. “Come into his presence with singing . . .enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!” (v. 2b, 4a) The purpose of worship is to enter into the Lord’s presence and praise Him.
Knowing the purpose of worship should make it plain as to whom we should focus on when we worship. If our purpose is to come into God’s presence, then when we meet together we should be focusing on God. Sadly, in contemporary services the focus tends to be on man. The focus is placed on how the service makes you feel, what you come away with, or how much your desire is gratified. It’s all about man not God. Because people believe worship should be focused on them, they look for entertainment in worship.
One of the ways in which postmodernists entertain in worship is with church praise bands, or worship bands. Music is a powerful tool in engaging our emotions. Praise bands perform contemporary music and therefore it appeals to the crowds because they can relate to it. This idea seems intriguing when Robert Godfrey explains that people believe that making church services entertaining will bring unbelievers into Christianity. It seems to be a very effective mode of evangelism. Godfrey goes on to say, however, that while there certainly is nothing wrong with evangelism, church services on Sunday mornings are not the place for this.
When we come to worship we are in the presence of a holy God and our emphasis should be on Him. God promises us that if we remember what we have come to do, then He will bless us.
Through proper worship come the blessings of joy in the Lord and strength to go forth in His grace. The Holy Spirit imparts the blessings to believers as they receive the Word of God and partake of the sacraments.
My Second reason for not having contemporary worship services in order to reach postmodernists has to do with sin. In contemporary worship services people are told that they can be saved and all their sins will be forgiven if they just accept Christ. Individuals are called to step forward and invite Christ into their hearts. This is a false teaching. It causes people to believe that salvation is something they can obtain; all you have to do is make a choice. But Paul tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
These same people are led to believe that after they have “accepted” Christ, they never have to do anything else in their Christian walk. They falsely believe that because they have accepted Christ they are saved forever, that they can continue on in their wicked ways and never go to church again. This is all a false view of sin and salvation. In his book Holiness, J. C. Ryle says there is more to Christianity than realizing our sinfulness. Once we have convinced someone of their sin, we need to also shine the light on their Savior.
In order to come to Christ, people must be made aware of their sin, but once they are aware of it, they must all learn of Jesus’ work on the cross, and they must continue to grow in sanctification and grace. Christians grow in grace through the reading of the word of God, and hearing it preached among other means. That being said, it is easy to see that worship services are not to persuade us of our sin over and over again, but to help us to grow in the salvation we have already been given.
In 1 Corinthians 14:24-25, Paul warns against changing worship in order to entertain unbelievers. He says an unbeliever is more likely to be convicted of sin and to come and worship God if our worship is righteous and according to God’s word.
It is not through bringing in worship teams and entertaining that we draw people to Christ. It is through the revealing of sin and our need for Christ, the proclaiming of God’s wonderful salvation through Christ’s death on the cross, and the gathering of believers in corporate worship.
Many people today believe that we should make worship services fit the times in order to bring people to Christ. Why? Because the traditional form of worship doesn’t seem to be “working.” Individuals want results in their churches, and they want it now. It’s as if everyone is racing to see who can “convert” the most people in the least amount of time. While we can’t just crawl into a hole, cross our fingers, and hope everything turns out alright in the end, we aren’t going to get very far by changing the gospel so that it fits different individuals’ needs.
At this time I will present two arguments on why I believe that Christians should not have “contemporary” worship services in order to “reach” postmodernists.
My first argument for not having contemporary worship services in order to reach postmodernists has to do with worship: the purpose of worship, the focus of worship, and the blessings of proper worship.
So what is the purpose of worship? The purpose of worship is to glorify God. It is for believers to come together to worship God corporately. In his book Postmodern Times, Gene Edward Veith says, “…as those who worshiped in traditional churches were always reminded, it [worship] is a matter of being gathered into His cross.”1 Psalm 100 calls us to worship the Lord. “Come into his presence with singing . . .enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!” (v. 2b, 4a) The purpose of worship is to enter into the Lord’s presence and praise Him.
Knowing the purpose of worship should make it plain as to whom we should focus on when we worship. If our purpose is to come into God’s presence, then when we meet together we should be focusing on God. Sadly, in contemporary services the focus tends to be on man. The focus is placed on how the service makes you feel, what you come away with, or how much your desire is gratified. It’s all about man not God. Because people believe worship should be focused on them, they look for entertainment in worship.
“Our tendency in the postmodern age is to evaluate everything in terms of its entertainment value. Judging a worship service according to how entertaining it is misses the point…worship is not entertainment, but coming into the presence of a holy God. A relationship with Christ is not contingent upon how good we feel.”
One of the ways in which postmodernists entertain in worship is with church praise bands, or worship bands. Music is a powerful tool in engaging our emotions. Praise bands perform contemporary music and therefore it appeals to the crowds because they can relate to it. This idea seems intriguing when Robert Godfrey explains that people believe that making church services entertaining will bring unbelievers into Christianity. It seems to be a very effective mode of evangelism. Godfrey goes on to say, however, that while there certainly is nothing wrong with evangelism, church services on Sunday mornings are not the place for this.
“Faithful worship where the primary purpose is the meeting of God with his people through His word, may well have the secondary result that unbelievers will come to faith. But worship must not be constructed for the unbeliever. Rather, it is for God and the church.”
When we come to worship we are in the presence of a holy God and our emphasis should be on Him. God promises us that if we remember what we have come to do, then He will bless us.
Through proper worship come the blessings of joy in the Lord and strength to go forth in His grace. The Holy Spirit imparts the blessings to believers as they receive the Word of God and partake of the sacraments.
“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob…” Isaiah 58:13, 14
My Second reason for not having contemporary worship services in order to reach postmodernists has to do with sin. In contemporary worship services people are told that they can be saved and all their sins will be forgiven if they just accept Christ. Individuals are called to step forward and invite Christ into their hearts. This is a false teaching. It causes people to believe that salvation is something they can obtain; all you have to do is make a choice. But Paul tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
These same people are led to believe that after they have “accepted” Christ, they never have to do anything else in their Christian walk. They falsely believe that because they have accepted Christ they are saved forever, that they can continue on in their wicked ways and never go to church again. This is all a false view of sin and salvation. In his book Holiness, J. C. Ryle says there is more to Christianity than realizing our sinfulness. Once we have convinced someone of their sin, we need to also shine the light on their Savior.
“When. . .our conscience is really awake and alive, I find it hard to believe that a sensuous ceremonial Christianity will thoroughly satisfy us . . . Music, and flowers, and candles, and incense, and banners, and processions, and beautiful vestments and confessionals and man-made ceremonies of a semi-Romish character, may do well enough for him under certain conditions. But once let him “awake and rise from the dead,” and he will not rest content with these things. . .once let him see his sin, and he must see his Saviour. . .he hungers and thirsts, and he must have nothing less than the bread of life.”
In order to come to Christ, people must be made aware of their sin, but once they are aware of it, they must all learn of Jesus’ work on the cross, and they must continue to grow in sanctification and grace. Christians grow in grace through the reading of the word of God, and hearing it preached among other means. That being said, it is easy to see that worship services are not to persuade us of our sin over and over again, but to help us to grow in the salvation we have already been given.
In 1 Corinthians 14:24-25, Paul warns against changing worship in order to entertain unbelievers. He says an unbeliever is more likely to be convicted of sin and to come and worship God if our worship is righteous and according to God’s word.
“If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.”
It is not through bringing in worship teams and entertaining that we draw people to Christ. It is through the revealing of sin and our need for Christ, the proclaiming of God’s wonderful salvation through Christ’s death on the cross, and the gathering of believers in corporate worship.
Monday, May 23, 2011
To Him be the Glory Forever
Read this:
Romans 11 (New International Version)
The Remnant of Israel
1 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? 4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
7 What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, 8 as it is written:
“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that could not see
and ears that could not hear,
to this very day.”
9 And David says:
“May their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever.”
Ingrafted Branches
11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!
13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
All Israel Will Be Saved
25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26 and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:
“The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”
28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
Doxology
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Now read it again, this time soaking it up, drinking it in and stopping every few verses to consider what you've just read. Are you in awe yet of God's foreknowledge and power and lovingkindness and faithfulness? Listen to what Paul is saying! '...and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root...' You, my friend, should take heart; you have been shown mercy after mercy and kindness after kindness; YOU have become a branch of the tree of Life! The tree of Life. With this promise given to us, we can truly say, 'to him be the glory forever, amen and amen!'
Romans 11 (New International Version)
The Remnant of Israel
1 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? 4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
7 What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, 8 as it is written:
“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that could not see
and ears that could not hear,
to this very day.”
9 And David says:
“May their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever.”
Ingrafted Branches
11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!
13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
All Israel Will Be Saved
25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26 and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:
“The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”
28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
Doxology
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Now read it again, this time soaking it up, drinking it in and stopping every few verses to consider what you've just read. Are you in awe yet of God's foreknowledge and power and lovingkindness and faithfulness? Listen to what Paul is saying! '...and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root...' You, my friend, should take heart; you have been shown mercy after mercy and kindness after kindness; YOU have become a branch of the tree of Life! The tree of Life. With this promise given to us, we can truly say, 'to him be the glory forever, amen and amen!'
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
The Deepwoods: A review of the last chapter and it's similarities to the Redemption Story
So I read Beyond the Deepwoods today. It's the first book in the awesome series The Edge Chronicles. This isn't a book review, only as I was reading, it got me thinking about some things. I'm only going to talk about the very last chapter of the book, so if you haven't read it, I do apologize for spoiling it for you.
In the last chapter of the book Twig, the hero of the story, ends up in what is called the Wastelands. He has traveled far from his home, has never known his parents and never fit in, no matter where he went. Finally he comes to a cliff and meets the Gloamglozer, an evil creature much like Satan who has led Twig on throughout the whole story to this point. Twig has just been abandoned by the sky pirates and the Gloamglozer takes advantage of Twig as he pities himself. First he tells Twig that he is special and that if he just takes his hand, he will show Twig how to be like him. How to change shapes and go where he pleases and be great like the Gloamglozer. The Gloamglozer uses enticing words to get Twig to take that one step over the edge. Finally Twig gives in and only then does he see the Gloamglozer's evil plan. Twig is falling to certain death. As he falls, he hears the Gloamglozer cackle and tell him that he is truly nothing. Nothing at all, and he will never be anything. Twig despairs and wonders if he will just fall forever. But then he realizes that he is something after all. He is Twig, who survived many days on his own through the treacherous woods. He yells at the Gloamglozer that he is someone after all, and as long as he is someone, he has hope. At that very moment Twig is saved by a Caterbird, the equivalent of a guardian angel, and carried to safety.
This whole scene reminded me of Satan, and how he leads us in sin using sweet words of power and riches and fame, and then just as we take his hand and follow his path to sin and death, we are saved by the grace of God and his Son Jesus Christ. Satan led Adam and Eve into sin with enticing words, but his words covered up his evil desire to plunge man into sin. Because of Christ's death and resurrection we are given a new life. There is now hope for the future. Whereas before we were dead and as nothing, now we are made alive and the children of God. Now we can know that no matter who we are, or where we live, or how lonely things seem to get, we *are* somebody in Christ. Satan has no power over us, just as the Gloamglozer ultimately had no power over Twig. Satan will win battles, just as the Gloamglozer tempted Twig over the edge. But ultimately, Christ will win in the end, even as He has already. And because we know that good wins over evil, so we also know that the Gloamglozer will not be able to claim Twig as his own. For time and again, stories in life - fiction and non-fiction - reflect the truth of Christ's redemption of His people.
In the last chapter of the book Twig, the hero of the story, ends up in what is called the Wastelands. He has traveled far from his home, has never known his parents and never fit in, no matter where he went. Finally he comes to a cliff and meets the Gloamglozer, an evil creature much like Satan who has led Twig on throughout the whole story to this point. Twig has just been abandoned by the sky pirates and the Gloamglozer takes advantage of Twig as he pities himself. First he tells Twig that he is special and that if he just takes his hand, he will show Twig how to be like him. How to change shapes and go where he pleases and be great like the Gloamglozer. The Gloamglozer uses enticing words to get Twig to take that one step over the edge. Finally Twig gives in and only then does he see the Gloamglozer's evil plan. Twig is falling to certain death. As he falls, he hears the Gloamglozer cackle and tell him that he is truly nothing. Nothing at all, and he will never be anything. Twig despairs and wonders if he will just fall forever. But then he realizes that he is something after all. He is Twig, who survived many days on his own through the treacherous woods. He yells at the Gloamglozer that he is someone after all, and as long as he is someone, he has hope. At that very moment Twig is saved by a Caterbird, the equivalent of a guardian angel, and carried to safety.
This whole scene reminded me of Satan, and how he leads us in sin using sweet words of power and riches and fame, and then just as we take his hand and follow his path to sin and death, we are saved by the grace of God and his Son Jesus Christ. Satan led Adam and Eve into sin with enticing words, but his words covered up his evil desire to plunge man into sin. Because of Christ's death and resurrection we are given a new life. There is now hope for the future. Whereas before we were dead and as nothing, now we are made alive and the children of God. Now we can know that no matter who we are, or where we live, or how lonely things seem to get, we *are* somebody in Christ. Satan has no power over us, just as the Gloamglozer ultimately had no power over Twig. Satan will win battles, just as the Gloamglozer tempted Twig over the edge. But ultimately, Christ will win in the end, even as He has already. And because we know that good wins over evil, so we also know that the Gloamglozer will not be able to claim Twig as his own. For time and again, stories in life - fiction and non-fiction - reflect the truth of Christ's redemption of His people.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Thoughts on Nehemiah 9
I was reading Nehemiah at work one day last week, trying to gain some encouragement and, not surprisingly, I found some. In Nehemiah 9 the people of Israel confess their sin after they finish rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. Throughout their prayer, they describe how God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt and performed countless miracles among them, and yet they would still turn away, come back, and turn away yet again. It occurred to me that the children of Israel are not just called The Children of Israel because they are the descendants of Jacob. They are called the Children of Israel because they act like little children. Verses 26-31 stood out to me.
"Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies. Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies. But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies. And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey. Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God."
Sound like little kids to you? (and lets admit it, sounds like us too). Well it did to me. Anyone who has spent a day with kids knows that they are like this. You will do good things for them and then they will disobey, and you must spank them and they will cry for forgiveness, and you will be merciful to them. But everyone knows it's only a matter of time before they act up again. (Giving the Israelites into the hands of their enemies was a pretty big spanking, I'd say).
While all this was interesting to me, the last two verses especially caught my attention. "Many years you bore with them and warned them...Yet they would not give ear...Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God." Even though He constantly had to "spank" them, God never gave up on His people. We, as parents or those who take care of children, must be like God. We must be consistent in discipline, but more than that, we must show mercy and compassion, even when they sin and disobey. But wait, that's not all. We can't just do this for a few years and then stop when they get to their teens because it's just too hard to keep up with them. We must bear with them many years and warn them of the consequences of sin.
In this way we are daily showing the love of God through our actions.
"Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies. Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies. But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies. And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey. Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God."
Sound like little kids to you? (and lets admit it, sounds like us too). Well it did to me. Anyone who has spent a day with kids knows that they are like this. You will do good things for them and then they will disobey, and you must spank them and they will cry for forgiveness, and you will be merciful to them. But everyone knows it's only a matter of time before they act up again. (Giving the Israelites into the hands of their enemies was a pretty big spanking, I'd say).
While all this was interesting to me, the last two verses especially caught my attention. "Many years you bore with them and warned them...Yet they would not give ear...Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God." Even though He constantly had to "spank" them, God never gave up on His people. We, as parents or those who take care of children, must be like God. We must be consistent in discipline, but more than that, we must show mercy and compassion, even when they sin and disobey. But wait, that's not all. We can't just do this for a few years and then stop when they get to their teens because it's just too hard to keep up with them. We must bear with them many years and warn them of the consequences of sin.
In this way we are daily showing the love of God through our actions.
Friday, July 9, 2010
All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter
What do you think of when someone tells you that they are going on a mission trip? You might imagine that person in the jungle, staying in mud huts, and eating slugs while changing people’s lives. Or you might think of them in the Middle East, with their life constantly in danger, suffering for Jesus.
That may be the case more often than not, but missions are not always about changing other people’s lives. Sometimes, it can be about changing your life.
Here are three of the many ways that one week in Peru changed mine.
We stayed at the Paraiso (Paradise) Hotel. It was a nice hotel, but the best part about it was that they had a valet/door greeter. You never see that in America. But wait, it gets better. Halfway through our stay, he introduced himself as Wan and asked whether or not I spoke Spanish. “Poco, Espanol.” I replied. He smiled and said, “Ah. I speak little English.” After that, every time I would see him, he would greet me with either ¡buenos días, Kathryn!, ¡buenas tardes, Kathryn!, or ¡buenas noches, Kathryn! He always said my name with his own special accent, which was cute.
Wan’s name means gentle and gracious, and he definitely lived up to his name. He had a relentless and unfailing supply of joyful service. Wan’s devotion to a job that would be looked down on by a typical American was inspiring. I don’t know what his life was like outside of his job, but when he was working he was always there with a warm smile, waiting and willing to serve and become lowly. Let’s all learn to be so Christ-like.
There was a boy. His name was Steven. He was shy, smaller than the other boys, and lived in a poor section of Trujillo. Every morning he would walk to the Church in Wichanzao to attend an English class taught by Peru Mission. This class was in addition to his regular school in the afternoons. Before class each day, we would sit on the front steps and he would take pictures with my camera. Sometimes he would sit on the wall and swing his legs, a contented smile always on his face.
I don’t know what his family was like, whether he had a dad or not, as many kids there didn’t. I don’t know whether he knew that he lived in a poor part of town where everything was dirty, or if he knew what life was like where I come from, that a “normal” family in the States would have a dad who was married to your mom, went to work everyday and was able to by you cool toys and take you to the movies. I do know, however, that he was happy. Watching Steven and his friends at a game of football (soccer), I saw in his face pure joy as he took part in the simplest of things. They were truly happy just to kick a ball, to run and laugh and push each other around in the sun. You can learn much from a young boy even if you can’t speak the same language. Happiness in a poor life, for starters.
Steven with his sister, Monica
The English class with their teacher, getting ready to play a game of football
Thursday we walked out to the squatters’ town. Clementina is made up of mud huts; adobe brick houses covering rolling sand dunes. If you lived here, you generally did not have electricity or running water. If you stayed on a piece of land long enough, (or rather, your house with a small courtyard) usually 5-10 years, it would become yours, unless the government decided they wanted it. If they decided this, your house would be leveled and you would be forced to move on, find a different place to squat. Over the years, as they obtained the free money and time, the people of Clementina would slowly advance their living quarters. Eventually Clementina would become something like Wichanzao: better buildings, it’s own market, maybe some crudely paved roads.
We walked through Clementina and a few of us climbed a small hill to get a good view of Trujillo. Looking down on Clementina with Trujillo in the background and the Pacific behind that, I realized that being grateful isn’t a one time thing. We need to constantly be reminding ourselves of what God has given us and to not take things for granted. And I’m not just talking about running water, electricity, or nice houses. I’m talking about real, whole and loving families, fresh food that is clean and safe, endless options of entertainment.
View of Clementina, Trujillo, and the Pacific
Some of the houses in Clementina
So how did Wan, Steven and the town of Clementina all change my life? Wan taught me to serve anyone and everyone with a Christ-like spirit, whether or not your job is one to be envied. Steven showed me that where we live and what we do does not define how happy we can be. It’s contentment in any situation that enables us to put a smile on. The small town of Clementina reminded me that nothing is too small to not be a blessing from God.
The streets of Trujillo did not glitter, but the lessons I learned there are as precious as gold.
That may be the case more often than not, but missions are not always about changing other people’s lives. Sometimes, it can be about changing your life.
Here are three of the many ways that one week in Peru changed mine.
We stayed at the Paraiso (Paradise) Hotel. It was a nice hotel, but the best part about it was that they had a valet/door greeter. You never see that in America. But wait, it gets better. Halfway through our stay, he introduced himself as Wan and asked whether or not I spoke Spanish. “Poco, Espanol.” I replied. He smiled and said, “Ah. I speak little English.” After that, every time I would see him, he would greet me with either ¡buenos días, Kathryn!, ¡buenas tardes, Kathryn!, or ¡buenas noches, Kathryn! He always said my name with his own special accent, which was cute.
Wan’s name means gentle and gracious, and he definitely lived up to his name. He had a relentless and unfailing supply of joyful service. Wan’s devotion to a job that would be looked down on by a typical American was inspiring. I don’t know what his life was like outside of his job, but when he was working he was always there with a warm smile, waiting and willing to serve and become lowly. Let’s all learn to be so Christ-like.
There was a boy. His name was Steven. He was shy, smaller than the other boys, and lived in a poor section of Trujillo. Every morning he would walk to the Church in Wichanzao to attend an English class taught by Peru Mission. This class was in addition to his regular school in the afternoons. Before class each day, we would sit on the front steps and he would take pictures with my camera. Sometimes he would sit on the wall and swing his legs, a contented smile always on his face.
I don’t know what his family was like, whether he had a dad or not, as many kids there didn’t. I don’t know whether he knew that he lived in a poor part of town where everything was dirty, or if he knew what life was like where I come from, that a “normal” family in the States would have a dad who was married to your mom, went to work everyday and was able to by you cool toys and take you to the movies. I do know, however, that he was happy. Watching Steven and his friends at a game of football (soccer), I saw in his face pure joy as he took part in the simplest of things. They were truly happy just to kick a ball, to run and laugh and push each other around in the sun. You can learn much from a young boy even if you can’t speak the same language. Happiness in a poor life, for starters.
Steven with his sister, Monica
The English class with their teacher, getting ready to play a game of football
Thursday we walked out to the squatters’ town. Clementina is made up of mud huts; adobe brick houses covering rolling sand dunes. If you lived here, you generally did not have electricity or running water. If you stayed on a piece of land long enough, (or rather, your house with a small courtyard) usually 5-10 years, it would become yours, unless the government decided they wanted it. If they decided this, your house would be leveled and you would be forced to move on, find a different place to squat. Over the years, as they obtained the free money and time, the people of Clementina would slowly advance their living quarters. Eventually Clementina would become something like Wichanzao: better buildings, it’s own market, maybe some crudely paved roads.
We walked through Clementina and a few of us climbed a small hill to get a good view of Trujillo. Looking down on Clementina with Trujillo in the background and the Pacific behind that, I realized that being grateful isn’t a one time thing. We need to constantly be reminding ourselves of what God has given us and to not take things for granted. And I’m not just talking about running water, electricity, or nice houses. I’m talking about real, whole and loving families, fresh food that is clean and safe, endless options of entertainment.
View of Clementina, Trujillo, and the Pacific
Some of the houses in Clementina
So how did Wan, Steven and the town of Clementina all change my life? Wan taught me to serve anyone and everyone with a Christ-like spirit, whether or not your job is one to be envied. Steven showed me that where we live and what we do does not define how happy we can be. It’s contentment in any situation that enables us to put a smile on. The small town of Clementina reminded me that nothing is too small to not be a blessing from God.
The streets of Trujillo did not glitter, but the lessons I learned there are as precious as gold.
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