Back in the day, I was known for dishing out some taunting in the course of sporting events.  I wasn’t a showboater - it was a strategic thing.  I did it quietly and personally, and directed it specifically at real weaknesses that I thought my opponents might be insecure about.  Despite the issues I now have with our sports and star-based obsessions in the US, there is much we can learn from sports (aside from the fact that Jim is a jerk).  It’s an undeniable fact that if you can rattle someone’s confidence, they will be far less effective than if they are competing with confidence and assurance.  And if I saw my opponent rattled, it raised my own confidence because I knew I could control his emotions, and thus, his performance.

Maybe that’s why I appreciate the occasional taunting in the bible.  Among my favorites (if you know the original interpretation - it is a bit too crass for most English interpreters) is when (I hope I’m getting the right prophet here) Elijah challenges the phophets of Baal to call on their respective God/gods to light their offering with a fire from heaven.  When the prophets of Baal are desperately calling out, cutting themselves, and clearly starting to fear failure, Elijah chimes in with, “maybe your god is busy, maybe he’s in the bathroom relieving himself.”  After Elijah showed God’s power, there is a reason Elijah could single-handedly grab a sword and kill them all.  They were beaten and Elijah (and God) made sure they knew they were beaten without any hope of victory.

But my hands down favorite is1 Corinthians 15:54-55:

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Death has no power over us.  God’s promises tell us emphatically that He orders our steps, that He is all-knowing and all powerful, and that He loves us.  And when we do die - as Paul said, it is only our gain.  I have a feeling that death thinks he’s a pretty bad dude.  But where is that sting?  If we truly had confidence that there was no sting in death, I can’t help but think how different our lives would look.  And how rattled (and less effective) the enemy would be.

Read the linked blog post below.  Really.  You need to.  It is not easy to read or hear, but the Church must become aware of what we are allowing to exist.

http://talkissheep.blogspot.com/2010/07/korah-day-i-have-given-up-on-numbering.html

This unfortunately ties in to discussions I’ve had recently with several well-intentioned, serious Christian brothers and sisters who have heard “prophecies” of impending financial collapse.  First, let’s clarify what biblical prophets were (are).  Biblical prophets had a direct, shattering experience with God.  An experience that often compelled things like smearing themselves with excrement, marrying a prostitute to illustrate God’s faithfulness to an unfaithful nation, accepting the death of a wife (described by God as “the light of your eyes” when He told the prophet she would die so He could illustrate the message with more power)...  False prophets were stoned.  You had to be absolutely certain of your experience with God to speak as a prophet or you did so at risk of your life.  Biblical prophets spoke directly for God, passing on a specific message He gave them.  They were never scholars who, through their own diligence, insight, education, and research, figured out the timing and details of the future.  In fact, the future was never their primary concern at all.  Their primary concern was confronting God’s people with their unfaithfulness, and calling for repentance and a return to devotion to God as their Lord and Master.  They did not pull any punches, and were never widely accepted by God’s people - Amos referred to the wealthy women of Samaria as “cows of Bashan” (that particular breed was a show cow, overfed, useless for any practical purpose, and fat even for the bovine species).  These were not popular guys, and they did not give hollow predictions.  The future predictions were only a means to that end - a description of what would come to pass if the repentance was not forthcoming.

Did you link through to that blog post above?  Please do.  Really.

Then consider this.  Even if the “prophecies” I’m talking about are accurate, what should they motivate us to do?  Does this sound right?  We should worry.  Then we should spend our time, effort, and emotional focus on figuring out how to best invest/hide/use our wealth so that our standard of living is impacted as little as possible.  Then we should worry some more.  Then we should spend most of our prayer time seeking specifics about how to keep our standard of living where it is “if” things get bad.  Then probably some more worry.  Because, after all, it is all about us. 

In case the post I linked didn’t get the message across, things are already bad.  Things are, in fact, desperate for billions of people, many of whom have never heard the Gospel.  If our time is short, where should our focus be?  If we have only a short time before the wealth of this nation collapses, what should we do with that wealth before it disappears?  Really.  What does the bible say about how we should use our excess.  That’s the prophecy this nation needs to hear.  The only problem?  Throughout history, true prophecy is harsh, raw, and requires that the hearer turn from selfish indulgences.  No one has ever wanted to hear that, and the Church does not want to hear it now.

I apologize for the tone.  Really.  I don’t want to offend anyone, but did you read that link?  My kids grew up in that city.  This is personal to me.  I’ll kiss two kids goodnight tonight who once faced that future.  I love them dearly, and I now see the kids who suffer and die every day due to hunger.  I know them now.  And I love them.  I will fight for them, and I will call things the way I see them on their behalf.  Please read this with the understanding that I am a father to two (soon to be five) of these kids, understand my sense of urgency in that light, and forgive my passion for them if it has offended.

As I lived with what I wrote Thursday, I thought I should clarify my intent and what I really think.  First - His burden is light.  It is a burden, it is a yoke - it does require us to submit and sacrifice.  But the yoke is easy and the burden is light.  The burden we will ultimately bear in this world if we choose to reject the yoke - the submission and sacrifice that He has for us - on the other hand, is heavy.  The point is that He is worthy of our all.  A focus on Him and a willingness to surrender all, evidenced by sacrificial giving, is a path to participation in His purpose and joy - resulting in that easy yoke and light burden.

So, in light of considering our “but”, how do we prevent that from becoming a burden that is hard to bear?  How much is enough?  How much is too much?

I can’t answer that for any of you.  Who am I kidding - I can’t even answer that for me.  It is very dangerous to compare ourselves to other people either way - either saying; “I’m doing more than them so I’m OK” or saying; “so and so is doing more than me so I am falling short”.  Surrender and willingness to Him is what is necessary.  So I see it this way - we need to try not to ask how much is enough at all.  Here is my practical application (I like practical applications and I realized my last post did not give one):

Be aware, be willing:  Make yourself aware of His purpose, and of the great physical and spiritual needs in the world.  Understand His passion for all people (we’re talking about people, not issues or causes - that’s just too impersonal), and understand their need and what his word says about our role in His plan.  Become willing to give any piece or even all of what you have IF He calls you to that.

Live simply, give sacrificially:  To what extent - how much sacrifice?  Wrong question.  Remember, we’re not going there.  Start down the road with one step.  If you don’t know how much or how far down that road is right for you, just start with something.  Give up one specific, small, tangible luxury and put that to use for His plan.  Prayerfully offer it to Him and tell Him it is offered to Him as sign that you want His will in your life, you want to know how much is the right balance for you.  Ask Him to give you His Spirit as a guide and a comfort as you wrestle with this question.  We ask for wisdom and He gives The Guide.  We ask for comfort and He gives The Comforter.  But we must do our part.  In this area, I believe that means living more simply than we could otherwise - even if only to a very small degree at first - and giving something that requires a sacrifice (even if a very small sacrifice)... and seeking Him - doing that with a focus on Him, His plan, and the great need around us. 

He promised to give The Guide.  Our willingness and initial step down the road WILL be met by Him in His grace and mercy to show us the way.  Sometimes I’m just not very patient in waiting for Him.  I need to work on that.

I stole the title from an entry my wife wrote on our personal family/adoption blog (let me know if you want the link).  As I often do, I’ll apologize for the shock value but it’s really an insincere apology since I’m kind of trying to get attention (and since an alternative title was Intellectual Honesty Part 2).  Before I start, let me emphasize that this is not a ranting against all or you - this is a (painful) change I have forced myself to make in my personal thought process because I realized I was not being honest with myself.

Jenny’s entry was longer and more comprehensive than mine, but my brief spin on it is this:  All the time, I catch myself thinking or saying, “I really want to do __________ for the (insert: poor/homeless/orphan/ child sex slave/sick/...), BUT ___________.”  Here’s where I must consider my but, and where I must be honest with myself.

$30-40/month can literally save a child’s life, prevent the slavery/forced labor for that child, prevent preventable disease, and provide education and hope.  We give that much many times over, but the need is still great.  So, there is only one but for me.  That but is this: “I really want to help, BUT I CARE MORE ABOUT HAVING MY SATELLITE TV / NIGHTS OUT / MOUNTAIN BIKE / MUSIC FESTIVAL TICKETS /... than I do about saving a life.  I do.  It’s shocking, but it’s the only honest but out there.  I don’t care how much I’m already giving.  If I choose to spend $70/month on satellite TV when that could save two lives, I care more about that TV than about those lives.  Any other argument is just plain dishonest (and I would say stupid if I wasn’t such a kind, subtle, and gentle person).

You can insert buts about time or effort for my example about money as well.  It still circles back to one but - I care more about a uses of time such as kids sports, jiu jitsu training, watching TV, etc… than I do about really connecting with neighbors who desperately need what Jesus has to offer through me.

So here I am - fallen, selfish and gluttonous at my core.  How do I reconcile this to what I believe?  I really beleive that the single but I propose is the only intellectually honest but.  How can I live like I do?  What a wretch I am, truly… truly in need of grace and ongoing change and growth in loving my neighbor as myself.  I need His spirit for that, but I need to be willing… God help me be.

I gave some thought about whether or not this is an appropriate venue for personal family news (actually about 3 seconds of thought), and I decided that it is a perfect venue.  We are trying to build more than a website, trying to raise more than funds.  The goal is community, a deep commitment to each other and to others outside our community.  We need to get to know each other better.

Our news is that we passed court in Ethiopia yesterday, and are now parents of three more kids, bringing the total count to eight.  There is so much to tell about how we got here, so many ways our adoptions have changed, challenged, and blessed us that this will fall far short.  These three are siblings, and had been waiting for a family for some time since it is difficult to find families for older sibling groups.  Jenny met them at the orphanage when she went to meet and bring home our first two adopted children.  Her heart felt an immediate “recognition” of the 12 year old boy in this group when she met him, and came home committed to find him a home.  We discovered that he had two siblings, one an older girl who stood out partially for her age but mostly for her gentle, quiet, yet confident manner.  We thought doors might be able to open for friends to adopt them, but those options did not work out.

I remember the moment when I knew they were ours very clearly.  We were in church, and Jenny gave a prayer request for a home for them, and broke into tears when she recounted how we had learned from our adopted 6 year old that the oldest girl had taught her about Jesus and prayed with her and was a comfort to her in hard times.  Immediately, I was overwhelmed with a certain knowledge that these kids were ours.  Not a desire to do a good thing for them, not a hope that it could work, not an obligation… I have never known anything with more finality or certainty in all my life.  And it happened in an instant.  It was powerful and emotional, yet calm and peaceful at the same time.

After that, the process was long and at times “uncertain”.  Illinois is reluctant to approve large adopted families for additional kids, another family became interested in these three (and we had peace that what we really wanted for them was a home so we were not unsettled when it seemed the agency would place them there).  But they were ours.  And now the “official” acknowledgement of that is complete.

International adoption must be undertaken with great care, especially when “demand” for healthy infants is strong (I would be remiss if I did not note that “demand” for older kids, sibling groups, and special needs kids is never strong enough).  There are abuses of the system, there is grief and loss in separation from family and culture.  Autonomy, equality, and elimination of the poverty that creates orphans and prevents people from caring for orphans within their own culture is the best long-term solution - far better to eliminate the need than to meet the need.  But for the kids who need families, who are lacking that love, commitment, and connection - adoption is the only answer.  We cannont abandon them.  God’s word is so clear on this point.  He demands that we care for the poor - both intact families that are at risk, and orphans for whom that window to help has passed.  You don’t need to adopt.  You do need to give to the point of some level of personal sacrifice.  That’s a strong statement, but I’ll stand by it.  If you are offended by my presumption to know what you must do, read the Word and tell me how you come to any other conclusion.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings… we are excited, and will soon be making real preparations for travel.  We have options for what that travel will look like and I am, frankly, struggling with the decision of who will go to Ethiopia this time.  I am still seeking a “moment” like the one I described earlier, but it is not always that easy.  We apprecaite your prayers and support.

... I don’t believe He was really the Son of God”.  Who’s heard that one?  I think we all have, and I think we’ve all heard the counter-arguments that if you understand Jesus’ statements in light of Old Testament references He made about himself, He clearly claimed to be the Messiah.  Which means he was a liar, lunatic, or what He said He is - the Son of God.

The question is, as Christians, which do we really believe - great moral teacher, or Son of God (i.e. our Master)?  See, I’m a person who thinks that what we really believe should be evidenced by what we do, not by what we say.  Just a matter of common sense evidence - there is real wisdom in the sayings; “talk is cheap”, actions speak louder than words”...

Here’s my dilemma.  Take this for example: ” Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”  - Matthew 5:23-24 Have you ever heard that cited in church?  How many of us have seen anyone (or actually did oursleves) get up and leave to first be reconciled to their brother before finishing the service?  Did it even cross your mind when you heard that, that you really should get up that instant and leave the service to be reconciled to a brother that has anything against you?  If we accept Jesus as our Master, we should see that as a direct command.  Or did you accept the passage (as I always have) as a good moral teaching but not a command that you should be expected to perform, and to perform it as instructed? 

I have to admit that this is a new concept to me and I must further admit that my actions indicate that I see Jesus more as a great moral teacher and less as my Master.  All too often I treat His commands as good principles to live by but not explicit commands.  The point is that He gave many explicit commands, and I have treated nearly all of them as good general illustrative principles to live by, but I essentially never treat them as explicit commands.  So what do I really believe? 

Read the sermon on the mount and the rest of Jesus’words again and look for explicit commands - they are everywhere.  That whole don’t worry about tomorrow thing… that was not a self-help ideal, it was a command.  Pray for your enemies, bless those who curse you, if someone sues you for your coat, give him your shirt as well, do not store up treasure on earth… all phrased as commands, not tidy philosophiocal niceties.  But we don’t treat them as commands - so what do we really believe?  Holy Spirit, work through me to change the evidence in my life.  I am not happy with what my actions say about my beliefs to date, and I hope and pray that a wave of true belief, evidenced by obedience to His commands will sweep through my life and the church as a whole, I want to be a part of that.

I just read this quote and while the source is not generally a source of Godly wisdom, the message is so clear and concise, and so consistent with Jesus’ life and message that I found it to be powerful and memorable.  Are we willing to be hated as Jesus told us we would be in this world, or do we place a priority on pleasing people?

“I’d rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I am not.”- Kurt Cobain

I have a crazy, beautiful dream.  God’s Word is clear that he desires that the entire world should hear the good news of Christ.  His Word is equally clear that He desires that no one should suffer severe physical need.  Yet these statistics remain:

People groups in the world: 16,351 - 6.8 billion individuals
People groups in the world still not reached with the gospel: 6,645 - 2.75 billion individuals

Today, over 1 billion people live (and die) in desperate poverty (less than $1 a day).
700 million in slums.
500 million on the verge of starvation.
93 million beggars.
200 million children exploited for labor.
26,000 children today will die due to either starvation or a preventable disease.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James 2:14-17

So… what if, what if… picture this in your mind.  What if God had a grand and wonderful plan to actually accomplish those goals and created a nation, and blessed that nation in such a way that it had the means to comfortably meet all its needs - actually go beyond simply meeting needs but also to live with blessings of physical comforts the world had never previously imagined, AND still have enough left over to bring His good news to every people group on earth.  And then still enough left over to meet the basic need for water, food, and shelter for every child and family on earth.  Really… stop and paint that picture in your mind.  What an incredible thing.  God’s ultimate plan from the foundation of the world, expressed to Abraham and later throughtout the prophets and New Testament… accomplished.  Who knows what that might usher in.  Imagine His joy, imagine the joy in being a part of that.  Imagine the blessing that would be and let your spirit long for the creation of a nation with that kind of wealth.

In case you haven’t realized it, that dream is not a dream.  God does have a plan (or do we presume He is impotent?).  In fact, we see His effort to create that nation and provide that wealth FOR THAT PURPOSE with Abraham and Israel.  But they failed Him.  They lived for themselves and turned from Him and His plan to their own destruction.  And now, we see His plan again.  In person.  It’s us.  There can be no debate that our nation was founded on His principles, and that He has built and prospered this nation.  Prospered us in such a way that statistically, we comfortably… COMFORTABLY, can accomplish the dual goals of bringing His gospel to all the earth and meeting the basic phyical needs of all our neighbors.  I gave statistics on the need, here are some on our wealth:

Average annual American Christian household income: $42,409. This in the top 2.5% of the richest people in the world.
North American Christians give an average of 2.5% of their income to the church.
North American churches given an average of 2% of these funds to missions overseas.
For every $100 a North American Christian makes, we give 5 cents to missions overseas - that’s less than 1% - in fact, it is five one-hundredths of one percent.  God help us.

“Today Christians spend more money on dog food than missions.”
Leonard Ravenhill

Americans spend $40 billion every year on pets.
Americans spend $60 billion every year on weight-loss programs.
Churches spend $10 billion every year on church buildings.
It is estimated that $10 billion could bring clean water to every person on earth.

“In the early 1990s, Americans spent annually twice as much on cut flowers as on overseas Protestant ministries, twice as much on women’s sheer hosiery, one and a half times as much on video games, one and a half times as much on pinball machines, slightly more on the lawn industry, about five times as much on pets, one and a half times as much on skin care, almost one and a half times as much on chewing gum, almost three times as much on swimming pools and accessories, approximately seven times as much on sweets, seventeen times as much on diets and diet-related products, twenty times as much on sports activities, approximately 26 times as much on soft drinks, and a staggering 140 times as much on legalized gambling activities.”
Craig Blomberg

(Statistics from generousgiving.org; joshuaproject.net;globalrichlist.com; compassion.net)

God has a plan.  It is us.  He has done His part.  The “dream” I described ealier is real, already in existence.  However, that is only part of the dream. The rest of my dream is that we will respond by living simply and giving sacrificially.  That we will turn to Him, respond to His commands, and stop living in envy, greed, and self-indulgence.  Unfortunately, that part of my dream remains just that - a dream.  But He is powerful, and He is calling this nation to repentance and wholeness in His plan.  Spread the dream, begin living it.  It can and must become reality.  God, let it be through this nation, this time… don’t let us fail you with the blessings you have given us for this purpose.  Guide us and inspire us, lead us into your ways.

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

Here’s the crux of my point in what has developed into another series:  Jesus’ commands are only crazy if we are living for this world - that is, if our treasures are here rather than in heaven.  If you truly believe that this world is not our home, that our lives, security, comfort, and safety here are meaningless relative to eternity, then where do you invest your time, blood, sweat, tears, and yes - your money?  Do I invest for 20 or 30 years down the road, or do I invest in something that gives eternal returns on my investment?  If I really believe that God’s promises are true, investing anything I value in my own security or comfort on earth for a short and finite time rather than investing for eternity is not only wrong, it is stupid. (loosely plagiarized from David Platt).

The real question is, do we really believe His promises?  I think our thought process and our actions would be very different if we did.  If we really believed heaven is our home and this earth is just a momentary stepping stone on our journey there, His commands would make perfect sense.  My original assertion that His commands are “crazy” would be turned around.  I would say that living like the world lives, focused on our lives and security here - making choices the world would call “wise” and “prudent” with our time and money is actually shortsighted to the point of absolute stupidity.  This is where intellectual honesty comes in again.  If I really, REALLY believed, following His commands would be easy, a complete no-brainer.  That’s where obedience comes in.  Obeidence cannot save me, only grace can do that.  But a lack of obedience, a failure to see the logic in and obey His commands, indicates a much deeper root problem with my heart.

Last time I rambled on and on, I emphasized how “crazy” (and often impossible or near-impossible - at least on our own) Jesus’ instructions were (are).  So if it’s that hard, that radical, that challenging, is the picture of God as a demanding and unreasonable judge accurate?  Is it all really about obligation and sacrifice and suffering?

Easy answer: NO.  If we’re going to ask why Jesus commanded us to do crazy-hard, unorthodox things, maybe we should see if He told us why.  He did. 

John 15:9-11
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

He knows what brings joy.  Our flesh and our intellect does not. So He gave us instructions (commands) that will provide true, complete joy.  We ignore them because we think we know a better way, and we find that the church mirrors society at large in rates of depression, divorce, and every other disfunction connected to unhappiness, discontentment and a lack of true joy.  His crazy-hard commands are actually the path to real joy (or He was wrong, deluded, or a liar).  All for our good.  He did not command us to avoid treasure, He in fact commanded us to pursue treasure.  Treasure that matters.  Treasure that cannot be stolen, lost, or destroyed.  I’m not promoting a life of suffering, I’m trying to find (really, for myself - I’m not there by any measure) and promote an awareness of what I beleive to be the true path to joy and real treasure.

(Fictional editor’s note):  Jim, if you believe that so strongly, why don’t you live it more fully?  Ummm… wish I had an answer.  I don’t.  Let’s work through this together and encourage each other.  I really want KTM to be that kind of community and true support for each of us.  I need all of you to help me, because I am weak on my own.

... OK, that title is debatable.  And as always, I crave dissent, so hit me with your best shots.  I’ve been reconsidering Jesus’ teachings in the past few days in light of the change in perspective I described in my last post.  Not a thorough study, just my thoughts.  It seems to me that there is one overriding theme that seems to fit about all of His direct teachings: they are crazy… completely upside-down and in oposition to “normal” ways people thought and acted.  Read Jesus’ words again in light of a recognition that He is our master and that we should obey without hesitation.

James and John did, when He just sauntered by and casually told them to drop their work and leave their father to do their family work alone.  Do you understand how crazy that was in their society?  They did it without hesitation (I have always wondered what their father thought in that moment).  He told a rich man to sell all he had and give it away.  He told His disciples to take nothing with them - nothing - on an extended trip.  He told a dead man to rise, He told people that a widow’s penny was the most significant gift.  He commanded the masses to give no thought or worry for tomorrow, that calling your brother a fool is equivalent to murder, to follow without saying goodbye to your family - in fact, to hate your family, that He had come not to bring peace - but division, and a sword, that His kingdom is like a mustard seed (mustard was a weed that was a major nuisance in farmers’ fields and almost impossible to eradicate), that those who mourn are blessed, that we must become like little children to enter the kingdom, that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than to be saved, that those who seek to save their lives will lose them, to love our neighbors (defined as those we despise) as ourselves.  Despite that, people were drawn to Him in droves - but when they were, He intentionally pushed them away with teachings He knew they would not understand - such as, you have no place with me unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood (separate yourself from our theology - they did not know of the concept of communion and in their culture and religion, eating human flesh was an absolute taboo).  He was extremely effective at pushing people away, and was followed by only a very small group of devoted followers when He died.

I think this theme is the dominant theme in Jesus’ words.  Words that, in fact, led to the “failure” of His mission - that is, failure if measured by the measures of success we use in our churches and personal lives today.  Measures like peaceful lives, smooth relationship with society, conformity to socials norms and values, large, growing churches, financial success.  In fact, if anyone has time to go through the gospels and count His statements, and mark them as “normal” or “crazy”, my guess is that “crazy” outnumbers “normal” by 2-1 if not more.  As I’ve said before, I’m a big fan of practical applications.  My application for this is that our lives should look crazy to people around us in every setting.  That is NOT what saves us.  What saves us is His cleansing blood and a transformation of our hearts into right standing with God that only He can accomplish.  But if we’ve been transformed, we should be transformed - i.e. truly different.  We should obey - even if the instructions are crazy to everyone around us.  Personally, I don’t think we’re obeying very well.  We’re far too normal. 

I heard a statement today in a David Platt sermon that I’d like us all to ponder.  I haven’t been able to think about anything else since I heard it.  The statement is (paraphrased): “Nowhere in scripture is Jesus referred to as someone’s “personal savior”.  He is referred to by His followers as Lord, Teacher, Master…”

That is really significant.  I realized that, for me, the term personal savior carries connotations similar to “personal trainer”.  That is, He belongs to me, He serves or provides service to me.  It creates no connotation of my absolute duty and service to Him.  No hint that I was purchased at a price, rather than the other way around.  Certainly no hint that He is my master.  I don’t mean to be irreverent, but Lassie could “save” my physical life and I would be grateful, and “owe” her my life in a philosophical way, but I certainly would not serve Lassie or subject my will to hers.  So if my primary relationship to Jesus is that He is my personal savior, I’ve created a nice, neat theological concept of owing my life to him but not real commitment to following Him with absolute surrender and obedience.

Of course, He is my savior.  Of course, He is both the way and means to salvation.  But those are facts - the term of savior, while accurate,  describes part of who he is - but it does not NOT describe my relationship with and to Him.  That relationship is one of master and servant, lord and subject, teacher and pupil, parent and child.  Calling Him Lord or Master rather than personal savior as my primary identification of our relationship immediately changes my outlook and perception of how I must behave.  Maybe I’m just strange (OK, I know I’m strange)  I guess I mean maybe words don’t paint pictures and influence thoughts for most of you the way they do for me.  But this is a powerful thought for me and the simple change in a “label” really shook my perceptions.

I need to do what He tells me to do regardless of the cost.  If I don’t know what that is, I need to take it upon myself to find out.  Jesus is pretty explicit in his instructions - I can start by reading His words in light of my new recognition of our true relationship. 

My final thought (at least for the time being) on the topic of thankfulness, is going to be just that: my thought.  Despite all the scripture and all the evidence around us illustrating the cost of a lack of thankfulness and the benefits of maintaining a thankful attitude, I was left wondering what deep, spiritual/psychological aspect of a thankful heart makes the action of giving thanks so important - so I reached my own conclusion. 

My opinion is this:  unthankfulness is inward-looking, focused on ourselves.  Thankfulness is outward-looking, in its purest and most accurate form - to God, and also to our fellow man.  In a state of thanks and contentment, looking outward to to God and man, we are freed to begin moving toward loving God with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves.  If we are not thankful, our focus is on what we want in an effort to please ourselves.  We certainly aren’t going to look for ways to give substantial help to others - at least not until we get what we want, and our hearts are clearly not set on loving God above all else when our focus is on our desires.

Above all else, we are called to love God with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourself.  Thankfulness, combined with love, are THE critical “tools” that God has provided to make progression along that path possible.  Without it, I do not beleive that even the first step toward fulfilling that dual command is possible.  And remember, this is a command that was central to the message of Jesus, the Old Testament Law, Paul, and James, repeatedly cited by Jesus as the most important command(s).  I’ve asked many times if literal fulfilliment of that command is possible (I don’t think it is, thank God for grace).  But commitment and progression is required.  I am convinced that true, deep thankfulness will free us from the desires of this world and set us on the path toward meeting the greatest commands.  It is crucial.  We must attain it.  God’s plan is so good.  The very thing we must have to meet His greatest commands is the very thing that makes our burden light and brings peace.

I don’t have much time, so I’ll let this speak for itself.  Perhaps not directly on point at first glance, but the heart of this Pensee is all about living in the present, which is at the heart of thankfulness.  It also highlights the effect and ultimate result of a life dominated by yearning for the future rather than contentment (thankfulness) for our present circumstances.

We do not rest satisfied with the present. We anticipate the future as too slow in coming, as if in order to hasten its course; or we recall the past, to stop its too rapid flight. So imprudent are we that we wander in the times which are not ours and do not think of the only one which belongs to us; and so idle are we that we dream of those times which are no more and thoughtlessly overlook that which alone exists. For the present is generally painful to us. We conceal it from our sight, because it troubles us; and, if it be delightful to us, we regret to see it pass away. We try to sustain it by the future and think of arranging matters which are not in our power, for a time which we have no certainty of reaching.

Let each one examine his thoughts, and he will find them all occupied with the past and the future. We scarcely ever think of the present; and if we think of it, it is only to take light from it to arrange the future. The present is never our end. The past and the present are our means; the future alone is our end. So we never live, but we hope to live; and, as we are always preparing to be happy, it is inevitable we should never be so.

This is good stuff, probably the one verse I have held closest to my heart and mind as I have struggled through a past of depression, anxiety, and bitterness (I’m a pretty wretched person in the flesh).  Like I’ve said before, I tend to think spiritual “formulas” are bogus.  But, when the clear reading is a clear promise, and when it just makes this much sense…

Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

This is a formula for true peace, and I believe it will work 100% of the time.  Now… getting to the point were we rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS, and IN EVERYTHING present our requests with thanksgiving, and think ONLY about what is right, pure, lovely… there’s the rub.  That’s not easy and I certainly don’t do it.  At least not always… OK, maybe only rarely do I really do it.  But when I’m in “that place”, I get real peace.  How can I not have real peace if I am rejoicing in the Lord, in thanskgiving knowing that my requests are in the hands of an omnipotent, sovereign, and loving God, with my thoughts on things that are pure, lovely, and praiseworthy?  It’s a no-brainer.

Real peace.  I don’t know about anyone else, but that’s what I really want in this world.  I’ve spent far too much time lacking it.  And THAT’s a formula that works.  All predicated on a thankful heart in a state of praise.

Tomorrow (or perhaps Saturday if I have trouble posting remotely), Thankfulness Part V - a Pensee.