Deliverance is a *snapping fingers* moment. But if I never walk away from that which I have been delivered from, I am never truly free.
When the Israelites were freed from the oppressive bondage of slavery, Pharaoh's words extended freedom to them in an instant. They went from a people of captivity to those who could rejoice in unrestricted liberty. BUT, if they would have chosen to remain in Egypt, working for Pharaoh, even if they were technically free, they would have remained a people of slavery. It was in the action of walking away from bondage that they became the freed people the Father intended them to be.
As of now, I am delivered. Yes, I am set free from the bondage of slavery to unforgiveness and anger. But, every day, every moment, is a conscience choice to move away from the area of that which had enslaved me. I choose to put away thoughts of malice and contempt and walk in the freedom of the Lord. The further I walk, the deeper I enter into the liberty of Abba.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Out With the Old... But Wait! Keep Their Stuff...
Retro is IN. Old is new in today's hip culture. Vintage EVERYTHING. And if it isn't vintage, at least it looks like it is. We obsess over our Grandparent's sweaters, mom's hippie attire, and dad's skin tight jeans from the 70's (which we USED to think were SO lame...). We listen to records on our record players (even though we have access to the greater music quality and quantity on our Ipods). We read old and worn copies of books (instead of buying the same ones brand new). I even had a bicycle that was my Great-Grandmothers and of course, it was a hit with the culture moguls. Modern is ironically becoming a regurgitation of old styles.
What interests me about this new trend is that while our culture is obsessed with old THINGS, it rejects the people and the values of the same eras. This same hipster generation that buys old, broken furniture in the name of vintage has been built upon a foundation of rebellion against "old" principles and standards. The hip movement bases its entire existence on a "we want to do things our own way" and a "screw authority" mentality. The values that carried our forefathers are no longer "cool" to stand by. But, their stuff is rad.
I'm concerned with the culture as a whole but I'm more concerned with the seeds this type of thinking is sowing into our next generation of Christ followers. This attitude not only rejects simple principle (such as respecting parents) but is beginning to reject foundational biblical values. For example, it is now acceptable to support gay marriage and abortion as a professed Christian in the name of "21st century culture." Being pro-life is only for old, right winged, stiff collared people. (FALSE!)
Proverbs 4 calls out to the younger generation to take heed of a (physical and spiritual) Father's counsel.
1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,
“Take hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.”
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.
We will not survive if we do not embrace the ones who have gone ahead of us. We must learn from their wisdom, not reject it. Biblical values do not "go out of date."
C.S. Lewis expressing his frustration this way:
"I have some definite views about the de-Christianizing of the church. I believe that there are many accommodating preachers, and too many practitioners in the church who are not believers. Jesus Christ did not say “Go into all the world and tell the world that it is quite right.” The Gospel is something completely different. In fact, it is directly opposed to the world."
I'm with Clive on this one...
What interests me about this new trend is that while our culture is obsessed with old THINGS, it rejects the people and the values of the same eras. This same hipster generation that buys old, broken furniture in the name of vintage has been built upon a foundation of rebellion against "old" principles and standards. The hip movement bases its entire existence on a "we want to do things our own way" and a "screw authority" mentality. The values that carried our forefathers are no longer "cool" to stand by. But, their stuff is rad.
I'm concerned with the culture as a whole but I'm more concerned with the seeds this type of thinking is sowing into our next generation of Christ followers. This attitude not only rejects simple principle (such as respecting parents) but is beginning to reject foundational biblical values. For example, it is now acceptable to support gay marriage and abortion as a professed Christian in the name of "21st century culture." Being pro-life is only for old, right winged, stiff collared people. (FALSE!)
Proverbs 4 calls out to the younger generation to take heed of a (physical and spiritual) Father's counsel.
1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,
“Take hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.”
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.
We will not survive if we do not embrace the ones who have gone ahead of us. We must learn from their wisdom, not reject it. Biblical values do not "go out of date."
C.S. Lewis expressing his frustration this way:
"I have some definite views about the de-Christianizing of the church. I believe that there are many accommodating preachers, and too many practitioners in the church who are not believers. Jesus Christ did not say “Go into all the world and tell the world that it is quite right.” The Gospel is something completely different. In fact, it is directly opposed to the world."
I'm with Clive on this one...
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Gardening 101
I am the seed
HE is the water
The earth is the soil in which I've been planted.
Without Him, I am useless.
With Him, I grow.
Amen.
(Hosea 6, Psalm 65, Psalm 1)
HE is the water
The earth is the soil in which I've been planted.
Without Him, I am useless.
With Him, I grow.
Amen.
(Hosea 6, Psalm 65, Psalm 1)
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Words.
Until I have something more insightful to write about, these are the new words I've learned while reading my latest book:
Fortuitous- happening by accident or chance rather than design
Dubious- hesitating and doubting
Itinerant- traveling from place to place
Zeitgeist- the defining spirit of mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time
Insidious- proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects
Mollify- appease the anger or anxiety of (someone)
Kitsch- art, objects, or designs considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garnishes or sentimentality but sometimes appreciated is an ironic or knowing way
Ubiquity- present, appearing, or found everywhere
Eschews- deliberately avoids using; abstain from
Maudlin- self-pitying or tearfully sentimental, often through drunkenness
Burgeon- begin to grow or increase rapidly, flourish
Sadism- the tendency to derive pleasure from inflecting pain on others
Erudite- having or showing great knowledge or learning
Evocative- bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind
My favorite find was zeitgeist. I thought it was a really interesting word and definition.
I love learning. The end.
Fortuitous- happening by accident or chance rather than design
Dubious- hesitating and doubting
Itinerant- traveling from place to place
Zeitgeist- the defining spirit of mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time
Insidious- proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects
Mollify- appease the anger or anxiety of (someone)
Kitsch- art, objects, or designs considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garnishes or sentimentality but sometimes appreciated is an ironic or knowing way
Ubiquity- present, appearing, or found everywhere
Eschews- deliberately avoids using; abstain from
Maudlin- self-pitying or tearfully sentimental, often through drunkenness
Burgeon- begin to grow or increase rapidly, flourish
Sadism- the tendency to derive pleasure from inflecting pain on others
Erudite- having or showing great knowledge or learning
Evocative- bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind
My favorite find was zeitgeist. I thought it was a really interesting word and definition.
I love learning. The end.
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