At some point I want to speak more to this and a few misconceptions the "church" has been teaching for quite some time. Until I can find the right words to say, here is a short video on a couple camps that many people have fallen victim to.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Idolize
This past Sunday, Mark Driscoll shared a thought in his sermon that I found very interesting.
"If you idolize, you will demonize. The great American theologian Jonathan Edwards articulated this, if you idolize your job, eventually you’ll demonize your job, you’ll hate it. If you idolize your spouse, eventually you will demonize your spouse and hate them."
As I was thinking about that concept last night as I was putting my kids to bed and began to wonder if we as parents often teach our kids to idolize things....maybe even us.
I've heard story after story after story about people who are deeply hurt by their parents and spend a large piece of their life learning how to heal. I know there are all sorts of reasons for this, but could one be that children often idolize their parents and when their parents fail and make mistakes instead of teaching the kids that parents fail and make mistakes too, we often continue life like we didn't. I don't really know if that has a whole lot of bearing on their view of us, but I do know a lot of kids and even adults that spend their lives trying to please their parents and that their parents have become their idol (god).
In a similar since, I wonder how many of us as parents show our kids how to worship idols rather than the one true God. I know my kids pay close attention to what I do (and don't do) and as I look at my life and things that can easily be an idol in my life (money, self, etc...), I know they notice that as well.
I don't know how many times over the years God has had to teach me about not letting money become an idol for me. I wouldn't necessarily say that I worship money, but I certainly worry about not having any from time to time. My thoughts move from seeing where God is providing to seeing what I feel like I am lacking. I am now longer worshiping God, because I am too distracted by a lack of money. Kids are so aware, I know they pick up on that. Not only that, but they don't see me worshiping God.
When I think about the idea of idolizing things and not worshiping God, I realize how hard it can really be to be a good reflection of Christ. I think it is important for us as parents to realize this and be aware of how our lives are being reflected to the lives of our children. Let your kid know you are not "god," but that you too are trying to worship the one true God and you will fail. When you fail, apologize, point them to God, and worship the creator together.
"If you idolize, you will demonize. The great American theologian Jonathan Edwards articulated this, if you idolize your job, eventually you’ll demonize your job, you’ll hate it. If you idolize your spouse, eventually you will demonize your spouse and hate them."
As I was thinking about that concept last night as I was putting my kids to bed and began to wonder if we as parents often teach our kids to idolize things....maybe even us.
I've heard story after story after story about people who are deeply hurt by their parents and spend a large piece of their life learning how to heal. I know there are all sorts of reasons for this, but could one be that children often idolize their parents and when their parents fail and make mistakes instead of teaching the kids that parents fail and make mistakes too, we often continue life like we didn't. I don't really know if that has a whole lot of bearing on their view of us, but I do know a lot of kids and even adults that spend their lives trying to please their parents and that their parents have become their idol (god).
In a similar since, I wonder how many of us as parents show our kids how to worship idols rather than the one true God. I know my kids pay close attention to what I do (and don't do) and as I look at my life and things that can easily be an idol in my life (money, self, etc...), I know they notice that as well.
I don't know how many times over the years God has had to teach me about not letting money become an idol for me. I wouldn't necessarily say that I worship money, but I certainly worry about not having any from time to time. My thoughts move from seeing where God is providing to seeing what I feel like I am lacking. I am now longer worshiping God, because I am too distracted by a lack of money. Kids are so aware, I know they pick up on that. Not only that, but they don't see me worshiping God.
When I think about the idea of idolizing things and not worshiping God, I realize how hard it can really be to be a good reflection of Christ. I think it is important for us as parents to realize this and be aware of how our lives are being reflected to the lives of our children. Let your kid know you are not "god," but that you too are trying to worship the one true God and you will fail. When you fail, apologize, point them to God, and worship the creator together.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Though you slay me...
In the book of Job, Job says "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him." How many of us can really truly say that. That regardless of what happens in our lives we still can find out hope in Jesus?
Our church has been going through a small group series on the importance of our story. The culmination of the series was that our stories are all part of God's story and that there are pieces of our lives that are painful, but are important to our story and to God's story and what He is trying to do in peoples lives.
As I was listening to a newer song by Shane and Shane, I came across this video that very much speaks to that idea. I think it is when we come to say, "Though you slay me God, my hope is still in you," we can truly be free from so many chains that bind us from truth and can truly begin to live the life God has called us to.
Our church has been going through a small group series on the importance of our story. The culmination of the series was that our stories are all part of God's story and that there are pieces of our lives that are painful, but are important to our story and to God's story and what He is trying to do in peoples lives.
As I was listening to a newer song by Shane and Shane, I came across this video that very much speaks to that idea. I think it is when we come to say, "Though you slay me God, my hope is still in you," we can truly be free from so many chains that bind us from truth and can truly begin to live the life God has called us to.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
It's a challenge
I've been dealing with an inner struggle for quite some time now. There have been times when it has been quite crippling to my relationship with God and other times when I feel like I have managed it well. However, while in this particular instance it is my struggle, I think we all face something similar at one time or another.
The struggle I am speaking of is one in which we deal with someone in leadership who doesn't seem fit for the position. For many of you reading, it could be as easy to identify as looking at a president and saying I like this one and not that one or vice-versa. There are many many other places in our lives where this can also be true, but I can only imagine we all do deal with it from time to time.
As I have been on this journey for answers, I came across a sermon yesterday from a favorite pastor/speaker of mine Francis Chan. He was actually speaking to being slow to speak and slow to anger and how that can relate to our "stress" and anxiety. As he was speaking to the concept of not worrying about things and remembering God is in control he ventured over to the story of David and pulled a few pieces of David's story out that very much struck me as an opportunity to try and figure out what God is wanting to teach me.
If you know David's story you should be able to follow along pretty well. If not, grab a Bible and check it out. It is quite interesting.
At one point in David's life, he spent a great deal of time hiding from king Saul. At least twice, God allowed him to get into the position where David or his men could have easily killed Saul and ended the suffering and hiding and yet both times David prevented his men from harming Saul. Not only that, but in both instances he made it clear to Saul that he could have killed him, but didn't. Both times, Saul thanked David for sparing his life and spoke of how much more righteous David was than he. The reason David didn't harm him is because David said that God had anointed Saul and made him king, and it was not his job to remove him even though David had been anointed as was going to be the next king.
David respected Saul's position even though he knew Saul was not following God. He understood that God had placed him in that position and could easily remove him if He so willed. The part that really got to me was how often we really don't see things that way. We see things from a standpoint that if someone isn't qualified, God must not want them there while it could easily be that God does want them there and wants to teach His people something they need to understand.
It's a hard place to be and I don't know how David did it. I know it is a constant struggle for me, but I have to learn to find peace in the fact that God is in control and that God knows what He is doing even if I can't understand. It's not an easy lesson to learn and certainly not an easy lesson to practice.
Maybe there is an area in your life where you struggle with someone that is in leadership or authority. How easy is it for you to trust God knows what He is doing?
The struggle I am speaking of is one in which we deal with someone in leadership who doesn't seem fit for the position. For many of you reading, it could be as easy to identify as looking at a president and saying I like this one and not that one or vice-versa. There are many many other places in our lives where this can also be true, but I can only imagine we all do deal with it from time to time.
As I have been on this journey for answers, I came across a sermon yesterday from a favorite pastor/speaker of mine Francis Chan. He was actually speaking to being slow to speak and slow to anger and how that can relate to our "stress" and anxiety. As he was speaking to the concept of not worrying about things and remembering God is in control he ventured over to the story of David and pulled a few pieces of David's story out that very much struck me as an opportunity to try and figure out what God is wanting to teach me.
If you know David's story you should be able to follow along pretty well. If not, grab a Bible and check it out. It is quite interesting.
At one point in David's life, he spent a great deal of time hiding from king Saul. At least twice, God allowed him to get into the position where David or his men could have easily killed Saul and ended the suffering and hiding and yet both times David prevented his men from harming Saul. Not only that, but in both instances he made it clear to Saul that he could have killed him, but didn't. Both times, Saul thanked David for sparing his life and spoke of how much more righteous David was than he. The reason David didn't harm him is because David said that God had anointed Saul and made him king, and it was not his job to remove him even though David had been anointed as was going to be the next king.
David respected Saul's position even though he knew Saul was not following God. He understood that God had placed him in that position and could easily remove him if He so willed. The part that really got to me was how often we really don't see things that way. We see things from a standpoint that if someone isn't qualified, God must not want them there while it could easily be that God does want them there and wants to teach His people something they need to understand.
It's a hard place to be and I don't know how David did it. I know it is a constant struggle for me, but I have to learn to find peace in the fact that God is in control and that God knows what He is doing even if I can't understand. It's not an easy lesson to learn and certainly not an easy lesson to practice.
Maybe there is an area in your life where you struggle with someone that is in leadership or authority. How easy is it for you to trust God knows what He is doing?
Monday, September 23, 2013
Real - Story
I've shared this video before, but in light of many things going on lately I thought I would share it again. As a church and as small groups at our church, we have been talking about our story and how important it is in the overall story of God. I think this song really speaks to how a lot of people feel, even if they aren't ready yet.
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