Looking vs Seeing

As I am venturing into the realm of what it takes to be a good photographer, I have come across several articles that speak to looking vs seeing.  It has been stated in several of them that their is actually a big difference.  When you look at something the mind actually takes what information it is given from the eyes and processes it to what you believe you see. However, as we get older more and more of what we "see" is a mixture of what is actually there.  For instance....how many times have you looked for your keys and couldn't find them.  You search all over the house, high and low, looking everywhere you think they could be, just find find out that they are laying on the table.  The mind likes to somewhat play tricks on us.  It saw the table and just put pieces together to form an image of the table in our mind that didn't include the keys even though they were laying on the table.  It did it from its memory.  The less data it has to process the faster and more efficiently it runs, only sometimes that can really make things challenging.

Seeing on the other hand is quite different.  It is taking the time to actually make your mind process all the information it can.  Example:  Find somewhere in your house to sit and just sit there for 5 minutes looking at anything and everything you possibly can.  Look for details you may have missed before.  After those 5 minutes you will see that place in a whole new light.

Photographers often do exercises like this to learn to SEE rather than Look.  Its hard.  It takes time and patience.  On the other hand, you get to enjoy things you may not have seen before.  Things will appear different to you.  In the case of a photographer, he might get a photograph that he would never have thought of taking before.

So what does that have to do with people that aren't looking to take better photos?  Well, its rather simple.  I believe often times we do the same thing with our relationship with God and how we interact with His word.   How many times have you skimmed a story because you have heard it a thousand times. 

Example:  Did you know Jonah, even after being spit out of a large fish, still wanted God to destroy Ninevah?  Did you know a man fell asleep while Paul was preaching and fell out of a third story window?  Did you know that Adam named all the animals before Eve was even created...meaning he was the only human on earth for quite some time?

You see, most of us have been so blinded by "religion" we miss seeing a lot of what is out there, and frankly many pastors preach on the same set of scripture and yet miss some key points that are just on either side of the passage they are preaching from.

In reality, today's blog is just a reminder of why I am blogging in the first place.  I want to see things differently.  I want to take the time and see things the way God sees them.  I don't want to miss all that He has to offer just because I was too busy looking at things the way I always have.

I had a teacher one time who spent every Saturday in a Jewish synagogue because he wanted to see the Bible the same way the writers saw the Bible.  He wanted to understand more than just the Hebrew language...the Greek language.  He wanted to understand the context, the reality of the scripture, and the true meaning behind each verse.  That's a challenge.  Most of us only want to read it through our Christian American glasses.

Why did Jesus cry out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" in Matthew 27:45-46? Did you know that he was actually quoting Psalm 22? Did you know that in their culture many of them had so much scripture memorized that they would quote bits and pieces, but were actually implying the whole passage? Looking at that passage without understanding that would make you think that He actually though God had forsaken him, so that line would seem so far out of place with the relationship God and Jesus had.

Take some time today and really try to see. Stop looking...Start Seeing Change in View

What are we missing?

As I have mentioned before, part of this blog is for me to express what my changes in view are.  Today however, will be a little different.  In my efforts to see things differently, I have began to read through Genesis to really see what it is that I have always overlooked...read through / grazed over....or just plain hadn't learned much about.

I began today reading through chapter 27 and ready through chapter 30.  Its the story of Jacob, who's son most of us have heard about Joseph.

I found it interesting how many things took place in their lives that would be considered so wrong in our day-in-age.  Jacob worked 7 years for his first wife (which he didn't really want and was tricked into), worked an additional 7 years for his second wife (whom he did want), then not only did he end up having kids with both of them, but they both also gave them their servants to him to have kids with as well.  I know there is a lot of societal differences between now and then and we view things so much differently, but this is just something I can't understand.  Hence, why I am wanting to learn more.  I want to learn what God is trying to teach me through this.

Jacob even goes on to basically steal from his Wives father by tricking him and God ends up helping Jacob leave the current circumstances and go on with all the wealth he has accumulated.

This is all so confusing. It is all so wrong in my American eyes. Which ultimately brings me to my point for today.  I am just glad God can see the big picture.  I am glad He is in control.  I am glad that vengence is His and that His ways are not my ways.  So much came out of the Joseph. Without all of what Jacob went through and delt with, Joseph wouldn't have been in the situation he was put in (which by the way I can see why there was so much sibling rivalry here) and then save so many from dieing.  All I can say is WOW!

Now, just because I accept this doesn't mean I shouldn't try to view the story from a different way to.  I will be doing my research and trying to find what else God is sharing through this story.  I know I am missing so much just because I know God wouldn't put it in the bible if it wasn't important to His story.

Oh how I wish I could see as HE sees!  We are so blind sometimes.

Abraham Genesis 22

The story of Abraham and Isaac is ever so popular.  Ask any body who has been in church much as a child and I'm certain they would know the story.  However, I think as adults we should examine the story because as a kid, we see things totally different.

As I read through the story today, I was reminded of my own personal walk with Christ.  Not that I am like Abraham by any means.

Araham went through a large portion of his life wanting a son.  He wanted a son so much that he was willing to listen to poor advice and have one with another woman even after God told him he would have a son.

I can only imagine what this is like, but it makes me wonder what in my life have I done, that I did my own way, that was not what God had planned for me.  How has that affected where I am now?  How much pain has that caused that I have yet to see?

(hat's not the point of this blog...but something to think about none-the-less)

As we know, Abraham did end of having a son with his wife, and then after several years go buy he is asked to sacrifice his son.  I can't imagine what that would be like.  Would I be willing to sacrifice my own son just to proove my love for God?  I think it goes beyond that though.  I think God knew how much Isaac meant to Abraham and wanted to see if he would hold anything back from Him.  Would I be willing to do that?  What has God asked me to give up in my life...to turn over as a sacrifice to God?  Have I been willing.  Have I held on to it and said "ah...nah...this means to much to me." 

I know there are a lot of other variables and lessons we can learn from this, but it just really makes me think about what I may have missed that was part of God's plan because I spent too much time thinking about what I wanted and thinking I knew more than He did.  Abraham said, "God will provide"  Do I believe that.....Do I REALLY believe that? 

To that, I agree with the man in Mark 9:24. "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief"

Abraham

In my quest to find clarity, I have began to read through the bible...starting with Genesis.  Yes, I know most people don't recommend this, but I want to see God in a new way.  I want to see Him as the scriptures say, rather than others interpretations.  Which is rather hard seing as a lot of what it says needs to be put in a Jewish filter just to understand what the significance really is.

Today, however, is not necissarily one of those times.  In reading the stories of Abraham, it is easy to identify with him.  He is often scared of death, what others might do, believing what God tells him, and being willing to be patient.  I think we all deal with that from time to time.  Yet, it never ceases to amaze me that God never leaves him.  He comes back to him time and time again even in the midst of trying to do things his own way, God is still there.  One thing is evident though, they do have a relationship. 

I believe this portion of Genesis paints a beautiful picture of how deep our relationship with God really should be.  He is able to openly speak to God about how he cares for people and begs God not to kill those who happen to live in the wrong place and the wrong time.  He laughs when God tells him he is going to have a son through Sarah.  Yet, through his relationship he continues to learn more about who God is and eventually gets to where he believes so much in God's justice that he is willing to sacrifice his son to stay in relationship with him. 

This story is ever so comforting to me, just knowing that even though I might sometimes question God, find it hard to believe what He is telling me, or commit a sin against Him, that ultimatly what is important is that I have a relationship with Him.  

I challenge you to read through the story of Abraham and really look for how many times he commits what we consider to be a sin against God and yet, there God is, talking to him, challenging him, teaching him how to change.

 

Thou Shalt Not Lie

The other night, my brother and I went to see Tim Hawkins. (For those of you that might not know who he is, he is a christian commedian....check him out on youtube.)  During the show it started to amaze me how much we were just laughing at the truth. He wasn't really making a whole lot up, he was just pointing out the truth.  It made me wonder.  What makes this really funny.  Yes, I know, presentation is everything, but still its interesting.  Could it be that the reason it is funny is because we are often too scared to speak the truth?  Thank about it.  When was the last time that you bent the truth, told a little white lie.  Many of us do it every day.  Someone asks us how we are doing and we say good, not too bad, or great.  How often though, have we considered answering with the truth.  I heard another commedian a while back say that he likes to tell the waitress at the restraunt he is doing terrible when they ask, just to see if they are listening and what they would do if they heard someone say that.  Its the truth though.  Sometimes we are doing terrible. 

I wonder how much different life would be if we spoke the way God intended. I mean, He did tell us not to lie, right?  Or was that just a suggestion?

The way I see it, God told us not to lie, because it helps our relationships.  Sure it might cause a little pain at first or let you hear something you didn't want to hear.  (I say this because this is used so much) Think about it, "Honey, do you like this dress?"  "No...not really" Not necissarily something you wanted to hear, but before long that honestly will spill over into other parts of life and the two will really get to know each other. 

I think so many people really just want to be known, but are so scared of it. We spend so much time hiding so that no one knows who we are and then wonder why we feel so alone. 

Anyway, this is all easier said that done, but can you imagine what life would be like?  How much closer we would all be?  How much more we could be like Jesus?

Your Tower of Babel

Genesis 11:1-9

Recently, I have decided I want to read the bible in a whole new way.  I want to read it as if it were the first time I have read it, and try to forget much of what I have been taught and try to find out what it really means. Try to look at it beyond what my American eyes let me see.  In doing so I came across a story that I have heard so many times. 

You see, the guys in the story wanted to create something for themselves....to make a name for themselves....they didn't want to be forgotten.   Not only that they wanted the tower to be a symbol of who they were and to help them stay close and not spread out throughout the world.  (Which is what God told Noah and his sons to be fruitful and multiply to fill the whole earth) 

I wonder how many times we do this.  We want to make a name for ourselves, we want to be remembered, we want to be recognized.  In reality, God has bigger plans in store.  He knows there is so much more for us, but we are too busy doing what we want.  Trying to seek the approval of men, the recognition of men, and the honor that comes with it. So many times we even do it in the midst of ministry.  We try to build the biggest ministry, the best ministry, the one that gets the most recognition, but that is not what God had planned.

You see, God had other plans and so until this point, sometimes I wondered why God would want to confuse people.  I wondered why he wouldn't want men to be able to do anything they set their mind to.  It says that He saw that they could do anything and He went down and confused them by making them all speak different languages.  That just seems like it would complicate all that He is trying to accomplish in us.

I have come to an understanding that again, His ways are not our ways.  He knew what he was doing.  He had to make these people go through a time of not relying on each other but rather would realize they didn't need to make a name for themselves.  He already knew their name and nothing else matters.   I am certian through the confusion many learned so much more how much they depend on God for so many things.  I know many times in my life I have been so confused as to what to do next and God has always been there to help me through. 

I believe He allows things to come our way, especially when we are going our own way, to help us realize we are missing the point.  It is not about making a name for ourselves.  It is not about getting recognition.  It is not about who we are, but rather who He is. What He has done. 

It's so hard to live like that.

Living "Naked and Unashamed"

  ^{Genesis 2:25 - "}And they are both of them naked, the man and his wife, and they are not ashamed of themselves."

There are so many things that can be taken from this passage, but after reading one of my favorite authors Donald Millers' "Seaching for God knows what," it became clear to me that this is yet another poitn we have been missing.  In American society, we care constantly bombarded in different ways telling us that we need to be "independent."  What this often tells us is that we can't share our real selves with other people because we need to keep our problems to ourselves.  Now, I don't think we need to go around sharing our problems with everyone or just blasting problem after problem, (people will think we are just a bunch of complainers) but I do think we need to be open and available to share our struggles with those God has asked us to. 

So often in our lives we don't want to share our "feelings", our "thoughts", our our pain with other people.  We are affraid.  I got corrected one time for saying it this way, but I believe that one of Satans best methods of controlling us is making us feel like we are alone.  Don't get me wrong when I say this, because I don't think Satan actually has the power to control us, but rather he lays the options out there in an inticing manor and we make our choice.  When we feel like we are alone in what we struggle with, we lose a lot.  We lose friendships that could have been, we lose relationships that are, and we lose oportunities God has brought before us to help other people.

Pick any problem you have, anything you struggle with, any sin you think you can hide and I guarantee you that there is someone close by dealing with the same thing.  Dealing with the same thoughts, struggling just like you, wanting to change.  What if you just took the time to open up to them? 

God created us to be open, available, and unashamed of who we are.  Through the fall of man, we immediatly became ashamed of who we are.  Its been something we have all strugled with.  Why not break that cycle and be willing to let people see who you are.  When you come through on the other side refreshed and renewed you can begin being that person who can listen to people and be that hope for someone else.

Do you think God didn't create us to share how we feel. Share our deepest secrets.  Share our pain and sufferings.  Search for it on the internet and you will find sites that let you post thoughts, feelings, things you have done so that others can read.  Posting these things give us a sense of freedom.  Freedom from feeling like we are the only ones.  Freedom from feeling like we have to hold it all in and deal with it yourself. 

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom.  God says where two or more are gathered in His name there he will be also.  His spirit will be there and you will be free.  Free to be real, Free to be who you are, Free to be "Naked and unashamed"

Proverbs 3:1-12

¹¹ My son, do not forget my teaching,
   but keep my commands in your heart,
² for they will prolong your life many years
   and bring you peace and prosperity.

 ³ Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
   bind them around your neck,
   write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name
   in the sight of God and man.

 ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
   and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
   and he will make your paths straight.

 ⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
   fear the LORD and shun evil.
⁸ This will bring health to your body
   and nourishment to your bones.

 ⁹ Honor the LORD with your wealth,
   with the firstfruits of all your crops;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
   and your vats will brim over with new wine.

 ¹¹ My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline,
   and do not resent his rebuke,
¹² because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
   as a father the son he delights in.

My heart has really been hurting lately.  I know its because of my relationship with God has been suffering.  It hurts because I want to do what he wants, but I have found myself not caring for people like I used to.  It has become a job to love others and want to take care of them, and I am consistently looking for others to help me decide what ways we need to show love rather than being so in tune with the Spirit that I am connected and sense what God has for me.

I have been sensing this all for a while, but it really hit me this past week when a terrible tornado went through Joplin, MO.  My wife asked me if I felt like I should go help, and my response was no.  The truth is, I didn't even think about it.  My heart didn't go there.  I was too concerned with everything else going on in my life that I forgot what it is really all about.

So in reading this passage this morning it really hit me when it said

¹My son, do not forget my teaching,  ³ Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

The love I once had for people has become so overwhelmingly covered up by the "duties" I have to perform.  My life has become so filled with things to get done and lists to do and people to please that my sight of what really is important has been lost.  I have become one of "those" people who care more about life than what God has planned.

That is why the second part of this is so important. To me its a promise.  He says hang on to these things and you will be where God wants you to be.  Mess it up and God will discipline you, but trust the discipline, he knows what he is doing.  He knows how to take care of you.  He is doing what is best for you.

A while back while searching for what to do I read:

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. ⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. ⁸ This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

it hit me... my hesitation is because it doesn't make sense to me.  I guess it is time to just submit to him and let him show me HIS path and quit trying to follow my own.  I need God's health in my body and his nourishment to my bones....without it, I'm just one step closer to the end.

John 14:1-4

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. ²"In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.³"If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴"And you know the way where I am going."

As I was reading this this morning, it hit me.  Over the past year, I have been so worried about the now.  The past months have even been worse.  With the possible loss of my steady income, and not knowing what will become of my pastoral job based on circumstances out of my control, I have been running scarred.  I want to provide for my family.  I want to take care of them.  I want to give them what they want...what they need.  I just don't have the time to give anymore.  I don't have the strength to give anymore.

That's where this verse comes in...the now doesn't really matter.  What matters is what is coming.  I don't need to worry.  I don't need to get stressed.  I just need to let go and let God....be God.  Why have I taken so much responsibility and control over something that is his?  Why can I not trust him?  Hasn't he led me to the place I am now?  Hasn't he brought me through so many tough times before.

How do you get to a place where you can (pardon the phrase) fully rely on God?  That shall be my endeavor over the next who knows how long.  Giving it back to him.  Releasing what I have into his hands and making it his.  How am I gonna do it?  Well....first start by doing what I preach and giving him time.  Yes, I know I said I have no more time, but I have to give him first all my time.  Let him decide how much time and I have, and see where things go.  If you are reading this, and I know really no body does right now, pray for me.  I need it.