As mentioned, I was going to try to author another entry prior to Easter Sunday and I have been praying about what aspect of the bible to highlight. The passage that came to mind was Luke 15. I was reflecting about that while the moment of God's saving power being displayed on the cross was a grim moment indeed as most people would agree on, however, it was also beautiful in the sense that it was the moment that Christ most related to us. Similar to another passage I read the other day:
29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. [Phillipians 1:29-30, NIV]
I have tried to follow in the Paul's example [1 Corinthians 11:1] in two main aspects in my life, mainly to Phillipians 4:11-14 the two aspects of Paul's life that I very much can relate to in my own life, suffering and singleness. Right now I might even be experiencing the 2 Corinthians 2:17 regarding my ongoing groin pain(s), yet I try to see this too as just another way I can potentially rejoice in partaking in some of the suffering of the body of Christ.
Can't believe I had to 'Boogle' (Biblegateway.com search) that first verse from 1 Cor 11, guess I wasn't really paying enough attention while partaking in communion yesterday and only reading the latter half of the chapter to reflect before incidentally our Pastor also decided to read v. 23-26 I believe were the verses she chose.
Anyways, back to Luke 15, aside from the entire idea of Christ being lost to the Father that moment on the cross [Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34], I am also reflecting on how people often ask about whether you relate to the 'older son' or the 'younger son' in Luke 15:11-31 and I think about how a lot of Christ's other parallels, he typically only uses the word 'son' to refer to Himself and this is a good passage to remind us that part of Christ's ability to sympathize with our weaknesses included an ability to be tempted [Matthew 4, Luke 4, Hebrews 4:15]. And I would say given what I personally believe on Christ's omnipresence and omniscience that Jesus can relate to both the 'older son' and 'younger son' in this passage. Furthermore this passage is also a good illustration of exactly the kind of grace the power of the crucifixion and resurrection offers us [Luke 15:32], being bought from a life of death back into the full life we are meant to have [John 10:10]. Lastly this 'salvation' isn't just for people who are not yet following in the example of Christ as per the context of a parallel of being an 'older son or younger son', but for all of us, note the present tense of "being made holy" in Hebrews 10:14 and what Paul says about his own salvation in passages like Philippians 1:3-11, Philippians 3:12-14.
"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow, to attain the resurrection from the dead" [Phillipians 3:10-11]
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. [Hebrews 11:39-40]
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Why do you call that Friday 'Good'?
As Easter approaches, I have been planning to yet again to update this blog. Originally, I had a different title in mind: "the sack of rice" (rhymes with sacrifice). But given the recent circumstance, I definitely do not want to be sadistic and come off as making light of the present situation. If there's anything I've learned is that text is a bad delivery system for humor, especially when you're not intending to be humorous or you are and the other person isn't aware.
I am at a loss of some of the original words I had intended to type into this blog entry as all I can recall is it likely has to do with Christ's sacrifice for others but also a follow up to some of the other topics I have been blogging about recently I think, namely loving others and making sacrifices consistent with the character of Christ.
But before we can get into that, let's once again return to the middle of the 'meat' that is Easter and talk about Christ' situation and meaning behind "Good Friday", 'what is 'so good about it?' these other topics and hopefully I'll post a follow up entry on "Black Saturday", yes I just coined a new holiday. It is namely I want to give people time and space to 'focus' on some of the things behind the meaning of Easter. I recall another point I wanted to make had to do with Christ's suffering on the cross I believe not only encompasses the 'weight of sin' at that moment, but also the 'weight of the consequences of those sins' as well which is not something we often consider when we look at the Easter narrative. However, I would like to assert here that perhaps the author of Hebrews, in Hebrews 6:4-8 is giving a stern warning that those who are not yet living in realization of the consequences of sin aren't really truly alive in the love and light of Christ to begin with. So what I really love and take away from all of this, is that no matter what I'm going through, the kind of pain I'm experiencing, the trials I face, the crosses I bear, I know that Christ has already bore it all for me that moment on the cross and continues to stir up in my heart hope for seeing this light again in the midst of the darkness I often perceive when going through tough things in this life.
4. You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless
and I am pure in your sight.’
5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak,
that he would open his lips against you
6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,
for true wisdom has two sides.
Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.
I have also been re-reading some of the biblical passages surrounding Christ's death and once interesting thing to note is that Jesus already predicts people 'pretending to be him' prior to his death and resurrection according to the order of events in Mark 13 and Matthew 24 even though most people perceive this to be a "foretelling", I have learned in theology classes all scripture contains a "forth telling" component' as well. This used to be a huge psychological fear of mine, that I was in fact the anti-Christ due to how much of Christ was seen to be emulated by me or attributed by others when they say things like "I see Christ in you." I now know this type of reasoning is not of God as why would God want me to reason being too much like Christ is 'dangerous'? In fact we as Christians should take ownership, humility (based on the Christian definition of this term) and rejoice in Christ's transforming grace and power to become more like him/Jesus; also for the record 'it is NOT crazy to think of yourself as being LIKE Jesus Christ'. =) Perhaps Christ's concern here is mainly that people will grow impatient or doubtful (like Peter did in the 'roster crowing denial story') of Christ's return that they will start to pretend to be Christ before Christ is resurrected in order to give people hope in a time when it seems all hope is lost. So it is of no coincidence then, in the following chapter of Matthew 25 that Christ talks about various ways of growing our faith in him, while waiting for his return, even if the meaning of these parables wasn't as apparent to his target audience at the time. And not just 'waiting', but what constitutes as 'meaningful waiting' versus waiting that bears no fruit (note the use of the word "seed" in verse 24 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?earch=Matthew+25&version=NIV). Most importantly, do not forget the most beautiful quality of being like Jesus is that we like him, are already risen and will continue to 'rise' (see 1 Corinthians 15). It's definitely a "good" thing to know and eventually develop the wisdom to experience.
I am at a loss of some of the original words I had intended to type into this blog entry as all I can recall is it likely has to do with Christ's sacrifice for others but also a follow up to some of the other topics I have been blogging about recently I think, namely loving others and making sacrifices consistent with the character of Christ.
But before we can get into that, let's once again return to the middle of the 'meat' that is Easter and talk about Christ' situation and meaning behind "Good Friday", 'what is 'so good about it?' these other topics and hopefully I'll post a follow up entry on "Black Saturday", yes I just coined a new holiday. It is namely I want to give people time and space to 'focus' on some of the things behind the meaning of Easter. I recall another point I wanted to make had to do with Christ's suffering on the cross I believe not only encompasses the 'weight of sin' at that moment, but also the 'weight of the consequences of those sins' as well which is not something we often consider when we look at the Easter narrative. However, I would like to assert here that perhaps the author of Hebrews, in Hebrews 6:4-8 is giving a stern warning that those who are not yet living in realization of the consequences of sin aren't really truly alive in the love and light of Christ to begin with. So what I really love and take away from all of this, is that no matter what I'm going through, the kind of pain I'm experiencing, the trials I face, the crosses I bear, I know that Christ has already bore it all for me that moment on the cross and continues to stir up in my heart hope for seeing this light again in the midst of the darkness I often perceive when going through tough things in this life.
4. You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless
and I am pure in your sight.’
5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak,
that he would open his lips against you
6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,
for true wisdom has two sides.
Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.
7 “Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do?
They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know?
9 Their measure is longer than the earth
and wider than the sea. [Job 11:4-9]
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do?
They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know?
9 Their measure is longer than the earth
and wider than the sea. [Job 11:4-9]
I have also been re-reading some of the biblical passages surrounding Christ's death and once interesting thing to note is that Jesus already predicts people 'pretending to be him' prior to his death and resurrection according to the order of events in Mark 13 and Matthew 24 even though most people perceive this to be a "foretelling", I have learned in theology classes all scripture contains a "forth telling" component' as well. This used to be a huge psychological fear of mine, that I was in fact the anti-Christ due to how much of Christ was seen to be emulated by me or attributed by others when they say things like "I see Christ in you." I now know this type of reasoning is not of God as why would God want me to reason being too much like Christ is 'dangerous'? In fact we as Christians should take ownership, humility (based on the Christian definition of this term) and rejoice in Christ's transforming grace and power to become more like him/Jesus; also for the record 'it is NOT crazy to think of yourself as being LIKE Jesus Christ'. =) Perhaps Christ's concern here is mainly that people will grow impatient or doubtful (like Peter did in the 'roster crowing denial story') of Christ's return that they will start to pretend to be Christ before Christ is resurrected in order to give people hope in a time when it seems all hope is lost. So it is of no coincidence then, in the following chapter of Matthew 25 that Christ talks about various ways of growing our faith in him, while waiting for his return, even if the meaning of these parables wasn't as apparent to his target audience at the time. And not just 'waiting', but what constitutes as 'meaningful waiting' versus waiting that bears no fruit (note the use of the word "seed" in verse 24 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?earch=Matthew+25&version=NIV). Most importantly, do not forget the most beautiful quality of being like Jesus is that we like him, are already risen and will continue to 'rise' (see 1 Corinthians 15). It's definitely a "good" thing to know and eventually develop the wisdom to experience.
Sunday, March 18, 2018
"Now we're talking....." [the Joker to Harvey Dent]
Earlier, my local Pastor started a new theme of "God is love" as opposed to my initial guess of "Christ has risen" would be the theme surrounding the weeks leading up to Easter. God is love does emphasize God's humility rather than power in the Easter narrative so it is nonetheless a wise choice now that I've had some more time to reflect and reminiscence on the meaning of Easter.
Recently, due to some conflicts, I read the following article: http://www.tektonics.org/gk/jesussayshate.php Despite a personal disdain I have for some of the other parts of Genesis 29 because of a friend I met during my years before seminary once made a joke about some of the contents of this chapter, it is a good passage to parallel some of his main points this morning in terms of how we ought to love others as a result of our love for God.
At face value, it may often be perceived exactly how it is directly quoted in the article or even if translated as "not loved", which is that Jacob despised or did not love Leah. I feel the key thing to note is that this narrative, assuming it is a true story (seeing it is in the same book as the creation and garden of Eden stories which people have often brought into question their factual/historical accuracy) is that Moses and God are not necessarily trying to say Jacob completely despised Leah, but likely instead that he didn't give her the 'rightful place in his heart'. Similar to the preceding narrative in which he 'stole Esau's blessing' because Jacob himself already felt cheated he wasn't given the 'rightful place' in Isaac's heart because he was not the firstborn twin.
So here is the 'punch line', basically, to tie in what I got out of the teaching/message this morning regarding how this ties into how we love other people because of God's great love towards us. If you look at the covenant meaning of marriage, you will see that basically Jacob is the bible's first example (when you are reading it from left to right like any other book) of someone who is married to multiple spouses, so the interesting concept here is that he has basically has a covenant obligation to love both unconditionally and above all other members of the opposing gender, given what marriage ought to mean. My study bible also points out that the actual meaning of his wives' names are as follows, Leah means Cow and Rachel means Ewe (female version of sheep), as it says 'common for someone like Laban who was a farmer to use these names'. Later on in the Exodus narrative, a calf/cow is used to symbolize idolatry (Exodus 32) and a lamb used to symbolize deliverance (Exodus 12).
In order for my point to make sense in this context, you need to equate or parallel Jacob's love to Rachel to our love for Christ (Genesis 22:8, John 1:36, Revelation 5:6) and our love for other people to Jacob's love for Leah. Although, I don't personally assert we need to 'earn' God's love in any way similar to the manner Jacob had to continue working before he was given Rachel in marriage, I feel the passage of "So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her." (Genesis 29:22) does a very good job of outlining how easy it can be to love others when our relationship with God is 'given it's rightful place' in our lives. =)
Recently, due to some conflicts, I read the following article: http://www.tektonics.org/gk/jesussayshate.php Despite a personal disdain I have for some of the other parts of Genesis 29 because of a friend I met during my years before seminary once made a joke about some of the contents of this chapter, it is a good passage to parallel some of his main points this morning in terms of how we ought to love others as a result of our love for God.
At face value, it may often be perceived exactly how it is directly quoted in the article or even if translated as "not loved", which is that Jacob despised or did not love Leah. I feel the key thing to note is that this narrative, assuming it is a true story (seeing it is in the same book as the creation and garden of Eden stories which people have often brought into question their factual/historical accuracy) is that Moses and God are not necessarily trying to say Jacob completely despised Leah, but likely instead that he didn't give her the 'rightful place in his heart'. Similar to the preceding narrative in which he 'stole Esau's blessing' because Jacob himself already felt cheated he wasn't given the 'rightful place' in Isaac's heart because he was not the firstborn twin.
So here is the 'punch line', basically, to tie in what I got out of the teaching/message this morning regarding how this ties into how we love other people because of God's great love towards us. If you look at the covenant meaning of marriage, you will see that basically Jacob is the bible's first example (when you are reading it from left to right like any other book) of someone who is married to multiple spouses, so the interesting concept here is that he has basically has a covenant obligation to love both unconditionally and above all other members of the opposing gender, given what marriage ought to mean. My study bible also points out that the actual meaning of his wives' names are as follows, Leah means Cow and Rachel means Ewe (female version of sheep), as it says 'common for someone like Laban who was a farmer to use these names'. Later on in the Exodus narrative, a calf/cow is used to symbolize idolatry (Exodus 32) and a lamb used to symbolize deliverance (Exodus 12).
In order for my point to make sense in this context, you need to equate or parallel Jacob's love to Rachel to our love for Christ (Genesis 22:8, John 1:36, Revelation 5:6) and our love for other people to Jacob's love for Leah. Although, I don't personally assert we need to 'earn' God's love in any way similar to the manner Jacob had to continue working before he was given Rachel in marriage, I feel the passage of "So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her." (Genesis 29:22) does a very good job of outlining how easy it can be to love others when our relationship with God is 'given it's rightful place' in our lives. =)
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
"What if the ultimate goal is to become more Christ-like?"
I am a bit surprised and find myself a little out of character that this verse has been on the back of my mind the entire day but I actually haven't been to the website at all till the time stamp shown here in the picture! Well I'm sure this kind of thing has happened before, I just find the experience very ironic given the other things I have been praying about today is all...
So recently apart from realizing that life isn't always what you expect and the irony that apart from what a lot of people might have also thought, about how I am still at a 'living at home situation' even after these years of yearning to be in a different situation and slowing likely hardening my heart towards God as a result; I realize that life isn't what I expected, but "it's OK"... I would also like to believe that God made me lose a lot of the things I really wanted to keep in life in order to 'Exodus' my heart from the hard place it was likely in to bring it to the 'the rock' which is Christ and the Church and when I say church, I don't just mean believers in my current local church or people I know recently, I have now "un-suppressed" many memories of people Christ has brought into my life through various aspects of my journey, even those who have brought some degree of pain in my life and those who betrayed or rejected God's gift of loving grace in their lives.
I have also come to realize that given the very specific spiritual gift sets, my general interests and the people God often brings into my life that I tend to find more joy loving and ministering to, a part of me also feels 'the gift of marriage' will likely never be a part of my life; but I think my community can respect the way I love God, typically includes never seeking a spousal partner and that I have a healthy self-respecting viewpoint likewise on this manner then "I have not sinned" and I can be content in continuing to love God and others in spite of my ongoing social status in this regard. There was also an element in a recent dream where I was a 'soldier dying in battle for the good of the team' which seems indicative potentially that my life is very much more literally representative of that of Christ which also could potentially also mean I won't ever live a physical/temporal life that fosters a good or Christ honoring context for me to raise children.
That's not to say that I won't one day potentially find joy in one day meeting someone who may also have either a very similar mindset/gifting towards life or one that is different yet very much complements my own in a way that can bring about that kind of union in a fruitful way that will be both unique and beautiful in God's eyes, I just don't see it right now or have had God reveal this to me and whoever that person is yet...Even if that person could potentially be a future version of someone I already know.
I continue to pray that through all of my experiences, God will continue to allow me to persevere in all things, trust in all things and most importantly love in all things. As someone I know in ministry put it once: "To see God work through your circumstances..." or something along those lines.
Saturday, March 03, 2018
iSTV: Counterpoint Episode and "to the journey..."
OK, let me clarify one thing off the back regarding this spur of the moment entry that "I didn't expect to end up here either..." this is NOT just about marriage...
OR perhaps if you look at it from the biblical perspective as per what BSM (hehe, M this time, not F haha...) had to say about Christ still looking as us as his bridegroom, then maybe it has EVERYTHING to do with marriage....
I just mean, this entry will contain very little context about a one on one relationship between humans...
I had consider writing this some hours ago, but I allowed myself to "get in my own way" and didn't get around to this, as 'someone' once put it, perhaps: "I need to get this out first..." It's actually really late into the night, but this wouldn't be the first time I find myself ministering, whether it only be to myself, through my blog "in this way..."
Also, the odd thing is I've found myself with another 'unusual' or as my 'counterpoint' used to call it 'weird' thing happening is I'm experiencing another unexplained technical glitch that YouTube won't work in Mozilla, yet it will on other browsers, none the less, I 'get the message'. It's probably a reminder of quotes from the movie I like so much, Click, but I now realize that maybe God's also like, well you like it for OTHER reasons too or you OUGHT to... "Life's too short, it's time for the REAL thing..."
So of course, this begs the question I had a very "I can't really keep quiet!" about it experience this entire month or maybe 6 week period to remind me of all the things He put me through, what exactly is "the REAL thing"? Just two dogs 'humping' a stuffed duck like what I saw the dog at my very first regular HC at my local church do before once in a REAL life scene? "Real life" is the REAL thing here, I am asserting.
Recently a friend of mine also was expressing his distaste for "Christian" movies cause they aren't 'real' enough, to some degree, I think unlike some like perhaps, The Passion of the Christ, which still have a degree of that 'inspiration' thing in it too, they are mostly meant to either entertain or inspire too, true, but I do generally agree with him that a genuine Christian life will not always play out the way it does in the movies.
The speaker at the Fluid conference brought up an interesting concept about how we need to allow ourselves to be in the proximity of those who are suffering or 'broken'... as it also can be 'quote twisted' from the Counterpoint episode "Brokenness does seem to be the theme for this month/February..."
And what I think people don't always realize is that, persecution is more like the complacency mentioned by Warsach (not going to go on another website to look this up) in the movie Watchmen and less like all those 'more extreme cases' like Martyrdom... In fact, death in most cases is easier, after all, we don't experience 'the cross' like Jesus did in terms of 'the weight of the world on his shoulders' as the saying goes, but do we not now? We only think we don't...
I get the impression when I finally had a longer one on one, man on man conversation with my former longer term Pastor that he feels I may have some more work to do on myself first before I can 'help' or 'work' on or with others... which I am not refuting/denying, BUT.... who doesn't? (aside from Jesus of course)... Does God not mold us? Are we not broken vessels? Like the 'chipped cup' in The Beauty and the Beast? Are we not 'children' or part of the Father's unfinished work?
I am intentionally leaving out all the scriptural references here for sake of time, but if you have any biblical background, you'll realize a lot of what I do say in my everyday including this blog, has at least some very direct scriptural basis/parallels.
I'm not saying I disagree with him (my Pastor) that we don't all need to 'stay alive' or 'be made complete' in Christ in order to continue to be effective image bearers as I have more to say or reiterate on why I feel health and exercise and stuff like that is important, but, again, 'the sake of time...'
So where am I "going with all this"? I've realized in the past few months, that what my friend and brother had to say "I know there must be a purpose for you to endure all this suffering..." -DF (or something along those lines) is now resonating more truthfully. I've come to the point where I realize, God has NOT be absent in it all, maybe only "The Real Prince Kevian" has... compared to others I may have less, but compared yet to some others, I actually have more... In retrospect, I feel I ought to adopt the same attitude I am praying others will adopt as well: "I need to stop looking at what I haven't been given and what I DO HAVE..."
I don't mean to be overly cynical, but I ought to 'glass isn't completely empty attitude' about it, while not ALL the couples I know are necessarily in this predicament, I do know some couples who seem overly preoccupied with themselves to fully embrace other friendships God has blessed them with... I'm not saying you shouldn't prioritize your significant other/spouse; I'm just saying I know some couples who are somewhat in a situation where they care about their "one flesh" too much and not enough about the blessings of other people they are in community with or that God has given them to know what I feel another Pastor I know and agape, TD would call: 'the freedom of marriage'. And I find myself, spiritually healthily asking myself, is this what you feel you are MISSING?
Some entries ago, I quoted or cited the movie The Internship about two traveling salesmen looking to get into the booming Google corporation. I feel like that somewhat too, I haven't 'completed my fancy seminary education' BUT what I do have is some 'gifting' in as the speaker put it "anthropology" through my painful experiences that seem to give me a kind of knack for compassion, consoling and counseling others. I'm not saying my other gifts such as outreach/evangelism or spiritual guiding/directing are in some way now 'snuffed out', but it seems as per my former spiritual director's take on circumstances, I now am in a certain place and situation through some of my previous decisions that have put me in a position that I also need to finish seminary in a short period of time before all of my previous credits go over their expiry date and become void. While, I previously didn't necessarily consider certain ministry roles as the 'role for me', just like the morning/earlier speaker at Fluid put it, "that does/speak very little in terms of what REALLY can be the role God is calling you to..."
So yeah, am I up till almost 3AM now where I am because I've got a lot on my mind that is NOT marriage related and might not even make it to church tomorrow morning given the time I normally have to wake up to make it as a result? You bet.... But I will see how the Spirit leads tomorrow morning... am I not necessarily able or spending the time to discern His will in the same manner that speaker did, YOU BET... is that what I am REALly missing? YOU BET...
OR perhaps if you look at it from the biblical perspective as per what BSM (hehe, M this time, not F haha...) had to say about Christ still looking as us as his bridegroom, then maybe it has EVERYTHING to do with marriage....
I just mean, this entry will contain very little context about a one on one relationship between humans...
I had consider writing this some hours ago, but I allowed myself to "get in my own way" and didn't get around to this, as 'someone' once put it, perhaps: "I need to get this out first..." It's actually really late into the night, but this wouldn't be the first time I find myself ministering, whether it only be to myself, through my blog "in this way..."
Also, the odd thing is I've found myself with another 'unusual' or as my 'counterpoint' used to call it 'weird' thing happening is I'm experiencing another unexplained technical glitch that YouTube won't work in Mozilla, yet it will on other browsers, none the less, I 'get the message'. It's probably a reminder of quotes from the movie I like so much, Click, but I now realize that maybe God's also like, well you like it for OTHER reasons too or you OUGHT to... "Life's too short, it's time for the REAL thing..."
So of course, this begs the question I had a very "I can't really keep quiet!" about it experience this entire month or maybe 6 week period to remind me of all the things He put me through, what exactly is "the REAL thing"? Just two dogs 'humping' a stuffed duck like what I saw the dog at my very first regular HC at my local church do before once in a REAL life scene? "Real life" is the REAL thing here, I am asserting.
Recently a friend of mine also was expressing his distaste for "Christian" movies cause they aren't 'real' enough, to some degree, I think unlike some like perhaps, The Passion of the Christ, which still have a degree of that 'inspiration' thing in it too, they are mostly meant to either entertain or inspire too, true, but I do generally agree with him that a genuine Christian life will not always play out the way it does in the movies.
The speaker at the Fluid conference brought up an interesting concept about how we need to allow ourselves to be in the proximity of those who are suffering or 'broken'... as it also can be 'quote twisted' from the Counterpoint episode "Brokenness does seem to be the theme for this month/February..."
And what I think people don't always realize is that, persecution is more like the complacency mentioned by Warsach (not going to go on another website to look this up) in the movie Watchmen and less like all those 'more extreme cases' like Martyrdom... In fact, death in most cases is easier, after all, we don't experience 'the cross' like Jesus did in terms of 'the weight of the world on his shoulders' as the saying goes, but do we not now? We only think we don't...
I get the impression when I finally had a longer one on one, man on man conversation with my former longer term Pastor that he feels I may have some more work to do on myself first before I can 'help' or 'work' on or with others... which I am not refuting/denying, BUT.... who doesn't? (aside from Jesus of course)... Does God not mold us? Are we not broken vessels? Like the 'chipped cup' in The Beauty and the Beast? Are we not 'children' or part of the Father's unfinished work?
I am intentionally leaving out all the scriptural references here for sake of time, but if you have any biblical background, you'll realize a lot of what I do say in my everyday including this blog, has at least some very direct scriptural basis/parallels.
I'm not saying I disagree with him (my Pastor) that we don't all need to 'stay alive' or 'be made complete' in Christ in order to continue to be effective image bearers as I have more to say or reiterate on why I feel health and exercise and stuff like that is important, but, again, 'the sake of time...'
So where am I "going with all this"? I've realized in the past few months, that what my friend and brother had to say "I know there must be a purpose for you to endure all this suffering..." -DF (or something along those lines) is now resonating more truthfully. I've come to the point where I realize, God has NOT be absent in it all, maybe only "The Real Prince Kevian" has... compared to others I may have less, but compared yet to some others, I actually have more... In retrospect, I feel I ought to adopt the same attitude I am praying others will adopt as well: "I need to stop looking at what I haven't been given and what I DO HAVE..."
I don't mean to be overly cynical, but I ought to 'glass isn't completely empty attitude' about it, while not ALL the couples I know are necessarily in this predicament, I do know some couples who seem overly preoccupied with themselves to fully embrace other friendships God has blessed them with... I'm not saying you shouldn't prioritize your significant other/spouse; I'm just saying I know some couples who are somewhat in a situation where they care about their "one flesh" too much and not enough about the blessings of other people they are in community with or that God has given them to know what I feel another Pastor I know and agape, TD would call: 'the freedom of marriage'. And I find myself, spiritually healthily asking myself, is this what you feel you are MISSING?
Some entries ago, I quoted or cited the movie The Internship about two traveling salesmen looking to get into the booming Google corporation. I feel like that somewhat too, I haven't 'completed my fancy seminary education' BUT what I do have is some 'gifting' in as the speaker put it "anthropology" through my painful experiences that seem to give me a kind of knack for compassion, consoling and counseling others. I'm not saying my other gifts such as outreach/evangelism or spiritual guiding/directing are in some way now 'snuffed out', but it seems as per my former spiritual director's take on circumstances, I now am in a certain place and situation through some of my previous decisions that have put me in a position that I also need to finish seminary in a short period of time before all of my previous credits go over their expiry date and become void. While, I previously didn't necessarily consider certain ministry roles as the 'role for me', just like the morning/earlier speaker at Fluid put it, "that does/speak very little in terms of what REALLY can be the role God is calling you to..."
So yeah, am I up till almost 3AM now where I am because I've got a lot on my mind that is NOT marriage related and might not even make it to church tomorrow morning given the time I normally have to wake up to make it as a result? You bet.... But I will see how the Spirit leads tomorrow morning... am I not necessarily able or spending the time to discern His will in the same manner that speaker did, YOU BET... is that what I am REALly missing? YOU BET...
Friday, March 02, 2018
"Are you getting it? Sometimes you need to maintain a low profile...so that you can complete THE MISSION..." [K #2]
I want to always be a vessel to bring God's love and peace through being an image bearer of Christ's love for humanity. Not that human approval is completely void of merit, but in whatever I do, I want to feel His glory and love amidst everything I do...
As I continue to go through life, I will strive to learn to be patient in affliction, eager to serve, quick to compassion, slow in formulating wisdom and unconditional in love. As a friend, first and foremost, to whoever God brings into my life (friends, relatives, co-leagues, children, spouse...etc..) I want to think of myself first less often in service to my Lord, but not dismiss the person God is creating and molding me to become. I also want to be present in their lives not just as someone who is wiser and more discerning (even if that is actually the case), but someone who journeys' along side them as they grow as a person and child of God.
I want to become a man of God who strives after achieving His goals and plans for my life, but also humble enough to admit when they are still a work in progress. To have an attitude similar to the biblical King David, after God's own heart, but contrite in acknowledging one's sins. To have others look toward me as a role model in part due to my willingness to follow God's path for my life, but also due to the way I follow God's golden rule in loving others as I love myself...
As I continue to go through life, I will strive to learn to be patient in affliction, eager to serve, quick to compassion, slow in formulating wisdom and unconditional in love. As a friend, first and foremost, to whoever God brings into my life (friends, relatives, co-leagues, children, spouse...etc..) I want to think of myself first less often in service to my Lord, but not dismiss the person God is creating and molding me to become. I also want to be present in their lives not just as someone who is wiser and more discerning (even if that is actually the case), but someone who journeys' along side them as they grow as a person and child of God.
I want to become a man of God who strives after achieving His goals and plans for my life, but also humble enough to admit when they are still a work in progress. To have an attitude similar to the biblical King David, after God's own heart, but contrite in acknowledging one's sins. To have others look toward me as a role model in part due to my willingness to follow God's path for my life, but also due to the way I follow God's golden rule in loving others as I love myself...
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...the next generation
Not sure who invented it, but presently, it has been a number of years ago now that I have heard someone express that "a generation is ...
