illuminate

the weight of disbelief

2010-07-26T09:08:00.000-07:00

S - Bel bows down; Nebo stoops; their idols are on beasts and livestock; these things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts. They stoop; they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity.

Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. - Isaiah 46:1-4 ESV

I am, and there is no one besides me... - Isaiah 47:8, 10 ESV

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me." - Isaiah 48:17-19

O - Deceived in their thinking the Israelites weighed themselves down with their false beliefs about what would provide for and save them. As they journeyed through the desert their trip was made harder with the weight of their idols. Practically their journey to exile could have been easier if they had cast aside their wrong beliefs. More practically, God has provided for them in the desert before. Not only would their loads be lighter, but there would be the water and food they needed. They were not alone. God was waiting for them to turn to him and profit from the richness of life he offered them in every aspect of their lives, though they would find themselves in exile in Babylon.

A - How am I deceived in my thinking? What am I counting on to provide for and protect me that actually is a burden? How am I buying into the belief that "I am, and there is no one beside me"?

P - Lord, as I start this day I feel the weight of things that are out of my control or a result of my lack of "expertise." They directly affect how my family is provided for. Am I in anyway believing that it is me, and me alone, who will provide for and save my family?

I think practically speaking it seems that way to me at times. I am tempted to live as if you do not work on the practical. But I remember. I remember how you led Abraham through the desert. I remember how you kept shoes from falling apart on the way from Egypt. I remember how you protected Nehemiah. I remember how your angels tended to Jesus. I remember how money arrived in the mailbox. I remember how you have been there every step of this last year.

Ask the next question, right? What would you want to say to me today...

Pay attention to my commandments
Your peace is like a river
Your righteouness is like a wave
Your children will always be before me

drunken sailors protest government spending

2010-05-12T11:46:00.000-07:00

coming this sunday...

2010-05-07T09:18:00.001-07:00

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

forgiveness is hard...

2010-04-29T18:01:00.000-07:00

The Four Promises of Forgiveness (Ken Sande, The Peacemaker):

• I will not dwell on your sin.
• I will not bring up your sin and use it against you.
• I will not talk to others about your sin.
• I will not allow your sin to stand between us or hinder our personal relationship.

I'm grateful that Jesus does this consistently and quickly with me (since he really did it all in the past, how cool).

solitude and community

2010-04-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

“Only in fellowship do we learn to be rightly alone and only in aloneness do we learn to be rightly in fellowship.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

a hidden life

2010-04-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

O tree,
what hidden life
that birds and worms
and bugs enjoy

A world its own

How observed, O tree
that bustle of bikes
and cars go by
you stand still, yet alive

Who knows, O tree
from whenst life came
the rushing throng of people
the steady flow of creek

You stand, O tree
a testament to Creator
known and knowing
living and dying

A steady full life

And me, O tree
must I a hidden life,
a still and steady life,
known and knowing?

What life, O tree
do you know of for me

resurrection

2010-04-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

Resurrection: Rob Bell from The Work of Rob Bell on Vimeo.

easter hymn: rock of ages

2010-04-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

I will let this song speak of my friend Jesus this glorious morning:

Rock Of Ages - Chris Rice

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

death drips juicy

2010-04-03T07:04:00.000-07:00

Twisted deception
your curtain veils
what is good
and what I have

Instead, a faulty offer
Your apple
which eye and mouth
and hand and
heart all approve

Death drips juicy
sweet across the lips
as it kills

good friday hymn: o love that will not let me go

2010-04-02T07:00:00.001-07:00

This is how I am thinking about the cross today:

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go...

O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine's blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life's glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

lord and king

2010-04-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

A still and steady man
eyes gazing past the present

To see as you see
the world as it could be

A lively and playful man
heart firmly placed in love

To know this love
the joy of eternal embrace

A strong and mighty man
hands not working on their own

To feel a presence beyond yourself
a trust of help that always comes

Behold, the man

contact & conflict

2010-03-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

In cultural engagement there's a point of contact & a point of conflict. That's the sharp end of the gospel and where repentance is focused. — Steve Timmis

life returns

2010-03-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Spring is coming
from all around the world
it peaks through death
a blade, a blossom, a buzz
Hints that life goes on
beneath the cold death
life has been living
Always present, always strong
though under attack at every turn
life presses on

When will spring come in me
what seems a cold season of death
has been covering my ground
buried, there beneath my ground
a Spirit cries out for more
a blade of faith
a blossom of love
a buzz of hope

I, like the earth,
am not left in winter
and everything hidden presses
up and through the depths
Bleak limbs bud
and barren hills green
The stream flows
bringing life along its narrow path
And so with me
Eyes opened to the sun
mouth quenched by the stream

Life returns
as it was always meant to be

can smart people believe in god?

2010-03-29T19:19:00.000-07:00

Can you KNOW that God exists? Dallas Willard answered some great questions and helped people think differently about this, and a great number of other "tough questions" regarding faith and God. It's in written form in his most recent book Knowing Christ Today, but it is also in audio form from the four different services (all different questions) from Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. I recommend both!

paper and the pulpit

2010-01-15T19:18:00.000-08:00

"I confess that I have not invariably been comfortable in front of a pulpit; I have never been comfortable behind one. To be behind a pulpit is always a forcible reminder to me that I am an essayist, and in many ways a dissenter. An essayist is, literally, a writer who attempts to tell the truth. Preachers must resign themselves to being either right or wrong; an essayist, when proved wrong, may claim to have been 'just practicing.' An essayist is privileged to speak without institutional authorization. A dissenter, of course, must speak without privilege." — Wendell Berry, "Christianity and The Survival of Creation"

what story is your life telling?

2010-01-14T20:52:00.000-08:00

"Neither revolution nor reformation can ultimately change a society, rather you must tell a new powerful tale, one so persuasive that it sweeps away the old myths and becomes the preferred story, one so inclusive that it gathers all the bits of our past and our present into a coherent whole, one that even shines some light into the future so that we can take the next step... If you want to change a society, then you have to tell an alternative story." — attributed to Ivan Illich, Former Austrian priest and philosopher

What story is your life telling?

reflection for 2010: trained by grace

2010-01-01T14:05:00.000-08:00

A new decade begins...

I have been spending some time in Titus lately. I am pleasantly surprised by what I have found there. I am encouraged by Paul's straightforward expression of the transforming reality of God's grace and gospel in Jesus. Here's the passage that stands out to me as the central catalyst of everything else in this little letter:

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. — Titus 2:11-14 (ESV)

I think it reflects a growing desire in me, perhaps for 2010. To be trained by grace. By Jesus. By the gospel. There are three actions grace trains us to have. To RENOUNCE, to LIVE, and to WAIT. Here are the nuggets I have pulled out so far.

RENOUNCE, in the Greek there is a sense of "refusing something offered." It is clear that my flesh (the part of me use to living without dependence upon or relationship with God), the world, and the Enemy offer me alternatives to God's way of life. While I have an inclination towards sin, that is not the end of the story. I can stand firm in resisting, rejecting, refusing anything that is offered to me apart from God.

LIVE, in the Greek there is a sense of "to enjoy life" and "be full of vigor." What a gift it is to live! To really be alive. I was reading 10 Resolutions for Mental Health from the Desiring God blog, Kilby's suggestions seemed to express exactly what this word is saying about enjoying life with God. His reflections on God, creation, and men are not contingent on circumstances, they reflect an eternal perspective on the gift of life.

WAIT, in the Greek is pretty unique. It reflects the opening to companionship and intimacy, while also the idea of expecting a promise to be fulfilled. This is a pretty amazing word. I do not want to think I know all I can about what Paul is trying to express. Since I am living in a unique, to me, state of waiting I am very excited about this. In the waiting there is an invitation to more relationship than has been experienced. It is the kind of waiting used for a man and wife becoming one. In waiting there is also a confidence in promises being fulfilled. So, as relationship and circumstance have not yet arrived at what is ultimately desired, there is great joy in the anticipation.

Lord, train me by your grace through Jesus to refuse any offer that is not from you, to enjoy the fullness of life today, and to joyfully anticipate the consummation of your will in my life and the world.

life not included

2009-12-29T08:34:00.001-08:00

Here's a comic from a friend:

Check out his daily strip at www.bucketgnome.com.

advent: favorite song of 2009

2009-12-27T11:43:00.000-08:00

Wanted to share with you all my favorite "new" Christmas song for 2009. Below are the lyrics and a link to listen to the whole song online.

Wake Up The World by JJ Heller

Shepherds come to worship
Angels sing Gloria
Wake up the world, the King has come

Oh let heaven, heaven and nature sing
Oh let heaven, heaven and nature sing
Oh let heaven, heaven and nature sing
Wake up the world, Wake up the world,
Wake up the world, the king has come

Joseph smiles at Mary
The baby falls asleep
Wake up the world, the king has come

Oh let heaven, heaven and nature sing
Oh let heaven, heaven and nature sing
Oh let heaven, heaven and nature sing
Wake up the world, Wake up the world,
Wake up the world, the king has come

Son of God
Love’s Pure light
Wake up the world, the king has come

Wake Up The World - JJ Heller

advent: o holy night

2009-12-25T08:52:00.000-08:00

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

— by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" (Midnight, Christians) by Placide Cappeau (1808–1877), a wine merchant and poet, who had been asked by a parish priest to write a Christmas poem.

advent: god's light

2009-12-24T08:18:00.000-08:00

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." — Luke 2:25-35 (ESV)

This was our final Advent devotional reading. We remembered that God is not finished with his plan for us and the world. He desires that everyone would love and obey him. Just as Jesus was a light and blessing to those around him, we are to be a light and blessing to others. This will not be easy. It will be costly, but worth it. Very worth it.

Now we celebrate the light of the world, and pray that God would teach us to be a light just like Jesus!

advent: our gifts

2009-12-21T08:08:00.000-08:00

After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. — Matthew 2:9-11 (ESV)

This was our fourth reading for Advent devotions as a family. We had a good time placing our Little People Nativity pieces by each candle we had lit so far. An angel for OT prophecy and "God's Promise." Mary for "Our Choice." Shepherds for "God With Us." And finally the wise men for this week "Our Gifts."

We reflected on how God has blessed us so much, and he loves when we give back to him. The kids brainstormed what we can give God, obedience, giving to those in need, our time, etc. We also thought about these verses:

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. — Psalm 51:17 (ESV)

All these things my hand has made,and so all these things came to be,declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spiritand trembles at my word. — Isaiah 66:2 (ESV)

We remembered that God's favorite gifts are when we ask for help and admit we are wrong and need help.

advent: the friendly beasts

2009-12-19T12:35:00.000-08:00

Jesus our brother kind and good
Was humbly born in a stable of wood
And the friendly beasts around him stood
Jesus our brother kind and good

"I" said the donkey shaggy and brown
I carried his mother up hill and down
I carried him safely to Bethlehem town
"I" said the donkey shaggy and brown

And "I" said the cow all white and red
I gave him my manger for a bed
I gave him my hay for to pillow his head
"I" said the cow all white and red

"I" said the sheep with a curly horn
I have him my wool for his blanket warm
And he wore my coat on that Christmas morn
"I" said the sheep with a curly horn

"I" said the dove from the rafters high
Cooed him to sleep that he should not cry
We cooed him to sleep my love and I
"I" said the dove from the rafters high

And "I" said the camel all yellow and black
Over the desert upon my back
I brought him a gift in the wise men's pack
"I" said the camel all yellow and black

Thus every beast remembering it well
In the stable dark was so proud to tell
Of the gifts that they gave Emmanuel
The gifts that they gave Emmanuel

— This song originally hails from a 12th century Latin song "Orientis Partibus" which first appeared in France and is usually attributed to Pierre de Corbeil, Bishop of Sens (d 1222). Robert Davis (1881-1950) apparently wrote the words that we normally associate with this tune in the 1920s.

Listen to this song done by Sufjan Stevens:

The Friendly Beasts - Sufjan S...

love the questions

2009-12-17T16:40:00.000-08:00

"You are so young and before all beginning, and I want to beg you, as much as I can, dear sir, to be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer." — Letters To A Young Poet, Ranier Maria Rilke, July 16th, 1903, p. 27

living out the questions

2009-12-16T13:34:00.000-08:00

I said, "Well," for now I was ashamed, "I had this feeling maybe I had been called."
"And you may have been right. But not to what you thought. Not to what you think. You have been given questions to which you cannot be given answers. You will have to live them out—perhaps a little at a time."
"And how long is that going to take?"
"I don't know. As long as you live, perhaps."
"That could be a long time."
"I will tell you a further mystery," he said. "It may take longer."

— Jayber Crow: The Life Story of Jayber Crow, Barber, of the Port William Membership, as written by himself by Wendell Berry