Praise God, everybody! Applaud God, all people!
His love has taken over our lives;
God's faithful ways are eternal.
Hallelujah!
Ps 117.1-2 [MSG]
His love has taken over our lives.
If only I could surrender my life easier, would His love take it over more. And with that I can dance.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Hello, My Name is Asher and I'm a....
Hello, My name is Asher, and I am a... Well I'm not an alcoholic. I've never done drugs. But I am a prisoner to my addictions.
I got to thinking about this the other day reading this passage in John
Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. "If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you."
John 8.31-32[MSG]
Usually, we stop here on, the truth will free you.
You know, the truth.
Unfortunatly, my life, many times looks like the scene that unfolds afterwards:
Surprised, they said, "But we're descendants of Abraham. We've never been slaves to anyone. How can you say, 'The truth will free you'?"
34-38Jesus said, "I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. A slave is a transient, who can't come and go at will. The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house. So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through. I know you are Abraham's descendants. But I also know that you are trying to kill me because my message hasn't yet penetrated your thick skulls. I'm talking about things I have seen while keeping company with the Father, and you just go on doing what you have heard from your father."
39-41They were indignant. "Our father is Abraham!"
Jesus said, "If you were Abraham's children, you would have been doing the things Abraham did. And yet here you are trying to kill me, a man who has spoken to you the truth he got straight from God! Abraham never did that sort of thing. You persist in repeating the works of your father."
They said, "We're not bastards. We have a legitimate father: the one and only God."
42-47"If God were your father," said Jesus, "you would love me, for I came from God and arrived here. I didn't come on my own. He sent me. Why can't you understand one word I say? Here's why: You can't handle it. You're from your father, the Devil, and all you want to do is please him. He was a killer from the very start. He couldn't stand the truth because there wasn't a shred of truth in him. When the Liar speaks, he makes it up out of his lying nature and fills the world with lies. I arrive on the scene, tell you the plain truth, and you refuse to have a thing to do with me. Can any one of you convict me of a single misleading word, a single sinful act? But if I'm telling the truth, why don't you believe me? Anyone on God's side listens to God's words. This is why you're not listening—because you're not on God's side."
John 8.33-47 [MSG]
Many times I continue to find myself in these places where, sure I'm not committing one of the "really bad sins", Derek Webb said it best that we are "trading sins for others that are easier to hide I am wrong and of these things I repent" (DW)
It's easier for me to hide a self-righteous pride, or selfish generosities. I do confess these things. And I confess them with gratitude. The more I wrestle with theses things the more I realize my dependency on God, and the more I realise that the virtues of love, compassion, and selflessness are virtues that I can not obtain on my own. Rich Mullins once wrote:
Virtues are funny things. They are fruit of faith and, whenever paraded, become parodies of themselves and the worst kind of vanity imaginable. When they are not the fruit of faith they become its greatest obstacle. Virtues are most vital when invisible and most sharply imaged when they are not the focus of our attentions. They are evidence of their source (and ours) and not the generators of it (or us).
I confess these addictions These addictions to self.
I have traded sins for sins that are easier to hide. I have paraded virtues for display of selfcenteredness.
I am wrong. And of these things I repent.
I got to thinking about this the other day reading this passage in John
Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. "If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you."
John 8.31-32[MSG]
Usually, we stop here on, the truth will free you.
You know, the truth.
Unfortunatly, my life, many times looks like the scene that unfolds afterwards:
Surprised, they said, "But we're descendants of Abraham. We've never been slaves to anyone. How can you say, 'The truth will free you'?"
34-38Jesus said, "I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. A slave is a transient, who can't come and go at will. The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house. So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through. I know you are Abraham's descendants. But I also know that you are trying to kill me because my message hasn't yet penetrated your thick skulls. I'm talking about things I have seen while keeping company with the Father, and you just go on doing what you have heard from your father."
39-41They were indignant. "Our father is Abraham!"
Jesus said, "If you were Abraham's children, you would have been doing the things Abraham did. And yet here you are trying to kill me, a man who has spoken to you the truth he got straight from God! Abraham never did that sort of thing. You persist in repeating the works of your father."
They said, "We're not bastards. We have a legitimate father: the one and only God."
42-47"If God were your father," said Jesus, "you would love me, for I came from God and arrived here. I didn't come on my own. He sent me. Why can't you understand one word I say? Here's why: You can't handle it. You're from your father, the Devil, and all you want to do is please him. He was a killer from the very start. He couldn't stand the truth because there wasn't a shred of truth in him. When the Liar speaks, he makes it up out of his lying nature and fills the world with lies. I arrive on the scene, tell you the plain truth, and you refuse to have a thing to do with me. Can any one of you convict me of a single misleading word, a single sinful act? But if I'm telling the truth, why don't you believe me? Anyone on God's side listens to God's words. This is why you're not listening—because you're not on God's side."
John 8.33-47 [MSG]
Many times I continue to find myself in these places where, sure I'm not committing one of the "really bad sins", Derek Webb said it best that we are "trading sins for others that are easier to hide I am wrong and of these things I repent" (DW)
It's easier for me to hide a self-righteous pride, or selfish generosities. I do confess these things. And I confess them with gratitude. The more I wrestle with theses things the more I realize my dependency on God, and the more I realise that the virtues of love, compassion, and selflessness are virtues that I can not obtain on my own. Rich Mullins once wrote:
Virtues are funny things. They are fruit of faith and, whenever paraded, become parodies of themselves and the worst kind of vanity imaginable. When they are not the fruit of faith they become its greatest obstacle. Virtues are most vital when invisible and most sharply imaged when they are not the focus of our attentions. They are evidence of their source (and ours) and not the generators of it (or us).
I confess these addictions These addictions to self.
I have traded sins for sins that are easier to hide. I have paraded virtues for display of selfcenteredness.
I am wrong. And of these things I repent.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Confession: Stop reading your Bible.
"You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you'll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren't willing to receive from me the life you say you want.
John 5.39-40, The MSG
A scripture like this really has, I think, a bit of humor to it when it's read from a daily Bible reading program that's main emphasis is reading the Bible on a daily basis because the Bible is very important.
Taken out of context it stands alone as this very vague passage of scripture, interestingly enough truth rings very heavy in this passage for me. To be honest I struggle with this side of the gospel. I love the side of the gospel that encourages generosity, champions social justice, requires peace and tolerance. You know the side of the gospel that you can talk about easily in a group of people because it's comfortable to. When you talk about your church building water wells or sponsoring sports teams, people inside, outside or on the fringes of Christianity say, "That's cool man," or "sounds like an awesome thing." I can handle that side of the gospel, but the side I struggle with is the side that says Jesus has the life that you really really want.
I struggle with this because its easy to read a OYB, or to participate in set up teams or service and bask in my own little pride. I sing of course Jesus loves me, this I know, because my Bible I read more than you tells me so.
You know the spiritual disciplines are important, reading the word is very important. But this relationship with Jesus, a visceral relationship with Jesus is the only way to get the life we really want.
John 5.39-40, The MSG
A scripture like this really has, I think, a bit of humor to it when it's read from a daily Bible reading program that's main emphasis is reading the Bible on a daily basis because the Bible is very important.
Taken out of context it stands alone as this very vague passage of scripture, interestingly enough truth rings very heavy in this passage for me. To be honest I struggle with this side of the gospel. I love the side of the gospel that encourages generosity, champions social justice, requires peace and tolerance. You know the side of the gospel that you can talk about easily in a group of people because it's comfortable to. When you talk about your church building water wells or sponsoring sports teams, people inside, outside or on the fringes of Christianity say, "That's cool man," or "sounds like an awesome thing." I can handle that side of the gospel, but the side I struggle with is the side that says Jesus has the life that you really really want.
I struggle with this because its easy to read a OYB, or to participate in set up teams or service and bask in my own little pride. I sing of course Jesus loves me, this I know, because my Bible I read more than you tells me so.
You know the spiritual disciplines are important, reading the word is very important. But this relationship with Jesus, a visceral relationship with Jesus is the only way to get the life we really want.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Sitting on the front row isn't what it used to be...
“Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer[b]: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
- Luke 19.9-14
I can't resist the notion that Jesus might actually started this parable with a bit of sarcasm, almost if he was telling a joke, and then described probably someone he may have seen at temple one day. Classic. What a beautiful picture of authentic humility contrasted against pious vanities and arrogance. Traditionally this is true and Christ even goes on for those who maybe don't get to mention if you humble yourself you'll be exalted.
I get it.
But I think there's more we can take away from this story.
Maybe I'm being over-analytical, maybe it's CSI on the TV, but I think there is a small but amazing prayer, subtly woven into the posture of the tax collector. I read this and ask God that my heart would break for Him. I pray my heart would long for Him that I would dare not even lift my eyes to heaven.
I think how we pray is important. I think being self-aware and authentically confessing our sins is important. I think being in love with Someone so much that hurts is important too.
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
- Luke 19.9-14
I can't resist the notion that Jesus might actually started this parable with a bit of sarcasm, almost if he was telling a joke, and then described probably someone he may have seen at temple one day. Classic. What a beautiful picture of authentic humility contrasted against pious vanities and arrogance. Traditionally this is true and Christ even goes on for those who maybe don't get to mention if you humble yourself you'll be exalted.
I get it.
But I think there's more we can take away from this story.
Maybe I'm being over-analytical, maybe it's CSI on the TV, but I think there is a small but amazing prayer, subtly woven into the posture of the tax collector. I read this and ask God that my heart would break for Him. I pray my heart would long for Him that I would dare not even lift my eyes to heaven.
I think how we pray is important. I think being self-aware and authentically confessing our sins is important. I think being in love with Someone so much that hurts is important too.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Early Retirement
A great thing about allowing God to overflow into every area of your life is when those things overlap. Recently in the FOM's Total Money Makeover Group we where discussing saving for retirement, and today I was reading(catching up) in my OYB reading, and an awesome thing happens, Jesus talks about retirement.
What He says reminded me of our group discussion and something John Piper said at an event in 2003, and it made me seriously think about retiring early.
Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’
21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
Luke 12.14-21
I tell you what a tragedy is. I’ll read to you from Reader’s Digest (Feb. 2000, p. 98) what a tragedy is: “Bob and Penny… took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30 foot trawler, play softball and collect shells.” The American Dream: come to the end of your life - your one and only life - and let the last great work before you give an account to your Creator, be “I collected shells. See my shells.” THAT is a tragedy. And people today are spending billions of dollars to persuade you to embrace that tragic dream. And I get forty minutes to plead with you: don’t buy it.
- John Piper, One Day 2003
I think what is amazing is that in discussing retirement at group was awesome, because we discussed retirement as being different for followers of Christ, actually how its about more than retirement, but about how to live life. It's not just spinning it a different way, coming up with the hip, post-modern, anti-established, trendy-Jesus, view of retirement either. Its about working towards a freedom to be able to operate at my fullest capacity in God's mission to reconcile a broken and lost world to Him. Maybe I caught the Ecclesiastes bug from a poetic sunday morning rant, or maybe I'm young and can think this way, but you know it really has to stink to be the guy in the story Jesus told. He was rich and rich for a reason. He worked hard, had his emergency fund, drove a used cart and horse - paid off of course, did his debt snowball, and at the end of it all, he died. Just like we all will, and maybe, just maybe by Gods grace He'll help me on this journey to freedom. Maybe just maybe he'll rescue me from my prison of net worth . And maybe just maybe, if I'm really really lucky, by His grace, I'll be able to retire early.
What He says reminded me of our group discussion and something John Piper said at an event in 2003, and it made me seriously think about retiring early.
Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’
21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
Luke 12.14-21
I tell you what a tragedy is. I’ll read to you from Reader’s Digest (Feb. 2000, p. 98) what a tragedy is: “Bob and Penny… took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30 foot trawler, play softball and collect shells.” The American Dream: come to the end of your life - your one and only life - and let the last great work before you give an account to your Creator, be “I collected shells. See my shells.” THAT is a tragedy. And people today are spending billions of dollars to persuade you to embrace that tragic dream. And I get forty minutes to plead with you: don’t buy it.
- John Piper, One Day 2003
I think what is amazing is that in discussing retirement at group was awesome, because we discussed retirement as being different for followers of Christ, actually how its about more than retirement, but about how to live life. It's not just spinning it a different way, coming up with the hip, post-modern, anti-established, trendy-Jesus, view of retirement either. Its about working towards a freedom to be able to operate at my fullest capacity in God's mission to reconcile a broken and lost world to Him. Maybe I caught the Ecclesiastes bug from a poetic sunday morning rant, or maybe I'm young and can think this way, but you know it really has to stink to be the guy in the story Jesus told. He was rich and rich for a reason. He worked hard, had his emergency fund, drove a used cart and horse - paid off of course, did his debt snowball, and at the end of it all, he died. Just like we all will, and maybe, just maybe by Gods grace He'll help me on this journey to freedom. Maybe just maybe he'll rescue me from my prison of net worth . And maybe just maybe, if I'm really really lucky, by His grace, I'll be able to retire early.
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