So far my posts have focused on my reflections on different readings. Well, I'm kind of all read out right now. This has been good because it has given me a chance to not just take things that I agree with from other people (via these readings), but just talking through real life with other people and look at what it means to put thoughts and beliefs into practice.
In looking at real life I have been blown away by the blessings that surround me. Very specifically I had a chance to enjoy an amazing concert put on by Pillar and I enjoyed that with 2 friends that have just been irreplaceable in my life, especially as of late. I had an absolute blast and I love you guys. Thank you for loving me even when it looks like everything is falling apart.
I have also been working a ton lately with no break in sight until the end of May or so. But it hasn't been as stressful as I would imagine it to be. I have been establishing solid relationships with my athletes and coaches and am really having this sense of belonging that I wasn't as aware of during the fall semester. It is truly a blessing.
I have a friend who is just blown away by his relationship with his girlfriend right now. I hear him talk about her and it is amazing to see how God loves the two of them and has brought them together. It touches me to see God be a part of a relationship the way He is with these two. I know if this aspect remains they will reap the benefits of His hand and will live an amazing life together. I don't mean to be playing wedding bells for them or anything, it is just cool to see what two Godly people in a dating relationship can look like. I'm blessed to see it in you guys and I'm praying for both of you.
I got a phone call from a friend tonight. He moved to the Dallas area last summer. He knew there was something about the move that God had orchestrated, but it would be an understatement to say that these last several months have been very difficult for him. But I get this phone call tonight and you can just hear the joy in his voice. He is beginning to see and experience some of what he know God has had in store for him all along and it's transforming his life. I could hear it through the phone like I could feel it. It's just so cool.
When I take an honest look at it, the blessing are endless. My family is amazing, my friends could not be more solid or more of an encouragement, and despite the dark corners of my life I can see God's hand working through it all. I'm not trying to say "follow God and everything will be o.k. and you will be blessed and happy and rich". I think maybe your idea of what it means to be blessed and happy may change some, I know mine has. I do know that tonight was one of those times that I could see clearly that I have been blessed and God is taking care of me. My prayer is that my life will be a reflection of the love God has shown me so that those around me know that He loves them as well.
I love you guys. May the God of heaven be praised tonight and always.
AO
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Chosen to be like Him
My most recent readings have taken me through Rob Bell's book Velvet Elvis. This is another spectacular book in a long line of amazing books that I have had the privilege to read over the past year or so now.
There were a few concepts that Bell pointed out that I just loved. First, he always referred to our lives and the goings on as our story. I don't know why, but this resonated with me. This idea that the things that go on in your life become part of you, who you are. The people in your life impact your story and you impact theirs. I know this is kind of a "well duh" thing, but it made me look at how I might affect the stories around me and it made me really embrace my story. When you think about how your actions now may affect you and those around you, maybe even 30 years down the road, it just makes you think.
I thought there were some great insights into Jewish life and specifically what this meant for Jesus and the disciples.
Bell outlines what it would have been like growing up as a Jewish boy in those days. What Jesus would have learned at what ages and how this impacted him. It's really interesting. One thing he mentions is when a rabbi was teaching and asking questions he would seldom give answers. "Have you noticed how Jesus rarely answers a question, but always responds with another question? This is a way of showing a deeper understanding, that a student not only understands the information, but can take it a step further. "
Those students who excel would become disciples. This isn't just further learning. "The goal of the disciple wasn't simply to know what the rabbi knew, but to be just like the rabbi."
So the question for the rabbi is, can this kid cut it as my disciple. Can he be like me, know the things I know, live how I live, take on my life and live it even after I am gone. The kid would leave everything behind to study as a disciple at the feet of his rabbi. What an honor to be a disciple.
"So at the age of 30, when a rabbi generally began his public teaching and training of disciples, we find Jesus walking along the Sea of Galilee". He first calls Simon Peter and Andrew, who were fishermen. This shows that as younger kids they weren't good enough to "cut it" and went off to learn the family trade. Jesus says "Come follow me" and they drop everything. He is telling them "You can be like me". Of course they drop their nets, they are being told a rabbi thinks they can do what he does. He thinks they can be like him.
James and John were fishing with their father. With their father, how old were they then, 14, 15, maybe 20. They are just kids. "Jesus took some boys who didn't make the cut and changed the course of history."
Take Jesus walking on water. I always thought this was a weird story. Was this just some example of Jesus showing that he is God and can do whatever he wants? Maybe, but think about Peter. As a disciple he has been told that he can be like his rabbi and that is the point of it all. So he sees Jesus walking on water and of course he wants to do it. When he begins to sink he cries out to Jesus. Jesus says, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" "Who does Peter loose faith in? Not Jesus; Jesus is doing fine. Peter loses faith in Himself. Peter loses faith that he can do what his rabbi is doing."
Remember, a rabbi calls disciples because he has faith in them. He believes they can be like him. Note that Jesus gets frustrated with his disciples, but also note why. It isn't because they are incapable, but because they are so capable. It isn't their failures, but because he sees their greatness and they don't.
"God has an incredibly high view of people. God believes that people are capable of amazing things. i have been told that i need to believe in Jesus. Which is a good thing. but what I am learning is that Jesus believes in me. I have been told that I need to have faith in God. Which is a good thing.l But what I am learning is that God has faith in me. The rabbi thinks we can be like him."
There were a few concepts that Bell pointed out that I just loved. First, he always referred to our lives and the goings on as our story. I don't know why, but this resonated with me. This idea that the things that go on in your life become part of you, who you are. The people in your life impact your story and you impact theirs. I know this is kind of a "well duh" thing, but it made me look at how I might affect the stories around me and it made me really embrace my story. When you think about how your actions now may affect you and those around you, maybe even 30 years down the road, it just makes you think.
I thought there were some great insights into Jewish life and specifically what this meant for Jesus and the disciples.
Bell outlines what it would have been like growing up as a Jewish boy in those days. What Jesus would have learned at what ages and how this impacted him. It's really interesting. One thing he mentions is when a rabbi was teaching and asking questions he would seldom give answers. "Have you noticed how Jesus rarely answers a question, but always responds with another question? This is a way of showing a deeper understanding, that a student not only understands the information, but can take it a step further. "
Those students who excel would become disciples. This isn't just further learning. "The goal of the disciple wasn't simply to know what the rabbi knew, but to be just like the rabbi."
So the question for the rabbi is, can this kid cut it as my disciple. Can he be like me, know the things I know, live how I live, take on my life and live it even after I am gone. The kid would leave everything behind to study as a disciple at the feet of his rabbi. What an honor to be a disciple.
"So at the age of 30, when a rabbi generally began his public teaching and training of disciples, we find Jesus walking along the Sea of Galilee". He first calls Simon Peter and Andrew, who were fishermen. This shows that as younger kids they weren't good enough to "cut it" and went off to learn the family trade. Jesus says "Come follow me" and they drop everything. He is telling them "You can be like me". Of course they drop their nets, they are being told a rabbi thinks they can do what he does. He thinks they can be like him.
James and John were fishing with their father. With their father, how old were they then, 14, 15, maybe 20. They are just kids. "Jesus took some boys who didn't make the cut and changed the course of history."
Take Jesus walking on water. I always thought this was a weird story. Was this just some example of Jesus showing that he is God and can do whatever he wants? Maybe, but think about Peter. As a disciple he has been told that he can be like his rabbi and that is the point of it all. So he sees Jesus walking on water and of course he wants to do it. When he begins to sink he cries out to Jesus. Jesus says, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" "Who does Peter loose faith in? Not Jesus; Jesus is doing fine. Peter loses faith in Himself. Peter loses faith that he can do what his rabbi is doing."
Remember, a rabbi calls disciples because he has faith in them. He believes they can be like him. Note that Jesus gets frustrated with his disciples, but also note why. It isn't because they are incapable, but because they are so capable. It isn't their failures, but because he sees their greatness and they don't.
"God has an incredibly high view of people. God believes that people are capable of amazing things. i have been told that i need to believe in Jesus. Which is a good thing. but what I am learning is that Jesus believes in me. I have been told that I need to have faith in God. Which is a good thing.l But what I am learning is that God has faith in me. The rabbi thinks we can be like him."
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Would Jesus be a Christian?
I recently (yesterday) finished a book that I had requested for Christmas. It is titled A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian D McLaren. The general (very general) premise of the book is to discus various beliefs that we have as Christians, where those beliefs came from, some of the good and bad of those beliefs and what this means for us in the world that we live in today. It is so much more than that when you get into it, but that is an o.k. summary.
The twist is that McLaren isn't sitting there pointing to the Christian community out there rather talking about his personal experiences as an unfinished, growing, ever changing believer in God. I have half joked a couple of times with Hayne that we should write a book about all the things God has been teaching us over the last year or so. I don't feel that need to write as much now because of this book. With a few exceptions I think it is amazing. At this point I'd say you could read any (all) of Donald Miller's book and this one and have the beginnings of some sort of understanding of what God has been showing me and doing in my life.
Let me give you some little bits form the book. Chapter 3: Would Jesus be a Christian?
"The more I study the Bible and reflect on the life and teachings of Jesus, the more I think most of Christianity as practiced today has very little to do with the real Jesus found there. Often I don't think Jesus would be caught dead as a Christian, were he physically here today. Generally, I don't think Christians would like Jesus if he showed up today as he did 2000 years ago. in fact, I think we'd call him a heretic and plot to kill him, too."
Not a bad start to a chapter right? He goes on. "Has he [Jesus] become less our Lord and more our Mascot? Lord means "master" (the very opposite of mascot)...I feel surrounded by Christians who very much like the idea of an American God and a middle-class Republican Jesus, first and foremost concerned about Our National Security and our Way of Life. "The Lord is my shepherd" becomes "the Lord is our President" elected by us for our national interest, or "the Lord is our secretary of defense", ready to sacrifice 10,000 lives of non-citizens elsewhere for the safety of U.S. citizens here."
McLaren goes on from here discussing what it was that Jesus really came to do in this world and how it applies today just as much as it did when he walked the Roman controlled streets of Jerusalem. He summarizes this chapter with this. "The result [modern Christianity] is a religion that Jesus might consider about as useful as many non-Christians consider it today, just as the Lord said they would (Mat. 5:13-16; 7:21-23).
The chapters that follow get into different aspects and branches of Christianity. Methodist, Catholic, Evangelicals and so on and so forth. It is all wonderful. I happen to enjoy his writing style as well.
In Chapter 17: Why I Am Incarnational he starts to flirt with a very daunting line. Some of his writing sounds like universalism. While he refutes this he also seems to support it. There is a lot of back and forth writing that at times almost seems to contradict itself. However, aside from these things (and really even with this), I find the book very interesting and challenging and meeting me right where I am in trying to live daily in light of Jesus and my desires to honor him.
I know this isn't the most thorough critique of this book, but it would take me forever. I do hope that this little bit that I have written makes you think and just encourages you to take this life God has given us with the seriouseness, love, devotion, humility, aggression, fear, tact, and wildness that it deserves.
Till next time.
AO
The twist is that McLaren isn't sitting there pointing to the Christian community out there rather talking about his personal experiences as an unfinished, growing, ever changing believer in God. I have half joked a couple of times with Hayne that we should write a book about all the things God has been teaching us over the last year or so. I don't feel that need to write as much now because of this book. With a few exceptions I think it is amazing. At this point I'd say you could read any (all) of Donald Miller's book and this one and have the beginnings of some sort of understanding of what God has been showing me and doing in my life.
Let me give you some little bits form the book. Chapter 3: Would Jesus be a Christian?
"The more I study the Bible and reflect on the life and teachings of Jesus, the more I think most of Christianity as practiced today has very little to do with the real Jesus found there. Often I don't think Jesus would be caught dead as a Christian, were he physically here today. Generally, I don't think Christians would like Jesus if he showed up today as he did 2000 years ago. in fact, I think we'd call him a heretic and plot to kill him, too."
Not a bad start to a chapter right? He goes on. "Has he [Jesus] become less our Lord and more our Mascot? Lord means "master" (the very opposite of mascot)...I feel surrounded by Christians who very much like the idea of an American God and a middle-class Republican Jesus, first and foremost concerned about Our National Security and our Way of Life. "The Lord is my shepherd" becomes "the Lord is our President" elected by us for our national interest, or "the Lord is our secretary of defense", ready to sacrifice 10,000 lives of non-citizens elsewhere for the safety of U.S. citizens here."
McLaren goes on from here discussing what it was that Jesus really came to do in this world and how it applies today just as much as it did when he walked the Roman controlled streets of Jerusalem. He summarizes this chapter with this. "The result [modern Christianity] is a religion that Jesus might consider about as useful as many non-Christians consider it today, just as the Lord said they would (Mat. 5:13-16; 7:21-23).
The chapters that follow get into different aspects and branches of Christianity. Methodist, Catholic, Evangelicals and so on and so forth. It is all wonderful. I happen to enjoy his writing style as well.
In Chapter 17: Why I Am Incarnational he starts to flirt with a very daunting line. Some of his writing sounds like universalism. While he refutes this he also seems to support it. There is a lot of back and forth writing that at times almost seems to contradict itself. However, aside from these things (and really even with this), I find the book very interesting and challenging and meeting me right where I am in trying to live daily in light of Jesus and my desires to honor him.
I know this isn't the most thorough critique of this book, but it would take me forever. I do hope that this little bit that I have written makes you think and just encourages you to take this life God has given us with the seriouseness, love, devotion, humility, aggression, fear, tact, and wildness that it deserves.
Till next time.
AO
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