Run the River 10KWe ran this one together--Cate's first 10K. Corinne and I finished in 64 minutes; Brian and Cate in 68. Beautiful day for some family fun!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Blessings Fall Like Rain
When the rain ended, the sky was brilliant blue rather than pollen haze. Of course, the sky is always brilliant, but there are days when it is hard to see it through the tiny particles that float through the air. Even though each speck of pollen is miniscule, the cumulative effect is enough to blot out the sky.
It's often the same in my relationship with God. God is always there--the same yesterday, today, and forever. However, little particles of life sometimes obstruct my view of Him, especially when I focus on them instead of looking beyond. In the broad scope of eternity, the minutiae of my "problems" are nothing greater than a single grain of pollen--even less than that. Stress, finances, busyness--all these cloud my view of the Father in His brilliance.
And then He sends the rain. Sometimes it comes as a scripture lesson. Sometimes it is a song or an experience. And then there are the sweetest times when I hear His still, small, voice when I least expect it. Suddenly, the clouds clear away and all I can see is brilliant blue. Blessings falling like rain...and I am grateful.
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Saturday, April 03, 2010
I Am Not Condemned
"Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Jesus Christ the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering....if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness....I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angel nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creations will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8: 1-3, 10, 38-39
Glorious freedom! No room for fear! More than conquerors! Saved! Justified! Sanctified! Hopeful! Joyful!
FREE!
All because Jesus said,
It Is Finished.
Hallelujah and Amen!
Friday, April 02, 2010
Passion
Passion is one of those words that has lost its original meanings. We use "passion" to describe the things we like best or the way we feel about something (or someone.) But, in my musings this week it struck me: Why does the Church call this Passion Week? There's certainly nothing romantic about it, nor is there anything about it that we want to experience over and over again. So, I looked up the etymology of the word.
According to Merriam-Webster, "passion" comes from a Middle English noun that originally meant suffering. SUFFERING. Not extreme emotion, not physical delight, not even devotion to a cause--but suffering. And not just any suffering. The suffering meant by "passion" is at the hands of another. Being acted upon, rather than a random event or personal trial.
Suddenly the meaning of Passion Week is clear. The prophecies of the Old Testament met the barbarian cruelty of Rome and the result was Jesus' passion--in the original sense. He who knew no sin became sin for us...so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21) But why? Why would He take the entire burden of all the wrongs--public and private--of every person who ever lived on Himself? What kind of justice is that?
He was beaten to the point where he didn't even look human. He was ridiculed. He was spit at. He carried his own wooden beam on His back and shoulders, already shredded by the whips of the Romans. The religious leaders were the first to accuse, but the mob soon added fuel to the torturous fire. It was ugly. It was bloody. It was cruel beyond modern understanding. And yet, it wasn't because He deserved it; WE DID. I do.
Suffering, being acted upon by external agents--suffering, not because of His own wrongdoings--suffering because of mine.
As I write this, I am watching Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. No matter what you think of Gibson and his failings, this movie is brilliant in its realism and its message. Reading the prophecies and the letters of the New Testament becomes even more profound when the movie visuals accompany them. How can I not be moved when I see this powerful portrayal as I read from Philippians:
According to Merriam-Webster, "passion" comes from a Middle English noun that originally meant suffering. SUFFERING. Not extreme emotion, not physical delight, not even devotion to a cause--but suffering. And not just any suffering. The suffering meant by "passion" is at the hands of another. Being acted upon, rather than a random event or personal trial.
Suddenly the meaning of Passion Week is clear. The prophecies of the Old Testament met the barbarian cruelty of Rome and the result was Jesus' passion--in the original sense. He who knew no sin became sin for us...so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21) But why? Why would He take the entire burden of all the wrongs--public and private--of every person who ever lived on Himself? What kind of justice is that?
He was beaten to the point where he didn't even look human. He was ridiculed. He was spit at. He carried his own wooden beam on His back and shoulders, already shredded by the whips of the Romans. The religious leaders were the first to accuse, but the mob soon added fuel to the torturous fire. It was ugly. It was bloody. It was cruel beyond modern understanding. And yet, it wasn't because He deserved it; WE DID. I do.
Suffering, being acted upon by external agents--suffering, not because of His own wrongdoings--suffering because of mine.
As I write this, I am watching Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. No matter what you think of Gibson and his failings, this movie is brilliant in its realism and its message. Reading the prophecies and the letters of the New Testament becomes even more profound when the movie visuals accompany them. How can I not be moved when I see this powerful portrayal as I read from Philippians:
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who being in very nature God,
did not consider equality
with God something to be grasped,
but made Himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled Himself
and became obedient to death--
even death on a cross..."
(Philippians 2:5-8)
That is PASSION.
Thursday, April 01, 2010
To Be Alone
He saw it coming. He knew He would be completely abandoned by those who claimed to love Him the dearest. He knew before the night was over, He would be alone.
I'm surrounded by people--family, friends, on-line friends, neighbors, even fictional people in books and on television. The few times I've been alone it's been restful...for a while. Then, when it's been quiet too long, I turn on music or television or something to fill the silence.
Jesus didn't have that option. When He was left alone, all He had for company were His thoughts-and the knowledge that the next hours would leave Him utterly alone, with the weight of the world on His shoulders.
Of course, the disciples never imagined that hours after the Passover supper they would be hiding in terror as their friend was abused, tormented, convicted (in illegal trials), and ultimately executed. Peter went as far as to insist that, no matter what, he would die with Jesus rather than leave Him. Big words...
The disciples couldn't see that their Lord was in emotional agony; when He asked them to pray, they fell asleep---three times. They were just clueless. It wasn't that Jesus had kept it a secret; He had told them He would die AND be resurrected only the day before. He told them that one of their group would betray Him. He told them He would meet them in Galilee after He had risen. If they had been listening (and Jesus told them countless times to listen) the events to come may not have been so completely unexpected.
It's easy to judge them for abandoning Jesus. They KNEW Him. They worked with Him for three years. They traveled together. They ate together. They had seen more miracles than anyone else. They had even told others that Jesus is the Christ. They, of all people, should have known. But, am I any different?
God speaks through His Word. The Bible is pretty clear about what God expects, desires, and gives. It should be second nature for believers to trust that God keeps His promises: we know about Noah and the rainbow, Gideon's fleece, Daniel's trip to the lion's den, Shadrach and his friends in Nebuchadnezzer's furnace, the countless times David escaped the wrath of Saul, and all the miracles and teachings of Jesus. It's all written down: God promises, God delivers.
Yet, when times are tough, I know I feel alone...and I have wondered what exactly God is doing. As I grow in my faith, I find it easier to trust Him, but there are days when I want to see Him in Galilee before the worst of trials are over. Perhaps the disciples, like me, decided to focus on the good things that Jesus said and pretend He didn't mean it when He said He would die and that they would disown Him. Perhaps the truth was so unimaginable that they thought it was a metaphor. Whatever they thought, the truth was far worse than any of them could have imagined; perhaps it was better for them in a way. Jesus knew, but they were protected from knowing.
It's important to know that, no matter how dire the situation, God will never forsake His children. We may not see beyond the moment, but HE sees the entire spectrum of events from beginning to end. He will never leave us alone. We just have to remember to stay awake and watch His plan unfold.
I'm surrounded by people--family, friends, on-line friends, neighbors, even fictional people in books and on television. The few times I've been alone it's been restful...for a while. Then, when it's been quiet too long, I turn on music or television or something to fill the silence.
Jesus didn't have that option. When He was left alone, all He had for company were His thoughts-and the knowledge that the next hours would leave Him utterly alone, with the weight of the world on His shoulders.
Of course, the disciples never imagined that hours after the Passover supper they would be hiding in terror as their friend was abused, tormented, convicted (in illegal trials), and ultimately executed. Peter went as far as to insist that, no matter what, he would die with Jesus rather than leave Him. Big words...
The disciples couldn't see that their Lord was in emotional agony; when He asked them to pray, they fell asleep---three times. They were just clueless. It wasn't that Jesus had kept it a secret; He had told them He would die AND be resurrected only the day before. He told them that one of their group would betray Him. He told them He would meet them in Galilee after He had risen. If they had been listening (and Jesus told them countless times to listen) the events to come may not have been so completely unexpected.
It's easy to judge them for abandoning Jesus. They KNEW Him. They worked with Him for three years. They traveled together. They ate together. They had seen more miracles than anyone else. They had even told others that Jesus is the Christ. They, of all people, should have known. But, am I any different?
God speaks through His Word. The Bible is pretty clear about what God expects, desires, and gives. It should be second nature for believers to trust that God keeps His promises: we know about Noah and the rainbow, Gideon's fleece, Daniel's trip to the lion's den, Shadrach and his friends in Nebuchadnezzer's furnace, the countless times David escaped the wrath of Saul, and all the miracles and teachings of Jesus. It's all written down: God promises, God delivers.
Yet, when times are tough, I know I feel alone...and I have wondered what exactly God is doing. As I grow in my faith, I find it easier to trust Him, but there are days when I want to see Him in Galilee before the worst of trials are over. Perhaps the disciples, like me, decided to focus on the good things that Jesus said and pretend He didn't mean it when He said He would die and that they would disown Him. Perhaps the truth was so unimaginable that they thought it was a metaphor. Whatever they thought, the truth was far worse than any of them could have imagined; perhaps it was better for them in a way. Jesus knew, but they were protected from knowing.
It's important to know that, no matter how dire the situation, God will never forsake His children. We may not see beyond the moment, but HE sees the entire spectrum of events from beginning to end. He will never leave us alone. We just have to remember to stay awake and watch His plan unfold.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Broken
Mark 14:3-9
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.
"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
Busy, Busy, Busy...doing what?
We're all busy. Work and play and exercise and kids and church and community and...and...and.... We fill our days from sunrise to well-past sunset with activities, but do we really have a purpose in all that activity?
Jesus knew the day He entered Jerusalem amongst the crowds chanting "Hosanna" that each minute mattered. Between that Sunday and the following Thursday (Passover) He cleared the temple, taught about prayer, defended His authority, taught about His purpose (in the form of a parable), discussed paying taxes, debated with a Sadducee, commended a Pharisee, warned the people about showy religious leaders, talked about the end of the earth, spent an evening in Bethany, and exhorted His followers to "Watch." (And that's just in the book of Mark!)
Not one moment was wasted, not one opportunity passed over. Every word He spoke was important and His sense of urgency is unmistakeable. Even if Facebook was part of the culture then as it is now, He didn't have time for frivolities like Farmville and Mafia Wars.
Jesus focused His attention on the critically important things--those things that people needed to know in order to keep their faith in the coming dark days. In the clearing of the temple, He taught that we must not allow material things to come between us and God. In cursing the fig tree, He taught that prayer is powerful. By defending His authority before the Sadducee and commending the wise Pharisee He revealed that He knows the motivations of man and that nothing is hidden from Him. When He warned against proud religious leaders, He gave people permission to question authority and to test their actiosn and words. He recognized the widow's small offering as superior to show us that the heart of the giver is more important than the amount of the gift. In His teachings of the end times, He gave a hope and a future to all the generations that came after. And finally, at Bethany, when Mary poured expensive perfume over Him, He comforted those who give all they have to serve Him.
How much time do I fritter away on insignificant things when there are so many needs around me? How often do I miss the teachable moments---for myself, my children, my friends? I must refocus my mind so that I use my time the way Jesus did, with priority on the really important things. Let me not get so caught up in the frivolous trivia that I miss the meaning of the message!
Jesus knew the day He entered Jerusalem amongst the crowds chanting "Hosanna" that each minute mattered. Between that Sunday and the following Thursday (Passover) He cleared the temple, taught about prayer, defended His authority, taught about His purpose (in the form of a parable), discussed paying taxes, debated with a Sadducee, commended a Pharisee, warned the people about showy religious leaders, talked about the end of the earth, spent an evening in Bethany, and exhorted His followers to "Watch." (And that's just in the book of Mark!)
Not one moment was wasted, not one opportunity passed over. Every word He spoke was important and His sense of urgency is unmistakeable. Even if Facebook was part of the culture then as it is now, He didn't have time for frivolities like Farmville and Mafia Wars.
Jesus focused His attention on the critically important things--those things that people needed to know in order to keep their faith in the coming dark days. In the clearing of the temple, He taught that we must not allow material things to come between us and God. In cursing the fig tree, He taught that prayer is powerful. By defending His authority before the Sadducee and commending the wise Pharisee He revealed that He knows the motivations of man and that nothing is hidden from Him. When He warned against proud religious leaders, He gave people permission to question authority and to test their actiosn and words. He recognized the widow's small offering as superior to show us that the heart of the giver is more important than the amount of the gift. In His teachings of the end times, He gave a hope and a future to all the generations that came after. And finally, at Bethany, when Mary poured expensive perfume over Him, He comforted those who give all they have to serve Him.
How much time do I fritter away on insignificant things when there are so many needs around me? How often do I miss the teachable moments---for myself, my children, my friends? I must refocus my mind so that I use my time the way Jesus did, with priority on the really important things. Let me not get so caught up in the frivolous trivia that I miss the meaning of the message!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Good Question.
One of the thing I love as a high school teacher is students who, after some consideration, ask questions. Not the "how long does this essay have to be" questions, but the deeper philosophical questions about the literature and its relevance to their lives. Even better is when they make connections between classic literature and their own spiritual walk---something that will impact them for life.
Jesus apparently liked thoughtful questions, too. He rebuffed the religious leaders because he knew their motives, but when one of the religious lawyers heard him debating in the temple area, he asked a question that must have made Jesus smile. Jesus had been debating with the Sadducees, who did not believe in an afterlife (which is what made then sad, you see?--sorry couldn't resist.) They had asked him about marriage in heaven (which they didn't believe in anyway), and Jesus basically told them that a) heaven is not about who is married to whom and b) God is the God of the living, not the dead...so what difference does it make?
One of the Pharisees (the teachers of the law) liked the way Jesus answered the Sadducee. Part of his appreciation was probably in the fact that the Pharisees and Sadducees didn't like each other much. However, the question this particular religious lawyer asked next also came from a heart that was really seeking after God's truth. So he asked Jesus, "Of all the commandments, which one is the most important?"
Wow. Great question. Keep in mind, that, beyond the original ten commandments, tradition had added a plethora of other laws, dictates, statutes, and requirements. This man, whose job it was to uphold the whole law, wanted the core principle. How many times do I focus on all the extraneous stuff and forget to examine the most important thing? Too many times to count.
So, what did Jesus say? Is it sacrifices? Family loyalty? Being a good person? Nope. Not one of these. Jesus pulled everything into a succinct statement:
"The most important one is this: 'Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this" 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31)
The Pharisee had obviously thought long and hard about the issue, because his response was a pretty enthusiastic "That's what I've been saying!" (Okay, not in those words, but he did agree that to love God and to love others is more important that ALL offerings and sacrifices.) Jesus not only gave the man a nod of approval, but told him that he was very near to understanding the kingdom of God.
It's really as simple as that: Love God with everything you are and then show His love to those around you. That is all it takes to be in the center of God's plan. It's so simple---and yet so hard to do. To love God with EVERYTHING requires an end to ego, an end to pride, an end to selfishness and all that goes along with stubborn human nature. To make it even harder, once we are completely emptied of ourselves, we then turn around and shower others with the love and grace and compassion and mercy of God. It's a simple idea, but cannot be mastered in this lifetime.
What a tremendous challenge for a culture that values the superficial over the substance. How much more, then, must I rely on God's grace and mercy to give me the strength to give up for His glory. May I faithfully walk in a manner worthy of His calling, and , like the wise Pharisee, stay close to the kingdom of God.
Jesus apparently liked thoughtful questions, too. He rebuffed the religious leaders because he knew their motives, but when one of the religious lawyers heard him debating in the temple area, he asked a question that must have made Jesus smile. Jesus had been debating with the Sadducees, who did not believe in an afterlife (which is what made then sad, you see?--sorry couldn't resist.) They had asked him about marriage in heaven (which they didn't believe in anyway), and Jesus basically told them that a) heaven is not about who is married to whom and b) God is the God of the living, not the dead...so what difference does it make?
One of the Pharisees (the teachers of the law) liked the way Jesus answered the Sadducee. Part of his appreciation was probably in the fact that the Pharisees and Sadducees didn't like each other much. However, the question this particular religious lawyer asked next also came from a heart that was really seeking after God's truth. So he asked Jesus, "Of all the commandments, which one is the most important?"
Wow. Great question. Keep in mind, that, beyond the original ten commandments, tradition had added a plethora of other laws, dictates, statutes, and requirements. This man, whose job it was to uphold the whole law, wanted the core principle. How many times do I focus on all the extraneous stuff and forget to examine the most important thing? Too many times to count.
So, what did Jesus say? Is it sacrifices? Family loyalty? Being a good person? Nope. Not one of these. Jesus pulled everything into a succinct statement:
"The most important one is this: 'Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this" 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31)
The Pharisee had obviously thought long and hard about the issue, because his response was a pretty enthusiastic "That's what I've been saying!" (Okay, not in those words, but he did agree that to love God and to love others is more important that ALL offerings and sacrifices.) Jesus not only gave the man a nod of approval, but told him that he was very near to understanding the kingdom of God.
It's really as simple as that: Love God with everything you are and then show His love to those around you. That is all it takes to be in the center of God's plan. It's so simple---and yet so hard to do. To love God with EVERYTHING requires an end to ego, an end to pride, an end to selfishness and all that goes along with stubborn human nature. To make it even harder, once we are completely emptied of ourselves, we then turn around and shower others with the love and grace and compassion and mercy of God. It's a simple idea, but cannot be mastered in this lifetime.
What a tremendous challenge for a culture that values the superficial over the substance. How much more, then, must I rely on God's grace and mercy to give me the strength to give up for His glory. May I faithfully walk in a manner worthy of His calling, and , like the wise Pharisee, stay close to the kingdom of God.
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