In fact, in truth, there may be no such list, except in our own mind.

But that is really a topic for another day, much too deep for todays’ ponderings.  Let’s face it, in one’s practical theology, there are certain things we tend to take as universal constants, at least in our corner of the world, even though when pressed for our theological and philosophical answers we know to be correct, we know we should say, “if the Lord wills”.  So while I know God is perfectly within His sovereign right and will to take my life today, I get out of bed thinking/hoping/praying that this won’t be the case, and I’ll be serving Him in some fashion that doesn’t include a tragedy, humanly speaking.  That’s not denial as much as just a way of living that keeps us doing what we’re called to within the revealed scope of His will; that stuff like, “doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God”.

Back to necessary evils.  I know a good number of people who let January 1 come and go without any thought, much less anything resembling resolution.  I myself have set and failed a great number of them myself, and as I think about what Christ may want for me this year my thoughts drift to setting my mind and will to certain things and goals once again.  Some that I’ve made before, and fell short of.  Some are newer goals.  But as I was reading in a book given to me recently, “Grace Walk” by Steve McVey, I was reminded of an important truth that has much to offer me as well as anyone reading going into a new year.

“You can rededicate yourself again and again, but at the bottom of it all, you still have self trying to live for God.  Self effort is the essence of legalism.  It is pointless to pray for God to help you live for Him.  That may by your goal, but it isn’t His.  He wants to live His life through you.”

Maybe its the date on the calendar, maybe its my particular life station I find myself in.  Either way, I am fighting the urge to try harder, do more, make another list, find a program.  Rededicate myself.

This year, I just want to be with Him and let Him do what He wants with me.  Much easier said (and typed) than done.  But as I head into 2012 along with all of humanity looking for more I leave you with this goal from Phil.3:10-11…

that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

So I lift up my metaphorical toast glass and cheer you all to knowing Him more in 2012!  Cheers!

coram deo – rob

I say this because right now I feel super busy but not horribly abundant. Im running faster and longer, doing more, and it feels a little empty, not like it should.  My guess is this means I need to not do more, but maybe do less, better?  Or at least enjoy what Im involved in for the glory of God.  Maybe thats it.

what dou YOU think?

coram deo – rob

I’ve always really been drawn to the passage in John 15:1-7 used by Rich Brown in church last week.  It never fails to impress me when I read the words of Jesus that say, “I am the vine; you are the branches”.  There is a very real, very necessary connection between us and Jesus if we are in any way to be fruitful, or good for anything, in this life.  I say this having spent LONG periods in my trying to do very nice, very Christian things without much thought of Jesus at all.  It honestly makes me wonder what He thought, actually.  Was he smiling?  Crying?  Shaking his head?  Or just waiting?  Good questions I guess, but regardless, it was through the persistent efforts of a close friend and pastor of mine, James Downing who impressed upon me the absolute necessity and vitality of keeping Jesus and that relationship at the core of my experience and ministry.  I know a lot of seminarians, a lot of people with a lot of initials behind their names, who for some reason forgot this.

I say all this for a couple reasons.  I know lots of teens who think being a Christian is about joining a club  or getting the manual.  It’s neither.  It’s more like getting married.  You enter into a very REAL and very close relationship, that being Jesus.  Now, it may be said that with this marriage, you enter into His extended family, the body of Christ, his church.  I guess that may be the ‘club’ feel some think of.  You also become attached to the communication that Jesus gives us through His word.  I guess this may be the ‘manual for living’ that some think of.  But do you see the difference?  Without the relationship, the club is boring and the manual irrelevant.  You just won’t appreciate or get those things without Him at the center.  Believe me, its been tried.  It’s being tried by many teens I know and love right now.

He is the vine – You are the branches.  Apart from Him, YOU CAN DO NOTHING.

A little eery sounding, but the opposite is also true.  With Him, what can’t you do?  I mean, he did create the whole known universe.

So, I make it my goal to live by the vine.  Not like Tarzan, swing around, although it feels like that a bit.  But just making sure that my connection to the fine stays strong.  Basically, I’m all about the fruit!

more later, but sound off – I’d like to hear it

coram deo

rob

Today’s readings take us to the book of Job, one of the more famous biblical figures.  In Job 1-2, we see the setting of the stage for one of the great tests of all time.  It almost seems like a cosmic game of chess, except the players are God and Satan, and the pieces are people.  I often wonder what it would have been like to have been in the room when that conversation took place, with the angels in attendance.  At least we have part of the transcript.  God asks Satan, “where have YOU been?” and gets in response, “roaming around”.  Of course, I’m editing a little.  God asks him if he’s seen his servant, Job.  He asks Satan to ‘consider’ him.  To really think about him and how he is.  Blameless, God tells  us!  A solid guy!  Of course, he is, Satan says.  He’s got all the blessings!  He’s living the life!  He’s just righteous because he has no reason to complain!

Which brings me to the “reaction” point.  In ch.1 and 2 we see God remove blessing from Job; first his family, his stuff and even his good health.  All he has is his life, which given he’s sick and covered in boils, probably isn’t TOO fun.  How does he react?  Read Job 1:20-22.

Perspective is hard.  Seeing the big picture requires us to know what is true sometimes DESPITE what seems go be happening around us.  How many times has our love for God or others been directed by what we feel or how we unthinkingly react based on our initial reading of a situation?  I have to think that Job and his rock solid character delivered his response based not on his situation, but despite it.  Based on what He knew of God to be true.

This week, you could make a list of things that happen, good and bad, and decide based on that list if God is worthy of praise and worth following.  Or you can determine beforehand who God is, and act that way, instead of reacting.

So, are you a list maker or not?  (If you find you’re a list maker, then your response will look a lot like Job 2:7-9!)

coram deo

rob

OK, I’m going off the chart a little here.  I guess I’ll find out who really reads this thing.  I feel like last night’s youth group chat was a bit of a mulligan.  For those of you who are not golf-savvy, that’s a nice way of saying I’d like a do-over.  The fellowship was good, lots of people, no one died, but I wish my talk would have gone a different way.

So, today I am blogging on prayer a bit.  I’m currently sitting at a Woods coffee shop, the bakerview station, if you must know.  I’m people watching.  It’s funny how many different kinds of people there are in such a crowded little place.  I’ve got two college girls chatting about life and a little bible study on the table next to me, while another guy does his homework on the other side.  Across the room sit a group of older asian people, looking pretty animated about something.  On the far wall, two guys in uniform, by the looks it looks like armored truck drivers, are on a bit of a coffee break.  In the other corner, the ‘coveted work corner’ I try to get but rarely do is some business looking types maybe doing an interview or setting up their next golf tee time.

Here I sit, with my earbuds in.  The music’s off, but I leave them in.  It gives people the appearance I’m not listening to them, but I am.  Intently.  Is that dishonest?  Wearing earbuds without music?

Yet, earbuds usually serve a worthwhile purpose.  Good earbuds filter out the noise from outside and give me clarity of sound o whatever I have on my itunes.

My prayer life tends go wander when I get distracted.  I think God’s word acts a little like earbuds – filtering out the outer noise of life so I can more clearly hear His voice.  I can pray without them – but its hard.  I just read a medical article exposing multi-tasking as a myth; we never do more than one thing at once really, we just move back and forth quickly, and usually, not very efficiently, so it says.  So, whenever I can actually concentrate – something gets done!  Yeah!

So, my challenge today is to put on your earbuds, and see if it focuses your prayer life a bit.  Because lets face it, those kids slurping hot chocolate and bouncing on the couch next to me certainly aren’t making it any easier….those little devils!

coram deo

rob

How many times have you and I walked past someone with a cardboard sign or on a street corner saying something like, “Anything helps, God bless” or “Hungry and Homeless” or, “Out of gas”.  Sometimes they have a can out, maybe a dog or kids at their side.  How many times have you thought, “they are probably just scamming, I’ll just keep going”.  Today in Prov.19:17 I was reading (and you can too)

¹⁷ Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD,
and he will repay him for his deed.

Way too often I think when someone wants to borrow money – “Will I ever see this again?”  Many times people cruise into the church parking lot, with a story about how they are on the way to relatives, been driving for days, and ran out of gas.  Just a tankful, and we’ll pay you back as soon as we get to Aunt So-and-So’s!  I’ve given, but instead of wondering when I’ll get paid back, I take the Prov.19:17 approach.  Evidently, when we lend to the poor – we are lending it to God!  That certainly changes things.  For one, could I ever outgive God, who gave His son for me?  More to the point, do I really think God doesn’t have the ability to repay?  Now, I’ve given and the next day not seen any money.

But do we really think repayment is all about the money?

What do you think?

coram deo -rob

Self preservation is a strong instinct.  So strong we almost always assume it, and never have to feed it.  So, whenever we actually come to the point of thinking about other peoples interests, we are a bit lost.  Phil.2:1-4 says that we are as Christ Followers to specifically look for the interests of others instead of just our own.  It’s just one way that we can follow Christ rather than ourselves or any other person.

Read it….its hard!  Harder yet to do.  But maybe today, look for someone on your road that you can let into traffic.  You’ll still get where you need to be – and you’ll get there looking more like Christ!

CORAM DEO

ROB

In Prov.7 we are warned about the attraction that the adulteress has on the man seeking wisdom.  While many of you are thinking “hey, I don’t have a problem with prostitution, so what’s the big deal?” I want you to consider this passage a minute.  Her smooth line to the young man goes like this…

¹⁸Come, let us take our fill of love till morning;
let us delight ourselves with love.
¹⁹For^(Y) my husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey;
²⁰he took a bag of money with him;
at full moon he will come home.”

She really sells it.  She says that we can have itall – a great time back at my place.  The husband’s gone.  We have till tomorrow.

Notice it has all the elements of sin we like, unfortunately.  It’s quick, pain free and no chance of getting caught!  Regardless of what you’re tempted by, think about how your desires work.  When sin becomes a craving, whatever the craving, it all sounds the same.  It all promises the same, and sadly, it all ends the same.

²²All at once he follows her,
as an ox goes to the slaughter,
or as a stag is caught fast^[e]
23till an arrow pierces its liver;
as^(AA) a bird rushes into a snare;
he does not know that it will cost him his life.

Today, consider how desires work in your life.  Godly desires work for our good and under control.  The good news here is; as children of God with His Spirit, we actually can choose and control those things.  They may seem crazy, but NO ONE MAKES US DO ANYTHING!   We choose.  Yet, we can be enslaved to the desires we foolishly choose. So consider…

1.  Do you have desires that give you conflict and bring your problems?

2.  What is your process when you have to choose between conflicting desires; pleasing God or pleasing yourself, for instance?

3.  Can you think of instances where you paid the price for following the quick fun way of the adulteress, instead of the voice of wisdom?

Hey, if it was easy, then we wouldn’t be told about how seductive and enticing her wicked ways are!  I’m wondering how you sort those desires out! You do…don’t you???!!!???

coram deo

rob

Spiritually, Jesus is called our ‘mediator’.  This is taken from the Old Testament where the High Priest Aaron would go into the Holy of Holies and with the names of the Israelites on his breastplate pray for them because only could, on that day of Atonement (see Ex.28:29).  Jesus is referred to as a mediator of a new covenant in Hebrews 5, and that is a picture of what He does for us.  What does that mean?  We can pray through Him, because of who He is and what He does; namely, interceding for us at the right hand of the Father.  We can praise God in Heaven because what Jesus did was the perfect act of worship – without the cross we could NEVER approach God, in word or praise.

So, today and everyday, when we do what we do, remember how, why and who for we do it.  Jesus.  He’s not just the destination.  He’s the journey.  He’s the pilot.  He’s the map.  He’s the reason.  We don’t do stuff for good reasons.  We live for Jesus because of what He did and does.

Thoughts?

coram deo – rob

“When am I ever going to use this in ‘real’ life?”

I’ve taken more than a few of those classes myself.  So have you, or you will.  It may be that you think that way about certain parts of your Bible.  Like, ‘when would I ever need to know that?”  But because all Scripture is profitable, for teaching, correction, reproof (and other good stuff) we know that God intends for us to not just know it, but to use it.  That’s why in Prov.22:17 we see the following encouragement…

“Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your mind to knowledge; for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, that they may be ready on your lips.  So that your trust may be in the Lord…”

As we sit and get instructed in God’s word, as we receive wisdom, we can let flow without any thought of use or think of learning with the intent of passing it along.  How many times have you been faced with a situation or been in a conversation where you desperately thought, “shoot, I know that one!  What was that again….”  And we can’t bring it back.  We can’t remember the verse, the analogy, or God’s wisdom regarding the situation.

So, this week, incline your ear!  When you’re hearingh Pastor Craig in church, pay attention!  In youth group, when we open the Word, listen like you’ll need to pass it along someday!  Because unlike Non-Euclidean Geometry, God’s word and wisdom in MEANT to be passed on!

CORAM DEO

rob