We're Still Here... Whew!!

Dear God,

Well what do you know… May 21^st came and went and we are still here.

Who’d a thunk it?

I know that Jesus himself said that no one would know the day or time except for you so I wasn’t trippin on May 21^st being the last day. After all, if someone is saying that they know when the last day will come then it is pretty much a guarantee that that day will not be the one.

Riding the Waves

"What is the way to the abode of light?
       And where does darkness reside?

 Can you take them to their places?
       Do you know the paths to their dwellings?

 Surely you know, for you were already born!
       You have lived so many years! – Job 38: 19-21

Today’s Reading: Job 38: 19-21 Acts 16:1-21

Any time a section of the Bible is entitled “The LORD Speaks” one might want to pay special attention to it.

God has responded to Job; and he came with the thunder.

This makes me think a lot about myself actually. I have always been one to ask why. And when I don’t understand or agree with the answer I am none too pleased as well.

I suppose there is arrogance in this. It is great to understand why things are, or why things have happened but is it really the most important question to ask?

In third grade we had to write current events. They were small reports based on something that happened in the news. The questions that had to be addressed were who, what, where, when, why, and how. The answer to the question “why” was the bread and butter of these assignments. The answer showed whether or not you read and understood the article. A proper understanding of “why” demonstrated a mastery of the topic.

Is it possible to have such a mastery when it comes to the way that life unfolds? Even if we did understand “why” is there anything we can do about it?

This is what God is saying to me as I read these chapters:

So you want to know why? Ok that’s cool… let’s pretend that you could actually comprehend the answer to “why”; what exactly would you do about it? Do you have the power to act on it? Do you want to be me? Just be you lil’ homie… just be you. I promise you that this is a job that you do not desire and are not qualified for.”

As we go about the world endeavoring to live the best lives that we imagine possible it can be easy to fall into the illusion that we are in complete control. This is why bad events and unexplainable happenings trouble us so much. They jar us into recognizing that ultimately we are not in control.

Much like how sails and rudders direct a boat on the water; ultimately, the boat is at the mercy of the waves and winds that it rides upon. Sometimes our lives have calms seas and gentle winds. We are able to direct our paths with relative ease, thinking that we are responsible for arriving at the destinations that we seek. But when the storms of life send rains and waves and winds crashing upon our masts, we are reminded of our place.

No matter how much we try to steer and force our way; ultimately, we must try to navigate along with the sea. It is in these moments that we are driven to God, whether to pray or to curse him. We are driven in this direction because we know, to some degree, that we are not in complete control. We realize that no matter what we do we cannot help ourselves.

At times life’s journey is as perilous as it is joyous. If we remember that we will never master the oceans of life, then we will better appreciate when the seas are calm. And when they are rough, we will be better equipped to trust and have faith that things will be ok.

We just have to ride the waves instead of fighting them.

What Do You Really Want?

When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Acts 3:3-6

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 7-9; Acts 3

I wonder if many of the problems we have in our lives are a result of us not asking for what we really want…

I had an email conversation with my cousin the other day. She shared some of her goals with me and I shared some with her. One of the things that she asked me was something like this: “How do the things that you want work together? Is their any synergy? If they work together then you will be happier.”

I’m summarizing… but what she said was dead on.

Often times I have focused on what I think I need right now instead of what I really need to ensure long term joy. It’s the difference between someone who is unemployed looking for a “job” versus sitting down and thinking about what brings them true joy and seeking out opportunities in that field.

For me the thing that makes me focus on the short term instead of the long term is fear. Sometimes I have a hard time seeing the forest because I am looking at the rocks lining the trees before me.

Thank you cousin for reminding me to ask for what will bring me lasting joy rather than short term relief.

The Great Challenge continues on.

Choice vs. Destiny Part 3: Son of a Preacher Man

The sons of Amram:
Aaron and Moses.
Aaron was set apart, he and his descendants forever, to consecrate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices before the LORD, to minister before him and to pronounce blessings in his name forever. 14 The sons of Moses the man of God were counted as part of the tribe of Levi.

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 22-24; John 8:28-59

Umm…. So I have a question here.

What if Aaron’s great great grandson didn’t want to do this? What if he wanted to be soldier? Fly kites? Mack the ladies? Be a carpenter?

It’s things like this in the Bible that I have a hard time with. It’s so interesting how clearly and concisely the future of an entire family line is spoken of. Aaron was set apart so all of his sons were too?

That seems ridiculous to me.

But if I were to suspend my judgment for a minute here… what if it is true?

*GASP*

What do you mean what if it is true Clarence? You know that’s just some oldfangled tomfoolery don’t you?

Well, let’s assume that it’s not for a second. What would that mean? If God determined that everyone in Aaron’s line would have this specific task what would He do to make that happen?

He’d have to give them the desire to do it.

Have you gotten to the point of figuring out what you are supposed to do with your life? How did it feel? How does it feel actually doing it? It must feel so incredibly amazing. You wake up every single day with a smile on your face, knowing that your work and your pleasure are the same thing.

That’s pretty amazing.

Maybe God puts these desires on our hearts to help guide us to our purpose. So, discovering what we most love to do would at the same time be discovering the specific reason why God put us on this earth.

I know that’s pretty romantic and all but I’m starting to believe it. We are all uniquely equipped with certain desires, talents and abilities and I see a purpose in that.

In the end we do have a choice of course. We can choose to follow the path that our deepest desires have laid out for us, or we could not. After all there is no guarantee that this most fulfilling path is the easiest one.

But the easiest paths tend not to lead us to lasting joy… instead they lead to fleeting moments of happiness sprinkled in to an unfulfilled life.

So maybe Aaron’s great great grand son thought he would have rather flown kites or been a carpenter… or maybe that was him taking the easy way out.

Perhaps if he had dug deep and searched his soul he would have realized that true fulfillment for his life would be found in working in the temple.

That sounds good for now.

Please, Please, Please!

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. – Luke 22: 39-44

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 14-15; Luke 22: 21-46

Man… this is not a good look.

Jesus knew the end was near and that Judas and Peter would betray him. He must have felt terrible.

But what did he do? He prayed.

The prayer and what happens afterward are interesting to me. He did ask God to get him out of the situation. I mean really... who wouldn't?

But he also said, “yet not my will, but yours be done”.

And then what happens next? An angel appears to comfort him.

Sigh…

Obviously, based on my previous posts, I have no answers when it comes to choice versus destiny. There is something profoundly mysterious about what Jesus says in that prayer. If it had been me I’d have hit God with the “please, please, please”.

But Jesus is more gangsta than I.

What I do think I understand is what happens with the angel. It is comforting to know that when we are going through a tough time God will send an angel to us. Maybe that angel will provide a way out of that trial. Maybe that angel will come in the form of a friend or stranger to give us advice or comfort. Maybe the angel will do something altogether unexpected.

I don’t know.

But what I do know is that when we ask for help, help will come in the form that we need most.

Even if it is answering a different need then we asked for.

Soul Mates

Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.”
Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.” - An Excerpt from Luke 20: 27-40

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 6-7; Luke 20: 27-47

Anyone who knows me even moderately well knows that love romance movies. I love romantic comedies, romantic dramas, good ones, bad ones… it doesn’t really matter. I love the magic of guy meets girl, guy gets girl, guy loses girl, guy gets girl again. I root for the troubled lovers and feel vindicated when they have realized what we all knew in the first five minutes; that they belong together.

I’m a romantic.

This stilly state of mind has always led me to the question of soul mates. Do we have a soul mate? Do we have several soul mates? Can they be platonic friendships; spiritual comrades assigned by divine order to march side by side into the battle for good? Or are they always romantic in nature; a finding of ones other half if you will?

Or is there really no such thing as a soul mate. Perhaps what we refer to as soul mates are a series of conscious decisions made by two individuals to share their lives and purposes with one another.

I have no idea.

I was talking to a good friend of mine about soul mates yesterday and I remembered this scripture above where the Sadducees try to catch Jesus in a clever riddle… and as these things typically go, it comes up in my reading the next day.

There are no accidents.

The way Jesus answers the question posed by the Sadducees puts the soul mate question in a certain perspective.

I kinda feel clowned.

It’s almost as if the notion of love and commitment are nothing more than trivial utterances compared to the soliloquy of the spiritual bliss to come in the next age.

I do still find myself wondering about soul mates. Do I have one? If so, have I already met her…?

But perhaps all of this time and energy spent thinking about this topic is all for naught. In the end it won’t really matter anyway right?

But, then again, the same could be said for a great meal, the perfect piece of fruit, or an amazing glass of wine.

Hey, even Jesus understood the importance of that good wine…

Choice vs. Destiny Part 2: A Letter to Sampson

Then she said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when you won't confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven't told me the secret of your great strength." With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death. – Judges 16:15-16

Sampson…

Ok, here’s the thing. I kinda want to feel bad for you. But man, she showed you three times already what she’s all about. And it’s clear that she isn’t all about you.

She was shady dude...

Well at least she wasn’t as cheap as Judas. He sold out for only thirty pieces of silver. Delilah got way more out of the deal; but still, this never should have happened. Were there no attractive women from Israel?

I guess that just wasn’t your thing.

But all of that doesn’t really matter does it? In the end you still redeemed Israel. You brought down the Philistine temple with your bare hands! That was quite the gangsta move. It makes me think though… was it all worth it? Was getting down with the enemy worth the price of your eyes?

It doesn’t seem like it.

I don’t know man. I’m just really bothered by the whole thing. I guess what I’m stuck on is this whole purpose versus choice thing. You were born with the purpose of delivering Israel from Palestine and you did it. You did it even though you were destroyed by the weakness your own choices.

I’ve done that too. I have waited until rock bottom to come crying to God too so I really can’t judge. Thankfully He has come to the rescue. But I’m gonna learn from you. No more of that mess. It’s not the business.

Plus, I don’t have that same flare for theatrics that you have.

Hope all is well.

C

Today’s Reading: Judges 16-18; Luke 7:1-30

Choice vs Destiny? Part 1

A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was sterile and remained childless. The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, "You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean, because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines." – Judges 13: 2-5

We have seen this story in many forms already in our journey through the Bible. Jesus was born with a purpose. John the Baptist was born with a purpose. And so too was Sampson.

But what does that mean for you and me?

Are we all born with some particular God given purpose? What if we don’t want to fulfill this purpose? Then what? Do we have to walk that path anyway? Or maybe the tapestry of our choices is weaved in such away that no matter what we choose we will end up being the art that God created us to be.

Or perhaps this purpose thing is all nonsense. Maybe this is all hindsight. Maybe the stories are written so clearly because they were written after the deeds were done. People do what they do and then try to make sense of it later right?

This is a timeless question… choice versus destiny. Which one is true?

And you know what I figured out… it doesn’t really matter. I do believe that truth is an objective reality; so maybe one side of the debate is right and the other wrong. Or perhaps neither side is capable of grasping the infinitely large picture of existence.

But in the end we still have to wake up everyday. We still have to live our lives. So rather than being stuck on this question of who is pulling the strings, I choose to do all that I can with the power that I have to be the best that I can be.

When it’s all said and done I am confident that this will give me the best of both worlds. I will have lived my life the best way I saw fit; and it will have been a life that hopefully put a smile on God’s face.

Today’s Reading: Judges 13-15; Luke 6:27-49