Monthly Archive for January, 2010

Blessed Desperation

Published on January 31, 2010 in Uncategorized. 2 Comments

I’ll admit, I was skeptical when my friend recommended the CD. “Another teaching on the Beatitudes?” I groaned (not in his presence, of course.)  “I’ve heard them all.”  Admission number two: I was wrong.

 

The teacher said something that had never before come to my attention.  The phrase “poor in spirit” that Jesus spoke is more rightly translated “desperate.”  That gives the message new meaning.

 

“Blessed are the desperate, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven,” said Jesus.  I’m all for the Kingdom of Heaven, so maybe I can learn to embrace being desperate.

 

The road to hope, peace, calm, satisfaction, and the like is the path of distress and despair. Desperation, therefore, is not my enemy – it’s my friend.  When I see things becoming dire, I’m really close to finding the Kingdom. 

 

I’m not ready to ask God to bring on the desperation.  But when it comes, as it does in every life, I hope I’ll remember this.  It might at least make the situation bearable.  Who knows, maybe I’ll even be blessed.

 

(Thanks, Frank, for the CD.)

 

 

No Choice In The Matter

Published on January 24, 2010 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

The servant of Abraham, whose name we do not know, was given a task by his master to find a wife for Abraham’s son Isaac.  Out he went.  Sitting by a well to rest, he devised an elaborate plot.  “If I meet a woman who does this and this and this,” he said, I’ll know she’s the one.”

 

Along came Rebekah.  The servant set the test in motion.  Unknowingly, Rebekah responded exactly as he had envisioned the right girl would.

 

The next step for Abraham’s servant was to get permission to take Rebekah far away from her family to become Isaac’s wife.  He went to her home and explained the whole situation to Bethuel, her father, and Laban, her older brother. The servant described in detail exactly the plan he had devised and how Rebekah fulfilled each part perfectly without knowing anything about it.  He then said “If you are going to let the girl come with me, say so. If not, I’ll go elsewhere.”

 

Realizing the significance of the way it had all happened, Bethuel and Laban’s response was simple: “This is from the Lord; we have no choice in the matter.”

 

There are times when I am not pleased with the hand life has dealt me.  I want things to be different, and I seem unable to make them so.  Circumstances line up to clearly put me on this path or that.

 

Do I have options in those situations?  Well, maybe.  And I guess Bethuel and Laban could have refused to let Rebekah go back with Abraham’s servant.  The wiser response is to realize that – sometimes – exerting a lot of effort to alter life is fighting against God Himself.  (This is never successful in the long run, by the way.)  Much better to give in and say, “Whether I like it or not, this is from the Lord; I have no choice in the matter.”

 

Most likely God says “Sure you do,” then He winks and adds “but really you don’t.” Nonetheless, I think He’s pleased.

 

 

Tired Of Teachings

Published on January 17, 2010 in Uncategorized. 1 Comment

I’m tired of Bible teachings.  Make that REALLY tired.  In well over three decades of church involvement, I’ve heard and read hundreds of them.  Ask me how many I remember… not a lot.  The number that have really affected my life?  Fewer still.

 

What do I want instead?  To know God.  To see His character in action, expressed through His followers.  To experience the mysterious presence that exists when people come together around a common desire to share love, joy, peace, truth, reality, and the like – and then learn that those are actually Someone’s name.

 

Thankfully, I’ve been there a time or two.  It happened while working shoulder to shoulder, riding with a friend in a car, enjoying a common meal, or sitting around a living room in a group.  And, sure, it’s even happened while listening to someone explain scripture.  In most of those cases, however, the teacher didn’t realize that he or she was teaching.

 

The Bible writer James said to be doers of God’s Word, and not only hearers.  OK, so hearing isn’t all bad, and I’m sure I’ll keep at it, although – honestly – I think I’ve heard almost enough.  Please… somebody show me the doing.  And God help me to be a doer myself.

 

 

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