The season of Christmas has come and gone, and life inevitably shifts back to normal.
Think back a week or two about your day-to-day interactions of people you would meet. If you're like me, you might be on an relational rollercoaster when it comes to these interactions. I want to try to maintain a friendly, compassionate demeanor throughout the year, showing others at least some measure of the love of Jesus. Unfortunately, I find myself falling too easily from the standard of grace that Christ calls us to. It becomes work to care for strangers or coworkers who are rude or offensive, whether intentionally or not, especially if I experience these offenses more than once or twice. Fastforward from, say, October to December. The reminders of the celebration of Jesus' birth draw closer again, more visible and tangible, and it becomes easier to forgive and forget.
Why can't I let the spirit of Christ live through me year round instead of just a few weeks a year? Under our own efforts, it's impossible to consistently reflect the image of Jesus. It's when we let Him live in us and through us that we become more like Him. I'll be the first to admit that it sounds easier said than done, and it does take work for us to resist the natural temptation to love only those who love us, but Jesus showed us the way to care even for those who wrong us. "But I say to you, 'Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.'" (Matthew 5:44, NKJV).
I pray that for those of us who follow Jesus, the world around each of us sees Him reflected in us in some way every day. Have a great New Year!
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Thursday, December 7, 2006
Will we really ever be content?
Wednesday night the message at the 'Connected' service (which is intentionally designed for Christians who have been on their walk of faith for a while) was, well, pretty straightforward. It was also appropriate, especially for this time of year. The main theme was contentment, the sentiment of being satisfied with what we have.
For each of us, contentment is a good personal virtue to desire and to maintain in our lives. Sadly, in many circles and levels of society, contentment is a foreign concept. Consider:
- A year or so ago, the Archdiocese of St. Louis, which has a net worth of at least seven figures, excommunicated a parish priest and board of directors because the leaders of that parish would not turn to the archbishop control of its 9 million dollars in assets.
- Just a few weeks ago, news stories were reported from all over the country of the shopping frenzy created by people wanting to buy the Playstation 3 game system. There were stampedes rushing the stores, physical altercations, and even robberies and murders, just for the desire to have the most updated gaming technology. Some who managed to purchase the coveted merchandise didn't even keep it, but rather resold it for at least two or three times its retail value.
- I myself am even guilty of being discontent with what God has given me. On occasion I have complained about what we do or do not have in our house to eat, not to mention taking for granted more things than I can possibly mention.
God can provide us with everything we need to live, and most of us can even live each day in relative comfort. But especially for many of those who have their basic needs - and more - met every day, it is human nature to want more and/or better things. In a sense, then, it really does come down to weighing needs versus wants, and not having lots of material possessions becomes a blessing in disguise.
No person or church can tell someone what they need or don't need, or what they should or shouldn't have. Rather, that is between the individual and God, and each of us needs to decide for ourselves how much is enough and what we will do with what we have.
May God pour out His blessings on each of us and grant us the wisdom to use those blessings to His honor and for His glory.
For each of us, contentment is a good personal virtue to desire and to maintain in our lives. Sadly, in many circles and levels of society, contentment is a foreign concept. Consider:
- A year or so ago, the Archdiocese of St. Louis, which has a net worth of at least seven figures, excommunicated a parish priest and board of directors because the leaders of that parish would not turn to the archbishop control of its 9 million dollars in assets.
- Just a few weeks ago, news stories were reported from all over the country of the shopping frenzy created by people wanting to buy the Playstation 3 game system. There were stampedes rushing the stores, physical altercations, and even robberies and murders, just for the desire to have the most updated gaming technology. Some who managed to purchase the coveted merchandise didn't even keep it, but rather resold it for at least two or three times its retail value.
- I myself am even guilty of being discontent with what God has given me. On occasion I have complained about what we do or do not have in our house to eat, not to mention taking for granted more things than I can possibly mention.
God can provide us with everything we need to live, and most of us can even live each day in relative comfort. But especially for many of those who have their basic needs - and more - met every day, it is human nature to want more and/or better things. In a sense, then, it really does come down to weighing needs versus wants, and not having lots of material possessions becomes a blessing in disguise.
No person or church can tell someone what they need or don't need, or what they should or shouldn't have. Rather, that is between the individual and God, and each of us needs to decide for ourselves how much is enough and what we will do with what we have.
May God pour out His blessings on each of us and grant us the wisdom to use those blessings to His honor and for His glory.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
What's missing from Christmas?
It's a little early for a Christmas post, but then again, since the material world tries to get an earlier jump on the season every year, maybe posting now isn't so bad after all.
As a person goes out and about to plan their holiday decorations or to start their Christmas shopping, they will see many things.
The department stores display Christmas trees, tinsel, lights both white and multi-colored, giant snow globes with any of a number of characters looking out at passers-by, and light-adorned metal frames of animals such as reindeer, penguins, cows, and even dolphins (someone somewhere must have drawn a connection between marine mammals and Christmas, but I just don't see it). There are miniature displays of Norman Rockwell-like towns, and there are replicas of Santa's sleigh and his reindeer.
There are sales and specials and displays for every toy, game, and tool you can imagine, as well as nearly every kind of apparel you can think of. In the stores and elsewhere, music pipes out songs about snow, sleigh rides, and Santa Claus.
What - or who - is missing from the picture?
Even in this busy hustle-and-bustle time of year, wouldn't it be nice to pause once in a while just to dwell on what this holiday is for? The reason isn't a cliche', and it's not a warm fuzzy feeling that Christians invented to make ourselves and others around us feel good toward the end of every year. God loves the world so much that he sent Jesus into it to save from Satan, sin, and death those who choose to believe. It can be argued that the birth of Christ didn't happen in December, and that any number of details surrounding the 'traditional' Christmas story are inconsistent with the historical birth account of Jesus. That's not really the point though, is it?
The point of Christmas is to commemorate the earthly birth of the One who came to save us, and to express to others the kind of selfless, unconditional love that God expressed through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. May the love of Jesus flow into every heart and through every household this Christmas and throughout the year.
As a person goes out and about to plan their holiday decorations or to start their Christmas shopping, they will see many things.
The department stores display Christmas trees, tinsel, lights both white and multi-colored, giant snow globes with any of a number of characters looking out at passers-by, and light-adorned metal frames of animals such as reindeer, penguins, cows, and even dolphins (someone somewhere must have drawn a connection between marine mammals and Christmas, but I just don't see it). There are miniature displays of Norman Rockwell-like towns, and there are replicas of Santa's sleigh and his reindeer.
There are sales and specials and displays for every toy, game, and tool you can imagine, as well as nearly every kind of apparel you can think of. In the stores and elsewhere, music pipes out songs about snow, sleigh rides, and Santa Claus.
What - or who - is missing from the picture?
Even in this busy hustle-and-bustle time of year, wouldn't it be nice to pause once in a while just to dwell on what this holiday is for? The reason isn't a cliche', and it's not a warm fuzzy feeling that Christians invented to make ourselves and others around us feel good toward the end of every year. God loves the world so much that he sent Jesus into it to save from Satan, sin, and death those who choose to believe. It can be argued that the birth of Christ didn't happen in December, and that any number of details surrounding the 'traditional' Christmas story are inconsistent with the historical birth account of Jesus. That's not really the point though, is it?
The point of Christmas is to commemorate the earthly birth of the One who came to save us, and to express to others the kind of selfless, unconditional love that God expressed through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. May the love of Jesus flow into every heart and through every household this Christmas and throughout the year.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Hello, world!
Religious person. Bible bumper. Jesus freak. Otherwise, you can just call me Eric.
Now that introductions are out of the way, I can respond to the thoughts above that I've read on the faces of or sensed coming from people I interact with every day.
'Religious' person: not so much - I don't have a religion so much as a relationship with Jesus. 'Bible bumper': occasionally, I guess - the Bible is God's love letter to us and the believer's handbook for life, so it comes naturally that I share what I've learned from it from time to time. 'Jesus freak': definitely - the Son of God saved my life, so I can do nothing less than give it back to Him.
This blog isn't my first. For a while I posted my own thoughts and perspectives on different topics; not a bad thing at all, but it was sort of without real aim or purpose. After a time, I shifted my focus to highlight the persecuted church, the body of believers in a number of countries around the world, who are harassed, jailed, killed, or worse, for being Christians.
Due to a . . . shift in focus at Cornerstone, the persecuted church is more of a personal than corporate ministry. I guess that's okay for now, and still, this new blog will have elements of both of the two previous ones, with the exception that I'll try to stick to Cornerstone's desire to enable people - churched and unchurched - to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
One of the things I feel led to do - it almost feels like a duty or a calling - is to keep a watchful eye on social, spiritual, and I suppose to some extent, political, trends today in America and beyond. Hopefully, that's where this column will come in, to link the mission and values of Cornerstone Community Church with the happenings in the world outside our doors. Prayerfully, God will give me the perception to pick up on the significance of what goes on in the world, whether major or mundane, and the wisdom to translate it as the Holy Spirit leads.
Now that introductions are out of the way, I can respond to the thoughts above that I've read on the faces of or sensed coming from people I interact with every day.
'Religious' person: not so much - I don't have a religion so much as a relationship with Jesus. 'Bible bumper': occasionally, I guess - the Bible is God's love letter to us and the believer's handbook for life, so it comes naturally that I share what I've learned from it from time to time. 'Jesus freak': definitely - the Son of God saved my life, so I can do nothing less than give it back to Him.
This blog isn't my first. For a while I posted my own thoughts and perspectives on different topics; not a bad thing at all, but it was sort of without real aim or purpose. After a time, I shifted my focus to highlight the persecuted church, the body of believers in a number of countries around the world, who are harassed, jailed, killed, or worse, for being Christians.
Due to a . . . shift in focus at Cornerstone, the persecuted church is more of a personal than corporate ministry. I guess that's okay for now, and still, this new blog will have elements of both of the two previous ones, with the exception that I'll try to stick to Cornerstone's desire to enable people - churched and unchurched - to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
One of the things I feel led to do - it almost feels like a duty or a calling - is to keep a watchful eye on social, spiritual, and I suppose to some extent, political, trends today in America and beyond. Hopefully, that's where this column will come in, to link the mission and values of Cornerstone Community Church with the happenings in the world outside our doors. Prayerfully, God will give me the perception to pick up on the significance of what goes on in the world, whether major or mundane, and the wisdom to translate it as the Holy Spirit leads.
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