It is one thing to know about Jesus. It is another to put that knowledge into action. The scriptures urge us to "walk the walk." We should be walking with Jesus in our relationships with others, in personal purity and in godly wisdom.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
Easter Turnarounds
The two men on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) had given up on Jesus. After all, they had seen him die - and with him their dreams of redemption and deliverance also died. But after a while, they were joined by another traveler. They didn't recognize him at first, but finally realized that he WAS Jesus!
Well, that changes everything - then and now.
Well, that changes everything - then and now.
Monday, April 14, 2014
The Stones Would Cry Out
The events on the first Palm Sunday seem very up-beat! A parade down the Mount of Olives and into Jerusalem! Jesus riding on a young donkey festooned with people's cloaks. People waving branches and scarves and paving the road in front of Jesus with cloaks and branches while they shouted praise!
"Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!"
Did we all miss that parade or is it still possible for us to participate?
"Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!"
Did we all miss that parade or is it still possible for us to participate?
Monday, April 7, 2014
"True Love" Is The Problem
Why do so many people's relationships end badly? People who professed their undying love to each other end up leaving the relationship and professing their undying love to someone else. In many cases this is a serial behavior... one after another... time and time again.
Why?
I think that true love is the problem.
Of course, true love is also the ideal of romantic fancy. Somewhere out there is the one person who is your true love. The goal is to find that person and in that relationship find the perfect joy of absolute fulfillment that results in "happily ever after." Songs and books and films and children's storybooks all promote this ideal.
But how does one recognize one's "true love?"
Well, you just know, of course. Somehow you recognize your true love and your heart sings and you are completely, head over heals, without reservation, sure that this person is your true love.
But this "true love" experience is very much like simple infatuation. The new person is exciting. There is sexual attraction. There are interesting mysteries and stimulating conversations. There is the thrill of having another person interested in you. And there are very few known foibles that will irritate you later.
"Happily ever after" ends up being much less exciting than the initial relationship. Now there are the foibles - the bad breath in the morning - the chewing with his mouth open - the uneven sharing of household duties - the competing interests.
Eventually, true love doctrine leads to the conclusion that you've made a mistake. This person was not really your true love. You could never be irritated by your true love. You could never be disappointed in your life with your true love. Your true love must still be out there somewhere! You must look for him or her... over and over again.
True Love (so called) is actually sensuality - living by your feelings. As long as the other person makes you feel really good - they are your true love. But if they fail to make you feel really good - they must not be your true love.
REAL Love, on the other hand, is commitment. In our culture there must be some basis for initial attraction and some level of compatibility in beliefs and values. But there is also a realistic understanding that the other person is imperfect. There should also be an understanding that both of you will change over time as you have good experiences and bad experiences. You will struggle as you deal with stressful situations and you will fail each other on many occasions.
But real love says, "I am committing myself to you, no matter what happens, no matter what changes, as long as we both shall live. Riches or poverty, health or sickness, success or failure, pleasure and pain are all the different fields on which I will prove my commitment to you. You will be my one and only. I will prove my loyalty. I will never give up."
That is real love. That's what you want.
Why?
I think that true love is the problem.
Of course, true love is also the ideal of romantic fancy. Somewhere out there is the one person who is your true love. The goal is to find that person and in that relationship find the perfect joy of absolute fulfillment that results in "happily ever after." Songs and books and films and children's storybooks all promote this ideal.
But how does one recognize one's "true love?"
Well, you just know, of course. Somehow you recognize your true love and your heart sings and you are completely, head over heals, without reservation, sure that this person is your true love.
But this "true love" experience is very much like simple infatuation. The new person is exciting. There is sexual attraction. There are interesting mysteries and stimulating conversations. There is the thrill of having another person interested in you. And there are very few known foibles that will irritate you later.
"Happily ever after" ends up being much less exciting than the initial relationship. Now there are the foibles - the bad breath in the morning - the chewing with his mouth open - the uneven sharing of household duties - the competing interests.
Eventually, true love doctrine leads to the conclusion that you've made a mistake. This person was not really your true love. You could never be irritated by your true love. You could never be disappointed in your life with your true love. Your true love must still be out there somewhere! You must look for him or her... over and over again.
True Love (so called) is actually sensuality - living by your feelings. As long as the other person makes you feel really good - they are your true love. But if they fail to make you feel really good - they must not be your true love.
REAL Love, on the other hand, is commitment. In our culture there must be some basis for initial attraction and some level of compatibility in beliefs and values. But there is also a realistic understanding that the other person is imperfect. There should also be an understanding that both of you will change over time as you have good experiences and bad experiences. You will struggle as you deal with stressful situations and you will fail each other on many occasions.
But real love says, "I am committing myself to you, no matter what happens, no matter what changes, as long as we both shall live. Riches or poverty, health or sickness, success or failure, pleasure and pain are all the different fields on which I will prove my commitment to you. You will be my one and only. I will prove my loyalty. I will never give up."
That is real love. That's what you want.
Off With The Old...
Followers of Jesus, follow Jesus.
That is true, but what does it look like? How do we know what direction to take and what our next step should be? This is not left to our imaginations, but is clearly described in the scriptures. In brief, we need to put off the ways of the world around us and choose the things that please Christ instead.
That is true, but what does it look like? How do we know what direction to take and what our next step should be? This is not left to our imaginations, but is clearly described in the scriptures. In brief, we need to put off the ways of the world around us and choose the things that please Christ instead.
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