anger for wimps

"Disappointment is anger for wimps." — Gregory House M.D.

a student of hardship

Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him. — Proverbs 27:22 (ESV)

A fool does not learn from hardship, he will simply return to his old ways once comfort returns.

advent: for to us a child is born

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shined...
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

— Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 (ESV)


These were our verses for the first Sunday of Advent. While Christmas is far off (even though we get to celebrate with the Paterson clan in two weeks) these verses about looking forward to the promise of Jesus' birthday were perfect. It was especially fun to think about the gift of a child while a 2 and a half month old joined us!

advent: little lamb

Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Gave thee life, and bid thee feed,
By the stream and o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing, woolly, bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice?
Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?

Little Lamb, I'll tell thee, 

Little Lamb, I'll tell thee. 

He is called by thy name,
For He calls Himself a Lamb.
He is meek, and He is mild;
He became a little child.
I a child, and thou a lamb,
We are called by His name.
Little Lamb, God bless thee!
Little Lamb, God bless thee!

— William Blake, "The Lamb"

A good poem to begin reflections on the meaning of Christmas.

party jesus

"Do you really believe in the deity of Christ? If he came to earth tomorrow, would your God go out partying with sinners? If not, then Jesus must not be him." — Wesley Hill on 22•words

the calamity of social networking

Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away. — Proverbs 27:10 (ESV)

In a world of social networking and online relationships, how does this strike you?

wonderful monogamy

"To complain that I could only be married once was like complaining that I had only been born once. It was incommensurate with the terrible excitement of which one was talking. It showed not an exaggerated sensibility to sex but a curious insensibility to it. A man is a fool who complains that he cannot enter Eden by five gates at once. Polygamy is a lack of the realization of sex; it's like a man plucking five pears in mere absence of mind." — G.K. Chesterton in Orthodoxy

george is thankful

WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness":

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

(signed) G. Washington

everyday grace

Every day of our Christian experience should be a day of relating to God on the basis of His grace alone. Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace. — Jerry Bridges

fire with fire

We must fight fire with fire. The fire of lust's pleasures must be fought with the fire of God's pleasures. If we try to fight the fire of lust with prohibitions and threats alone—even the terrible warnings of Jesus—we will fail. We must fight it with the massive promise of superior happiness. We must swallow up the little flicker of lust's pleasure in the configuration of holy satisfaction. — John Piper in Future Grace

gospel test

"There is no better test as to whether a man is really preaching the New Testament gospel of salvation than this, that some people might misunderstand it and misinterpret it to mean that it really amounts to this, that because you are saved by grace alone it does not matter at all what you do; you can go on sinning as much as you like because it will resound all the more to the glory of grace. That is a very good test of gospel preaching. If my preaching and presentation of the gospel of salvation does not expose it to that misunderstanding, then it is not the gospel." — Martin Lloyd-Jones

SOAP: simple sincerity

S - For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you... For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. — 2 Corinthians 1:12; 2:17 (ESV)

O - Paul continues to argue for the purity of his gospel in how he lived and preached it. Paul lived this way because he knew who gave him life, who had sent him, and who was watching.

A - I love how Paul talks about himself. He has a humility and confidence that seems completely foreign to how I feel about myself. I hope that I can speak with a simple sincerity that is powerful argument for the reliability of the gospel.

P - Lord, help me speak honestly, simply, and graciously. Gently remind me of your salvation, calling, and presence in my life.

how to NOT be missional

Individuals are consistently converted to communities before they are converted to doctrines. — Jonathan Dodson, How to NOT be Missional Series at Resurgence

This is a small slice of Dodson's insights on missional living. Here's his premise:

The missional church movement has been good and bad. On a positive note, let’s focus on the bad. Over the next few posts, I want to suggest three ways to not be a missional church. We’ll organize these reflections under three headings:

1. Event-Driven Mission
2. Evangelism-Driven Mission
3. Social Action-Driven Mission

little deaths, little resurrections

Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. — 2 Corinthians 1:9 (ESV)

I went to bed Sunday night feeling like the last few months had a been a string of "little deaths." Grief was thick. Emotions are near the surface. Then I woke up Monday morning to this verse. There is great comfort in knowing that my little deaths do not go unnoticed by my Heavenly Father. In fact, he is the one who is able to resurrect these little deaths... in his time... in his way.

cartoons are funny

I'm sorry. I couldn't resist.

SOAP: children of promise

S - Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe... So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. — Galatians 3:21-22; 4:31 (ESV)

O - The OT is about grace and faith. How did I miss this before? It was always about God's promise to offer a gracious sacrifice for the penalty of sin that we could never pay. It was about graciously giving life to those who believed God. God never wanted people enslaved to performance and ritual. He wanted to help people be humble, contrite, and faithful.

A - There is a lot of thinking that needs to be changed. I realize, though saying the "right" words (perhaps) about the OT, that I have totally missed it. This is such good news. We are not children of the law, but children of the promise. This motivates me in new ways... I'm not totally sure how, but the day is brighter because of God and his Word.

P - God, I'm sorry for how I missed it. You've been about the same stuff. The gospel has been the same all along. Your grace has been the same all along. I'm just trusting you to be you. Thank you for your promises. Thank you that I can be a child of those promises. I want to help others see you for who you actually are.

SOAP: grace & truth

S - To them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you... for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles. — Galatians 2:5, 8 (ESV)

O - Preserve the gospel from those who would add to it. God works through different people in different ways to accomplish his gospel purposes. Paul confronted Peter for his "floppy" living of the gospel, but then also affirms Peter's call to advance the gospel.

A - There is a careful balance here... if balance is the right word. Preserve the gospel, but don't wreck other people's calling from God. This is a pretty cool reminder. It fits right in with the grace that Galatians is all about.

P - Lord, thanks for teaching me in such a timely way. I need to hear about your grace. I need it. I need to offer it to others. I also need to hear about how important your gospel is. It's good news. It's something in particular and we can't make it whatever we want it to be. I need you grace and truth. Help me live it solidly.

SOAP: get out!

S - And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs. — Mark 16:20 (ESV)

O - This is the natural response to the gospel: To go out and share. Jesus works with his disciples even after he has gone in confirming the message of the good news of God's goodness.

A - Dang. Jesus is so good. I want people to know. I'm excited about a renewed passion for my neighbors... maybe a first passion. They are cool people. God loves them and wants no one to perish. I am excited about falling more in love with God and seeing the natural response being an increased sharing of his goodness with whoever I come across.

P - Lord, this is what I want and fear. Help me gain a right perspective and not be responding out of a religious or guilty spirit. I want to grow in love, in the Spirit, and in boldness with the Gospel. May those who you have placed in my path not be able to say I shrank back from sharing the love and hope you have freely given me. I can't do this on my own. I'm gonna need you to work alongside me and confirm it. Help me to trust you to be faithful in this just as you have been faithful in so many of your other promises.

SOAP: word & power

S - Jesus said to them, "Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?" — Mark 12:24 (ESV)

O - The Sadducees were trying to trick and catch Jesus. They ask a tricky question about marriage and the resurrection. It sounds like they are saying, "Jesus, I would believe you, IF you can explain..." Jesus points out the real problem they face is not their question, but that they don't know God. They don't know him through his revelation or his power, so any question will only be handled from their limited perspective and not really reach them where they need it.

A - Isn't this how I, and so many others, keep God at a distance. "Okay God, I will believe in/trust you, IF you can explain or show me..." We need our questions about life, justice, goodness, etc. answered. We want it to fit in our view. However, the answer is knowing God, the Creator of it all. God doesn't fit in any of our nice little views. The reality of God means I'm going to have to change. So we ignore what God offers us, Himself, through his word and his power.

P - Lord, help me know you more. Your word. Your power. I am so use to viewing the world through my "little view." That view has been blown up. I don't want to look to anything, or anyone else, but you for purpose, order, and value. I don't want to put you in a box and miss out on any of you. Thank you for your church and the way they invite me to know more of you.

SOAP: salt & peace

S - Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. — Mark 9:50 (ESV)

O - The disciples were taken aback by someone else using Jesus' name. He wasn't 'in' with the group. Jesus takes this opportunity to teach the disciples that those who use his name are not 'out' like they think. He then compares them to little children and warns that the disciples should not hinder them from growing in faith. Instead he exhorts them to be salt towards them... Preserving what is good, flavoring with true life, & remembering God's faithfulness. He exhorts them to be at peace towards them.

A - As I think about my struggles with 'church' and 'Christians' this is a good reminder. Those who profess Christ in word and deed are 'with me.' We are to work for peace, a deep sense of well being, between one another. And we are to preserve each others' holiness, remind one another of God's faithfulness, and spice up each others' life with the gospel.

P - Lord, help me not to slip into an 'us and them' mentality. Give me a generous spirit towards those who profess your name. Allowing them to be salt in my life and seeking peace together under your gracious reign.

S2 - Jesus said to him,“If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” — Mark 9:23-24 (ESV)

P2 - All things are possible. I don't live this way. May the cry of my heart be, "I believe Lord! Help my unbelief!"

francis is funny

The disciples obey because that's what people do when someone rises from the dead and gives instructions. — Francis Chan, Forgotten God