"He who digs a pit may fall into it. . .He who quarries stones my be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them. If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success" (Ecclesiastes 10:8-10).
While clearing my office clutter for an important visitor I happened on an article by Dr. Diane Langberg. It was one that I used in my Pastoral Counseling lectures at Nebraska Christian College. I will share some thoughts taken from it with you.
As the writer of Ecclesiastes wisely points out, there are dangers that are inherent to any job. A wise person is more likely to be safe and successful. Pastors and pastoral counselors have good inside jobs, working with good people. So what is so dangerous about that? After all, they function in a sphere of professionalism with faith, codes of ethics and accountability to protect them.
Can people dealing with abuse, addiction, rage, fear and grief be dangerous? Those of us who listen to their stories can easily begin to question the character of God, why does He allow this to happen and why is it that many times change does not come? Where is God? We begin to see God through the lens of sin and sorrow, rather than viewing sin and sorrow through the lens of His character. This is what erodes faith.
Another danger is over-involvement. It is the thinking process that says, "Success ultimately depends on me." "If God isn't going to do anything, then, I have to." It is this kind of thinking that leads to the justification of all kinds of evils. Over-involvement is just a symptom of an eroded faith in the life of the pastor.
Another danger is that sin is contagious. The truth is that the roots of those sins we find so abhorrent in others lie within us as well. We must be careful that we do not catch the full-blown disease that we are treating in others--nor become infected with the pride of self-righteousness instead.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Friday, March 30, 2007
Friday, March 16, 2007
MONEY: VALUES AND FIDELITY
One's bank statements are a record of a person's true values. Where a person's money is spent is where her heart is. A person's money follows the heart, the heart doesn't generally follow the money. A person's "treasure" is what one see's as valuable. She doesn't put it where her heart doesn't want it to be.
Financial problems are the leading factor in divorce. In most cases, it isn't that there isn't sufficient money, but it is that there isn't sufficient money to satisfy competing values. Of course there is never enough money to satisfy our wants, but there is enough to satisfy our needs. When couples marry, they promise faithfulness to one another. Why is it that we tend to think that it is sexual faithfulness that is primary, and that other kinds of faithlessness are less serious, when actually financial faithlessness is just as serious a breach of trust as any other!!
This is a quote from Dr. Val Farmer that I used to share with my Marriage and Family students, "Complete trust about money is about as basic to a relationship as is sexual and emotional loyalty." Financial unfaithfulness in a marriage is just as destructive to a marriage as any other kind. Of course, just as an affair doesn't have to mean the end of a marriage, financial infidelity doesn't have to end it either, but the recovering of trust can be just as difficult.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Financial problems are the leading factor in divorce. In most cases, it isn't that there isn't sufficient money, but it is that there isn't sufficient money to satisfy competing values. Of course there is never enough money to satisfy our wants, but there is enough to satisfy our needs. When couples marry, they promise faithfulness to one another. Why is it that we tend to think that it is sexual faithfulness that is primary, and that other kinds of faithlessness are less serious, when actually financial faithlessness is just as serious a breach of trust as any other!!
This is a quote from Dr. Val Farmer that I used to share with my Marriage and Family students, "Complete trust about money is about as basic to a relationship as is sexual and emotional loyalty." Financial unfaithfulness in a marriage is just as destructive to a marriage as any other kind. Of course, just as an affair doesn't have to mean the end of a marriage, financial infidelity doesn't have to end it either, but the recovering of trust can be just as difficult.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Thursday, March 15, 2007
THE HIGH-PRICE OF A GIFT
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God--not because of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
I am rereading a book that was assigned reading in my seminary days. The book is BOLD LOVE by Dan Allender. I thought I would share this quote from today's reading, "The cost to the recipient of God's grace is NOTHING--and no price could be higher for arrogant people to pay."
Grace&Peace,
Tom
I am rereading a book that was assigned reading in my seminary days. The book is BOLD LOVE by Dan Allender. I thought I would share this quote from today's reading, "The cost to the recipient of God's grace is NOTHING--and no price could be higher for arrogant people to pay."
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
ARE THERE ANY CONSERVATIVES IN THE HUNT?
Jay Leno has humerously commented, "Rudy Giuliani has defended Newt Gingrich, saying it's okay Newt had an affair and that no one is perfect. That's when you know the Republicans are in trouble--when a guy with three marriages and an affair is defending the guy with three marriages and two affairs so they can team up and beat a Clinton."
The situation with the Republicans is not good. Ultimately, I may have to hold my nose and vote for Giuliani, but until that time I've come to the conclusion that Huckabee will recieve my support.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
The situation with the Republicans is not good. Ultimately, I may have to hold my nose and vote for Giuliani, but until that time I've come to the conclusion that Huckabee will recieve my support.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Thursday, March 01, 2007
CHANGE: INSIDE OUT OR OUTSIDE IN?
"Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).
It is a truism that there must be changes on the inside so that there can be changes on the outside of a person. But sometimes internal change begins with changes in external behavior. There is evidence both from research and the Bible that what one does on the outside effects what is on the inside too.
There is an old saying which has been very helpful to people with phobias, "Do the thing you fear and fear will pass from you." When one is able to confront the thing that frightens him, then the fear that is on the inside will go away.
Outside action is a powerful influence on the attitude of the heart. When parents deal with the outside behaviors of their children through congruence between proper teaching and personal example, then the inside commitment of the child's heart to the Lord is almost a forgone conclusion (Proverbs 22:6 and Hebrews 5:14). On the negative side of this principle is Colossians 1:21, "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior." Jesus taught that we are to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. Why? Not that they will become our friends, but that we will change what we think about them.
Modifying external behavior to effect internal change is the guiding principle of several therapeutic interventions. At virtually all juvenile residential treatment facilities, swearing is not allowed in casual conversation because it is recognized that swearing negative effects personal and other resident' attitudes. Dr. William Glasser says in Reality Therapy, "People do not act irresponsibly because they are 'ill'; they are 'ill' because they act irresponsibly" (p.XV). In reality therapy it is assumed that responsible behavior will result in good mental health.
A conversion of the heart does not automatically determine that one's outward behavior will change; anyone who has worked with Christians who have addictions can attest to that truth (note also Romans 7:17-20).
Ultimately, there must be a change on the inside! No behavior change will be permanent without it. It has to be understood that Proverbs 22:6 is not a promise but a probability. If the child does not internalize her training she will go her own way rather than God's way.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
It is a truism that there must be changes on the inside so that there can be changes on the outside of a person. But sometimes internal change begins with changes in external behavior. There is evidence both from research and the Bible that what one does on the outside effects what is on the inside too.
There is an old saying which has been very helpful to people with phobias, "Do the thing you fear and fear will pass from you." When one is able to confront the thing that frightens him, then the fear that is on the inside will go away.
Outside action is a powerful influence on the attitude of the heart. When parents deal with the outside behaviors of their children through congruence between proper teaching and personal example, then the inside commitment of the child's heart to the Lord is almost a forgone conclusion (Proverbs 22:6 and Hebrews 5:14). On the negative side of this principle is Colossians 1:21, "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior." Jesus taught that we are to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. Why? Not that they will become our friends, but that we will change what we think about them.
Modifying external behavior to effect internal change is the guiding principle of several therapeutic interventions. At virtually all juvenile residential treatment facilities, swearing is not allowed in casual conversation because it is recognized that swearing negative effects personal and other resident' attitudes. Dr. William Glasser says in Reality Therapy, "People do not act irresponsibly because they are 'ill'; they are 'ill' because they act irresponsibly" (p.XV). In reality therapy it is assumed that responsible behavior will result in good mental health.
A conversion of the heart does not automatically determine that one's outward behavior will change; anyone who has worked with Christians who have addictions can attest to that truth (note also Romans 7:17-20).
Ultimately, there must be a change on the inside! No behavior change will be permanent without it. It has to be understood that Proverbs 22:6 is not a promise but a probability. If the child does not internalize her training she will go her own way rather than God's way.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Saturday, February 24, 2007
THE AUDACITY OF HOPE
"God will make a way where there seems to be no way, He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me . . ." (Don Moen).
"Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).
Barack Obama has written a book called THE AUDACITY OF HOPE, I believe that was also the title of his speech at the 2004 Democrat convention. I have not read the book, nor did I listen to the speech, it is not high on my reading priority list, unless in the extremely unlikely case he is able to defeat Hillaryfor the nomination of president. Then I will need to know what makes him "tic." But THE AUDACITY OF HOPE is a great title because one needs to be audacious in order to truly hope.
According to Greek mythology, when Pandora opened her box she loosed all the miseries of mankind: greed, vanity, slander, envy and pining. Only ELPIS was left inside. ELPIS is the Greek word that is translated by HOPE in the New Testament. The Greek goddess, Elpis, is the personification of hope. She is portrayed as a beautiful young woman with a smile on her face and a flower in her hand. Eventually, Pandora revisited her box and released Elpis. What would the world be like without hope?
What makes hope hope? Is hope merely the belief that good tends to win in the end? That is optimism. Though hopefulness is listed as a synonym for optimism in a thesaurus, I see a shade of difference. And that difference has to do with evidence to the contrary. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary one still clings to hope of a positive outcome long after the optimist has given up. That is why hope is so audacious.
An audacious hope is delusional and sheer lunacy except for God. If God says it will be so, it will be so!!! Have you ever touched the body in a casket? You know immediately from the touch that the personality that animated the body is gone. All the evidence says the person is dead, it is over, the dead person will never be seen again. But God says otherwise. In Christ, we are assured of a great family reunion in eternity in the face of the negative evidence to the contrary. It is the power of God that makes an audacious hope reasonable rather than delusional.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
"Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).
Barack Obama has written a book called THE AUDACITY OF HOPE, I believe that was also the title of his speech at the 2004 Democrat convention. I have not read the book, nor did I listen to the speech, it is not high on my reading priority list, unless in the extremely unlikely case he is able to defeat Hillaryfor the nomination of president. Then I will need to know what makes him "tic." But THE AUDACITY OF HOPE is a great title because one needs to be audacious in order to truly hope.
According to Greek mythology, when Pandora opened her box she loosed all the miseries of mankind: greed, vanity, slander, envy and pining. Only ELPIS was left inside. ELPIS is the Greek word that is translated by HOPE in the New Testament. The Greek goddess, Elpis, is the personification of hope. She is portrayed as a beautiful young woman with a smile on her face and a flower in her hand. Eventually, Pandora revisited her box and released Elpis. What would the world be like without hope?
What makes hope hope? Is hope merely the belief that good tends to win in the end? That is optimism. Though hopefulness is listed as a synonym for optimism in a thesaurus, I see a shade of difference. And that difference has to do with evidence to the contrary. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary one still clings to hope of a positive outcome long after the optimist has given up. That is why hope is so audacious.
An audacious hope is delusional and sheer lunacy except for God. If God says it will be so, it will be so!!! Have you ever touched the body in a casket? You know immediately from the touch that the personality that animated the body is gone. All the evidence says the person is dead, it is over, the dead person will never be seen again. But God says otherwise. In Christ, we are assured of a great family reunion in eternity in the face of the negative evidence to the contrary. It is the power of God that makes an audacious hope reasonable rather than delusional.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Monday, February 12, 2007
A SPORTS METAPHOR FROM BO RYAN
"and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1).
I was reading in "Hawk Central" the account of the Iowa-Wisconsin basketball game. It has been a matter of great concern to me how Wisconsin has dominated Iowa in sports this year. Oh well, there are some great things that result from intense competition regardless of who wins. Sports competition is life concentrated. I think this is why some of the most decent people on any university campus are in the athletic departments. Their life philosophies are always being tested in athletic competition. The success or failure of their philosophies are witnessed by thousands of people. They are not hidden away in some obscure paper, lab or classroom where intellectual freedom is denied.
Anyway, this quote from Ryan was great and I wanted to share it with you: "Hustle opportunities, they are there for anybody to get if they get the right position and keep working hard. People always say, 'Well, the ball doesn't bounce our way.' But in life what are you going to do? Wait for things to come to you? So we just treat an offensive rebound as grabbing life by the horns and riding it."
Grace&Peace,
Tom
I was reading in "Hawk Central" the account of the Iowa-Wisconsin basketball game. It has been a matter of great concern to me how Wisconsin has dominated Iowa in sports this year. Oh well, there are some great things that result from intense competition regardless of who wins. Sports competition is life concentrated. I think this is why some of the most decent people on any university campus are in the athletic departments. Their life philosophies are always being tested in athletic competition. The success or failure of their philosophies are witnessed by thousands of people. They are not hidden away in some obscure paper, lab or classroom where intellectual freedom is denied.
Anyway, this quote from Ryan was great and I wanted to share it with you: "Hustle opportunities, they are there for anybody to get if they get the right position and keep working hard. People always say, 'Well, the ball doesn't bounce our way.' But in life what are you going to do? Wait for things to come to you? So we just treat an offensive rebound as grabbing life by the horns and riding it."
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
ABOUT BEING AUTHENTIC
"I have discovered that no marriage can be triumphant until both people are able to be fully and freely themselves" (Neil Clark Warren).
"And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit" (II Corinthians 3:18).
Psychologists tell us that one of the characteristics of good mental health is the ability to be authentic; to be able to live with your guard down; to be able to be a self, not the self someone else wants you to be. Now that sounds good, but there are some good reasons for a person to have his guard up--one might get punched in the nose if he doesn't. There are some good reasons for one to be the self someone else expects him to be--he might not graduate or he might be fired from his job. There are inumerable people who authentically wanted to say, "take this job and shove it" to their boss, but didn't.
One principal I want you to remember is that you cannot not be authentic. Pardon the use of a double negative. A counterfeit dollar bill is a genuine counterfeit dollar bill--it is what it is, a real counterfeit dollar bill. You are what you are doing. Jesus said that it is out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The totality of our behavior is the mouth speaking. The question we all need to ask ourselves is, "What is in my heart that makes me conform to other's expectations and keep my guard up?"
The most important principal to remember is this paradox: We are our most authentic selves when we become like Jesus. It is in putting Him on as a garment that we are freed to find and be our true selves. To be a truly authentic person, one has to have an intentional philosophy of life to live by. The most freeing philosophy is that of surrendering to the rule of Jesus Christ. It is in trusting Him that the fear factor is taken out of your life. It is in obedience to Him that our words are spoken with wisdom rather than "shoot-from-the-hip" emotion. That is what is required for true marital intimacy.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
"And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit" (II Corinthians 3:18).
Psychologists tell us that one of the characteristics of good mental health is the ability to be authentic; to be able to live with your guard down; to be able to be a self, not the self someone else wants you to be. Now that sounds good, but there are some good reasons for a person to have his guard up--one might get punched in the nose if he doesn't. There are some good reasons for one to be the self someone else expects him to be--he might not graduate or he might be fired from his job. There are inumerable people who authentically wanted to say, "take this job and shove it" to their boss, but didn't.
One principal I want you to remember is that you cannot not be authentic. Pardon the use of a double negative. A counterfeit dollar bill is a genuine counterfeit dollar bill--it is what it is, a real counterfeit dollar bill. You are what you are doing. Jesus said that it is out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The totality of our behavior is the mouth speaking. The question we all need to ask ourselves is, "What is in my heart that makes me conform to other's expectations and keep my guard up?"
The most important principal to remember is this paradox: We are our most authentic selves when we become like Jesus. It is in putting Him on as a garment that we are freed to find and be our true selves. To be a truly authentic person, one has to have an intentional philosophy of life to live by. The most freeing philosophy is that of surrendering to the rule of Jesus Christ. It is in trusting Him that the fear factor is taken out of your life. It is in obedience to Him that our words are spoken with wisdom rather than "shoot-from-the-hip" emotion. That is what is required for true marital intimacy.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
THE POWER OF RITUAL
"For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes" (I Corinthians 11:26).
In modern western culture we have devalued the necessity and power of ritual. In psychotherapy and contemporary Christian religion, we have invented our own substitute rituals because we understand that people need to recognize a foundational turning point in their lives. But why use substitutes when the real thing is easily available. Baptism is the statement of trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our salvation. Participation in the Lord's Supper is renewing that statement of trust. In my congregation, we observe the Lord's Supper each week for this reason. We are as human as any one else, and as subject to the frailties of the flesh as much as anybody else. We need to strengthen our trust and renew our faith each week. Once a week is not too often.
I say this because I wanted to share a blurb from Neil Clark Warren, of E-harmoney fame, that is applicable in this regard:
"That's exactly why I am proposing to change the frequency of the marriage vow. Instead of its being taken once in a lifetime under stressful conditions, I suggest that it needs to be said two to three times a week for the first ten years of marriage--and at least once a week for the rest of marriage. Why? In order to maintain a steady focus on the promises that form the steel framework of the marriage. With this structure in place, it is much more likely that commitment will shape the attitudes of a person, as well as the behavioral expression of those attitudes."
During stressful times in marriage, wedding vows seem like yesterday's news. They seem remote and irrelevant. It is in repetition of the vows that relevancy is restored. I hate to admit it, but I have not repeted my vows to Helen since we were married--it's like being baptized, but never taking the Lord's Supper.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
In modern western culture we have devalued the necessity and power of ritual. In psychotherapy and contemporary Christian religion, we have invented our own substitute rituals because we understand that people need to recognize a foundational turning point in their lives. But why use substitutes when the real thing is easily available. Baptism is the statement of trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our salvation. Participation in the Lord's Supper is renewing that statement of trust. In my congregation, we observe the Lord's Supper each week for this reason. We are as human as any one else, and as subject to the frailties of the flesh as much as anybody else. We need to strengthen our trust and renew our faith each week. Once a week is not too often.
I say this because I wanted to share a blurb from Neil Clark Warren, of E-harmoney fame, that is applicable in this regard:
"That's exactly why I am proposing to change the frequency of the marriage vow. Instead of its being taken once in a lifetime under stressful conditions, I suggest that it needs to be said two to three times a week for the first ten years of marriage--and at least once a week for the rest of marriage. Why? In order to maintain a steady focus on the promises that form the steel framework of the marriage. With this structure in place, it is much more likely that commitment will shape the attitudes of a person, as well as the behavioral expression of those attitudes."
During stressful times in marriage, wedding vows seem like yesterday's news. They seem remote and irrelevant. It is in repetition of the vows that relevancy is restored. I hate to admit it, but I have not repeted my vows to Helen since we were married--it's like being baptized, but never taking the Lord's Supper.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Friday, January 26, 2007
BEWARE OF THE FACTOIDS
Though it has always been true in the old media, in the age of the internet it is even more true, beware of the factoids! Norman Mailer coined the term and defined it, "A factoid is something that looks like a fact, could be a fact, but in fact is not a fact." Now if that quote is not a fact, don't blame me. It came from a column by Wesley Pruden.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Friday, January 19, 2007
SIGNS IN THE HEAVENS
"Learn not the way of nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are false" (Jeremiah 10:2).
There is a huge amount of anxiety in our culture about global warming, so much so that there are people who are ready to "cash in" their God-given rights to stop it. It appears that there is consensus in the scientific community that global warming is a reality and if we do not do something about it, humanity will become extinct--if not all life. To me it is interesting that believers in macro evolution, that life formed from inert matter, would have this much anxiety about "global warming" at all. After all, humanity is the problem. If it became extinct some life form would adapt and evolve and start the whole process over again--maybe in a better way.
Of course, any time a group of scientists get together with a political agenda, their consensus becomes junk science. It was the scientific consensus that there would be many hurricanes during the last season. There was not. If the scientists cannot accurately forcast a hurricane season 6 months ahead of time, why should we believe that they can forcast what would happen if global warming really is a reality? I have a suspicion that one simply needs to look at the "money trail" and political agendas to get to the bottom of the "scientific consensus" on global warming.
The signs in the heavens could well be a sign of the times. The Hebrews understood that there were 3 heavens: the atmosphere was the first heaven; where the sun, moon and stars are constituted the second heaven and the place where God resides constituted the third. Global warming qualifies as a sign in the heavens because it is in the atmosphere. One of the qualities of a corrupt generation is when its fears come from the imaginations of its heart. Trust and obey the Lord. It's gonna be OK.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
There is a huge amount of anxiety in our culture about global warming, so much so that there are people who are ready to "cash in" their God-given rights to stop it. It appears that there is consensus in the scientific community that global warming is a reality and if we do not do something about it, humanity will become extinct--if not all life. To me it is interesting that believers in macro evolution, that life formed from inert matter, would have this much anxiety about "global warming" at all. After all, humanity is the problem. If it became extinct some life form would adapt and evolve and start the whole process over again--maybe in a better way.
Of course, any time a group of scientists get together with a political agenda, their consensus becomes junk science. It was the scientific consensus that there would be many hurricanes during the last season. There was not. If the scientists cannot accurately forcast a hurricane season 6 months ahead of time, why should we believe that they can forcast what would happen if global warming really is a reality? I have a suspicion that one simply needs to look at the "money trail" and political agendas to get to the bottom of the "scientific consensus" on global warming.
The signs in the heavens could well be a sign of the times. The Hebrews understood that there were 3 heavens: the atmosphere was the first heaven; where the sun, moon and stars are constituted the second heaven and the place where God resides constituted the third. Global warming qualifies as a sign in the heavens because it is in the atmosphere. One of the qualities of a corrupt generation is when its fears come from the imaginations of its heart. Trust and obey the Lord. It's gonna be OK.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
FAMININE?
"Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are in the mountain of Sameria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to their husbands, 'Bring, that we may drink!'" (Amos 4:1).
"Husker Red" gave me a little heat for my poor spelling ability. Yet "faminine" is not a mispelled word--I just coined a new one. Famines have to do with scarcity and dryness. Femininity has to do with qualities of the female gender. When a system is excessively female driven and there is a scarcity of masculine and Spiritual leadership that is what is a "faminine system." It is one of the most common systems in Western culture. The father with draws from a dominating female influence in the family, church or workplace. The result of such a system is just as dysfunctional as when there is too much male dominance. Is your family, church, workplace, or government too faminine?
It is interesting to me that this dynamic is not new. It has been present in every era of history when men have not lived up to their God-given responsibility to be the Spiritual leaders in their homes. The hen-pecked husbands of Israel of which Amos speaks are but one example.
Grace&Peace;
Tom
"Husker Red" gave me a little heat for my poor spelling ability. Yet "faminine" is not a mispelled word--I just coined a new one. Famines have to do with scarcity and dryness. Femininity has to do with qualities of the female gender. When a system is excessively female driven and there is a scarcity of masculine and Spiritual leadership that is what is a "faminine system." It is one of the most common systems in Western culture. The father with draws from a dominating female influence in the family, church or workplace. The result of such a system is just as dysfunctional as when there is too much male dominance. Is your family, church, workplace, or government too faminine?
It is interesting to me that this dynamic is not new. It has been present in every era of history when men have not lived up to their God-given responsibility to be the Spiritual leaders in their homes. The hen-pecked husbands of Israel of which Amos speaks are but one example.
Grace&Peace;
Tom
Saturday, December 23, 2006
THE NON-ANXIOUS PRESENCE 5 -- MERRY CHRISTMAS
"But when the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman . . ." (Galations 4:4).
At the risk of over-doing "non-anxious presence" I wanted to share this thought I had about Christmas:
From the first promise of a savior as anounced in Genesis 3:15 until the birth of Jesus was no less than four thousand years. Over those many years there were countless prayers for God's intervention to deal with the problems of His people. In some cases He did miraculously, but only according to His covenants. God is not emotionally driven, though He is emotional; it is according to His purposes that He intervenes in the lives of humanity. So, it was when the time had fully come--when the time was right, that He sent forth His Son.
God doesn't use quick fixes to meet our whims and make us feel better. God takes the long view toward bringing about healing. God doesn't "zap" us with a cure. He is willing to spend what ever it takes to give true healing to us. He will not give to us that which costs Him nothing. The great salvation that is given to us was bought and paid for by our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of Him we will have a very merry Christmas!
Grace&Peace;
Tom
At the risk of over-doing "non-anxious presence" I wanted to share this thought I had about Christmas:
From the first promise of a savior as anounced in Genesis 3:15 until the birth of Jesus was no less than four thousand years. Over those many years there were countless prayers for God's intervention to deal with the problems of His people. In some cases He did miraculously, but only according to His covenants. God is not emotionally driven, though He is emotional; it is according to His purposes that He intervenes in the lives of humanity. So, it was when the time had fully come--when the time was right, that He sent forth His Son.
God doesn't use quick fixes to meet our whims and make us feel better. God takes the long view toward bringing about healing. God doesn't "zap" us with a cure. He is willing to spend what ever it takes to give true healing to us. He will not give to us that which costs Him nothing. The great salvation that is given to us was bought and paid for by our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of Him we will have a very merry Christmas!
Grace&Peace;
Tom
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
THE NON-ANXIOUS PRESENCE 4
"For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations" (Isaiah 61:11).
Much has been written about the necessity of leaders manifesting a non-anxious presence in the presence of conflict, chaos, tragedy and sorrow. Does "non-anxious presence" mean that a leader shouldn't be emotional? No! We weep with those who weep! We rejoice with those who rejoice! We are shocked at immorality! Non-anxious presence is not emotionless, it is the appropriate display of the emotions in a given situation. Those who do not display their emotions are probably the most anxious of all because they are afraid of allowing someone else to see into their heart.
To be a non-anxious presence is to model God's presence. Do you know who you are, what you believe and act consistantly with that in spite of opposing pressure? As a result of your presence do you inspire praise, love and righteousness? These are some of the facets of non-anxious presence.
Grace&Peace;
Tom
Much has been written about the necessity of leaders manifesting a non-anxious presence in the presence of conflict, chaos, tragedy and sorrow. Does "non-anxious presence" mean that a leader shouldn't be emotional? No! We weep with those who weep! We rejoice with those who rejoice! We are shocked at immorality! Non-anxious presence is not emotionless, it is the appropriate display of the emotions in a given situation. Those who do not display their emotions are probably the most anxious of all because they are afraid of allowing someone else to see into their heart.
To be a non-anxious presence is to model God's presence. Do you know who you are, what you believe and act consistantly with that in spite of opposing pressure? As a result of your presence do you inspire praise, love and righteousness? These are some of the facets of non-anxious presence.
Grace&Peace;
Tom
Friday, December 15, 2006
THE NON-ANXIOUS PRESENCE 3
"How long, O Lord? Wilt thou forget me for ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all the day?" (Psalm 13:1-2).
"By his wounds you have been healed" (I Peter 2:24b).
Our expectation of God is that He would be to as a genie to grant our wishes. We bring our requests to Him and, to quote a great American philosopher,* "boom" we have what we want. If we do not get what we want, what is the use in trusting Him? For what reason should we worship Him? We tend to be pragmatic; if it works, do it. If it doesn't work , "shoo"it.
What is interesting to me is that God never worries that some one will not believe in Him because He does not grant their request. God goes about His business according to His nature and according to His covenant, working out what is right and best for us. What is right and best for us may not square with what we think is right and best for us. We are frustrated when our pain isn't relieved; when we feel like God isn't around.
What I want you all to remember, God is the great physician, He is not the great magician. It is not wrong to bring all of your requests to God--many times over! He who has the hairs on your head numbered is very interested in you and will give to you just as a responsible and loving earthly father gives to his children.**
Grace&Peace;
Tom
* John Madden
**One of the reasons I believe this is from reading the Psalms. In Psalms God allows the expression of the whole range of human emotion. Our loving Hevenly Father is not threatened by our requests or by our emotions. Truely, He is a non-anxious presence.
"By his wounds you have been healed" (I Peter 2:24b).
Our expectation of God is that He would be to as a genie to grant our wishes. We bring our requests to Him and, to quote a great American philosopher,* "boom" we have what we want. If we do not get what we want, what is the use in trusting Him? For what reason should we worship Him? We tend to be pragmatic; if it works, do it. If it doesn't work , "shoo"it.
What is interesting to me is that God never worries that some one will not believe in Him because He does not grant their request. God goes about His business according to His nature and according to His covenant, working out what is right and best for us. What is right and best for us may not square with what we think is right and best for us. We are frustrated when our pain isn't relieved; when we feel like God isn't around.
What I want you all to remember, God is the great physician, He is not the great magician. It is not wrong to bring all of your requests to God--many times over! He who has the hairs on your head numbered is very interested in you and will give to you just as a responsible and loving earthly father gives to his children.**
Grace&Peace;
Tom
* John Madden
**One of the reasons I believe this is from reading the Psalms. In Psalms God allows the expression of the whole range of human emotion. Our loving Hevenly Father is not threatened by our requests or by our emotions. Truely, He is a non-anxious presence.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
QUICK ANSWER TO BL & HUSKER RED
"Jesus wept. So the Jews said, 'See how he loved him'" (John 11:35-36).
God isn't some Spock-like personality who has no emotion but is only logical. I think the Bible and Jesus himself clearly demonstrate the emotion of God. Is God anxious? Probably not like our anxiety. Some of our anxiety has a positive benefit. It makes us put on deoderant, brush our teeth and wear clean clothes because we worry about what people will think of us if we don't.
God's ways are not man's ways. His understanding is infinite while ours is bound by the finite. Trusting His ways are a matter of faith in what He has revealed to us in Scripture. In our prayer life we may ask Him for requests that seem to go unanswered--it seems our prayers go no higher than the ceiling. God is not anxious that we will no longer believe in Him if He doesn't answer. He will do what is right even though it may not seem right to us. He is the great Physician, not the great magician to bestow on us our every whim, but gives us the healing we really need--sometimes the medicine can be bitter.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
God isn't some Spock-like personality who has no emotion but is only logical. I think the Bible and Jesus himself clearly demonstrate the emotion of God. Is God anxious? Probably not like our anxiety. Some of our anxiety has a positive benefit. It makes us put on deoderant, brush our teeth and wear clean clothes because we worry about what people will think of us if we don't.
God's ways are not man's ways. His understanding is infinite while ours is bound by the finite. Trusting His ways are a matter of faith in what He has revealed to us in Scripture. In our prayer life we may ask Him for requests that seem to go unanswered--it seems our prayers go no higher than the ceiling. God is not anxious that we will no longer believe in Him if He doesn't answer. He will do what is right even though it may not seem right to us. He is the great Physician, not the great magician to bestow on us our every whim, but gives us the healing we really need--sometimes the medicine can be bitter.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Friday, December 08, 2006
THE NON-ANXIOUS PRESENCE 2
"Problems are not solved until we attack them as intelligent beings. We suffer in our attempt to escape his obvious fact. Wailing about diphtheria for centuries got us nowhere. Robert Koch began to grow bacteria on his wife's kitchen stove. The end was diphtheria antitoxin, and diphtheria has been practically wiped of the face of the earth. Perhaps this was the answer to centuries of prayer. My father, a very devout man, believed a striving to the limit in a worthy cause constituted the most eloquent form of prayer" (Arthur E. Hertzler, M.D.).
"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy" (Psalms 126:5).
I know a psychologist who understands non-anxious presence. His practice is to not speak until his client speaks to him. A client came for an appointment and didn't say anything. The client walked to the corner of the office, lay down on the carpeted floor in a fetal position and stayed that way for the fifty-minute session. No words were ever spoken, but just having some one understand and be accepting is powerful. God is that way. He does understand our pain and He loves us inspite of our failures, sins and mistakes. The Bible describes the Messiah as the Wonderful Counselor. The Holy Spirit is another counselor who is the Paraclete, the one who walks along side, the Comforter. The Bible is clear, God is love and He loves every human being.
It is also true that we live in a world that is, in the words of Paul, "in bondage to decay." It is a fallen world in which we live. There is sickness, there is hate, there is death, there is greed, there is lust, there is unfaithfulness, and there are weeds, to name a few. God allows this. He has given us freedom to deal with this fallen world in practical ways. That is why we have civil law, science, medicine and herbicides.
Suppose God always dealt with our prayers by a miracle or direct intervention of some sort. We would have never learned, progressed or achieved except in learned helplessness. Think of the blessings we enjoy as a result of the sweat, pain and sacrifices of those who have gone before us. Perhaps one of the reasons God wants us to deal with the effects of the fall in these ways is so that we will understand that salvation and wholeness can not be brought about without pain, sacrifice and death.
Am I saying that God has not been involved in the progress that we have enjoyed on this planet? No! But His non-anxious presence has provided the comfort and sustenance necessary for the achievment of the comforts and blessings of our lives today. Soren Keirkegaard is said to have said, "Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays."
God's non-anxious presence changes us.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy" (Psalms 126:5).
I know a psychologist who understands non-anxious presence. His practice is to not speak until his client speaks to him. A client came for an appointment and didn't say anything. The client walked to the corner of the office, lay down on the carpeted floor in a fetal position and stayed that way for the fifty-minute session. No words were ever spoken, but just having some one understand and be accepting is powerful. God is that way. He does understand our pain and He loves us inspite of our failures, sins and mistakes. The Bible describes the Messiah as the Wonderful Counselor. The Holy Spirit is another counselor who is the Paraclete, the one who walks along side, the Comforter. The Bible is clear, God is love and He loves every human being.
It is also true that we live in a world that is, in the words of Paul, "in bondage to decay." It is a fallen world in which we live. There is sickness, there is hate, there is death, there is greed, there is lust, there is unfaithfulness, and there are weeds, to name a few. God allows this. He has given us freedom to deal with this fallen world in practical ways. That is why we have civil law, science, medicine and herbicides.
Suppose God always dealt with our prayers by a miracle or direct intervention of some sort. We would have never learned, progressed or achieved except in learned helplessness. Think of the blessings we enjoy as a result of the sweat, pain and sacrifices of those who have gone before us. Perhaps one of the reasons God wants us to deal with the effects of the fall in these ways is so that we will understand that salvation and wholeness can not be brought about without pain, sacrifice and death.
Am I saying that God has not been involved in the progress that we have enjoyed on this planet? No! But His non-anxious presence has provided the comfort and sustenance necessary for the achievment of the comforts and blessings of our lives today. Soren Keirkegaard is said to have said, "Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays."
God's non-anxious presence changes us.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Friday, December 01, 2006
THE NON-ANXIOUS PRESENCE
"After more than sixty years I can still hear the eloquent prayers that filled the countryside when epidemics of diphtheria appeared. One tube of antitoxin will do more good than all of these" (Arthur Hertzler M.D.).
"Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me" (Jesus Christ, Jn. 14:1).
I'm sorry it has taken so long to make another contribution. I caught a cold during the holiday, and it has taken this long to feel like writing. Helen and I went to visit her parents for Thanksgiving. Since we were already in Kansas, we made a quick trip (150 miles west) to Abbyville, where we visited loved ones from our first pastoral ministry of 31 years ago. Our travel to Abbyville took us through the area where Dr. Hertzler practiced medicine a hundred years ago. It reminded me again of his book, HORSE AND BUGGY DOCTOR, which is one of my cherished posessions. Dr. Hertzler's father was a Mennonite lay minister, but the doctor was skeptical about prayer, Christians and how they practiced Christianity, though he did believe in God.
According to family systems theory, if a person can maintain a non-anxious presence in the presence of anxious family, church members or co-workes for a sustained period of time, then that non-anxious presence will change the family, church or workplace. It is easier said than done because none of us are non-anxious, only God is, though some are more non-anxious than others. A non-anxious person knows who he/she is. Non-anxious people live consistently by their values and faith and do not allow themselves to be drawn into gossip, destructive criticism, defensivness and emotional reactivity ("you've got to do something now!").
God, being the only non-anxious presence there is, is not stampeded into action by our anxious prayers. One of the things that made Hertzler skeptical about prayer was that God did not answer in the way he thought He should. His childhood experiences with prayer and shallow Sunday school teaching had a profound effect on his adult life. Hertzler did finally adopt his father's understanding of prayer as the diligent pursuit of a worthy cause. In this way he said diphtheria antitoxin was an answer to prayer.
While in Kansas we were able to watch BRUCE ALMIGHTY on cable. Bruce was given Divine power to answer prayer. He answered all the lottery players prayers with a "yes." The forty thousand winners received almost no money. How confusing the world would be if God answered every prayer with a "yes," though there are some prayers that God will always answer "yes" to. Care to guess what they are?
God brings change through His non-anxious presence.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
"Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me" (Jesus Christ, Jn. 14:1).
I'm sorry it has taken so long to make another contribution. I caught a cold during the holiday, and it has taken this long to feel like writing. Helen and I went to visit her parents for Thanksgiving. Since we were already in Kansas, we made a quick trip (150 miles west) to Abbyville, where we visited loved ones from our first pastoral ministry of 31 years ago. Our travel to Abbyville took us through the area where Dr. Hertzler practiced medicine a hundred years ago. It reminded me again of his book, HORSE AND BUGGY DOCTOR, which is one of my cherished posessions. Dr. Hertzler's father was a Mennonite lay minister, but the doctor was skeptical about prayer, Christians and how they practiced Christianity, though he did believe in God.
According to family systems theory, if a person can maintain a non-anxious presence in the presence of anxious family, church members or co-workes for a sustained period of time, then that non-anxious presence will change the family, church or workplace. It is easier said than done because none of us are non-anxious, only God is, though some are more non-anxious than others. A non-anxious person knows who he/she is. Non-anxious people live consistently by their values and faith and do not allow themselves to be drawn into gossip, destructive criticism, defensivness and emotional reactivity ("you've got to do something now!").
God, being the only non-anxious presence there is, is not stampeded into action by our anxious prayers. One of the things that made Hertzler skeptical about prayer was that God did not answer in the way he thought He should. His childhood experiences with prayer and shallow Sunday school teaching had a profound effect on his adult life. Hertzler did finally adopt his father's understanding of prayer as the diligent pursuit of a worthy cause. In this way he said diphtheria antitoxin was an answer to prayer.
While in Kansas we were able to watch BRUCE ALMIGHTY on cable. Bruce was given Divine power to answer prayer. He answered all the lottery players prayers with a "yes." The forty thousand winners received almost no money. How confusing the world would be if God answered every prayer with a "yes," though there are some prayers that God will always answer "yes" to. Care to guess what they are?
God brings change through His non-anxious presence.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Monday, November 20, 2006
SALVATION: MORE THAN WE BARGINED FOR?
"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:17).
We might think of salvation more in terms of climate control and safety; after all Heaven is going to be a much more pleasant place to spend eternity than hell. From a Biblical perspective, salvation refers to bringing wholness to the ENTIRE lives of those who believe. It is through faith that we have a relationship with God; we can't have one without it. It is in this faith relationship that we allow God to make us whole. Sometimes it isn't pleasant, but God is aiming for more than eternal safety; He is aiming for eternal wholeness as He changes us little by little, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (II Cor. 3:18).
We are saved. We are being saved. We shall be saved.
Grace&Peace;
Tom
We might think of salvation more in terms of climate control and safety; after all Heaven is going to be a much more pleasant place to spend eternity than hell. From a Biblical perspective, salvation refers to bringing wholness to the ENTIRE lives of those who believe. It is through faith that we have a relationship with God; we can't have one without it. It is in this faith relationship that we allow God to make us whole. Sometimes it isn't pleasant, but God is aiming for more than eternal safety; He is aiming for eternal wholeness as He changes us little by little, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (II Cor. 3:18).
We are saved. We are being saved. We shall be saved.
Grace&Peace;
Tom
Saturday, November 11, 2006
RIDING REALITY 5
"...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Philippeans 2:12b-13).
Riding Reality requires all of one's ability and skill. Ability is a gift. Some are physically gifted with beauty and athleticism. Some are gifted with brain-power, articism or emotional toughness. Whatever one's natural gift, God expects one to sharpen them with education, discipline and self discipline of training. It is in this way that skill is developed. If one is not will to work at learning, accepting discipline and be willing to discipline herself, there is little hope that one will accept the ride on Reality, adopting unrealistic behaviors will mark the course of their lives.
As a boy, I had been around horses for years, developing some skill, feeding, grooming, training and ridding. That is why I had some confidence that my ride Reality had a chance of success.
The last thing that I want to emphasize is that a successful ride on Reality requires that one put their hand in the glove of Faith. I didn't use a glove; that wasn't smart. It took a couple of weeks for that hand to heal--the power generated by Reality was so great.
Faith absorbs much of the power of Reality. God works with us, and in us, as we trust Him for the outcome. What a blessing it is to know that God is forging something meaningful out of our lives when we trust Him. He uses our skills and abilities to bless those around us and help those who follow to ride Reality too. It is faith that turns the ride of Reality into an adventure to be enjoyed rather than an ordeal to be endured. Reality, what a ride!!
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Riding Reality requires all of one's ability and skill. Ability is a gift. Some are physically gifted with beauty and athleticism. Some are gifted with brain-power, articism or emotional toughness. Whatever one's natural gift, God expects one to sharpen them with education, discipline and self discipline of training. It is in this way that skill is developed. If one is not will to work at learning, accepting discipline and be willing to discipline herself, there is little hope that one will accept the ride on Reality, adopting unrealistic behaviors will mark the course of their lives.
As a boy, I had been around horses for years, developing some skill, feeding, grooming, training and ridding. That is why I had some confidence that my ride Reality had a chance of success.
The last thing that I want to emphasize is that a successful ride on Reality requires that one put their hand in the glove of Faith. I didn't use a glove; that wasn't smart. It took a couple of weeks for that hand to heal--the power generated by Reality was so great.
Faith absorbs much of the power of Reality. God works with us, and in us, as we trust Him for the outcome. What a blessing it is to know that God is forging something meaningful out of our lives when we trust Him. He uses our skills and abilities to bless those around us and help those who follow to ride Reality too. It is faith that turns the ride of Reality into an adventure to be enjoyed rather than an ordeal to be endured. Reality, what a ride!!
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
