“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
Another passage I can read a million times and still be blown away. I think its remarkable that Peter pretty much invited himself to Jesus’ party on the water. Jesus didn’t say, “No Peter, only us holy people can be out here.” No veil with Jesus, no separation, we are only limited by the desires of our heart.
I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.
Mark 11:23
I can read this a million times and still be blown away. I’m taking this as a “for real” mountain, not just the figurative ones we like to use this passage for. Mainly because a “for real” mountain beats a “figurative” mountain any day.
-Brian
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18
Sorry sufferings, you just don’t compare.
The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. More than forty men were involved in this plot.
Acts 23:12-13
I wonder what went through their heads when they saw the 200 soldiers, 70 horsemen, and 200 spearmen that accompanied Paul that night…
Its funny to me the reactions I get toward my cd title. It reminds me of the chapel services I used to lead at GLCC. After almost each one I would have some students thank me while other students would tell me how I offended them. The last few reactions I’ve had toward my cd have had a similar split. I had one guy read it who was obviously rich (or in serious debt and denial), laughed and just kept walking. Another fellow picked it up, read “prayer, and sinner” in the song titles and became offended and said, “I don’t like to talk about those things,” and promptly walked away. “Who does?” I thought to myself. And still I’ve had others thank me for the music and the honesty.
I was thinking of the guy who got offended and the Spirit whispered something- Probably the most devastating claim to the evangelization of the Gospel, especially in a culture that worships “self”, is that we are sinners and that we need Someone greater than us.
It is a tough pill to swallow, but the side effects are blessings. We have the opportunity to become something more than what we could make of ourselves. We take part in a greater cause than recycling, feeding the poor, or world peace, because with Him we are dealing with the eternal.
I want to run down this path even if I am an insult to some and a joke to others, because I serve a God who makes water into wine, who takes a meager meal and feeds thousands. My God makes paupers rich.
God bless,
Brian
Blessed is the Man who walked to counsel the wicked,
who made a way for sinners and ate with them,
and sat in their seat and got mocked for it.
His delight is to fulfill the law of the LORD
and to live it day and night.
He was nailed to a tree,
and from Him come streams of living water,
which yields the fruit of the Kingdom in season
bringing eternal life to the believer.
Whatever He does is good.
Even for the wicked there is hope.
They are priceless and not to be thrown away.
Therefore the wicked have a chance at salvation
for Jesus died for both the righteous and the sinner
and invites them all into His assembly.
For the LORD watches over us all,
and doesn’t want anyone to perish
but to believe in Jesus and live.
Today at church I witnessed a 3 Star General from Saddam Hussein’s army get baptized. The lead pastor at Trinity has been talking with him about Jesus for a while now. He learned a lot about the General’s past as a soldier under Hussein’s rule. When Saddam ordered his men to kill innocent people, the General wouldn’t obey. He went to prison for his actions. As a devout Muslim he read the Koran and followed it closely. It says (more or less) that to kill innocent people is to anger Allah.
Through their conversations, the General found Jesus to be who he was seeking for and decided to commit his life to Him. His conversion brought up thoughts to me about Osama. When the General came up out of the water, I was one of the first to stand clapping. My emotions caught me off guard, I didn’t realize how compassionate I was to his story. Truly the victory was greater.
I couldn’t help but feel pain at Osama’s fate. It would’ve been an even greater victory to have witnessed that tyrant seek forgiveness for the atrocities he had committed. It would’ve been an even greater victory for him to have submitted to the One who already had holes in his hands and feet for us rather than to receive the one he got in his head.
I fully respect and appreciate the work of the Navy Seals and what they accomplished for the sake of the rest of us still here. But after witnessing the General, I wished it could have been Osama’s story too. I understand that conversion for Osama wouldn’t have saved him from the justice he was due here, and he may still have been killed, I’m simply saying that the victory would have been greater.
The sky rose up above my head, distant stars shining with such presence I felt I could gather them in my fingers. But like sand they escape my grasp. My spirit lifted me that I may take my place among them. Everything in motion, the light they shine passes through me. I am somehow less firm in the company of the stars. I see myself as crude matter next to their glorious bodies.
But this is not so. For though I’m fallen creation I live in the crucible of free will. The stars continue in their purpose, there is no rebellion there. But I have to discover mine and submit to it.
Such a delicate dance, so effortless for them to obey. And yet for me, I am at war to keep my pace in step with His. Each foot I put in front of the other is a battle. And yet I learn from the stars, their fluid motion, their twinkling brilliance, their order with creation that all may exist. For such things to be there must be obedience.
O sometimes I envy the stars, they only ever shine, it is their nature. But I, in my freedom sometimes shine, sometimes not. I understand that when I am faithful my light shines greater than all the stars in heaven, but sometimes I would trade my freedom that I would actually be one.
And yet, I know that Jesus paid the price for my freedom and that I should be grateful, but at times, its almost blasphemous to think, I still envy the stars.
A tree knowing where its source of life comes from and turning its leaves to get more is worship. Growing branches that strain to get as much as it can, sometimes even recklessly upraised and unbalanced. Roots digging through the earth passed rocks and clay in search of water drinking as deeply as they can.
A tree knows that it can live off nothing less, so it grows and reaches and becomes a blessing to others providing homes for birds, squirrels, and many other creatures and providing shade and fruit for the traveler.
Living worship is more than a thought on a page, more than acts of kindness to a stranger. It is greater than the fellowship of community, and more powerful than the martyr’s sacrifice. It is everyday giving glory to the One who is all with each and every breath, in and out, each and every thought and action, each and every movement and stillness. Reaching toward our source of life with everything we are and growing to be a blessing, bearing fruit filled with thoughts, acts of kindness, communal fellowship, and sacrifice.
Peace to you on our snow day.
Brian