September 30

As we enter Halloween season, think about the SPOOKIEST thing that has ever happened to you.

I would like you to think about your experience of evil.

How does it inform and influence your relationship with Christ?

Here is something to read from Frederick Buechner's Wishful Thinking.

EVIL

- God is all-powerful

- God is all-good

- Terrible things happen

You can reconcile any two of these propositions with each other, but you can't reconcile all three. The problem of evil is perhaps the greatest single problem for religious faith.

There have been numerous theological and philosophical attempts to solve it, but when it comes down to the reality of evil itself, they are none of them worth much. When a child is raped and murdered, the parents are not apt to take much comfort from the explanation (better than most) that since God wants us to love him, we must be free to love or not to love and thus free to rape and murder a child if we take a notion to.

Christian Science solves the problem of evil by saying that it does not exist except as an illusion of mortal mind. Buddhism solves it in terms of reincarnation and an inexorable law of cause and effect whereby the raped child is merely reaping the consequences of evil deeds it committed in another life.

Christianity, on the other hand, ultimately offers no theoretical solution at all. It merely points to the cross and says that, pratically speaking, there is no evil so dark and so obscene - not even this - but the God can turn it to good.

Look at 1 John 5:1-5

The NLT has verse 4 this way: For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

The three weapons that God has given us to fight evil appear to be Faith, Belief, and Love.

How does that sit with you? What's your experience combatting evil with these weapons?

etc.

How can we apply this to our lives?

september 29

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

I John 5:4

When you think of all the weapons you could wield against evil - where does faith stack up? For me, faith might not even make it into the equation. Maybe it's that hippie in me, I don't know, but maybe this faith thing is related somewhat to that bumper sticker I like - wage peace. I like that. It's upside down. It's so JC.

september 27 and 28

Recently, I was given the opportunity to hang out with the Redeemer School's middle schoolers for the weekend. In addition to playing in the band (that's JT on the bass and Jennifer Wolfe Steele on the mic) I was asked to speak. I figured what better audience to experiment with some Clay themes.

Is there any time more formative than the early teens?

I spent the first night talking about the things that shaped me when I was a teenager. You can probably guess how that turned out.

The next day we talked about what happens when we let the one who made us shape us.

september 26

Kingdom of God.

It is not a place of course, but a condition. Kingship might be a better word. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done," Jesus prayed. The two are in apposition.

Insofar as here and there, and now and then, God's kingly will is being done in various ways among us even at this moment, the kingdom has already come.

Insofar as all the odd ways we do his will at this moment are at best half-baked and halfhearted, the kingdom is still a long way off - a hell of a long way off, to be more precise and theological.

Frederick Buechner - Whishful Thinking

september 23

Here are some questions I'm pondering today:

Why are hard things often good?

Why do I find myself gravitating to the easy when easy often ends up not being good?

Is this what Jesus is talking about when he says to "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

September 22

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Thanks Abby. Welcome, Moses.

september 21

One day Louisa Stead (1850-1917) with her husband and four year old daughter went to enjoy the beach at Long Island, New York. While there, they heard a call for help from a young child in the water. Mr. Stead went to his rescue but instead both he and the child were drowned. Louisa and her daughter were left to experience poverty in their life. One day she found some food and money had been left for her on her doorstep. The hymn “’Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus” was born from that incident. Later Louisa and her daughter left for South Africa where she found herself a new husband. After which they led a missionary life. The music to this hymn was written by William J. Kirkpatrick (photo above). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word, Just to rest upon His promise, just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.” O how sweet to trust in Jesus, just to trust His cleansing blood, Just in simple faith to plunge me ‘neath the healing, cleansing flood! Yes, ‘tis sweet to trust in Jesus, just from sin and self to cease, Just from Jesus simply taking life and rest and joy and peace. I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee, precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that Thou art with me, wilt be with me to the end. Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more!

september 20

In "Beauty and the Beast," it is only when the Beast discovers that Beauty really loves him in all his ugliness that he himself becomes beautiful.

In the experience of Saint Paul, it is only when we discover that God really loves us in all our unloveliness that we ourselves start to become godlike.

Paul's word for this gradual transformation of a sow's ear into a silk purse is sanctification.

Frederick Buechner - Wishful Thinking

september 19

This photo really speaks to me.

september 16

Can I tell you a story? It’s actually recorded in Mark 14:3-9. But I want to tell it to you a different way. You see, it’s a story about a jar of clay.

It was not clay like this. This is brownstone. It’s good clay, but not as good as the kind in this story. The clay in Mark 14 is alabaster. One of the most pure minerals on earth. When it is fired it turns white, almost translucent. It was used for only extremely valuable things. In fact, in this story, the alabaster jar held a very expensive perfume made from the spikenard plant. It’s like the fragrance of lavender except it was very thick. It was so valuable that this vessel of perfume it was said was worth more than a year’s wages. So think about all the money your family makes in one year. This one vessel contained more value than that.

Well, You can imagine what this jar thought about itself. I’m sure if you were the jar you would think pretty highly of yourself. In fact, in your house, you’re probably the most valuable possession. You were only used on very special occasions and in only teenie tiny doses. Well one day, your owner comes running into her room, and picks you up. Someone special must have arrived, you think. But instead of using you, she carries you into the main room. And you’re expecting that some royalty must have arrived. But there, before you, sits a beggar. He’s wearing a robe that probably hasn’t been washed in weeks. His hair is in tangles. There’s dirt, caked in his beard. And his feet. You don’t want to even look at them they’re so disgusting.

And suddenly the worst thing imaginable happens! Your owner, this woman she breaks your perfectly slender neck. You crack down the sides. In an instant you have become worthless. You will never be used again. Perfume starts oozing down, dripping on the floor. And she carries you, your broken pieces and she pours out the perfume. A lifetime’s worth. She pours out every drop on this beggar’s head.

It’s unthinkable! You wouldn’t do this to a King! And yet, here she is, anointing a beggar.

And now you hear voices.

v. 4-5 And the people in the room didn’t understand her. They rebuked her.

And you agree with them. This woman has ruined you. She’s lost her mind. But then, suddenly, you hear another voice. It’s choked. Dry. But there is strength in it. You can tell because every one falls silent.

v. 6-9 Listen to what Jesus says. Jesus doesn’t say this about any other person.

And you realize, all of the sudden, that he’s not speaking only about this woman. His eyes. The beggar’s eyes, they drift to you.

v. 6-9 You, broken one, the one in which I have placed my treasure. You have done a beautiful thing. You did what you could. You poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.

You see all your life, you thought your value was what you were on the outside. You thought your worth was based on the stuff that you were able to keep for yourself. Little did you know, you were actually much more valuable than that. You would be the one to anoint the head a king. Not just a king. But the King of Kings.

And three days later, on the cross. As the King suffered and died. The perfume you held, that fragrance would still be clinging to that beggar king’s caked beard, his tangled hair. It would be the last beautiful thing Jesus would experience on this earth before his death. Because you were broken. Because you were used in the manner he intended.

That’s what can happen when we allow the Shaper to shape us. Yes, we may be broken. But it will always serve a higher purpose. When your life is shaped by Christ, you will experience meaning and a purpose that is far greater than any meaning or purpose you could create for yourself.

That’s the invitation God is offering you.

september 15

If you are in conflict with someone this is really helpful:

Living Out Matthew 18

When Christians think about talking to someone else about a conflict, one of the first verses that comes to mind is Matthew 18:15: "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you." If this verse is read in isolation, it seems to teach that we must always use direct confrontation to force others to admit they have sinned. If the verse is read in context, however, we see that Jesus had something much more flexible and beneficial in mind than simply standing toe to toe with others and describing their sins.

Just before this passage, we find Jesus' wonderful metaphor of a loving shepherd who goes to look for a wandering sheep and then rejoices when it is found (Matt. 18:12-14). Thus, Matthew 18:15 is introduced with a theme of restoration, not condemnation. Jesus repeats this theme just after telling us to "go and show him his fault" by adding, "If he listens to you, you have won your brother over." And then he hits the restoration theme a third time in verses 21-35, where he uses the parable of the unmerciful servant to remind us to be as merciful and forgiving to others as God is to us (Matt. 18:21-35).

Taken from The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict

by Ken Sande, Updated Edition (Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 2003) p. 144

september 14

This weekend I'm speaking at a middle school camp.

The question we're going to look at is this:

What's shaping you?

Spend some time with it today.

How is God shaping you?

september 13

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1

Notice the "have been justified." I just looked up past participles on the web...check out this response from Clive and think about it in terms of justification:

Hi,

I was wondering what's the difference between "has been" and "was". For instance- below is an example:

I was there Just tells me about the past. No emphasis on the past event as having importance in the present.

I have been there. Tells me about the past but shows that the past event has importance in the present. eg I have been in Japan in the past, so I understand Japanese society at the present time. Think of it as I have the result now of this past experience.

Best wishes, Clive

It bears repeating:

I HAVE THE RESULT NOW OF THIS PAST EXPERIENCE!

september 12

i ran a relay race this weekend. when it was my turn, i ran as fast as i could. and when i made it to the exchange point, i handed the baton to the next guy, crumpled to the ground, and he took it from there. it was a great metaphor for the body that Christ has designed us to be.

september 9

In honor of the Blue Ridge Relay a thought from the greatest novel written about running, Once a Runner, by John Parker.

There is the trial of miles, and the miles of trials.

This rings true in more than running.

september 8

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Matthew 28:20

Several years ago, a friend of mine had me do an exercise each morning. At breakfast, sit down and ask yourself, what am I feeling? what emotion is predominant at this moment? You know what I wrote down most mornings? Lonely.

So often I am so desperately alone. May his promise remind me that though I may feel lonely I am never alone.

september 7

"Our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." John 1:3

Relationship is central to the life of a Christian. We must relate to God. How do we do this? By talking to Him! By listening to Him. By doing things with Him. And for Him. And appreciating Him. And doing things that please Him...the most important aspect of this relationship is what happens inside the relationship...not what happens outside of it.

september 6

I was asked to consider these questions for a meeting tomorrow night. I think they're worth your time as well:

What is our view of God?
What is our view of Man?
Who is the true older brother?
What is the Gospel?

These are the foundational concepts.

september 5

Life from the Center is a heaven-directed life...It is not we alone who are at work in the world, frantically finishing a work to be offered to God...We need not get frantic. He is at the helm. And when our little day is done, we lie down quietly in peace, for all is well.

thomas kelly

september 2

And under the silent, watchful eye of the Holy One, we all are standing, whether we know it or not. And in that Center, in that Abyss where the Eternal dwells at the base of our being, our programs, our gifts to Him, our offerings of duties performed are again and again revised in their values. Many of the things we are doing seem too important to us. We haven't been able to say no to them, because they seemed so important. But if we are center down, as the old phrase goes, and live in that holy Silence that is dearer than life, and take our life program into the silent places of the heart, with complete openness, ready to do, ready to renounce according to His leading, then many of the things we are doing will lose their vitality for us...

thomas kelly