There are some great question-askers turned authors out there these days. I could list them off, but you already know who they are. The ones it is cool to talk about in the coffee shops (like the one I am in now), the ones who you name drop to your friends wearing the thick-rimmed glasses, the ones who attempt to "spare you the religion" and get right to the point. While these writers conjure up new choices and indecision, I am left to search for the answers.
I read them all. But somehow I am always left parched. Licking my lips like some dog who doesn'’t understand why the sun is still so hot even after I lapped up all that water; I am still left to my own devices just like before. Except now I am armed with a whole sack full of new questions and observations. I still don't know what I am supposed to do. Tons of great questions are being asked, but very few definitive, good old fashioned, objective answers are claimed. We have got to claim truth, not run from conflict.
And until I can find the "“perfect"” group to worship with and experience God alongside, I am left treading water. But that is not right. Should I look for the perfect group? Or should I take what I am given and roll with it?
As new questions emerge, old answers still stand strong.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Gnashing of Teeth
We were all apportioned different lots in life on purpose. For reasons beyond our individual and limited knowledge God has given some of us very little and some of us way more than we need. In one of the most illustrative and poignant parables he ever told, Jesus explains why there is seeming inequality in our world. As he tells the story of the man who went on a journey and entrusted his money to his servants there is a great amount of truth to be found.
Not only does the parable of the talents explain why Communism doesn't work it goes way beyond that in explaining the fact that we are all responsible for what we have been given. No more, no less. We must be good caretakers of our wealth while the master is away. Upon his return we will be asked how we used his gifts.
As you see this doesn't make a millionaire any more important than the guy who asked me for change outside the 7-11 last night. But here is the real point, are we being good and faithful servants? Upon his return is the master going to say, "Well done?"
Don't get caught up in size, magnitude or pride. Our real test lies in what we do with what we got. And more than that, not discounting the ability of someone or someplace with little to make a huge impact...
Not only does the parable of the talents explain why Communism doesn't work it goes way beyond that in explaining the fact that we are all responsible for what we have been given. No more, no less. We must be good caretakers of our wealth while the master is away. Upon his return we will be asked how we used his gifts.
As you see this doesn't make a millionaire any more important than the guy who asked me for change outside the 7-11 last night. But here is the real point, are we being good and faithful servants? Upon his return is the master going to say, "Well done?"
Don't get caught up in size, magnitude or pride. Our real test lies in what we do with what we got. And more than that, not discounting the ability of someone or someplace with little to make a huge impact...
Friday, July 07, 2006
So little time...
Someday all the words in my head will be put onto the blank paper that lies in front of me. For now these meager sentences will have to suffice... I'm back baby. If only for myself, these words provide comfort in the midst of a life that could not be going if it were not for the life-giver.
Walking down my overgrown and character-driven street on the evening of the 4th day in July I found myself transported to some abandoned street in the outskirts of some Austrian town toward the end of the Second World War. It was all in my imagination, that is except for the rat-tat-tat and the ka-boom and the ka-boom and the weeeeee-ooohhh coming from all sides. It was a literal and figurative battle. Firecrackers being fired from every direction and yet with the overgrown trees and shrubs I saw nothing but the glow of light over the din of the streetlamps. It was an eerie battle scene, caught in the crosshairs of a proverbial battleground on our Independence Day, I imagined getting fired at, pursuing an enemy and taking no prisoners.
It was real and as I sought the shelter of my 80 year old apartment building I couldn't help but feel blessed to have that be the closest I have come to a wartime experience. Guns fired, bombs dropped and life-fearing are daily events in history books and geographical maps outside this country of ours.
Reality struck on the anniversary of the day that we won our freedom. And yet hundreds of years later there is little more freedom than that in our grave world. O for a Savior to rescue us from ourselves. Thank you Jesus.
Walking down my overgrown and character-driven street on the evening of the 4th day in July I found myself transported to some abandoned street in the outskirts of some Austrian town toward the end of the Second World War. It was all in my imagination, that is except for the rat-tat-tat and the ka-boom and the ka-boom and the weeeeee-ooohhh coming from all sides. It was a literal and figurative battle. Firecrackers being fired from every direction and yet with the overgrown trees and shrubs I saw nothing but the glow of light over the din of the streetlamps. It was an eerie battle scene, caught in the crosshairs of a proverbial battleground on our Independence Day, I imagined getting fired at, pursuing an enemy and taking no prisoners.
It was real and as I sought the shelter of my 80 year old apartment building I couldn't help but feel blessed to have that be the closest I have come to a wartime experience. Guns fired, bombs dropped and life-fearing are daily events in history books and geographical maps outside this country of ours.
Reality struck on the anniversary of the day that we won our freedom. And yet hundreds of years later there is little more freedom than that in our grave world. O for a Savior to rescue us from ourselves. Thank you Jesus.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
