January 28, 2008
i preached this past weekend at our home church in Indy on we as the TEMPLE of the Holy Spirit - It really struck me that we are a temple in process. As the Spirit resides in us, our temples are still being formed, shaped, and molded (Eph 2:21-22) We so often see other believers and churches as a completed structure/edifice and not a work in process. Peter said we are living stones (1 Pet 2:5)
How this should move us to see others as who they can become and not for merely who they are. Jesus did this so beautifuly. Zacheaus, woman at well, etc.
Augustine said, “We stand in awe of the ocean, the thunderstorm, the sunset, the mountains, but we pass by a human being w/o notice even though the person is God’s most magnificent creation.”
January 27, 2008
i have been thinking through the whole idea of acceptence - We think and practice that acceptance is just like tolerance (putting up with someone) it is not. Acceptance is proactive and demands action to others. Acceptance is the ability to communicate value, worth, and respect to others. It demands that we make people feel honored and esteemed.
As Jn 3:16 is to the unbeliever, Rom 15:7 is to the believer “Accept one another, then just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
January 21, 2008
i have been ever reminded that nothing can become more central than the good news of the gospel in the life of an indivdual, church, or family. It seems that other efforts and priorities have taken the place of the gospel…service to the poor, generous giving of resources, our ministry activity, etc. When Jesus Christ is central in our focus and attention, these aspects of devotion will be an overflow but they must not take a priority over the centrality of the risen Lord who lives and reigns. We must be captured and re-captured by His love for the world and plan of redemption to all nations and tribes.
January 17, 2008
“If the relationship is strong, then the truth will be accepted.” Burmese proverb
Elise and I did an overnight prayer retreat at a local catholic prayer retreat here in town - It was a fabulous time to pray, be still, share coversation, be guided through instruction….one of the key areas for me coming into the new year was to reflect on the issue of being fruitful. How contrary the fruit in our lives come to how the world says to be and become successsful - Here are reflections that I recently read…
“There is a great difference between successfulness and fruitfulness. Success comes from strength, control, and respectability. A successful person has the energy to create something, to keep control over its development, and to make it available in large quantities. Success brings many rewards and often fame. Fruits, however, come from weakness and vulnerability. And fruits are unique. A child is the fruit conceived in vulnerability, community is the fruit born through shared brokenness, and intimacy is the fruit that grows through touching one another’s wounds. Let’s remind one another that what brings us true joy is not successfulness but fruitfulness.” Henri Nouwen
