As you can see I haven't been getting my posts up on a regular basis. Sorry, I don't want to say it's due to procrastination, but unfortunately there's no better word to describe the delay.
Today I'm just sorting through what I've written to see what's worth sharing. Please understand some of my thoughts are works in process, just as each of our lives are. So as I learn or discover something new, I may edit some of my previous posts.
So now you know I'm still blogging, just not regularly.... :)
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Personal thoughts on February 14th
Valentines day has just passed, and naturally love has been the most popular theme in the past week or two. I guess all of us have experienced "being in love" at one point or another. The exhilarating feeling of caring for someone more than anyone else. But has anyone successfully described true love with mere words? Is it possible to grasp or define it with our limited vocabulary?
I remember falling in love 16 years ago. It wasn't the first time I had "fallen in love", however this time was different as it challenged my concept of what true love is. This gal who captured my heart was one of the most beautiful I had ever met, both inside and out. She had a sincere heart, and a desire to live her life in a way that pleased God. Without doubt her beauty and sincerity was what initially caught my attention, but something happened in my heart I had never experienced before. I couldn't package or define the reason why I loved this girl. For the first time in my life it wasn't at all about me but it was all about her. My needs and desires took third place to her. Many thought it was just her beauty that captured me,.. Of course she was a gorgeous girl, but this wasn't the underlying reason I loved her. Was it her vibrant personality and intelligence? As much as I was intrigued by her, this wasn't it either. What exactly caused me to feel so passionately for her? No matter how I tried to rationalize or define it, I couldn't package it in my definition of love. All I knew was that she meant more to me than anyone else regardless of what she looked like or how she responded. When she asked me why I felt this way, and I found it impossible to explain, I just loved her just because of who she was. It scared me and made me wonder if this is what true love really is, totally unexplainable and unconditional.
For reasons which I won't discuss here, our friendship didn't develop into what it could have been. But I'm grateful for this experience as it gave me a deeper appreciation of God's love for me. We've learned from the Sunday school song that "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so", but what exactly makes Him love me so? Is it our goodness? I doubt that, as our righteousness is like filthy rags. Is it that we are so wonderfully made? No doubt we are, but that reason would imply He's only a selfish artist marvelling at His own craftsmanship. Just what is it that makes God love us, ugly, disobedient and broken sinners? No other reason but pure unselfish love. Totally undefinable! It's not in any way dependant on how we look, behave or respond. No conditions, just unexplainable unconditional love.
So how do we respond to this? The scripture instructs us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind and soul. How do we do this? Do we love Him because of what He has done for us? That would be pretty shallow if it was the only reason. Consider if your spouse loved you only for what you do or what you look like? Wouldn't that be selfish and conditional? What happens when your career fails and your beauty fades away? But you say "Jesus saved me, that's why I love him!" If someone pulls you from a burning building and saves your life, does this cause us to fall in love with the individual, or do we just love what he has done for us? There's no question we feel a deep gratitude, but how long will love last if it's based only on graditude? Do you think God wants us to love Him only for what he has done for us? If He did nothing, would we still love him just for who He is? Think for a moment.. Do we worship Him for what He gives us or do we worship Him for who He is?
True love is unconditional, and impossible to fabricate as it's a gift of God. True love is what caused Him to sacrifice His son for our salvation. No strings attached, He loves us as we are. When true love pierces our heart it can be scary. I'm still discovering new depths of what true love really is, but I believe that only unconditional love can break the curse of our selfish hearts, draw us closer to God, and be the only solid foundation for lasting relationships.
I remember falling in love 16 years ago. It wasn't the first time I had "fallen in love", however this time was different as it challenged my concept of what true love is. This gal who captured my heart was one of the most beautiful I had ever met, both inside and out. She had a sincere heart, and a desire to live her life in a way that pleased God. Without doubt her beauty and sincerity was what initially caught my attention, but something happened in my heart I had never experienced before. I couldn't package or define the reason why I loved this girl. For the first time in my life it wasn't at all about me but it was all about her. My needs and desires took third place to her. Many thought it was just her beauty that captured me,.. Of course she was a gorgeous girl, but this wasn't the underlying reason I loved her. Was it her vibrant personality and intelligence? As much as I was intrigued by her, this wasn't it either. What exactly caused me to feel so passionately for her? No matter how I tried to rationalize or define it, I couldn't package it in my definition of love. All I knew was that she meant more to me than anyone else regardless of what she looked like or how she responded. When she asked me why I felt this way, and I found it impossible to explain, I just loved her just because of who she was. It scared me and made me wonder if this is what true love really is, totally unexplainable and unconditional.
For reasons which I won't discuss here, our friendship didn't develop into what it could have been. But I'm grateful for this experience as it gave me a deeper appreciation of God's love for me. We've learned from the Sunday school song that "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so", but what exactly makes Him love me so? Is it our goodness? I doubt that, as our righteousness is like filthy rags. Is it that we are so wonderfully made? No doubt we are, but that reason would imply He's only a selfish artist marvelling at His own craftsmanship. Just what is it that makes God love us, ugly, disobedient and broken sinners? No other reason but pure unselfish love. Totally undefinable! It's not in any way dependant on how we look, behave or respond. No conditions, just unexplainable unconditional love.
So how do we respond to this? The scripture instructs us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind and soul. How do we do this? Do we love Him because of what He has done for us? That would be pretty shallow if it was the only reason. Consider if your spouse loved you only for what you do or what you look like? Wouldn't that be selfish and conditional? What happens when your career fails and your beauty fades away? But you say "Jesus saved me, that's why I love him!" If someone pulls you from a burning building and saves your life, does this cause us to fall in love with the individual, or do we just love what he has done for us? There's no question we feel a deep gratitude, but how long will love last if it's based only on graditude? Do you think God wants us to love Him only for what he has done for us? If He did nothing, would we still love him just for who He is? Think for a moment.. Do we worship Him for what He gives us or do we worship Him for who He is?
True love is unconditional, and impossible to fabricate as it's a gift of God. True love is what caused Him to sacrifice His son for our salvation. No strings attached, He loves us as we are. When true love pierces our heart it can be scary. I'm still discovering new depths of what true love really is, but I believe that only unconditional love can break the curse of our selfish hearts, draw us closer to God, and be the only solid foundation for lasting relationships.
Bucking horses
Last week I visited a small ranch down the road where they had three horses named Luke, Mojo and Jazz. These were beautiful and majestic animals, God's awesome creations. We spent some time grooming two of them to make sure they were clean and comfortable before saddling them up for a short ride. Since it was the first time the horses had been ridden this season, we needed to go easy with them (which was fine with me, an inexperienced rider). Jazz, a stallion they are boarding, was quite energetic and somewhat unpredictable so I wasn't even going to ask about riding him. Luke's an older fella, over 30 years old but not exactly sure how old he really is. I picked him since he's generally a slower and easier riding horse compared to Mojo, although he did buck his owner a few months ago breaking her hip. I learned since he is an older horse, he has some sore spots that you have to consider when saddling him up. Aggravating Luke's sore spots can cause him to react by bucking the rider... Ouch!
Needless to say I felt a bit uneasy riding him, as I was concerned about inadvertently causing him pain or discomfort. The last thing I wanted was to be bucked! Well, fortunately for me the ride went without incident. But after riding Luke, I started to consider how we sometimes react to hurt or aggravation. Most of us tolerate quite a bit of pain and difficulties in our lives, but we all have a limit where our tolerance ends. We react or "buck" to get rid of the pain, irritation, or parasite eating at us. This is a normal, but often misunderstood reaction. Luke was in pain, but the rider was not aware of it. How often in our lives do we saddle others (or ourselves) with burdens, totally oblivious to the potential pain that lies underneath. Without proper grooming, training, and preparation we give (or take) responsibilities and burdens totally unaware how these may hurt. We should take care in preparation and assessment before carrying a load. Otherwise we may react unpredictably when under pressure, often hurting others by doing things we may later regret.
The beautiful part of this story is the relationship between Luke and his owner. Even after breaking her hip from the fall, she did not blame Luke at all, but loved and cared for him just the same. She understood bucking was Luke's natural reaction to pain. I wonder about our understanding of others who react to pain. Do we criticize and condemn, or do we consider that there may be an underlying cause for the reaction? Do we care, "groom", help others (and ourselves) to handle life's burdens? Or do we simply expect others (and ourselves) to perform without adverse reaction at all times? I wonder how God reacts to our "bucking" when we feel discomfort or pain? Do we receive wrath and condemnation for our actions? Or after we "buck", are we still loved and cared for us just the same? Unconditionally....
Needless to say I felt a bit uneasy riding him, as I was concerned about inadvertently causing him pain or discomfort. The last thing I wanted was to be bucked! Well, fortunately for me the ride went without incident. But after riding Luke, I started to consider how we sometimes react to hurt or aggravation. Most of us tolerate quite a bit of pain and difficulties in our lives, but we all have a limit where our tolerance ends. We react or "buck" to get rid of the pain, irritation, or parasite eating at us. This is a normal, but often misunderstood reaction. Luke was in pain, but the rider was not aware of it. How often in our lives do we saddle others (or ourselves) with burdens, totally oblivious to the potential pain that lies underneath. Without proper grooming, training, and preparation we give (or take) responsibilities and burdens totally unaware how these may hurt. We should take care in preparation and assessment before carrying a load. Otherwise we may react unpredictably when under pressure, often hurting others by doing things we may later regret.
The beautiful part of this story is the relationship between Luke and his owner. Even after breaking her hip from the fall, she did not blame Luke at all, but loved and cared for him just the same. She understood bucking was Luke's natural reaction to pain. I wonder about our understanding of others who react to pain. Do we criticize and condemn, or do we consider that there may be an underlying cause for the reaction? Do we care, "groom", help others (and ourselves) to handle life's burdens? Or do we simply expect others (and ourselves) to perform without adverse reaction at all times? I wonder how God reacts to our "bucking" when we feel discomfort or pain? Do we receive wrath and condemnation for our actions? Or after we "buck", are we still loved and cared for us just the same? Unconditionally....
Dangerous cats and other predators
After horseback riding, we had a conversation with the owners of the ranch about wildlife in the Black Forest area. As it turns out, bears and mountain lions (cougars) have been at times active in the area. Bears seem to be classic environmentalists, they have program of sorting through your trash for anything "recyclable". This activity seems to transcend borders as I've noticed the same behaviour in Canada at some rural dumps. Usually bears stay way from human contact, and pretty much mind their own business. But knowing their capabilities, it's wise to keep a respectable distance from them, especially if they have cubs.
Cats on the other hand are completely different creatures. They are by nature prowlers and predators, in my opinion much more dangerous than bears. They're always out to seek what they can unsuspectingly pounce on and devour. Look at a cat, any cat and you will see it clearly in their instinct. Big cats, like mountain lions have been known to sneak up and devour small dogs left in the yard, and on rare occasions even attack children.
Honestly, I've never been very fond of cats. Sorry if I offend cat lovers out there, but you have to admit there is just something about cats that cannot be trusted. Dogs are more predictable, loving, obedient and social, we even call them "mans best friend." And if they do attack, they usually give fair warning and only to guard their territory or owners. Cats aren't really guards or friends of anyone, they're generally independent with devious agendas. They may seem to be affectionate at times, but don't be led astray, their plans are evil. Just look at how they prowl around, ready to pounce, seeking whom they may devour...
Interesting parallel to cats in the Bible: Look at 1 Peter 5:8 "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Compare that to the behaviour of any cat. Notice how casually and innocently he walks around before sneaking up and pouncing. A cat's objective is to catch prey by surprise. Isn't that the same tactic Satin uses to attack us? We often don't perceive the threat until he pounces. This should give cause to examine your enemy diligently. Take notice of his stalking and prowling. Raise your guard and learn his tactics, as he may strike when you least expect it!
Cats on the other hand are completely different creatures. They are by nature prowlers and predators, in my opinion much more dangerous than bears. They're always out to seek what they can unsuspectingly pounce on and devour. Look at a cat, any cat and you will see it clearly in their instinct. Big cats, like mountain lions have been known to sneak up and devour small dogs left in the yard, and on rare occasions even attack children.
Honestly, I've never been very fond of cats. Sorry if I offend cat lovers out there, but you have to admit there is just something about cats that cannot be trusted. Dogs are more predictable, loving, obedient and social, we even call them "mans best friend." And if they do attack, they usually give fair warning and only to guard their territory or owners. Cats aren't really guards or friends of anyone, they're generally independent with devious agendas. They may seem to be affectionate at times, but don't be led astray, their plans are evil. Just look at how they prowl around, ready to pounce, seeking whom they may devour...
Interesting parallel to cats in the Bible: Look at 1 Peter 5:8 "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Compare that to the behaviour of any cat. Notice how casually and innocently he walks around before sneaking up and pouncing. A cat's objective is to catch prey by surprise. Isn't that the same tactic Satin uses to attack us? We often don't perceive the threat until he pounces. This should give cause to examine your enemy diligently. Take notice of his stalking and prowling. Raise your guard and learn his tactics, as he may strike when you least expect it!
Pressure cooker
I've always been amazed by different culinary practices, of how food is prepared. When i had time to cook I fried, baked, boiled, broiled, grilled, all kinds of meals. One thing I have never used in the kitchen is a pressure cooker. I've wondered what effect a pressure cooker has on meat and vegetables, but from what i understand it usually is used to cook quicker but sometimes slower depending on the pressure.
Isn't it the same in our lives. We all live under some kind of pressures, sometimes the pressure is higher than at other times. Pressure is something that can help us perform and accomplish things, but we can also be consumed by too much pressure. It can detrimentally effect our performance and health, and cause irreputable damage.
God seems to have created us with some kind of natural pressure. All of us (who are still breathing) have a blood pressure reading, some have low blood pressure, some high, (neither extreme is good). In recent years I have concluded that there's probably a direct correlation between life's pressure and blood pressure (at least in my life). When blood pressure hits 222/124 the alarm bells ring, as we run the risk of something giving in our bodily functions. Just like a furnace, pressure needs to be controlled in order not to blow a valve or pipe somewhere in the system.
So why is it that when we are under pressure, we continue to load our lives with more pressure? We take on more tasks, responsibilities and burdens. We think of ourselves as pressure cookers, who can produce more in less time than normal. But what's the quality of pressure cooked lives? Perhaps taking more time to do things brings brings better quality,... maybe by doing less we can accomplish more.... or maybe we are just interested in seeing how much our personal pressure cooker can handle before blowing our top off...
12 February 2009
Isn't it the same in our lives. We all live under some kind of pressures, sometimes the pressure is higher than at other times. Pressure is something that can help us perform and accomplish things, but we can also be consumed by too much pressure. It can detrimentally effect our performance and health, and cause irreputable damage.
God seems to have created us with some kind of natural pressure. All of us (who are still breathing) have a blood pressure reading, some have low blood pressure, some high, (neither extreme is good). In recent years I have concluded that there's probably a direct correlation between life's pressure and blood pressure (at least in my life). When blood pressure hits 222/124 the alarm bells ring, as we run the risk of something giving in our bodily functions. Just like a furnace, pressure needs to be controlled in order not to blow a valve or pipe somewhere in the system.
So why is it that when we are under pressure, we continue to load our lives with more pressure? We take on more tasks, responsibilities and burdens. We think of ourselves as pressure cookers, who can produce more in less time than normal. But what's the quality of pressure cooked lives? Perhaps taking more time to do things brings brings better quality,... maybe by doing less we can accomplish more.... or maybe we are just interested in seeing how much our personal pressure cooker can handle before blowing our top off...
12 February 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
responding to instruction
I remember my grade 10 geography teacher, he was a real dork. He wasn't the type of person who commanded much authority, we used to shoot rubber bands and spitballs at him while he wasn't looking. Once he got so angry that he made one of my classmates stand in the corner while he tried to continue teaching. Big mistake, the whole class was in an uproar and couldn't stop laughing, including the student in the corner. Needless to say, we didn't learn much in that class (at least not about geography). Compared to him, my math teacher's stature commanded respect, he was one to be feared. He was a great teacher, but no one would dare to step out of line in his class. That little bit of fear even drove us to learn and prepare for classes better.
We all react differently to instruction and instuctors. Anyone who says learning only depends on the student, should have spent one day in my grade 10 geography class. Do we respect, admire and trust our instructor, or do we feel disconnected, lack respect or trust for those who teach us? Our responses vary dependant on how we view our teachers, parents, pastors and friends. We are formed by those who instruct us, and accept instruction only from those who we truly trust, respect and admire.
This makes me think about how I view God as He instructs me. What motivates me to listen to His instruction and (but not always) follow? Do I liken Him to my math teacher whom I highly respected but distantly feared? Is He my good buddy with whom I'm somewhat of an equal, where I give a little and then He gives a little; or is He a distant dad who provides only nescessities; or is He a master, to whom I as a slave have little incentive to respond to?
Proverbs 29:19 says "a slave will not be instructed by words alone, though he understands, there will be no response." Have you ever felt this way? I have to admit at times I have. If we are to have a desire to respond, we need to know we are much more than slaves or servants. Galatians 4:7 tells us we are...
I've been reading a great book "The Way of the Wild Heart" by John Eldredge. He talks about the heart of our heavenly Father and how much He wishes us to feel as beloved sons (and daughters). I wonder how much we really grasp the depth of His love, His desire to live life's great adventure together with us, to instruct us step by step along our journey, share our joy when we learn and succeed, and lift us up when we stumble and fall.
So often we view Him has King, Master, Saviour, Teacher, Almighty God, our Provider just as we sing in our songs and hymns. But do we really comprehend that He is our Father, the one who loves us as His own? Do we feel as beloved children on whom He wishes to bestow His blessing, or do we feel as servants and slaves destined to only obey His commands?
So I wonder, who's instruction would you be more inclined to respond to? Perhaps we should consider more deeply why Jesus instructed us to pray using the words "Our Father..."
29 Jan 2009
We all react differently to instruction and instuctors. Anyone who says learning only depends on the student, should have spent one day in my grade 10 geography class. Do we respect, admire and trust our instructor, or do we feel disconnected, lack respect or trust for those who teach us? Our responses vary dependant on how we view our teachers, parents, pastors and friends. We are formed by those who instruct us, and accept instruction only from those who we truly trust, respect and admire.
This makes me think about how I view God as He instructs me. What motivates me to listen to His instruction and (but not always) follow? Do I liken Him to my math teacher whom I highly respected but distantly feared? Is He my good buddy with whom I'm somewhat of an equal, where I give a little and then He gives a little; or is He a distant dad who provides only nescessities; or is He a master, to whom I as a slave have little incentive to respond to?
Proverbs 29:19 says "a slave will not be instructed by words alone, though he understands, there will be no response." Have you ever felt this way? I have to admit at times I have. If we are to have a desire to respond, we need to know we are much more than slaves or servants. Galatians 4:7 tells us we are...
I've been reading a great book "The Way of the Wild Heart" by John Eldredge. He talks about the heart of our heavenly Father and how much He wishes us to feel as beloved sons (and daughters). I wonder how much we really grasp the depth of His love, His desire to live life's great adventure together with us, to instruct us step by step along our journey, share our joy when we learn and succeed, and lift us up when we stumble and fall.
So often we view Him has King, Master, Saviour, Teacher, Almighty God, our Provider just as we sing in our songs and hymns. But do we really comprehend that He is our Father, the one who loves us as His own? Do we feel as beloved children on whom He wishes to bestow His blessing, or do we feel as servants and slaves destined to only obey His commands?
So I wonder, who's instruction would you be more inclined to respond to? Perhaps we should consider more deeply why Jesus instructed us to pray using the words "Our Father..."
29 Jan 2009
time for fine dining..
As many of you know, I'm in Colorado currently for some long overdue R&R. I know less than a handful of people out here, so I've had much time to be alone. For someone who is used to a busy life, overloaded with work and activities, it can be a bit disconcerting at times to be alone. However I have come to appreciate this time of peace and quietness, as an opportunity to reflect on life.
One morning as I was having breakfast with my hosts, we started discussing the importance of healthy food, excercise and lifestyle. Over the past few years, I've paid little attention to what I eat. With my busy schedule, when I got hungry I usually found the simplest and quickest dining solution. This may be a sandwich and an apple, or a hamburger with onion rings and a coke, or sometimes even skip a meal because of lack of time. In recent years I have rarely found the time to sit down for a good homecooked meal or go out for fine dining. Convenience, not planning has come to dictate my eating habits.
So, I started wondering how many of us living busy lives make decisions out of convenience rather than take time for deeper contemplation. Living in a convenience driven society, we enjoy instant information from the internet; fastfood from drive-thru's, not to mention drive-thru banks and post offices; remote contols for everything from garage doors to TVs, stereos, and even to lite our gas fireplaces! Everything is instant, we get what we want, when we want, where we want it. Everything is served to us, we needn't even get out of the comfort of our seat!
It's little wonder that when we have an empty feeling in our stomach, heart, or soul, we want it filled ASAP. We look for quick solutions to our needs, someone to solve our problems, someone to love us, entertain us, serve us, and to push the button that gives us that 'so gooood feelin' again. We quickly occupy our time with events, friends, church activities so we won't feel alone and hungry. And so our health suffers and relationships crumble because we are not willing to take time and dwell on what's truly good. We don't take time for fellowship, time to listen for wisdom and guidance, but instead expect God to provide all our needs "according to His riches" delivered to our comfort "cocoons".
But just maybe God wants us to have these times of loneliness, to feel hungry, to have moments to contemplate, consider and evaluate. Perhaps we should embrace loneliness as an opportunity to draw closer to God, to seek a closer fellowship with Him, and not only ask but also listen to His guidance. If we would stop in the midst of our busy lives to take these times of solitude, perhaps we will discover God has a much better table prepared for us than we could imagine. And as we dine with Him we may begin to undertand the difference between 'fastfood' and 'fine dining' in the most important areas of our lives...
28 Jan 2009
One morning as I was having breakfast with my hosts, we started discussing the importance of healthy food, excercise and lifestyle. Over the past few years, I've paid little attention to what I eat. With my busy schedule, when I got hungry I usually found the simplest and quickest dining solution. This may be a sandwich and an apple, or a hamburger with onion rings and a coke, or sometimes even skip a meal because of lack of time. In recent years I have rarely found the time to sit down for a good homecooked meal or go out for fine dining. Convenience, not planning has come to dictate my eating habits.
So, I started wondering how many of us living busy lives make decisions out of convenience rather than take time for deeper contemplation. Living in a convenience driven society, we enjoy instant information from the internet; fastfood from drive-thru's, not to mention drive-thru banks and post offices; remote contols for everything from garage doors to TVs, stereos, and even to lite our gas fireplaces! Everything is instant, we get what we want, when we want, where we want it. Everything is served to us, we needn't even get out of the comfort of our seat!
It's little wonder that when we have an empty feeling in our stomach, heart, or soul, we want it filled ASAP. We look for quick solutions to our needs, someone to solve our problems, someone to love us, entertain us, serve us, and to push the button that gives us that 'so gooood feelin' again. We quickly occupy our time with events, friends, church activities so we won't feel alone and hungry. And so our health suffers and relationships crumble because we are not willing to take time and dwell on what's truly good. We don't take time for fellowship, time to listen for wisdom and guidance, but instead expect God to provide all our needs "according to His riches" delivered to our comfort "cocoons".
But just maybe God wants us to have these times of loneliness, to feel hungry, to have moments to contemplate, consider and evaluate. Perhaps we should embrace loneliness as an opportunity to draw closer to God, to seek a closer fellowship with Him, and not only ask but also listen to His guidance. If we would stop in the midst of our busy lives to take these times of solitude, perhaps we will discover God has a much better table prepared for us than we could imagine. And as we dine with Him we may begin to undertand the difference between 'fastfood' and 'fine dining' in the most important areas of our lives...
28 Jan 2009
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