Letters

I've had acronyms bouncing around in my head lately as I digest things I've learned recently at conferences and in my reading. I thought I'd write them down here because they're just so darn interesting and it would be a way, possibly, of introducing what I'm pondering. I'll list them here with a general definitions. In coming days, I'll write one post on each acronmym and how I am using them or see them being used. So here they are:

• THEOSS: The letters of this acronym stand for Tender, Happy, Excited, Out of Sorts, Sad and Scared. This is my adaptation of SASHET, which I learned from John White at the Living the Mission Conference in June in Minneapolis. You can find out more about John at http://www.lk10.com/
• ALiCTS: (Alley Cats?) This is an adaptation of the tried and true prayer guide, ACTS, which stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication. The letters "Li" stand for listening. This also is inspired by John White, who talked a lot about listening prayer.
• H2O: This is the name I'm thinking of giving groups of 2 or 3 (at most 4). These would be accountability groups and the basic building blocks for church/kingdom multiplication. An H20 group would be comparable to White's CO2 (Church Of 2) group, Neil Cole's Life Transformation Groups, or DNA (Divine Focus, Nurturing Relationships, Apostolic Mission) groups. H2O stand for "Him" (upward focus), "2" ( focus on relationship, "Wherever 2 are gathered..."), "Others" (Luke 10:2b focus on mission, ala White and Cole).
• THRPL GREWP: (Thirple Grewp) I invented this acronym to help me memorize Philippians 4:8 and to help direct my thinking. "Finally brothers, whatever True, whatever is Honorable, whatever is Right, whatever is Pure, whatever is Lovely, whatever is of Good Repute, if there is any Excellence, or anything of Good Repute, think on those things."

TGIF, June 26, 2009

When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day has broken." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." -- Genesis 32:25-26

Wrestling with some roundabout, rambling thoughts.

I was headed for a church committee meeting last night and when I left home I walked past my neighbor, who I know is going through some marital issues with her husband. But I didn't have time to talk with her because I was late for my meeting. I only had time to say "hi." Another neighbor, who suffers from some mental health issues, has asked me to spend time with him to study the Bible. I've been unable to find time, however, because I'm too busy with "ministry" at church.

What's wrong with this picture? I think God may be telling me something about his priorities and it may be that "church stuff" isn't that high of a priority.

To be honest, I'm facing a lot of uncertanties about my future. And as time progresses, I'm feeling less "qualified" to do what I really hope to do. I'm feeling a bit like the little boy who doesn't get picked to play on the team.

Now, Jacob also was uncertain of his future when he wrestled God. But he refused to let go. With only a touch, God disabled Jacob, but let him win the wrestling match, like a father letting his little boy win, I suppose. But once Jacob was disabled, he was ready for God to work in him and through him, even though the disability left him less "qualified," I guess you could say. Perhaps God is disabling me to prepare me so that he may be glorified in my weakness, as Paul said. Making me less able to sit through committee meetings and for official church business, but more adequate to help those also in need.

A couple things from the Internet:

• Young adults are "flocking" to megachurches, one study says. It seems there are contradictory studies out there. There is some interesting information in the study. But the point is, I think, is that there are many expressions of faith and we shouldn't necessarily discount one over the other. House churches, for instance, may have more backing biblically, but in 21st century America, I think God also works through megachurches.
• Meanwhile, a story in the Minneapolis Tribune talks about how churches are marketing themselves to young adults.

Peace

"The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant." -- Psalm 35:27b

I've neglected this blog again and so thought I would post something here to get it warmed up. I have a lot to write about but first I have to digest some things I've been learning.

So for today, a simple thought and that is that God, my Father, delights in my well-being. The word well-being here is shalom in Hebrew. It also is translated as prosperity and welfare. Shalom is generally translated peace. But it has more to do with wholeness or oneness, not merely cessation of conflict. In fact, I don't think it has anything to do with cessation of conflict. It's about being healthy in mind, body and spirit. I'm considering some choices about life right now and that includes trying to draw some boundaries, establish some priorities, spend more time listening and being quiet, being healthier. That means maybe letting some people down or failing to live up to their expectations. I don't like doing that. It causes me stress. I like to please people. But to God, anything I can do to be a whole person delights Him. In fact, my shalom/peace actually brings shalom/peace to God, as the above verse indicates and as does Song of Songs 8:10b -- "I have become in his eyes like one who brings contentment (shalom)."

And that's a very encouraging thought.

Another Thought on Becoming a Child

My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child rests against his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me. -- Psalm 131:2

In my last post, I commented briefly that one aspect of becoming a child is developing a sense of wonder. To a child, everything is new and exciting. Without it, we can't appreciate the creativity, greatness and power of God. The sacred becomes routine.

Another aspect of being a child of God is trust. A child doesn't know much. It doesn't even know enough to know that it doesn't know. It can only trust. It trusts it's parents that they won't drop him, or bump his head or let him get cold or go hungry. He trusts them to plan ahead for him to dream for him, to educate him to discipline him. Like God does for us.

I tend to think too hard. I get my mind and emotions involved "with things too wonderful for me." Instead, I should relax a little. Or more than a little. Compose and quiet my soul in my Savior's arms. Feel the strength and warmth of his embrace. Listen to his heartbeat.

Thoughts on Becoming a Child

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." -- Matthew 18:1-4

When I was raising my children, being a parent helped me learn about God, being that he is the perfect father. I learned about how he loves us and the capacity for love, about how he disciplines in love, and about how we his children grieve him. Now, having grandchildren, I'm learning about what it means to be a child and how can I be more like a child, since it's important to Jesus that I do so.

One thing about children is that everything is new to them. Nothing gets old. They are in a constant state of wonderment, except perhaps when their diaper is filled or they're hungry or tired. To my grandson Taylor (above) his first ride in a swing was an adventure beyond his imagination. Dust specks floating in a beam of sunlight is a whole new universe. The vaccum cleaner running is an astonishment. He greets all these things with wide eyes and open mouth, as if he's eating it all up.

Not us. As adults, we fall victim to what is called Inattentional blindness. It's the inability to see the routine. I remember when we first moved out to Port Washington. I recall feeling like I was going on a vacation every night as I drove out of the city from work and through the countryside to home. I don't feel that anymore, partly because development has blotted out much of the countryside, but also because it's become routine to me.

The sacred has become routine. Miracles constantly surround us, and we don't notice. We become unaware of God in our midst, as we become "grown ups."

As Mark Batterson writes in "Wild Goose Chase," "Eventually awareness fades and the constants in our environment becomes invisible. ... Spiritual maturity has less to do with long-range vision than it does with moment-by-moment sensitivity to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. And it is our moment-by-moment sensitivity to the Holy Spirit that turns life into an every-day adventure."

A couple more quotes on this subject:

• "Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; But he who sees takes off his shoes. The rest sit around and pluck blackberries." -- Elizabeth Barrett Browning
• "Is it possible God says every morning, 'Do it again' to the Sun; and every evening, 'Do it again' to the moon? The repitition in nature may not be a mere recurrence; it may be a theatrical encore." -- G.K. Chesterton

I think one way to counteract this dullness of mind and spirit is to make an effort to quiet myself. Turn off the radio, the TV and the computer. Get outside and observe. As the Psalmist says:

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. -- Psalm 19:1-3

Am I listening?

A couple things from the Internet:

• How to get people to accept change.
• The 4 Habits of Bad Listeners.

True Discipleship, Part 2

"For the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up." -- Psalm 69:9 (Webster's Bible Translation, applied to Jesus in John 2:17.)

More from "True Discipleship" by William MacDonald. The complete book can be downloaded HERE. Some notes:

From Chapter 5, Zeal

• A disciple can be forgiven if he does not have great mental ability. He can be forgiven also if he does not display outstanding physical prowess. But no disciple can be excused if he does not have zeal. (Page 39)
• "If I firmly believed, as millions say they do, that the knowledge and practice of religion in this life influences destiny in another, then religion would mean to me everything. I would cast away earthly enjoyments and feelings as vanity. Religion would be my first waking thought and my last image before sleep sank me into unconsciousness. I should labor its cause alone. I would take thought for the morrow of eterinity alone. I would esteem one soul gained for heaven worth a life of suffering. Earthly consequences would never stay my hand, or seal my lips. Earth, its joys and enticements, would occupy no moment of my thoughts. I would strive to look upon eternity alone, and on the immortal souls around me, soon to be everlastingly miserable. I would go forth to the world and preach to it in season and out of season, and my text would be, "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul." (Mark 8:36) -- an article written by an atheist that motivated C.T. Studd to become a missionary (quoted on Page 41)
• "Am I ignitable? God deliver me from the asbestos of 'other things.' Saturate me with the oil of the Spirit that I may be a flame. ... Make me thy fuel, Flame of God." -- Jim Elliott, meditating on Hebrews 1:7. (quoted on page 41)

From Chapter 6, Faith

• "All God's giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on God being with them." -- Hudson Taylor (quoted on page 47)
• Since faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, the disciple's desire should be to saturate himself in the Scriptures -- to read them, study them, memorize them, meditate upon them day and night. (Page 51)

Chapter 7, Prayer

• "The arrow that is to enter heaven must be launched from a bow fully bent." -- Anonymous (quoted on page 53)

Chapter 18, The Case for Frozen Assets

• Give while you live. (Page 126)

Chapter 21, God Wants Us All to be Broken

• God knows how to resist the proud (James 4:6), but He cannot resist a humble person. (Psalm 34:18; Psalm 51:17) (Page 147)
• What is meant by brokenness? Repentance, confession, apology, restitution. (Page 149)
• (Jesus') anger flared not because of any wrong that was done to Him personally, but because His father's house had been dishonored. ... He was a lion in God's cause but a lamb in His own. (Page 161)

True Discipleship

Last night I started reading "True Discipleship" by William MacDonald. Again. This is a book that gripped my heart for God long ago when I first became a believer. I raced through the first couple chapters last night and it's gripping my heart again. From chapter 1, are the "terms of discipleship as laid down by the Savior of the world."

1. A supreme love for Jesus Christ. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26). By comparison. The hardest part about this is hating myself compared to my love for Christ, MacDonald points out.

2. A denial of self. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself…” (Matthew 16:24).

3. A deliberate choosing of the cross. “If any man come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross…” (Matthew 16:24).

4. A life spent in following Christ. “If any man come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

5. A fervent love for all who belong to Christ. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

6. An unswerving continuance in His Word. “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (John 8:31). Not unswerving continuance in following a preacher or author.

7. A forsaking of all to follow Him. “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33).

Gulp!