Get Linked! Vol. 2

Welcome to the second edition of “Get Linked!” This is a post of random findings, links, videos, resources, articles, or otherwise entertaining or useful links that I have stumbled across. ENJOY!

1. The Six Levels of Leadership, by Thom Rainer [http://www.thomrainer.com/2012/01/the-six-levels-of-leadership.php]

2. 9 Keys to Reaching College Students [http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/18/9-keys-to-reaching-college-students/]

3. Little Girl Tells Story of Jonah [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ3zPGAUNYM]

4. First Grader Tells Story of Joseph [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mIKBNaoh78]

5. The Difference Between Religion and the Gospel [http://theresurgence.com/2012/01/18/the-difference-between-religion-and-the-gospel]

6. Kimyal Tribe receiving translation of the Bible. Oh that we might hunger and celebrate the Word of God in this way. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evMyOQ-vle8]

7. The Gospel Project. Matt Chandler discusses the Gospel in relation to David and Goliath. Maybe we’re not David in that story. Maybe we’re the cowardly Israelites shaking in the corner.  [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-_THJXignk]

8. Two year old girl singing Lord’s Prayer. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR4PQ30VkBk&feature=youtube_gdata_player]

Museum… or Movement

Museum or movement?

In many ways I believe Christ’s Church seems to have lost her identity.

Maybe we’ll make this a little more personal and convicting… You and I have lost our identity.

If we were to take an honest assessment of the spiritual growth and health of our Christian gatherings, what would we see?

More often than not I see decay, complacency, and boredom and that is tragic indeed.

Museums are interesting, fascinating even, but they aren’t alive.

They tell a story or stories from the past and perhaps they can even awaken and inspire our imagination, but they are static, still, lifeless, passive.

The Scriptures call Christ’s Church His Body. Something kinetic, in action, ALIVE!

And Christ called His followers to a movement, to mission. The life that Christ calls us to is anything but boring, so why are so many, myself included oftentimes, missing out on the glorious realities of God?

I don’t want a museum to be the only legacy I leave behind. Not at all.

I want to join a movement. I want to be a part of something bigger than me.

And I want you to join me…

Check out the video below for an amazing challenge to all of us.

Crumbs

Immediately after a powerful conversation about what really defiles a person and makes them “unclean”, Jesus has a chance encounter with a pagan woman in the region of Tyre and Sidon. The crowds are continuing to flock to and overwhelm Jesus and His disciples, in many occasions making it difficult for them to even eat and after ministering and healing throughout many Jewish provinces it seems Jesus is simply trying to get away for a little while.

It doesn’t work of course.

By now, everyone in the area had heard rumors of miraculous healings and powerful displays of authority and teaching by a mysterious rabbi named Jesus.

Even here, in Gentile territory, people in their most desperate hour flock to Jesus.

Mark 7:24-30

²⁴And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon.^[g] And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. ²⁵But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. ²⁶ Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. ²⁷And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” ²⁸But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” ²⁹And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” ³⁰And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

Several things captivate me about this story, but the boldness of this woman must not be overlooked.

Timothy Keller illustrates this well in King’s Cross.

“She is a pagan and given her proximity to Judea it is reasonable to assume that she would have been aware that she has none of the religious, moral, or cultural credentials necessary to approach a Jewish rabbi–she is a Phoenician, a Gentile, a pagan, a woman, and her daughter has an unclean spirit. She knows that in every way, according to the standards of the day, she is unclean and therefore disqualified to approach any devout Jew, let alone a rabbi. But she doesn’t care. She enters the house without an invitation, falls down and begins begging Jesus to exorcise a demon from her daughter.” -Timothy Keller, King’s Cross (p. 86)

And honestly I think she is probably like any caring parent when their child. If your child is in jeopardy, you simply do what it takes to save her. And on the surface, Jesus’s reply appears to be an insult. In the New Testament, dogs were scavengers–wild, dirty, uncouth in every way and in Jesus’s day the Jews often called the Gentiles dogs because they were “unclean.”

But what Jesus is saying to her is not an insult. It’s a parable.

“One key to understanding it is the very unusual word Jesus uses for “dogs” here. He uses a diminutive form, a word that really means “puppies.” Jesus is saying to her, “You know how families eat: First the children eat at the table, and afterward their pets eat too. It is not right to violate that order. The puppies must not eat food from the table before the children do.” – Timothy Keller, King’s Cross (p. 87)

In Matthew’s account Jesus elaborates and explains His meaning: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” What He’s saying to the Syrophoenician woman is this: “Please understand, there’s an order here. I’m going to Israel first, then the Gentiles (the other nations) later.

But it is her response that is perhaps even more astonishing. Basically she says, Yes, Lord, but the puppies eat from that table too, and I’m here for mine. Jesus has told her a parable in which He has given her a combination of challenge and offer, and she gets it. She responds to the challenge: “Okay, I understand. I’m not from Israel, I do not worship the God that the Israelites worship. Therefore, I don’t have a place at the table. I accept that.” Isn’t this amazing? She doesn’t take offense; she doesn’t stand on her own rights. She says, “All right. I may not have a place at the table–but there’s more than enough on that table for everyone.”

So often we have a sense of entitlement, even as Christians, and we stand up for our rights, standing on our dignity and our goodness believing “this is what I’m owed.”

But this woman is not doing that at all. She’s not saying, “Lord give me what I deserve on the basis of my goodness.” She’s saying, “Give me what I don’t deserve on the basis of your goodness–and I need it now.

A good translation of Jesus’s rabbinical reply to her would be “Such an answer!”

And at the heart of this story is the gospel–that you’re more wicked than you ever believed and at the same time more loved and accepted than you ever dared to hope.” - Timothy Keller, King’s Cross (p. 88)

Ultimately, this pagan woman understands more about the abundance of God than perhaps even the disciples understand at the moment.

I mean what exactly was Jesus teaching he disciples when he instructed them to feed the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish. Furthermore, what is he saying when they take up twelve baskets full afterwards. The disciples were very aware of their limitations weren’t they?

“That would be nearly a year’s worth of wages to feed this many people!”

I think he was saying to them then, what he says to the woman at the well later, and what he says to us today.

John 4:13-14

“¹³Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

And the beautiful mystery is… we don’t just get the “scraps” from the table of the Lord, we are invited to dine and feast with Him. This pagan woman whose daughter was plagued by an evil spirit understood that the abundance of the Lord was so great, that even the crumbs were more than enough.

May we cease our endless striving and leave the myriad of wells we continuously seek out only to be left thirsty and empty once again. May we find ourselves at the table of grace, feasting richly upon the extravagant mercies of our Lord. He doesn’t offer us mere crumbs, but the “immeasurable riches of His grace in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2).

Let us approach the Lord with boldness, not for what we deserve on the basis of our goodness, but for what we don’t deserve on the basis of His goodness.

For He is so very, very good.

Wonderful Counselor

While I have felt deeply, personally, and intimately connected to God for years, I am frequently astounded, confused, and even baffled by Him. To say that He is a divine mystery far beyond my feeble mind’s comprehension would be an understatement. Sometimes I wonder why it appears that God responds or acts differently in my life than perhaps he does in the lives of others who I know. Why do I sometimes feel the harsh rebuke of God’s disappointment rather than the tender, compassion I sometimes desire to feel? Sometimes I think Satan is trying to get me to fall for the same trap that Eve did… with the very same lie. “God’s holding out on you.” Believing that statement has profound consequences in our lives and I’ll confess that more than once I’ve wondered where God was, what He was doing, why He was doing–or not doing– the things He was. Could God really be holding out on me?

Tonight I stumbled across the passage from Timothy Keller’s book King’s Cross and it brought me to tears. It was a powerful reminder that God knows what we need, when we need it, and we simply can’t afford to think He might not be there or that He might not be working for us.

“In John’s Gospel chapter 11, after Lazarus has died, he comes to be with Martha and Mary, the sisters. Martha says, “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died,” and Jesus rebukes her. Then Mary comes up and says, “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died,” and Jesus just weeps with her. Same words–by no means the same response. Why? Because Jesus always gives you what you need, and he knows better than you what that is. He is the Wonderful Counselor.” -Timothy Keller, King’s Cross (p. 92)

May you find a peace in knowing that God cares for us passionately. When we doubt or struggle or are afraid, may we have faith to know that God knows what we need and he knows better than us what that is.

Get Linked! Vol. 1

Welcome to the inaugural edition of “Get Linked!” This is what I intend to be a bi-weeklly post of random findings, links, videos, resources, article, or otherwise entertaining or useful links that I have stumble across. ENJOY!

1. McFly!!!! Ever watch Back to the Future and wish you could score some Nike Air Mags of your own. Well, now they exist and they are glorious! Proceeds from the limited 1500 production run are going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation. They have working lights and logos, and we’re not talking L.A. Gear here… [bit.ly/nx5fWK, yfrog.com/h0iwdtmj, gizmo.do/nEwNsZ, ]

2. Rain makes everything better. For all you white noise lovers out there! [http://www.rainymood.com/]

3. Dan Eldon. Artist. Activist. Adventurer. He was an artist and photographer who left behind a captivating visual legacy. [www.daneldon.org]

4. Relevant Magazine releases an annual digital copy of their College Guide magazine. An interesting read for undergrads. [bit.ly/l4g9WA]

5. Francis Chan is putting together a free website resource for making disciples. Francis Chan is legit and this material appears to be high quality stuff! I don’t think the website is even done yet, but it is definitely worth checking out for anyone interested in being or making disciples. [multiplymovement.com]

6.  Language is important. Perhaps we should give a little more thought to what we say and even the way that we say it. A humorous spoken word poem about language. [bit.ly/oUBYZW]

7.  An incredible a cappella worship group with several covers of modern day worship songs. [hallalworship.com]

8.  An awesome website/program that allows you to organize the little soundbytes, tidbits, and random notes in your life. It’s a great way to remember that awesome quote someone posted to their profile, or an idea from a book or article you read, or a random conversation you had… and actually be able to find it again later. [www.evernote.com]

A Rocky Seacoast

On a rocky seacoast where shipwrecks often occur, there once was a crude little life-saving station. The building was just a shack, and there was only one boat, but the few devoted members of a crew kept constant watch over the sea; and with no thought for themselves, they went out day and night tirelessly searching for those lost in the dangerous waters. Some of those who were saved, along with various others in the surrounding area, wanted to help with the station, so they gave their time, money, and effort for the support of its work. New boats were bought and new crews trained. The little life-saving station grew.

Then some of the members of the life-saving station grew unhappy that the building was so crude and poorly equipped. They felt that a more comfortable place should be provided as the first refuge of those saved from the sea. They replaced the emergency cots with beds and placed better furniture in the enlarged building. The life-saving station became a comfortable gathering place for its members, who began to view themselves as a kind of club. Fewer members were now interested in going to sea on life-saving missions, so they hired lifeboat crews to do this work. The life-saving motif still prevailed in the club’s beautiful decorations, and there was a liturgical lifeboat in the room where the club’s initiations were held. About this time a large ship wrecked off the coast, and the hired crews brought in boatloads of cold, wet, half-drowned people. They were dirty and sick. The beautiful new clubhouse was in chaos. So the property committee immediately had a shower house built outside where victims of shipwrecks could clean up before coming inside.

At the next meeting, there was a split among the members. Most of the members wanted to stop the club’s life-saving activities since they were unpleasant and a hindrance to the normal social life of the club. Yet a few members insisted on life saving as their primary purpose and pointed out that they were still called a life-saving station. But they were finally voted down and told if they wanted to save lives of all the various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own life-saving station. So they did. As the years went by, the new station experienced the same changes that had occurred in the old. It evolved into a club, and yet another life-saving station was founded. History continued to repeat itself, and if you visit that seacoast today, you’ll find a number of beautiful, exclusive clubs along that shore. Shipwrecks are frequent in those waters, but most of the people drown.

Go

There was a splendid fishing trawler docked at a seaport near some of the world’s richest fishing grounds. The large boat was well equipped with everything necessary for netting, landing, and preserving fish. On a regular basis, the officers and crew gathered for instruction in fishing theory. Afterwards they discussed with zeal and intelligence the various approaches to fishing. Sometimes they invited professors from the marine biology academy nearby to offer special lectures. Some maintained that the only way to fish was to anchor and pray that the Lord would send the fish into the nets. Few of these men attended the prayer meetings called for this purpose. Several argued for friendship fishing, noting that fish are easily frightened. Others held to the position that it is best to seek out the young ones, otherwise they will soon swim away into the deep.

In the meantime, day after day the other fishing boats went out early in the morning and returned at evening loaded with fish. The officers and crew often analyzed the catches of the other boats. “Mostly culls, easy catches of surface fish,” they said. “Their boats are not as sound as ours. Their nets leak and their engines are not kept up. Their refrigeration systems are bad, so that what they catch they can never keep long enough to get it to the cannery.”

Yet the trawler remained tied to the dock with heavy lines. The engines never roared into life.

One day, a young crew-member was called before the captain and the crew. He had been critical of the continuing education program and very frustrated by the ship’s inactivity. “Why do we always sit here tied to the dock? Why do we study fishing theory without going out into the deep? Why do we watch others fish and never fish ourselves? I know other ships are not as well equipped as ours, but isn’t what they do imperfectly better than what we don’t do at all?”

Some wanted to fire the young man right on the spot. Others argued caution. A committee was selected to study the matter. That was five years ago.

-a parable by Dr. Jack Miller

Esse Quam Videri

Why is it that it seems human nature causes us to pursue accomplishment over fulfillment? Yet in the fulfillment we accomplish more than could be attained in and of ourselves. It is then that we understand that He will give us the desires of our hearts. We must first go through a heart transplant, having our selfish heart replaced with a heart for the things of God. It is then that we find ourselves living, doing and accomplishing the very things that fulfill our desires. It is only then that we can “Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.” (see Micah 6:8)

It is the essence of BEING, not simply an empty shell life. Esse quam videri…TO BE, rather than to appear.

My faith and belief in God should actually do something in my life. I want to actually BE following Christ rather than just simply playing a part or a role for everyone else to see. We have become so enamored with fitting the Kingdom of God into accomplishing our goals and riding the wave of success for our own gratification that we have lost the true meaning of the Gospel. The Gospel has become another medication to take when the symptoms of “sin and self” are evident, but remains in the cupboard when we are “making it” by ourselves through our daily tasks and responsibilities. God becomes a genie I cry out to when things become to difficult or overwhelming. This lack of faith is the very thing that is driving people from all walks of life out of the church and into the open arms of accomplishment and self-fulfillment. There must be a resurgence and true understanding of Faith.

Esse quam videri.

The Pursuit of God (Post #2)

[The meek man] will get deliverance from the burden of pretense. By this I mean not hypocrisy, but the common human desire to put the best foot forward and hide from the world our real inward poverty. For sin has played many evil tricks upon us, and one has been the infusing into us of a false sense of shame. There is hardly a man or woman who dares to be just what he or she is without doctoring up the impression. The fear of being found out gnaws like rodents within our hearts. The man of culture is haunted by the fear that he will someday come upon a man more cultured than himself. The learned man fears to meet a man more learned than he. The rich man sweats under the fear that his clothes or his car or his house will sometime be made to look cheap by comparison with those of another rich man. So-called “society” runs by a motivation not higher than this, and the poorer classes on their level are little better.

      Let no one smile this off. These burdens are real, and little by little they kill the victims of this evil and unnatural way of life. And the psychology created by years of this kind of thing makes true meekness seem as unreal as a dream, as aloof as a star. To all the victims of the gnawing disease Jesus says, “Ye … [must] become as little children” (Matthew 18:3). For little children do not compare; they receive direct enjoyment from what they have without relating it to something else or someone else. Only as they get older and sin begins to stir within their hearts do jealousy and envy appear. Then they are unable to enjoy what they have if someone else has something larger or better. At that early age does the galling burden come down upon their tender souls, and it never leaves them till Jesus sets them free.

~A.W. Tozer,
The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirst for the Divine, pgs. 107-108

The Pursuit of God

      “The burden borne by mankind is heavy and a crushing thing. The word Jesus used means “a load carried or toil borne to the point of exhaustion.” Rest is simply release from that burden. It is not something we do; it is what comes to us when we cease to do. His own meekness, that is the rest.

      Let us examine our burden. It is altogether an interior one. It attacks the heart and the mind and reaches the body only from within. First, there is the burden of pride. The labor of self-love is a heavy one indeed. Think for yourself whether much of your sorrow has not arisen from someone speaking slightingly of you. As long as you set yourself up as a little god to which you must be loyal there will be those who will delight to offer affront to your idol. How then can you hope to have inward peace? The heart’s fierce effort to protect itself from every slight, to shield its touchy honor from the bad opinion of friend and enemy, will never let the mind have rest. Continue this fight through the years and the burden will become intolerable. Yet the sons of earth are carrying this burden continually, challenging every word spoken against them, cringing under every criticism, smarting under each fancied slight, tossing sleepless if another is preferred before them.

      Such a burden as this is not necessary to bear. Jesus calls us to His rest, and meekness is His method. The meek man cares not at all who is greater than he, for he has long ago decided that the esteem of the world is not worth the effort. He develops toward himself a kindly sense of humor and learns to say, “Oh, so you have been overlooked? They have placed someone else before you? They have whispered that you are pretty small stuff after all? And now you feel hurt because the world is saying about you the very things you have been saying about yourself? Only yesterday you were telling God that you were nothing, a mere worm of dust. Where is your consistency? Come on, humble yourself and cease to care what men think.”

      The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather, he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God’s estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is, in the sight of God, more important than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto. He knows well that the world will never see him as God sees him and he has stopped caring. He rests perfectly content to allow God to place His own values. He will be patient to wait for the day when everything will get its own price tag and real worth will come into its own. Then the righteous shall shine forth in the kingdom of their Father. He is willing to wait for that day.”

~A.W. Tozer,
The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirst for the Divine, pgs. 105-107