Honestly, my knees wish I was writing, “On loving icy hot…” but I resist (so if you have any pointers for fooling your body into feeling younger LET ME KNOW! Apparently 20 minutes w/0 heels and a large glass of orange juice is not the cure).
Instead, I’ve got this quote on my brain,
“Why should not the creature love his Creator, who gave him the power to love? Why should he not love Him with all his being, since it is by His gift alone that He can do anything that is good? It was God’s creative grace that out of nothingness raised us to the dignity of manhood; and from this appears our duty to love Him, and the justice of His claim to that love.”
– St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Must we always ask and rebel and shake our fists when we are struck by humanity’s brokenness? I love the words, “Why should not…”
I love that these words invite me to think of all the reasons I shouldn’t … and that I come up with nothing. We must start here, at God’s creative grace that raised us to the dignity of manhood, if we are ever going to end up talking about justice and injustice – if we are going to talk about our delight and duty to love Him. We must begin with the question, “Why should not the creature love his Creator, who gave Him the power to love?”
Well, I may just have to leave it there to rest, before I start making applications about the cookies that just came out of the oven and how they should love me because I created them.
Espresso machines whir in the background of a coffee shop/art gallery where laptop computers provide electronic lighting, in addition to the vintage-looking lamps strategically (yet somehow sporadically) placed on end tables and hanging from unfinished ceilings. The aromas of imported, fair trade coffees seem a perfect backdrop for an emotionally charged philosophical discussion on the cultural implications for human rights violations in the country of Ukraine (thanks to a recent blue book exam in Modern European History class).
Classic carafes filled grace every perfectly stressed, re-claimed barn board tabletop. Modern color combinations inspire placemats and name cards in the exclusive party room at the uppest of scales restaurant where the sounds of the city’s highly sought after jazz ensemble drift just under the murmuring conversation about the topic of the gala fundraiser: human trafficking.
An improvised family dinner, featuring items in the fridge and pantry nearing expiration, quickly evolves behind 12 foot cement walls and coils of concertina wire. The small, makeshift table overflows with potluck plenty and every fresh-from-college, penniless international volunteer settles in for the patchwork courses and three cups of tea to follow. The meatless menu curves conversation around to an all too-high-brow discussion of frightful fast food production and the undeniable consequences on the modern child.
Do you recognize these scenes? I do. I can put myself in each one, or a variation at least. These scenes play like merry-go-rounds in my generation.
In a recent conversation with a close friend, we were lamenting our generation’s increased probability to begin (and become passionate about) movements and the equally probable end result: to bail out. We are obsessed with the idea that we can be a significant part of change but equally obsessed with the idea that we are entitled to choose NOT to. In this way, all our passion is like a high speed motorboat leaving havoc in its wake. We are good at starting things, planning things, dreaming things, and especially thinking about things – and it’s good to start, plan, dream, and think. But, in five or ten years, will all these efforts be about us or will they be about a different object?
Don’t get me wrong. Understand that I wonder these things because I am continually indicted by the person of Jesus Christ to examine my own motives and tendencies and this is one of those times. I love a passionate conversation, over coffee or wine, but I’m wondering if our convictions carry less commitment because of their root.
I wonder if our convenient conversations would bring anchoring commitment if grounded in the person of Jesus Christ instead of a cause.
We make and break commitments every day to each other, with excuses salt and peppering our well-planned withdrawals like seasoning on a mediocre steak. We expect people to back out because we back out. It’s just kind of the reality for generation Y: don’t expect too much, but then there’s a chance you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Enter my newest created word: affirm-entum.
[af-er-men-tuhm]
–noun the movement resulting from the assertion that something exists or is true
You would have guessed rightly if you surmised this word is the wedding of affirmation and momentum. I think they will live happily ever, don’t you?
After several minutes of frustration-directed conversation, my friend suggested it would make much more sense to just start encouraging one another. Isn’t that what we’re called to do, in Christ (“encourage one another and build each other up…” 1 Thessalonians 5:11)? This immediately inspired thoughts about causes focused inwardly on the cause itself as opposed to causes focused on a solution in the future.
Why don’t we first assert what we know to be True. Christ is our one perfect example of man and Christ constantly reminded us of our purpose to exalt God rather than to exalt man. Christ pointed to God (and, Himself by association) as the fixed point in the distance. An assertion that this is True (the Gospel) will most definitely be followed by movement.
On a practical level, I am wondering if this means our coffee shop study groups, elite charity dinners, and friendly potlucks should all share this most important fixed point. If our passionate discussion comes from and leads to passionate proclamation of who Christ is, then we are inviting movement toward that fixed point in the distance. People will surely change along with their commitment level, but if we hope for true, significant change then we must defer to the only constant.
This must be our affirmation and encouragement to one another, so our efforts are not motivated by passionate anti-ideas, but rather by the positive agreement that God is greater.
.
.
.
Oh, goodness. I may have just ran around in wordy circles just now. In any case, can you please,
let LOVE fly like cRaZy!
Here’s the sermon that provided some of the inspiration:
Here is a smattering of things I’ve been collecting recently and wanting to share. Thoughts on discernment, illustrated fiction, and philosophy. I hope your Saturday is of the MOST beautiful variety!
This book is more than interesting to me. Has anyone else heard about it?
This media guide looks like something every family should have in their home.
This article by Andree Seu is just the right amount of uncomfortable in its discussion of Song of Solomon and our hesitancy to embrace it.
The unfortunate demise of the young mind, as illustrated by this comic.
This clip from D.A. Carson on the intolerance of post-modern tolerance is exactly the words I wish I could articulate.
This is a video clip from Fox News interview with Tim Keller talking about his new book King’s Cross. How encouraging to see someone speak so clearly on the indisputable Gospel – manifest in the life of Christ.
This is a book called Intentional Parenting, about family discipleship, that looks REAL good!
There was a Ray Boltz song that my dad really liked called, “Thank you.” Actually, I think I might have sung it with him once or twice. Today, I thought of that song as I made this video with my students who are going on the mission trip on March 6-13. Each of these students have stories of lives changed by someone’s willingness to share the message of the Gospel. Now, they are taking that hope and boldly walking in faith to share the message with communities around them. We are so thankful for sponsors and support from our teaching staff and community here, but we couldn’t figure out how to express our gratitude for the ones far away. This specific video is a thank you to the church in little Atlantic, Iowa… where the people have hearts WAY bigger than the town!
I hope your heart is as warm as mine after hearing their grateful hearts! These kids are such a beautiful reminder that God is forever moving and working in our hearts to bless others. Each time I hear their testimonies or witness their crazy lives in motion, I praise God for his faithfulness. There are other sponsors as well, from both the States and here and we continue to be so thankful for God’s provision through them!!
CUSTOM pumpkin cake with chocolate chips and cinnamon cream cheese frosting
I’ve been baking a lot lately, but that’s an understatement… I think I basically wear cinnamon as a new fragrance! In order to raise money for our mission trip, I’ve been taking orders and keeping really busy with the three items on my menu: pumpkin cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting, peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, and cinnamon oatmeal cookies. I had to go with a large glass of orange juice tonight over the usual cup of tea to wind down – there’s just too much sweet and hot going on around here!
I am praising the Lord with every batch I make because I know it is HIS provision for these kids to walk under the banner of His name and serve this community. This weekend, I have students assisting me in the kitchen, though (as always) I am most grateful for their company.
Tonight, I snuck away to work out between bakings and this wonderful song popped up on shuffle in my ipod.
I pushed through my treadmill moves with vigor I usually reserve for much more upbeat music. As I pounded out that unforgiving conveyer belt beneath my feet, I sang along with Emily DeLoach. It made me think about a conversation I was having the other day with a wise friend of mine. (Don’t worry, if I’m ever inspired while on the treadmill, I usually just try to store it away and think about it later. If I tried the cardio/philosophy combo I’m sure something bad would happen!)
We were talking about loneliness… and how the closer we get to the heart of God the more lonely it seems. These days have been like that for me. I won’t pretend I spend hours a day in deep sorrow or that death surrounds me, but this deep loneliness seems to be a lot about a heavy, oppressive grief.
Sometimes I’m surprised at how close I feel to the Father while in the same moment feeling flung out of orbit from whatever was anchoring me. I think in those moments (sadly there are just moments) I may be opening my heart completely to the Lord’s love and experiencing it pour out just as quickly. Even as I am being filled, I am feeling it rush out of me and into all the parched places, desperate for a drink.
Maybe that’s where the loneliness comes from – well, the feeling of loneliness. I’ve come to Jesus asking for more love and He’s given it, but not for me to keep. As I feel His love rushing through me, I recognize at once my need for more of Him and my eyes are opened to the needs of others.
I could post the whole song, but these are the last two verses. Be encouraged tonight, my friends, as you journey in joy to be more like the Lord!
Thou the hated and forsaken,
Thou the bearer of the cross
Crowned of thorns and mocked and smitten,
Counting earthly gain but loss
When scorned are we, We joy to be the more like Thee
When scorned are we, We joy to be the more like Thee
Thou the Father’s best beloved,
Thou the throned and sceptered King
Who but Thee should we adoring,
All our prayers and praises bring?
So blessed are we, Savior Lord in loving Thee
So blessed are we, Savior Lord in loving Thee
Sunday, I posted the song by Thad Cockrell called, “Pride won’t get us where we’re going” and I love this line,
When I lose my vision, will you lend me your eyes… to see exactly where I need to be.
It must be something… this pride. I want to make cute jokes about it, but the reality is it’s ugly. I’ve been thinking a lot about all the ways pride is like a thief. Without regard to the damage, pride steals our friendships, our families, our minds, and our affections… and then destroys everything completely.
This is an idea that’s been making a tortured trek around the hamster wheel in my brain recently. Maybe it was learning Sunday night that the brother of one of the Micah boys (and only sibling) was stabbed and killed, or maybe it was the re-introduction to one of my favorite soul-destroying films “Dancer in the Dark” or maybe it was a handful of conversations about the downward spiral of affluent youth worldwide… I’m sure of this:
the tragedies don’t stop.
I’m always trying to make some sense of things and so could I just process what has seemed to settle in my gut? I’ll take that as a yes. Bear with me… these ideas are not completely formulated.
On whatever end (or middle) of the socio-economic spectrum we find ourselves, I am starting to think what makes a person most desperate is certainly the same. We all know the feelings of humility, shame, and fear.
Unfortunately, the most ready weapon is itself destructive: pride. As John Piper‘s sermon was still marinading today in my mind, I thought about the two different groups who found themselves stuck in unbelief in John 7:1-24.
Jesus’ own brothers asked Him to go up to a party and present Himself in all His glory, with pomp and circumstance. They wanted a parade – someone they could walk behind and maybe stand a bit in the shadow of His glory. What they didn’t believe was that He was bigger than an entrance at a party or the praise of men.
The Jews didn’t believe in Him because His presence indicted them. Their lives were brought to account in His presence. Every righteous act felt less right in the presence of One who could do no wrong.
Both, Piper said, were blinded by pride (and, as a result, unbelief). I guess I’m just wondering how many sins we can really trace back to the root of pride.
I think of a recent conversation with students about 12-year-old pop singers with near-adult material with eyes ‘innocently’ set on a crash course toward success.
I think of the young girls here who are married at 12 years old to 20 or 30somethings who have very little understanding of love.
I think of the constant worry involved in “future plans,” lest a student or adult choose a less comfortable path.
I think of the person who is completely unaware of the layers of life surrounding him because he is so deeply involved in what he will do next.
Well, folks, we’ve plumb lost our vision. And I seriously think we’re seeing the results of our unbelief. We are proud – so proud – that we want Jesus around for His fame and VIP pass, but we don’t believe His presence can save us. We are proud – too proud – to admit that His deferring way of pointing to the glory of God is to us a lifeline, not a noose.
Instead, we’ve chained ourselves to the world’s ugliest attractions in hopes that we will find both significance and righteousness. God help us!
Pride is a dirty, devious thing. I suppose that’s better reason than any to
Today I had such a beautiful conference with a student. After a lot of round-a-bout talk about ways people disappoint us, we broke it down into my two favorite categories:
1. what I can control
2. what I canNOT control
It was easier to start with number 2, so we made a nice lengthy list and felt confident we weren’t leaving much out. Then, we agreed all our worry and anxiety over what we canNOT control is only creating more worry and anxiety because (of course) we can’t change it.
THEN my favorite part: we talked about all the wonderful things we can control and how powerful those things can be. We can control what we think of people, how we respond to people, what we say to people, how we look at people, and also what we think, say, feel about ourselves… we went on for awhile discovering what is in the realm of our control before I asked her how in the world she could have the power to choose these things if she knew she wouldn’t receive the same in return.
She fumbled a bit. (And I did, too, honestly. It was one of those I’m-counseling-you-but-I’m-getting-alot-out-of-this-too moments.)
I asked, “Who fills you up so you can do all those things you just said? It’s true you can control what comes out, but how?”
In the oh-so-typical response, she said, “God.”
Something clicked in that moment and I got really excited. Yes! God does promise us life abundant (John 10:10) – an overflowing life – when we come to drink from the well of Living Water (Isaiah 55:1).
When we come to Him and ask to be filled He doesn’t mess around. He doesn’t measure things out and make sure we’re filled just up to the brim. He doesn’t even bother with showing off His sweet design of hydrogen bonding (you know, when water bulges on the top of your glass but doesn’t spill over).
what happens when hydrogen bonds in water
When God fills us it is ALWAYS an overflowing kind of full.
always an overflowing kind of full
God offers everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). His is the only Love great enough to give without hope of receiving. When we choose to seek Him and be filled, our lives will always, always spill over with a Love greater than our selfish desire to be loved in return. The overflow will bless everyone within our reach and our joy in seeing His Love touch others will only motivate us to go back and be (over)filled again!
I can truly say my heart was encouraged as much as hers when we parted. This student is a gem, to be sure.
And you? are you going to the ONLY place offering true, overflowing life? You do know that is the only way you can
I saw this video over at Challies blog the other day and it just so well depicts my generation I couldn’t pass it up.
I also wanted to repost the link I mentioned last night at the end of my blog. Basically, when asked if women have a place in leadership in the church, a woman (chair of inter-church leadership board) said, “…I did not ask to be on this committee, and I wish that the men in the world would not abdicate their responsibility so much. I came onto this committee because men were not doing it. And I did not ask to chair this committee. I chair this committee because men are not doing it, and someone has to.” Read the full article here.
Here’s a sweet post on the fifty fruits of pride that I should probably read a hundred times.
And… last but not least – the book that is a great source of encouragement to me right now (for which I have my Dad’s amazing thrift store sleuthing to thank) by Joni Eareckson Tada, “The God I Love.” What an amazing testimony to God’s presence in her life! I am enjoying every honest page!
Sometimes I’m not even aware that my soul needs lifting.
I praise God in those moments for His complete sovereignty … and the grace He has to reach down and remind me I am surely safe in His presence.
Between yesterday and today, God hemmed me in with His provisions of His presence. Three packages from the States and Canada, kingdom-seeking conversations in my office, and beautiful time spent with my Bible study girls tonight felt like a handmade quilt wrapped perfectly around my winter body.
God is so good.
In Bible study tonight, we tackled the divine romance, illustrated in the first marriage of Adam and Eve. We trudged through some Old Testament background on covenant and arrived at a beautiful, exposed place. My heart got all twisted somewhere in the midst of our discussion because I wanted to communicate how beautiful is God’s love story with us and His plans for us. I wanted to cry several times.
There are so many things I pray and hope for these ladies… and all my hopes have to do with their pursuit of their Savior. If they are fixing their eyes on Christ, the author and perfector of their faith, there is no possible way to end in disappointment. The alternative – pursuing a man or a dream or a career – will always let us down.
I left to the gym after the last ladies took off and I hit the treadmill running like mad to this new song by Jenny and Tyler called “Faint Not.”
It might seem a strange song to feel so strongly about after my Bible study, because the lyrics focus on poverty, pain, injustices in the world and our sometimes haggard response.
What seemed so appropriate tonight – running and sweating and praying like crazy for my senior ladies – was believing God would be faithful with His promises:
Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;Â but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:30-31 ESV)
My heart bursts with this prayer – this plea – that we will believe He is stronger than any deception, allure, temptation, or danger. When we seek Him, He lifts us.
The chorus to the song is simple, but I’ve been singing it on replay:
Oh my soul, faint not
no, faint not
Oh, my soul, keep on,
oh, in love
I’m so glad for God’s timely reminders that He is sufficient. He is gracious. He is present.
A little while back, I mused my frustrations in this blogpost about the fashion of movements these days.
I rambled on about the ultra distracted, rarely committed, highly energized generation we seem to have become. Our obsession with trends, revolution, and being a part of something “bigger than ourselves” with buzzwords like “countercultural” is a thin veneer. Sometimes, the “make a difference” slogans and painted posters in picket lines advertise self-promotion instead of a cause. We are deathly afraid our lives won’t matter, so we join the loudest crowd, learn their clever chants, and march in their lines, hoping our existence will amount to something.
It scares me to think about what will happen when the fad passes… when it is less trendy to identify with the broken and hurting in our world…
When we realize the $80 shoes aren’t that cute and we’ll never meet those barefoot kids. When we realize how awkward it is to wear a shirt that has the words “sex” and “trafficking” in bold letters.
When we realize the chants we are shouting actually require us to buy less, have less, and give more.
What happens then?
I’m not always this cynical, but I want to ask these questions of myself and our generation because I am concerned. I’m not worried. I believe the Creator of the universe has a plan to restore all of creation and that plan cannot fail.
I am concerned because we are given a very clear, very serious command to respond (not just with angry outbursts and clever marketing) in a very human way to the needs we see in this world (Isaiah 58).
I hope we can understand that at the end of the day, after all the cause-claiming blogs have been written and all the cause-supporting merchandise has been sent, that caring for the broken, the hurting, and the needy in this world is first and foremost a human responsibility. We can give up on t-shirts and recycled bags or move on to the next fad, but let us not lose sight of what is most important…
If the roots of our motivation reach deeper than trends to the rich soil of God’s heart, we will see that responding to the needs of the broken is not a cause…
m]
MUSINGS IN THE MIDST 