Yesterday I was observing the proliferation of Self Storage units, which apparently indicates that most of us own far too many things. Of course, at the time I was driving along with my car packed with Christmas presents for my family. I got to wondering what would happen if we all sold or gave away everything we didn't need, like the church in Acts 2. Although, I suspect we'd all think we need a lot more than just food, clothes and shelter. (Car, computer, TV, etc.) I'm not sure why I have three TVs, two VCRs, and three computers myself (four if you count the old VIC 20).
Jesus was born in a borrowed barn, slept in a borrowed manger, depended on the generosity of friends and disciples to provide meals and shelter, and was even buried in a borrowed tomb. It is a challenge to the American way of life.
I can't say that I've decided to downsize greatly, but it does make me feel better about cleaning closets and drawers full of stuff I never get around to wearing. We'll see how I put that into action by the time I get home with my new Christmas and birthday presents!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Faith
In more serious things, as a treasurer it's sometimes a bit stressful to live and work in poor economic times. While most people just worry about their home finances, I have to monitor the finances of a non-profit corporation as well. So this week while wondering how we'll make it through the rest of this year, not to mention next year, I read the following in Moments with the Savior by Ken Gire, talking about Jesus feeding the 5,000:
"...Jesus seizes the moment to test Philip's faith. 'Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" The disciple puts a sharp pencil to the problem and is quick to calculate the cost. He concludes that the expenditure is beyond their budget. He puts his pencil down. 'Impossible. Can't be done.'... What Philip and Andrew don't see is that impossible situations are not solved by how much we have in our purses or in our baskets. Not by how adequate our bank account or how abundant our assets. Impossibilities are solved by miracles--pennies from heaven. And Jesus had a pocketful. That is where the disciples were to go to get bread. Jesus turns to the boy. He doesn't have much. And what he has isn't the best. It's the food of the poor: Bread made from barley, not wheat; salted-down sardines, not lambchops. But what he has is enough. For the surrender of a child and the compassion of a Savior are all that's needed for this miracle" (pp 169-170).
Jesus delights to provide for the needs of the people, both those who call themselves His disciples and the masses who follow out of curiosity. How many of those people actually realized they were witnessing a miracle? I haven't been in too many crowds of 5,000, but I know that you can't see or hear everything that happens. The disciples certainly saw it, since they recorded the story more than once in Scripture.
How often do we (I) worry about how we'll meet budget, rather than trusting the One who provides for all our needs? But there is a caveat there-- our needs, not necessarily our wants. I remind myself frequently that budgets are just guidelines-- if less money comes in we may have to cut out some things that we want to do; but if God provides more money, we may be able to do more things. Jesus said that if we are faithful in small things, we'll be entrusted with more. So if finances are tight, does that mean we have not been as faithful as we should? Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps we need to evaluate our priorities and make sure the things we are doing are the best use of His resources. Or perhaps God is reminding us to trust Him and not ourselves. That is both the challenge and the blessing of working for a Christian organization. On one hand, the funds and the ministry belong to God, so it's up to Him to provide. On the other hand, we're accountable to a higher authority and our actions may have eternal consequences.
I know I don't have all the answers. I tend to waver between worry and trust. When I focus on the numbers I can get worried, but when I focus on God I know that He will provide. As I've quoted for several years, "When you focus on the problem you can't see the solution. Never focus on the problem, look at [M]e." (Patch Adams, though a less than godly context!).
"...Jesus seizes the moment to test Philip's faith. 'Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" The disciple puts a sharp pencil to the problem and is quick to calculate the cost. He concludes that the expenditure is beyond their budget. He puts his pencil down. 'Impossible. Can't be done.'... What Philip and Andrew don't see is that impossible situations are not solved by how much we have in our purses or in our baskets. Not by how adequate our bank account or how abundant our assets. Impossibilities are solved by miracles--pennies from heaven. And Jesus had a pocketful. That is where the disciples were to go to get bread. Jesus turns to the boy. He doesn't have much. And what he has isn't the best. It's the food of the poor: Bread made from barley, not wheat; salted-down sardines, not lambchops. But what he has is enough. For the surrender of a child and the compassion of a Savior are all that's needed for this miracle" (pp 169-170).
Jesus delights to provide for the needs of the people, both those who call themselves His disciples and the masses who follow out of curiosity. How many of those people actually realized they were witnessing a miracle? I haven't been in too many crowds of 5,000, but I know that you can't see or hear everything that happens. The disciples certainly saw it, since they recorded the story more than once in Scripture.
How often do we (I) worry about how we'll meet budget, rather than trusting the One who provides for all our needs? But there is a caveat there-- our needs, not necessarily our wants. I remind myself frequently that budgets are just guidelines-- if less money comes in we may have to cut out some things that we want to do; but if God provides more money, we may be able to do more things. Jesus said that if we are faithful in small things, we'll be entrusted with more. So if finances are tight, does that mean we have not been as faithful as we should? Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps we need to evaluate our priorities and make sure the things we are doing are the best use of His resources. Or perhaps God is reminding us to trust Him and not ourselves. That is both the challenge and the blessing of working for a Christian organization. On one hand, the funds and the ministry belong to God, so it's up to Him to provide. On the other hand, we're accountable to a higher authority and our actions may have eternal consequences.
I know I don't have all the answers. I tend to waver between worry and trust. When I focus on the numbers I can get worried, but when I focus on God I know that He will provide. As I've quoted for several years, "When you focus on the problem you can't see the solution. Never focus on the problem, look at [M]e." (Patch Adams, though a less than godly context!).
Christmas explained
First, for the record, when I chose the name of this blog I did not intend to imply that I'm more intelligent than anyone else. Actually I was thinking of "mental" in terms of insane.
Anyway, as I was snuggling with the kitty this morning, I realized that Harry Potter reveals the truth about Santa Claus:
1) How does he get around the world in one night? He uses a Time-Turner to go back in time for extra hours.
2) How does he get into houses? He uses Flu Powder. Who needs reindeer when you can just travel from fireplace to fireplace?
3) And speaking of reindeer, no there's no such thing as flying reindeer. But there are Thestrals, which are conveniently invisible to most people.
4) Why don't sneaky kids ever see Santa in the house? He uses a Disillusionment charm to make himself invisible. He could use an Invisibility Cloak, but that might be awkward while delivering packages.
5) How does he fit all the gifts in his sack? He uses an Undetectable Extension charm to make the sack hold far more than seems physically possible.
6) How has Santa lived so long? He has a Sorcerer's Stone with which he can make the Elixer of Life.
7) And finally, those toy-making elves? They are really House Elves, bound to serve Santa for life.
So there you are. And before you ask, yes, I've read the Harry Potter books far too many times! Can't wait for the new movie this week!
Anyway, as I was snuggling with the kitty this morning, I realized that Harry Potter reveals the truth about Santa Claus:
1) How does he get around the world in one night? He uses a Time-Turner to go back in time for extra hours.
2) How does he get into houses? He uses Flu Powder. Who needs reindeer when you can just travel from fireplace to fireplace?
3) And speaking of reindeer, no there's no such thing as flying reindeer. But there are Thestrals, which are conveniently invisible to most people.
4) Why don't sneaky kids ever see Santa in the house? He uses a Disillusionment charm to make himself invisible. He could use an Invisibility Cloak, but that might be awkward while delivering packages.
5) How does he fit all the gifts in his sack? He uses an Undetectable Extension charm to make the sack hold far more than seems physically possible.
6) How has Santa lived so long? He has a Sorcerer's Stone with which he can make the Elixer of Life.
7) And finally, those toy-making elves? They are really House Elves, bound to serve Santa for life.
So there you are. And before you ask, yes, I've read the Harry Potter books far too many times! Can't wait for the new movie this week!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Starting Over
I decided to delete my earlier posts in order to start over with something new and more enlightening than my rants (which I might as well keep to myself). So this is, hopefully, more about who God has created me to be, rather than what's wrong with the world, though admittedly the two intersect at the cross. So here's what's on my mind lately... The quotes below were discovered on www.experiencingworship.com.
What is worship? It's easy to think of worship as what happens at 11am on Sundays. If that's the case, then the style and selection of music, the length of the prayers, the attendance, or the amount of the offering are judged as measures of the quality of the worship. But we know in our hearts that God is not concerned with any of those things. Graham Kendrick wrote, "Worship is first and foremost for His benefit, not ours, though it is marvelous to discover that in giving Him pleasure, we ourselves enter into what can become our richest and more wholesome experience in life." From Lamar Boschman, "When I worship, I would rather my heart be without words than my words be without heart." Yet how often do we leave a "worship" service and all we can think about are the things that kept us focused on ourselves or someone else instead of focusing on God? Do we even prepare ourselves to approach the holy God in worship? I'm just as guilty as anyone else in these things.
For myself, I find more inspiration in playing the piano for no audience, listening to music, painting a picture, or observing nature. Maybe that's because I am an introvert and usually prefer to spend my time alone. But I have also enjoyed services at Willow Creek and some other large churches, sometimes alone and sometimes with friends.
Perhaps my favorite Scripture is Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." That is the key to worship and to life. If we can learn to focus first on the Lord, the other things will fall into place. He has created us in His image, to be loved by Him and to love Him in return. Through Jesus He has freed us from the eternal consequences of sin and given us free access to the Father as His adopted children. If those things are at the forefront of our minds, worship and adoration of the Father comes naturally, no matter what circumstances we may find ourselves in.
The following has been attributed to Robert McGee in "The Search for Significance," though I can't find it in there. If that's incorrect I apologize to the author! I've had this posted by my desk for so long that I forgot it was there. I need to be reminded of these truths again.
What is worship? It's easy to think of worship as what happens at 11am on Sundays. If that's the case, then the style and selection of music, the length of the prayers, the attendance, or the amount of the offering are judged as measures of the quality of the worship. But we know in our hearts that God is not concerned with any of those things. Graham Kendrick wrote, "Worship is first and foremost for His benefit, not ours, though it is marvelous to discover that in giving Him pleasure, we ourselves enter into what can become our richest and more wholesome experience in life." From Lamar Boschman, "When I worship, I would rather my heart be without words than my words be without heart." Yet how often do we leave a "worship" service and all we can think about are the things that kept us focused on ourselves or someone else instead of focusing on God? Do we even prepare ourselves to approach the holy God in worship? I'm just as guilty as anyone else in these things.
For myself, I find more inspiration in playing the piano for no audience, listening to music, painting a picture, or observing nature. Maybe that's because I am an introvert and usually prefer to spend my time alone. But I have also enjoyed services at Willow Creek and some other large churches, sometimes alone and sometimes with friends.
Perhaps my favorite Scripture is Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." That is the key to worship and to life. If we can learn to focus first on the Lord, the other things will fall into place. He has created us in His image, to be loved by Him and to love Him in return. Through Jesus He has freed us from the eternal consequences of sin and given us free access to the Father as His adopted children. If those things are at the forefront of our minds, worship and adoration of the Father comes naturally, no matter what circumstances we may find ourselves in.
The following has been attributed to Robert McGee in "The Search for Significance," though I can't find it in there. If that's incorrect I apologize to the author! I've had this posted by my desk for so long that I forgot it was there. I need to be reminded of these truths again.
"Because of Christ's redemption,
I am a new creation of infinite worth.
I am deeply loved,
I am completely forgiven,
I am fully pleasing,
I am totally accepted by God,
I am absolutely complete in Christ.
When my performance reflects my new identity in Christ,
that reflection is dynamically unique.
There has never been another person like me
in the history of mankind,
nor will there ever be.
God has made me an original,
one of a kind, a special person."
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