Building a Life

Every one of us is a work in progress, and one of the greatest factors in the building of our lives is the influence of other people upon us. It takes a village to raise a child, they say, and from childhood onward, our lives will be touched by hundreds, perhaps thousands of people -- and in turn, our own lives will impact just as many in one way or another.

Some people lay the foundation of our lives. These are usually family -- parents, grandparents, siblings, perhaps aunts, uncles, and cousins, or even our earliest teachers. From before we could remember, these people taught us who we were, what life was about, what the world was like, and what we could count on and believe. Those foundations, once set, are extremely difficult to shake by any developments that may come later. If they are firm and correct, the life to be built upon them will be sound, but if faulty, much reworking will be needed if that life is not to end up in shambles.

Other people establish the structure of our lives. Peers, teachers, mentors, and friends all contribute to the shaping of who we will be. They help us build walls -- walls that determine the boundaries of our horizons, walls that separate one area of our lives from another, walls that decide how we will appear to others from the outside. These walls may be carefully built as wise safeguards against the cruel forces of the world, forming a welcoming space for guests, or they may become strongholds, impenetrable to anything that would dare to enter. The walls in our lives may either give us freedom or form our prison.

Meanwhile, still others develop the substance in our lives. Such people may not always seem as closely connected with us, and may not even be people we know personally -- role models, leaders, or even authors. But perhaps without realizing it, these are the people who fill in the gaps between the walls, giving us the insulation that secures our identity, the plumbing that channels our thoughts, the wiring that turns on our light bulbs and makes us tick. This is our source of potential for animation and productivity, but also for annoying little problems that may develop into destructive disasters.

Finally, some people bring decoration into our lives. Steadfast friends, a spouse, and children become fixtures that serve to embellish our existence. They add color, character and comfort to what is already established. They can help us appreciate and enjoy what has been accomplished, even while attending to upkeep, cleaning and tidying, or perhaps even occasional remodeling. Decorations maximize potential -- or obliterate it. The fixtures in our lives can bring glory and delight to the humblest domain, or else become dusty, disheveled blights on the most majestic mansion.

We can all recognize the building of others into our lives. While we may be eternally grateful for some of our shaping, other poor craftsmanship may take years to reconstruct. And we too have a part to play in the building of others around us, whether we offer foundation, structure, substance, or decoration. Whatever your role, do you build others up?

Therefore encourage one another

and build each other up,

just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

And Earth and Heaven Be One

This is my Father's world

The battle is not done

Jesus who died shall be satisfied

And earth and heaven be one

~M. D. Babcock

As we go about our earthly lives, Heaven usually seems far away, if it enters our minds at all. It is an otherworldly place of angelic delights, an ethereal someday hope, a last resort. But for the believer, it should rather be an immanent reality, our true homeland. The King of Heaven dwells with us, and we live by His laws as His ambassadors in a rebel country. Do we long for the day when the conquered territory of Earth is at last brought under Heaven's rule for good?

But our citizenship is in Heaven.

And we eagerly await a Savior

from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:20

Led By Prayer

Prayer is and always has been the greatest weakness of my spiritual life. It's easy to think all the right things about prayer and believe in the importance of it, but quite another thing to actually do it! My words may never be what I imagine they should be, but I earnestly want prayer to lead in my life, not constantly bring up the rear. These are a few things I aim to not just think about, but do:

1. Pray now.
When I hear of a prayer need, I must stop and pray about it immediately. Otherwise, the request will fall down the list of priorities until there's a good chance I will never pray specifically for it at all. Even if it's only once, only a few inadequate phrases, prayer will have actually been accomplished.

2. Pray together.
For a relationship to survive and thrive, the people in it must faithfully pray for each other. Prayer for each other separately has its vital place, but prayer together is all the more effective. It strengthens focus and fosters intention, and builds deeper bonds with one another than anything else can.

3. Pray first, work later.
Perhaps the hardest one of all -- I tend to make my plans, work hard, and then maybe remember to pray for God to bless my efforts after the fact. Instead, I must bring the work to God first, ask for His plans, and carry them out as His and not my own. How much more blessed my work would be!

What do you need to do to live a life led by prayer?

2017: The Year of Commitment

As I reflect on 2017, I think I could best sum it up in the word commitment. Over the recent months, long-term commitments in my life, like living in the same house, working at the same job, going to the same church, and keeping up with the same friends have become increasingly valuable to me. I've realized more and more how vital commitment is in so many aspects of life, especially in the midst of a generation of non-committal drifters.

To our individualistic society, commitment is a thing to be avoided as long as possible. It stifles our freedom and ruins our fun -- we need to keep our options open, be careful not to get too tied down. Something better might come along, you never know, and it would be a shame if you had to pass it up because you were already stuck with something else. Even advertisements win our business with enticing claims of "no commitments!" Commitment is a nice sentiment for marriage, but most would prefer to keep it there...and not take it too seriously even then. Many people are forever in search of something better so they can move on from whatever they already have in a quest for novelty.

But we don't need a new place, position, or person in order to find novelty and excitement -- there is plenty to be found within our commitments. Commitment is not to be feared as a boring cage to keep us from enjoyment, but welcomed for the security and freedom it brings. Jesus asked for commitment from His followers, not to restrict them, but to open to them a new, abundant life. He showed us what commitment looks like by becoming one of us and giving Himself for our sake so that we could have an eternal relationship with Him. Our earthly commitments matter to Him as well -- should we not give them our all?

Including God

Christians have an understandable, but dangerous, tendency to live in two worlds: the secular and the sacred, the "spiritual" and the "ordinary." Some places, people, things and activities are "Christian" and some are not, and really spiritual people are the ones who have more of their lives invested in these things instead of those. Missionaries, pastors, and people who only listen to K-LOVE are model Christians, and the rest of us -- well, we just haven't got to that level yet. It's subtle, but true; we have a Christian class system based our ideas of spiritual prowess. But what if spiritual status is not measured by the kind of job you have, the hobbies you enjoy, or the music you listen to?

Of course spiritual disciplines are essential, but the real test of a spiritual life is whether you go about your ordinary human day hand in hand with God, or leave Him sitting in the corner after you finish your morning Bible reading. Many Christians, even those most highly respected in the church, are so busy doing things for God that they forget to do things with Him. Such "Christian" activities may in fact be far more spiritually empty than the mundane, everyday moments. What God wants most from us is not a list of spiritual accomplishments as long as a Pharisee's robe, but a life that simply delights to include Him in every aspect, however small.

Anything, even the most admirable ministry, if not done from a heart of love for God and aim for His glory is worthless, even sinful (see Romans 14:23). Likewise, even the most "ordinary" and "secular" activities may be acts of worship if He is acknowledged in them. If you cannot possibly include God in what you do, you should not be doing it at all. Anything else should be done from a heart of thankful worship, with open eyes to God's hand and character, for including Him in all is where a full spiritual life is truly found.

Therefore, whether you eat or drink,

or whatever you do,

do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Reformation Day

I like centennials. There's something special and worth celebrating about them, especially since they only happen once every hundred years. Today marks five hundred years -- half a millennium -- since Martin Luther nailed his legendary ninety-five theses to the church door, and the world has never been the same since. Did Luther have any idea his iconic act would start a movement that would impact millions, perhaps billions, and be remembered the world over in history to come? His boldness remains a challenge to us today, not only to strive for theological purity, but to stand alone against the tide. If you want to change your world, you must dare to be different, you must dare to make your voice heard . . . even if it will get you a Diet of Worms. History will thank you!

Render to God

And He said to them,

"Render therefore to Caesar

the things that are Caesar's,

and to God the things that are God's."

Matthew 22:21

If I had to choose one favorite quote from Jesus, this would probably be it. I am always impressed by how He so deftly meets His enemies' attempts to trip Him up with this simple statement, so rich with spiritual truth. As the coinage of a kingdom bears the image of its ultimate owner and master, so Jesus infers that the image we bear tells to whom we belong: God, our Maker. The true issue, He says, is one of not human taxes and politics, but of whether we are giving our full allegiance -- our very selves -- to God, who is far greater than any earthly ruler. To hold back what rightfully belongs to Him is treason above all else. Are you giving God His due?

Do What it Takes

Last week at Camp Risen Son, one of the leaders reminded us of something that I used to practice: "No Bible, no breakfast." It sounded like a good challenge the first time I heard it, so I did it for a while -- and it definitely worked. I read my Bible every day, or sometimes I didn't have breakfast until two o'clock. (Ironically, it generally got me out of bed in a somewhat more timely manner, too.) But then things came up, and for one reason or another (I don't know which) I stopped reading my Bible before breakfast. Pretty soon, I stopped reading my Bible before lunch...or dinner...or bed. And I've realized that it's led me to a rather unhealthy state. So, I've decided it's time to start again.

I'm not a very disciplined person. I have a lot of good intentions, and I'm good at making lists, but when it comes down to it, laziness wins out a lot more often than I'd like. So if I really want to make something happen, I have to really make it a priority to do it. I've been accused of being rigid, but it's actually because I'm so dreadfully lax -- if something is really important to me, I know I have to set myself some rules and stick by them mercilessly, or it will never become reality. Like writing on this blog at least once a month, for example. You'll notice that I get in about one post a month...usually on the last day of the month. But I've least done that without fail.

I know I'm not the only one muddling through life with long lists of important things buried under piles of urgent stuff that isn't even getting done half the time. People who get up every day with an agenda and go to bed with nothing but check marks are few and far between. For the rest of us, if there's something we want very much to accomplish, like reading our Bibles (which we all know is of utmost value), it may be time to get tough on ourselves. If stiff rules are truly what it takes for you to build and keep a valuable habit, maybe it's time to lock up the fridge and store the key in your Bible. That's not legalism, it's taking control of your own weaknesses. It only becomes legalism when you force your own personally-tailored regimen on others. Only you can decide for yourself what's important enough to take serious action on -- are you ready do what it takes to make it happen?

When Men Forget

When men forget the cause for which Christ bled
Then wilt they repeat those selfsame acts
Which brought the cruel thorns upon His head
And beatings harsh and violent on His back
The nails that pierced His feet and hands
Are commonplace, an old tale too well known
While prideful men with insolent demands
Care not He died in agony alone
The cross engraved in beauty low and high
Is lovely only due to saving grace
That sent our Lord the meanest death to die
The Son of God to mocking and disgrace
Let us think with reverence of that cost
And live not as we did when we were lost

~Written in 2014

Move the Stone

"Did I not say to you that if you would believe

you would see the glory of God?"

John 11:40

Jesus had not come on time. Lazarus was dead and buried. Now, they were standing before his tomb, and Jesus said, to everyone's shock, to move the stone that hid the rotting body. Even Martha, who had just confessed that Jesus was the Son of God, was not prepared to trust His judgment without question. But to see the wonders He would do, she had to be willing to reopen the place of her deepest sorrow.

For God to accomplish great miracles in our lives, we must sometimes allow Him to open the deep wounds, the hard and hidden dead spots in our hearts. We must believe and trust that nothing is too far gone for His power. The glory of God is greatest when we are at our most hopeless point. Will you let Him move the stone?