Things Concealed

What would you say is our culture’s biggest need?

From a Christian worldview, and looking at America, to really understand that question from an honest stance, we might do well to first ask what is our culture's biggest problem. Which I would argue is (among many, many things) “being satisfied”. Most people are “satisfied” with where they are on the political spectrum, and more importantly on the religious spectrum. Ultimately not caring about, or not knowing the answers to the bigger questions of life. We as a people don’t really ask ourselves anymore questions, once we have found ‘our place’. More and more our Culture is in great need of ...asking itself the right questions. All too much we are content in our complacency. Truly we live in a culture of “...meh”. We’re a bit like old dog’s who have found their way into a room, and once we find our place to flop down, and sit… we have a tendency to not move, and not care to move, or ask ourselves any of the questions about why we have chosen this room, or that room above any others. Maybe if we had asked we might learn that the only reason we are in ‘our place’ is because we were led there. Or maybe because it was the path of least resistance.

It is the glory of God to conceal things,

   but the glory of kings is to search things out. -Proverbs 25:2

God has given us “Mystery” as a gift! It is our Glory to search things out!

To be a people who learn… a people who read, and who take the time to converse with others, and to learn from others older, and wiser than ourselves. TEN times in the Gospels, Jesus asks the question… “Have you not read…?” Six of those times were in the Gospel of Matthew.

When we go against the “flow” of our culture, we will be going in the direction of caring to speak, caring to stop and take the time to ask questions. To tell stories. To read and understand stories, to involve ourselves, and to involve our neighbors in caring enough to turn the tide, and ask questions.

In the 'Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe', C.S. Lewis tells us of young Lucy who finds something special. An entrance into another world. But this world she finds, as she enters the woods with the wardrobe door still open behind her, is not like the world she knows. She sees a lamp post in the middle of the woods. Lit, and shining, "how odd" she thinks... and ponders. All in a flash of a wink I'm sure, she was thinking... 'what on earth is that lantern doing here in the middle of these woods, and who on earth lit it?' And perhaps if she had more time to question before Mr. Tumnus comes along, disturbing those previous questions and causing a host of other questions. Maybe she would have asked herself 'should I wait here to see who might come by, or shall I walk a little further to see what might be next?' In our culture, It is our curiosity that has been tamed. In some level we are simply content with knowing what we already know.

I've heard it said, that "God has revealed enough of Himself, to make Faith in Him a reasonable thing, and has hidden enough of Himself, to help us to remember the balance between Faith, and reason."
He has given us, enough evidence so that we may find Him, and have fellowship with Him when we seek Him with our whole heart.

"As long as you have mystery you have health; when you destroy mystery you create morbidity." – G.K. Chesterton from “ORTHODOXY”

“A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.” – G.K. Chesterton from “THE EVERLASTING MAN“

My ride home

Some days are crazier than others...

On days that however, have my mind forcibly going in multiple directions, for prolonged periods of time, like most of us... I greatly look forward to my ride home in my car. Because it's in my car, where I am not at work... and I am not yet to my other place of responsibility. Now it goes almost without saying, that my home is my sacred place, where my family is growing, and existing in the nest of a community that is doing its best to love. A sacred place of refuge, and a place of such peace. But for now, I am in the drivers seat, on my way home. And during this colder part of the year, when it's dark as I'm driving home... I see the headlights, and red tail lights of the other vehicles... like soft red Christmas lights reminding me of simpler times when I was a boy.

It's the insane days that truly remind me of what I was made for. Or more to the point, reminds me of what I was not made for. For when I am in my car driving home... I can listen to the radio, I can not listen to the radio. I usually choose to listen to a radio program that will feed my mind, and my heart at the same time. Sermons are the thing! Hearing men of God expound on Scripture, and telling stories. It's the quiet time, on the road that helps me to stop and smell the roses. What a sad thing really, to have to be moving in order to stop. This reality points to a gaping hole in my own life I imagine. A hole, that reveals a severe lack of quiet time. Quiet time for meditation, for peace, and reflection that is so needed on a daily basis.

I have been kicking myself a lot recently, when I think of all the time I'm letting slip through my proverbial fingers. I have a sense that my life would, in ways unknown to me now, sort out a lot smoother, and for the better if I were to be spending more time with the Lord, in quite reflection, prayer, listening, and reading.

I remember the Hymn "Quite Place". The rendition I love is by "Take 6".

There is a quiet place
Far from the rapid pace
Where God can soothe my troubled mind

Sheltered by tree and flow´r
There in my quiet hour
With Him my cares are left behind

Whether a garden small
Or on a mountain tall
New strength and courage there I find

Then from this quiet place
I go prepared to face
A new day with love for all mankind

"Surprised by Joy"

 In his book "Surprised by Joy" C.S. Lewis writes about the realization that came to him over many years of contemplation, and experiences, of his own longing for, (as it turns out) longing itself. I can sympathize with this understanding. After a few decades of not being a reader, (in fact hating the idea of reading) having gone through many fads, interests, and things in my life, do now realize that in my more recent years, I have found the pleasure, and joy of reading. What is revealed when looking back is this... I had been reading about agriculture. Specifically reading about grassland management, and pasture management. Soil health, also that I loved learning about livestock, and animal health. And the pastoral or maybe even a more agrarian style, and pace of life. So I set out to fix up the barn, build a fence, and some stalls. Add a hay loft, have some chickens, and some goats. Also that I love learning languages. But lately I've been reading mostly Theological books, and I have enjoyed all of these books that have, and are teaching me so much! All these things remain true.. But what is also true, is what I have learned about myself. And that is that through it all,  ...I  love  learning. That hunger, or longing for the next piece of understanding, or the learning of something new (or something old). That only creates more desire for learning.

He points out that the acquisition, or in that moment of joy, how that suddenly when it's gone, it makes you keenly aware of your need for another longing of the next "joy". It's not something you can control. Lewis writes that "Joy is not a possession". And he makes clear that he is not talking about a sensual type of desire, or longing. He specifically makes certain to establish that when he says...

“Joy is not a substitute for sex; sex is very often a substitute for Joy. I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures are not substitutes for Joy.”

The Joy he is talking about is desire itself, a reminiscence of something priceless, or the waiting with expectation for something grand. Again I find it best to use his words.

“All Joy reminds. It is never a possession, always a desire for something longer ago or further away or still 'about to be'.”

He also discusses his experience, that once he started to seek out this true understanding of Joy, he realized that you really can't control it at all. You can't 'bring it about' or even necessarily expand it, when you are in it.  But the one thing you can do, is to squelch it. And the quickest way (he found) to do that is to... in the moment you realize you are full of Joy, is to start analyzing that joy. Because NOW, you are thinking about the joy, instead of the thing that has brought you joy.

Through many stratagems, in his book "Mere Christianity" he comes to the same point, that through his life's journey, he has come to the place of Faith in Christ ultimately. And that finding this elusive joy he states this...

"If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world." - C.S. Lewis

In a way, it reminds me of William Wordsworth's (1770-1850) poem "Ode: Intimations of Immortality" One portion reads...

Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,	60
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar:
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come	65
From God, who is our home

Twelve men...

Reading an essay by G.K. Chesterton. An essay called “the twelve men”. In this writing, Chesterton, makes the very interesting point about the function, and the requirements of a Jury in our court system. That it is very interesting of the fact that there have been those, who have touted the need for a "professional juror". That it would be a good idea to have a fully trained Jury. Just like we have teachers, because trained teachers, teach better. Or professional photographers because trained photographers take better pictures. Or perhaps you would consider lawyers who see trials all the time, and are very professional about it! Chesterton however makes the point, that when they (lawyers) see a defendant on the stand… they see what is very normal, and common to them. When a teacher sees a classroom full of students, or even an individual student, they see what is common and every day. Or a photographer takes one family portrait after another to the point where the families all start to blend.

Chesterton points out that when something very important is on the line, that is the time when you don’t want a jury that is “professional” just going through the motions, and who see what they see every day. Rather, you would want a jury that is not used to the “process” so they are looking in, as opposed to living in their everyday environment. They, the untrained jury, see the weight of a matter. Simply because the dispute (if for no other reason) has risen to the level of a courtroom. Where there are plaintiffs, defendants, witnesses, and a judge. Not to mention all the others that might be present. Reporters, the court bailiff to make sure things remain in order.

In his Essay, the notion of paradoxes comes into play, in his defense of keeping the very valuable untrained jury. He lists four or five of them, but the most important one is the paradox that says..."the more a man sees a thing, the less he sees it." Meaning the more a person studies a thing, and understands a thing... the more likely that person is to understand less of that thing's significance, in terms of everything around it.
He also relates an untrained Jury, to a person who goes to a ballet, for the first time. Or we might imagine, seeing an incredible play. One that moves us to joy, and tears throughout. If we went to that same play every night... that play in our mind, would eventually, over time lose some of it's significance in our own lives.

I am also reminded of something that I first heard quoted by Ravi Zacharias, which was an ancient Chinese proverb that says... "If you want to know what water is, don't ask the fish." 'And the reason is, the fish has never really made an analytical, or a comparative study of the water, it's the only environment in which it lives.'

G.K. Chesterton finished his essay with these words:

"Our civilization has decided, and very justly decided, that determining the guilt or innocence of men is a thing too important to be trusted to trained men. It wishes for light upon that awful matter, it asks men who know, no more law than I know, but who can feel the things that I felt in the jury box. When it wants a library cataloged, or the solar system discovered, or any trifle of that kind, it uses up is specialists. But when it wishes anything done which is really serious, it collects twelve of the ordinary men standing'round. The same thing was done, if I remember right, by the Founder of Christianity." - G.K. Chesterton

A theater near you

Over my three little decades of being a believing Christian, I've come to know a lot of atheists in the course of my days. Most of which I would definitely call my friends! Most of my atheist friends are the ones that I have noticed, being those who typically have some level of issue with simply enjoying anything for pure enjoyment sake. An example would be, going to the movies, and not enjoying it because they are seemingly on the look out for inconsistencies, or “plot holes” or something to grab onto with the intent of being able to point and say "...see, this is dumb because it doesn't work like that." or "...this movie is horrible because there were things that didn't make sense at all." Now, granted, I think we've all seen movies that didn't make a lot of "sense". And that we didn't really enjoy. But I've noticed it with intense consistency in my atheistic friends. 

It does stand to reason they might lean in that direction, being that they are filled with incredulity. Or maybe a better way to say it, is (in the case of the staunch atheists I've known) they are happiest when they can mock something. If they are going to trust something, they have to see it first. When I hear them discuss movies, I feel they enjoy discussing how much they "hated" the movie rather then talking about the one they did like. There is a certain pride that is displayed when they can berate a movie with vitriol, and contempt. But if a movie meets their requirements, the passion is considerably less. It's almost like a glass ceiling, that doesn't allow them to enjoy too much, even of a 'good' thing. The enjoyment, and maybe a big reason they see movies, is so they can take pride in not enjoying them.  

Now in terms of enjoying something that 'doesn't make sense' there are PLENTY of Broadway plays, and musicals that flow and overflow with nonsensical content, and transitions. They are often written so that they don't make any sense to the logical mind, and THAT is somehow something that is supposed to be a beautiful thing, and something that can really make a person enjoy a performance. When the boundaries of so called meaning are ignored, and we can move forward freely with the notion espoused by Albert Camus that life is inherently without meaning. 

I personally see that there might be a bit of a double standard when it comes down to the "reasons" an atheist was not able to enjoy something that didn't 'make sense'. And I also see that there might be a little window into a persons decision when it comes to not "trusting" Christ. It may just be that they have already decided before they saw the play weather they would choose to appreciate it, or to lambaste it. Weather they were going to look for things that they can enjoy, or for things that they can rip apart. 

The thought of a loving God who would reveal Himself to us, and not only that, but would become one of us. God in human flesh, meek and mild... and would, out of his Great Love, rescue us from our rebellious and sinful state, so we can once again have fellowship with him.  We all have our own starting point, but is it really too much to believe? I ask, how different is the person who accepts, and has the faith to believe in the things that comes from God, from the person who does not accept, and has faith to not believe in the things that come from God? And what is missed by a person who would rather try and poke holes in the fabric of their own salvation? This person not only misses salvation but the Joy that comes to a life that is at "peace with God". The Joy that is known in the Heart, and Soul of a person redeemed by God. Not of anything the person has done on his own to save himself, but only by the work of Him who saves. Christ alone! 

It remains true that "Intent, is prior to content" And life is a lot like watching a movie. And when we sit down to watch a movie, that we had no part in making, and we have no say in how it ends. We can't change anything about the goings on in the middle of the movie, or the characters, or the lines... it is still the movie. The movie remains the movie. We can enjoy it for what it is, or we can poke fun at the things we don't like, disregarding it as foolish.
 Life, like the movie, we didn't make it, we didn't decide to be born. We work in our lives, we grow. But when you live long enough you realize that there are a host of things that are not in our own control. We can't always change the lines, and the scenes, or the characters. We are helpless when we enter this life, and helpless when we leave.  That is unless... you, with a repentant heart, accept and receive the work that Christ has done for YOU! By placing your trust in Him. "Because he cares for you!" "Place your hand, in the hand of the Man, who calmed the water." the song says. 

"Oh taste and see that the LORD is good." Psalm 34:8

I'm reminded of the Apostle Paul who wrote to Timothy...
 "But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that day what was entrusted to me." -2 Timothy 1:12

Get to Know Him. Start by reading the Gospel of John. 
Take this as a challenge to anyone who has not placed their trust on the Lord Himself. 
Read John, and Luke, or any of the Gospels, but do so daily for 30 days. Get to know Him through His word. And when you do, ask Him to reveal Himself to you as you read! 

Paul knew the risen Lord, he 'tasted, and saw' that the Lord is Good!

Once a soul has trusted Christ, Joy, and Peace enters in, like a gentle whisper and brings solace. I can enjoy many things. Because I have the Joy of receiving a Beautiful Savior! 

Heaven above is softer blue,

Earth around is sweeter green

Something lives in every hue

Christless eyes have never seen

Birds with gladder songs o’erflow

Stars with deeper beauty shine,

Since I know, as now I know

I am His, and He is mine.

Good Friday thoughts

“Even the excruciating pain could not silence his repeated entreaties: ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ The soldiers gambled for his clothes. Some women stood afar off. The crowd remained a while to watch. Jesus commended his mother to John’s care and John to hers. He spoke words of kingly assurance to the penitent criminal crucified at his side. Meanwhile, the rulers sneered at him, shouting: ‘He saved others, but he can’t save himself!’ Their words, spoken as an insult, were the literal truth. He could not save himself and others simultaneously. He chose to sacrifice himself in order to save the world.” 
― John R.W. Stott, The Cross of Christ


“Self-denial is not denying to ourselves luxuries such as chocolates, cakes, cigarettes and cocktails (although it might include this); it is actually denying or disowning ourselves, renouncing our supposed right to go our own way.” 
― John R.W. Stott, The Cross of Christ


“Thirdly, Christ’s salvation must be a free gift. He ‘purchased’ it for us at the high price of his own life-blood. So what is there left for us to pay? Nothing! Since he claimed that all was now ‘finished’, there is nothing for us to contribute.” 
― John R.W. Stott, The Cross of Christ

My best thought...

When I am tired in my occupation. When I am tired of my earthly endeavors, when I am tired of my own failures in life, or my very own lack of ability to truly be good. It's when I'm at the end of myself, when I am supremely glad to remember these words from this old Scottish Hymn..

"Thou my best thought, by day or by night. Waking or sleeping, Thy presence, my light."

Whatever my thoughts are in a day, the best thought I can have is of Him. The thought of His person. His Forgiveness, His Word, His Grace, His Love for me.

Another great Hymn that perfectly describes my feelings, and experience are noted here...

I look to thee in every need,
And never look in vain
I feel thy strong and tender love,
And all is well again:
The thought of thee is mightier far
Than sin, and pain, and sorrow are.

Discouraged in the work of life,
Disheartened by its load,
Shamed by its failures or its fears,
I sink beside the road;
But let me only think of thee,
And then new heart springs up in me. 

Thy calmness bends serene above,
My restlessness to still;
Around me flows thy quickening life,
To nerve my faltering will:
Thy presence fills my solitude;
Thy providence turns all to good.

Embosomed deep in thy dear love,
Held in thy law, I stand;
Thy hand in all things I behold,
And all things in thy hand;
Thou leadest me by unsought ways,
And turn'st my mourning into praise.

Amen.

- Samuel Longfellow (1819 - 1892)

I'd rather be...

Best quote of the week!

I had rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world. — George Washington

The quote, "I had rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world," was said to be George Washington's response to newspaper criticism of his presidency. But it may well have resonated with Washington in other ways. With a debt crisis, a war (on the northwestern frontier) and upheaval in Europe to deal with, plus a growing partisanship within his own administration, probably nothing sounded better to the president than the rolling acres and pastoral views of the Potomac he enjoyed on his Mount Vernon estate.

A great musical piece as well! 

NPR report "I had rather be on my Farm" with Vocal Composition.

What if Satan took over a city?

That question was brought up over half a century ago and answered by a Presbyterian Minister by the name of Donald Grey Barnhouse.

Speculating that "if Satan took over Philadelphia, all of the bars would be closed, pornography banished, and pristine streets would be filled with tidy pedestrians who smiled at each other. There would be no swearing. The Children would say, "Yes sir" and "No ma'am," and the churches would be full every Sunday... where Christ is not preached."

This illustrates to me, that it is only when we see our humanity and ultimately our sin (our very own sins) as God sees it, that we can understand what God has done in the Cross of Christ. When we don't see it for what it is, and we do not understand our own condition... then the message of the Cross, doesn't make a whole lot of sense to our human mind. And how can we be grateful for something that we think we don't really need? If we hold "sin" as not really relevant, then neither will the Life, Words, and Work of the cross of Jesus seem relevant to us. And this is exactly why we need to hear God's Word, for there He tells me all about my sin and my true condition, and knowing who God is as He has revealed Himself to us in history, and in His Word. God is Holy. Perfect. And He is Love. Perfect love. Then... Everything changes. We can then, from that place of repentance, and acknowledgement of our sin, truly see the Cross, and the work of Christ with our hearts lifted up, praising the one, who in Love, saved us. 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  – 1 John 3:1

"Who has believed our message? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" - Isaiah 53:1

The only two options available

So there are really only two religions in the world: a religion of human striving to ascend to God through pious works, feelings, attitudes, and experiences and the Good News of God’s merciful descent to us in his Son. 

The religions, philosophies, ideologies, and spiritualities of the world only differ on the details. Whether we are talking about the Dalai Lama or Dr. Phil, Islam or Oprah, liberals or conservatives, the most intuitive conviction is that we are good people who need good advice, not helpless sinners who need the Good News. 

- Michael Horton 


So the law reveals the righteousness that God is, by which we are judged (and therefore condemned); the gospel reveals the righteousness that God freely gives to sinners through faith in Jesus Christ… Salvation, from start to finish, is his work for us, not a matter of saving ourselves or even of cooperating with him. It is a divine rescue operation. Even our sanctification is grounded in God’s act of justifying us and uniting us, by his Spirit, to Christ’s death and life.  (Romans 6)

My life is not the Good News.

Talking about some of our modern Christian churches who focus their teaching towards living better lives, and more piety, community, giving, and seeing Christ as our "example" of how we should live, so we can 'have out best life now'... Author Michael Horton in his book "Christless Christianity" says this... "In every generation, our natural tendency to put the focus back on ourselves - our inner life, piety, community, and actions - withers the very root of faith that yields love and service."

And later says this " That my life, is not the gospel is good news both for me and for my neighbors. Because Christ is the Good News, Christians as well as non-Christians can be saved after all. ...the Good News is not only enough to create faith but to get us back on our feet, assured of our standing in Christ, ready for another day of successes and failures in our discipleship."

A heart transformer

“Jesus Christ did not come into this world to make bad people good, he came to make dead people
live. The good can be as lost as the bad, it is the heart that needs to be transformed. ” – Ravi Zacharias

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2 ESV
http://bible.com/59/rom.12.2.ESV