Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Life is fleeting

So, it is December 31st and I can hardly move because I blew out my right knee skiing this morning. I know that it isn't the ACL - I tore that a few years back, so it must be some other "CL". I got to ride the snowmobile down to the Ski Patrol first aid station, later hobbled out and eventually hobbled in - to the couch in our family room - this is where I will spend my New Year's Eve and possibly the first day of 2009.
In the Ski Patrol room I met a woman who broke her hip skiing a few years ago (fortunately the steel rod in her hip held out this time and her shoulder injury did not seem serious) and I got to listen to the seemingly endless ski horror stories from Dick - the 84 year ski patrol gentleman who was in charge of my "case".
Sitting in the first aid room, very motionless, with a snow pack on my knee, I got to thinking how fragile the human life really is. I remembered the famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards, Sinners in the hands of an angry God, where Edwards depicts our life as constantly hanging by a thread. Any confidence in our health, wealth or prudence is deceptive, God can snip that thread at any moment and we will plumet to our ultimate destination (I would love to quote from Edwards directly, but his book is upstairs and I will not be going upstairs in the near future). In fact, God is that thread, if he were not holding you up, your life would instantly cease, no matter how healthy or cautious individual you may be. Although you may be a sinner, if you are alive, it is because God's grace is keeping you that way. Even in his anger, God is gracious, but don't let that fool you into thinking that God is a softie who will let all things go and let everyone into heaven.
So my question is - are you ready to die? If you knew that you were going to die today, what lose ends would you tie up? Who would you want to talk to one last time? How scared would you be to die? Is your spiritual and physical "house" in order? Are you certain that the moment you fall asleep in this world you will wake up with the Lord (2Cor 5:8)? This life is not the end, there is another life to come, death is only a gateway. Jesus wants us to be sure of our destination - it is of eternal significance. In fact, there is nothing more important you can do in this life than to ensure your eternal destiny with God.
Well, if you are sure - great! If you are not - get sure.
And on that note, I wish you all a most blessed 2009.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

How do read a disturbing bible story

Do you know the story of Micah in Judges 17-18? As I read the story of Micah this morning, I started listing all that is wrong with that son, that mother, that family, that Levite and that tribe (of Dan). It is a story that could be titled "What is wrong with this picture".
As a bible teacher and pastor, I know that these kinds of accounts can be very confusing if not disturbing. I have faced my share of questions regarding bible accounts such as these. People wondered: What is the point of this story? Why isn't there a summary of some kind, a comment on how wrong this all is? Why isn't God bursting on the scene and striking these awful people down with lightning? Doesn't this just encourage others to do wrong? What if people think that this all OK with God?
The point is that the bible is a story about real people. The bible is not about out-of-this-world goodness and religion, it does very little moralizing. It honestly depicts humanity as we are. The point of this story is to see what the world was like 3,000 years ago - it was bad. Everyone did what they thought was right, not what God said was right. The point is that the world is just the same, if not worse, today. All our technological progress, hygiene and education has not made us into better people. Sons still steal from mothers. Mothers still worship idols. Religious leaders are still out for hire to the highest bidder and there are still bully nations in our world, pushing around the small and peaceful guy.
When you get to a bible passage like this - ask God to show you the point. Ask God whether he approved of these actions. Ask him whether you and your family are in any way like these people. Then figure out what those people in Micah's time could have done to turn things around. Try it - it is quite easy to give advice to others.
Now - apply the same advice to you. What should they have done? Scrap the idol, worship in Shiloh, the way that God commanded. Not take what isn't theirs, be happy with the possessions that God gave them etc. etc.
That's the point of the story. There is way out, a way to make things better, it is God's way. But the people in the story are blind to it. You, the reader, are shaking your head, you can see the way and you cannot believe that they insist on heading down that awful path.
The point of the story is to make your own path obvious to you. Can you see your own path? Can you see the inevitable consequences? Can you see the right way out; God's way to turn things around? It isn't running away, it is doing the right thing.
So, enjoy those gruesome, confusing, unpleasant accounts in the bible - they are a mirror. You can either do something about what it shows you, or ignore it and carry. The choice is yours.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Why a blog

I have managed to ignore and avoid blogging quite successfully thus far. I don't mind commenting on the odd blog post by a traveling friend, but that about covers my level of interest in blogs.
Oh sure, I felt the pressure to keep up with the right blogs, I just could not figure out how to squeeze more reading into my week. Plus, I have found that most of the blogs that did read were not worth the time or eye fatigue.
But lately the pressure to start my own blog has been mounting. Even two of my seminary profs (I will not name names, I deeply respect them), who are...hmm...how can I put this kindly...I will go with "late adopters". Anyway, even they have been convincing me of the value of blogging.
So, I am biting the bullet, very reluctantly. As most bloggers I probably don't have a whole lot to say that's worth reading. What's more I have very little time to respond to comments, so if anyone ever should respond and not hear back from me, it is not personal, really.
But who knows, God is able to take our meager contributions and turn them into something wonderful. He take a couple of small fish and buns and feed thousands.
So, with the Lord's help, here we go abloggin' :)