On Worship

Gathered with our church family today for corporate worship and being reminded that...

When Man ceases to worship God,

he does not worship nothing 

but worships everything.

― G. K. Chesterton

Image via Pixabay, Gellinger

CCO Creative Commons

Considering the Conflict

Relationships inevitably must weather conflicting opinions if they are to thrive. I'm reminding myself of that after a recent stance on policy. I deferred to the other outwardly, but inwardly I was more than a little annoyed. Why was that?

Self. Both of us had the same goal, but I didn't get to reach for the goal my way. I had to stay within policy. As I've been reflecting on the conflict, I've come to understand the other person's point of view and the policy behind it. Given the situation in which one or the other opinion was to be acted upon, I need to accept that it was the other that was for the greater good.

Self is too often a formidable foe.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interest of the others.   - Philippians 4: 1-4

Image ~ Woman at a Sunny Window, Carl Holsoe 1863-1935

public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Longing for Reversal

Continuing my study in the book of Esther and its literary theme of reversal. It's where we see most powerfully the hand of God as He reverses the consequences of the actions of the ungodly powerful people who want to destroy His own people in the Persian Empire. The providence of God can change things in a moment and alter the outcome. Most often we recognize it only in hindsight.

More often, we long to see it.

I long to see God reverse the actions of the ungodly powerful people in our own nation today who want to destroy any influence or impact those who have faith in Him might exercise. Something that began as good is being taken by the ungodly powerful and used in an attempt to annihilate godly imprint. As I see it, the MeToo effect is turning into a social colossus by the Enemy of all things good.

I long for and pray for reversal to this trial by public sentiment.

Painting ~ Her Eyes Are With Her Thoughts, Lawrence Alma-Tadema 1897

public domain, WikiArt

Inconspicuous Providence

This is the book that I've chosen to use for our study of the book of Esther in our women's Sunday School class this quarter. I've read several books in preparation for teaching the class, and Inconspicuous Providence by Bryan Gregory rose to the top of the stack as the one to use as a supplement to our group study.

While many see the Bible book of Esther as being about Esther, it's really about the providence of God and how He saves the Jews from annihilation through seeming "coincidences." In addition to commentary and application of the chapters in Esther, Gregory discusses the literary techniques used by the author (who is unknown) and gives a broad overview of its historical context. Both of these aspects are necessary for an understanding of the message of the book of Esther. There are also reflection questions at the end of each chapter to further develop personal application.

The book is written on the lay level, and it's not filled with fluff. Gregory refers to scholarly research which gets us beyond the typical beautiful heroine approach to the book of Esther. Gregory has eleven pages of bibliography that those who want to go deeper and broader will find as a gold mine.

From the back of the book:
Bryan Gregory shows us how Esther's literary techniques depict God's "absent presence" and "hidden involvement," encouraging us that while God appears uninvolved, he is at work under the surface to accomplish his purposes and deliver his people--ultimately revealing his hidden presence in Christ.

Almost Indistinguishable

Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person,

they are almost indistinguishable.

- David W. Augsburger
Caring Enough to Hear and Be Heard

Painting ~ Afternoon Tea, Sir John Everett Millais, 1889
public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Our Part Is to Nurture

If you're a Christian parent, I'm sure your greatest desire is that your children come to faith in Jesus Christ. I was reminded of that this week in talking with a mom who has wisdom in waiting for God to work in her child's heart.

Wanting to share an article with you that I read this week: "How the Spirit Draws a Child."  If you have children still living at home, I think you'll appreciate the "graces" the author discusses to nurture them in their faith. 

A brief excerpt from the article that you can find here:

As a pastor for family discipleship and children's ministries, I see how open children's hearts often are, with a kind of eagerness to learn that is distinct to childhood. Our part as parents is to nurture their hearts toward Christ through prayer, God's word, and patient love, while trusting the Spirit to minister to them as only he can. We cannot change our children's hearts. But we can welcome the Spirit's work as we join him in exalting the name of Jesus Christ in our homes. 

Painting - A Game in the Park 

Victor-Gabriel Gilbert, 1847-1933

public domain, Wikigallery

What Part Does Forgiveness Play?

We're hosting a mid-week small group in our home, and this week the topic was on forgiveness. Talk turned to the MeToo movement and what part forgiveness plays. It seems that many are more bent on destruction than forgiveness. It appears that some use the movement as a political, positional maneuver, putting their own agenda ahead of any concern that might be possible for the person whom they condemn.

While there has certainly been some good coming from the movement, there are many shards that rip and ruin along the way. One of those slaughterous shards is that it assumes guilt until proven innocent. The burden of proof is placed on the accused, with the accuser simply believed because the words flow off the tongue or the ink spills from the pen. A striking characteristic of the movement is that some are reaching so far back that there is little memory of those days to prove innocence. Neither can guilt be proven in some cases, but character has been attacked and reputations ruined. For many, the goal is accomplished and much of it due to a vengeful spirit.

So, back to our group's question--what part does forgiveness play?  The prerequisite question: Is the accuser willing to forgive? Reconciliation is the goal of forgiveness. Is this the goal of the accuser?  Does the accuser seek reconciliation or ruination? Or is it all couched in 'justice'? And what about when we're on the side of the justice scale that tips toward our own guilt in a different area? Are we just as willing for justice then? Or is justice demanded only for the sins against us, not by us?

What is the goal of the accuser?

Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? (James 3:11)

Painting ~ Chatting, Eugen von Blaas, 1905

public domain via Wikimedia