Thursday, May 20, 2010

Happy Thursday (Perspective) (5/20/2010)

Hey guys,


Internet was down at work so sorry for lateness, nevertheless, happy Thursday! Still making my way through matthews. I think in the focused study of any book of the bible, like this or the 40 day reading of Acts we’re now doing at gscc (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Forty-Day-Walk/115344555164488?ref=ts), im often tempted to arrogantly presume to know everything God can possibly teach me. One of my greatest joys in personal devotion is to have that presumption proven wrong over and over again.


I think I finally understand the parable of the workers in the vineyard (mat 20), where various workers were hired to work in the vineyard throughout the day yet all received the same pay – despite different number of working hours. My worldly mind tends to agree with the complaints of the workers who toiled for the entire day yet received the same pay as the ones who worked a single hour. We often voice similar complaints in our daily struggles, like…I’m getting eternal life, but that guy’s getting eternal life AND a lamborghini…that’s not fair! To put things in proper prespective, imagine if the wages given in the parable was $1 million instead of 1 measly denarius…would the workers still quibble over working 8 hours that day instead of 1? Now instead of $1million, imagine eternity with God – our wage for a lifetime of following our Lord. Does it make sense to quibble over ~80 years of devoted service getting the same reward as a deathbed confessor? Rather, the joy of obtaining Christ and eternity should drown out such protests.


To paraphrase a john piper analogy, for us to get eternal life and to still demand a happy, prosperous, pampered, worry-free life is akin to be given the entire pacific ocean and still ask for a cup of water on top of that. Our indignant protests do lose some of their force given that perspective doesn’t it? We just need to see heaven. My encouragement for the week.


Have an awesomost rest of the week!


Edward


“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Matthew 13:44


“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23


“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18


baby sloths, butt scratchy at 1:08!! >.< (thx christina!)

http://vimeo.com/11712103

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Happy Wednesday (Prayer) (05/12/2010)

hayo,

this has been one of those ongoing question for me, how exactly does our prayers stack up against the sovereignty of God?

One the one hand, we have exodus 32 where Moses apparently convinces God to not destroy the israelite nation, and jesus himself tells us "ask and it shall be given to you...for everyone who asks receives..." On the other hand the sovereignty of God, namely His in-control-ness over everything that happens, is a recurring theme throughout scripture as well.

so what's the deal? is the all knowing and all powerful God in absolute control or can He be swayed by the flimsy will and prayers of humanity? If he has already decided South Africa will win the world cup, why is each team represented by hordes of praying fans? Ultimately, If he already knows the final results of all our prayer requests, is there any point for us to persist in prayer - to plead for what is already decided? (short answer: Yes)

matt chandler handles this question like this, while God has absolute authority and control over who comes to Him, preaching is a means of accomplishing this divinely appointed will.
"how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? and how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" (Rom 10:14) Sermons, godly lives, and fellowships thus become instruments in carrying out the will of God in people's salvation and therefore such things MATTERS. Prayer works on the same level, it becomes - in ways i can't understand - instrumental in carrying out God's will and therefore MATTERS.

the correct attitude in prayer should be like that of Jesus in gethsemane, where he earnestly plead with God to take the burden of hte cross from him (knowing full well that the cross must happen) yet submitted to God by saying "not my will but Yours be done." There is a very human, and honest admission of fear and wants in perfect sync with humility and obedience - this is what i think we're supposed to strive for in prayer.

When we pray the words "not my will but Yours be done" do not say it as a fail-safe - as if you need to protect God's existence from unanswered prayers, do it as an acknowledgement of His sovereignty over your life. Praying like this helps us avoid making the objects of our prayers idols in our lives and serves the dual purpose of worship and sanctification.

Encouragement for the week: pray. To actively, honestly, wholeheartedly, and humbly pray concerning the fears, wants, needs and praises in your life.

Have a happy wednesday!

Edward

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." - Proverbs 16:9

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him...and the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well..." - James 5:13-15

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." - Luke 22:42

In keeping w/ the dancing baby trend...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aswr40bLaE&feature=related

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Happy Wednesday (Rights) (05/05/2010)

sup all,

im fairly sure that this has happened to everyone at least once this week already - where we give our all to love or serve someone and instead of being rewarded with a thank you or gratitude, we unjustly received apathy or even disdain/rebuke in return for our efforts (if u're a parent, this probably occur several times a day).

when we love or serve its so easy to feel like we are owed a certain treatment in return, isn't it? we demand, "how DARE they do this to me, after all i've done for them?!" should we be entitled to gratitude when we serve others? of course! but how we react when this is denied marks us as children of God or of the world. for us to say that we're the better friend, the more generous coworker, the more sacrificing spouse or to demand of others those few denariis owed to us is to ignore our ten thousand talent debt that is cancelled daily because of grace (matthew 18:21-35). we rise in anger at every indignation against us, yet how often do we burn with the same anger at our own sins or short comings?

Paul laid down his rights as an apostle for hte sake of hte gospel - and stoically accepted the corinthian's lack of financial support. I believe he is able to do this because the love and service he provided was for hte sake of the kingdom. he trusted that his reward, his worth, his affirmation, and his needs will be met by a heavenly source so there is no need for an earthly one. I hate how i can get so hurt and angry sometimes when i dont get a simple thank you or invited to an event by a person i've shown kindness to. How i would crave earthly attention and rewards for my deeds. if we knew our Father sees it all and is pleased with us, shouldn't that be enough?

encouragement for the week: dont hurt or burn yourself out and dont be taken advantage of, but in day to day matters be peace makers as you show willingness to surrender your rights and strive to lift up your brothers and sisters as Christ has done for us.

Have a happy wednesday!

Edward

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." - Philippians 2:3-4

"If we have sown spiritual seeds among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?... But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ." - 1 Corinthians 9:11-12

"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so...you will abound in every good work... Now he who supplies seed to the sower...will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." - 2 Corinthians 9:7-11


dancing baby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSJ41xcUhuw&feature=related