Stolen Bike

Well, I never thought it would happen to me. Lesson learned I guess.

I ride, er…rode, my bike to and from work every day. At first I parked it inside the sun room at the rear of my house. Eventually I got lazy and just set it by the back door. This Tuesday morning, it was gone.

Bummer, too. The bike was a gift from my boss last Christmas. Coming up on a year old, I’ve taken excellent care of it – I don’t think there’s a scratch on the thing. So I guess I’ll call all the local bike shops and let them know to keep a lookout. Maybe I’ll call all the local bargain buy places and alert them, too. Guess I had better keep an eye on Craigslist, Ebay, and Facebook Marketplace. Never know what might turn up. Aside from all that, and filing a police report, I guess there’s not really anything more I can do than tell everyone to look closely at every cyclist they see.

The hardest part of this whole thing isn’t the fact that I’m riding my wife’s bike to work instead of my own. It’s the part inside me that says, “Why weren’t you more responsible? Why didn’t you put your bike inside, or at least lock it up? Why didn’t you put up the security lights your wife asked for months ago? It’s your own fault your bike was stolen. You deserved this.”

While some, or even all, of that may have some truth to it (no doubt my failure to secure my bike aided the thief), what’s the point of dwelling on these thoughts? I’ve learned my lesson, so why be depressed about something that’s out of my control? Now I realize it’s that last phrase that really is at the core of how I’m feeling:

Out of my control.

But you know what is not out of my control? My inward and outward response to the situation. I’m thankful that I’m not easily angered. I’m thankful that only one curse word was uttered from my lips instead of a string of twenty (and even then I whispered it). I’m thankful that I was led to pray for my bike thief. That he might be convicted enough by conscience to return the bike. And that if he truly is in need, that God would provide for him and those close to him. I’m thankful for my wife’s bike, and that I’m close enough to walk to work if I have to.

And I’m thankful that God tests my faith, my reliance, and my dependance. It is not always easy, and Lord knows a stolen bike is nothing compared to other losses. How about a lost job. A huge debt. A miscarriage. Cancer.

God is sovereign through it all. His ways are higher. His purpose is greater. Great is the Lord.

I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.
- Isaiah 45:7

Filed under: heart, up , curse word, last christmas

Christians and Homosexuality

Recently a sister in Christ posted a link to this article on her Facebook wall.

I’m Christian, unless you’re gay.

Give it a read. After, I’d love to hear your comments. Here’s the discourse I had with her about it:

ME:
I like the premise of this article, but the hardest part for me is when he says:

I think it doesn’t matter if you or I or anybody else thinks homosexuality is a sin. It doesn’t matter if you or I think anything is a sin. It doesn’t matter if homosexuality is a sin or not. In fact, it doesn’t matter if anything anybody else does is a sin or not.
Because sin is a very personal thing! It always has been and it always will be!
And it has nothing to do with love. Absolutely nothing.

Sin is personal, yet also global. No one is without it. And most importantly – without Jesus, sin separates us from God. Should Christians go around pointing fingers and call everyone “sinner”? I don’t think that’s the best way to love people, after all, Christ never did that. But one must know he is a sinner for him to see his need for Christ. And so helping someone to see their sin, whether it be a lifestyle, a particular action, or whatever, is actually an act of love. The problem is when Christians don’t do this with grace. Christians forget that we’re sinners helping sinners. Christ died for more than preventing me from getting what I deserve (eternity in Hell). He died so he could give me what I don’t deserve – a relationship with Him.

When a boy is caught playing with matches, his mother doesn’t allow it and then say, “I love you,” does she? Of course not – that would reinforce the bad behavior. Instead she stops him and says, “This is not okay, you could get hurt. I love you, and I don’t want you to get hurt. Let me help you light the candle.” Although she knows her son could be upset with her, maybe even hate her for awhile, she chooses to chance offending him (which means she could be hurt, too) because protecting him is a higher priority.

Too often, Christians have a judgmental approach, and lack the grace to admit they are in the same boat. For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God. We all need Jesus. And we all need Him in the most personal way. What’s the best way to say that? In my opinion, use your own life as the example. Live out grace. Call yourself a sinner. Explain why you need Jesus in your life, and how he’s changed it. Then simply ask, “have you ever thought you’d like to know Jesus in this way?”

HER:
This is very well said Zach, but I also think he does a good job of saying everyone is in the same boat. I don’t think he was saying to condone anything…just that because people have different opinions about sin and what is right and wrong but it isn’t our place to judge. You live in what you see is the truth, the light. To those of us with faith, that is our “fact” as well…however to someone of a different faith or lifestyle we are the ones that are wrong. I just thing he makes a great point about people being treated equally and not bullying people. Like you said, people go about it the wrong way. I agree with you that sharing our faith is an act of love…absolutely. but I think the article is addressing “fake” christians. Just bc you don’t agree with someones lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to stop showing them love or be cruel. And, while I believe in sharing the truth, I have to know the boundary of respecting their beliefs too.

ME:
Agreed. The premise of the article is good. I would like it more, though, if his solution was more than “let’s love instead of be prejudiced, because being prejudiced hurts and love doesn’t.” Loving each other is great, but can it really be accomplished to its full extent without Christ? If it could, then Hell wouldn’t exist, and for that matter, neither would sin.

Instead of saying people need Christ, he says people need to love each other. That’s my qualm. Obviously I can’t expect that from a non-Christian author, so I’m cool with the article as is. But since he comments so much on Jesus and Christians, I thought it worth pointing out there is a deeper message: our need for Christ outweighs our need for love, and when we receive Christ, we receive the ultimate source of never ending, unfailing love.

HER:
I agree with all of that about Christianity, but the article wasn’t about being a Christian so I get why all of that wasn’t in there. However, I agree maybe that paragraph about sin could’ve been researched a little more bc saying sin is personal is partly true like you said, but in a Christian’s eyes it’s not that simple and not everyone that wants to help you find Jesus is being mean or judgmental. Its such a long article I didn’t think that deeply into it. I just loved the overall message and glad you did too

So basically I agree with you, Zach!

(end of quotes)

—
These topics are never easy to talk about, but it’s important that when they are discussed, Christians can speak about them with each other and non-believers alike with sensitivity. If you tend to have any inkling of disgust for a homosexual person, I would suggest you try to aim that disgust at the sin instead – in both their life and your own.

Filed under: Uncategorized

Halloween

I grew up participating in Halloween festivities. Costumes, candy, games, pumpkins – you name it, I did it. And I loved it.

This year I had the pleasure of greeting children at my door and handing out candy. There were some great costumes! In addition to the candy, I gave each of them a copy of this story I wrote:

The Story of the Jack the Pumpkin

Jack the pumpkin was ripe. It was his dream to be picked and taken home by a nice boy or girl just like you. But Jack was an ugly pumpkin. “I’m small, filthy from all this dirt, and lopsided. No one will ever pick me this year,” Jack thought.

But that very day, a little boy and his father came to the pumpkin patch. They looked all over for just the right pumpkin to take home. Can you guess who they picked? You guessed it! Jack!

Jack was thrilled! “But I’m still small and filthy and lopsided. This boy won’t be happy with me,” he thought.

But that very night, the boy gave Jack a bath. He dunked him in warm water and washed all the dirt away. Then the boy pulled all the gunk out from inside Jack. Jack was made clean inside and out. It hurt a little, but Jack felt good to be so clean. Next the boy gave Jack a good look-over. He picked Jack’s best side, and started to carve. “Oh no!” Jack thought. “This boy is angry with me. I knew it!” Jack became cold as holes appeared in his side. But just as he was about to give up hope, something amazing happened.

Jack felt warmer and warmer and warmer. He had never felt so warm – not even back in the pumpkin patch. It hurt a little, but Jack felt good to be so warm inside. The boy had placed a candle inside him.

Just then, Jack felt himself being lifted. “Oh no!” he thought. “The boy is getting rid of me!” But before Jack even finished his thought, he realized he was on a front porch, next to beautiful flowers and colorful decorations. The boy had placed Jack front and center! He felt so special. Then he saw the boy standing in front of him. The boy looked right at him and said,

“Now that’s one good looking Jack-O-Lantern.”

Jack was so happy he could hardly contain himself. You know what he did? For the first time in a really really really long time, Jack the  pumpkin….smiled!

There fore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17

Filed under: heart

Greatness

What is it that causes us to desire greatness? And what defines greatness in each of us?

We Christians sometimes blindside ourselves with failure don’t we? The idea that we are living ordinary lives, doing mundane tasks, melting into the masses, comes upon us like a chilling wind when the missionary family shares their stories at the pulpit. Or when Bo Baredo, God bless him, boisterously shouts God’s work advancing through the work of several missionaries. Or when we walk into a fair trade store like Ten Thousand Villages that helps the economies of third world countries. Or even when we step onto a college campus and see hundreds of students working so hard to achieve this… greatness.

It is true that some accomplish much in this world. What have they done differently? Followed their hearts? Maybe. I would suggest that they allowed themselves to be used. What type of connotation does that hold? Certainly not a good one. To be used means to completely give up control. We’ve all been used in an unhealthy relationship before – it’s never fun. We may even feel used at our place of work, how we serve at church, perhaps even by our families at times. Why would anyone ever want to be used, let alone want to allow it?

There is a drastic difference between one who is used by other people and one who is used by God. To be used by God means to surrender my will to His will. If God is who he says he is: Almighty, Creator, Most High, etc., then why would I strive to achieve greatness apart from Him? In fact, why would I strive to achieve greatness at all?

If God is who he claims to be, then God is greatness.

Throw off your old idea of greatness. Pursue God. Allow yourself to be used by Him. Live, and rejoice as you are sanctified through true Greatness. And soon you will see that He is your greatness, and everything else – regardless of your achievement, your fame, your money, your stature, your work, your lack thereof – will pale in comparison to the greatness of His work on the cross for you.

“Do not confuse notoriety and fame with greatness. . . . For you see, greatness is a measure of one’s spirit, not a result of one’s rank in human affairs.”
- Sherman Finesilver

Filed under: head

Happy Mother’s Day, Part 2

Soon I will gain a second mother. What a gift having one mother has been – I’m only beginning to see the blessing of having another. She is a woman I know little about, but of several characteristics I can be certain:

Caring. As a mother of five children, three of them teenage daughters, her pursuit of their hearts is always crystal clear. Her tone of voice as she calls each by their special nicknames reveals the heartfelt sentiment only a mother can have for her young. The protectiveness that follows is no surprise, for it protrudes only from a deep, intimate connection I am convinced exists differently for a mother and daughter than a mother and son. Growing up in a family with two brothers and no sisters, I have never seen so clearly this side of a mother’s love for her daughters. Not at all to say that a mother loves her son any less, but one can clearly observe a type of sisterhood that exists solely as a common bond through gender alone. The same can be said of the bond between father and son.

Serving. With three athletic teenage daughters, opportunities to serve them are endless. Driving to and from school, practices, and games – not to mention entire weekend trips out of town for tournaments – are a common occurrence for this special woman. Although at times she may feel as though these activities have control of her schedule, as anyone might, she commits to giving her time to allow her daughters to pursue their desired activities. As a result, her daughters shine. I am convinced the giving of her time and energy to this end comes as second nature to her, because besides the natural inclination to watch her young showcase their various talents and gifts, she is driven to help them succeed. What better way to lead her children than by serving them? And not only in visible ways.

Praying. Also invisible ones. My own mother has confessed to praying for me and my brothers more than for herself. There is no doubt in my mind my new mother does the same for her children (and for me, too, I’m sure). Paul’s command to the church in Philippi to “pray ceaselessly” takes on new meaning when heard through the ears of a mother, and the presence of this action is as clear as day in this Godly woman. Her sensitivity to the Spirit is evident even in her everyday speech, giving a glimpse of how she tenderly ministers on behalf of her daughters – the same way Christ ministers on our behalf.

I say these things not to earn a place in her heart, for I know that requires much more than a few kind words. I say them because her heart has already made room for me in it, and for that I am blessed.

Filed under: heart

Love Wins: Chapter 1

Bell begins his book by acknowledging all of the questions he’s ever heard anyone ask related to Christianity and following Jesus. Although many are “disturbing” (2),  It’s an invitation to open the mind, unlock the treasure chest of beliefs we have that answer these questions, and re-question them. In so doing, he also recites many answers he’s heard to these questions, and without quite accusing them of being wrong, he leads the reader in a certain direction – what if they are? He particularly does this with questions related to a Reformed way of thinking.

Here are a few examples:

If there are only a select few who go to heaven, which is more terrifying to fathom: the billions who burn forever or the few who escape this fate? How does a person end up being one of the few? Chance? Luck? Random selection? Having a youth pastor who “relates better to the kids”? God choosing you instead of others? (emphasis mine)

What kind of faith is that? Or more important: What kind of God is that?

Here I see a glimpse of what to expect in this book: a record of common questions arranged to show Bell’s opinion of the answers. The quote referenced above is a perfect example of this. Bell emphasizes the most offensive part of the predestination position in an aggressive way (i.e. “the billions who burn forever”) in order to lead us to question the character of God (i.e. “What kind of God is that?).

Which is fine. In fact it’s good writing. Bell’s willingness to actually go there prompts any reader, no matter how well-versed in the Scriptures, to question even his deepest beliefs and convictions. I guarantee anyone who cracks this book will be forced to do one of two things: 1. Reevaluate their beliefs (hopefully by using the Bible), or 2. Reinforce their beliefs by having a mental argument with Bell as they read. And for this, Bell should be commended.

That said, I find myself becoming increasingly aware that Bell does have an agenda other than just qualifying the religious debates that exist in the world today. There is a purpose behind his book; he has a message to share. After all ” This isn’t just a book of questions. It’s a book of responses to these questions,” (19).

Filed under: head

Life from Death

Upon hearing the news of my engagement, one of my closest friends shared a word of advice with me that he had received just after his engagement: “Cherish this time.” My mind keeps going back to this phrase over and over as the weeks have passed. Other friends have told me of their misery during their engagements…the conflict of feeling ready but having to wait. And I can relate to that!

Remember eating lunch and then being told you can’t jump in to that swimming pool until 20 minutes have passed? Remember looking at that cool, blue, refreshing water and the other people enjoying it? Remember how your body ached when those 20 minutes felt like 200 minutes?

Yeah, it’s like that.

But that first dive was always worth the wait.

And I’m definitely cherishing the wait.

Because God is preparing me to become one with another. And preparing her to become one with me. And today, as on many other days, he gave me a beautiful glimpse of how he’s doing just that.

Joanne is enrolled in JMU’s Washington DC internship program for this semester, which means her weekdays, and some weekends, are spent in downtown DC. Needless to say, we cherish our brief time together on those weekends she can come home to Harrisonburg. This weekend was extra special – she was able to stay through Monday.

The extra time together made saying goodbye extra hard. At 5:30, I received a phone call from Joanne asking me to meet her in the parking lot at my office to say goodbye. I could hear the sorrow in her voice as she spoke. But when I embraced her as she cried into my shoulder, I felt differently than I expected.

Strong.
Affirmed.
Reassured.
Fulfilled.
Loved.
Cherished.

Her vulnerability, her true, unfiltered love for me came pouring out of her as she clung to me, and I have never believed in God more than in that moment. Out of her pain, I was lifted up. Out of her suffering, I was renewed. Out of her sorrow, I became glad. Not because I delight in her sorrow, but because I know where it comes from: straight from her heart!

And in this I’m reminded of Christ’s love for the church, and how out of his suffering we are made new. How through his death, we have been given life.

And in his grace,
now and then,
he gives us glimpses of how he’s working us out for his glory.

Cherish each one.

And though your body lay weary from wasting,
And your eyes show the sorrow they’ve had,
The love that your heart is now tasting
Has opened the gates, be ye glad!
“Be Ye Glad,” as sung by GLAD

Filed under: heart

Love Wins: Preface

I love discussing theology. I suppose it’s about time I join the blogosphere in the discussion of Rob Bell’s new book, Love Wins.

Let me start by making a few things clear:

1. I’m not very familiar with Rob Bell. All I really know about him is that he’s a pastor and encourages people to ask tough questions. After watching a few of the “nooma” videos he’s produced, I get the idea he’s more about asking the questions then answering them.

2. I align myself with the Reformed interpretation of scripture. This means that I believe the Bible is inerrant, and these core facets are 100% true: Every person has sinned and falls short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death, meaning separation from God. Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, lived a sinless life, died, and descended into Hell on my behalf. His death paid my penalty for my sin. His resurrection and ascension defeated death, and likewise my soul will live forever in Heaven. Although I believe, my belief is not what has saved me from Hell. Although I now strive to do good, it is not my good works that have saved me from Hell. It is Christ’s death alone, and his specific and personal desire to do a work in my heart that has saved me, and caused me to believe.

3. I believe wholeheartedly that Love (God) wins, and indeed has already won. My belief comes not from a book that any man has written, but from the only book that is 100% true: the Holy Bible. And this will be the source that Love Wins will be up against.

4. When I discuss theological topics, I try to think with an open mind. I do my best to remember that God is God, and my ideas about what I think are “good” may not align with what is actually good according to God. God’s mind is infinite, mine is finite. God is sovereign, I am…not. So I encourage anyone exploring deep topics like these to try not to put God in a box, and have faith that the Bible is God’s true and living word.

So, let’s start with the preface.

I have to commend Mr. Bell for his boldness. He must have known that this book would stir the masses into discussion; after all he states clearly that was his goal: “If this book, then, does nothing more than introduce you to the ancient, ongoing discussion surrounding the resurrected Jesus in all its vibrant, diverse, messy, multivoiced complexity – well, I’d be thrilled,” (Bell, viii). The book has made headlines everywhere. Why? Because everyone ponders eternity.

Something else he makes clear right away is his belief that “the love of God is for every single one of us…for everybody, everywhere.” From a reformed perspective, I have to agree. God’s love can be seen upon every individual on this earth. I have a feeling the reason for my belief in this truth will differ from Mr. Bell’s, but I have yet to discover that. I believe in something called “common grace.” Let me explain. Since every person has sinned, every person deserves death. Not everyone is dead, in fact, people are born every day. How can this be? If every one deserves death but isn’t dead, God must love everyone enough to let them live their short life on earth. In this common grace, we see God’s love poured out on every living soul. So far so good, Rob.

He then begins to address the reason he wrote the book. He speaks of different stories of Christ that have “hijacked” the lost plot of the true story, that must be “reclaimed” (Bell, viii). He identifies with the many people who have found “some version of the Jesus story” uncomfortable, or unacceptable (Bell, viii). And then he states the following:

A staggering number of people have been taught that a select few Christians will spend forever in a peaceful, joyous place called heaven, while the rest of humanity spends forever in torment and punishment in hell with no chance for anything better. It’s been clearly communicated to many that this belief is a central truth of the Christian faith and to reject it is, in essence, to reject Jesus. This is misguided and toxic and ultimately subverts the contagious spread of Jesus’s message of love, peace, forgiveness, and joy that our world desperately needs to hear. (Bell, viii).

So what do I do with this? At first glance, it sounds like what he claims to be toxic is the belief that not every person will be saved. One could conclude that Bell thinks the truth he mentions in the first sentence is, in fact, the “misguided” message.

Maybe I’m reading this from a Reformed standpoint, or maybe I’m just giving him the benefit of the doubt, but I’m not yet convinced Bell thinks God’s love will cover everyone. Read it again. Could he instead be saying that this truth (that an elect will be saved and others will be damned) has been given greater priority in evangelism than the message of Christ’s death for our sin? Look closely – his problem (that I know of at this point) is not with the message, it’s with the way it has been taught. To reject this message is to reject Jesus – this is his issue.

Here’s what I get from this: Christ’s death for me, personally, is bigger than my belief in it. It’s bigger than my wrestling match with understanding predestination, baptism, communion, etc. And any teaching that says that wrestling with these topics is the same as rejecting Christ, is toxic. In this, I have to agree. I know plenty of Christians who know Christ as their savior and struggle with understanding all kinds of theology. The one truth they hold onto is this: Christ died on my behalf.

I hope this is what Bell’s book is boiling down to, but based on all the hubbub out there, I’m guessing it isn’t. At this point I’m only in the preface, but for what it’s worth, kudos to Mr. Bell for starting the discussion. I look forward to peeling away the layers and discovering what he wants to say.

But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. – Philippians 1:18

Filed under: head

A Muslim Turned Christian

Over the past few years I have developed a passion for fellowship with and ministry to our Muslim brothers and sisters. Consequently, I spend some of my free time reading different articles related to the subject of Islam. If I am to be engaged in religious conversation with Muslims, I need to know Islam and its common defensive strategies.

One of my favorite resources to frequent is a blog by a Christian in the Middle East who enjoys creating dialogue between people of the two religions: Islam and Christianity. Recently an article was posted there that highlighted the testimony of a Muslim scholar turned Anglican Priest.

After reading the article I just had to share it. It is about an hour’s read, but simple and very good. If you have the time, take a look.

Why I Became A Christian

Filed under: head

Strength

Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord:
Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;
Look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth.
When I called him he was but one, and I blessed him and made him many.
The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins;
he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.
Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.
- Isaiah 51:1-3

Why is it that I so often refuse to look to the Rock from which I have been cut? I go days thinking I can handle all that is before me, supported by a backbone of sheer will as my strength. A twinge of pain here, a prick of stress there; a minor distraction. Stretch it, twist it, massage it, work it out; temporary relief. Give yourself more to do, I think. Distract yourself from the pain. What happens to pain when we ignore it? Behind the walls we build around it and the trenches we dig beneath it, it’s slowly building and growing and worsening, infecting everything from the inside out.

My human habit of relying on my own strength runs me into the ground every time. My ideas, my plans, my tactics – all of the barriers I’ve put into place to act as padding on my way down – instead reach out and push me harder and faster to the bottom. And then I’m held there, caught in my own net of earthly wisdom, wishing I could plan my way out. But the net is tight, the cord is taught.

My desires are good, my plans have merit, but where is my confidence? In my own plans? In my own ideas? Who am I?

Look to the Rock. Look to Zion. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.

Filed under: heart