In preparation for Purim (March 21, 2008), I thought it would be interesting to look at Esther.
Read Romans 6-8 and then read Esther in this context:
Esther is your spirit
The king is your will
Haman is your flesh
Mordecai is the holy spirit
It is an amazing read.
Name meanings:
Esther: Something hidden, or a star
Hadassa (Esther's Hebrew name): Myrtle - myrtle gives of a sweet aroma when it is crushed and beaten
Xerses: The king (this is a title, not his name)
Haman: Magnificent, or tumult
Mordecai: Little man
Mordecai's lineage (Jair, Shimei, Kish, Benjamine); my light; that hears or obeys; bent (towards) the son of the right hand
Proverbs 25:2 - ”[It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings [is] to search out a matter."
The seven advisers to the king (perhaps 7 facets of "self") with their name meanings:
Casrhena: illustrious
Shethar: star
Admatha: given by the highest
Tarshish: a jewel (yellow jasper)
Meres: lofty
Marsena: worthy
Memucan: dignified
Isn't that how we want to see ourselves?
Some words have dual meanings. This is common in the English language. Can you think of an example? It is common in Hebrew too. The seven advisers names have other meanings.
Casrhena: sleeping, a lamb (lambs are known for being weak and dumb)
Shethar: putrefied; searching
Admatha: a cloud of death; a mortal vapor
Tarshish: contemplation (worry?)
Meres: defluxion; imposthume (I had too look it up... an oozing sore)
Marsena: bitterness of a bramble
Memucan: impoverished
The first list is our mask to the world. The second list (I think) is more representative of our condition before God. Isaiah writes that "all our righteous is as filthy rags." Realizing who we really are magnifies our need for redemption.
I will post more insights later.
(Name meanings are from Strong's Concordance or netbible.org)
Monday, March 10, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Divorce makes me so angry
Here is a short note to a brother:
"I was just thinking about you and I was praying for your family. I know that your wife is far from perfect, but I am praying for restoration anyway. I assume you were married in the Christian sense and not just the legal sense. If that is the case, you have desolved the contract, but the vow before God remains. Don't be guilty of perjuring yourself in God's court. Go back to your family. You are their protector. I pray that you will undo this great violence you have done to your wife and children."
In addition to violently abusing the wife to whom he has a Biblical mandate to protect, the children are also violently abused in the process.
The man that is married in the Christian sense is the covenent initiater. As such, he bears the full responsiblity to see that the covenent is fulfilled. Christian marriage is not a legal contract based on distrust of the other party (if you do this, I will do this... as long as I feel a certain way). It is not a legal contract that can be desolved at the whim of one party or the other. Christian marriage is a covenent relationship before God. God has a covenent with Isreal. They act like a bunch of goof balls. Yet God is faithful to His covenent even when the object of the covenent is unlovable and unloving. Marriage is a picture of God's covenent with us. The man is responsible for the integrity of the covenent.
The emotional abuse to the children in irrepairable. They will carry the rejection with them the rest of their life. No gift or "quality time" with dad can undo the damage a child suffers when daddy rejects mommy. If Daddy can stop loving Mommy, he can stop loving me too. Maybe he has already stopped loving me. Maybe that's why he left.
There is no greater gift you can give to your kids than to love their Mommy.
In addition to abusing your wife and children, the BODY OF CHRIST is damaged when you leave your family. How dare you sever the body in this way and then tell me "its none of your business." When the toe is bleeding, how can it say to the hands, "leave me alone.. this doesn't concern you." We are a body and we ALL feel the pain of this violence that has been inflicted upon the body.
In addition to abusing your spouse, your children, and the body of Christ, you are abusing your country and neglecting your patriotic duty to make the country strong. Our country is weaker every time the fabric of our society (the family) is torn apart. You are a traitor to your country.
But there is hope. You do not HAVE to be a child abuser and a wife abuser. You do not HAVE to inflict this damage to the body of Christ. You do not HAVE to be a traitor to your country. God knows that we are dust. He knows our flesh is weak. Turn back to your family. They desparately want you to come home. It will take a lot of hard work, but your children need you at home. Turn back to God. He is waiting for you like the father waiting for the prodigal son. The fatted calf is ready for the feast the moment you come home. Your country is counting on your children to be the strength of the next generation. Go home so that they can be strong.
I am praying desparately for the restoration of your marriage. So are your children.
But if you are determined to inflict this violence on your family and on society, I think it would be better if God took you home right away. Surely the pain of being a widow or an orphan is easier to bear than the pain of rejection. I pray that you will go home or that God will take you from this earth - for the sake of your children.
"I was just thinking about you and I was praying for your family. I know that your wife is far from perfect, but I am praying for restoration anyway. I assume you were married in the Christian sense and not just the legal sense. If that is the case, you have desolved the contract, but the vow before God remains. Don't be guilty of perjuring yourself in God's court. Go back to your family. You are their protector. I pray that you will undo this great violence you have done to your wife and children."
In addition to violently abusing the wife to whom he has a Biblical mandate to protect, the children are also violently abused in the process.
The man that is married in the Christian sense is the covenent initiater. As such, he bears the full responsiblity to see that the covenent is fulfilled. Christian marriage is not a legal contract based on distrust of the other party (if you do this, I will do this... as long as I feel a certain way). It is not a legal contract that can be desolved at the whim of one party or the other. Christian marriage is a covenent relationship before God. God has a covenent with Isreal. They act like a bunch of goof balls. Yet God is faithful to His covenent even when the object of the covenent is unlovable and unloving. Marriage is a picture of God's covenent with us. The man is responsible for the integrity of the covenent.
The emotional abuse to the children in irrepairable. They will carry the rejection with them the rest of their life. No gift or "quality time" with dad can undo the damage a child suffers when daddy rejects mommy. If Daddy can stop loving Mommy, he can stop loving me too. Maybe he has already stopped loving me. Maybe that's why he left.
There is no greater gift you can give to your kids than to love their Mommy.
In addition to abusing your wife and children, the BODY OF CHRIST is damaged when you leave your family. How dare you sever the body in this way and then tell me "its none of your business." When the toe is bleeding, how can it say to the hands, "leave me alone.. this doesn't concern you." We are a body and we ALL feel the pain of this violence that has been inflicted upon the body.
In addition to abusing your spouse, your children, and the body of Christ, you are abusing your country and neglecting your patriotic duty to make the country strong. Our country is weaker every time the fabric of our society (the family) is torn apart. You are a traitor to your country.
But there is hope. You do not HAVE to be a child abuser and a wife abuser. You do not HAVE to inflict this damage to the body of Christ. You do not HAVE to be a traitor to your country. God knows that we are dust. He knows our flesh is weak. Turn back to your family. They desparately want you to come home. It will take a lot of hard work, but your children need you at home. Turn back to God. He is waiting for you like the father waiting for the prodigal son. The fatted calf is ready for the feast the moment you come home. Your country is counting on your children to be the strength of the next generation. Go home so that they can be strong.
I am praying desparately for the restoration of your marriage. So are your children.
But if you are determined to inflict this violence on your family and on society, I think it would be better if God took you home right away. Surely the pain of being a widow or an orphan is easier to bear than the pain of rejection. I pray that you will go home or that God will take you from this earth - for the sake of your children.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Woman at the Well
Here are my deeeeep thoughts from church on Sunday.
The story was about the woman at the well (or something around those verses in John). She was a Samaritan - hated by the Jews - just because they were from Samaria. Jesus asks her for a drink. Of course she is shocked that a Jew would even speak to her, much less ask her for water. What is he doing here anyway? Most Jews go AROUND Samaria, not THROUGH it. Remember the good Samaritan helping the beaten and bloody Jew? Also unheard of, shocking, in that culture.
Anyway, Jesus asks her to go get her husband. She doesn't have a husband. Jesus says "I know, and in fact, the guy you are living with now is not your husband." She had been with lots of "husbands." You know the type. Probably a very needy (aren't we all?) woman going from man to man's bed trying to satisfy a deep need that she can't fully describe. Maybe she needed security, maybe her Daddy never hugged her, or maybe it was just simple promiscuity. We don't know.
I wonder what Imus would say if he were reporting this story? He'd probably be back off the air for a while.
This woman is amazed by Jesus' ability to "tell me everything I ever did." Jesus didn't condemn her or throw rocks at her, he just told her what she had done. I think it was more than historical accounting that got her. Mabye it was something about the way he looked at her. Maybe it was a kindness in His voice that she had never heard from a man. Maybe he was the first man that she ever met that treated her with dignity and respect. I'll bet he was the first man that ever loved her just because she was His - not because of what she could give.
She ran back to the village and told everyone that would listen, "you have GOT to meet this man that told me everything I ever did." Two points here: 1. I do not think I would go running down the street to meet a man who could tell the whole village everything I have ever done. I am kind of a private person. I don't want anyone going through my garbage. But this woman, she had reached her breaking point. The point where she didn't care anymore. She wanted Jesus' living water more than she wanted her privacy. I believe that Jesus wants to bring us all to that point. To the point where we want Him more than we want anything else - including our dignity and pride.
Point #2. This woman did not go and kick the man out of her house or go through any 12-step program to get "clean" or "certifiably holy", before she was used by God. She simply ran and invited people to come see this amazing man who promised living waters to all who would come.
If there was ever a broken vessel for carrying the light of Christ, she was it. We don't have to be perfect* to share Jesus with others. He knows we are dust. He knows we are frail. He knows we are broken and bound to this sinful flesh until the day he calls us home.
Deep thought: What we are should never disqualify us from proclaiming who He is.
*disclaimer: Romans 6:1-2
The story was about the woman at the well (or something around those verses in John). She was a Samaritan - hated by the Jews - just because they were from Samaria. Jesus asks her for a drink. Of course she is shocked that a Jew would even speak to her, much less ask her for water. What is he doing here anyway? Most Jews go AROUND Samaria, not THROUGH it. Remember the good Samaritan helping the beaten and bloody Jew? Also unheard of, shocking, in that culture.
Anyway, Jesus asks her to go get her husband. She doesn't have a husband. Jesus says "I know, and in fact, the guy you are living with now is not your husband." She had been with lots of "husbands." You know the type. Probably a very needy (aren't we all?) woman going from man to man's bed trying to satisfy a deep need that she can't fully describe. Maybe she needed security, maybe her Daddy never hugged her, or maybe it was just simple promiscuity. We don't know.
I wonder what Imus would say if he were reporting this story? He'd probably be back off the air for a while.
This woman is amazed by Jesus' ability to "tell me everything I ever did." Jesus didn't condemn her or throw rocks at her, he just told her what she had done. I think it was more than historical accounting that got her. Mabye it was something about the way he looked at her. Maybe it was a kindness in His voice that she had never heard from a man. Maybe he was the first man that she ever met that treated her with dignity and respect. I'll bet he was the first man that ever loved her just because she was His - not because of what she could give.
She ran back to the village and told everyone that would listen, "you have GOT to meet this man that told me everything I ever did." Two points here: 1. I do not think I would go running down the street to meet a man who could tell the whole village everything I have ever done. I am kind of a private person. I don't want anyone going through my garbage. But this woman, she had reached her breaking point. The point where she didn't care anymore. She wanted Jesus' living water more than she wanted her privacy. I believe that Jesus wants to bring us all to that point. To the point where we want Him more than we want anything else - including our dignity and pride.
Point #2. This woman did not go and kick the man out of her house or go through any 12-step program to get "clean" or "certifiably holy", before she was used by God. She simply ran and invited people to come see this amazing man who promised living waters to all who would come.
If there was ever a broken vessel for carrying the light of Christ, she was it. We don't have to be perfect* to share Jesus with others. He knows we are dust. He knows we are frail. He knows we are broken and bound to this sinful flesh until the day he calls us home.
Deep thought: What we are should never disqualify us from proclaiming who He is.
*disclaimer: Romans 6:1-2
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Angry White Man
I think I resemble that remark...
From the Aspen Times..
There is a great amount of interest in this year’s presidential elections, as everybody seems to recognize that our next president has to be a lot better than George Bush. The Democrats are riding high with two groundbreaking candidates — a woman and an African-American — while the conservative Republicans are in a quandary about their party’s nod to a quasi-liberal maverick, John McCain.
Each candidate is carefully pandering to a smorgasbord of special-interest groups, ranging from gay, lesbian and transgender people to children of illegal immigrants to working mothers to evangelical Christians.
There is one group no one has recognized, and it is the group that will decide the election: the Angry White Man. The Angry White Man comes from all economic backgrounds, from dirt-poor to filthy rich. He represents all geographic areas in America, from urban sophisticate to rural redneck, deep South to mountain West, left Coast to Eastern Seaboard.
The rest of the article...
http://www.aspentimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?Dato=20080209&Kategori=ASPENWEEKLY06&Lopenr=198091324&Ref=AR&template=printart
From the Aspen Times..
There is a great amount of interest in this year’s presidential elections, as everybody seems to recognize that our next president has to be a lot better than George Bush. The Democrats are riding high with two groundbreaking candidates — a woman and an African-American — while the conservative Republicans are in a quandary about their party’s nod to a quasi-liberal maverick, John McCain.
Each candidate is carefully pandering to a smorgasbord of special-interest groups, ranging from gay, lesbian and transgender people to children of illegal immigrants to working mothers to evangelical Christians.
There is one group no one has recognized, and it is the group that will decide the election: the Angry White Man. The Angry White Man comes from all economic backgrounds, from dirt-poor to filthy rich. He represents all geographic areas in America, from urban sophisticate to rural redneck, deep South to mountain West, left Coast to Eastern Seaboard.
The rest of the article...
http://www.aspentimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?Dato=20080209&Kategori=ASPENWEEKLY06&Lopenr=198091324&Ref=AR&template=printart
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Progressives
This election season, everyone is talking about change. We have to change the way things are done. You have to have hope...and change. There is no great detail about what the changes are. Just a promise to change seems to be virtue enough.
It reminds me of going to Disney World. The princesses sing "you have to belive." All your dreams come true if you only believe. Tinkerbell flys over, the fireworks go off and everyone goes nuts. My quesiton is, believe in what?
The current candidates seem to be very Disneyesque. You just have to believe in change.
WHAT?
I usually do not identify myself as a "progressive," because I do not agree with much of the change that "progressives" spout. However, it has occured to me that we all want progress. We all want change for the better (not just a change). If being a progressive is wanting to progress towards a better way, then maybe I am a progressive too.
However, it is sometimes necessary to make a u-turn if you want to make progress.
You missed your turn 10 miles back. What are you going to do? Keep heading down the interstate at 85 mph? Probably. You aren't going anywhere, but you are getting there fast. You are making "progress." It feels good. Lets change drivers. That feels even better! That place you wanted to get to seems less appealing now that you are MOOOOVING down the highway baby.
The problem is, that you aren't going anywhere. There is just a lot of activity and a lot of energy being expended.
Our country, our churches, our society is heading down a path. Where is that path taking us? Is it taking us to a place that we want to go? Did we miss our turn 10 miles back?
I think we did.
I think that we need to turn back. We need to get on a path that leads to the place we all want to go. Our country has a constitution that is not a living and breathing document. Judges are making interpretations that our founding fathers never intended. Our government has seized powers that are not granted by the constitution. Our tax system is unethical and unconstitutional.
Our churches have relinquished their moral authority in our society. The blood and the cross are hardly mentioned. People are not repenting because there is nothing to be ashamed of.
Our schools (and colleges) are becoming social engineering laboratories rather than institutions of learning.
As a conservative that believes in God, the Bible, and the US Constitution, I think that this country needs to make a u-turn back to the old time Religion. We need to make a u-turn back to the government that our founding fathers envisioned. We need to make a u-turn back to an education system that educates rather than indoctorinates.
Only by making a u-turn can we make the progress that we all want. A bright future for our children's children depends on us. The new progressives.
It reminds me of going to Disney World. The princesses sing "you have to belive." All your dreams come true if you only believe. Tinkerbell flys over, the fireworks go off and everyone goes nuts. My quesiton is, believe in what?
The current candidates seem to be very Disneyesque. You just have to believe in change.
WHAT?
I usually do not identify myself as a "progressive," because I do not agree with much of the change that "progressives" spout. However, it has occured to me that we all want progress. We all want change for the better (not just a change). If being a progressive is wanting to progress towards a better way, then maybe I am a progressive too.
However, it is sometimes necessary to make a u-turn if you want to make progress.
You missed your turn 10 miles back. What are you going to do? Keep heading down the interstate at 85 mph? Probably. You aren't going anywhere, but you are getting there fast. You are making "progress." It feels good. Lets change drivers. That feels even better! That place you wanted to get to seems less appealing now that you are MOOOOVING down the highway baby.
The problem is, that you aren't going anywhere. There is just a lot of activity and a lot of energy being expended.
Our country, our churches, our society is heading down a path. Where is that path taking us? Is it taking us to a place that we want to go? Did we miss our turn 10 miles back?
I think we did.
I think that we need to turn back. We need to get on a path that leads to the place we all want to go. Our country has a constitution that is not a living and breathing document. Judges are making interpretations that our founding fathers never intended. Our government has seized powers that are not granted by the constitution. Our tax system is unethical and unconstitutional.
Our churches have relinquished their moral authority in our society. The blood and the cross are hardly mentioned. People are not repenting because there is nothing to be ashamed of.
Our schools (and colleges) are becoming social engineering laboratories rather than institutions of learning.
As a conservative that believes in God, the Bible, and the US Constitution, I think that this country needs to make a u-turn back to the old time Religion. We need to make a u-turn back to the government that our founding fathers envisioned. We need to make a u-turn back to an education system that educates rather than indoctorinates.
Only by making a u-turn can we make the progress that we all want. A bright future for our children's children depends on us. The new progressives.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Evelyn is Recovering Well
Evelyn told me last night that she is "back to normal." That is good because we have some sort of lesson or practice nearly every day starting this week.
It was nice to take a sabbatical from all things outside the home for a few months. I think the kids enjoyed it too.
It was nice to take a sabbatical from all things outside the home for a few months. I think the kids enjoyed it too.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Homeschooling
Since I am the only one that ever reads this blog, here is a link that will help me next time someone asks me about homeschooling.
The Bitter Homeschooler
The Bitter Homeschooler
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Turn it up
I remember when I was in high school I had a Lynyrd Skynyrd album. All their pictures were on the back. My mom asked me which one was Lynyrd. I didn't know. I guessed the lead singer.
This was back in the day when audiophiles worried about the quality of their needle and the wow and flutter of their turntable. I had some spare tubes lying around just in case one blew. That Freebird solo would really stress the old tubes - especially when you turned the volume up to "11" (a gratuitous "Spinal Tap" reference).
I soon learned that Lynyrd was not the lead singer. No one was named Lynyrd. I only suffered mild humiliation from my wise and worldly next door neighbor for that one. He let me off easy. I considered him to be extremely wise and cool solely because he was one year ahead of me in school. He knew all about Lynyrd Skynyrd...and other cool bands.
Thirty years later...
I found my Gold and Platnium CD when we moved. It has all the best from Lynyrd Skynyrd. Sweet Home Alabama, Gimme Three Steps, Free Bird.... an audio feast.
My car stereo doesn't have an "11." In fact, there aren't ANY numbers. I keep turning and turning and turning... it just spins around and doesn't get ANY louder. No bother. By the looks and gestures that I am getting at stop lights and gas stations, I am sure that everyone is enjoying my Gold and Platnium with me.
A glorious week.
I also had Max McClain's CD in the car with me. He's the guy with the deep voice and the British accent that reads the Bible on the radio. He is very expressive. A nice presentation.
I get in the car a few days later. A guy a the gas station is forcing me to listen to his "music." I feel violated. WWJD? I decided to get even. A battle of the bands. Make his ears bleed. I know just the song to counter his "onslaught on humanity" so loosely called "music."
Turn it up.
As I am digging in my console... there it is. Gold and Platinum...Disc 2 (the best one).... broken... no shattered....
It had been crushed by the Word of God.
Evelyn thinks that it was a divine intervention in my life. Kind of like when all the pagan idols in the Old Testament kept falling down before the ark of the Lord.
I don't know. What do you think?
This was back in the day when audiophiles worried about the quality of their needle and the wow and flutter of their turntable. I had some spare tubes lying around just in case one blew. That Freebird solo would really stress the old tubes - especially when you turned the volume up to "11" (a gratuitous "Spinal Tap" reference).
I soon learned that Lynyrd was not the lead singer. No one was named Lynyrd. I only suffered mild humiliation from my wise and worldly next door neighbor for that one. He let me off easy. I considered him to be extremely wise and cool solely because he was one year ahead of me in school. He knew all about Lynyrd Skynyrd...and other cool bands.
Thirty years later...
I found my Gold and Platnium CD when we moved. It has all the best from Lynyrd Skynyrd. Sweet Home Alabama, Gimme Three Steps, Free Bird.... an audio feast.
My car stereo doesn't have an "11." In fact, there aren't ANY numbers. I keep turning and turning and turning... it just spins around and doesn't get ANY louder. No bother. By the looks and gestures that I am getting at stop lights and gas stations, I am sure that everyone is enjoying my Gold and Platnium with me.
A glorious week.
I also had Max McClain's CD in the car with me. He's the guy with the deep voice and the British accent that reads the Bible on the radio. He is very expressive. A nice presentation.
I get in the car a few days later. A guy a the gas station is forcing me to listen to his "music." I feel violated. WWJD? I decided to get even. A battle of the bands. Make his ears bleed. I know just the song to counter his "onslaught on humanity" so loosely called "music."
Turn it up.
As I am digging in my console... there it is. Gold and Platinum...Disc 2 (the best one).... broken... no shattered....
It had been crushed by the Word of God.
Evelyn thinks that it was a divine intervention in my life. Kind of like when all the pagan idols in the Old Testament kept falling down before the ark of the Lord.
I don't know. What do you think?
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
God has a Plan
Every Christmas season we tell our kids the Christmas story.
Its not what you think.
We start in Genesis - and it takes weeks. Sometimes its at breakfast or dinner. Sometimes its at bedtime. We have a few visual aids that the Children can stick to a flannel Christmas tree when we are done with a certain segment. The idea is to put baby Jesus on the tree by Christmas.
Its the middle of January, all the Christmas decor is put away, and we are still a long way from putting baby Jesus on the tree.
I am doing the story telling this year and I have found myself reverting to a common theme, a commonality that ties all the Bible stories together. "God has a plan." Each one of these characters plays a vital role in the greatest story every told. God used each of them to accomplish His ultimate purpose.
In Jeremiah God famously tells the Israelites:
When I think of God's "PLAN" I always think that it is something grandiose. I keep wondering when "God's plan" for MY life is going to kick in.
As we have told the stories of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Daniel, Ruth, Boaz, David, Solomon, and so many others, it has struck me that "God's plan" may be very mundane - even painful.
What did Issac do? He just lived his life and had a set of twins - he even failed at maintaining order in his household. His kids HATED each other. His younger son lied to him as he lay dying. Yet Issac's life is essential in God's plan. The Messiah is coming through his bloodline. His great purpose in life was to continue the bloodline.
"Well done my good and faithful servant."
"Huh? What did I do? I just took care of my sheep."
"You lived and had a family."
"But I was a terrible father."
"But my purpose was accomplished."
Jacob had a pretty rough go of it too. He had to work 14 years to earn his wife. She couldn't have children, but when she did have a child, he was a little bratty - so much so that his step brothers faked his death and sold him into slavery. Imagine the heartache of losing an only child (by that wife). Then the drought/famine - the worries of taking care of his family. Then having to send his beloved Benjamin to Egypt, only to have him imprisoned...Then you have to leave the land you love and move to Egypt to live among strangers. This man's life was one tragedy after another. Yet God's purpose was accomplished. "Well done."
What did Boaz do? He ran his (very successful) business and married a pretty little widow that came and lay at his feet one night during the harvest. They had a child named Jessee who had a child that eventually became the king of Israel (David).
"Well done my good and faithful servant."
"Uh.. thanks. "
I always thought I had to be a David, a Joseph, or a modern day Dwight Moody, Billy Graham, or a billionaire tycoon to accomplish God's purpose in my life.
I am coming to realize that it is ok to be an Isaac or a Boaz. Maybe I will never know what part of God's plan was accomplished just because I lived, married, and had children.
God may never bless me with that knowledge. But by faith, I carry on, knowing that His ways, His thoughts, are higher than mine. By faith, I know that God has a purpose and a reason for my life. By faith, I am going to have baby Jesus on that tree by the end of this month.
By faith, I know that when I see Him face to face I will finally understand and hopefully.... yes hopefully... he will say "well done."
Its not what you think.
We start in Genesis - and it takes weeks. Sometimes its at breakfast or dinner. Sometimes its at bedtime. We have a few visual aids that the Children can stick to a flannel Christmas tree when we are done with a certain segment. The idea is to put baby Jesus on the tree by Christmas.
Its the middle of January, all the Christmas decor is put away, and we are still a long way from putting baby Jesus on the tree.
I am doing the story telling this year and I have found myself reverting to a common theme, a commonality that ties all the Bible stories together. "God has a plan." Each one of these characters plays a vital role in the greatest story every told. God used each of them to accomplish His ultimate purpose.
In Jeremiah God famously tells the Israelites:
- "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (KJV)
- "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)
When I think of God's "PLAN" I always think that it is something grandiose. I keep wondering when "God's plan" for MY life is going to kick in.
As we have told the stories of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Daniel, Ruth, Boaz, David, Solomon, and so many others, it has struck me that "God's plan" may be very mundane - even painful.
What did Issac do? He just lived his life and had a set of twins - he even failed at maintaining order in his household. His kids HATED each other. His younger son lied to him as he lay dying. Yet Issac's life is essential in God's plan. The Messiah is coming through his bloodline. His great purpose in life was to continue the bloodline.
"Well done my good and faithful servant."
"Huh? What did I do? I just took care of my sheep."
"You lived and had a family."
"But I was a terrible father."
"But my purpose was accomplished."
Jacob had a pretty rough go of it too. He had to work 14 years to earn his wife. She couldn't have children, but when she did have a child, he was a little bratty - so much so that his step brothers faked his death and sold him into slavery. Imagine the heartache of losing an only child (by that wife). Then the drought/famine - the worries of taking care of his family. Then having to send his beloved Benjamin to Egypt, only to have him imprisoned...Then you have to leave the land you love and move to Egypt to live among strangers. This man's life was one tragedy after another. Yet God's purpose was accomplished. "Well done."
What did Boaz do? He ran his (very successful) business and married a pretty little widow that came and lay at his feet one night during the harvest. They had a child named Jessee who had a child that eventually became the king of Israel (David).
"Well done my good and faithful servant."
"Uh.. thanks. "
I always thought I had to be a David, a Joseph, or a modern day Dwight Moody, Billy Graham, or a billionaire tycoon to accomplish God's purpose in my life.
I am coming to realize that it is ok to be an Isaac or a Boaz. Maybe I will never know what part of God's plan was accomplished just because I lived, married, and had children.
God may never bless me with that knowledge. But by faith, I carry on, knowing that His ways, His thoughts, are higher than mine. By faith, I know that God has a purpose and a reason for my life. By faith, I am going to have baby Jesus on that tree by the end of this month.
By faith, I know that when I see Him face to face I will finally understand and hopefully.... yes hopefully... he will say "well done."
Monday, January 7, 2008
Three Gifts
Perhaps the biggest epiphany we had during the Christmas season was that we could give them gifts at other times of the year.
It just hit me like a ton of bricks. I can buy stuff next month on sale and by then I may not want it anyway. I don't have to go out and get all the other kids one more stupid gift that they will never play with just because Jonathan has eight gifts and they only have seven.
What freedom! What euphoria! No more Christmas Eve shopping!
The number that we decided on was 3. Thats right. Just three things to open on Christmas morning. Thats 15 presents under the tree. Thats IT. No more.... well maybe something little in the stocking..... but thats IT.
One of the kids wanted a go-cart. Lets wait til' spring! Why spend all our $$$ in December? One kid wanted a transforming monster thingy that slimed. " Are you SURE thats in your top 3?" mu-hah-hah-hah (I laughed silently because I HATE those things....)
Another kid complains. "Only three gifts? awwww man."
"That's right. Three gifts. Baby Jesus only got three gifts. You think you are better than baby Jesus?"
The kids still got stuff from grandparents, cousins, and friends. Christmas was still a crap fest. You know what I mean. After all the dust settles, there is new crap (and a few nice things) everywhere. The kids made each other some very creative gifts out of toilet paper rolls, glue and string (if that helps you imagine what a crap fest looks like).
My hope is that as the years go by, our three gift policy will bring some sanity to the gift giving process and be a lasting tradition that helps us remember the extravagance of the Gift that was given to all of us.
It just hit me like a ton of bricks. I can buy stuff next month on sale and by then I may not want it anyway. I don't have to go out and get all the other kids one more stupid gift that they will never play with just because Jonathan has eight gifts and they only have seven.
What freedom! What euphoria! No more Christmas Eve shopping!
The number that we decided on was 3. Thats right. Just three things to open on Christmas morning. Thats 15 presents under the tree. Thats IT. No more.... well maybe something little in the stocking..... but thats IT.
One of the kids wanted a go-cart. Lets wait til' spring! Why spend all our $$$ in December? One kid wanted a transforming monster thingy that slimed. " Are you SURE thats in your top 3?" mu-hah-hah-hah (I laughed silently because I HATE those things....)
Another kid complains. "Only three gifts? awwww man."
"That's right. Three gifts. Baby Jesus only got three gifts. You think you are better than baby Jesus?"
The kids still got stuff from grandparents, cousins, and friends. Christmas was still a crap fest. You know what I mean. After all the dust settles, there is new crap (and a few nice things) everywhere. The kids made each other some very creative gifts out of toilet paper rolls, glue and string (if that helps you imagine what a crap fest looks like).
My hope is that as the years go by, our three gift policy will bring some sanity to the gift giving process and be a lasting tradition that helps us remember the extravagance of the Gift that was given to all of us.
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