Predestination: NOT A Bad Word

Here's an anecdote that vividly illustrates how some folks live in doctrinal paradigms:

A few months back I found myself teaching from Ephesians chapter one in a high school class on Sunday morning. Now, of course this is powerful stuff regarding election and predestination and God's glory.

All at once, one young man fairly burst out with, "you mean you believe in predestination?!" My response? "Well, yeah!"

What really struck me was the tone the teen took: it was as if predestination was a bad word, cursing, or some kind of heresy.

"You mean you believe in predestination?"

Well of course, it's a clear biblical doctrine. There need be no speculation about it whatsoever! It's a jewel of Scripture! Yes, I believe in predestination, because I believe the Bible!

Now, this young fella had no doubt been taught (or at least given the impression) by his folks and his denomination that predestination is a dirty word. I suspect that is because their doctrinal paradigm doesn't allow for this sort of thing (you know, that God has a sovereign plan and He has every right to do whatever He pleases - not that they would verbally deny this, because I don't think they actually believe it. How much is one allowed to put in parentheses, anyway? And now, back to our story...).

What struck me so forcefully about this whole situation was that such a clear Biblical doctrine was so easily tossed aside without a thought: just a knee-jerk Arminian reaction (and really, I suppose anyone could be knee-jerkish). I truly think this young person is sensible enough to see the truth the Bible teaches, if he'll stop and look at it. It's just so amazing sometimes what gets rejected for the sake of a precious paradigm.

Short Thoughts On Suffering

Why are we so surprised when life feels something akin to a ride through a meat grinder? The Christian life gets difficult and suddenly we're trying to figure out what went wrong and asking all of our friends to pray for us so that things will get better. What is it we expect?

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you." 1 Peter 4:12

I think it's remarkable that as soon as Jesus was baptized by John and received the acclaim and approval of the Father, "[a]t once the Spirit sent Him out into the desert." There was no hiatus between baptism and trial. As somewhat of an ancillary thought, I wonder if it was there, in the desert, that place meant specifically to be place of trial and testing, where Jesus our High Priest was "tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin."

I guess I'm just pondering the certainty and necessity of suffering in the Christian life, as well as the tension between suffering and joy. Both are promised, but only joy is optional. I don't want to recoil with shock when suffering - whether from Divine discipline, seasons of growth, persecution for doing right, or whatever - settles in like smog.

The world is full of suffering, but for the Christian suffering has a refining influence, and that should be cause for joy and peace.

Shadows, Steam and Vapors

You should know that I had intended on writing about Fahrenheit 451 even before I saw this post today. My post, however, shall not be satirical, but observational.

Fahrenheit 451 has always been a favorite novel of mine. I've read it several times and Ray Bradbury's word craft is brilliant. I've read his short stories as well, and no matter what you think of Bradbury, he's an entertaining, insightful and gifted writer. So, to the point...

In a passage that comes late in the book, the character Guy Montag is trying desperately to escape capture by the authorities (his crime: becoming a book "sympathizer" and refusing to do his duty as a "fireman" and burn books). It's night time, and helicopters and mechanical hounds are on his trail. In a last ditch attempt at escape, he jumps into a river and floats downstream and away from danger using his valise as a flotation device.

As the current carries him gently along, he senses himself moving from a world of unreality into reality. Bradbury describes Montag as "going away from the people who ate shadows for breakfast, steam for lunch and vapors for supper." And THAT is the line that I underlined in my book.

What a perfect description of the life lived by so many people. Our lives are a vapor anyway, just a blip on the radar screen, and a life lived apart from Christ is as empty as the darkest vacuum.

My prayer for those around me who have not been redeemed is that the Holy Spirit would burn off and blow away the fog of deception that keeps them in darkness. After all, there was a time when I was blind, but God in His mercy healed me, gave me back my sight and brought me to my senses so I could see hear His voice, see the truth, taste His goodness and feel His forgiveness.

Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:25-26

Lux Exerit

For a proper beginning to this post, open the following link in a new tab or window and listen to "A Little Bit of Light" while you read . . .

A Little Bit Of Light - Album Version - Phil Keaggy

I've done it again and started reading a third book while in the midst of two others. Surely I'm not the only person on earth who does this. I suppose it's the paper equivalent of channel surfing...only more worthwhile.

At any rate, what I picked up was a biography of Vincent Van Gogh and it's fascinating. It's amazing to me to watch the growth and transformation of this creative, troubled, struggling man's art. He surely would have been an interesting character to know, had he allowed me into his world. He studied the work of many great men but disdained copying their techniques, he was dependent on his brother's monthly stipend for many years, he married a prostitute, and, much like Hosea, stayed with her for a very long time in spite of her repeated unfaithfulness. The stages of his life were characterized by searching and yearning for truth and love.

I don't know if the phrase originated with Van Gogh, but he had written in the margins of a Rembrandt etching the words "In medio noctis vim suam lux exerit" : In the middle of the night light spreads its power.

Now, as a Believer saved by grace, that makes me think of many things: the darkness of fallen man, the yearning for hope, the glory of the Savior, the power of God, the blessedness of redemption.

I for one am thankful that I've been sought out by the Savior and given hope, so much hope. Even in darkness, light shines - and it shines powerfully.

"Even in darkness, light dawns for the upright..." Psalm 112:4

Sarah Talks About Life

Today I'm offering up something written by a young lady in our church. Sarah is a senior in high school and demonstrates an amazing depth of wisdom for one so young. Rare is the teenager that looks far enough out to see the end of life and consider the consequences of choices and attitudes. Sarah also happens to be a vibrant and creative songwriter and guitar player (like, really wonderfully good! (: ). Honestly, we have a wagon load of outstanding young people in our church, and Sarah is just one example. So here is "life" just like she wrote it:

life.is.complicated. very very confusing and complicated. because it means so much more than what we think that is does.
High School conforms you to a way of thinking only in the moment instead of about the future. It makes you think that high school is all that life contains when in reality, there is SO much more, SOOOO much more. It makes people think they really know who they are, but they have NO idea.

The maturity of high school students is not very high (myself included). I HATE high school, I hate that we think life in high school is all about popularity, being homecoming king or queen looking cool in front of the "popular" ones. but I want to tell you that by the time i'm thirty i am not going to care how hot the guys thought i was because that isnt what life is all about.

Life isn't only about image.

Yeah, I guess to some people it is.....but look at how superficial and shallow that way of thinking is. and too me, it's more about what people think of me. And i don't mean the type of clothes i wear, my haircut, or even my looks. There is a difference of hygene and appearence.

Lets face it, no one is going to remember the one thing you said to them, the plays you made in football or volleyball. No one is going to remember that...but what people are going to remember is the way you made them feel and if you were a good person, if you out of all people would come up and say "hi, how are you" when no one else would. its about what you made THEM feel like. feeling invisible sucks, we've all been there. I hate that every school has invisible kids. I hate that those people have no one to turn to...and we are ALL guilty of turning away just because they are the slightest bit different.but life gets hard and sometimes we all need someone to turn too...but if no one is there what are they to do? Maybe the reason people say the hurtful things they do is because they are dying inside for a little attention, just a simple smile. I have had things that are said to me that make no sense and are hurtful and sometimes they are by my closest friends, but maybe instead of getting mad i should actually look and ask myself what i can do to help them. Maybe i should be the bigger person and be a friend to them even if they werent one to me. Because i am SICK of being self-centered. I am TIRED of only being concerned about what happens to me. Instead I wanna be someone who sticks out, not because she's "hot", not because she's popular, but because I care.

Ultimately life isn't about all the people you had sex with, it's not about how cool you looked while smoking, it's not about "last weekend when you got totally trashed". It's about being the best person you can be, it's about fulfilling the plans god specifically designed for you and being a light in the darkness. I refuse to be a thirty five year old stuck in high school memories.

High school is just a chapter in the book of life. We don't know when we're gonna die. It could be today...or tomorrow...or maybe even in 80 years. I honestly have no idea.
but what i do know is that i hope all the people that come to my funeral are able to say.... "that Sarah M. left a legacy on life. she loved and sincerely cared for all those around her. She STRIVED to bring a smile to everyones face because they deserved it and deserve someone to be there and care for them. Everyone does and Sarah wanted people to see that."

I don't know why i am writing this, but i think it's because there are other people that feel this way but are too afraid to share it and instead are conforming to the thoughts of every other high school student. I dont know about you...but i want to be different. I want to be a light because I am not ashamed of what I believe in. I hope this note makes you think about where your life is going and if your doing everything in your ability to make it the best it can be. No one deserves to be broken and I want to help and see every broken heart that there is....I want to help mend you back together...

October

Here in my part of the world, October is a cool sigh during the year, a time of new colors and aromas, a restful time. So, in celebration of my favorite month, I give you . . . some "October-y" stuff: a brief and beautiful song from U2 and a poem...

There was a night, last October,

the starlight pierced - do you remember?

The air was clear and cool and still.

It made the music of the stars more delicate and fragile:

the crystal sound of a string plucked,

the sweet tremor of a stellar chord struck.

And, oh, the moon was the descant

high and beautiful and distant

that made me want to sing along

but my voice was not that strong.

So I just stood and listened with my eyes,

longingly gazing at that

shimmering sky.

Comfort Is Overrated

Recently I returned from a 1500 mile motorcycle ride up to Lake Superior and back from my home in Kansas. I spent two days by that beautiful, cold, blue lake and a couple days travelling. It's nice to get away and be alone sometimes. It separates you from all your props and the conveyor belt of normal life. The thing is, when you're by yourself, you have to deal with yourself. 1500 miles is a lot of time to spend inside your helmet with your own thoughts. Frankly, I didn't like a whole lot of what I found. I spent 100 miles or so between Mason City, Iowa and Minneapolis, Minnesota sifting through my soul and letting the Holy Spirit show me places where I need work. The road to holiness is so often hard, and it seems sometimes like my hiking boots are heavily caked with mud. I've been pondering sanctification lately and the strange journey it seems to be. The older I get, the more disappointed I am with the sludge I keep finding inside and the new ways I find to show off my fallen nature. It's not as if I'm not making progress - God is faithful and has brought me far - but I'm not as good as I once thought I was or should be by now . . .

This kind of work that God does in our lives is never comfortable. But, I realized something after one particularly chilly and saddle-sore day of riding: comfort is overrated.

First, in terms of motorcycling, the fact that I may be slightly wet and shiver now and then and after a couple hours need to shift my seating position to keep my bum from going numb, just isn't really a factor in my enjoyment of the experience. I'll go riding again and again, because the goodness of travelling this way far surpasses the little inconveniences.

Second, in terms of spiritual growth, comfort has never made me any stronger or any wiser. Not once. Anything I've learned has been an outgrowth of difficulty or danger or depression or doubt or discipline. Comfort is nice, but it's overrated. Squirming a little under God's steady hand of discipline or in His refining fire is much to be preferred to not having Him working in my life at all.

So, I'm going to be happy to be comfortable, and I'm going to try to learn to be content when I'm not.