This week’s email is a bit different. It includes a video featuring one of my favorite authors, Brennan Manning. He wrote The Ragamuffin Gospel along with other great books.
There is one question Jesus will ask us and the answer frames our whole life. I found myself so moved by this short clip that I’d like to share it with you and get your thoughts. You can leave a comment on this blog.
But first, the video. Click HERE.
Sincerely in Christ,
George
6.23.2010
On Oil Spills and Original Sin: our sin nature and the destruction of nature
The oil spill in the Gulf is the result of humanity’s most basic sin – greed. It’s inborn in us all at birth. In the best sense, it ensures our survival, but we don’t “naturally” always use our best sense. Greed is our master and our hunger and thirst for energy is our downfall. Oh sure, BP will pay a high price for what may end up being their criminal negligence but the industries and people of the South will pay dearly as well.
And here is the bottom line – the fault lies within us all. We consume the earth’s energy because we feel entitled to our way of living.
The Bible tells us two things: The wages of sin is death. We reap what we sow.
The Gulf is evidence of this truth. The pelicans, fish, the livelihoods, and the LIVES of those men on the oil rig…… gone. Nature itself has been dealt a death blow because of our sin. We have sown seeds of greed and selfishness and have “reaped the whirlwind” (Hosea 8). May God have mercy on us.
Progress, pleasure and a high standard of living…. are they worth the price we are paying? And if we are to repent of our sin, what would it look like?
Sincerely in Christ,
George
And here is the bottom line – the fault lies within us all. We consume the earth’s energy because we feel entitled to our way of living.
The Bible tells us two things: The wages of sin is death. We reap what we sow.
The Gulf is evidence of this truth. The pelicans, fish, the livelihoods, and the LIVES of those men on the oil rig…… gone. Nature itself has been dealt a death blow because of our sin. We have sown seeds of greed and selfishness and have “reaped the whirlwind” (Hosea 8). May God have mercy on us.
Progress, pleasure and a high standard of living…. are they worth the price we are paying? And if we are to repent of our sin, what would it look like?
Sincerely in Christ,
George
6.16.2010
The Pilgrim and the Cell Phone
So I’m at a four-way stop somewhere in Riverhead. I wait my turn, always vigilant in case someone else doesn’t wait their turn. I start to creep forward and sure enough this guy, who's talking on his cell phone, pulls out in front of me. And he’s yelling at me, no less. I wagged my pointer finger at him, thinking to myself, ‘You’re a jerk and gonna kill somebody.’ This guy might be one of those people that the Psalmist refers to as “wicked”.
So the first lesson here is everyone stay OFF your cell phones when you’re driving. It’s the law here in NY, but don’t you think it’s also just plain common sense??
The second lesson? Well, I’m just learning this one. Apart from the illegality of this guy talking on his cell while driving, I find in me the “jerk” that I ascribed to him. My own sinfulness ranks me far below this guy. I have broken God’s laws; neglected God; not trusted Christ as I ought. My words, thoughts, actions, and inactions bring me before the judgment, not of the Riverhead court system, but of God Almighty, who requires much more holiness from me than I give Him. I harbor within my soul anger, anxiousness and a desire for satisfactions outside my Lord’s Kingdom. I have transgressed more than just driving through a stop sign.
And yet – and here is the Good News (borrowing an image related by Puritan author John Bunyan in Pilgrim’s Progress) - as I stand before the judgment seat of God, daily He says to me, “Don’t be afraid. I do not see your sin. I see only the life of my Son in whom you trust. He has offered his life as a substitution for yours. You are now my son through Christ.” From the Father’s perspective, all is well. Nothing can separate me from his love.
See, stopping at a stop sign does not make me good. Not talking on my cell phone while driving doesn’t earn me points with God. Only Christ can do that. No law from God can do that, only Christ can. There is no rightness with God apart from Christ. And it’s only truthfulness on my part about my own condition that can ever bring me the peace that I crave in my relationship with God.
“If we claim that we’re free of sin we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins – make a clean breast of them – He won’t let us down. He’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sin and purge us of all wrongdoing.” 1 John 1:9
Sincerely in Christ,
George
So the first lesson here is everyone stay OFF your cell phones when you’re driving. It’s the law here in NY, but don’t you think it’s also just plain common sense??
The second lesson? Well, I’m just learning this one. Apart from the illegality of this guy talking on his cell while driving, I find in me the “jerk” that I ascribed to him. My own sinfulness ranks me far below this guy. I have broken God’s laws; neglected God; not trusted Christ as I ought. My words, thoughts, actions, and inactions bring me before the judgment, not of the Riverhead court system, but of God Almighty, who requires much more holiness from me than I give Him. I harbor within my soul anger, anxiousness and a desire for satisfactions outside my Lord’s Kingdom. I have transgressed more than just driving through a stop sign.
And yet – and here is the Good News (borrowing an image related by Puritan author John Bunyan in Pilgrim’s Progress) - as I stand before the judgment seat of God, daily He says to me, “Don’t be afraid. I do not see your sin. I see only the life of my Son in whom you trust. He has offered his life as a substitution for yours. You are now my son through Christ.” From the Father’s perspective, all is well. Nothing can separate me from his love.
See, stopping at a stop sign does not make me good. Not talking on my cell phone while driving doesn’t earn me points with God. Only Christ can do that. No law from God can do that, only Christ can. There is no rightness with God apart from Christ. And it’s only truthfulness on my part about my own condition that can ever bring me the peace that I crave in my relationship with God.
“If we claim that we’re free of sin we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins – make a clean breast of them – He won’t let us down. He’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sin and purge us of all wrongdoing.” 1 John 1:9
Sincerely in Christ,
George
6.09.2010
Me and Mr. "K" ... existentialism, perfect love and dog collars
So...now that Pat Hanly is working with me, I find that his love for philosopher Soren Kierkegaard (Mr. “K” or Professor “K” as Pat and I call him) is contagious. I'm not sure Mr. K is a Calvinist but no matter, I really enjoy what I have been reading. Mr. K writes about a “leap of faith” and possessing a deep, personal commitment to Christ. He founded the branch of philosophy known as “Existentialism” (focusing on the meaning of existence for each individual). I’m still learning.
Anyway Mr. K writes about love; love of God and love of each other. I was particularly struck by one of his writings which begins, “To love another in spite of their weaknesses, errors and imperfections is not perfect love.” Whoa. I thought that's what love was all about, but it seems not! Mr. K writes from his experience with Christ that real love, perfect love, is to find someone lovable even WITH their weaknesses and faults. No matter how a person changes, real love sees them as lovable. And that is exactly how Christ loved.
Just think of Peter; how Jesus loved him, all of him, even in the worst moment of his life when he denied that he knew Jesus. Christ did not say to Peter, “Hey, change and only then will I love you.”
Consider this not only in the context of the Christian community, but in your family as well; with all the weaknesses and sin and dysfunction that may occur. You should love them/him/her in the midst of their sin, with their weaknesses firmly in tow. And while you are at it, you must try to love yourself. We sometimes take a dim view of ourselves but God loves us so completely, so fully that we occasionally discover just how great His love is and WE CHANGE. Now isn't that something?
Yours in Christ,
George
P.S. I just ordered one of those training collars for our new dog, Lucy, who has selective deafness...next week I'll let you how THAT went.
Anyway Mr. K writes about love; love of God and love of each other. I was particularly struck by one of his writings which begins, “To love another in spite of their weaknesses, errors and imperfections is not perfect love.” Whoa. I thought that's what love was all about, but it seems not! Mr. K writes from his experience with Christ that real love, perfect love, is to find someone lovable even WITH their weaknesses and faults. No matter how a person changes, real love sees them as lovable. And that is exactly how Christ loved.
Just think of Peter; how Jesus loved him, all of him, even in the worst moment of his life when he denied that he knew Jesus. Christ did not say to Peter, “Hey, change and only then will I love you.”
Consider this not only in the context of the Christian community, but in your family as well; with all the weaknesses and sin and dysfunction that may occur. You should love them/him/her in the midst of their sin, with their weaknesses firmly in tow. And while you are at it, you must try to love yourself. We sometimes take a dim view of ourselves but God loves us so completely, so fully that we occasionally discover just how great His love is and WE CHANGE. Now isn't that something?
Yours in Christ,
George
P.S. I just ordered one of those training collars for our new dog, Lucy, who has selective deafness...next week I'll let you how THAT went.
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