FROM: Vancouver, Canada
ABOUT ME: I'm hopelessly in love with Jesus (He's drop-dead gorgeous). He's hopelessly in love with me (He thinks I'm 'to die for'). What more is there to say?
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Sunday, June 28, 2009,9:53 AM
THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD
I've been reading Colossians 1:15-23 this morning, and thinking about our God and the way we often relate to Him. His is infinite, we are finite - it makes sense that at times we feel we must grasp what we can wrap our minds around in regards to who He is or what is our relationship with Him, and for a while work within that framework.
But even as I find myself doing just that from season to season, I eventually recognize that He is MORE. He is larger, and even the word "larger" is too finite to adequately describe what I am thinking. Jesus is, in fact, the IMAGE of the invisible GOD. That sentence alone stopped me in my tracts for quite a while this morning.
Thinking about the immenseness of God leads me to thinking about many of the messages or sermons I have heard in the last while. A good number of them have had to do with living out our faith, or doing the works to which we are called, or, as my own pastor loves to put it, "talk's cheap." I agree - it is. But even in hearing so much of this important aspect to our faith I feel the need to balance it with a knowledge of the immensity of God - His being the One that created not only our physical earth but all of the kingdoms, thrones and powers that any man has ever had. He created these! I want to remind myself of and soak in the words, "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness" and He died "in order to present [me] holy and blameless and above reproach before Him."
I think that being exhorted to walk out our faith in the way that the scriptures command is important, and goodness knows that we as the church need to do this. But when I don't take the time to remember the vastness of God, and the incredible sacrifice that He has made so as to be able to be with me - ME - I begin to do the works of faith more out of either habit or obligation, or even just because I know that I want to, even if I have lost some concept of why I want to. I don't believe that if this is the way we are executing scriptural commands that they are, in fact, works of faith any longer. I think at that point they are just good morality or good works. But when married to even the tiniest perception of the love of God for us, and our responding love for Him, these works are the active living out of our love relationship and our awe for the majesty of God.
We must not lose sight of the majesty of God - either in our intimacy with Him or our working for Him. But by retaining this knowledge of the Indescribable, our desire to live out lives as He asks becomes a sincere act of love, faith and worship. And in this constant wrestle in our earthly lives with the tension between what we can grasp physically or conceptually and what is too big for us to even mentally grasp, we have this hope: that if we remain in the hope of the gospel we have heard, we will one day not long from now see the Firstborn of all creation face to face, and our struggle between the tangible and the intangible will be over for eternity.
Hallelujah.
But even as I find myself doing just that from season to season, I eventually recognize that He is MORE. He is larger, and even the word "larger" is too finite to adequately describe what I am thinking. Jesus is, in fact, the IMAGE of the invisible GOD. That sentence alone stopped me in my tracts for quite a while this morning.
Thinking about the immenseness of God leads me to thinking about many of the messages or sermons I have heard in the last while. A good number of them have had to do with living out our faith, or doing the works to which we are called, or, as my own pastor loves to put it, "talk's cheap." I agree - it is. But even in hearing so much of this important aspect to our faith I feel the need to balance it with a knowledge of the immensity of God - His being the One that created not only our physical earth but all of the kingdoms, thrones and powers that any man has ever had. He created these! I want to remind myself of and soak in the words, "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness" and He died "in order to present [me] holy and blameless and above reproach before Him."
I think that being exhorted to walk out our faith in the way that the scriptures command is important, and goodness knows that we as the church need to do this. But when I don't take the time to remember the vastness of God, and the incredible sacrifice that He has made so as to be able to be with me - ME - I begin to do the works of faith more out of either habit or obligation, or even just because I know that I want to, even if I have lost some concept of why I want to. I don't believe that if this is the way we are executing scriptural commands that they are, in fact, works of faith any longer. I think at that point they are just good morality or good works. But when married to even the tiniest perception of the love of God for us, and our responding love for Him, these works are the active living out of our love relationship and our awe for the majesty of God.
We must not lose sight of the majesty of God - either in our intimacy with Him or our working for Him. But by retaining this knowledge of the Indescribable, our desire to live out lives as He asks becomes a sincere act of love, faith and worship. And in this constant wrestle in our earthly lives with the tension between what we can grasp physically or conceptually and what is too big for us to even mentally grasp, we have this hope: that if we remain in the hope of the gospel we have heard, we will one day not long from now see the Firstborn of all creation face to face, and our struggle between the tangible and the intangible will be over for eternity.
Hallelujah.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. (Colossians 1:15-23)
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. (Colossians 1:15-23)
Friday, June 26, 2009,9:43 PM
I LOVE LISA LUXFORD
This post is themed "I love Lisa Luxford". It comes with one disclaimer: that though it might sound sarcastic or tongue-in-cheek, it is not. :) (Here's your new post, Lisa....)
I love Lisa Luxford for the following reasons:
...because she gently reminds me when I haven't posted for a while, which encourages me greatly with the knowledge that she reads and enjoys this blog
...because she is half a world away and someone I met for only a few weeks and yet someone I am still privileged to call "friend"
...because she is Aussie (had to say it, mate - not sure it's in the right spot on the list, but it will make all our local Aussies proud that it made the list)
...because she loves people genuinely and deeply
...because she loves Jesus genuinely and deeply
...because she has a smile that will brighten your day and it always makes you feel like seeing you is the brightest thing in her day
...because she exhibits qualities that are consistent with a those of Godly woman - strength of spirit, truthfulness, gentleness and eyes that are fixed on God and looking outward to others
...because she is Lisa Luxford
I love you, Lisa!
Bakes
xoxo
I love Lisa Luxford for the following reasons:
...because she gently reminds me when I haven't posted for a while, which encourages me greatly with the knowledge that she reads and enjoys this blog
...because she is half a world away and someone I met for only a few weeks and yet someone I am still privileged to call "friend"
...because she is Aussie (had to say it, mate - not sure it's in the right spot on the list, but it will make all our local Aussies proud that it made the list)
...because she loves people genuinely and deeply
...because she loves Jesus genuinely and deeply
...because she has a smile that will brighten your day and it always makes you feel like seeing you is the brightest thing in her day
...because she exhibits qualities that are consistent with a those of Godly woman - strength of spirit, truthfulness, gentleness and eyes that are fixed on God and looking outward to others
...because she is Lisa Luxford
I love you, Lisa!
Bakes
xoxo
Friday, May 22, 2009,8:34 PM
LOVE
Love. According to some famous musical sources, it makes the world go 'round. According to the scriptures, it is the very definition of who our God is. And it is the reason behind His rescue of us - love.
So I wonder....why is it that so many of us are afraid to love others? Or perhaps I should say, to love others with abandon? Even telling others that they are loved by us is something that many of us do not do easily. I received a note from a good friend today that simply said at the end, "Love you." It warmed my heart immeasurably and I realized that though I know I am loved, I don't hear those words enough. I told someone today that she was my friend and I loved her. I thought she was going to cry. She doesn't hear those words enough.
Why do we refrain from freely telling others how much they mean to us? Some would say that our actions - what we do - should be enough. I agree that if actions do not follow what is spoken, the words that are spoken are emptied of any meaning. But are actions enough? The reactions I see and experience when the words "I love you" are spoken would seem to indicate otherwise.
Perhaps we are afraid of being vulnerable. If we open our hearts up enough even to express (let alone show) that we love someone - even in friendship - it leaves us open to having our hearts pierced.
Pierced. Precisely what happened to Jesus when He brought us His love in the flesh. He loved. He was vulnerable. He was pierced. And all of it bought my freedom and rescue and the abolishing of my death sentence. This is the power of loving freely.
There is no promise that love is without personal risk or cost.
There is a promise that love is the greatest thing ever to be given or received.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
You are greatly loved.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
So I wonder....why is it that so many of us are afraid to love others? Or perhaps I should say, to love others with abandon? Even telling others that they are loved by us is something that many of us do not do easily. I received a note from a good friend today that simply said at the end, "Love you." It warmed my heart immeasurably and I realized that though I know I am loved, I don't hear those words enough. I told someone today that she was my friend and I loved her. I thought she was going to cry. She doesn't hear those words enough.
Why do we refrain from freely telling others how much they mean to us? Some would say that our actions - what we do - should be enough. I agree that if actions do not follow what is spoken, the words that are spoken are emptied of any meaning. But are actions enough? The reactions I see and experience when the words "I love you" are spoken would seem to indicate otherwise.
Perhaps we are afraid of being vulnerable. If we open our hearts up enough even to express (let alone show) that we love someone - even in friendship - it leaves us open to having our hearts pierced.
Pierced. Precisely what happened to Jesus when He brought us His love in the flesh. He loved. He was vulnerable. He was pierced. And all of it bought my freedom and rescue and the abolishing of my death sentence. This is the power of loving freely.
There is no promise that love is without personal risk or cost.
There is a promise that love is the greatest thing ever to be given or received.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)
You are greatly loved.
Sunday, May 17, 2009,4:56 PM
TWO ULTRA-BLOGGABLE QUOTES
I keep thinking I should write something a little more spiritual these days. But truthfully, I don't usually write that type of thing unless I get inspired by a topic, and lately that has not happened.
What have happened in the last week are two extremely funny comments by a couple of different friends. These friends shall remain nameless, since I quite like them both and wish to retain their friendship. My exposing their identities and attaching them to the following quotes would probably seriously endanger a continuance of any healthy form of relationship with either of them.
The first quote was spoken after both my friend and I being quite hungry at the end of the day and had ordered and eaten a pizza together. My friend said:
And the second quote was spoken last night after all the trailers for Star Trek (the prequel) had completed and the movie was just starting. My friend leaned over and whispered:
Needless to say, both friends have justified their comments, but I won't share that here since it's funnier without. Both situations are still making me giggle. I love my friends.
What have happened in the last week are two extremely funny comments by a couple of different friends. These friends shall remain nameless, since I quite like them both and wish to retain their friendship. My exposing their identities and attaching them to the following quotes would probably seriously endanger a continuance of any healthy form of relationship with either of them.
The first quote was spoken after both my friend and I being quite hungry at the end of the day and had ordered and eaten a pizza together. My friend said:
"It's amazing that after you eat you're not hungry anymore."
And the second quote was spoken last night after all the trailers for Star Trek (the prequel) had completed and the movie was just starting. My friend leaned over and whispered:
"Is this the movie where they say, 'May the force be with you'?"
Needless to say, both friends have justified their comments, but I won't share that here since it's funnier without. Both situations are still making me giggle. I love my friends.
Thursday, May 07, 2009,6:57 PM
TOO FUNNY
I can't help it..... I have to post this. It made me laugh so hard. Seems there was a little "war" going on in this town between the Catholic church and the Presbyterian church. Too, too funny. The Catholics seem to have a way better sense of humour in this particular situation....
(Click on the picutres to enlarge them if you have trouble reading the text.)
(Click on the picutres to enlarge them if you have trouble reading the text.)
Saturday, April 25, 2009,9:17 PM
THE VOICE OF THE LORD
I've been pondering for a while now the absolutely profound nature of the voice of God. Psalm 29 lists some of the incredible things that the voice of God is and also that the voice of God does.
Firstly, the voice of the Lord is....
... over the waters
... powerful
... full of majesty
That's pretty good, but here are some of the things that the voice of the Lord does....
Verse 5: It breaks the cedars of Lebanon. Cedars from Lebanon were what Solomon used to build his lavish palace and his government buildings. It represents wealth and extravagance. The voice of the Lord destroys the power of riches.
Verse 8: It shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. When the Israelites wandered around in the desert for 40 years, they passed through Kadesh a number of times. Kadesh is a place of wilderness, desert. The voice of the Lord destroys loneliness. Kadesh is the place where the spies from Israel reported back about Canaan -and where all of them except Joshua and Caleb said that Canaan couldn't be taken. Kadesh was a place of fear. The voice of the Lord destroys fear. Kadesh was one of the places that the Israelites complained for lack of water, and the Lord gave enough to drink and water their livestock. The voice of the Lord destroys need. Kadesh was the place where Miriam (Moses' sister) died and was buried. The voice of the Lord destroys death.
Verse 9: It causes the deer to give birth. (Uh, no explanation needed on that one.....) The voice of the Lord brings things into being.
It is no wonder that this Psalm starts with a call to ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name....
Firstly, the voice of the Lord is....
... over the waters
... powerful
... full of majesty
That's pretty good, but here are some of the things that the voice of the Lord does....
Verse 5: It breaks the cedars of Lebanon. Cedars from Lebanon were what Solomon used to build his lavish palace and his government buildings. It represents wealth and extravagance. The voice of the Lord destroys the power of riches.
Verse 8: It shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. When the Israelites wandered around in the desert for 40 years, they passed through Kadesh a number of times. Kadesh is a place of wilderness, desert. The voice of the Lord destroys loneliness. Kadesh is the place where the spies from Israel reported back about Canaan -and where all of them except Joshua and Caleb said that Canaan couldn't be taken. Kadesh was a place of fear. The voice of the Lord destroys fear. Kadesh was one of the places that the Israelites complained for lack of water, and the Lord gave enough to drink and water their livestock. The voice of the Lord destroys need. Kadesh was the place where Miriam (Moses' sister) died and was buried. The voice of the Lord destroys death.
Verse 9: It causes the deer to give birth. (Uh, no explanation needed on that one.....) The voice of the Lord brings things into being.
It is no wonder that this Psalm starts with a call to ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name....
Friday, April 17, 2009,7:29 PM
THE POPULAR KEVIN
This has really nothing to do with anything, but a friend sent it to me today, and I thought it was pretty funny. Enjoy!
THE POPULAR KEVIN
Kevin was always bragging about how unreal and popular he was and one day he said to his boss, "You know, I reckon I know just about everyone there is to know. Just name someone and I probably know them."
Tired of his boasting, his boss called his bluff, and said, "OK, Kevin, how about Tom Cruise?"
"Sure, yes, Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it."
So Kevin and his boss fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise's door and sure enough, Tom Cruise shouts, "Hey! Kevin! Great to see you! You and your friend come right in and join me for lunch!"
Although impressed, Kevin's boss is still sceptical. After they leave Cruise's house, he tells Kevin that he thinks Kevin's knowing Cruise was just lucky. "No, no, just name anyone else," Kevin says." President Obama," his boss quickly retorts. "Yes," Kevin says, "I know him, let's fly out to Washington." And off they go.
At the White House, Obama spots Kevin on the tour and motions him over, saying, "Kevin, what a surprise, I was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your friend come on in and lets have a cup of coffee first and catch up." Well, the boss is very shaken by now but still not totally convinced.
After they leave the White House grounds he expresses his doubts to Kevin, who again implores him to name one more, anyone else." The Pope," his boss replies. "Sure!" says Kevin. "My folks are from Poland, and I've known the Pope a long time."
So off they fly to Rome. Kevin and his boss are assembled with the masses in Vatican Square when Kevin says, "This will never work. I can't catch the Pope's eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know all the guards so let me just go up," and he disappears into the crowd headed toward the Vatican.
Sure enough, half an hour later Kevin emerges with the Pope on the balcony but by the time Kevin returns, he finds that his boss has had a heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics. Working his way to his boss' side, Kevin asks him, "What happened?" His boss looks up and says, "I was doing fine until you and the Pope came out on the balcony and the man next to me said, "Who's that up on the balcony with Kevin?"
THE POPULAR KEVIN
Kevin was always bragging about how unreal and popular he was and one day he said to his boss, "You know, I reckon I know just about everyone there is to know. Just name someone and I probably know them."
Tired of his boasting, his boss called his bluff, and said, "OK, Kevin, how about Tom Cruise?"
"Sure, yes, Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it."
So Kevin and his boss fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise's door and sure enough, Tom Cruise shouts, "Hey! Kevin! Great to see you! You and your friend come right in and join me for lunch!"
Although impressed, Kevin's boss is still sceptical. After they leave Cruise's house, he tells Kevin that he thinks Kevin's knowing Cruise was just lucky. "No, no, just name anyone else," Kevin says." President Obama," his boss quickly retorts. "Yes," Kevin says, "I know him, let's fly out to Washington." And off they go.
At the White House, Obama spots Kevin on the tour and motions him over, saying, "Kevin, what a surprise, I was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your friend come on in and lets have a cup of coffee first and catch up." Well, the boss is very shaken by now but still not totally convinced.
After they leave the White House grounds he expresses his doubts to Kevin, who again implores him to name one more, anyone else." The Pope," his boss replies. "Sure!" says Kevin. "My folks are from Poland, and I've known the Pope a long time."
So off they fly to Rome. Kevin and his boss are assembled with the masses in Vatican Square when Kevin says, "This will never work. I can't catch the Pope's eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know all the guards so let me just go up," and he disappears into the crowd headed toward the Vatican.
Sure enough, half an hour later Kevin emerges with the Pope on the balcony but by the time Kevin returns, he finds that his boss has had a heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics. Working his way to his boss' side, Kevin asks him, "What happened?" His boss looks up and says, "I was doing fine until you and the Pope came out on the balcony and the man next to me said, "Who's that up on the balcony with Kevin?"