1 Thessalonians 5:17
"Pray without ceasing"

A prayer life... "what the heck is that?" many ask. I guess in the most simplest definition, it's living a life in a state of prayer. Nice on paper... hard to apply. My personal "prayer life" has gone through drastic changes, as I'm sure it will continue to do as I grow in my nearness with Jesus through the days of my life. Here's what I'm learning thus far...

I'm not sure a prayer life is about looking for answers as much as it is looking for direction. I thought of this today in my morning prayer time... if my prayers only consist of continual (or unceasing) requests I'll only receive a "yes" or "no" in response, right? "Lord, will this work out?" "Should I do this?" "What should I do, where should I go, how should I react..." etc., etc.

Where are those "yes" or "no" answers coming from? Well, as far as I see it, they're connected to his will for my life, his desire for how he wishes for me to live. If I pray for guidance and direction, and WORSHIP HIM THROUGH PRAYER (communication with God) WITHOUT CEASING, I will know the answers to my prayers as I evaluate my desires compared with his. I'll begin to know the answers to my questions simply because I know what he wants in, from, and for me. If what I might want would hinder his desire for my life, the answer will be "unceasingly" no... if they enable his desire to take root, than it will be "unceasingly" yes. Pretty cool, eh?

Hence, in the end, our prayers become a request to discover God's will rather a request for permission to give us ours, and little by little our prayers become a worship service for our Savior rather than a drive-through window into heaven to place our orders.

If I pray with a specific hoped end in mind, and that end is not given, my relationship with Christ suffers feeling like he's holding back on me. However, if I approach the Savior on my knees, humbling submitting my life to his will, than I will continually stand filled with glorious vision, always satisfied with the result of prayer... simply because my joy is found is knowing Him... period.

Are you satisfied with simply knowing Jesus... or is there something specific you're waiting to hear from him? If it makes you feel better, His ultimate joy is found in simply knowing you. So go ahead... be known... it's more powerful than any "answered prayer" will ever be.

The Birth of Christ Stems From God's LOVE

Romans 8:38-39
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul says he is "convinced" of this amazing revelation; that NOTHING (a powerful word in and of itself in that it eliminates the very possibility of a loophole) can EVER separate us from God's love. How does Paul become so convinced of this? The answer is in his unwavering and substantial understanding of the Old Testament law... amazingly enough.

This is surprising, because Paul speaks of the law as if it were an evil in its casting of guilt (Rom. 7:10), and playing a part in bringing condemnation (Rom. 7:13) to people.
However he comes to a solid understanding of the law in...

Romans 7:1-13
Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power. At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, and I died. So I discovered that the law’s commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead. Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me. But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.

But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.

The point of the law, as God's original plan, was to provide a way for his creation, us, to become more like him after we dismantled our communion with him in the garden. In Genesis, God states that he created us in his image. The law was his first attempt at drafting us back into our intended state of likeness in him. It failed miserably... rather WE failed miserably.

God knew this, thus he sets up a sacrificial system of slaughtering animals as way for us to discover forgivness of our sins, but we are still left without a relationship, a closeness, an intimacy with God. He was saving us from mistakes, but not truly redeeming us from our sins.

So, instead of providing a way to start the journey back to the "likeness of God" and enjoying our original relaitonship in the garden, it simply, as Paul puts it, "showed us our sins" and provided proof of our guilt due to sin and future condemnation for our inability to comply with that which the law demanded.

That is a GOOD thing though as far as Paul is concerned. Paul states that he would have, for example, kept on coveting (hence sinning) and not feeling guilty about it if he didn't realize the law forbad it. Paul recognized that the law had no power over sin. It's power was simply found in its ability to illustrate the power of sin in our lives (in other words... the literal existence of sin). For, as Paul states, "for without the law, sin would not have that power."

The law, from Pauls words, "which [was] supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead." Why? Well, the law was perfect, and we were FAR from perfect. We failed at keeping the law, hence we failed at returning to our likeness in God, therefore our separation from him still existed. Sin overpowered Paul, as it does us, as our selfish, evil desires overwhelm us, which destroys the chances for the law to provide our souls with the needed changes to make us right with God.

We can simply only stare at the law like a kid at a carnival who wants to go on a ride but is way under the height requirement. There is simply nothing we can do but ache at our misfortune of failure. We're stuck!

So, if you remember, Paul concludes chapter 8 of Romans stating, in so many words, that he is "convinced that NOTHING will separate us from the love of God." What convinces him of this? It's the person and work of Jesus Christ on the cross in the REDEMPTION from our sins. Not only are we forgiven of our sins, we are redeemed from them in the way that Christ provided that which the law couldn't... our way back to God.

Here's what grips me about this.

(1) God's LOVE for Paul (us) provoked his (our) salvation. God's LOVE gave us the law. God's LOVE gave us Jesus. LOVE was the motivation that pushed Jesus (God) to climb up on that cross for us. I know that WE put him there and that our sins caused his death, but His unconditional, unchanging plan was to NEVER let us go. No matter how grotesque or evil our earthly lives became. We would never be without a way out of the judgement we placed on ourselves due to our sinfulness.

Ephesians 1:5
“His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.”


(2) Paul's (our) LOVE for God (Jesus Christ) provoked his (our) joy in being redeemed. He wanted to be with God so bad, that he was DEPRESSED with the results of the law. He felt defeated in his quest to be made right with God because he WANTED to be with God so badly. He realized that now, for the first time, NOTHING could separate him from God. That Christ did everything he wanted so badly to do through the law ("good behavior"), but simply couldn't. The law provided his ability to sense his need, and Christ came to fulfill that need. For that, Paul couldn't have been more excited about.

Through the birth of Christ, God extended to us the fulness of his love. The exact thing we needed... A SUBSTITUTE FOR THAT WHICH WE COUDLN'T DO. God set us free from the law, a law that Paul wanted very much to work so that he could be made right with God. A law that did little outside of remind Paul of his separation with God, whom he genuinely loved so much (as many of us do, but feel the guilt of our failures more than the love our of Savior).

God's LOVE for US provoked the offering of his Son on our behalf!
God's LOVE for US provided us with a way back to him!
God's LOVE for US sent Jesus on the cross for us!
God's LOVE for US changes our destiny from hell to heaven!

Our LOVE for GOD provokes the offering of our lives back to God!
Our LOVE for GOD provides our desire to be with him!
Our LOVE for GOD sends us on our knees in repentant worship of Jesus!
Our LOVE for GOD makes room for changes God so desperately wants to make in our lives!

Merry Christmas!

The Birth of Christ Brings JOY

Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

CONFUSED and DISTURBED, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.” Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

14 years old... barely figuring out what being a kid is like, the Spirit of God reports that the Messiah will come from her. That she will be pregnant with Jesus, the Christ, the Savior, the answer for God's lost creation.

Obviously the culture was significantly different then than it is today. For one, she was engaged to be married at the ripe age of 14. Maturity seemed to be something people experienced much sooner than in our society today. However...

14 years old, and as the Bible puts it, Mary was "confused" and "disturbed" at the news as she tried to figure out what the angel meant. I'm not sure what 14 year old ISN'T confused and disturbed if they were to find out a baby was growing inside of them. Everything from, "How do I explain this to my parents" to "I'm not ready to be a mother" would rage in their brain. As we read the account of history, it's obvious that Joseph could have accused her of sleeping with some other guy, so an angel visits him, and puts his mind at rest as well.

Yet, it's Mary, in her pure virgin state, that is going to carry the pure, virgin to sin, for all of mankind to be redeemed and spiritually rebuilt from the soul up.

And Mary's response? "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true."

Then the night comes. Jesus is breaking forth, as a baby, from the womb of Mary.

Luke 2:8-12
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great JOY to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

The news the angel was bringing was intended to bring JOY to all people. Two words can be overlooked. ALL and PEOPLE. It's not meant to bring joy to animals, or trees, or stuff. It's meant to bring joy to PEOPLE. And, it's not just some people, or God's favorite people, but ALL people.

The Lord's name was meant to be more than a curse word that results from stubbing our toe, but a name we use to magnify the joy of our relationship with God through Christ. Christ to brighten our future, and enable us to experience TRUE JOY. No longer do we need to manufacture joy by pretending to be happy, but we can experience true joy through Christ.

Isaiah 12:1-6
In that day you will sing:
“I will praise you, O Lord! You were angry with me, but not any more.
Now you comfort me. See, God has come to save me.
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
The Lord God is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory.”
With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!

In that wonderful day you will sing:
"Thank the Lord! Praise his name! Tell the nations what he has done.
Let them know how mighty he is!
Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things.
Make known his praise around the world.
Let all the people of Jerusalem shout his praise with JOY!
For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you!

We can shout his praise with JOY because He who lived within Mary, now lives within us, cleansing our wretched souls with blood from the sinless Messiah.

I'm not sure if I really know how to praise God without truly grasping the lengths he has gone for me. If I'm not convinced I need him, his sacrifice is in vain. If I'm not convinced he desires me, his love sits dormant on the porch of my heart waiting to come in.

Mary is thought to be a saint. That's cool. But she isn't the reason she is saintly... it is who lived within her that made her so. It was the Christ, growing inside of her, that made her such a part of the story of our redemption.

Today, those who have placed their faith in Christ and trust Him with their very souls... He lives in them. And, as with Mary, we are faced with mixed emotions. Will we determine to share in her excitement? Will we curb our fears because the Spirit of the Lord tells us today, "do not be afraid."

This Christmas I choose to celebrate my JOY I find in Christ. Salvation is found in Him. Nowhere else. I want to praise, with all the people, and shout praise with JOY! For great is the holy one of Israel that lives among (within) me.

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Merry Christmas!

Works and Charity

Now, that which seems to be charity is oftentimes really sensuality, for man's own inclination, his own will, his hope of reward, and his self-interest, are motives seldom absent.
- Thomas A Kempis
"Imitation of Christ"

We miss the point completely if our offerings are given for self-appraisal. Guilt is a classic motivator used by man, chocolate covered by the word "conviction", to pull charity from others.

When compassion drives us, let us hope that it has been delivered to us by God... and not a personal thirst for receiving attention through good deeds.

HOWEVER, upon the realization of poor motivese, do not stop giving. For the need still exists, and your motive does not hinder the usefulness of the gift, only the reward for offering it. If we wish to continue on a path toward profitable charity, we cannot give up giving, we must give up everything we have to give.

I think it is better to give with impure motives, than to use it as an excuse not to give. If I waited to give until my heart wanted to, I would rarely (if ever... I'm ashamed) give. But when I give, I recognize my pride building, and ask God to use my feeble gift for something great and to not hold my attitude against he that may need the blessing God can make from it.

So, while I might miss the point entirely, as mentioned above, by giving with impure motives, I shall still continue to give. Simply because God has asked me to, and, as a result, usable by God because of my sacrifice... not my motives.

Handbook on Faith, Hope, and Love

FOUNDATIONS OF
FAITH: Volume 01
Handbook on Faith, Hope, and Love
by Saint Augustine

I can't figure out if I liked it or not... I couldn't understand it. I read the whole thing... but couldn't tell you much about it. I'm sure, that if I were interested enough in it's findings I would dig deeper to discover them. The truth is, I'm not all that interested.

Of the few things I was coming to understand from Sainty-Clause I didn't really even agree. The chapter on baptism spoke of infant baptisms which Biblically aren't needed for salvation. I realize that he's of Catholic background, but whatever.

I think I was just interested in seeing the world from an "old-schoolers" point of view. I didn't really like his view. No biggie. Only one days reading (it's a short book) wasted.

Not really recommended unless you like the Christian faith explained like stereo instructions, and riddled with numerous things to be careful of within its pages.

Moving on to the second book in the Foundations of Faith Series by RelevantBooks.

The Revolutionary Communicator

Communicating...
caring more about
the audience than
what you're saying.

There weren't any "new ideas" presented in this book, but definitely a fresh, modern, look at how to look at them. It's also nice to see something other than novel ideas to introduce the concepts of communicating in our world today. Studying the ways of the most powerful communicator the world has ever been subjected to is especially insightful.

I thoroughly enjoyed the chapter on SOLITUDE in regards to communication. Not that the idea, again, is new, but the examples and articulation of the words presented drew me in. I'm one that looks for relaxation and amusement in my times of solitude. My "quiet times" are illusions of depth. I'm by myself... but my soul is not still. Video games, movies, and media itself hinders true solitude.

Solitude is more than being alone... it is being with God. If I'm alone, by myself, I've missed the whole point. A good book, a heart-wrenching movie, or an entertaining gaming session doesn't fuel solitude for my soul, it fuels my need for it that much more. That which has gotten my attention (books, movies, games) has hindered depth, but may have fooled me into believing it's being attained. It's not. It's dangerous. It has to stop.

Also to the chapter on SUCCESS was among my favorites.

"The frail woman, her sari held together by a safety pin, seemed out of place in a room of presidents and kings. Among these guests, she was an anomaly - renowned for her work, yet possessing little to show for it. Where others had sedans and servants, she could carry all of her possessions in her weathered hands. One of the leaders, astonished by the woman's devotion to meeting the needs of the desperately poor, asked her if she didn't become discouraged when she saw so few successes in her work. Mother Teresa answered, "No, I do not become discouraged. You see, God has not called me to a ministry of success. He has called me to a ministry of mercy."
~ The Revolutionary Communicator, Erik Lokkesmoe,Jedd Medefind

A ministry of mercy... I love the word picture. All I have to offer goes towards to the cause of mercy.

Good book... check it out. I enjoyed it's profound simplicity.

**Quotes adopted from "The Revolutionary Communicator" by Erik Lokkesmoe,Jedd Medefind.
**Some slightly altered by me for clarification.

ATTENTIVENESS
In the MEDIA AGE, we assume that...
in a sea of competing messages, drawing attention to yourself is the one essential.

In EVERY AGE, the truth is...
Amid countless rival messages, giving attention to others is the one sure way to be heard.


SEEKING CONNECTION
In the MEDIA AGE, we assume that...
Effective communication must come from a position of power, convincing the audience they should listen to you.

In EVERY AGE, the truth is...
Effective communication requires drawing near to the audience, convincing the audience you will listen to them.


ASKING QUESTIONS
In the MEDIA AGE, we assume that...
When quesions are asked, we must deliver the right answers.

In EVERY AGE, the truth is...
When you want to deliver the right answers, ask good questions.


AUTHENTICITY
In the MEDIA AGE, we assume that...
Image sells, and falsehood protects you.

In EVERY AGE, the truth is...
Authenticity is crucial, and falsehood prospers lonliness.


STORYTELLING
In the MEDIA AGE, we assume that...
Good stories decorate our lives, adding a sugar-coating to reality for added flavor.

In EVERY AGE, the truth is...
True stories deliver the reality of our lives, adding depth for some to the surface that is seen by all.


SOLITUDE
In the MEDIA AGE, we assume that...
A great person makes things happen from the front of the crowd.

In EVERY AGE, the truth is...
Without time away from the crowd, a great person will have nothing great to offer it.


SUCCESS
In the MEDIA AGE, we assume that...
Success is getting what you want.

In EVERY AGE, the truth is...
Success is giving what you have.

Story: Recapture the Mystery

The STORY of God
in poetic brilliance

"Over the years I've become more and more wary of people who try to make Christianity sound reasonable. God said his message would sound foolish rather than sensible, that it would be offensive rather than politically correct. The reality of the cross and the naked corpse of God is highly offensive. Until it offends us, we will never believe."
~ Steven James, Story

Jesus got bloody. For me... for you... for US! Then He said, "Follow me." The message is offensive because it's unlike anything we've ever seen.

That's the only way to describe this book. Written by Steven James, this is not a book interested in developing theological discussions, but in allowing the reader to engage in, embrace, and be a part of everlasting story of Christ, us, and the amazing relationship available for us.

"I don't think anyone dies expecting to go to hell. I think most people die expecting to go to heaven or at least hoping God will grade on the curve and promote them even if they didn't quite finish at the top of the class."
~ Steven James, Story

I read it in only four days (which is unlike me), and was captivated. It's saturated with words that draw you closer to Christ... not Christianity. Which is what, in my humble opinion, many Christians today need. It explains things in story form, which allows you to take a step into the world of Christ, without taking the sting of his sacrifice away. Quite the inverse is true... it allows you experience the truth behind the story: IT'S NOT A STORY... IT'S REALITY.

Read it. Believe it. Live it.