Courage

Today, I did something I've never done before. It was pretty great. You should try it sometime.

Good Friday

Today, God has taught me an important truth.

Oftentimes, I become prideful. In these times, my relationship with God suffers, and He always brings me back to the humility that he desires. God also always pairs the humbling experience with encouragement.

In the same way, encouraging others can only come from a humble mindset.

On Humility

I have been so convicted of my lack of humility. Not of blatant excessive pride - no. That issue would be much easier and simpler to address.

Concerning humility towards others...

In my entire life, I'm not sure that I have maintained a humble attitude toward others. I have been impressed, even awed by others' actions, and I have certainly acknowledged the intellectual or musical talents of some as superior to my own.

But this is not humility, it is honesty. Humility is not the degrading of yourself in comparison to others. Humility is finding value in the actions of others and encouraging them in their good works. Humility has never been choosing to outwardly deny your inner pride. Humility is recognizing and embracing that everything you have to offer is not of your own accord. Humility is not denying your own wishes or ambitions. Humility is the submission of your desires to your identity in Christ!

To my disappointment, I cannot think of a single person that I have approached or addressed with genuine humility. Starting today, I aim to listen and move with the Holy Spirit in changing that direction in my life. Friend, if you would join with me in prayer for that, it would be a great encouragement!

Concerning humility toward God...

By God's grace, I believe that I have approached God with sincere humility and reverence. There are certainly times in which I fail to maintain the humility. It is in these times that I certainly need to remember who I am, who God is, and what God is doing to make me who I am becoming.

God was incarnate in a human body, and he was made a humble servant. The Word of God made his dwelling among us. He suffered and died the humiliating death of a common criminal. Jesus was perfectly humble, recognizing that everything he said or did was from the Father to bring glory to the Father. Jesus humbled himself.

So, in humbling himself to that level, the Son of God became like us. Coming to the revelation that God so humbled himself out of love must still remain in the context of who God is. God humbled himself, but that does not make us closer to who he is. As John writes in the conclusion of I John, Jesus is "true God and eternal life," and we cannot suppose to attain that on our own. We have the hope of being transformed into his likeness at his return, but that comes with dying unto ourselves. That comes with humility, and it is critical that we maintain a humble attitude first toward God, and then to our neighbors. Only with this attitude can we truly love and serve as we are called!

Brothers and sisters, if you are willing to truly embrace humility and all of its implications, do so with a thankful, joyful heart and a hope rooted in the Lord's strength. 

A Knowing

So. If you haven't been involved in the past months of my life, here's the overall assessment: I'm in my second semester at a private Christian university.

And you might say, "GREAT, Nathan. You're just another sheltered, Christian guy from Colorado who defaulted to the school that would be most comfortable for you just because your parents went there back in the day and--"

And then I would disagree. Not because this school isn't comfortable, or because that description doesn't fit me... nor is it because I'm an antagonistic person. No, it's because you accused me of the "D" word. Defaulting.

But if I did that, I would be claiming that the 'fault' belongs to nobody! That is simply ridiculous. I would be in complete denial if I claimed that God was not at fault for my place in life. Oh no, He is much more than just 'at fault'. I am required to accuse him of INTENTIONALLY BLESSING me! God has knowingly done this to me, and there is no other way to go about it.

Nor did I deserve it. God has grown me more than any potential I have exhibited! I could never be this productive of my own accord, and if I had defaulted, I'd never have gone anywhere at all...

Yet, that's not what I'm going to write about. Instead, I am going to address a general weakness in the curriculum here at school:

All freshmen and transfer students are required to enroll in a Gateway class their first semester. This class gives an overview of a Christian worldview in today's society. The curriculum advocates openness to new views and attempts to cultivate a spirit that is not too quick to condemn either side of an argument. Also addressed is reasoning behind the beneficial nature of a liberal arts education for the Kingdom of God. This class also emphasizes how we can glorify the Creator even in our multi-faceted pursuit of education.

So you might say, "Nathan, this is good for--"

And once again, I would probably rudely interrupt you: "Sorry for interrupting," I would say, "But if you look at the list again, you'll notice a big hole. Something's missing."

And I would proceed to explain... this class emphasizes the glorification of God, yes, but in all of that it completely passes over the importance of actually knowing God! For example, I can glorify God by excelling and improving my musical abilities, and I glorify Him in my studies.

But I can devote all of my time to glorifying God without actually getting to know what He is saying, how I should reflect His heart, and how to trust Him. This does not develop the persevering relationship that He calls me to.

Nor is this actually glorifying to the Father that wants so much for me to know Him! No, I want to really know the Creator that - for a reason unbeknownst to me - decided to make me in His image. This is my ultimate desire: an overwhelming love for my God that overflows to those around me!

Yet, I still seek to glorify God. This is my prayer:

All of my actions, God, let them glorify your Name, but give me first the desire to know You and your heart for me!

A Quick Thought...

About many modern worship songs... stop singing and telling God what He CAN do, and instead start thanking Him for what He IS DOING!

Trying.

A few weeks back, I overheard someone. Her statement went something like this: "Some people like to hate everybody, but I try to find the good in everyone."

Friends, I can't even begin to describe how sad this makes me.

First of all, accusing people of 'hating everybody' is an untrue and unjust judgment against many people that she knows. Judgment must be left up to God because God's judgment is perfect in every way. His motivation and the result of his judgment cannot be questioned. Human judgment is flawed, however, and hers is no exception. Ironically, her claim that "some people like to hate everybody" indicates a lack of love in her own approach toward others.

The second part of her statement reveals a horribly skewed view on how people are called to treat others. Firstly, she is contrasting her own actions with the verb "hate," and I think this is an indicator of how she defines love. To her, love is the overlooking of the bad and the selection of what is good out of a whole.

But this is not what we are called to! We are called to love unconditionally, even if there is no good that we, as humans, can find. We are not called to overlook the bad, because that would be irresponsible. Instead, we are called to love in a direction that brings people into alignment with God.

(I do not know whether or not she is a follower of Christ, but I feel that this expresses a perversion of the Truth believed by many, both Christian and non-Christian. For that reason, I am of the opinion that this sentiment needs to be addressed.)

One Big Thought

Recently, this passage impressed itself upon my mind. I'm not sure why. This was the resulting message that I sent to a good friend to explain my thoughts on the passage. My thoughts are weighty, I know, but don't skim them. Also, the reading is not meant to be pretty, only articulate. If you are going to be reading this, I request that you would consider it closely. If you have something to say, give feedback! I don't get enough of that...

First, so you can have the passages right here, I'll type them out for you (NIV translation). For background, both passages come after the parable of the sower and the seed, in which "the seed is the word of God" and the various kinds of soil describe the various types of people that hear and process that Word.

Mark 4:21-25
"[Jesus] said to them, 'Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear. Consider carefully what you hear,' he continued. 'With the measure you use it will be measured to you- and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.'"

Luke 8:16-18
"'No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought into the open. Therefore, consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.'"

(Anything quoted below without a specified reference comes from one of the two passages above.)

     Here in these passages of scripture, the light of the lamp represents Jesus and the new capacity for knowledge/wisdom that was not possible before he came to earth.
     When Jesus came, mercy and grace allowed humans to begin to cultivate a relationship with God on a personal basis. That event revealed various parts of God's nature and will, and these became more clear to those who know and pursue him. In Isaiah, in the same section but shortly after the prophecy that predicts John the Baptist, it says that "the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it."
     In light of this, the second part of the passage becomes more clear: "nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed" because God would not send his Son with a new revelation of himself, and then pursue a relationship of intimacy while withholding himself from us. (There are aspects of God that are too great for us to know right now, that's part of God's mystery, but these will be known eventually, for we will see God in all of his splendor when we get to heaven.)
     Although we know there are things we cannot know yet, there ARE aspects of himself that God has revealed or is in the process of revealing. This is why we are commanded to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). All of these aspects let us discern, embrace, and implement the words that God does give us.
     With all of this in mind, I believe that the command to "consider carefully how you listen" and "consider carefully what you hear" is a reminder of how important it is to listen to the word of God at all times. Also it is important to note HOW we proceed to listen, and if we do hear, it is also important to consider WHAT we are told. In this way, we can know if we are people receiving the seed onto healthy soil or unhealthy soil, as described in the parable. If we make efforts in this area, those things that God would choose to reveal to us are sure to be brought into the light!
     The last part of the section deals with measures. Matthew 7:1-2 states "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you". Here, 'measure' describes the judgment that precedes, and in the above passages, I would assert that 'measure' applies to hearing and listening. I'm not exactly sure how they apply as it seems slightly ambiguous. It is possible that these are describing the relationship between listening correctly to the word and the increase in knowledge/understanding. It's also possible that if our capacity for listening increases, mutual communication (God to us, and us to God) is improved.

Again, this is merely my interpretation of the passage. This accounts for what the passage means for me  and is not necessarily 'right'. Thank you for reading! Happy wonderings, friends.

Midnight Ponderings

A face backs away, backs out
while I turn a corner,
making for my destination.
The buildings on my side fall past
and then away.
Their distance only reminds of the loneliness
that I enforce.
A cry echoes
off those distant, brick shells,
but in the hollow, faded remnant that reaches my ears
I cannot distinguish joy from agony.
I do not stop.
The buildings return to my side.
But I know what they are now
and their presence offers
no consolation.
A string of curses is thrown idly,
and in passing,
though I committed no offense.
I think I've arrived.
A laugh escapes, but neither for me
nor from me.
Can one really lose a friend, or
is that person just misplaced?
What makes a good one,
anyway,
and what makes one best?

Then the less often asked,
what makes one better?