In his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the second habit that Steven Covey discusses is, "Begin with the end in mind." I appreciate Covey’s purposeful consideration of a long-term view on our decisions.
So often, in our spontaneous and immediate culture, we fail to look much beyond the immediate impact of our decisions. We often choose a course of action not in the context of a larger idea of what our life is about, but rather, we decide based on what is best in the moment.
YouTube, Facebook, text messaging, and a variety of other aspects of our current culture often seem to encourage us to say and do something that will bring immediate results and attention. How many hits will we get? How many people will “like” or comment on my post? How quickly will my text be answered? These are questions that often drive us today.
We could learn something from Covey’s focus on the beginning with the end in mind. But, this is not some new idea that comes out of the business world. There was another writer, Paul of Tarsus, who penned some similar thoughts a few thousand years ago.
The last document we still have that Paul wrote is what we call 2 Timothy. This is a letter that Paul wrote to his “son in the faith,” Timothy, near the end of Paul’s life. It included a number of words of wisdom to Paul’s student and friend.
Near the end of the letter, Paul said the following…
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (1 Timothy 4:6-8)
This was not some sudden realization that Paul experienced as he neared death. The good fight. The race. Keeping the faith. These were the end that Paul kept in mind from the beginning. They were markers that shaped his decisions throughout his life.
When Paul wrote these words to Timothy, he must have been reflecting back on the thirty or so years he had spent as a follower of Jesus. From the dusty Damascus road to his house arrest in Rome, Paul has lived a life of purpose and focus.
What words would you like to write in a letter at the end of your life? If you looked to the end of your life, what “I have…” statements would you want to make?
Life your life in such a way today, that those would be your words tomorrow and in the years to come.
shine!
Jason
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
The Word became flesh
One of the most amazing things about the incarnation of Jesus is the fact that God took the more of a human being a lived with us. Some of the most powerful words in the Bible are found in John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
The implications of this statement seem to be endless. Jesus showed us what it means to be truly human. Rather than sitting back and waiting for us to him, God came to us. The Creator came to the creation. The Maker lived within the world he made.
Our God understands what we experience. God has intimately experienced life as a human. If you think God doesn’t understand what it means to be a child, think again. When Jesus was a baby, Mary would have had to do the first century equivalent of changing his diaper. When Jesus was a child, he probably understood what it meant to feel as though he was invisible to adults. When Jesus was a teenager, he had to experience puberty. As he entered his adult life, Jesus certainly would have experienced disappointment, frustration, and anger.
We see Jesus’ humanity when he cries with Mary and Martha as they mourn the death of Lazarus.
We see Jesus’ humanity when he displays his anger by turning over the tables in the temple.
We see Jesus’ humanity as he weeps over Jerusalem before the triumphal entry.
The God of the universe didn’t become human just so he could die on a cross. He also came to show us what it means to be truly human and then prepared the way for us to follow him. When Jesus calls us to pick up his cross and follow him, he doesn’t speak those words from a distance. He speaks them as a human being who himself experienced the pain and suffering of rejection and death.
But it doesn’t end there. Jesus was raised from the dead. And, in the words of Paul, “if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Romans 6:5)
The humanity of Jesus guarantees that God understands our sufferings today, but it also guarantees that we too will one day experience resurrection. We can find hope in a God who suffers with us today and offers us a new life in the age to come.
shine!
Jason
The implications of this statement seem to be endless. Jesus showed us what it means to be truly human. Rather than sitting back and waiting for us to him, God came to us. The Creator came to the creation. The Maker lived within the world he made.
Our God understands what we experience. God has intimately experienced life as a human. If you think God doesn’t understand what it means to be a child, think again. When Jesus was a baby, Mary would have had to do the first century equivalent of changing his diaper. When Jesus was a child, he probably understood what it meant to feel as though he was invisible to adults. When Jesus was a teenager, he had to experience puberty. As he entered his adult life, Jesus certainly would have experienced disappointment, frustration, and anger.
We see Jesus’ humanity when he cries with Mary and Martha as they mourn the death of Lazarus.
We see Jesus’ humanity when he displays his anger by turning over the tables in the temple.
We see Jesus’ humanity as he weeps over Jerusalem before the triumphal entry.
The God of the universe didn’t become human just so he could die on a cross. He also came to show us what it means to be truly human and then prepared the way for us to follow him. When Jesus calls us to pick up his cross and follow him, he doesn’t speak those words from a distance. He speaks them as a human being who himself experienced the pain and suffering of rejection and death.
But it doesn’t end there. Jesus was raised from the dead. And, in the words of Paul, “if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Romans 6:5)
The humanity of Jesus guarantees that God understands our sufferings today, but it also guarantees that we too will one day experience resurrection. We can find hope in a God who suffers with us today and offers us a new life in the age to come.
shine!
Jason
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Die that I might live
It doesn't matter how much I study or how much schooling I have. Information about God alone does not constitute Christianity. It is so much more.
Kallistos Ware states it well when he writes, "Christianity is more than a theory about the universe, more than teachings written down on paper; it is a path along which we journey - in the deepest and richest sense, the way of life."
If we want to know God, have a relationship with him, we must walk the same journey he walks. We will not experience the same details on our journey; the scenery may look different. But the essence and destination are the same.
Paul writes, "I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:10-11)
Self-sacrifice. Humility. Holiness. Those are the attributes of this journey. Our suffering must lead us to death. It may not be a physical death, but it must be a death of will. Our will must succumb to the will of the Father. Our desires must reflect the desires of the Kingdom. We must be willing to die that we might live.
The journey is often hard and the path is often the one less traveled. But God is our refuge and strength. He will be our fortress. When the road is rocky and the trail seems narrow, God will carry us through. And at the end of the journey, we will experience new life, resurrection. But there cannot be resurrection without death.
God, help me die that I might live. Amen.
shine!
Jason
Kallistos Ware states it well when he writes, "Christianity is more than a theory about the universe, more than teachings written down on paper; it is a path along which we journey - in the deepest and richest sense, the way of life."
If we want to know God, have a relationship with him, we must walk the same journey he walks. We will not experience the same details on our journey; the scenery may look different. But the essence and destination are the same.
Paul writes, "I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:10-11)
Self-sacrifice. Humility. Holiness. Those are the attributes of this journey. Our suffering must lead us to death. It may not be a physical death, but it must be a death of will. Our will must succumb to the will of the Father. Our desires must reflect the desires of the Kingdom. We must be willing to die that we might live.
The journey is often hard and the path is often the one less traveled. But God is our refuge and strength. He will be our fortress. When the road is rocky and the trail seems narrow, God will carry us through. And at the end of the journey, we will experience new life, resurrection. But there cannot be resurrection without death.
God, help me die that I might live. Amen.
shine!
Jason
Sunday, May 08, 2011
Honoring mom
In his letter to the churches around Ephesus, the apostle Paul wrote, “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:2-3) He was echoing the words of The Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5.
Today, as we celebrate Mother’s Day, let’s make it more than a day to buy our mom a lunch or give her a flower. Let it be a reminder that we should honor our mother every day of the year. Honoring our mom’s in not about a lunch or a flower, it’s about being thoughtful in the words we say and the way we act every day of the year. Mother’s Day should lead us to reflect the other 364 days of the year.
It’s no mistake that Paul’s words in Ephesians 6 are found in the same letter where Paul wrote, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:29-32)
Last month marked the twelfth anniversary of my mom’s death. As I think back to the time I spent with my mom, especially during my teenage years, I realize there are times that I didn’t always honor my mom. I didn’t need to always agree with her to honor her, but there are times I wish I would have disagreed or argued in a way that was honoring.
Whether we are 16, 36, or 56, we should always seek to honor mothers in the way we treat them. While my mom wasn’t perfect, she was the woman who invested her heart and soul in me and my life. Mom’s will do things we don’t like a disagree with. Sometimes we will be right. Other times – most of the time in my case – mom was right and I should have listened.
Honoring someone is not about giving in to them or saying they are always right. It’s not about giving up our individuality. Rather, it’s about acknowledging the other person in a way that treats them with dignity and respect. We all want. We all deserve that. When Paul said that we should honor our father and mother “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth,” he was providing a life lesson. The way we treat our parents will often determine how our relationships will look for the rest of our lives.
Take time today to tell your mom thank you and honor her. Take her out to lunch or give her flowers. If she is no longer here, take time to thank God for the memories you do have. If you mom is still alive, make today an opportunity to remember that honoring her is not a once-a-year activity, but a lifelong practice that will reflect the character of God of prepare us for being representatives of His Kingdom.
shine!
Jason
Today, as we celebrate Mother’s Day, let’s make it more than a day to buy our mom a lunch or give her a flower. Let it be a reminder that we should honor our mother every day of the year. Honoring our mom’s in not about a lunch or a flower, it’s about being thoughtful in the words we say and the way we act every day of the year. Mother’s Day should lead us to reflect the other 364 days of the year.
It’s no mistake that Paul’s words in Ephesians 6 are found in the same letter where Paul wrote, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:29-32)
Last month marked the twelfth anniversary of my mom’s death. As I think back to the time I spent with my mom, especially during my teenage years, I realize there are times that I didn’t always honor my mom. I didn’t need to always agree with her to honor her, but there are times I wish I would have disagreed or argued in a way that was honoring.
Whether we are 16, 36, or 56, we should always seek to honor mothers in the way we treat them. While my mom wasn’t perfect, she was the woman who invested her heart and soul in me and my life. Mom’s will do things we don’t like a disagree with. Sometimes we will be right. Other times – most of the time in my case – mom was right and I should have listened.
Honoring someone is not about giving in to them or saying they are always right. It’s not about giving up our individuality. Rather, it’s about acknowledging the other person in a way that treats them with dignity and respect. We all want. We all deserve that. When Paul said that we should honor our father and mother “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth,” he was providing a life lesson. The way we treat our parents will often determine how our relationships will look for the rest of our lives.
Take time today to tell your mom thank you and honor her. Take her out to lunch or give her flowers. If she is no longer here, take time to thank God for the memories you do have. If you mom is still alive, make today an opportunity to remember that honoring her is not a once-a-year activity, but a lifelong practice that will reflect the character of God of prepare us for being representatives of His Kingdom.
shine!
Jason
Monday, May 02, 2011
What's your story?
What is your story?
There are two aspects to this question. Before we can share our personal story, we must address the larger question of what story are we a part of? It seems popular today for people to share their testimony. While there is nothing wrong with that, if we are a part of God’s family, there is a larger story from which our story emerges and into which our story merges.
From the beginning, God has intended for human beings to enjoy relationship with God and with one another. In the Garden of Eden, God created a world for humans to enjoy and care for. In the blink of an eye, that world was disrupted and sin entered the picture. Through Adam and Eve’s decision, all of creation was subject to the curse.
Since that fateful day, our world has suffered. Paul writes in Romans 8:19-23, “For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.”
We are a part of that story of redemption. Starting with Abraham and culminating in the person of Jesus Christ, God was unfolding the story of redeeming all creation. While the incarnation of Jesus Christ is a key part of the story, it is not the end. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He did mean that God’s redeeming act had been accomplished. However, our part in the story is not finished.
You are I are called to join God’s story. This is not our story; it is God’s. We are called to join God’s ongoing work of redemption and reconciliation. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
As characters in God’s story of redemption, we are representing the Creator of the universe. We are acting in behalf of the one who created us and the world we share. We are not hear to live our own story. Instead, we must live lives that resonate with God’s greater story of making things right in the world.
What’s your story?
shine!
Jason
There are two aspects to this question. Before we can share our personal story, we must address the larger question of what story are we a part of? It seems popular today for people to share their testimony. While there is nothing wrong with that, if we are a part of God’s family, there is a larger story from which our story emerges and into which our story merges.
From the beginning, God has intended for human beings to enjoy relationship with God and with one another. In the Garden of Eden, God created a world for humans to enjoy and care for. In the blink of an eye, that world was disrupted and sin entered the picture. Through Adam and Eve’s decision, all of creation was subject to the curse.
Since that fateful day, our world has suffered. Paul writes in Romans 8:19-23, “For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.”
We are a part of that story of redemption. Starting with Abraham and culminating in the person of Jesus Christ, God was unfolding the story of redeeming all creation. While the incarnation of Jesus Christ is a key part of the story, it is not the end. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He did mean that God’s redeeming act had been accomplished. However, our part in the story is not finished.
You are I are called to join God’s story. This is not our story; it is God’s. We are called to join God’s ongoing work of redemption and reconciliation. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
As characters in God’s story of redemption, we are representing the Creator of the universe. We are acting in behalf of the one who created us and the world we share. We are not hear to live our own story. Instead, we must live lives that resonate with God’s greater story of making things right in the world.
What’s your story?
shine!
Jason
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