Monday, December 5, 2011
If You Wanted
"If You wanted me to be like You, why'd You make me like me?"
The song got to me.
It is never easy to follow Him, especially when so much is to be given up. But it is what we're all doing.
Following Him will cost me my world. He will not settle for anything less.
There is pain in surrender. But that's okay. Crucifying myself is exactly that: crucifixion. Every bone in my body will shatter until all I have is my death. It will hurt. I will fight back. But I will die. And when I die, I will stand resurrected with Him.
You will, too.
God will not leave me waiting. He will be silent, but He will not leave me. That alone is enough.
Surrender is only surrender when it hurts. The crowns God wants for each of us is one made of thorns. But if all of that is to have Him, then it is with joy and trembling do I surrender myself. Because I'd rather have Him than anything else.
Hope whatever I'm saying gets to someone, anyone. Or not. I'm happy to breathe out thoughts either way.
Thanks for listening. =) Peace? :O
Thursday, August 4, 2011
James 1:19-27: Words, Words, Words
Introducing James
What does James have to say to me? James is practical.Take problems. James knows nobody's perfect. So he doesn't tell us how to live trouble-free. He tells us how to live when troubles hit. Do I complain? Or do I use difficulties as an opportunity for growth?
Take words. We all talk. And sometimes we say things we wish we hadn't. James helps us use words more carefully, more positively. Do my words hurt others? Do they advance God's kingdom? Are they truthful? Are they loving?
Take money. It flows around us (despite our complaints about tight budgets and taxes). Do I withhold my money when others are in need? Do I put more value on worldly things than on the things of God?
Take time. If we have enough money, we know we never have enough time. We do all we can to get the most out of each hour of each day, filling our calendars with activity. But am I missing God's will and perspective in the midst of schedule making?
James is practical—maybe too practical! So expect these quiet times to be challenging—not because they will be hard to understand but because they will be all too easy to understand.
Who is this fellow James? There are several people in the New Testament called James, including two apostles. Though they have never been completely certain, most church scholars have believed that a third man, James the brother of Jesus (Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3), wrote this letter. While he probably joined the others in Jesus' family in rejecting Jesus during his earthly ministry, James certainly started following Jesus after his resurrection. In fact, James soon became the head of the church in Jerusalem.
He probably led the first church council in Jerusalem (Acts 15), which decided that Gentiles did not have to become Jews before they could be saved. This is an important factor in assessing James's view of faith and works (which is to be noted in light of 2:14-16).
Yet James was aware of the very Jewish makeup of the church in Jerusalem and required Paul to squelch the rumor that he, Paul, was telling Jews to abandon the Law of Moses. James himself apparently followed Jewish law closely, enough so that he was known as "James the Just." He died a martyr in A.D. 62.
James addresses his letter to "the twelve tribes scattered among the nations." "Twelve tribes" could refer to Jewish Christians who through exile, enslavement and trade were spread throughout the entire Mediterranean basin. More likely it refers simply to Christians, since the New Testament compares the church to Israel (Gal 6:16 RSV; 1 Pet 2:9-10). In any case, the letter is not addressed to one specific congregation, as Paul's letters were. It is therefore called a general, or catholic, epistle.
These quiet times will help you face squarely James's call for a consistent Christian life, for a practical faith—a faith that works.
Quiet Time Bible Study
James 1:19-27: Words, Words, Words
We all do it. It's as common as flies around a horse. While someone else is talking, we're thinking about what we're going to say next instead of about what is being said to us. We know others are worth more care and attention. But the habit is hard to break.God wants us to slow down and listen too. But even when we've really listened to him, we're still not done. This study gives us practical help on listening and more.
Warming Up to God
There's so much to listen to all around us. What different voices and messages are on your mind? Tell God about them and ask him to help you clear your mind and focus on his Word.Read James 1:19-27
Discovering the Word
- How can being quick to listen and slow to speak help us to be slow to become angry (v. 19)?
- James tells us that God's Word was planted in us. What weeds can choke that Word and keep it from growing (v. 21)? Explain.
- In your own words explain how the person who merely listens to God's Word is different from the one who puts it into practice (vv. 22-25).
- According to verses 26 and 27, how do people who think they are religious differ from those who are truly religious?
- Based on what you've read in this chapter, do you think James would be satisfied with good works apart from our listening to and receiving God's Word? Explain.
Applying the Word
- When is it hard for you to listen to God?
- Sometimes we do listen to God's Word, but we still don't follow it. How is this true for you?
- How would you like your religion to be more "pure and faultless"?
Responding in Prayer
Ask God to help you become a better listener and doer of his Word.Tuesday, April 26, 2011
What Easter Makes Me Think Of...
Hey guys, no one's been writing much for a while, huh?
That's okay, but I just hope people still check this site. Because I think we have a good thing going. :)
Anyway, Easter has just passed... and during the Sunday service a few days ago, I thought of something that really made me stop and think, and I just wanted to share that with everyone while I still remember, and while I still feel strongly about it.
We celebrate Easter to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus, right? Every Christian must be familiar with that. At least everyone who makes sure they know what they're getting into.
Jesus died and rose again after three days, and this signifies that He has conquered death. Of course, it goes without saying that this is important, because for us it is the means to our salvation. That we no longer need to die for our sins, because He has accomplished it and lived. And so we too, shall live, if we put our trust in Him.
However, His death has always signified for me so much more. When I first became serious about following Him, many verses from the Bible impressed on me that to be a Christian is not just to know my Bible verses, but to live it. And there are many verses that say that to be a Christian is to have died with Christ and to have risen with him anew.
Isn't that what baptism is about? To symbolize our dying to our old self, and to be "born again" in Him? Did Paul not say that we have died to our old sinful nature, so that we do not have to be slaves to sin anymore? Did Jesus not promise that if we hold onto our lives, we will lose it...but if we lose our lives for His sake, we shall find it? This Easter, has that thought crossed your mind? That for us who follow Jesus, His death and resurrection is a reminder of our own death to ourselves and a new life in Christ?
What does that mean for you? To die as Jesus did, and to be born again?
For me, it has meant many different things at many different moments in my life.
Undeniably, it had meant changing my way of life. Because I had been given a new life, so I must live it in a different way I had lived my old. It had meant struggling to change areas in my life and overcoming them sooner or later. It had meant changing how I thought, what I believed, and how I acted. It had meant suffering and letting go of treasures (putting them to death), and it had meant carrying my cross and following Him to my own crucifixion. And it still means those for me today. It will mean the same in the years ahead.
If one thinks about whether one is willing to give all up for Christ, to put to death everything for Him... If we are honest enough, I am sure the answer would not be so simple. And for me it has never been simple. Death and resurrection has been very quick in some respects of my life. But I think we can all attest to the feeling of death (in some parts of us) being drawn out, of it being more painful than we had expected, of it taking longer than we ever wanted it to be. And of us wondering how long its going to be before the tomb can be rolled away and we experience that ray of light showing us new things that lie ahead.
And so why do we Christians do it? If you understand what I'm saying... my question is, why have you done it? Why have you allowed yourself to die alongside with Christ? Isn't death painful? Isn't crucifixion excruciating? If you've never done it before, who can blame you? Who can blame the desire to avoid needless suffering? Who can blame you for not taking up your cross, when being crucified isn't something that God forces you into? When you are the one who has to willingly nail yourself up there?
I guess my question, to be more direct, is this... What makes it worth it? What makes giving up our treasures, our ways, our struggles for Him worth it? Have you ever gone far enough to figure out what makes it worth it? Or do you maybe feel that following Him is to suffer for His sake and nothing more?
For me... even though the process is complicated, my answer is always simple. For me, what makes taking up my cross worth it... what makes putting myself to death bearable... is exactly that idea. That I am dying to myself.
Because truly, the parts of myself that isn't Him... those are the parts I secretly hate about myself the most. Those are the parts I despise, that I fear, that I'm ashamed of, that I try and try to escape from but can't. Those are the parts of myself that think only of me, the parts of me that keep taking and taking but never getting enough. Those are the parts of me that make me feel insecure, that make me doubt myself, that make me afraid of everything. Those are the parts that cause me to say things and act in ways that hurt those I care about. Those are the parts of me that keep me bound to myself, that imprison me from being free to live this life the way I long to live.
The verses that always reminds me of this is John 10:10, where Jesus says, "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." And the other is the one I mentioned earlier, wherein Jesus says, "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
For me, those promises are what make dying to myself worth it. They may seem like impossible promises when the stakes are too high and too risky, and involves more suffering than one is willing to endure. But having risked following Him a few times already, I know that death always brings forth new life, and this new life can set a person free. And so it is my prayer to be able to follow Him and carry my cross through every valley of death He leads me through, because through it, He will mold me into someone who will be able to enjoy this short life to its very fullest.
Those were my thoughts this Easter. And so, I hope with this you also begin to think of your own relationship with Jesus.
Are you carrying your cross? If so, why? What makes it worth carrying?
If not... what stops you? Is the fear of loss greater than what will be gained?
That's okay, but I just hope people still check this site. Because I think we have a good thing going. :)
Anyway, Easter has just passed... and during the Sunday service a few days ago, I thought of something that really made me stop and think, and I just wanted to share that with everyone while I still remember, and while I still feel strongly about it.
We celebrate Easter to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus, right? Every Christian must be familiar with that. At least everyone who makes sure they know what they're getting into.
Jesus died and rose again after three days, and this signifies that He has conquered death. Of course, it goes without saying that this is important, because for us it is the means to our salvation. That we no longer need to die for our sins, because He has accomplished it and lived. And so we too, shall live, if we put our trust in Him.
However, His death has always signified for me so much more. When I first became serious about following Him, many verses from the Bible impressed on me that to be a Christian is not just to know my Bible verses, but to live it. And there are many verses that say that to be a Christian is to have died with Christ and to have risen with him anew.
Isn't that what baptism is about? To symbolize our dying to our old self, and to be "born again" in Him? Did Paul not say that we have died to our old sinful nature, so that we do not have to be slaves to sin anymore? Did Jesus not promise that if we hold onto our lives, we will lose it...but if we lose our lives for His sake, we shall find it? This Easter, has that thought crossed your mind? That for us who follow Jesus, His death and resurrection is a reminder of our own death to ourselves and a new life in Christ?
What does that mean for you? To die as Jesus did, and to be born again?
For me, it has meant many different things at many different moments in my life.
Undeniably, it had meant changing my way of life. Because I had been given a new life, so I must live it in a different way I had lived my old. It had meant struggling to change areas in my life and overcoming them sooner or later. It had meant changing how I thought, what I believed, and how I acted. It had meant suffering and letting go of treasures (putting them to death), and it had meant carrying my cross and following Him to my own crucifixion. And it still means those for me today. It will mean the same in the years ahead.
If one thinks about whether one is willing to give all up for Christ, to put to death everything for Him... If we are honest enough, I am sure the answer would not be so simple. And for me it has never been simple. Death and resurrection has been very quick in some respects of my life. But I think we can all attest to the feeling of death (in some parts of us) being drawn out, of it being more painful than we had expected, of it taking longer than we ever wanted it to be. And of us wondering how long its going to be before the tomb can be rolled away and we experience that ray of light showing us new things that lie ahead.
And so why do we Christians do it? If you understand what I'm saying... my question is, why have you done it? Why have you allowed yourself to die alongside with Christ? Isn't death painful? Isn't crucifixion excruciating? If you've never done it before, who can blame you? Who can blame the desire to avoid needless suffering? Who can blame you for not taking up your cross, when being crucified isn't something that God forces you into? When you are the one who has to willingly nail yourself up there?
I guess my question, to be more direct, is this... What makes it worth it? What makes giving up our treasures, our ways, our struggles for Him worth it? Have you ever gone far enough to figure out what makes it worth it? Or do you maybe feel that following Him is to suffer for His sake and nothing more?
For me... even though the process is complicated, my answer is always simple. For me, what makes taking up my cross worth it... what makes putting myself to death bearable... is exactly that idea. That I am dying to myself.
Because truly, the parts of myself that isn't Him... those are the parts I secretly hate about myself the most. Those are the parts I despise, that I fear, that I'm ashamed of, that I try and try to escape from but can't. Those are the parts of myself that think only of me, the parts of me that keep taking and taking but never getting enough. Those are the parts of me that make me feel insecure, that make me doubt myself, that make me afraid of everything. Those are the parts that cause me to say things and act in ways that hurt those I care about. Those are the parts of me that keep me bound to myself, that imprison me from being free to live this life the way I long to live.
The verses that always reminds me of this is John 10:10, where Jesus says, "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." And the other is the one I mentioned earlier, wherein Jesus says, "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
For me, those promises are what make dying to myself worth it. They may seem like impossible promises when the stakes are too high and too risky, and involves more suffering than one is willing to endure. But having risked following Him a few times already, I know that death always brings forth new life, and this new life can set a person free. And so it is my prayer to be able to follow Him and carry my cross through every valley of death He leads me through, because through it, He will mold me into someone who will be able to enjoy this short life to its very fullest.
Those were my thoughts this Easter. And so, I hope with this you also begin to think of your own relationship with Jesus.
Are you carrying your cross? If so, why? What makes it worth carrying?
If not... what stops you? Is the fear of loss greater than what will be gained?
Friday, April 15, 2011
What is that?
Here's a video for you guys. Something to think about? :)
Peace.
LOVE LOVE LOVE
Hey people! :)
Here's the link to the Sermons I told you about in Bible study tonight. For those of you who weren't there, Varrie and I just wanted to share with you the sermons from this church in the Philippines called Christ's Commission Fellowship (CCF). They're currently doing a series on "40 Days of Love" and basically they tell us about basic, practical things about what love is and how to love like God.
Don't worry, they're in English!
It would be REALLY REALLY great if you guys take a look/listen at all the sermons. I promise it'll be worth your time as Im sure it will change your lives, and maybe the people's around you! Enjoy!
Here's the link to the list of sermons on the series. CLICK ME to go to their website!
Here's the link to the Sermons I told you about in Bible study tonight. For those of you who weren't there, Varrie and I just wanted to share with you the sermons from this church in the Philippines called Christ's Commission Fellowship (CCF). They're currently doing a series on "40 Days of Love" and basically they tell us about basic, practical things about what love is and how to love like God.
Don't worry, they're in English!
It would be REALLY REALLY great if you guys take a look/listen at all the sermons. I promise it'll be worth your time as Im sure it will change your lives, and maybe the people's around you! Enjoy!
Here's the link to the list of sermons on the series. CLICK ME to go to their website!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Quotes from CS Lewis
These are all quotes from CS Lewis taken from Twitter! :)
Me and Jane had fun reading a lot of them last night, and so I though it would be cool to share some of them. He's one of my favorite writers. Enjoy!
Me and Jane had fun reading a lot of them last night, and so I though it would be cool to share some of them. He's one of my favorite writers. Enjoy!
Joy is the serious business of heaven. Our merriment must be between people who take each other seriously.
The real way of mending a man's taste is not to denigrate his favorites but to teach him how to enjoy something better.
Everyone feels benevolent if nothing happens to be annoying us at the moment.
What we practice, not (save at rare intervals) what we preach, is usually our contribution to the conversion of others.
It's so much easier to pray for a bore than to go and see one.
Christians do not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.
If God thinks this state of war in the universe is a price worth paying for free will, then it is worth paying.
As long as he doesn't convert it into action, it does not matter how much a man thinks about his repentance.
Tribulations cannot cease until God either sees us remade or sees that our remaking is now hopeless.
Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.
I believe in Christianity as I believe in the sun: not only because I see it, but by it I see everything else.
It is safe to tell the pure in heart that they shall see God, for only the pure in heart want to.
The 1st step to humility is to realize you are proud. To think you're not conceited, means you are indeed.
I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God, it changes me.
Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man.
We shall not be able to adore God on the highest occasions if we have learned no habit of doing so on the lowest.
All mortals tend to turn into the thing they are pretending to be.
Continue seeking God with seriousness. Unless He wanted you, you would not be wanting Him.
We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back the soonest is the most progressive.
Check out how our blog COULD look like...
Hey check out how our blog could look like. Which one do you guys like best? If any at all...
http://rcf-youth.blogspot.com/view/sidebar
On the upper right corner, it says "sidebar". Click on that and you can see how the other themes look like. Don't know if this is on beta or we can actually already make it look like that for good.
If you guys like one of them we could look into changing it into that!
http://rcf-youth.blogspot.com/view/sidebar
On the upper right corner, it says "sidebar". Click on that and you can see how the other themes look like. Don't know if this is on beta or we can actually already make it look like that for good.
If you guys like one of them we could look into changing it into that!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Judges 12 (I couldn't think of a snappier title)
So, last night at Bible study we looked at Judges 12 highlighting the theme of "jealousy". For a brief recap: Jepthath (a Gileadite) had just won a victory over the Ammonites, saving Israel, and lost a daughter because of a foolishly spoken vow. In chapter 12 the men of Ephraim came to Jephthath's house threatening to burn it down because he didn't call them for help in the battle. Jephthath retorted the he did call them but they didn't come and so he had to do it on their own. This all resulted in a battle between the Gileadites and the men of Ephraim, where the latter lost, and Jephthath went on to lead Israel in a time of peace. Continuing after Jepphthath were three judges (Ibzan, Elon and Abdon) who didn't do a whole lot and Israel fell back into sin in chapter 13 (for next week).
Now, this whole battle between Gilead and Ephraim was because of jealousy. Fighting wars and winning big victories (especially ones that save the nation) gain the victors much glory and honour. Jephthath of Gilead was thrown into leadership and into battle because of necessity and a calling from God. For him it wasn't about the glory, for all he cared Israel could've died. Basically his background was that he was a mighty warrior and a son of a prostitute who was driven out of his home by his brothers. When the Ammonites came, they turned to him for leadership and he reluctantly agreed. The battle wasn't for glory, but for survival. Ephraim on the other hand really couldn't care less about the battle or about helping Jephthath but after the fact when they had won this big victory did they get all offended because they wanted a piece of the glory and felt they were denied it. They were so offended in fact that they were ready to kill over it.
This wasn't the first time the men of Ephraim had done this either if you look in chapter 8:1-3. They did the same thing to Gideon after he'd won his battle. In this instance, Gideon hadn't called them to arms but responded by pointing out the fact that they shouldn't be worried about not being a part of this victory because they already had nice stuff (good grapes and mountains) and had won victories over other great generals. This calmed them down. So, we see here that Ephraim has a habit of wanting glory, not because they don't have anything to boast about but because they wanted more. Their desire for it never seemed to be satisfied and their greed and pride over it lead them to come to extreme decisions. And in the end, they mostly died from it.
So what can we learn from this? Jealousy is bad? Well, yeah, but more than that we should ask ourselves what we get jealous over. What is it that you desire so much that you "must" have it? Or, what is it that you desire so strongly that you can't be happy for someone else when they get it? As we can see, jealousy can drive a wedge between people - and these people were family going back a few generations. It can make us do stupid irrational things that we'll pretty much always regret later. So think about it:
- someone has a nicer body than you
So what can we do about this? What's the solution? Since there's always going to be people who are more social, more skilled or have nicer bodies than you, or whatever your thing is, how do we respond? Well, first off we have to realize that for the most part these things just aren't that important. And for the important things we do desire and don't have, chances are they're on the way or God's always doing the work behind the scenes. We have to be contented with what we have and don't have and be happy with that. We are who we are and that's just how God made us. If there are things we can better at, well, we just have to do the work to get better at them. There's no point complaining or being angry about something we haven't earned if we haven't done the work. Specifically for these examples:
- being social: some people are just naturally social and it comes easier, for others it takes time to develop. Not being as social as someone else isn't a bad thing - some are more introverted while others are extroverted - it's no reflection on who you are as a person. And if you are wanting to be more social then my only advice is to just start putting yourself out, be yourself and be bold in starting up conversations. Trust me I've been there - and at first it feels a little awkward but eventually it comes easier. And always remember, some people are just awkward to talk to, it's not just you haha.
- being more skilled: there will always be people who are better at something than you, but that doesn't mean that there's no place for you or your skills. The best thing you can do there is make it a goal or a challenge. Strive to be better at what you do and work hard to become better. Nothing's impossible for us, we often just need to get crackin' and do the work. Besides, if you're looking up to someone, chances are someone's looking up to you.
- having a nice body: you were created by God just as you are - big, little, tall, short, blue white purple! And in God's sight you are beautiful. Think about it, every rose is still a rose, no matter if some are bigger, smaller, redder or not. People seem to think that beauty is on a scale - top and bottom, but really we're all so unique that we can't really accurately compare one another except to group us by size, shape hair color etc. It's dumb. We're all created in the image of God, ALL of us, so that means God must have a skinny, large, fit, and unfit body, if a body at all. So how can we say we are lesser than anyone else when we were created equally? And, if you want a more toned fit body - go for it, starting working out or exercising. Also remember, our genetics will only go so far one way or another. I'm a skinny guy but if I wanted to look like a sumo wrestler I'd be hard pressed to get there easily or safely (you may laugh but sumo wrestlers are honoured people in Japan).
So back to jealousy. Overall, just be content and happy with who you are and what you have. And moreover, be happy for others when they get something that you might want yourself. What good is it to be like the men of Ephraim who were all angry for missing out on an opportunity that they had been offered only to attack someone who was probably a peaceful friend before. Plus Jephthath was probably still grieving over his daughter so y'know, worst-timing-ever! Be happy for one another, "rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn" Rom 12:15 (actually Rom 12 is very relevant: love). And don't worry if others are honoured over you, as in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, every part of the body of Christ is there to serve a different purpose but all are equal, so be happy for when people are successful in their areas
Also - this goes with the last bit of the passage in Judges 12:8-15 - Be good stewards of your life. After Jephthath had died these three judges (Ibzan, Elon, Abdon) took over in succession but in the end the nation returned to sin. Yes, they're mention in the Bible but they didn't do anything so worthy of honour. Now, I know being a judge they don't sound glamorous like the other judges who were conquering enemy armies and saving the people, but their task was different. They were called to be judges in times of peace. So though they didn't have to fight any battles their charge was to maintain the peace and keep up the faith among the people. Teach them the right way and maintain peace and morality. And to some degree they may have done some of this, but ultimately some of the people's behavior is a result of the leadership, so in spite of any good they'd done, something went wrong. Let's take a closer look.
Ibzan - lots of kids, lots of marriages. Not a whole lot else.
Elon - he lived....and then he died. The end.
Abdon - forty sons and thirty grandsons who all had donkeys. Now donkeys for that time were like ferraris, which tells us that they were wealthy and took advantage of it. Why not horses you might ask? Horses in those times were for war so donkeys were the luxury of peace-time.
All of this really doesn't tell us much except one thing - they were noted for their social standings (marrianges and donkeys) if at all. They weren't however noted for being full of the spirit of power of God. They weren't said to have lead the people in the law of the Lord, but that they just lead. They did the day to day stuff but without much interaction with God. We can relate this to our lives in this way: are you a Christian who just lives, dies, marries and buys fancy donkeys or are you one who was known to be close to God; who loves God and lead people in God. Are you the Christian as the world knows it - the boring, hypocritical only-Sunday-Christian or are you a good moral person who practices what he preaches and is open with his faith to the extent that he/she can be?
Food for thought. Hope you enjoyed it!
Emmanuel
Now, this whole battle between Gilead and Ephraim was because of jealousy. Fighting wars and winning big victories (especially ones that save the nation) gain the victors much glory and honour. Jephthath of Gilead was thrown into leadership and into battle because of necessity and a calling from God. For him it wasn't about the glory, for all he cared Israel could've died. Basically his background was that he was a mighty warrior and a son of a prostitute who was driven out of his home by his brothers. When the Ammonites came, they turned to him for leadership and he reluctantly agreed. The battle wasn't for glory, but for survival. Ephraim on the other hand really couldn't care less about the battle or about helping Jephthath but after the fact when they had won this big victory did they get all offended because they wanted a piece of the glory and felt they were denied it. They were so offended in fact that they were ready to kill over it.
This wasn't the first time the men of Ephraim had done this either if you look in chapter 8:1-3. They did the same thing to Gideon after he'd won his battle. In this instance, Gideon hadn't called them to arms but responded by pointing out the fact that they shouldn't be worried about not being a part of this victory because they already had nice stuff (good grapes and mountains) and had won victories over other great generals. This calmed them down. So, we see here that Ephraim has a habit of wanting glory, not because they don't have anything to boast about but because they wanted more. Their desire for it never seemed to be satisfied and their greed and pride over it lead them to come to extreme decisions. And in the end, they mostly died from it.
So what can we learn from this? Jealousy is bad? Well, yeah, but more than that we should ask ourselves what we get jealous over. What is it that you desire so much that you "must" have it? Or, what is it that you desire so strongly that you can't be happy for someone else when they get it? As we can see, jealousy can drive a wedge between people - and these people were family going back a few generations. It can make us do stupid irrational things that we'll pretty much always regret later. So think about it:
What things cause you to be jealous?
And more than that, are they worth begin jealous over?
If you're having a hard time thinking about this, here are some things that could be relevant:
- someone who's more social than you, can make friends more easily than you, or strike up a conversation better
- someone who's more skilled at something than you- someone has a nicer body than you
So what can we do about this? What's the solution? Since there's always going to be people who are more social, more skilled or have nicer bodies than you, or whatever your thing is, how do we respond? Well, first off we have to realize that for the most part these things just aren't that important. And for the important things we do desire and don't have, chances are they're on the way or God's always doing the work behind the scenes. We have to be contented with what we have and don't have and be happy with that. We are who we are and that's just how God made us. If there are things we can better at, well, we just have to do the work to get better at them. There's no point complaining or being angry about something we haven't earned if we haven't done the work. Specifically for these examples:
- being social: some people are just naturally social and it comes easier, for others it takes time to develop. Not being as social as someone else isn't a bad thing - some are more introverted while others are extroverted - it's no reflection on who you are as a person. And if you are wanting to be more social then my only advice is to just start putting yourself out, be yourself and be bold in starting up conversations. Trust me I've been there - and at first it feels a little awkward but eventually it comes easier. And always remember, some people are just awkward to talk to, it's not just you haha.
- being more skilled: there will always be people who are better at something than you, but that doesn't mean that there's no place for you or your skills. The best thing you can do there is make it a goal or a challenge. Strive to be better at what you do and work hard to become better. Nothing's impossible for us, we often just need to get crackin' and do the work. Besides, if you're looking up to someone, chances are someone's looking up to you.
- having a nice body: you were created by God just as you are - big, little, tall, short, blue white purple! And in God's sight you are beautiful. Think about it, every rose is still a rose, no matter if some are bigger, smaller, redder or not. People seem to think that beauty is on a scale - top and bottom, but really we're all so unique that we can't really accurately compare one another except to group us by size, shape hair color etc. It's dumb. We're all created in the image of God, ALL of us, so that means God must have a skinny, large, fit, and unfit body, if a body at all. So how can we say we are lesser than anyone else when we were created equally? And, if you want a more toned fit body - go for it, starting working out or exercising. Also remember, our genetics will only go so far one way or another. I'm a skinny guy but if I wanted to look like a sumo wrestler I'd be hard pressed to get there easily or safely (you may laugh but sumo wrestlers are honoured people in Japan).
So back to jealousy. Overall, just be content and happy with who you are and what you have. And moreover, be happy for others when they get something that you might want yourself. What good is it to be like the men of Ephraim who were all angry for missing out on an opportunity that they had been offered only to attack someone who was probably a peaceful friend before. Plus Jephthath was probably still grieving over his daughter so y'know, worst-timing-ever! Be happy for one another, "rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn" Rom 12:15 (actually Rom 12 is very relevant: love). And don't worry if others are honoured over you, as in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, every part of the body of Christ is there to serve a different purpose but all are equal, so be happy for when people are successful in their areas
Also - this goes with the last bit of the passage in Judges 12:8-15 - Be good stewards of your life. After Jephthath had died these three judges (Ibzan, Elon, Abdon) took over in succession but in the end the nation returned to sin. Yes, they're mention in the Bible but they didn't do anything so worthy of honour. Now, I know being a judge they don't sound glamorous like the other judges who were conquering enemy armies and saving the people, but their task was different. They were called to be judges in times of peace. So though they didn't have to fight any battles their charge was to maintain the peace and keep up the faith among the people. Teach them the right way and maintain peace and morality. And to some degree they may have done some of this, but ultimately some of the people's behavior is a result of the leadership, so in spite of any good they'd done, something went wrong. Let's take a closer look.
Ibzan - lots of kids, lots of marriages. Not a whole lot else.
Elon - he lived....and then he died. The end.
Abdon - forty sons and thirty grandsons who all had donkeys. Now donkeys for that time were like ferraris, which tells us that they were wealthy and took advantage of it. Why not horses you might ask? Horses in those times were for war so donkeys were the luxury of peace-time.
All of this really doesn't tell us much except one thing - they were noted for their social standings (marrianges and donkeys) if at all. They weren't however noted for being full of the spirit of power of God. They weren't said to have lead the people in the law of the Lord, but that they just lead. They did the day to day stuff but without much interaction with God. We can relate this to our lives in this way: are you a Christian who just lives, dies, marries and buys fancy donkeys or are you one who was known to be close to God; who loves God and lead people in God. Are you the Christian as the world knows it - the boring, hypocritical only-Sunday-Christian or are you a good moral person who practices what he preaches and is open with his faith to the extent that he/she can be?
Food for thought. Hope you enjoyed it!
Emmanuel
Friday, April 1, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Your tongue = Rudder...
Well, here I am blogging again. I used to write a lot, but kinda lost interest over the years. I'm trying to get back into it, as it's kinda how I think. I'll be writing things down that seemingly came out of nowhere and be thinking "Now where the heck did THAT come from?"
Another thing that tends to produce deep life-altering epiphanies, random ramblings and painful reminders alike is music. I wouldn't always readily admit it but I'm not just about the angst-ridden rock'n'roll, I do have the occasional guilty pleasure band/album/song that I listen to. One of them is this cheesy acoustic song by Brand New called "Play Crack The Sky." It's absolutely awful, but I love it for just that reason. In it, the singer sings:
Your tongue is a rudder,
it steers the whole ship,
sends your words past your lips
or keeps them safe behind your teeth.
But the wrong words will strand you,
come off course while you sleep,
sweep your boat out to sea
or dashed to bits on the reef.
I guess it kinds strikes a chord with me. Our words are powerful, either breathing life into the lives of others... or snatching it away. Negative words are seemingly even more powerful. Ever noticed that you could get ten compliments about something but then one schmuck comes along and says something negative about that same thing and all you can remember is that one off-the-cuff remark? I really like the whole sailing analogy, maybe because I was obsessed with pirates as a kid. (I even wore an eyepatch. I'll have to tell y'all about that sometime =p) It's funny because the rudder is quite possibly one of the smallest parts of a boat, and yet, it is quite possibly the most important, most powerful part. To compare our tongues to it is a very apt comparison, because an unchecked tongue will steer you all over the place, even places you don't necessarily want to go. You know how I said earlier that I'll be writing stuff and say to myself "Where did that come from?"... well, I can find myself wondering the same thing when I say stuff too. And not in a good way, either. I crash my ship into the reefs like a pirate who just had a wee bit too much rum...
I've always prided myself on being a "cool" Christian. I love Jesus, but I also love sports, music, movies, etc etc. I think it's important not to be some aloof, head-in-the-clouds Christian who is totally out of touch with the world and what's going on. I guess it's the classic struggle to be "in" the world but not "of" the world. It's almost a bit like we're secret agents sometimes. ;) Anyways, one of my main struggles is my lovely sense of humor. I am beyond sarcastic at times, and like so many other personality traits, it's charming... to a point. It's tricky because some people can handle more ribbing than others. But just because someone can handle it doesn't make it the right thing to do.
When George talked about being a Christian in the world at church yesterday, I thought about the very same thing. Just how often I can use my sarcasm or humor to push people away. I tend to keep a respectful distance from a lot of people in my life, even people who I legitimately care about. I also can use it to tear people down. But the most distressing thing of all is sometimes I have no idea why I say what I do. It seems like I do it just because I can!
I'm not too sure where to go from here, blog-wise. I guess I've sorta hit a wall. The fact of the matter is that I know what I have to do, and that it's really just a matter of going out and doing it. But we all know that changing oneself is usually easier said than done. I definitely believe it's possible, because there's a night and day difference between me and myself, say, five or ten years ago. But it most definitely is easier said than done. Hopefully you guys got a nugget or two out of this post, and if nothing else, at the very least, have a better understanding of just how that hamster wheel inside my noggin works. Cheerio!
Another thing that tends to produce deep life-altering epiphanies, random ramblings and painful reminders alike is music. I wouldn't always readily admit it but I'm not just about the angst-ridden rock'n'roll, I do have the occasional guilty pleasure band/album/song that I listen to. One of them is this cheesy acoustic song by Brand New called "Play Crack The Sky." It's absolutely awful, but I love it for just that reason. In it, the singer sings:
Your tongue is a rudder,
it steers the whole ship,
sends your words past your lips
or keeps them safe behind your teeth.
But the wrong words will strand you,
come off course while you sleep,
sweep your boat out to sea
or dashed to bits on the reef.
I guess it kinds strikes a chord with me. Our words are powerful, either breathing life into the lives of others... or snatching it away. Negative words are seemingly even more powerful. Ever noticed that you could get ten compliments about something but then one schmuck comes along and says something negative about that same thing and all you can remember is that one off-the-cuff remark? I really like the whole sailing analogy, maybe because I was obsessed with pirates as a kid. (I even wore an eyepatch. I'll have to tell y'all about that sometime =p) It's funny because the rudder is quite possibly one of the smallest parts of a boat, and yet, it is quite possibly the most important, most powerful part. To compare our tongues to it is a very apt comparison, because an unchecked tongue will steer you all over the place, even places you don't necessarily want to go. You know how I said earlier that I'll be writing stuff and say to myself "Where did that come from?"... well, I can find myself wondering the same thing when I say stuff too. And not in a good way, either. I crash my ship into the reefs like a pirate who just had a wee bit too much rum...
I've always prided myself on being a "cool" Christian. I love Jesus, but I also love sports, music, movies, etc etc. I think it's important not to be some aloof, head-in-the-clouds Christian who is totally out of touch with the world and what's going on. I guess it's the classic struggle to be "in" the world but not "of" the world. It's almost a bit like we're secret agents sometimes. ;) Anyways, one of my main struggles is my lovely sense of humor. I am beyond sarcastic at times, and like so many other personality traits, it's charming... to a point. It's tricky because some people can handle more ribbing than others. But just because someone can handle it doesn't make it the right thing to do.
When George talked about being a Christian in the world at church yesterday, I thought about the very same thing. Just how often I can use my sarcasm or humor to push people away. I tend to keep a respectful distance from a lot of people in my life, even people who I legitimately care about. I also can use it to tear people down. But the most distressing thing of all is sometimes I have no idea why I say what I do. It seems like I do it just because I can!
I'm not too sure where to go from here, blog-wise. I guess I've sorta hit a wall. The fact of the matter is that I know what I have to do, and that it's really just a matter of going out and doing it. But we all know that changing oneself is usually easier said than done. I definitely believe it's possible, because there's a night and day difference between me and myself, say, five or ten years ago. But it most definitely is easier said than done. Hopefully you guys got a nugget or two out of this post, and if nothing else, at the very least, have a better understanding of just how that hamster wheel inside my noggin works. Cheerio!
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