Now, the King had a son. This son shared the love for the people that His father had. In fact, so great was His love for the people that He offered to take the punishment that the people deserved upon Himself. The King’s justice had to be enacted. But in order for the son to take the punishment for the people, He had to first discard His own royalty and humble Himself to the level of the people. You see, this was the King’s plan along. Through the humility of His son He would offer a payment for debts, so to speak, for those people who would choose to accept it. Sure enough, His son took on all of the limitations of mankind, and engaged with the rebel lord. In the end, the enemy destroyed the son, thinking he had won against another feeble attempt by the King to take back the hearts of His people. But it wasn’t over. Because of His willingness to suffer for the sake of the guilty, death itself could not hold Him. He returned to His father’s side, leaving behind a handful of people who now knew the truth. These people would begin to tell others of the son’s sacrifice, and the freedom that accepting that sacrifice brought. Slowly, the truth would begin to spread, burning up the deceit and darkness that the enemy had released on mankind. For years afterwards, the Truth would lay low, almost hidden, yet slowly pushing back the seemingly overwhelming tide of deception. The final victory would be long in coming, but slowly and surly the King would raise up His people, in their weakness and vulnerability, to become the very force that would overthrow the reign of deception brought about by the enemy. And one day, the enemy himself will be defeated once and forever, at the hands of the son. Out of defeat, the King brought victory. Out of failure, the King brought success. Out of weakness, the King brought strength.
You see, this isn’t just some fairytale. This is God’s story; the one that He wrote, and knows the beginning from the ending. This is the story of how He, in His wisdom and goodness, raised up, and continues to raise up, His people to overcome the darkness and deception of the enemy. This is the story of how through the apparent weakness, limitations, and vulnerability of His Son, Jesus, the ultimate victory has already been won.
If you remember, I mentioned that I wanted to offer a challenge, a new way to look at life, one that would bring greater purpose and meaning. You know, we tend to live our lives as if we were the only ones that mattered. Oh sure, we love and are loyal to our families and friends, maybe even those we attend church with, those we work with, or those living around us, but in the end, do we genuinely care about those outside of our sphere of influence? Let me put it in perspective for you. So we have the big, overarching story, God’s story, but who is it that make up all of the little pieces and parts of that story? We do. Each of us lives our own story. But not just our own story, because our stories intertwine with the stories of those around us, and their stories intertwine with those around them, until you have one long strand, the small stories of every individual who ever lived, that makes up His story. We are story, and we contribute to the stories of those around us, for good or for bad. We are story, and we are part of a much greater story, one that will last forever. Because when the final chapter closes, and the enemy is defeated, those who stood by the King and His son will begin a new chapter, one filled with joy like we have no idea, and this chapter can never end. This is where all of our individual stories come together for good. This is story.
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Story - Part 1
“Enemy-occupied territory – that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say has landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign in sabotage.” ~ C.S. Lewis (http://christianquotes.org/search/quick)
Once upon a time, beyond time, and through all time, there was a King. Now this King established a Kingdom for Himself. However, at one point, one of the highest ranking lords in His Kingdom rebelled against Him, seeking to take His place as King. This lord was exiled from the Kingdom, along with all of his followers. The King was very powerful, and could have slain the lord and all of his followers with no effort on His part. However, He chose to use a method to bring about victory that, in the beginning, seemed to be rather foolish and weak. But in the long run, if it worked, it would bring great glory to the King. Now, a brief description of this King is in order. He was a very just, yet merciful King. He was powerful, infinite, and immortal. In His power, He created for Himself beings that shared many characteristics with Him. They were intelligent, emotional, and willful. They could love, and in return, desired love. He granted them free choice, to determine who they would love, and, ultimately, serve. However, they were finite, with limited power and understanding. It was with these weak creations that the King would defeat His opponent. Now, of course, the rebel lord hated the King, and for that matter, anything that was dear to the King. So he targeted the weak creatures for destruction. He thought if he could corrupt these beings than the King’s justice would require Him to destroy His creation. Of course, he was correct in this. As I said, the King was a just king. This is exactly what happened. The weak creatures were seduced and betrayed by the rebel lord, and were forced to accept the King’s punishment, although it grieved Him greatly. Now, you might ask, “What of the King’s great plan?” You would be correct to ask this. Well, He knew before hand that His creation would be tarnished through what would become known as the Great Deception, and He was ready for this. Thousands of years passed. The rebel lord continued to plague those who had been designed to be the King’s followers. Many of them became followers of the rebel lord, whether they meant to or not. Some were deceived into following the enemy’s lies. Some simply were so surrounded by corruption and deception that they didn’t know what to believe. They created many “kings” for themselves; beings that they worshipped as their creator and lord. However, there remained a few who sought the True King, and sought to follow and serve Him. Out of these, the King developed the solution to cure the rebellion brought about amongst His people.
I invite you back next time to learn exactly how the King defeated His enemy and intervened on behalf of His people! This is the beginning in a short series, which I am using as the background for what I believe has the power to change how you look at life. Join me over the next two weeks or so as I offer a challenge to engage life with a new sense of purpose and destiny.
Once upon a time, beyond time, and through all time, there was a King. Now this King established a Kingdom for Himself. However, at one point, one of the highest ranking lords in His Kingdom rebelled against Him, seeking to take His place as King. This lord was exiled from the Kingdom, along with all of his followers. The King was very powerful, and could have slain the lord and all of his followers with no effort on His part. However, He chose to use a method to bring about victory that, in the beginning, seemed to be rather foolish and weak. But in the long run, if it worked, it would bring great glory to the King. Now, a brief description of this King is in order. He was a very just, yet merciful King. He was powerful, infinite, and immortal. In His power, He created for Himself beings that shared many characteristics with Him. They were intelligent, emotional, and willful. They could love, and in return, desired love. He granted them free choice, to determine who they would love, and, ultimately, serve. However, they were finite, with limited power and understanding. It was with these weak creations that the King would defeat His opponent. Now, of course, the rebel lord hated the King, and for that matter, anything that was dear to the King. So he targeted the weak creatures for destruction. He thought if he could corrupt these beings than the King’s justice would require Him to destroy His creation. Of course, he was correct in this. As I said, the King was a just king. This is exactly what happened. The weak creatures were seduced and betrayed by the rebel lord, and were forced to accept the King’s punishment, although it grieved Him greatly. Now, you might ask, “What of the King’s great plan?” You would be correct to ask this. Well, He knew before hand that His creation would be tarnished through what would become known as the Great Deception, and He was ready for this. Thousands of years passed. The rebel lord continued to plague those who had been designed to be the King’s followers. Many of them became followers of the rebel lord, whether they meant to or not. Some were deceived into following the enemy’s lies. Some simply were so surrounded by corruption and deception that they didn’t know what to believe. They created many “kings” for themselves; beings that they worshipped as their creator and lord. However, there remained a few who sought the True King, and sought to follow and serve Him. Out of these, the King developed the solution to cure the rebellion brought about amongst His people.
I invite you back next time to learn exactly how the King defeated His enemy and intervened on behalf of His people! This is the beginning in a short series, which I am using as the background for what I believe has the power to change how you look at life. Join me over the next two weeks or so as I offer a challenge to engage life with a new sense of purpose and destiny.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
July 1 - Then, or Now?
"The purpose of life is a life of purpose."~ Robert Byrne (http://www.quotequarden.com/life.html)
I think that at some point in life every person will have to come to the realization that the quality of a journey isn't always in it's destination, but rather in the journey itself. Life isn't so much about finding answers to our questions, but rather the process of asking those questions. Have you ever noticed that in reading a good book, you know, one that is pretty intense, you get to the end, and the whole way you've been waiting for the end to see how it turns out, but when you get there, you don't want it to end? The quality of that book wasn't in the conclusion of the plot, but rather in the telling of the story.
As far as this quote goes, I believe the purpose of every believer is to live in a way that brings glory to God. But this doesn't happen at some climactic point in the future; it happens every day, every hour. Living purposefully, seeking to honor God with every action, word, thought pattern, and motive, is accomplishing life's purpose, to bring glory to God.
Back in the old youth group days, I remember going to youth conferences, youth camps, etc., where we would become so excited and fired up for God. We would awesome worship service after awesome worship service; we would be ready to go home and change our schools, churches, and communities, only to have that passion die out upon our return. It took me a few years to figure out that those mountain top experiences, while fantastic, are not where it happens. Growth can only happen in the valleys. Fruit can only be produced in the valleys. It's about the journey, not the destination.
To bring it home, I think a lot of Christians in America today live like, "Hey, I'm getting into heaven, that's all I need to worry about." However, Christianity is about living Christ-like, day by day. Just doing enough to "get by" on isn't enough. We're called to love God and love others, and this love requires a daily commitment. Are we willing to live purposefully, for the journey itself, and not just the destination?
I think that at some point in life every person will have to come to the realization that the quality of a journey isn't always in it's destination, but rather in the journey itself. Life isn't so much about finding answers to our questions, but rather the process of asking those questions. Have you ever noticed that in reading a good book, you know, one that is pretty intense, you get to the end, and the whole way you've been waiting for the end to see how it turns out, but when you get there, you don't want it to end? The quality of that book wasn't in the conclusion of the plot, but rather in the telling of the story.
As far as this quote goes, I believe the purpose of every believer is to live in a way that brings glory to God. But this doesn't happen at some climactic point in the future; it happens every day, every hour. Living purposefully, seeking to honor God with every action, word, thought pattern, and motive, is accomplishing life's purpose, to bring glory to God.
Back in the old youth group days, I remember going to youth conferences, youth camps, etc., where we would become so excited and fired up for God. We would awesome worship service after awesome worship service; we would be ready to go home and change our schools, churches, and communities, only to have that passion die out upon our return. It took me a few years to figure out that those mountain top experiences, while fantastic, are not where it happens. Growth can only happen in the valleys. Fruit can only be produced in the valleys. It's about the journey, not the destination.
To bring it home, I think a lot of Christians in America today live like, "Hey, I'm getting into heaven, that's all I need to worry about." However, Christianity is about living Christ-like, day by day. Just doing enough to "get by" on isn't enough. We're called to love God and love others, and this love requires a daily commitment. Are we willing to live purposefully, for the journey itself, and not just the destination?
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The Road Not Taken - An Introduction
Perhaps the best way to begin this journey (writing is, of course, a journey, as is most things in life, even life itself) is by introducing the travelers. My name is...Oh, wait, that's how everyone does it.
Robert Frost said in 'The Road Not Taken': "Two roads in a wood divurged and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." This is one of my favorite lines in poetry, because I can so well connect with it. Quite literally, I can't help but follow a path that shifts around the bend. "Where does it lead?" haunts me 'til I yield to the temptation.Yet this is also true in life. I won't allow myself to follow the way that everyone else takes, to jump on the bandwagon, so to speak. Not that I need to stand out, because I could care less if I do. But untrod ground feels better than pavement...
In our culture, a name doesn't describe a person's identity. So, before giving you the basics about me, I'll tell you who I am.
I am, first and foremost, a child of God. I'm not religious, don't get me wrong. But I am passionately in love with my Savior, and I'm not ashamed of it. Some people will say, "Well, if Christianity is a personal relationship with Jesus, then you should keep it personal and not push it on others." However, does it make any sense to keep quiet about good news? If you get a promotion, you tell those around you. If you are getting married, you tell those around you. If someone sacrificed their life for you so you could have the greatest gift of all (eternal life), and wants to offer the same gift to others, not only is not talking about it foolish, but also dangerous for others! I am who I am because of who He is, and that's the simple fact of the matter.
Now, to more trivial things. I grew up on a farm in Ohio, and was homeschooled from junior high on. Our farm is almost sixty acres. On the gentle hill just about in the center of the farm is the building site where we have been constructing a log cabin (since I was 14). Just behind the house to the west is the barn and chicken coop, and, scanning to the south, is the garden. Continuing in that direction, you'll see the new orchard, two small lakes, our present house, and the old farm house. Between the new house and the old house and again behind the farm house you'll see corn fields (actually corn and soy beans, as the crops are varied). In front of the new house, you'll see another lake, then to the rear (northwest)you'll see another field, and directly west, behind the new barn, lie acres of woods.
The farm is a great place for raising nine kids, as my parents know. The children enjoy playing with the animals (new twin kids and kittens keep life interesting!), boating and swimming in the ponds, and, for the older ones, hunting in the woods. Being country-raised, you will rarely actually find children wearing shoes around my place; they prefer running barefoot. As my dad would tell you, he has a bit of "hillbilly" in his background, and those genes have worked their way into the next generation.
My family has been in church since before I was born. My dad was a first generation believer, and made sure all of his children grew up in the Church. For me, this packed a whole lot of head knowledge in at a young age, but it wasn't until I was 13 that God finally got my attention and I realized this whole Christianity thing was supposed to be about having a relationship with Jesus and not attending church every week, knowing all of the Bible stories, and "behaving good".
My dad spent a decade or so doing part-time missions work in Asia, though he'd say it wasn't really missions, just trying to figure out the Lord's will. I jumped on board when I was ten, for my first missions trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia. I went back at 16, on my own this time. I interned at a local orphanage, and fell in love with the children there. My next trip to Southeast Asia came in late May, early June of 2009, when I went to Chiang Mai, Thailand. I started a small import business at the time: Affordable Luxuries Enterprise. I returned in January of this year, this time specifically for business. By this time, I was beginning to see my life's dream of owning a business that would serve as an avenue to missions coming true. I had just completed my first semester at Grove City College, in Western PA, where I am pursuing a degree in entrepreneurship. By the way, if you are looking for a top-notch, conservative liberal-arts school that has rigorous academics, is affordable, and has strong Christian values, Grove City College may just be the place for you. Now, with that blurb out of the way, you have pretty much caught up to where I am now, at the end of my freshman year, looking for a summer job, and looking ahead to the opportunities and challenges of next semester.
Next semester will be a busy one, but I like it that way. I'm not very disciplined, and I can't stay in one place very long, but I like the pressure of rushing around trying to get stuff done. I am most productive when I'm surrounded by deadlines, when the adrenaline and exhilaration of the situation course through my blood stream, when I'm darting in and out of my room (as can be verified by my oft-interrupted roommate!).
I like tidy, yet my work space is often overly crowded (hence the reason for never working at my desk). I need to rearrange things every once in a while. I enjoy reading a good novel, and will watch just about anything (yes, I can even stay attached to the screen during a chickflick). I am an average chess player and enjoy playing hand drums. I am fascinated by finance and investment, and am an ancient history fanatic. I'm an ideas person, but I've never been very good at turning those ideas into actions. Of all my dreams, I have always wanted to be an author more than anything else. Who knows, maybe one day the Lord will open a door there. I tend to be somewhat of an introvert, although once I get to know someone I take the whole friendship loyalty thing very seriously. I believe relationships are the key to fulfillment in life, and will skip class to talk to someone if they have something going on. I have a weakness for white chocolate, and tend to deal with things by talking about them with my best friend, Greg. A photographer, and my senior by three years, I have the utmost respect for him as a mature believer. He is my first source for advice about life. My roommate, Matt, the ideal Grove City College student (from now on to be simplified to "Grover"), discovered this tendancy this past year, and several late-night discussions showed me once again just how blessed I am to have the people in my life that I do. We got along almost ideally, it seems, despite the fact that, as he is electrical engineer,our minds work completely differently. I have to say that I admire him for both his discipline and maturity on multiple levels. As I have shifted into talking about people that I have had the opportunity to "travel" with this year, I can't leave out Brittany. Brittany is a Grover graduate with whom I attended church. Her impact on me was in her gentle spirit that evidenced the presence of God in her life in a way that was more tangible than just about anyone else I've ever met. There have been countless others, of course, that I could spend hours discussing, but I'll simply say that God has been so good to me in giving me such a wealth of friends that have helped shape the path that I am on.
In wrapping this first post up, I want to touch on one more thing. I decided to start this blog after a friend suggested it in order to follow what I am doing in terms of missions, business, school, etc. This is my purpose; however, just as every other person out there, I have my battles with pride. Therefore, while I am writing about things going on in my life, this blog shouldn't really be about me. Rather, it should be about the glory of God, as expressed by my weaknesses. Ultimately, I hope that in writing this, someone will recognize how good He truly is, and will seek Him out more fully because of it. While I've discussed just about every other area of my life, the most important is the why. My purpose in life is quite simple, really, although I make it more complex than need be. It's simply this: to reflect the glory of God.This is the journey that I am on. What's yours?
Robert Frost said in 'The Road Not Taken': "Two roads in a wood divurged and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." This is one of my favorite lines in poetry, because I can so well connect with it. Quite literally, I can't help but follow a path that shifts around the bend. "Where does it lead?" haunts me 'til I yield to the temptation.Yet this is also true in life. I won't allow myself to follow the way that everyone else takes, to jump on the bandwagon, so to speak. Not that I need to stand out, because I could care less if I do. But untrod ground feels better than pavement...
In our culture, a name doesn't describe a person's identity. So, before giving you the basics about me, I'll tell you who I am.
I am, first and foremost, a child of God. I'm not religious, don't get me wrong. But I am passionately in love with my Savior, and I'm not ashamed of it. Some people will say, "Well, if Christianity is a personal relationship with Jesus, then you should keep it personal and not push it on others." However, does it make any sense to keep quiet about good news? If you get a promotion, you tell those around you. If you are getting married, you tell those around you. If someone sacrificed their life for you so you could have the greatest gift of all (eternal life), and wants to offer the same gift to others, not only is not talking about it foolish, but also dangerous for others! I am who I am because of who He is, and that's the simple fact of the matter.
Now, to more trivial things. I grew up on a farm in Ohio, and was homeschooled from junior high on. Our farm is almost sixty acres. On the gentle hill just about in the center of the farm is the building site where we have been constructing a log cabin (since I was 14). Just behind the house to the west is the barn and chicken coop, and, scanning to the south, is the garden. Continuing in that direction, you'll see the new orchard, two small lakes, our present house, and the old farm house. Between the new house and the old house and again behind the farm house you'll see corn fields (actually corn and soy beans, as the crops are varied). In front of the new house, you'll see another lake, then to the rear (northwest)you'll see another field, and directly west, behind the new barn, lie acres of woods.
The farm is a great place for raising nine kids, as my parents know. The children enjoy playing with the animals (new twin kids and kittens keep life interesting!), boating and swimming in the ponds, and, for the older ones, hunting in the woods. Being country-raised, you will rarely actually find children wearing shoes around my place; they prefer running barefoot. As my dad would tell you, he has a bit of "hillbilly" in his background, and those genes have worked their way into the next generation.
My family has been in church since before I was born. My dad was a first generation believer, and made sure all of his children grew up in the Church. For me, this packed a whole lot of head knowledge in at a young age, but it wasn't until I was 13 that God finally got my attention and I realized this whole Christianity thing was supposed to be about having a relationship with Jesus and not attending church every week, knowing all of the Bible stories, and "behaving good".
My dad spent a decade or so doing part-time missions work in Asia, though he'd say it wasn't really missions, just trying to figure out the Lord's will. I jumped on board when I was ten, for my first missions trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia. I went back at 16, on my own this time. I interned at a local orphanage, and fell in love with the children there. My next trip to Southeast Asia came in late May, early June of 2009, when I went to Chiang Mai, Thailand. I started a small import business at the time: Affordable Luxuries Enterprise. I returned in January of this year, this time specifically for business. By this time, I was beginning to see my life's dream of owning a business that would serve as an avenue to missions coming true. I had just completed my first semester at Grove City College, in Western PA, where I am pursuing a degree in entrepreneurship. By the way, if you are looking for a top-notch, conservative liberal-arts school that has rigorous academics, is affordable, and has strong Christian values, Grove City College may just be the place for you. Now, with that blurb out of the way, you have pretty much caught up to where I am now, at the end of my freshman year, looking for a summer job, and looking ahead to the opportunities and challenges of next semester.
Next semester will be a busy one, but I like it that way. I'm not very disciplined, and I can't stay in one place very long, but I like the pressure of rushing around trying to get stuff done. I am most productive when I'm surrounded by deadlines, when the adrenaline and exhilaration of the situation course through my blood stream, when I'm darting in and out of my room (as can be verified by my oft-interrupted roommate!).
I like tidy, yet my work space is often overly crowded (hence the reason for never working at my desk). I need to rearrange things every once in a while. I enjoy reading a good novel, and will watch just about anything (yes, I can even stay attached to the screen during a chickflick). I am an average chess player and enjoy playing hand drums. I am fascinated by finance and investment, and am an ancient history fanatic. I'm an ideas person, but I've never been very good at turning those ideas into actions. Of all my dreams, I have always wanted to be an author more than anything else. Who knows, maybe one day the Lord will open a door there. I tend to be somewhat of an introvert, although once I get to know someone I take the whole friendship loyalty thing very seriously. I believe relationships are the key to fulfillment in life, and will skip class to talk to someone if they have something going on. I have a weakness for white chocolate, and tend to deal with things by talking about them with my best friend, Greg. A photographer, and my senior by three years, I have the utmost respect for him as a mature believer. He is my first source for advice about life. My roommate, Matt, the ideal Grove City College student (from now on to be simplified to "Grover"), discovered this tendancy this past year, and several late-night discussions showed me once again just how blessed I am to have the people in my life that I do. We got along almost ideally, it seems, despite the fact that, as he is electrical engineer,our minds work completely differently. I have to say that I admire him for both his discipline and maturity on multiple levels. As I have shifted into talking about people that I have had the opportunity to "travel" with this year, I can't leave out Brittany. Brittany is a Grover graduate with whom I attended church. Her impact on me was in her gentle spirit that evidenced the presence of God in her life in a way that was more tangible than just about anyone else I've ever met. There have been countless others, of course, that I could spend hours discussing, but I'll simply say that God has been so good to me in giving me such a wealth of friends that have helped shape the path that I am on.
In wrapping this first post up, I want to touch on one more thing. I decided to start this blog after a friend suggested it in order to follow what I am doing in terms of missions, business, school, etc. This is my purpose; however, just as every other person out there, I have my battles with pride. Therefore, while I am writing about things going on in my life, this blog shouldn't really be about me. Rather, it should be about the glory of God, as expressed by my weaknesses. Ultimately, I hope that in writing this, someone will recognize how good He truly is, and will seek Him out more fully because of it. While I've discussed just about every other area of my life, the most important is the why. My purpose in life is quite simple, really, although I make it more complex than need be. It's simply this: to reflect the glory of God.This is the journey that I am on. What's yours?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)