I was out in the park the other day, when I witnessed something totally inspirational. I saw two guys staring at a carpet. Then they got down on their knees and bowed. They sat up, then bowed again.
It took me a minute to realize that I was watching them pray. To Allah.
Awesome.
These guys were still in their business clothes. In a dirty alleyway behind a nasty building. Most likely, they've been harassed for their faith and practices. They probably still had things to finish up before they got home. But none of this stopped them. No, they dropped everything at work to pray to their god.
Muslims pray five times a day. Everyday. At the same time.
Period.
There are no exceptions, no exemptions, no excuses. Muslims put the entire world on hold for a few minutes five separate times a day! Some days, I don't even pray for five minutes! (Yeah, I admit it)
I want that kind of faith. I want that kind of dedication. I want that kind of church. The Muslim faith has undergone such persecution over the years, and yet they still remain consistent in prayer and lifestyle as a community. As a Christian church, we can't even unify over the carpet choice in our sanctuaries.
On a more personal level, subscribers of the Muslim faith will wake up at the butt-crack of dawn to pray. I can't even wake up 30 minutes early to do a little devotion! How absurd is that? I'm willing to bet that a large portion of Christians today pray three times a day...breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Muslims study and even memorize large portions of the Quran. How many of us even read the Bible on a daily basis? (Guilty) As the confirmation students at my church were studying the books of the Bible, I discovered that I couldn't even name them all in order! And I'm a theology major!
Muslims wear different clothes. They practice different lifestyles. They eat different foods. Their entire lives revolve around their faith. They aren't afraid to show everybody what they stand for. I'm not saying that we need to separate ourselves from the world, but I am pointing out the fact that we can't be afraid to be bold about our faith.
In his book, Don't Waste Your Life, John Piper says; "If we desire that there be no boasting except in the cross, (Galatians 6:14) then we must live near the cross-indeed we must live on the cross."
I want a life dedicated to Christ. My whole life. Every breath. Every word. Every action. Everything, for my God, Creator, and Redeemer.
I want a unified Church. One vision. One mission. A Church that supports and loves all members instead of judging and excluding.
I want a Muslim level faith.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
I Want Some More Please
So I was talking with the lovely Lori Van Beveren during Commencement today, when she made a comment about the projector being drowned out by the sunshine. So I told her that I'd ask God to turn the sun down a few shades.
Simple enough right?
I mean God, come on, just this one little favor. And some good grades. A pay-raise. A new guitar. Oh, and a few wins for the Cubs.
I know you created me, sustain me, and forgave me. You also provided me with great friends, family, shelter, and food (I want to take this opportunity to say that it's only been 24 hours since my last caf meal, and I miss it).
So, I promise, after these things, I won't ask for anything more.
I got to thinking, how ungrateful of me! More importantly, how insulting to God! He must get so ridiculously tired of all these petty requests for earthly things. He probably gets even more tired of answering them and listening intently to each and every single prayer I pray to Him.
Nope.
I realized that God NEVER gets tired of hearing my requests, my prayers, or my concerns. When I ask for God's help, He gets SO excited. I saw an episode of Reba the other day where her teenage daughter asked her for help with boys. She almost lost control from her excitement! I'm not a parent, but I'm assuming most parents love it when their kids ask for help.
That's because they love us more than they love themselves, and cherish every opportunity to shower us with that love.
Our Father is the same way.
By no means am I saying that we should ask God for everything like new cars, guitars, and other neat stuff, but I am saying that we should never be ashamed to bring our honest requests to God, because He loves hearing and answering them!
God loves us more than Himself, and He loves to talk with us and hear our problems. Our needs. Our concerns. He loves to help us and He loves to love us.
In the Sermon on The Mount, Jesus says:
7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"
Matthew 7:7-11
Now....about those Cubs....
Simple enough right?
I mean God, come on, just this one little favor. And some good grades. A pay-raise. A new guitar. Oh, and a few wins for the Cubs.
I know you created me, sustain me, and forgave me. You also provided me with great friends, family, shelter, and food (I want to take this opportunity to say that it's only been 24 hours since my last caf meal, and I miss it).
So, I promise, after these things, I won't ask for anything more.
I got to thinking, how ungrateful of me! More importantly, how insulting to God! He must get so ridiculously tired of all these petty requests for earthly things. He probably gets even more tired of answering them and listening intently to each and every single prayer I pray to Him.
Nope.
I realized that God NEVER gets tired of hearing my requests, my prayers, or my concerns. When I ask for God's help, He gets SO excited. I saw an episode of Reba the other day where her teenage daughter asked her for help with boys. She almost lost control from her excitement! I'm not a parent, but I'm assuming most parents love it when their kids ask for help.
That's because they love us more than they love themselves, and cherish every opportunity to shower us with that love.
Our Father is the same way.
By no means am I saying that we should ask God for everything like new cars, guitars, and other neat stuff, but I am saying that we should never be ashamed to bring our honest requests to God, because He loves hearing and answering them!
God loves us more than Himself, and He loves to talk with us and hear our problems. Our needs. Our concerns. He loves to help us and He loves to love us.
In the Sermon on The Mount, Jesus says:
7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"
Matthew 7:7-11
Now....about those Cubs....
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Pharisee Pride
So the pharisees were these people who spent the vast majority of their time studying the scriptures and ministering to the people. They were the cat's meow back in the day...and they knew it. They loved to show off their knowledge to the "common people." They loved to condemn people and judge them for their misunderstandings of scripture. They especially loved to quote rules and regulations. They used their position to make others feel inferior.
These were the ministers of the day.
Fast forward some 2000 years to the life of another man training to become a theologian and minister of the word. He's almost finished with his formal training to work for a church as a youth pastor and worship leader. (That's right folks, another selfish blog about myself)
A modern day pharisee.
I've 'studied' the Bible for my entire life, not to a very extensive level, but I've been on a relatively consistent journey towards a better understanding of God. Now, I'm facing graduation and the real world. I've become known as the "theology major" to my friends. People know me for my field of study.
It's because I'm awesome.
No really, you should probably listen to everything I say and take notes, because I study theology, so I must be right when it comes to the Bible. In fact, I'm such a good theologian, that I've got everything else figured out in my life as well, so don't question me! I'm an expert in everything!
However, since I'm a soon-to-be pastor of sorts, I will do you the favor of judging you and tell you where you're screwing up your life. I'll telling you how your worship should be. How your life should be. How you should act. I will spur a theological debate just so I can prove you wrong while showing off my intelligence. I can even quote scripture to make you feel small and sinful.
I'm in ministry, which means I am far more important than you. While God does love you, He probably loves me more. I've got it all figured out, that's why I am in ministry.
I am a perfect modern day pharisee.
Hypocrisy and everything.
This is the attitude that I seemed to have developed over the years, and God has called me out on it. Thankfully. I've used the theology I've learned and my positions of ministry to do the opposite of what God intended it for. I've also begun to think that I know how to do everything the right way, and others should do them the same.
Then the other day, I had an old lady come up and give me a verbal smack down because she didn't like the way I did my job.
Thankfully God doesn't speak through the violent old ladies.
I was reminded of the book of Job. After loosing almost everything, Job gets on this righteous horse and falls into this prideful mindset. God doesn't like this, so he brews up this huge storm, and opens a can on Job. He says;
"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundations? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off it's dimensions? Surely you know!"
God continues laying the smack down on Job for a few chapters and Job (after soiling himself I'm sure) repents and recognizes his sinful pride. I'm just glad that my smack down came in the form of an old woman and not too many people were around.
Fact: I'm a fallen individual.
Fact: I'm broken, blemished, and foolish.
Fact: I'm no better than anyone else, even worse than most.
Fact: I don't have it all together, in fact (haha), I don't understand quite a bit.
I'm studying theology because I don't know everything. Because I don't understand God. I'm in ministry because I want to help others in their journey. And because for some reason, God has called me to lead His people. Despite my infinite amount of imperfections, God still loves me and chooses to use me. I just need to remember that I don't have it all together.
These were the ministers of the day.
Fast forward some 2000 years to the life of another man training to become a theologian and minister of the word. He's almost finished with his formal training to work for a church as a youth pastor and worship leader. (That's right folks, another selfish blog about myself)
A modern day pharisee.
I've 'studied' the Bible for my entire life, not to a very extensive level, but I've been on a relatively consistent journey towards a better understanding of God. Now, I'm facing graduation and the real world. I've become known as the "theology major" to my friends. People know me for my field of study.
It's because I'm awesome.
No really, you should probably listen to everything I say and take notes, because I study theology, so I must be right when it comes to the Bible. In fact, I'm such a good theologian, that I've got everything else figured out in my life as well, so don't question me! I'm an expert in everything!
However, since I'm a soon-to-be pastor of sorts, I will do you the favor of judging you and tell you where you're screwing up your life. I'll telling you how your worship should be. How your life should be. How you should act. I will spur a theological debate just so I can prove you wrong while showing off my intelligence. I can even quote scripture to make you feel small and sinful.
I'm in ministry, which means I am far more important than you. While God does love you, He probably loves me more. I've got it all figured out, that's why I am in ministry.
I am a perfect modern day pharisee.
Hypocrisy and everything.
This is the attitude that I seemed to have developed over the years, and God has called me out on it. Thankfully. I've used the theology I've learned and my positions of ministry to do the opposite of what God intended it for. I've also begun to think that I know how to do everything the right way, and others should do them the same.
Then the other day, I had an old lady come up and give me a verbal smack down because she didn't like the way I did my job.
Thankfully God doesn't speak through the violent old ladies.
I was reminded of the book of Job. After loosing almost everything, Job gets on this righteous horse and falls into this prideful mindset. God doesn't like this, so he brews up this huge storm, and opens a can on Job. He says;
"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundations? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off it's dimensions? Surely you know!"
God continues laying the smack down on Job for a few chapters and Job (after soiling himself I'm sure) repents and recognizes his sinful pride. I'm just glad that my smack down came in the form of an old woman and not too many people were around.
Fact: I'm a fallen individual.
Fact: I'm broken, blemished, and foolish.
Fact: I'm no better than anyone else, even worse than most.
Fact: I don't have it all together, in fact (haha), I don't understand quite a bit.
I'm studying theology because I don't know everything. Because I don't understand God. I'm in ministry because I want to help others in their journey. And because for some reason, God has called me to lead His people. Despite my infinite amount of imperfections, God still loves me and chooses to use me. I just need to remember that I don't have it all together.
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