Dangerous Distortion
This is an amazing map. If you watch it long enough you will see light and darkness move across the face of the earth.
And if you look at it closely, you will see the problem cartographers face when they try to convey the round shape of the earth on the flat surface of a map. Since there is no perfect way to do this, the size of the continents is distorted. Some world maps show Greenland as being larger than Australia.
When we try to understand the spiritual realm within the limitations of the physical world a similar kind of distortion occurs, and it causes us to exaggerate minor things and minimize important things.
The New Testament addresses the conflict and confusion that result when the ideas of certain teachers become more important than what God says is important. God’s purpose is “love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5). Sound teaching does not distort God’s word or divide the church. It unites believers and builds up the body of Christ to do the work of God in the world (1 Corinthians 12:25).
All human attempts to explain God are inadequate. Though well intended, some can “flatten” our understanding of the spiritual life and thereby distort our priorities, confuse our thinking, and cause conflict and division.
Perhaps that is what we see happening in Florida. A man who calls himself a pastor is making his agenda (burning copies of the Muslim holy book) more important than the desire and purpose of Christ, who said very clearly that the most important commandment is this: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,” and the second is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” To emphasize, he added: “There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31).
To keep from distorting truth, we must simply believe what God says rather than twist his words to fit our political agenda.
Adapted from Our Daily Bread, 3 October 2009.
Briers and Buttercups
Last spring, the buttercups in our backyard were unusually bright and beautiful due to the generous amount of spring rain God sent our way. I wanted to take some pictures of them before they faded, but I had trouble getting close enough because they were growing in a very soggy wetland. One sunny afternoon, I pulled on a pair of boots and trudged through briers and brambles toward buttercup bog. Before I got any pictures, I got muddy feet, multiple scratches, and numerous bug bites. But seeing the buttercups made my temporary discomfort worthwhile.
Much of life is about “getting through” the trials and troubles that are inevitable in our sinful world. One of these trials is persecution. The disciples certainly found this to be true. They knew the good things that Jesus has ready for those who follow Him, but they met harsh resistance when they tried to tell others (Acts 14:5).
Those of us who have chosen God’s way, and who know from experience that it’s “a more excellent way” (1 Cor. 12:31), will persevere even when we have to go through danger and difficulty. By doing so, we show others a beautiful picture of God’s peace, mercy, and forgiveness. The joy that awaits will make our temporary discomfort worthwhile.
(adapted from Briers and Buttercups)
NOTE: I got the idea for this ODB last year between sessions of the RBC/ODB readers’ event held at Sunshine Church here in Grand Rapids in early May. I was on a panel of ODB authors, and one of the questions was “Where do you get ideas for ODBs.” After the first session, I had a meeting at church with the head of women’s ministry. During our conversation, I used my woodland adventure as an example of having to go through adversity to get to beauty. As I was talking to Lorie, I was saying to myself, “Hmm, this would make a good ODB article.” I told the story at the evening session and asked people in the audience to suggest Scripture passages that illustrate the concept. It was a fun way to engage readers.
A Steward of Grace
Last week I had several opportunities to show grace. I wasn’t perfect, but I was pleased with the way I handled one situation in particular. Instead of getting angry at someone's incompetence, I said, “I understand how that could have happened. I’ve certainly made my share of mistakes,” and I left it at that.
According to my own grading scale, I deserved a high score. Not perfect, but close. Lurking in the back of my mind (I hate to admit) was the thought that maybe by being gracious I could expect to be treated that way at some future date.
The following Sunday morning, as our congregation was singing “Amazing Grace,” the audacity of my attitude hit me like the clang of a cymbal. When we came to the words, “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me,” it was as if God was saying to me, “What in the world were you thinking, Julie?! The grace you show to others is not your own. The only reason you can ‘give’ grace to anyone is because I have given it to you. You can pass along only that which you have received from me.”
Humbled, I realized that I am simply a steward of God’s grace and goodness. I don’t manufacture it and benevolently distribute it according to my determination of who should have it. As a good steward of God's grace, I simply look for opportunities to pass along to others what I have received from the Lord: “the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).
(adapted from A Steward of Grace)
According to my own grading scale, I deserved a high score. Not perfect, but close. Lurking in the back of my mind (I hate to admit) was the thought that maybe by being gracious I could expect to be treated that way at some future date.
The following Sunday morning, as our congregation was singing “Amazing Grace,” the audacity of my attitude hit me like the clang of a cymbal. When we came to the words, “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me,” it was as if God was saying to me, “What in the world were you thinking, Julie?! The grace you show to others is not your own. The only reason you can ‘give’ grace to anyone is because I have given it to you. You can pass along only that which you have received from me.”
Humbled, I realized that I am simply a steward of God’s grace and goodness. I don’t manufacture it and benevolently distribute it according to my determination of who should have it. As a good steward of God's grace, I simply look for opportunities to pass along to others what I have received from the Lord: “the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).
(adapted from A Steward of Grace)
Easter at Parkside
Our friend and former worship pastor, George Ohman, led the worship service on Easter Sunday at Parkside Church in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Click here to watch the video.
March Madness
Every spring, as sports fans get caught up in the annual college basketball frenzy called “March Madness,” I start wondering, Are sports in our society doing more harm than good?
I am not against sports. I enjoy watching my favorite teams play, and I hope my alma mater, Michigan State, wins the NCAA championship. But I do wonder how many social and political problems are exacerbated by the prevailing mindset that defines nearly everything from business to politics in terms of winners or losers.
For centuries, athletics has been upheld as a way to build character and promote teamwork. But these days, those who uphold the virtue of playing fair even if it means losing sound naïve and old-fashioned. Instead of hearing about coaches and parents who comfort players and children with the phrase, “It’s not whether we win or lose that counts, it’s how we play the game,” we are more likely to read about parents behaving badly on the sidelines.
Let’s be honest, the primary goal of competitive sports is not physical or moral fitness; it’s superiority, an attitude that has no place in Christian thinking. Our attitude is to be that of Christ himself, who made himself nothing and took on the nature of a servant (Philippians 2:5-7).
By coincidence, we are also witnessing this weekend one of the most divisive political battles in my memory. If predictions are correct, one side will “win” by a very narrow margin. But what kind of a win will it be? And what will it prove? That the winner is right? No. That the winner is better? No. Only that the “winner,” at least for the moment, is more powerful. All the “winner” will really win is bragging rights. And I don't know of anyone who thinks we need politicians on either side feeling even more superior than they already do. That's the problem with most of them already.
As I witness the increasing polarization of our culture, the church included, I'm concerned that our favorite pastime—with its emphasis on winning at all costs—is pulling us ever further into a moral morass rather than strengthening us to rise above it. It seems as if our obsession with sports and its "winner-loser" way of thinking is causing us to think of others as evil just because they disagree with us. I do not see how that fits with the biblical instruction to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).
In ancient Greece, home of the Olympic games, supremacy over others through athletic prowess was highly esteemed. In a letter to people living there, the apostle Paul made clear that his goal was not to win races but to win hearts and minds for Christ. To illustrate, he used a metaphor they all understood—sports. But he didn’t equate it with Christianity; he used it to show the foolishness of expending so much energy on something temporal.
The madness of this March weekend is shouting at us to look beyond the basketball court, beyond Washington, and to see the harm being done to our souls when we think of everything in terms of winners and losers, and my side versus the other side. After all, Christianity is not about defeating our opponents; it’s about getting them to join our team—not by force but by love.
I am not against sports. I enjoy watching my favorite teams play, and I hope my alma mater, Michigan State, wins the NCAA championship. But I do wonder how many social and political problems are exacerbated by the prevailing mindset that defines nearly everything from business to politics in terms of winners or losers.
For centuries, athletics has been upheld as a way to build character and promote teamwork. But these days, those who uphold the virtue of playing fair even if it means losing sound naïve and old-fashioned. Instead of hearing about coaches and parents who comfort players and children with the phrase, “It’s not whether we win or lose that counts, it’s how we play the game,” we are more likely to read about parents behaving badly on the sidelines.
Let’s be honest, the primary goal of competitive sports is not physical or moral fitness; it’s superiority, an attitude that has no place in Christian thinking. Our attitude is to be that of Christ himself, who made himself nothing and took on the nature of a servant (Philippians 2:5-7).
By coincidence, we are also witnessing this weekend one of the most divisive political battles in my memory. If predictions are correct, one side will “win” by a very narrow margin. But what kind of a win will it be? And what will it prove? That the winner is right? No. That the winner is better? No. Only that the “winner,” at least for the moment, is more powerful. All the “winner” will really win is bragging rights. And I don't know of anyone who thinks we need politicians on either side feeling even more superior than they already do. That's the problem with most of them already.
As I witness the increasing polarization of our culture, the church included, I'm concerned that our favorite pastime—with its emphasis on winning at all costs—is pulling us ever further into a moral morass rather than strengthening us to rise above it. It seems as if our obsession with sports and its "winner-loser" way of thinking is causing us to think of others as evil just because they disagree with us. I do not see how that fits with the biblical instruction to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).
In ancient Greece, home of the Olympic games, supremacy over others through athletic prowess was highly esteemed. In a letter to people living there, the apostle Paul made clear that his goal was not to win races but to win hearts and minds for Christ. To illustrate, he used a metaphor they all understood—sports. But he didn’t equate it with Christianity; he used it to show the foolishness of expending so much energy on something temporal.
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. (1 Corinthians 9:25)
The madness of this March weekend is shouting at us to look beyond the basketball court, beyond Washington, and to see the harm being done to our souls when we think of everything in terms of winners and losers, and my side versus the other side. After all, Christianity is not about defeating our opponents; it’s about getting them to join our team—not by force but by love.
Week Seven 2010 Bible Reading Links
Sunday Psalms 18-20
Monday Exodus 37-40; Proverbs 15:12-21
Tuesday Leviticus 1-3; Proverbs 15:22-33
Wednesday Leviticus 4-7; Proverbs 16:1-11
Thursday Leviticus 8-10; Proverbs 16:12-21
Friday Mark 1-2; Proverbs 16:22-33
Saturday Mark 3-5; Proverbs 17:1-14
Click here to see the complete one-year schedule.
Monday Exodus 37-40; Proverbs 15:12-21
Tuesday Leviticus 1-3; Proverbs 15:22-33
Wednesday Leviticus 4-7; Proverbs 16:1-11
Thursday Leviticus 8-10; Proverbs 16:12-21
Friday Mark 1-2; Proverbs 16:22-33
Saturday Mark 3-5; Proverbs 17:1-14
Click here to see the complete one-year schedule.
Week Six 2010 Bible Reading Links
Sunday Psalms 15-17
Monday Exodus 22-25; Proverbs 13:1-12
Tuesday Exodus 26-28; Proverbs 13:13-25
Wednesday Exodus 29-32; Proverbs 14:1-11
Thursday Exodus 33-36; Proverbs 14:12-24
Friday Matthew 25-26; Proverbs 14:25-35
Saturday Matthew 27-28; Proverbs 15:1-11
Click here to see the complete one-year schedule.
Monday Exodus 22-25; Proverbs 13:1-12
Tuesday Exodus 26-28; Proverbs 13:13-25
Wednesday Exodus 29-32; Proverbs 14:1-11
Thursday Exodus 33-36; Proverbs 14:12-24
Friday Matthew 25-26; Proverbs 14:25-35
Saturday Matthew 27-28; Proverbs 15:1-11
Click here to see the complete one-year schedule.
Week Five 2010 Bible Reading Links
Sunday Psalms 12-14
Monday Exodus 8-11; Proverbs 10:22-32
Tuesday Exodus 12-14; Proverbs 11:1-11
Wednesday Exodus 15-18; Proverbs 11:12-21
Thursday Exodus 19-21; Proverbs 11:22-31
Friday Matthew 21-22; Proverbs 12:1-14
Saturday Matthew 23-24; Proverbs 12:15-28
Click here to see the complete one-year schedule.
Monday Exodus 8-11; Proverbs 10:22-32
Tuesday Exodus 12-14; Proverbs 11:1-11
Wednesday Exodus 15-18; Proverbs 11:12-21
Thursday Exodus 19-21; Proverbs 11:22-31
Friday Matthew 21-22; Proverbs 12:1-14
Saturday Matthew 23-24; Proverbs 12:15-28
Click here to see the complete one-year schedule.
Week Four 2010 Bible Reading Links
Sunday Psalms 9-11
Monday Genesis 43-46; Proverbs 8:12-31
Tuesday Genesis 47-50; Proverbs 8:32-36
Wednesday Exodus 1-4; Proverbs 9:12-9
Thursday Exodus 5-7; Proverbs 9:10-18
Friday Matthew 16-17; Proverbs 10:1-11
Saturday Matthew 18-20; Proverbs 10:12-21
Click here to see the complete one-year schedule.
Monday Genesis 43-46; Proverbs 8:12-31
Tuesday Genesis 47-50; Proverbs 8:32-36
Wednesday Exodus 1-4; Proverbs 9:12-9
Thursday Exodus 5-7; Proverbs 9:10-18
Friday Matthew 16-17; Proverbs 10:1-11
Saturday Matthew 18-20; Proverbs 10:12-21
Click here to see the complete one-year schedule.
Week Three 2010 Bible Reading Links
Sunday Psalms 6-8
Monday Genesis 29-32; Proverbs 6:1-11
Tuesday Genesis 33-35; Proverbs 6:12-19
Wednesday Genesis 36-39; Proverbs 6:20-35
Thursday Genesis 40-42; Proverbs 7:1-5
Friday Matthew 11-12; Proverbs 7:6-27
Saturday Matthew 13-15; Proverbs 8:1-11
Click here to see the complete one-year schedule.
Monday Genesis 29-32; Proverbs 6:1-11
Tuesday Genesis 33-35; Proverbs 6:12-19
Wednesday Genesis 36-39; Proverbs 6:20-35
Thursday Genesis 40-42; Proverbs 7:1-5
Friday Matthew 11-12; Proverbs 7:6-27
Saturday Matthew 13-15; Proverbs 8:1-11
Click here to see the complete one-year schedule.
Week Two 2010 Bible Reading Links
Sunday Psalms 3-5
Monday Genesis 15-18; Proverbs 3:11-26
Tuesday Genesis 19-21; Proverbs 3:27-35
Wednesday Genesis 22-25; Proverbs 4:1-17
Thursday Genesis 26-28; Proverbs 4:18-27
Friday Matthew 6-7; Proverbs 5:1-14
Saturday Matthew 8-10; Proverbs 5:15-23
Click here to see the complete one-year schedule.
Monday Genesis 15-18; Proverbs 3:11-26
Tuesday Genesis 19-21; Proverbs 3:27-35
Wednesday Genesis 22-25; Proverbs 4:1-17
Thursday Genesis 26-28; Proverbs 4:18-27
Friday Matthew 6-7; Proverbs 5:1-14
Saturday Matthew 8-10; Proverbs 5:15-23
Click here to see the complete one-year schedule.
Week One 2010 Bible Reading Links
Sunday Psalms 1-2
Monday Genesis 1-4; Proverbs 1:1-7
Tuesday Genesis 5-7; Proverbs 1:8-19
Wednesday Genesis 8-11; Proverbs 1:20-33
Thursday Genesis 12-14; Proverbs 2:1-11
Friday Matthew 1-2; Proverbs 2:12-22
Saturday Matthew 3-5; Proverbs 3:1-10
If that Isn't Love
Monday Genesis 1-4; Proverbs 1:1-7
Tuesday Genesis 5-7; Proverbs 1:8-19
Wednesday Genesis 8-11; Proverbs 1:20-33
Thursday Genesis 12-14; Proverbs 2:1-11
Friday Matthew 1-2; Proverbs 2:12-22
Saturday Matthew 3-5; Proverbs 3:1-10
More Elvis Presley music on iLike
If that Isn't Love
2010 Bible Reading Schedule
Features of this schedule:
• Read Psalms every Sunday.
• Read Proverbs every day.
• Read the Old Testament Monday through Thursday.
• Read the New Testament Friday and Saturday.
Click the image below to see a larger version.
• Read Psalms every Sunday.
• Read Proverbs every day.
• Read the Old Testament Monday through Thursday.
• Read the New Testament Friday and Saturday.
Click the image below to see a larger version.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)