How do we fight for the Kingdom of God these days?
It used to be straightforward didn't it? Walk outside...start preaching...get heckled...disciple converts...get killed.
Repeat.
Nowadays (those dreadful nowadays), fighting for the kingdom is a confusing task. Razor thin. We fight for the kingdom of God by answering phone calls, emails, writing blogs (maybe), taking pictures, writing songs, writing books, studying for hours and hours and hours, going to meetings (did Paul ever have a staff meeting?), etc.
As the temple that is the body of Christ grows and grows by the strength and power of our great and glorious God the tasks of the members is becoming as varied as they are. From the African Pastor who shepherds an actual flock of sheep somedays and several different village Church-flocks other days, to the "Emergent" Pastor who purchases an ipod so he can stay relevent to his flock. From the pastor of 30 in the hills of some warm hidden southern locale, to the pastor of 3000 in a cold metropolitan community of disengaged and disenchanted parishoners. God is at work here and there and everywhere.
What should you do? You should do what you need to do. Do it all. All, that is, rightly prioritized.
God (you can love no one else if you do not love God first)
Family (how can someone shepherd the flock of God if he cannot keep his own house)
Church (God gave gifts for the edification and equipping of His church: near and far, young and old)
Near Geographic Community (proximity means responsibility)
Far Geographic Community (The world is God's. The cry for the Kingdom is a global cry)
Earth (It too is groaning)
29.3.05
the Lord's will
America is an abyss of choices.
Broad is the gate and wide is the way that leads to destruction. Many there are who go by that path.
But instead of seeking what the will of the Lord is, we have deified the choice itself, the broad path.
Oh the blessed options of our youth and the invariable "outs" always before us.
Our consumption has petrified into a worldview. That is, we no longer are puzzled by the enormity of the options before us. We revel in them. We rejoice that if I don't like something I can do whatever I want, purchase whatever I want, do whatever is necessary to fix the situation. If I don't like my wife, then I get a new sleeping partner. If I don't like the idea of having a child soon, maybe I'm too young, on the fast track at work, not married (oh, that's ok), then I can have its life "aborted." If I don't like this tie, then there is not a god in all the world who will make me wear it! If I don't like oatmeal, then cursed be anyone who would attempt to serve it to me or suggest it might have health benefits that outweigh its chalky texture. If I don't want to go to bed yet, then I scream until something breaks. Oh, how beautiful is choice and how marvelous is the havoc it wreaks upon our age.
But the will of the Lord is a narrow path, it is a straight gate. The will of the Lord is hidden from our sight. While the options of the age are ever before us, the will of YHWH is tucked away, hidden deep in closets of prayer and empty bellies and tired minds, broken wills, resolute dependence and fear. Fear the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The will of the Lord is a terrible Mount. The will of the Lord is a raging river. The will of the Lord is a hurricane.
And in complete contrast to the options of the strip mall and internet and multiple home-shopping channels, the Lord's will is the absence of choices. It is the total clearing away of any and all options. Close your eyes. Clear your mind of polartec fleeces and pepsi. There are no options. There is only the Will of the Lord.
Where? What? How? Fear not.
Now that you fear the Lord, you have nothing to fear. Choices melt from the terrible peaks they seemed to be. They melt and run down themselves into the valley of the Lord. They become one. His will.
And His will is no longer a set of or single choice. It bears no resemblence to what it once was. It is no longer study abroad options, major choices, running shoes, job opportunities, religious affiliations, the names of a child. Instead, it is a way. The Way.
I am the way.
Who?
The will of the Lord.
Walk in the Son, who did perfectly the will of His Father, and you too will pass through dry places, hard places, and crosses, in the will of the Lord.
Jesus, the Blessed one of Israel, is the will of God for us all.
Where to?
Outside the camp.
Blessings on you all as you seek the will of the Lord.
Seek. You will find.
Broad is the gate and wide is the way that leads to destruction. Many there are who go by that path.
But instead of seeking what the will of the Lord is, we have deified the choice itself, the broad path.
Oh the blessed options of our youth and the invariable "outs" always before us.
Our consumption has petrified into a worldview. That is, we no longer are puzzled by the enormity of the options before us. We revel in them. We rejoice that if I don't like something I can do whatever I want, purchase whatever I want, do whatever is necessary to fix the situation. If I don't like my wife, then I get a new sleeping partner. If I don't like the idea of having a child soon, maybe I'm too young, on the fast track at work, not married (oh, that's ok), then I can have its life "aborted." If I don't like this tie, then there is not a god in all the world who will make me wear it! If I don't like oatmeal, then cursed be anyone who would attempt to serve it to me or suggest it might have health benefits that outweigh its chalky texture. If I don't want to go to bed yet, then I scream until something breaks. Oh, how beautiful is choice and how marvelous is the havoc it wreaks upon our age.
But the will of the Lord is a narrow path, it is a straight gate. The will of the Lord is hidden from our sight. While the options of the age are ever before us, the will of YHWH is tucked away, hidden deep in closets of prayer and empty bellies and tired minds, broken wills, resolute dependence and fear. Fear the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The will of the Lord is a terrible Mount. The will of the Lord is a raging river. The will of the Lord is a hurricane.
And in complete contrast to the options of the strip mall and internet and multiple home-shopping channels, the Lord's will is the absence of choices. It is the total clearing away of any and all options. Close your eyes. Clear your mind of polartec fleeces and pepsi. There are no options. There is only the Will of the Lord.
Where? What? How? Fear not.
Now that you fear the Lord, you have nothing to fear. Choices melt from the terrible peaks they seemed to be. They melt and run down themselves into the valley of the Lord. They become one. His will.
And His will is no longer a set of or single choice. It bears no resemblence to what it once was. It is no longer study abroad options, major choices, running shoes, job opportunities, religious affiliations, the names of a child. Instead, it is a way. The Way.
I am the way.
Who?
The will of the Lord.
Walk in the Son, who did perfectly the will of His Father, and you too will pass through dry places, hard places, and crosses, in the will of the Lord.
Jesus, the Blessed one of Israel, is the will of God for us all.
Where to?
Outside the camp.
Blessings on you all as you seek the will of the Lord.
Seek. You will find.
25.3.05
bygones
to all
to all my friends, true family, unfortunately mostly acquaintances,
to all who stay up late because they procrastinate
to all who stay up late because they just have to in order to get it done,
to those elite whipping boys-in-blue
to those who thrill us with athletic exploits
to the game players
to the players
to those who don’t care
to those who care so much it hurts to wake up
to those who look up
to those who look down
to those who see it all
to those who haven’t a clue
to the punx
to the rats
to the teachers who were us once
to the teachers who still are
to the late night workers
to everyone who has to work their tale off to make it
to those who don’t
to people who skip and whistle
to people who never smile
to the strugglers
to those who went before
to those who follow
to the dean’s office regulars
to those who always have a hello
to those I never had the courage to befriend
to the thinkers
to the sleepers
to the dreamers
to those who wish
to those with much
to those with little
to the ladies who never get any looks but are beautiful
to the ladies who get a lot of attention and no one knows why (though theories abound)
to generous people
to late-night talkers
to those who have taught me more by their example than whole courses could
to jerks
to the mean people rotting in the layers of hierarchy
to the students who are sunshine in the dead of winter
to them all
to Papa (thank you so much)
to God Almighty,
“for all we ought to have thought . . . and have not thought,
for all we ought to have said . . . and have not said,
for all we ought to have done . . . and have not done . . .”
I am sorry. But if I could do it all again, would I do it differently? I don’t know. What would you do differently? Do it.
You may not know me that well, nor I you, so this may seem somewhat strange. Pleasure me with the notion that this is a kind act I can do before the end, to ease my hurried heart. But real peace joins to my soul when I think of glory. We’ll catch up there, okay?
I promise.
I love you all and wish you the never-ending knowledge of God ever increasing in your heart, mind, and life. You will have the best, I’m sure of it. As trite as this may sound, I implore us all to focus on Christ in His Word.
Rest in His Sovereignty. Rejoice in His Grace.
peace joy love
to all my friends, true family, unfortunately mostly acquaintances,
to all who stay up late because they procrastinate
to all who stay up late because they just have to in order to get it done,
to those elite whipping boys-in-blue
to those who thrill us with athletic exploits
to the game players
to the players
to those who don’t care
to those who care so much it hurts to wake up
to those who look up
to those who look down
to those who see it all
to those who haven’t a clue
to the punx
to the rats
to the teachers who were us once
to the teachers who still are
to the late night workers
to everyone who has to work their tale off to make it
to those who don’t
to people who skip and whistle
to people who never smile
to the strugglers
to those who went before
to those who follow
to the dean’s office regulars
to those who always have a hello
to those I never had the courage to befriend
to the thinkers
to the sleepers
to the dreamers
to those who wish
to those with much
to those with little
to the ladies who never get any looks but are beautiful
to the ladies who get a lot of attention and no one knows why (though theories abound)
to generous people
to late-night talkers
to those who have taught me more by their example than whole courses could
to jerks
to the mean people rotting in the layers of hierarchy
to the students who are sunshine in the dead of winter
to them all
to Papa (thank you so much)
to God Almighty,
“for all we ought to have thought . . . and have not thought,
for all we ought to have said . . . and have not said,
for all we ought to have done . . . and have not done . . .”
I am sorry. But if I could do it all again, would I do it differently? I don’t know. What would you do differently? Do it.
You may not know me that well, nor I you, so this may seem somewhat strange. Pleasure me with the notion that this is a kind act I can do before the end, to ease my hurried heart. But real peace joins to my soul when I think of glory. We’ll catch up there, okay?
I promise.
I love you all and wish you the never-ending knowledge of God ever increasing in your heart, mind, and life. You will have the best, I’m sure of it. As trite as this may sound, I implore us all to focus on Christ in His Word.
Rest in His Sovereignty. Rejoice in His Grace.
peace joy love
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