Like a Child: Quick to Recover

Several weeks ago I took a nasty fall while walking along a sidewalk at a busy Nairobi office. I tore the sleeve of my blouse, caked dirt into my handbag, and had two bleeding sidewalk burns (knee and elbow). The embarrassment hurt more than all those put together. I tried to stand up quickly, told everyone that I was “just fine”, and kept walking. But the truth is that I nursed those wounds and needed back rubs for more than a week after.

Today, I saw a young girl — maybe 4 years old — take a fall that was just as bad while running down a hill at church. But she hardly missed a beat. After just a few seconds she was up and running again. “Quite impressive,” I thought.

A physical fall might not be that consequential. But what about when we “fall” in other ways? When we make a fool of ourselves, or just make a mess.  Are we able to get up quickly? Children don’t worry too much about making mistakes, actually. They are much better at “getting over it” than we are.

I asked Google for quotations about failure, and found several good ones:

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” Michael Jordan

“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” Winston Churchill

Yeah, good quotes. But as good as they sound, I must admit that I don’t like to make mistakes or mess up. I don’t recover from the negative feelings very easily. And as much as failure is supposed to be good for us. . . I don’t like it! That is probably due to pride. Sigh.

God’s Word says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” That is definitely a forget-and-move-on approach. Hopefully, like a child, I can forgive myself as readily as Christ forgives, not take myself too seriously, and move on.

~ Diane

Like a Child: Learning How to Think

Each one of us has a unique way of looking at the world. We call this our belief system, or worldview. People are known to have a secular or Christian worldview, an African or Western worldview, and perhaps a modern or old-fashioned worldview. One’s worldview is just that — the way in which he views the world.

My worldview influences my opinions, judgments, beliefs and decisions. It shapes how I define and understand family, time, work, religion, money, land, right and wrong. . . just about everything in life. A worldview includes concepts of morality and spirituality as well. What is right and what is wrong? Who is God and what is His character? What is the value of human life?

When a child is born, she starts life with an “empty head,” so to speak. The newborn does not yet have a worldview. She has not formed any personal opinions. Instead, those will be formed during the early years of life, mostly based on what she is taught, or maybe what is ‘caught,’ from parents and family.

What about when we are ‘born again?’ Do we carry our views and opinions–the ones that we learned from the systems of the world, influenced by the enemy of our souls–into our life of faith? Or do we, like a newborn child, start with a cleaned-out mind and learn everything about everything from zero? Does the Word of God inform our worldview, or do the cultures we come from direct us?

Jesus used almost identical words when he told Nicodemus that he must be born again and when told his disciples they would need to change and become like children. In both instances, the “you must” condition was related to entering the Kingdom of heaven. Unless you are born again, and unless you become like a child, “you will never enter it.”

Being born of the spirit = being a spiritual baby = starting with a clean mind that will be filled, formed and taught by our Father in heaven and His Word. I might need a re-birth in some areas!

~ Diane

Like a Child: Who Daddy Says I Am

Knowing who I am in Christ seems to be a really big deal in Christendom these days. I am not sure why it is so hard to convince us, but many of us apparently have a chronic identity crisis and need constant reminders and reassurances about our worth and value. You could be familiar with the popular worship chant that reiterates the same:

We are a chosen generation, called forth to show His excellence.

All I require for life, God has given me, And I know who I am.

I know who God says I am, What He says I am, Where He says I’m at; I know who I am.

I have heard sermon after sermon about knowing our identity in Christ. Crowds really ‘eat it up’; this theme obviously strikes an important cord in our hearts. But to be honest, it baffles me why this is such a big deal — that is — why is it so hard for us to be convinced that we are, in fact, persons of dignity? That we are created in the image of God, and therefore are wonderful and amazing beings?

I guess it does make sense, though, because many of us have been criticized or ridiculed over and over. We have believed what other people say about us. We believe that we are not good enough, that we do not measure up to someone’s ideal standards. That is, we have lost track of who we really are.

An infant starts out life without any idea of who she is! She is not born with a concept of self; that has to be developed. And it will be developed, mostly based on the things the baby learns about herself from significant others. In most circumstances, the nuclear family, especially parents. establish a child’s self-image through the things they say and the way they act.

• “How do my parents treat me?” A young child is egocentric, which means that everything revolves around self. So if other people love me, it is because I am worth loving.
• “What do my parents say about me?” If my Daddy says I am good, then I am. If my Daddy says “you can do it,” then I can. Children believe what their parents say about them. Case closed.

Do we, like a child, believe what God says about us and know that God sent His Son, to die for us, because we are worthy of that amazing gift?

“I know who (Father) God says I am” — like a child!

~ Diane

 

 

Read-a-Thon IN the Bible

Okay, okay, okay. I know that the books of the Law and Prophets were written on scrolls. I know that the printing press had not yet been invented in the first century A.D. I know that the majority of people in those eras did not even know how to read.

But — could we, maybe, be missing something? Bear with me.

• “…When all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place he will choose, you shall read this Law before them in their hearing” (Dt 31:11).
• “Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the Law… there was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel” (Josh 8:34-35).
• “Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God” –apparently from daybreak to noon. (Ez 8:18; 3)
• “On that day the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people and there it was found written that…” (Ez 13:1).
• “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching” (I Tim 4:13).

There is something different about reading God’s Word out loud. There is something powerful about public declaration. Really.

Our two weeks — 92 hours — of reading were remarkable; it is precious to be washed with the Word! Not all the donations are collected yet, but we are thrilled to have raised over $1,000 for DOVE Missions Africa. Thank you for your amazing support!

I will finish this year’s Read-a-Thon reports with a humble challenge. Have you ever read through one of the Gospels in one sitting? Have you read all of Paul’s letters in one day? Have you, as a pastor, ever thought of reading the Bible to your congregation instead of preaching? Just saying… it would be well worth it!

 ~Diane

The Old and the New

We completed the Old Testament today and entered the New. I must admit that the reading is much easier in the latter. And the New Testament is even further enriched after reading through the Old. When the book of Moses was read aloud under Nehemiah, they discovered many things that they had not known. Definitely, the same happens with us!

Of all the detestable, disgusting things the Israelites were accused of, the one that churns my insides the most is that of sacrificing their children to foreign gods and eating their own children in times of famine. The final words of Malachi that speak of the turning of the hearts of the fathers to their children and vice-versa would be no small feat!

Enter Jesus Christ, Son of Yahweh, born in human likeness. Talk about expectations–they had been building up for at least 2000 years. Has any other person in history ever had so much pressure to ‘perform’ and ‘deliver?’ He was the Desire of the nations. But for sure, He did NOT fulfill all that was expected of Him. In fact, he was a disappointment, an anathema to most of the Jews. On the other hand, He did more than anyone could ever have expected! He was not who they wanted, but much more than they ever could have wanted.

Jesus’ interactions with the Law, as seen in the book of Matthew, are so revealing.

• Jesus was very knowledgeable of the Law and Prophets; He quoted scripture when rebuking Satan. (Mt 4:4-10)
• Jesus declared, “I have not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them.” (Mt 5:13)
• After insisting that everything in the Law would be accomplished and no letter would be dropped from it, Jesus proceeded to either expand or adjust various commandments from the Law of Moses. Adultery is not only a physical act, but an act of the heart. Revenge (‘eye for eye’) is no longer valid; we must not repay evil with good! (Mt 5)
• Jesus implies that some aspects of the Law are more important than others. He told the Pharisees and teachers of the law that they should tithe, yes, but should not neglect the “more important” matters of the Law: justice, mercy and faithfulness. (Mt. 23:23)
• When challenged, Jesus crystallized “all the Law and Prophets” (Mt 23:34-40) into two commands: love God and love your neighbor.

The Jews tried to make Jesus what they wanted Him to be. They tried to fit Him into their expectations — their ‘boxes.’* What a mistake! Do we ever do the same, such as when we sing “Jesus is mine,” treating Him like an ATM, putting Him in our pocket, or viewing Him in the same category as a human lover? God help us!

~ Diane

* FOR MORE: See our friend Steve‘s re-post, “Ekklesia” from the Simple Church Journal.

Mercy

The prophets spew out a lot of judgment, and God does punish the ‘rebellious house.’ Both the northern kingdom and southern kingdoms are now in exile in our readings. But the prophets make it clear that God does not delight in the suffering of His people. It pains Him. It grieves Him. He longs to draw His people to Himself.

In the thick of all the doom and condemnation, almost every prophetic book contains at least one passage of hope and promise. God always preserves a remnant, and always declares that restoration is coming.

Many of our favorite verses are found wedged in between declarations of judgment. When you come across them, after chapters and chapters of doom and terror, they become so precious.

• Isaiah records so many fore-tellings of the Messiah and is the prophet most quoted by Jesus. “By his words we are healed,” he prophesies.
• Jeremiah, as desperately as he laments the fall of Jerusalem, also proclaims, “Because of the Lord’s great love you are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness“¹ and “I will restore their fortunes, declares the Lord“².
• Ezekiel, despite all his scathing judgments, says, “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them… they will be my people and I will be their God“³.
• Hosea, the love story. How could God tell Hosea to marry a prostitute? And then how could he tell him to receive her back after she had returned to adultery? Really!? But, it is picture of us. “While we were yet sinners,” Christ died for us. And even when we fall, He restores us to Himself with persistent, extravagant love. “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us. He has injured us, but he will bind up our wounds“⁴.
• Amos records God’s promise, “In that day I will restore David’s fallen tent… New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills… I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted“⁵.
• Obadiah ends with the hope that “Deliverers will go up on Mt Zion… and the kingdom will be the Lord’s“⁶.

The door back to God and the fullness of His mercy is always open. “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths“⁷.

~ Diane

¹ Lamentations 3:22-23; ²Jeremiah 32:44; ³Ezekiel 11:19-20; ⁴Hosea 6:11; ⁵Amos  9:11, 13, 15; ⁶Obadiah 21; ⁷Micah 4:2

View from Under the Sun

Last week we logged 47 hours of Bible reading. We have started the books of the prophets, which run concurrently with the period of the kings. The Bible Read-a-Thon continues, raising funds for the work of DOVE missionaries in Africa (DMA). We have raised around $590 so far — thank God — but are significantly below the target that our missionaries need. You are still welcome to send a donation! (use tab on the right-side column)

Ecclesiastes: a unique book. Is it the inspired word of God, and useful for our instruction? Yes, of course. Is it wholly composed of divine Truth? No. It is written from a human point of view, albeit inspired by God. King Solomon (usually assumed to be the author) declares from the beginning that he is viewing the world from “under the sun,” in other words, from the human perspective. God’s perspective would be from “beyond the sun,” right? If King Solomon is in fact the author, it is likely that he wrote Ecclesiastes toward the end of his reign. By then, he had deteriorated into being a lustful idol worshipper; he was not the wise and godly king he was when he started out.

Several human ideologies can be seen in this discourse. Chapter 2 displays a hedonistic attitude; chapter 3 describes a type of thinking known as existentialism. Both approaches conclude that life is short and without meaning, so we should as well live for the moment and just have fun while we can. Solomon goes on to lament the meaninglessness of success, fame, religion, riches and possessions.

Finally, in chapter 12, there is a shift when the author declares that life is only worth living within the context of faith in God. When we fear God and keep His commands, we have finally found meaning. All of the other pursuits are useless.

Yes, everything IS vanity — apart from God. But with God at the center, all of life and all of eternity become not only worthwhile, but also significant.

The seemingly endless cycle of revenge and idolatry of the kings of Israel and Judah could certainly lead us to agree with the earlier chapters of Ecclesiastes that everything is meaningless. I feel such despair, for example, when Solomon ‘throws it all away’ in his later years, or when Joash just up and murders the son of priest  Jehoiada–who cared for him, defended him, advised him and protected him, or when Rehoboam listens to foolish advice and plunges the nation into civil war. . . . But unfortunately, we do not see very different patterns in most of the national leaders around us today.

Oh, that we may finish well. (Not many of the kings managed that, despite their godly start: Solomon, Joash, Uzziah, Hezekiah — just to name a few).

Yes, lessons for us in all of God’s Word.

~ Diane