The Mighty Spoon

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

(Romans 12:21)

 

Although, at first glance, this admonition seems to be a noble Christian principle; to overcome evil with good, if you really think about the implications and the practicallities of the follow-through, it seems a rather strange command made by Paul. It’s almost like a the continuing chapter of Jesus’ ground-breaking new veiw on how to treat our enemies; “love your enemies”. Love? Love your enemies? To put it in more crude terms: to be good when they’re bad? To be willing to take a beating? To put up with the rubbish? To stand down, back out, wave the white flag?!!!

I have to admit that my stubborn nature feels queesy at the very thought. It seems so feeble and lame. It appears so weak and the characteristics of a “loser”. GOD IF YOU’RE SO POWERFUL, WHY WOULD YOU ASK ME, YOUR FOLLOWER, TO APPEAR SO WEAK??!! Where’s the macho-God-zap-all-enemies power in that? And most importantly, is it really possible to practically, everyday, overcome evil with good?

Sometimes the very idea of “overcoming evil with good” feels like trying to battle a great, big fire-breathing dragon with a plastic spoon. Does it really work without getting nailed?

 

There is a very encouraging fact about the battle between good and evil; one which brings hope to us. The good news is found in the very nature of good and evil. Love, being the characteristic of good and hate being the expression of evil, have very different fates. Hate, in its very nature, consumes. It is the biggest consumer of all, that eats and destroys and wipes out everything in its path until there is nothing left. Hate leads, therefore to death. Ironically enough, hate actually brings about its own end by working towards the ultimate goal of death and destruction; to the heart that contains it, and to those who come into contact with it.

Love can deal with death too, but in a very different way.  Love produces and multiplies. It is contagious and spreads itself. In other words, the more there is, the more there is. Love not only creates life, but love also passes through death and can conquer the grave. There is no end, therefore, to love, for it generates its own existence and life. Love is made of the fabrics of Eternity.

Evil, being both destructive and self-destructive cannot ultimately win anything. Even what it wins, it destroys. By Christians returning good with evil, we are planting seeds in the ashes and throwing candles into the dark rooms. By fighting evil with good, it keeps the lover from being contiminated by the thick tar of hate, and it offers hope for those that may wish to depart from the black hole they are fighting so hard to defend.

Love overcame the grave. Good passed through death. If you ask me, that’s some mighty powerful spoon to be fighting with.

 

 

The Inbetweeners

 

We live on the edge. Don’t we?

Balancing on a thin line. Between life and death we are extended. We live between Heaven and Earth, right and wrong, night and light. We dwell in between the two great opposites. 

As believers we strive toward that life that Christ brough for us, but we have death in our bones and sin covers us as surely as our skin does. And I think that for many Christians half the time travelling on this path seems like freedom, and the other half we feel like we’re slaves to it.

We’re bound to earth. Our mortallity, our very nature is still very much apart from us, although we now chose to no longer desire it. And yet we are tied to Heaven. Our soul had been bought at the steepest price in the Universe; the Greatest ever paid. We have been bought for a different home and an other destiny…

Perhaps that is why it is so hard to live here. Perhaps this is why living a balanced Christian life is so difficult to do, precisely because it’s not just about doing, but about BEING. We’re living in this lingo and it can be confusing and divisive and exhausting. 

Some fall into the ditch to their right, where their heart becomes so bound to earthly matters and things that they find it too hard to let go and hand God the remote control. Reaching for will of God and Heaven becomes their cross. And the other ditch is found on our left. Here we are also moved to extremes, where not only our eyes are lifted upwards, but our noses too. Matters of earth fade further and further into the background, until they are both ignored, detested and considered to be too “trivial” and unimportant to relate to. Such people do not relate well to their fellow human beings, nor to their reallity and surroundings. We are to be of Heaven’s material, but we still live on Earth’s soil…

What us the point of having a spotless knowledge of, say,  the symbolisms used in the Sanctuary doctrine, if you cannot relate t the human being in need next door? The inabillity to relate to human suffering and need is the hardest strike against the core principles of Christianity.

Some categorise these two main “ditch” groups as “conservatives” and “liberals”. I prefer to not enter into this debate, but rather leave it at “They are signs of inbalance” and spiritual immaturity.

POINT IS? BOTTOM LINE? It is hard to balance to exist in our unbalanced minds. How can one live correctly between past and future, between the old nature and the new nature, sin and forgiveness, total control and total surrender; between head and heart?

The best understanding that my feeble mind has ever come to gain in this matter is the one based on the perfect example. Jesus.

Fully God, fully man. Fully tempted, fully victorious. Fully Heaven, fully on Earth. Bound between two reallites and two worlds. He was bound to the will of his Father; Holy and pure, and yet related daily to the need of sinful man; marred and twisted. Jesus belonged fully to Heaven, and yet “This was the true light that gives light to every man who comes into the world.” (John 1:9)

Light entered darkness as soon as He stepped into our flow of time. He gave up his identity as King of the Universe, to give us the right of citizenship to a City we have never seen before. He took on the nature of division; God and man, so that we could becomes full human beings again; as God had intended us to be.

I like the image of the cross. It’s like a bridge. It is extended between death of this world and eternal life of Heaven. The tree stands grounded in the ground, and reaches toward God’s sky. And the arms are extended in a Universal embrace. Open arms draw men from all corners of the Earth. And at the crossbeam….at the centrepoint of North, South, East and West, beats the heart that is living and aching for us untill its last pound. A heart breaking for us to find a home, an identity, a way to go, a direction, a purpose, a hope.

He healed us with the Promise that though we travel as pilgrims through a land that is not our

home, where we as He was lifted up between Heaven and Earth, feel extended between two nature and two worlds, one we will be full. Though we may now sometimes feel homeless and broken in a strange sort of “in-between” state, we will be filled. All men will be!

 

In the meantime, He has promised to help us in our confusing process of transformation. And because of our Advocate, who has full compassion on our “middle” state, he makes it possible to us to survive as “INBETWEENERS!

 

Shaking foundations

“We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking only to learn that it is God shaking them.”

- Charles West

The Mirror

In recent years there has been an increasing trend in the West which has seemed to grab the attention of both genders and all ages. It is the interest in personallity tests, psychology and self-analysis. The positive aspect of this interest is the increase in self-insight and the tools these tests contribute to self improvement and awareness.

It may be said that a personallity test which is fairly accurate and balanced can serve as a mirror does. A mirror simply reflects the face that everybody else around us can see, but we cannot see. We wear the face, we use the face, we express ourselves with the face, but we cannot see it unless it is mirrored to us. Many gain much good from having their personallity, along with good and bad tendencies, strengths and weaknesses mirrored to them.

The negative aspect of this growing interest is that, as with mirrors, they can be starred into too much. An over-emphasis on one’s self can become destructive as all selfishness and ego-centricity becomes.

The advice which I have been given, and would deem to be worthy of consideration, is that personallity tests and types, phsychological insight and self-definition are good and healthy things when applied in an balanced manner. But when one’s personallity is used as an excuse for weaknesses (such as: “Well, I just am like that”) or when one’s focus centres too much around one’s own internal world and psyche, the “mirror” makes us see only ourselves. Self is a large god who does not like to share, and will gladly take the thrown of our hearts if allowed to do so.  

So for now perhaps we should be using the mirror to check if there’s something between our teeth that needs removing, and leave it at that.

A Cup of Coffee

I have found that a cup of coffee can really work wonders.

It holds much more power than simply the abillity to wake up a groggy non-morning person. It can loose tongues, it can open doors and change situations. There has been many an awkward moment that has been saved by the someone’s question: “Would you like a cup?”

Many conversations, both early morning ones, lunch ones, late night ones and others have been held over a steaming mocha or cappuccino. Coffee seems to create an air of comfort or relaxation that eases atmospheres.

Coffee’s are also great ice-breakers:

“Would you like a coffee?” “One sugar or two?” “Let me pay for that”…

Apart from their social value, coffees also serve as great forms of self-expression, as pointed out in the movie “You’ve got mail”. Buying coffee becomes a long list of describing features: Tall, Medium, De-Caf, tea, coffee, With cream, low-fat, lactose intolerance, cinnamon, more sugar….

Besides these things, the smell, taste and effects are great too…

So here’s to the culture of coffee!

Things I think are Great

Inflatable globes

White roses

Clocks that tick slowly and loudly

Fountain pens

 

 

 

Warm eyes

The smell of vanilla

 

 

 

A mother baking in a kitchen

 

 

 

Bare feet

 

 

 

Round windows

Waterhouse art

 Morning light

 

 

 

 

Pear Cider

 

 

 

 

Postman Pat

Christmas!

Scubadiving

Black and white Photography

Old music note

Enigma Variations, Elgar

Cello

Art Deco

Walks in the woods

Pearls

 

 

 

Michaelangelo

 

Chinese Art

Study of Second World war History

Name books

Special Lamps

Old looking Brown paper parcel

Bridges

Storytelling

The smell and taste of Coffee

Artic Expeditions

 

The Breakfast Table

Showers

Lions

Rome

Cafes

Africa

 

 

 

 

Mexican food

Roadtrips

Leather Sandals

 

 

 

 

Movies

Mountain hiking

Really hot, really Spicy Pizza

 

 

 

 

Jazz

Frank Sinatra

Schloer

Trampolines

Twinkle Lights

Old Scooters

White dresses

Sand

Green eyes

Old beetles

Miracles

Miracles

 

Sometimes I wonder whether the miracles done by God, and through his messengers, are not really there to prove his power over nature alone, but infinitely more.

Many marvel at such stories about the opening of the Red sea, the healing of the lame and the blind etc. But sometimes I wonder to myself whether the signs that we often hunger to see, and that thrill us the most, are not simply the lesser of two blessings. Maybe we are keeping our eyes fixed on the wrong wonder…

 

Read this short passage…

 

Luke 5:17-26 (New International Version)

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

 ¹⁷One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. ¹⁸Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. ¹⁹When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

 ²⁰When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

 ²¹The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

 ²²Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? ²³Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ²⁴But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” ²⁵Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. ²⁶Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Jesus asks the question: what is more impossible for me to do? Ask this man to get up and walk, or forgive his sins. The miracle which he then goes on to perform is the full stop of an argument, more than a “crowd-winner”. Jesus was saying: I can heal you inside and out.

What is harder, to open the Red sea or to open a human heart? What is more impossible? To break down the walls of Jericho, or break down our walls of prejudice? Isn’t spiritual blindness as hard to cure as physical blindness? Yes, Jesus fed the 5000, but he feeds thousands today with His Word. What is more impossible? To create life in barren womb, or to create hope in a hopeless soul?

Our God has not ceased to be a God of miracles. He has not stopped doing wonders, and we will truly see the wonders of our God. He is Lord over the sea, and our hearts; our legs and our minds. What is too hard for the Lord to do?

Instructions for the Daily Soldier

When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. 

 When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army.

He shall say: “Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them.

For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

Life Abundantly

LIFE ABUNDANTLY

 

Catching trains and sorting bills

Killing time and time that kills

We’re the fast and furious in life

Ticking clocks and sleepless nights

Rush hours and traffic lights

The sand of time is sifting through our hands

 

Slaves to time and moving cars

Waiting for this life to start

Don’t realise it’s already on the way

And 80 years aint much to waist

On chasing things that melt away

It’s time to start living Heaven’s way

 

Yeah, Jesus came to set us free

Yeah, That we might have life more abundantly

 

There’s been a call made by a man

Who came to make us understand

The world is so much more than we can see

The son of the Eternal God,

who came to give a Father’s love

Is trying to catch the attention of all who seek

 

So tell me, what’s it gonna be?

A life that’s full, a life that’s free

A road that leads into eternity?

Don’t wait until the clock strikes twelve

Don’t leave that Bible on your shelf

He’ll hear each prayer your send from you to Him

Yeah, Jesus came to set us free

Yeah, That we might have life more abundantly

 

The clock is ticking on the wall

You down your coffee; out the door

Wonder how He’ll catch your eye today?

Love is….

In a world where love is dwindling and human relationships have become more and more dysfunctional, the need for Christians to step up to their responsibilities has become more urgent. If it is so that Christ said “They will know you are my disciples by your love”, then the love we show towards humanity should not only be a part of our “church agenda”. It is the centre of our identity as Christians. By love we will be identified; by love we testify to our faith and who we believe in.

Now, it is important to mention, that most people when hearing talk about the need for, and the good nature of love, will rarely disagree with what is being said. Most people see love as a positive emotion or discipline. Very few, I find, would not condone the idea of its increase in our society. We talk about love all the time. We need it, we want it, we spend money to see movies about it, we read about it, we try and pursue it, define it, understand it.

Then what is the problem? If the general consensus is that love is good and we need more of it, why is there such a lack of it? When the romantic word meets “Monday morning rush hour” it seems it loses its ability to relate to reality, and love is a mirage we chase in our personal, little desert. Why is love so hard to find?   

The reason is simply this…I cannot obey the call of love and the call of my ego at the same time. These two things are, by nature, opposites. The demand the opposite and call for the opposite. Love is not self-serving, but serving. Ego is nothing but self-serving. In the world of selfishness, I am King. I rule, I make the rules and I demand. In the world of Love, the service and good of others has dominion.  When love rules, the dominant law behind my actions and motives becomes not my wants, desires or self-seeking inclinations. They become God’s rules. God’s law is love. Love is the core. And so the lack of love in the human heart, and in society today, may also be referred to as the lack of God.

Are we not by nature loving creatures? This is a question I often have heard and often have posed myself. Due to the scar of sin, our nature has become selfishness. Self comes naturally first, and if this is so, then love cannot come naturally. It must be infused, taught or given from an outside source. Think about it. No one loves more than children. They are those least marred by a sinful nature. Love is the golden string that binds our hearts to God; love for Him and for others. This is the core of the law of the Talmud, and this is the core of Christianity.

But what is love? What does love mean?

      Love is always patient;13

love is always kind;

      love is never envious

or arrogant with pride.

      Nor is she conceited,

            and she is never rude;

      she never thinks just of herself

or ever get annoyed.

      She never is resentful;

            is never glad with sin,

      but always glad to side with truth,

whene’er the truth should win.

      She bears up under everything,

believes the best in all,

      there is no limit to her hope,

and she will never fall.

 

Love never fails. Now if there are prophecies, they will be done away with. If there are languages, they will cease. If there is knowledge, it will be done away with. For what we know is incomplete and what we prophesy is incomplete. But when what is complete comes, then what is incomplete will be done away with.

 

Love means I want as much good for my enemy as I want for my dearest love. It is not appealing, and it isn’t pretty. It never has been and it never will be. It feels downright unnatural and at times directly foolish.  Love forces us out of our comfort zones…but then again, remember, it is against our nature.

But if any man loves God, he is known by God. (1 Co 8:3)

Love is something we have to learn to do properly. It needs to be taught us by the Lover of our Souls. Love comes from God; God is love personified, and without Him as the centre, there is no real love.