Word of Beard

'Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.' Philippians 3:13-14

Paul has abandoned all confidence in his flesh (:4-8). Even his most reputable achievements and titles in his culture he pushed aside as he 'strained' toward the Kingdom.

Here are a few things he abandoned in order to move heavenward: 1) Past guilt, hurt, shame  2) Present comfort and prestige  3) Future success' and achievements in the world. Paul 'forgot' everything that hindered his journey with Christ and guess what...he changed the world.

Really Bad Things...and God

Why do bad things happen. Why doesn't God stop them. Really bad things. Evil things. Like bombings, starvation, abuse, sex-slavery, lies...they happen. Daily.

If God truly exists why doesn't He just eradicate evil once and for all?

He did.

The Story has already been told. 'Then I saw a new heaven and new earth...There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away' (Revelation 21:1,4).

Time doesn't bind God. He's outside of linear time. He is the beginning and the end and everywhere in between. The 'eschatological' end has not simply been written but completed. Evil already has been destroyed. Johns vision was not simply a dream but a taste of what has been done, in the future. (Watch 'Back to the Future' for Doc's fantastic explanation of bending).

The very appearance of the incarnate Jesus was a prelude to the final act of the story of reconciliation. Jesus put an end to the eternal hold that death had on man since our lustful fall in the garden. We chose death - He's chosen life. And that life comes through Christ.

Why doesn't God end evil already. The real question is, when do we (the hurting, abused, disenfranchised, lied to, abandoned, hungry...) finally get to holistically experience the victory Jesus has already secured?

Begin the journey now by trusting in the salvation Christ offers.

Read Romans 1:1-3 & 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Heart

Heart.

The inner person - oneself - the seat of thought and emotion.

Has your heart ever ached. Have you ever noticed that some actions, thoughts, truths just don't feel right in your heart while others do. What about love. It makes your heart leap with joy and happiness and you feel...loved.

In the OT Hebrew context, the heart was the storehouse to many of a persons experiences. When Moses recounted the Lords desire that all of Israel love Him, that command probably filtered through their hearts and on to their minds then wove through their souls with all of their strength.

Moses, of course, touched on every known area of a humans life and consciousness to describe how we're to connect with our Creator. But the heart. The heart has web-like strings attached to every area of the body, it seems it's all interconnected. On the one hand it makes us more aware and alert. On the other it becomes untrustworthy as it's left so unguarded much of the time.

Have you checked your heart lately?

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Word of Beard

'We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.' Hebrews 2:1

To diligently be aware of and devoted to the teachings of Christ - the Gospel. The apostles gave their lives in Christs footsteps so that we might 'continue in [truths found in] the Holy Scriptures' (2 Tim. 3).

It's surprisingly easy to drift away from eternal truths. The less care we take to hold them in our hearts, the easier it is to fall for another 'truth.'

Word of Beard

'You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.' James 5:8

James compared the Christ-followers journey to the seasonal rains of his day. As the 'firstfruits' of a new covenant, we're to patiently wait, perseverant, hope-filled and faithful for the movement of the Lord just as the struggling farmer waits for rain to water the crops.

Patiently and eagerly wait for the Kingdom to overwhelmingly collide with your life. He is near.

Now Testify...

If we only had the NT it would be enough to know that Jesus is who He claimed to be.

But we have more. We have the entire OT (not to mention nature and all that's metaphysical). The OT tells the story of Jesus pre-kenosis - or pre-humility into humanity.

To the Jews Jesus had riled up after claiming equality with God Jesus said, 'You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me' John 5:39.

They believed eternal life was found in strict adherence to the Law. The Torah. And yet Jesus was turning the page on their beliefs. The very Law that they believed led to life actually pointed to Jesus. Let's get mystical, mystical (Olivia Newton John anyone?) - think of it like this, the Jews were merely looking at the Scriptures to stave off death when they should have been looking through the Scriptures to see His Life. The Sciptures point to the Living Word, the Son of God, the very Man standing before them - Christ.

Jesus simply told them to search the Scriptures and they'd find Him. OK:
  Isaiah 7:14 - Jesus' birth - Matthew 1:23
  Psalm 16:10 - Resurrection - Acts 2:31
  Zechariah 11:12-13 - Price for Jesus' life - Matthew 26:15, 27:5,7
  Genesis 49:10 - From the Tribe of Judah - Hebrews 7:14
  Isaiah 61:1-2 - Holy Spirit on Him - Luke 4:15-21

Maybe it's not so mystical. We know that Scripture is God-breathed, that it's living and active and that it's to be handled with the utmost care. Maybe it's simply a matter of prayer, study, belief and Sprit. Supernatural, but maybe not mystical.

There are hundreds more examples. Entire passages, stories and characters such as: the Exodus, Temple, Jonah, Hosea, Babylonian Captivity etc. and all tell pieces of the story of the eternal life of Christ.

Since Scriptures origin is also the author of the universe (2 Peter 1:20-21), it stands to reason that when Jesus claimed to be the true life found within the Scriptures...he wasn't insane, lying nor exaggerating - He was providing authentic testimony to His own being.

Ada Update...

It's been a great ride.

Ada Kathleen is beautiful, like that of her maker. I've posted a few last pics on the 'Baby' page rounding off our adventure to the hospital and back again.

Enjoy. Hopefully she'll be meeting you soon enough.

With Love, Ada.

The Golden Girl...

'Even in darkness the light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.' Psalm 112

There's a perverted notion in various Christian communities that a genuinely righteous man will also be a financially blessed man/woman. As if grace, compassion and moral righteousness could be weighed and measured in gold here on earth. As if any man were able to muster up righteousness from within worthy of God.

My wife gave birth to our second child this week, a daughter, Ada. She's a tangible example (if not contextual) of light that dawns for the 'upright'. A brilliant gift symbolizing life and it's creator. My wife and I would never claim to be upright and yet in Christ we're forgiven, justified, sanctified...heirs to the heavenly throne alongside Christ.

This brilliant little light wasn't a gift we found within ourselves. It's from God.

One chapter before, in Psalm 111 we read, 'his righteousness endures forever...the Lord is gracious and compassionate.' The very same attributes given to the upright.

Any semblance of holiness we might display that sets us up to receive such a beautiful gift as Ada only comes from the God who models it. Money is necessary, it's a blessing to be sure...but it isn't the defining symbol of a righteous man. God is the definition and the symbol.

He cannot be weighed in gold. Neither can the blessings of a righteous man.

Can you imagine your entire life being analogous of Gods plan for His people. Read Hosea.

Branding...

Whether you realize it or not, everything you do works for or against your personal brand. Your beliefs, culture, friends, clothing, cars, music etc. all play a role in shaping who you are. To varying degrees they're a glimpse of who you are: how you think, how you view yourself and the world.

But if every tangible item, action, desire that you feel defines you were stripped away - if you were left naked as a new-born-babe - would your brand also disappear or is there more to who you?

The real question is: 'Is Christ your brand?'

Are you a 'cattle-branded' disciple (Philippians 2:1-11)? Have you been bought out and transformed into something new and refreshing (2 Corinthians 5:17)?

When you 'ascend the hill of the Lord' are you coming with empty hands in need of branding or are you presenting your own image you wish to offer Him?

Take personal inventory. Do you need to re-brand?

Idea of branding from POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold
Psalm 24 - hill of the Lord

Word of Beard

'The works of His hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are steadfast for ever and ever...' Psalm 111:7-8

The author goes on to reiterate the words of Solomon, that fearing the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and that true understanding comes in following His ways, truths, teachings, commands, precepts...From this passage alone we know that:

1) He works: past, present, future.
2) We should have faith/trust in his works.

3) He is just. His decisions are just. He defines true justice and works all things out toward that end.

4) His truths are, once again, worthy of our trust and far above our own wisdom.

5) His works and precepts stand the test of time and the spirit of the age. His Truth is Truth forever...and ever.

Jeff Bridges and Jesus...

Jeff Bridges explained to Jay Leno the other night that acting burns him out. After shooting a film he's always 'bushed' - ready to bunker down in seclusion to recoup. He noted that for him, acting uses some strange muscle that gets wrecked during the stretch of a movie.

Pretending is exhausting.

Pretending to be someone/thing you're not is exhausting.

Professional actors find contextually creative ways to be someone else. However, I wonder how many of us act, cover-up, pretend or simply lie about who we are on a regular basis?

Hiding the details about a surprise party for your wife is tiring but rewarding when it's over (unless she hates surprises).

Hiding the details about a financial loss, drug binge, character flaw, inappropriate relationship or even an unnecessary purchase can wreak havoc on our hearts, minds and physical health - ultimately our souls and the relationships we're tied to.

Lying is exhausting.

Maybe Jesus' yoke of eternal truth, living in the light and sharing in the freedom from the expectations that our culture, jobs and families place on us (directly or indirectly) truly is lighter than what we're currently acting out? Do your actions line up with your words - do your words line up with your beliefs - do your beliefs line up with Biblical Truth?

Bridges is bushed at the end of making a movie. At least he gets a break. Do you?

Passages in context: Matthew 11:28-30, 2 Corinthians 5:17

(un)carnation

Incarnational disciples. This phrase has been rocking me over the past few days.

'Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity...' - the author of Hebrews, referencing Isaiah 8, notes the realness, the humanness, the offensive reality of the incarnation. In Acts, however, we see the reverse happen to the Apostles, the coming of the Spirit into their own flesh.

I've been hit with the idea of myself, my wife, my kids, my group of friends in Christ...all of us being incarnational in nature. This incarnationality is different for us though. We're already meaty.

So it must work in reverse.

To be incarnational disciples we have to let the Spirit of the Living God - the spiritual world of the eternal Kingdom - flow through our imperfect lives and dwell within and among us. We must be infused with God the Spirit to partake in and bring reconciliation.

Jesus brought salvation through abandoning His throne temporarily and uniting Himself with mans flesh. We must be ambassadors of reconciliation by abandoning our flesh (so to speak) and uniting it with the spiritual. A reverse incarnation.

An 'uncarnation.'

Hebrews 2
The book Competent Christian Counselors struck me with the idea of 'incarnational counseling'