All This Convenience...

...and yet I still continue to wrestle daily with time spent studying the Word, conversing with the Lord, being with His people and intentionally in the world.

I didn't wake up and build a fire. I didn't harvest and roast my own beans. I didn't grind the coffee. In fact, this morning I didn't even prepare the coffee or push the button. I simply poured it into my cup and sipped...slowly.

I like technology. I like the accessibility and the freedom. I like the convenience. But I say that I love Jesus. I say that I only want to glorify Him. I say that I'm eternally thankful for salvation. And I believe that I am...but why so little time focused on Him when so much more time is available to be with Him thanks to these modern conveniences.

'As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood' 1 Peter 2:4-5

How awesome a house this is! We are a priests and priestesses. We aren't couch potatoes or workaholics neither of which own a righteous focus or offer 'acceptable sacrifices.' We are recreated to move and breath and live and serve and all very intentionally for the glory of God in Christlikeness.

Use the coffee maker. I will. I can't imagine life without it. But the moment you and I, the living stones, abuse this convenience for self devotion...we've missed the blessing of it.

Rather than wasting that beautiful coffee time...use it. Use it to fullest to 'come to Him, the living Stone.'

What conveniences in your life need to be reevaluated or redeemed or rejected?

The Malady Mill

According to Dictionary.com, 'malady' may be defined as an undesirable or desperate condition even socially and spiritually.

So I was listening to a song the other day entitled Grist for the Malady Mill. How appropriate a description for some seasons of life. I have experienced two incredibly different ends of the spiritual spectrum in the previous month, experiences that are yet currently spilling over into my heart and soul and mind and effectively shaping my attitude to varying degrees.

I have felt the unexplainable prompting of the Spirit to move in extreme ways causing me to move on from my ministry position, my home, community, friends/family etc. for a new version of everything in a new town with no immediate promise of reward.

I have also experienced, directly related to the move of the Spirit above, that sinking feeling of desperation in dramatic change and loss of all control and concrete plan. A sadness from leaving what I've come to love and a pride in wishing I had more to show for what has burdened my heart in this season.

From prison Paul challenged the Philippians through his immediately personal story. He claimed that 'I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.' This said in the midst of the Malady Mill. His imprisonment itself providing enough grist to cause even the best of us to lose heart. Yet this same grist carrying Paul into the Malady Mill was never void of his faith. A faith founded in Christ who alone gives strength in desperately challenging seasons lacking personal ability to overcome.

What Mill are you tossed about in? What have you come through or foresee in the future? What's your source of Strength in the midst?

Malady. I'm not sure I could put my finger on the social, mental, spiritual malady consuming much of my journey in this season, however, while I look around and see the inner workings of the Malady Mill about me, I also confidently and humbly see the Spirit at work amidst the grist. I am not despondent by any stretch of the imagination. And while I'm not kicking my heels together in excitement I am confident He is at work.

Even I can do anything through Him alone, who provides all I need for life and breath and reason.

Read Philippians - a an encouraging letter written from a prisoner on behalf of Christ. Listen to mewithoutYou's Grist for the Malady Mill.

Quality Control

Quality. Every decent company, manufacturer, organization attempts to standardize the quality of it's product. They have the stickers to prove it. What role does it play in the Church. I mean, we're all imperfect and will be until sanctification is complete on the other side. So how do we gauge the 'fineness' or 'grade' of believer...and should we?

There are so many areas to track quality in as well right: faith, belief, knowledge, action, word, heart, compassion, love, fruit etc...

We've all met (and I've been) those men and women who call themselves followers of Christ but couldn't possibly be. Or those who are sold on social justice and clearly love people but never mention Christ or salvation or redemption. Or those who seem to have a real grasp on an authentic gospel lifestyle. How do we gauge quality?

John notes that others will know a true believer by their love (13:35). Jesus notes faith and obedience (8:31). A life lost and a cross carried according to Mark (8:34-38) - unfathomable ideas to those without the life of the Spirit in them. James notes faith and deeds (2:17)...and so on.

Love. It seems to be the common thread in the believers life. According to John God is love and according to Jesus if we really are disciples then He is in us and we are in Him...Love is in us and we are in Love. Love is the gauge or standard by which we define 'quality' of Christian.

This isn't to say we're able to rightly qualify a believers position in Christ. Only Christ knows the genuine state of His disciples. Though as fellow believers we're called to carry burdens, discipline, challenge, rebuke, correct, teach, train, account and judge (not eternally) the state of the body and in particular members when necessary.

This isn't a license to condemn I should mention.

I suppose overall we're all unworthy of the grace God offers. That said, we're not called to abuse His grace, quality of Christlikeness matters to Him most of all.

As Paul said...our attitude should be like Christs. Jesus is our standard and the Spirit is the quality control working through our hearts, the Word, and the Church.

Read Matthew 6:1-18 for a heart check on your actions and beliefs. Read Philippians 2:1-11 to check your attitude. Read the Gospel of John to breath in some fresh air.

Truth In...Crap Out...

Paul teaches that with every new believer there's a former way of life. An old self that must be annihilated.

He also teaches that the very Truth that opened our hearts and minds to Christ is what shapes our new attitude or mindset. The new self is 'created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.' There is no room for the old self. What has been destroyed...is done.

For some the old crap attempts a mutiny from time to time - but it only mutinies if it's still within us...if it hasn't really been destroyed.

For others the garbage has been taken out and now we have to guard ourselves from the outside world. Our sin nature, not being fed from the inside, begins to seek junk from the outside through our eyes, mouths, hands etc. and all on behalf of Satan.

Isn't this why Paul also tells us to constantly be working out our salvation. To be on guard in prayer and fellowship. To be in and trust in the living and active word...To be sanctified and set apart. Romans 12 - Philippians 2 - Hebrews 4 - Luke 11...sort of stuff.

All believers are called to be imitators of God. This is the Truth that shapes us. This is the reality of Kingdom life.

We're all made in His image right...maybe it's time to fully adopt His attitude as well.

Read Ephesians 4:11-5:1

Set-Apart or Setting-Apart...or Both

Sanctified: to make holy - to set apart - to consecrate - to free from sin, purify

So living a God-honoring life is not only awesome but necessary right? Why do we do it? For Jesus or for us? Is it mandatory? Do we work at it? Does it just happen amidst salvation?

'To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy...' 1 Cor. 1:2

As disciples we are sanctified and yet being sanctified right? How would you explain Sanctification? How a believer should go about it and why they should, if they should or is it fully up to the Spirit to work out our spiritual transformation and growth with or without our knowledge and work?

If God alone 'brings forth a new creation through the Spirit' (Gal. 6:15) - then does it matter if I 'work out my salvation' personally with perseverance, a clear mind and self-control.

Below are a few very brief descriptions of several prominent paths to defining sanctification in the Christian realm today. Though only a scratch at the surface of these views we none-the-less catch the idea that Biblical truths are not always so easy to place in a neat little box. Yet truth still remains.

1) the Lutheran View: Sanctification is learning to live by faith that one is justified because of Gods free gift in Jesus Christ.


2) the Reformed View: Sanctification is definitive (final) and also progressive (ongoing).

3) the Keswick View: Sanctification is a blessing, liberty and rest for those who have life in Christ – no longer any wrestling w/sin, a cease from striving.

4) the Wesleyan View: Sanctification is a matter of heart and right relationship, not a set of rules – entire sanctification, that is, completely cleansed from inbred sin.

'May the God of peace sanctify you entirely...' (1 Thess. 5:23). Entirely here and now or eternally someday?

Wrestle. Pray. Study. Ask. 'Hold unswervingly to the hope [you] profess for He who promised is faithful' (Heb. 10:23). Regardless of where you sit in your understanding of what it means to 'be Holy as [He] is Holy' you and I are called to Love God and Love People.

Loving God is an awesome honor. Loving His people is equally so. I know that I can only do either because He has revealed Himself and His purpose and is currently working in my heart and soul to do both. If He is currently working then I must be changing for the better - is this sanctification? If I was sanctified by the Spirit once and for all then no growth is necessary and therefore no work is to be within me right? What is the role of sanctification? As this settles I think I'll continue to:

Focus on Jesus.
Talk to the Father.
Rely on the Spirit.
Rest in the word.
Grow in knowledge.
Mature in understanding.
Hope to live an eternally holy life.

Be Sanctified.

Many thoughts stem from the book - Across the Spectrum, Gregory A. Boyd & Paul R. Eddy