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'

Romans, Countrymen...

Some like paint-drying. Some like grass-growing. Some like cat-bathing. Some even like room-temperature-coffee...

Them's all good and great...however, I get jazzed about 8,000 pages of J.M.Boice's Expositional Commentary on Romans!

Anyone else? Anyone?

What are you reading? Fiction, non-fiction, prose, poetry, history, biography? Lewis, Knowles, Zacharias, Fitzgerald, Miller, Paul the Apostle...? Who are you reading and how are they shaping your heart, soul, mind and strength? Even Sherlock Holmes has strengthened my faith.

Though nothing replaces the extremity of style, topic, personal challenge and truth as the Word.

Representin' the Text...

Jesus discussed creation in Genesis. Mark 10

Jesus compared his journey to Jonah's. Matthew 12

He also spoke about Sodom. Matthew 11

He referenced the Prophet Daniel. Matthew 24

Noah's Ark is discussed. Matthew 24

Jesus quotes Isaiah (several times). Matthew 24

He notes hells reality. Mark 10

He acknowledges the reality of Moses and gives him credit for the Torah. Mark 12

Though I realize this is an oversimplified deduction...is it possible to acknowledge that Jesus is who He claimed to be, 'the way, truth and life' and not believe in the creation story? or Noah and the flood? or the reality of Hell? or Jonah and the whale?

Did Jesus lie and simply 'play along' with the ancient tales in order to connect with His audience? In His human nature did He truly believe in these fictitious stories? Did He truly fulfill hundreds of prophecies, live a miraculous-sinless life, raise from the dead and yet misrepresent the OT? If so, then do these theories alter His righteous character?

Do you doubt the trustworthiness of the OT and yet follow Christ? Then ask yourself - 'What insight do I have, above and beyond the Christ, the Scriptures, the Spirit, that allows me a more 'trustworthy' vantage point than that of the Creator?'

Now if Jesus is the Messiah.
And He assumed the reality of even the wildest OT stories.
And you believe in Jesus.
Then it stands to reason that you can trust the entirety of the Scriptures.

'I praise You, Father...that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants' (Matthew 11:25) - the wisdom of this world doesn't compare to the open heart and mind of the faithful.

Word of Beard

'Let them give thanks to the Lord for His loving-kindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men!' Psalm 107

Six times within this psalm this phrase is repeated almost directly. Six times we're told that in the midst of pain, hunger, stormy destruction, wandering in wastelands, distress and darkness, rebellion, distance from God in our souls, etc...Six times we're reminded that in these conditions His love is yet unfailing and eternal.

His wonders are apparent in the sand and the trees and your children and the existance of, awareness of and desire for...love. His love endures forever - Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!

Go Ahead...Point that Finger

'Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?' Job 40:8

'If this God allows ________ to happen he is clearly not a God I want to follow.' Many of us have heard or even said this regarding some offense or pain that affects us personally, philosophically, emotionally. That God is unfair, unjust or simply blind and ineffective in real life...this is usually our own attempt at making sense of life yet in the process putting our wisdom and worldview far above the Eternal God.

My view of justice is based on 30 years of life in Midwest America, a democratic-republic, ideas of equality, tolerance, rational explanations and a loving God in a naturalistic environment. I have one legal, cultural, social, religious point of view in world full of views. Who am I to corner the market on justice? Who am I to stand outside creation and point a finger, scolding the Lord for living out to a system I don't fully understand?

But our thoughts are not like His. Our ways are not like His. (Isa. 55:8)

We will never understand each and every action taking place upon the earth and beyond. Though when we're united with Christ our minds/attitudes/hearts/worldviews are renewed and can begin to fathom His total sovereignty over the good and the bad, the righteous and the evil.

'Good teacher,' says a young man to Jesus who immediately corrects him, 'No one is good - except God alone.' If no one is inherently virtuous but the Lord can we really justify our imperfect actions and thoughts and beliefs in light of perfection? Now if you don't believe in God then who cares about justification right? But if there is a God, as all of creation signifies, then discrediting His righteousness is a far more dangerous undertaking.

Aaahh - 'to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.' (Tim. 1:17)