For now that is enough. I just have to learn to trust that God is leading me somewhere and I must be content even if I have no idea where that somewhere is.
Biblical Theology, Suffering, Story
Like most Christians, I have had a share in suffering, although nothing like this. Still, what has been of most help to me is that wise Christian counsel that, on the one hand, walks with me in my pain—sometimes without saying a word, but is also intent to remind me, even in the pain—perhaps especially in the pain—of who I am.
I want to try that one day, when I find myself in a place to bring the gospel to people walking through hell. I want to say, “Remember who you are.” Or maybe even better, “Remember whose you are.”
To put it another way, we often need to be reminded of the indicative of the gospel, as some theologians put it, or the historia salutis as some others theologians like to put it, in order to put the present suffering in the context of God’s story and our participation in that story. I know the way I just put it sounds somewhat jargony—an occupational hazard, I know. More concerned am I that all this sounds just like another pat answer. But that is not what it is supposed to be. The challenge and beauty of words is to articulate this wonderful narrative that we participate in, in Christ, that is persuasive, warm, loving, encouraging, and by the Spirit’s work, has the power to pick people up off the floor and raise them up to live in light of what they, in Christ, already possess.
Read the rest at Peter Enns blog.
Ever after happily ever after
Growing up you so often hear stories or see movies about people who live “happily ever after.” The prince and the princess find each other, fall in love, and that’s the end. It all seems so simple. But in the real world it is anything but…
I have largely contained my blog to quotes, links, and theological musings. Most of the personal entires project the same facade to the virtual world that I so often project to many people around me. That everything is fine and that life is going along in just the way I want it to go. Though of course you know that is not true. I do not know a single person who’s life is flowing along in exactly the way they desire.
We are all searching. Whether for a job. A husband. A wife. Direction. Joy. Though it so often seems that in this life the search never ends. We are continually searching and never finding. People pass like ships in the night never to make that meaningful connection they both desire. It often seems that we are all ghosts in this world never finding the connection that will bring us to life and make us real.
I wish that this life was easier. That we more often got what we want. Though I try everyday to remember that God knows what I need and I attempt to rest in his mercy and grace. I so want to follow his path, but feel like it only allows me to see one step down the road when I want to see what is a couple miles ahead.
I posted this prayer a while ago but here it is again. It is becoming a daily prayer for me right now. Even though it sometimes feels as though no one is listening. I must be content to rest in the knowledge that he does hear. I must wait in patience knowing that soon he will put a new song on my lips and will reveal to me joys that I can only now dream about.
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust always through I may seem to be lost in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
You Know How it Goes…
I turned on the TV on that September day
My son had gone for his first job interview
“Ladies and Gentlemen a plane has just crashed…”
You know how it goes
Why God, Why did my only son have to die?
He came to my door today dressed in his finest clothes
I knew what he would say before I even opened to door
“The Secretary of the Army regrets to inform you…”
You know how it goes
Why God, Why did my only son have to die?
The phone rang late, I guessed who it was
My son had been out
“We need you to come to downtown…”
You know how it goes
Why God, Why did my only son have to die?
It has been nine months and the day has finally come
We have been at the hospital for hours
“We’re sorry, but…”
You know how it goes
Why God, Why did my only son have to die?
I have lived in the hospital with him for a year
No child should suffer like this
“You have to decide now…”
You know how it goes
Why God, Why did my only son have to die?
I wonder what I would have said if I would have known
That this would be the end of his life and seemingly of mine
“Should we go to the tomb and prepare his body…”
You know how it goes
Why God, Why did my only son have to die?
He was my beloved Son;
the Son of a Virgin
I sent him to you and you killed him
“It is finished…”
“Father forgive…”
You know how it goes
He was your beloved son
He was my beloved Son
He has risen again…so your son will live again
You know how it goes
Are we all really children?
I have just finished reading Consumed by Benjamin Barber. It is well worth your time. I offer a sample today and will try and blog through it over the next week or two.
“Beyond pop culture, the infantilist ethos also dominates: dogmatic judgments of black and white in politics and religion come to displace the nuanced complexities of aduly morality, while the marks of perpetual childishness are grafted onto adults who indulge in puerility without pleasure, and indolence without innocence. Hence, the new consumer penchant for age without dignity, dress without formality, sex without reproduction, work without discipline, play without spontaneity, acquisition without purpose, certainty without doubt, life without responsibility, and narcissism into old age and unto death without a hint of wisdom or humility. In the epoch in which we now live, civilization is not an ideal or an aspiration, it is a video game.”
iPod Worship and an End to the Worship Wars
As the church debates the style of music of the Sunday service the focus of the discussion is usually centered around the tastes of the people; whether that is the tastes of the pastors, the tastes of the members, or more recently the perceived tastes of the “seeker.” Maybe everyone would be happy if we just came into the service and were handed a set of headphones and an iPod so we could experience our own worship; private worshipers all worshiping in the same place. One person could listen to a psalm, another to a classical hymn, and another to the praise chorus of her choice.
Or maybe there is a better solution…
