Some of you that come and spend time reading some of my thoughts might wonder why I use so many of U2's songs along with my thoughts? Some of you might even when you see another one just skip over it. Let me try to explain. If you are one that is annoyed by my use of their lyrics maybe this will help you slow down enough that you might find something also for yourself. Maybe not.
Music has always been very important to me. I have memories of certain songs from my past that when I hear them again it reminds of a time past. Some songs might bring up things I don't like to revisit. Sometimes revisiting might be important. I say all of that to explain that songs have staying power with me. I actually see in the Psalmist and the Prophets the same type of structure at work. I also think of Jesus and his use of parables. Psalms, Prophecy, and Parables are Art. Music, poetry and stories have a way of penetrating deep within our minds and souls.
That is why I use U2 so often. In my journey with God, they have seemed like fellow sojourners. They have challenged me to the core. They have encouraged me when I need encouraged. They have awakened me when I was asleep and didn't even know it. They often remind me that the pharisee within dies hard. They help expose him in me when he starts to come around.
I rarely ever face something in life good, bad or ugly that one of their songs doesn't pop in my mind. Often when I have a personal moment with God, I am reminded of a song of theirs that fits the moment. The song helps the moment stick. That song will then forever probably remind me of that moment with God and refresh a truth deep within me at a later time when I listen.
The other thing I love about their music is it is so culturally connected. Too often scripture (because of familiarity and the environment I have grown up hearing it in) unfortunately has been so removed from any cultural relevance. They have helped bridge that divide for me. Because of that influence over the years I am seeing The Good News through eyes that are more relevant and awake to the world I am to live in. They have helped get me out of the "Christian Subculture Mind-Set" that all too often has a difficult time at best relating to or even wanting to relate to the culture at large.
So there it is. It is much more condensed here written down than it is in my head and heart, but maybe that gives you some idea as to why they show up so much here on a blog of a follower of Christ. They're just a part of my journey grappling with what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
Here is a link to a two part post with some thoughts on how U2's music and their lives have impacted me.
Part 1
http://nthegarden.blogspot.com/2006/08/unfinished-thoughts.html
Part 2
http://nthegarden.blogspot.com/2006/08/part-two-you-must-go-down-to-next-post.html
Monday, October 30, 2006
WE NEED A GOOD DOSE OF REALITY(GOD'S REALITY)
What do you want? What do you want? What do you want?
To many choices are not good for the human soul. We in America have way too many. I am convinced this is why we are frustrated, confused, angry, depressed, unsatisfied, self absorbed, victims, worn-out, and numb and not even aware of it. We are, but we won't admit it. A wake up call is needed. I believe a critical look at ourselves is in order.
A friend of mine posted this on his blog the other day. Everywhere I turn today the Spirit is reminding me of this very thing.
"Not since the Middle Ages has the practice of Christianity as a religion been more at odds with what it means to live simply and freely in the life of Jesus."
"That conclusion comes with no small taste of sorrow because so many people, in and out of the faith, have no idea that is so. What they call Christianity today, and what some toil in with such passion, bears little resemblance to the faith that was once delivered to the saints by Jesus himself."
My year started for me with this challenge, I believe from the voice of God's spirit within me. Kent, you speak of a life you say is true but then go on living as if you don't believe it. My response was okay, show me. The contradictions in my life became so evident as this revealing began. It touched, fear (of living and dying), need and want, politics, war, poverty, justice and equality, issues of control (trying to control and being controlled by people and the world system) and many other things.
Life in God and walking after Jesus in this world, is a big paradox. If we are going to be real about this we need to understand this truth. Growing in Christ is about losing. If we are operating out of the false self that is all that is in it for that part of us. This is not about "He who dies with the most wins." It is about "He who loses his life will find it." We shouldn't be surprised that the Church mirrors perfectly about all the same destructive behaviors that they are screaming at the world outside about. What's worse for the Church is they are heaping a big dose of judgement on everybody but themselves. And then in turn have become exactly the same. We must be honest and take a long hard look at ourselves.
I have been challenged this year to take a close look as to how holding on to all our self preservation modes keep us from really being able to love. Jesus even tells us to love our enemy. We a lot of times don't really even love our friends. Not really.
Another thing is the human soul does not do well without suffering. Jesus tells us this is a part of following him. We then fill our lives with things(consumerism, pleasure to the hilt, and all kinds of stimulants) so we don't have to suffer. The result is we suffer more and in turn, it is killing us.
Because of the "Church Culture" we all grew up in, Matthew 5,6, and 7 just seems impossible. Actually, let's be honest. All of the life Jesus demonstrated seems impossible. I believe that is why we have just settled down with, "At least we are saved from hell." There is so much more. But it does come at a price. Until the issue of living out of our false self is dealt with the sacrificial life we have been called to share in will make no sense at all and will be impossible to walk in.
So I'm back to this; "What do you want?" I really believe that is what He is asking us. It's not me asking you that. It is a personal question to each of us. But I also think it is a bigger question to the Church as a whole also. "What do we really want?" More of this world and what it tells us we need(and the more of it we get the pain gets deeper) or do we want to go out there with Him and suffer with Him and be set free and healed?
Back at the beginning of the year another question came. "Are you interested in seeing how deep the rabbit hole goes?" What I have seen so far confirms that the rabbit hole is very deep. The good news is this, He can show us the way out. He is showing me how to unplug from the external controls the world system employs to keep us in slavery. This year has been about waking-up. I don't know about you, but I what to be wide awake.
To many choices are not good for the human soul. We in America have way too many. I am convinced this is why we are frustrated, confused, angry, depressed, unsatisfied, self absorbed, victims, worn-out, and numb and not even aware of it. We are, but we won't admit it. A wake up call is needed. I believe a critical look at ourselves is in order.
A friend of mine posted this on his blog the other day. Everywhere I turn today the Spirit is reminding me of this very thing.
"Not since the Middle Ages has the practice of Christianity as a religion been more at odds with what it means to live simply and freely in the life of Jesus."
"That conclusion comes with no small taste of sorrow because so many people, in and out of the faith, have no idea that is so. What they call Christianity today, and what some toil in with such passion, bears little resemblance to the faith that was once delivered to the saints by Jesus himself."
My year started for me with this challenge, I believe from the voice of God's spirit within me. Kent, you speak of a life you say is true but then go on living as if you don't believe it. My response was okay, show me. The contradictions in my life became so evident as this revealing began. It touched, fear (of living and dying), need and want, politics, war, poverty, justice and equality, issues of control (trying to control and being controlled by people and the world system) and many other things.
Life in God and walking after Jesus in this world, is a big paradox. If we are going to be real about this we need to understand this truth. Growing in Christ is about losing. If we are operating out of the false self that is all that is in it for that part of us. This is not about "He who dies with the most wins." It is about "He who loses his life will find it." We shouldn't be surprised that the Church mirrors perfectly about all the same destructive behaviors that they are screaming at the world outside about. What's worse for the Church is they are heaping a big dose of judgement on everybody but themselves. And then in turn have become exactly the same. We must be honest and take a long hard look at ourselves.
I have been challenged this year to take a close look as to how holding on to all our self preservation modes keep us from really being able to love. Jesus even tells us to love our enemy. We a lot of times don't really even love our friends. Not really.
Another thing is the human soul does not do well without suffering. Jesus tells us this is a part of following him. We then fill our lives with things(consumerism, pleasure to the hilt, and all kinds of stimulants) so we don't have to suffer. The result is we suffer more and in turn, it is killing us.
Because of the "Church Culture" we all grew up in, Matthew 5,6, and 7 just seems impossible. Actually, let's be honest. All of the life Jesus demonstrated seems impossible. I believe that is why we have just settled down with, "At least we are saved from hell." There is so much more. But it does come at a price. Until the issue of living out of our false self is dealt with the sacrificial life we have been called to share in will make no sense at all and will be impossible to walk in.
So I'm back to this; "What do you want?" I really believe that is what He is asking us. It's not me asking you that. It is a personal question to each of us. But I also think it is a bigger question to the Church as a whole also. "What do we really want?" More of this world and what it tells us we need(and the more of it we get the pain gets deeper) or do we want to go out there with Him and suffer with Him and be set free and healed?
Back at the beginning of the year another question came. "Are you interested in seeing how deep the rabbit hole goes?" What I have seen so far confirms that the rabbit hole is very deep. The good news is this, He can show us the way out. He is showing me how to unplug from the external controls the world system employs to keep us in slavery. This year has been about waking-up. I don't know about you, but I what to be wide awake.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
WHY SO MUCH DEPRESSION?
Could it be as simple as this? I know this is a complicated issue but my gut tells me this could explain a lot of the problems of depression and also many more of the problems in our culture here in the over stimulated West.
"We have a repugnance to the things of suffering and an eagerness to escape whatever is hard and painful to endure. A great number are being robbed of that Great Peace and freedom of mind which remains to reward those that do what is right undismayed by the perils and troubles to be met with in doing so. Because of this unbridled desire to live a life of pleasure the minds of men are weakened and if they do not entirely succumb, they become demoralized and miserably cower and sink under the hardships of the battle of life."
This was taken from a Podcast intitled "Theology, Medicine and Death" by Stanley Hauerwas (he is a bit different, it's not stimulatingly exciting, but it is very important)
It is actually a discussion on dying and how we in the Church here in the West don't know how to die and do not do it well. I think this is such an important topic for our culture to face. I BELIEVE IT IS KEEPING US FROM REALLY LIVING.
http://www.emergentvillage.com/podcast/stanley-hauerwas-on-theology
"We have a repugnance to the things of suffering and an eagerness to escape whatever is hard and painful to endure. A great number are being robbed of that Great Peace and freedom of mind which remains to reward those that do what is right undismayed by the perils and troubles to be met with in doing so. Because of this unbridled desire to live a life of pleasure the minds of men are weakened and if they do not entirely succumb, they become demoralized and miserably cower and sink under the hardships of the battle of life."
This was taken from a Podcast intitled "Theology, Medicine and Death" by Stanley Hauerwas (he is a bit different, it's not stimulatingly exciting, but it is very important)
It is actually a discussion on dying and how we in the Church here in the West don't know how to die and do not do it well. I think this is such an important topic for our culture to face. I BELIEVE IT IS KEEPING US FROM REALLY LIVING.
http://www.emergentvillage.com/podcast/stanley-hauerwas-on-theology
A QUIET DAY
I love this time of year. My home is surrounded by wonderful Japanese Maples that are beautiful from spring until fall. As you can see, it has been a good fall for them show off their brilliant colors. I have had a day full of quiet alone time. My day has been full of reading, praying and thinking. This is a great spot to sit for all these activities. I hope all who happen to stop by here are finding an ever deepening longing to know the One who brings meaning to life even while the storms rage all around.
THROUGH WHOSE EYES DO WE SEE THE WORLD?
When I Look At The World
When you look at the world
What is it that you see?
People find all kinds of things
That bring them to their knees
I see an expression
So clear and so true
That it changes the atmosphere
When you walk into the room
So I try to be like you
Try to feel it like you do
But without you it's no use
I can't see what you see
When I look at the world
When the night is someone elses
And you're trying to get some sleep
When your thoughts are too expensive
To ever want to keep
When there's all kinds of chaos
And everyone is walking lame
You don't even blink now, do you
Or even look away
So I try to be like you
Try to feel it like you do
But without you it's no use
I can't see what you see
When I look at the world
I can't wait any longer
I can't wait till I'm stronger
Can't wait any longer
To see what you see
When I look at the world
I'm in the waiting room
Can't see for the smoke
I think of you and your holy book
While the rest of us choke
Tell me, tell me, what do you see?
Tell me, tell me, what’s wrong with me
by U2
I think I have spent too much time in that same waiting room.
I can't think of a song better than this one, that started a deep stirring in me, through shining a bright light on the contrast between the life I had lived as a believer of the Gospel up to that point, and the life Jesus layed out in the Gospel for those who would follow.
I remember clearly 21 years ago how God captured my heart with His dream for humanity. I was 22 years old at that time and I was going to change the world for God. For a couple years myself and some friends would go down to the city at night and walk some back allies with bags of hamburgers to give to the homeless. We had strangers at times sleeping on our couch. We were naive and clueless. I saw Jesus's love for the marginalized in the begining. How did I forget that?
One of the things I feel I was most wrong about was the focus was on CONVERSION. Today I see clearly that when conversion is the beginning, the middle, and the end of what we are about, somehow LOVE gets distorted. Jesus is seeking and saving the lost. He does it without exploiting them. I feel challenged to leave that to Him. Touching people with His love seems to be what he has invited me into. It has been a wonderful year with this change in perspective. It is His kindness that changes everything. Hearts, perspectives, souls, families, communities, THE WORLD!!!!!
I feel I am back full circle to the Dream of God. I have lived much of the past 19 years trying to get God to endorse what I think was my dream. Myself and my family seemed to always be the focus of that dream. Somehow that just feels out of wack? I'm seeing today, God's Dream perfectly encompasses myself and my family but it is so much larger and much more beautiful and fulfilling. How could I get to a place of thinking my little mind could dream up something better than the Creator had already dreamed up? His dream blows my dream away.
Jesus is the expression that changes the atmosphere when he is in the room. We have the privilege of being the carriers of that expression to the world.
When you look at the world
What is it that you see?
People find all kinds of things
That bring them to their knees
I see an expression
So clear and so true
That it changes the atmosphere
When you walk into the room
So I try to be like you
Try to feel it like you do
But without you it's no use
I can't see what you see
When I look at the world
When the night is someone elses
And you're trying to get some sleep
When your thoughts are too expensive
To ever want to keep
When there's all kinds of chaos
And everyone is walking lame
You don't even blink now, do you
Or even look away
So I try to be like you
Try to feel it like you do
But without you it's no use
I can't see what you see
When I look at the world
I can't wait any longer
I can't wait till I'm stronger
Can't wait any longer
To see what you see
When I look at the world
I'm in the waiting room
Can't see for the smoke
I think of you and your holy book
While the rest of us choke
Tell me, tell me, what do you see?
Tell me, tell me, what’s wrong with me
by U2
I think I have spent too much time in that same waiting room.
I can't think of a song better than this one, that started a deep stirring in me, through shining a bright light on the contrast between the life I had lived as a believer of the Gospel up to that point, and the life Jesus layed out in the Gospel for those who would follow.
I remember clearly 21 years ago how God captured my heart with His dream for humanity. I was 22 years old at that time and I was going to change the world for God. For a couple years myself and some friends would go down to the city at night and walk some back allies with bags of hamburgers to give to the homeless. We had strangers at times sleeping on our couch. We were naive and clueless. I saw Jesus's love for the marginalized in the begining. How did I forget that?
One of the things I feel I was most wrong about was the focus was on CONVERSION. Today I see clearly that when conversion is the beginning, the middle, and the end of what we are about, somehow LOVE gets distorted. Jesus is seeking and saving the lost. He does it without exploiting them. I feel challenged to leave that to Him. Touching people with His love seems to be what he has invited me into. It has been a wonderful year with this change in perspective. It is His kindness that changes everything. Hearts, perspectives, souls, families, communities, THE WORLD!!!!!
I feel I am back full circle to the Dream of God. I have lived much of the past 19 years trying to get God to endorse what I think was my dream. Myself and my family seemed to always be the focus of that dream. Somehow that just feels out of wack? I'm seeing today, God's Dream perfectly encompasses myself and my family but it is so much larger and much more beautiful and fulfilling. How could I get to a place of thinking my little mind could dream up something better than the Creator had already dreamed up? His dream blows my dream away.
Jesus is the expression that changes the atmosphere when he is in the room. We have the privilege of being the carriers of that expression to the world.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
AN ONGOIG PROBLEM FOR US IN THE WEST (YES, EVEN THE CHURCH, MAYBE EVEN MORE FOR US IN THE CHURCH)
From "Hope Against Darkness" by Richard Rohr
Entitlement is a Poor Teacher
"A sense of limits offers a much more honest attitude about what we can expect from life. We are set up for anger and judgement when we expect too much from one another, from the world and from institutions. This is called a sense of entitlement, and characterizes most people who are rich, from developed countries, and most younger people born into the new world of "rights." Our parents and grandparents grew up instead in a world of responsibility. We are still searching for the happy middle between the two.
Most people learn a sense of limits much earlier in the Third World. Observing such people is what gives me the courage to speak this way. People in the Third World are usually in need and have a right to more, to justice, but they also have a much more honest expectation of reality. They have a more properly shaped ego. The tragic, the broken, the sinful is already woven into reality. We in the West have gotten away with a false sense of entitlement that did not weave the tragic into our world veiw. We actually suffer more because of it. Anyone who has been there will tell you that the poor in the Third World tend to smile more than the middle class or the wealthy in any country."
U2 sang of the absurdity of this condition in the song Zooropa. Zooropa is a make believe city, or is it?
Zooropa... Vorsprung durch Technik
Zooropa... be all that you can be
Be a winner
Eat to get slimmer
Zooropa... a bluer kind of white
Zooropa... it could be yours tonight
We're mild and green
And squeaky clean
Zooropa... better by design
Zooropa... fly the friendly skies
Through appliance of science
We've got that ring of confidence...
And I have no compass
And I have no map
And I have no reasons
No reasons to get back
And I have no religion
And I don't know what's what
And I don't know the limit
The limit of what we've got
Zooropa... Don't worry baby, it'll be alright
Zooropa... You got the right shoes
Zooropa... To get you through the night
Zooropa... It's cold outside, but brightly lit
Zooropa... Skip the subway
Zooropa... Let's go to the overground
Get your head out of the mud baby
Put flowers in the mud baby
Overground
No particular place names
No particular song
I've been hiding
What am I hiding from?
Zooropa... Don't worry baby, it's gonna be alright
Zooropa... Uncertainty... can be a guiding light
Zooropa... I hear voices, ridiculous voices
Zooropa... In the slipstream
Zooropa... Let's go, let's go... overground
Zooropa... Take your head out of the mud baby
She's gonna dream up
The world she wants to live in
She's gonna dream out loud
God's dream seems to be the exact opposite.
Entitlement is a Poor Teacher
"A sense of limits offers a much more honest attitude about what we can expect from life. We are set up for anger and judgement when we expect too much from one another, from the world and from institutions. This is called a sense of entitlement, and characterizes most people who are rich, from developed countries, and most younger people born into the new world of "rights." Our parents and grandparents grew up instead in a world of responsibility. We are still searching for the happy middle between the two.
Most people learn a sense of limits much earlier in the Third World. Observing such people is what gives me the courage to speak this way. People in the Third World are usually in need and have a right to more, to justice, but they also have a much more honest expectation of reality. They have a more properly shaped ego. The tragic, the broken, the sinful is already woven into reality. We in the West have gotten away with a false sense of entitlement that did not weave the tragic into our world veiw. We actually suffer more because of it. Anyone who has been there will tell you that the poor in the Third World tend to smile more than the middle class or the wealthy in any country."
U2 sang of the absurdity of this condition in the song Zooropa. Zooropa is a make believe city, or is it?
Zooropa... Vorsprung durch Technik
Zooropa... be all that you can be
Be a winner
Eat to get slimmer
Zooropa... a bluer kind of white
Zooropa... it could be yours tonight
We're mild and green
And squeaky clean
Zooropa... better by design
Zooropa... fly the friendly skies
Through appliance of science
We've got that ring of confidence...
And I have no compass
And I have no map
And I have no reasons
No reasons to get back
And I have no religion
And I don't know what's what
And I don't know the limit
The limit of what we've got
Zooropa... Don't worry baby, it'll be alright
Zooropa... You got the right shoes
Zooropa... To get you through the night
Zooropa... It's cold outside, but brightly lit
Zooropa... Skip the subway
Zooropa... Let's go to the overground
Get your head out of the mud baby
Put flowers in the mud baby
Overground
No particular place names
No particular song
I've been hiding
What am I hiding from?
Zooropa... Don't worry baby, it's gonna be alright
Zooropa... Uncertainty... can be a guiding light
Zooropa... I hear voices, ridiculous voices
Zooropa... In the slipstream
Zooropa... Let's go, let's go... overground
Zooropa... Take your head out of the mud baby
She's gonna dream up
The world she wants to live in
She's gonna dream out loud
God's dream seems to be the exact opposite.
GRACE ( AGAIN )
Some of my first posts were on Grace. It seems to be an ever present companion on my journey. It's always here for me. Thank God!!!!! Now I just need to learn to let it be the thing that always flows from my life with everyone and every situation I find myself in everyday. That is my prayer.
This is from the book I am reading at this time that I mentioned below by Richard Rohr.
"If you don't get forgiveness, you're missing the whole mystery. You are still living in a world of meritocracy, of quid-pro-quo thinking, a world of performance and behavior that earns an award. Forgiveness is the great thawing of all logic and reason and worthiness. It is the melting into the mystry of God as unearned love, unmerited grace, the humility and powerlessness of a Divine Lover. Forgiveness is the beginning, the middle and the end of the whole Gospel, as far as I can see.
Without radical and rule-breaking forgiveness-----received and given----there will be no reconstruction of anything. It alone breaks down our damnable world of trying to buy and sell grace. Grace is certainly the one gift that must always be free, perfectly free----to work. Without forgiveness there will be no future. We have hurt one another in too many historically documented and remembered ways. The only way out of the present justified hatreds of the world is grace."
For me this seems only possible when I know and live in the awareness of His never failing grace and love for me. When I understand that, there is no other way of living that makes sense.
This is from the book I am reading at this time that I mentioned below by Richard Rohr.
"If you don't get forgiveness, you're missing the whole mystery. You are still living in a world of meritocracy, of quid-pro-quo thinking, a world of performance and behavior that earns an award. Forgiveness is the great thawing of all logic and reason and worthiness. It is the melting into the mystry of God as unearned love, unmerited grace, the humility and powerlessness of a Divine Lover. Forgiveness is the beginning, the middle and the end of the whole Gospel, as far as I can see.
Without radical and rule-breaking forgiveness-----received and given----there will be no reconstruction of anything. It alone breaks down our damnable world of trying to buy and sell grace. Grace is certainly the one gift that must always be free, perfectly free----to work. Without forgiveness there will be no future. We have hurt one another in too many historically documented and remembered ways. The only way out of the present justified hatreds of the world is grace."
For me this seems only possible when I know and live in the awareness of His never failing grace and love for me. When I understand that, there is no other way of living that makes sense.
HOPE AGAINST DARKNESS
I would highly recomend this book by Richard Rohr.
"Hope Against Darkness"
the tranforming vision of Saint Francis in an age of anxiety.
This life cannot be manufactured on our own. All we can do is believe that it is what God wants for us and know He wants to give Himself to us more than we want Him for ourselves. Richard is a Franciscan but this is for us all who are longing for life in the Father. It is not an advertisement for the Catholic Church. It is a critical look at religion in contrast to what life in Him can really be. It is a call to all who would listen and come.
"Hope Against Darkness"
the tranforming vision of Saint Francis in an age of anxiety.
This life cannot be manufactured on our own. All we can do is believe that it is what God wants for us and know He wants to give Himself to us more than we want Him for ourselves. Richard is a Franciscan but this is for us all who are longing for life in the Father. It is not an advertisement for the Catholic Church. It is a critical look at religion in contrast to what life in Him can really be. It is a call to all who would listen and come.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
THE FALSE SELF/THE TRUE SELF
I've been reading some writtings of a Franciscan Brother over the past week and have been challenged and encouraged. Having the false self exposed is a little bit painful. Even so, I want more. The false self seems to be the one that is first to respond in most situations. Especially with those closest to us. Why is it harder to act graciously with those we see most often? For those of us that are married extending grace seems at times to be difficult at best. At least at first gaze. Defenses seem to go up and the battle for our sacred turf of false self is on.
I have been married long enough now you would think I would have learned that starting out in the True Self would always be better. I am very aware of how much better living in the True Self feels so why don't I start out there all the time?
Here is how Richard Rohr says it:
"The first gaze is seldom compassionate. It is too busy weighing and feeling itself: "How will this effect me?" or "How does my self-image demand that I react to this?" or "How can I get back in control of this situation?" This leads to an implosion, a self preoccupation that cannot enter into communion with the other or the moment. In other words, we first feel our feelings before we can relate to the situation and the emotion of the other. Only after God has taught us how to live "undefended" can we immediately stand with and for the other, and for the moment. It takes alot of practice."
In marrage relationships it seems the false self always feels it is it's responsibility to fix the problem. To some, that looks like running from the relationship. They might say, "this is broken already and too painful." To others, fixing it means focusing on the other person's mess. These approaches always strengthen the false self. In the one attacking and the one being attacked. It will always cause deeper hurt for everyone involved.
Unless we can get to the True Self, disfunction will remain disfunction. But when both people involved can find their way to living in their True Self it is a most beautiful thing. That doesn't mean it's not messy. We are all on a journey TOWARDS transformation. It's a process. One thing I am coming to understand is this. We all are disfunctional because there is a mixture of light and dark in us all. If we are loving each other out of the True Self we get to watch the disfunction being unwound in the ones we love. And in that process our disfunction starts to be unwound also.
GRACE MAKES GRACIOUS PEOPLE. Grace is especially for, or should I be as bold to say exclusively for, those suffering from disfunction caused by having lived out of the false self for too long. There is always hope for those struggling with disfunction. If there is not, we are all dead in the water because there is not one of us or no relationship without at least a degree of it. Hope comes by the way of the True Self not the false self. Only when we are learning to abide in God can the True Self win out over the false self.
GRACE MAKES BEAUTY OUT OF UGLY THINGS...........ONLY WHEN WE ARE IN OUR TRUE SELF, (which can only happen if I am abiding in Him)CAN WE LIVE GRACIOUS LIVES
I have been married long enough now you would think I would have learned that starting out in the True Self would always be better. I am very aware of how much better living in the True Self feels so why don't I start out there all the time?
Here is how Richard Rohr says it:
"The first gaze is seldom compassionate. It is too busy weighing and feeling itself: "How will this effect me?" or "How does my self-image demand that I react to this?" or "How can I get back in control of this situation?" This leads to an implosion, a self preoccupation that cannot enter into communion with the other or the moment. In other words, we first feel our feelings before we can relate to the situation and the emotion of the other. Only after God has taught us how to live "undefended" can we immediately stand with and for the other, and for the moment. It takes alot of practice."
In marrage relationships it seems the false self always feels it is it's responsibility to fix the problem. To some, that looks like running from the relationship. They might say, "this is broken already and too painful." To others, fixing it means focusing on the other person's mess. These approaches always strengthen the false self. In the one attacking and the one being attacked. It will always cause deeper hurt for everyone involved.
Unless we can get to the True Self, disfunction will remain disfunction. But when both people involved can find their way to living in their True Self it is a most beautiful thing. That doesn't mean it's not messy. We are all on a journey TOWARDS transformation. It's a process. One thing I am coming to understand is this. We all are disfunctional because there is a mixture of light and dark in us all. If we are loving each other out of the True Self we get to watch the disfunction being unwound in the ones we love. And in that process our disfunction starts to be unwound also.
GRACE MAKES GRACIOUS PEOPLE. Grace is especially for, or should I be as bold to say exclusively for, those suffering from disfunction caused by having lived out of the false self for too long. There is always hope for those struggling with disfunction. If there is not, we are all dead in the water because there is not one of us or no relationship without at least a degree of it. Hope comes by the way of the True Self not the false self. Only when we are learning to abide in God can the True Self win out over the false self.
GRACE MAKES BEAUTY OUT OF UGLY THINGS...........ONLY WHEN WE ARE IN OUR TRUE SELF, (which can only happen if I am abiding in Him)CAN WE LIVE GRACIOUS LIVES
WHAT DOES THE JESUS YOU ARE COMING TO KNOW LOOK LIKE?
"When we present Jesus as a pro-war, anti-poor, anti-homosexual, anti-environment, pro-nuclear weapons authority figure draped in an American flag, I think we are making a travesty of the portrait of Jesus we find in the gospels," Brian McLaren said in a recent interview.
This next quote about love, is a piece of an article by Richard Rohr.
"Love is always about giving up control, and people are trained to think of taking control—even of God. In my experience, most people would sooner be afraid and in control than in love and out of control."
I read the quote about love after I made this post and I just felt it fit here with Brian's quote above. It is the exact opposite way of living when compared to the problematic stance of the first quote, so much of Christianity has adopted today as Brian McLaren stated.
Obsessions with self-preservation
Faded when I threw my fear away
It's not a thing you can imagine
You either lose your fear
Or spend your life with one foot in the grave
Is God the last romantic?
Spark
by Over The Rhine
This next quote about love, is a piece of an article by Richard Rohr.
"Love is always about giving up control, and people are trained to think of taking control—even of God. In my experience, most people would sooner be afraid and in control than in love and out of control."
I read the quote about love after I made this post and I just felt it fit here with Brian's quote above. It is the exact opposite way of living when compared to the problematic stance of the first quote, so much of Christianity has adopted today as Brian McLaren stated.
Obsessions with self-preservation
Faded when I threw my fear away
It's not a thing you can imagine
You either lose your fear
Or spend your life with one foot in the grave
Is God the last romantic?
Spark
by Over The Rhine
Sunday, October 15, 2006
THREE POSTS TODAY
This is a link to a video of a Belgian Girl's Choir, singing the U2 song "With or Without You"
It is beautiful. When you get there scroll down to the song and download.
http://www.kolacny.com/en/music/downloads/index.htm
It is beautiful. When you get there scroll down to the song and download.
http://www.kolacny.com/en/music/downloads/index.htm
AND THEN A LIGHT CAME ON IN MY HEAD
I was sitting and thinking the other day about the political atmosphere. I am just disgusted by how these people who have been entrusted with representing us are acting. And no, it's not new. It's been this way for many years now and seems to just keep getting worse.
I have always voted Republican. With where I feel God has taken me this year I am pretty amazed by that fact. One of the reasons I had aligned myself with them in the past, is because I saw their stance as being more COMMON SENSE THINKING than the Democrats. I've been a pretty common sense thinking guy most of my life. This is where the light seemed to shine on a dark place of understanding in my heart and mind the other day.
How can I read the Gospel of Christ and come away thinking He was a common sense thinking guy? There is nothing about Christ that fits under COMMON SENSE. He gives himself as answers to questions. He rubs mud in a blind guys eyes. Today I could be arrested for that. He tells Peter to forgive over and over and over on and on and on.....He tells stories that make no sense at all. Try out The Prodigal Son story or the Good Samaritan. Matthew 5,6, and 7 are real common sense teaching don't you think? Oh, and his last act really made a lot of sense. So much so that even after trying to tell his disciples what he was about to do, they saw the whole thing as a big failure and they all went back to fishing.
I understand today when my liberal clients ask how Christians can be Conservative Rebublicans. I know why they ask that now. I also know why conservative ask that same question of Liberal Christians.
Here is what I am feeling today, none of the political parties represent Jesus and his message. They don't represent me either. Jesus wouldn't be acting like any of them or supporting any of them for that matter. I guess this is the big question. Can we be about trying to live the Kingdom of God life at the same time we are trying to maintain a system that doesn't look or act like God at all? He didn't seem to be interested in making deals with folks that weren't working at bringing about His Father's Kingdom.
HE IS ABOUT SOMETHING TOTALLY OTHER. I feel a call to walk there with Him.
I have always voted Republican. With where I feel God has taken me this year I am pretty amazed by that fact. One of the reasons I had aligned myself with them in the past, is because I saw their stance as being more COMMON SENSE THINKING than the Democrats. I've been a pretty common sense thinking guy most of my life. This is where the light seemed to shine on a dark place of understanding in my heart and mind the other day.
How can I read the Gospel of Christ and come away thinking He was a common sense thinking guy? There is nothing about Christ that fits under COMMON SENSE. He gives himself as answers to questions. He rubs mud in a blind guys eyes. Today I could be arrested for that. He tells Peter to forgive over and over and over on and on and on.....He tells stories that make no sense at all. Try out The Prodigal Son story or the Good Samaritan. Matthew 5,6, and 7 are real common sense teaching don't you think? Oh, and his last act really made a lot of sense. So much so that even after trying to tell his disciples what he was about to do, they saw the whole thing as a big failure and they all went back to fishing.
I understand today when my liberal clients ask how Christians can be Conservative Rebublicans. I know why they ask that now. I also know why conservative ask that same question of Liberal Christians.
Here is what I am feeling today, none of the political parties represent Jesus and his message. They don't represent me either. Jesus wouldn't be acting like any of them or supporting any of them for that matter. I guess this is the big question. Can we be about trying to live the Kingdom of God life at the same time we are trying to maintain a system that doesn't look or act like God at all? He didn't seem to be interested in making deals with folks that weren't working at bringing about His Father's Kingdom.
HE IS ABOUT SOMETHING TOTALLY OTHER. I feel a call to walk there with Him.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
WHAT A JOYOUS TIME ELECTION SEASON IS
Anybody what to chime in here on how they feel about our Political System?
Are you frustrated like I am? If so, is there anything we can do to change it?
Or should we care?
As followers of Christ do you feel conflicted in participating in a system (Democrat or Republican) that seems to on one hand try to convince you (get ready. For your vote)they share your values of faith and at the same time trample them under foot?
Are you frustrated like I am? If so, is there anything we can do to change it?
Or should we care?
As followers of Christ do you feel conflicted in participating in a system (Democrat or Republican) that seems to on one hand try to convince you (get ready. For your vote)they share your values of faith and at the same time trample them under foot?
Monday, October 09, 2006
FINDING PEACE AND FREEDOM. ACTUALLY, LEARNING TO LIVE
I am having a year that is hard to believe. My mind and my heart are being recaptured. We are so blessed to be alive and I don't want to take one moment for granted. I want to live with my eyes wide open and focused on the one who is worthy to have my focus.
I feel a bit like Solomon I guess. I posted this a few weeks back but I'm bringing it back for this post. This is from the book WALK ON by Steve Stockman
"Ecclesiastes has the basic thesis of "everything is meaningless" Eccles.1:2
"Only a connection with God brings any sense to the meanderings of humankind. Jesus encourages His followers to forget about the treasures of earth because they get stolen or rust or moths eat them up. Treasures in Heaven are lasting. The Apostle Paul told the early believers to put their trust not in the things that can be seen because they are temporary, but to put their trust in things that cannot be seen because they are eternal."
I tried this path early on in my experience with God many years ago and I think it failed me because it was out of a sense of duty. Today it feels more out of a sense of knowing the pursuit of all things other than Him and life in Him is meaningless. I know that today because of experience. Seeing it from where I am today, it really is about living free.
We are given warning from Jesus himself about the seeking of security in anything other than Father. Been there, done that and have experienced enough of those shattered dreams. I don't need anymore of them. What living life there looked and felt like compared to what I have been feeling this year, the choice is clear. I said clear, not easy. I also have learned this, life is a process. It is a journey. Transformation and growth comes much slower than I was led to believe. There have been some,"changed in a moment experiences." A few. But most of it and most of the deep things just take time. I'm learning this is much better. When I live in this awareness I am a much more compassionate person with others who don't have the "changed in a moment experience." Life is messy, very messy for us all. Even for those who are following after God.
The world system will always scream at us that what we need is found in something different, something it has to offer. That's what makes walking this path much harder. That's why it is so easy for us to stumble and is why so many are stumbling regularly. I know this from experience also. I hope that makes me more compassionate also.
I know today my life is in Him and nowhere else. My heart and mind being recaptured is giving way to a dream I believe is birthed in the heart of God himself. It is God's dream not mine. But then again, it is mine. He is making it mine. With that dream there is also this tention I must live with of being unfinished. The finishing is his job and I am confident he is about accomplishing that. I know He is committed to that and has been about making it happen. I want in on His dream. He has invited us all.
I feel a bit like Solomon I guess. I posted this a few weeks back but I'm bringing it back for this post. This is from the book WALK ON by Steve Stockman
"Ecclesiastes has the basic thesis of "everything is meaningless" Eccles.1:2
"Only a connection with God brings any sense to the meanderings of humankind. Jesus encourages His followers to forget about the treasures of earth because they get stolen or rust or moths eat them up. Treasures in Heaven are lasting. The Apostle Paul told the early believers to put their trust not in the things that can be seen because they are temporary, but to put their trust in things that cannot be seen because they are eternal."
I tried this path early on in my experience with God many years ago and I think it failed me because it was out of a sense of duty. Today it feels more out of a sense of knowing the pursuit of all things other than Him and life in Him is meaningless. I know that today because of experience. Seeing it from where I am today, it really is about living free.
We are given warning from Jesus himself about the seeking of security in anything other than Father. Been there, done that and have experienced enough of those shattered dreams. I don't need anymore of them. What living life there looked and felt like compared to what I have been feeling this year, the choice is clear. I said clear, not easy. I also have learned this, life is a process. It is a journey. Transformation and growth comes much slower than I was led to believe. There have been some,"changed in a moment experiences." A few. But most of it and most of the deep things just take time. I'm learning this is much better. When I live in this awareness I am a much more compassionate person with others who don't have the "changed in a moment experience." Life is messy, very messy for us all. Even for those who are following after God.
The world system will always scream at us that what we need is found in something different, something it has to offer. That's what makes walking this path much harder. That's why it is so easy for us to stumble and is why so many are stumbling regularly. I know this from experience also. I hope that makes me more compassionate also.
I know today my life is in Him and nowhere else. My heart and mind being recaptured is giving way to a dream I believe is birthed in the heart of God himself. It is God's dream not mine. But then again, it is mine. He is making it mine. With that dream there is also this tention I must live with of being unfinished. The finishing is his job and I am confident he is about accomplishing that. I know He is committed to that and has been about making it happen. I want in on His dream. He has invited us all.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
ANOTHER EXCERPT
I'm sorry if this U2 stuff is boring to you all. I hope someone finds it interesting or hopefully helpful. Maybe it will be one of those things that if not now, maybe later. I continue because it is important to me. This is a revisit to an earlier post. "A DREAM I HAVE IN COMMON WITH BONO" Before I made a post about this song "Original of the Species" from another book. This is from the book U2 by U2.
Bono says,
"Again it's the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Beware of knowingness. You sense with teenage girls this incredible pressure to be beautiful and to do well in their school. It is as if every waking moment the whole world is telling them what they are not. I wanted to write a song about uniqueness. It's worth remembering that you probably have something the world really needs. Trying to discover what that might be is one of the challenges of life. But one way you will not discover it is by trying to be what you are not."
I think this is good advice for us adults also. We are all made to be, by the hand of an awsomely creative God. The world throws so much at us from the begining it is sad how many of us never really find who we are in Him. I am feeling some of the mud that the world has thrown at me, that I didn't protect myself from, being washed off. I hope all of you are figuring out in your lives where this stuff is holding back the true you also.
Orignal Of The Species
Baby slow down
The end is not as fun as the start
Please stay a child somewhere in your heart
I’ll give you everything you want
Except the thing that you want
You are the first one of your kind
And you feel like no-one before
You steal right under my door
And I kneel ‘cos I want you some more
I want the lot of what you got
And I want nothing that you’re not
Everywhere you go you shout it
You don’t have to be shy about it
Some things you shouldn’t get too good at
Like smiling, crying and celebrity
Some people got way too much confidence baby
I’ll give you everything you want
Except the thing that you want
You are the first one of your kind
And you feel like no-one before
You steal right under my door
I kneel ‘cos I want you some more
I want the lot of what you got
And I want nothing that you’re not
Everywhere you go you shout it
You don’t have to be shy about it, no
And you’ll never be alone
Come on now show your soul
You’ve been keeping your love under control
Everywhere you go you shout it
You don’t have to be shy about it
Everywhere you go you shout it
Oh my my
And you feel like no-one before
You steal right under my door
I kneel ‘cos I want you some more
I want you some more,
I want you some more…
I also think of my big brother Jesus, being the first born, when I hear this song. He was the first to experience the Resurrected Life we all have been given entrance into also.
Bono says,
"Again it's the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Beware of knowingness. You sense with teenage girls this incredible pressure to be beautiful and to do well in their school. It is as if every waking moment the whole world is telling them what they are not. I wanted to write a song about uniqueness. It's worth remembering that you probably have something the world really needs. Trying to discover what that might be is one of the challenges of life. But one way you will not discover it is by trying to be what you are not."
I think this is good advice for us adults also. We are all made to be, by the hand of an awsomely creative God. The world throws so much at us from the begining it is sad how many of us never really find who we are in Him. I am feeling some of the mud that the world has thrown at me, that I didn't protect myself from, being washed off. I hope all of you are figuring out in your lives where this stuff is holding back the true you also.
Orignal Of The Species
Baby slow down
The end is not as fun as the start
Please stay a child somewhere in your heart
I’ll give you everything you want
Except the thing that you want
You are the first one of your kind
And you feel like no-one before
You steal right under my door
And I kneel ‘cos I want you some more
I want the lot of what you got
And I want nothing that you’re not
Everywhere you go you shout it
You don’t have to be shy about it
Some things you shouldn’t get too good at
Like smiling, crying and celebrity
Some people got way too much confidence baby
I’ll give you everything you want
Except the thing that you want
You are the first one of your kind
And you feel like no-one before
You steal right under my door
I kneel ‘cos I want you some more
I want the lot of what you got
And I want nothing that you’re not
Everywhere you go you shout it
You don’t have to be shy about it, no
And you’ll never be alone
Come on now show your soul
You’ve been keeping your love under control
Everywhere you go you shout it
You don’t have to be shy about it
Everywhere you go you shout it
Oh my my
And you feel like no-one before
You steal right under my door
I kneel ‘cos I want you some more
I want you some more,
I want you some more…
I also think of my big brother Jesus, being the first born, when I hear this song. He was the first to experience the Resurrected Life we all have been given entrance into also.
Friday, October 06, 2006
IS THERE ANY HOPE LEFT? I BELIEVE THERE IS
I tend to think so. After a week like we have been through with the political crap we seem to get on a regular basis and the senseless killling of the precious Amish girls it would be easy to say I'm hunkering down and going to try to just survive. That doesn't sound like a good idea. It doesn't sound like God to me either.
I will turn back to the words of Bono from the book U2 by U2. This is a pretty honest look at humanity.
" In a little while, this hurt will hurt no more, I'll be home, love. I'm good at apology songs. I've had to be."
"Christ described the assembled gathering as sheep, which I think is one of the best metaphors for mankind. There's such comedy in that. Have you ever watched a flock of sheep? No one is in charge. They change direction without any seeming logic. I love the idea of human beings (and don't take this personally because I'm one of them) believing they are in charge of their own destiny. For all the progress and all the enlightenment we have had, I do see us kind of stumbling around. There's a sort of audacious side of human being that puts himself at the center of the universe. I'm capable of it in lots of ways, reasoning with the Almighty, doing deals. The big question for me , is not if we believe in God but, much more importantly, does God believe in us?"
Sometimes I wonder too? I believe He does believe in us. He is more mindful that we are but dust than we are of ourselves. He knows of the evil we are capable of but he has seen mankind rise up and accomplish some wonderful things. We can again. I'm feeling a real change in myself that gives me hope. There are some wonderful examples even today. Watching the Amish community act with such forgiveness and grace is an example of what we can be in the face of such evil. Learning to live as Christ would have us will never fail. I believe this. Returning vile for vile or violence for violence will always lead us down a dead end road to more vile and violence.
My prayer is to live like I believe it. I can no longer live with my conscience if I don't. Somedays are better than others. I am a work in progress. But I march on towards the goal. We cannot let those, sidetract us, who would try to take all that is good and trample it underfoot. We will not stop them by fighting or by yelling louder. We must defeat hate with love. Even if it cost us everything.
I will turn back to the words of Bono from the book U2 by U2. This is a pretty honest look at humanity.
" In a little while, this hurt will hurt no more, I'll be home, love. I'm good at apology songs. I've had to be."
"Christ described the assembled gathering as sheep, which I think is one of the best metaphors for mankind. There's such comedy in that. Have you ever watched a flock of sheep? No one is in charge. They change direction without any seeming logic. I love the idea of human beings (and don't take this personally because I'm one of them) believing they are in charge of their own destiny. For all the progress and all the enlightenment we have had, I do see us kind of stumbling around. There's a sort of audacious side of human being that puts himself at the center of the universe. I'm capable of it in lots of ways, reasoning with the Almighty, doing deals. The big question for me , is not if we believe in God but, much more importantly, does God believe in us?"
Sometimes I wonder too? I believe He does believe in us. He is more mindful that we are but dust than we are of ourselves. He knows of the evil we are capable of but he has seen mankind rise up and accomplish some wonderful things. We can again. I'm feeling a real change in myself that gives me hope. There are some wonderful examples even today. Watching the Amish community act with such forgiveness and grace is an example of what we can be in the face of such evil. Learning to live as Christ would have us will never fail. I believe this. Returning vile for vile or violence for violence will always lead us down a dead end road to more vile and violence.
My prayer is to live like I believe it. I can no longer live with my conscience if I don't. Somedays are better than others. I am a work in progress. But I march on towards the goal. We cannot let those, sidetract us, who would try to take all that is good and trample it underfoot. We will not stop them by fighting or by yelling louder. We must defeat hate with love. Even if it cost us everything.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
HOW MANY MORE HAVE TO DIE? (UPDATED)
These senseless killings at the Amish School have just deepened the burden I have been under as of late for our children. I don't know if there is anything we can do to stop it but I know there are things that don't help.
Society just keeps pumping out sex and violence in film and TV as entertainment and we just keep sucking it up like we can't get it fast enough. And then scratch our head in disbelief that our society is so violent and obsessed with sex. We need to wake up. We are AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH.........and it is not amusing.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
The fact that so many watch sex and violence as entertainment on a regular basis can't be helping move us in the right direction when it comes to protecting the most innocent in society. This will only continue to get worse if we don't wake up.
Society just keeps pumping out sex and violence in film and TV as entertainment and we just keep sucking it up like we can't get it fast enough. And then scratch our head in disbelief that our society is so violent and obsessed with sex. We need to wake up. We are AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH.........and it is not amusing.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
The fact that so many watch sex and violence as entertainment on a regular basis can't be helping move us in the right direction when it comes to protecting the most innocent in society. This will only continue to get worse if we don't wake up.
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