John Chapter 1 - a few thoughts
I am reading through the book of John in preparation for Passion Week. We are going to show the new movie called "the Gospel of John" to our church on Maundy Thursday, so I wanted to refresh myself with the text. I know this is cliche, but even after reading John chapter 1, 100 times, I still find God speaking to me in new ways, revealing things I hadn't seen before - and usually pressing application upon my mind that probably wasn't yet relevant in my life.
Two main thoughts jumped out at me in the 2nd half of the chapter...
#1 - the humility of John the Baptist...he goes from being the religious star, the Billy Graham of the day, to watching his disciples literally leave his side - vs. 37: "When the two disciples heard him(John the Baptist) say this, they followed Jesus." And of course after this, we really don't hear much more about him until he is in prison about to lose his head. Talk about having things go south in a hurry! What captured me though, was the fact that JOHN was the one who initiated the demise of his own career. Which is the humility thing...and what clearly demonstrates the sincerity of John's motive and the sincerity of the message he proclaimed - "to make straight the way of the Lord". The other element of humility was in how he did not hold tightly to those whom he led. The application of this to me personally was very convicting. It is so tempting to hold on to volunteers, relationships with people, etc...because it is what makes us feel comfortable. I think that is the case in many if not most employment situations - where the emphasis is on what you can and are doing for the organization, instead of the organization looking out for your own interests first. In this case, John the Baptist gave up two of his prime disciples and didn't just let them go, he encouraged them to go follow Jesus - and to do whatever Jesus called them to do. I want to have that kind of attitude toward those who serve under my leadership...
#2 the other major thought that jumped out from this passage was that Jesus didn't call 4 if not all 5 of the first 5 disciples. To sum it up...John the Baptist "called" Andrew and John. Andrew called Peter, and Philip called Nathaniel. It seems Jesus called Philip, but since Philip was from the same town as Andrew and Peter, I would speculate that Andrew and Peter probably either directly or indirectly led Jesus to Philip. The relevancy of this to me is the striking example that Jesus gives us of how he wants us to be about His ministry of making disciples. Yes, it is Jesus and His Words/teaching that we are called to hear and follow, but Jesus wanted to and still wants to use us to do the calling, and also even the modeling and the instruction. Matt 28 - "go", is better translated, "as you are going" - that we should be making disciples all along the way, in direct 'calls', and indirect modeling of our relationship with Christ. Jesus doesn't need us to call men to himself, but He WANTS to use us. Am I looking for those around me that Jesus would have me say "come and see"...am I looking for those around me that maybe I should encourage to pursue Jesus and "let them go" from under direct care and training?
Anyways, I know this isn't all that terribly insightful, but it spoke to me this week. Hope it encouraged you....
-b-
eating from the fireplace?
lori and the girls are on spring break this week in Virginia leaving me to fend for myself. it has been an interesting week alternating between freedom to pursue projects and extra work that i have put off, and the feelings of lonliness and emptiness at not having them here. it is VERY quiet. way TOO quiet. i have been trying to catalogue how i feel while they are gone for this long (we are at the end of day 4 today) and i can't really describe it. it isn't so much i miss something in particular that we do...i just miss the being...i guess what it is teaching me is that being a family is not about what you do together, where you go on vacation, what activities you do, etc...but it is simply about being connected to each other...the buzz word community comes to mind...i dunno...i just feel really inadequate and clueless right now...
anyways...that's not what I wanted to blog about...i was really wanting to make an observation...with everyone gone, I have gone after a few neglegated projects...like cleaning out the fireplace...so on Sunday I got out the vac, the brooms, the dustpans and went at it...I didn't think it would take too long, but it ended up being at least a 30mn project...as i went along i kept thinking to myself - at what point do i declare this thing "clean"...i mean, no matter how much i vaccuum it, will i ever feel it is clean enough to say, eat a meal off of it? of course not - because it is contaminated...
it made me reflect and think of how God looks at each of us as sinners...no matter how much we try to clean ourselves up, we would never be usable for God's service if we just try to "clean up" on our own... and it is amazing to me, that God wants to use us even though he knows us so well...
I guess you can take that little reflection as you want to...it just made me grateful, and aware of my sin nature...and my deep need for Jesus...
thechurchplanter blog: understanding the Emerging Church--Ed Stetzeri love this summary evaluation of the emerging church - specifically, it's philosophies and just as importantly, it's leadership.
i'm all for cultural relevancy, but let's not throw the baby out with the bath water.
As was said to me recently, true emergent "style" churches will always have a place in a large, urban environment. It truly is no different than any other attempt at cultural relevancy - and pretty much will only work in an environment where it makes sense to have a relatively homogeneous grouping - or maybe not? what do you think?
That said, i am and have been keeping my eye on the whole "movement", because usually there are styles or ministry concepts and ideas that are birthed in environments like these that have a carryover value to the more traditional church structure environment.
I'd love to hear dialogue on the emerging movement, and it's potential impact on the traditional church structure - including the "traditional" corporate worship service...are there other blogs or other forums where these approaches are being discussed and evaluated?
Entering the fray...
Well...here it goes...entering the world of blogging seems on one hand a completely worthless waste of time...i already had a journal...handwritten, then an electronic journal...neither of which I write in much any more...so why would i write more in this format...especially since i will obviously be self-editing much more than i ever did in the other formats...i guess there is something fascinating about the concept of someone else reading what you are thinking, what you did, what is important to you, etc... and actually caring...or not :-)
I guess it is also a place to ask random questions...that in a normal journal would never be answered, but in this format...hey you never know who might have an answer to - why someone doesn't invent a form of Duct Tape that doesn't leave the sticky residue...or maybe an answer to why...well you get the idea...
So here we are jumping into the "fray"...interesting word...
To strain; chafe: repeated noises that fray the nerves.
To wear away (the edges of fabric, for example) by rubbing.
To become worn away or tattered along the edges.
A scuffle; a braw.
A heated dispute or contest.
To alarm; frighten.
To drive away.
n : a noisy fight [syn: affray, disturbance, ruffle] v 1: wear away by rubbing; "The friction frayed the sleeve" [syn: frazzle] 2: cause friction; "my sweater scratches" [syn: rub, fret, chafe, scratch]
Not sure exactly what definition most appropriately fits the world of blogging...but since i am my own writer, editor and publisher in this enviornment, I will draw reference to the ocean - waves that vary in intensity, but, except for brief respites at low tide, never cease....and in the process slowly transforms a boulder into pebbles...draw your own insights...i don't have enough time to share the various implications in my own life...but blogging seems to be a way to capture the process of life's friction...not to avoid it, but to simply record the process and observe the changes over time....
I don't know how this goes as far as a blog is concerned...but i enjoyed writing it...i'll have to read some of yours to gain perspective.
