The Shield of St. Patrick

From the patron saint of engineers:

I bind unto myself today the strong name of the trinity,
by invocation of the same, the Three in One, the One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever by power of faith Christ's incarnation,
His baptism in the Jordan river, his death on the cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spiced tomb, his riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, his might to stay, his ear to harken to my need,
The wisdom of my God to teach, his hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The Word of God to give me speech, his heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me;
Christ to comfort and restore me;
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name, the strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three,
Of whom all nature hath creation, eternal Father, Spirit, Word;
Praise to the God of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord!

Red Flags on Gray Canvas

Let me paint this picture for you:

• "God thinks Christian contemporary music is wrong."
• "The KJV is the only inspired version of God."
• "There's no way God could be in that."

What's wrong with these statements?

I call these red flags because every time someone says something along these lines (where they state a position of God on something) they are actually saying that God has given them a divine revelation. Apart from scripture.

I.e., with some exceptions, try to prove these statements or another dogmatic statement using the Bible.

Ever realize how much gray area we live in as Christians? We create pharisaical rules and then assign God's name to them so we can live in a black and white world. Black and white is easy. I'm convinced this is why Islam is growing so fast. Example: if you're a woman wondering what you can wear to be modest, then it doesn't get any easier than a rule from the Qur'an saying you need to wear a hijaab that covers your body from head to toe. Sure, the rule may be overkill in cases, but you can hang your hat on it, right?

Isn't this true for us as Christians in many cases? Take my own background: independent, fundamental Baptist (in the deep South, no less). There are spoken and unspoken rules regarding dress, music, piercings, tattoos, Bible translations, mission boards, universities, etc, etc, etc.

Why? Think about Old Testament times under the law. We blame the rabbis and pharisees of old for creating all of these rules, but when you study the reasoning, it is quite noble (in its original inception). They were trying to create what was called a "fence around the Torah." In other words, God gave a commandment with dire consequences if you broke it. Men added to that hoping that if they set stricter rules people would be less likely to break God's laws. The problem is obvious....those rules became "gospel" and the criteria by which your spiritual success was measured.

Sound familiar?

Now think about what those rules do to a "pre-believer"? They already don't measure up. "Jesus, what a friend for sinners", indeed! Wonder why many don't want to ever step foot in a church. (Never mind that Christ ALWAYS went to where they were on their own ground (and not by asking if they were sure they were going to Heaven), but that's another post!)

Under Christ's sacrifice, under Grace, the parameters have changed, right? Rather than changing behavior from the outside in (following a bunch of rules), Christ gives a new heart...His heart, and the Holy Spirit to boot. Sure we have that sinful nature to contend with, but we now have a Holy Spirit that can tell us between right and wrong. And as Paul says, what may not be appropriate for someone to do may be appropriate for someone else. Hmmm, dangerously close to moral relativism, huh? Sounds like gray area to me.

Maybe what we do when we create our set of rules and criteria is teach those who follow them, including ourselves how NOT to listen, how NOT to develop a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Ever wonder why children who grow up under these conditions go off the deep end (maybe leave the church altogether and not return to another form of it until later in life if at all)? I have a feeling it has something to do with this...these people have been told this is what God wants but they never get to "hear" it from God....ergo, "God must not be trying to talk to me. This is just my parent's values."

Not to say that there is not right and wrong, and God hasn't stated His position on many things. Good night, we have a pretty length book giving quite a bit of "advice", right? There are many rules (especially that parents create for their children) that are meant for protection (similar to the fence around the Torah). But rather than focus on a rule, why not focus on listening to God's "still small voice"? Rationally think through these questions with me: Does He want us to do right? Yes. Does He want us to be made more into the image of His son? Does He want to develop a closer relationship with us? Of course. Now ask yourself: would He do this with a bunch of rules and regulations, or would He want to develop our "spiritual ear" so we can sense His heart? "Pray without ceasing" wasn't advice to ask God what we want every second of the day. It is learning to have a two way conversation with Him. Which way would you want to live? I'm 32 and so weary of the rules. What I really want to know what is He REALLY thinks. And that won't come from man-made rules.

So be really careful when you or someone says "God (says, thinks, insert your favorite verb here)..." Speaking for God on something He hasn't really said seems to be a very dangerous place to be in.

Climb In

Mark 13:15
"....anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."

This fatherhood thing provides me more and more depth into my spiritual journey every day. This morning my nearly 2 year old son taught me about child-like faith.

I really enjoy hiking. This past spring, I decided it was time to take Ethan with me, so I bought one of those child carriers / backpacks from REI. I love it! There's nothing like traipsing through the middle of the woods with my son.

This morning, I asked him if he wanted to go hike. He repeated "hike" back to me, and for reinforcement, he then said "outside." So off we went. There's some good nature trails about 15 minutes away. When we got there, I put his pack out and asked him if he was ready to go. He immediately started to try to climb in; he knew I was going and he wanted to be along for the ride.

One thing about walking through the woods, it gives you plenty of time to think. I start imagining this scene (again with a 2 year old who doesn't quite speak sentences yet):

Me: Ready to go, Ethan?
Ethan: (With a puzzled look on his face) Where to?
Me: Hiking at the park.
Ethan: Um, how are we going to get there?
Me: Car, of course.
Ethan: Do you have money for gas?
Me: Yes.
Ethan: Have you checked the tires recently?
Me: Uh, sure.
Ethan: I don't know, Daddy, I'm not sure if I'm ready to go hiking.
Me: But all you have to do is go along for the ride, son. I'm doing all the work.
Ethan: But what if you ask me to do something to help you that I can't do?
Me: I'm never going to do that, son.
Ethan: Well, ok. But how long are we going to be gone for? Do I need to bring........

Get the picture?

I have an omnipotent, omniscient Father.

Maybe I just need to climb in.

The Crises of Holiness

1 Peter 1:15-17
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

When I think "holiness," I immediately think of those who follow that "movement", or denomination, or whatever it is. You can always tell by the women. They look really homely (no offense); they don't wear make-up; they always have long hair that's braided up in the front. Oh yea, from what I can remember their husbands look somewhat normal. Then I think of an upstanding church-goer decked out in his/her Sunday best, knowing all the words to all the hymns, first to respond with the Bible verse when the Pastor prompts.

My mind then turns to the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place. Then seraphs in Isaiah 6 crying "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty."

I have heard preachers say that only those who don't know much about God recite the mantra "God is Love" over and over. That God's primary attribute is holiness. I suppose that could be so.

Like that coal that the seraph puts on Isaiah's lips in his dream that purifies him from his uncleaness, I know that Christ has put His sacrifice on my sin so that I may be called a son of God. That the curtain separating the Most Holy Place is torn down only so my heart could now be the new Holiest of Holies.

But I confess not to have a clue what holy is. So when Peter recites this verse from Leviticus 19, I don't know where to start. Is being holy being sinless? I don't think so; why would God even bother telling sinful humanity that except to point to the need for a Savior? Is it listening only to music that doesn't have a beat? Is reading the KJV only, which I admit that old English has a certain "sound of holiness" to it? Is it not drinking wine? Is it going to every church service? Is it not doing a bunch of stuff?

I don't know.

I hope it's just doing my best to look, sound, act like Christ. Practicing that fruit of the Holy Spirit thing (there it is again, "Holy" Spirit).

All I know is I don't feel "holy."

Vacation 2008

I had the joy of going on vacation with my family a few weeks ago. We normally try to find a beach location...I love the beach! I can sit and soak in the sun while listening to my ipod for hours on end, interrupted only by cool dips in the ocean.

That was, of course, until we had a kid.

Last year, admittedly, wasn't as much fun. My son was about 9 months old at the time, didn't like the water or the sand, and slept alot. My wife said it wasn't really a vacation...it was a week-long relocation. I think I got more rest than her.

This year was completely different. Ethan woke us up at 7:30 am every morning. He wanted to come in about 10:30 for a nap, up for lunch, back at 6 for dinner, then to bed at 9. Kind of busy, huh?

Know something? I don't think I ever had so much fun on a vacation. The first day we were there, he was terrified of the water unless I was holding him. The longer we were in it, the more comfortable he got. He loved being thrown up in the air over and over and over again. We built sand castles together. We flew a kite together. Just a great time.

This trip reminded me of a few things. First, it reminded me of Luke 11:11-13:

If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

I think about my relationship with my son...if he asks me for something (granted, right now he asks for food, water, books, puppy and that's about it), I want to meet his need. Not only just meet it but provide the best I can for him. I started contrasting that with my own relationship with my Heavenly Father, Abba...Daddy...how I sometimes and probably many times expect Him to either not answer my prayer or possibly even pass along some chastisement that I undoubtedly deserve. I fear His hand.

Then I thought: "How would I feel if Ethan had this fear, this expectation of something bad or of nothing at all?" The answer resounds within me: I would be heartbroken. What I want more than anything is that Ethan realizes I love him and want what's best for him. Why then can I not know with every fiber of my being that God most likely feels exactly the same way with me?

The second thing I'm reminded of is an awesome quote from Chesterton:

A child kicks its legs rhythmically through excess, not absence, of life. Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough... It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again," to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again," to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike: it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.

How old am I? Yes, 32, but really? Personalizing that above, I have "sinned and grown old." I've been a believer now since age 8. 24 years. I'm just thinking how we underestimate the consequence of this fallen condition I'm in, how much joy I'm missing by this sin that is ever before me. Thank Christ for Grace! Thank Him that one day I will be able to fully know what it means. Spending the time with my son made me realize that I can exult in the fact that God's mercies are renewed every morning. That He is faithful and just to forgive my sins. That He never tires of me coming to Him, begging "do it again, Daddy."

Start

So today is the day I finally started a blog. I've thought about it for awhile. I had something of a blog when I created a website for our Sunday school class, but it didn't go over so well. In that no one used it.

Except for me.

That was about a year ago, and I realized that I miss it quite a bit. No, not the lack of postings. I miss the chance to write some thoughts down. That website had a specific function; this one does not. I intend to write things here that follow no one topic.

My expectation is that no one will read this, and that's ok. This is for me.