Tiger's Blood and Boasting

In light of today's topic, I have to be honest.

During the course of my day at work, I can get really tired of dealing with people's problems.

It's not that I don't like taking care of people. It's generally the lack of respect that one (like myself) in the customer service industry usually gets.

And when you are treated like dirt long enough, you can begin to feel like dirt if you're not careful.

That being said, I must be very intentional with who I spend time with when I am not at work. If I don't, I get really grumpy. Kinda like this little guy.

But, sometimes I get surprises!

Pleasant surprises that I can only thank God for.

A couple of weeks ago, I had one such pleasant surprise.

It was in the form of an unforeseen encounter with an acquaintance I hadn't talked with in just under two years.

We traded stories about the last couple years like old friends do, and I left the chat with an extra bounce in my step. At first, I dismissed it as good ol' nostalgia. I didn't think about it twice. Then a week went by, and it was still giving me a moment of Joy in the midst of grieving cell phone people!

What is it about transparency that I am a sucker for?

Let me explain...

When I asked my friend (my pleasant surprise) what her last couple years looked like, she honestly let me have it.

Long story short, things were hard, things were confusing, things were depressing, and then Love entered the building, and although she is still broken, her heart is in the midst of a great awakening.

No pretense, no cover, and absolutely no masquerade.

It brought context to a verse that I have held close to my heart for a long time.

I know a man (Paul is speaking about himself in the third person) who, fourteen years ago, was seized by Christ and swept in ecstasy to the heights of heaven. I really don't know if this took place in the body or out of it; only God knows. I also know that this man was hijacked into paradise—again, whether in or out of the body, I don't know; God knows. There he heard the unspeakable spoken, but was forbidden to tell what he heard. This is the man I want to talk about. But about myself, I'm not saying another word apart from the humiliations.If I had a mind to brag a little, I could probably do it without looking ridiculous, and I'd still be speaking plain truth all the way. But I'll spare you. I don't want anyone imagining me as anything other than the fool you'd encounter if you saw me on the street or heard me talk.

Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

   My grace is enough; it's all you need.

   My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. 2 Corinthians: 2-10 (The Message)

In my NIV Translation of the Bible it puts Paul's words in verse 9 this way:

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 

I've always wondered what Paul was talking about when he said "boast."

Well, I actually suppose he said "καυχάομαι" pronounced kau-hal-mai which is Greek for "to glory in a thing with or without a reason.'

But, what are you saying Paul?

For the longest time I thought Paul had a bit of a Mr. Charlie "I have tiger's blood" Sheen in him when it came to his weakness. Going on every talk show talking to ever single person who would have him, and just being a tad obnoxious. 

I would say to Paul: Seriously Paul? I know you think you're weak but seriously... You're Paul. You are no longer Saul the murderer. You are writing the bible by the direct revelation of God, and laying the evangelistic foundation for generations of believers to come. I am Dan. You want weakness? Look deep into Dan. Go hang out with Charlie Sheen and get out of my face and off my radio about your weakness.

Through my pleasant surprise, God gave me a new definition. One which I feel is far more contextually accurate. I think the kind of boasting Paul is talking about is the kind of transparency that my friend exhibited.

A kind of boasting that goes: I have issues, you have issues, we all have issues, so let's not waste time, get over them, and on to what's important: Grace.

So did this week include an appropriate Youtube video? No.

Would I call my encounter with my friend a "secular experience?" No.

But I threw in an obnoxiously cute puppy, Grace is awesome, and I figured you would understand.

So, what are you waiting for? 

Go forth in confidence that by the blood of Christ you are a beloved child of God, and boast in your weakness!

Just leave the tiger's blood behind. Okay?

~Daniel

An Act of God

When it comes to natural disasters, I think God tends to get a bad rap.

For example, I heard that the Japanese tragedy is...

"An act of God!"

It's really easy to get the idea that God was quite definitely PISSED with those poor Japanese people.

Maybe it is because I missed the whole flannelgraph stories stage in my christian life. Maybe I feel like I missed out a bit, and I'm trying to make up for something, but I often play back biblical accounts much like I would to a child. Maybe it is because I am still very much a child. Who knows, but here is a glimpse inside my mind.

1 Kings 19: 9-18

A long time ago there was a man named Elijah. He was a good man, and he was faithful to God. He tried very hard to tell the people to obey God, but they wouldn't listen. In fact, the people were tired of hearing Elijah talk about God, and they wanted to kill him! Elijah felt very alone, and he was worried. He was afraid for his life! Elijah went to a mountain to talk with God about what to do.

When Elijah got to the mountain, great and mighty winds began to blow. Elijah listened for the voice of God in the wind, but God wasn't in the wind.

Then there was an earthquake! The ground shook, and Elijah trembled. Elijah listened for the voice of God in the earthquake, but God wasn't in the earthquake.

Then Elijah saw a fire! It had flames that reached to the sky. Elijah listened for the voice of God in the fire, but God wasn't in the fire.

Then Elijah heard a whisper. Elijah stood very still. He knew it was the voice of God. Elijah listened very carefully. God told Elijah not to worry and not to be afraid. God promised Elijah that he would take care of him.

The End!

I have found that the Lord very rarely (if ever) acts the way I want, or expect him to. In retrospect, he shows up the way I needed him to.

Although brilliantly powerful, God's ways seem to be the simplest and most natural. He is the Lord of Lords, the king of kings, and a gentleman among gentlemen. Always pursuing the least and never one to force himself upon anyone.

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. 1 Corinthians 1:27 (good ol' King James Version)

But once again, I am getting off track.

My point is, can we begin to call a child's birth, "An act of God?" 

or, possibly a new job, "An act of God?"

or, a new blossom, "An Act of God?"

or, a rainbow, a coffee date with a good friend, or the very breath in your lungs, "An act of God?"

This mission is not much unlike the one I am currently on with YTD, but for your own sake, this week, choose to see the acts of God in your own life.

Let me help you get started...

This one is going out to Uganda (Kelly).

:)

Behold, an act of God.

~Daniel

A Father's Joy

I will never forget this guy.

Some day, I want to be like this guy.

On a trip to Massachusetts two years ago, I drove up to Vermont to hike Camel's Hump. If you have never heard of Camel's Hump, you've probably seen it. It's on the back of every Vermont quarter.

I think that is cool. So rather than go to Ben and Jerry's (Vermont's biggest tourist destination) and since it was not cold enough for maple syruping (a word I just invented which means: to extract maple syrup from a Maple while wearing a scarf). I went for a hike with a friend of mine (after sleeping that night in a tent we perched in the parking lot.)

Camel's Hump is not intense, but it is also no slouch. It is the third highest peak in Vermont, and has a natural prominence of almost 2,000 feet. The hike was a little over six and a half miles and climbed a little under 2,500 feet. It was early fall (notice the New England colors just beginning to come out). It got me a little winded, and I'm in decent shape.

This guy decided just hiking it was not enough, so he brought his daughter. I zoomed in a bit so you can notice that she does have some hiking boots on, but guess how she got up the hard parts?

He carried her.

Ok, so God carries us... Hasn't YTD been here before? Yes.

But, don't get ahead of me.

Why did the father take his daughter up that mountain? I believe it was his joy.

Take another look at the zoomed in picture. This man is content. Follow his arms to his fingers. Look at the little girl's eyes...

"There is Lake Champlain. That very tip right there is back in Canada. We will go there next summer, and I will show you how to fish. I know you don't like fish, but we will have fun never the less. After wards, if we catch nothing or a million, we will get ice cream! Does that sound good?"

*girl sheepishly nods head*

When we hear that God "is Father" it can bring up a lot of misconstrued images. I know a lot of boys who don't know their own fathers. In our culture, masculinity is  broken, fatherhood is forgotten, and the art of being a man has fallen to the wayside for many of our boys. I fear that many will never become men, because they don't know what it looks like to be one on a day by day basis, but I digress.

God enjoys being with you.

Take one last look at the picture.

God is the father, and you are his beloved child.

His arms hold you close, but don't hold you completely still. You can choose to look in any direction you choose, but you are enamored by him and focused on his hands. You can not look away. What is he going to show me next? What is he telling me now? In the midst of this cold, windy, summit I am warm because I am in his arms. I don't want to be anywhere else.

"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'" Romans 8:15

When I first read this word "abba" about seven years ago, I knew I had heard it before. I had a friend growing up who was from Pakistan. In their home they spoke some Arabic, which is rooted in the Aramaic language (the language Jesus and his follower spoke).

My friend (Bilal) addressed his father as "Abba."

If I try, I can still hear his (kinda whiny) voice... AAAAhbba!

I asked him what it meant once.

"Daddy"

It didn't take too long for me to double check, and yes, it meant the exact same thing back then.

Amen.

In your face "some" who think God is a cosmic Nazi kill-joy!

If you have forgotten my feelings for "some" click here.

This week, take five minutes, clear your mind, and let your spirit cry... Abba, Father!

Compassion

Oil prices are still going up? Damn. God how am I going to pay for this...

Too many times...

Too many times, or all too often this is my attitude in prayer. I hate that. Just this week, diesel hit four dollars a gallon, and I threw up a little bit in my mouth.

But, later I turned on the T.V. and that really got me sick. A scene much like the picture above.

If you didn't take a good look, look again. Study the faces, the eyes, and the hands.

If you look close enough, I don't have to explain it. A picture does say a thousand words.

So, before starting YTD I knew it would get hard at times. I never could expect myself to bring eloquent, inspiring words pregnant with meaning to the table every week.

So, this week I labored for beauty,and all I found was his fingerprints, but that is enough.

I turned the T.V. off.

D: God... It hurts.

G: I know.

D: Ok.

And that was it. God knows.

And that is enough, and that is the subject today.

Another way to say "God knows" is compassion.

In Latin, compassion literally breaks down into two words co "with" and passiō  "suffering."

Another way to say compassion is "to suffer with."

God knows pain, because he's been there, and he is in the midst of yours too.


Consider how Isaiah describes what the Christ will look like (500 years before the birth of Jesus).

He was despised and rejected - a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Isaiah 53:3 (NLT)

Self explanatory. If you don't feel that on your "heartstrings" read it again.

If you still don't, check your pulse.

How should we respond? 

Here comes the Youtube! 

Just kidding... 

Here comes the words of Paul as inspired by God.

For we do not have a high priest (Jesus) who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16

So we respond to our ailments, sins, weaknesses, shortcomings, greed, and the like by approaching with confidence IN THE MOMENT.

Not waiting until we get better. 

Because, as we know... If you tarry till your better, you may never come at all.

So, this week approach Love with confidence in spite of all that you spite.

With confidence that God is El Shaddai (Almighty)

With confidence that God is Adonai (Master)

With confidence that God is Jehovah Rapha (The Lord my Healer)

With confidence that God is Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord who make you Holy)

With confidence that God is Jehovah Jireh (The Lord who provides)

With confidence that God is Jehovah Shalom (The Lord is Peace)

With confidence that God is Qanna (Jealous for you)

We can approach with confidence, because this is who God said "I am." - Exodus 3:14

A big part of life, and finding out who we are, is why we must approach with confidence. I know I must, because if I don't see God then I turn into a bumbling depressed mess who hates life. I know, because I've been that person more times then I would like to admit.

If you haven't found a good "why" yet, be careful what you pray for. You'll get it, but if we learn anything from the saints that have gone before us, God may take you to the edge of hell to bring you just one step closer into his presence.

O, but how it is worth it!

For the love of God, please approach him with confidence today!