Tag: Kingdom of God
Practicing Our Faith
by Dale on Jul.06, 2010, under Discipleship, Motivation, THE VISION
Time for a mid-year review. I hope you are enjoying the warmth of summer, but did you notice that the end of June marked the midpoint of 2010! We’re more than half-way to Christmas again!
THE BIG QUESTION: Are you halfway to your goal(s)? Are you accomplishing your spiritual growth ambitions? Did you set any for yourself this year? It’s not too late; if you haven’t done so already, you can get started today!
Allow me to suggest a few things (3) for you to look at, so that you might be able to end the year looking back at the milestones you’ve set out rather than still looking forward at what you’ve not yet accomplished.
1. Look at the pathway before you and behind you. How much potential do you see and how far have you come thus far? If your ratio of accomplishment over the past few months is say, three out of ten items on your checklist, you may need to first assess whether or not you can reasonably accomplish the remaining seven goals before the Thanksgiving/Christmas season arrives. Also, ask yourself, how many people are on this path with you that may be able to assist or encourage you? It may be more realistic to simply choose three of the remaining goals than to fall short; on the other hand, you may find this is the time of year when you can catch up.
2. Look at your spiritual ethic. How you use your time is the best indicator of your spiritual ethic. How do you use the early morning, do you get a mid-day respite? After supper, before going to bed each night…taking time is a matter of priority. The biggest factor in increasing your spiritual maturity is obedience to Jesus’ command to go and teach others. Who are your disciples?
3. Build relationships. Summertime is as good a time as any to invest in building spiritually grounded relationships. The key is to pour your self into someone else’s life in such a way that they gain the primary benefit from the relationship. Little growth is accomplished through constant expressions of neediness or disappointment.
Okay, it’s hot outside and you may feel it’s the right time to be a bit lazy. It’s also easy to complain that things are slow, or difficult, or confusing, but let me suggest that it might be better if we all looked at the beginning of July as a half-way point to significant spiritual growth. The season for growth, just as the day of salvation, is today…and tomorrow too. So, review the past six months. If you’re looking to have a great second half for 2010, now is the time to give some attention to reallocating your time, your relationships and your resources for the Kingdom of God.
Skipping Good Friday
by Dale on Apr.02, 2010, under Discipleship, Gospel
I drove past a cross today draped in purple. I thought for Good Friday it should be draped in black….after the exciting Good Friday Easter Egg Hunt, , etc. I draped the cross in our church’s sanctuary with the white cloth for Easter morning worship…it just seems a bit premature.
My wife and I planned a trip to the Clay County Fair tomorrow during our drive home…maybe I’m morbid, but it just doesn’t seem right to try and contemplate the meaning of Christ’s death while skipping the whole death part by engaging in so many fun activities.
In a recent Bible study we talked about some of the reasons why Jesus was put to death. Why the praises of Palm Sunday so quickly changed to the jeers and death-chants of crucifixion Friday. Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem on the confusing colt of a donkey—it was similar to a king’s entry, but not quite the same statement a strong stallion would have made…but the people were desperate—still it seemed a strange entrance, it certainly didn’t meet the people’s expectations for a king.
Perhaps, if they encouraged him, a parade with plenty of Hosannahs; the ‘royal treatment’…. But then He didn’t conquer their oppressors, or rescued them from the stench of their poverty. He didn’t even bother to challenge Roman rule…and everybody’s remembering that dang-donkey-for-a-horse snafu…. What a let down. Despite the people’s praises and clearly demonstrated expectations, there was disappointment. Even the disciples were struggling to understand what was happening. Everyone was expecting a conquering earthly king, and Jesus takes up a basin and a towel to wash his disciples’ feet.
The people wanted Jesus to fix their circumstances and give them change they could believe in—He wanted them to transcend their circumstances and become the answers to their own prayers. They wanted him to vanquish the empire—He wanted them to transform the world. Everything that matters most to the people looses it’s significance in a kingdom of God paradigm like Jesus was proclaiming. No one wanted transcendence or transformation, much less discipleship or gospel. So, in terms of the old remaining paradigm, Jesus was just another loser or worse, a poser.
This weekend, keep in mind that Christ conquered through personal condemnation. Christ established his divine rule by becoming the suffering servant. He was made most glorious through a shameful death and we are called by grace to be faithful imitators of this Jesus. I contend that we can’t afford to skip these days of darkness, from Palm Sunday, (especially Maundy Thursday) to Resurrection Sunday, without losing an essential part of what it means to be a Christian.
