Monday, 3/9/2015

“I don't care what you think unless it is about me.” Curt Cobain 

DEUTERONOMY 8-10

God addresses the Israelites so that they will understand that it is God's grace and not their deeds that is the reason for their possession of the promised land.

6Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.

MARK 12:28-44

28One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^e 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’^f 31The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^g There is no commandment greater than these.”

41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

JOURNAL

Narcissism is the pursuit of gratification from vanity or egotistic admiration of one's own attributes. The term originated from the Greek mythology, where the young Narcissus fell in love with his own image reflected in a pool of water.

In both God's love of the Israelites and in all of Jesus' messages...it all seems to address this overarching issue of our own narcissism.  How we tend to place our own importance over any and all others.  One of the ways narcissism plays out is in using others for our own benefit...seeing them as an extension of ourselves. Then when they fail to meet our needs or fail to measure up to our expectations...narcissistic rage follows.

This is the culture we now live in...

Studies of narcissism have looked at the prevalence of the trait from both developmental and generational perspectives. A 2008 study of a nationally representative sample of US citizens used interviews to assess lifetime prevalence of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), the most serious form of individual narcissism. The researchers found that Americans in their 20s were three times as likely as people over age 60 to have experienced NPD in their lifetimes. Another approach compares real-time self-reports of narcissism among similar-aged people, such as college students, across several decades. This keeps the results from being skewed by age or distorted memory. These studies also show increasing narcissism. Traits related to narcissism have also increased. For example, younger generations are more likely to:

• rate themselves as above average on leadership and drive to achieve;

• score lower on measures of empathy;

• embrace life goals centering on money, fame, and image;

• set unrealistically high goals; and

• report higher levels of self-esteem.

The tendency to focus on the self, and to “show off,” is in many ways becoming a social norm. (Psychological Science, "Narcissism Unleashed")

What is the answer to fighting this trend.  I think we can always look to scripture...In loving God above myself and in loving my neighbor as myself, puts the focus outside of me.  This is completely counter-cultural, yet it is biblical and the complete authority on who we are and who God created us to be.  

6Who, being in very nature^a God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature^b of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8)

Sunday, 3/8/2015

“I think He made one law of that kind in order that there might be obedience. In all these other matters what you call obeying Him is but doing what seems good in your own eyes also. Is love content with that?” 

~ C.S. Lewis 

DEUTERONOMY 5-7

Moses reviews the commandments and gives warnings and instructions to the objective and mission of the Israelites.

4Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^a 5Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

MARK 12:1-27 

13Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax^b to Caesar or not? 15Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.”16They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

17Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him. 

JOURNAL

Again Jesus is quick to separate the worldly and the spiritual.  The Pharisees speak truth when they affirm all that Jesus represents...he is not swayed by people and their position, he always speaks truth.  His response is also true in calling them out for their motives.  Jesus does not mix words.  In this statement Jesus is also making it clear that his intention is not to overturn the political environment.  His objective is not to create a worldly kingdom.  Which is why he says...give back to Caesar what is his.  

I often am compelled to think too often in terms of what is right and wrong in this world.  My objective often easily shifts to righting wrongs and longing to make the world...my version of Heaven.  At it's core, I am not trusting God but desiring to force things into becoming what I want.  If I think back to Jesus and all the power he possessed.  He could have changed the world.  He could have called down angels, took power, righted all wrongs, eliminated illness and firmly and without question established his kingdom on earth.  Yet he didn't!  That speaks directly to my own trite desires and wishes and truly how flawed they are...

If I go back to God's commandment of the Israelites...to love God with everything and all that I am.  It does not say to first make sure everyone else is obeying God and loving him.  The beauty of God's commands is that it always starts first with our own hearts...then it extends only to others out of a desire to see them accept God's love...not out of a desire to benefit from God's changing their heart.

1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

 (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

Saturday, 3/7/2015

“Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien

DEUTERONOMY 3,4

Moses continues to review the history of their travels and triumphs in the desert and then he makes a plea...

 23At that time I pleaded with the Lord: 24“Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do? 25Let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan—that fine hill country and Lebanon.”
26But because of you the Lord was angry with me and would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the Lord said. “Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. 27Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan. 28But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.” 29So we stayed in the valley near Beth Peor. 

MARK 11:20-33 

 22“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23“Truly^f I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” [26]^g 

JOURNAL

 Here we have two seemingly contradictory texts.  Moses desperately wants to go into the promised land and is refused.  Jesus then tells his disciples that if you ask and believe, then you will receive...I have no firm answer as to what Jesus is talking about here or why he would give a response that in many ways seems absurd.  

However...Moses knows that he has not been pure in his motives and or his faith.  He is double-minded and it has been the cause of all of his failures.  The more I try to dissect Jesus' statement then I realize what he is actually saying.  Jesus himself knows that God will not be manipulated into doing something outside of his ultimate plan and will.  Therefore my only conclusion is that the first part of this statement is the key to it all, "Have faith in God".  A man's motives and requests will be influenced and determined by his core desire.  If a man's core desire is Faith in God, he will only desire the unfolding of God's plan.  Therefore if he asked for a mountain to be thrown into the sea, and believed it would be done...then it would happen because it would have been God's intention all along.  

Jesus will ultimately come to the crossroads of desire and ask God to remove the fate of the cross.  In perfect faith and humble obedience he accepts and trusts God's reply.  Jesus closes his response by also going straight to the core of my inner demons.  Holding grudges and harboring hate over wrongs takes me out of the pure fellowship of God and his love for me.  So often it is the core of my sin...to forgive and let go frees me to trust and accept God's love and his plan...without revenge or selfishness.

As with all Jesus' parables and lessons, they all go back to relationship, trust and understanding the heart of God.

14For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^f And by him we cry, “Abba,^gFather.” 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:14-17)

Friday, 3/6/2015

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

DEUTERONOMY 1, 2

These two chapters chronicle the journey and God's command over the past 40 years.  The Israelites are given a summary of all that has happened and why.

3In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the Lord had commanded him concerning them. 4This was after he had defeated Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, and at Edrei had defeated Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.

MARK 11:1-19

Jesus has the disciples go and get a donkey for him to ride into Jerusalem.  He is greeted as a king and celebrity as people chant... 

“Hosanna!^a ”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”^b

10“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

It is here that Jesus makes a stand and the final straw is broken...

15On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’^c ? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’^d ”

JOURNAL

Jesus knows that this is not going to end well.  He actively walks into a hornet's nest and begins stirring up trouble.  He knows the implications yet as he is stirring the nest he is still teaching.  Jesus is a Man and yet he is far greater of a Man than I have ever known.  He never shrinks back unless it is in obedience, he constantly engages and yet his only agenda is love and obedience, yet he does it with a Power, Love and Discipline that I crave to know and possess.  

And I get to experience this, I get to know this power.  I get free access to the greatest power and love...the one that created the universe...the one that set human beings in motion.  The one that keeps the world moving...from the tiniest detail to the most awesome fireworks of creation.  I get to sit at the throne of this power and have the experience of this spirit alive within me.  

The gift is beyond comprehension...why would God freely give us such love?  Because that was his intention all along and "love never fails".  

14Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”^c Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. (Philippians 2:14-16)

Thursday, 3/5/2015

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” ~ Elbert Hubbard

NUMBERS 34-36

God gives Moses the specific boundaries for the promised land.  He designates certain towns and cities as refuge cities.

13These are the commands and regulations the Lord gave through Moses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.

MARK 10:32-52

James and John ask if they can sit at Jesus' right and left in glory.  They in essence are trying to jockey for validation.

41When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.43Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

JOURNAL

Over and over Jesus communicates that following him has nothing to do with position or status.  Following him has everything to do with loving others.  I read again 1 Corinthians 13...here is my assessment of my track record in loving others.

1. Patient: Fail, people never change and they get on my nerves.
2. Kind: Fail, I need time for me and being kind is too much work sometimes.
3. Without Envy: Fail, why do others get more than I do?
4. Without arrogance: Fail, I am not near as wicked as most.
5. Without rudeness: Fail, some people just don't deserve my politeness
6. No record of wrongs: Fail, my life would be so much better if not for others failures
7. No delight in evil: Fail, they got what they deserved
8. Rejoices in truth: Fail, who really wants or can handle the truth all the time???
9. Always protects: Fail, tired of taking up for others...let them fight their own battles.
10. Always hopes: Fail, people suck, things never seem to work out like I want.
11. Always perseveres: Fail, what is the point?
12. Never Fails: FAIL, FAIL, FAIL

I realize that I have no basis to ever judge, criticize or be consumed with anyone else's failures.  I have a great gapping log sticking out of both eyes.  And yet God loves me.  

This is the true tension of the Gospel and this is Jesus' constant message...we are broken and messed up and have failed to even keep one law and yet we walk around with arrogance pointing out how others have failed.  I promise that if I was God, I would have tossed my sorry excuse for a human being into the raging fires of Hell, a loong time ago.

Yet, this is the confounding beauty of the Gospel!! God doesn't..instead he suffers and dies and all he asks me to do is to love others the way he loves me.

12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:12)