Then Jesus told him, "You believe because you see me. Those who believe without seeing me will be truly blessed." – John 20:29 (NCV)
What do you believe? What is it like to believe in a God you cannot see? Do you wish you could see some proof? What proof would be good enough? How would that change your belief?
This comes from the book, “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom
On this day, Morrie says that he has an exercise for us to try. We are to stand, facing away from our classmates, and fall backward, relying on another student to catch us. Most of us are uncomfortable with this, and we cannot let go for more than a few inches before stopping ourselves. We laugh in embarrassment.
Finally, one student, a thin, quiet, dark-haired girl whom I notice almost always wears bulky, white fisherman sweaters, crosses her arms over her chest, closes her eyes, leans back, and does not flinch, like one of those Lipton tea commercials where the model splashes into the pool..
For a moment, I am sure she is going to thump on the floor. At the last instant, her assigned partner grabs her head and shoulders and yanks her up harshly.
“Whoa!” several students yell. Some clap. Morrie finally smiles. “You see”, he says to the girl, “you closed your eyes, that was the difference. Sometimes you cannot believe what you see, you have to believe what you feel. And if you are ever going to have other people trust you, you must feel that you can trust them too – even when you’re in the dark. Even when you’re falling”.
Belief and trust go hand in hand. Abraham took God on a promise, and trusted that promise even when all evidence pointed to the contrary. It is true that sometimes faith seems utterly ridiculous, especially when we are looking for something to give us some certainty in the face of uncertain times. Yet all we have is a promise. When life feels like we are falling it is still best to close our eyes and trust in the Promise Maker. Should we do such audacious and ludicrous thing, somehow we will be truly blessed.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Eyes On The Prize
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. – Romans 8:5 (NRSV)
What does it mean to set your mind on things of the Spirit? What about setting your mind on things of the flesh? Does it have anything to do with doing good? Does it have anything to do with living well?
The following story was e-mailed to me:
An ancient Indian sage was teaching his disciples the art of archery. He put a wooden bird as the target and asked them to aim at the eye of the bird. The first disciple was asked to describe what he saw. He said, “I see the trees, the branches, the leaves, the sky, the bird and its eye.”
The sage asked this disciple to wait. Then he asked the second disciple the same question and he replied, “I only see the eye of the bird.” The sage said, “Very good, then shoot.” The arrow went straight and hit the eye of the bird.
Unless we focus, we cannot achieve our goal. It is hard to focus and concentrate, but it is a skill that can be learned.
Our goal is to focus on God so we can live according to the Spirit! In life there is so much that goes on that demands our attention, and often God is rarely focused on. So how do we do it? Some say the best way is to give thanks for every little thing that we can think of. That’s probably a good way to start. As we give thanks our attention is always turned again to God. “God thanks for this running water I use to brush my teeth.” “God thank you that I can taste the sweetness of that fruit.” “God thank you for…” There are millions of reasons to give thanks each day. When we do we begin to look at God, until one day, God is all we see.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What does it mean to set your mind on things of the Spirit? What about setting your mind on things of the flesh? Does it have anything to do with doing good? Does it have anything to do with living well?
The following story was e-mailed to me:
An ancient Indian sage was teaching his disciples the art of archery. He put a wooden bird as the target and asked them to aim at the eye of the bird. The first disciple was asked to describe what he saw. He said, “I see the trees, the branches, the leaves, the sky, the bird and its eye.”
The sage asked this disciple to wait. Then he asked the second disciple the same question and he replied, “I only see the eye of the bird.” The sage said, “Very good, then shoot.” The arrow went straight and hit the eye of the bird.
Unless we focus, we cannot achieve our goal. It is hard to focus and concentrate, but it is a skill that can be learned.
Our goal is to focus on God so we can live according to the Spirit! In life there is so much that goes on that demands our attention, and often God is rarely focused on. So how do we do it? Some say the best way is to give thanks for every little thing that we can think of. That’s probably a good way to start. As we give thanks our attention is always turned again to God. “God thanks for this running water I use to brush my teeth.” “God thank you that I can taste the sweetness of that fruit.” “God thank you for…” There are millions of reasons to give thanks each day. When we do we begin to look at God, until one day, God is all we see.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Words Aptly Spoken
A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. – Proverbs 25:11 (NIV)
What are good words you have told someone else? Who has cheered you up with an encouraging word? While I am not sure what an apple of gold in a setting of silver is, I know it is precious; what about a kind word is precious?
There is a story about George Washington when he took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge. Upon his arrival he looked over a group of soldiers that looked to have no hope at all to most who would have seen them.
Some had uniforms and some did not. Some had guns and others only had sticks or not even that.
Apparently the regiment from Connecticut looked particularly bad. They were just a few poorly armed and poorly dressed men who did not even stand at attention.
Most of that regiment’s soldiers appeared to be discouraged. Many were hungry and had gone without a meal for days. They were a sorry lot.
As the regiment was drawn up for Washington to look at them, the general stood erect and, looking at them as if they were the finest regiment in the world, he said, “Gentlemen, I have great confidence in the men of Connecticut.”
One of the soldiers wrote home to his family and said, “When I heard Washington say that, I clasped my musket to my breast and said to myself, ‘Let them come on.’”
When Jesus was following Jairus to heal the latter’s little daughter word arrived that the little girl had died. “Don’t trouble the master any further,” someone told Jairus. Then Jesus grabbed the stricken father’s shoulders and looked him in the eyes, “Have no fear, only believe!” What hope, what joy! There are plenty who need to hear good words, and let us thank God that we can share them.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What are good words you have told someone else? Who has cheered you up with an encouraging word? While I am not sure what an apple of gold in a setting of silver is, I know it is precious; what about a kind word is precious?
There is a story about George Washington when he took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge. Upon his arrival he looked over a group of soldiers that looked to have no hope at all to most who would have seen them.
Some had uniforms and some did not. Some had guns and others only had sticks or not even that.
Apparently the regiment from Connecticut looked particularly bad. They were just a few poorly armed and poorly dressed men who did not even stand at attention.
Most of that regiment’s soldiers appeared to be discouraged. Many were hungry and had gone without a meal for days. They were a sorry lot.
As the regiment was drawn up for Washington to look at them, the general stood erect and, looking at them as if they were the finest regiment in the world, he said, “Gentlemen, I have great confidence in the men of Connecticut.”
One of the soldiers wrote home to his family and said, “When I heard Washington say that, I clasped my musket to my breast and said to myself, ‘Let them come on.’”
When Jesus was following Jairus to heal the latter’s little daughter word arrived that the little girl had died. “Don’t trouble the master any further,” someone told Jairus. Then Jesus grabbed the stricken father’s shoulders and looked him in the eyes, “Have no fear, only believe!” What hope, what joy! There are plenty who need to hear good words, and let us thank God that we can share them.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
A Blessed Life
Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet. I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do. I'm only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.” – John 13:12-17 (The Message)
What does this say about Jesus? Have you washed anyone’s feet? What are other ways of serving others? Is Jesus concerned with the people around us? If so what does that say about how we are living?
I once heard a story about an astronomer who lived in an ancient time. He used to go out at night and observe the stars. One evening, as he wandered through the suburbs with his whole attention fixed on the sky, he accidently fell into a deep well. He whined and cried about his sores and bruises while yelling out for help. A neighbor ran to the well, and upon learning what had happened said, “Hey fellow, why in striving to pry into what is in heaven, do not you manage to see what is on earth?”
Jesus never lost sight of what was on earth! What a shame it is that we so often do. Often time it is good to remember the way Jesus lived. When he said, “I am the way and the truth and the life,” perhaps he didn’t mean it in a way we could stare into the heavens and wait for a life after death. Maybe he actually meant that the way he walked, the truth he spoke, and they life he lived were for us too, here on earth where our feet walk. “What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious.” “If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it – and live a blessed life.” A blessed life, that sounds good.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What does this say about Jesus? Have you washed anyone’s feet? What are other ways of serving others? Is Jesus concerned with the people around us? If so what does that say about how we are living?
I once heard a story about an astronomer who lived in an ancient time. He used to go out at night and observe the stars. One evening, as he wandered through the suburbs with his whole attention fixed on the sky, he accidently fell into a deep well. He whined and cried about his sores and bruises while yelling out for help. A neighbor ran to the well, and upon learning what had happened said, “Hey fellow, why in striving to pry into what is in heaven, do not you manage to see what is on earth?”
Jesus never lost sight of what was on earth! What a shame it is that we so often do. Often time it is good to remember the way Jesus lived. When he said, “I am the way and the truth and the life,” perhaps he didn’t mean it in a way we could stare into the heavens and wait for a life after death. Maybe he actually meant that the way he walked, the truth he spoke, and they life he lived were for us too, here on earth where our feet walk. “What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious.” “If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it – and live a blessed life.” A blessed life, that sounds good.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)