"The most disconcerting part of it all is not that changes are happening—that is inevitable. It is that we stand oblivious to the magician’s sleight-of-hand as a trick is played on our mind. And so we repeatedly seek to use our new methods only to be used by them."
Check the link, and the title link.
I would also suggest reading the chapter in Tony Campolo's Following Jesus without Embarrassing God "how to protect yourself from technology without becoming Amish," he has a great spin on the "tv is from the deeevil"
mentality.
It is not that using technology is wrong, immoral, sinful, inherently un-spiritual, etc. Rather, it is that often times we employ technology into our lives without regard for the effects of that technology; technology "uses" us.
Do we find ourselves interrupting guests in our home to answer the telephone? Interrupting conversations to enter notes in our PDA? Does the lack of sophisticated technology, or muscial instruments, impede our ability to worship? What is the purpose behind the TV on the altar in our living room, or the computer in our bedroom, the cell phone on our hip, the daily newspaper that we read, the car that we own, the microwave, the dishwasher, etc. Are these things actually fulfilling the purpose for which we brought them into our lives? If so, wonderful, if not...
"if your eye causes you to sin..."
5.30.2006
5.26.2006
Rent
I watched this movie last night called Rent, it is a modern day version of the opera called La Boehm. God broke my heart with this movie. It’s about these people, there is Rodger who is this young guy who loves to play guitar, his roommate Mark, who is making a documentary of the goings on in New York. A girl named Mimi, who is a 19 year old stripper who is heavy into drugs, she lives in the apartment downstairs from Mark and Rodger. Then there is Maureen who used to be Mark’s girlfriend, but she left Mark for a lawyer named Joanne. Then there is a guy named Tom , who gets beat up right off the bat, and also has AIDS, then there is a guy named Angel, who is a gay cross-dresser, that has AIDS and he meets Tom and they hang out a lot and go to AIDS support groups, and end up becoming more than just friends. All these people are all trying to scrape up money to pay this huge rent bill that they have and they are also trying to protest this building that is going to go up in their neighborhood. Pretty much they are just trying to make it in life and they are doing it apart from God. This movie was just so sad to me. The girl Mimi, is a stripper at 19 and she is doing all sorts of drugs and she is on them and off them again depending on whether or not she has a boyfriend. There is one scene where she is going through hard withdrawals and she is violently shaking and sweating all at the same time. There is a part where she is trying to fight herself from taking more drugs and she has the needle there right in her hand waiting and she is shaking. Then there is this sequence of the movie where they play a song and time passes and you get to see things happen, and there is part where they would show clips of the AIDS support groups and each time they showed a new clip one person would fade away, symbolizing that this horrible virus claimed another victim. I cried my eyes out for the whole last half hour to 45 minutes of the movie. Then it goes to this scene of the male gay couple, Angel and Tim, and they are on a subway train and Tim is holding tight to Angel who is shaking with a fever that he couldn't fight off because of how AIDS weakens your immune system. Then it shows Angel in the hospital sick with an oxygen mask and smiling with all his friends around him having a good time. Then it shows him in the arms of his lover and at this point he is dead, and Tim is rocking him back and forth in his arms in the hospital bed. I wept over this sight. I couldn't hold back the sobs. I was so shocked at how horrible life can be when left to fend for ourselves. The movie only got worse it seemed and I could not stop crying. I wept for quite a while after the film had ended. Then after I had stopped crying my roommates came home and said they had heard me crying about the movie and I started crying again.
What do I do about this? What part can I play? I will pray, but that isn't enough. I want to be right there with people like Tim and Angel, I want to rock that dead gay man. That is were Jesus would be. I want to rock him before he is dead and pray over him as he dies in my arms. I want to hold that hurting young girl who is shaking so violently and sweating so bad because her body is trying come down from a high. I want to befriend the gay men and women I want to love them and be there for them when life craps in their faces. I want to go to AIDS support groups to really offer support. I was so stirred by this movie last night. I was angry, it was this righteous anger at the people that the enemy gets a hold of. I don't want to see another gay person die alone from AIDS. I want to be there to hold their hand. And the thing was this gay man had more joy that all the rest of the people, where did he get it? He didn't know Jesus. I want to do something about this. What does God have for me in all of this? I want to be sent out into the AIDS community and into the gay community which in some cases go hand in hand. I want to educate myself about this virus so that I might be able to help some one, or even be able to know something about it for relatabilities sake. I would love to give my life to helping out people with AIDS. I am not going to sit around idle and not do anything about this. God created me to reach out to people. God created me with a story about him, not just to be kept to myself. God created me to love, he gave me a heart, that with his help has the capacity to love the unlovable. The things that happened to these people doesn't have to happen anymore. That girl on drugs doesn't have to do them anymore. She can come to know Jesus and be rocked in such an indescribable way." Jesus loves the outcasts, he loves the ones the world just loves to hate." That's a quote from a song by Relient K. I want to love the outcasts. What would it look like if a gay man or woman came to a church and got saved? What if we got to disciple them? Lord send us those people so that we can learn how to disciple them and forgive us for not letting them in or bringing them in when they cried out for help. I want those people in my life and Lord you show me how to love them in a way that best represents you and if you Lord are calling me to give my life to the Gay and AIDS community then lets do this thing!
Oh no! NoMo PoMo...
CARSON, D. A.
Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church
A necessary read for those interested in the "emergent conversation." Carson presents a relevant and thoughtful look at the musings of the emerging church with a heavy emphasis on the literary corpus of Brian McLaren. Unfortunately much of the critique of emergents (at least that has found its way to my perusal) has lacked both the relevance and the forethought of Carson's work. Carson attempts to provide his own critical analysis of "post-modernity" in terms of culture and (primarily) epistemology, and then turns to a critical analysis of the emergent church's relationship to post-modernity. Carson essentially paints the emerging church (read McLaren) as quite rightly exegeting the culture, yet failing to do so in light of the consistent Christian witness to the content of Scripture throughout the history of the Church. Carson alleges that emergents play loose with the truth, and consistently look to extra-biblical sources for the normative Christian life.
I quite appreciate Carson's views, however, in spite of some very accurate assessment to the place of truth and the Bible in emerging conversations, I see Carson failing to completely comprehend some of what McLaren's aims are. The most appropriately representative example being his use of the character "Neo" to illustrate McLaren's beliefs and attitudes. (Neo being the primary espouser of some fairly radical ideas throughout the course of McLarens's trilogy of so-called "creative non-fiction") McLaren states at the outset of his trilogy that none of the views of his fictional characters are to be confused with his own. This continues throughout Carson's book. I was dissapointed that the place of spiritual authority was again left out of the conversation, as this is the issue I see as the issue with emergent Christians; however, one can quite easily see the correllation between the issue of spiritual authority, and the issues of truth and biblical authority that Carson addresses.
I would recommend this book to anyone approaching the emergent conversation from any angle. Carson gives the discerning reader plenty of food for thought, and attemtps to give appropriate praise and criticism to the emergent church, wherever either is due. His consistent pattern is to hold true to his best understanding of scripture, in spite of his own culturally inculcated desires that would speak in contradiction to that understanding. For this, certainly, he is to be commended.
Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church
A necessary read for those interested in the "emergent conversation." Carson presents a relevant and thoughtful look at the musings of the emerging church with a heavy emphasis on the literary corpus of Brian McLaren. Unfortunately much of the critique of emergents (at least that has found its way to my perusal) has lacked both the relevance and the forethought of Carson's work. Carson attempts to provide his own critical analysis of "post-modernity" in terms of culture and (primarily) epistemology, and then turns to a critical analysis of the emergent church's relationship to post-modernity. Carson essentially paints the emerging church (read McLaren) as quite rightly exegeting the culture, yet failing to do so in light of the consistent Christian witness to the content of Scripture throughout the history of the Church. Carson alleges that emergents play loose with the truth, and consistently look to extra-biblical sources for the normative Christian life.
I quite appreciate Carson's views, however, in spite of some very accurate assessment to the place of truth and the Bible in emerging conversations, I see Carson failing to completely comprehend some of what McLaren's aims are. The most appropriately representative example being his use of the character "Neo" to illustrate McLaren's beliefs and attitudes. (Neo being the primary espouser of some fairly radical ideas throughout the course of McLarens's trilogy of so-called "creative non-fiction") McLaren states at the outset of his trilogy that none of the views of his fictional characters are to be confused with his own. This continues throughout Carson's book. I was dissapointed that the place of spiritual authority was again left out of the conversation, as this is the issue I see as the issue with emergent Christians; however, one can quite easily see the correllation between the issue of spiritual authority, and the issues of truth and biblical authority that Carson addresses.
I would recommend this book to anyone approaching the emergent conversation from any angle. Carson gives the discerning reader plenty of food for thought, and attemtps to give appropriate praise and criticism to the emergent church, wherever either is due. His consistent pattern is to hold true to his best understanding of scripture, in spite of his own culturally inculcated desires that would speak in contradiction to that understanding. For this, certainly, he is to be commended.
5.22.2006
Jesus is Smart
I am prone to spontaneous fits of arrogance and self-righteousness...
This can even take place (I know that this will shock you) in the most spiritual language:
I am a firm believer that all christians are called to plant churches. I believe that Jesus laid down a model for us; he planted the first church (the 12) and we are to participate in that same mission. I believe in this reality so strongly that I am often critical of those who do not see this clearly presented aspect of Christ's life.
However, I was reminded (yet again) this morning, that the primary distinctive of a disciple of Jesus is not planting churches, nor is it participation in a church, nor is it prayer, nor is it knowledge, nor miracles, nor great faith, nor raising many disciples, nor reaching the lost with the gospel, nor raising godly children, nor living a moral life, nor helping the poor, nor fighting oppression:
"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
As students of the Master, we are to learn from him, taking his very life upon us as a model (yoke) for the best way to live. We are to learn to pray as Jesus prayed, to live in community as Jesus did, to serve the poor and oppressed as He did, to raise disciples as He did, however, all of the aforementioned aspects of the life of Christ are meaningless without, and in fact flow out of, a heart of love for the people around us.
If we focus on the results of love we will not neccessarily have love; if we focus on love, its results will naturally flow out of us.
If we focus on praying, planting churches, serving the poor, preaching the gospel, raising disciples, living morally; we will fail in love. If we focus on loving first our Father, and second our fellows; we will succeed in praying, planting churches, serving the poor, preaching the gospel, raising disciples, living morally; these are the natural and direct result of a deep love for God that informs our deep love of people.
Isn't Jesus smart?
This can even take place (I know that this will shock you) in the most spiritual language:
I am a firm believer that all christians are called to plant churches. I believe that Jesus laid down a model for us; he planted the first church (the 12) and we are to participate in that same mission. I believe in this reality so strongly that I am often critical of those who do not see this clearly presented aspect of Christ's life.
However, I was reminded (yet again) this morning, that the primary distinctive of a disciple of Jesus is not planting churches, nor is it participation in a church, nor is it prayer, nor is it knowledge, nor miracles, nor great faith, nor raising many disciples, nor reaching the lost with the gospel, nor raising godly children, nor living a moral life, nor helping the poor, nor fighting oppression:
"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
As students of the Master, we are to learn from him, taking his very life upon us as a model (yoke) for the best way to live. We are to learn to pray as Jesus prayed, to live in community as Jesus did, to serve the poor and oppressed as He did, to raise disciples as He did, however, all of the aforementioned aspects of the life of Christ are meaningless without, and in fact flow out of, a heart of love for the people around us.
If we focus on the results of love we will not neccessarily have love; if we focus on love, its results will naturally flow out of us.
If we focus on praying, planting churches, serving the poor, preaching the gospel, raising disciples, living morally; we will fail in love. If we focus on loving first our Father, and second our fellows; we will succeed in praying, planting churches, serving the poor, preaching the gospel, raising disciples, living morally; these are the natural and direct result of a deep love for God that informs our deep love of people.
Isn't Jesus smart?
5.17.2006
What did you say?
The one who knows much says little
A man of knowledge uses words with restraint
He that hath knowledge spareth his words
A truly wise person uses few words
Whoever restrains his words has knowledge
- Proverbs 17:27a
A man of knowledge uses words with restraint
He that hath knowledge spareth his words
A truly wise person uses few words
Whoever restrains his words has knowledge
- Proverbs 17:27a
5.16.2006
Adorned Clay Pots
The apostle Paul, patron saint of type-A personalities, stumped me this morning.
Perplexed!
The man who lived a life that brought the gospel to western asia, eastern europe, and beyond; prolific church planter; author of scripture; overseer of the Church; apostle; perplexed! (v 8 NIV)
The Message translates that single word into, "we're not sure what to do." (Check the title link)
How can this be?
This is the man we look to as the model for how to lead the church. As someone who will soon be on the mission field, I am constantly exhorted to look at the life of Paul as an example; Paul had it all figured out, Paul lived an intensely purposeful life, Paul knew what he was doing. Follow Paul!
Perhaps this is the problem?
Paul himself only asked people to follow him in so far that he "followed Christ." (1 Corinthian 11:1)
I must confess. I would not describe myself as perplexed. I have come to believe (in large part) that I have figured it out. I am quite confident in my own understanding of the implications of the gospel. I am quite confident in my perspective on the church. I belive that I know what the Church in America should be doing and isn't, shouldn't be doing and is, as well as what I will be doing when we hit the ground in September.
I am not so arrogant as to think of myself other than a "clay pot," yet perhaps I fancy myself a clay pot with "adornments?" This is a far cry from the place that I once was in my walk.
I wonder what to make of this...
There was a time when I walked with much humility, however, I also carried with me a strong sense of guilt. Would that make my humility a false humilty? I don't know. I do know that when God removed that sense of guilt, speaking words of love and grace to me, my humilty seemed to go with it. Perhaps I do not fully understand myself or God? (That is surely the truth!) I would think that an experience of God's grace would lead to greater humility...
How are we to juxtapose the truths that we have learned, with the truth that we are simply whisps of fog (James 4:14), certainly precious in God's eyes, and yet lacking in even the beginning's of wisdom and knowledge.
I must truly state that I have gained some knowledge and wisdom. Yet I must also recognize that I am childish at best, and evil at worst. Wisdom and knowledge in my head is like a tool in the hand of a child, or diamonds adorning a clay pot...
Perplexed!
The man who lived a life that brought the gospel to western asia, eastern europe, and beyond; prolific church planter; author of scripture; overseer of the Church; apostle; perplexed! (v 8 NIV)
The Message translates that single word into, "we're not sure what to do." (Check the title link)
How can this be?
This is the man we look to as the model for how to lead the church. As someone who will soon be on the mission field, I am constantly exhorted to look at the life of Paul as an example; Paul had it all figured out, Paul lived an intensely purposeful life, Paul knew what he was doing. Follow Paul!
Perhaps this is the problem?
Paul himself only asked people to follow him in so far that he "followed Christ." (1 Corinthian 11:1)
I must confess. I would not describe myself as perplexed. I have come to believe (in large part) that I have figured it out. I am quite confident in my own understanding of the implications of the gospel. I am quite confident in my perspective on the church. I belive that I know what the Church in America should be doing and isn't, shouldn't be doing and is, as well as what I will be doing when we hit the ground in September.
I am not so arrogant as to think of myself other than a "clay pot," yet perhaps I fancy myself a clay pot with "adornments?" This is a far cry from the place that I once was in my walk.
I wonder what to make of this...
There was a time when I walked with much humility, however, I also carried with me a strong sense of guilt. Would that make my humility a false humilty? I don't know. I do know that when God removed that sense of guilt, speaking words of love and grace to me, my humilty seemed to go with it. Perhaps I do not fully understand myself or God? (That is surely the truth!) I would think that an experience of God's grace would lead to greater humility...
How are we to juxtapose the truths that we have learned, with the truth that we are simply whisps of fog (James 4:14), certainly precious in God's eyes, and yet lacking in even the beginning's of wisdom and knowledge.
I must truly state that I have gained some knowledge and wisdom. Yet I must also recognize that I am childish at best, and evil at worst. Wisdom and knowledge in my head is like a tool in the hand of a child, or diamonds adorning a clay pot...
5.14.2006
The Homeless
I was at an all night prayer meeting just recently and I remember that we were praying for the city or something and I remember this picture that God gave me of the homeless people of our city.
There is a spot on Cypress where there is the I-5 off ramp and it comes to a stop right there at cypress. Well typically there is a homeless person or two there and they usually carry a sign that says, "Anything will do, even a smile." Or something along those lines. Well in my vision I saw that person and they were holding a sign like normal and only this time it said, "I don't want your money I just want you to come to know Jesus." I also so saw a sign that says, "I don't want your money I just want your time." The the thing that I felt that God was saying was that the homeless that have "fallen through the cracks of society" are going to rise up. I almost felt this urgency because the guy didn't even seem to care about money or his lack of it, he didn't seem to care about food. It was like the verse that says, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and all the rest will be given to you." All this man cared about was the lost souls that drove past him every day. Maybe we should go out there to that street corner and hold a sign like that. I think it might have a lot of fruit. I don't know if this vision means anything to anyone else but I thought that I might share it.
5.09.2006
Where do you find Beauty?
So I was pondering beauty the other day....
Is it just a 20 year old in a string bikini on a beach with a great tan and a hard body? If so then what is to become of her at 40 after 3 kids and a fortune in botox treatments, hair dye and cellulite creams? Is she no longer the picture of beauty that comes to our minds? Well most of us would say 'no that's not true beauty, what matters most is what is on the inside, what type of person you are? But that is not what we are saying as a society, look around "Beautiful" now means "Barbie" and women all over america are doing whatever it takes to be "beautiful."
So this is the legacy we give to our daughters.... be thin, be pretty, and do whatever it takes to be these because then all will see your beauty. What a hoax!!!!!!!!!!!
This is not the type of beauty that the creator of the universe placed in all of us, we are all beautiful!!!!!!!!!! because we are God's.
Beautiful According to Me...
A life restored.... there is nothing more beautiful that watching as God restores a person to that which they were created to be. A man at the end of his rope, wishing for the end, finding joy and laughter, but most of all hope.
A womans who has tried it all in the name of love, and for all that she has found bitterness and pain, this same woman finding love in a God who doesn't discriminate by what you look like or what you have done.
A group of people who take seriously the call to "love your God with all your heart and love your neighbor", because they were that man or that woman in need of restoration.
This is the legacy I long to leave my daughter, beauty is seen as we embrace the heart of the father.
Is it just a 20 year old in a string bikini on a beach with a great tan and a hard body? If so then what is to become of her at 40 after 3 kids and a fortune in botox treatments, hair dye and cellulite creams? Is she no longer the picture of beauty that comes to our minds? Well most of us would say 'no that's not true beauty, what matters most is what is on the inside, what type of person you are? But that is not what we are saying as a society, look around "Beautiful" now means "Barbie" and women all over america are doing whatever it takes to be "beautiful."
So this is the legacy we give to our daughters.... be thin, be pretty, and do whatever it takes to be these because then all will see your beauty. What a hoax!!!!!!!!!!!
This is not the type of beauty that the creator of the universe placed in all of us, we are all beautiful!!!!!!!!!! because we are God's.
Beautiful According to Me...
A life restored.... there is nothing more beautiful that watching as God restores a person to that which they were created to be. A man at the end of his rope, wishing for the end, finding joy and laughter, but most of all hope.
A womans who has tried it all in the name of love, and for all that she has found bitterness and pain, this same woman finding love in a God who doesn't discriminate by what you look like or what you have done.
A group of people who take seriously the call to "love your God with all your heart and love your neighbor", because they were that man or that woman in need of restoration.
This is the legacy I long to leave my daughter, beauty is seen as we embrace the heart of the father.
5.07.2006
How do you communicate gestalt?
I have been having a conversation with an individual that has brought me to this place…
I believe that much of what we are communicating to each other could fall in the category of, “I would agree, but I don’t know that I would choose to use those words…”
Having said that I do believe that there are some differences in what we are stating to each other, exceeding a divergence at the simple, semantic level. I believe those differences are, and are derived from, differences at a level that encompass an entire perspective; gestalt. I have found myself at the point in the conversation where I believe it necessary to define the terms we are using to say what we say, which leads to more definitions, ad nauseum…
If these differences truly result from the simple fact that my friend and I are the proverbial blind men examining different parts of the elephant (as opposed to a legitimate incoherence that could be solved by a discussion of the facts at hand), then how are we to come to a meeting of the minds?
I believe that much of what we are communicating to each other could fall in the category of, “I would agree, but I don’t know that I would choose to use those words…”
Having said that I do believe that there are some differences in what we are stating to each other, exceeding a divergence at the simple, semantic level. I believe those differences are, and are derived from, differences at a level that encompass an entire perspective; gestalt. I have found myself at the point in the conversation where I believe it necessary to define the terms we are using to say what we say, which leads to more definitions, ad nauseum…
If these differences truly result from the simple fact that my friend and I are the proverbial blind men examining different parts of the elephant (as opposed to a legitimate incoherence that could be solved by a discussion of the facts at hand), then how are we to come to a meeting of the minds?
5.01.2006
Ephesians
Ephesians 3
The Secret Plan of God
1This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. 2I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. 3I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief.
4As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. 5None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. 6The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board.
7This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. 8When it came to presenting the Message to people who had no background in God's way, I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities.
And so here I am, preaching and writing about things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ. 9My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along. 10Through Christians like yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels!
11All this is proceeding along lines planned all along by God and then executed in Christ Jesus. 12When we trust in him, we're free to say whatever needs to be said, bold to go wherever we need to go. 13So don't let my present trouble on your behalf get you down. Be proud! 14My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, 15this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. 16I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit--not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength-- 17that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, 18you'll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! 19Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
20God can do anything, you know--far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
21Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!
This is what I think about this chapter, If any Christian is wanting to know what God’s will is for their life, this is it! Read in Verse , “ 7This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details.” God takes all the details of telling people about him! If you are faithful to make Jesus your life’s work then he, God, will give you everything that you need to do it. It says the same thing in 2 Peter.
2 Peter 1: ? “Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the one who invited us to God.” I believe that this is the will of God in our lives, to grow his church! I believe that Jesus and bringing people into his church and loving his people is all God’s will for our lives. You want to know God’s will read the great commission, you want to know the things that God has for you, then submit yourself him and make Him your life’s work. If you want to know God’s will for your life then read the book of Ephesians, read specifically chapter 3. Don’t have any details, then just chase after this and God will bring you the details you need in the opportune time! Make Jesus your life’s work in your workplace, in your home at the grocery store! JESUS is God’s will for our lives!
I don't know what copy right laws are or anything but I got this section of scripture from the Message by Eugene Petersen
The Secret Plan of God
1This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. 2I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. 3I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief.
4As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. 5None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. 6The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board.
7This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. 8When it came to presenting the Message to people who had no background in God's way, I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities.
And so here I am, preaching and writing about things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ. 9My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along. 10Through Christians like yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels!
11All this is proceeding along lines planned all along by God and then executed in Christ Jesus. 12When we trust in him, we're free to say whatever needs to be said, bold to go wherever we need to go. 13So don't let my present trouble on your behalf get you down. Be proud! 14My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, 15this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. 16I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit--not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength-- 17that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, 18you'll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! 19Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
20God can do anything, you know--far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
21Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!
This is what I think about this chapter, If any Christian is wanting to know what God’s will is for their life, this is it! Read in Verse , “ 7This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details.” God takes all the details of telling people about him! If you are faithful to make Jesus your life’s work then he, God, will give you everything that you need to do it. It says the same thing in 2 Peter.
2 Peter 1: ? “Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the one who invited us to God.” I believe that this is the will of God in our lives, to grow his church! I believe that Jesus and bringing people into his church and loving his people is all God’s will for our lives. You want to know God’s will read the great commission, you want to know the things that God has for you, then submit yourself him and make Him your life’s work. If you want to know God’s will for your life then read the book of Ephesians, read specifically chapter 3. Don’t have any details, then just chase after this and God will bring you the details you need in the opportune time! Make Jesus your life’s work in your workplace, in your home at the grocery store! JESUS is God’s will for our lives!
I don't know what copy right laws are or anything but I got this section of scripture from the Message by Eugene Petersen
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