Beautiful Mystery

Romans 11:33
I love when my children ask me questions about God. One time it was, "Daddy, how does God hear all our prayers?" That's a fair question! The point is in the question, not the answer.

The questions of children-and of those with weakness in the mind-seem simple, and they are usually satisfied with simple answers. But, for those who dive deep there is a robust and profound character to the faith that will occupy the mind indefinitely. Why is this so? The answer is in the infinite nature of God. Paul sat back in wonder after pondering God's grand story in Romans. He exclaimed,

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

One of my favorite songs by Caedmon's Call is entitled "Beautiful Mystery."
It compares this theme to water, which is simple and complex. You can feel it and see it, but you cannot grasp it. It flows through your fingers just like God does. I for one am glad that God is vast and mysterious yet loving to the smallest of children. Remember, God comprehended fully cannot be God at all.

So come ask, wonder, and ponder the unsearchable. Dive deep and embrace the mystery. You need not fear hitting your head at the bottom of his divine riches, wisdom, knowledge and paths.

To listen to "Beautiful Mystery" click this link and select track number 7.
http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3892589

Too Complicated

Psalm 119:11

There is a tendency to make things more difficult than they really are. Take understanding a subject for example. If you really know a subject you can explain it in terms people can understand. But, we often use words others don't understand simply to make others think we're smart.* This sinister little aspect of human nature does much damage to the faith. 

Think about this: the Psalmist said, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."
Could it really be that simple? Aren't there lots of lists, and expectations and hocus pocus that make you a good person? Not really.
Try taking a verse, like 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your cares upon him for he cares for you." Put it on a 3x5 card and take a week to hide it in your heart. If you have lost the sharp edge to your memory, try a verse every two weeks or a verse a month. Set a goal and see what gradually happens.
Simple things can make a big difference.

*Note: Big words are not bad. Neither are deep concepts. Many things are simple and complex at the same time. I'll write about that on Monday. Have a great weekend!

Anything to Belong

Matthew 23:5 and Genesis 25:29-34
I was thinking back to my Jr. High days this morning and was overwhelmed with some of the feelings I had back then. There were fears, rejections, joys, hormonal changes, different schools, zits, etc. But I cannot think of anything that trumped the need for acceptance. I would have given anything to be liked by the other students who were doing anything to be liked themselves.
I used to scoff at a story in the Bible about a man who sold his inheritance for a bowl of soup (Genesis 25:29-34). How sort-sighted of him! Who could possibly be that hungry, or impulsive for that matter? Answer: a Jr. High student taking a joint from an acquaintance.
As an adult I am tempted to look at these things from an adult perspective and I forget how easy it is to get sucked in to all kinds of things for the sake of acceptance. I say things like, I would never smoke a joint! And I bet many Jr. Highers who smoke them now said similar things a year ago. When that acquaintance hands them marijuana they are handing them acceptance, and for far too many a foggy brain or addiction is a small price to pay for friends. Does not teen sexuality work the same way--especially with girls?
The uncomfortable question for us adults is how far have we come from that need for acceptance? Honestly, how often do we do the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do? I wonder what percentage of our deeds are done to impress "good" people who in turn are trying to impress other people with their good deeds? If Sr. High boys can try to impress each other by exaggerating their sexual prowess cannot I fall prey to the same temptation only for goodness?
Jesus said of the religious leaders he knew, "Everything the do is done for men to see." (Matthew 23:5a) May that not be true of you and me.

New Look

Hi Everyone,
I was encouraged to hear that I have some regular readers. I plan to post tomorrow. I spent all my writing time the last two days editing the layout. I like it and I think you will too.

God bless,

Jason