Ripples On The Pond

A Fool's Wage

2011-10-04T22:45:00.000-04:00

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
(Prov. 1:7, NASB)

I began to take a real close look at the book of Proverbs today. In a crazy, mixed up world like ours, with a crazy, mixed up life like mine, it seemed like the right place to look for those kinds of answers that help settle a heart in the midst of some significant challenges.

One of the things that’s echoed in my head is the phrase “a fool’s wage”. It’s something of a personal statement on the way some things have turned out in life. I can’t say for sure how intimately a statement like this applies to me but there’s little doubt that some of the things in my life would be positively different had I been a man of wisdom and instruction.

So it is that I turn to the book of wisdom for instruction.

Now, a study of Proverbs is no small undertaking. If you’re smart, such a study should cause trepidation if for no other reason except that it will show you how foolish you probably are. After all, this book isn’t called the book of wisdom for nothing. And honestly, how wise do you really consider yourself anyway?
Well, if you’re like me, you probably don’t consider yourself very wise at all. And again, if you’re like me, your life seems pretty crazy and mixed up. So, if you are like me, then perhaps a study of Proverbs would be just the calming instruction you need.

But there’s a price.

First, you have to concede that, to at least some degree, you’re a fool. You may even have to take it a step further and consider the current conditions of your life as the wages of a fool.

Next, you have to concede that, if the above verse is correct, only a relationship with God can hope to bring you true wisdom.

So there it is – start with God, then begin to gain wisdom and instruction from the One who knows best how to grant it. And yeah, I’m pretty sure that some of that earning will require a study of the book attributed to Him – the bible.

Why not give Proverbs a try?

Of course, there is an alternative – leave God out of it and strike out on your own. But then, what would be the return on investment there? Believing the quoted verse above, it seems pretty clear it would be a fool’s wage.

When Rains Bring Rainbows

2010-09-14T13:55:00.003-04:00

Grey skies swirling,
mind mixed with images like clouds in a swirling sky.
Senses disappearing like the sun behind the clouds;
it begins to rain.

Grey skies turn black,
the dry ground wet from the rain.
The waters are rising,
it begins to flood.

Beneath the surface,
the soothing quietness bringing stillness.
Eyes open,
the mind begins to shut.

Rain-pelted surface,
the ripples distorting the images.
A hand breaks through,
disturbing the quietness, the stillness.

A sun, warm and bright,
rainbows in the rain.
Eyes closed,
the mind begins to open.
~~~
Never, ever, underestimate the cycle of depression. Sometimes it last mere moments. Other times, much longer. Sometimes it sneaks up on you. Other times, it hits you like a freight train.

Never, ever, underestimate the hand of God. Sometimes it merely holds you. Other times, it reaches right down and grabs you.

Never, ever, underestimate the promises of God. Sometimes they seem distant, directed at someone else. Other times, fulfilled before your very eyes.

Caught In The Crossfire

2010-09-11T16:28:00.000-04:00

The shot rings out in the darkness.

"MOOOOOOMMMYYY!!!"

"Mommy?"

"Mommy?"

"I love you, sweetie. Mommy loves you."

"But mommy ... why? Why did this happen?"

"Sometimes grown-ups make mistakes, honey. It doesn't mean we don't love you. Mommy and Daddy love you."

"But mommy ..."

"Sshhhh. Quiet now, sweetie. Mommy needs to rest."

Caught in the cross-fire, children are often unrealized, innocent victims in the war between parents who have gone beyond the point of control, unleashing their anger on each other in ways that normal, self-controlled people would not.

There may be no gun. There may be no bullets. There may be no violence.

Well, except the violence of the heart. Any time selfishness is given control, the unleashed violence of the heart is as great as any gun fired.

Shots ring out in the darkness. Words, as penetrating as any bullet, can strike deathly blows, leaving victims in their wake. And sometimes those victims are not the ones engaged in the battle. Sometimes they are the innocent ones left to cope with the aftermath.

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea."

Be someone who does not need a millstone. Be a follower of Jesus, such that you may be a solution to the violence in the world rather than a supporter or perpetrator of it.

Don't Waste Your Life

2010-09-08T01:26:00.002-04:00

"Quit telling me what to do!!"

Ain't that the initial reaction by those who have some authority figure all up in their grill, tellin' 'em what to do .... or not do? Sure it is.

Gets worse when it seems they won't let up, like when they keep tellin' ya over 'n over 'n over again "don't waste your life."

"Awww, shut up."

Truth is, we need it. We need remindin' that life is important, that it has purpose, that it shouldn't be wasted. Now, I'm not one for gettin' all up in your grill 'n all, but hey, if the word fits ...... ya know?

Dropping this street punk persona, the truth is, I've felt like I've been on a "don't waste your life" journey with the Lord. It started out small but appears to be gathering momentum as time goes on. But first, some background ....

Noone argues the Lord's wisdom .... after all, He's God. He knows everything. He knows you.

He knows me.

There's a "philosophy" I have about the Lord and how He influences people. It's my view that God operates well within the human experience. He doesn't have to .... but He does. What do I mean?

It goes like this - He knows how I will respond to certain things. He knows if a phrase will cause me to be angry or sad. He knows if a video or song will lift me up or burden me with conviction or possible guilt. He knows how I will respond if a person acts towards me in a certain way.

He knows all this .... and uses it.

He uses it to steer my thinking in a certain direction. He uses it to deepen convictions and strengthen passions. He uses it to trip me up or stand me firm.

He uses it ..... and I think He's using it now. Now back to my 'journey' account ...

Through a variety of influences, seemingly intended to draw my thoughts and my heart in a certain direction, it appears that God is on a mission - to convict me enough that I would stop wasting my life and start living the one He has put in me.

How's He doing that (if in fact it is even Him)? Simple - by making me more and more aware .... and convicted .... about the number of people who have yet to answer the question of eternity and, equally important (I think), about the number of people who have not come into a more intimate experience of Him despite a profession of faith in Christ. People are flailing about in a quagmire of chaos and far too many of us who supposedly hold the key to their rescue go about living our lives as though their plight doesn't matter.

The world is dying. In one sense, it's already dead and we, the so-called living, are merely walking about a giant morgue or graveyard. So the question is - what am I doing to help meet the obvious need?

I can't help but think God is saying to me "Don't waste your life." Taking the conviction of that statement upon myself, I can't help but add "yeah, don't waste my life because, if I do, I could be wasting someone else's."

Dear Lord, help me to discern convictions that come from You rather than simply from a well-meaning but ineffectual, bleeding-heart view of the world. Place your Spirit in me, taking me into all that You have designed for me to be a part of. Help me to be honest - with You, with others, with myself. You have invited us to participate with You in the building of your kingdom. Help us, Lord, to be good labourers, rewarded according to your kindness. To You be all honour, and glory, and power, forever and ever. Amen.

God Is Forgotten

2010-08-28T17:29:00.002-04:00

Cheerless.
Passionless.
The music of youth long forgotten, its strains barely an echo in the auditorium of memory.

Life seems less fleeting, going on .... and on .... and on.

Life. A teardrop in the ocean of eternity.
Life. A shadow in a roomful of lights.
Life. A mirrored reflection of something unattained.

Connections to the past are music to the soul.
God is forgotten, the connections are overrun.

God is forgotten.

Life On A Stage

2010-08-28T15:53:00.001-04:00

I wander the world stage and find objects of past performances
the broken child, the injured mother
I wander the world stage and find objects of past performances
     the broken mirror, the shattered lamp

The curtain rises and falls, the people leave their seats
     the performance is done
The curtain rises and falls, the people leave their seats
   the doors to the outside world are open

The lights, the sounds, the smell of the city
     the outside world distracts
The lights, the sounds, the smell of the city
     the performance has become a memory

The memory of a time long past
     sometimes it seems like a play
The memory of a time long past
     like someone else did the acting

Acting out the things within
     the demons we all must face
Acting out the things within
     humanity is all our concern

I wander the world stage and find objects of past performances
   the smiling child, the happy mother
I wander the world stage and find objects of past performances
     a full length mirror, a bright-lit lamp

The curtain rises and falls, the people stay in their seats
     the performance has held them firm
The curtain rises and falls, the people stay in their seats
   the outside world awaits in silence

Memory. The performances of the past, holding firm.
Mirror. It all reflects just what it sees.
Lamp. It lights the darkness but creates a shadow.
Outside. Sometimes better than inside ... but not always.

Performance. Memory. Life.
The curtain rises and falls.

The Best House to Visit

2010-08-18T00:36:00.007-04:00

Recently I watched the movie "The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry". It was a very good movie, I thought, as far as a very clear presentation of the Gospel being taught to both the characters in the film and to the audience watching the film.

In the movie, one passage of Scripture was presented twice and in an interesting way. Individuals were taken to a graveyard as an object lesson for the passage Ecclesiastes 7:2-4:

²It is better to go to a house of mourning
         Than to go to a house of feasting,
         Because that is the end of every man,
         And the living takes it to heart.
    ³Sorrow is better than laughter,
         For when a face is sad a heart may be happy.
    ⁴The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning,
         While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.

In the movie, the passage is used to illustrate how visiting a graveyard causes one to soberly consider their mortality. Sometimes this lesson is kind of thrust upon us, as in the case of a death of someone close to you.

I didn't imagine that this verse would have such quick application. This afternoon, my grandfather passed away. He was 93. For me, this was a quick visit to the house of mourning, though perhaps for reasons beyond the lesson being taught in this passage.

I didn't know my grandfather very well. I spent little time with him as a child (he lived 2 provinces away from me) and even less as an adult. Extenuating circumstances prevent me from going to his funeral though admittedly much thought was given to figure out how I might be able to.

One thing I do know of him is that he is an eternal soul. What I don't know is which side of the eternity question he stands.

I often think of eternity. I don't always appreciate it in light of our own mortality. I do so for myself but not always for others. My grandfather's death and the recent death of a cousin (her funeral was last Thursday) really bring me to the house of mourning but not for myself as much as for others. I know there is little I can do to persuade others to properly consider the eternity question but I think I could do more. I can start by reading and seeking understanding and wisdom regarding Scripture. I can add prayer to the mix, earnestly praying for those that come into focus. I can seek God's help to have a genuine heart for people, a heart patterned after His own rather than the religious heart so many, including myself, have comfortably succumbed to.

Yes, there is little I can do, yet the little I can do can prove quite a lot. Yes, a visit to the house of mourning is a good trip to make for anyone. I know .... it seems quite good for me.

Love - Years in the Making

2010-08-13T15:05:00.005-04:00

It seems a lifetime ago. A product of the 80s, I dressed like an idiot, danced like a fool and sang like a sick moose.

Was the 80s good to anyone? And that moose reference was for my fellow Canadians.

Anyway, despite all that, one of the prettiest girls in town was smitten by me and accepted my proposal of marriage. We just celebrated 19 years this week. It was a quiet, too-short celebration that, despite the absence of words, the quiet passing of this milestone in marriage spoke volumes.

It spoke of commitment. Perfectly executed commitment? Not at all. Perfectly demonstrated commitment? Well, you would not have thought so during some of the events of our marriage but looking at it today, the answer is an emphatic 'Yes'. I say this only because what else could it be that would have taken us through the challenges of our marriage? You take two imperfect, selfish people, throw them into an imperfect life together, add five children into the mix, shake them up with lots of trials and tribulations along the way (some of their own making, some forced upon them) and what do you get? A perfect example of commitment.

It was a commitment to ourselves. As selfish as it sounds, it's not a bad commitment to have. After all, having gone through some of the trials and tribulations that we did, walking away just seemed too much like admitting personal failure.

It was a commitment to our marriage. Despite the rough times, separation and divorce was simply not an option. That's not to say that in the frailty of our minds it wasn't considered ..... after all, we aren't perfect.

It was a commitment to our children. I'm the first to confess I'm not a perfect father. In fact, I sometimes think the failure list is longer than the success one. However, it never occurred to us to put our children into a situation that so many other children of our society have had to suffer through - the separation of their parents.

It was a commitment to the Lord. Despite the tendency towards being selfish and self-serving, the Lord always remained a constant in our lives, personally and as a couple. Having made our vows before Him, walking away from that just didn't sit well with either of us.

Finally, it was a commitment by the Lord. We had some fun times. Happy times. Genuine "married couple" joyful times. But it wasn't all fun and games. It wasn't a bed of roses. It wasn't a perpetual "Disney" experience of a beautiful, happy princess and the prince who loved her. And at times it was down-right un-Christian-like. But despite our failings, despite our human frailty (in fact, probably because of it), the Lord remained with us, steadying us when we needed steadying, lifting us when we had fallen, lighting the way when the path seemed so dark.

It was 19 years in the making. Should the Lord tarry long enough, there will be another 19 years .... in the making.

It was, and is, and will be .... love.

I am just saying

2010-08-05T18:33:00.001-04:00

I have five children. A wonderful wife. A job. A history.

Sometimes they collide.

I don't like collisions.

I like boxes. Packaged. Neatly.

I like thinking outside of the box. I don't mind chaotic thinking.

I don't like chaos. It tasks me.

I'm a multi-tasker. I perform the same task .... multiple times.

I don't have time to be writing this.

I took the time to write this.

I don't really have anything else to say.

I'm just saying ....

Crisis of Self

2010-08-01T18:48:00.004-04:00

Today I was given another opportunity to share the Word of the Lord with my congregation. I am always so grateful for those opportunities. It is work even though I do enjoy it immensely. During those times I find myself needing to trust the Lord for energy to prevail when I am growing mentally and physically tired (after all, its not all that demands my time).

I trust Him for intelligence and discernment to rightly handle His Word.

I trust Him for emotional stability to remain focused on the matter at hand.

I trust Him to lead, especially when I am tempted to do so.

The topic for my message was "Crisis of Self". It used Luke 10:25-37 as the main passage and was accompanied by 2 Tim. 3:1-5 and a few other supporting passages (Luke 9:51-53, 58, Rom. 3:20, 1 Cor. 3:3 (in NASB, NIV and NLT), Matt. 24:24).

The prevailing thought in my message was the underlying condition of professing Christians overly focusing on themselves. 2 Tim. 3:1-5 makes good on this thought as it points out the kinds of people we will encounter in the end times (I am not suggesting we are in the end times though we could very well be). Highlighted types are ones who are lovers of self, ungrateful, unloving, malicious gossips, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. Like some in our churches today, they hold to a "...form of godliness, although they deny its power." In other words, they behave in a way indicative of godliness, but they have no true connection with God. Life is about them and religion is merely a process of making sure the bible is interpreted in such a way as to fit in to their lifestyle rather than having their lifestyle disrupted or altered by the bible and their relationship with God.

The lawyer exemplifies this when seeking to be justified by Jesus in whatever answer Jesus gave to the question "Who is my neighbour" (v. 29). The lawyer knew well the Mosaic Law (they were experts in it) and so his question seems out of place in context of his alleged expertise.

The Levite and the priest also exemplify this crisis of self. Being servants of God first in the Tent of the Meeting and then, once built, in the Temple of God, both of these men ought to have been more in tune with the Lord's heart toward loving their neighbours. After all, it was one of the 2 greatest commandments. How they dealt with the beaten man amplifies the criticism toward those engaged in religion for their own benefit rather than for the expression of God and the benefit of others.

In 2010 we have a society and a church body caught up in a crisis of self. This is not necessarily a new crisis but, from my own perspective, one that appears more prevelant than ever before. From divisions in the church over personal sacred cows (such as type of worship, who controls coffee hour after the service, etc.) to people church-shopping to people holding grudges against other believers in their own congregation, etc., the spirit and the form of self is impacting professing believers, and that not necessarily in a good way.

1 Cor. 3:3 really pressed this point home for me:

“or you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn't that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren't you living like people of the world?” (NLT)

Conclusions may be difficult to reach with such little information as I have here, but here's some of the thoughts that I believe will lead to a sound conclusion on the matter of a "crisis of self":

Do not seek to justify myself before the Lord: the Word of God and my relationship with God is not meant to justify my selfish tendencies. I need to always be sensitive to the tendency to do just that: seek justification from a source God never intended.

Do not seek to fit the bible and my relationship with God into my lifestyle: my lifestyle is not meant to impact God and the truth of His Word; God and the truth of His Word are meant to impact my lifestyle. If there is a conflict, my lifestyle must bow.

Let love rule in your heart: Martin Luther King said it best in his "I've been to the mountaintop" speech:

And so the first question that the priest asked -- the first question that the Levite asked was, "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?" But then the Good Samaritan came by. And he reversed the question: "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?"

So much more could be said on this subject matter but I believe enough is here to give you pause. And while pausing, reflect. And while reflecting, pray.

Know that the Lord is more interested in you sorting this out than you are. Let Him work in you, allowing you to work in the lives of others, to the benefit of us all and to the honour of our Lord.

Amen.

All Have Fallen Short of the Glory of God

2010-07-28T22:51:00.002-04:00

It was a facebook comment. Now it's a blog post.

May God be honoured.

I am reminded of a man who walked through the darkness, forces seen and unseen, without and within, pressing upon him without mercy. Even the suffering of physical pain was more bearable than the darkness which plagued his mind and heart. Often he laid upon the cold, damp, dark-enshrouded floor at the bottom of the pit of despair, the light of day ... and of hope ... too distant above him even to be noticed as light.

Then these words were set upon him, shouted in the darkness, striking him hard, "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."

All? Yes.

Me? Yes.

Them? Yes.

Them who? Does it matter? No, probably not.

Then these words were set upon him, whispered in the darkness, striking him hard, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

~~~~
"But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption .."

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Himin heavenly places in Christ Jesus"
~~~~

Yes, I am reminded of a man who walked through the darkness ....

Jehovah's Witnesses and the New World Translation: A Discussion

2010-07-18T19:23:00.001-04:00

Greetings, Readers:
Recently I've been exposed to or engaged in discussions regarding the views of Jehovah's Witnesses toward the deity of Christ and of the Holy Trinity. For those not already familiar, Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe Jesus to be God nor do they believe in the Holy Trinity. Conversely, these two points are foundational to the beliefs of the Christian and, as such, creates an immediate and obvious point of contention between the two groups.

The discussions center around the Scriptures, as rightly they should. The points of contention previously mentioned come about based on the differences in how those Scriptures are translated from the original text. The only translation for the Jehovah's Witnesses that I am aware of is the New World Translation (NWT). For the Christian, there are several english translations to choose from.

My intention here is to have an open discussion about the differences between the two groups (primarily regarding the deity of Jesus and the Holy Trinity) with a look to the Scriptures as the basis for the position / opinion / conclusion held. I am not distinguishing between the NWT and the Christian translations when I say 'Scriptures' as the distinction is made by which side of the discussion you come down on.

I hope its clear that ALL are invited to participate. So regardless of your belief system, I hope you'll feel welcome to offer your input. Whether it be opinion, scholarly exegesis, criticism, or other, please feel comfortable to participate.

May we all be encouraged to remain calm and objective as reasonably as can be, given the discussion material. The point here is not to bash someone else's perspective but to genuinely ascertain the truth.

With that said, let the discussion begin.

ADD .... or lack of self-discipline?

2010-07-10T20:26:00.001-04:00

So there I was, just walking down the street when all of a sudden this guy comes running out of the store screaming at the top of his lungs. I thought for sure he was being robbed or somebody got seriously wounded or perhaps they were just out of Nacho Cheese Doritos. Whatever it was, this guy was over the top frantic.

Naturally, I ran up quickly to find out what was going on and to see if I could help.

Oh, wait .... phone's ringing. Be right back.

Ok ... I am back. So where was I? Oh, never mind. On to the next thing.

How about a post that talks about ADD. You know, Attention Deficit Disorder. I'll try to keep it real short for those that suffer from it.

Now I want to go on record that I do understand there is a clinical reality to this thing called ADD. What I mean is that I know there are some who legitimately suffer from it. I'm not one of them. Well, yes I am. Am not. Am too.

It comes down to this. I do not wish to be insensitive to those that have sought professional help with the issue of poor attention span. I know some legitimately need to be tagged with it. Then there's the many other of us who may be tagged with it and shouldn't be. This is probably a number higher than we willingly admit to.

SO why shouldn't we be tagged? Because we suffer the symptoms of ADD not because we actually have it. No. Instead, we suffer from something else: LOSD. Lack Of Self Discipline. LOSD is a crazier script than LOST (yeah, you know you've watched it). You start into things and then allow yourself to move on to something else or you simply avoid altogether that thing you should be doing.

Why do you do this? Well, I'm sure there are a number of reasons. I'm not a doctor, don't have a degree in psychology or psychiatry, so asking me why gets answers with a caveat: this is an untrained professional on a closed course. Do not try this at home.

The fact of the matter is before I'm willing to accept the tag of ADD for myself or for anyone else, I want to be convinced that its not just a matter of LOSD. Because otherwise its hypocrisy and a sorry excuse for a crutch to claim ADD when in fact you just need to pull up your boot straps and pay attention. ADD is like love: the word is misapplied so often you have a hard time distinguishing the real from the not-so-real (yeah, I wanted to say fake but I stopped just short of it).

Yep .... its time to stop faking ADD, put away LOSD, and start being producteev.

Ok, I meant 'productive' but it didn't rhyme nearly as well. :)

First Attempt at Podcasting My Blog

2010-07-10T01:05:00.000-04:00

Well, I thought I'd give it a try .... podcasting my blog, that is. Odiogo.com seemed a good service to test out. It uses text-to-voice technology to produce a podcast of each post on my blog. You can then listen to the podcast directly or download it to whatever mp3 playback software / device you use.

My conclusion? Fail. While I love the ease at which these podcasts are created (after adding the widget, which took all of about 3 minutes), I am quite opposed to how they sound. What is written gets lost in podcast translation because of the absence of human inflections, etc. at all the right points.

Solution? Consider creating mp3s for each post then upload for listening / downloading.

When will this solution be implemented? Its a minor priority so no real time frame comes to mind. Until then, enjoy the existing text-to-speech podcasts or read the post directly. Oh, and no matter which way you go with it, be sure to leave a comment as it could encourage some very good discussions.

Nooma: Yet Another Response

2010-07-05T00:01:00.004-04:00

Nooma. Doesn't matter how much time goes by, it seems to keep coming up. Well, I concede it is to be expected, given its incredible popularity. I have the (very minor) distinction of having been a member of the congregation when Rob Bell was a (dare I say it?) nobody. No, I don't have his autograph and no, I never was invited over for tea.

The one thing about Rob was how engaging his presentations were. Part of his popularity can, without a doubt, be contributed to this. Not only were his presentations engaging, but you always walked away with something of a feel-good emotion coupled with the slight inspiration toward thought and reflection on the very things he spoke of during his presentation. I suppose that's a good thing, considering the fact that what he presented was / is meant to be the message of God.

Nooma is just a grand, extremely popular extension of his obviously gifted presentation skills. So its no wonder that it should resurface once again. The fact that its come up again is the reason for this post.

As you can tell already, I'm quite impressed with Rob's ability as a speaker and presenter. However, being impressed with another's ability doesn't mean full agreement with what is being presented. I have to confess that, after much internal debate over the matter, I have come to the conclusion that I do not immediately or readily support Rob Bell's teachings and, as a result, the Nooma series.

As I prepared this post, I gathered several quotations from several sources that reviewed Nooma and other works of Rob's. I wanted to be sure that my instinctive opposition to Rob wasn't just some kind of jealous envy (oh yes, it would be great to be such a gifted speaker) or an expression of a hidden prejudice toward someone with the popular vote. I wanted to then share those quotations with you so you would see what influenced or supported my existing thought process over the issue of the integrity of the gospel Rob asserts he believes and is delivering. In the end, I believe I did well in seeking discernment on the matter and as such, retain my position of doubt about the integrity of the alleged 'message of the gospel' presented by Rob.

That said, I will not share with you those specific quotations but I will leave you with a link to the one review that largely summarizes the thoughts and conclusions I have on the matter. You can find that review here ("The Scoop'a on NOOMA" by Greg Gilbert).

May you read with a discerning heart. (1 John 4:1)

Dishonour Through Worship: God is not fooled

2010-07-03T21:06:00.008-04:00

Not long ago I wrote a post called "Honour Your Father". Its contents combined with the following served as material for a sermon I preached on Father's Day. While the message was intentionally theme-based, the truths contained in it had nothing to do with Father's Day, which suits me just fine as I don't really like theme-based sermonizing anyway. The truths contained in it resonated (and still do) deep within me, a continued sign of the reconciliation God is continuing to work in me and of the revolution He is stirring up in my heart.

You may be curious about what is meant by the "reconciliation God is ... working in me". I won't go into detail now (perhaps another post?) but suffice it to say that God has been engaging me in reconciliation (I actually think restoration is a better word) to Himself from a condition I had remained in for quite some time. The testimony of that condition is one filled with grievous and shameful evidence of a man of God who brought dishonour to his Creator and Saviour. Even now I cannot refrain from uttering my immense and humble thankfulness (oh how insufficient the words seem) to Him for restoring me to Himself.

So these words are inspired by the testimony that was mine and the evidence that exists even today in the body of Christ. By thoughtful reflection I believe you will also be inspired toward the same end as I: to honour our Father.

This post is entitled "Dishonour Through Worship: God is not fooled". A strange title since we often hear that worship is a major component, if not the component, in honouring God. However, since worship is not restricted to God as its object, the meaning behind the title bears consideration.

To appreciate where I'm coming from, I encourage you to read Isaiah 29:13-16. In these 4 verses I observe 3 significant issues related to the honouring of God:

1) Issue of fake (or empty) worship
In verse 13 it is stated quite clearly that the people of Israel did not honour God. While they did offer lip service (as should all of us in the body of Christ), their hearts are clearly not in it. Their reverence of God is based on tradition and the teachings of men which, though potentially of value, lack the substance of that which inspires toward sincere worship of God.

2) Issue of invented (and vain) worship
As already stated in the first point, the worship of God was based more on the teachings of men than on the affections of the heart. The latter portion of verse 13 is translated as " ... fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men." in the KJV; in the NIV it is translated "...their worship of Me is made up only of rules taught by men." Literally it is translated as "... their fear of Me is of the commandment of rulers." In other words, it is not God's commandments, not God's precepts, not God's principles that are the guiding force in their lives, but rather the commandments, the precepts, the principles of man.

In his commentary, Matthew Henry made this observation:

"They do not make the word of God the rule of their worship, nor His will their reason ...... They worshiped the God of Israel, not according to his appointment, but their own inventions, the directions of false prophets or their idolatrous kings, or the usages of the nations that were round about them. The tradition of the elders was of more value and validity with them than the laws which God commanded Moses."

3) Issue of self-worship
Verses 15 speaks to this form of worship. In this verse we read about plans that were 'hidden' and deeds done in dark places. It is said this verse speaks of Israel's efforts to gain an alliance with Assyria so as to protect themselves against other enemy nations (remember when Israel asks for a king?). Rather than walk openly and honestly in a trusting and honouring way with God, whom they OPENLY professed allegiance to (at one point), they took matters into their own hands. They figured they knew what they were doing and didn't need God's help. We know the outcome of this attempted allegiance. God was not fooled.

In verse 16 God's word points out how backwards in their thinking the people of Israel were. Implied in the commentary that takes place in this verse is the very real understanding that thinking and behaving in the manner in which Israel was doing is akin to declaring to the Maker that you were not made and that the Maker doesn't have quite the understanding you do. Is this not a form of self-worship? I believe it is.

The take-away for us is to realize that honouring God is all about authenticity. If what was working in the hearts of Israel is found to be working in ours, than we need to seek that reconciliation with God. We need to acknowledge that we are dishonouring Him and allow His grace-filled forgiveness draw us into sincere, heart-felt worship of Him who is our Creator, of Him who does have understanding.

Let the revolution of honouring Him begin!!

Honour Your Father

2010-06-28T22:10:00.003-04:00

A week late. Plus a day. Yet given the eternal value of the message, I comfort myself with the thought that any time is a good time to encourage others to honour their father. And in this post, to honour THE Father.

I say a week plus a day late because it was that many days ago that we recognized the sentimental day known as Father's Day. It was also the day I spoke at my church on the subject of honouring the Father, our Lord. Whether a day recognized by the masses or not, every day is a day to honour Him. And the beauty of it is that noone can claim they don't have a Father they can honour. I know of the ills of this world and the impact it has had on family relations. Oh, how well I know it. I know how some out there hate Father's Day as it's a reminder of relationships gone sour. Or, for some, a reminder of a beloved man now departed from this world, one who is missed dearly. Either way, the heart is wrenched in a burdensome way when it comes to a day in which fathers should be honoured. Fortunately, the very real and eternal presence of our heavenly Father makes it possible for all of us to engage in such a privileged act - the act of honouring our Father.

I thought about giving the text of my message in this post but I will refrain from this so as not to make it too lengthy a read. I know for some that time is precious so perhaps time is best spent getting to the point. So let's do it.

There are several passages I referenced when speaking on honouring the Father and I encourage you to read each of them. In terms of a positive context, Daniel 4:37 and Revelation 4:11 (both in the NASB) both use the term "honour". In the former, the previously unbelieving King Nebuchadnezzar, after being humbled in the wilderness, speaks of honouring God. In the latter, the 24 elders fall before the throne of the King and proclaim honour to Him.

Then, in terms of the negative context, Daniel 5:23 (ESV) and I Samuel 2:30 (NASB) speak to dishonouring God. The former is the account of Belshazzar who dishonoured God by using the elements of the Temple to party with. In the latter, it was the sons of Eli, men who served before God, that did heinously dishonour God. (it's worth noting that Belshazzar at least was an unbeliever whilst the sons of Eli were allegedly men of God. This is worthy of reflection.)

There was much more said on the matter than I have time to go into here and perhaps that is just as well as I see this post getting quite lengthy already. So I will conclude with this thought - when it comes to the sentiment of Father's Day, which is that we should honour our fathers, each of us, without exception, has such an opportunity. This is because there is one Father who is eternal and who has made it possible for us to be in close relationship with Him. So, because of this, let us all consider the worthy cause of honouring Him in all things. In contrast, let us be aware that to not honour Him is to dishonour Him. There is no neutral ground here - He is either honoured or dishonoured.

I leave you with the following passage to reflect upon. May it inspire you to be quite intentional in your attitude and behaviour toward your Father by seeking His honour above all things:

"... for those who honour Me I will honour, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed." (1 Samuel 2:30b, ESV)

~~~~~

This post is but one portion of a single message on this topic. After you've commented on this one (I hope you will .... and yes, even criticism is invited), you can click here to read another (final) portion.

The Sign of Things to Come

2010-06-26T21:26:00.006-04:00

If you've ever been to my site before, you can see there's been some major construction going on. I've revamped the look of the site (chose a different template) and added some other features such as twitter connection and Latest Ripples.

This is just the beginning .... kinda, sorta. I hope to add further integration with other social networks while making every effort to retain the look and feel of my blog as you see it now (this earthy tone just soothes me ... lol). The intention is to provide broader access and web presence without getting too caught up in it all. I know for the moment my readership is very limited and those who actually engage me with comments is even more limited (my fault .... that's what happens when not providing content lol). For now, I am okay with that. For now. ;)

So ... just as the title says, these changes are the sign of things to come. At the very least, that which is to come is more writing and in a more consistent time frame. I have aims for that but there are logistical issues I am sorting out along the way so I pray you'll bear with me while I bring it all into working order.

And while I'm thinking about it (which is just about most of the time) ..... thank you. Thank you for visiting. For those that do, thank you for commenting. I know your time is valuable and I appreciate you willing to share it with me, even when I don't know it. :)

Blessings to you all.

Transitions of Prayer: A Personal Reflection

2010-06-07T21:31:00.078-04:00

Just recently I was asked to participate in the mid-week prayer meeting by sharing some kind of devotion. I was given free reign as to what to share on. After a short time of reflection, I easily determined the topic of my devotion: prayer. I assure you it was not intentional that the theme of prayer in my devotion should coincide with the theme of the meeting .... it just worked out that way. Another one of those "things that make you go 'hmmm'". The following is fairly close to what I had to share.

The title speaks for itself as to what I wish to share. I've been doing some reading both of Scripture and of extra-biblical literature and as such, there are some things that I want to get my head and heart around. The following traces the path of my thoughts, from beginning to end, of the matter of prayer. It begins with this familiar passage of Scripture out of Matthew. The reference is Matt. 6:5-13:

5 "When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites;
     for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and
    on the street corners so that they may be seen by men.
    Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

6 But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close
    your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and
    your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward
    you.

7 And when you are praying, do not use meaningless
repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they
will be heard for their many words.

8 So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you
need before you ask Him.

9 Pray, then, in this way:
"Our Father who is in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

10 Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread,

12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from
evil. For Yours is the Kingdom, and the Power and the
Glory forever. Amen.""

Verse 6 says "and pray to your Father ...". I don't know about you but there is something about being able to pray to a Holy God, a Creator Who is so far beyond us and yet so intimately close to us as to be able to hear our prayers.

Verse 9 says "Pray, then, in this way: Our Father .... hallowed be Your Name." It seems right that all prayer be centered upon who God is to us -- Father, an authority figure but also a familiar figure; a leader but also One whom we are intimately in relationship with; a hallowed figure but merciful and gracious enough to make Himself available to us rather than distancing Himself as we might think He ought to.

Verse 11 says "Give us this day ...". It implies that prayer is not spoken sparingly as in every few days or once a week or whatever. Like the people of Israel wandering in the wilderness, manna from God is provided daily and we are to gather it .... daily.

This is the first transition. In my understanding of prayer, I first come to an understanding of Whom it is that I am involved with when I am engaged in prayer. I also come to an understanding of how I ought to approach prayer and the frequency in which I should exercise it. Having this understanding, I transition to the next part -- how it is that my heart can be properly motivated toward prayer. These next thoughts are a part of this.

Proper posture in prayer is often elusive. The many distractions of our heart and mind often dilute or distract the spirit of prayer (no, this is not a reference to the Spirit of God) in which we should pray. Yet God has made a way for us to find that spirit, to gainthat proper posture. David Wilkerson speaks of it in his very moving sermon entitled "Call to Anguish". As you listen to this sermon, don't think on the various issues he presents .... some of them may be applicable but some of them not. No, instead, focus on the heart of the matter -- my words, not David Wilkerson's -- which is - what will it take to get us to pray properly before God?

The heart is led into conviction. Conviction of its own failure to come before God in a true spirit of anguish over the lives of those around us. Conviction of its own self-centredness in the midst of a church body that desperately needs prayer. Conviction of its very real and present need for God.

One begins with an understanding of prayer as taught by the Lord Jesus Himself. Then one transitions into the experience of a heart of conviction likely baptized in anguish as the Lord Himself opens your own heart to experience His. Where does one transition from there? The following are my next thoughts on the matter.

When his heart was in anguish over the conditions he found himself in, another David managed to find these words to express his heart toward the Lord. In fact, the very words are quite excellent as a prayer themselves and should be considered by us for just such a purpose. David, encompassed by his enemies, exercises faith in God and pens these words found in Psalm 27:

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
         whom shall I fear?
   The Lord is the defense of my life;
         whom shall I dread?

2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.

3 Though a host encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
though war arise against me,
in spite of this I shall be confident.

4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord and to
meditate in His temple.

5 For in the day of trouble
         He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
    in the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
         He will lift me up on a rock.

6 And now my head will be lifted up
above my enemies around me,
and I will offer in His tent sacrifices
with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice,
and be gracious to me and answer me.

8 When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You,
"Your face, O Lord, I shall seek."

9 Do not hide Your face from me,
         do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
         Do not abandon me nor forsake me,
         O God of my salvation!

10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the Lord will take me up.

11 Teach me Your way, O Lord,
and lead me in a level path because of my foes.

12 Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and such as breathe out violence.

13 I would have despaired unless I had believed
that I would see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.

14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.

Verse 13 says, "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord...". Is not this the very empowerment of prayer? In anguish we bend the knee, in need we utter our words, in faith we are lifted toward hope that our prayers are heard and may be answered. Yet not for our sake but for His sake that such goodness would be seen in the land of the living.

I wonder not, then, that David, having penned such eloquent expressions of his own heart, would also pen these words of adoration, devotion and confidence in his God, our God, our Father which art in Heaven:

7 I will bless the Lord who has counseled me;
indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.

8 I have set the Lord continually before me;
because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
my flesh also will dwell securely.

10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.

11 You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
(Psalm 16: 7-11)

Understanding. Baptism into anguish. Rejoicing .... to Him, for Him, in Him, because of Him. No doubt in my mind that the path of prayer is filled with these transitions. I believe it to not only be a "one time for all time" lesson but one that also is learned over and over as the Lord, in His infinite wisdom and grace, immerses us deeper and deeper into spiritual waters.

I would make this final offer of words, once again from David but expressive in leading us to a proper posture in prayer, a confidence that answers shall come and a definite hope for tomorrow:

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;

24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.
(Psalm 139:23-24)

May God be honored and glorified. And may His people be encouraged. Amen!!

Return of the Living Dead

2010-06-07T00:32:00.005-04:00

Ok, so it's not exactly a return. One post does not a return make. Nor is it a return from the dead. Unless you count dead to writing. It is, however, as catchy a title as I could come up with in the few seconds before I decided to give in to the urge to write a post. So there it is. And here am I. And there are you.

I have not been without some online presence. Some have decided to follow me on twitter. Now you can too - I just added a 'follow me' twitter badge to my blog (look to the left side of the screen :) ). I even added a 'retweet' button (see below each post). Trying hard to keep to my earthy theme on my blog (it calms me) while still adding a bit of flair. I don't think the twitter stuff interferes too much with my blog aura ... do you?

Well, I wasted my time figuring out how to add the twitter stuff so now I will just end this short post with a little teaser. I plan to leave a post shortly regarding the transitional phases of prayer. Does that tease you enough to want to keep checking back? Of course, now that I've said it, I better deliver, eh? lol.
It's after midnight. Time for my beauty sleep. Thanks for dropping by. Hope you'll come again. I'll watch for you on twitter. :)

Renewal or Change: What Does Your Perspective Need?

2010-03-16T01:30:00.016-04:00

This weekend I am expected to minister from the pulpit. My latest inspiration has to do with the matter of perspective. I've had a number of conversations regarding one's perspective on God, the Christian life, circumstances in life, and so forth. Even in my readings this topic has come up and as such, I feel inclined to share something of what this topic is unveiling in me. I thought I would share a little of that here.

II Corinthians 5:16 says the following:

¹⁶Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.

In simple form, the meaning of this verse is quite telling: where we once viewed others and even God from a certain perspective, that being according to the flesh, we no longer do that. Instead, as those reconciled to God, our perspective has been changed. We now see things according to the Spirit, as they pertain to heaven, as they pertain to the glorifying of the One who has altered our perspective.

As I reflect on this, various thoughts and verses come to mind. First, there is the realization of how those not reconciled to God cannot seem to understand God or His ways. Try as they might, they just never seem to be able to understand Him. Further to this, they also tend to negate or miss out on the reality of miracles, being unable to perceive them as such. Some verses I think speak to this are:

¹⁵But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart;
¹⁶but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
(2 Cor. 3:15-16)

And,

⁵For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
⁶For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
⁷because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
⁸and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
⁹However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
(Rom. 8:5-9)

The first passage speaks of a veil that lies over the eyes of those that are not reconciled to God but to those that are reconciled ("...turn to the Lord"), the veil is lifted. This veil, naturally, gives the individual an inability to perceive things properly in the Lord. Having it lifted, however, opens one's eyes to see God and provides the means to understand or perceive the miracles that God performs in our lives.

The second passage adds to this - those that are walking in the flesh or do not have the Spirit of Christ, hence are not reconciled to God, do not properly perceive the things of God. How, then, can they be expected to understand God or view His miracles as such. Clearly a change in perspective is needed here.

There are other passages that speak to the point of being unreconciled to God. Whether one is an unbeliever who chooses to dismiss God altogether or one is a religious individual who has yet to come to Christ, the end judgement is the same: they walk under the ministry of condemnation, having eyes veiled from the things of God, hearts darkened from receiving the light of God, minds not subject nor able to be subject to Him who sits on high.

Conversely, there are many passages that speak of those that are reconciled to God. Importantly, it's very clear that reconciliation to God is strictly by one means, through one Person - Jesus Christ. Now reconciled, many passages speak to the lifting of the veil from one's eyes, a light now shining in the heart, and the mind now transformed being filled with wisdom and understanding.

These are just some of the thoughts I've had during my preparation for this Sunday's service. They are not fully realized, needing to be stretched out more for the purpose of greater completeness, thoroughness and clarity. However, I certainly see the importance of evaluating my perspective toward God, the Christian life, the circumstances of life and so forth. I need to come to terms with the reality that no proper understanding can be found as long as I remain unreconciled to God. If I am indeed unreconciled, than my perspective is in bad need of change. But having been reconciled to God, if there is any hindrance, any thing in me that keeps me in the shadows as pertaining to God, the Christian life, etc., than may God by His Spirit and in grace, help me to renew my perspective. Now having my perspective renewed or changed, may I rightly give glory to Him who altered my perspective enough that I was able to commit my life to Him through Jesus Christ.

²³Search me, O God, and know my heart;
         Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
    ²⁴And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
         And lead me in the everlasting way.
(Psalm 139:23-24)

Internet Pornography - A Woman's Perspective

2010-03-11T20:44:00.006-05:00

Ever watched the movie "Fireproof"? Great feel-good movie that does a good job, though subtly in most instances, of touching on key factors involved in the breakdown, and build-up, of a marriage relationship. If you've never watched it before, I highly recommend it.

Just the other night, I watched this movie with my oldest daughter. It's not the first time either of us has watched it nor, if memory serves, is it the first time we have watched it together. Regardless of the number of times we've watched it, I can't help noticing that each viewing draws out some previously unseen or forgotten insight. This time around it had to do with the issue of internet pornography.

Just as the title of this post suggests, I'm taking a look at this topic from the perspective of the woman. I'm doing so because there was a line in the movie that really struck home with me. The line goes like this:

"When did I stop being good enough for him?

These words were uttered by the wife of the main character (she being a main character as well). She is speaking to her mother and bemoaning the condition that her marriage has fallen into, one of the factors being that her husband surfs the internet viewing pornography. The words, even without the emotional delivery behind them, give very poignant insight into the heart reaction a woman can experience when her significant other gives himself over to seeking out pornography. Just these few words tell such a broad story.

It's the story of betrayal. When being courted, a woman feels as though she is the center of a man's world. Catching him surfing pornography shatters that perception.

It's the story of personal failure. True, she may not have done more than just being herself to garner this man's attention but now that she sees him seeking sensual fulfillment elsewhere, she may come to think it's her fault somehow that he is doing it.

It's the story of relational hunger. By this I simply mean that her heart desires to be in relationship with someone she can be devoted to and that she feels is devoted to her. Discovering that the one she thought both of these points of devotion were fulfilled with is now devoting his time to pornography, she finds herself beginning to 'starve' for that kind of relationship she thought she already had.

Finally, though certainly not exhaustively, it is a story of honour. More precisely, the lack of honour. There was a time when men sought a high moral ground as a statement of honour before God and, or at least, before men. A man who engages in surfing pornography dishonours himself, his significant other (be they married or not) and, dare I say it, all those that might look to him for integrity and high moral standing (children, parents, friends, and the like).

"When did I stop being good enough for him?" It's a hard-hitting statement that should convict every man who's in a serious relationship. The woman you are with counts on you being devoted to her, even when she's not looking. It's a matter of integrity, of protecting her self-esteem, of being honourable. Let this cry of the heart "When did I stop being good enough for him?" resonate so deeply within that you will use it as a battle cry against any temptation to seek out pornography. She will be glad of it ....... and so will you.

And that doesn't even touch on what God will think of it though I'm sure you can well imagine.

God bless you and thank you for reading this. I hope it helps you where you're at in your relationship.

Stuck in the salt shaker

2010-03-07T23:26:00.004-05:00

Matthew 5:13-16:
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? ... You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. During our bible study this evening we were discussing the "work" of the church. Amongst the many comments that were made, this one stood out:

"Hard to be salt of the earth when we are all sitting in the shaker"

A very telling statement on how many church-goers simply come and make themselves comfortable Sunday after Sunday without giving of themselves to the ministry of the gospel. If only we understood that our passive behaviour denies our neighbour (whomever that may be) an opportunity to come into contact with the Creator God. This is not to say that opportunity cannot come by some other means for surely it can. It does mean, however, and sadly, that our part in it is insignificant and unworthy of our status and calling as a child of God.

May we all get out of the salt shaker!!

After-midnight Musings

2010-03-01T03:40:00.003-05:00

It is after midnight and I sit alone in my bedroom in my usual state of contemplation. I have noted some things that are something of a curiosity to me.

Firstly, my wife has been absent for a few days. Like other times we have been apart, I find the lack of her presence creates something of a vacuum in my life. It's as though I somehow cease to cognitively function, able only to do those things which are of some degree of habit. Deviating from those habits gives me a feeling of 'lost in space', thus the vacuum association to her absence. I wonder what would happen if she were gone for more than just a few days. Thankfully, I don't foresee finding that out any time soon. By God's grace I hope not. Though I must admit, it does generate something of a curiosity for me as I reflect on the meaning and implications of such an experience.

Secondly, I shared my testimony this morning. It didn't necessarily go as I had planned but it did have some points of interest. In particular, after our Sunday School session ended, several people came up to thank me for sharing and a number of them made a rather curious statement. They said, "thank you for sharing so openly and honestly. I don't get to hear that very often and it's quite refreshing." Really? That does not bode well as a witness of those that are within your social circle then does it? How sad a witness it is. May my openness and honesty in the Lord inspire others to be equally so.

In closing, a friend of mine pointed out that she had come to visit my blog. I almost felt bad for her for wasting her time on something I obviously haven't indulged in very much, that is my blog writing. Well, here is one more post for her to read.

Now I am off to bed. Thank you, Lord, for the day and may your Spirit be with me in my dreams.

What happened to commitment?

2009-11-22T17:36:00.005-05:00

June 8th, 2009. That's the date this blog was created and the first post ..... well, posted. So what happened since then? Why no posts? I mean, considering this first post had such high ideals with implied equally high commitment, you would have thought there would be more than just these 2 posts.

I make no apologies for the lack of commitment. Neither do I make excuses. It is what it is. It doesn't, for certain, change the ideals written in this post. It does, however, impose on me the obligation to seek to achieve those ideals. After all, why present them without intent to commit to them. That, to me, is something of a hypocritical posture. To present oneself in a particular way without investing in the very thing one has presented is mere smoke and mirrors, lacking in substance, and should be tossed away or at least simply ignored.

These thoughts may be evidence of remorse toward my lack of action on this blog or yet another example of smoke and mirrors disguising my lack of commitment. Either way, the deed is done. Another to be done. Let what will be, be.

Why 'Ripples on the Pond'

2009-06-08T01:13:00.011-04:00

'Ripples on the Pond' is a result of many weeks, even months, of personal reflection. Motivated by a sincere desire to write yet hindered by a concern over public vs. private disclosure, I refrained from public commentary. However, after much deliberation, I finally determined to follow the conviction to create an online identity. Notwithstanding the potential for failure at meeting the demand on time and need for inspiration to write, 'Ripples on the Pond' is finally given an open opportunity as a forum for expression of any and all thoughts that I deem appropriate enough to share with you, the reading public.

How did I come to choose the name 'Ripples on the Pond'? As the subtitle suggests, I consider each word I write to be as a pebble on the pond. Continuing with the imagery, the readers of this blog are as the pond. When I toss a pebble on the pond (read: write a post that people actually read), there is definitely going to be a ripple effect. That ripple effect, of course, is the reaction readers have to what they read and what they do as a result of that reaction. I want to have a major impact on the world around me (in a positive sense of the word, of course) and it's my hope that each 'pebble' I toss will have the desired ripple effect of stimulating positive personal and societal growth, increasing wisdom, and drawing many to a devoted adherence to truth (or at least the pursuit of it).

A blog can be a good many things to a good many people. There can also be a good many motivations for keeping one. All will be revealed in time, I'm certain. In the meantime, may you enjoy reading my blog.

Something else - I value freedom of expression. It let's me get out what clamours around inside me. I want you to exercise your freedom as well. If you want to offer support in some way, go ahead. If you want to offer criticism, equally feel free to do so. I might be more offended if you didn't say anything than if you said something in disagreement with me.

As a final note, I want to express clearly and openly my deep conviction of faith in Jesus Christ. While not all that I write here will be specifically motivated by any kind of religious thought, you can be certain that I've considered the place God's truth has in what I am writing.

Thank you for reading this, my opening post. May all else my column/blog holds be a blessing indeed to you and may my desired ripple effect impact you in a positive and rewarding way.

Resting in Him,
Cornelius