Sunday, March 17, 2013
Rest
Because of the generosity of friends, we are able to take a week away from the city. This is nice. We are grateful.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Calming beauty
I've always been a soccer fan. Got up a little early this morning to do laundry and Fulham v Stoke City is on. Don't particularly know the players or have a stake in either team.
But what is always great to see is the way in which players create space. The ball is often played backwards which doesn't make a lot of sense in a fast paced sports world. That's how you create space. You don't always look or move forward. Sometimes you play is backwards. Using the whole field and having a vision for where the ball could go allows the players to put the ball where it should go, in the back of the net.
Just because you're moving forward, doesn't mean you're advancing.
But what is always great to see is the way in which players create space. The ball is often played backwards which doesn't make a lot of sense in a fast paced sports world. That's how you create space. You don't always look or move forward. Sometimes you play is backwards. Using the whole field and having a vision for where the ball could go allows the players to put the ball where it should go, in the back of the net.
Just because you're moving forward, doesn't mean you're advancing.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The Apprentice
Acts 18:24-28
24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
How open are you to teaching, to rebuke, to correction? How willing are you to listen when someone else comes along to offer a better way?
You know the old jokes and sayings about women who ask for directions and men who will stay lost? Well, yesterday, while in a gas station, a man came in and asked for directions while the wife stayed in the car. It breaks the mold a little bit. But in our Christian walk, we should not be afraid to ask for directions, to ask for help, or ashamed that we don't know the way. Like Apollos, we too, can have an effective ministry while striving to learn more about ourselves and the God we serve. We don't have to do great works of convincing or arguing like Apollos, but we should be open to receive criticism when someone says, "You can do better."
Today, think of someone you can go to for directions, for guidance, or for hope. And if you are not ready to go to that person, say a prayer for them and for you, that the Holy Spirit will guide you into that person's path.
Prayer: God, help me to have the mind of an apprentice who learns from those willing to teach, that I may better know your will and walk in your way. Amen.
G. Thomas Martin
24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
How open are you to teaching, to rebuke, to correction? How willing are you to listen when someone else comes along to offer a better way?
You know the old jokes and sayings about women who ask for directions and men who will stay lost? Well, yesterday, while in a gas station, a man came in and asked for directions while the wife stayed in the car. It breaks the mold a little bit. But in our Christian walk, we should not be afraid to ask for directions, to ask for help, or ashamed that we don't know the way. Like Apollos, we too, can have an effective ministry while striving to learn more about ourselves and the God we serve. We don't have to do great works of convincing or arguing like Apollos, but we should be open to receive criticism when someone says, "You can do better."
Today, think of someone you can go to for directions, for guidance, or for hope. And if you are not ready to go to that person, say a prayer for them and for you, that the Holy Spirit will guide you into that person's path.
Prayer: God, help me to have the mind of an apprentice who learns from those willing to teach, that I may better know your will and walk in your way. Amen.
G. Thomas Martin
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Reality
"Please pack your knives and go." "You are out." "You're fired." "You did not make the cut." "You are the weakest link." "Send him to the place where there will be much weeping and gnashing of teeth." Words from Jesus in Matthew's 22 chapter sound like words of ending for a certain guest to the party. What makes these words even harder is when we realize that he is sent out because he is not prepared. Much like reality television, when one person does not qualify to go on to the next round, this guest is not only asked to leave the party, he is tied, bound, and sent to a place that conjures up images of hell itself. What makes this passage even harder for me is the fact that he is thrown out because his clothes are not up to par.
If one were to take a kind of literal reading, one could say that one interpretation of scripture leads us to affirm the need to dress up in worship. If that were the case, I would expect to see everyone in their white robes next week. Perhaps the more dangerous reading is to say that since the man is not prepared, he is thrown to the place where there will be much weeping and gnashing of teeth. If that is the case, and if Jesus is indeed teaching us about being prepared for the kingdom of heaven, it seems that all we need to do is work on obtaining our Christian merit badges, or the appropriate garment.
No longer is the way of a Christian about running the race, pressing on, or serving the Lord. Instead, we linger on the sidelines, we look back to make sure that we have done what is necessary, and we end up serving our own self interest. When Christ invites us to the party, he invites everyone. All are called, few are chosen. For Christians, freedom and salvation does not come by what we dress, what we accumulate, or how high we esteem ourselves. It is God's grace that frees us, that welcomes us, and even in our times of weeping and gnashing of teeth, is aware of how many hairs are on our heads.
If one were to take a kind of literal reading, one could say that one interpretation of scripture leads us to affirm the need to dress up in worship. If that were the case, I would expect to see everyone in their white robes next week. Perhaps the more dangerous reading is to say that since the man is not prepared, he is thrown to the place where there will be much weeping and gnashing of teeth. If that is the case, and if Jesus is indeed teaching us about being prepared for the kingdom of heaven, it seems that all we need to do is work on obtaining our Christian merit badges, or the appropriate garment.
No longer is the way of a Christian about running the race, pressing on, or serving the Lord. Instead, we linger on the sidelines, we look back to make sure that we have done what is necessary, and we end up serving our own self interest. When Christ invites us to the party, he invites everyone. All are called, few are chosen. For Christians, freedom and salvation does not come by what we dress, what we accumulate, or how high we esteem ourselves. It is God's grace that frees us, that welcomes us, and even in our times of weeping and gnashing of teeth, is aware of how many hairs are on our heads.
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