Why tell the Story in such a brief and categorically way?

I’ve tried telling a short version of God’s Story told in Scripture. I’m certainly not unique in attempting this. My main hope is showing the gospel (death / burial / resurrection) in connection with how God created people and the world, how people and the world now are (mixed good and bad) and how God will bring things to completion (good over bad). For 2 main reasons:

1) Some people get confused about God in light of their experiences of the mix of good and bad in life

a. Some non-Christians either don’t think they need God because

i. They have enough good as is and thus don’t need God

ii. They think God isn’t really good because there is evil and suffering

b. Some Christians get discouraged about the seeming distance of God

i. They see non-Christians enjoying their life without God and religion so they wonder why they bother

ii. They don’t see God rescue them from really hard situations so they wonder if He really cares (or is really even there)

2) Some Christians get confused about our purpose

a.

Some think we get saved and just try and ‘hold on’ until Jesus returns

i. Stay focused on the church (internally)

ii. Avoid bad people and things

b. Some think we should just be a version of good people among others

i. ‘Good doesn’t have to be directly connected to God, all religions (and non-religion) are fine as long as they are good’

ii. ‘Getting along is more important than getting right (mercy focused grace is everything)’

But we know scripture teaches that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works, but saved so that we may be useful (Eph2:8-10 and such).

So:

1. Creation: God made us. Therefore He determines what is right and should get appropriate recognition.

2. Fall: Although it is true that everyone has good in them (image of God) it is also true that everyone has defied their Creator and needs redemption

3. Redemption: Only Jesus was qualified to redeem us. Only Jesus actually does redeem us. We must go through him uniquely to be justified.

4. Transformation: We are not saved just to avoid bad, we are saved to be empowered to fulfill our original purposes of living wisely under God for the world

i. therefore we eagerly seek to grow up in character along with the family (church is good AND intentional)

ii. and we eagerly seek to offer goodness in general and gospel hope in particular to the world around us

5. Completion: God in Christ is the future and we should rearrange all of our priorities accordingly (even if it is hard and not always obvious)

The 7 habits scheme revisited

A decade or so ago "7 Habits" was THE thing for getting life together. A side controversy for some Christians was the dilemma arising from the fact that the author was a Mormon. But, the Mormon ideas of man becoming god and such really aren't on display. Essentially Covey read a bunch of growth/productivity stuff, much of which was very Biblically influenced. He then compiled his observations in as brief a format as he could. These observations seem to fit with life. Essentially that argument is as follows:

If you are always reacting to your circumstances you are like a boat without a rudder. No reason to expect anything but chronic crisis and 'bad luck'. What makes the difference between most 'victim-minded' people and over-comers? Taking responsibility; for themselves 1^st.

The move is from dependence to interdependence by being intentional. Choose to pursue something and then do what will actually get you there. Sounds obvious, but darned if we are prone to missing the obvious. We do all sorts of stuff for reasons that sound pretty lame when we get asked: "why do you do that?"

Supposing we take responsibility for our lives we then achieve independence. We are more or less in control of ourselves (for a given project/role etc.). But that is not a successful life. That is lonely and limited. Life is lived with others. The goal of breaking from dependence is so that one isn't just an echo of others; they actually have a voice, something to contribute.

How then do we integrate what we now have to offer with others? The mindset starts with goodness. The goal isn't to 'beat' others, it is to share in ways that more good occurs for you and them. So, you take the time to understand who others are and what they have to contribute to a given task/role and as appropriate you share what you have to offer. Then, in cooperation the combo becomes more than the sum of its parts.

The result? Community that works. Tribe. You give and get, not by dominating or being dominating, but by unity in diversity. The challenge then is to stay fresh as new roles and challenges present themselves. Sounds quite sensible, really.

1. Dependence – danger of being reactionary. Symptoms? Crisis / Withdraw / Crisis
   
   1. "be proactive" – you are a spirit/will. Act like it. Choose
      
   2. "begin with the end in mind" treasure wisely – what will have mattered when all is done?
      
   3. "put 1^st things 1^st" – put off what won't get there and put on what will
      
2. Independence – now you have something to offer. To whom? In what way?
   
   1. "think win/win" join with others with idea of beneficial cooperation (Garden City)
      
   2. "understand/understood" take in info to determine what info to contribute
      
   3. "synergize" gifts working together multiply effectiveness
      
3. Interdependence – TRIBE. You belong to something bigger than you
   

"Sharpen the Saw" – keep learning and flowing through the cycle

Is this really legit?

Consider the call to move from being reactionary to the impulses of the 'world':

Romans 12:1-5 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (2) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (3) For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. (4) For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, (5) so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

World > body > mind > will = conformed to this world.

"Body as living sacrifice" means you break the addiction to the world dictating who you are and what you desire and thus do. Stop being a reactionary consumerist! (something like that).

"Transformed by the renewal of your mind" means you have different choices than what the world offers. Free from being reactionary you have a chance to exercise your will wisely. This is of course "by the mercies of God". Then we can go for what is best.

BUT: don't get too puffed up, we need others. The end goal is that we are 1 body in Christ, unity in diversity.

Daffodils and Petunias

Annuals:(like petunias) by definition are plants whose life cycle lasts only one year, from seed to blooms to seed. Removing the flowers as they fade prolongs the blooming cycle, but if left to produce seeds, many annuals will readily reseed themselves. Annuals are usually available in little starter 'six packs' or in 4 inch 'color spots'. They are an excellent way to create a great splash of summer color in the garden, or for long blooming annual baskets.

Perennials (like daffodils) like old friends return year after year, growing in size and stature until they reach their full maturity. Although they live on longer, many perennials lose their vigor after 3-4 years, and should be replaced. Most perennial plants may be divided to produce new plants, or they may be grown from seeds or cuttings. Perennials are available as 4 inch starters, or in gallon size or larger pots.

Petunia ministries: do good from the overflow of your own community. It helps share goodness in a field needing goodness. Must be repeatedly planted from the outside.

Daffodil ministries: develop ways for a community to have ongoing goodness from themselves. Might need help from time to time to get refreshed.

 

Colossians advice

I am trying to get a sense of proportional emphasis in Scripture. I keep asking: What are the things that keep getting emphasized book after book to the church? The primary thing I keep seeing is that Christians should foster gratitude by realizing what a huge deal it is to be forgiven and blessed. Our life purpose is now trusting that 'in Christ' is the secret to life's paradoxes. When we invest in grateful understanding the relationship of the Creator and the creation, the unseen and the seen, we begin to reorient our sense of priority in how we handle ourselves. Essentially being human is some kind of conduit between God and creation. Our job, then, is to grow in meaningful awareness of who God is such that we are changed and matured. As we mature in our recalibrations we are better able to fulfill our once and future role in creation. But there is a catch:

Colossians 3:1-6 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (2) Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (3) For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (4) When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (5) Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (6) On account of these the wrath of God is coming.

The life we are to be investing in is not readily visible, not even to ourselves. We are doing a partially blind investment. It is very difficult because visible investments are all around us and we are being told to avoid those and invest in what will have partial returns now. The killer challenge is to meaningfully believe that "your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." IF that is believed, then we invest accordingly. IF that is not believed, or not believed very well, we will struggle in our Christian life, largely doing things out of social obligation and short term returns (which happens a lot).

Therefore consider and trust that life=Christ and don't get distracted. (right?)

Painting Pictures of Egypt, by Sara Groves

I don't want to leave here 
I don't want to stay 
It feels like pinching to me either way 
The places I long for the most 
Are the places where I've been 
They are calling after me like a long lost friend

It's not about losing faith 
It's not about trust 
It's all about comfortable 
When you move so much 
The place I was wasn't perfect 
But I had found a way to live 
It wasn't milk or honey 
But then neither is this

CHORUS: 
I've been painting pictures of Egypt 
Leaving out what it lacked 
The future seems so hard 
And I want to go back 
But the places that used to fit me 
Cannot hold the things I"ve learned 
And those roads closed off to me 
While my back was turned 

The past is so tangible 
I know it by heart 
Familiar things are never easy to discard 
I was dying for some freedom 
But now I hesitate to go 
Caught between the promise 
And the things I know

BRIDGE: 
If it comes too quick 
I may not recognize it 
Is that the reason behind all this time and sand? 
If it comes too quick 
I may not appreciate it 
Is that the reason behind all this time and sand?

soul pancake 0 spiritual debate

Smoke

Ecclesiastes 6:11-12 "The more words that are spoken, the more smoke there is in the air. And who is any better off? And who knows what's best for us as we live out our meager smoke-and-shadow lives? And who can tell any of us the next chapter of our lives?"