Planned books:
- Purity of Heart (Harper Torchbooks) by Soren Kierkegaard
- Living Love: A Modern Edition of Treatise on the Love of God (Christian Classics (Brewster, Mass.).) by De Sales, Saint Francis
- True Spirituality by Francis A. Schaeffer
- Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith by Henri J. M. Nouwen
- The Daily Reader for Contemplative Living: Excerpts from the Works of Father Thomas Keating, O.C.S.O by Thomas Keating
Current books:
-
Proper Confidence: Faith, Doubt, and Certainty in Christian Discipleship by Lesslie Newbigin
-
The Rule of Benedict: Insights for the Ages (Crossroad Spiritual Legacy Series) by Sister Joan Chittister OSB
-
The Art of Christian Listening by Thomas N. Hart
-
Nudge: Awakening Each Other to the God Who’s Already There by Leonard Sweet Ph.D
-
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas
Recent books:
- Letters and Papers from Prison by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
- The Delicate Art of Dancing With Porcupines: Learning to Appreciate the Finer Points of Others by Bob Phillips
- The Art of Talking So That People Will Listen: Getting Through to Family, Friends by Paul W. Swets
- Invitation to Biblical Preaching: Proclaiming Truth with Clarity and Relevance (Invitation to Theolo by Donald Sunukjian
- On the Incarnation: De Incarnatione Verbi Dei (Popular Patristics Series) by St. Athanasius
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Week 4: A Lenten Reflection
March 19th, 2010 | 
Author: Lent Week 4: An Interactive Reflection
Personalizing the Readings from Week Four (An exercise interacting with God’s word to me) –Scripture References from Lectionary (Cycle C)
Joshua 5:9-12 || Psalm 32:1-11 || Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 ||| 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Oh! My joy is complete! Today my sin has been put out of sight…my disobedience has been forgiven. The Lord says, “Today I have rolled away the shame of your reproach.” My confidence is restored; as I walked through the desert of disobedience, my body groaned all day long in my fear that I would waste away. Finally, realizing the folly of my rebellion, my heavenly Father made His appeal to me through my Older Brother; “Come home, he said. Be reconciled to our Father.” I have come to my senses; no longer will I wallow in the extravagant foolishness of my own self indulgence. Confessing my rebellion to my Lord, I stopped hiding my guilt…and He forgave me. I am reconciled! I am restored!
What joy for those whose lives are lived in complete honesty in pursuit of intimate fellowship with the Triune God. For He is my hiding place; He protects me from choices that lead to my undoing, because He leads me by His Spirit. He surrounds me with songs of victory. The Lord says to me, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” So I rejoice in the Lord and I am glad, for my joy rests in unflinching obedience to His righteous ways! I shout for joy, my heart is pure; His unfailing love surrounds me because I trust in Him, my holy God…my Savior King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies and the Lover of my soul.
“What is the path, O Lord?” I ask with the obedient desire seeping from the pores of my soul. He speaks to me and reveals my mission…clarity coming in the form of the divine mystery…He will now make His appeal to my other wayward brothers and sisters through me! He is defining my path, giving me the task of reconciler; He is naming me Ambassador of the Older Brother, my proclamation is to speak for Him… “Come back to God, our Father!” Our Older Brother, who is the Christ, has provided the means for us to be made right with God. This is my path, bearer and crier of this marvelous message of reconciliation. My old life is gone, a distant and disintegrating memory of my former self. My new life, my new path, has begun… I am new son; forgiven, reconciled, and restored… I sing a new song as a new son; my song is named Immortal Eternal Victorious Joy. Amen. ~~Jeff Borden
The effect of prayer is union with God, and, if someone is with God, he is separated from the enemy.
Through prayer we guard our chastity, control our temper and rid ourselves of vanity. It makes us forget injuries, overcomes envy, defeats injustice and makes amends for sin. . .
It will refresh you when you are weary and comfort you when you are sorrowful. . . Prayer is the delight of the joyful as well as the solace of the afflicted. . . Prayer is intimacy with God and contemplation of the invisible. ~~Gregory of Nyssa
“I am not what I ought to be — ah, how imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be — I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good! I am not what I hope to be — soon, soon shall I put off mortality, and with mortality all sin and imperfection. Yet, though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was; a slave to sin and Satan; and I can heartily join with the apostle, and acknowledge, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” ~~John Newton
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Unity. Hmmm?
Sometimes good and some times, er, not so good?
Just wondering…
What if God is the author of our disagreements and separations?
“And all things are of God…” 2 Cor 5:18, Rom 11:36, Col 1:16-17, etc.
Are we working for “Unity?” And NOW working against God?
Didn’t God confuse man’s language once before?
Aren’t those things that happened to others,
written for us to learn from?
Now all these things happened unto them for examples:
and they are written for our admonition,
upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1 Cor 10:11
For whatsoever things were written aforetime
were written for our learning,
that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures have hope.
Rom 15:4
Didn’t God intervene when “man was in unity”
with their own devices, their own plans,
trying to build something themselves,
to reach heaven and “make a name for themselves?”
Could that be the ekklesia’s problem today also?
Doing their own thing – NOT God’s thing?
**Man trying to build something?
(Movements? Denominations? Church Planting?)
**And make a name for themselves?
(“Titles” on buildings, schools, websites, books, diplomas, etc.)
**Being in unity they could accomplish anything?
wikipedia lists many, Nay – 1,000’s, of Denominations.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations
…let us build us a city and a tower,
whose top may reach unto heaven;
and let us make us a name…
Gen 11:4
Gen 11:6-8
And the LORD said, Behold,
the people is one, (unity?)(this doesn’t sound good?)
and they have all one language; (unity-sound alike?)
and this they begin to do: (work together?)
and now nothing will be restrained from them,
(we can do anything, working together?)
which they have imagined to do.
(“the imagination of man’s heart is evil.”)
( Gen 6:5, Gen 8:21, Jer 3:17, Jer 11:8.)
Go to, let us go down,
and there **confound their language,** that they may
**not understand one another’s speech…**
(Hmmm? Sound familiar?)
(Baptist, Pentecostal, Reformed, Calvinist, Egalitarian, Mercy Lord… )
God often gives us what we ask for, and, “A Little Bit Extra.”
Want some “Meat” in the wilderness?
God also sends “leanness to the soul.” Psalm 106:15. Oy Vey!
Want some “Kings” to rule over us?
How did that work out? 1 Sam 8:11-19 Ouch!
“Traditions of men” nullify the word of God.
Mark 7:13
Hmmm? Just wondering…
What if God is the author of our disagreements and separations?
Then what…???
Are we working for Unity? And NOW – working against God?
First, thank you for taking the time to post. I’m not sure if you are asking questions that are looking for a response or if your intent is more toward a rhetorical bent. Nonetheless, I think to one end your observations are correct in the sense that when man is pursuing his own ambitions in effort to advance a god of his own making that God does discourage those efforts. On the other end of the spectrum lies God’s desire for unity. I think there is no incongruity or disparity in Scripture to support this (unity) as God’s master design and end goal. If I have missed your point, I would love to continue dialogue…perhaps you can clarify your question or point in one or two sentences. Thanks again, and God Bless!
Jeff
I just believe, “the Body of Christ” is in “Unity.” It’s “His Body.”
I don’t believe there is disunity in…
Jesus – He is the head of the Body, (the ekklesia, the called out one’s,) The Church.
Col 1:18
There is “ONE” fold, “ONE” shepherd, “ONE” voice… }}}} Jesus {{{{
John 10:16
And when we’re in Christ “we” are “ONE.” No division or separation.
There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither bond nor free,
there is neither male nor female:
for ye are all “ONE” in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:28
Neither Baptist nor Assemblies of God.
Neither Evangelical nor Pentecostal.
Neither Leaders nor Followers.
Neither Clergy nor Laity.
All “ONE” in Christ Jesus.
Now, “The Church of Man,”
“The Church of Baptist,”
“The Church of England.” Choose one…
That’s a different story. Oy Vey!
That’s what you see with your eyes.
But, the kingdom of God comes – NOT – with observation. It is within.
Luke 17:20-21.
Be Blessed.
P.S. Is there some way to have your response sent automatically?
lovefaith101@gmail.com
Ok A. Amos, I think I get what you are saying. If I “hear” you correctly, you are saying “by default” the Body of Christ is in unity. (I’m making a further assumption that your original comment might be in relational context to my review of Your Church is too Small?). I think, ideally, your premise is accurate, but is His Body truly unified? And, if the Kingdom of God cannot be observed… how does it tangibly manifest itself? Jesus said, we would know a tree by the fruit it bears… Tangible and empirical evidence should be manifest which reveals the Kingdom to the world. The word of God tells us this tangible evidence is something that can be seen in good works and deeds, reconciling and restoring brokenness of a fallen world back to God. These things start with the “kingdom within,” but the kingdom works its way out so that it can be revealed and observed.
I think I hear you saying that the institutions of man “church of whoever” falls outside of the definition of unity that you describe. I think I hear you say that diversity does not equate with disunity. I think I would tend to agree with you as this is loosely defined. My question and what I ponder is this; how do we work toward a greater unity…? How do we find agreement with all the groups who purport their alignment with Jesus, but their actions still manifest a sectarian and elitist attitude? How might we find our 21st century church bringing honor, wholeness, and positive affirmation to the prayer of Jesus in John’s Gospel chap. 17?
I have activated a plugin that should give you the option to receive email notifications to this thread now.
Thanks again for your thoughtful commentary!
jeff
Jeff
You write…
“how do we work toward a greater unity…?”
“How do we find agreement with all the groups who purport their alignment with Jesus,
but their actions still manifest a sectarian and elitist attitude?”
I’ve come to believe it’s NOT “our work” to do. “Work toward greater unity” or “find agreement.”
“Unity” will come from God.
Our focus, according to John 17, is on becoming “ONE” – not unity. Hmmm?
Do a word study on “ONE” and see what the Lord will show you.
Jesus warned us about “Traditions of men” that nullify “The Word of God.” Mark 7:13
Along with false apostles, many false prophets, false teachers, etc…
You, I, and many others, have struggled with this idea of “Unity.”
What it means to the body of Christ? To “Me?” To “Us?”
Been around for awhile, have seen only separations and divisions
with believers. Often – much pain, tears, and “Spiritual Abuse.”
Disunity among individuals, congregations, denominations, movements.
What is popular is not always truth.
What is truth is not always popular.
I’ve come to understand God is the author of “My” separations.
God is the author of my crucifictions. Pick up your cross daily?
It might not be pretty but it’s worth it.
Cried out to God once, nay, screams and tears, after so many…
Church splits… After years of fellowship together… division…
Pastors verses elders… Good brothers, who you trust, turn on you…
Lie about you… Good friends, who you love, are no longer around…
Separation after separation, pain after pain…
O LORD, HOW MANY SEPARATIONS? I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE…
He replied…
I’m not separating you from people, I’m separating you unto myself.
Hmmm? All the pain, tears and broken hearts, only Jesus can heal.
Now, I can give thanks for all the division and seperations. Peace
Come, and let us return unto the LORD:
for he hath torn, and he will heal us;
he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
Hosea 6:1
I know, O LORD, that thy judgments [are] right,
and [that] thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
Psalm 119:75
Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours,
a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
Psalm 44:13
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth?
I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
Luke 12:51
What if God is the author of our crucifictions,
disagreements and separations? Hmmm?
When you become “ONE” with Christ…
And I become “ONE” with Christ…
Have mercy Lord…
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:
them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice;
and there shall be “ONE” fold, and “ONE” shepherd.
John 10:16
One Fold – One Shepherd – One Voice.
Be blessed and be a blessing.
I think we are talking (closely) about a very similar point of view, and perhaps struggling over semantics and articulation …or I am confused and not completely identifying with your perspective.
I recognize that people are “broken” relative to their “Adamic nature;” however, I believe that Scripture teaches that we are “reborn” as “New Creatures” in the image of Christ when we recognize our brokenness, repent of our selfish and sinful selves, and receive the fullness of His atonement for us. In this, we can walk as ONE in Unity relationally with one another and unified in mission (purposing God’s Kingdom). I do not think we can live for and serve God wholly (as per His design) without one another… thus, the quotation of Paul “many parts-one body” John writes in his first epistle that we are to love our Christian brothers and sisters…and without this love, the love of God is not in us.
Are you saying that division is something that God’s Spirit does to His own body (the Church)? I do not think that is the intent of Jesus’ words…Nor do I think the separation you quote from other passages are contextually accurate to this thinking. I think God separates us from our old nature. I think God separates us from the longing of things temporal. I think God separates us from people and paths that are at odds with His nature and Kingdom, but if we are truly His… the Spirit unifies and brings relational harmony… “Oneness” Triune harmony… the Perichoresis… the divine dance.
Jeff – Wow!!!
Just read the 1st line of this post…
“Oh! My joy is complete! Today my sin has been put out of sight…”
Just the opposite for me.
Talk about missing the mark. You know sin.
Just realized, I was trying to post this on the book review you did for John Armstrong
“Your Church is to small” I only missed the mark by one post.
Sorry. My “Sin” has found me out.
Sounds like we are very close. Yes, “many parts – one body”
“I think God separates us from people and paths that are at odds
with His nature and Kingdom, but if we are truly His…
the Spirit unifies and brings relational harmony…
“Oneness” Triune harmony… the Perichoresis… the divine dance.”
Much agreement here. I like that – The divine dance.
And I do believe God has no problem bringing division to “Church.”
The 501 (c) 3, non-profit, tax deductible, Religious $ Corporation, church.
Don’t think we shold be calling $ corporations “The Church of God.”
Now, Jesus is the head of the body, the church. Is different.
I have a friend who always says, Jesus likes himself when he meets himself,
Christ in you, Christ in me. Yes. When we meet – “ONE.”
My challenge is with this “Corrupt Religious System” most call church,
and “Spiritual Abuse” that is all around us.
IMO – That’s NOT the body. Some of the body might sit in the pews.
But, NOT everyone is a son of God, led by the Spirit.
Not everyone is a “Disciple of Christ,” forsaking all.
Many, within the System, running the system, are suspect.
Just my belief – NO unity in the system – ever.
“IMO – That’s NOT the body. Some of the body might sit in the pews. But, NOT everyone is a son of God, led by the Spirit. Not everyone is a “Disciple of Christ,” forsaking all. Many, within the System, running the system, are suspect. Just my belief – NO unity in the system – ever.
I think I agree.
There will always be this incongruity on this side of eternity (wheat and tares). I struggle with this. I really do. In many ways. I turned my back on “church” (the corporation as you referred) for thirteen years… cursing it, hating it, and demonizing it before every ear that could hear… I almost lost my soul in the process.
God broke me into a million pieces and I came away with this thought seared into my heart and mind; “She is my Bride. You cannot love Me if you do not love Her. If you see Her with ‘spot’ and ‘wrinkle,’ roll up your sleeves and put hand to plow…” Now, I plow among the wheat and the tares…careful to remember that Jesus will be the One that divides (as you have pointed out). My mission is to strive for Oneness and Unity with hope looking forward.
I think, despite our different experiences and the challenges that electronic communication present, we are on the same page… One might even say… unified
Jeff
Enjoyed the conversation.
“I think, despite our different experiences and the challenges that electronic communication present,
we are on the same page… One might even say… unified”
Yes… Praise you Jesus…
Zec 14:9
And the LORD shall be king over all the earth:
in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name “ONE.”
John 10:30
I and my Father are “ONE.”
1 Cor 10:17
For we being many are “ONE” bread, and “ONE” body:
1 John 5:7
For there are three that bear record in heaven,
the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost:
and these three are “ONE.”
“ONE” might even say… unified.
Thank you Jesus.
Amen.
Thank you for stopping by. I also enjoyed the chat
Blessings to you, fellow sojourner.
jb