So, What Kind of Reconciliation Is That?

3 March 2010

Most preachers worth their jobs could expound from their pulpits for years to address how life should NOT be lived, just by following what goes on in Washington politics.

Only in Washington could such a beautiful biblical word like “reconciliation” be twisted into something so ugly as our slick, hypocritical politicians have made it.

“Reconciliation” in the Congress is about the majority party giving the shaft to the minority, by means of a rarely-used political maneuver, so the majority can force its will in an irregular way upon their colleagues across the aisle.

Before anyone gets lathered by thinking I sound partisan in a period of Democratic Party rule, let me note that BOTH major parties have used “reconciliation” in unseemly ways. Yesterday it was Republicans doing it. Today it’s the Democrats. Both parties of lawmakers have been this oily. This is “reconciliation” Washington style.

On the other hand, biblical reconciliation has to do with bringing people together, not driving them apart to despise one another. Think Abram and Lot. Jacob and Esau. Joseph and his eleven brothers. Peter and Paul. Paul and Barnabas. There are many examples in Scripture of one-time adversaries being reconciled.

The Bible is ALL about reconciliation. From mankind’s first sin in the Garden of Eden, God had a plan for Man to be reconciled back to him. From there, it is left to us to be reconciled to one another. “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity…” (Psalms 133:1). Whatever “reconciliation” means in Washington is nothing close to that. It’s ugly and self-centered and arrogant.

Easter is a wonderful time to think about what God did to bring reconciliation to us.
Jesus dying in agony upon a cross he didn’t deserve, so we can avoid one that we do deserve, is the most beautiful picture of reconciliation ever painted.

As we move through this amazing season of God’s grace, is there anyone with whom you need to be reconciled? How ready are you? How willing are you to do for another what God did for you?

Bill

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Weather or Not

17 February 2010

It is one of the “safe” topics to talk about with anyone. It transcends age, gender, education and even economics. Regardless of who you are or even where you are from everyone talks freely about the weather. On every local and national news broadcasts or early morning shows there is always a weather segment. Some of these weather reporters have taken their personalities much further than simply giving a daily percentage of a chance for precipitation. (See Willard Scott though he was the original Ronald McDonald before he started giving the weather.) Who would have guessed that once cable TV came into the mainstream that there would be a channel exclusively given over to weather 24 hours a day?

Certainly in its young history 2010 has made its impression by its weather. All over the country these first two months have had record snowfalls and cold temperatures. There does not seem to be any area of North America that has not been affected in some way or another. Even when the weather in one area is not that bad the bad weather somewhere else impacts people dramatically. All types of transportation are hindered if not coming to a complete standstill as people scramble to get to their destinations. The Olympics even though they count on winter weather heavily have had to make drastic changes to their schedule due to rain, warm temperatures, fog and even heavy snow! Then there are us in Florida who pull on a parka at 60 degrees and wonder why no one in any other part of the country feels sorry for us.

One does not have to be Biblical scholar or a theologian to recognize God’s sovereignty even over the weather. There are passages that report that floods, storms, wind and the sun itself all are under His command. When we feel “victimized” by the weather we often neglect to consider that all of it is under His control. We might not like it much less understand it as we look out the window to see what the weather is, but regardless God is still in charge. Remember it is the disciples after waking Jesus up and watching Him calm the storm are not only in awe but afraid of Him. They were more fearful of Him than they were of the storm itself which caused them to wake Him in the first place.

“Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey him?” (Mark 4:41)

Hmmm if the wind and the waves obey him, why don’t we?

Bruce

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God Hits The Boards - Again

8 February 2010

Did you hear the hullabaloo about the billboard brawl going on in the Bay area? The two sides on either flank of God are at it again. Christians have had their billboards up in the area for about six months, promoting God’s existence, and now the secularist doubters have put up their objections, claiming people can be good enough without God at all.

Check out the St. Petersburg Times local Page 1 edition of 2/8/10 for the full scoop.

Now, I’m a guy who believes Christians should be able to intelligently and articulately present a case for God. The apostle Peter calls us to be ready to give an answer to those who ask the reason for hope and faith that lives within us.

But, really, isn’t it a little dumb to resort to billboards to validate the reality of God? I mean, which do you think God really wants – a billboard to put his name in print along interstates, or a follower of Jesus to put the love of God and life of God into action, so others around us can feel it? I know the answer to that question. And I’m sure you do, too.

“…let your light so shine before [others] that they may see your good deeds ane praise your father in heaven.” [Matthew 5:16].

Got an opinion? Let’s talk about it.

Bill

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Less is More

29 January 2010

Nicholas Kristof is not a Christian.

He’s Jewish.

For that matter, he’s an atheist.

How’s that for a starting point in a pastor’s blog?

In any event, Kristof is a columnist for the New York Times – among the really bright spots in that newspaper. Like the Times, he tilts to the left, but he finds themes for his writing that sometimes make me want to pump my fist and shout, “Yes!”

I dare you to read his recent column in the wake of Haiti, highlighting a family that took an astonishing step. Their action was revolutionary and radical. Beyond the box like few other things that I’ve seen. It fits with everything I know about living like Jesus.

Below is the link to the article. Just click on it and take pleasure in reading.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/opinion/24kristof.html

And let me know what you think.

Bill

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Ryan Bingham

14 January 2010

“How much does your life weigh? Imagine for a second that you’re carrying a backpack. I want you to pack it with all the stuff that you have in your life… you start with the little things. The shelves, the drawers, the knickknacks, then you start adding larger stuff. Clothes, tabletop appliances, lamps, your TV… the backpack should be getting pretty heavy now. You go bigger. Your couch, your car, your home… I want you to stuff it all into that backpack. Now I want you to fill it with people. Start with casual acquaintances, friends of friends, folks around the office… and then you move into the people you trust with your most intimate secrets. Your brothers, your sisters, your children, your parents and finally your husband, your wife, your boyfriend, your girlfriend. You get them into that backpack, feel the weight of that bag. Make no mistake your relationships are the heaviest components in your life. All those negotiations and arguments and secrets, the compromises. The slower we move the faster we die. Make no mistake, moving is living. Some animals were meant to carry each other to live symbiotically over a lifetime. Star crossed lovers, monogamous swans. We are not swans. We are sharks.”

This poignant “motivational speech” from Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) in the highly acclaimed movie Up in the Air, continues to play over in my mind. The critical look at relationships and the complications they bring to a life are presented in thought provoking fashion. Rarely do I ever recommend a movie and certainly I am not saying people should rush out to see a “R” rated flick but the message of the film and even the paragraph above are worthy of your consideration. We live in a world where relationships are becoming more and more of endangered species. With our ever changing technology from texts to Twitter, from I-phones to Facebook rarely are people connecting “face to face anymore.”

We seemed bent on lightening our loads of relationships since as Clooney states they “are the heaviest components in our life.” In our world where calories and carbs are looked at with a critical eye, so too it seems are our relationships. We seem to be making choices to do without. Certainly life is more encumbered with people and they weigh us down at times. However, to begin paring them out of our lives so that we can live longer and move faster has our relational arteries clogging faster that a double bacon cheeseburger.

Instead of purging our relationships we need to be purposing them. Let’s concentrate on spending more time with people with the intent to listen so as to become more involved in their lives as we allow them more access into ours. Make yourself more vulnerable, knowing the risks that are involved as you take and make more time for friends. We all know there are no guarantees that come with relationships and we have the wounds and scars to show for it. Yet friends are rewarding and make us better people for ourselves as well as for those around us.
Take the effort this year to become involved even more with people. That might look like getting in a LIFE Group or a Bible Study or asking someone to be your prayer partner. Maybe you should think about talking to someone about helping you read through the Bible this year together. Whatever you decide, do it with the purpose of adding even more weight and significance to your life through meaningful relationships.

May 2010 find you toasting (raising a glass) your friends rather than toasting (burning) them.

Bruce

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