Four fingers

Our church just finished up a series on Life’s Healing Choices.  We’re starting a new sermon series on the Purpose of Christmas.  Both of these come from Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church, and include a small group component.  We attended the first series of meetings, and last night we went to the first session of the second one.

One of the discussion points was that as Christians, we should not be pointing a “bony finger” at anybody, telling them how bad and wrong they are.  One of the reasons is that for the one finger pointed out, we have three pointed back at us.  Somebody mis-remembered it as four fingers.  Jeff joked that she must have gotten the same advice he heard in college: “when you’re taking the count at church, add one for somebody the deacon missed counting”.

We had not heard that before, and the group (not so small at 18) laughed a lot.

But there’s a boatload of truth in the original idea.  As Christians, we are to emulate Christ.  And more – not just act like, but be like.  Internalize Christ as much as possible.  To have the mind of Christ.  John 3:17 says (in KJV and The Message):

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.

(there’s that finger thing again . . .)

So we’re supposed to break out of the “poor me” victimization that points an accusing finger at those who do wrong – the pornographers and the abortionists, the people pushing the country toward socialism and the welfare frauds, the cop-killers and the Ponzi schemers.  The world will take care of some of them.  God will take care of them all, in His time.

Now what about those extra fingers pointed back at yours truly?  Surely we who have trusted Jesus as our Lord and Savior are exempt from, um, you know, badness and stuff.  Guilt.  Wrong-doing.  Finger-pointing.

The Times of London asked people to write in, explaining what was wrong with the world.  One response was:

Dear Sirs, I am. Sincerely yours,
G. K. Chesterton

Some people see that as humorous, which it is.  I also see it as true.  Mark 10:18:

So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.“

and Paul, from 1 Tim 1:15

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief

Am.  Not was.  Like an alcoholic who recognizes that he is recovering but never recovered, we remain sinners in need of a Savior as long as we breathe in and out.  Even while writing up this blog entry, I was tempted to get bothered at Bettie and unload a bunch of frustration at the world on the woman I love.  I almost laughed when I recognized the disconnect between what I was writing and the action I was drawn to.  And I was reminded of 1 John 2:1:

I write this, dear children, to guide you out of sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ, righteous Jesus.

And I am so grateful for that Friend and Brother.  Eternally grateful, as a matter of fact.

Math riddle

I helped out at our church’s first KidzTown this past Saturday morning, and I heard a riddle there.

How do you turn 7 into an even number?

Grace

I was having a conversation with a co-worker today (phone call – he is in Florida), and he was talking about raising his two sons.  One is 15, the other almost 14.   My friend is a Christian, and is attempting to instill/teach/lead the boys as they grow up to be young men.

We covered a range of topics, and I don’t remember what led to this, but I told him about our church attending the Reds game last Sunday afternoon, and seeing Steven Curtis Chapman do a concert afterwards.  I related to my friend that SCC told the story of his daughter being killed.  It was over a year ago when his 5-year-old adopted daughter was run over – in their driveway.

One of SCC’s sons had missed seeing her, or the girl darted in such a way that the boy ran her over and killed her.  They rushed her to the hospital, but it was too late.  As they were leaving the house on the way to the ER, though, SCC yelled out the window to his son, “God loves you, and your father loves you!”.  In the midst of his own grief, Steven Curtis Chapman was offering grace to his son.

It didn’t stop there.  I’m not sure which son was behind the wheel that day, but both of his sons were on stage with SCC for the concert.  As SCC told the story of the girl’s death, he included the part that she died in her own driveway, but left out the part that his son was the driver.  That’s grace.  And the son was on the stage during this story.  He didn’t get up and apologize again.  He didn’t burst into tears.  I’m sure he felt sorrow, but he had moved past (through?) the anguish.  That’s the result of grace working.

The two boys showed talent.  One was the drummer, and the other one filled in for the bass player (he’d gotten go-to-the-hospital sick about a half-hour before the show).  So we saw the world premier of one of SCC’s kids as a bass player.  I couldn’t tell you whether he was good or not.  He wasn’t terrible.

And the boys are musical anyway.  They have a recorded hit.  The second song on Veggie Rocks is I Love My Lips, by Stevenson.  Get it?  Steven’s sons.  Ha!

New creation

God is great.

I helped at a wedding rehearsal today.  The couple is getting married on Saturday, and they’re doing it right – as baptized Christians.  These two are new creations because of their actions, and they will be creating a new family.

We saw our first hummingbird at the new house yesterday (Saturday, May 9, 2009).  Much joy.

We ate at Skyline Chili and a Chinese buffet yesterday, and Red Lobster today.  We are full, and are growing creations.  Earlier this week, I was at 192.0.

187 May 9
186 May 16
185 May 23
184 May 30

I helped my dad with his blog tonight, getting him a new blog header.  I tweaked the picture in GIMP.  The header is a new creation, and I enjoyed making it.  This is part of being made in His image.

And I’m headed for bed, for relaxation and renewal.  There are philosophers who wonder if we are the same person when we wake up, or a different person with the same memories.  I won’t worry about that.  I will say that

His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;

Funny verse coming from Lamentations (3:22b-23a), but I’ll take it!

So many accomplishments – so little free time

In the last 48 hours, I have

• Assembled an industrial metal shelf in the basement
• Worked six hours for some testing that had to be done outside of normal work time
• Met with a college buddy and caught up again
• Replaced a projector lamp about 30 feet off the floor
• Replaced some burned-out fluorescent bulbs in emergency lights at church
• Replaced a missing drip hose on the air conditioner at the old house

In the past 48 hours, I have not

• Munched on M&Ms, brownies, and/or salty snacks
• Read a whole book, because I had the time
• Relaxed in the tub
• Moved boxes from upstairs to downstairs at the new house
• Wired the new house for internet in other rooms

And as always, God is good.

Or not

Rain and the threat of thunderstorms cancelled the kite-flying for today.  It will be rescheduled.

Bettie and I worked on replacing the bulb on the projector for our church (unsuccessful – we were missing a Phillips translation screwdriver).  We did get the magazines recycled, and a very helpful two-hour nap afterward.

Go fly a kite

Tomorrow, my church is having a picnic and kite flying event, and I get to go!  I’m not working this weekend, and it feels good.

I’m also taking five boxes of magazines to the recycler.  That feels real good, too.

Grab bag

Today is the first day of spring.  It was nice outside, though a bit cool.  It’s getting down below freezing tonight, and it may be the last sub-freezing night.  I can hope.

I weighed myself tonight, before pizza and a movie.  193.8, which fits in very well.

194 March 21
193 March 28
192 April 4
191 April 11

The movie tonight was Fireproof, from the same people that did Facing the Giants.  Great movie – we used up more than a few kleenex.  Our church is showing the movie Sunday night, and Bettie really wanted us to see it in private first.  Bettie is wise.

And Mom and Dad, thanks for the movie.  We’ll use it well.

Another try, with audio

Download now or listen on posterous

03 Prayer.wav (1206 KB)

I’m trying Posterous from Gmail, again. This time with an audio clip
(a 14-second prayer from last Sunday’s service), a tag, and a category
attempt.

tag: Posterous

category: technology, church

Numbers, descending

My Saturday weigh-in revealed the number of 204.  Up two pounds this week, but still ahead of schedule.  I plead Christmas and cookies.

Another number is 66.  That’s how warm it is outside.  Yes, the window is open.

Another number is 40.  That’s how many months Bettie and I have been remarried today. Happy Anniversary, Bettie!

The next number is 6.  That’s how many weeks behind I am on getting church services split into segments, and CDs burned.  I split five weeks this morning, and still have one to go, plus all the burning.  I’ll get it done for tomorrow morning.

The last number is 4.  That’s how many web sites are down because I haven’t had the time yet to start using my new web hosting service.  My site, Bettie’s, Mark’s, and the new one for selling the old house.  I may get it set up tonight.  Time will tell.