March 24, 2008
I have a great book in my library called “Hard Sayings of the Bible“. It helps me understand some of the things that are “tough” in the Bible, but it is really silent on my biggest “problem” with scripture. The book of Joshua, which I’ve been reading as part of my “Life Journal” (For those of you who go to TCC, you can get one at our Resource Center). Here’s the same God in the Bible that loves us enough to send His Son to die for our sins, and he’s instructing the Israelites to go on these wanton killing sprees. I have heard the explanations, but it’s still hard to take. It makes God seem really distant to me. And maybe that’s the point. God is very distant from me. He is holy, and I’m not. He is omniscient, and I’m not. I guess what it means for me is that these stories that make me feel God is so far away balance with the story of Jesus, who isn’t content just to be near us, or even around us, but loves us so much that He wants to be in us. And sometimes, that’s almost more than I can believe, too. But in a good way. I guess what I’m saying is I’d rather have Jesus living inside and through me than answers to the tough questions… Jesus, be in my head and heart today, and let me be some of Your mercy and grace in a fallen and broken world.
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Posted by pietrosquared
March 20, 2008
Seriously, for those of us who work in the church, especially if our responsibility is the weekend service, this is an exhausting week. I’m already tired, and it’s only Thursday morning! But fortunately for me, I’m not worrying. My worship team for the weekend had an UNBELIEVABLE night of rehearsal last night, the sermon is going to be great, the media is all set, and it’s great, too. In short, God has worked with us humble sinners to craft what I think will be a life-changing service for some, and a rousing time of worship celebration of our Lord’s resurrection for all. I hope a lot of churches have the kind of joyful awesome worship celebration for Easter that we’re going to have at Tri-County.
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Posted by pietrosquared
January 17, 2008
I’ve been so overcome by all the difficulty in so many lives these days. Loved ones lost to horrible tragedies. Hopes dashed by unforeseen circumstances. Jobs lost. Relationships ended. I have to admit, when pressed, that I do sometimes wonder where God is when people suffer because of things they’ve done, or things others have done… or not done. I understand about free will, but I know that a good father will often stop his young child from doing something in their free will that will hurt them (like walking out into traffic), and I find myself wishing God would do some more of that. So don’t get me wrong, I still believe God at His Word, but I don’t always like the way he chooses to leave things. And then I remember Psalm 88, one of my favorites, because it reminds us that even among God’s people, in God’s word, there is pain, there is lament, and there is even sometimes a momentary feeling of hopelessness. If you know someone who has lost deeply, or is hurting right now, take a moment and read that psalm and pray for them. Or for yourself, if it’s you!
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Posted by pietrosquared