Piper gives some helpful cautions for lots of us, not just the “new Calvinists” …he urges biblical balance… to listen CLICK HERE
Category Archives: experience
time?
I’ve always said time doesn’t exist, that it is a human construct of measurement and today, I’m gonna prove it! Because at 10:20 this morning our flight home is going to take off and we are going to be in the plane for 13 hours and 20 minutes but when we land in Washington, it will only be 10:40… 20 minutes later! See, I proved it. A minute on a clock is not more real than an inch on a ruler or a cm on a … oh whatever.
Filed under experience
Lent
In the Western Christian world, the celebration of Lent began yesterday (Wednesday – I’m posting from Korea and its already Thursday here). In the reading on culture I have been doing lately, I have been reminded how very small (as a proportion) Western style Christianity is compared to the global church.
A moment ago I saw a tweet (from CT) that warned against turning Lent into a self help program with God as your coach.
Whoa, this really bears thinking about. Indeed, in our desire to receive blessing from celebrating the church seasons… let’s be careful that they are not ritual or tradition (remember what Jesus said about the traditions of man) for their own sake… or a self help program. You can’t help yourself; if you could, why was there an incarnation, a crucifixion and a resurrection?
Exalt Jesus through Lent, don’t engage in some false humility from guilt.
#PrayForUkraine
One of my dear friends from Europe who is Ukrainian wrote the following as part of an email I received this morning…
“As the eyes of the whole world are fixed on this situation and news are filled with stories and reports,we call every Christ follower to come to our Lord and pray for the following:
- For the people of Ukraine so that they would trust God and be strong and courageous as they are going through this challenge; and for peace, unity, and freedom for their country.
- For special protection and help for all orphans and families at risk affected by this crisis.
- For families whose loved ones were killed or wounded during the protests in Kiev
- For Ukraine to achieve social and economical stability and continue on its path to becoming a nation without orphans.
- For Christians in Ukraine and Russia to be the light and the salt and demonstrate love and forgiveness.
- For God’s truth to shine in this region that will destroy all lies, propaganda, and evil schemes.
As you pray, please, thank God for the positive changes which are taking place in Ukraine following the change in the government, for the unity among the churches and the nation of Ukraine, and for many people who are turning to God in these days.
May to God be the glory!”
Indeed to God be the Glory.
Filed under experience
drowning?
Listening to the radio the other night I heard an interesting interview on Fresh Air, CLICK HERE to listen.
Described in this interview is the training necessary for British Royal Navy pilots who are taught how to survive a sea crash of their helicopter. They are taught to wait for the vehicle to submerge and quiet down before following the counter intuitive instructions that will save their life. They are to wait, then at a certain point, eject the window, and then unbuckle their safety harness. All this, when their instincts tell them to work as hard as they can as fast as they can to get out NOW! But, they are told to wait, to have faith in their instructor who has told them how to survive.
Isn’t is our instinct to flail around, work as hard, as fast as possible? Even when we are told to relax, to wait, to follow the instructor?
What are the ways you need to trust?
And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:20-21, ESV)
Hungary troubles #pray
The other day when speaking with my Ukrainian colleague, I mentioned to him that the is some possible for more trouble in Hungary as well. As we talked I described the deal that the Hungarian PM had made with Putin for $13B worth of nuclear power deal. READ HERE. He expressed surprise that an EU country would engage in such a deal. My analysis was this:not many (any?) in the EU are seen as friends nor philosophical colleagues with the policies of the HU PM. So he looks east and finds a soul mate, if you will, in Vladimir Putin. Indeed, the more I consider their similarities, policy wise, the more sense it make for Victor to seek out help from Vladimir.
I also told my Ukrainian friend about a Russian dissident interviewed by a USA radio network. This young woman had just returned to Moscow from Kyiv and said something like this: We Russians have just as many problems and there is just as much (or more) to protest, be Russians don’t have it in them. I admire the Ukrainians. Wow.
Will she be admiring the Hungarians after the general election in April?
Filed under culture, experience
kingdom travelin' 