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You Are No Ordinary Person |
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Monday, 28 September 2009 11:06 |
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In my devotional reading today I came across an amazing quote:
"There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal." C.S. Lewis
Yesterday I spoke for a few minutes on how there are moments that people who believe in God look at something beautiful, such a sunset over the beach or a new baby, and see the handiwork of God. Today when I read this quote I was struck once again by the value of each individual. Our culture places a great value both on 'fitting in' and on 'being unique.' We are pressured to 'fit in' so we don't appear out of touch or odd. On the other hand, we are increasingly encouraged to express our own uniqueness. Pick your own color of iPod; put your own unique case on it. As long as you have an iPod, its OK.
 The Biblical worldview is that each individual is valuable. No matter how socially awkward, no matter how damaged, and no matter how much someone is different than us -- people are rare, valueable, and worth knowing and saving This worldview is very different than others. In some religions a person is reincarnated into someone or something else, or is merged into the divine, or is absorbed into the energy of the universe. However, Christians believe that each person is eternal and unique and is preserved beyond this reality. If God chose to create and to preserve this uniqueness, shouldn't we value it deeply now?
And, what about our own uniqueness? You are no ordinary person. God has given you different gifts, tallents, and abilities. In this way, knowing yourself will help you understand how God made you, and knowing God will help you know yourself better.
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Last Updated on Monday, 28 September 2009 14:26 |
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District 9 and Consumer Friendly Social Activism |
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Thursday, 27 August 2009 21:07 |
I went to District 9 without having seen any write-ups or previews, and was blown away. I wasn’t prepared for a movie that so deeply addressed social issues such as refugees, over-crowding, violence, and corporate evil. The main character is essentially a corporate public liaison charged with serving eviction notices to a containment camp full of malnourished and burdensome alien refugees from another planet. I was struck by the complexity of these alien creatures, which seemed to have great technology, but on another level were the scum and outcasts of their society, willing to barter away all they had due to their addiction to cat food. Though the aliens were physically repulsive, the movie actually generated strong emotions of pity and perhaps even empathy for these creatures.
The movie was violent and littered with bad language but the story was engaging despite a few gaps in continuity. The special effects and filmography aided to suspend disbelief long enough to enter into the fictional world of District 9. Thankfully, the shaky camera effects weren’t quite as bad as in Cloverfield.
Spiritually speaking, I think the largest question this movie asks is, “At what expense both personally and corporately are we willing to forgo our own pleasures, desires, and safety to ensure ethical treatment of others (especially those who are not as ‘cultured’ as ourselves)?”
This is an incredibly relevant question, especially in this day where everyone wants to show his or her hipness through social activism. The reality is that to make a substantial difference we must be willing to seriously sacrifice our comfort, our reputation, and maybe even quite literally, our lives. I’m challenged with this film as a Christian because I feel that the heart of our message is the willingness to go to the cross on behalf of the disenfranchised. Yet, I wonder if we aren’t so driven by the almighty dollar that we make our decisions based on how much liability we might assume, or how we might avoid controversy, rather than on what would be the right thing to do.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 27 August 2009 21:12 |
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What do you Want? (John 1:35-51) |
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Wednesday, 12 August 2009 19:26 |
Some of John’s disciples began to leave him and follow Jesus. When Jesus saw them following him he asked, “What do you want?” Jesus asks this of several people, ether directly or indirectly. He has the two blind men “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mat 20:32). Many people go to Jesus wanting different things. Some want healing, some want to know how to find eternal life, still others want to know where Jesus’ authority comes from.
In John 1 we are told that Jesus is the Word from the beginning, the one who created the universe. Imagine if God asked you “What do you want?” What would your answer be?
What surprises me is that, when asked this question, these two early disciples responded by asking “Where are you staying?” It was their intent to follow Jesus, to stay with Jesus, and to continue to be with him. Early disciples of a rabbi would try to stay close to their teacher at all times, learning from just spending time with them. Earlier this chapter Jesus was introduced as the ‘one from the beginning’ who is dwelling with humanity. What better thing to do than figure out where the God of the universe is living? This is the call to discipleship: to follow Jesus wherever he is going, and to do whatever he is doing. Our goal is to come along side His plan and His work, not to try to get Him to accomplish what we want.
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Playing Politics (John 1:19-33) |
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Wednesday, 12 August 2009 19:24 |
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A couple of Sundays ago we started a new series in the book of John. After the beautiful prologue describing how Jesus is the Preexistent Word who created and who is the light shining in the darkness, there is a startling narrative. Priests and Levites came and interrogated John about his identity, and later some Pharisees joined in. They weren’t there to be baptized, or to become John’s disciples, but rather to make sure that their own power structures were preserved. Some believe that John the Baptist was an Essene (or at least influenced by them). The Essenes were a desert dwelling sect that was generally against the temple and religious structure of their day. The Priests and Levites seemed quite concerned about the growing number of followers that John the Baptist was gaining. Yet John the Baptist viewed himself as merely a pointer, one preparing the way for someone greater. When Jesus showed up and John’s disciples began to leave to follow Jesus, John is known for saying “I must decrease that he may increase.
I sometimes think that churches and Christians get into the power game, much like the priests and Levites. The fear of losing control actually sets them up against the thing that God was doing. What would it look like if rather than trying to always be the ones in the limelight or leading the pack, we were merely pointers to Christ and the current work that God is doing?
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Small Actions, Huge Effects |
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Wednesday, 29 July 2009 00:00 |
This week I’ve been reading and meditating on two similar parables. In Matthew 13 Jesus tells a parable of the mustard seed and the parable of yeast. The mustard seed is such a small seed, but can grow up to 12 feet. The yeast, though ‘hidden’ in the dough, causes the whole batch to rise. The point of both of these parables is that the Kingdom of God looks small, but has huge effects. In a similar way, the choices we make for the Kingdom have amplified results. Though our efforts and choices may seem to be small, God works through them to accomplish His work. An hour spent listening to a friend, a kind word to a stranger, a simple phone call – these things may seem so small, but don’t forget the kind of impact they have on others. Our Sunday worship services may sometimes seem small, or a prayer gathering may feel like nothing compared to the challenges we face, but don’t underestimate the Kingdom of God. The reality is that God chose a small band of fishermen, tax collectors, and social outcasts to change the world!
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