Friday, January 16, 2009

Being Human

In Rob Bell "Sex God", I read about how so many of us human beings have become disconnected. Disconnected from nature, disconnected from God, disconnected from each other, disconnected with myself. I think most of us would agree that we know how that feels. Sometimes, it feels like we're living life but not really LIVING. It feels more like we're just existing sometimes. But i'd like to add that it's impossible to feel that way when we're truly connected with God through Jesus. Jesus said He came to give life and life abundantly, how can be bored with life when it's been given abundantly!

We were created to be beings of relationship, beings of connection. Research has shown that this any forming relationships improve one's quality of life. So much of the time i find myself disconnected. I'm overworried about something in my life and set about frantically trying to solve it - disconnected. I'm too busy with work and study - disconnected. I take people in my life for granted - disconnected. (This one's personal) I watch waaaaaay to much TV - disconnected. And when i become disconnected, i myself become less of the person God made me to be. In turn, i become indifferent to the needs of others. Sometimes, i even become indifferent to laughter and fun.

Which brings me to my thought for today. The reason God asks us to love Him and to love others as ourselves is really because loving others and connecting with those in our world is part of our makeup. Those of us that choose to live for ourselves might end up getting what we want but not truly be the human beings we're created to be. We become cheated of life. Like what is says before John 10:10, the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy.

When was the last time we actively sought out someone in need? When was the last time we made a difference in a situation or made ourselves available to be "salt and light"? When we do that, God is glorified and i personally feel and think we get that "this is what life is about!" epiphany.

Ranting on,
Jc.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Renewable Expectation

Renewable expectation.

I've never thought about this before until I heard it at Hillsong Conference 2008 from Ps. Paul De Jong.

When we come before God, do we come with renewable expectation? Instead, do we come with a stubborn mind that feels this is going to be the same whole religious routine that won't make a difference at all? A better question - how are our expectation levels when we come before Jesus? I feel faith and expectation are somehow linked. Kids all expect Santa to be fat and full of presents; we expect the lift to go up when we press the "up" button; we expect a rainbow after the rain.

My pastor used this analogy - when we're waiting on God, it's like waiting for the next train to arrive at the station. It's 2:55pm now, and the sign says the train is due in 5 minutes. WE WAIT EXPECTANTLY!! Thing is, even if the train does not arrive at 3 sharp, we are convicted that it will come. It could be 5 or 10 mins late, but it will come!

Renewable energy is amazing because it is produced from naturally replenishing resources. We can have that too. Isaiah chapter 40 reminds us to wait on the Lord so our strength (energy) can be renewed. I want to have an expectation of God that can be renewed and blown up each time i pray and read His word. I don't want to limit or box Him up.

JC.