Hmm

Yesterday afternoon, I told God, “If you keep me in this job, give me a vision. If you take me out of this job, give me a vision too.”

Last night, I learned this from Dallas Willard’s Life Without Lack on the promises of Psalm 23:

Submission is giving up the belief that my will is supreme or best. 

What if I carry that attitude into my work and relationships?

To seek others' good and glory.

Evidences of God

I was invited to attend a luncheon of 17 leading pastors including Stephen Olford who influenced teachers and preachers worldwide. His impact was recognized by seminarians, pulpit ministers, and evangelists. During the table conversation he said, “My brothers. I am weary of celebrity religion. You know I have received my share of honors. But if when I die my family does not say, ‘There is something of God in the man,’ I will have failed.”

A holy hush came over this distinguished group. Each attendee considered his own personal situation.

Even though I was invited as a guest and not pastoral participant, I thought then and continually about the evidences of God in a man.

Here are four ideas that come to mind:

A quiet center that cannot be panicked is an evidence of God. The Quaker theologian Thomas Kelly called it making a “mental habit of internal orientation.” That is a mouthful! I like to just say those who evidence God have a quiet space that is rooted in Him and immune to permanent disturbance. I think of Christ asleep in the boat when the storm was raging. A physical representation is the eye of the hurricane which is perfectly still while everything around it is reeling and rolling. The very center is quiet.

God is evidenced in the way we speak. I think of my friend Bob, raised on the streets of a big metropolitan area. He once said, “When I came to Christ, He cleaned up my dirty mouth and tongue.” Vulgarity gave him a bad taste in his mouth. Profanity turned into prayer. The choice of subjects we talk about reflects our internal base. The things we think about naturally come out in our conversation.

Another evidence is the quality and breadth of love in our lives. Unconditional love comes from Christ and is a demonstration of God’s presence. John, the apostle, tells us we can’t be rightly related to God and hate our brothers. Jesus told us our love one for another would let others know we belonged to Him.

Another evidence is our attitude toward death. The way we think about dying is crucial to maturity. The assurance of heaven gives us a peaceful acceptance of life with its ups and downs. The fact that this life isn’t the sole experience creates an equilibrium which allows us to reflect an eternal perspective. God in our life reminds us this life is the practice – the real game comes later. I am certainly glad.

This week think about: 1) How do people know I have a relationship with God? 2) What do I want my family to say about me when I die? 3) When do I experience the quiet center?

Words of Wisdom: “The things we think about naturally come out in our conversation.”

Wisdom from the Word: “But as for me, God’s presence is all I need. I have made the sovereign LORD my shelter, as I declare all the things you have done.” (Psalm 73:28 NET Bible)

- by the late Fred Smith Sr.

Dog's breakfast

Who else but God?

tired pup

double portion

Sobering

At the faculty fellowship today, someone shared about how she had the chance to pray for a retired professor at Cambridge. He won a Nobel prize and while he was passionate for Christ in his 30s, but he turned away from God.

He seemed to not respond to my colleague's sharing and prayer, but she wasn't sure either. Only God knows his final decision. But apparently his wife used Ecclesiastes in his eulogy and described the man's life work as meaningless. More shocking, his children didn't even turn up at the funeral. How much brokenness must have existed for them to make such a hurtful choice? Only the devil would rejoice in such a thing.

I'm glad for my colleague's faith and focus on the work and glory of God. The wife must have felt some comfort that this slightly odd Chinese couple cared to visit when even her children didn't.

Insomnia

Some days, all the blue skies in the world are just not enough. A friend who understands even when not much is said can be a balm.

Faith comes by hearing