With Him... For Others...

It is easy to think about what is best for yourself. It is even easier to think of the things, whether good or bad, that you might need or want. Let’s face it, it is easy to be about yourself, placing your own desires and wishes before those around. Let me let you in on a little secret, it’s not about you!

As Christ followers we are called to live with Christ for the sake of others. We are called to lay aside our fleshy desire for the benefit of those within our sphere of influence and beyond. The ways of Christ are in total contrast to the ways of the world, which propel us into individuality, claiming what is rightfully ours. Let me illustrate the contrast:

Heather and I have a bet. Once she was given the OK by her Dr. to start exercising we weighed ourselves. We each set a weight loss goal that we desire to achieve by the end of the year. On December 31, 2008 we will weigh ourselves and whoever lost the highest percentage of their goal will win the grand prize. It must be noted that we have tried this once before and we had to delay the bet because I cheated. I figured the only way to win was to make Heather gain weight. On December 31, 2007 I was the clear winner because I had maintained my weight loss and Heather had gained weight because she was with child.

Now to the point, I am in complete conflict regarding our bet; it is as if each personality (my flesh & Spirit) within me wishes to prevail. Although they appear as polar opposites, it is simply a different side to the same coin. On one hand, I want to win because I am extremely competitive. In case you are wondering what side of the coin this is, it is the backside because that is where the dust that heather will be breathing comes from as I run away (literally & figuratively) with the victory. The other side of me desires nothing more for Heather to be victorious as I embrace her with my loving arms, celebrating with her every step of the way.

Living with Christ for the sake of others means doing what is best for those around us. It means being aware and cognitive of the wants, needs, and desires of those we come in contact with. To do this, we must be determined and focused, in tune with the Spirit’s prompting and leading. In case you are wondering I am not going to lay down in defeat so that I my fleshly desire will not win, that wouldn’t be what is best for Heather now would it? I am going to be determined and focused on my goal as to drive and motivate Heather towards hers.

Over Under

Every so often I pull, Hope for the Brokenhearted, off my book shelf and read a chapter or two. The author of the book, Dr. Terveen was one of my professors at Multnomah Biblical Seminary. Just this past week, I read the chapter entitled, “In the Deepest Waters and Darkest Nights.” In this chapter Terveen takes a look at the all too familiar story of Peter walking on the water to Jesus. If you are like me you might have heard this story numerous times; it most likely is one you can recite without even thinking about it. You know that the disciples departed by boat, across the lake. A storm took place and the disciples were frightened by it (this is odd because they were fisherman and would have been used to stormy weather). Amongst the chaos, they saw a ghost, or at least that is what they thought of Jesus when they saw him walking on the water. As he got closer he said. “Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid.” Peter, after a brief interaction with Jesus, gets up out of the boat and walks towards Jesus. He eventually removes his focus from Jesus and is reminded of the turbulent storm moving about him. It is at this point that he begins to sink and fall. Immediately, Jesus stretches his hands out, grabbing Peter, saving him from drowning.

Do you feel like that sometime? Do you feel as if your footing is unstable, causing you to stumble and fall? Notice that Peter did not become consumed by his surroundings until he lost sight of Jesus. Peter’s initial step of faith was solid and firm because it was rooted on the presence of Christ directly in front of him. I can imagine him thinking. “Hey I got this. This is easy. Hey guys, look at me I am walking on the water.” If we are honest with ourselves each one of us can imagine Peter thinking those words because we all would probably think the exact same thing. It is in our nature to draw attention to ourselves, seeking praise for what we have done through our own power. It is the other way around; we should praise and glorify God for what he has done through us through his power.

Let me leave you with a phrase that Terveen writes towards the end of the chapter as a reminder that though we may seem over burdened and afraid we have a God who loves and cares for us, stretching hi hand out to us.

“We must remember that what looks like it is going to be over our heads is already under Jesus’ feet.”

Peace ....

It is one of those verses that routinely pop into my brain. One might consider it a coincidence, but I don't because I know that it the Spirit reminding me of the words of Jesus. Jesus says. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27). Notice that the same peace that is in Jesus is given to each one of us if we are a Christ follower. This peace that is given to us is contrary to the ways of the world. This means that true peace does not come from our salary, education, social status, living situation, or bank account. True peace can only come from the power of the Holy Spirit. I relax in the fact that there is a divine peace within my soul. It is comforting to know that I need not be troubled or afraid because God is in control.
This brings me to something else that has recently entered my brain. While jogging this past weekend an old school Newsboys song came on. I have since listened to it countless times as a prayer. As you read through the lyrics may they be your prayer and reality in your life, amongst the trials, troubles, and unclear circumstances in your life.

You are the author of knowledge
You can redeem what's been done
You hold the present and all that's to come
Until your everlasting kingdom

Lord, I don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead me to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt

You are the God of tomorrow
Turning the darkness to dawn
Lifting the hopeless with hope to go on
You are the rock of all salvation

Lord, I don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead me to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt

Oh, Lord, you are the author
Redeeming what's been done
You hold us in the present
And all that is to come

Lord, we don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead us to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt

Do it for Finley!

My friend Don is walking in Portland's March for Babies. He is looking for sponsors. I have done it, why don't you? You don't need to know Don to sponsor him. All you need to know is that the mission for March of Dimes, March for Babies is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. Don't waste anymore time. Make a donation today. The event is Saturday April 26, 2008.

The governments role...

As we approach the up coming election there will be numerous conversations regarding the governments role regarding the many issues facing our country and culture, one of which is the governments role in social services and social action. I am simply going to let the following words I read from, With Justice for All, by John Perkins this past week speak for themselves:

The only institution in America with the human resources adequate to meet the needs of the poor is the Church. But racism and misguided patriotism have blinded the Church to this great mission opportunity. Only the Church carries the Good News of Jesus Christ, which, when lived out faithfully, responds to the total needs of the poor (and might I add, all peoples) - physical, social and spiritual - in ways that affirm the dignity and self worth of the individual.

Signs of the times...

Have you noticed? Take a gander at the world around us and see how quickly everything is changing. Right before our very eyes technology is advancing, changing and effecting all aspects of life. I find it very silly that I compare things to “the way things used to be”. Isn’t that something my parents and grandparents do? After all, they have an additional thirty to sixty years on me and have experienced the evolution of change longer then I have. The fact still remains that there is a vast difference between the world I was born and raised in and the world Maya and Finley will grow up in. Take for example:

• Maya no longer says to Heather and me, “I want to talk to Grandma and Grandpa on the phone.” She says, “When can I talk to Grandma and Grandpa on the computer?” See Skype to know what I am talking about. It is free video conferencing that we now use.
• Maya (and now Finley) have there own playlist on my ipod.
• One day when I was on the computer updating podcasts on Itunes Maya interrupted. Knowing what I was doing, Maya said, “Daddy, do I have any podcasts?” She climbed into my lap asking me to locate some podcasts for her. Needless to say, we found some (and there video too). This made her extremely happy. We then proceeded to watch them over and over for the next thirty to forty minutes; there were five of them at 1:25 a piece.
• I am constantly being reminded by Maya as to what I said or where something is. Shouldn’t it be the other way around, after all I am the 31 year old and she is the 3 year old. This simply is a sign that despite my young whippersnapper physique, I am losing my mind (I mean memory). Did I mention she routinely wins at memory when we play (and yes I actually try to win).
• On both computers (my laptop and the imac) in the Harris household, Maya has a favorite’s folder so that she can easily access the websites she likes to play on.
• This past Saturday I took Maya out for lunch and a movie (Horton Hears a Who). I gave her the choice as to where she wanted to eat. She decided upon Carl’s Jr. (a restaurant I haven’t been inside of in over three years). When we walked into CJ’s I noticed two ATM looking machines directly in front of two of the three cash registers. Afraid of ordering my food via a teller machine (I only use them to get cash), I waited in line behind another young couple with children and ordered my food the old fashioned way (when it became old fashioned, I don’t know); via a human being.
  

I am sure this is just the beginning. The signs of the times are all around us, they are continuously changing. I hope I can keep up with them. If not, I am grateful that I have Maya and Finley to help me out.