Isaiah 45:22 “Turn to me and be saved,all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other. 23 By myself I have sworn;
from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’
24 “Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength;
to him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against him.
25 In the Lord all the offspring of Israel shall be justified and shall glory.”
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the Untied States of America,
and to the Republic for which its stands,
one nation, under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.
I remember the intercom cranking up all the way back in 1976 in my first grade class as we would all stand to recite the pledge of allegiance. I can still feel the weight of what I was doing in pledging allegiance as I knew that both God and America were much bigger than myself. When you scan back through these words, it is clear that God anchors the justice and liberty that is allowed all of us, and that the US was designed to be an agent for Him. I know that the words," under God" were added in 1954, but I believe they were unquestionably assumed before that so the addition was to clarify the initial intent, not change it. What puzzles me now is that my generation in particular fights for the conservative "right" for the kids to say this pledge in public, yet fights against the pledge in action. What do I mean? We are way more concerned with getting to say it right, than walking it out. If we break the speed limits consistently,cheat on taxes, bad mouth the US and assassinate the character of every president elected, even though he was elected by due process within the republic's law, then our life speaks AGAINST the very "pledge" we hold so dear. The weird thing is that every body is so busy, we can't even see our own hypocrisy in the matter because we are to busy discussing how hypocritical politicians are. News flash: the politicians are simply a reflection and a product of our society. They have just learned to play the game a little better.
I do agree that the fight to keep "under God" in the pledge has extreme merit as it is the backbone of the pledge and a surgical removal of it leaves nothing but a bag of bones. I think that it is perhaps more critical for us all to access how we stand in allegiance to God, before we can apply that to our nation. We place way to much value on our words, but what does your heart, soul and actions testify when God says to us "You will bow before me".as He does in Isaiah 45 above? Pride immediately sends us to seek a "more educated" translation that will read "acknowledge". Why? Pride seeks to elevate us as we serve ourselves. We don't want to be controlled, whether it is a government telling you to drive 55 mph, or if it is a true God clarifying what is sin and what is holy. Christ came to invite us into a holy, joyful submission unto the Father. Unlike the politicians who have altered the US, God remains an unchanging anchor of all things good, including my ability to right this and not get thrown in jail as I live in the US, not in a gospel-adverse country.
So examine your life. Do you rant and rave about others actions while ignoring your own need for Christ to lead you into joyful submission? Have you sworn allegiance to God and America, and then acted against that pledge?
God is not asleep on the throne. He knows the root of our hearts. He clearly understands if we truly have trusted Christ to the point of placing our entire life in His hands by faith alone, or if we simply just talk bout it.
It is only when our lives are in His hands that we experience the justice and glory that is found in Christ alone (verse 25). Submission to Him is healthy, joyful and a delight. So let us pledge allegiance, Yes. But let us, by Faith, live it to testify to the world how great our God is!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Your Song
Isaiah 12:1 You will say in that day: "I will give thanks to you, O lord, for you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.2 "behold, God is my salvation: I will trust, and I will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation 3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that His name is exalted. Sing praises to the Lord, for He has done gloriously; let this be known in all of the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion. For great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."
Certain songs make my heart smile. Elton John's "your song" is one of those that does because it is a humble and passionate expression of tender love. My favorite lines are:
It's a little bit funny this feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live
If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one's for you
Its then followed up with the chorus:
I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind, That I put down in words
How wonderful life is, while your in the World"
Now to all you borderline legalists in the house, I am not condoning His lifestyle, I am pointing out the Joy of His heart pouring out in His song sung to another, that in turn brings joy in the heart of others. Or at least mine. The reason? It is the picture described in Isaiah above of How we should live "unto the Lord" as we follow Christ. Isaiah is prophesying about Jesus coming 700 years before he comes (that is pretty cool in itself that, huh?). The text above is Isaiah prophesying reactions of the redeemed to the ONE who is righteous and faithful, Jesus.
Singing praises to Christ of His greatness, fueled by the strength of the Joy of the Lord, multiplies grace in our Hearts and allows the unredeemed to perhaps hear and sense the divine true Love of God. God wants to drench us in Love, Spirit and Truth in a way that our souls sing and praise our way through thick and thin, victory and failure, all because we know we can trust the permanancy of the Eternal One's work and Reign. It not only gives God the Glory he deserves, it satisfies our desires and leaves those outside of relation to God to wonder "How is this person able to handle all of these challenges and still be at peace and have joy?" That is real evidence of our faith, not as fabrication, but simply an overflow of the power Christ through us that will change the World.
So when was the last time you sang to Jesus in spontaneous, unscripted Joy? Have you ever told, or sung, to Him out loud how Glorious you think He is or how madly in Love with Him you are?
Where is Your Song for Him?
Certain songs make my heart smile. Elton John's "your song" is one of those that does because it is a humble and passionate expression of tender love. My favorite lines are:
It's a little bit funny this feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live
If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one's for you
Its then followed up with the chorus:
I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind, That I put down in words
How wonderful life is, while your in the World"
Now to all you borderline legalists in the house, I am not condoning His lifestyle, I am pointing out the Joy of His heart pouring out in His song sung to another, that in turn brings joy in the heart of others. Or at least mine. The reason? It is the picture described in Isaiah above of How we should live "unto the Lord" as we follow Christ. Isaiah is prophesying about Jesus coming 700 years before he comes (that is pretty cool in itself that, huh?). The text above is Isaiah prophesying reactions of the redeemed to the ONE who is righteous and faithful, Jesus.
Singing praises to Christ of His greatness, fueled by the strength of the Joy of the Lord, multiplies grace in our Hearts and allows the unredeemed to perhaps hear and sense the divine true Love of God. God wants to drench us in Love, Spirit and Truth in a way that our souls sing and praise our way through thick and thin, victory and failure, all because we know we can trust the permanancy of the Eternal One's work and Reign. It not only gives God the Glory he deserves, it satisfies our desires and leaves those outside of relation to God to wonder "How is this person able to handle all of these challenges and still be at peace and have joy?" That is real evidence of our faith, not as fabrication, but simply an overflow of the power Christ through us that will change the World.
So when was the last time you sang to Jesus in spontaneous, unscripted Joy? Have you ever told, or sung, to Him out loud how Glorious you think He is or how madly in Love with Him you are?
Where is Your Song for Him?
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
We need an ax man
Isaiah 10:15 Shall the ax boast over Him who hews with it, or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it?
I have been reviewing some resumes lately as we are looking for some additional creative support at blu. It is interesting when you read resumes, as everyone does their best to bring forth what they have accomplished in a way that strikes a perfect balance between more-than-capable and not-so-cocky. Its basically a polished way of saying, "look what I have done and what I can do for you". It's kind of the way we all think if we are honest. We all see the good we've done and the great asset we can be for our present or future employer, and the better asset we can prove ourselves the more dinero comes our way.
In Isaiah 10 above, God is talking directly to the king of Assyria. God has allowed him and propelled him to victory over many nations including Syria, Israel and Judah. (actually at this point he is prophesying through Isaiah that this will happen and of course it does later.) The victories that occurred under the King of Assyrias's headship, ultimately occurred under God's. The King of Assyria was only able to see his own power and greatness at work, and not God's. That would prove to be a deadly mistake as God would wipe Him and His kingdom out in righteous judgement of this prideful nation.
It is so easy for us reading this to say to ourselves," What an idiot that guy was, can't he see that God was there". We would be misleading ourselves if we are unable to translate this thread of learning into our own lives. Sin is hard at work trying to tempt us to take credit for what God has done in our lives. Sin wants us to be elevated as a great businessperson, parent, athlete, looker, friend, child, professional, church member, volunteer or anything else we throw our hat in the ring to do. We, just like the King, can convince ourselves that our success is ours and not God's. We can become deceived that the credit for our accomplishments is entirely ours, and not God's. God says to you and me, "that's like the ax saying 'look at the tree I cut down' to the axman who actually wielded the ax".
Think through God's sovereign orchestration and design in your life. The people we meet, the opportunities we get, the environment we were born in, simply being an American are God's doing, not ours. It is so tempting and status quote for us to assume wrongly that we are a great accomplisher of things and take the credit for God's hand at work. At the end of the day, taking credit for the work of God is a path of rebellion that we have all strolled down and we need to turn and walk back down the path of elevating Him and giving Him his due credit.
So consider this a call to all of the axes out there. Without a divine ax man wielding you, you are only capable of sitting in a tool closet collecting dust while talking about how sharp you are.
I have been reviewing some resumes lately as we are looking for some additional creative support at blu. It is interesting when you read resumes, as everyone does their best to bring forth what they have accomplished in a way that strikes a perfect balance between more-than-capable and not-so-cocky. Its basically a polished way of saying, "look what I have done and what I can do for you". It's kind of the way we all think if we are honest. We all see the good we've done and the great asset we can be for our present or future employer, and the better asset we can prove ourselves the more dinero comes our way.
In Isaiah 10 above, God is talking directly to the king of Assyria. God has allowed him and propelled him to victory over many nations including Syria, Israel and Judah. (actually at this point he is prophesying through Isaiah that this will happen and of course it does later.) The victories that occurred under the King of Assyrias's headship, ultimately occurred under God's. The King of Assyria was only able to see his own power and greatness at work, and not God's. That would prove to be a deadly mistake as God would wipe Him and His kingdom out in righteous judgement of this prideful nation.
It is so easy for us reading this to say to ourselves," What an idiot that guy was, can't he see that God was there". We would be misleading ourselves if we are unable to translate this thread of learning into our own lives. Sin is hard at work trying to tempt us to take credit for what God has done in our lives. Sin wants us to be elevated as a great businessperson, parent, athlete, looker, friend, child, professional, church member, volunteer or anything else we throw our hat in the ring to do. We, just like the King, can convince ourselves that our success is ours and not God's. We can become deceived that the credit for our accomplishments is entirely ours, and not God's. God says to you and me, "that's like the ax saying 'look at the tree I cut down' to the axman who actually wielded the ax".
Think through God's sovereign orchestration and design in your life. The people we meet, the opportunities we get, the environment we were born in, simply being an American are God's doing, not ours. It is so tempting and status quote for us to assume wrongly that we are a great accomplisher of things and take the credit for God's hand at work. At the end of the day, taking credit for the work of God is a path of rebellion that we have all strolled down and we need to turn and walk back down the path of elevating Him and giving Him his due credit.
So consider this a call to all of the axes out there. Without a divine ax man wielding you, you are only capable of sitting in a tool closet collecting dust while talking about how sharp you are.
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