Cut to the Chase

Adoption Blog

Laura and I are blogging our Rwandan adoption journey at the bowers parable.

Joseph- an appropriate vision of God

A God Entranced Vision of All Things; I came to know this phrase as the title of the book by John Piper. However as I look at the life of Joseph in Genesis I see it again. Regardless of circumstance he found himself in Joseph trusted God. One example that stands out specifically is his interaction with Potiphar's wife. Genesis 39 begins "now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard and Egyptian, had brought him from the Ishmaelites who brought him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master." Joseph was walking in obedience to God in a circumstance he did not choose. He walked in faithful obedience to God as a slave and He gave him success. In fact the Bible says that his master put him over all of his house, he had no concern about anything except the food he ate

The Bible says Joseph was handsome and Potiphar's wife was attracted to him. She pursued him daily, but he rejected her. He did not embrace temptation; rather he embraced the mission God had for him and the tasks set before him each day. Then verse 11 and following says "the one day when he went to the house to do his work in none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by the Hezbollah, saying 'lie with me.' But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house." Even in the midst of this great temptation Joseph was faithful. If we look back in verse nine we see why Joseph was faithful. He looked at how Potiphar had treated him but he didn't say, "how could I do this great evil and sin against Potiphar?"  As Potiphar's wife tempted him he said, "how could I do this great evil and sin against God.  His chief concern was not what Potiphar might think, but what would God think.  How could he offend His Lord and King.

His action cost him his position. He was placed in prison. We know looking back that God would continue to cause him to succeed even in this dark circumstance. Joseph however looked forward with faith. He believed obedience to God borne out of faith was the way to live. Because the fact that there is a God, the living God impacts everything. Oh they God would give me, that he would give us a God entranced vision of everything. Lord, grant us this today.

Go hard, or go home- A call to men who would follow Jesus.

Working through some thoughts on men who are really ready to pursue hard after God, and to stand by His grace to do hard things.  More is coming on this.  For now, words from Christ that come just after, "He set his face like flint toward Jerusalem."  Luke 9:57-62

What does Harvey Penick have to do with Easter?

"Take Dead Aim".  This phrase was an important part of Penick's teaching.  The idea that the better one aims, the more likely he or she is to hit the target, well, it makes sense.

A man I work with this week was speaking indirectly about the the mission of God and people's action under the scope of "mission of God".  He asked something along the lines of , "Are you really hitting what you aim for, or are you just shooting arrows and painting targets around where they land?"

I laughed, then cried as I thought on and was challenged, convicted, wounded, encouraged, and moved by the question.  Much of what is deemed Christianity is  the latter of the two ideas.  We will bless anything as long as it has a fish stamped on it and nobody's feelings get hurt.  This is not how Jesus lived, died, or rose from the dead, and it is not the life He calls us to, when He calls.

God the Son loved on earth with a clear target in mind.  According to the will of, and for the glory of the Father, He came to seek and to save that which was lost, and He did.  He died once for all, the just fo the unjust, to bring people to God, and He did.  He came to destroy the works of the Devil, and He did.  He came to purify for Himself a people zealous for good works, He made perfect forever those who are being sanctified, He set His face like flint toward Jerusalem.  He laid His life down of His own accord, and He rose from the dead.  As one author says, "His life was ordered by His objective."  He lived on purpose. 

So often we do not.  Each step of this narrow way there are signs to the right and left that flash "happiness here!"  How quickly we turn aside to a way that seems right to us.  We all like sheep have gone astray.  He was pierced for our transgressions.

He was a man, the God/man on a mission.  He accomplished it.  We as His followers are graciously enabled to join the mission and with our lives to take dead aim.  It is easy to shoot wherever we want and call that target practice, but today, by His grace, and in His kindness He calls us to fix our eyes on Jesus, lay aside whatever keeps us from Him, and take dead aim.

Derek Webb- Lover

Like a man comes to an altar,
I came into this town,
With the world upon My shoulders
And promises passed down.
When I went into the water,
My Father, He was pleased.
I built it and I'll tear it down
So you will be set free.

Yes, and I found thieves and salesmen
Living in My Father's house.
And I know how they got in here,
And I know how to get 'em out.
Well, I'm turning this place over
From floor to balcony.
Then, just like these doves and sheep
Oh, you will be set free.

'Cause I have always been a lover
From before I drew a breath
Oh, and somethings I love easy
And some I love to death.
You see, love's no politician
'Cause it listens carefully
So from those who come,
I can't lose one,
So you will be set free,
Oh, you will be set free.

Go on and take My picture
Go on and make Me up
Oh, I'll still be your Defender
And you'll be My missing son
And I'll send out an army
Just to bring you back to Me.
'Cause regardless of your brothers' lies,
Oh, you will be set free.

Because I am My beloved's
And My beloved's Mine;
So, you bring all your history,
I'll bring the bread and wine.
Then we'll have us a party
Where all the drinks are on Me
And as surely as the rising sun
Oh, you will be set free,
Oh, you will be set free.

Hear Our Cry, Oh LORD!

I do not usually pray with a set form, or pattern, though I find nothing wrong with it.  I just did not grow up in a tradition full of form.  However, last night I was wakened to pray several times and thoughts of my neediness and God's, well, Deity, His divine nature, kept coming to mind-  I needed to call on Him, and this morning, I need to cry out to Him again.  Most of what I prayed I would not list, but some general ideas God had on my heart I can share.  Perhaps you would "amen" with me.

For your fame to be spread among all the peoples,

Hear our cry, Oh LORD.

For those without work, without food, without shelter- that they might find provision of each,

Hear our cry, Oh LORD.

For the holiness of us and our children,

Hear our cry, Oh LORD.

For the deceived to see the light of the crucified and risen King,

Hear our cry, Oh LORD.

For men who sill stand though the heavens fall,

Hear our cry, Oh LORD.

For ladies who fear the LORD- not deceived by the call of the world, 

Hear our cry, Oh LORD.

That we, your people would turn from our sins,

Hear our cry, Oh LORD.

That cities on hills might not be hidden,

Hear our cry, Oh LORD.

That we might walk in paths of righteousness for your name's sake

Hear our cry, Oh LORD.

That we might walk in the obedience of faith, with love for you and for your people,

Hear our cry, Oh LORD.

For your glory and for our joy in your presence,

Hear our cry, Oh LORD.  Amen.

The Body

Living as part of a community is so difficult and rewarding.  So beautiful and sometimes ugly.  So encouraging to see progress and so discouraging to see stagnation, both in the body at large, in small communities, and in me.  Grateful for a savior who is risen and for what He can do.

Remember, Patrick of Ireland was a missionary!

Just a few of His words.
"I am Patrick, yes a sinner and indeed untaught; yet I am established here in Ireland where I profess myself bishop. I am certain in my heart that 'all that I am,' I have received from God. So I live among barbarous tribes, a stranger and exile for the love of God." 

"If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God so as to teach these peoples; even though some of them still look down on me."

"In short, I am a slave in Christ to this faraway people for the indescribable glory of 'everlasting life which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.'"

"I bind myself today, -
To the power of God to guide me,
The might of God to uphold me,
The wisdom of God to teach me,
The eye of God to watch over me,
The ear of God to bear me,
The Word of God to speak for me,
The hand of God to protect me,
The way of God to lie before me,
The shield of God to shelter me,
The host of God to defend me

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in breadth, Christ in length, Christ in height

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks to me,
Christ in the eye of every man that sees me,
Christ in the ear of every man who hears me -

Salvation is the Lord's,
Salvation is the Lord's,
Salvation is Christ's,
Let thy salvation, 0 Lord, be ever with us."

"For the sun we see rises each day for us at [his] command, but it will never reign, neither will its splendor last, but all who worship it will come wretchedly to punishment. We, on the other hand, shall not die, who believe in and worship the true sun, Christ, who will never die, no more shall he die who has done Christ's will, but will abide for ever just as Christ abides for ever, who reigns with God the Father Almighty and with the Holy Spirit before the beginning of time and now and for ever and ever. Amen."

Persecution

I may have mentioned here briefly last week a brother I met in the Emirates.  He is from a very volatile region of the world where radical Islam is rampant in the clerics and among the tribesmen.  After attending the fellowship I was set to join on my Friday there, I met this believer "A" who was waiting for his service to start.  I asked if he spoke English, and he said "no" then proceeded to talk to me, in English of course.

He shared how he came to faith in Jesus just over 20 years ago in his homeland.  His father told him to leave the area or he would not live.  He is the shame of his family, simply because he has been embraced by the light of the world.  Since then he has worked on the farm of a very wealthy gentleman from the Emirates.  The wages he makes and the place he sleeps are meager at best.  He sees his wife and children for a little over a week, every two years.  He does have a family though, in the small fellowship of believers from his language group that meet together to fellowship and taste of the goodness of God as a group.

When I returned home, I noticed someone from his homeland on the cover of Voice of the Martyrs print magazine.  Meeting him and seeing the magazine were great reminders of an awful truth.  I have met with believers several times since my return, without consequence.  For some today even the idea of meeting together means danger.  Persecution is happening all over the world.  We are told to remember and to pray for those who are suffering for their faith in Jesus.  Remember with me today, and pray.

Rollercoaster of love

There are days, weeks, and seasons that roll along with all the twists, turns, creaks, and shifts of that classic roller coaster, The Texas Cyclone.  Such have been the last few weeks.  Since this is a blog, not a book I am only going to hit some of the bigger notes of the last 8 days, and of those, I will only mention the ones I can discuss; I wish I was being sardonic, but I'm not. 

I spent the last week on the Arabian Peninsula.  I have visited with a CEO, members of a ruling family, someone who claims to be part of a well known terror organization, people who, culturally speaking, I never should have spoken with; I visited a guard of foreign dignitaries, a genius of global outreach, a modern hero of the faith, and an Imam.  Also I met a man who probably grew up in the same city as my great grandfather (in Syria).  Those are just a few highlights.  While all these were occurring, the guy I was with got a call saying his mom is in an ICU.  My wife's grandmother had 2 strokes. my Uncle's health situation remains very serious.  People in our Church and in Churches around us are hurting, suffering loss of loved ones, in serious pain.  I saw doors open, and heard doors close.  I got stared at, laughed at, prayed for, and encouraged.  General thoughts I had on Islamic culture were both transformed and confirmed.  I sensed God teaching me and simply with me along the way.  I walked comfortably through the sort of neighborhoods I might not walk comfortably through in cities in my own state.  I went for days without eating processed food.  Then I got the biggest diet coke I could find.  I saw the cheapest markets set up next to the most expensive department stores.  I examined how incomprehensible wealth and horrible poverty coexist in the same place.  I saw the world's tallest building in construction and shanty towns falling apart.  I saw 25 expat Churches use one building for all their congregations to meet.  I saw a vision being cast for international ministry in a place where there are less than 100 national believers in the country.  I saw light shining in one fo the darkest places on earth, and hopefully took part in stoking the fires.  I have sensed the love of God for me in Christ Jesus through out the week, and now I am almost home.   It can't come soon enough.