hot topic

I'm not married. Lord willing that day will come. Recently marriage has been all over the news. State governments are trying to define marriage in a way that meets the desires of all people. And with the most recent decision in New York, it appears as though marriage will look drastically different than it did last century.

I don't like debating politics, but this is really a moral issue in the political realm. I've read many opinion pieces and listened to various individuals express their views on the matter. Some (from both sides) I have respected while others (on both sides) I found ridiculous. But still I must state two important points. First, human rights are important. Regardless of who someone is or how they live their lives, they are still an image bearer of God and worthy of respect. Second, marriage is more than a government institution. In Genesis God ordains marriage right after creating humanity. And God has ordained it between a man and woman. For in Mark 10:9, God declares Himself to be the one who brings a man and woman together not the government. Therefore marriage is not a right, but a blessing from God.

With that said, I read a rather obnoxious article on this issue. It was from a comedian, which makes it hard to know whether the person is serious or using extreme sarcasm. Given the personal information included, I concluded the author to be rather serious: marriage should be outlawed across the board.

I'll let you read it for yourself, but one part stood out among all the others. He took a quote from another comedian to sum up his entire point. Basically, marriage doesn't fit in with human nature, which leaves removing it altogether as the only logical option.

The Bible tells us over and over again about human nature. One verse, Jeremiah 17:9, says The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? Marriage is gift which encourages two individuals to sacrifice themselves for the good of one another. It demands selfishness and self-interest be thrust aside. It requires humility and constant forgiveness. It is a picture of how Jesus Christ loves His church and gave Himself for her.

We should be glad it exists because anything that works against human nature is a gracious gift of God. He could leave us to ourselves, but continually works with us for our benefit and His glory. And no government decision can replace that.

on deck

I still have no idea where God is leading me. I wish I could daily say that with a smile on my face, but the reality is every single day likens itself to a wrestling match to embrace Paul's words in Philippians 4:10-13. I know God's timing and plan are always perfect, but am I willing to trust?

Recently, I've been reading one Psalm a day. It's not for intensive study purposes, but more as an added aspect to my prayers for the day. On Sunday, I was slated to read Psalm 131. It stayed with me through the day as a challenge to my struggle for contentment. On Monday, I read it again hoping it would sink in further. This morning, I followed suit.

The three verses have been a great encouragement and reminder over the past three days. As a result, I have adopted it as my theme passage for the summer. It's my prayer and foundation as I begin the next step (seminary) tomorrow.

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;

my eyes are not raised too high;

I do not occupy myself with things

too great and too marvelous for me.

But I have calmed and quieted my soul,

like a weaned child with its mother;

like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel hope in the Lord

from this time forth and forevermore.

hard of hearing

I was provided a wonderful reminder from God's Word this morning. The extremely familiar "parable of the sower" from Luke 8 was the highlighted passage. For all I knew, the text had been exhausted of its benefits. Of course, God showed me another level of His ways, and I left reminded of the inexhaustible nature of God's Word.

To put it bluntly, I don't listen well. And the reason I don't listen well is because my heart isn't prepared to hear. Time in God's Word seems nothing more than time spent reading a book. Prayer appears frivolous as I ramble off the same mantra day after day. My heart is far too synonymous with the path, rocky, or thorn infested soils than it is to the nutrient-rich one. Therefore I come away from reading empty-handed and frustrated. And those two words adequately express my demeanor in recent weeks: empty-handed and frustrated.

From a pride standpoint, it's extremely difficult living as a unemployed man in his mid-twenties. I literally hold nothing in my hands. While this should cultivate a heart-posture ready to receive God's Word, it typically cultivates frustration. Frustration opens the door to doubt and fear. And those two drive me as I look upon what is coming next. I feel lost in my diminished pride instead of in the right place where God's grace can go to work. I seek to provide myself with significance when Christ is all the significance I need.

In all this I am reminded of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. Fresh off God's awesome showing on Mount Carmel, Elijah hides in a cave after his life is threatened. He feels frustrated and insignificant, even to the point of desiring death (see v. 4). God feeds him, questions him, and says, Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord (v. 10). Elijah does so with the anticipation of hearing God tell him something in an earth shattering manner. And here is what Elijah finds:

• a great and strong wind...but the Lord was not in the wind (v. 11)
• an earthquake...but the Lord was not in the earthquake (v.11)
• a fire...but the Lord was not in the fire (v.12)
• the sound of a low whisper or a thin silence (v.12)

And here is what Elijah does after hearing the low whisper:

And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?' (v.13).

Elijah finally heard God speaking. And it wasn't because God was silent up until this point, but because Elijah's heart was now ready to listen. He had been doing all the things God wanted without listening. His frustrations were directed at God when they should have been aimed at his lack of hearing. God piercingly revealed Himself by means of a whisper. And this prepared Elijah to meet with God.

I too am looking for the wind, earthquake, and fire while ignoring the whisper. I don't listen before entering, but enter with no desire to listen. I say I am frustrated when I am the very reason for my frustrations. And in all this God is merely telling me what He told Elijah and every other person desperately wanting to hear from God.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear (Luke 8:8).

names

I'm not a parent, but naming children sounds like fun (at least when both parents agree on the name). You have an extremely large plethora of names to choose from, and you are allowed to choose two if you decide on a middle name. You just need to make your best effort to guarantee your child won't suffer because of the name you chose.

The Bible treats naming children differently than many do today. On occasion, God gave the parents exactly what the child was to be called (Isaac, Ishmael, John the baptist and Jesus Christ for example) through special revelation. Most of the time parents named the child in response to something the Lord had done or was doing. The child was a reminder of how God was working in their lives for His glory and their good.

Joseph did the same when God blessed him with two sons born to him while he was in Egypt. His firstborn was given the name Manasseh which means "making to forget." Manasseh was chosen because God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house (Genesis 41:51). It seems as though Joseph forgot the bitterness he probably harbored towards his brothers for selling him into Egypt. Joseph saw his hardship was not in vain, but beautifully orchestrated by God.

Joseph's second son was given the name Ephraim which means "making fruitful." Joseph declared God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction (Genesis 41:52). In his second son Joseph saw how God blesses regardless of circumstance. Joseph didn't need to be on the mountain top to receive God's blessings. He found them in an empty cistern, a prison, and a devastating famine. Nothing was too severe for God to work His hand of grace through.

With these two names you can almost hear Joseph echoing what Paul would write thousands of years later in 1 Corinthians 15:10. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me is not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

Like Paul, Joseph declared himself to be a testament to God's grace. All his afflictions were used to mold and shape him from the arrogant loner to the humble ruler. He worked hard, most likely during that two-plus year prison sentence, as God's grace worked hard in him. And in the end, he named his sons as reminders of the wonderful grace of God.

more from Joseph

Since my impromptu reading in Genesis 40 and 41, I decided to embark upon a character study of Joseph. He is slowly becoming one of my favorite biblical persons for a variety of reasons. My study isn't overly extravagant or confusing. I simply look for what the Bible says about Joseph as well as what God did through Him. These two points provide a great deal of material to pray and meditate on in my own life. I fully plan on doing another study as soon as I am finished with Joseph.

From Genesis 39, I walk away with two glaring points of interests. First, Joseph had nothing and seemed fully aware of that reality more than once. Second, God worked abundantly through Joseph's "nothingness."

Joseph came into Potiphar's house as a slave. Verses one and two tell us Potiphar bought Joseph and took him into his home. If we go from chapter 37, Joseph probably entered Potiphar's house with nothing, not even the clothes on his back seeing as his brothers took them when they tossed him in the pit. Then after being falsely accused of sexual harassment, Joseph entered prison in a very similar fashion. And yet, Joseph was far from useless in either scenario.

Verse four says Potiphar "made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had." Meanwhile, verse twenty-two tells us "the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it."

How could a guy with nothing be placed in charge on two (and three later on) different occasions? In the today's world, Joseph could probably have at least three New York Times bestsellers about how to overcome obstacles, lead well, and find success in all you do. Thankfully, he doesn't and God's Word clearly tells us the answer.

Verse three says "the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands." Verse five tells us "the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake." And verse twenty-three declares "because the Lord was with Joseph. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed."

I honestly believe Joseph was one of the few people in the Bible (and all history for that matter) who actually understood. The chapter also tells us Joseph was strong and handsome. It's why Potiphar's wife attempted to seduce him. But Joseph knew he had nothing. His circumstances reminded him again and again. This led Joseph to embrace humility with all his might. By putting on humility, Joseph's life became a living testament to the power of God. God's Word tells us more than once how God rewards humility while standing in the way of pride (Proverbs 3:34, Matthew 23:12, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5 to name a few). God worked in Joseph because Joseph allowed Him full control of anything and everything. He was absolutely submissive to the will of God.

I want to be the same. Unfortunately, I am not.

Everyone knows the story of Joseph. Simply put, Joseph went through a full spectrum of trials. And by God's grace he saw the other side of each and every one. He is living proof of the faithfulness of God.

Reading Joseph's story can be difficult because the story lacks full character development. We are only given a glimpse into how Joseph's faith matured from beginning to end. We don't get to see how the fire refined Joseph's faith. All we really know about his faith is ultimately revealed in the end. Joseph understood all that transpired in his life was a part of God's design to save lives (Genesis 45:8) and bring about good (50:20). And that was enough for him.

Joseph's time in prison is short-lived in the biblical account despite it lasting at least two years. The Bible only describes it in reference to the dreams he interpreted. But it does mention "some time after this" (40:1) and "after two whole years" (41:1) to give an idea of the length of time he spent.

And after he gave good news to the cup bearer Joseph asked him to "remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. For I was indeed stolen out of the land of Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit" (40:14-15).

Joseph had no clue what God was doing by bringing him to Egypt and finding it fit to keep him in bonds. He only knew he was there a long time. He knew he wanted out. And yet he was patient.

Unlike Joseph I have a small glimpse of what God is doing (I say this loosely because God's ways are always far above my own). I left a comfortable job for uncertainty only to find God prepared the way for me to spend the first three months of the year in India. I came back to uncertainty only to find God met my needs as I applied to seminary. Now I stand on the shore ready to dive into the unknown of seminary and whatever else God has for me.

The only problem? I lack patience. I don't know if Joseph grew frustrated, but I know I do. I don't know if Joseph let his fear supplant his faith, but I know I do. I don't know if Joseph ever felt like throwing in the towel, but sometimes I do. It's hasn't quite been "some time after" or two whole years," but there are days when it feels like it.

But I can look to God behind Joseph's story because all the while He "was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love" (39:21).

face-plants

The writer of Psalm 119 speaks as one who fully understands the blessings and benefits of God's Word. I envy his longing for wisdom from it. I envy his declarations of love for every part of it. I envy his trust in it as the means for righteous living.

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. (v.9)

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (v.11)

Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path (v.105)

Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me. (v.133)

Of course no one is perfect. But from the looks of it, this psalmist seems to be heading in the right direction. Every part of his being is guarded by the power of God's Word. And yet he ends the psalm with this,

I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments. (v.176)

God's servant is no better than any of us. He acts like a stubborn sheep, emphatic about meandering his own way. However, his understanding of God's Word keeps him humble and repentant. He knows the promises of forgiveness, grace, and mercy. He rests upon them even when he falls. He knows the character of God to seek us out even when we deserve to be left alone. He asks God to continue. His knowledge of God's Word doesn't puff him up, but drives him closer and closer to the throne of grace.

delight in anguish

Psalm 119 is long. It has 176 verses. Nearly every one deals with some aspect of God's Word. Reading it is encouraging, humbling, and challenging all at once. It is rich and wonderful showing us the innumerable blessings that come with reading and studying God's Word.

I read verse 142 this morning;

Trouble and anguish have found me out...

Every human being who ever walked the earth can fully embrace the beginning of the verse. Trouble and anguish seem to find me more often than I am able to escape. Sometimes it's the trouble of my own sin and desires or the anguish of giving into them (Paul in Romans 7). Other times it's God allowing trials and testing for the purpose of sharpening my faith (1 Peter 1). There are still others times when I have no idea why I am facing such things (think Job). Regardless of the causes, trouble and anguish are realities I face, often times each and every day.

...But your commandments are my delight

God's Word is able to be my delight in times of trouble. What He tells me through His Word is enough to carry me through the hardships with joy. If His command for me is to repent, I can delight in finding the forgiveness that comes with it. If His command is to press on, I can delight in knowing He is my strength and shield. If His command is to love, I can delight in being able to love because I am been loved first by Him. Whatever His Word says, there is always a reason to delight in it. Do I read it with delight or merely to find an escape for the anguish facing me?

stats

I am reading The Book of Basketball by Bill Simmons (aka the Sports Guy). It's a change to the normal material I read in my free time. Why?

First, we are in the midst of the climax of basketball season: the playoffs. While the thought of either the Heat or the Mavericks winning the title makes me sick to my stomach, it won't stop me from watching. The games are too exciting littered with potentially great moments.

Second, I love basketball. It's my primary choice of sports to play, and (finally proud enough to admit) my preference for viewing as well. It has recently trumped my fondest of the NFL. I have more fond memories of watching basketball games with my brother and friends than I do any other sport. And that statement does not include the NCAA. I would watch an NBA game ten times out of ten over an NCAA game despite what the naysayers think. Hands down, it's just better basketball.

The book is about all things basketball (roughly 750 pages worth). The last four hundred list out the top 100 players of all time with many points proving their place. Many names I have only heard of or seen black and white highlights of. Others I can remember vividly because they are still playing or they played when I was younger. The book is packed full of stats, failures, successes, awards, and, quite possibly, the kitchen sink.

To an extent, my faith is filled with the same. My mind races back to times of success and failure as I behold my career stat sheet. At times it looks real nice, while other times it's embarrassing. All in all I fail to measure up. I sympathize with the book's arguments about guys never living up to the gifts and skills they were given. I wrestle over my inability to live up to expectations. It's tiring and consistently frustrating.

But thankfully God doesn't treat my life in the same way we treat the career's of athletes. He knows full well I will never measure up. He is keenly aware of my tendency to fall flat on my face. He doesn't knock me down a tier level when I mess up. He operates through grace.

Grace tells me Christ is my stat sheet. What He did has been transferred to me in exchange for my sin. I don't have to strive toward creating a spotless record. Christ's record is spotless and standing in my place. Grace tells me my efforts have nothing to do with my standing before God. I am already as loved and accepted as I could ever be with no fear of losing either. Grace tells me I can be weak because Christ is strong. I can fail because Christ succeeded. I can grow weary because Christ is my rest.

I won't ever make a top 100 list, but by God's grace I don't have to.