Pat Robertson made a fool of himself and of Christians everywhere yesterday with his comments. I have listened to people in the media and in offices mock him. I have listened to people talk like Mr. Robertson is the voice of the Christian. Pat Robertson speaking on behalf of the gospel of Jesus Christ is like listening to McGwire talk about the purity of baseball or Gilbert Arenas about gun control.
Here is an excerpt of an article from Albert Mohler who is a more qualified speaker on the subject of Haiti and the Christian response.
Does God hate Haiti? God hates sin, and will punish both individual sinners and nations. But that means that every individual and every nation will be found guilty when measured by the standard of God's perfect righteousness. God does hate sin, but if God merely hated Haiti, there would be no missionaries there; there would be no aid streaming to the nation; there would be no rescue efforts -- there would be no hope.
The earthquake in Haiti, like every other earthly disaster, reminds us that creation groans under the weight of sin and the judgment of God. This is true for every cell in our bodies, even as it is for the crust of the earth at every point on the globe. The entire cosmos awaits the revelation of the glory of the coming Lord. Creation cries out for the hope of the New Creation.
In other words, the earthquake reminds us that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only real message of hope. The cross of Christ declares that Jesus loves Haiti -- and the Haitian people are the objects of his love. Christ would have us show the Haitian nation his love, and share his Gospel. In the midst of this unspeakable tragedy, Christ would have us rush to aid the suffering people of Haiti, and rush to tell the Haitian people of his love, his cross, and salvation in his name alone.
Everything about the tragedy in Haiti points to our need for redemption. This tragedy may lead to a new openness to the Gospel among the Haitian people. That will be to the glory of God. In the meantime, Christ's people must do everything we can to alleviate the suffering, bind up the wounded, and comfort the grieving. If Christ's people are called to do this, how can we say that God hates Haiti?
More from Paul Miller's A Praying Life
"We don't like God too close, especially if God is a deity we can't control. We have a primal fear of walking in the garden with God, naked, without clothing. We desperately want intimacy, but when it comes, we pull back, fearful of a God who is too personal, too pure."
He talks about how God is both infinite and personal. God is majestic and humble. God is Lord and Shepherd. As begin to understand these things, prayer becomes more easily understood and at the same time hard to grasp. He says, "Trying to dissect how prayer works is like using a magnifying glass to try to figure out why a woman is beautiful. If you turn God into and object, he has a way of disappearing. We do the same thing when a spouse or a friend treats us like an object, we pull back.
"If you are going to enter this divine dance we call prayer, you have to surrender your desire to be in control, to figure out how prayer works. You've got to let God take the lead. You have to trust. Then God will delight you."
My prayer for myself, my family, my church and all who read this is that God would reveal his infinite and personal nature to you today. It is also that you would let go of your grip of control and rest in the wonder of relationship with Jesus. Let it go and swim in the sea.
He talks about how God is both infinite and personal. God is majestic and humble. God is Lord and Shepherd. As begin to understand these things, prayer becomes more easily understood and at the same time hard to grasp. He says, "Trying to dissect how prayer works is like using a magnifying glass to try to figure out why a woman is beautiful. If you turn God into and object, he has a way of disappearing. We do the same thing when a spouse or a friend treats us like an object, we pull back.
"If you are going to enter this divine dance we call prayer, you have to surrender your desire to be in control, to figure out how prayer works. You've got to let God take the lead. You have to trust. Then God will delight you."
My prayer for myself, my family, my church and all who read this is that God would reveal his infinite and personal nature to you today. It is also that you would let go of your grip of control and rest in the wonder of relationship with Jesus. Let it go and swim in the sea.
From A Praying Life by Paul Miller
"To teach us how to pray, Jesus told stories of weak people who knew they couldn't do life on their own. Learned desperation is at the heart of a praying life."
"Suffering is God's gift to make us aware of our contingent existence. It creates an environment where we see the true nature of our existence- dependant on the living God."
These quotes that use phrases like learned desperation and contingent existence, make me think about what I have seen to be practically true in my own prayer life. So many times, I operate in my own skill set. When that does not work I seek someone with a skill set that will get the job done. Very rarely is the first reaction to pray and to pray with intensity and persistence.
This is not always the case. When a pastor who I admire and respect named Matt Chandler came down with a serious brain cancer diagnosis, there was a national call to pray. A great number of people began praying for Matt. An old friend of mine, named Jeff, about the same time, got a diagnosis of a cancer in his brain. The prognosis is not good. The reaction from everyone was to pray.
Cancer is something that we do not have to learn to be desperate about, we are desperate immediately. When we hear of malignant brain cancer, we know immediately that we are helpless.
But what do we do when the situation is not as grim as brain cancer? Is our first reaction to operate in our own strength? For me the answer is yes. When will we realize that our existence is a contingent existence and the our situation on this planet is desperate one? When will we understand that God has our very best interest in mind? Even when the diagnosis is cancer, even when we get a cold, even when our spouse leaves, even when we want a new job, even when we have an autistic child, even when we can not find our car keys, even when we can't make rent this month...God has our best interest at heart.
We have to understand that ours is a contingent existence. When any of these things happen, God is teaching that to us. Pray today, live today, be aware that yours is a contingent existence today.
"Suffering is God's gift to make us aware of our contingent existence. It creates an environment where we see the true nature of our existence- dependant on the living God."
These quotes that use phrases like learned desperation and contingent existence, make me think about what I have seen to be practically true in my own prayer life. So many times, I operate in my own skill set. When that does not work I seek someone with a skill set that will get the job done. Very rarely is the first reaction to pray and to pray with intensity and persistence.
This is not always the case. When a pastor who I admire and respect named Matt Chandler came down with a serious brain cancer diagnosis, there was a national call to pray. A great number of people began praying for Matt. An old friend of mine, named Jeff, about the same time, got a diagnosis of a cancer in his brain. The prognosis is not good. The reaction from everyone was to pray.
Cancer is something that we do not have to learn to be desperate about, we are desperate immediately. When we hear of malignant brain cancer, we know immediately that we are helpless.
But what do we do when the situation is not as grim as brain cancer? Is our first reaction to operate in our own strength? For me the answer is yes. When will we realize that our existence is a contingent existence and the our situation on this planet is desperate one? When will we understand that God has our very best interest in mind? Even when the diagnosis is cancer, even when we get a cold, even when our spouse leaves, even when we want a new job, even when we have an autistic child, even when we can not find our car keys, even when we can't make rent this month...God has our best interest at heart.
We have to understand that ours is a contingent existence. When any of these things happen, God is teaching that to us. Pray today, live today, be aware that yours is a contingent existence today.
Have an Intentional Devotional Life in 2010
As we get ready to launch into a new year, I'm been thinking a ton about what 2009 has held and what I want to be the same and or different about 2010. The one thing I keep coming back to is our calling to relationship with our God. John 17:3 defines it incredibly well - "This is eternal life, that you KNOW HIM." So regardless of what your relationship with Him has looked like in the past, it can and should look different in the future. Prov. 4:18 teaches us this very truth -- there is alway more of Him to be had in our lives. I found an article written by an Acts 29 pastor on this very topic. I thought this was incredibly helpful and wanted to share it with you. The content is below or you can access the attached link. Will you join me in 2010???
Planning an Intentional Devotional Life for 2010. Do you have a plan?
by JR Vassar, Pastor of The Apostle's Church NYC
The most important thing you can do in 2010 is cultivate a devotional life that facilitates the intimate nearness of God. You won't accidentally get close to God. So, for 2010, I wanted to encourage you to embrace a focused intentionality in your devotional life. Here are some things I have been thinking through with regards to my devotional practices in 2010.
Have a no exemption time and place to meet with God. If you do not schedule in focused time with God, everything else in your life will schedule it out. Have a time and place and treat it as an appointment with the most important person in the universe. And, keep it; no excuses. It might be morning, evening, night, whatever. Just pick a time that you devote to seeking God with uninterrupted focus. If you have to put it on your calendar, do it.
Have a plan. What will you do during that time? The obvious answer is that the time will at least include contemplative bible reading and prayer. But, what will be the content of that contemplative reading? There are several options and no one option is best or right. You need to find what keeps you engaged and maybe even mix it up a little. Here are some options that some friends have shared with me on Twitter:
The M'Cheyne Reading System. Robert Murray M'Cheyne was a minister in the Church of Scotland from 1835-1843. He died at the age of 29 but left an amazing legacy. This is a plan he developed. The site explains this plan as "featuring four different readings for use in both family and personal devotions. Each day has two passages from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament, and one from either the Psalms or the Gospels. In one year, you read the Old Testament once and the New Testament and Psalms twice." You can subscribe the and have it delivered into your google reader every day. Or you can download a printable version .
ESV Study Bible Reading Plan. In my opinion, the best study bible available today is the ESV Study Bible. The Doctrines section in the back exceptional and the notes are very helpful. There is also a reading plan in the back of the ESV Study Bible. The site describes it as "readings every day from the Psalms and Wisdom Literature, Pentateuch and History of Israel, Chronicles and Prophets, and Gospels and Epistles." You can subscribe to the and have it delivered to your google reader everyday.
The Book of Common Prayer. For those of us from the free church tradition, this seems a little foreign, but I have found the BCP daily office to be a great approach. Every day the BCP gives you a morning and evening Psalm, an OT reading, a Gospel reading and an NT reading. The great thing about the BCP is that Christians all over the world are reading the same Scriptures everyday together. You are reading with the Church. The BCP daily office is a two year cycle, each cycle beginning in the season of Advent. We just started Year Two. You won't read through the entire bible in those two years, but you will get a wide and diverse diet of the Scripture. For more information on the BCP visit this and click on the Daily Office Lectionary. You can also subscribe the and have the readings delivered to your google reader everyday.
Customize Your Own Reading Plan. If you want to customize your own reading plan so that your reading is heavier in one area than the other, you can use this and have your customized plan emailed you to every day.
Choose Individual Books. Some prefer to stick in a book and go deep with it for a season. For instance, you might want to spend a month or two in the Gospel of John focusing on the glory of Christ. It is a good idea to alternate between OT and NT and different genres. Again, which plan you choose is not the most important thing. Don't stress over it. Just have a plan.
Begin your time with prayer and confession. Confess your sins to the Lord and ask him to cleanse your heart (of things you have done and things you have left undone) and open your eyes to behold wonderful things in his word (Psalm 119:18). You want a heart that is open and responsive to God and confession and prayer postures us in that way.
Read out loud. Maybe it is just me, but if I don't, I get really distracted.
Look for Gospel patterns. As you read, realize that Jesus and the Gospel is The One Story of the Bible. Look for Gospel patterns, grace on display, as you read. Especially in the OT. Every story has Christ as the ultimate hero. For example, don't read the story of David and Goliath and leave your devotional time "ready to face your giants." Realize that you are Israel in the story, not David. You are weak, powerless, cowering before your enemies of sin, Satan, and death, and you need an anointed King to defeat your enemies and cause you to rise up in hope and courage. Jesus is the true and better David, and he is the point of the story of David and Goliath. Look for these patterns in everything you read and rejoice in what God has accomplished for you in Jesus. We don't have devotions and pray in order to avoid the guilt of not having devotions and not praying. We have devotions and pray to know Jesus and his Gospel, and revel in all that he is for us and all that he has won for us.
Journal your thoughts and prayers. Journaling helps us process what we are reading and learning from the Lord. It is good to go back and read your journal to remind yourself of how God has been at work in your life in the past. Get a moleskin or a cheap equivalent and just do it for a season and see if it helps you.
Realize that this is a community project. You need to share what God is saying to you and have others share what God is saying to them. Consider doing one of the above plans with a group of people, a spouse, a roommate, or your church staff.
Don't give up. I have missed meals in the past, but never gave up on eating. I just made sure I did not miss the next meal (and usually made up for it). You are going to miss days, often times multiple days. Repent of your neglect of God and press on in knowing him. Your righteousness is not in how consistent your devotional life is; it is in Jesus Christ who is constant and ever faithful. So, relax and pick up where you left off.
The beauty and joy of 2010 will not depend upon your circumstances, but upon your experience of the One you were made for. As much of him that you want to experience, you will experience. He promises to reward those who diligently seek him ().
Advent 2009:: The Coming LOVE Friday, Merry Christmas!
Friday Love::
Read Luke 2:1-7
Love is here. The reading today is intentionally short. All of these readings are intended to connect your heart with THE COMING hope, peace, joy and love that is found in Jesus. Reflect on the simplicity of the story you have just read in Luke 2:1-7.
Read Luke 2:1-7
Love is here. The reading today is intentionally short. All of these readings are intended to connect your heart with THE COMING hope, peace, joy and love that is found in Jesus. Reflect on the simplicity of the story you have just read in Luke 2:1-7.
Advent 2009:: The Coming LOVE Thursday Christmas Ee
Thursday Love::
Read Luke 1:39-56.
Starting with verse 46, this is Mary’s song of praise, also called The Magnificant. The title is derived from the first line of the song, “My soul magnifies…” Mary’s song is intended to make larger the love that has come to her and is COMING to the world.
As you read, know that Mary is a teenager and of no worldly significance. Also know that Jesus comes to those who seek Him and who are humble and hungry.
Read Luke 1:39-56.
Starting with verse 46, this is Mary’s song of praise, also called The Magnificant. The title is derived from the first line of the song, “My soul magnifies…” Mary’s song is intended to make larger the love that has come to her and is COMING to the world.
As you read, know that Mary is a teenager and of no worldly significance. Also know that Jesus comes to those who seek Him and who are humble and hungry.
Advent 2009:: The Coming LOVE Wednesday
Wednesday Love::
Read 1 John 4:10
God is the love; not us. Jesus is the love; not us. When Jesus was born to Mary in that stable, true love that gives of itself for the betterment of another was born. True love that has no motive other than the object of love was born.
You might need to know what propitiation means. Simply put, it means "paid for." Jesus is loved defined. That definition is to come and bring to us what we could not bring to ourselves, which is the payment for sin and reconciliation with God.
Pastor and author John Piper says, “"Love is bringing the object of your love to a place where they are enthralled with that which will eternally satisfy the soul, namely Jesus."
Jesus is love. Christmas truly is THE COMING of love.
Read 1 John 4:10
God is the love; not us. Jesus is the love; not us. When Jesus was born to Mary in that stable, true love that gives of itself for the betterment of another was born. True love that has no motive other than the object of love was born.
You might need to know what propitiation means. Simply put, it means "paid for." Jesus is loved defined. That definition is to come and bring to us what we could not bring to ourselves, which is the payment for sin and reconciliation with God.
Pastor and author John Piper says, “"Love is bringing the object of your love to a place where they are enthralled with that which will eternally satisfy the soul, namely Jesus."
Jesus is love. Christmas truly is THE COMING of love.
