Energy

After time, the second most important resource we have is energy. Where does our energy come from? It is generated by the food we eat; but efficient use of that energy depends on our physical and emotional well being. If we simply eat without training our body and mind to use and focus the energy properly, much of it is wasted or at least inaccessible. The really interesting thing about energy is that we have access to all of it at any time. So I can teach all day at 100% and play with my little boys at 100% for several hours in the evening (if I'm in shape). We don't need to 'save' 50% of our energy for when work is over, only working at 50% for those 8 hours. For this to work, we need activity that puts us in condition mentally and physically to access that energy AND we must decide to invest all our energy all day long in the people and activities of value to us.

There may be activities which involve very little or no energy - watching TV for example. Though I enjoy it once in a while, I realize that if it does not demand much energy, it is probably not worth my time either. Remember that mental energy - conversation, problem solving, critical thinking, analysis - is just as valuable as physical energy. But we need to train ourselves daily in both areas because our tendency is always toward laziness. I don't have any studies to support my ideas here, sorry. If someone has data which supports or refutes me, I would love to hear it. I guess I will have to invest more time and energy here - when I have some to invest...

A walk in the garden

Time is definitely the hardest thing to manage because no mater how many times I try to reorganize my time, it actually changes very little. There are always demands on our time that seem impossible to minimize no matter how little value we place on them. And in talking to retired people, they seem to be much busier now than when they had a job. Some of this is a matter of perspective.

For example, there is a saying in Kenya that goes, "Africans have time but no watches. Americans have watches but no time." Our culture is constantly aware of the present. Technology has augmented this with a constant supply of information - GPS location, stock quotes on our smart phone, FaceBook status updates, and the list is endless. History is only alive if it was after the last election. Even last year's memories fade faster than ever as we fly from one adventure, to another business deal, to the next text message and virtual meeting. And the 3 elements of time that force our constant attention are precision, coordination and pressure. . . . STOP! . . . I think I hear Someone calling my name. He called to Adam and Eve in the Garden, "Where are you?" Do you ever wonder what they talked about on their evening walks? Can you even imagine? After a busy day of naming animals, playing in the stream and eating the freshest, most delicious fruit, they meet with God for a walk. Do they discuss Quantum Physics and internal medicine or just chat about the glorious changing colors as the sun fades behind the hills?

I think the answer to our time dilemma is the One asking that question, "Where are you?" I think His presence is the only thing that gives meaning to our existence and value to our time. The only real purpose for time is to understand the weight of His glory, the power of His love, the uniqueness of His holiness in the joy of His presence. Psalm 32 gives us a glimpse of how to get back to the enjoyment of His presence. Verses 1-5 are a recognition of our sorry condition. We must turn from our sin and our slavery to time or our body will waste away! Verses 6-7 contrast the flood of waters where there is no salvation to the hiding place found in the Person who surrounds us with songs of deliverance. Verse 8 is a steady walk, a purposeful walk under the counsel of His eye, not a bridle or whip. This is the walk of one who responds to the slightest movement, even the mood of the Guide. Verses 10-11 is a life filled with worship. The groaning, loneliness and silence is gone and the joy of communion and community is pervasive. We are walking again in the Garden in the cool of the evening.

Time as a resource

An evaluation of resources: I plan to discuss, in the next 4 or 5 posts, the concept of what some might call 'stewardship' but really it is just using well what each of us have at our disposal. Stewardship concepts that deal only with finances are sorely missing out on the true richness of the resources available to us. I will save environmental issues for another time, but 'stewardship' also refers to our care and management of creation, which is God's very first command to Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28.

There are really only 3 resources available to us – Time, Energy and Money. I suppose that education or experience could be considered resources, but time and energy and sometimes money must be spent in the process of getting them so I won't consider them here. So, which is the most valuable of the three?

I believe that time is our most valuable resource and should be used with the most care simply because it is not renewable. When a day or even a minute is used, it can never be retrieved again. All of us only have a certain number of days and they seem to go faster as each year passes. I am not promoting a life of endless work nor of endless amusement, but we must carefully consider how we use our time. Some might promote a 'tithing' of our time so that we give an appropriate amount to God or the church, but this is a very weak and inconsistent view of stewardship. All of our time must belong to God or none of it is really His at all. God set aside one day in seven to rest and commands us to keep that day holy or 'set apart' as a special day for worship, but I do not believe that other days should be unholy or void of worship! All our days are a special gift from God. All days are ordained by Him to worship and live out our calling of service to Him and others.

So how should we divide our time? I believe that God has first called us to care for our parents, spouses, children and ourselves and this demands the greater part of our time and our financial resources. I Timothy 5:8 says that those who do not care for their families have “denied the faith”. Between 6 and 8 hours of every day is needed just for our personal rest. Of course all of us must eat and work so that we can buy food and provide a place to sleep every night. All this takes time – probably 70-80% of most days for the rest of our lives. And the time spent here is blessed by God as a part of His original plan for us. Even before the Fall, Adam and Eve were to care for the Garden and the animals in it as well as for each other while being fruitful, bearing and raising children to do the same after them. Work and providing for our household is the very first commandment in Scripture (Genesis 1:28) and implies a blessing from God. There is a warning, however, that “those who want to get rich fall into temptation” (I Tim. 6:9) and “If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.” (vs. 8) So caring for yourself and your family must be balanced with contentment in an attitude of humility, not a constant striving for more or better or bigger, which characterizes our materialistic society.

Faithfulness

Faithfulness is a playful interaction between the past, present and future. Let me explain: If I make a promise to you today then it is because I see the completion of that promise to be beneficial to both of us. But when I look back at that promise at some point in the future, I must make a decision to honor my promise or not. When I made the promise I was postulating that I would still see the benefit of its completion in the same light. Now, as I look back, many things have changed and I may not view it as the most beneficial to me or to you! So, do I follow through with my promise? Faithfulness dictates that I follow through regardless of my current frame of reference.

We often think of faithfulness in terms of the marriage contract. It is a promise to love and honor one person above all others. It is a promise to care for the other "for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part." This vow is often taken at a point in time without any conception of what will take place and how each person will change over their years together. This vow is also taken without any reservation and absolutely no intent of breaking it. But, sadly, it is broken all too often. How does this happen?

We need a new understanding of faithfulness, one that transcends time, endures the unthinkable and renews itself daily in every circumstance. I want to reflect on God's faithfulness for a moment, a faithfulness without equal.

Christ is the embodiment of God's faithfulness. All the promises of the Old Testament come to rest, are completed, in the person of Christ: our Redeemer, our sacrifice for sin, our perfect priest, our mediator of a new covenant, the righteousness of God and the victor over death. All God's promises are fulfilled in Christ. Not one word of what God says is lost or incomplete because of the birth, life, work, death and resurrection of Christ.

I am also reminded of God's faithfulness to me. When I was lost in sin, He found me and convicted me of my need for His forgiveness and restoration. When I am rejected by others, He reminds me that He has accepted me without any qualifications. When I am in need, He provides in practical ways for those needs and even for some desires. When I am concerned for others, He provides practical ways that I can reach out to them in love and with generosity.

When I begin to understand and depend on God's faithfulness, I begin to be transformed. He works a miracle in me. I am moved to reflect faithfulness in my own life. It takes practice and many times it is very difficult. We also need each others help to be accountable, to forgive and to restore relationships. Maybe you can help me...

More power to government?

Now, what happens when government is given too much power? Generally speaking, there appear to be 3 main types of government in modern societies with some variations. The most oppressive may be the dictatorship. This type of government depends almost entirely on one man who has come into power either through inheritance, popularity, or force. His position and the controlling force of his followers depend upon the appearance that they cannot be run out or defeated. Sometimes this is done through propaganda and deception, sometimes by actual force and the brutal slaying of any who oppose the dictator and his agenda. The dictator often takes control for the purpose of reform (societal or religious) but then must defend his position of power whether or not that reform is actually successful. The damage to society is often irreparable for at least 2 generations because of the resulting distrust of government, the financial collapse, the disregard for individual rights and the regressive foreign policies.

The communist ideal is a Utopian society where everyone owns everything and all work together for the benefit of the state. The difficulty is that it is all managed by the government so it's actually the government that owns everything and has first choice at all the best while everyone else has no options, no hope for a better future, and no independence. We see clearly the results of this type of society in the aftermath of the Soviet regime and in modern China.

The third major type of modern government is the representative or democratic government. Of course there are a huge variety of approaches to this type and most are currently in a socialist/bureaucratic mode at this point in time. The more control the government has over the private sector and the more government regulatory and welfare programs exist, the less effective this type of government becomes. As government control increases and the 'care' for the poor in society expands, the harder it is to reform and revitalize this gradual decay into a welfare state of inefficiency, un-creativity, over taxation, political maneuvering, bribery and much worse.

The framers of the US Constitution were well aware of the dangers of government. Here are a couple great quotes:

“Government is not reason; it is not eloquence. It is force. And force, like fire, is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.” - George Washington

"A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government…” - Thomas Jefferson, first Inaugural address

What is good government?

What are the responsibilities of government in a balanced model? Remember that we need a balance between the family, the church and the government. Each group is integral to the whole and serves a distinct function while supporting the other groups.

The primary role of representational government is that of protecting the rights of the individual. There is a very basic code of laws which is a great place to start. It is found in Exodus 20: do not murder, do not lie, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not covet. These communicate the most valuable and intimate rights of the individual which, if honored, provide a basic level of respect and value for every person, their family relationships and their property. These are also built into every representational government system because individuals recognize their importance to society as a whole. Other related roles of government would be establishing a system of defense against foreign government policy and forceful invasion, a system of law with processes for trial and punishment (and rehabilitation) for law-breakers, levying taxes for the funding of government processes and public works, contracting the construction of public works as deemed necessary by the people, the protection of community resources, parks, monuments and historical centers, and education for the advancement and intellectual nourishment of the society. Most importantly, government should be self-limiting so that it only serves in its defined and contracted roles to protect the freedoms of the individuals and local communities which it represents.

There are really only 2 forms of government outlined in the Bible, both of which have some serious difficulties. Monarchy is a very common early form of government and pervasive through most of recorded history. If the king is truly concerned for the well-being of individuals under his rule and has adequate control of his realm, this works quite well in a fairly closed system. But as soon as a king loses focus on his responsibility to his subjects, or loses control of certain groups, or has evil (or lazy) counselors, everything is soon lost. The other form in early Hebrew culture was the theocracy. When God is the ruler, everything really does go well. The difficulty here is that God always communicates through people, some of whom have their own ideas of how things should work and misrepresent God or completely neglect their relationship with Him. After 300 years of moral, social and political failure in the period of the Hebrew judges, the people decided they needed a king like everyone else.

So the Bible does not really promote any form of government because the 2 models it gives do not work out very well. One beauty of Christianity is that it works under any form of government and even thrives under a religiously oppressive and intolerant government. The reason is that it is a relationship between the individual and his/her Creator and affirms the incalculable value of each human life, even in the face of torture and death. Christianity is most definitely NOT a form of government; it is not a social agenda; it is not a program for reform. Christianity is a way of life which impacts the heart and mind of each individual independent of the social climate. A Christian is an individual acting on the reality that God reveals Himself as Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer through His Word (the Bible), through His Son (Jesus), through His creation (the universe) and through His interaction with humanity (history) and who has accepted the death of Jesus as payment for his sin to reestablish the broken relationship. The pride of thinking "I know best" and the resulting disobedience of God's law is what separated/separates us from God in the first place. The Bible does promise a new form of government when time as we know it is no more. This heavenly government will center on the worship of the One who loves us perfectly because He is the source of all love and goodness.

Democracy and Government

It is an interesting time to look at the role of government because of what is happening in the US under the Obama administration. I don't really want to take political sides, just look at the tendencies of different perspectives and their effect on society as a whole.

There are 2 pervading views in a democratic society. One is that the government acts as representatives of the people, based on the premise that the majority of society is intelligent and knows what is good for them. The second is that the government acts a caretaker of society, generating laws and programs which will be for the benefit of the whole. On the surface, both views seem to be generally beneficial. But remembering that the government is an extension of the family, 'employed' by the individuals in society to fill a specific role, the second view begins to take on a sinister tone. There are at least two very difficult issues with the second view.  1. If the government acts on its own, against the will of the people, even for the benefit of the people, it assumes a power which is no longer democratic; it has become a rule by force. 2. If the people are no longer vigilant and actively involved in the processes of government via their representatives, either that government will take advantage of their role (acting for their own benefit, not the people's) or worse, the people will blindly trust their government to know better than they what is of most benefit to their society. The people effectively 'employ' their government, paying them through taxes, to provide jobs, manage production and regulate their economy, health services and savings/retirement.

This second view is actually a version of socialism. Socialism is a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole. This is an intermediate step between communism and capitalism. A socialist government is 'vested' with the control of production and distribution of goods and services for the benefit of the society. This system minimizes competition and (supposedly) controls costs by telling each person what they can charge for their services or goods. The difficulty is that someone has to manage all that information and communication. Who is doing that, how do they do it with real time data, and how do they get paid? Instead of allowing competition based on supply and demand as well as the quality of products, a regulating agency manages production and distribution, gets paid for doing that job (which either raises the cost of the product or raises taxes) and creates a faulty supply and demand standard. This also creates a society where more and more members are employed by the government in 'regulatory' jobs and less are employed in production and distribution. That means the GNP goes down, the cost of products (or taxes) go up and inflation occurs.

A socialized government model creates an increasing gap between what government thinks is true and what is actually happening, decreasing the likelihood of making decisions which are really beneficial. So giving more power to the government, without sufficient controls and adequate representation of the people they represent, can never be a benefit to their society. The government either makes poor decisions and/or ultimately increases the cost of living in that society.

Of course there are other types of government, but none of them have the advantages of a democratic system and all of them have proven to be inadequate in a modern and educated society to care for the needs of the individual. A democratic society is unique in its provision for every individual to have the same opportunities for development and pursue their creative dreams in a healthy and stable environment.

Monotheism - all for one?

Now for a quick comparison of the monotheistic religions. I want to do this to highlight differences in the belief systems and especially the differences in the societal outcomes of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths. It is often falsely assumed that these religions are really essentially the same because they hold as a primary tenant the worship of one God and recognize Abraham as the 'father' of all who believe in one God. Remember that Abram came from a polytheistic culture and was 'called out' from his people by one who claimed to be the One True God and who would make of him a new nation which in turn would be a blessing to every nation and every people. The obvious challenge to the unity of these religions is the extreme enmity between the Islamic nations and any who support or recognize Israel. There is also a split in Jewish thought in reference to the identity of Christ. Messianic Jews believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise: the Messiah, Immanuel, God with us. So there has been a division of thought along the way in all three of the monotheistic religions leaving significant differences.

Jewish belief centers on "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is One" and the summary of the O.T. law, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart... and your neighbor as yourself." The Islamic faith accepts the historical veracity of the O.T. but its central pillar is, "There is no God but God, and Muhammad is his Prophet." The Christian faith, though founded on the history of the O.T., centers in the work of Christ on the cross: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

In a simple comparison of the statements above, several things catch my attention. First, the oneness and unity and uniqueness of God is taken for granted in Jewish and Christian thought. The exclusion of other 'possible gods' in Islamic thought is unique and partially due to a pre-Muhammad worship of 365 gods, one for each day of the year. This gives Islam a unique negativism which is consistent throughout its social, cultural and religious development. Anything which does not conform is suppressed or eradicated to achieve a forced unity, at least in appearance. Second, and more importantly, is the concept of love apparent in the Christian and Jewish faiths but in different ways. The summary of Jewish (or Mosaic) law is more of a command: Love God, love others. Notice that there is no qualification for this love and the Levitical law is explicit in the care and concern (love) for foreigners who do not share the same beliefs. The New Testament (NT) turns the meaning of love to a new focus: God's love for us. We 'must' respond in love to God and to others because of the demonstration of God's love in the person and work of Christ. This conceptual development of love is completely absent in Islamic thought; there is no evidence of God's love and certainly no encouragement to love him back nor anyone else as far as I can tell.

The effect of these ideas on society is tremendous indeed. Our modern definition of love has little to do with the Biblical meaning or model. We tend to think of love as a feeling or an attraction which satisfies a personal desire. The definition of "agape", the Greek term used in reference to God's love, means unconditional and unmerited love and only focuses on providing for and benefiting the recipient of that love. In a society where the meaning of 'agape' is understood, there is a true respect for the needs and well being of others and a value placed on the responsibilities and commitments which come as a result. This rarely happens in an Islamic culture (and it is a culture as much as a religion!) because the emphasis is on submission to authority out of fear, not obedience out of love. So any religion based on law becomes a struggle for power, one group against another. But a religion based on 'agape' should be a desire for relationship with personal commitments to care for and stimulate growth.

The role of the church

Let's focus our attention now on the church. But there are actually 3 questions to discuss here: What is church? Is it a necessary part of a healthy society? If it is necessary, then what is its role and how do we distinguish it from the roles of family and government?

Religion has been a part of every human society since the beginning of time. This signifies an apparent need for belief in something beyond our physical perception and temporal understanding. Even France, which has worked hard to eradicate any type of value training or religious teaching in its schools, might be said to have faith in the omniscience of collective human knowledge. But religion has also been the single most powerful instigator of conflict and hatred between people and cultures. This is because humans have a need for an eternal purpose, something much bigger than any one of us, and the belief in that purpose drives every thought and action to the point that a conflicting belief cannot be tolerated.

So, many might say that religion is destructive to a healthy society. This is true in some cases. But when I speak of 'church', I don't mean religion. And what is the difference? Religion is defined as: a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe or b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship. There are really only 3 categories of religion: a. belief in no god, b. belief in one god, c. belief in many gods. I discuss this a bit in another post. Church really has its roots in a different concept. Jesus refers to church in Matthew 16 saying that his church will be built on the fact that "[He (Jesus) is] the Christ, the Son of the living God." So the whole concept of church revolves around the teachings of Christ, His claim of deity, and the purpose for which He came to live among us. The church, as a gathering of families and individuals, signifies a common desire to know who God is, what a relationship with Christ means, and its significance for one's every day life. That is different from religion because it is the development of a relationship, not just a system of belief.

Beliefs are important because they help us define right and wrong. If there are no absolute values, there is nothing on which to base a system of laws to govern a society. A collective agreement on what is right and wrong can always be challenged, but an eternal truth (apart from our 'acceptance' of it) creates a true standard for conduct. Some might call that restrictive but that would be short sighted and show their ignorance of human nature to be deceptive and controlling. There is really something greater than a 'collective good' that benefits only 99% of the population or less. Christ shows us that each individual is of the utmost importance, not the collective society. We must be willing to change the structure of the society if the worth of the individual is not valued. This is where the church should excel. The church teaches the worth of the individual and his eternal purpose in Christ. The church teaches respect and love for a God who truly loves each person as a special and unique creation. The church teaches our responsibility to Him and to our neighbor. The church supports the roles of the family and the government, teaching respect for those in authority. The church defines the family unit (as taught in Scripture) and defends the freedoms and responsibilities of the individual. The church provides a means to serve the community through care for the elderly, the poor, the sick and the needy. The church proclaims the good news that God does not want any to perish (either now or in eternity) and that all can have a full and meaningful life with eternal purpose.

This leads us back to the 10 Commandments. The first four are the primary teaching points of the church and deal with our personal relationship with God: respect God's deity and authority, respect God's Personhood and character, respect God's Name, respect God's day. These are for our individual as well as collective benefit in relationship to our Creator. The other commandments are reinforced by the church and teach respect for others in our community for everyone's benefit.

Society - Haiti

As I consider the natural disaster in Haiti this month, several things come to mind. Most of the e-mails I have received focus on the desperation of the people without any means of helping or supporting themselves, the terrible loss of life (and miraculous rescues) and the huge response of the global community in sending food and help. There have also been reports of people arriving with nothing in their hands, expecting to help but becoming a burden to others because of their own need for food, water and shelter. Fewer e-mails speak of Haitians waiting quietly and patiently in a long line at a newly opened community water source, or large groups of homeless singing together from dusk to midnight to pass the hours of darkness.

The questions I've been asking are: If I have nothing in the world, what do I really need? And what are the steps to rebuilding a society with millions of people and no means of auto-sufficiency? Haiti has a population where the average person makes less than $3 per day and only 50% can read. To add to the difficulty of their current situation, about 300,000 orphans are now dependent upon what their society can provide until they are able to make their own living.

And the result? It's obvious that it will take between 3 and 6 years to restore what was their GNP, replace all the schools, homes and public buildings, and recreate a healthy and "normal" environment for Haitians in the Port-au-Prince area. But is that enough? I am not in favor of industrialization which creates new "needs" or dependencies, but there are basic societal improvements which lead to real positive development and an atmosphere of peace, security and confidence. Haiti is on record as one of the 2 poorest countries in the world. There are several causes for that but the primary ones are poor (and overpriced) education and a corrupt government that robs the people they are supposed to care for. Public education is mostly done in French, the official language, but 98% of the population speaks Creole every day. Can you imagine an educational career in a different language? The government initiated that travesty because the French had controlled Haiti from 1664 - 1804 and the language of the elite ruling class was French. Over the last 50 years 3 people have primarily controlled the country either as oppressive dictators or as greedy and embezzling presidents.

So one of the primary concerns for the establishment of a productive and peaceful society in Haiti is education. Not an education in French, not an education in modernism and liberalism with its accompanying dependence upon government, but a real and integrated education in Truth and in the God given rights and responsibilities of the individual and the family. With thousands of orphans and many more single parent families, the children and youth of Haiti need to know their individual value, their potential for life and learning, and their responsibility to be the future of their country, people with values and commitments and respect for others. They need to know how to read and write and use the resources of their beautiful country for the good of their community. Most of all they need to know how much their Creator loves them and about His unique purpose for each of them. So with millions of dollars pouring into Haiti, who is going to really do something of lasting value, something that will do more than just provide a few meals and some medicine? The great thing is that people are doing something! Anything, just to keep people alive, is far better than nothing at all but there is a long road ahead for the people of Haiti to have real hope for their future.

The family and society

So let's think about this model a little more. Maybe the family circle is the best one to begin with. This is actually the foundational building block of any society because it is the first set of relationships that any individual has. Those relationships, for good or bad, influence the character and the values of the person during the most impressionable time of their life; and this influence usually continues far into adulthood. That is why the definition of family is of supreme importance in any society. Historically, genetically (and according to the Bible in Gen. 2:24) a family consists of one man, one woman and their pre-adult children. Any society that does not work on this premise is extinct within one generation - talk about a practical definition!!

Now we need to think about the functions of the family. The family is the first and strongest demonstration to a child of what love, commitment and respect might mean. The mother and father demonstrate these values (or their absence) in unique ways to each other and to a child. But if these are not present in the family environment, then the child is unable to function in a healthy manner and may be unstable and insecure for most of their life unless it can be resolved in another significant relationship. The proper functioning of relationships is the key to a healthy society because society is the interaction of people. The struggle for survival, control or anything else without the tempering and ennobling qualities of love, commitment and respect end in fractured relationships and a fractured society.
It is disturbing to me to see the apparent 'commitment' to peace, prosperity, love, religion, education and even generosity in the American society with the plummeting commitment to marriage and family. This is evidence that we are not really concerned about quality relationships, just ideas that also make us feel good about ourselves.

The other primary function of the family is education. The parents teach communication and language use, views on work, play and learning while discovering interests and skills. The parents are also responsible for contracting with the church and/or public education system (government) for taking a role in the educational process. This contract and the continued involvement of the parents is the foundation of the child's lifelong interaction with those larger circles of society. Parents also model and teach values regarding time, money and other resources. These are the most important lessons that a child will ever learn and affects their approach to life and learning in every way. When the parents minimize their responsibilities here, the task is left to other care givers who often have no real interest in the successful development of the child (ie. the TV).
     - It is also important to note that the family is the one aspect of society that joins with others in the formation of churches and governments. Without the family, they do not exist!

The Bible has a lot to say about families, with good and bad examples, but there is only one of the 10 Commandments that addresses family interaction, "Honor your father and mother". The command is not to love but to honor. Sometimes loving is hard. But honor has its place, even when the object of honor is not honorable by any means. Honor is the giving of worth which, by definition, comes from someone of worth. So when children honor their parents, even deplorable ones, they show themselves to be worthy and honorable. Sometimes the honor given is actually received by the parent and begins to work a change on their broken, hard or malicious spirit!

There is obviously much more we could discuss: the changes in family structure forced by the society, the challenges of children forced to emotional, physical or religious slavery by the family, and the list goes on. But I will close with a quote from Albert Einstein: Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom. This is the ideal goal of the family, to create, nurture and inspire the individual to greatness in a setting of intimate relationships and loving devotion. Honor your parents and strive to be honorable yourself and I hope that you find great freedom in the commitment of healthy family relationships!

Society part 1

I've been thinking a bit about society as a whole during the Christmas vacation - what makes it work and what leads to collapse. It is interesting that the 10 commandments actually lay out rules for a healthy society, one that honors God first, parents/family second, and then others.

A Ven Diagram is a good visual tool for teaching and we could use it here. Think of 3 large circles which overlap a bit but are mostly distinct.
 
Notice that each circle is made up of individuals. And in fact, every individual in society actually plays a part in all three circles. The scope of circles may overlap a bit, but no one circle controls or overrides the other two. When they work together, they balance each other and support each other.

I would like to note that there is no circle/community in a healthy society which primarily honors SELF. The individual is very important in a healthy society but he or she always exists in a community where God, parents/family and others are honored. In the honoring (love and respect) for others, the individual and his/her relationships thrive.
The difficulties come in two forms. 1. Instead of following the "Law of Love" (Matt. 22:37-39 summarizes the 10 commandments), we follow the "law of self" and all relationships break down. 2. Instead of balancing the rights and responsibilities of the three primary parts of society (family, church, government), we give one far too much power. When one group has too much power, the other groups cannot function properly and either die or fight viciously instead of working together and honoring the roles of the other groups. Maybe we will think about this model some more in future posts...

A picture of a tree

“All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree.” Albert Einstein

And what is the name of that tree? That is the real question. When I imagine this tree, I see a bright, full, strong tree growing beside a river. It is set apart from others, having privileged access to the water, its roots growing deeper and its branches reaching higher each year. The animals of the forest come and rest under its shade in the long, hot afternoons. The birds nest in its broad, stable branches where the squirrels play in the evenings.

There are many who have heard the name of this tree. Many have whispered the name over the years, looking long and hard for it. Some have found it and as they recount the story of their search, others laugh and mock or just nod quietly in understanding. Many have even died in defense of that tree, not that any could destroy it; this tree stands beyond the reach of any destructive intent but not so far from any who search for its shade. I have seen young people who sit and marvel at its beauty day after day and others who wander far from it, discontented and lost. I have heard the words of old men who did not believe in its existence and others whose every word was the rustling of its leaves and the flowing of its sap.

The name of the tree is Truth and it is rooted deep in the eternal and unchanging Word. It was planted before the beginning of time and served well the Creator in the founding and forming of our universe. It breathes life and speaks to everything in our search for understanding. Its branches are science, math, history, philosophy and art, but also, mercy, justice, compassion and love. It eludes many who think they are wise, and many who think they know nothing are standing in its shade.

assumptions of faith

Everywhere I look there are people debating the existence of God. Many discussion boards have some faith related topic as well. And though many posts are not worth anyone's time or energy, there are a few interesting thoughts. So, since I haven't written here in a while let me respond to one of them:

"And while the object of faith is not logical, faith itself is an evolutionary byproduct that is itself constrained by logic. Everything in this universe is constrained by a logical model." Alexander Ross, in Facebook group (six degrees of separation) asks for one logical reason to believe in God.

faith in physics

While he or anyone may assume that our universe is "constrained" by a logical model, we have no proof of this, especially in the area of faith. "For faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." What we can know (at least in part) is that what is measurable can, to some degree, be explained by a logical model. Why is that so when we, as logic driven humans, had no part in the origin of the universe? By what freak of "chance" did our universe ever depend on logic for its existence!?

The "constraining" element by definition would be something which is outside of our understanding.

Now we can address the realm of faith. For just as science attempts to create logical models for physics and biology and language attempts to create logical models for communication, so does theology attempt to create logical models for faith. (Remember also that science cannot address origins because it is outside of its realm of measurability.) So what many attempt to do is create a logical model for faith based on the "constrained" assumptions of science - and arrive at no solution. If we begin with the "constrained" assumptions of theology, we are at least comparing apples to apples.

So what are the theological assumptions we can begin with? One, it is necessary to have this discussion in the first place. Two, there is a problem with the world which is called by various names though it is really the same thing: deception, pride, selfishness, abuse, corruption, evil, sin. Three, there are many who claim that they have found the answer to this problem but have either proved themselves false or have been proven insufficient for the need. Four, there should be one solution which is universal and timeless, which by its existence negates all other options (and being TRUE would be forever intolerant). Five, if a solution to the problem exists, it must come from beyond or above the material world and the knowledge contained in it in order to triumph over it for the good of all.

These theological assumptions lead us to the realm of faith. Faith in what or Who does make a difference because it will lead us to think and act in specific ways. If you believe that there is no God, then you will act as if nothing we do or say has any ultimate value or meaning. If you believe that there are many gods (like the pantheistic Greeks) you may behave as if you are a god yourself, which is nearly the same as believing there is no God at all. If you believe that there are many gods (like primitive tribes), you will forever live in fear of the possibility of offending one of them. If you believe in the god of Islaam, you will (among other things) follow Mohammed's example (scary!) If you believe in the Christian God, you should act as if each person is a sinner fallen short of God's glory and are equal in the need for pardon and a restored relationship with Him. This last has proven to be the effective solution to the issue in assumption #2 (above).

It is interesting to note that every person and group falls on one of two sides: truth seekers and truth suppressors. Truth seekers tend to believe that they are finite and cannot claim to know everything but are interested in learning and the promotion of learning. Truth suppressors tend to claim that they know in order to gain personal, political or even religious power.

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." Romans 1:17 ... That is the way I want to live and it appears that faith is an indispensable element.

But all this talk is silly when we compare it to real people of faith! Take a look at what is happening to those who believe around the world at persecution.com and try to tell them that God does not exist!

Fractured Education

One of my goals this summer is to catch up on the reading that I never can get to during the school year. Part of that, of course, is current events. It is amazing to see how inconsistent people can be in their ideas and it shows up at all levels of society. Probably it is related to pervasive postmodern culture which has no problem with conflicting "truths" all being true. The obvious result is, "If they conflict, then one is really very false or both are false!"

Take a look at this simple example in the area of education. An article in "Christian Today" talks about the debate in Germany over the possibility of allowing theological questions about the origin of the world into biology classes. An interesting issue, no doubt. The very nature of biology leads us to ask questions about origin; and the classroom is one important venue for the sharing of ideas in a free society, right? What really gets me though is a comment by a member of the Protestant Church's theology committee! He says, "Frau Wolff is ignoring the differences between natural sciences, religion and philosophy. That does not correspond to the Protestant view." What is that!? If he believes that God made the world and everything in it, then what exactly are those differences? It would be helpful to know what "differences" he refers to. Is it differences in fact or differences in method? Either way these fields of study, taken honestly, should cross paths periodically and support a cohesive view of the true human condition and the world we live in. Is it acceptable to say that God made us in religion class, that we are a product of chance in biology class, and that we "made" ourselves in philosophy class? That approach is part of what I call fractured education.

I'll leave the resolution of the issue to your own detailed research. But, take into account another little article from "The Christian Science Monitor" - a site I RARELY read! An article about a linguistic project talks about the probability of a common language root. Sound familiar? Take a peek at Genesis 11:1. Then there is a comment about human genetics tracing its ancestry "to as few as 1,000 individuals". The years may need some adjustment, but it is very interesting to see how science falls into line with biblical truth. Of course I don't want to "prove" the Bible through science, we must come to God in faith, but it supports the idea that fractured education is a worthless means of learning!

Silas walking

From his first steps, back in April, there has been a huge change in his security and stability. Yesterday he was pushing his stroller around on the grass. But he still can't do steps going up or down. Running isn't too far off though! He loves to carry things too. The other day he had a big ball and a water bottle in his hands and a coaster in his mouth. Sometimes he picks up things that are quite heavy just to move them to the other end of the house. I think he takes it as a challenge; he wants to see how much he is capable of doing. He walks a little funny though. It's like he's been on a horse too long and can't get his legs straightened out again - it's probably just the diaper...

Paul talks about walking and running in Philippians chapter 3: "Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us." It makes me wonder how I walk. I don't walk bowlegged but I do want to walk steadily and purposefully. I want to set an example in my walk, admitting when I walk in the wrong direction. Most of all I want Silas to walk how Jesus walked, loving and honoring God first, caring for the needs of others, and being thankful and satisfied in little or much. But for that to happen we have to be purposeful in how we walk and what we teach him. It won't just happen naturally because there are too many other influences and distractions. There is too much in our human nature pulling us in the other direction. And we need help from God's Spirit working in us and friends, family, and teachers around us.

Walk with me

I enjoy very much my walks with my dog after a long day of teaching. He is so excited to see me when I get home, whining and following me around the house until I'm changed and ready to go. Sometimes I play or run with him, but usually he's content to just walk and mostly do his own thing as long as I'm not too far away. If I change direction during the walk, I give him a quick signal and he jumps to obey, running ahead on the new path.
Is that something like how youth would act if we really spent time with them in relationships? Is that how I should respond to the direction that God is giving me from His Word? Of course this is a loose illustration, but what if I could learn something from this?
Talking with the Spanish teacher the other day, he noted that his students made critiques on an assigned reading but never actually read the whole thing. They would make a note from the first sentence of a paragraph, thinking that the author would continue in one direction, but because they never bothered to finish, they didn't know that he went another direction entirely. Do students want to learn or are they just doing the minimum amount to complete the assignment?
Monitoring a study hall today, I see that some students are working on a study of the book of Acts. Their interest is much more centered on what they will be wearing to the next social event or on the scores of yesterday's soccer matches. Is there any application to the events of the 1st Century A.D. in our appearance or our daily activities? Should we be getting clues as to how to behave and what to think about from somewhere or Someone?

Excuse me for a few minutes - I think I hear Someone calling me for my daily walk...

Thoughts on Freedom

I was watching "King Arthur" a while back, with Richard Gere and Sean Connery and was again impressed by the misconception of what "freedom" means and how the falacy is consistently taught by the media. When I think of freedom, I think of the ability to interact with people and inpact each other's lives because there are commonalities in our language and personal experiences. These "limits" enable us to communicate effectively. Without a code for behavior and meaningful communication we lose the potential to interact "freely" in society. I want the freedom to communicate honor, integrity and value to my friends, neighbors, and even those I don't know. I want to be free to daily reaffirm my humanity and the relationship I have with each person as a part of God's creation. When I act "independantly" without respect for consequences or without a desire to be understood or understand, or without respect for the value of others and their perspectives, then I am not free, but rather enslaved to my ego and disconnected from everything of value.

Watching Gueneviere struggle with her feelings between the great King Arthur and the handsome, brave Lancelot, I can only feel pity for her conflicting desires. She wants to be a great queen and honor a noble King (who she apparently loves) on one hand and, on the other, feels a passion which she is unable to control. Am I not often in the same situation? I want my passions to be subject to my heart! I want my heart to be a slave to a noble calling! I want to live in a freedom that connects my life to something of eternal value and consequence! I want freedom to prosper in a community of those who value life and meaningful communication.

Our Journey (looking back)

Paul went to Spain in 1998 and, because I was single, I used the title “Paul’s Journeys” for my newsletters. I liked it a lot because it made a reference in my mind to the great apostle Paul and his famous missionary journeys described in the book of Acts. That Paul also had a dream of going to Spain (see Romans 15:22-24) and may have gotten there; although, we can’t be sure. So, if he was not able to go in the 1^st Century A.D., at least I was. Then, when I was blessed with a wonderful wife, I could no longer use “Paul’s Journeys”. That meant that I needed a new title for OUR newsletters that could be a little more inclusive and describe well who we are and what we are doing.
Ellie and I love to travel; and we meet many people while we travel. I have some good friends who I met while bicycling in Ireland in the summer of 1997. A couple years later I went to visit them in northern Germany and met a brother who has visited us in Spain a few times. This kind of thing happens more frequently these days until it seems that most of the people I know I have met on the way to somewhere else!
That is how God brings people into our lives. It doesn’t mean that we should wander aimlessly through life expecting God to fill it with purpose or letting chance control our relationships and activities. It does mean that God loves to surprise us with good things and that He uses opportune moments and meetings to teach and sometimes redirect us. If we do not have a destination, how will we ever arrive anywhere?
My mom often quotes from Genesis 24:27: And he said, "Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren."
So, where is our journey taking us next? We plan to make a difference in our world and expect God to bring those people into our life that He chooses to help us, challenge us, and teach us. Where are you hoping to go today?

What is a journey?

What is a journey?
It's more than a destination, this is an enjoyment of the process of moving from one place to another over a long period of time and the revelations and decisions along the way. It's having a goal in mind and being surprised, furious, perplexed, and delighted at various stages. It's coming to a new understanding of yourself, your world and eternal purposes with each new step. Sometimes it's a radical change in direction or big detours or roadblocks. Sometimes it is joyful rememberance of past victories or tearful reminders that we didn't learn the lesson well enough. Sometimes it hurts to keep going. Sometimes we want to stay at this spot forever with joy and beauty all around us. Let me tell you a story of two men a long time ago at one stage of their journey to help illustrate:
As the story goes, there were two men walking home one day and they were very confused about the events they had seen over the weekend. Suddenly, somone came alongside to walk with them. They really didn't know who it was, but the words he said made an incredible impact in their hearts. Well, since it was getting late, they invited him to stay the night. Then, as they were eating together, the truth of the things he told them finally clicked with the reality of who this man was. All their previous expectations had been shattered and their sorrow as well in one glorious moment. They thought they were going in one direction for a particular reason, but it was actually for a different purpose altogether! Look up Luke 24:32 to see their reaction and what they decided to do afterward.

What do you think? How would you have reacted? Do you have a story of how this man has impacted you with the truth? That is a real "journey of joy"! Ellie and I will be sharing our journey of joy with you through these postings. We welcome your interaction, questions and comments.