True Religion

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 1: 27

As a Christian, I often get caught up in what makes me a true follower of Jesus. Have I prayed enough today? Uh-oh, I missed church for the past two Sundays. Have I been tithing 10%? Does the money I give to Christian organizations factor into that 10%? Do I need to supplement my Scripture reading with Christian devotional books?

While there is certainly nothing wrong with these practices (in fact, spiritual disciples are absolutely necessary to growing our faith), James gives us a simple yet powerful picture of what God sees as a pleasing, Christ-centered walk: taking care of orphans and widows while maintaining a pure heart and mind.

These stipulations are so simple yet at times so difficult. I've had plenty of compassion for orphans and widows, but am I actually doing anything about that gut-wrenching sympathy? The idea of a pure mind is nice, but hey, I like my hip-hop music with its occasional cussing. Am I willing to take serious steps to change both the inward (heart and mind) and outward (caring for orphans and widows) realities of my life to honor Christ?

Don't Judge Me

There is a notion not only in popular culture but also in Christian culture that frowns upon "judging". To judge is to condemn, to be "judgmental", to essentially hate. So don't judge, the culture tells us. Love everyone. Tolerate. "Do not judge, lest ye be judged," we Christians say, vaguely recalling something Jesus said about a speck and a log.

Yet to fail to judge is to have no standards, to have no sense of right and wrong. Or, if there is a right and wrong, to be tolerant is to ignore biblical moral standards in the name of "love". Where does this leave us as Christians? Since we can never wholly remove the log that obscures our view of our neighbor's speck, are we destined to attempt prying that obnoxious log out while blissfully ignoring everything wrong in the culture and world?

Although Jesus did say "Do not judge, or you too will be judged" (Matthew 7:1), He also said, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (John 7: 24). We must, as Christians, distinguish between right and wrong, between good and evil, between beautiful and ugly, and apply those differences to our lives. But not according to appearance. Not according to how culture stereotypes it. Not according to hearsay. But with righteous judgment.

A simple question to ask in determining if something is worth our time and thought is, Does this glorify God? If Jesus was here with me right now, would this bring joy to his heart too?

Cliche Christianity

"I'm just really leaning on God's strength."

"Grace and forgiveness are found at the cross alone."

"Jesus is my everything."

Too often I find myself living a faith of cliches. But instead of merely stagnating our walk with God, depending on cliches actually draws us away from God. Trials come, and the cliches mock us. God did not create the world and find it good, and eventually send His son to live a perfect life and die a criminal's death so we could live this cliche faith.

Abraham walked with God. Multiple New Testament writers refer to Abraham "believing God, which was counted to him as righteousness." A look at his life gives us a glimpse of what it means to know God. God promised him great things, far greater than he could imagined. He promised new life. He promised to protect him. The trials came, and Abraham came forth as gold. He KNEW God.

*Thanks to Steve Rea for the sermon "The Gospel According to Abraham"

Panting

God did not intend simply to save us, and leave us at that. That is but the beginning. He intends that we hunger for Him and keep pursuing Him, knowing Him more every day.

The director of the discipleship camp I attended tells of his friend's 4-year old daughter who, upon arriving at Disneyland, was content to stare at the flowered Mickey at the front of the park. Her parents pleaded with her to just let them show her Space Mountain, Fantasyland, the fireworks, everything else that is truly Disneyland. The girl screamed and resisted, so they picked her up and literally carried her into the park.

Why are we content to dwell in the outer courtyard? The veil has been removed; we have access to the Holy of Holies, the very Presence of God! May we never be satisfied with our current knowledge of Him.

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God." Psalm 42:1

"Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You." Psalm 73:25

Money

As I've become more financially independent this summer, I've come to see the value of a dollar.

A dollar can buy a cheap pack of spearmint gum.

A dollar can quench my thirst with a tiny 12-ounce bottle of dragon fruit vitamin water.

A dollar can cover the medical and basic living costs of a child in a third-world country for one day.

This summer, I hope to find a healthy balance in how I spend my money: on personal luxuries and/or donations to humanitarian organizations.

Riding

The June sun burns above the dry yellow field, a wasteland. Smooth blacktop switches to crunchy gravel then to hard, rocky earth. My sweat-drenched fingers force the gear to a six. But the hill is high. We pedal and pedal as the backs of our necks tan and fry. I cringe as my thighs plead for a rest. Just one moment on solid ground, they beg. But I keep pedaling.

A bright blue lake comes into view. Gorgeous. My cotton dry throat reminds me of the sweet taste of water. But I keep my eyes on the dirt path. I lift the weight of my body into a standing position. Pain rips through my upper thighs. Each movement is heavier, longer, greater. We reach the peak. Downhill we race at demon speed. The exhilaration of flying down the curvy path stings my eyes and spins my stomach. Faster, faster, brake! I skid to a stop. But the sharp turn pulls the bike out from under me and I slam into thistles. Carefully I stand, swing a leg over the seat, and go. A race to the green rusty gate. Hard earth becomes gravel once again. My muscles throb as I twist the faucet and the clear, lukewarm water coats my throat. I can swallow again.

Annoying

Today some friends and I were discussing annoying things done by the opposite sex. The discussion quickly became a fierce debate. Later I was trying to think of what males do that I appreciate.

1. Men tend to keep short accounts in that they will confront a friend about a problem face-to-face rather than use a go-between. Girls like having a defense team ready to fire because they fear confrontation. Guys are up-front and honest about relational problems.
2. Guys are decisive. Girls like indecision because it precludes failure and typically doesn't offend people. Decisions are necessary to carry a project, a team, a company forward. Men do this well.
3. They speak frankly without an agenda. Women make comments specifically to make someone jealous, to advance their image. Men don't have such an agenda.

The Best

In every human relationship there is a disparity between reality and expectation. We can choose to be annoyed by the gap and try to close it, or we can expect the best from the other person.

Abraham Lincoln once said, "If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will." Everyone has character flaws and annoying idiosyncrasies. But lately I've tried to look for the good in people, and I have surely found that. Karen, the youth pastor's wife, is incredibly patient with messy, insecure, noisy junior high students. Jana knows and loves the Word of God. Serena has great self-control over her emotions and desires. Melody loves people; she is never at odds with anyone. I could go on. There is good in humanity; will I choose to acknowledge it?

From the Mouths of Babes

My brothers Evan and Ellis have invented a game that involves Evan throwing and hitting a ball to Ellis, theoretically to teach him to catch, but in reality, just to hit Ellis. Today Evan asked Ellis if he got scared when the ball flies toward him. Ellis confidently replied, "I'm not afraid because I know God is with me."

Who is my most loyal friend? Who will truly stand by me through joy and pain? "You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar..where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there."