The Ruler of Air

6/6/2017 

Ephesians 2.2 “…in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” – St. Paul  

There is one thing for sure: air, at least the air about this earth, is a place. Air is that place between earth, and space (where there is no air). The difference between the place of air, and that of, perhaps, terra firma, is density. Paul tells us there is a kingdom of the air, and a ruler of a kingdom from there. 

When is the last time you scooped up a whole bucket full of air? You’ll actually be surprised that there isn’t much to it. Any old bucket or pail sitting around in your garage or shed is full of air. You can’t grasp it, you can’t hoard it; you can’t see it, taste it or even feel it. Air is air. 

Air is permanent yet unstable. Air is driven by changes in the climate and temperature. But no matter how hard the wind blows, air is never driven away. And Paul said “the ways of this world” are driven by a ruler of the kingdom of the air. Unstable, but present. Present but not omnipresent. 

Air is something God designed for our need and our protection. We didn’t get a say-so in whether there was air, or no air. But consider, just for a moment what our last moments would be if gravity lost its pull, and the air went ‘out there’. And air for all it’s positive qualities, is not substantive – at least to the point where it amounts to much. But air is the habitation of a prince whose power is: of the air. 

Now, what would we think of this dark enemy if he was merely a ruler of the kingdom of air? Not of the air, but of air. What do we think of a world leader whose policies and plans hold no air? Which would we rather: a substantive leader… or one whose words are wind? 

A couple weeks ago, a man spoke at our church making the statement: the devil will beat you with whatever stick you hand him. Satan may only of the air, but the damage he inflicts is in an even more ethereal spot: the grey matter betwixt our ears – the realm of the mind.  If the air is both permanent and unstable, think about the atmosphere of the mind. It’s in the mind that the prince does some of his dirtiest work… he knows humans are gullible fools. 

Therefore, our minds must be retrained, our thoughts must be guarded; the battles we fight are not with worldly weapons, but with weapons of truth and trust; of focus and faith. Our fight is against all the crap we learned in high school and everywhere else. Our battlefield is a place where the winds of untruth blow to take root. Remember, we are beaten by whatever stick we offer. 

The devil has only the power we give him. St. James said, resist him and he’ll flee (James 4). The devil is no match for truth, but oh how he’ll twist it with the untaught and unguarded to serve his destructive agenda. The disobedient, says Paul, are willing vassals of Satan and his devices; and his biggest hustle has always been: to convince the saved, that they aren’t; and the unsaved, that they are… 

Father, You have placed me in a place where if I’m not careful, I’ll get sucked into a vortex of falsehood from which it is almost impossible to escape. Help me to guard my thoughts, and to let the air be the air; but to resist the ruler whose devilish agenda comes from there… amen

The Way of a Man

 

6/5/2017 

Proverbs 30.18-19 18 “There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: 19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a young woman.” - Agur 

The above is attributed to a guy named Agur, whose name, btw, means: collector. I fancy Agur to be a thinkling (not to be mistaken with Inklings, the writers group to which CS Lewis and his colleagues belonged. For sure, Lewis and his friends were thinklings; but they, to my knowledge, never referred to themselves as such…) Agur observed life and tucked away the things about it that gave him pause.

For me, for instance: I’ve long wondered why we humans applaud: clapping our hands together in delight or approval; it seems so bizarre that humans do such a thing. I think Agur may have wondered about stuff like that. He said: there’re three things too amazing for me, four that give me pause: the majesty of the bird’s flight; the armless, legless mobility of the snakes; the invisible but visible power of the wind; and… the mystery of a man’s attraction to a woman. 

In God’s omniscience, it seems He made the pinnacle of His creation to be a fitting companion for Adam – there is nothing on earth more mysterious (or magical) than woman. What really got Agur was the attraction factor: the impulse of affection. What causes a man to settle upon that woman he deems worthy of pursuit? A guy in love is a strange sight. 

 

A woman, it seems is attracted to her security, and meet purveyor of said. Man, on the other hand is enamored with the sight, the shape, the sound, and the sensation of her; the closer the better. Her presence, proximity, and person are his passion and pursuit. What makes 1+1? Agur wondered. I think I do too… 

And it is mysterious, but so edgy – he deems her necessary, she responds and pulls away, or clings – and the dance goes on and on. And somehow, together they decide that they are made for each other and with each other, they move forward: I will do the laundry, you pay all the bills. Where is my John Wayne, where is my prairie song? Where is my happy ending? Where have all the cowboys gone? * Agur said, I’ll never understand the way of a man with a maid. 

I dated my wife 3 times before I proposed. We got married three months later and this year will be year thirty-nine. We don’t recommend this, but whatever it takes right? I love look at my bride from across the room, or down an aisle at the supermarket. Her mystique never gets old. But I think it’s supposed to be that way. I think Agur thought so too. 

The way of a man with a maid defies logic, and sometimes reason. One thing it never does is defy biology – I think that’s the way God intended for it to be. My role as a man is to keep seeking the mystique – her role as a woman, is just to continue to be her… One of four that I do not understand: the way of a man with a maiden… 

Father, thank You for the gift of woman, and the gift of my woman. Thank you for things that are so commonplace, yet evoke wonder. If God can have fun, I think You did with the creation of Woman. And sometimes, Lord, it helps for me to not overthink things – thank You for just the way they are, mysterious and all… Amen.

Humble Pie

6/3/2017

Proverbs 25.6-7

6 Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; 7 it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before his nobles. – attributed to King Solomon 

The Jews took the whole ‘king-thing’ pretty seriously. They were into royalty much like we are today with célébrité. And with the whole king-thing came all the trappings: courtiers, appointees, ministers, managers, servants, and the like. People with power attract people who want power. And king’s courts were full of those who deserved it – and those who desired it. It’s people. 

But with royalty and kingship came kingdom culture. Nobles were typically the thrusted leaders of the general populace – these included the relatives of the king and men who were men of standing in their communities. Whether we’ll admit it or not, we today, have nobles among us. And we have a culture. But with a king, one has to have an, ‘in’. 

So, Solomon said: don’t [self] exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not [self] claim a place among his great men. Nobility was awarded not forged. Relationships are forged, but someone with an agenda usually is pretty easy to recognize. Self-promotion works slightly when there is evidence to back it up. 

And then Solomon said: “…it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.” An invitation at the king’s request always trumps self-promotion on one’s own initiative. And humiliation from those, “on the inside” is worse than from those on the outside. Those on the ‘in’ have a culture that is apart from those on the ‘outs’. And humiliation stings the self-promoting. 

But even amid the ‘in’s’ the culture of humiliation exists, and an ‘in’ would be careful to recognize that fact. Being on the ‘in’ is as tenuous as wanting to be on the ‘in’. Mind your step, position is fleeting.  

In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is recorded as sharing a parable about a wedding feast. The high-places in the feasts were for important guests. To take one of those seats without invitation or appointment, was a bold and/or selfish move. If someone more important that you showed up, the master of ceremonies might: …come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ And, Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. Right in front of everyone. Humiliating! Jesus then said: “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14.9, 11) It has to do with culture and self-promotion, and, self-denial. 

I have been humiliated, and exalted. I don’t like either one. They’re both tenuous (and embarrassment to me). One stings far worse than the other – you choose which you prefer. My stance today remains: better to be humble in my approach, than to be humiliated by self-promotion because of my choice. 

Father, You seem to appreciate humility over humiliation. You expect one, but use the other to obtain the other. May I learn to walk in humility more, because I hate humiliation and its pain. Give me wisdom to avoid self-promotion and acting too big for my britches; a busted waist-button, or ripped out seat-seam is harder to deal with in front of men, than in private. Teach me Lord, to eat the blessed fruit of humility. It only comes by eating humble pie… Amen

The Benefit and Blessing

5/31/2017 

Romans 12.4-5 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. – St. Paul 

One of the hardest things for us modern believers to do is to see ourselves as Paul saw the Body of Christ. Paul saw enormous value and responsibility for us to be together just as a human body only operates perfectly as each of its members (pieces, parts) operate in harmony and sync. I think the ancient church suffered from this malady as well; it’s the result of the fall. 

But just because there is the fall, and just because the ancient church suffered, doesn’t mean unity and working together can’t happen. There is enough giftedness in each church to accomplish great things because God is the God of the church and He has willed we work together as a human body does. 

Typically, we fail to see ourselves as God sees us. We tend to think the gifts are given willy-nilly and that they are interchangeable. Not so. Each person in the church is uniquely gifted to operate as God has foreordained they ought. The job of each individual believer to operate within their giftedness depends on the depth and strength of their personal relationship with God.  

When I get together with my church, I must see myself as God sees me in relationship to others present. My main focus is not what I can get out of the sermon, but how I can effectively operate within my gifts for the benefit and blessing of others. 

God is the giver of gifts and we are to cooperate with Him in His administration of those gifts. We must be careful not to set boundaries on how we operate – everything we do is to be done in the spirit of love and unity, and, cooperation. But, we must see each other as valuable and necessary. It all has to do with our personal relationship with God. 

Perhaps we could open up our worship services with a reminder of who we are and what we’re supposed to be and to do. Perhaps our declaration of Faith includes verbiage of what Paul called the Roman church to be and to do – in service and in love. I think we need constant reminders of who we are so we can do what we need to do for the sake of God and His church. 

At my church we have a kid’s ministry called, Royal Rangers, on Wednesday nights throughout the school year. At the beginning of each meeting we pledge allegiance to the American flag, the Christian flag, and we recite the Royal Ranger Pledge which goes:

With God’s help, I will do my best to serve God, my church, and my fellow man; to live by the Ranger Code; to make the Golden Rule, my daily Rule. 

It sets the tone for our gathering and helps everyone focus on the why we do what we do. I think it’s effective. What do we recite in adult church that helps us remember who we are in Christ and how we’re to operate with one another in love and in service? 

Glorious and Good God, work in me to use the gifts You’ve given me to be a blessing and benefit to others in Your Church. Help me to see myself as You see me, and to bless others accordingly. Thank You for Your Church and for those who make it up. May we work together as You have willed - Amen

The Work of Discipline

5/30/2017 

Proverbs 13.24 Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them. 

Childrearing has always been a bit of a conundrum – parents want their children to imitate them, and, they do. An undisciplined life will tend to beget an undisciplined life. The hard part is the rod. 

It takes hard work to train up a child in the way he should go, but the payoff is, he won’t depart from it when he is old. He may question your ways or think he has it all figured out, but time and experience will bring him back to the truth of what he was taught. 

I see many parents today simply ignoring their kid’s behavior. Kids will remain kids until they are taught to be adults. Fools will remain fools until they are taught to be wise. Loving a child in the manner above will work toward his success in life when he becomes an adult. 

It does seem harsh that a requirement in childrearing is the rod. I think we tend to think of a piece of 1¾ inch doweling when we think of the rod. That’s not really the picture here, but suffice it to say, the rod was suitable to get one’s attention, and to help cement in the mind of the recalcitrant child that there are consequences for their actions. 

We moderns want to call ourselves more progressive or civilized than to take the approach of beating our children with an implement on instruction. But two things to consider: 1) the rod is an implement, 2) the hand or the fist is demeaning. And there’s a big difference between building a child up with discipline than tearing him down in punishment. 

Discipline must be meted out in love with wisdom. Anger is demeaning. But sometimes anger is hard to contain, so discipline may be more ardent at times; but the biggest factor is simply: sparing the rod, spoils the child and reveals what kind of people we really are: we don’t care for our child or for the ones our unruly child torments. An undisciplined child causes his parents to be despised. 

Discipline is hard work, but diligence in discipline makes for a happier home, and for a wholesome society. Snowflakes on modern college campuses may cause one to question their parentage. It is the hard work of godly childrearing that merits appreciation from the child who is well taught and the society that benefits from the diligence of godly parents. Think about Kim Jong In… 

If nothing else, I want to come alongside those who are training up their children and applaud their efforts, and to support them by the way I treat their kids. Children are not just to be seen and not heard; children add spice and variety to every part of life. They need to be cared for, and carefully directed so that the fabric of our society remains intact for generations to come. 

Father God, thank You for the charge to carefully discipline our children now, so that they don’t need to be punished by society later. Help me to support parents not only in their work, but also to reward good behavior with the kids with whom I deal – Amen.

Sovereignty

5/28/2017

 

Romans 9.11-12 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” – St. Paul 

The Bible often uses language that makes me feel uncomfortable – take Romans 9, for instance. In this chapter of the great epistle to the Romans, Paul uses some terms that ought to give us pause. 

Consider some of these Greatest Hits from Romans 9:

·         Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children.

·         Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

·         For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

·         What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?

·         Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

·         See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

These are massive statements that portray a massive, sovereign God.  The one thing I get from all this is simply: He is God and I am not; and the way He works is beyond my comprehension. Election is God’s doing, not man’s; and I would be well served to believe that. 

I hear many say things like, “God would never do that – He only allows things like that to happen.” Really? I think we misunderstand God. God does what God wants, and God accepts responsibility for all that He does: He alone, is sovereign. He, has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and hardens whom He wants to harden. That doesn’t sound like God allowing; it sounds like He has a purpose. And that’s our struggle: His purpose. 

I saw a quote which said: “We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us: we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.” And that I think, is the prime-motivator: how much is my relationship with God going to cost me? 

It’s going to cost me my belief. It’s going to cost me persecution. It’s going to cost me suffering. It’s going to cost me friends and family. It’s going to cost me my wealth and health. It’s going to cost me my time and my priorities. It’s going to cost me my life. It’s going to cost me everything I have … but, in turn, I am going to gain everything He has, for all eternity. The price is worth the belief. 

God is sovereign, and those who doubt Him will struggle with that immensely. But God is also love and He freely gives His love to all who freely accept it. The caution is simply: trust God in all things at all times, and be thankful that He is, and we are not. 

Father God, thank You for Your sovereignty over all things, especially my life. I can live in fear of You, that it’s going to hurt, or I can hurt in You knowing You love me and Your purpose is best. Help me to trust You in all things and be thankful for whatever happens. You are God, and I am not. Amen

Divine Friendship

5/27/2017 

Romans 8.3-4 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. – St. Paul 

An old song lyric goes:

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign

Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind

Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign? (Five Man Electrical Band - Signs (1971)) 

As I read Romans 8 today, I thought about that song. And then I came up with the Romans 8 version:

Rule, rule, everywhere a rule

You must obey them all; man, you’re a fool

Do this, don’t do that, you gotta keep the rule! 

Of course, there’re are rules. Of course, there are laws. But rules and laws cannot be kept by everyone all the time. We’re too broken and sinful to keep the rules. And yet, there’s a part of us that insists we can. The above says: For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. God never meant for us to just follow the rules; He always meant for us to become His friends. 

I know I say that often, but it’s true: God desires to be our Friend. And He desires our friendship in return. Now, friendship with God is way beyond any human experience. And friendship with God is not tainted by human understanding. Friendship with God is fully holy, fully satisfying, and fully forever. We are God’s children and the greatest thing a child can ever become in the eyes of his parent, is a friend. 

Friendship extends courtesy and understanding never fully known in the parent/child relationship. A child needs continually to be stewarded and taught –a friend, however, seeks enhancement of another, coming alongside to enjoy, encourage, and serve. A friend always looks to protect and defend, but on the level of peer, not parent. Jesus said, Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15) He went on to say: You are my friends if you do what I command. (John 15.14); and then: Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15.15) 

Friendship is a big deal to God. The Lover of my soul, my Father and Friend. Parenthood is freed when a child becomes a friend. Childhood is freed when a parent becomes a friend. Our Divine Parent desires to become our Divine Friend. And in friendship, there is no place for rules, only mutual trust and respect – and love. What I could not do in keeping the rules and obeying the signs, God did for me in Christ, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in [me], who [does] not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit… 

Father God, thank You for the pursuit of holiness that You have sought me (and billions other) to become your children, and friends. May I pursue life according to Your Spirit because the righteous requirements of the Law have been met in Jesus for my sake. May my life with You be friendship of mutual trust, respect, and love – amen