The Only Jesus Some People Might See

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. There was so much to see, but my main focus was one thing: Trisha Yearwood. She's a country singer who came out with a cookbook a few years ago. I have it and I love it and I wanted her to sign it. She also has a new cookbook out and she was demonstrating one of the recipes from it on the Cooking Stage. After the demo she sat for two hours signing cookbooks. I was in the last third of the line and she was nice and gracious and lovely and smiled. It was an amazing thing, considering she'd just spend an hour up in front of everyone cooking, then two hours sitting and writing her name over and over.

I thought how lucky I was that she didn't get cranky toward the end. But really, that little slice of time -- 30 seconds at most -- was all I got of her. And I'm gushing. How would I feel if she was cranky and grabby and frowny? I would have been really bummed, although she would have been perfectly justified, considering the circumstances. That was the only bit of Trisha Yearwood I'll probably ever see.

It got me thinking. Sometimes I'm cranky, maybe a little grabby, and kind of frowny. And sometimes it's even justified. But if I act cranky toward other people, it's not a very good representation of Jesus to them. I might be the only bit of Jesus some people get to see. I sure hope my attitude and words are a reflection of the true Jesus and not a reflection of my emotions or my reaction to the events of my day.

Lord, help me to be invisible so that You might be visible. Let those people who might only see me for a few minutes -- clerks, attendants, gatekeepers -- see You in me. Show me how to represent you best. Amen.

Introduction to 2 Corinthians

My hope is that through this introduction, you will have some context, both geographical and historical, for this letter.
Where was Corinth?

Corinth was in the southern part of modern-day Greece and was the capital city of its province of Achaia.
See map here.

Why did Paul write this letter? Now for a little historical context...

Most people hold First Corinthians in high esteem and may have a hard time understanding why the Corinthians might have not welcomed this correspondence from Paul. Paul was hoping to quell the hostility from the Corinthians toward him, but he ended up making it worse. The Corinthians may have been upset to receive the 1 Corinthians letter for a couple of reasons. First, it’s not until a third of the way through that Paul even acknowledges that they wrote him a letter. He is writing this letter in response to some information he got from a woman named Chloe and some of her friends. His criticism of the Corinthians in this letter is based almost solely on the information from Chloe, which apparently Paul did nothing to confirm before this scathing letter was written. Paul’s words are not conciliatory; on the contrary, they are rather deprecating. So, while Paul intended for this letter to bring the Corinthians back in line, it really had the opposite effect.


Evidently, Paul also wrote another letter to the Corinthians, which they would have received between the 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians of the Bible. This letter is referred to as the “painful letter”. In it, Paul was more severe than he was in 1 Corinthians and he felt distressed and regretted sending it. Some scholars believe that we have part of this “painful letter” preserved. These scholars believe that 2 Corinthians is actually two letters that somehow were preserved as one letter. In chapters 1-9 Paul is overjoyed at his reconciliation with the Corinthians and has full confidence and pride in them. In chapter 10, the tone changes dramatically and becomes one of bitterness; this tone dominates through the end of the book. Are chapters 10-13 part of the painful letter Paul references? Some scholars believe so. This may make more sense if chapters 10-13 are read first, then chapters 1-9. With the abrupt change in tone, this seems probable.


In that context, then, Paul probably wrote four letters:


1. An unpreserved letter - After establishing the church in Corinth, Paul left to Ephesus. He wrote the Corinthians this letter from there. This unpreserved letter was probably instructional, possibly doctrinal. They responded back with some questions.


2. First Corinthians - Paul writes back to them and starts the breech (described above). Timothy told Paul that the Corinthians formed an opposition to Paul and his teachings. He also would have heard some negative things about them from Chloe, which most likely propelled him to write this letter. This letter was likely written to the leader(s) of the opposition, as a means of disciplining them. Paul was still in Ephesus when he wrote this letter. He gave it to Titus to deliver and subsequently left for Troas, to preach there.


3. The Painful Letter - Paul writes to them, further incensing them and deepening the breech between them. Many scholars believe part of this letter is preserved in 2 Corinthians 10-13. In 10-13, Paul defends his ministry, proves his ministry is legitimate, and asserts his authority as an apostle of Christ.


4. Second Corinthians: The Letter of Reconciliation - Paul wanted to know how the Corinthians responded to the painful letter. He traveled to Macedonia from Troas to seek out Titus and ask how the letter was received. Titus reported that the majority of the Corinthians had repented of their rebellion against Paul and his apostolic authority. He then wrote 2 Corinthians in Macedonia, out of his concern and love for the Corinthian church. This letter is most likely preserved as 2 Corinthians 1-9.


This week, please read 2 Corinthians 10-13 with this context in mind. What is the tone of these chapters? Do you buy the idea that 10-13 are part of the “painful letter”? Does Paul seem to be chastising the Corinthians? Imagine that Paul is writing these chapters directly and personally to you. How does it make you feel? Convicted? Angry? Unjustly accused?How might God be speaking to YOU through these words of Paul?

I look very forward to your comments.

We will begin our verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians next Friday. Thanks for stopping by.

Background information taken from:
http://2corinthians.jesusanswers.com/
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/goodspeed/ch05.html  

Crazy-Grateful

A story is told about Fiorello LaGuardia, who, when he was mayor of New York City during the worst days of the Great Depression and all of WWII, was called by adoring New Yorkers 'the Little Flower' because he was only five foot four and always wore a carnation in his lapel. He was a colorful character who used to ride the New York City fire trucks, raid speakeasies with the police department, take entire orphanages to baseball games, and whenever the New York newspapers were on strike, he would go on the radio and read the Sunday funnies to the kids. One bitterly cold night in January of 1935, the mayor turned up at a night court that served the poorest ward of the city. LaGuardia dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench himself.
Within a few minutes, a tattered old woman was brought before him, charged with stealing a loaf of bread. She told LaGuardia that her daughter's husband had deserted her, her daughter was sick, and her two grandchildren were starving. But the shopkeeper, from whom the bread was stolen, refused to drop the charges. "It's a real bad neighborhood, your Honor." the man told the mayor. "She's got to be punished to teach other people around here a lesson." LaGuardia sighed. He turned to the woman and said "I've got to punish you. The law makes no exceptions--ten dollars or ten days in jail." But even as he pronounced sentence, the mayor was already reaching into his pocket. He extracted a bill and tossed it into his famous sombrero saying: "Here is the ten dollar fine which I now remit; and furthermore I am going to fine everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Baliff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant." So the following day the New York City newspapers reported that $47.50 was turned over to a bewildered old lady who had stolen a loaf of bread to feed her starving grandchildren, fifty cents of that amount being contributed by the red-faced grocery store owner, while some seventy petty criminals, people with traffic violations, and New York City policemen, each of whom had just paid fifty cents for the privilege of doing so, gave the mayor a standing ovation.
Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel, Multnomah, 1990, pp 91-2.


What if you were sentenced to pay a fine that you had absolutely no way of paying? Millions of dollars, perhaps? What if the judge who sentenced you --as he read your sentence -- wrote a check covering the fine? Just handed the check over to the bailiff and said -- Sir, she is free to go. Wouldn't you feel crazy-grateful? What if the sentence handed down were death? And what if the judge still was willing to pay the fine... with the life of his very own son?

Would you still be crazy-grateful?

Well, friends, that has been done for you. A "get out of jail free" card has been presented to the Judge with your name on it. All you have to do is say, "Yes, I agree, Judge, I am imperfect. But, I am willing to accept Your Son's perfection in place of my own." That's it. Just believe that Jesus died FOR YOU and the condemnation that you deserve is written off scot-free. We all fall short of the glory of God and we all deserve death. However, in God's unfathomable mercy, He accepts Jesus' sacrifice in lieu of our own. Jesus did it once and for all. It is finished.

Are you crazy-grateful?

Clean Hands, Filthy Heart

I went on a little walk with Deuce and Trey this morning (Ace was at school already). I was walking by the front entrance of a swanky motorcoach club that has a huge sign out front with lots of bushes and trees that divide the driveway into two parts (entering and exiting vehicles). I saw a car leaving the club as I approached and I was afraid that the driver might not see me due to the big sign. I was pushing an SUV-sized double stroller, so missing me wasn't likely, but you can never be too careful. I paused behind the sign and when I realized he stopped, I went forward. I waved and said thank you and he waved back with a huge grin on his face. I thought, "What a nice guy!" A simple little smile from him made me smile, too.

It got me thinking about Matthew 15. Some Pharisees, as they often did, were trying to trap Jesus. Right before this exchange, Jesus fed 5000 people and walked on water and cured innumerable people. Then the Pharisees came up and were concerned that disciples weren't washing their hands before they ate! Really?! Miracles were performed left and right and they're concerned with hand-washing?

And, as he often did, Jesus called them on their hypocrisy. The Pharisees asked him why the disciples didn't wash their hands and Jesus quickly turned the tables in verses 3-6:

"And He answered and said to them, "Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?" For God said, 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,' and, 'HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH.' "But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God," he is not to honor his father or his mother .' And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition…”

Jesus was talking to some of the the most respected, most devout men of their day and telling them that by following tradition they were breaking God's law. These were people who went out of their way in ridiculous ways NOT to break the law and Jesus was telling them that their silly out-of-the-way rules were causing them to "invalidate the word of God"! These guys were the religious Supreme Court of their day -- it would be like telling the Pope that having to wear that hat invalidates the Bible.

Skip up to verses 10 and 11:
After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said to them, "Hear and understand. "It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."

So whether you wash your hands, Pharisees, makes no difference. It's that your HEART is far from God (v8) and out of your heart, proceed words that defile your SOUL. What you eat is eliminated from your body as waste, but when your soul is defiled, you are defiled indeed.

So what does all this have to do with a kind guy with a nice smile in a PT Cruiser? It got me thinking about my words, like Matt 15 says, but also facial expressions and tone of voice. If what comes out of my mouth defiles me, then maybe I should watch what I say. In front my spouse, my kids, my friends, unbelievers, in my own head. And what I say is just as important as how I say it: don't my tone and expression originate in my heart too? Do those things defile as surely as words?

If a smile from a stranger could put a spring in my step, couldn't a scowl or a sigh or a snotty tone do the opposite?

Lord, help me to watch my words to those that I love, but also help me to watch the way I express those words. Like Jesus said, Clean hands make no difference if my heart is filthy.Cleanse my heart, so that my thoughts, which lead to my words, are clean and are of you. In Jesus' Holy and Precious Name, Amen.

Who does God use?

I have been reading a book by Elizabeth George called "Women of the Bible". I was reading the chapters on Rahab when I was struck by something. Rahab was not a "good girl". She was a harlot. However, somewhere along the line she had heard about God and feared him, although I don't think anyone would say she knew him. So God used a harlot to accomplish his purposes - the Israelite spies hid and were able to go back to the rest of the Israelite soldiers and tell them their scouting report, which ultimately led to them taking Jericho for God's people. Rahab then married an Israelite and lived out the rest of her days in Jerusalem. And she became Jesus' great (times a lot) grandmother. A former harlot is in our Savior's lineage. Wow!

So here's what struck me - God used her when she was still a harlot. She was not redeemed until after she accomplished what God called her to do. God called her before she was even a believer. She had heard of "this God of the Israelites", but that was it.

I think that it's amazing that God can use anyone. Anyone. Even you. Even me.

Psalm 15

This is one of my favorite passages of scripture.

Verse 1: Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?
In other words, "God, how do I get close to YOU?" And then He answers.

Verse 2: [S]he whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, and speaks the truth from [her] heart.
Read other parts of My love letter to you and see what types of behaviors are right in My eyes. Don't sugar coat things, but remember that "righteous" thing when you speak, too.

Verse 3: and has no slander on [her] tongue and who does [her] neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on [her] fellow[wo]man,
Don't gossip. Treat people fairly.

Verse 4: who despises a vile [wo]man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps [her] oath even when it hurts,
Stay away from wicked, shameful women and surround yourself with like-minded women who also love the LORD. Find yourself a Titus woman. And when you say you're going to do something, do it.

Verse 5a: who lends [her] money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Do not charge ridiculous interest rates if someone needs money. Exodus 23:8 says "Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous." If you get involved in bribes, then your righteousness will be called into question. The reward for righteousness is so precious, that you don't want to mess it up by being attracted by the love of materialism. Deuteronomy 16:19 says almost the same thing, except it says "a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise".

Verse 5b: [S]he who does these things will never be shaken.
Now I think that promise deserves a couple exclamation marks!! Notice it does NOT say "will never have pain" or "will never have trouble". It says that you won't be shaken. You will stand firm. Even if a storm rages, you who are righteous, truthful, trustworthy, edifying, honoring, faithful, and generous, will be held in the grip of God Himself.

Do those adjectives sound impossible? How in the world can I be all those things? Well, I can't. At least not on my own. But the One who holds me and you firm also gives us the strength to be all those things. He wouldn't call us to be something that He wouldn't equip us for.
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 13:9.

Are you shaking today? Ask Him for His sufficient grace and His perfect strength. Call on our El Shaddai, the God Almighty, the God All-Sufficient. Turn this psalm into a prayer. Pray with me.

Lord, I want to dwell in your sanctuary. I want to live on your holy hill. Make my walk blameless. Help me to do what is righteous and to speak the truth from my heart. Remove slander and slurs from my tongue and help me to treat my neighbors fairly, especially with my words. Convict me regarding vile influences and show me other women who honor God to surround myself with. Teach me to limit my promises to those You want me to keep and give me the strength to keep those promises even when it hurts. Teach me to be generous to others and to close my ears to the bribes of man because I want to have wise eyes and to have righteous words fall from my lips. Hold me firm, Lord Jesus, that I might not be shaken.
In your precious Name,
Amen.

Cardboard

Please take 8 minutes, I PROMISE it will be worth it, to watch this video.



Mine says:
Front - striving for perfection in my own power in order to be liked and accepted
Back - still learning that I am loved and accepted by a perfect God despite my imperfections

What is your cardboard testimony?

Pride and Insecurity and Enough already!

They sound like this is an oxymoron, not so much. They are different, but just by degrees. I don't think I have pride in any one trait or talent, just pride in "myselfness", that I am able on my own. It's hard to say "I'm sorry" and "You're right" and really mean it. I've tried to hide from God (note to reader: it doesn't work - don't bother). I've tried to hide my bad traits and habits from others (note to reader - it works for a while, but it's exhausting; I don't recommend it). I have issues with perfection - perfect kids, perfect house, perfect marriage, perfect faith, perfect class, perfect faith, etc... My insecurity sounds like, "If I'm not perfect you won't like me. Oh, you won't like me anyway."
However, I find that the more transparent I become to myself, the more I can admit my depravity to God. Not that He doesn't know, but He can do something with it when I admit it. Otherwise, it gets locked in a closet somewhere, covered with dust, and He can't do anything with something I won't let go of. He can only work in me when I MOVE ME ASIDE! Which I can't do on my own anyway - He has to do it for me. For the first time in my life, transparency doesn't scare me. Not that I want to live in a glass house (seriously, it would scare off the neighbors), but in glass flesh so that who GOD is, is visible in me. I respect and value transparency in others. Finding it in myself, sensing my own depravity and grasping the fact that only God can give me anything worth being prideful about, is powerful. As Paul says, "If I must boast, I only boast in the things that show my weakness" (2 Cor 11:30) because that's where God is seen. Being transparent about my mistakes, sin, depravity makes Him visible. I can't do anything worthwhile without Him. No legacy, no nothing, unless He is in control. Looking in the mirror and seeing my own ickiness makes it possible for Him to be glorified.
Are transparency and authenticity the same thing? Maybe I'm just afraid that my real self isn't what my trumped-up, opaque self claims to be. But my real self is the one God made and is the one He is molding. My opaque self is my own shellacked and white-washed creation and I am no artist compared to God. Isn't His museum-caliber masterpiece so much more than this thrown-together pale imitation?
Hard to live out, though, huh? I'm protected behind my whitewash. I look good to passersby and even to myself if I don't dig too deeply. I'm vulnerable and more than a little nervous with my bare soul hanging out.
I'm afraid of not measuring up (to whom?)
I'm afraid of not being in the cool group. Still.
I'm afraid I will scare people away.
I'm afraid of not being enough (who decides when it's "enough"?).

But God lets us come to Him empty-handed. There is no "enough". And it's a good thing, too, because we'd wear ourselves out trying to reach that ephemeral "enough". And the accounting would be a nightmare.

So why aren't I, empty-handed, enough?
The crazy thing is, I am. Not in a prideful way, although pride sure rears up his ugly head in the most dichotomous way. I'm enough and I'm not proud.
I need to let God balance that teeter-totter for me and not make myself dizzy and sick running back and forth between "pride" and "insecurity".

He is enough. Period.