tentliving
Jesus lived in a tent among the people (John 1:14). I want to be like Jesus. I use this blog to share my journey.The Point of Deuteronomy
I finished Deuteronomy this morning in my Bible reading. I think you can sum up the book in this statment: God says to his people, “Obey me and I will bless you. Disobey me and I will curse you.”
I know that we are under the New Testament and not under the Old Testament law but I can’t help wonder, “Just how much does or should the statement above affect our lives in 2009?” I know that we are not under a Theocracy. I know that Christ has fulfilled and completed the law. I know that the civil and ceremonial laws are not for us today but what does this tell us about the moral law of God. Doesn’t he continue to operate in many of the same ways?
Can’t we say, “Obey God and you will enjoy life his way. Disobey God and you will not enjoy life.” Isn’t this an issue of peace? Can we have peace while living in disobedience? I don’t think so. True joy and peace in life will only come when we obey God and live lives of holiness.
Sure, God is a God of grace but he is just as much a God of holiness. Let’s not forget that!
Later…
Monday Morning Weigh-In
I’m really trying to get serious about my health. I just can’t keep going down the road I’ve been on with my weight and especially my cholesterol. If I don’t make proper diet and exercise a priority, I’m pretty sure there are going to be some bad consequences. I’ve come under conviction that this is a spiritual issue for me. I’m not being a good steward of what God has given me.
So, for accountability sake, I’m making it public. You might be thinking “TMI” but I’m going to post my weight every Monday morning. If you see it going down, then give me an “attaboy.” If you see it plateau or go up, then give me a good verbal kick in the backside. I said verbal remember. 
I’m going to pretend that I’m on sort of a Facebook and Twitter “Biggest Loser.” I’ll take any motivation I can get.
So, here goes. This week the scales screamed 238.5.
I’m a big-boned guy who is just under 5′ 11″. My goal is to be at 200 pounds by the end of the summer when the baby is due. That’s just under 2 pounds a week. Hopefully, it’s not too quick that I gain it all back and not too slow that I get discouraged.
By the way, my basic plan is to workout an hour a day during the week and occassionally on the weekend. And also, to simply eat less, especially watching my fat intake to help lower my cholesterol.
Okay, this was a bit of a personal post but again, I figured that if I expose my unealthy and even sinful eating and exercise habits, I’ll be more apt to keep working at making good choices and changes.
Thanks for reading!
Later…
The Odd Couple: Adventure and Routine
Love it!!
The Odd Couple: Adventure and Routine: “Just got back from our little adventure to Orcas Island. So cool to take Parker on this trip. We actually took him out of school to do it because I feel like it’s part of his education. He definitely didn’t argue!
Can I share a thought?
It’s adventure that helps us appreciate routine and it’s routine that helps us appreciate adventure.
I believe that we are born with an adventure gene. We need to test our limits. We need to explore new places and take on new challenges. And I know this varies from person to person, but we all need some form of adventure. For what it’s worth, the ultimate adventure is living a Spirit-led life or chasing the Wild Goose.
Having said that, I’m ready to get back into my routine after an adventure. I’ll hit the gym Monday morning. I’ll get into my weekly routine of focus days and meeting days. Basically, I love my routine because I love what I do.
Without adventure, our routine becomes routine. Without routine, our adventure becomes routine. But when you have the right combination of both, then both things accentuate each other and make the other one far more meaningful.
I’m grateful for routine. I’m grateful for adventure.
“
(Via Clippings.)
The Purpose of Tithing
I tend to take a slightly different slant than a lot of pastors do today. In a nutshell, I discourage the use of the word tithe. I’m certainly not against giving 10% of your income to the church but I just think that’s way too limiting for giving. Tithing is an Old Testament concept that is very much integrated with the law. The Old Testament, primarily Paul, sets a different tone. Generous, joyful, and sacrificial sowing should be the norm. I think that a lot of people should be giving a lot more than 10%. I don’t even use it as a starting point. People need to decide between them and and God what percentage they are going to give and to where. I’m sure that I’m in the minority with this viewpoint but I can take it.
That’s actually not what I wanted to post about. Instead, here are a few thoughts I read this morning from Deuteronomy 14.
Now when the Lord your God blesses you with a good harvest, the place of worship he chooses for his name to be honored might be too far for you to bring the tithe. If so, you may sell the tithe portion of your crops and herds, put the money in a pouch, and go to the place the Lord your God has chosen. When you arrive, you may use the money to buy any kind of food you want—cattle, sheep, goats, wine, or other alcoholic drink. Then feast there in the presence of the Lord your God and celebrate with your household. And do not neglect the Levites in your town, for they will receive no allotment of land among you.
There were lots of purposes to tithing in the Old Testament. This one grabbed me this morning. The purpose here was to sponsor a celebration in the presence of God. I thinkt that too many of us today think of giving as a duty like paying a bill. I don’t know about you but I don’t see paying my gas bill as a celebration. Sure, I get something from it, namely, gas for heat, cooking, etc. but it’s still a duty. I strongly dislike paying bills.
Giving to God was meant for celebration. Notice that taking care of the Levites (today’s pastors?) was secondary to the public celebration. That tells me that it’s okay to do a little eating and drinking as God’s people and to do it with “tithe” money.
What do you think?
Later…
My Thoughts on the Debate
I respect Chopra in that he is at least consistent in his atheism. I obviously disagree.
I have the least respect for Pearson. He gives Christianity a bad name. He’s the one who made me the most angry!
Lobert was genuine but a little too experiential for me.
Driscoll hit a home run. He was clearly the most consistent and confident. I think that Jesus was honored.
We can all agree that ABC’s video player leaves something to be desired!! It’s proof that Satan exists!
God Bless Pandora
Rob Bell, @PastorMark (Mark Driscoll), Nelson Searcy, and Gabe Lyons, it’s your fault I’m fat! Just kidding! How’s that for blame shifting? I take full responsibility.
However, I have had a recent “aha” moment that involves the high caliber gentleman above. For years now, whenever I have tried to get into a pattern of exercising, I would download a bunch of sermons and talks and listen to them while I worked out.
And then a few months ago, I discovered Pandora first for my Windows Mobile phone and now for my iPhone. Let’s just say that it’s a little more (no, a lot more) physically motivating to be listening to Passion or Lincoln Brewster than to the aforementioned preachers/speakers.
Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t stopped listening to sermons/talks. I just don’t do it as much while I’m on the treadmill or elliptical machine. Instead, using various Pandora stations, I’ve turned it into a time of personal worship. Although I’m not so sure the others at the Y appreciate me singing along.
God bless Pandora!
Verse for the Day (or a lifetime)
So remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The Lord is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other. (Deuteronomy 4:39)
Forming relational capillaries, one tweet at a time
This is from an acquaintance of mine in Chicago. I think he does a great job explaining the value of the latest social networking technology.
caffeine, please.: Forming relational capillaries, one tweet at a time: “Forming relational capillaries, one tweet at a time
After our evening worship gathering at Lincoln Park last night I had a great chat with a bunch of guys about Twitter, Facebook, blogs, emails and the role of technology in fostering community life. These men were all 20 something and had been somewhat shaped by technology in their formative years. All of them were open to and appreciative of technology as a tool to connect.
Here’s my conviction–the faster technology moves, the more important it is for spiritual leaders to harness it as a tool to slow down and feed relationships for interconnectedness. Mark Batterson calls this ‘digital discipleship’ and that’s how I view my participation in tweeting, blogging, Facebooking and texting.
Some naysayers say, ’status updates, instant messaging, tweets and blogs are indulgent–nobody cares about the minutae of your life.’ I disagree. In fact, the minutae of life forms the mortar of close relationships. Some of my most treasured pieces of knowledge about my wife are the little bits about her that are mundane but precious to me.
Connecting with the minutae of other peoples’ lives makes me feel like I’m in a small town in the midst of a big city. Urban life takes away many of our capillary-level relationship connections but technology gives them back. Good tissue–living tissue–needs capillaries to feed it and make it fully healthy. When I Tweet, I form a capillary between me and others.”
Jesus wasn’t a sissy!
I am so glad that my perspective and understanding of Jesus has broadened a bit over the years. As a kid growing up and as a Bible college student, the image that I had a of Jesus was that he was the nicest guy you ever met. He was gentle, kind, loving, great with kids, and never lost his cool.
Most of that is true but I’ve come to understand that’s only A PART of who Jesus is. For example, I read this morning in Mark 9, Jesus’ response to his disciples and the crowd, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you?”
I’m sorry but that just doesn’t jive with the Jesus I was taught about growing up. Jesus got frustrated and ticked off sometimes. Sure, he never sinned but let’s not emasculate him like we have men in general in our culture over the last number of decades.
Jesus was a dude. He was a strong man, a righteous man who got angry at the right things. He threw tables around, cursed fig trees, and made fun of hypocrites. He had a sharp tongue at times.
Just as God the Father is BOTH loving AND holy, merciful AND just, so is the Son. Let’s not forget that!
Jesus is my hero. I want to be like him.
Day of Rest?
I don’t feel very rested…
I got up early for some time with God, some reading, and some writing.
I helped the family get off to Friends church where the kids were singing in the choir (Elijah had a few solo lines). They’re gearing up for their upcoming musical program on 4/26 called Jailhouse Rock. Good job, Eli!
I had a special time of worship at Gateway:Downtown. The band did a great job. Singing I Stand Amazed had a powerful impact on me. How can these words not grab you?
I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.Chorus:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
’Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.
We enjoyed a long lunch at CiCi’s with our good friends, the Krabill’s.
The older two kids went to the Krabill’s house while Amanda and I and Jacob went for a Sunday drive through Metroparks. It was nice!
We attended the memorial service at Friends Church for our friend George, who passed away last weekend unexpectedly. (Please pray for his wife, Coleen and son, Steven — a very difficult time.) Amanda did a beautiful job signing the song, Come to Jesus. Coleen shared with Amanda that it meant a lot to her.
Afterwards, the kids stayed for dinner with the Krabill’s at the church after the funeral and Amanda and I headed downtown for the Nexus fundraiser. Met some great people. We’re praying for some special partners who can give some big dollars and get this thing off the ground sometime this summer. Mickey, the food was great! Alex, you and your team throw a great party!
We’re finally home, got the kids in bed (kind of — Jacob keeps getting up), and now a little TV time.
So, was it a day of rest? You decide! I’m going to bed! Big week ahead!
Later…
