It happens.
Every so often we go through a season in life where things are not ideal and we just have to find a way to make the best of it.
For the last several weeks I have not felt like I was able (both from a standpoint of time and energy) to put my best foot forward in terms of exercise. The schedule has been extra full and, more notably, I've been low on sleep. And when I'm low on sleep I personally find it best not to go all-out in terms of exercise.
But that doesn't mean I go cold-turkey either.
Instead I find ways to a least do something.
One day I might just do a few rounds of jumping rope. It might only take me 5-10 minutes. Just enough to get the blood pumping a little.
Other times it's helpful simply to go through my standard warm-up routine. That only takes 5-6 minutes and doesn't require a lot of energy. It feels good to stretch out and, even in that process, to feel the blood pumping a little more.
This morning I did the standard warm-up routine and then simply added 6 extra moves (1 round of neutral-grip chin-ups, push-up/jack-knife combo, Dumbell squat/overhead press combo, Bulgarian Split Squats, bench presses, and ab-wheel roll-outs.)
All together it took 15 minutes.
I probably won't build muscle at that rate, but I will be able to maintain muscle mass which, as I inch closer to the half-century mark, is nothing to sneeze at.
I pray that you are finding ways to make the best of whatever season of life you are in as well.
Monday, April 30, 2012
The Line Jesus Was Not Willing to Cross
Scripture Passage that Caught my attention today: Matthew 17:17-21 Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Observation: Jesus appears to be getting a little frustrated.
Application: We don’t normally think of Jesus as the frustrated type. We tend to envision him as always in control, always patient, loving and kind. In reality, there were clearly moments when he got more agitated. The above passage is a case in point. How stinging it must have felt to have Jesus mutter aloud “how much longer must I put up with you?”
Ouch!
I wonder how often Jesus feels the same way about us and our “little” faith.
No matter. While Jesus may have wondered “how much longer” he would need to put up with them, he did not go so far as to say “ I will no longer put up with you.” That was a line he was not willing to cross even as he eventually hung on the cross.
I suspect he feels the same way about us.
Prayer: Lord, thanks for putting up with us. Please endeavor to help us grow what little faith we have. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: 2 Samuel 6, 1 Chronicles 13, Psalm 68, and Matthew 17)
Observation: Jesus appears to be getting a little frustrated.
Application: We don’t normally think of Jesus as the frustrated type. We tend to envision him as always in control, always patient, loving and kind. In reality, there were clearly moments when he got more agitated. The above passage is a case in point. How stinging it must have felt to have Jesus mutter aloud “how much longer must I put up with you?”
Ouch!
I wonder how often Jesus feels the same way about us and our “little” faith.
No matter. While Jesus may have wondered “how much longer” he would need to put up with them, he did not go so far as to say “ I will no longer put up with you.” That was a line he was not willing to cross even as he eventually hung on the cross.
I suspect he feels the same way about us.
Prayer: Lord, thanks for putting up with us. Please endeavor to help us grow what little faith we have. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: 2 Samuel 6, 1 Chronicles 13, Psalm 68, and Matthew 17)
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Righteousness verses Self-Righteousness
Scripture Passage that Caught my attention today: Matthew 15:1-6 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say that whoever tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is given to God,’ then that person need not honor the father. 6 So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God.
Observation: In the passage above the Pharisees were trying to prove their own righteousness and another’s unrighteousness. Jesus, however, pointed out that they were self serving in each case and were ignoring the larger aspects of the law in the process.
Application: At times we are all prone to smoke and mirrors. There is a fine but rather definite line between living as a somewhat righteous person and trying to either prove one’s righteousness or point out another’s unrighteousness. In doing either of the latter we usually retort to various ‘proof’ texts which normally involves ignoring the larger picture of faith.
Perhaps this is why even Jesus said at one point, “why do you call me good. No one is good except God alone.” The Apostle Paul said that no one is righteous for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
To be human is to be a sinner. But there are basically two types of sinners—those who realize the depth of their own sin and those who don’t. Those who don’t know the depth of their own sin tend to be especially prone to pointing out the sin of others, as if that should be some great surprise. Those who are aware of their own sin (and of God’s corresponding grace) tend to be much more forgiving on the whole and less inclined to focus on another’s sin.
We would all be better served to spend more time in the latter camp.
Prayer: Lord, there’s a little Pharisee in all of us. There is also some of you in all of us. Please help us make more room for you and less room for more self-serving measures. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: 2 Samuel 3, 1 Chronicles 12, and Matthew 15)
Observation: In the passage above the Pharisees were trying to prove their own righteousness and another’s unrighteousness. Jesus, however, pointed out that they were self serving in each case and were ignoring the larger aspects of the law in the process.
Application: At times we are all prone to smoke and mirrors. There is a fine but rather definite line between living as a somewhat righteous person and trying to either prove one’s righteousness or point out another’s unrighteousness. In doing either of the latter we usually retort to various ‘proof’ texts which normally involves ignoring the larger picture of faith.
Perhaps this is why even Jesus said at one point, “why do you call me good. No one is good except God alone.” The Apostle Paul said that no one is righteous for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
To be human is to be a sinner. But there are basically two types of sinners—those who realize the depth of their own sin and those who don’t. Those who don’t know the depth of their own sin tend to be especially prone to pointing out the sin of others, as if that should be some great surprise. Those who are aware of their own sin (and of God’s corresponding grace) tend to be much more forgiving on the whole and less inclined to focus on another’s sin.
We would all be better served to spend more time in the latter camp.
Prayer: Lord, there’s a little Pharisee in all of us. There is also some of you in all of us. Please help us make more room for you and less room for more self-serving measures. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: 2 Samuel 3, 1 Chronicles 12, and Matthew 15)
Friday, April 27, 2012
Worship and Doubt Go Together
Scripture Passage that Caught My Attention Today: Matthew 14:30-33 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Observation: Worship and Doubt go together.
Application: This insight is not my own. It is a point I first heard from Dr. Mark Powell who is a professor at Trinity Lutheran Seminary. He noticed that, at least in Matthew’s gospel, worship and doubt go hand-in-hand.
In Matthew there are two times when people worship Jesus.
The first is indicated in the verses above. Jesus has observed their doubt (verse 31) and by verse 33 they are worshipping him. So worship closely follows doubt.
The only other time that Jesus is worshipped in the gospel of Matthew is at the very end of the gospel in chapter 28. This time also one finds doubt close at hand, though it’s not always seen for what it is in English translations of the Bible. Let’s take a quick look at the last 5 verses in Matthew:
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Verses 18-20 are the popular verses but I’d like to draw your attention to verse 17. In the NRSV translation above it says “…they worshipped him; but some doubted.”
This is an unfortunate translation (and most English bibles translate it in similar ways) because it adds a word that is not found in the original Greek. The added word is “some.” Literally it should read: “They worshipped him; but doubted.” In other words, the original text does not imply that some worshipped and some doubted, but that they all worshipped and they all doubted.
Apparently the translators couldn’t comprehend the possibility of worship and doubt being found in the same person, so they added the word ‘some.’
Pulling again from Dr. Powell’s insights, for Matthew, worship and doubt go together. The next million dollar question is: could the same also be true for us?
For me the answer is yes. I worship and doubt much of the time. I say that I believe that Jesus has power over even death itself and yet I sometimes find myself afraid of earthly powers. What’s up with that? I trust that Jesus meant it when he said, “I am with you always, to the end of the age,” and yet I still get caught up in all kinds of worries large and small. Jesus proved himself trustworthy even unto death and yet still I sometimes carry a little knot in my stomach. Whenever one worships, doubt is often close at hand.
That’s okay. It may take a while—perhaps even a lifetime—to fully grasp the depth of our Lord’s power and love for us. But if we are somehow led to offer up a little bit of worship along with our doubt…well…we just might be onto something.
Prayer: Lord, thanks for accepting our doubts and leading us to those moments of worship as well. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: 2 Samuel 2, 1 Chronicles 11, Psalm 142, and Matthew 14)
Observation: Worship and Doubt go together.
Application: This insight is not my own. It is a point I first heard from Dr. Mark Powell who is a professor at Trinity Lutheran Seminary. He noticed that, at least in Matthew’s gospel, worship and doubt go hand-in-hand.
In Matthew there are two times when people worship Jesus.
The first is indicated in the verses above. Jesus has observed their doubt (verse 31) and by verse 33 they are worshipping him. So worship closely follows doubt.
The only other time that Jesus is worshipped in the gospel of Matthew is at the very end of the gospel in chapter 28. This time also one finds doubt close at hand, though it’s not always seen for what it is in English translations of the Bible. Let’s take a quick look at the last 5 verses in Matthew:
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Verses 18-20 are the popular verses but I’d like to draw your attention to verse 17. In the NRSV translation above it says “…they worshipped him; but some doubted.”
This is an unfortunate translation (and most English bibles translate it in similar ways) because it adds a word that is not found in the original Greek. The added word is “some.” Literally it should read: “They worshipped him; but doubted.” In other words, the original text does not imply that some worshipped and some doubted, but that they all worshipped and they all doubted.
Apparently the translators couldn’t comprehend the possibility of worship and doubt being found in the same person, so they added the word ‘some.’
Pulling again from Dr. Powell’s insights, for Matthew, worship and doubt go together. The next million dollar question is: could the same also be true for us?
For me the answer is yes. I worship and doubt much of the time. I say that I believe that Jesus has power over even death itself and yet I sometimes find myself afraid of earthly powers. What’s up with that? I trust that Jesus meant it when he said, “I am with you always, to the end of the age,” and yet I still get caught up in all kinds of worries large and small. Jesus proved himself trustworthy even unto death and yet still I sometimes carry a little knot in my stomach. Whenever one worships, doubt is often close at hand.
That’s okay. It may take a while—perhaps even a lifetime—to fully grasp the depth of our Lord’s power and love for us. But if we are somehow led to offer up a little bit of worship along with our doubt…well…we just might be onto something.
Prayer: Lord, thanks for accepting our doubts and leading us to those moments of worship as well. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: 2 Samuel 2, 1 Chronicles 11, Psalm 142, and Matthew 14)
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Seeing Something Greater at the Judgment
Scripture Verses that caught my attention today: Matthew 12:41-42 The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here! 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!
Observation: Jesus indicates that others will be present, accounted for, and participants in the judgment.
Application: A common Christian understanding is that we will all one day appear before the judgment seat of God. Most would also concur that Jesus will play an active role in that day. In some cases it is believed that some will go one way and some another. In other scenarios it is believed that all will be declared guilty and that Jesus will then plead for all.
What’s particularly interesting about the passage above is that those who had been condemned and repented (Ninevites) and those who had authentically sought out wisdom (like the Queen of Sheba) will also participate in the judgment. They too will stand as witnesses to testify to the wrong. They too will be there to remind us of “every careless word we utter” (vs. 36) and force us to give an account. It’s a group intervention. There will be no escape.
I think that’s a good thing…for all of us. I look forward to it.
Yes, it will be painful. Things will be brought to light that we have either long-since forgotten or have long held in secret. And right there will be the very people that we have either wronged and/or those who have witnessed our wrongs. That won’t be a pretty sight!
But with the truth comes opportunity. With the truth comes clearer vision. Perhaps then we will see first-hand not only the extent of Jesus’ sacrifice, but also that which God declares is far greater and even more desirable; mercy (see verse 7).
Yes, in Christ something greater than Jonah or Solomon or all the rest is here, maybe even now.
Prayer: Lord, you embody mercy and mercy’s power is only appreciated for what it is in the face of our own despair. Help us to see both and not delude ourselves otherwise. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: 1 Samuel 30-31, 1 Chronicles 10, and Matthew 12)
Observation: Jesus indicates that others will be present, accounted for, and participants in the judgment.
Application: A common Christian understanding is that we will all one day appear before the judgment seat of God. Most would also concur that Jesus will play an active role in that day. In some cases it is believed that some will go one way and some another. In other scenarios it is believed that all will be declared guilty and that Jesus will then plead for all.
What’s particularly interesting about the passage above is that those who had been condemned and repented (Ninevites) and those who had authentically sought out wisdom (like the Queen of Sheba) will also participate in the judgment. They too will stand as witnesses to testify to the wrong. They too will be there to remind us of “every careless word we utter” (vs. 36) and force us to give an account. It’s a group intervention. There will be no escape.
I think that’s a good thing…for all of us. I look forward to it.
Yes, it will be painful. Things will be brought to light that we have either long-since forgotten or have long held in secret. And right there will be the very people that we have either wronged and/or those who have witnessed our wrongs. That won’t be a pretty sight!
But with the truth comes opportunity. With the truth comes clearer vision. Perhaps then we will see first-hand not only the extent of Jesus’ sacrifice, but also that which God declares is far greater and even more desirable; mercy (see verse 7).
Yes, in Christ something greater than Jonah or Solomon or all the rest is here, maybe even now.
Prayer: Lord, you embody mercy and mercy’s power is only appreciated for what it is in the face of our own despair. Help us to see both and not delude ourselves otherwise. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: 1 Samuel 30-31, 1 Chronicles 10, and Matthew 12)
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Scripture Verses that caught my attention today: Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Observation: Everybody likes these verses. Yet it is their context that gives them the even greater authenticity. Earlier in this chapter, at least according to Matthew, we are told that Jesus knew that he was being accused of being a glutton and a drunkard. A few verses after this passage he is accused of breaking Sabbath laws. So Jesus was not in a comfortable place. He was pretty much under attack. It is this context that Jesus offers the comforting words of verses 28-30 quoted above.
Application: These words have been a source of comfort for many a person over the course of a couple millennia. It’s always nice to read, hear, and/or simply consider these words and take them to heart. There is the sense that these words alone are sufficient for the challenge of the day.
For me, however, what gives these words their transformative power is the context out of which they were spoken. Jesus was not having an easy time. Yet he offers himself to those around him as a source of refuge.
Last night a couple people in my family were tuned into one of those vocal-audition-coaching shows. One of the coaches told one of the candidates that he loved him so much that he would die for him (or something close to that affect).
Really??? However well-intended, somehow those words seem a little hollow.
Jesus offers something much deeper. His support is not dependent on our ability to prove ourselves worthy. Instead, in the midst of his own turmoil he offers an authentic morsel of absolute promise—rest for our souls.
Prayer: Lord, it doesn’t seem like it was a very restful time for you. People were upset with you left and right. Still you offered yourself. And it would appear that your offer still stands. For that we give you thanks and praise. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: 1 Samuel 28-29, Psalm 109, Matthew 11)
Observation: Everybody likes these verses. Yet it is their context that gives them the even greater authenticity. Earlier in this chapter, at least according to Matthew, we are told that Jesus knew that he was being accused of being a glutton and a drunkard. A few verses after this passage he is accused of breaking Sabbath laws. So Jesus was not in a comfortable place. He was pretty much under attack. It is this context that Jesus offers the comforting words of verses 28-30 quoted above.
Application: These words have been a source of comfort for many a person over the course of a couple millennia. It’s always nice to read, hear, and/or simply consider these words and take them to heart. There is the sense that these words alone are sufficient for the challenge of the day.
For me, however, what gives these words their transformative power is the context out of which they were spoken. Jesus was not having an easy time. Yet he offers himself to those around him as a source of refuge.
Last night a couple people in my family were tuned into one of those vocal-audition-coaching shows. One of the coaches told one of the candidates that he loved him so much that he would die for him (or something close to that affect).
Really??? However well-intended, somehow those words seem a little hollow.
Jesus offers something much deeper. His support is not dependent on our ability to prove ourselves worthy. Instead, in the midst of his own turmoil he offers an authentic morsel of absolute promise—rest for our souls.
Prayer: Lord, it doesn’t seem like it was a very restful time for you. People were upset with you left and right. Still you offered yourself. And it would appear that your offer still stands. For that we give you thanks and praise. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: 1 Samuel 28-29, Psalm 109, Matthew 11)
Monday, April 23, 2012
Losing our Life and Meaning in order to find our Life and Meaning
Scripture Verse that Caught My Attention Today: Matthew 10:39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
Observation: Jesus was onto something here.
Application: I can’t swim. My ‘excuse’ for not being able to swim stems back to childhood swimming lessons gone bad. Be that as it may, I’m not asking for pity. Nor am I asking for a better instructor and the like. For me, learning to swim is not some big unrealized dream. Instead it is just one of many ‘gifts’ that I don’t currently have or necessarily feel the need to have. I don’t know how to play the guitar either. It’s no big deal.
But what experience I have had in the water has taught me much. Part of swimming, it seems to me, is learning to relax in the water, to trust its ability to keep one afloat. When in the water, tension corresponds to what amounts to an increasing pull of gravity. As our bodies tense up, down we go!
What comes next is usually the two-headed coin of panic and frantic flailing about in a dire but unfruitful effort to save oneself.
It can’t be done. The effort to save oneself, whether in the water or on the Spiritual side of things, will always be a losing effort. At some point our only life-giving option is trust.
One of the reasons I have trouble trusting the water to hold me up is because I demand too much of it. Basically I want the water to magically keep my whole body afloat when all that really needs to stay out of the water (whether constantly or at regular intervals) is my nose!
Sometimes I feel this way Spiritually as well; I want the Lord to keep me far from every danger, totally insulated from all my fears, impervious to any foes, and completely inoculated from having to dip my toes into any earthly challenge where the outcome is anything less than certain.
Fat chance! Jesus says, “Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”
Spiritually speaking, Jesus doesn’t call for cautious wading but, rather, for a total plunge. In short, we are called to entrust ourselves to the Savior rather than endeavoring (and woefully unsuccessfully at that!) to be a savior for ourselves.
Yes, however staid we might present them, efforts to justify ourselves are ultimately nothing more than a futile and even pitiful flailing about. Thankfully, through the crucified and risen Christ we have other options. Our life, and the meaning of our life, is both lost and found in him.
Prayer: Lord, help us always to be willing to be lost and found in you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
(Readings today included: 1 Samuel 27, Psalm 141, 1 Chronicles 9, and Matthew 10)
Observation: Jesus was onto something here.
Application: I can’t swim. My ‘excuse’ for not being able to swim stems back to childhood swimming lessons gone bad. Be that as it may, I’m not asking for pity. Nor am I asking for a better instructor and the like. For me, learning to swim is not some big unrealized dream. Instead it is just one of many ‘gifts’ that I don’t currently have or necessarily feel the need to have. I don’t know how to play the guitar either. It’s no big deal.
But what experience I have had in the water has taught me much. Part of swimming, it seems to me, is learning to relax in the water, to trust its ability to keep one afloat. When in the water, tension corresponds to what amounts to an increasing pull of gravity. As our bodies tense up, down we go!
What comes next is usually the two-headed coin of panic and frantic flailing about in a dire but unfruitful effort to save oneself.
It can’t be done. The effort to save oneself, whether in the water or on the Spiritual side of things, will always be a losing effort. At some point our only life-giving option is trust.
One of the reasons I have trouble trusting the water to hold me up is because I demand too much of it. Basically I want the water to magically keep my whole body afloat when all that really needs to stay out of the water (whether constantly or at regular intervals) is my nose!
Sometimes I feel this way Spiritually as well; I want the Lord to keep me far from every danger, totally insulated from all my fears, impervious to any foes, and completely inoculated from having to dip my toes into any earthly challenge where the outcome is anything less than certain.
Fat chance! Jesus says, “Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”
Spiritually speaking, Jesus doesn’t call for cautious wading but, rather, for a total plunge. In short, we are called to entrust ourselves to the Savior rather than endeavoring (and woefully unsuccessfully at that!) to be a savior for ourselves.
Yes, however staid we might present them, efforts to justify ourselves are ultimately nothing more than a futile and even pitiful flailing about. Thankfully, through the crucified and risen Christ we have other options. Our life, and the meaning of our life, is both lost and found in him.
Prayer: Lord, help us always to be willing to be lost and found in you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
(Readings today included: 1 Samuel 27, Psalm 141, 1 Chronicles 9, and Matthew 10)
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