Always Room for Jello

Excuses, Walls, and Jello

I am guilty. 

We don’t hear people say that very often these days.  We hear things that SEEM like “I am guilty.”   Our apologies are usually fortressed by excuses.  “I am sorry I lied, but I was trying to protect you;” or “I am sorry I hurt you, but I was defending myself.”

We blame society, our parents, illness, ignorance, forgetfulness, the devil, or our third grade teacher.

And I don’t know why we work so hard to avoid admitting our guilt.

Christianity is not just a set of guidelines to improve behavior in our society.  True Christianity is giving guilty people a fantastic relationship with God.

And it starts with admitting our guilt.

Every possible bad thing I have ever done, wanted to do, imagined doing, or thought about doing is like a wall dividing us from God.  In that sense, I understand why we might want to avoid admitting guilt.  Being on God’s side is a good thing…

But the way to tear down the wall is NOT to deny the wall is there.  The way to tear down the wall is to let the forgiveness of Christ turn the wall to jello.

I don’t need to hide or deny my guilt.  Because no matter how big my guilt is, Jesus’ forgiveness is satisfyingly bigger. 

And so… I am guilty.  But more than that, I am also forgiven.

Dissecting Love

It was a radio! With it, I could hear strange channels where people talked in sharp accents.  I could hear normal music and music that made my eyes pop out.  I was used to AM and FM, but this radio had settings for acronyms that I had never seen, and don’t even remember today.

It was amazing.

And so, of course, I took it apart.  A set of screwdrivers and needle-nosed pliers were all I needed to turn that wondrous machine into a collection of exotic metal bits and colored wires.  And it never made a sound again.

When we dissect things, we destroy them.  Sure, we might learn some things.  Of course, we might gain spare parts.  But we ruin them.  They aren’t the same, and never will be.

I feel the same way about love.  I mean real love… not mamby-pamby Hallmark channel romance.  I don’t mean warm puppies and chocolate ice cream.  When I write here of love, I mean the unconditional kind that has its sole origins in God’s character, actions, and relationships.

Love is really astounding.  When we find it (giving or getting) it shocks us.  It changes us.  It lifts us.  It gives us reason.  It gives us hope.  It gives us faith.  It gives us… well, everything.  I don’t think I can overstate how fireworky and blissful love is.

Until we dissect it.

I don’t like talking about those supposed ‘three forms of love:’ eros, filos, and agape.  Because love is always, in any form, the same:  it is unconditional support, acceptance, and affection.  It is a willingness, nay an eagerness to sacrifice for the beloved.  It is an unquestioning placement of the beloved’s needs, wellness, and even wishes above one’s own.

If eros is a kind of love, than it is simply love.  If filos is a kind of love, than just call it love.  If agape is the best love, it does not supplant other loves.   Love is love.

And love is grand.

Grandparents' Day

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image.” Genesis 1:26

My maternal grandfather is a part of who I am.  Many of my early decisions were made to please or impress him.  I think a lot (maybe too much) because I wanted to be like him.  I try to be patient, because he was always patient with me.  I started reading the Bible as a pre-teen because I observed that he took his Bible to work with him every day.  I hate gardening because he seemed to love gardening so much.

I never met my paternal Grandfather.  But he has influenced me just as much as my maternal grandfather.

I saw the effects of Grandpa Penning.  I saw him in my father’s quiet and secret generosity.  I saw him in our family’s need to resolve every conflict before we parted ways for the day.  I saw him in the Penning male’s stubborn adherence to principle… even after that principle had been proven false.  I saw him in my father’s involvement in the life of our church.  I saw him in the limitations put on that involvement.

Behind the scenes of my personality are my grandfathers.  I am made in their image.

The same is probably true for you, as well.

We inherit the physical characteristics of our ancestors.  We also are effected by their personalities, histories, experiences and decisions.

That can help us comprehend what it means to be made in the image of God.  We don’t look like Him.  But we all have inherited some of His characteristics.  In much the same way that our grandfathers are part of who we are… God is, too.  We don’t inherit the characteristics because we acknowledge His position.  We inherit the characteristics because of who we are.

That is why building contractors like to build.  Because God is a Builder.  That is why my daughter likes to draw.  Because God is a Creator.  That is why I can love my wife.  Because God is Love.  That is why farmers farm.  Because God is a Cultivator.  That is why engineers design.  Because God is a Designer.  That is why firemen are heroes.  Because God is a Helper.  That is why Doctors heal.  Because God is a Healer.

Of course, everything in our nature does not originate in God’s image.  And we often twist the God-image parts of us into something unrecognizable. 

But there is enough of the image of God in mankind to show our ancestry.  Just like there is enough of my grandfathers in me to show where I come from.

His image is worth cultivating.  His image is what gives rise to all that is good in humankind… and in you in particular.  We need to cultivate those things.  We need to increase those characteristics that are Godly, and diminish those that aren’t.   Not to impress God.  Not because increasing in Godly characteristics eases our road into heaven.  Not to avoid God’s wrath.  Not to balance out the unGodly things we do.

But because we love Him. 

It’s not obligation, it’s devotion.  It’s not imitation, it’s inheritance.

Where is Ben Byall when I need Him?

Fishing

" Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”  Matthew 7:21

I like fishing.

I haven’t been fishing yet this spring.  Actually, I didn’t go fishing last year at all. 

But I like fishing.

Something is obviously wrong.  Not just with the fact that I don’t get to go fishing.  But there is a difference between my claim to like fishing, and the fact that I don’t go fishing.

The discrepancy could come from many places.  Maybe I am too busy.  Maybe I am too lazy.  Maybe I live too far from a convenient fishing place.  Maybe I don’t have the right gear.  Maybe I don’t like fishing alone, and can’t find someone to go with me.  Maybe I am secretly afraid of fish.

But whatever the reason, something doesn’t match up.  I ought to do something about it.

A lot of people claim to like Jesus.

But they don’t listen to what He says.  They don’t yearn to worship Him publicly.  They don’t proclaim His kingdom.

And something is obviously wrong.  There is a difference between a claim to like Jesus, and the fact that some don’t really have anything to do with Him, accept where convenient.

The discrepancy could come from many places.  Maybe you are too buy.  Maybe you are too lazy.  Maybe you live too far from church.  Maybe you don’t own a Bible.  Maybe you don’t like other people, and you can’t find a way to serve Him completely alone (which IS impossible.)  Maybe you secretly are afraid of what being a real Christian would do to your life.

But whatever the reason, something doesn’t match up.  And you ought to do something about it.

The best news is that HE will do something about it.  He will give you what you need to follow Him.  He will change you.  He will strengthen you.  He will weaken you.  He will do whatever it takes.

Just surrender to Him.

It’s better than fishing.

About President's Day

The Absolute First President

We usually think of George Washington as the First President of these United States.  However, to be accurate we must remember that he was the first President under our Present Constitution.

In France, each time a new constitution is written, historians announce a “new Republic.”  So far, France has had seven, I think.

But here in the U.S. we don’t consider the adjustments to our constitutions as forming a new nation.  Perhaps it is because we don’t really consider ourselves the absolute ideal in perfected human government.  Perhaps because, as a fairly new nation on the world’s stage, we are trying to keep as much attachment to the past as we can.  Perhaps because we just never thought about it.

But, not counting amendments (which in French terms would be forming a new nation,) we have had three forms of government.  First, the Continental Congress formed a Union among the colonies that were challenging Britain’s rule. The thirteen colonies did not just wander around hoping the British would leave.  They formed a loose confederation with the goal of obtaining self-rule.  That confederation was led by representatives of each of the colonies (sometimes with the exception of Rhode Island, who didn’t play well with others.)  Those representatives were “led” by an elected chairman, who was called “the President of the Congress.”

Then a Constitution was written (called the Articles of Confederation) intended as a guide to how the thirteen independent nations could work together.  We have recently forgotten that “States” are not mere “Provinces.”  We are not part of a nation that divided itself into smaller sections.  Instead, we are a group of nations (called “States”) banding together for particular purposes.  One bit of evidence for this is found in the title of the cabinet officer whose job it is to deal with other nations.  He is called the Secretary of State.  That confederation was led in part by an elected official called (among other things) “The President.”   These presidents were primarily figure heads, and served for only one year.

Finally, a second Constitution was written.  We presently exist as a Union of States under the terms set out in it.  The Presidency was strengthened, and the other branches of government were defined.  Since that time, the Constitution has been adjusted by legislative process (27 Amendments,) and by common understanding (as in the case of the assumption of powers by the Judicial Branch not delineated in the Constitution.)  The First President of THIS Constitution was the beloved George Washington.

Under those terms, our absolute first President was a man named Peyton Randolph.  Randolph had served in Britain’s government as the equivalent of Attorney General for Virginia.  He was elected unopposed to preside over the first Continental Congress in 1774, and again in 1775.  He did not live to see independence achieved, but needs to be counted as one of our founding fathers.

Let’s not forget him.