Posts
This song always reminds me of Mizoram, India ...
Find out more about this "child prodigy," Sungha Jung
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Is Legislation the Answer?
I read an article today by a guy who almost got ran over by a driver who was texting while driving. Many states are now implementing laws against this, but as I read his story it seemed to beg the question: Do we really need lawmakers to tell us that this kind of thing is dangerous?
Just to be perfectly clear I am not saying that this is a bad law to adopt. My point is that any thinking person knows this is very risky—to allow yourself this kind of frivolous distraction while driving is asking for trouble. (Confession: I have done this too, knowing that it was a really stupid thing to do!) So, if we are "educated" and "common sensible" enough to know this, why do so many people still do it??
I see it everyday on my way to and from work. I'm beside of or just behind someone, traveling at around 70 miles per hour, and all of the sudden they begin to share my lane, or they brake because they realize that all of the sudden they are "on top of" the person in front of them. We've all seen it. You can tell when you pass them—they aren't looking at the road when you pass them ... they glance up and then back down, looking down for much longer than is advisable. They are distracted and they pose a huge threat to the safety of everyone traveling within a mile of them—atleast! You know that on the Interstate cars can pile up quickly. So is the answer to add another law to the books?
It seems that Americans put alot of faith in education and subsequent laws based on what we know to change people's behavior. Does it really work? If the above scenario weren't enough, we have the examples of education and laws on sex, drugs, cheating, steroids, and alcohol, just to name a few things that we are constantly trying to steer the next generation of kids to stay away from that don't seem to be working. In Africa right now, there is, and has been, a huge push to "educate" people about how HIV and AIDS is transmitted in hopes that they will stop some of the practices that have contributed to rapidly spreading the disease. For example, there are those in South Africa that believe if HIV infected men have sex with virgins they will be cured from the virus. (So you know I am not making this up, here is one example. You can Google search and find many more!)
Education and laws are not bad things. That is not what I am saying, but I think that education and subsequent legislation are not "the" answer. If you have read this blog at all, you won't be surprised that I think, correction—I know, that the only real hope that we have to "do the right thing" is a relationship with Jesus. Granted, even those of us who have one still mess things up, but without an understanding of God's love for us, we are particularly helpless to apply the truth that we already know.
I have heard the saying time and time again, "If they (he, she) only knew better, they would do better!" I suppose that is why we have so many laws. They are supposedly designed to educate people what is right and wrong, and penalize people who do "wrong" so they won't do it again. The problem is ... it doesn't work. Governments make laws and people like you and me figure out how we can "get around them," or more to the point—break them. We are arrogant ... we all think, at least at times, that "it (the accident, the addiction, the STD) won't happen to me."
We don't necessarily need more legislation ... we need Jesus. We need to take responsibility for our actions, confess our sins, apologize, and repent—turn from being "law breakers" to living in a way that honors a holy God, and in a way that honors those with whom we interact. I believe the only way we can do that successfully is to acknowledge Jesus and walk the way that he walked.
Is education a bad thing? NO. Is legislation that is designed to protect us bad? Normally, no. But these things in and of themselves just deal with the symptoms of a sinful heart. Jesus is the only one who can cleanse the heart and give us a clear conscious that allows us to "do the right thing."
Just to be perfectly clear I am not saying that this is a bad law to adopt. My point is that any thinking person knows this is very risky—to allow yourself this kind of frivolous distraction while driving is asking for trouble. (Confession: I have done this too, knowing that it was a really stupid thing to do!) So, if we are "educated" and "common sensible" enough to know this, why do so many people still do it??
I see it everyday on my way to and from work. I'm beside of or just behind someone, traveling at around 70 miles per hour, and all of the sudden they begin to share my lane, or they brake because they realize that all of the sudden they are "on top of" the person in front of them. We've all seen it. You can tell when you pass them—they aren't looking at the road when you pass them ... they glance up and then back down, looking down for much longer than is advisable. They are distracted and they pose a huge threat to the safety of everyone traveling within a mile of them—atleast! You know that on the Interstate cars can pile up quickly. So is the answer to add another law to the books?
It seems that Americans put alot of faith in education and subsequent laws based on what we know to change people's behavior. Does it really work? If the above scenario weren't enough, we have the examples of education and laws on sex, drugs, cheating, steroids, and alcohol, just to name a few things that we are constantly trying to steer the next generation of kids to stay away from that don't seem to be working. In Africa right now, there is, and has been, a huge push to "educate" people about how HIV and AIDS is transmitted in hopes that they will stop some of the practices that have contributed to rapidly spreading the disease. For example, there are those in South Africa that believe if HIV infected men have sex with virgins they will be cured from the virus. (So you know I am not making this up, here is one example. You can Google search and find many more!)
Education and laws are not bad things. That is not what I am saying, but I think that education and subsequent legislation are not "the" answer. If you have read this blog at all, you won't be surprised that I think, correction—I know, that the only real hope that we have to "do the right thing" is a relationship with Jesus. Granted, even those of us who have one still mess things up, but without an understanding of God's love for us, we are particularly helpless to apply the truth that we already know.
I have heard the saying time and time again, "If they (he, she) only knew better, they would do better!" I suppose that is why we have so many laws. They are supposedly designed to educate people what is right and wrong, and penalize people who do "wrong" so they won't do it again. The problem is ... it doesn't work. Governments make laws and people like you and me figure out how we can "get around them," or more to the point—break them. We are arrogant ... we all think, at least at times, that "it (the accident, the addiction, the STD) won't happen to me."
We don't necessarily need more legislation ... we need Jesus. We need to take responsibility for our actions, confess our sins, apologize, and repent—turn from being "law breakers" to living in a way that honors a holy God, and in a way that honors those with whom we interact. I believe the only way we can do that successfully is to acknowledge Jesus and walk the way that he walked.
Is education a bad thing? NO. Is legislation that is designed to protect us bad? Normally, no. But these things in and of themselves just deal with the symptoms of a sinful heart. Jesus is the only one who can cleanse the heart and give us a clear conscious that allows us to "do the right thing."
Sunday, August 16, 2009
New blog: Michelle Pack Photography
This new blog will be all about my favorite photos that I have taken as I have traveled "hither and yon," as well as the new images that I will capture with my new DSLR camera! I hope you will enjoy this new site. If you like what you see, leave some "comment love," as my friend Chris calls it! ;D
Sunday, August 2, 2009
"Let the little children come to me ..."
Jesus said "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." (Mark 10:14)
During the worship time this morning in church I had the privilege of sitting between two of my nephews. On my right, Christopher and on my left, Isaac—who was more eager to run off to his Sunday school class than he was about singing. ;D
As we were singing this little voice from my right drifted to my ear ... it was beautiful. It was the sound of Christopher, 10-years-old, worshiping God. Not just singing ... worshiping. As he sang along, he was moving his arms around and clapping, and his feet were moving ... and in that moment a part of me envied his freedom even as I rejoiced inside that he had it.
God calls us to have a child-like faith and I don't take that to mean that it's immature in any way, exactly the opposite actually—to trust him like small children trust that their parents know what is best for them, and long to protect them and give them only what is best for them.
When did I lose my child-like faith? I can hardly remember a time when I wasn't concerned about what other people thought of me ... oh to be so secure in God's love that I would be able to worship freely among the body of Christ, and even more that I would trust him fully as I live out each day that he gives me!
Thank you God for teaching me through a child today.
During the worship time this morning in church I had the privilege of sitting between two of my nephews. On my right, Christopher and on my left, Isaac—who was more eager to run off to his Sunday school class than he was about singing. ;D
As we were singing this little voice from my right drifted to my ear ... it was beautiful. It was the sound of Christopher, 10-years-old, worshiping God. Not just singing ... worshiping. As he sang along, he was moving his arms around and clapping, and his feet were moving ... and in that moment a part of me envied his freedom even as I rejoiced inside that he had it.
God calls us to have a child-like faith and I don't take that to mean that it's immature in any way, exactly the opposite actually—to trust him like small children trust that their parents know what is best for them, and long to protect them and give them only what is best for them.
When did I lose my child-like faith? I can hardly remember a time when I wasn't concerned about what other people thought of me ... oh to be so secure in God's love that I would be able to worship freely among the body of Christ, and even more that I would trust him fully as I live out each day that he gives me!
Thank you God for teaching me through a child today.
Friday, July 17, 2009
What does love look like?
Do you have to compromise truth to really love the "unlovable"? Where does the concept of truth enter in?
We live in a society that is appalled when, as Christians, we dare to call certain lifestyles and activities sinful. And we live in a time when many Christians get angry, really angry, at people who give a hearing those living in less than desirable lifestyles. It seems to me that we are living in a world where truth and love are at odds with each other instead of working in harmony together as they do throughout the Bible.
I will admit that I have stood mostly in the second camp. I think it's mostly because of the way that our political parties have become polarized and discussed in the media. Both sides use the tone of fighting a war to make their points, and in war, you fight for one side or the other ... if you stand in the middle, you die (unless somehow you can embody the political genius of Switzerland!)
I know a guy, well, that is a homosexual. And anytime I spend time with him, I struggle with this issue. If he was on TV and I didn't know him, I would probably find myself using some less than godly language to express my opinion of his lifestyle. But I don't ... because I love him, and I am in relationship with him.
That is the odd thing about dealing with homosexuality, abortion, racism, etc. I have strong feelings and opinions, and I would argue, Biblical truth that shows us what is wrong about these issues. But when I am in relationships with people who are suffering from any of these issues—either by choice or whatever reason—it doesn't really matter, I don't tell them they are pathetic losers. I tend to see them instead with eyes of compassion ... like Jesus does. So it looks something like this for me: no relationship, no love, but all truth; if we have a relationship, it's love and empathy, with doses of truth as I feel that I have the opening to share.
It's like the political talking points these days have in some way robbed us of talking about love ... in order to be in the battle we must speak truth! Why should they be separate? The Bible says "God's word is truth", "God is love", and that we are to love in spirit and in truth—God doesn't see the need to separate the two concepts.
I read this great article today in Christianity Today online by Brandon O'Brien where he recounts his struggle to love a student that really annoyed him in the classroom. My blog is called "Image Bearer" taken from the Latin imago dei, and in his article, Brandon artfully discusses what that means and how his understanding of what an image bearer is helped him learn how to love this boy. It's worth the read for those of you who struggle with how to relate to the seemingly "unlovable."
Lastly, I just want to reflect a moment on God's love towards me. I love that verse in Romans 5:8 that states "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." As I continue to grapple with the complexities of sin and the rationalizations for it in our world today, I am mindful of the fact that, as Paul said, I am the worst of sinners. I don't deserve grace any more or any less than the people that I mentioned earlier. None of us do.
So do I think I have to compromise truth to really love people? No, I don't. Jesus never did that. I think it is easy to spout out the truth, but it is hard to really love people ... not impossible, but hard. As image bearers of God, we are to love as God loves ...
We live in a society that is appalled when, as Christians, we dare to call certain lifestyles and activities sinful. And we live in a time when many Christians get angry, really angry, at people who give a hearing those living in less than desirable lifestyles. It seems to me that we are living in a world where truth and love are at odds with each other instead of working in harmony together as they do throughout the Bible.
I will admit that I have stood mostly in the second camp. I think it's mostly because of the way that our political parties have become polarized and discussed in the media. Both sides use the tone of fighting a war to make their points, and in war, you fight for one side or the other ... if you stand in the middle, you die (unless somehow you can embody the political genius of Switzerland!)
I know a guy, well, that is a homosexual. And anytime I spend time with him, I struggle with this issue. If he was on TV and I didn't know him, I would probably find myself using some less than godly language to express my opinion of his lifestyle. But I don't ... because I love him, and I am in relationship with him.
That is the odd thing about dealing with homosexuality, abortion, racism, etc. I have strong feelings and opinions, and I would argue, Biblical truth that shows us what is wrong about these issues. But when I am in relationships with people who are suffering from any of these issues—either by choice or whatever reason—it doesn't really matter, I don't tell them they are pathetic losers. I tend to see them instead with eyes of compassion ... like Jesus does. So it looks something like this for me: no relationship, no love, but all truth; if we have a relationship, it's love and empathy, with doses of truth as I feel that I have the opening to share.
It's like the political talking points these days have in some way robbed us of talking about love ... in order to be in the battle we must speak truth! Why should they be separate? The Bible says "God's word is truth", "God is love", and that we are to love in spirit and in truth—God doesn't see the need to separate the two concepts.
I read this great article today in Christianity Today online by Brandon O'Brien where he recounts his struggle to love a student that really annoyed him in the classroom. My blog is called "Image Bearer" taken from the Latin imago dei, and in his article, Brandon artfully discusses what that means and how his understanding of what an image bearer is helped him learn how to love this boy. It's worth the read for those of you who struggle with how to relate to the seemingly "unlovable."
Lastly, I just want to reflect a moment on God's love towards me. I love that verse in Romans 5:8 that states "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." As I continue to grapple with the complexities of sin and the rationalizations for it in our world today, I am mindful of the fact that, as Paul said, I am the worst of sinners. I don't deserve grace any more or any less than the people that I mentioned earlier. None of us do.
So do I think I have to compromise truth to really love people? No, I don't. Jesus never did that. I think it is easy to spout out the truth, but it is hard to really love people ... not impossible, but hard. As image bearers of God, we are to love as God loves ...
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