Get a Life

January 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment

His divine power has given us everything we need for life…
–2 Peter 1:3

In a recent entry for the Blog Gifted For Leadership, Carla Waterman talks about a friend who came to visit her after relocating for a new job.  Her friend was feeling overwhelmed by her new circumstances.  She had gone from an environment that was rewarding and full of friends to one where she was a stranger who had yet to be “noticed” or appreciated.  She was tired of having to fight for respect and a chance to play a vital role in her new world.

At that moment a quote from Dorothy Sayers occurred to Waterman: “Life is not a problem to be solved, but a medium for creation.”  Then she suggested to her friend, “Perhaps it is time to drop your sword and pick up your paint brush.”

From there the two friends went on to discuss how easy it is to devote energy to making things how they thought they should be rather than working with them as they are.  Instead of fighting for what she thought would make her happy, her friend began to wonder if she might do better to accept them.

Waterman continues: It is not the first conversation I have had in the last week on the difference between a full life and a frenetic one. And I find myself increasingly recognizing that, when there are so very few things over which we have control, we still have the choice of whether to wield a sword or pick up a brush.

This morning we will continue our discussion of our theme verse (above).  And the question for us to ask is this: What do we mean when we say that God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life.  What kind of life?  And how?  How has God given us everything we need for life?  Notice that it doesn’t say that He will give us everything we want.  Or even everything we think we need.  This passage promises that his power will provide what we need.

I hope this morning that you feel like you have everything you need for life.  I you don’t feel that way, I hope you will leave feeling a little better equipped to serve God in your world.  I hope when you go you’ll feel like picking up a paintbrush and getting to work.

Posted by Robert | Filed Under Amen Corner, Articles 
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Grace & Peace

January 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. (2 Peter 1:2)

In cased you missed it (or forgot), last week I made a case for extending our celebration of Christmas past December 25th.  The idea was that we are in better shape now to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, since we’re not as easily preoccupied with getting and giving and buying and decorating and planning, etc.  In keeping with that, I thought I’d share with you a Christmas story that also provides a springboard for this morning’s message.

In a recent article for Christian Standard magazine, Brian Lowery recounts his visit to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.  His expectations for the trip were low, having heard that it was something of a disappointment.  After waiting in line for hours, he descended the steps that lead underneath the church into the cave that is purported to be the birthplace of Christ.  He recalls how unexpectedly moved he was to be singing “O Holy Night” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem” there in that church.  There he was, praying for peace in a church that had been a cause of great division among Christians.  Look at what he says:

“As we left, I passed by all the pilgrims yet again. Some were from Germany, Poland, or Italy and others from England, Spain, or China. They, too, sang and prayed. Anger and violence wrestled about in all our worlds, but in that moment we had all come together in Bethlehem to worship and celebrate the Prince of Peace who, if anything, was working shalom into the folds of our lives as he will until the day he returns to work it into all things, once-for-all.”

It’s that word shalom that leaps out at me.  Shalom is the Jewish word for peace, but as we shall see this morning, it means much more than just the absence of conflict.

In the opening statement of his “second” letter, Peter includes a greeting with a prayer for “grace and peace.”  In one sense, it’s just a greeting-like saying “Dear _____, I hope you’re doing well.”  But there’s more to it than that.  As we prepare to spend some time reflecting on the verse that will be our theme for the year (2 Peter 1:3), it is clear to me that the grace and peace of knowing God are crucial to seeing just how he is able to meet all of our needs.

So this morning, I’m praying with Peter that grace and peace will be yours through your knowledge of God.  I’m assuming that’s one of the reasons that you’re here.  My prayer is that you will find it.

Posted by Robert | Filed Under Amen Corner, Articles 
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