Not Convinced

I love to dance. And I love to perform.

One of the compliments that I both receive and give the most often, is "When you dance, you look like you love it," or "I can't keep my eyes off of you when you're on stage- your face lights up and I am enraptured," or "I can tell that you were made to dance, because you show it with your expressions onstage."

I receive these compliments and hear them given to others very often, from dancers and non-dancers, alike. Comments on the dancer's technique, flexibility, or impressive moves are not as often heard as comments about their expression and smile.

Why? Because passion is attractive. Technique is secondary to the portrayal of emotion. Regardless of how neat the footwork is or how graceful the arm movements are, the audience's eyes are directed to the people whose faces shine the brightest, whose smiles are the most genuine, and whose eyes light up the most.

Imagine you're watching the Grammy Awards. An artist is called up to receive her award. She walks up to give her acceptance speech, and it goes something like this: "Thank you all so much... but I actually hate music. My Mum forced me to practice when I was younger, thinking I would learn to love it, but I can't think of anything I hate more than singing and recording. I'm in it for the money. Thanks, again."

*Crickets Chirping*

It's just weird! People would be muttering, confused, angry, or just speechless. People win music awards because they love music. People get to the Olympics because they love their sport. People win academic contests and receive scholarships for the subjects that they are passionate about. It's the things that we love and value the most that we pursue the most vigorously.

...and there's something about that passionate pursuit that we are drawn to. Watching someone actively doing something that they were born for- it's one of the most beautiful things. The way musicians will close their eyes and sway to the melodies they are making... the way athletes will wake up before dawn so that they can get a few more hours of practice in... the way teachers beam when their students make them proud... it's an unmatched beauty.

I'm sorry to admit that I've had way more people commend my passion for dance, than my passion for Jesus. It is common, after recitals, for people to tell me "Wow, I can tell that you love dancing." It's not quite as common, however, for people to tell me, "Wow, I can tell that you love Jesus by the way you act." Is my passion dead? Is my love for Him half-hearted?

Take a moment and think of your church community. If you don't attend church, think of Christians that you know. When I go through some people in my mind, I can easily identify the ones whose genuine passion for God is obvious. In the way they talk, in their gentleness and patience, in their authentic love for people- it's just so REAL. It's like they cannot be anything but joyful, because they are constantly living in the knowledge of the reality of Heaven. They work efficiently, and serve wholeheartedly. They take an interest in everyone they talk to. They volunteer. They are humble. They are considerate. They make time for people. They just look like they are in love with who they are in Christ. They are in love with Jesus.

But sadly, it is also very easy to pick out the ones who portray the image of Christianity being a chore. The ones who grumble as they work. They may volunteer, but out of obligation and guilt. They complain. People don't often approach them, because they know they will not be treated affectionately. They look haggard. Worn. Tired. Grumpy. Their eyes are dim. They just give the idea that they are trudging through life.

I know I've been both those kinds of people. I wish I could say that I am the description of the first person, but I am more often the second. It's like I forget about the joy that Christ has given us. The awesome, jaw-dropping, out-of-this-world truth that we have been forgiven... gets lost. It gets lost in the busyness of day-to-day life. And then, the passion slows to a crawl. Instead of running after Jesus, instead of singing in His presence, instead of pursuing Him like a long-needed drink of water... we follow Him like it's a burdensome assignment.

Luke 10:38-42~ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

I become like Martha, when who I really want to be like is Mary. I become enraptured with my responsibilities as a Christian, when I should be enraptured with my Lord. I become consumed with my physical good works... when I should be consumed with my love for God! 

Remember how in the audience, both the dancers and the non-dancers watch the person who shines. Not the one who has the most pointed feet, not the one who has the highest kicks, not the one who jumps the highest... but the one who smiles, who lifts her chin and projects, and who uses her face and eyes to tell the story of how much she loves to dance.

In the same way, both believers and non-believers alike are not convinced by actions only. People are not attracted to machines, or workhorses. No, it is the people who live with the very light of Christ inside of them that draw attention from others. People are fascinated with those who go about their tasks cheerfully, honestly, patiently, humbly, and with integrity. It's the people who actually show that they are madly in love with Jesus, who get asked about it. The love that they show is something that people can't understand- but something that they know they need.

James 1:2-4~

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 

because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and 

complete, not lacking anything.

If you are a believer, a true believer, then you know that everything you see now is temporary. You know that the pain you endure, the sorrow you suffer, the time and effort you spend, the hard work you do... it will not last. Some day soon, you will meet your Maker. You will meet your Redeemer. You will meet your Saviour. You will meet the One whom you call LORD. KING. FATHER. GOD. In light of all this beauty and joy that will be revealed to you... is a bad attitude ever justified? 

1 Peter 1:8-9~

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, 

you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 

for you are receiving the end result of your faith, 

the salvation of your souls.

If someone were to try to describe you... would it sound like that?

Romans 12:12~

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Acting Vs. Acting

I love the book of Acts.

I love that Luke took the time to record the doings of the early church. I love that it tells us what the disciples did after Jesus ascended. I love that they were ordinary people who, when given the Spirit of God, were able to carry on Jesus' ministry of preaching, miracles, and healings. I love reading about the sacrifices they made. I love how committed they were- how they never wavered in their faith. I love how they lived what they preached. I love that they were living examples of the truth of the Gospel.

I love that as soon as the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples in the second chapter of Acts, they started preaching. It's the first thing that Peter did. Even at nine o'clock in the morning, he didn't wait. He couldn't wait.

Isn't it interesting how the book is called Acts? It really is the perfect title- it's the Acts of the Apostles. It's not called the Thoughts of the Apostles. It's not called the Beliefs of the Apostles. It's not called the Theology, the Understandings, or the Conversations of the Apostles. It records the life of the early church, and the life of the early church was not a statement of faith- it was a demonstration.

These people took everything they had seen, heard, and learned, and they took it into the world. They did not lose sight of their Master in heaven, which is why they were able to face every opposition head on, without fear. Nothing was more important than the spread of Jesus' message. They knew that. They had faith beyond a shadow of a doubt, and they did something with it. They proved their faith by their acts! They lived their faith by their deeds! They showed that their faith in God was justified, by performing miracles in His Name.

And because they lived in this way, constantly moving, constantly active, constantly working to further God's kingdom, people were believing left and right! In fact, on the very day that the disciples received the Holy Spirit, their passion was so real, so undeniable, look at how it paid off:

Acts 2:41~

Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and

added to the church that day- about 3,000 in all.

It goes on to explain how the believers sold everything they had, and gave the money to those in need. It talks about how they worshiped at the Temple each day, shared meals, performed miraculous signs and wonders, were always generous... and because of this:

Acts 2:47~

-all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people.

And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

These guys were literally the image of Jesus! Since He was gone, they simply continued what He had been doing! They refused to let His impact die down. They expanded it, shining the light of Christ everywhere they went!

Acts 5:15-16~

Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord- crowds 

of both men and women. As a result of the apostles' work, sick people were brought 

out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter's shadow might fall across some of 

them as he went by. Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their 

sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.

Wow. Sounds a lot like what's not happening in Canada, eh? People may know we have faith in God- but often, they only know that because we say we have faith, and that's all we do. We talk about it. Sing about it. Think about it. Read about it. We share things on Facebook, post Bible verses, wear crosses around our necks, and go to church. We look like believers, so we must be believers, right?

I wonder, if someone were to write a sequel to the book of Acts about the church today... would it still be called Acts? Would there be anything to write about, concerning the Acts of the Church? I know for sure there would be a lot to write about on the Songs of the Church, the Debates of the Church, the Weekly Gatherings of the Church, the Potlucks of the Church, the Chit-Chat of the Church... but I'm not so sure that we would be able to write much about the Acts.

See, we are all about the statements of faith. We are all about our image, and our imaginary 'churchy' responsibilities. Dressing nicely, showing up Sunday morning, volunteering in the nursery, bringing food for potlucks... it's all about looking like a Christian.

But the thing is, we don't even look like Christians anymore. We look like our own adaptation of a Christian. If we went back and looked at the first Christians, the first group of believers, it would become apparent that we do not look like them, and it's scary!

Acts 4:32-35~

All the believers were united in heart and mind. 

And they felt that what they owned was not their own, 

so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified 

powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God's great 

blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, 

because those who owned land or houses would sell them and 

bring the money to the apostles to give to 

those in need.

I think that, as a family of believers, we need to start prioritizing a life of service. We need to be evaluating what we are actually doing about our faith in God. Let's take a look at our lives from an outside point of view. Let's look at how we are perceived when what we say does not match how we live. 

I was a Christian recently enough to remember what it felt like to really believe the Creator of the universe talked to me, toreally believe I would go to heaven and unbelievers would go to hell, to really believe that prayer made a difference. It sure felt like I really believed that stuff. And other Christians tell me they really believe that stuff, too. But something’s not quite right with that. Supposedly, my parents really believe that I am going to hell now that I’m an atheist. They believe their son, whom they love dearly, is going to be tortured forever. Literally. And yet, they don’t seem very upset by this. Sure, they’re upset that their son has rejected most of the values and “truths” they tried to instill in me. They’re upset that I reject their way of life as both deluded and immoral. That’s a major blow for any caring parent to take. But they don’t seem upset that their beloved son will be tortured forever in hell. And that seems odd. If they really believed that, wouldn’t I see some serious mourning? Some pleading? Some great distress?

If you really believed some of the people you love dearly were going to spend an eternity in hell, wouldn’t that motivate you to try harder to save them? Would you just go on about your life? Would you just mention this to your friends and family in passing, and send them the occasional tract with information on the threat of the Nazis? Would you merely pray for them to see the threat and save themselves? Or, would you do everything you could to save your friends and family? Maybe you would drive out there and try to convince them of the threat until you were blue in the face. Maybe you would refuse to leave until they came away with you. Maybe you would… I dunno what, but it would be pretty drastic. I know if I were in that situation, then I would do some pretty drastic things to save my friends and family. But this is not what Christians do for their friends and family who they really believe are on the verge of falling into eternal torture, even though they say they really believe this, and even though they feel they really believe this. So something weird is going on. Millions of Christians really believe this stuff, but they don’t act like it.

 --Luke Muelhauser, Do Christians REALLY Believe? 

http://commonsenseatheism.com/?p=1852 

He has a point. Look around you at the people in your life who are lost. Who are the people you know that are not saved? And more importantly, what are YOU going to do about it? If Peter, Paul, Silas, and the other believers in the early church were to come here, to your town, TODAY, where would they start? What would they do? Would they hang out at the youth groups, or at the public school? Would they invite church families to dinner, or unbelievers? Take a look at the book of Acts; the book of their acts. Take a look at how their lives were genuine examples of what they believed.

One thing I know for certain: If Luke Muelhauser lived in the time of the apostles, he never would have had those questions. There would have been no need. Because of how they lived, because of what they did, there was no question what they believed, or who they followed. 

James 2:18-20~

Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds."

But I say, "How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show

you my faith BY my good deeds." You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.

Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.

How foolish! Can't you see that faith without good deeds is

useless?

Take some time and read about the lives of the early believers. Look at the adventures the apostles embarked on. Their lives were not just statements of their faith. They were demonstrations. They were willing to die for it. They didn't need a cross necklace or a catchy bumper sticker to let people know what they were about. That's what a Christian is. And that's what we claim to be?!

It's time for us, as Christians, to figure out the difference between acting, and acting. Because trust me, the world can tell the difference now just as well as it could in the time of the early church.

Let's aim to be the sequel to the Acts of the Apostles.
And let's work to keep that title.

Dramatic Irony

If you're a bookworm, you'll know this struggle. If you are into any form of fiction, be it a novel, a movie, a TV show, a play, etc., you will understand this frustration. It is an issue that authors write into their stories intentionally, to entice the audience, and build suspense.

Dramatic Irony is a literary technique where the audience knows something that the characters do not. It is a device used to create tension... the author will give something away- a major plot twist- but will keep the story's characters in the dark.

A famous example of dramatic irony is William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Right from page one, Shakespeare gives away a clue to how the play will end. He introduces the two protagonists, Romeo and Juliet, but calls them "Star-cross'd Lovers." (In other words, their romance is doomed to end in tragedy.)

Throughout the play, the audience knows that their love story will not have a happy ending, but there is nothing they can do. They have to bear it and watch as these two characters, whom the audience grows to love more and more as the play progresses, spiral downwards toward their imminent deaths. As the scenes switch between the two lovers' tales, the audience must watch in agony as the plot thickens, and things start to go wrong. They must watch in silence as the characters make mistake after mistake and blunder after blunder, and approach their unavoidable, tragic end. That's dramatic irony.

Perhaps you've experienced it. Watching a movie, even after seeing it many times, and shouting at the actors on the screen, "DON'T GO IN THERE!" "LOOK BEHIND YOU!" "DON'T TRUST HER!" You know what is going to happen. The director revealed it to you beforehand. But all you can do is watch and wait. You know that the plot has already been written, and it cannot be changed. You know that the story must unfold in this way, however unbearable it may seem. You know what is up ahead, but you must watch your beloved characters make their mistakes and go through their troubles along the way. That's dramatic irony.

Or maybe you know a secret that your favourite character does not. Maybe they believe that something has happened; maybe they think that their loved one is dead... but you know the truth. You know that they will be reunited- and that the sorrow will be temporary. However, you cannot skip ahead. The story cannot simply fast-forward to the joy. No, for the story to be complete, the character must first suffer. It's all part of the plot. The ups, the downs, the twists, the turns... it's all necessary. It's all we, the audience, can do not to shout, "It's going to be okay! You'll see!" We know what will happen, but the character must first experience the pain. The sorrow. This is the time for character development. This is the time for decision making. This is the nail-biting torture that the audience must endure. This is dramatic irony.

Psalm 139:16~

You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out

before a single day had passed.

Read that again. Try to get your head around that. God imagined your story before a single day of your life even occurred. He recorded every detail. He gave you freedom of choice beforehand- but He sees what choices you will make. He knows. He knows what you will eat for dinner next Tuesday. He knows what school you're going to go to. He knows who you will marry. He knows. He also knows the pain you're going through right now. He knows your thoughts, and he knows the thoughts of the person that is causing you grief. He knows your anger, he knows your sorrow, he knows your stress. He knows your worry. He knows. And not only does he know what's killing you... but he knows how it is going to resolve. He knows the ending to this chapter. He knows how you are going to pull through in the end, and he knows when that relief will come. He knows how it will happen. He knows where it will happen. He KNOWS. 

Does that sound familiar? Does that sound any bit like an audience who knows what lies ahead, but must endure with the character until that point? Does that sound any bit like an author who writes the sad part of the story for the main character, and has to live in that grief, but knows full well the joy that is just up the road? 

God is just like that. He sees where you are right now, whether you are at a high or a low, and he's there WITH you. He's crying with you, he's laughing with you. And wherever you are... he's also just waiting for what's coming up ahead. He saw it coming a million miles away. He knows what's around the corner- even though you don't. Whether it's a wonderful surprise or a sudden tragedy, a gift or a loss, progress or destruction... he sees it already. That's dramatic irony.

But... this dramatic irony is a bit different. Usually, the author, the playwright, the reader, and the audience is living in a different world than the characters in the story. They are limited that way. That's why they can't warn the characters. That's why they can't comfort them. That's why they must read on in silent agony. But our author is different. He walks with us through our struggles, but he is there as a confident. He enters our stories, himself. He sends his very own spirit to experience the ups, the downs, the lefts, and the rights, with us. He never leaves us. He embarked on our journeys with us, from the moment we were conceived, and if we abide in him... he will walk with us straight into eternity.

What's keeping him from warning us, then? Why does he keep our future a secret? Why won't he tell us what's up ahead? Fair questions. Annoying questions. Punch-a-pillow questions. It's as frustrating as being a reader who can't tell their favourite character that they're walking into a trap, or that they're going the wrong way. But this is what is amazing about the way God has planned our lives. He's writing it like a story. If he told us what was coming next, why would we need to trust him? If he told us how our lives would end up, why would we bother seeking him? If he told us where the risks we take would bring us... what would be the point of faith?

It's a one-of-a-kind relationship between the author and the character. The author has it all figured out, and it is up to the character to rely on him. We can talk to him, cry to him, shout to him, whisper to him, read about him, sing to him, and listen to him. We may be scared, angry, sad, confused, or doubtful, and rightly so! We have NO idea what tomorrow will bring. However, it is not our job to know. We are JUST like the character in the book makes it to the end, even though they had no clue what was up ahead. The author knew. That's the author's job. 

Matthew 6:27,31-34~

Can all your worries a dd a single moment to your life?

So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink?

What will we wear?' These thoughts dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, 

but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God 

above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 

So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring it's own worries.

Today's trouble is enough for today.

It's His job to know. It's your job to trust. It's my job to take it by faith. It's our job to turn to him for comfort, for truth, for everything. This life is a journey that can be taken by two partners: one knows what's up ahead, and one doesn't. But they're in it together.

That's dramatic irony. It's beautiful, it's annoying, it's bewildering.

But it's also reality.

Small 'g'

Philippians 2:6-10~

Though he was God,

he did not think of equality with God

as something to cling to.

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

he took the humble position of a slave

and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form,

he humbled himself in obedience to God

and died a criminal's death on a cross.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor

and gave him the name above all other names,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Every person on earth gets a choice with the power to either save, or condemn them. Every. Person. Each individual gets to decide who they will follow. We all get to decide who will be the 'Lord' of our lives. 

Whether we confess to be religious or not, we all serve something. We all place gods before us, and often we don't even realize it. The problem is, these gods can be sneaky. Even Christians, who desire to have no other god before THE God, sometimes slip into serving other masters by accident. 

It's frustrating. In a land of plenty, a place where we can have anything we want, it is hard to keep God #1 every minute of every day. But why, when we have the option to be guided by the One who knows everything, do we sometimes choose to follow others?

What's the god that sometimes steals your attention, and why? What is it that your false god offers you, that can be so tempting?

Is it food, that gives you satisfaction for a while? Is it popularity that gives you confidence? Is it affection that gives you meaning? Is it your talent that gives you a purpose? Is it sleep that gives you rest? Is it money that gives you prosperity? Is it yourself, that gives you power?

I, too, fall into serving these gods. I go momentarily blind, and cannot see past my immediate wants. I turn to things of this world, seeking temporary happiness. But what do these gods give me? Hollow satisfaction. They lie to me. They lie to you. They give us imaginary hope, and then bring destruction to all who lean on them for security.

But my GOD died for me. My God, greater than anyone and anything, died for me, His own subject. My God gives me eternal life. My God gives me hope, a future, and never-ending love.

This is what my God does for me:

Titus 3:6-7~

He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through

Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous

and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

Romans 5:8-9,11~

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us 

while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight

by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. For since

our friendship with God was restored  by the  death of his Son while we were

still enemies, we can certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So

now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with

God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us

friends of God.

Romans 8:11,14~

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, LIVES IN YOU.

And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your

mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.... For all who

are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

I've barely begun to list everything that God has done, is doing, and is yet to do for us. He created us unique. He named us. He created this world for us. He gave us the key to life. He gave us His Word. He allows us to come to Him freely. He sent His own PERFECT Son to pay the price we owed. He forgave us. He healed us. He showed us the path. He resurrected Christ, so that we would not have to be slaves to sin any longer. He freed us. He gave us a choice. He gave us eternal life. He's preparing a place for us. He speaks to us. He adopted us. We love him, because He First. Loved. Us.

After everything that Jesus has sacrificed for us... we should be in love with Him. Every time we hear His name, we should feel a thrill! We should be getting shivers every time we sing to Him. Every time He is mentioned, we should be grinning with joy and pride thinking, Every time we see His hand at work, we should be laughing with delight, thinking "That's MY Father! That's Him! Right there!" We should be the most excited human beings on planet earth, if we are truly in love with a God that gave Himself, so that He could bring us to Paradise forever! Why would we ever even speak His name half-heartedly?
"That's MY God!"

While other religions have leaders and gods that require death, human sacrifice, pain, torture, and hatred... We serve a God who requires love. Love for Him, and love for our neighbor. He offers a way of life better than anything else. So what are we doing putting Him in second place in our lives?

If you find any god that has done that for its followers, let me know! I have yet to meet anyone or anything that gives even a fraction of what God gives us. In return for everything He offers us, He asks only that we follow Him, so that He can make our way straight! He asks for our obedience, so that He can give us meaning and purpose in our lives. There is no other god like our God! There is no other god that deserves our obedience more than Him.

He's the Alpha, Omega, Beginning,  and end. He's my Saviour, Messiah, Redeemer, and friend.

My God DIED for me. What did your god do for you?

Happy Easter!