Who says miracles aren't still occuring?
Three days ago, on Saturday, the son of one of our elders got married. The ceremony took place at Spreckles Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. It's outside. Those of you who live here in San Diego area know that for the past week it has been raining sporadically.
The wedding ceremony took place at 5:30. We arrived at 2:30 to get everything set up. To say it was "damp" would be an understatement. Not quite rain, but more than just mist, and a somewhat stiff breeze - not your ideal wedding weather.
Pastor Wayne and Chris (his wife) arrived around 4. Chris had done all the flowers, so she came early to get all the floral decoration done. The four of them - my parents, Wayne, and Chris - seeing the inclement conditions, prayed. I don't quite know what they prayed, because I was scurrying around somewhere else.
Whatever it was, it worked. From 4:30 until 7 (when the ceremony was over, and all were travelling to the *indoor* reception), the weather was perfect. A little cold for those in sleeveless dresses, but the dampness just disappeared, and there was no wind worth speaking of. While we were tearing everything down afterwards the dampness returned.
Wow!!
Call it coincidence, if you wish. Personally, I believe it was the hand of a loving Dad fixing things for His kids.
Who says miracles don't happen?
~Chelsea
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Monday, October 24, 2005
Church as Usual
My pastor teaches in "sea-stories." Pastor Wayne was in the Navy for over 20 years, captaining submarines. "Jesus taught in parables; I teach in sea-stories," I've heard him say multiple times (for the benefit of new-comers). "Do any of you know the difference between a fairy-tale and a sea-story? A fairy tale begins 'Once upon a time', while a sea-story begins, 'This is the absolute truth...'"
Over the years, I have grown to know his sea-stories almost as well as he does. He uses them to illustrate principles he's teaching, explain confusing situations, make an important point, or just entertain us. For the most part, though, he tells his tales with the direct intent of teaching.
Example:
When he was in the Naval Academy, he took up boxing. Not because he was particularly good at boxing, but because he lacked ability in every other sport. Nevertheless, he did make a bit of a name for himself - mostly, because he is a "south-paw" (in other words, left-handed). Since the number of left-handed boxers are greatly dwarfed by the number of right-handers, he had an advantage. Right-handers know how to fight right-handers, and most often face-off against righties, so they (the righties) have little practice against lefties. On the other hand, lefties mostly fought righties, so they had to know how to fight both right- and left-handed.
His coach recognized the perk of Wayne's situation; in fact, he taught Wayne a simple, 3-move sequence that invariably landed the opponent on the mat. During one season, he was undefeated in his category. Just because of the "formula."
Well, one match changed all that. His opponent's coach had watched Wayne during many fights, and had figured out the routine - and taught a counter-sequence to the opponent (we'll call him "Bill"). When they faced each other in the ring, Wayne started his "winner" combination...and found himself on the mat. End of round one! He crawled to his trainer, who praised him - "You're doing great! Keep it up!" Round two: Why bother saying anything besides the fact that it was identical to round one? "Wayne, you're doing--" "Be quiet! What I'm doing isn't working. Show me something else to do!!"
So, after learning a couple different moves, he re-entered the ring and proceeded to flatten his rival. Since he lost two out of the three rounds, he lost the match. But that wasn't the point.
The "moral" of the story: We have an Enemy that has been studying our tricks. He knows the formula, and has counter-moves that knock us out whenever we try to fight. We can't do things the same way any more. Life (both spiritual and physical), church, work... If we aren't proactive in out-smarting our Foe, he'll always have a tactic ready against us. Why aren't there more healings? Why are so many pastors resigning because of discouragement? Why is the nation falling away?? These questions prompt an answer that suggests we need a paradigm shift. Church as usual isn't working any more. Satan knows our patterns. He is a careful observer - he pays attention to his enemy's tactics! Why aren't we more careful about his??
The answer to the old formula isn't a new one: the answer is complete and total dependence on God. Building relationship with Him (not just doctrines and head-knowledge). Unity with one another; all Christians are members of the same Church. We seem to forget that too often. Rather than focus on the beliefs that divide and distract (what does Satan love more than disorder in his enemy's camp?), we must re-center on the unifying foundations of our Faith.
Opening cans of worms has never been my cup of tea; I religiously avoid them, in fact. But this is too crucial to hide under a bushel. Sometimes, superficial tranquility must be superceded by the importance of an issue. Only when this is addressed and acted upon, can we then attain Perfect Peace.
~Chelsea
Over the years, I have grown to know his sea-stories almost as well as he does. He uses them to illustrate principles he's teaching, explain confusing situations, make an important point, or just entertain us. For the most part, though, he tells his tales with the direct intent of teaching.
Example:
When he was in the Naval Academy, he took up boxing. Not because he was particularly good at boxing, but because he lacked ability in every other sport. Nevertheless, he did make a bit of a name for himself - mostly, because he is a "south-paw" (in other words, left-handed). Since the number of left-handed boxers are greatly dwarfed by the number of right-handers, he had an advantage. Right-handers know how to fight right-handers, and most often face-off against righties, so they (the righties) have little practice against lefties. On the other hand, lefties mostly fought righties, so they had to know how to fight both right- and left-handed.
His coach recognized the perk of Wayne's situation; in fact, he taught Wayne a simple, 3-move sequence that invariably landed the opponent on the mat. During one season, he was undefeated in his category. Just because of the "formula."
Well, one match changed all that. His opponent's coach had watched Wayne during many fights, and had figured out the routine - and taught a counter-sequence to the opponent (we'll call him "Bill"). When they faced each other in the ring, Wayne started his "winner" combination...and found himself on the mat. End of round one! He crawled to his trainer, who praised him - "You're doing great! Keep it up!" Round two: Why bother saying anything besides the fact that it was identical to round one? "Wayne, you're doing--" "Be quiet! What I'm doing isn't working. Show me something else to do!!"
So, after learning a couple different moves, he re-entered the ring and proceeded to flatten his rival. Since he lost two out of the three rounds, he lost the match. But that wasn't the point.
The "moral" of the story: We have an Enemy that has been studying our tricks. He knows the formula, and has counter-moves that knock us out whenever we try to fight. We can't do things the same way any more. Life (both spiritual and physical), church, work... If we aren't proactive in out-smarting our Foe, he'll always have a tactic ready against us. Why aren't there more healings? Why are so many pastors resigning because of discouragement? Why is the nation falling away?? These questions prompt an answer that suggests we need a paradigm shift. Church as usual isn't working any more. Satan knows our patterns. He is a careful observer - he pays attention to his enemy's tactics! Why aren't we more careful about his??
The answer to the old formula isn't a new one: the answer is complete and total dependence on God. Building relationship with Him (not just doctrines and head-knowledge). Unity with one another; all Christians are members of the same Church. We seem to forget that too often. Rather than focus on the beliefs that divide and distract (what does Satan love more than disorder in his enemy's camp?), we must re-center on the unifying foundations of our Faith.
Opening cans of worms has never been my cup of tea; I religiously avoid them, in fact. But this is too crucial to hide under a bushel. Sometimes, superficial tranquility must be superceded by the importance of an issue. Only when this is addressed and acted upon, can we then attain Perfect Peace.
~Chelsea
Sunday, October 23, 2005
The Gospel of the Kingdom
My whole life, I've heard about the Gospel of Salvation. Jesus came and died to save you from your sins. My first reaction: Great!! Hallelujah!! My second reaction:...now what? Now that I've been saved from my sins, what do I do with my life? Wait to die so I can go to Heaven? Don't get me wrong - From what I've read in the Bible, it sounds like a wonderful place, and I can't wait to go there. However, is that the point?? Yay, I'm clean, and I have a ticket out of here; so, I can live any way I want because it doesn't matter - I'm goin' to Heaven, and there's nothing that can keep me out of there now, 'cause I'm "saved."
Ok, so call me a cynic. But I am serious. Why would God want to save us - sinful, dirty, putrid, blind - when He has the angels to worship Him and the universe to command? What in the world does He want to have to do with us?? What is the reason?
So, those have been my thoughts. And the answer to them has been coming slowly, but surely. The answer, in short-hand, is the "Gospel of the KINGDOM." What's that? The Gospel of the Kingdom is God's plan for us and the world. It encompasses the Salvation Gospel, and expands it in almost every way. We aren't just saved because He has pity on us (yes, that is part of it, but not all); He has given us the opportunity to restore a relationship with Him that we as a race lost in the Garden of Eden.
One of the first questions in the Westminster (shorter?) catechism runs something like this: "What is the purpose of man?" Answer: "To love God and enjoy Him forever." Now, granted, I never memorized the catechism, so I may have got that not quite right. But, I think I got the gist of it. "To love God and enjoy Him forever." Sounds good to me! Wait a second, though. Isn't that what the angels do? What else do the Seraphim do besides sing "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts"? They are worshipping Him; why eternally worship a Being they don't love?. God's presence is absolute joy - since they're always in His presence, they're forever enjoying Him.
Hmm. Why again did God create us? What exactly is our purpose? I doubt that God made man solely with those two purposes, because He already had all the worshippers and enjoyers He needed. Why create more?
"Let Us make Man in Our image." A couple years ago, someone pointed out to me that that is spoken in first person plural. Interesting. A Triune God (acknowledged as a trinity [or, at least, more than One], even in the first book of the TORAH), desired to create a being that reflected His image. I would say the angels were like an image of God: they are immortal, perfect beings that have great power and beauty and wills of their own. So, in what other ways would God want to reflect His image? He made man in His image - not physically, since He is not restricted to a body. Aha. A man has three sides to his person. He has a body (his physical being), a spirit (that which responds to God's voice), and a soul (his mind, will and emotions). In a sense, he is a triune creature...a reflection of the Image of his Creator.
I don't remember C.S. Lewis' words exactly, but he essentially said that the difference between angels and men is the difference between a sculpture and a child - one is sculpted, while the other is begotten. The angels were created by God as a reflection of His glory and perfection - they are masterpieces of His creation. As is mankind; however, man (unlike any other creature recorded) was the ONLY creation that God made with His own hands, and into which God breathed His own breath, His Life. I do not know how He made the angels, because that isn't specified; but of all the earthly/physical beings, man is set apart by being hand-made, and God-inspired. If I'm not mistaken, the word "inspiration" literally means "God-breathed." The inspired Scripture, etc.
This gets back to the question, why did God create man? I do not claim to have the whole answer. I don't even know if what I believe is all true. But, I have listened to many a teacher, and read several books, asked questions, and searched for myself, and I have a possible partial reason for our being. I did not originate it; the thoughts and beliefs I am writing are things I have gleaned from others and put together, like a puzzle.
There is something between family that cannot be fabricated elsewhere - a connection that is not duplicable. God had all these glorious attendants, yet He is never pictured as loving them as His own. Now, if there is something I missed, point it out to me, and I'll gladly admit my error. He wanted (I won't say "need", because since when did an omnipotent God need anything?) to have relationship with somebody.
So, He created Man. A physical person, made for the physical world He just fashioned. A spiritual person, made to communicate directly with his Father. An intelligent person, made to rationalize and make decisions and choose to love his Maker of his own accord.
But something went wrong. There was this Cherub named Lucifer...
I've heard a lot about Heaven being the "Promised Land" - that Earth, being so sinful, will be destroyed and we're going to go live in the perfect place, Heaven. And I'm coming to the conclusion that that's false. I can't wait to go to heaven when I die, but I'm fairly certain that it isn't the end goal. Think about this: Sin did not originate on Earth. Sin first took place in the heart of a glorious Angel, who resided in Heaven. He brought the sin to Earth when he fell, but it didn't start here! Had Eve never touched the Fruit, would Earth still be slated for destruction? I hardly think so.
So, what is the Gospel of the Kingdom? It states that God created mankind to have relationship with Him. We, being humans, are separated from Him through our sin. His Holy Son came and offered a way to Redemption. We are constantly being refined in the Fires, and He is purifying us throughout this life. Our main, #1 responsibility as Christians is to maintain that relationship with Him (through obedience to Him and abiding in Him) and draw others into it. In His Name and through His Power and Authority, we are to take back this world - which HE created perfectly and gave to us, and WE gave away to the Prince of the power of the air - we are to take it back for Him. We each have a specific purpose and plan for our lives, and by knowing God (not just knowing about Him), we will learn and fulfill His design.
And thus the saga begins. I pray God will use this journal as a tool for His Glory.
I don't think I know what I'm getting into!
~Chelsea
Ok, so call me a cynic. But I am serious. Why would God want to save us - sinful, dirty, putrid, blind - when He has the angels to worship Him and the universe to command? What in the world does He want to have to do with us?? What is the reason?
So, those have been my thoughts. And the answer to them has been coming slowly, but surely. The answer, in short-hand, is the "Gospel of the KINGDOM." What's that? The Gospel of the Kingdom is God's plan for us and the world. It encompasses the Salvation Gospel, and expands it in almost every way. We aren't just saved because He has pity on us (yes, that is part of it, but not all); He has given us the opportunity to restore a relationship with Him that we as a race lost in the Garden of Eden.
One of the first questions in the Westminster (shorter?) catechism runs something like this: "What is the purpose of man?" Answer: "To love God and enjoy Him forever." Now, granted, I never memorized the catechism, so I may have got that not quite right. But, I think I got the gist of it. "To love God and enjoy Him forever." Sounds good to me! Wait a second, though. Isn't that what the angels do? What else do the Seraphim do besides sing "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts"? They are worshipping Him; why eternally worship a Being they don't love?. God's presence is absolute joy - since they're always in His presence, they're forever enjoying Him.
Hmm. Why again did God create us? What exactly is our purpose? I doubt that God made man solely with those two purposes, because He already had all the worshippers and enjoyers He needed. Why create more?
"Let Us make Man in Our image." A couple years ago, someone pointed out to me that that is spoken in first person plural. Interesting. A Triune God (acknowledged as a trinity [or, at least, more than One], even in the first book of the TORAH), desired to create a being that reflected His image. I would say the angels were like an image of God: they are immortal, perfect beings that have great power and beauty and wills of their own. So, in what other ways would God want to reflect His image? He made man in His image - not physically, since He is not restricted to a body. Aha. A man has three sides to his person. He has a body (his physical being), a spirit (that which responds to God's voice), and a soul (his mind, will and emotions). In a sense, he is a triune creature...a reflection of the Image of his Creator.
I don't remember C.S. Lewis' words exactly, but he essentially said that the difference between angels and men is the difference between a sculpture and a child - one is sculpted, while the other is begotten. The angels were created by God as a reflection of His glory and perfection - they are masterpieces of His creation. As is mankind; however, man (unlike any other creature recorded) was the ONLY creation that God made with His own hands, and into which God breathed His own breath, His Life. I do not know how He made the angels, because that isn't specified; but of all the earthly/physical beings, man is set apart by being hand-made, and God-inspired. If I'm not mistaken, the word "inspiration" literally means "God-breathed." The inspired Scripture, etc.
This gets back to the question, why did God create man? I do not claim to have the whole answer. I don't even know if what I believe is all true. But, I have listened to many a teacher, and read several books, asked questions, and searched for myself, and I have a possible partial reason for our being. I did not originate it; the thoughts and beliefs I am writing are things I have gleaned from others and put together, like a puzzle.
There is something between family that cannot be fabricated elsewhere - a connection that is not duplicable. God had all these glorious attendants, yet He is never pictured as loving them as His own. Now, if there is something I missed, point it out to me, and I'll gladly admit my error. He wanted (I won't say "need", because since when did an omnipotent God need anything?) to have relationship with somebody.
So, He created Man. A physical person, made for the physical world He just fashioned. A spiritual person, made to communicate directly with his Father. An intelligent person, made to rationalize and make decisions and choose to love his Maker of his own accord.
But something went wrong. There was this Cherub named Lucifer...
I've heard a lot about Heaven being the "Promised Land" - that Earth, being so sinful, will be destroyed and we're going to go live in the perfect place, Heaven. And I'm coming to the conclusion that that's false. I can't wait to go to heaven when I die, but I'm fairly certain that it isn't the end goal. Think about this: Sin did not originate on Earth. Sin first took place in the heart of a glorious Angel, who resided in Heaven. He brought the sin to Earth when he fell, but it didn't start here! Had Eve never touched the Fruit, would Earth still be slated for destruction? I hardly think so.
So, what is the Gospel of the Kingdom? It states that God created mankind to have relationship with Him. We, being humans, are separated from Him through our sin. His Holy Son came and offered a way to Redemption. We are constantly being refined in the Fires, and He is purifying us throughout this life. Our main, #1 responsibility as Christians is to maintain that relationship with Him (through obedience to Him and abiding in Him) and draw others into it. In His Name and through His Power and Authority, we are to take back this world - which HE created perfectly and gave to us, and WE gave away to the Prince of the power of the air - we are to take it back for Him. We each have a specific purpose and plan for our lives, and by knowing God (not just knowing about Him), we will learn and fulfill His design.
And thus the saga begins. I pray God will use this journal as a tool for His Glory.
I don't think I know what I'm getting into!
~Chelsea
Monday, October 10, 2005
The Beginning
I am beginning this blog with the desire and intent to spread the Gospel of the Kingdom to this world. Bear with me as I begin - what I hope to be - a long journey.
~Chelsea
~Chelsea
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