The Cry of the Soul

At Elder meeting last night I shared from Allender & Longman's book, The Cry of the Soul: How our emotions reveal our deepest questions about God. Navpress ISBN1-576683-180-9. I focused on chapter 15: "The Redemptive Power of Divine Shame". I believe that it contains some essential concepts for defeating the illicit power of shame in our lives. The text says, "Shame leads to self-absorption, hiding, and hateful contempt [and it is] an exposure of our idolatry". How does shame point to our idolatry? Because when we feel shame, it is usually due to our fear of others' judgments of us and we don't trust them to handle our secrets. Yet, "God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." Our ability to overcome the world is not found in our strengths, but in God using our weaknesses. "We are to shame the world by reveling in the beauty of weakness. Here is the paradoxical ground where God's strength is revealed: we are to rejoice in foolishness, because through it God's wisdom shames the wise." It is surely foolish to reveal our shame, our secrets, our sins to one another. The world is terrified of being shamed or embarrassed. It is not cool. However, "God invites us to bear disgrace in order to befuddle a world terrified of shame."

This lesson has particular application in light of Pastor Brett's admonishment to make grace, rather than trust, the baseline of our relationships with each other. If we extend grace to one another, even though we know we will be hurt, embarrassed, even shamed, then we can be authentic and honest without conditions and without fear.
My favorite author, Fred Rogers, got it almost right: “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone.”

I'd submit that it is the people we 'grace' with that important talk who can help us know that we are not alone. When they prove untrustworthy, we rejoice that God is completely trustworthy and he chooses to use us, even with our shame, for his glory.
Much love - Greg

Great Christmas Gift Idea

Towards the end of Pastor Brett's sermon this morning, he mentioned knowing the Love Language of family members (not just your spouse).  This would be a very good Christmas present for all in your family - for each to know the Love Language of the other.  As I explained to my kids at lunch, typically we give the gift of love that we like.  Then, we don't understand why our spouse or children don't appreciate it.  Well, duh!  It's not their Love Language.

Here is your Christmas gift idea - and it's free!  Go to the online assessment and take the Love Language quiz.  Have the rest of your family do it as well.  Then, put their results in a place where you will see them frequently.  Your Bible, your computer, your wallet.  Some place where you will be reminded on a regular basis how to "love" your family.

Confession.  I had Ellen do this a couple years ago and I cannot tell you at this minute where the results are.  Thus, my comments above about putting them in a place where I will see them on a regular basis if not daily.

The Right Attitude

I’ve been reading the book, The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson, so I’ve had this idea of aligning myself with God’s will while praying in the forefront of my mind.  This morning as I was reading Luke 1, I noticed the attitude of two people in that chapter.  

Zechariah, who when visited by an angel asked, “How can?” (sort of a negative question).  

Mary, who when also visited by an angel asked, “How will?” (more of a positive question).

Well, Zechariah didn’t get to talk for 9 months.  Mary went on to sing what is known as The Magnificat.

When I hear from God, what kind of question do I ask?  What kind of question do you ask?

Having a right to be bitter.

I recently watched a movie called The Edge staring Anthony Hopkins.  He plays a very rich man who was involved in a plane crash at the base of some mountains.  The pilot dies immediately, but two of his employees survive.  Long story short - he saves their butts time and time again. They are negative and bitter and almost cost Charles Morse (Hopkins) his life because of their actions.  Finally, they end up dying too.  Morse is rescued and brought back to "base".  Dozens of reporters are there to find out the story of what happened.  The movie ends with some great lines.
Charles Morse:  "We're all put to the test...but it never comes in the form or at the point we would prefer, does it?
Reporter # 1: "Mr. Morse, what happened to your friends?
Reporter # 2: "How did they die?"
Charles Morse: They died...saving my life.

That caught me off guard.  Sure, Mr. Morse was cool and calculating throughout the movie, but then to say his friends died saving his life!  What?!

And then his line about "the test".  Tests never come at a convenient time do they?

I was then reminded of the story of Joseph.  I'm reading a book called God Built by Steve Farrar based on the story of Joseph's life.  You know his story.  Sold in to slavery.  Chance to be bitter Number 1.  He rises to prominence in Potipher's house.  Apparently he's a babe magnet and Mrs. Potipher hits on him.  When he turns her down, he ends up in prison again.  Chance to be bitter Number 2.  Then, while in prison, he helps the cupbearer out with a dream.  The cupbearer is released from prison.  Joseph reminds him to help him out.  But the cupbearer totally forgets him.  Chance to be bitter Number 3.  Eventually Joseph gets out of prison again.  Rises to the top.  Saves the country during a time of famine.  Then, his brothers - the guys who sold him into slavery years ago - come begging for food.  Chance to be bitter Number 4.  If anyone had a chance to be bitter and angry, it was Joseph.

Farrar points out that Joseph’s responsibility (and ours) is not to stress out over how we have been wronged.  He and we are to move on and trust in the Lord.  “When we are wasting the days of our lives in bitterness and anger over those who have wounded us, we are not trusting in the Lord and doing good.”   Farrar points out that God had great plans for Joseph, but he wouldn’t promote him if he had a diseased heart and bitter spirit.

A couple of verses to meditate on regarding this topic are Hebrews 12:15 and Psalm 139:23-24.