Luke 17:11-19

The other day I was reading my Bible and  came across one of my favorite passages of Scripture (my other one is John 9). Luke records how Jesus was walking through Samaria and Galilee and met ten lepers. They cried out to him, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" He told them to go themselves to the priests. As they went, they were cleansed.  Here's the part that really impacts me every time.

"And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His (Jesus') feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan." (Luke 17:15-16) 

Of the ten guys that were healed, only one came back to Jesus to thank Him, and he fell at His feet! To top things off, this guy was a Samaritan - considered the lowest on the social scale in Jewish society. This guy realized that Jesus was the source of his healing and he gave God the glory and praised Jesus. Did Jesus tell him to get up? No. Jesus accepted his worship because Jesus is worthy of worship - he's God in human flesh.

As I think about the one man's response to Jesus, I have to ask myself, "Would I react like this man did? Or would I be like one of the nine who went on their way?" I think I would probably be one of the nine but I would want to be like the one that came back. I need to recognize Jesus for what He's doing in my life and in response to Jesus with an outflow of praise. 

Change

When you think about the word 'change', what comes to your mind? Leftover coins? A different set of clothes that would be more appropriate? Diapers? A mixing up of your normal routine? 

A candidate in this year's presidential election ran his campaign on the theme of "Change" - but is change good? Does one really want change in their lives?

We are constantly changing - growing older and all the fun things that come with that. The idea of having the same day-to-day routine can sound dull and boring, but it can also sound comforting at the same time. I guess when it comes to change it all depends on your perspective and the type of change you're talking about. Change can be very unsettling, but change can be good. I just saw a

 friend's Facebook status that said she was "excited about change."

This past week I have not been excited about change. First I hear that my principal will no longer be my principal (not his choice). Then I hear that my job will not be the same next year and that I may be back in the classroom. I'm OK with that. It's just that I am called upon to do many things at work and wonder how all of it will get done next year if my primary responsibility is a room full of students.

When change is disconcerting, an aspect of God's character comes to my mind. He is eternal, unchanging. Psalm 136 speaks of God's love enduring forever. Isaiah 40:8 says that "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." Those are comforting words. 

When change is necessary or has a positive aspect to it, it usually is seen as something that will result in improvements or a better condition than previously experienced. The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18 "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." We are becoming more and more like Christ. How are we being transformed? God's Holy Spirit living inside those of us who have been called by Christ and are trusting Him does the work. As we read the Bible we will be "transformed by the renewing of our minds" (Romans 12:2). We will no longer be thinking like the world but we will have the Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).

That is really cool. That is change that I can look forward to. That is change that I can handle. And when it seems like the change that is coming is too much to bear, I know that God's love for me will never change and His plans will always be for my good.

Happy 2nd Birthday

It was 28 years ago today  that two students from San Diego State came to my dorm at UCLA and shared the Gospel with me. Johnny and Steve met me in the stairwell and asked me if I had been reading the Bible. I had, but was not understanding it. 

A couple of months previously I had been invited to an evangelical outreach dinner that was sponsored by a Christian fraternity called Alpha Gamma Omega. Wendi had invited me to it. I can only remember two things about it: David ZagRodny wearing a kilt (it was an international theme) and the speaker presented the Gospel in such a way that I first began to understand that Jesus Christ was important for reasons other than Christmas and Easter. 

From that dinner in October or November, I started reading the Bible but didn't have a clue what it said. I started at the beginning in the book of Genesis. I was doing OK until I got to Chapter 5 when all of the"begetting" takes place. I couldn't see where this was going so I thought I'd switch gears. I looked at the table of contents and saw that the Bible was divided into two parts - the Old Testament and the New Testament. Advertising has taught me that 'new' is always better, plus it's an improvement on the past. So I turned to the first book in the New Testament, Matthew. Matthew starts out with the genealogy of Jesus Christ, starting with Abraham begetting Isaac who begat Jacob who begat... ugh. How could anyone understand this?!

I invited them to my room where they shared God's plan of salvation with me. They showed me verses in the Bible like Romans 3:23 (For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God) and Romans 6:23 (For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord). The key verse for me was 1 John 5:11, 12 "And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the Life, he who does not have the Son does not have the Life." I realized that I did not have eternal life and that I was being offered it freely. 

That was 28 years ago today and my life has not been the same. Things don't always go the way I want nor are things always perfect. But I have purpose, direction and know that I have eternal life. This past month I met some people that have been questioning me asking me how I know I'm saved. I have not experienced the "second blessing" as they call it and I think that according to them I'm not really saved (probably a future blog after I give it more thought and study.) However, I can still remember that Monday night on the 4th floor in Dykstra Hall when I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. I didn't know all of what I was getting into but that's OK. If I knew everything about God, He wouldn't be God, would He?

So it's time to put another candle on my birthday cake - I'm another year older and closer to Jesus. 

The Voice of Truth

On the ride home the other day in carpool we were talking about how bad things seem to be getting. The state is probably going to be issuing IOUs to people filing their tax refunds. I have heard a rumor of a 'local' school district that may not be able to meet it's payroll in February. My driver said that it sounds like things are going to get very bad real soon. We even talked about how bad and what would happen if our district notified us that they would not be able to pay us. 

Scary notions! But as we talked I heard the voice of the Lord

 whispering to me in that conversation. Yes things can get bad, but we belong to the same Jesus that fed the 5,000 with just five loaves and two fish. He is the same God that feeds the birds and clothes the flowers (Luke 12:22-34). 

I believe this is an opportunity to trust in God and rely on His provision instead of listening to the voice of this world which speaks of calamity and doom - no hope for the future. I'm learning to let go of my tendency to take command of my own life and trust everything over to Christ. Does this mean I need to just sit back and pray? When Jesus fed the 5,000 he could have made it all appear from nothing. Yet he asked His disciples what resources they had then multiplied them. 

I'm definitely not advocating a "Name it, Claim it" theology nor do I believe that "God helps those that help themselves." (BTW, it was from Poor Richard's Almanac in 1757.) But there seems to be a tension between what God does and what we do. I don't have the answers but there are definitely times when it is all God that does something and we are simply witnesses to his power. There are other times when we are the ones that need to do some kind of action. I think that the relationship between God and His people is so intimate that at times it is hard to distinguish between the two.

As I learn to distinguish Jesus' voice from all the other voices, hopefully I will respond more quickly and trust Him. Jesus loves me and He loves you too!

Priorities, Part 2

Money. you had to know that this was the next stop. let me start off by saying one thing, "I hate money." As a child it was something that I never understood. You take these round, metal, flat disks and exchange them for stuff.

I can remember quite vividly my mom driving to Corbin Dairy Drive-In to pick up some milk. My brothers and I wanted to get an ice cream but Mom said we didn't have enough money. "Hey Mom, why don't you just write a check?" Well, that's all we knew about money and sometimes I feel that what that's all I know. 

News headlines and the airwaves are laden with reports of financial crises plaguing the housing market, the auto industry and in California we're looking at a growing budget deficit that could possibly bankrupt the state by February. At home it has been equally difficult. Record-high gas prices, soaring utility bills, insuring a single, male driver and repairing and cleaning up after a broken kitchen pipe have also impacted us here at home. Needless to say money has been on my mind a lot. By the way, did I mention that I hate money?

When you think about the Bible and money, what comes to your mind? "You cannot serve God and money" (Luke 16:13), "the love of money is the root of all evil" (1 Timothy 6:10)? I've taken classes and heard sermons on stewardship (that's Bible-speak for money) and know that all things belong to God and that He has entrusted them to us to use for His glory. If God provides all things, then why do we have money?

I know that there's probably a million answers out there. I never took an economics class and I know that I'll never be a millionaire. Right now I can hear Sam Cooke's Wonderful World as I write this. In the end the most important thing is Love God and pursue a relationship with Him. 

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

Priorities, Part 1

It's been over a week since I began this blog and I haven't had a chance to even collect my thoughts. One thing that I notice is that life is going non-stop. This past week we spent two days in a row at the dinner table as a family. That was incredible!! 

This begs the big question, "How do I spend my time?"

When I'm not at work or sleeping I notice that we have the TV on. I have been cutting out the amount of time I spend watching TV, but have always had a problem with watching it. I remember when we first got cable in my parent's house, I once spent a half hour watching a game show in Korean. I had no idea what they were saying or what the point of the game was about, but I was mesmerized by the images and sounds.

Last week we went with our son to visit a potential college. The university president spoke to us saying that this particular institution was unashamedly Christian and promotes Jesus Christ. When we went to the student chapel service, we heard an instrumental group play a couple of songs, we watched a video about the Advent Conspiracy, sang a couple of worship songs and then heard a missionary speak about the humanitarian work that he was involved in. The service ended with prayer and we were out - after an hour and thirty minutes. The Word of God was not mentioned even once. 

Now you might be wondering if the prayer ended with "in Jesus' name, Amen." ;) I don't mean to sound critical but the point I'm trying to make is that one may say one thing about themselves, but actions speak louder than words. Steve Curtis Chapman's song "The Change" has these lyrics in the chorus, "What about a life that's showing I'm undergoing the change." I sometimes feel like I'm like that university; saying one thing about myself, yet living a life that is no different than someone without Christ. 

I think the answer lies in how I spend my time. Romans 12:2 comes to my mind, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." But more importantly, the previous verse really speaks to me and this is where I have been discerning God's voice this week in many ways. In verse one, Paul writes, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." As Greg has been telling the students in high school group, "when you died in Christ, your life ceased belonging to you, it's no longer yours. It's dead, done, over. You belong to Him. You have given up all of your rights."

So my life is no longer mine. Wow! That is contrary to the ethos of today. This sounds like sacrifice on my part - sacrificing my will, my desires, my "felt" needs. I already sacrifice on my own. I mean who wants to wake up every morning at 5 AM when it's still dark and go to work 40 miles away from home every day?

So, how will I spend the rest of this evening (it's 7:30 on a Tuesday night)? Last Sunday H. Spees spoke in Sunday School to the high schoolers about the Book of Acts. We will be discussing 4 themes over the next four weeks and we've been given a homework assignment. I think I will read the Book of Acts, not the whole thing, but we'll see where it takes me. Besides I still have a kitchen to clean up. 

Tomorrow I have a date with our finances to see where the bleeding is taking place. This is connected with priorities as the next question will be, "Where do I spend my money?"

Pre-Blog

Well, I've decided to start a blog. It's really for myself; a place to reflect and occasionally look back at how God has been working in my life and see where He's taken me. I don't know what this will accomplish. I hope to learn more about what it means to listen to God and be led by Him. Sometimes I may just complain about things, and other times I might ramble. In either case this exercise in writing will show me where I've been and help me for now and the future.