Choices, Choices, Choices!

Our Family(my in-laws) recently(December) visited us all the way from Canada. It was a great time for re-uniting the family and sharing memories. A time for catching up on our current dreams and happenings. A family, just like any relationship, requires constant work to keep it together and happily so! If you cease to work at the relationship it will drift apart. So to that end I am grateful for the effort that our far-flung family makes to visit us regularly. We can hopefully return the favour one day.

One of the many things that happen during such a visit, is the sharing of our "faith-experiences". This is not only a strengthening for our family bonds, but also a part of our Christianity, a need to affirm our Christian fellowship with fellow believers. This year, as in the past we shared and discussed many happenings and teachings in our walks with Christ, until the early hours of the mornings! These times of sharing are very special, even though they make for bleary eyed mornings!

On one such occasion my sister-in-law shared her conviction that as Christians we don't truly have a choice when it comes to salvation. That some people are chosen by God and others not, and that those chosen while they might think or feel that they choose God, have no real choice as He has made that choice for us. This "Pre-selection" idea didn't go down very well with me and we had a rather heated debate on it. Neither of us were prepared to move off our stand points and so at length the family intervened and we ended the discussion unresolved. Or rather we agreed to disagree...

I am a firm believer in the biblical teaching "test everything, hold on to the good" 1 Thes 5:21 (however the whole chapter is relevant)
With that thought in mind I felt challenged to "test" this teaching. I found many references to God's chosen people, but none where clear on the the matter of "was everyone chosen and only some responded" or "some where chosen and they all responded". At least none I found. The Bible definitely talks about God's chosen, firstly the Jews in the Old Testament and then those who are born of the Spirit in Christ in the New Testament.

At first I sought only to understand who would be chosen or could be chosen and later I realised that I need to look at it from God's perspective. If He says in His Word that every tongue will confess that He is Lord and every knee shall bow to Him, then it follows to my mind that everyone will have the choice to accept or reject Him. No one will be able to claim that God never gave them a chance - He is the God of LOVE, He is LOVE and I cannot fathom that one person will have a "case" against God that he or she never had the opportunity to embrace that LOVE.

There is scripture that supports the "predestined" teaching, Eph 1 is one of these. However, there can be different understandings of this scripture since the letter is addressed to the believers and since God is All-knowing it follows that He knows who will accept His salvation and who will reject it. This doesn't mean that He doesn't offer it to everyone regardless of their choice. He is after all a Righteous (Ps 96:13) and Equitable (Ps 96:10) God.

From the other scripture I found there was a very definite "all-inclusive" feel. Here are but two of the readings.
Matt 28:18 - 20 : Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Italics and underlining added)
Col 1:28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. (Italics and underlining added)


I am puzzled by the thought of pre-selection. Since if people or for that matter, my childern, are predestined to be with or without God then there's no amount of "caring" or input I can give that will change that. That is contrary to God's Word as He commands us throughout the bible to care for His people(Deut 15:11 and countless verses), He asks us to pray for them(Job 34:28, many Psalms, Eph 6:18 etc etc), He asks us to go to them(Matt 28:18-20 and many more), He asks us to be as Christ to them. On top of His commands I feel an overwhelming need to share Him with everyone I meet, why would His Spirit put that desire in me if it would be a fruitless pursuit. Humankind has had the choice from day one, Adam and Eve where given the two trees to choose from - Life or Knowledge. Why give them a choice if He knew the outcome? To give yourself freely and without condition is a very powerful act, bordering on godly - we are after all created in His image. If we withhold but a fraction in that act we destroy it, so in choosing God we surrender ourselves completely.

If we have no choice, where then is the need to surrender ourselves? the example given by slaves from our past might shed some light. A slave is subject to their masters bidding but in their minds they are free and do not submit to the master, is this what God would have from His people? A servant that merely follows His commands but is not wholly His? is that not what Lucifer suffered? did he not rebel against that "enslavement" since Angels have no choice?

The matter is disputable and I have left the question with God, His prefect understanding and wisdom will make it clear. Until then I stand on the teaching that He desires everyone to come to Him and gives everyone a choice.

Job 5:16 So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth

New Years Resolutions!

Whether we express them out loud or quietly keep them to ourselves, we all make them... and then break them! To some it's a joke and to others it appears to be a lot more serious.

Give up smoking, lose weight, start exercising, learn a new skill... these are some of the more common resolutions. Skydive for the first time, go spelunking, finish my book, learn to eat sushi... these maybe some less used resolutions...

What ever your motivation and how ever long the resolution lasts, is irrelevant! The fact that you made a resolution says everything. It says: I am alive and I am going to live my life, I have plans and I am resolved to achieve them. I look forward, not forgetting my past but not being held back by it(many resolutions are repeats - so what!)

We have so little time here on Earth, You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. —James 4:14
Why waste it on "what if's" or "coulda beens" or "only if's" or "whateva's" or some lame-ass excuse to procrastinate.

So where are you today? What are your resolutions? and mine? well I always had the flippant answer "I made a resolution never to have any more resolutions!" but I still have them... So tell someone what your resolutions are, or write them down in your journal or blog, at least that way you have one sign in your life that says "I believe in tomorrow!" - that's important dontcha think!

Here are mine for the moment - and I have no illusion that they will last but I'm gonna try!

• Start a daily walk (haha I hear my wife's laughter!)
• Spend more time with God
• Cut down my spending (more laughter ...)
• Get closer to my kids - they are the future!
• Listen more, talk less (ok! enough with the laughing!)
• Read at least one meaningful book

Good luck and God Bless on your resolutions!

Time, the unstoppable river that leaves All Things Changed

So at the beginning of the New Year and the end of the Old Year we find ourselves between time. There's a moment of inertia as the old year seeks to hold onto us with it lasts grasp, reminding us of it's great times and memories, as if to entice you to stay, all the while the new year beckons to you with adventure and second chances. We drift momentarily without time, wanting to keep our precious memories but in one moment wanting also to make new ones!

Then there's us... placing ourselves out of time by earnestly desiring to forget the pain, forget the past and to make a new start, fresh and devoid of the burden we carry. We are so good at protecting our sanity that we take the pain, the bad memories and like a clever centerfold artist, touch them up. Hiding blemishes, covering over the unsightly, even going as far as gratuitously changing facts to make the past more palatable.

Over time we warp parts of our past in our minds to such an extent that that hardly resemble anything that we were part of. We do it little by little, leaving enough truth to keep it believable and surrounding our thoughts with "supporting" facts. Thus creating our "perfect" past to match our "perfect" life! To reiterate, this we do to protect our sanity, and for the most part it's harmless and necessary. However, too much of anything corrupts and more so when the we start to live in the past we've "touched up".

Time is unstoppable and leaves everything changed!

"A nation that forgets its past is doomed to repeat it." - Winston Churchill

Remember everything as it really was, this will often make the pain greater but it will also make the joy sweeter!

When we sang the Old Year out and the New Year in with the traditional "Auld Lang Syne", it brought these thoughts closer to mind. This past 2007, we have loved, we have lost, we have failed, we have triumphed and we have survived!

Auld Lang Syne - Robert Burns
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne ?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
And surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

May 2008 be a Blessed and happy year for us all!

2007 just some thoughts

As many point out the year seems to have been one that most of the family (in SA) would chose to forget! We were beset with one crisis or another on a regular basis, my in-laws had a similar year, laced with tragedy and pain! Yet amidst this I celebrate! Throughout this year I have waited for my reserves to fail, for my resolve to weaken, for my courage to falter, and it hasn't. I feel stronger and more at peace at the end of this year than I have felt in years. Our lives are richer and fuller than they have been, our joys are sweeter. If you choose to deny the pain and sorrow, to ignore the suffering of others and run and hide from the terrors of the world, then you will find a restless, unsatisfied life, devoid of real meaning and you always feel that something is missing.

I listen to a morning Breakfast Show (Highveld Stereo - The Rude Awakening), and every year they run a "Christmas Wish" program for the month leading up to Christmas. It is all about the community climbing in and helping the less fortunate. This year while listening to the many requests (made on behalf of the needy) I was so deeply touched by the real suffering that some families have. What amazed me was the small gesture they longed for, the tiniest act of grace or mercy they needed, to feel whole again. Then I am ashamed of feeling "hard done by" or unjustly targeted or for having uttered the words "life's unfair!", no, I am afraid we're missing the point, we have not even scratched the surface true suffering! So I count my blessings and then I see how many they are, because I can't stop finding more things to be thankful for. Then I thank my God for all of those blessings and celebrate 2007, for it was actually a good year!

May your Christmas be blessed, may your family fill your lives with happiness and joy, may God make His face to shine upon you and grant you His Peace in 2008!

Faith in the "small still Voice"

When listening for God open your ears! Many a Sunday-church-goer will have the expectation of an uplifting message delivered within a convenient time frame, surrounded by announcements and interspersed with generous dollops of praise and worship! We leave the Church on a Sunday with a light step feeling good about the commitment we've made to our faith. And I guess God's okay with this, because He uses all things to His good! But, why not go to the Sunday Service expecting more? We spend time each day sending "knee-mail" to God, but we don't wait for his replies... So He makes use of other opportunities to grab your attention. Like when you have to sit quietly on a hard pew for one and half hours every Sunday! Open your Ears and Listen!

Here’s what can happen…

The message on Sunday was all about overcoming exhaustion, spiritual exhaustion. How God reaches into our tiredness and revitalises us. First a bit of background in getting to this day! Over the past year we have been through a very trying time. We have faced all sorts of trials and tribulations... however, never were we despondent, instead "we have counted it all joy!" (James 1:2-4) I was very grateful to experience the strength that God had been growing in our family over the years, seeing the fruits as it were! Then after all the testing was done, things started to improve and the future was getting back on track, so much so that we celebrated the fact with our Life Group, rejoicing that we had, with God's grace and mercy, "passed" the test(s)! Then suddenly last week, another test. I was starting to understand what Job went through (only on a smaller scale, thankfully).

And this was where I related so much to Sundays message. In the message we saw that Elijah, after overcoming many enemies, walked into the desert and sat down under a broom tree...(1 Kings 19:1-18) saying that he was done, finished, giving up! and then we read about Peter,(John 21:1-6, 15-18) after having been through the pain of losing his Lord and basically feeling lost, he returned to doing what he had always done before, fishing! I am sitting in church and thinking “yeah, I am going to hang that sign on my door! ‘Gone Fishing!’ ” So in the midst of this latest test of faith, I am listening to the message yesterday and there I find God's "small still voice" amid the roar of life going on around me. I want to add some additional thoughts on what God was saying to me yesterday. In the passage where Peter and the disciples return from fishing with no catch, Jesus urges them to try again by casting their net on the right side of the boat. Well I was struck by (made aware of by the Spirit?) the language use, "the right side of the boat" and not the "right-hand side of the boat". So He is not instructing them(us) to fish on the left-hand side or the right-hand side of the boat, He is saying don't fish on the wrong side of the boat, they(we) must fish on the right(correct) side of the boat.

The message to me is clear and I will be testing it's validity over the next few weeks to make sure I'm not following my own voice but rather that of Christ. It's time to take a deep breath and cast the net on the "right" side of the boat! I will also be "listening expectantly" more frequently, besides it's easier to shut-up than to make a lot of noise. lol!