NEW BLOG ADDRESS!!

just wanted to let you know that i have switched blogs...

my new blog address is:

http://www.myroadtoemmaus.wordpress.com/

effective: immediately.

let the foolish shame the wise

I was reading about John the Baptist the other day and these words stood out to me: “The voice of ONE crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord.’” I have always thought of John’s purpose in life as a noble one- as one that we should all envy. But after sitting for a few minutes and pondering his life, I was struck with reality. John undoubtedly lived a lonely life- being the “one” who was crying out for the coming of Jesus. He lived in the wilderness. He ate locusts and honey. He did not live like the Pharisees, the religious people of the day. He was probably not highly esteemed. He fasted a lot, which is the spiritual way of saying that he was probably always hungry. He looked different. He dressed different. In our day, he would be the type of believer at which the Church would probably raise their eyebrows and with which they would avoid eye contact. And yet he was the man of whom Jesus said, “Among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist”.

Why is it that the most religious people of the day did not recognize Jesus? Why is it that the ones who did recognize the Savior were people like John the Baptist, Anna (the woman who literally lived inside of the temple and who spent her life fasting and praying), and the “Wise Men” (who offered up extravagant gifts to a baby)?

To be honest, it makes me a little nervous when I look at my life and consider the emphasis I have placed on “fitting in”. If the most religious people of the day did not recognize Jesus, who will recognize Him when He comes back again? If the Pharisees and the Sadducees were offended because their Savior entered the world as a baby, born of a virgin, in a manger, then will we be offended by the manner in which the Bible says that Jesus will return? I would love to hear your thoughts...

what's the big deal about patience?

I spent this morning doing a pseudo word study on the idea of patience. After an hour or so, I couldn't help but think, "What's the big deal about patience?" Love, sure. Joy, definitely. Perserverence? Yeah, I have heard a few talks about the topic of perserverence. But patience? I have rarely ever heard a pastor speak about it or a leader teach on it. My paradigm of patience is this: When the person in front of you is driving 20mph below the speed limit, be patient.

Yet after looking through some passages this morning, I am starting to think there is more to it. Here is what tipped me off. First, 2 Thessalonians 3:5 says, "Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ." Of all the attributes of Christ that our hearts could be directed into, Paul picks patience. Patience?!?! What about the mercy of Jesus? What about His love? Doesn't that encompass everything anyways? Second, the famous love passages' (1 Cor 13) first description of love is this: Love is patient. Hmm. Third, James says to count every trial JOY because it produces patience. He goes on to say that if we let patience have its way with us, we will be "perfect and complete, lacking nothing." A few chapters later, he continues on about patience instructing us to be patient and thus, establish our hearts... "for the coming of the Lord is at hand". Then, to top it off and further convince me that I know so little about patience, he uses Job as his example of patience.

Now Job endured just a tidge more than having to follow behind someone going 20mph below the speed limit. Naturally, I discovered, different translations of the Bible use patience and longsuffering interchangeably. I was onto something!! I had heard once that long suffering literaly means this: suffering for a long time. Genius, I know. So, Job suffered long, Jesus suffered long, and now we are called to suffer long and if we do- if "patience has its perfect way" and we seek to "establish our hearts", then we will be complete and lacking nothing.

All to say, I feel like I just opened pandora's box... all because of the word, "patience". Ironically (or not so much), I am realizing that patience has a lot to do with being poor in spirit and therefore becoming a resting place for the Lord (see previous post). Needless to say, I am excited to ask the Lord for more revelation as I continue to study this topic. To be continued...