True Ambition

In today's world, lives are characterized by the amount of activity in them. Think about it. The last time someone asked you how you were, how long did it take for your reply to center around what you were doing, rather than the nature of your being. If you're like most people, probably not long. We measure our lives by what fills up our calendar (or our PDA's.)

The reasons for this may be profound, and for each of us, there might be some variations. However, the central cause may be because we've come to measure our lives based on what we can accomplish. We praise ambition in our children, because we think it bodes well for them in life. We look for the empolyee who completes their task, completely, and on time and is looking for the next assignment. These are good characteristics, and employers and parents rightly cultivate these in their charges. They aren't, however, the characteristics that God looks act. Instead, He has one criteria for evaluating the Christian's life - how much are they reflecting Christ? Is the person more like their Savior than they were yesterday? Are they seeking to demonstrate love, joy, and peace to an even greater extent. This is the ambition that He is mindful of and as His children, so should we.

It is a wonderful thing to have dreams and plans for what we want to accomplish. It's even better to have a high view of why we are accomplishing those things. May our eyes be ever fixed on Christ - that more of Him in our life, may be the one ambition we also seek to fulfill.

Questioning Faith

Death is not a topic that most people like to talk about. It's a little odd that this is the case since as George Bernard Shaw is quoted as stating, "The statistics on death are impressive." We all die, yet despite this shared state, it's a subject we like to avoid.

There are probably many reasons for this discomfort. We don't like to think of our limits; we'd rather focus on our accomplishments. For many in may be an uncertainty of what happens after we die, or it may remind us of all that we still want to do. Regardless of the cause, death is a subject, as well as an entity, that most people choose to ignore.

The problem with this is that if we all avoid talking about death, there is little hope that we will have ever confidence in what the afterlife holds. After all, there can't be an afterlife without the ending of life as we know it. And the concern is not for our lives alone. As Christians, we can know with certainty that we'll spend forever in heaven, but can we have the same certainty about our family and friends? Do our believing friends have the same confidence about us?

It's often been asked, "if you were put on trial for being a conviction would there be enough evidence to convict you?" Let us make sure that the answer to that question is a resounding yes. So that, when it is our time to add to the impressive statistic, no one questions where our faith stands.

Power of Hope

It was recently announced that President Obama was this year's recipient of the Noble Peace Prize. While this is quite an accomplishment, it was a surprise to many, including it seems to the President itself. As an Associated Press article that was written prior to the announcement stated, "U.S. President Barack Obama is thought to have been nominated but it's unclear on what grounds." (H/T John Miller). Upon the prize being awarded, many pundits speculated that it was bestowed mostly for the hope of what President Obama would achieve, rather than his actual accomplishments. (A prime reason for this speculation was that the nomination period for the Noble Peace Prize closed February 1, 2009 - only eleven days after President Obama had been in office.)

Now regardless of one's opinion as to the worthiness of this selection, it's easy to understand the motivation that hope can provide. Read Facebook statuses for a day and you'll see this manifest itself many times over. People hope for a good day, a good job, and a good life. People express hope for a thousand things that they want that are seemingly possible to achieve. People want to believe in something greater than themselves and believe that their future will be bright. We want things to be different than they are and hope is the manifestation of this desire.

The rarely acknowledged, but astonishingly wonderful truth for Christians is that we have the greatest propellant for hope known to man. After all, our hope is not in a prize, or even in Earthly standards of determination, but in hope of eternity. We live with the confidence that when everything in this world returns to dust, we will be at our eternal home where there will be no need for a Nobel Peace Prize for the Prince of Peace will reign.

Let us not grow weary in hanging on to this hope. Better yet, let us make sure that we share in with others. It's only through doing so that we can be assured that their hope will also be rooted in eternity...and that they will know truly noble peace (Romans 15:13).

No Place Like It

Sometimes a phrase becomes so commonplace that it ceases to lose its meaning. We find this with niceties like saying "Bless you" after someone sneezes. Or we find it it repetitious practices that, once sacred, have become meaningless habits, such as the ritualized practice of saying grace before a holiday meal is for many families. We use words like awesome, amazing, and wonderful as terms for describing our day or the surf conditions, and we are left inept to describe the majesty of God.

What works in the positive, can also work in the negative too. Recently I was reminded of this when a friend described a job situation as a "living hell." Sure it was a colorful description, but it wasn't an accurate one. First of all, hell, by definition is full of death because it is the only place that is removed from God's presence. Therefore signifying that life and hell could co-habitate is a nonsequitar (Some may argue that they have been taught that wherever your final destination you experience for eternity, but using Scriptural definitions, we cann't rightly call permanent expulsion from God's presence "life.") Secondly, as bad as conditions can be on Earth, and I know that they can be very, very bad, we still ultimately live under God's watchful eye. In hell, this protection, this covering of grace that ensures the rising of the sun at the beginning of every day, is no longer a part of our existence. Therefore, regardless of how bad a job may be it surely doesn't equate with this destitution.

What mostly concerned me though, is that the person was a believer. So not only do they get to experience God's grace as it pertains to His sustaining force on their life (let's call this a general grace), but they get to experience His personal grace that came as a result of their trust and faith in Him and allows for personal communion with their Savior. Regardless of how bad their job was, they had the Ever-Powerful Creator to turn to and lead upon. How can it be a living hell when God is always beside them (Hebrews 13:5)?

The theme has this blog has been, and will continue to be, to focus on the better things ahead, the things of heaven, and I think this is rightly so because when our focus is on these things, we understand Earth in the right perspective. However, just as we are to take heaven seriously, so should we take its alternative. And may doing so increase our commitment and our urgency sharing our future home with others (John 14:2).


*A closing thought - while I believe that heaven is grander and that hell is worse than anything we can experience on this Earth, I by no means intend to make light of the genuine pain, heartache, and destitution that can occur at our current place of resident. For those who feel like God has abandoned them, please do not despair. His love for you is so much He sacrificed everything for you.

Not In the Moment

Part of my job as a marketing professional is to understand consumer behavior. Part of my job as a professor of marketing is to teach my students to understand consumer behavior as well. Basically this means that they must be able to identify the influences and the lifestyle dimensions that impact an individual's purchase decision. The goal is that through this understanding, organizations can help provide potential customers with better information, thereby improving the likelihood that they'll be satisfied with their selection.

Not surprisingly, culture is one of the influences that has a profound impact on consumer behavior. Culture - the sum total of norms, behaviors, and values that guide a society's conduct - is often an elusive quantity to define. Yet, its impact is relentless. Even with all the studies that have been conducted, we still don't completely understand how it shapes who a person becomes.

To make sense of this difficult concept that is culture, researchers have formulated strategies for comparing cultures to one another. One such way that cultures are compared is based on where they fall along certain value dimensions. For example, one might compare how individualistic vs. collective a culture is. Or one might examine the role of youth and age in cultural interactions. Another aspect that is considered is whether a culture is more likely to value immediate gratification vs. delayed gratification. It would probably not surprise readers to learn that America ranks high on the immediate gratification scale (For more information see Hawkins & Mothersbaugh, Consumer Behavior, 2009). Delaying fulfillment of our desires is not one of our strong suits.

However, while this may be the American way, it certainly isn't the biblical one. Proverbs 25:16-28 makes this clear. This series of verses extols the abandonment of excess. And it isn't just in the physical realm that overindulgence should be avoided. As verse 27 shares, we shouldn't be seeking excess praise, any more than we should be seeking an abundant feast. In fact, these verses not only preach the dreadful consequences of prideful indulgence, they share the antidote as well. For, when we aren't concerned with consumption, we share. When we are focused on the present, we seek to acquire; when we are focused on eternity's future, we seek to give. When we cease to live in the moment, we realize that even our enemies can be the benefactors of our good.

The reason for this is simple yet complicated. It's only through recognizing that life is not made up of possessions, but of moments that we realize what we need to do is not live in the moment for today, but make the moment count for eternity.

Beyond Today

"My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; my inmost being will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right. Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. There is surely a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off." - Proverbs 23:15-18

It's easy to get wrapped up in what's going on in our lives. Primarily this is because of the intimate way in which what happens in our lives effects our happiness, our attitude and our ability to make of life what we desire. We get caught up in the trials and travails of today, and spend countless moments searching for how we might change them. We focus on the here and now to the neglect of the ever after.

This tendency to be consumed with the dailyness of our lives is easily understood and quite commonplace. However, the preponderance of its existence doesn't mean that it is beneficial phenomenon. As the above Proverb illustrates, when we focus on today, the Christian will often come up short. We will look at what we've obtained and compare it to our neighbors and be found wanting. We will see the immediate delights of sin, and ignore the deadly consequences When in our foolishness we focus on the attainments of today, we neglect to secure the wisdom that teaches the permanence of eternity.

To combat this, we need to ask God to expand our view. Instead of seeing what we're missing, the Christian needs to look to all that they've received. We need to look beyond today to the hope of tomorrow. And unlike what can be acquired now, this is a hope that can be sustained. And when our Hope is clearly in view, we find peace, no matter what the day brings.

Enjoying the Reign

It's become commonplace to "become a fan" of various things on Facebook. From M&M's to "taking naps" you can pretty much post your allegiance or affection for anything and everything. There are even "smell of rain" groups where individuals can affirm the benefits of a freshly watered Earth.

Enjoying the rain is not a new phenomenon. After all, Fred Astaire danced in it, and many a school children has spent hours playing in downpours and their resultant puddles. In our personal lives though, we often refer to rain as something to suffer through. We talk about "storms" and "downpours" recognizing that a deluge of circumstances can often make us feel like we are drowning in the rain rather than splashing around it.

However, Christians can look forward to a different type of reign; the reign that comes when the only Authority is the One that commands the waters to fall. We can look forward to that day knowing that the rain in this life can help prepare us for the future Reign. The temporal storms prepare us for the heavenly peace. We may still find it difficult to enjoy the rain, but hopefully we can more rightly consider its benefit. As rain on Earth is needed for plants to grow, rain in our own lives is needed for the same reason. By persevering through the storm, we are better prepared for the coming Reign. And that's when we will truly understand what enjoyment is.

A Life Well-Lived

It was timing that couldn't have been arranged by the best event planner. After a weekend of baby dedications at church, the memorial service of my great-grandmother was held. She was 93 and until the end was quick-witted, kind-hearted and full of love. To celebrate the start of life, and the end of life on subsequent days was bound to create some lessons. And in God's providence it did.

My great-grandmother, while great to me, was probably not great in the eyes of the world. She lived a "small" life, by that I mean her impact was limited to a relatively small circle of family and friends. Her passing will not be noted in the news or on the pages of People magazine. She did the task that was set before her, serving her family, raising six kids, and loving the following generations, but outside of these rather "routine" duties, she never achieved great things. Biographies will probably never be written about her, and yet for those of us whom she touched, our lives will be better for it.

My great-grandmother was an unconventional product of her time, because unlike many of her counterparts she worked outside of the home. My great-grandfather had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and so my great-grandmother helped provide for the family through being a nurse. When I think about the difficulties my generation faces with "work/life balance" I wonder how my great-grandmother did it without the use of the Internet, ATM cards, or laundry services. She was amazing woman for all that she accomplished on this Earth even if monuments will never be built to acknowledge it.

And while my great-grandmother was great for these, and many other reasons, the one that stands out to me the most is the legacy she left. She had six kids, and from them many more grandkids, great-grandkids, and one great-great grandkid. The significant thing is that in the generations she left behind there are professors of faith and repentance in Christ. My great-grandmother may not have been the most evangelical person in the world, but you can't help believe that she must have been a person of prayer, for each generation that follows is a part of the heritage of faith that she left. Her accomplishments may not prompt the creation of monuments of brick and stone, but the monuments of generations of believers will stand great in the kingdom of heaven. Each one of our houses that the Lord is preparing for us, is a testament to the faith that Daisy Irene Newell shared with her children, and that they shared with the generations after. And these monuments will last a lot longer than Mount Rushmore.

Baby dedications celebrate the beginning of life and the hope and prayers of parents that their children will, as DL Moody wished, "be great in the kingdom of heaven." Celebrating the end of my great grandmother's life demonstrated what this looked like on the other end for she sought not only to do great things on this Earth, but strove to ensure that her legacy wouldn't diminish once life here ended. And that's a life truly well-lived.

A Heart Established

I've never been much of a builder. I like the concept of taking things from scratch and creating a structure, but I just don't have the eye to see what could be and how to go about creating it. I'm not sure why - both my sister and my dad have this engineering bent. I, however, would just rather someone else do the work and I'll enjoy its benefits.

Although I'm not much of a builder, it doesn't mean I don't build things. After all, to some extent we're all about the process of creation. We build relationships, we make plans for the future, and we create the principles by which we are to live by. These may not be structures that we can reside in, but they definitely are required for living.

As we build though, its important that we take account of what we are establishing. We want to make sure that we are creating that which will last; not something that's easily demolished. We also want to know what our objective is for our edifice; is it going to provide shelter and residence or will it be a structure for learning and eduction? The answers will determine how we go about completing our tasks.

James 5:8b says "Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand" (ESV). As we ponder this passage we realize that we are to be preparing our hearts to anticipate the Lord's return. What we invest in, the materials that we ingest, should work towards an establishment of eager expectation in seeing our Savior. This goes beyond just "living each day as it may be your last" - it means actively working to build your heart to receive the coming King.

Its easy to get caught up in building other things. There are so many distractions and opportunities for building that which is easily demolished. Maybe if we focused a little bit more on establishing hearts expecting Christ's return, the things that detract from this purpose would cease to be of concern.

Desire vs. Destiny

My pastor (and friend) challenged me several weeks ago to the standards that I use when evaluating music. As I suspect it is with a lot of Christians, my standard had pretty much been as long as there is no cussing in it, it's probably ok to listen to. But what my pastor made me realized is that if all my life is centered around glorifying God, than that's what my music should be about too. When held to this higher standard, much seemingly harmless music doesn't pass muster.

A recent song by Kenney Chesney has definitely fallen short of my new bar for acceptability. In it Kenney Chesney sings "everyone wants to go to heaven . . . but no one wants to go there now." Although most people may think this is just a tongue in cheek expression of how people approach life, it prompts me to consider how true this is. Ask nine out of ten people if they want to go to heaven and they'll probably say "yes." In fact, most people probably think that their final destination is in the celestial realms. And yet this misconception about their destination conflicts with their desire. Because although they want heaven, they want their life here on Earth more. They want the freedom to make their own choices and live for their own goals, ambitions and priorities. They desire control more than Christ, and in the end their desire for themselves will determine their destination.

We want to know that the end of our story is a good one, but we aren't willing to sacrifice our desires on Earth to achieve that ultimate goal. Whatever we ultimately chose - our desire or God's - they determine our ultimate destination.

Skewed Priorities

Like many, I was shocked yesterday to hear of Heath Ledger's death. If you asked a sample of people about who the next young celebrity to die would be, I would guess that Heath's name would never come up. He didn't seem to get a lot press for anything outside of his body of work (and his relationship with co-stars), but critically he received much acclaim. All of which probably combined to make his death all the more shocking.

As startling as news of the young actor's death was, more astonishing has been the press coverage. A quick visit to People.com and you can receive a timeline of the young man's life, hourly updates as to what friends are saying, what the medical examiner is saying, who could have seemed this coming, etc. Random eulogies from former co-stars abound. It's all mind-boggling. All the more so because young people's lives from across the globe are terminated every day - often through choices not their own - and the press barely pays attention. As mentioned previously, I have a personal interest in the violence in Kenya and now - even as things once again intensify - I have to search for news on the subject. A whole country is being torn apart and in less than three weeks time, we're too bored to pay attention.

I understand the fascination with new. In fact, since I'm in marketing, I exploit it. But somewhere along the line, news became sensationalism and what was the most sensational is what we discussed. Import is based on the extent that the subject shocked us, and not on the impact it has. We've focused on the latest in abandonment of the lasting.

Writing this, I know I'm the worst offender. I'm fascinated by lives of people whose claim to fame is the ability to pretend they're something their not. Maybe if I was a little bit more impressed by those who were genuine, my priorities would be more aligned with God's.

Just a Taste

Recently, my church had a hymn sing (or "worship night" depending on who you ask.) The purpose was to gather together and sing some standard-bearer songs of the faith. Several people seemed surprise that someone my age would be there. As one lady commented "I don't think my children would know any of these songs."

As with so many things in life, though, I tend to be a little odd. I love hymns. I figure there's a reason that they've been around for hundreds of years. The idea of standing in a huge cathedral and singing along to a pipe organ that is belting out "It Is Well With My Soul" makes me smile. Hymns stir your heart towards God. They proclaim His timeless majesty and echo His unspeakable magnitude. Hymns are larger than life, and remind us that God is too.

Recently I was reminded of the gems that many hymns contain as I listened to "Blessed Assurance." For those who may not know it, the chorus says:

"Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
Oh what a foretaste of glory divine"

It was the second line that startled me. Having sung the hymn many times before, I am not sure I had stopped to think about what it meant. Today, we give just a taste of glory. All the good things that God has blessed us with, doesn't compare to the portion we receive in knowing that Jesus is ours. This knowledge provides us a glimpse into what heaven will be like; the opportunity for perfect communion with the One who knows us better than ourselves. Its just a taste, but what a indescribable morsel it is.

Thanks to God for whetting our appetite with the gift of His Son. What a privilege to look forward to an eternity of being satisfied with Him.

Safely Home

I arrived back safely from my trip to Kenya. It was a remarkable experience and I am so grateful for the opportunity.

The same day that I left Kenya, there was a departure of a different kind. Hannah, Juli's patient with the facial tumor, went home to be with the Lord. Juli was scheduled to visit her to drop off more medicine and when she arrived, she was given the news that Hannah had passed away. Hannah's daughter, Nancy, clung to her and asked, "Juli, my mom has left me; what will I do without my mom?" Its the question that every daughter asks when her mother leaves this Earth. Death is one of the common human experiences that causes one to realize that regardless of culture, language, economic status or background, there are some things that everyone shares. Nancy, however, can rest secure in the fact that her mom who looked eagerly to her future home, will one day greet her again. She too arrived safely home.

Thank you all for your prayers and for remotely joining me on my journey. I will post a link to pictures soon.


Postscript - I wrote previously that Kenya was preparing for elections. The elections took place the day I left and the results have been announced. The incumbent won and due to allegations of voting irregularities there have been several days of violence and riots. Please pray for the safety of my new friends and that peace would reign in the country. Among my many lessons, was a renewed gratitude for how blessed we are in America for a stable government order.

Update - this story gives a recap of the Kenyan turmoil. Eldoret, the town mentioned throughout the article, is the closest town to my friends.

The Difference in Death

For a long time, I've thought death as the leveling of the playing field. After all, when we are no longer part of this world superficial distinctions will no longer matter. We all stand the same before the throne of God; we're all sinners in need of His grace.

I've come to see however that death is also one more area in which the difference between us and Christ is demonstrated. (Or at least I think it is. This is one of those times that I think a theology degree would be helpful.) For all of us, death is the time that we meet God. Sooner or later, "every knee will bow and every tongue confess" (see Romans 14:11) and each of us have to give an account before God for our lives. We stand before the throne upon our transition from this Earth.

Jesus, however, had the throne all along. Instead of meeting God in death, He was forsaken by Him. We have the opportunity to be restored, He was destroyed. He was abandoned, yet as believers, we finally come home.

The differences between Christ's life and our are only too readily apparent for anyone who is honest. Isn't it interesting that the same is true in death?

Happy Birthday, Mr. Prime Minister!

The man who famously admonished an audience to "Never, never give up" celebrates his birthday today. For history buffs or quotation masters you know that I'm referring to Winston Churchill. Churchill, who was Great Britain's prime minister during World War 2 is perhaps as famous for his witty (some may say sarcastic) sayings as he is for his leadership of a country in peril. An example of the former - rumor has it that at a party a aristocratic lady remarked to him "Sir, you are drunk." To which Churchill replied "And you are ugly. But tomorrow I will be sober." In Churchill's case, wit didn't always account for the most gracious response.

This day is especially noteworthy for me because a dear friend and a man I greatly respect, Pastor Ronnie Stevens, is a huge fan of Churchill's. In fact, Pastor Stevens and I cemented our friendship by debating whether or not Churchill was the greatest leader of the 20th century. More than anything, I think Pastor Stevens was amused that a twenty-something year-old girl would contest him on this issue but as my friends know, despite my aversion to confrontation, I've never been one to stay away from a rousing discussion. Now, every year Pastor Steven reminds me of Churchill's birthday and other milestones in his life.

Not only did Churchill comment on the appearance of his feminine antagonists, but on another birthday, his 75th, he said, "I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the ordeal of meeting me is another matter." Regardless of your view on Churchill's leadership, his theology was probably suspect for whether in this life or the next, our Maker is always prepared to meet with us. In fact, its what He longs for; to have fellowship with His creation and to be glorified through their lives. He created us that we might participate in His glory - the most magnanimous act of love.

I'm not still not convinced that Churchill was the greatest leader of the 20th century. Regardless, I hope he was prepared to meet his Maker. I know his Maker was certainly ready to meet him.

The Wisdom of Celebrity

In the December issue of InStyle, actress Natalie Portman shared, "If we can find ways to love life and by joyful without being wasteful or destructive that's what's important ." As a frequent reader of celebrity magazines, I know that inane comments by famous people are not entirely uncommon. What struck me about this particular comment is how difficult it is to argue against. After all, loving life and being joyful sounds good. And who among us wants to be wasteful and destructive? The edict from Miss Portman seems like a fine one except for one thing - she says quantifiably that these things are what's important. Not that these things are important, but that they are the important things. And therein lies the problem. It assumes that what is important is our feelings and experiences and that's just not the case. What's important is whether our lives are adding or detracting from the glory of our Father. What's important is whether our lives are properly aligned with His will. What's important are matters of eternity.

I fear that wisdom like Miss Portman shares would be agreed to by many these days. And I fear that many would concede this point without recognizing the potential problems - both outside of the Church - and within.

The Inheritance of a Princess

One of the common refrains in my life is a reminder that I am the Daughter of a King. My point of reference was when I visited Buckingham Palace and saw the flag indicating that the Queen was in residence. Not having been raised in a monarchy, I don't have the same frame of reference as Englanders do when we call Christ our King. In the shadows of Buckingham Palace though, I imagined what it would be like if the Queen stepped off her throne and bore the punishment of a common criminal. The magnitude of this substitution weighed heavy upon me, and ever since I've been in greater awe of the sacrifice of Creation's King.

Sometimes, God uses these points of reference to teach us other truths about Him. For me, the analogy of the King took on a whole new meeting in light of Ephesians 1:3-14. The passage isn't the easiest to parse, but what caught my attention were two words "predestined" and "inheritance." Rather than getting caught up in the predestined vs. free will debate, I took these words in light of a monarchy. A princess doesn't choose to be born into the royal family, she just is. That is her destiny. Her rightful place is as the King's kid. In the same way, God choose to create a royal heritage. Some abdicate their rightful position, but it is His desire that we wouldn't. And as the King's children, we have a guaranteed inheritance, a bestowment of the Father's riches. Sunday school graduates may be so used to this terminology that they breeze right through it, but think about it - we are to be given Kingly riches, the best of the best, because we are part of His family. How majestic His mercy! How wonderful His love!

No Judgment

I have a friend with whom I have a common refrain "no judgment." It came about as way to express that whatever happened, we could always talk about it. Regardless of what choices that were made, or the consequences that would be suffered, it was my way of saying that I wouldn't make a value assessment. I would show love and leave the judgment to someone else. As a result my friend remarked to me once that he knew regardless of what happened or what was said, we'd be friends. Even though we didn't state it explicitly, we both knew that the choice to love trumped any unforeseen circumstance.

What works on Earth in terms of this one friendship, has application on the other side of glory too. As Christians we know that everyone will be judged. God is very clear on that. Whether its giving an account for every careless word (Matthew 12:36) or the revelation of that which was hidden (I Cor. 4:4-6) we know that there is an appointed time for each to stand before the throne and review our life deeds. Much like the defendant giving his allocution, we will have to confess that for which we should be condemned and announce our guilt.

However, there is one thing that we have that a plea-bargained defendant doesn't. The justice that judgment demands has already been satisfied. Not only are we saved from having to undergo the punishment of our sin, Someone else has suffered on our behalf. For those of us who have grown up in the church, its sometimes easy to think to we've escaped punishment, but we haven't. No condemnation doesn't mean no consequences. Someone else has chosen to accept our condemnation instead; the punishment has still been merited out, but on the innocent rather than the guilty. We are not condemned, but the demands of justice must be satisfied.

The lack of judgment in my friendship doesn't mean that the bonds aren't tested when wrongs are committed. But it does mean that regardless of what happens, we have committed to remain friends. In a similar way, for those of who have accepted Christ, it doesn't mean that He doesn't acknowledge our acts as right or wrong, but is does mean that regardless we're proclaimed innocent in His perfection, and holy before His throne.

The Reservation Book of Zion

I've been to my fair share of hotels. Although I don't qualify as a road warrior, my work calls me to different cities on a somewhat regular basis and I like to travel. Funnily, I rarely seem to go to the same place twice, which means I get to experience a variety of different hotel environments. Each one has its own character and its own sense of purpose.

In all my travels there has only been one time when I've had a problem with my reservation. It was at a conference and the hotel clerk shared that the person who had previously occupied my room was still there and so there were no room available. Apparently, they weren't allowed to tell the first occupier that the room was no longer theirs, instead I had to move to a hotel down the street. Just as in the classic Seinfeld episode, it made me question the power of the reservation. After all, if the reservation was quickly overturned by another guest's extended visit, it didn't do me a whole lot of good.

All of this was brought to mind recently when my pastor preached on Hebrews 12:18-24. The passage contrasts the Israelites experience on Mount Sinai with the place of our future God encounter - Mount Zion. As my pastor articulated unlike Mount Sinai, Mount Zion is a place where we can interact with God. It's a place of community - a city is being built there. It's a place of celebration - reconciliation is complete. And the wonderful thing about Zion is that God has His very own reservation book. All who believed have a confirmed booking, "their names are written in heaven" (vs. 23). And the best part is, we aren't registered as visitors, spectators who are passing through. We become Zion's citizens with all the rights and privileges therein.

Both Seinfeld and I may know what its like to have a worthless reservation. I'm glad that my final reservation is secured.

Mindful of Heaven

My pastor is fond of sharing a quotation by CS Lewis regarding how some people feel that Christians are so heavenly-minded that they won't do any Earthly good. CS Lewis retorted that it was only when we are heavenly minded that we do any Earthly good. Thoughts of heaven are like the scoreboard at the football game. It reminds us of our ultimate satisfaction and encourages us to strive for victory. Heaven can seem to have little to do with Earth until we remember that the whole purpose of this life is to prepare us for the next.

Thoughts of heaven serve another purpose too. They remind us of what we are giving up when we walk contrary to what God desires. If every good and perfect gift is from above (see James 1) than everything that we are made for, everything our heart seeks, is to be found in heaven. Poor substitutes are found here on Earth and yet sometimes we settle for the also-runs. Thoughts of heaven remind us of what we are actually giving up in order to take advantage of those temporary pleasures. As Frederick Ward Kates reminds us, "The purpose of religion--at any rate, the Christian religion--is not to get you into heaven, but to get heaven into you." Our walk of faith is designed so that more and more we seek the same things that God desires so that we are better prepared for the fullness of satisfaction that comes when we finally join Him.

A song that we use to sing as Sunday Schoolers sums it up nicely:

Heaven is a wonderful place
Full of mercy and grace
I want to see my Savior's face
And heaven is a wonderful place
I want to go there.

Lord, let it be.