Increase our Faith!

Who among us does not believe that our depth and breadth of faith does not need increased?! But the strange thing is, I wonder if we have actually turned this request by the apostles (Luke 17:5) into our own prayer?

“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’”

What shocks me even more is the context in Luke 17 in which the request occurs. Jesus had just said to his disciples that if one’s brother had sinned against them 7 times in a day, and seven times had returned to say, “I repent,” then they are to forgive him.

No wonder the apostles then responded, “Increase our faith.”

This immediate request revolves around several issues. I think the apostles realized how hard it would be to forgive someone who had sinned against them seven times in one day. They also realized how much faith it would take to do that, and that they obviously did not possess that kind of faith.

What does it mean to ask Jesus to add or increase our faith? I think it means at least the following:

1.       Asking Jesus to give us the strength of faith and the resolve of Christian character to forgive others beyond the human tendency to want to stop.

2.       Realizing with Jesus’ metaphor of the mustard seed that the latent power within faith is as astounding as saying to a mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and go dive into the sea,” and watching it happen!

3.       Praying this simple prayer “Increase our faith” and simply believing that God, Jesus and the Spirit are actually capable of doing that!

4.       Finally realizing that it takes “increased faith” in order to forgive others when they have wronged us because we know that our relationship with the brother or sister is more important than the sin!

When I read this episode in Jesus’ ministry, my head spins with incredulity! How far I am from this kind of faith! How much I need Jesus’ help to even think about getting there! And, how significant my willingness to forgive is related to God’s central concern about his children!

Lord, increase our faith!

In Christian love, Curtis

“MISSIONAL LIVING--MY STORY OF REDEMPTION AS RESPONSE TO GOD'S PURPOSES”

Earl Lavender Coming!

We have an exciting opportunity coming our way the weekend of March 10 and 11. Earl Lavender from Lipscomb University will be coming to Highland View and sharing lessons with the following theme:

During this weekend will have an exciting opportunity to explore the story of our own lives as the context in which God’s  purposes have been and will continue to unfold. He is going to speak on Saturday evening which is the monthly Christian Youth Fellowship. Levi will be working with Earl to bring all of the logistics together.On Sunday Earl will be speaking and guiding discussion four times. The entire weekend schedule is below:

Saturday, March 10

7:00 p.m. "God Story Makes Sense of my Story"=CYF

Sunday, March 11

9:30 a.m. Combined Class--"Redemptive Response: Living in God's Rythm of Life"

10:30 a.m. Sermon--"The Good News: A Flourishing Life!"

Lunch: “ Learning My song of Creation”

1:00 p.m. “Where do We Go From Here?”

The afternoon sessions will be interactive, lively, sharing stories and discussions around the dinner table! We will be encouraging everyone to bring their favorite family recipe for the potluck, along with  the family story that goes with the recipe! Look for more details later. And, pass the word along!

In Christian love, Curtis

THE ONLY WAY WE CAN BE AT REST (3)

You may remember last week that we reflected again on the famous opening quote of Augustine’s timeless classic, Confessions.   In Book I, chapter 1, paragraph 1 there is the following famous insight about human beings: “The thought of You (O God) stirs man so deeply that he cannot be content unless he praises you, because you made us for yourself, and our hearts find no peace until they rest in you” (Saint Augustine’s Confessions,  translated by R.S. Pine-Coffin. 1961; 1983 reprint; New York, NY: Penguin Book Classics; page 21).

             The phrase we want to focus on this week is: “because you made us for yourself.” In one short phrase Augustine has encapsulated rather succinctly the purpose for human beings. God made us for Himself. This implies at the following: covenant, calling, partakers of the divine nature, and love.

            We are in covenant relationship with God through Christ. God made us for his own glory, and we participate in that glory when we surrender to Jesus Christ. This is why conversion is so powerful. It is relinquishing self to God.

            We are called and chosen by God. This gives us our identity. God initiated this calling, and when we respond we are only returning to Him who made us.

            We are partakers of the divine nature. Because God made us for himself, we are not surprised that New Testament writers remind us that we participate and partake of the divine nature. Our very soul yearns for the God who made us.

            We are loved and beloved. The first  reminds us that we are the object of God’s love, and the second reminds us that we stand every moment in the state of being beloved. That is who we are.

“Because you made us for yourself”---This has been the great failing of historic Christianity—religious movements and activities tend be self-centered and not God-centered. If we take Augustine’s statement seriously, then everything changes for the glory of God!      

 In Christian love, Curtis

THE ONLY WAY WE CAN BE AT REST (2)

You may remember last week that we reflected on the famous opening quote of Augustine’s timeless classic, Confessions.   In Book I, chapter 1, paragraph 1 there is the following famous insight about human beings:“The thought of You (O God) stirs man so deeply that he cannot be content unless he praises you, because you made us for yourself, and our hearts find no peace until they rest in you” (Saint Augustine’s Confessions,  translated by R.S. Pine-Coffin. 1961; 1983 reprint; New York, NY: Penguin Book Classics; page 21).

             In addition to the thought of God stirring us deeply, the second thing that Augustine raises in this insight about human beings is what makes us content. What does it mean to be “content,” and how does this idea fit into the Christian life? “Content” means a deep, inner feeling of satisfaction. It carries the idea of one’s being free from turmoil, anxiety and angst because of fulfillment.

            Augustine hits the nail on the head when he maintains that contentment is based on and expressed by human beings praising God. This is because the words we use to praise God have a two-fold effect: honoring God and shaping the one who utters those words of praise. In short, words of praise shape a contented heart!

            We cannot be content unless we praise God. The implications of this reality are enormous. Perhaps this is why we find so many people today discontented: praise is not a part of their life, either personally or communally. This praise can take the form of hymns/songs, prayers, doxology, and quiet contemplation in the presence of God. Do we intentionally make praise a part of life, and are we thereby contented people?

In Christian love, Curtis

THE ONLY WAY WE CAN BE AT REST (1)

Augustine’s Confessions is a journey into a Christian leader’s journal of struggle, openness and brokenness. This timeless classic is the first example of a Christian leader (after the Apostle Paul) of opening up his heart to his readers. It is a profound example of humility and a genuine search for God. In Book I, chapter 1, paragraph 1 there is the following famous insight about human beings:“The thought of You (O God) stirs man so deeply that he cannot be content unless he praises you, because you made us for yourself, and our hearts find no peace until they rest in you” (Saint Augustine’s Confessions,  translated by R.S. Pine-Coffin. 1961; 1983 reprint; New York, NY: Penguin Book Classics; page 21).

            I am struck by Augustine’s initial phrase…”The thought of You (O God)…” It makes me want to ask, “What kind of thoughts about God stir us deeply?” Over the years, without really being aware of it, my own experience, study and relationship with God has been slowly but surely answering that question intuitively. Right now, here are some of the thoughts about God that stir me so deeply. What about you?

1.      The awesome creative power of God.

2.      The unfailing love of God.

3.      God’s covenant commitment to me no matter what.

4.      The absolute trust I can place in His care for me.

5.      His comfort as a loving Heavenly Father.

6.      His image planted within me (Imago Dei).

7.      His utter forgetfulness when he forgives my sins!

8.      His being as the very source of truth and reality

9.      Everything beautiful (tob, Hebrew) and good as part of his original design on the earth

10.  His desire to be sought after and found

11.  His absolute opposition to anything evil

12.  His sovereign rule and power over the universe

13.  The relinquishing of his son for sinful humanity

14.  The incarnation

15.  Three beings in one (Godhead/Trinity)

16.  Mystery of God’s plan unveiled in Jesus

17.  His eternal presence in heaven

No doubt you can add to this list. But each one of these areas raises the hair on the back of my neck as I contemplate the very existence of God. I pray that I will never get to the point in my life where these cease to stir my heart deeply! 

In Christian love, Curtis

HOMECOMING

One of my favorite Christian authors is Henri J. M. Nouwen. One of the most gripping books he ever wrote was called, The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming. He chanced to come across a reproduction of Rembrandt’s Prodigal Son painting. Sometime later he had the opportunity to actually go to St. Petersburg, and see the painting in person there in a museum. Through a friend of his, he was able to sit and meditate on the painting for over four hours. His book contains his thoughts on this experience.

What is unique about this book is that  Nouwen weaves together parts of the biblical narrative, parts of Rembrandt’s own story, and his own reflections inspired by the painting itself. This tri-fold weaving of resources makes for a memorable and remarkable writing that forces one to think of deep issues of the heart.

When his friend introduced Henri to the Hermitage museum, he was afraid that,  with all of the time and trouble it took to arrange a personal encounter with the painting, he would disappointed with the actual picture itself. He maintains the exact opposite. He says, “Its grandeur and splendor made everything recede into the background and held me completely captivated. Coming here was indeed a coming home”(p.8).

“Homecoming” is the dominant metaphor for Nouwen as he views the painting and reflects on the biblical story and how it touches the deep recesses of his own needy heart. This metaphor never grows old or out-dated. In the beauty of coming home, Nouwen maintains that reconciliation, forgiveness and love are felt and extended. This is what makes home so beautiful.

Viewing the painting itself, one sees the son kneeling in front of the father who gathers the son’s head into his bosom, placing both hands on the back of his shoulders. Brokenness embraced is a  beautiful thing. Throughout this entire book Nouwen is slowly but surely building a strong case for brokenness being the ground of our Christian being. Only through our own poverty can we expect to feel the rich embrace of the Father’s love.

In Christian love, Curtis

CHRIST IN US THE HOPE OF GLORY

This will be my preaching/teaching theme for 2012. Some lessons will come from the book of Colossians. Read the following passage from the apostle Paul’s writing:

²⁶ “…The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

 ²⁸ He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.” (Colossians 1:26-28)

Rarely do we think of “the glorious riches of the mystery of Christ” as being experienced in the particulars of “Christ in you, the hope of Glory.” I can see the apostle Paul writing to remind the Christians there in the church at Colossae that Christ lives in each of them, and as such, they are the richest people on the face of the earth.

The mystery that was hidden for ages and generations has now been disclosed to God’s people. How gloriously rich we are to have Christ living in each of us, and living among all of us! How gloriously rich we are to have such a hope of glory! How gloriously rich we are to have access to the kind of godly wisdom  that will make us mature in Christ!

I marvel at the implications of Christ being in us. He is the ground of our hope of glory. He is the only one that can impart the kind of wisdom that will produce spiritual maturity. May we all claim the glorious riches of the mystery of Christ!

In Christian love, Curtis