God & Limitations

So the thought that has been stirring in my heart as of late is the whole idea of Almighty God choosing to put limits on Himself.  Here is what I mean, Jesus (fully God and fully human) could have at any point chose to rescue Himself from death on a cross, but He chose not to...He chose to limit Himself.  If you look at some of the miracles Jesus performed you see this similar theme.  Take the feeding miracles for example.  In these instances Jesus chooses to use what His disciples and others provide in order to make the miracle happen.  We're talking about Almighty God here, and in these instances He chooses to limit His power and influence.  Why is that I wonder?

There is an age old argument of free will vs. predestination; the idea of having the freedom to make your own choices vs. the notion that all the choices we make are predetermined.  I don't really want to re-hash hundreds of years worth of theological arguments here, but I do what to ask a question to those of you who may happen to read this blog entry.  My question is this: If God chooses to place limits on Himself, how does your view of God change?  What I'm saying is this.  In the instances I described above, Jesus chose limitations for His miracles.  In particular with the feeding miracles (the 4000 & the 5000), I wonder if these would have even happened without the partnership between Jesus and His disciples.  In a round about way I am trying to ask how the world would be different if we accepted God's invitation to partner with Him?  I wonder if things like poverty and pollution would decrease dramatically?  I wonder how many more orphans would have homes?  I wonder how much larger God would be in our world and in our hearts as a result of this partnership?

Entitlement Kills

I heard a stat the other day that floored me.  During this holiday season, the average amount spent is $1000 per adult in the province of Alberta.  $1000 is the average.  Calgary's population sits at just over a million.  Roughly 650,000 of that number are considered adults.  That means that as a city, we potentially spent about 65 million dollars this Christmas season.  Crazy right?

You know what's even more crazy??  Entitlement.  These numbers of what we may have spent this holiday season seem staggering (and they are!!), but what's even more staggering is the attitude that drives this spending. We believe we have the right to "do what we want" in a sense.  While it is true that we have the freedom to choose how we live and how we spend, do not be disillusioned, at some point we will need to be accountable for our actions.  For instance, if we rack up huge debt on our credit card, at some point the creditor will come collecting what they are owed...and that can be very unpleasant!!

I guess what is shocking me at the moment is the effects of entitlement that I see in my own life.  When I feel that I am owed something, whether that is in a relationship or in a situation, I find that my attitude begins to take a down-ward spiral.  We call Christmas the season of good tidings and joy, but I tell you that my joy is fleeting when I'm stuck in traffic or waiting in line to make a purchase!!  This lack of joy is rooted in my sense of entitlement.  Deep down I believe I am owed something from this world or from other people because I am who I am and who I am is the man!!  Arrogant I know, but that's the truth...it's something I'm not very proud of.  I think that in all reality many of us struggle with this very same thing (perhaps with feminine undertones if you happen to be a lady instead of a dude!!).  We want to be valued and appreciated.  But when we pursue fulfillment of these needs through entitlement, we are literally driving the wrong way down a one way street!!

What I'm learning in my life is that the only way to battle this sense of entitlement is to pursue generosity.  True, authentic generosity cares for the needs of others instead of your own needs.  One of my absolute favorite things to do after Christmas is to go through my closet, movies, video games and other stuff to pull out things that I do not need that I can give to other people.  Some have dubbed this habit as re-gifting, but I believe it's more about generosity than anything else.  Living a life that is a simple life is more fulfilling than one that is full of stuff.  Entitlement spits in the face of such a practice.  Entitlement feeds our carnal nature, our hunter-gatherer default programming and our hoarding mentality.  Really...do we need all the stuff that we have?

Watching my daughter and my son this Christmas brought me a new perspective regarding the pursuit of generosity vs. the pursuit of entitlement.  My kids are learning from their dad and their mom about what generosity is (among other things).  If we are giving to receive, then I think we missed the whole point of generosity.  If we are giving because we are pursuing a life steeped in generosity, then I think we're on the right track.  This year Saydie and I took a bag full of toys down to good will.  As I stepped out of the car to get the bag from the trunk my daughter asked me what I was doing with all the toys.  I took a moment to explain to her in my fatherly way (the awkward mumblings that I seem to have when I'm asked a serious question by my 2 year old!!) that we wanted to share toys with other little girls and boys that don't have as much as we do.  Saydie looked at me with her wide open gaze and said, "that's nice daddy."  Yes Saydie, that is nice...and it's what we need to learn to do more of considering that who I'm basing my life on is Jesus, and generosity is a huge part of who He is! (Philippians 2:1-11)

If video killed the radio star, entitlement kills any shred of true, authentic generosity there is.  Choose wisely.

Intentional Generosity

The Christmas season seems to be filled with a quest for intentional generosity...and I think this can be a good thing.  Yes I've heard the frustrations regarding the pursuit of materialism (which I share), but the desire to be kind and generous, although it has its' flaws, I believe is at least somewhat filled with good intentions.

We have a tradition in our family to be intentionally generous to another family during this Christmas season instead of showering ourselves with more stuff we don't need.  What I'm learning more and more about is how this spirit of generosity needs to permeate my life beyond this Christmas season.  Generosity needs to be a family value; something that we live out on a daily moment by moment basis.  Generosity can play a role in purchasing someone's coffee, donating some time to help someone out of the ditch, and/or giving up clothes that we do not need in order to give to those who are in need.

I stumbled upon this verse from Proverbs that spoke to me: "He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God" (Prov. 14:31).

Singer/songwriter Brooke Fraser summed up this thought in her song "Albertine."  She penned the lyric, "now that I have seen I am responsible, faith without deeds is dead."  As followers of Christ, as believers who walk in faith and call ourselves Christians, we have a responsibility to let generosity overflow out of our lives and into the lives of others.

Albertine Music Video

There is an old hymn that comes to mind "freely, freely you have received, freely, freely give."  Christmas provides us with the opportunity not only to slow down and enjoy family, food and fun, but also to re-prioritize our lives before heading into a New Year.  Christmas is the symbol of the gift that we have been given that keeps on giving.  The "spirit" of Christmas is about learning to be generous with our lives (time, talents & resources).  As we journey through this season for yet another year, my hope and prayer is that each of us would be compelled to give to others in a manner that speaks of God's generosity.  Let us be known for our compassion towards the poor and our pursuit of justice through generosity!!

Popularity - A Casual Affair

Tonight is family craft night, so we decided to toss on some tunes while we were attempting to be artistic!!  I opened itunes and clicked on the 90s music icon to rock out to songs of yester year.  Soon our ears were flooded with the melodies of a band called Tonic and a song entitled Casual Affair.  One line from the chorus stuck out to me.

"It's a casual affair when everybody loves you."

My mind began to race...how true is this above statement?  I believe it may be more true than we might be willing to admit.  Popularity, everybody loving you, is a fleeting thought...a casual affair.  Pleasing people is exhausting.  You're always seeking to do something to be noticed and appreciated by those who's opinions you value.  Once you begin the process of people-pleasing, you are in constant need of having to engage in the game of one-ups-manship with yourself!!  You're constantly trying to outdo yourself and gain more credibility while attempting to maintain the certain level of "achievement" that has now become par on your life's scorecard.

I'll tell you something, being in ministry it is so easy to become swept up in this game of popularity.  When people like you, it seems to be easier to go into work and invest yourself in building community.  But, when there is conflict...well, that's a different story!  Tough conversations are inevitable, but conflict without cause is extremely frustrating and exhausting.  It's so easy in these situations to begin to play the popularity game.  You can become swept up with the desire to "win people over" with your charisma and charm.  But the larger truth that is at times overlooked is that popularity is a casual affair.  You can invest time, effort and energy into gaining that approval of people, but at the end of the day, does their opinion truly matter??  I'm learning that the answer to this question is not what I am programmed to believe.  In all honesty, what people think ultimately does NOT matter.  What does matter is what my actions say about my response to God.  Do my actions speak of obedience or disobedience?  If my actions speak of anything less than obedience, then I'm out of line...simply put.

The approval of others is a casual affair, it doesn't last.  Obedience is the only true legacy we can leave behind that points to faith be relevant and practical.

Thoughts on a Friday

With 2009 coming to a close in a couple of weeks, I find it interesting how my heart and mind wander into reflection mode almost naturally.  In celebration of a new year upon us we usually look back over the past year to remember what has happened, and at times we are glad at what we find and in others we aren't so thrilled.  We rattle off some resolutions for the new year, and then it's off to the races yet again.

I'm only 29, but in light of recent events that have shaped our December as a family I find myself in more of an introspective moment today.  2009 brought to us our son, Cannon, more memories, a bunch of firsts and a lot of life lessons.  As I begin this process of looking back and reflecting upon what was and what I've learned from this past year, I'm searching for something in which to measure success.  For some this can mean how much money was earned, or spent, or stuff was accumulated.  For others it may mean what sort of challenges were overcome or changes occurred.  Still others would define success by the growth of relationships in their lives.  I'm learning more and more that success in light of the kingdom of God, success is defined not by any of these other things that I've mentioned.  True success is defined by one's obedience to God's prompting and leading in their life.

As I look back on 2009 for the Frizzell house I can see God's hand at work and moments where we engaged with what He was doing and responded to His prompting in obedience.  In other cases, we wrestled with responding in obedience.

A good friend of mine was said that obedience is perhaps the only way we can show God and others that we are truly in love with Jesus.  One year is but a chapter in the great book of life, and as a co-author of your life's story, how has 2009 helped shape the view of God people have from what they have seen in you and through you?  As I look back on my own journey, I'm hoping to find more moments of obedience that point to life in Christ; moments that push me to continue to grow, mature and become who God has created me to be.  My prayer for each of you is the same, that your life's story would point to Christ and that your obedience to Him would be a fragrant offering of hope and life in a world that is in need of truth and encouragement!

For God so LOVED...

Bonny has been teaching our daughter Saydie, who is only 2, the verse John 3:16.  I'm sure we've all heard it in one form or another, but for reference here it is again.

"For God so loved the world that He sent His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

The key phrase that is rocking my world lately is "For God so LOVED the world."  Often times we may here preachers or other Christians say that we are called to be in the world but not of it.  The earth is only our temporary home, not our final destination and other common catch phrases.  While each of these statements is true, in the past these statements have been used to segregate Christians from the rest of the world.  We've even used them to justify our actions (some good and some bad) at certain points in time.  What I'm learning about more and more is that God loves the world.  And if God loves the world, as His child, I need to love the world.  Think back to the beginning of creation, what is the world?  The world is God's craftsmanship.  It's full of life.  The world is nature and people...all of creation!!  When God was creating the world, at each point where He created something new He looked at what He had created and said, "it was good."  Now yes, all that God has created has been marred by sin, but guess what...God still LOVES the world!!  If He didn't, why would He send Jesus to restore the world to its' original design and intent?

The earth is our temporary home, for sure, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't take care of it (both people and nature).  Imagine being without a home and having someone give you their house for you to live in.  It's a temporary solution because at some point in time they will be back to see what you've done with the place.  Living in this home you've got a choice, you can choose to take care of it, or you can choose to neglect it.  Knowing that the home you are living in really isn't yours, wouldn't you be more intentional about the care you give to it?  Imagine this generous person who gave you a home to live in coming back to see that you've absolutely trashed the place.  I think our giver in this illustration would be frustrated and perhaps even hurt because the home you trashed wasn't yours to begin with.  Transfer this line of thinking into your worldview.  If the earth is not our permanent home, which it isn't, it still belongs to God...the earth is the Lord's and everything in it.  We are stewards of the earth, of this home.  Remember that God so loved the world that He first created it and even now He continues to work in and through it to bring honor and glory to Himself.

I think it's time that we fall in love with the world again.  Falling in love with the world doesn't mean letting the world dictate morality, or pace for life, these things come from God and the truth of His word contained in scripture.  Falling in love with the world means learning to see creation (people and nature) as God sees it and responding to what we see accordingly through obedience to our loving Heavenly Father.  God LOVES the world...if God is known for His love, I think is high time we as His children are known for the same thing.

Paralyzed

Have you ever been so overwhelmed by a situation that you just froze up and couldn't do anything?  I've had many experiences like this in my life.  In fact, I used one such experience to pen a song.  Here are the lyrics.

In Silence

What can I do?

I’m staring at you and I’ve got nothing to say.

No rhyming this time.

I’m walking the line between nothing at all.

Inside I am screaming out loud; I’m burning up.

My heart it pounds, but I’m just standing here afraid to move again.

So much unsaid and too much regret to linger here.

I’m overwhelmed; caught in this web of fraility.

In silence I am bound to be still.

It’s deafening and hard to breathe.

Will I ever be the same?

This whole idea of paralysis is rocking my world lately.  We can become to overwhelmed to the point of neglect.  What I mean is that we can see a need, whether personal or otherwise, and be overwhelmed at the hugeness of the need that we can simply be frozen in time, neglecting to act.  

What I need to remember, and what I believe each of us needs to remember in each of these frozen moments is that God does not ask us to meet the entire need...He asks us to partner with  Him in meeting the need before us.  God takes what we have to offer, blesses it, and uses it to meet the need in a way that only He can.  If you don't believe, read through the gospels and see story after story about Jesus taking what people have to offer and using it to build God's kingdom on earth.  Continue your read further through the book of Acts and the Pauline Epistles and see the generosity of followers of Christ in action.

God defeats paralysis every time...