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Published: 05 May 2016

Whether we admit it readily or not, we all know, deep down, that we have significant limitations as humans.  Sometimes we try to mask our limitations, sometimes we try to ignore them.  At times we go in the other direction celebrating the “great achievements of humanity” with prizes and awards.  Yet, in reality, we are limited by our upbringing, our environment, our health and our own internal struggles.  Because we are made in the image of God we are capable of great things, probably greater than we have experienced but we are still dependent.  We need God’s air, His water, the food He brings from the earth and His sustaining hand.  We are created beings, God is the Creator.  Given this fundamental reality we shouldn’t be surprised that conversation with Him is one of the most practical ways to navigate this life.  People can live without praying.  Whether people pray or not, it is God that gives them life.  People can find ways to live without praying.  They have friends, Google and basic intuition.  God’s grace still extends far and wide, affecting the just and the unjust.  That said, wouldn’t it be better to stay in touch with the One who made and sustains all things? When life gets confusing, Jesus doesn’t say, “Figure it out!”  He says, “Come to Me.”  When the need exceeds the help, Jesus doesn’t say, “Strategize, develop a five year plan.”  He says, “Pray that the Lord will raise up laborers for the harvest.”  Jesus doesn’t tell us to do one thing and then do something else.  When He was in need, He prayed.  When He was sad, He prayed.  When the crushing weight of bearing the world’s sin was almost killing Him, He prayed.  As one author wrote regarding Gethsemane, “Jesus was ready to do the Father’s will but was wrestling with the limitations of humanness.”  Yes, the limitations of humanness are many…even the Son of God learned to be obedient as He suffered with the limitations.  As we see in Matthew 26, it was prayer that gave Him the perspective and endurance He needed to endure the cross and despise the shame.  On the other hand the disciples refused to pray and thought their resolve would carry them through.  Resolve might keep us from eating a chocolate chip cookie but when the real tests come, we’re going to need the strength of the Most High God.  Pray.  Seriously.

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Published: 27 April 2016

Advertising agencies spend a lot of time and money trying to convince us that whatever we have is outdated, worn out, uncool and in need of replacement.  An hour of TV will inform you that you need a new car, a new vacuum, a new medicine, a new garbage bag and a new widget.  It never stops, 24 hours a day the messages are coming one after another that new is better.  I think we all know that this is not the case.  Old shoes are comfy.  Old gloves fit just right.  An old blankie is perfect for a cool evening.  That old Black Jeep is still getting us down the two track.  That old guitar has been with us so long it’s like family.  But, given the reality of entropy, things do have to be replaced from time to time.  There is at least one thing that I am super glad is new—the New Covenant.   The Old Covenant was designed to point forward to something better.  Under the Old Covenant we learn that sin is bad for us and blood is required for forgiveness.  Under the Old Covenant we have symbols and “foreshadowing.”  However, when Jesus came and announced that His blood inaugurated the New Covenant, all the shadows and pictures became real.  The blood of Jesus actually paid the price for sin “once and for all.”  No more animal sacrifice.  No more bloody offerings.  No more shadows.  Through Christ’s death, burial and resurrection we are forgiven from sin, free from the bondage of sin and we are given full access to the Father’s presence.  New is better!