In Matthew 14 we read about Yeshua (Jesus) feeding the multitude with five loaves of bread and two fish. Matthew 14:20 states, “… and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.” Why did they pick up all the leftover bits? Was it to impress upon us how great the miracle was? Not only did Jesus feed the multitude, but there was more left over than when they started. Yes, I think that’s part of the reason we’re told. But another reason I think we’re told this is because Yeshua practiced good stewardship of the land and the resources. He didn’t want anything wasted. As disciples trying to become more like the Master, we, too, need to be good stewards of God’s blessings: our time, our money, our things, the environment. We need to reduce consumption, creatively reuse what we already have, and then recycle. It’s a God thing!
Archive for August, 2008
Let Nothing Be Wasted
Hurricane Information
I know I’ve been trying to write every Monday-Friday, but was out of town yesterday.
A lot of people in southen Alabama are talking about Tropical Storm Gustav. There’s a lot of speculation about where it might go, how strong it might get, etc., and people are getting their information from all sorts of places, viewing multiple models of what might happen, etc. Since so many of my readers are on the Gulf Coast, I thought I’d share a resource with you.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s website. It’s where all the weather/news people go. So I cut out the sensational journalism and just head straight to their source! It’s updated 4 times a day. Usually I check it once a day from May through October, but when something’s brewing, I check it more often. If you check the site 1-2 times a day then you get an idea of a storm’s pattern. For instance, if it’s shifting east consistently for a couple of days, you can expect it will continue to do so (as a general rule). Check it out and click “hurricanes” on the left. They also show “potential storms” several days before the newscasters ever mention them. As you will see, this site offers information for all kinds of weather, not just hurricanes: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
Why don’t people care?!
I recently went to a couple of movies that were about big, social issues. They were meant to be moving, inspiring, to incite change and to make you think. I fought back tears and outrage more than once. Each time I left the movie theatre, I was somber, sullen, and so was my husband. Of course, part of him was moved by the movies and part of him, I think, was just awaiting the diatribe he knew was going to come from me! ;-P
What blew me away was that everyone else — I mean everyone — left the movie theatres laughing and joking as if they’d been entertained and now were on to their next event. We didn’t overhear one single conversation about the issues raised in each movie.
How can people watch and hear suffering and not be moved? Why don’t people care?
Sometimes I get tired of carrying the burden I feel for the issues that matter to me (and most other issues as well). But if the alternative is to walk blindly and blithely through life without any compassion, well, then I’ll carry my burden no matter how heavy it becomes.
And the winner is . . .
Actually, we have THREE winners for the Wild Goose Chase. I had one to give away from the publisher, and I added two more copies as a bonus. The winners are: Cyndi from Gaastra, Michigan, Tami from Gulf Shores, Alabama, and Jeanette from Foley, Alabama. Your copies are going in the mail today. Congratulations!
Reminder — Book Drawing
Tomorrow I will draw a winner for a free copy of Wild Goose Chase, Mark Batterson’s new book. To enter, please send an e-mail to seewhykinsman@yahoo.com.
Where does God fit on the time-space continuum?
One of the books I’ve been reading lately is The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time and the Texture of Reality by Brian Greene. It provides a history of physics and astronomy for laypeople. I’m not really sure why I’m reading it since it requires great concentration and still makes my head hurt. But, I do love things that make me feel stupid (and, apparently, I thrive on abuse). Anyway, the beginning of the book takes you through a quick history of great theoretical movements in physics: Classical Theory (think Newton), Relativity (think Einstein), Quantum Reality (more Einstein, Niels Bohr, Max Planck, Wolfgang Pauli). Then the author talks about Unified Theory (even more Einstein, Stephen Hawking). Finally, he talks about modern theoretical physics such as Superstring Theory and M-theory.
Superstring Theory basically says there is 1 time dimension and 9 space dimensions. M-theory basically says there is 1 time dimension and 10 space dimensions.
Here’s the thought that came to me regarding God: God knows the beginning and the end. He knows every single detail about our lives, everything from the big crises to the minutiae. He also knows what choices we’re going to make and He goes before us, working everything out for our good and His glory, constantly redirecting, drawing us near to Him, achieving His purposes. Yet we have free will. Although God knows what path we will choose and the decisions we will make, He also knows we can change our minds and make different decisions. We can’t really wrap our brains around those seemingly contradictory facts, but not understanding it doesn’t make it untrue.
I have always imagined that God has the most complicated “flow charts” governing every day of each one of our lives. If Connie does this, then that. But if she does THIS, then THAT. And if someone else chooses to do this instead of that, then it will affect Connie in such a way that THAT will happen. Can you imagine with all the events one individual can have in one day — and with all the other individuals he or she interacts with — and each of those individuals having free will over the thousands of decisions that affect themselves and others, including that one individual, just HOW COMPLICATED God’s flow chart is for one person for one hour? One day? Then multiply that individual daily flow chart by the 6,679,493,900 people in the world (2008 estimate)? Can you start to wrap your brain around how complicated God’s actions are because of our free will?
NOW, back to physics. I believe God and science are compatible. I believe that facts and faith work together. For instance, it’s not a question of evolution OR creation. Clearly there is evolution. That’s a fact. But I believe God created evolution — that He built it into His creative design because He knew that humans and animals would need to evolve to survive changing circumstances. So, if modern theoretic physics examines whether there are 9 space dimensions (Superstring Theory) or 10 space dimensions (M-theory) with 1 time dimension, the thought occurred to me that those 9 or 10 space dimensions at any point in time might repesent the dimensions of God’s flow charts. If every second of time contained 9 or 10 decisions affecting that moment in time for each person, maybe those space dimensions show the paths on God’s flow chart of what happens next. If we choose this at a moment in time, then we travel on that space dimension. If we make THIS choice, we shift to THAT space dimension.
I’m no theologian, nor am I a scientist (painfully clear!) And I’m not really suggesting this as a scientific theory. What I am doing, however, is trying to paint a better picture of what God’s flow charts might look like, and to give a sense of just how complicated God is, and how extra complicated His job is because of the gift of free will. (Although sometimes I feel it might be a curse.) Anyway, here’s a pictoral representation of Superstring Theory; can you see yourself traveling on these paths?
Critically Endangered
I just wanted to share a picture from a “tiger encounter” we had recently. Less than 4,000 tigers exist in the wild. I believe God weeps when we fail to be good stewards of His creation. Read more about the plight of the tiger, and what you can do to help, as well as interesting tiger facts and breath-taking photos, here: http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/tigers/index.html
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Reminder: To enter the drawing for a free copy of Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson, send me an e-mail at seewhykinsman@yahoo.com. The drawing is Friday, August 22nd!
Mary or Martha?
When we read the story of Mary and Martha, it’s supposed to be a no-brainer. Mary had her priorities straight and Martha was uptight, clueless, small, petty, etc.
Am I the only one who sympathizes with Martha? Am I the only who looks and acts and thinks like Martha?
Are you telling me that when you have company, you don’t care that the house is a pig sty and there’s nothing to eat?! How would you feel if your sister (or more likely, husband) were sitting on the couch watching the football game and eating cheese doodles 30 minutes before everyone is supposed to arrive? Would you really feel better if the activity was reading the Bible instead of watching football?
Being more like Mary instead of Martha is something I really struggle against. But I read something the other day that really brought it home for me: the crowds of people following Jesus everywhere he went HAD THINGS TO DO. And not just “things to do”. They didn’t have vacation time or sick days at work — if they didn’t work, they didn’t eat. They had kids, homes, cooking, cleaning, farming, pottery making, sword making, shoe making to do. They had sheep to tend and goats to milk. Goats and cows need to be milked twice a day no matter what. They didn’t have a savings account, a 401k, or a pension plan. They didn’t have a car to drive 2 hours to get there and 2 hours back. If the Master was speaking “nearby”, they likely had to walk a day to get there and a day to get back — or more. They may have had to carry their provisions. They may not have been able to afford a “room at the inn”. This wasn’t just true for a few people. Tens of thousands of people gave up their Martha duties and followed him EVERY DAY.
I guess I CAN find 30 minutes in my day for quiet time with God.
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Reminder: E-mail me at seewhykinsman@yahoo.com to enter the drawing for a free copy of Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson. The drawing will be Friday, August 22nd.
Passive Charity?
One of the comments I read the other day in response to my “Do Good” post talked about “passive charity” — that was the term the reader used regarding contributing to charity when it costs little in time or money (like using a search engine that donates to charity with each search).
Passive charity. Hmmm. Hold that thought.
The other day, my husband was complaining about the travel coffee cups I bought him for his morning coffee. My goal was to cut down on our use of styrofoam. He said the cups weren’t as “comfortable” and when I was unsympathetic, he asked me, “Why do you want me to suffer?” My response to him was that I don’t want him to suffer, but sometimes suffering is necessary. If everyone would do their part, then we could all be comfortable. But since so many people don’t do their part, those of us who feel burdened by the problems of the world need to do MORE than our part. Sometimes that giving or doing more causes us to suffer, but it’s for a greater good.
Back to passive charity. I don’t want anyone to think I’m advocating only passive charity or that passive charity is enough. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a bare minimum — why wouldn’t you do something to improve the world when it costs you nothing in the way of time or money?! But I think we need to do MORE than passive charity.
Sometimes we can’t give in the way of money, but we can in the way of time or effort. For instance, I’d love to write a thousand dollar check to World Wildlife Fund every month. I can’t. But I can pick up trash when I walk across the parking lot as I go into the store or when I exercise. I can recycle everything I can get my hands on. I can do a million other things to contribute to improving the environment. Best of all, I can be an example to others.
In fact, sometimes you don’t realize what example you’re setting. One day, I was on my way into the grocery store. As is my custom, I grabbed a stray shopping cart (buggy if you live in the South) and pushed it to the store entrance, filling it with trash from the parking lot on the way. I didn’t go out of my way at all, but I picked up whatever trash I passed and tossed in the can by the door. A few minutes later, I saw a middle aged, ”casual business” dressed man following me in the store. He was grinning. I thought, “Oh no. Why do I attract the goofs all the time?” After following me for about 5 minutes, he came up to me and said, “I saw what you did!” Huh? “I saw you bring the loose cart to the store and pick up trash along the way.” Whew. “I just wanted you to know you’ve inspired me to do something good today, something that no one notices.” Wow. To be honest, my first thought after he left was, “Thank God he caught me doing something good. I’d hate to think what others have seen me doing that I wouldn’t want them to see!”
I also recently had a gentlemen with whom we do business tell me that I’ve “guilted” him into being a better recycler. He said he felt so guilty whenever he threw out a box that it was finally easier to recycle that deal with “my voice in his head”. Truthfully, I don’t really remember talking to him about recycling, but I must have at some point.
Your cause may not be the environment, although I think everyone needs to care to some extent in order to be good stewards of the earth God gave us. But whatever your cause is — what makes you mad or sad as Mark Batterson says — get creative in thinking how you can go beyond the bare minimum to make the world a better place. The bare minimum of passive charity is good, but don’t pat yourself on the back so much that you don’t suffer a little, too. Write a check, get involved, give your time and effort, set an example.
One of my favorite quotes is by Gandhi, “We must become the change we want to see in the world.”
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By the way, speaking of Mark Batterson, don’t forget to send your name and address to seewhykinsman@yahoo.com to be entered in the drawing for Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson. The book will be released tomorrow and I will draw a name on August 22, 2008. Some lucky person will receive a free copy of this great book. But you can’t win if you don’t enter.
Chase the Goose!
I’ve just read my advance copy of Mark Batterson’s book, Wild Goose Chase, the sequel to In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. Because In a Pit . . . was the best book I’ve ever read, bar none, I pre-ordered my copy of Wild Goose Chase months ago and have been anxiously awaiting its release on August 19th. When I got an opportunity to read an advance copy of the book and review it, I felt like I’d won the lottery. However, I was a little scared. Given my exceedingly high expections, would I be disappointed? Well, I’m thrilled to say I wasn’t, which is good news for you because I have another copy to GIVE AWAY!!! (Details below)
Actually, this book is a “how to” regarding my spiritual passion: growing mature followers of Christ. All too often, people see “getting saved” as the destination, not merely the first step of the journey. I see believers who came to the Lord years ago, and they are as spiritually unmature as the day they accepted Him. I also think that the church has dropped the ball. So many pastors and leaders are so focused on getting people saved (and tickling the ears with feel-good messages to keep them there) that they forget to disciple and grow their congregants. After reading Mark Batterson’s books and blog entries for years, I’ve come to learn that while he cares a great deal about introducing unbelievers to Jesus Christ, he also is concerned with educating, growing and challenging believers to become spiritually mature kingdom changers! That’s why he encouraged us to Chase the Lion and why he now encourages us to Chase the Goose.
The subtitle for Wild Goose Chase is “Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God”. Pastor Mark explains, “Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit–An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’ The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it’s like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something…
Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure.” (from the introduction, Wild Goose Chase)
Comparing the Holy Spirit to a wild goose is appropriate: He’s wild, He’s unexpected and He’ll take you down paths you never dreamed of. And you do need to chase Him. Although the Holy Spirit pursues us, convicts us, comforts us, loves us, nudges us, ultimately, He can do nothing but make suggestions. We need to respond to those suggestions. Where He leads, we follow. Or we should follow anyway!
And let’s face it, so often, we don’t know where He’s leading us, what He intends. We see the ”goose trail” only a step at a time. If you’re really listening to God and following where He leads, it IS an adventure. He has a habit of putting us in impossible situations, completely inadequate,and incapable of doing what He’s called us to do without Him. That’s the point. So we have to rely on Him, and so He gets all the glory.
I’ve said it before on this blog and it bears repeating, Mark Batterson is one of the smartest, well-read, innovative people I’ve ever known, but he’s ACCESSIBLE — his books are easy to read and he has an incredible way of phrasing profound thoughts so we can wrap our brains around them. Usually, when you read an author, you find they make one or two points that make you say, “Aha! I get it!” With Mark, you get at least one “eureka!” moment on every page. He is the king of one-line mantras that sum it all up perfectly.
Mark Batterson also makes himself accessible to his readers by BEING HONEST and HAVING A SENSE OF HUMOR. He says the things we all think, but sometimes are afraid to say — or even admit to ourselves — for fear of sounding “unspiritual”. But even if we can fool people and lie to ourselves, we can’t “snow” God. He knows our hearts. Mark Batterson is transparent with his readers. He admits to you that he’s human; he’s just like you me. My favorite part of the book actually made me laugh out loud — thank goodness I was by myself and not in public! This passage will demonstrate perfectly how accessible he is.
Mark tells the story about when he was in the eighth grade and a visitation team from his church visited his home. “[They] asked if they could ‘agree in prayer’ with us about anything. I’d had asthma since I was three years old and had been hospitalized half a dozen times with pulmonary complications. So we held hands and prayed that God would heal my asthma.
Well, I still have asthma. But as a result of the team coming to visit, something remarkable did happen that I will never forget. When I woke up the next moring, all the warts on my feet were gone! I kid you not. My first thought was that there must have been some kind of prayer mix-up. Did God answer the wrong prayer? Maybe someone else somewhere else is breathing great but still has warts on his feet. It seemed like there was some confusion between here and heaven. I didn’t get what I ordered.
And that is when I heard what I would describe as the inaudible yet unmistakable voice of God: I just wanted you to know that I am able.
I don’t experience miracles like this right and left. I’m guessing my prayer batting average is no better than yours. And I don’t hear the voice of God as often or as clearly as I would like. But it is difficult to doubt after an experience like this. God doesn’t always answers my prayers how or when I want him to. But I do live my life with this fundamental conviction: God is able.” p. 84-85.
Now, tell me that he’s not funny and just as human as you or I am?! He’s not afraid to admit he wondered if God goofed. And God’s response is proof that God knew it, too!
Wild Goose Chase will inspire and challenge you to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, that Wild Goose, wherever He chooses to lead you, no matter how adventurous the trail gets! Wild Goose Chase is a must read book for any “Christ follower”.
NOW, on to the giveaway part. Please send an e-mail to seewhykinsman@yahoo.com (an e-mail I have devoted just to this blog). Include your name and mailing address in the e-mail and I will randomly draw a winner one week from today. Good luck!!!
Remember, Wild Goose Chase is released August 19th and can be pre-ordered from www.amazon.com and other booksellers. Don’t worry if you order a copy AND win . . . you’ll be glad to have a copy to share! Make sure you check out www.chasethegoose.com, too.
