The Rubik's cube of my faith

This morning an interesting thought 'train' came through my mind. My knowledge of God, of His Word, is like a puzzle that I will be working on for the rest of my life. And it's a puzzle that every man and woman also work on. It's the same puzzle, but each one of us is working on our own individual one.

There are times when we interact with one another, when a piece of this puzzle - maybe set aside sometime back - is seen in a new light, and we can then maybe place that piece in its proper place (or vice verse, we are helping them put a piece in place).

The puzzle of course is our understanding of God - the One true God. Romans 1 talks about how all of creation speaks of Him, and so we are all working on this same puzzle. That does not mean we all worship the same god though.

And this puzzle, is not some simple little Rubik's cube either. It is a multi-layered, three dimensional, infinite piece puzzle. It could be called the MoaP (Mother of all Puzzles ;) ). Some days God is working on us in the section of humility, another day it may be dying to yourself, another may be worship of Him. And these sections are interlinked and sometimes we learn something new about God that 'disturbs' another section - but, if we know the guidlines we can better understand how to place the puzzle pieces.

For instance, God is omnipresent, omniscient , omnipotent, His Love is perfect, his wrath is just. It is impossible to decieve Him. He cannot contradict Himself (this one is very important). These 'guidlines' help, because if we think we know how a particular piece is to be layed out - but it contradicts something else - perhaps we need to revisit that other piece or section.

I love puzzles. Suduko, crossword, Rubik's cube, etc. And this is one I get to work on for the rest of my life - and on through eternity.



Verse for today:
Jerimiah 9:23-24, ESV
Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

Juggling Prosperity

Where is the balance? Or is there one? This Sunday we congratulated our graduating seniors from both college and high school. It is a tradition to send them out with prayers as they begin the next step of their lives. But the sermon got me to thinking about the balance between having and not having. The verse from yesterday was Jeremiah 29:11-13, esv:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare [2] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

The first concern I had was that this verse was essentially preached out of context with what the rest of the chapter was talking about. These words of comfort come within the context of the Isrealites being in the middle of their captivity. There was no mention of trials, no mention of these blessing to take place. The second concern I had was when I briefly thought about the "name it and claim it" type of preachers. They too preach that God wants to prosper us as His children - which He does. I jsut don't think it will be in the ways one would typically expect. I'm pretty sure Job did not feel like he was being blessed when he was in the middle of the torment. I'm pretty sure the disciples were not feeling prosperous when the various factiosn hunted them down and killed them one by one in their vain attempts to silence the preaching of the gospel. What of the saints and believers today who suffer hunger and persecution around the world for their faith? Why are they not being "blessed" with prosperity? The answer is that our true rewards are not seen in this life. They are not fully realized this side of Heaven. And we do not know the full meaning of prosperity yet. I think we as Chrisitans, especially those of us who live in the United States, need to realize that we are being tested with the gift of prosperity. Think about these two examples:

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. [6] And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44, esv)

and:

And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! (Luke 18:18-24, esv)

These are two examples of what God considers to be the ideal. The wealthy may be able to put hundreds of dollars into the offering whereas the poor may only be able to place a dollar or two. What God sees is not the number of dollars (or Pesos, or Yen, or whatever) but the percentage of the whole. Whether it is being done in faith or with joy. What I want to tell the graduates, and my fellow believers, is that it is true. God does want to bless you with prosperity. but do not look to your own, or the worlds definition of what it means to be prosperous. Because God also says, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”. On that last day there will be untold numbers ahead of me. I am grateful with what God has blessed me with, I just pray that if He asks me to lay them all down that I would do so. Willingly, and with a joyful heart. What I am concerned about in my own life is, where is the balance? I do bring my tithes and offering into the storehouse of God (Malachi 3:6-10), but I also know I am not perfect in this. I also know I am not condemned because I am not perfect. But where am I holding on to what God has asked me to give up? Do I have an extra 'cloak' to give to my brother without? Am I hording up my wealth where rust and moth can destroy? These are my daily struggles when it comes to my own material prosperity. Verse for today: Revelation 3:15-22, ESV “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Ever see a HumVee ski?

Yesterday my unit sent me out on an "AWOL recovery". Not really sure how but it boiled down to a miscommunication between the recruiter, the soldier, and my unit. I'm not really writing about that, it's just the background. :) Anyway, there was a lot of snow coming down pretty fast. The Hummers the military drive are a lot different than the ones they sell to the civilians. For one thing the tires. I had the truck in "high lock" (4WD) and was still doing a lot of fishtailing. Long story short it took me almost 90 minutes to go about 35 miles. I almost decided to stay at the armory instead of making the hike home - which was a fairly smooth trip. Footnote: Although I had made my decision a little while back I found out that it did not matter. It was not accepted, and I will not need to relocate for my work - for now. Verse for today: Jerimiah 29:10-14, ESV “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare [2] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

Sticky fingers

Actually they are inky. I had to get my fingerprints taken today. It was the old ink block and paper card method. I don't mind, and it's not the first time. It just leaves that ink on your fingers for a little while. Nothing to worry about, it's a part of the job so... I have reserve duty this weekend and I hope to learn more about my future - but I doubt I will know anything for certain for another two to four weeks. I've had some good short stories (IMO) come out over the past couple weeks (posted on my 'Yarns' page). I've been having a lot of fun writing an on-going tale. The mian charecter is based off of the wargame I like to play. The game itself has a role-playing aspect in that as the games go on recurring injuries can impede each member of the team you play, as well as they can get improvements in abilities and skills. I've had fun because I like to write and I do not get to play the game all that often, so what I've been doing is taking notes of the games I do get to play and then incorporating them into the stories. Out of 3 or 4 games that I've been able to get in since last October I have been able to write about 12,000 words lumped into 13 chapters, and I have another 2 or 3 chapters (averaging about 1,200 words each) still waiting to be written - at least. There is currently no end point in mind. There is no arch-enemy to face. It is just an attempt to have fun writing and sort of document the life of a fictional charecter. With some 'spare time' coming up who knows what will happen. :) Verse for today: Jeremiah 23:23-24, ESV Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.

Joseph A. Farinholt

"Lightning at Bourheim" by Larry Selman

I had drill this weekend. It was an administrative time. Prepare for a maintenance inspection, get the sections to practice together for the upcoming section certifications, and learn more about the 'recruiting assistance' program. While I was there my unit received copies of the above print. It is of Joe A. Farinholt, a member of the 3-175th infantry. During WWII this man earned four Silver Stars. it is believed that no one else has accomplished that feat. The last one, the one earned for his actions portrayed above, had been submitted to be upgraded to a Congressional Medal of Honor but had been turned down. Joe was a real hero. Joe, his wife, and several fellow members of the 29th Division Association continued to serve me and my fellow National Guard members. They came out several times a year (dispite him being in constant discomfort for the wounds he received) to grill us hotdogs and hambergers, they would run fund drives for our family support group, and they would always come out for the holiday meal. He continued to serve us until his death in 2002. My unit was on active duty at the time, and when the request went out for volunteers to attend his funeral (we were inadequate to serve as his color and/or honor guard - he deserved the Army's Honor Guard) there was no shortage. Everyone who did not have to work used their leave (if needed) to do this small thing for him and his family.

I was able to get a copy of this print, and thought it would be a nice thing to share. My time with the National Guard is winding down (only twelve more drills). I know I am going to miss it. Men like Mr. Farinholt make me proud to me a Guardsman, proud to be a member of the 29th division, and proud, and proud to serve in uniform. My deeds are nothing compared to many of those who serve today, let alone what Joe has done. But I played the part that God has given me - and that is enough.

Verse for today:

Jerimiah 9:23-24, ESV

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”