Changes...Internal vs. External

Some changes are more obvious than others.  For example, Sunday morning I showed up to worship with a new look. Don't get excited...I did not leave my hair like the picture above. But I went from having hair this long to having no hair. I went from having a beard to having no facial hair. Those changes were easy to see. In fact, there were quite a few people who did not recognize me, even when I stepped into the pulpit to preach. I looked different...visible changes. I have lost around 50 pounds over the last few months. My clothes fit differently. My flat-front khakis now have pleats. I look different...visible changes.

People who see me can tell that I have changed. They might surmise that I have changed my eating and exercise habits. They might wonder if I have either lost my mind or undergone chemotherapy (not just that it was time for my annual shearing). But those changes - or at least their results - are obvious.

It is not the same with the internal changes we make, is it? I could tell you that my heart is healthier, that my diabetes risk is lower or that my blood pressure is within normal, healthy limits. All that is true, but you cannot see those changes. Why would you believe me? Because of what you see on the outside.

See where we are going with this?

Many of us are working diligently to make changes in our spiritual lives, with the ultimate aim of being more like Jesus. We are trying to love more. We want to be less judgmental. We want to see all people as created in the image of God. We want to spend more time in the Word. We want to be more giving. We are trying to change our attitude toward ________ (insert your own problem attitude here). And often, we are winning. We are resisting the easy conformation and we are being transformed by renewing our minds. But we have to ask...are these changes visible to those around us? Remember, these are all internal, invisible changes.

In warning his disciples about those who would deceive them, Jesus said (Matthew 7.15-20), "Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ...just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions." In other words, what you see on the outside of me is a direct reflection of what is going on inside me. That brings Solomon's advice in Proverbs 4.23 to view: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Later in the same book, we are reminded that we become what we think (23.7).  When you look at me, when you watch me or listen to me talk, you can begin to get a pretty good idea of what is going on inside me.

While it should go without saying, this is not a license to spend my life throwing stones at those whose actions don't match their words or professions of faith. Rather, it demands a hard look in the mirror. It forces me to ask myself, "What do my actions (and my words) say to those around me about my relationship with the Lord?" What about the people around me at the gym, on the baseball field, at the grocery store, in my neighborhood, etc.? Do they know I am a Christian? What do I do or say that leads them to that conclusion? Perhaps I should ask what I do or say that leads them to draw the opposite conclusion? Or in keeping with the first thought of this post, what changes are going on in your spiritual life? What changes do you need to make? How are those changes reflected in your life?

Isn't this what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 5.16? "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." While it might not be as obvious as a new (albeit scary) haircut or a smaller profile, the changes God has made in you will show!


What about you?

Chillaxing with God

How easy is it for you to talk to God? I am not asking if you pray, or how often, or if you believe that God hears and answers. I am beginning with the assumption that prayer is a part of your life. While it would not be hard to make a case for more frequent, faith-filled prayer in our lives, I want to steer your thoughts more to the language of your prayers. 

If you - like me - grew up with church as a regular part of your life, you probably picked up on some prayer phraseology along the way that was used so often you were sure it was straight from the Bible. For example:

•  Guide, guard and direct (sometimes, protect) us
•  Forgive us from any unforgiven sin
•  Repeated references to the sick and afflicted the world over
•  Prayers offered up for those who it is our duty and privilege to pray for (yes, I know the grammar is wrong)
• Sometimes we prayed for those who were providentially hindered from coming to church
•  And how many prayers closed with this benediction: Bring us back at the next appointed time

Please hear this statement: I am not making fun of anyone who stands and leads God's people in prayer. Rather, I wonder how many of us get in the rut of praying the same things every time we pray. I know that men sometimes are nervous about public speaking in that capacity, and there is a comfort in familiar words. But step away from public prayer...how many of us do this in our personal prayers?

I think many of us have trouble speaking from our hearts to God. Perhaps in consideration of the greatness of God, we have convinced ourselves that we need to speak in some higher (at times, KJV) language. However, what God desires to hear from us is what is on our hearts. Jesus taught a very simple framework for prayer, and was quite vocal against the Pharisees who prayed with their flowery language and with an abundance of words (Matthew 6). It was Jesus who really emphasized our parent-child relationship with God. It is because of Jesus' intercessory work that we can come before God with confidence (Hebrews 4). All this is to help you realize that, just as you would talk to your earthly father - pouring out your heart to him - you can talk to God in your prayers.

Perhaps one of the things that will help us to develop this kind of prayer relationship with our Father is knowing that he has made provision for us even when we cannot form our prayers into words. Consider this, from Romans 8.26.27:

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know

how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us

with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts

knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes

for the saints according to the will of God.

Paul penned these words just after reminding us of our relationship with God (adopted as his sons, able to call him something akin to Da-Da), and just before reminding us that God is working everything to the ultimate good of those who are his. Accident? No way! God knows that we sometimes have a hard time opening ourselves up to him, and uses the Holy Spirit to make that easier.

We have really encouraged our kids to speak conversationally in their prayers. Even for kids, the familiar words tend to come easily. But it is a real joy to listen as they open their hearts to their Creator. Tears are often present as they discuss concerns of a 4-year-old and a 7-year-old mind. Sometimes, however, Dana and I have to stifle laughter. Such was the case last night. Samuel was praying before bedtime and a portion of his prayer went as follows:

God, please help tonight to be a "chillaxing" night. And just so

you know, the "ch" is from chill out and the "lax" is from relax.

So I hope you will help this to be a "chillaxing night.

I did not dare laugh, however. I know that Samuel does not doubt the omniscience of God. Yet he did not want to spring his vast pop-cultural vocabulary on God without a little clarification. While I may have found it humorous, I love the fact that, at such a young age, Samuel is that comfortable talking to God. My prayer for you is that you can open your heart to God in prayer, that whatever is on your mind will flow freely into the listening ears of your Father. I pray that your efforts at communicating your praise and your petitions will become as natural as talking to someone you can see.

I guess what I am trying to say is....I hope that you will be able to "chillax" with God today!

What would it take?

Sunday morning, I shared with you a view of the last hours of Christ's life, as viewed by a Roman centurion (following Matthew 27). After witnessing the bizzarre events of the day - three hours of mid-day darkness, an earthquake, the veil in the temple ripped from top to bottom, tombs being opened - Matthew records the following:

 Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping

guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things

that were happening, became very frightened and said,

"Truly this was the Son of God!"

So what did it take for you to be convinced? Even if you grew up in church with the Bible as a part of your everyday life, there had to be a point when you decided for yourself that Jesus really is who he claimed to be. What was it? Perhaps I should ask who it was that helped you to this place. I suspect some of you came to faith in Christ after overcoming one last obstacle, that one thing that was just hard to swallow. What was that obstacle, and how did you get past it.

Ultimately, what I want to know is this: Why do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God? I look forward to your responses.

Here we go again...

So the last time I blogged, it was under the screen name "Chef Tiny" and I was working as a kitchen consultant for The Pampered Chef. Ok...I must admit, I never thought those words would come from my mouth. My career with TPC was short-lived, as was my first venture into the blogosphere. The first lasted about one year; the second was not even that long. I found my way into the wild world of Facebook and said goodbye to "What's Cooking With Chef Tiny." I found that to be an easier vehicle for communication with friends and family. And, honestly, it had become burdensome trying to put something fresh and relevant in print for all to read. It wasn't fun. It was a hassle.

As with many things, time away can be good. When I deleted my last blog, I said then that I would stay away until felt strongly about coming back. It seems that time has come.

I will say at the outset that I will not blog every day. Some of you are gifted bloggers, but I am not so inclined. I will also vary the content of my blog. Some days I may write things of a deeply theological nature.  Other times, I may use this blog to share a good story. And I may also use this to simply distribute pertinent information.

Beginning April 1, I will be trying to blog daily about a project we are undertaking at Woodward Park - reading the Bible through in 90 days. Each day during this project (hopefully) I will share something from that day's section of scripture that spoke to me or that might generate some good discussion.

Until then, well...we'll see what happens.

Thanks for stopping by to visit with me...not Preacher Tim, or Pastor Tim, or even Mister Tim; not Tim the jerk or Tim the superhero. Nope...just plain Tim.