In Search of Meaning: The Essence of Easter

To truly love one must first be loved. To truly forgive one must first experience forgiveness. We experience both in Christ.

I believe that mankind is in pursuit of a life that has meaning, and that meaning or purpose will find expression in ones actions in his/her relationships. It is in these human relationships that we encounter conflict; it is this conflict which creates opportunities for growth and change.

The ability to give love is inextricably linked with the opportunity to receive love. How does one know to give love without expectation of return, or to be patient and kind unless he/she has first experienced such intense connectedness of soul and spirit? How does one who has been deeply wounded offer forgiveness without thought of retribution unless he/she has experienced such unrelenting grace?

A quick search using Blue Letter Bible returns 88 verses using the phrase "in Christ".  Most of these verses indicate that in Christ we find such qualities as: faith, redemption, life, freedom, trust, and wholeness. In God, we "live and move and exist" (Acts 17:28). The Apostle Paul wrote that "there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ" (Romans 8:1). Therefore, if we find the meaning and purpose of life in Christ, we are connected to the one who is the essence of life and knows the value and meaning of love and forgiveness.

We have just completed celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Whatever you did to contemplate the story of Christ, I hope that it was a significant experience and one that was rich and meaningful. But what about tomorrow? How will we live and interact with the people that are an important part of our life? How will we love them? More importantly, how will we manifest forgiveness?

I don't know about you, but I hope I can model the love and forgiveness of Christ. Not so much because they will need it, but because I need it. After all, I'm only human...

Blessings, my human friends. In Christ, there is life.

Worry is Rust Upon the Blade

"It is not work that kills men, it is worry. Work is healthy; you can hardly put more on a man than he can bear. But worry is rust upon the blade. It is not movement that destroys the machinery, but friction."  (Henry Ward Beecher)

 

I was sitting at my computer contemplating how to start the engine of my mind.  I just finished reading the historical writing about the Jewish people under the leadership of Joshua, and I was stuck as to what to write.  Then a friend of mine (John Wilck) sent an email with the above quote. Voila! The dots connected in my mind; now, if I can just connect them for you.

 

What jumped out at me in the book of Joshua was the phrase, "Be Courageous!"  I wrote about this a couple of weeks ago, but I felt there was something that I missed.  In the first chapter, the Lord repeats this theme to Joshua 4 times:

Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. (v.6)
Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left; so that you may have success wherever you go. (v.7)
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (v.9)
Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous. (v.18) (NASB)

Israel faced no small task in claiming the promised land. This was a bloody time of battle after battle. It was not the time for the people to worry and question God or His leader; it was a time for COURAGE, TRUST, and ACTION! Joshua finally grasps the concept of what God was saying to him when he addresses the people in chapter ten following the defeat of the five kings:

Joshua said to them, 'Do not fear or be dismayed! Be strong and courageous, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies with whom you fight'. (v.25) (NASB)

Sometimes there are things in our lives that we need to just untie.  We may need to let go of some of the "stuff" from the past so that it doesn't dictate our future. Change is difficult for humans -- it's not our normal modality of cognitive operation.  But if what we are doing keeps bringing about the same painful results... well, that just leads to insanity!

Be Strong and Courageous and Never Give In!!

Our Business Is To Educate

"Mediocrity is the antithesis of greatness - Good enough is never good enough."

Anyone who has come by my office in the past couple of weeks remarks about the new picture.  It's a photo of a guy lifting a huge piece of timber over his head and putting on a stack of fire wood. It looks like something from Survivor!  The caption underneath says: With true leadership, good enough is never good enough.

If you were stranded on an island and needed a signal fire, how big would you want that fire to be?  I don't know about you, but my fire would use every piece of combustible material I could get my hands on - if it didn't move, it burned!

In recent days I've had some really good conversations with some true teachers. They recognize that the business of education is facing some pretty stiff challenges.  They also realize that now is not the time to complain or give up; it's time to find new ways to challenge and motivate students.  They are bringing their best to the classroom in order to encourage students to bring their best effort so that true learning takes place each day.

In essence, they are modeling the words of the Apostle Paul: To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some (I Corinthians 9:22).

THANK YOU! True teachers never stop at good enough!