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Five undeniable Truths of Life

Here are 5 undeniable truths of life.

The first 'truth' is that "timing is everything" It is hard to actually deny, but easy to ignore.

Second, "condiments are free". This is the idea that in any project or decision making plan there are freebies that one really should look for and take advantage of.

Third, "fail simple first". This encourages us as we are trying to figure out a right answer in, typically a material project, that we make sure we test an area that is simple first. That way one doesn’t waste time figuring out that a difficult answer is not the right answer. Make sure the answer to a problem is not the easy answer before testing more complex potential answers.

Next, "play every card". This is the idea that sometimes we give up when we havent used every resource, or when there is still time left. Because God seems to do things at the 11th hour humanly speaking, it seems we often need to "play every card" He gives us to play and look for Him to bless.

Finally, "if you cant fix it, feature it". When there is a problem that arises in a project that just will not go away, the best thing to do is not just live with it, but actually feature it. This can come about particularly in spiritual areas where there is a physical, material or financial adversity, and a leader can demonstrate that this appearance of difficulty is all the more reason to press on. The Apostle Paul stated, "A wide door of opportunity has opened for us, and there are many adversaries." He didn't exactly feature the adversaries, but he sure was up front with them.

Obviously, one often has to balance between these 'truths'. For instance, because timing is everything one may want to be careful before playing every card.

Juggling Family Priorities

I just watched 'Cheaper by the Dozen' with Steve Martin, Hillary Duff and a host of others. I guess that movie represents the extreme of trying to juggle the responsibilities of a family. Although few people can identify with having 12 children, we can all identify with the difficulties of trying to juggle our time to meet the responsibilities we have for each individual while pursuing a relationship with God... and maybe even attempting to keep sane. Ephesians provides some principles that help. Beginning with chapter 4 the Apostle Paul explains how we can now live in light of the new people that we are based on our faith in Christ. In chapter 5 under the category of living (NASB 'walking') wisely the Apostle applies a principle that a non-spiritual person would never consider. The first priority is to submit to God. One submits to God by being 'filled with the Holy Spirit'. 'Filled with the Holy Spirit' has little to do with charismatic gifting. Rather it is primarily letting God control our choices in somewhat the same way as alcohol controls the choices of a drunk. The parallel seems crude, but is legitimate. So the 'let go and let God' theology does have some merit.
After one submits to God, the Apostle calls families to submit to each other (and we can apply this idea of submission to the broader church family). Husbands are to submit to wives by means of offering a sacrificial love. Wives are to submit to husbands by offering them respect. And finally, children are to submit to their parents by offering respect. With any normal interpretation of this text the follower of Christ is quickly driven to make sure that he/she has first submitted to God or the remaining submissions will never see the light of day.

God and Man in Communion

The Lord's Supper, otherwise called the Eucharist or Communion has critical significance in the Christian faith. Communion has an 'all time' perspective as well because we "do this" and "show forth" in the present His death which is in the past, until He returns in the future. Jesus took the most familiar element of a Jewish meal, bread, and said, "This is my body." One point made is the universal availability of Jesus (His body). So, first Jesus' body as our sin substitute is immediately and completely available. Jesus then took a familiar element, wine, and identified it with an element, blood, that would never be at any Jewish table. To offer blood to a Jew was traditionally and morally repugnant. Blood represents life, and man was not to merely ingest by mouth such a sacred thing. The followers of Jesus are specifically to remember Him by symbolically partaking of His blood... His life. Partaking of the cup, pointed to the sacrificial death of Jesus and the life-giving purpose of His ministry. The truth is our lives are temporary and by partaking of His life we have the assurance of eternal life. Our celebration of His death is acceptable because His death provides us with life, and further proclaims the benefits of His death to the world. Communion emphasises fellowship, gratitude, worship and proclamation.

But, What about People?

As I consider purpose in life I have to think about where "others" fit into my reason for living. In Ecclesiastes 4 Solomon considered others in his 'under the sun' (that is, without considering God) sort of way. His conclusion was that there are two maybe three sorts of people, they are competitors, companions, and maybe kings. His understanding of 'others' does not fit neatly into western philosophical thinking, but if one looks at chapter 4 it is hard to come to another conclusion. So, 'under the sun' "others" are either a great source of pain and hurt or a pretty essential source of help and comfort. No matter, according to Solomon, all is still vanity due to the exceptional brevity of life.
Jesus asks us to consider "others" in a singular sort of way. "Others" are always to be thought of as our "neighbors" (read the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10). Further, the 'Jesus way' of looking at others was not so much at their offenses or blessings toward me, but the blessing I should be to them. Wow, even "others" whom I would call my enemies, Jesus commanded me to love.

Can Life have purpose? Does Ecclesiastes help?

I am amazed at how relevant the book of Ecclesiastes is for the 21st century. The book is set in the wisdom literature of the Bible. It may be that Solomon wrote Song of Songs when he was young (and about to marry his first wife, and prior to his marrying the 699 other wives). Proverbs may have been written throughout his life and finally Ecclesiastes written to his sons and closer to the end of his life. I guess one could say that The Song looks at life with the cup full, Proverbs with the cup half full, and Ecclesiastes with the cup at least half empty.
Ecclesiastes loses some of its mystery when one notices a couple of repeated and emphasized ideas. 27 times the phrase 'under the sun' (meaning more or less 'without considering God') is repeated in Ecclesiastes. The phrase is used no where else in the Bible. 15 times the idea of God giving something to man is used. The point is that only by honoring God and pursuing His wisdom will one be able to overcome the incredible emptiness that consumes life in this world (or 'under the sun'). When reading Ecclesiastes one must consider from what viewpoint the author is speaking. Obviously, the author can write some pretty outrageous things if he writes from the 'under the sun' view. Regularly, the author evaluates his experience and philosophy beyond the horizon. In fact, the author will quickly (chapter three) point to the wisdom and common sense of submitting to God's authority, and working with an attitude that God is good and in control. The only place we find "a handful of rest" (Ecclesiastes 4.6) in this empty world is with at least a glimpse beyond the horizon. ( footnote: Derek Kidner and Michael Eaton (not Keaton, silly!) provided me huge insight into Ecclesiastes)

Take a Walk on Water

I was looking at Matthew 14.22-33. Jesus sends off the disciples in a boat, He goes to pray and then decides to catch up later on foot. The disciples, experienced fishermen, are facing contrary winds and waves. Then Jesus appears, walking on the water, as if to just pass by. The disciples go bananas with fear at seeing what they think is a ghost on the water. It is important to keep in mind a 1st century view of ghosts. Ghosts have one purpose in the 1st century, to take someone with them to the place of the dead. The disciples thought that Jesus was literally the angel of death. Jesus introduces Himself and calls on them to not be afraid. Peter, and I cannot imagine why, says, "If you are Jesus, command me to come to you." Ummm, does he have a clue that if it is the angel of death the ghost may lie? Well, Jesus says, "Sure, come." Peter initiates his relatively short walk on water. Though short I like that walk. The critics will always say that following the principles of the Bible will limit your options and even take away your fun. This text seems to show that following Jesus provides virtually unlimited options. Who would have thought you could step out of the boat in the middle of the sea and take a walk?