Short Blog: Challenging Our Greed

Scripture:

Acts 5:1-5, “Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.”

Thought:

The story of Annanias and Sapphira is a rare one in the New Testament, a story that seems more like something out of the Old Testament; however, the story is a striking contrast to the end of the previous chapter in which Barnabas and other Christians sold their land and gave freely. Greed is defined as “excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions.”* Greed is the opposite of charity, the contrasting heart of taking versus a heart of giving freely and sacrificially.

Action:

We often like to think of others as being greedy, especially if we lack an abundance of material possessions or financial wealth. Still, we can be greedy with other things, such as time, affection, friendship, or having our own way. This week, think about ways you can give instead of take, ways you can show others charity where you may have previously shown greed in some way.

Prayer:

This week Lord, help us to think or others and learn to give in areas where we might normally want to receive, hoard, or take. Help us to be mindful of how we spend our time, money, and affection. God, may we bring compassion, love, and charity to others. In your name, A-men.

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 *http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/greed

 ~ Daniel Brockhan

Short Blog: True Repentance

Our vices, the evil within and around us, is not merely fought by feeling poorly. Recognizing the need is not repentance, though it is a first step. The second step is that we must live in struggle, invite strife into our life, let the Holy Spirit do its work of conviction in our hearts. Here is where eyes will be opened to truly see how they were oppressed and burdened by sins that went on (or are still going on).

True repentance, like love, is not proven by words but by actions. True repentance, is not a feeling, but an inviting God to produce in us a different motivation, a change, another direction, an action within us; moving us away from our selfish path and putting our feet back on His Kingdom path.

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” - Matthew 6:9-10

True repentance is seeing the burden of sin, of wrongdoing, and making choices to change. Instead of our flesh or Satan chocking our life away through negative thoughts or actions (or in-actions), we choose God, for in our weakness He is our strength. We invite God into our weaknesses, our problems, for evil and sin is only ever overcome by His goodness, only overcome by His guidance and love.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30

~ Daniel Brockhan

What Is God's Will And How Can It Be Found?

What is God’s will? That is the question. We are taught in the church God's will is something we can attain, that if we pray enough, struggle enough, talk to others enough it is something we will (easily) figure out. In his book Mere Christianity, CS Lewis speaks about God being outside of time. If the vastness of God were a sheet of paper, time and all of us in it might be just a dot, a speck on that paper.

Think about that.

The truth is, God's will, like life, is much more complicated, instead of being black and white it can seem grey, instead of being linear it is more like a blank page with dots seemingly spread randomly, each representing a choice we could make or a person we could meet to help us in the right direction. At first to us it may just seem like a random mishmash.

In the church we are taught that there is only one story, one line or path that is God's will for us. This means any decision we make incorrectly could be terrible because if it’s not part of the plan, not part of His plan,  what happens to us if mess up, don't follow, or disobey?

The problem is that in the scriptures there are plenty of stories where God works with humanity despite their flaws, so being wrong may not be what God desires for us, but it can help us learn and be able to better know more about ourselves; who we are, and that becomes part of God's plan and story for our life.

Maybe God's will is more about a metamorphosis in us, a transforming, and all the changes in us that take place as we seek to become more like Christ. So then, first we must ask if such choices or decisions are full of selfishness and pride. Are we putting what we want first or are we putting God first? Is Christ first in our life? This should be the first and most important question.

This means if we have two great job opportunities that are a good fit, we do not have to worry about choosing the wrong job. One could pick the one that will help provide better for their family, maybe it pays a little more or is closer to relatives. Maybe it might help one pay off student or credit card debt. So long as we are following God first, such decisions between two good options need not weigh us down; instead we have freedom in Christ for good things.

This brings me to the second aspect of God's will, which is being confused or uncomfortable. Does this make you uncomfortable? Yes, as odd as it sounds, sometimes I feel that being in God's will is something that tends to make us feel uncomfortable. Indeed, if God's will is about transforming us, this means we will be stretched and challenged. Are you being challenged? How else are we to grow and learn?

People ask me what it is like moving from family and friends states away to come and work as a Chaplain. I tell them I enjoy my job but miss everyone. There is a lot of truth and emotion in that one simple statement. Sure I keep up with them; however, the difficulty comes in not being able to connect with them in-person. The truth is that sometimes we must make sacrifices and choices... or make sacrifices with our choices. My choice was to follow God and trust him to provide or to stay in Texas with family and friends but be miserable professionally, likely working a minimum wage job somewhere, barely getting by and not using my abilities.

God wanted more for me than barely getting by; He wanted me to thrive.

He wants you to thrive as well!

However, I had to take the step of applying to positions outside of Texas. Then, as I began to get interviews (being uncomfortable yet excited about that fact), doors began to open. I remember after getting those first e-mails from other states, I finally said, "Ok God, well if I'm offered a position and I take it, You are going to have to provide… a lot, especially a good church and friends."

I did find a wonderful church and am still in the process of making friends. Yes, it is difficult… and that is part of growing, of being with God in that difficulty. God doesn't just want your prayer requests for peace, wisdom, and answers to a choice, decision, or situation; He wants you to grieve and struggle with Him just as much as you thank Him endlessly in times of joy and celebration. This is how He works in and through us each and every day, back and forth, the Potter to the clay.

So, What is Gods Will?
(1) He wishes for you to follow and put Christ first.
(2) He wishes to make you uncomfortable so you will grow.
(3) His will is normally seen more in hindsight than in the present.
(4) Thus, His will is something we must go through… then it is made known.

What do you think of God's will?
How do you seek it, perceive it, know it, experience it?

~ Daniel Brockhan

Next Blog:
I Don't Believe in "The One":
How a Professors Words Changed my Thoughts on Dating & Marriage

Do You Love Me More Than These?

A Closer Look at John 21

Despite the popularity of the Gospel of John, most overlook the way it ends. However, the end is a very important part of how the church began and how God comes to restore each of us after we stumble and fall.

See, after Jesus predicted Peter would deny him, which Peter reacted to in disbelief, Peter did end up denying Christ just as he had told him. After the Crucifixion though, along with the other disciples, Peter left and went back to his old ways.

Peter went back to fishing, going out in his boat and casting his nets... no longer was he a fisher of men. This fact is often overlooked. Peter, though had claimed Jesus as the Christ, still fell, he denied, he abandoned his faith, he then left and went to follow who he was before. Oh, how often do we do the same.

So, Jesus comes up to Peter, with his nets full of fish, full of his old life and ask: "Peter, do you love me more than these?" Do you love me more than these fish? Do you love me more than your old life? Your own ways? Your habits or desires? Your deep dark thoughts or doubts? Your addictions to self? Your thinking only of yourself? Do you, Peter, love me more than these?

Peter replies twice in the Greek that he loves Jesus unconditionally (Agape); yet Jesus repeats the question a third time, asking Peter if he even loves him as a friend (Phileo), are they even close at all? Peter replied a third time to which Jesus replied, "Go feed my sheep."

See, not only do we see a parallel here between the three times Peter denied Christ and the three times he is asked this question - but this means something amazing for us as well:

When we are uncertain and run from God, God will restore us if we still claim to know Him, and most importantly if we lay down our life, our fish, our ways or things or issues or people we love more than God and take up His name, His Kingdom, feeding his lambs, making our life about following Christ and serving others, not self; feeding His sheep and not our own stomachs.

So, Jesus comes to you today at your school, campus, home, or work and asks:
Do you love me more than these? You know what he means, and He means you to sacrifice it, whatever it may be, for this is what blocks you from growing, from becoming more like Christ; being able to know, follow, and obey.

Do you love me more than these?
Only you know the answer....

~ Daniel Brockhan

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