Today I attended a funeral of the dad of a good friend of mine. A real good friend. I met Randy in my driveway in 1962. That is about 45 years ago. At that time, we would never have guessed that we would have continued in relationship for this long.
There were 4 of us altogether. All lived on Oak Ridge St in Richmond, VA. We called ourselves the Oak Ridge Boys. We did so much together. Good Stuff, Bad Stuff - we went through jokes together, girls together, sports together and just about anything else together.
In the early days, we did not have a spiritual life together. We were just guys trying to get all we could out of life. Then one by one we began to encounter Jesus Christ. It took along time from 1972 to about 1980. But the Lord drew each of us to himself.
Now so many years later. We all walk with Jesus, and our wives. We are in leadership in 4 different churches and many different ministries. And we seek to stand with Jesus and with each other whatever it takes. Now the next stage: We stand with each other in the dark days of dealing with the losses of our parents and the transitions of our families. Several of us are now grandparents (not me). And we are beginning to think about the next steps.
Thanks Randy & Boys - you encourage me to stand with you as you stand with Jesus.
Showing posts with label Musings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Musings. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
La Vida Cruciform
What if I really began to live my life everyday shaped by the cross of Jesus?
Would behaviors change?
What would I add to my life, and what would I take away?
Jesus spent every day of His 30plus years focused on one goal. That is, He was moving towards the cross. He knew it. He knew why.
When he ate with the tax collector - He did it shaped by the cross.
When he got down on the same level as the woman caught in adultery - He was shaped by the cross.
When he called the disciples - having pre-knowledge about them - He was shaped by the cross!
When He was teaching and loving those 12 men in John 17 - He was shaped by the cross.
When Jesus came along side those 2 disciples on the way to Emmaus in Luke 24 - He was shaped by the cross.
To determine what it means to be cruciform today think about what Jesus did in any given situation and then think about what you would do or how you would handle it. That will show you the difference.
When you can genuinely do things the same way as Jesus, and have motives that are not linked to what others may think about you - that is cruciform. When you stop asking Why or saying: "Not now Lord!" then you're beginning to life life cruciform...
** (thurs am:) As I reread this post I realized that last 2 paragraphs sounded a lot like "What Would Jesus Do" and with full apologies to Charles Shedd, that's not exactly what I meant. I think what I meant was - it's like an apprentice in the presence of the master craftsmen. It's not just changing behavior. It's allowing the craftsmen to guide and direct the apprentice to learn the skill with his guiding hands and words. It's not just doing religion "martyform" but it is thinking abt ALL I do cruciform - shaped by the Cross.
Would behaviors change?
What would I add to my life, and what would I take away?
Jesus spent every day of His 30plus years focused on one goal. That is, He was moving towards the cross. He knew it. He knew why.
When he ate with the tax collector - He did it shaped by the cross.
When he got down on the same level as the woman caught in adultery - He was shaped by the cross.
When he called the disciples - having pre-knowledge about them - He was shaped by the cross!
When He was teaching and loving those 12 men in John 17 - He was shaped by the cross.
When Jesus came along side those 2 disciples on the way to Emmaus in Luke 24 - He was shaped by the cross.
To determine what it means to be cruciform today think about what Jesus did in any given situation and then think about what you would do or how you would handle it. That will show you the difference.
When you can genuinely do things the same way as Jesus, and have motives that are not linked to what others may think about you - that is cruciform. When you stop asking Why or saying: "Not now Lord!" then you're beginning to life life cruciform...
** (thurs am:) As I reread this post I realized that last 2 paragraphs sounded a lot like "What Would Jesus Do" and with full apologies to Charles Shedd, that's not exactly what I meant. I think what I meant was - it's like an apprentice in the presence of the master craftsmen. It's not just changing behavior. It's allowing the craftsmen to guide and direct the apprentice to learn the skill with his guiding hands and words. It's not just doing religion "martyform" but it is thinking abt ALL I do cruciform - shaped by the Cross.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Cruciform
OK, so I've learned a new word. Cruciform. Dictionary.com says: Cru-ci-form(krs-fôrm)
adj. Shaped like a cross;
To put this adjective in front of anything makes it take on incredible meaning: cruciform church, cruciform evangelism, cruciform preaching...
I'm not sure about words not related to kingdom work, cruciform breakfast, cruciform car repair, but for eccleiastical words - WOW! it has incredible impact.
Do I approach my discipleship, shaped like the cross? Am I an evangelist, shaped by the cross? Is my church - shaped like the cross.
So what is the other side? Isn't the church still the church even if I don't say CRUCIFORM? I think what it does, at least for me, is it puts a renewed focus on what the subject is all about. Sometimes if I'm in discipleship mode - it can really be all about me. But if my discipleship is cruciform then it means that I've gotta get out of the way. It's all about Him.
adj. Shaped like a cross;
To put this adjective in front of anything makes it take on incredible meaning: cruciform church, cruciform evangelism, cruciform preaching...
I'm not sure about words not related to kingdom work, cruciform breakfast, cruciform car repair, but for eccleiastical words - WOW! it has incredible impact.
Do I approach my discipleship, shaped like the cross? Am I an evangelist, shaped by the cross? Is my church - shaped like the cross.
So what is the other side? Isn't the church still the church even if I don't say CRUCIFORM? I think what it does, at least for me, is it puts a renewed focus on what the subject is all about. Sometimes if I'm in discipleship mode - it can really be all about me. But if my discipleship is cruciform then it means that I've gotta get out of the way. It's all about Him.
Monday, July 17, 2006
and SO the Old Testament.... yea what was I thinkin'
In this summer when I am putting some work into spiritual formation and spiritual direction, I decided to take a class in Old Testament Theology. I'm in Charlottesville, taking a 1 week intensive at the C'ville Christian Study Center. I'm trusting in the midst of this that the Holy Spirit will somehow translate OT theology to Spiritual Formation stuff.
In class last night, we spent 3 hours in Genesis 1-3. And I learned that because of issues related to the Fall, "Life is Upside Down (inversion) and Inside Out (expulsion)." In other words things are incredibly messed up! God's design was for us (humans) to be vice-regents (with Him) over the earth. We were designed to worship Him and rule the world. Positionally, it was to be God, us, animals; but in the fall - humans took orders from the serpant (animals) and disobeyed God. We flipped the order from God -> Human -> Animals TO Animals -> Humans -> God. Then while we were supposed to be in the Garden - because of our disobedience we were kicked out (expelled) from the Garden.
Now hasn't it been that way ever since? I find myself so controlled by the earth and not really having dominion over it. I'm concerned about the weather everyday (maybe too much so). I fear the wind (hurricanes). I jump when a dog barks. When I'm working in the yard I'm looking for snakes. And really I'm not a fearful guy! ALSO: It's hard work for me to worship God - but easy for me to worship about everything else that crosses my mind or eye. I know how it's supposed to be. I know I want to worship God and rule the world, but the disobedience problem still gets in the way.
Well it's gotta be about Jesus, I am reminded (as I read Genesis) of Philippians 2:5-11. Jesus is the answer He is the ruler who shows us in his humanity how to rule and in His divinity how to be worshipped.
Philippians 2:5-11 --
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Now that is a perspective I can understand: Paul also says: "Copy me as I copy Christ."
In class last night, we spent 3 hours in Genesis 1-3. And I learned that because of issues related to the Fall, "Life is Upside Down (inversion) and Inside Out (expulsion)." In other words things are incredibly messed up! God's design was for us (humans) to be vice-regents (with Him) over the earth. We were designed to worship Him and rule the world. Positionally, it was to be God, us, animals; but in the fall - humans took orders from the serpant (animals) and disobeyed God. We flipped the order from God -> Human -> Animals TO Animals -> Humans -> God. Then while we were supposed to be in the Garden - because of our disobedience we were kicked out (expelled) from the Garden.
Now hasn't it been that way ever since? I find myself so controlled by the earth and not really having dominion over it. I'm concerned about the weather everyday (maybe too much so). I fear the wind (hurricanes). I jump when a dog barks. When I'm working in the yard I'm looking for snakes. And really I'm not a fearful guy! ALSO: It's hard work for me to worship God - but easy for me to worship about everything else that crosses my mind or eye. I know how it's supposed to be. I know I want to worship God and rule the world, but the disobedience problem still gets in the way.
Well it's gotta be about Jesus, I am reminded (as I read Genesis) of Philippians 2:5-11. Jesus is the answer He is the ruler who shows us in his humanity how to rule and in His divinity how to be worshipped.
Philippians 2:5-11 --
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Now that is a perspective I can understand: Paul also says: "Copy me as I copy Christ."
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