Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Do everything without complaining or arguing.


I’ve told a couple of people about this, because it had a positive impact on my life, so now I’m going to put it here. I was listening to a sermon by my aunt’s pastor on my iPod, and he brought up a verse that has always given me some trouble. Philippians 2:14. Sometimes the best epiphanies come out of a verse we struggle with or don’t understand.

The verse says, “Do everything without complaining or arguing.” Well, that just won’t work for me. I’m in law school. Also, would it work for anyone? Sometimes issues need to be worked out, conflicts need to arise, and people need to stop others from walking on them. Sometimes arguments and debates can help others see alternate points of view. I don’t mind the complaining part, but I totally think we should argue. One of the best things about the Bible is the fact that the information inside fits real life so well and is useful. This? Not so much. Some translations change the phrase to “complaining or grumbling,” but I think that’s a mistake. The "arguing" part helped me deal with the aftermath of conflict and incidences that angered me.

The pastor pointed out that the original word used that was translated as “arguing” doesn’t refer to an outward argument with other people. It refers to an internal argument. What does that mean? The pastor asked the listeners, “When you are mad at someone, do you ever have an argument with them in your head?” Do you ever rehearse what you would say to them for hours as you are driving, brushing your teeth, doing your makeup, or cleaning your house? Do you ever sit in a constant state of fuming, going over what you would say if they came back with a certain retort, and then what you would say to that? Do you ever practice what you would say to other people regarding your side of the fight? Do you ever defend yourself hypothetically to get out your anger and defend yourself?

This is the arguing the Bible advises against. I believe the pastor is right, because I stopped doing this. At first, it was a hard habit to break. I have lots that I would say to people if I believed they would listen or understand, and instead of saying it to them, I say it to myself. I stage an argument in my head, mentally writing a script where I wittily win every fight and get my point across perfectly. THEN I would catch myself five minutes into it, and I would stop. I kept cutting it off as soon as I realized I was doing it. The knot in my stomach released, and I quit thinking about the things and people that angered me. I quit talking about it and constantly telling the story about why no one understands and how I was wronged. I was able to forgive.

The Bible talks about your thoughts and your heart a lot. Jesus says that if a man hates someone, he murders him in his heart. I think when you stop entertaining revenge fantasies or dwelling on something, you stop indulging yourself and you are able to let it go more. Jesus doesn’t just want us to stop yelling at others or actually killing. He wants us to have the self-control, wisdom, and heart that keeps us in a place where killing and cursing people out isn’t even an option. We haven’t mentally gotten to the place where revenge is a real possibility, because we haven’t allowed ourselves to plan it. We haven’t gotten to the point where we can’t forgive, because we aren’t stroking our egos by constantly thinking about what we would say, and thereby keeping the fight alive. I recommend stopping internal arguments if you do this too. It’ll set you free.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Do yourselves a favor....


Exams + holidays cramp a blogger's style NASTY. So this is a lazy post with no original thought at all, however, if you take my advice and actually listen to these, this will end up being a favorite post. Most of you won't, because you "don't have time," but I really wish you would. As my immediate family knows, I will not rest until I've tried to make everyone hear these.

These are my top Tim Keller sermons. Tim Keller has been my pastor crush through all of law school. I go through pastor phases, and he's stuck around for nearly three years. I tell people it's like he crawled into the modern, success/image-obsessed brain, took a look around, and then came out and analyzed it along with a pretty masterful grasp of scripture. He's an avid reader, and that really comes through. He doesn't waste time or words and he logically builds to conclusions that have knocked me on my tail.

All of these are available on his podcast on iTunes, or you can just google his name and the name of the sermons and it will take you to his site, where these sermons are there for free. I like to put them on my iPod and listen to them on drives. But beware: the tollbooth workers will think you are crazypants if you pull up bawling to give them your dollar.

In order of awesomeness....

The Man the King Delights to Honor- The best thing I've ever heard on pride. It borrows heavily from C.S. Lewis, but only takes Lewis' best lines. Then Keller wraps it all together with how the gospel comes into play in this subject. I used to be really hard on myself all the time, and it would get me pretty depressed. This sermon killed that tendency immediately. If you like this one, supplement it with "The Sickness Unto Death" or by reading "Counterfeit Gods." http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/man-king-delights-honor

The Struggle for Love- I never knew there was so much to the story of Jacob in the Old Testament. http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/struggle-love

The Lord of the Wine- Ever wonder why Jesus' "water into wine" miracle was the first and why it was so important? http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/lord-wine

Sexuality and Christian Hope- Throw away all your purity talks. This is the only one you need, and it's not just for single people either. It just shows sexuality and love and puts it in perspective of overall life. http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/sexuality-and-christian-hope

Marriage as Commitment and Priority- For married people who are sick of gushy cliches and simple advice that just doesn't cut it in the day-by-day. http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/marriage-commitment-priority

The Two Great Tests- In life, there are two things that will let you know what you are made of. http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/two-great-tests

Suffering: If Got is good, why is there so much evil in the world?- Self-explanatory. I've heard a lot on this topic, but the second half of this sermon knocks it out of the ballpark. http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/suffering-if-god-good-why-there-so-much-evil-world

The Healing of Anger- Got anger? Got no anger? This is a good one about how anger is a good thing, unless it goes sour. http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/healing-anger

Sin as Slavery- Also self-explanatory http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/sin-slavery

The Longing for Home- Everybody's got it. http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/longing-home

Made for Stewardship- This one is about work. It helps me to not procrastinate.http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/made-stewardship

Real Friendship and the Pleading Priest- Never saw things this way before. http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/real-friendship-and-pleading-priest

The Prodigal Sons
http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/prodigal-sons

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If you are hankering for something light to read on scripture, this list is hilarious. Beware of some language concerns (a few F-bombs in humor), but I've read this twice. It's so funny.

http://www.cracked.com/article_15699_the-9-most-badass-bible-verses.html

Happy holidays!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

My Favorite Spiritual Songs

I have my last exam tomorrow (yay), so I have to study all day today. That means I won’t be doing the post I intended for this week. I decided to do the one I had mostly done already instead; the one that was requested. Caveat: I’m no music snob, so I can’t promise this list has good music on it or that the hipsters will be pleased. But these are the remotely spiritual songs that have stuck with me. Lyrics are more important to me than most other things.

  • Vice Verses- Switchfoot. Actually, anything by them. The Beautiful Letdown has great words for a Christian and Sing It Out is gorgeous. I already mentioned “Afterlife”. Switchfoot is best for its lyrics, which just nail the human experience on the head 99% of the time without shoving "Jesuses per minute" down your throat. I know agnostics who like this band. The lyrics don't hold spiritual punches and are clearly shaped by the Bible, but the music is inclusive.
  • Overjoyed- Jars of Clay
  • Faithful to Me- Jennifer Knapp
  • No Regrets- Jennifer Knapp
  • Somebody’s Baby- Jon Foreman (Resurrect Me and Your Love is Strong)
  • When Love Sees You- Mac Powell
  • Lose My Soul- Toby Mac
  • Wake Up Love- Melanie Penn
  • Who is Like You?- Meredith Andrews
  • White Man- Michael Gungor Band
  • Constance- Mr. J. Madeiros
  • Take Me As I Am- Lecrae
  • In the Words of Satan- The Arrows
  • All These Things I’ve Done- The Killers
  • Ain’t No Grave- Johnny Cash
  • It Must Be You- Bart Millard
  • Rise Up- Ben Shive
  • Bend- Brandon Heath
  • Breathe Me- Sia
  • Mercy on Me- Christina Aguilera
  • Love is a Fast Song- Copeland
  • Everything- Lifehouse
  • In the Light- DC Talk
  • The General- Dispatch
  • Shake It Out- Florence and the Machine
  • Grace By Which I Stand- Keith Green
  • God Is God- Steven Curtis Chapman
  • Who Am I?- Flyleaf (Also: Arise, Fully Alive)
  • Now We Are Free- Gladiator soundtrack
  • The Les Miserables Soundtrack
  • Like an Avalanche- Hillsong United
  • Code Name: Raven- House of Heroes
  • Glittering Clouds- Imogen Heap
  • Viva La Vida- Coldplay
  • On My Knees- Jaci Velasquez
  • Chaos- Mute Math (also: You Are Mine, Noticed)
  • Welcome to the Black Parade- My Chemical Romance
  • In Christ Alone- Natalie Grant
  • Redeemer- Nicole C Mullen
  • Truly Amazing- POD
  • My Heart- Paramore
  • Through Heaven’s Eyes- The Prince of Egypt soundtrack
  • Hero- Regina Spektor (also: The Call, Human of the Year)
  • Whatever You’re Doing- Sanctus Real (this is a sound I usually don't care for. I don't like the guy's voice and it sounds like too much other contemporary Christian music. But the words are cool)
  • Painting Pictures of Egypt- Sara Groves
  • Birthright- Sleeping at Last
  • Stand- Susan Ashton
  • Love Reign O’er Me- The Who
  • I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking for- U2. Lots of people take this song as a diss. Like Bono knows God, but that still isn’t enough and he’s looking for more. I take it as awesome, because, the way I take it, as great as what we get to see here, what we are really looking for is coming up. It’s hopeful. (also: Gloria)
  • Show Me Your Glory- Third Day (also: Love Song and It’s Alright)
  • Your Great Name- Natalie Grant
  • C.S. Lewis Song- Brooke Fraser
  • Flags- Brooke Fraser

The “so bad they are legendary”category: The Trumpet of Jesus- The Imperials, The Champion- Carmen
-These songs are hilarious. I once met someone who told me that his church made him be in a “The Champion” skit once. I asked him if there was a video. Sadly, there was not. But if you’ve heard the song, you can imagine.

What are yours? I'm always looking for music to download.

Monday, December 5, 2011

What it feels like for a Christian, part 4: Reading the Bible


I know the date of posting says Monday, but it's after midnight, so it's Tuesday. Ha.

The Bible has stood the test of time. For centuries, people have been trying to discredit it, but it’s stuck around and shaped the world we live in. Its principles, the way it views human life, and its laws have determined our practices. It’s written from many different perspectives and several different cultures. It has around 40 different authors, spanning centuries, and yet it all fits together. It contains historical fact that even people who don’t believe in God admit is reliable. It’s a mash-up of history, stories, poetry, proverbs, prophecy, laments, and philosophy. Lots of people assume that the only things the Bible contains are morality tales.

The Bible can be a fun intellectual challenge, especially if you care what the Bible says. A scholar said something like “If you haven’t been challenged, thrilled, and changed by studying the Bible, then you haven’t studied the Bible.” Also, the Bible is alive, because you get something new out of it every time you read it. Depending on where you are in life and how much you know about the Bible, you will get different things out of it. It can fulfill a certain existential hunger too. It can go as deep as you can go. Go ahead and test it.

Some people like to read the Bible unaided, except by the Holy Spirit. Others warn of the dangers of misinterpretation/bias. I would warn of the dangers of missing the full significance of a passage. We see things through our cultural lenses, so commentaries that outline the cultural significance of certain details are extremely helpful. I think adding expert opinion can enrich the experience, but just reading it is fine too. I’m also a fan of Christian nonfiction, which can elaborate on difficult passages, or passages that seem simple until someone points out what all is in there. Many Biblical terms and words provide challenges to translators, and commentaries will point out the literal translations and the choices the translators made and why.

The only book of the Bible that bored me was Joshua, weirdly. The more time you spend learning about the Bible, discovering what it actually says, and going through its layers, the more you love it. Also, it’s a great resource for getting to know God. If you aren’t a reader, it will be more of a challenge. But you can still get into groups to study, listen to sermons, or get the Bible on tape. Soon, passages and concepts from it will fly to you as fast as a lines from your favorite movie. Maybe that’s what “writing it on your heart” is.

Some people say, “Christians don’t read the Bible, but atheists do, and that’s why they don’t believe it.” I don’t know who said that, but I disagree and I’m pretty sure whoever first said that made it up. Because, as someone who read it, I truly doubt that your average atheist has. The atheists won’t care enough. It’s a challenge for a Christian to get through, and they believe it’s the literal word of God. I recommend anyone give it a try though, if they want, and that they also have a Christian on speed-dial to provide some summaries and answers.

From my experience, atheists who dislike the Bible have heard of two or three things in the it that they don’t understand, that sounds biased/racist/morally wrong, that sounds stupid out of context, or that they disagree with. Then they use those two or three things as a reason to discard the entire Bible. Then they feel comforted in the fact that nothing in the Bible is true and they don’t have to think about it. If you actually ask, “What do Biblical scholars and intelligent Christians say about this difficult passage?” then you might get somewhere. Give it a fighting chance.

Considering both sides until you have heard it all will show you that the Bible is not totally ridiculous, and there are real, sane reasons things are included in the Bible that offend us in this time and place. Also, you have been shaped by a culture completely saturated with Biblical principles and priorities. You are judging the thing from which YOU GOT your standards for judgment in the first place. If you find a passage that ticks you off or confuses you, find a rebuttal. Or you can post the reference here and I will see if I can help.

Read the translation you will actually read, unless your church rules demand otherwise. I like ESV. Sometimes I read The Message along with something, like, The King James version, to see the differences in interpretation. The Message is one guy’s take on what the Bible would sound like in modern language. It’s fun to see what someone else gets from certain passages.

Top 15 books:
1. John
2. Isaiah- Packs a wallop. Sheer power.
3. Psalms
4. Proverbs
5. Deuteronomy
6. Ecclesiastes
7-9. Matthew, Mark, and Luke- Reading all four gospels in one sitting is a good experience
10. Hebrews
11. Revelation
12. First Corinthians
13. Romans
14. Genesis- Hone in on the culture here. It’s the beginning of God revealing himself to the world and showing how he is different from the other ancient gods. It also shows how people are the same today as they were long ago.
15. Leviticus- Here, God was making a nation that would stand out from the rest of the world. Yeah, some of the laws are a puzzle to us today, but if you look at them in context, you can see that they were a huge step forward at the time. You can also see God’s values, the importance of justice, and God’s emphasis on caring for the poor. And a lot of the laws are funny.
Honorable mention: The stories of David and Elijah.
(btw, if you read three chapters a day and five on weekends, you can finish the Bible in one year)

I’m excited about next week’s post. It means a lot to me.