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Meant for More Than Just This (Eph. 4:1) January 24, 2010

 “Kung Fu Panda” is an animated movie about a panda named Po who longs to be a Kung Fu hero.[1] But several obstacles come between Po and his dream.  Perhaps the most significant is the fact that Po’s father longs for Po to take over the family’s noodle restaurant.  The movie opens with Po dreaming about being a Kung Fu master.  He wakes up and comes downstairs to the restaurant’s kitchen where his father is preparing noodles.  His father asks Po what he was dreaming about.  Knowing his father would disapprove of the Kung Fu dream, Po lies and says, “I was dreaming about—uh—noodles.”  “Noodles?” his father asks. “You were really dreaming about noodles?”  Po’s father cries out, “Oh, happy day!  My son, finally having the Noodle Dream! You don’t know how long I have been waiting for this moment!  This is a sign, Po!  You are almost ready to be entrusted with the secret ingredient to my Secret Ingredient Soup! And then you will fulfill your destiny and take over the restaurant—just as I took it over from my father, who took it over from his father…”  “But, Dad,” Po asks, “didn’t you ever want to do something else? Something besides noodles?”  “Actually,” his father admits, “when I was young and crazy, I thought about running away and learning how to make tofu.”  “So why didn’t you?” Po asks.  “Because it was a stupid dream,” his father replies. “Can you imagine me making tofu? No, we all have our place in this world. Mine is here, and yours is—.”  “I know,” Po interrupts. “Mine is here.”  And Po mopes off, dissatisfied with his calling in life, his destiny.

 Read More »Meant for More Than Just This (Eph. 4:1) January 24, 2010

On Our Knees: Praying For All (Eph. 6:18-20) Jan. 17, 2010

I’ve decided to devote at least part of 2010 studying the prayers of Jesus.  I’ve already spent several weeks immersing myself in the prayer-life of Jesus.  And one thing I am struck by is the simple fact that Jesus prayed.  I often think of prayer as the pathway to two things: resources and relationships.  I pray in order to gain resources I cannot produce myself.  And I pray in order to gain a deeper relationship with God which I cannot deepen in any other way.  Yet on both of these counts, it would seem that Jesus would not need prayer.  Consider resources.  Jesus had the power to create most resources by himself.  He had the power to create food—multiplying fish and loaves.  He had the power to heal illness—from blindness to leprosy.  He could control the weather—stilling a storm with just a phrase.  Why would someone like that even need to pray?  What resources would Jesus require that he could not produce himself?  In addition, consider the issue of relationship.  Jesus is God.  He and the Father are one.  If one purpose of prayer is to cultivate intimacy with God, it would appear as if Jesus already has the deepest intimacy possible.  He is so intimate with God that he is God.

 Read More »On Our Knees: Praying For All (Eph. 6:18-20) Jan. 17, 2010

On Our Knees: Praying For God’s Resources (Eph. 1:15-23) Jan. 3, 2010

On the day after Christmas Highland lost a wonderful saint named Mike Davidson.  I was privileged to be with his family and friends in his home as Mike breathed his last.  Just before Christmas we lost another godly person: Dorothy Jean Gooch.  I was honored to be part of the memorial service in which we celebrated her life.  These two transitions, happening close together, and towards the end of the year, have caused me to reflect much on life.  I’ve been thinking a lot about my past, my present, and my future.

 Read More »On Our Knees: Praying For God’s Resources (Eph. 1:15-23) Jan. 3, 2010

Saving For Christmas: Jesus is Savior From All (Lk. 2:1-14)

1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.   8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Lk. 2:1-14 ESV).

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