B.J. Murrey - World Orphans, Central America

Found on the front page of the "Order For The Worship of God" for Park Cities Presbyterian Church last Sunday:

"To all who are spiritually weary and seek rest; to all who mourn and long for comfort; to all who struggle and desire victory; to all who sin and need a Savior; to all who are strangers and want fellowship; to all who hunger and thirst after righteousness; and to all who will come, this church opens wide her doors and offers welcome in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ."

Would it be that all churches would be so bold, so humble and so near the heart of God...!

Sam Sneau  (via Facebook) posits: "Since the vast majority of us are living our Plan B (if not C or D), that begs the question: What was/is your Plan A?"

My response to this very thoughtful question is this:

My hunch is that "Plan A" is almost always the self-reliant, self-motivated, selfish and self-sufficient plan, while plans "B", "C", and following, all include more and more true humility and community.

My prayer for today is that more and more in my life, my plans "B", "C" and following might become my plan "A" and that plan "A" might always be a quiet reliance on the Spirit of God for His power and wisdom and a patience with others who are working under the same influence. I believe the Bible refers to this as "sanctification".

Many people who don't know me well say that I am arrogant. They believe that I genuinely think I never do anything wrong. Usually this conclusion is based on the fact that, like Tom Petty, I "won't back down" from a position that I have not arrived at lightly. My close friends (read: Mentors, Board of Trustees) know I do my research before I stand that ground. My close friends also know that when presented with proof to the contrary, I will readily admit that I am wrong. I'm not afraid of being wrong - I am afraid of being ignorant... but that's another blog.

Tonight I had a semi-profound realization that I am rarely really sorry. My enemies, ex-girlfriends and probably my parents (some of those categories may overlap...) will be quick to point this out, but I would call into question their objectivity on the examples they give. It is true - but most likely NOT in their examples. I realized tonight that I say "I'm sorry" sometimes, but what I really mean is "I don't really intend to make the changes required in my life to prevent the future recurrence of this instance, but it bugs me that it caused us an inconvenience right now." I'm annoyed, not repentant.

The modern understanding of repentance, in the Christian sense of the term, is rarely accurate. We tend to think of it as a "feeling" of sorrow for something we have been caught doing or confronted on. Hardly the Biblical definition. Repentance is not a feeling or an attitude, but both contrition and action. Catholic confessionals have further complicated this, I think, systematizing our guilt away, tending to lead us to believe the following:

1. Enter Confessional.

2. Tell Priest how bad you are.

3. Tell priest how sorry you are for how bad you are.

4. Priest gives you spiritual "homework" (Hail Mary's and Our Father's).

5. You have a false sense of relief of sin, guilt and conscience with no sign of true repentance.

How dangerous!

The Biblical definition of repentance is: "Make no provision for the flesh!" (Romans 13:4) Much like Dr. Gregory House on the popular television show "House",  who knows that being addicted to Vicodin is bad and wants to quit, yet he always keeps some in his pocket just in case things get rough. Or worse, he'll have his friends help him "kick the habit" only to pull out the secret stash they don't know about after they have invested so much into him for his benefit. I much more respond to sin in my life like Dr. House than like a true Christian. I not only make provision for the flesh, I have at times invited "the flesh" to be my room mate. Now I relate to the Apostle Paul in Romans 7 when he exclaims "Oh! What a wretched man that I am! Who will relieve me from this body of death!?"

Make no provision for the flesh... my new resolution is to never say I am sorry again. Not because I am arrogant, but because when I make no provision for the flesh, people will SEE that I am TRULY REPENTANT without ever saying a word...

DISCLAIMER:

Finally, it makes sense. I realize what the title "My Utmost for His Highest" - the book of Christian thoughts compiled by Oswald Chambers - means. It may sound stupid, but I really didn't know what the title was all about from reading the contents.

I've long considered it "fluff" devotionals, along with "Our Daily Bread", etc. but have recently found a renewed interest in them. Especially this one:

"Him shall He teach in the way He chooses" ( Psalm 25:12  ). At first, we want the awareness of being guided by God. But then as we grow spiritually, we live so fully aware of God that we do not even need to ask what His will is, because the thought of choosing another way will never occur to us. If we are saved and sanctified, God guides us by our everyday choices. And if we are about to choose what He does not want, He will give us a sense of doubt or restraint, which we must heed. Whenever there is doubt, stop at once. Never try to reason it out, saying, "I wonder why I shouldn’t do this?" God instructs us in what we choose; that is, He actually guides our common sense. And when we yield to His teachings and guidance, we no longer hinder His Spirit by continually asking, "Now, Lord, what is Your will?"

 This is possibly the best-articulated way of "knowing God's will" that I have ever heard, with one caveat that could be misleading. For someone to read this who is not walking closely with the God could think that whatever they want to do is ok with God for them to do as long as they "feel" it's ok or wrong if they "feel" it's not ok.  Perhaps some more caution should have been included with this description - one that depicts my parents - many times they dont have to ask the other, because their relationship is such that they KNOW the other's will. But this is after almost 40 years of marriage mind you. It wasn't always that way.

 Sometimes I succeed in maintaining my relationship that closely with God, while other times I fail. But overall, it's good to know that He's my friend and He wants me to know and do His will. Passages like this are most encouraging to me when I know He wants me to do something, but it's been a long time since I had heard confirmation of such. I long to do His will. I know He wants what's best for me, and His glory. Pursuing His glory is a great reminder that we are on the right track.

"God help me to glorify you today in my actions, my words, my thoughts and my use of time. May you draw near to me as I draw near to you. Be my constant advisor, my assurance, my friend, my support. Thank you for never leaving me or forsaking me."