Jolt Quote XXVII (Poem)

Life's Scars


They say the world is round, and yet
I often think it square,
So many little hurts we get
From corners here and there.
But one great truth in life I've found,
While journeying to the West-
The only folks who really wound
Are those we love the best.


The man you thoroughly despise
Can rouse your wrath, 'tis true;
Annoyance in your heart will rise
At things mere strangers do;
But those are only passing ills;
This rule all lives will prove;
The rankling wound which aches and thrills
Is dealt by hands we love.


The choicest garb, the sweetest grace,
Are oft to strangers shown;
The careless mien, the frowning face,
Are given to our own.
We flatter those we scarcely know,
We please the fleeting guest,
And deal full many a thoughtless blow
To those who love us best. (italics mine)


Love does not grow on every tree,
Nor true hearts yearly bloom.
Alas for those who only see
This cut across a tomb!
But, soon or late, the fact grows plain
To all through sorrow's test:
The only folks who give us pain
Are those we love the best. (italics mine)


(Ella Wheeler Wilcox)

When We Feel Discouraged

Title: WHEN WE FEEL DISCOURAGED
Written by: Conrade Yap
Date: 27 July 2010

MAIN IDEA: A reflection of David's exhortation to his son, Solomon prior to the building of the greatest project in Jewish history: Building the Temple of the LORD. Remember the 7Ps when we are feeling discouraged.

"All this," David said, "I have in writing from the hand of the LORD upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan." David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished. The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing man skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command." (1 Chronicles 28:19-21)

The work is immense. The task is colossal. How can one mortal person build a gigantic temple to the Eternal God? I suppose Solomon, the son of King David could have been discouraged when he saw the huge project before him. Who would not? Moreover, in the mind of Solomon, it is a job that God spoke directly to David. Should not his father do the job himself? Why involve the next generation? After all, Solomon could have enjoyed his life in luxury (which he did), marry beautiful women (which he did), display wise knowledge and judgment (which he did), and bask in the riches of kingly benefits (which he did!). Named the wisest man in history, Solomon is not immune to discouragement. His father David is aware that even the wisest person on earth can at times be discouraged.

This passage teaches me the importance of learning to look up when we are down. Let me share 7 tips to consider whenever we feel discouraged. Let me call it the 7 P’s to tackle any discouragement.

Book: "Saving Jesus from the Church" (Robin Myers)

Title: Saving Jesus from the Church
Author: Robin Myers
Published: NY: HarperCollins, 2009.

The title of the book troubles me. It suggests that Jesus, the Savior of the world Himself needs to be saved. It conjures up in my head images of Batman & Robin saving Gotham City from its enemies; or some super-hero battling against evil villains to save helpless victims in the land. I was initially intrigued by such a grandiose statement. As I read on, it appears that the author has an axe to grind against the conservative-right-wing-politically-vocal voice that puts compliance over community. The truth is that, Myers's approach is to provoke readers in such a way that they understand why Myers is calling for a change from institutionalized religion to a relationship-based community of Jesus-followers. Semantics are particularly important so that we can clearly understand which camp Myers is referring to.

What the Book is About
Change. Myers argue that the Good Name of Jesus has been much maligned by Bible-thumping, compliance-based religion. His basic point is this:

“Once again, religion at its best should be biblically responsible, intellectually honest, emotionally satisfying, and socially significant.” (22)

His chorus goes like this: Say 'no' to the institutional church, but say 'yes' to Jesus.
By 'biblically responsible,' Myers argues for a shift:

• From Faith as mere belief TO that of living it;
• From Using the Cross to condemn 'original sin' TOWARD forgiveness and 'original blessings';
• From Christianity as Condemnation TO Compassion;
• From Discipleship as Observance TO Obedience;
• From Justice as Control TO that of Covenant;
• From Self-Righteousness in God TO Relationship.

He makes clear his preference for the kind of Christianity he wants. It is that kind of church where:

• There is no hierarchy, and where people rich/poor, young/old, from all walks of life can sit together and worship Jesus;
• where sexual orientation, science and communion matters not discriminated against some believers; 
• where all are level, without distinction from one another;

My Comments
I understand where Myers is coming from. In his eagerness to promote his brand of open Christianity, of liberally questioning the traditional creeds under the guise of scholarship, he may have unwittingly thrown away the baby with the bathwater: Tradition. It is easy for him to disregard tradition like what he did in the book. However, it does grave injustice to the reasons why the traditions are there in the first place. While I think Myers has a point against institutionalized religion, his brand of 'following Jesus' needs a stronger theological base. In other words, if he is genuinely interested in 'saving Jesus from the church,' he should be more precise in his critique of some church people, scholars or theologians who are dead against liberally discrediting the creeds. The latter borders on sacrilegious treatment of the tenets of the faith. One example is his perjorative treatment of the Bishop of Durham, NT Wright, who argues passionately against 'higher criticism,' which tends to put self above the authority of the Bible. Myers could have tried to give argument against argument, instead of simply shrugging it away and blame Wright for being one who 'protest too much.' (152-3)

There are some good points to take from the book. One of my favourite chapters is the part where Myers wax eloquent over the need to put justice and community together.  He also has strong arguments against the prosperity gospel, sharply criticizing Joel Osteen's  teaching as reversing Matthew 6:33. Christians should seek the kingdom first and the things they need will be given to them. Instead, Joel Osteen reverses it, and turns one's humble request for 'our daily bread' into manifold earthly riches and physical health.

Will I recommend this book? I would, but cautiously. For those of us who are already struggling with Church, this book only adds fuel to our disappointment with church. For those of us who understands the limitations of Church structure and leadership problems, it is a good wake-up call to avoid becoming too insistent on religious conformance that we ignore the importance of relationships. For everyone else, read the book as : "Saving Christians from Churchianity." This is a more accurate title.


Rating: 3 stars of 5.
conrade

Joni Eareckson Tada

Joni Eareckson Tada

I heard of Joni Eareckson Tada when I was in my 20s. Due to an unfortunate diving accident back in 1967, Joni lost the use of her hands and became a quadriplegic. She did not lose her will to live. Instead of moaning over the loss of her limbs, she determined to use whatever she has: Her energy and determination to make a difference for people handicapped like her. Thus began a ministry called "Joni and Friends," to reach out and empower disabled people that they too can make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others.

Joni is an impressive character. Though I have never see her personally, her life, writings and publicity has touched me in many ways. This week, I received an invitation to download one chapter of her audio book, "A Place of Healing, from Christian Audio. You may want to take advantage for this limited time offer, until the end of July 2010 here. Listening to this sharing is uplifting and encouraging. You should do it.

There is another piece of good news. Last month, Joni was diagnosed with breast cancer. Just today, Joni blogged about some good news even as she goes through chemotherapy.

I must say, I salute this strong lady, and pray that her faith will grow from strength to strength, and in the process, encourage many more people to do the same. Do pray for her and follow her developments here.

conrade

Worldliness in the Church

TITLE: Worldliness in the Church
Written by: Conrade Yap
Date: 17 July 2010

MAIN IDEA: Beware the presence of worldliness in the church, especially those that perpetuate the promiscuities of prosperity.

At the end of the 19th Century, Bishop Huntington of Central New York writes this in a religious journal related to the Quakers, 'The Friend.' He warns the professing Church of Christ about the internal threat to the Church: "Worldliness in the Church."

"In prosperous times like ours, and in affluent communities, Antichrist goes himself to church, patronizes preaching, buys a pew, gets himself elected to the vestry, and takes a hand in shaping the policy of the establishment, and by blandishment or bluster, in pitching the keys of the pulpit. All that you may hear said of the mischief of this secular corruption in disordering Christ's family, vitiating doctrine, emasculating the manhood of the ministry, and lowering the standard of personal righteousness, rather understates than exaggerates the fact. It is not scientific doubt, not atheism, not pantheism, not agnosticism, that in our day and in this land is likely to quench the light of the Gospel. It is a proud, sensuous, selfish, luxurious, church-going, hollow-hearted prosperity."

(Bishop Frederic D. Huntington, in THE FRIEND – A religious and Literary Journal, Vol LXII, Philadelphia: WM H Pile’s Sons, 1889, p326)

What a paradox. The more prosperous we are, the greater the tendency toward worldliness. It certainly casts a fresh light to what it means when Jesus tells us to choose between God or Money.  In Matthew 6:24, the word, Mammon, translated as Money, is also understood as 'that which we show our allegiance to.'  We have to choose either to worship God or to worship idols. There is no other way. Huntington hits it hard, and it appears that the battles that he fought in his era, are not so much different than 2010 now. The greatest threat to the Church is the insidious invasion of the pursuit of prosperity instead of the pursuit of Christ.

The 'Prosperity Gospel' has been going on for quite a while. The Wealth and Health teachings have gripped the attention of many faithfuls, who virtually soak in everything the Faith-Word healers and preachers offer on their stage. Under the guise of religion, they have legitimized their pursuit of wealth. Under the convenient permission of God wanting them to be rich, they have justified their own hoarding in the name of using wealth to help others. Under the constant barrage of teachings against the law, they have conveniently excused themselves from having to obey the disciplines of old, in favour of an unlimited providence from a cuddly 'daddy' God. They have replaced the dangers of sin with the wagers of pleasure. The biggest concern I have is the direct equation of blessings with all things 'material.' When this happens, is this not a forming of a golden calf of Materialism? Is this not a new face of Mammon? I ask, how can this ever be a legitimate pursuit of Christ? Do we really need so much 'blessings' in order to bless others? The way to bless others is not on the basis of replicating our own appetites inside them. It is to let them grow their love toward God and neighbour in their own special way.

 [Picture Credit: imspeakingtruth.wordpress.com]

A) Worldliness in the Church
I am not saying that everyone in the prosperity gospel churches are infatuated with materialism. In fact, I will grant that there are genuine people within the flock, who yearns to know and to love Jesus more. Many of them are pious, and are generous with what they have. Some are even prepared to live sacrificially, that the Name of Christ can be broadcast farther. What bothers me is the teaching. If I were to blame, I blame the preachers for giving hopes centered on materialism. I blame these stage performers for trying to paint God like a heavenly treasury, or a heavenly Bank that writes checks that can be readily cashed on earth.  Sometimes, the world that we live in influence our attitudes toward worldly possessions and worldly pursuits.

The Chicago pastor AW Tozer writes,

"In a similar sense, there are those who are more influenced by the world than by the New Testament, and they are not ready for the Holy Spirit. Of these people, we have to say that they are influenced far more by Hollywood than they are by Jerusalem. Their spirit and mode of life are more like Hollywood than it is like Jerusalem. If you were to suddenly set them down in the New Jerusalem, they would not feel at home because their mode, the texture of their mind, has been created for them by twentieth century entertainment and not by the things of God!" (AW Tozer)

Using the formula of entertainment, riches, and health, how can any church NOT draw people in? How can such an organization not grow? How can anyone resist the temptation of getting rich materially while accumulating spiritual knowledge?

B) An Old Argument?
My question is: Is this dated, old warning from Bishop Huntington relevant for us today? For those of us who immediately asks WHY, may I suggest we ask with the same breath, "Why not?"

One of the problems of modern Christianity, especially in developed countries is that we seek ways in which to justify what we have. The rich tries to justify their pursuit of more riches. The poor tries to justify for additional wealth. Prosperity Gospel does not care whether one is rich or poor. For example, in the rich West, "Prosperity Gospel' quickly becomes a convenient way for people to get more in order to become happier. In the poorer parts of the world, like Africa, the poor are deceived into giving away whatever little they have to the coffers of the prosperity preachers, and in the process, starving their needy families for the needed funds to buy food and clothing. In some ways, the fanatical follower of the Prosperity Gospel is like the gambler addicted to gambling.

It is easy for us to go to lengths and defend our current lifestyles. It is easy to blame it on our busy schedules and that we have lots of other things better to do. It is also quite common to say that we cannot control our society. After all, we need to make a living right? Wrong!

C) The Seduction of Positive Power
In the book "Losing Moses on the Freeway," Chris Hedges sees similarities between motivational gurus like Anthony Robbins and the prosperity gospel preachers. He writes about Anthony Robbins:

"His message is a secular version of the television evangelist's gospel of greed and personal empowerment. Once you pay your tithe to these groups, God will shower you with blessings. God will do your bidding. God will make you rich. The testimonials used by these multimillionaire television evangelists differ little from those used by Robbins. Robbins offer secular rather than divine tools to reach the same end. Each peddles a dangerous form of self-worship. They tap into the greed that runs like an electric current through America. They promise quick, easy shortcuts to get what we want, to become the idol we worship." (Chris Hedges, Losing Moses on the Freeway, NY: Free Press, 2005, p161) 

We become the idols we worship. In fact, when followers vigorously, and vehemently defend their prosperity preachers with their lives, they have sought to protect the idols both outside and inside. Both feed on each other. Such adherents need their preachers to feed them more of the prosperity gospel. Without them, they suffocate. That is why they defend tooth and nail to ensure that their prosperity idols remain intact, so that their inner idols remain steadfast in their hearts.

D) Wisdom from Proverbs
The wisdom from Proverbs show us the way to navigate through the valley of the shadow of worldliness. It says:

“Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread." (Proverbs 30:7-8)

How we need to pray this prayer each day. We need God to show us that all we need is our daily bread. We pray the Lord's prayer to grant us our daily providence, and to lead us not to temptation but to deliver us from evil. We need to declare that God is our Heavenly Father, and in Him alone we trust and declare our sufficiency. God has freed us not only from the law, but also from the deceitful desires after Mammon; and the Money that the idol of prosperity promises.

Beware of the insidious tendencies of the prosperity gospel that leads us to idolatry. They will even use the Name of Christ to legitimize our pursuits. They will accuse those who are against prosperity preaching, to people who prefer poverty and sickness. This is absurd. Such accusations border on mischief more than anything else. Believers in Christ, when they are led by the Spirit will seek to shine a light in a world of darkness. May I encourage believers, even those in the prosperity gospel camp, to seek Christ and Christ alone. That whether in riches or in poverty, it is only Christ they seek. As we do this more and more, we learn to banish worldliness from the church. For the Church, neither prosperity nor poverty should be sought. They must seek Christ alone, and they do so on the sufficiency of the daily bread God faithfully delivers each day.

In Christ, we do not need to come to God: "Can I have more money please?" Instead we come and we say: "Have mercy on me, O God!" Beware too, that worldliness can infect not only churches that teaches the prosperity gospel. It can influence *ANY* church.

conrade

Book - "Secrets of a Very Good Marriage"

TITLE: SECRETS OF A VERY GOOD MARRIAGE - Lessons from the sea
AUTHOR: Sherry Suib Cohen
PUBLISHED: NY: Carol Southern Books, 1993.

A good marriage is hard work. Encouraging good marriages is good work. This alone is one reason why we ought to regularly learn about ways to nourish our own marriages. This book is a pleasant contribution to the field of marriage. It is not a scientific or marital counseling type of book. Instead, it is a person's own journey on what it takes to keep a marriage warm and cuddly.  Although the title seems to suggest a list of secrets that can lead to marital bliss, it is more about the author’s desire to cherish her third marriage. It is in essence a litany of her continuous longing to make it work, far better than all of her previous relationships.

In doing so, she attempts to put together a very creative way of looking at marriage from a fisherman’s wife point of view. She adds in lots of funny stories and gently ease out some learning points for readers to consider. The book is divided into four parts. Each part, using the boating metaphor, Cohen sees each marriage having firstly a ‘launching’ aspect, where couples enter into a new relationship together. The next phase is the ‘tides’ where the marriage will progress quite rapidly toward flowing and ebbing like waves. It describes how relationships move through ups and downs, ins and outs as each partner discovers more of the other each day. The third phase is ‘crosscurrents’ which is likened to the tougher challenges of any marriage. The final phase is that of discovery of a ‘sea of great plenty.’

She supplies 31 lessons of a ‘very good marriage.’ Each lesson is launched with a short chapter. For your convenience, I have summarized the 31 lessons below. Some you can understand at first read. Others, well, you'll have to buy the book to know more. The secrets are summarized as follows:

1. Reach back into the memory of your first date together and recapture the way you felt. Do it often.
2. Love has only one sure route: unconditional support, even if you’re scared, even if you have to bluff it.
3. When you’re upset, let the other know – even if you seem crazy.
4. Tend the superstructure of the marriage. Don’t let it accumulate dry rot, never aim for its humming heart, cherish its dignity.
5. Spend time together: hearing about catching the shark isn’t the same as feeling shark’s breath.
6. Create love rituals. Make sure number one is: Always pull socks on the other’s cold feet.
7. We become what we name each other. Call me Rascal and watch how cute and rascally I get. Call me Stubborn and watch.
8. See the beauty in what he loves, even if it looks, for a minute, like ground-up fish bait.
9. Speak your love out loud. Saying it often – saying it enough – makes it invincible.
10. Be an island. Sting if the world moves in too close.
11. Hold your horses, bide your time, cool your heels: eventually, the bait looks interesting to the fish.
12. Give some, get some: we take and give back through all our days.
13. The tides are constant, and you better be, too: its monogamy, honey, or I’m out of here.
14. Dependency is not a dirty word. Risking reliance on another can be the way to self-growth.
15. True intimacy requires a dollop of mystery and a tad of Victorian modesty.
16. Lying, even a little, puts you in treacherous water; getting your bearings in marriage requires honesty in the small things.
17. Adventures together whet the marital appetites.
18. Never take the other for granted or push him too far.
19. Home is safe harbour for all the family – even if they kick up a storm there.
20. Try not to try to change him.
21. Can you divert him from a heavy heart? Better learn how.
22. Let the lines out: unravel the knots that choke relationships
23. A good laugh tames a tempest. If you’re not funny, get funny.
24. Only when you let yourself be completely vulnerable will the earth move.
25. An occasional change of scenery makes the show comes alive!
26. When the other’s in trouble, do something.
27. When you marry your best friend, the talk never grows old, the sex never grows cold.
28. “Go play, “ our mothers told us. Who would have thought that playing was the ultimate sex technique?
29. The confidence of a mate is: “The Gift of the Magi.”
30. Just when you think you know everything there is to know about him, there’s another layer revealed. If you dig.
31. Choose passion over romance: Wild, deep passion rocks the waves. Romance is a pretty sunset.

My Comments

Readers might struggle to piece together the lessons of this book and link it back with the author’s life. A twice divorced author, readers may be questioning why they should listen to someone with two previous broken marriages. I suggest that it is for this reason, we ought to be open to Cohen’s sharing. After all, the school of hard knocks remains one of the best places to learn from. That said, this book is an easy read and at times, you should take the lessons with a pinch of salt. Like I said before, it is still to me a litany of the author's desire to make her third marriage work.  If readers can find just one of the lessons meaningful, it is already worth the price of the book.

Rating: 3 stars of 5.

conrade

Quality Outputs Require Quality Inputs

MAIN IDEA: Self-care is essential for effective ministry

Lifeway Research recently made a study on the tendency of pastors to work extremely long hours. Out of 1000 pastors surveyed, nearly 39% of them spend less than 4 hours a week on personal devotions, that is UNRELATED to their teaching ministries. The article's title essentially summarizes the results of the survey: "Pastor's long work hours can come at the expense of people, ministry."

The "How Protestant Pastors Spend Their Time" study also reveals that:

• Pastors work an average of 50 hours a week;
• Bi-vocational pastors work about 30 hours weekly;
• Most time (up to 14 hours) were spent on sermon preparations;
• Counseling and visitation about 6 hours;
• Hospital visits about 11 hours;
• 10 hours a week at electronic correspondence;

The most worrying trend is the lack of personal devotions where prayer and personal time with God at an alarmingly low 1 to 6 hours per week!

Ed Stetzer, an author with Lifeway has this to say about the above: "The need for better self-care."

I concur, and add that, the quality of our output each week, must be matched by a similar input. For quality ministry, quality input is required. For long term health, quality relationship with God is critical. Another factor is to know ourselves and our work patterns. Working long hours does not mean we work harder. Working less hours does not mean we are not working hard enough. The key is being able to know ourselves in the LORD.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." (Col 3:23-24)

conrade