Monday, December 24, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Not the strongest first post
I finally finished another book. Not the spiritual giant type like Shaver finds the time to read, just something simple and humorous from Anne Lamott. Here's a couple things that caught my attention though:
In retelling a story of her fear of going to serve in a prison, she was given this advice by her preacher, "In dark times, give off light. Care for the least of God's people. She quoted the Reverend James Forbes as saying, "Nobody gets into heaven without a letter of reference from the poor."
"Finally, we stood outside the inner gate, showed our IDs to the guards, and got our hands stamped with fluorescent ink. "You don't glow, you don't go," said one cheerful, pockmarked guard, which was the best spiritual advice I'd had in a long time.
As we stepped into a holding pen, my mind spun with worries about being taken hostage, having a shotgun strapped to my head with duct tape. I don't think Jesus would have been thinking thete same thoughts: everything in him reached out with love and mercy and redemption. He taught that God is able to bring life from even the most death-dealing of circumstances, no matter where the terror alert level stands."
I continue to be lost inside words like love, mercy, redemption. I confess I find so many times that don't bring life to bad situations like I ought. I love the idea of a letter of recommendation from the poor, that they and not my family and friends would speak of who I really am. I remember reading recently that it is our waitresses and those that serve us that will speak to who we truly are at the judgement. Scary way to think sometimes.
In retelling a story of her fear of going to serve in a prison, she was given this advice by her preacher, "In dark times, give off light. Care for the least of God's people. She quoted the Reverend James Forbes as saying, "Nobody gets into heaven without a letter of reference from the poor."
"Finally, we stood outside the inner gate, showed our IDs to the guards, and got our hands stamped with fluorescent ink. "You don't glow, you don't go," said one cheerful, pockmarked guard, which was the best spiritual advice I'd had in a long time.
As we stepped into a holding pen, my mind spun with worries about being taken hostage, having a shotgun strapped to my head with duct tape. I don't think Jesus would have been thinking thete same thoughts: everything in him reached out with love and mercy and redemption. He taught that God is able to bring life from even the most death-dealing of circumstances, no matter where the terror alert level stands."
I continue to be lost inside words like love, mercy, redemption. I confess I find so many times that don't bring life to bad situations like I ought. I love the idea of a letter of recommendation from the poor, that they and not my family and friends would speak of who I really am. I remember reading recently that it is our waitresses and those that serve us that will speak to who we truly are at the judgement. Scary way to think sometimes.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Spiritual Formation
What do you think of when you hear the words, "spiritual formation"?
Just some thoughts please...
Just some thoughts please...
Thursday, July 19, 2007
FYI
This is my more personal blog, what I'm dealing with. I would post it here but I don't know if you would really care to hear all of it.
www.nathanshaver.blogspot.com
www.nathanshaver.blogspot.com
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Welcome Gilchrist to the nagging brotherhood.
I have invited a dear brother and fellow thinker/lover of God to join our little community. Sorry Gabe, you are the only guy who knows not of the greatness of Matt Gilchrist. Come on he has Christ, built into his last name. Welcome the stud of love who has no hair on top of his head, but more good stuff inside than we could ever want.
Peace,
Shaver
Monday, July 2, 2007
Quote
I'm getting excited about Andrew Murray again. I only have time to post it. May these words spur our action and prayer.
“Let us never forget that everything begins with and depends upon the individual. Let no one who hears the call of God to this new consecration wait for the church to act or to wait for his fellow believers to act. Let him offer himself with his whole being so that Christ may be magnified through him. Dear fellow Christian, begin at once, and give God no rest until Christ has the place in your heart that He claims. Let devoted loyalty to His kingdom be the fruit of intense attachment to His person. Let His love become a holy passion, and let Him find in you one upon whom He can count to seek, above everything and at any sacrifice, to make His name known to every individual.
Depend on it: God will use you to lift others around you into the fullness and the fruitfulness of the abundant life in Christ Jesus.”
-Andrew Murray, Reaching Your World for Christ, p. 30
“Let us never forget that everything begins with and depends upon the individual. Let no one who hears the call of God to this new consecration wait for the church to act or to wait for his fellow believers to act. Let him offer himself with his whole being so that Christ may be magnified through him. Dear fellow Christian, begin at once, and give God no rest until Christ has the place in your heart that He claims. Let devoted loyalty to His kingdom be the fruit of intense attachment to His person. Let His love become a holy passion, and let Him find in you one upon whom He can count to seek, above everything and at any sacrifice, to make His name known to every individual.
Depend on it: God will use you to lift others around you into the fullness and the fruitfulness of the abundant life in Christ Jesus.”
-Andrew Murray, Reaching Your World for Christ, p. 30
Friday, June 29, 2007
Son of Man. Son of God.
I just finished an exercise in Matthew. I went through and blocked out all the times, "Son of Man" appears in the book. Then I went through and circled all the times "Son of God" is stated. I had heard in College that "Son of Man" and "Son of God" were huge themes in the book, but simply doing this exercise has really opened up some great thoughts and insights.
1. Jesus refers to himself only as the "Son of Man". Not once does he ever refer to himself as the "Son of God". He could have, but he never did.
2. Whenever "Son of God" appears it is stated by either Critics/Enemies, or Believers.
3. Three statements of belief: I will note that the disciples say it once after their experience of Jesus walking on the water, through the storm. Once by the Centurion and other soldiers who exclaimed it during the earthquake at Calvary. Another occurrence by the demons who were sent out from two men into a herd of pigs. The other five statements are made by the two thieves, the priests, and Satan. All made in mockery.
This was a rewarding and enlightening exercise. I would recommend it to you as a great way to see the humility of Christ in the midst of mockery, slander and torture. He never breaks! Truly he is the Son of God!
Matthew 14:33
1. Jesus refers to himself only as the "Son of Man". Not once does he ever refer to himself as the "Son of God". He could have, but he never did.
2. Whenever "Son of God" appears it is stated by either Critics/Enemies, or Believers.
3. Three statements of belief: I will note that the disciples say it once after their experience of Jesus walking on the water, through the storm. Once by the Centurion and other soldiers who exclaimed it during the earthquake at Calvary. Another occurrence by the demons who were sent out from two men into a herd of pigs. The other five statements are made by the two thieves, the priests, and Satan. All made in mockery.
This was a rewarding and enlightening exercise. I would recommend it to you as a great way to see the humility of Christ in the midst of mockery, slander and torture. He never breaks! Truly he is the Son of God!
Matthew 14:33
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