February 9, 2010 by jbrianhill
One of the books I am reading right now is titled, Flickering Pixels: How Technology Shapes Your Faith, by Shane Hipps. In this book, Hipps spends a chapter discussing how our perception often shapes our reality. In fact, if the truth be told, we build our lives around what believe to be true. And of course, that is how it should be.
But what happens when we realize that some element we have always believed to be true turns out to be false?
Stay with me – I promise I am not out in left field. But here is what I want us to see today – we should live our lives built on the truth as best we understand it. But when our understanding of truth becomes an arrogant certainty, we have gone too far.
Hipps uses a great phrase to remind us of where we stand with this issue of holding our ground when it comes to our beliefs: daring humility. He says this:
Daring humility is honest enough to admit that we see things in a mirror dimly, and bold enough to live a life of deep conviction anyway.
While we need to admit we do not have all the answers, we need to hold fast to what we believe.
Practice daring humility today!
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February 2, 2010 by jbrianhill
Sometimes I am pretty thick headed – just ask my family. I am also fairly driven by a type A personality – I need to get things done to have a sense of accomplishment.
Do you have any of these tendencies?
The reason I bring it up today is that God has been teaching me that my times in prayer and reading each day should not be about checking things off the list.
If you have been following my ramblings here in this blog for very long, you may remember that I have been in the book of Romans for a couple of years. I don’t read it every day, some days I focus my reading in other books of the Bible, but inevitably, my goal is to make it through the book of Romans.
Here is why it is taking me so long – some days, like today, God stops me and says, “don’t leave that verse until you get it.” Yesterday, I read Romans 11:22-24 (you can read it here). Today as I sat to pray and read, I opened my Bible back up to Romans with the intention of beginning with verse 25. I had an overwhelming sense that I should not read today, but rather simply pray. As I prayed, I kept reflecting back to a phrase in Romans 11:23 from yesterday, “if they do not persist in unbelief.”
We say that we trust God – but do we really? With everything? Or do we set out each day to get things done and then ask God to bless our actions?
I still have a tendency to want to control things and make things happen but God wants me to simply rest in this belief and to trust: God is in control.
God is going to do something amazing today! Do you believe that – or do you persist in unbelief?
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February 1, 2010 by jbrianhill
When you have three kids, the word schedule becomes an illusive term. When they were born, the word schedule meant that there were times to feed and times to sleep and times to play. Now that they are older, those elements still exist, but it is harder to keep them tied to any particular schedule. In fact, it seems to change from season to season and sport to sport.
We are currently in basketball season. As such, because of the age of the kids, two of the boys have practice before school. So that makes for some early mornings. I normally take the boys to school so that means getting up and getting ready for the day in the dark so as not to wake Kristi.
This morning I got up and made my way to the boys’ rooms to make sure they were up and getting ready. Their lights were on and so my eyes adjusted to the brightness of morning. But as I made my way back through the house to my room, my eyes were having trouble re-adjusting to the dark. As I walked through our bedroom toward our bathroom I headed to where the door has been for the last seven plus years. But because my eyes were not adjusted to the dark, I navigated right into the wall – missed the opening by a foot!
(Kristi, if the thud of my head on the wall woke you, I apologize – but don’t panic, I’m fine.)
I am reminded that living in the light is so much better (and often less painful but not always) than living in the dark. The contrast between light and dark is a major theme in the Bible. In fact, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” You can read it here. Jesus came to give us light – to show us how to live. Without him, we would most likely be running into walls all the time.
Seek to live in the light today!
Posted in Family, Formation, Humor | 1 Comment »
January 28, 2010 by jbrianhill
We are into our second week of the study, “In The Dust of the Rabbi,” on Wednesday nights. Last night we had a good bit of discussion around one particular Bible story. You can read the story here.
The setting was the Sea of Galilee and the disciples in a boat, caught in a storm. Jesus came walking along as if this was a normal thing and said something to the effect, “Hey guys, what’s up?” Well, something like that.
When the disciples figured out who was out on the water, Peter wanted to join him. He asked Jesus to call him out of the boat. Jesus did and so Peter stepped out on the water – not in the water, on the water – he was doing it!
The problem came when he took his eyes off Jesus and focused his attention on the waves and wind. He began to sink and called out to Jesus to save him. I have written about this story before – you can read that post here – but today, the point I want to make is a little different.
What was Jesus’ response when Peter called out for Jesus to save him? ”You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Now I have always read this story and thought, “Peter was doubting Jesus.” But think about it. Was Peter really doubting Jesus?
Jesus was still standing on the water – he wasn’t sinking! So why would he be doubting Jesus if Jesus is still standing there? I think he was doubting himself and the calling Jesus gave him to step out of the boat. I don’t think it was an accident that the disciple in this story is Peter – the bold one.
Jesus used this experience to illustrate the importance of being bold in our faith. If Jesus has called each of us to follow him (and he has) then why should we doubt? Jesus is still standing!
Jesus has a plan for each of us – it is his plan – it can’t fail. So be bold in the way you step out of the boat today – or do you still doubt?
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January 26, 2010 by jbrianhill
Do you ever feel God is silent?
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit with a young man who is suffering. He was visibly hurting, to the point of tears, so I approached him to offer a shoulder. He relayed to me that his grandmother has been sent home to die of cancer. Hospice has taken over and the only thing left is to wait for the inevitable. On top of that devastation, his mother-in-law just learned that she may have cancer as well. As I sat beside this broken young man, I had little to offer but an ear. I did my best to console him and his wife. I then knelt and prayed with them and went on my way.
I have been thinking a lot about suffering lately. We all suffer from time to time. Many of us have experienced deep emotional and spiritual pain. I have been there and find myself there now. Some of you may be with me in the midst of this kind of suffering today. If you have never experienced a period in your life when you felt God was absent and silent, I pray you never do – it is agonizing.
But even in the midst of such pain and suffering, I know that God is at work. I trust that God is in control. No matter how abandoned I feel, I have to believe that God has a plan. It is in times like this that we must press on. Even in the hollowness of going through the motions, God wants us to be faithful and do what we know to do.
Jesus never told us that following him would be easy – simple maybe – but not easy. Press on! Have hope! God is still in control.
Posted in Formation, Hope | 2 Comments »
January 25, 2010 by jbrianhill
I have said this before, but Kristi and I have been blessed with three amazing sons! Our youngest sang this past Saturday in Lubbock as part of the middle school all-region choir (8th chair first tenor). I sat and beamed with pride as our son stood on the front row of those risers, singing with the rest of the “best of the best” from the schools in this area. They did an incredible job.
We have been to a multitude of choir concerts as parents, but this one was different. There was a noticeable focus in each of the choir members. Each one was there because he or she wanted to be and the result was inspirational.
It got me to thinking – what if church could be like that? What would your church look like if everyone who attended this coming Sunday, was there to praise God and to learn how to follow Jesus more passionately? What would your community look like if everyone who attends your church on Sunday were on fire for God during the week?
You may be thinking, “That is a nice dream but it will never happen.”
I want to leave you with one question:
“Why not?”
Posted in Church, Hope, Missions | Leave a Comment »
