Paradox Porch: August 2009

the acid test of character & worship

Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, "The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford—she gave her all."

Mark 12:41-44

There is a lot of talk about WORSHIP these days. Sometimes the focus on worship centers on music (incidentally, worship and music are not synonymous. That is a very narrow and immature way of viewing worship. EVERYTHING you do is worship. We miss out on a great many avenues of complimenting and worshiping our God if we avoid the plethora of ancient and contemporary experiences and exercises designed to make us more aware of God's nearness and goodness.) A lot of people think God is a 'hip dude' with a tattoo who likes praise choruses (in-particular Hillsong tunes), and if you play the right kind of music, God is satisfied. Worship is not primarily what we do with our hymnbook/songbook (or PowerPoint), but what we do with our pocket book. Worship is not ritual and routine, the way we put the order of service together, that's important, but worship has to do with how much God means to us, me, you. What worth you place on God and the way you and I give is more important than the order of the service.

This woman gave, because in her life, God came first. And when she had to choose between her daily bread and giving to God, she served her priorities well.

In that way of course, she stood in contrast to some of the other people who were in that courtyard.

She is certainly in contrast to the religious leaders that Jesus mentions (in the previous verses). For them, they were religious not because of what they could give, but because of what they could get.
This widow stands in contrast to the wealthy benefactors that threw in their coins that afternoon and gave very generously. The point that Jesus makes though is that they all gave out of their surplus, she gave out of her desperate need. Those men did not have to touch their standard of living in order to give to God. They didn't have to live in smaller houses, or take food off their table, or go without their latte, or wear a less expensive cut of clothes. No, they gave out of the overflow. There was no red streak of blood in what they gave. But this woman gave to the point of pain, because she attributed worth to God.

In that sense I suspect that that woman stands in contrast to some of us. Giving for us can almost be an irritation. "Too much preaching on money and I'm going to go to another church!" Giving for us is usually something we do out of our surplus funds. You know as well as I do how easily we can baptize luxuries as necessities and then spend our funds on luxurious necessities and say we have really nothing to give to God.

This woman comes that afternoon and as an act of worship gives God all that she has. The motive was shown in her contribution.

Don't you think that's significant? Don't you think is remarkable that when the New Testament writers single out the most generous giver known to God, they chose a poor widow who put in less than a nickel!!

But what a nickel it was!!!!!!

It came out of devotion of her heart, the generosity of spirit. It reflected all that God meant to her.

What we give is not nearly as important as why we give. But why we give will be reflected in the amount we give. And God is honored by gifts that have about them the strength of sacrifice. Mark that well, motive is everything.

profound

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become

Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter will call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

Coldplay
Viva La Vida lyrics
Songwriters: Berryman, Guy Rupert; Buckland, Jonathan Mark; Champion, Will; Martin, Christopher A J;

hitchin'

Gettin' ink done

I often wonder why people get the tattoo's they do. Having one myself, I know that it has a story to it, intentionality, meaning. Usually people get tattoo's, I would think, that have some significance to them especially given their permanence.
Which is why I also wonder about the real story behind spiritual symbols people have. Is it simply an acknowledgment of their soul/spirit side and the ascent to a 'higher power'?

Take Katie Perry for example,

Why would she have a tattoo of 'Jesus' on her wrist? What's the real story.

Does Jesus hold particular significance for her?
And if so, what difference does Jesus make in her life?

just wondering.

Religion

Let me try to simplify theology for you.
In the final analysis, there are really only two kinds of religion in the world—
1) the kind of religion that you have to carry
2) the kind of religion that carries you

The difference in those two kinds of religions is the difference between hell and heaven. It’s the difference between going from Vancouver to Whistler by car or by wheel barrel.

If you go by wheel barrel, you sit in the base of the wheel barrel, and reach back and grab hold of the handles, and you push and pull and tug and sweat, and wear yourself out. And when you’re all through, you haven’t even left the parking lot.

To go by car, you slide in behind the wheel of the car, turn on the ignition and allow the power of the engine to carry you to Whistler.

Just two kinds of religion:
1) the kind of religion that you have to carry
2) the kind of religion that carries you.

Those two kinds of religion have been with us since the curtain went up on the human story. 2700 years ago, Isaiah looked at the cafeteria of religions in his day, he found that many, most, all, were religions that people had to carry.

In Isaiah 46, he looks at the religion of the Babylonians, MAGNIFICENT AND IMPRESSIVE, and almost universal. But in the final analysis it was a religion that the people carried.
In 46:6-7, Isaiah says:

Some pour out gold from their bags
and weigh out silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god,
and they bow down and worship it.

They lift it to their shoulders and carry it;
they set it up in its place, and there it stands.
From that spot it cannot move.
Though one cries out to it, it does not answer;
it cannot save him from his troubles.

Almost with humorous strokes, Isaiah paints this picture.

Here is a man who decides he’s going to make his own god. He puts out a staggering amount of money. He pays it to the goldsmith, and the goldsmith makes a beautiful golden god. It’s really nothing more than an expensive knickknack or piece of furniture. 3 or 4 men tote that god outside, and put it on a donkey and then they steady it as they carry it to the temple. Then once again they have to lift it down, like piano movers, then they sweat, and they grunt and finally they set it up and they get it steady, ….and they bow down and worship it.
That idol doesn’t hear their prayers. That idol cannot carry them. At its heart and core, it is a religion the people carry.

In contrast to that however, in verses 3 & 4 of Isaiah 46, God pictures himself as someone who carries his people.

"Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all you who remain of the house of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since you were conceived,
and have carried since your birth.

Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you."

There you have it!
The whole wide, sad difference between a religion that you have to carry, and a religion that carries you.

Lovin summer relaxin

Please don't end...

World Builder

hhmmm what have we here?

Melissa Brandts and her husband were exploring Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park, when they stopped to take a timed photograph of themselves.

They had their camera set up on some rocks and were getting ready to take the picture when this curious little ground squirrel appeared, became intrigued with the sound of the focusing camera and popped right into the shot.