I have been trying for weeks to figure out what to take and what not to take with me to Uganda, and as a friend of mine said yesterday, less is more. It seems no matter how little I take I’m still doing what I perceive a typical American would do, take too much stuff. So books are my big question mark left. I have several (actually more than several) books that I have been trying to read over the last several years and I would love to take them all with me and finish them on the first plane flight but can’t decide if I will actually read them. Three of these books at top on my list, God’s Passion for His Glory: Living the Vision of Jonathan Edwards with the Complete Text of The End for Which God Created the World (yes I know, the title is very long) by John Piper and Jonathan Edwards, The Life and Diary of David Brainerd by David Brainerd and Jonathan Edwards, and The Life of God in the Soul of Man by Henry Scougal. I have picked up and read all three, then put down, then picked up again, and so on… for years now.
I know these aren’t your traditional quick reads, and one is quite a bit beyond my comprehension. I have all of them in Kindle eBook for my iPad, paperback, and audiobook but keep going back to the paper bound books because of the depth of their words. This morning I was going through each of these three books thinking about my time in Uganda, our sponsor child, Joanita, who I hope to meet while I’m there, I came across this chapter in The Life of God in the Soul of Man, titled “Religion Better Understood by Actions than Words”. After re-reading that chapter I wanted to share Scougal’s words here today that help remind me why we go. The text is also available in Google Books here.
Religion Better Understood by Actions than by Words
When we have said all that we can, the secret mysteries of a new nature and divine life can never be sufficiently expressed; language and words cannot reach them: nor can they be truly understood but by those that are enkindled within, and awakened unto the sense and relish of spiritual things. There is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth him understanding.
The power and life of religion may be better expressed in actions than in words’ because actions are more lively things, and do better represent the inward principle whence they proceed; and therefore we may take the best measure of those gracious endowments from the deportment of those in whom they reside; especially as they are perfectly exemplified in the holy life of our blessed Savior; a main part of whose business in this world, was, to teach by his practice what he did require of others, and to make his own conversation an exact resemblance of those unparalleled rules which he prescribed: so that if ever true goodness was visible to mortal eyes, it was then when his presence did beautify and illustrate this lower world.
I know that is kind of a mouth full for only two sentences, and not in the most current English, but Scougal’s words here are pretty incredible. That’s why this book has taken me so long to read. The words are incredible but I have to read each page several times. Once you do, the value is deep and lasting. Why do we go according to Scougal? Because this is what Jesus did and He is our ultimate example to follow. As Scougal says, our actions are better represented by the inward principle they represent. This is to say our actions proceed from where our heart resides, and to me, that’s very telling, and a little scary.
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Some times you can connect with a church or a worship service and you just feel the pastor has written or prepared this service with just you in mind. This is true, of course, just ask the pastor. But then there are times like in our service today, when you come to a realization that it isn’t a particular preacher or pastor, it isn’t the music or the person leading the service that makes you feel connected.
It is the underlying philosophy of the church as a whole, to actually follow the teachings of Christ, that makes it special. Don’t all churches do that? Hopefully, but each person is different and where you may connect (meaning a continued growth in Christ) in one place, you may not in another.
The Mission Field is Fluid
A recent message series called Fluid (see updates on the post at The Fluid Experience) got me thinking a little about the mission field of the church (of course the series is currently on missions, so its a good thing it didn’t get me thinking about baseball or something). Missions can often be an interesting subject in the church, with lots and lots of ideas on what it should or shouldn’t be, but it is a hard subject to ignore when it is throughout scripture.
John 20:21 So Jesus said the them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you“
What is often talked about is going to the mission field. Get your shots, passport updated, vacation days set up, and go to some far off place to do mission work. That is great, but what is sometimes neglected is how many different mission fields there actually are, and huge number can be done right now, right where you are in your walk today. No special training, no prep meetings, your set, just the way you are.
Some of us are outgoing, some shy, studious, knowledgeable, and so on, but all are given special spiritual gifts as Paul writes about in 1 Corinthians 12
4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge…
What you notice about this scripture is these gifts are different for each of us. That is because God made each of us in His image, but as individuals. This scripture above is usually used in the context of work or service within the church walls, but I also think it helps explain some of the differences of opinion we have on mission work as well.
It is important (in my opinion) to recognize the differences we each bring to the body of Christ as a whole, and how to use these differences. Where can they be best utilized and most effective. I have been to many churches that try to mold each Believer into a specific category, for a specific program of service or missions work. But not this time.
Local, Regional, National, and the World
Unfortunately I missed several weekends of the Fluid series, but one thing I have taken away from the last few weeks is their focus on missions is to be accomplished in a local area, regional, then national, and to the world. God brings different people into our lives each day, though our normal routine of life. We are not all meant to be missionaries in another country, but we are all missionaries.
Today it was brought home to a local (right where you are) field. This is something everyone can do, right now. Show God’s love for others right where you are, in the field or area of expertise you reside in every day.
Are We People of Action?
One of my all time favorite ways of showing God’s love for others is when you are at a fast food drive through and you pay for the persons meal behind you in line. There are countless examples, and it doesn’t have to be the same thing each time. What are your favorites for local, come as you are, mission work?
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This is the first post in a daily journal I hope to update each day, even if just a little blurb, about the days happenings. This type of posting, more closely resembles a journal, was inspired by the memory of my mother in-law, Georgia Christal. I am creating a blog with the journals she created long before blogs ever existed, I hope I can keep up with her. During a span of 3 years when she lived over seas in Europe, she wrote daily about what happened each day, and looking at it almost 10 years later, I can see what an amazing piece of work this turned out to be. I will make an attempt to write a daily post in this particular blog (I have several others), of just the normal routine of things.
Some days it may be a sentence, some paragraphs, but my goal is to write something in the blog each day. I have been a photographer for more than 10 years now, and one of the hardest things to do in photography is to actually get off your butt and go shoot something. I think it is the same with blogs or journals, you just have to get off your butt and do it.
When I look back at the images I was able to create because I took the time to go out and shoot, I am amazed, and glad I did make the effort.
Is a Blog a Blog or is it a Journal
All you bloggers out there, do you keep a daily journal, or is that really what you consider your blog to be? This blog has been active and alive in various forms for years now, and when I look back at the various entries, I see a journal of what was important enough, at the time, to actually put down in a post. My blog has been many things to me, a scrapbook, a blog, a journal, a business tool, soapbox, but that is just it, it can be whatever you want it to be. Today as I start writing daily entries of what went on in my day I will use it as a journal or diary of sorts, but I am sure down the road, it will grow into something more. What about your blog? What is the prime use or purpose you have for even having a blog… do you know or have you even thought about it yet?
In Dallas For No Good Reason
So what is going on right now. Well the photo below was taken yesterday of my mother-in-law’s memorial service, so we happen to be in Dallas for her service. One of the hardest weeks Deborah and I have gone through in a while but we are now on our way back home, finally. I took many photos (on my iphone) that few days while we were in the hospital, mainly because all you have to do is sit and wait. In the future I think I will do a much longer post about this week, but for now, here are a few images from those few days.
The photo in the middle is the most telling to me. I had nothing in the way of a camera to use for about the week we were in and out of the hospital other than my iphone, and I think it did an incredible job. In total I probably took a few hundred photos with my phone, many of which tell the days and week better than these, but for a first journal entry, this is what we did yesterday and the few days before. The idea of a “journal” actually came to me from Georgia. She kept two journals while they lived in France and Germany which I am chronicling in My Life in Europe. There will be better entries than this, I promise.
