Saturday, October 15, 2011

beauty, goodness, truth


This is the view from my dishwasher desk right now. Laptop set in front of the window so I won't miss a single moment of this inspiring October sunset. What a beautiful, good God to create such a beautiful, good sunset.

I just finished re-reading the chapter in Gabe Lyons' book The Next Christians that's called "Creators, not critics." Tomorrow, I'm leading a training on that chapter for our youth leaders. It's such a clear, but difficult challenge: Respond to situations with the reflex of creativity. We were made to create, just as we were created. We were made to mirror God's glory by returning glory.

The little worksheet I prepared plagiarizes Lyons' book by saying we were made to create culture that:
  • celebrates BEAUTY
  • affirms GOODNESS
  • tells the TRUTH
  • SERVES
Some days I feel more creative than others. 

But God is always beautiful. God is always good. God is always true. And God always serves.
"For the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 9:45

If you live in Western Washington, you witnessed the most incredible sunset last night. It was the sort of moment where you stop and worship the God who loves you. 

But after the sun went down and I was STILL at work (going on hour 11) it got harder to worship. I left a work meeting just after 7 pm to squeeze in a quick workout at the Y. Then, driving towards my home I started weeping about how much there was still left to do.

Here's the beauty, the goodness, the truth, of what God calls us to. He doesn't require us to DO. Creating isn't about my own energy. It's not about my own intelligence. Nope. It's a response. A beautiful surrender. That's true creativity.

Creativity is what happens when I weep that "I can't do it, God" and He responds, "You're not meant to." It's the beauty of the Gospel that God stepped in to RESCUE us from the death we chose. It's the goodness of a Savior who gave His life as a RANSOM. And it's the truth that we follow a God who has VICTORY over death. YES! This is the response our God delights in. Worship. (:

Mmmmm. It really has nothing to do with a sunset... worship is a response to the Gospel.

Oh that every day would be worship. So many days, though, I find I have to weep before I can worship.

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Ephesians 5

Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:

“Awake, O sleeper!

Rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you!”

Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

hey guys