Self Exam

Take a second to examine your life. Don't examine your material success, but how lovingly you've chosen to live each day. This is not always a fun activity, but it is wise to make a habit of it anyways. The first pastor I ever knew taught my communion class to read through each of the ten commandments and consider how we've failed to keep each one. This practice is called self-examination, and like a physical self exam, it helps you to catch problems early.

Photo By Cea.

Initially though, it was pretty depressing. Taken alone self-examination is a discouraging activity because, if we are honest, we inevitably discover that we are worse than we thought. Try it anyway; remember that God doesn't intend for us to live with guilt (2 Cor 7:10). If we follow up our examinations by confessing our shortcoming, then we get to soak in Jesus' forgiveness, and that is a very rejuvenating activity.

Remembering our own sins puts Jesus' sacrifice and free gift of forgiveness into context for us. Although we were created to love and to be loved, considering how we behave, we don't deserve either.  Regardless of what we deserve, however, Jesus loves all of us relentlessly. 

Self-examination is valuable for two reasons. First it remind us, if we've become proud and intolerant, that we are each sinners who deserve punishment. Second, and more importantly, it reminds those of us who mistakenly dwell on our failings that God cares for us with immeasurable love, and in spite of all we've done he delights in us and forgives us freely.

Give yourself a self-exam today. Early detection saves lives.

Did Gandhi Go To Hell?

This month's Psychology Today contained the story of man who asked an elder at his church a very loaded question: “Did Gandhi go to hell?”

The elder tried to be gentle in his answer, “According to the church's official doctrine's” the elder qualified, “I'm afraid he did.” And with their short conversation concluded, the questioning man left the church forever.

I'm not deluded. The questioning man was baiting the elder. He expected the answer he got; he was seeking a reason to walk out, and he found one. I'd like to focus on the Christian elder's response. This blog, after all, is meant for Christians, so it would be a waste of my time and yours to focus on criticizing the actions of an antagonist. Lets see if we can answer the question any better: Did Gandhi go to hell? How would you answer?

Photo by Chris Reynolds

I don't think we should be wishy washy about telling how salvation comes to us. I do, however think we are out of line to judge the state of another man's soul. A human is only ever redeemed by the grace of God when the Holy Spirit works faith in Christ's redeeming sacrifice within their heart. Salvation is God's to determine as it is God's to accomplish.

Only Christ saves anyone, and since he does so through faith, this is a rather tricky thing to quantify. By tricky I mean impossible. When I walk the street, I don't see faith in some people but not in others. I just see people. It is beyond my authority to see anything more or less than that. Scripture says that though man looks at the outward appearance, God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Judging others is not only not our job, it is actually impossible for us to do.

So if we cannot determine Gandhi's salvation, how do we answer the questioning man?  He deserves an answer.  Questions of all kind should be welcome in church, and I think we can answer intelligently without falling into the questioning man's trap.

Gandhi did great and excellent works in this world, but that we do not believe that works can earn God's favor or forgiveness. Gandhi's good works will not make his redemption easier on the last day. With that said they certainly won't make it harder; God is slow to anger, and abounding in love (Numbers 14:18), and willing that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9). God can redeem Gandhi just as easily as God can redeem anyone. Gandhi was human, and a sinner, and will stand before God's judgment exactly as we all will, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory God (Romans 3:23).

This answer does not give a yes or a no, but that doesn't make it a cop-out. This is the gospel itself. When a person asks if so-and-so went to hell; they are asking a deeper question. They are asking if you will pass judgment if given the opportunity. They're asking if you are loving and merciful. The correct response to this questioning man is, and can only be, the gospel. Please share it eagerly.

Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

-Luke 18:26-27

Seeking You

Beth again today!
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

Jesus did some pretty weird seeking. He found people with houses and jobs and lots of personal security, and told them they were lost. Something was missing, and it was them. He found people that nobody wanted, nobody could take, and he said they had a home, and Living Water from Him that would never run dry.
When the “good people” of the world came to Jesus and try to prove that they’re ok, that they didn’t need saving, Jesus told them to have it their way, he’s here to find lost people. (Luke 5:31) He knows they’re lost too, but they can’t be found if they refuse to be found.
Today, Jesus is still seeking. Whether He’s been with you all your life, or you’re barely starting to know Him, He’s seeking you. He wants to know your heart, to heal your hurts, to help you grow.

Challenge:
What is Jesus seeking in you? Can you let yourself be found by Him today? Give him the things that you’re afraid of and want to hide away. Let him find YOU.

Jesus Prays For You

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” -John 17:20-24

So I hear Jesus is pretty close to his father, so close that even though they are two, they're actually one. Their unity is so complete and mysterious that theologians have struggled to express their perfectly united relationship for over two millennia. And unless I read that verse wrong, Jesus just asked his father to unite Christians with each other, and with himself, on the same level that he's united to God the Father. That was pretty deep so I'm going to break it down for you:

Jesus is one with God the Father.

Jesus wants to be as close to you as he is to the father.

Challenge: God wants to be so incredibly close to you that it becomes impossible to tell where you end and he begins. Write God a love letter.

The 13th Disciple

Today's thoughts brought to you by my lovely wife Beth.

“[Jesus said] ‘You know the commandments...’”

“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ~Mark 10:19-21

I used to be terrified of this passage. I would worry that I hadn’t sold all of my things, and while I’ve never been “rich” by US terms, I’m certainly rich on a global scale.
Then, I went on a retreat where Brian Pruitt was speaking. He talked about this passage as one of his favorites, and he calls it “the thirteenth disciple.” That weekend I learned to love Mark 10. It was in two small words “loved him.” Jesus loved that rich young man, while he was still stuck in pride, clinging to his possessions. He saw that this man wanted to serve God, but he also loved comfort. His money made him feel safe. Jesus wanted to free him from that type of security and give him God’s type of security. Jesus saw faith and potential in that man, and he wanted him to be a part of the amazing new Life he was bringing.
We put blocks up between us and God all the time. Money, work, school, sports, our friends, our family, the list is endless. Jesus wants to free us from the things we use as safety, and let God be our safety. He wants us to be totally free to be his disciples. He loves us too much to watch us be run by what is temporary when something beautiful and eternal is on the horizon.
 

Challenge:
What is Jesus asking you to let go of? Ask him to help you.

By This All Men Will Know That You Are My Disciples

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” -John 13:34-35

Once I was hanging out with my friend Tara and she wanted to write something down in her Bible and asked, “David, can I borrow a pin?”

“A what?” I asked

“A pin!” she said

“Why do you need a pin?”

“For writin', duh!”

Tara is from Texas and cannot say the word “pen” to save her life. Having grown up in Texas she has never heard the word pronounced any differently, and she remains convinced that my way of saying the word “pen” is absurd and nasal. 

 

Accents are fun things. We've all got one and for the most part we don't notice them until we meet someone different from us. We usually grow up surrounded by one type of accent and when we meet a new one it is outlandish and grating. This is what it is like when folks meet disciples, it's startling and confusing. Jesus' Disciples are weird, and they're wired in the same ways Jesus is weird. Instead of looking out for their own interest they look out for others, they love freely and forgive joyfully. They repay evil with good and love their enemies, and most incredibly, they don't seem to notice they're doing it.

Challenge: Does this sound like you? Do people notice God's love in you? People will notice God in you if you're hooked into the source of love. Jesus is so radically and unconditionally in love with you that you could discover a new level of his love every day for your whole life and still not fully discovered the depth and width of his love for you. Confess to Jesus the ways you've failed to love perfectly, but don't dwell on those sins, Jesus sure won't. Instead dwell on the instant and joyful forgiveness God offers you every moment of every day.

Love & Curses

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.” Luke 9:51-56

Jesus' message is good news, which he shared and preached with love and patience. He forgave and ate with sinners who society had rejected, he touched the unclean and gave hope to the hopeless. We Christians who know how good God is, can get very offended and angry with people who hate our Lord who we have every reason to love. Jesus however, does not lose patience so easily. When James and John wanted to call down curses Jesus rebuked them. Jesus knew that kindness, love, and the Holy Spirit draw people to faith, and that revenge and resentment have no place in a Christian's heart.

Challenge: Who makes you really mad? This could be a sibling, a political movement, an author, or anyone else. Take a moment to remember that Jesus died for their sin too; Jesus loves them as much as he loves you, and you are just as in need of forgiveness as they are. Let go of anger and resentment and allow God's love for you, and for them, to replace your hurt.

Human Concerns

The logical follow-up to yesterday; written by the only logical person.  Thanks again Beth.

“From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Matt 16:21-23

I love this passage. I hate this passage. It’s been a strange relationship. I’m fascinated about when this happens. Just a couple verses ago, Jesus blessed Peter for speaking his faith boldly. Today, instead of seeing God speaking through Peter, Jesus sees Satan. That’s a pretty drastic change.

Peter can be so spot on one moment, and then out in left field the next. As a kid, I used to think he was stupid. The older I get, the more I see my face reflected in his foolishness. God has called this instance to my mind many, many times. I have a lot of ideas about what God wants. I think many of us do. We tell God that He does things this way, that His justice looks like this and that He wouldn’t do that. We put our ideas for us and for other people in His mouth.
Peter didn’t know that trying to keep his Jesus from death would have kept the world from the overwhelming Grace and Salvation that God had planned from the beginning. We don’t know what we may be trying to keep back by wanting God to do things our way.

Challenge:
What things are you trying to control today? Hand these things over to God, and let His Will be done. He has only the best for you.

Who do you say I am?

Today's thought has been brought to you by the lovely and vivacious Beth.

 

“Jesus...asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied “...on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Matt. 16:13-16, 18
Peter’s statement is one of the most familiar passages in the Bible. It’s such a simple thing. He just answered Jesus’ question with what he could see as the truth. He didn’t know that one day that answer would cost him his life. But I think, even if he knew, he still would have given the same answer.
A lot of people look at this scripture as a testament to Peter’s great faith. Jesus told him this was not from him, but from God. We don’t have the sense or the strength to see and speak truth on our own. Too many things intimidate us, distract us and dishearten us. Even if we know the truth, by ourselves, we can’t speak it. But God’s Spirit is one of His great gifts to us. By His Spirit, we know who our Savior is, and we have the courage to trust Him. May God renew that courage, not only to know who you say Jesus is, but to let God live it out in you.


Challenge:
How do you think you would have answered if Jesus asked you who you say he is? Why? Spend some time getting to know the person of Jesus today, and who that makes you.

Jesus' Mother & Brothers

Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” -Mark 3:31-35

Your parents have probably told you that, “family comes first” at some point. I'd be very surprised if they never have. Families care for one another, influence one another, and shape children into adults. It was, and still is, and incredibly counter cultural idea that God's family is closer than blood ties. To Jesus your position in society doesn't matter. A role of authority doesn't get you anywhere with Jesus. Jesus is interested in your heart.

Challenge: Imagine a church where everyone treated one another as true brothers and sisters. Write about it if that helps you think. Now pray for it. Ask God to use you to strengthen and expand his family.

Jesus Came To Call . . . You?

He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

-Mark 2:13-17

Every culture likes to pick a couple sins to treat as different from other sins. In Jesus day “righteous” pharisees despised tax collectors, who were known to extort money. These same “righteous” Pharisees were known to steal money set aside to care for their aging parents. It seems absurd to treat one kind of stealing as different than another, but we still do this today. We treat one lust as different from another lust and one addiction as worse than another addiction. Jesus is not impressed with which sinners we decide to judge.

Challenge: Are you righteous or are you a sinner? Ask God to show you where you've judged others and ask forgiveness for doing so. May you always show others the same love and mercy you've been called to receive.

Jesus Forgives, & Heals, A Paralytic

Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to human beings. -Matthew 9:2-8

There is no miracle greater than the forgiveness of our sins. As Christians it becomes easy after a while to take our forgiveness for granted, but to the first century Jews forgiveness was an exclusively divine act that required a holy priest and a blood sacrifice. It still is. We have a great a beautiful privilege to live in a world where our sins have all already been paid for by Christ's blood, and in which the Spirit dwells in the hearts of men and women, equipping and inspiring them to acts of divine forgiveness.

Challenge: Is there someone you need to forgive? It is a proof of God being in us when we offer forgiveness. Pray and declare the forgiveness in Jesus name for anyone who's wronged you. Be as specific as you can. Remember that you stand forgiven as well and are welcomed enthusiastically into God's kingdom through no virtue of your own.

Parable Of A Lost Sheep - 3rd Tuesday In Lent

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?  And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.  In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.”

-Matthew 18:12-14

    Imagine a scrappy young man with a black eye and scraped knees.  Imagine that this disinherited youth has felt the pangs of hunger, the shame of poverty, and knows what it is to have others look down their noses at him.  He knows what it is like to be hit by someone who hits just to feel strong.  This sort of young man, a person acquainted with abuse and suffering will sometimes gain an incredible drive to protect the weak.  Having known much pain, he will strive with all his being to save his loved ones from the pain he has known.
    This is what our savior is like.  The Anointed One, through whom all things were made, has an unparalleled relentless hero streak that is beyond human reckoning.  He is not interested in making a mere show of mercy, but is actually willing that none should perish.

Challenge:  Reflect on your rebellions against our merciful God.  Know that God does not remember those rebellions.  You are covered in Christ's blood, and there is no second death awaiting you.  Jesus Christ has sought you out and found you.  God rejoices over you.

Parable Of The Talents - 3rd Sunday In Lent

Read Matthew 25:14-30

This Jesus scares me. I, a Lutheran, cling tightly to the grace of God and the Gospel that says there is nothing I may do to merit the favor of God. What's going on in this parable then? I'm pretty sure Jesus just told a story where successful people were rewarded and less successful people where rewarded, but not at much. How is that grace?

Well, for starters the man with the smallest amount entrusted to him was given what amounted to twenty years wages. Twenty years wages he didn't merit by his work, twenty years wages he did not deserve or earn. Which starts to sound like grace.

So the master returns and asks what the servant has done with his trust, and he's done nothing. He buried it. He literally didn't even receive the gift. He hid it, and refused to let it change how he lived or worked. He couldn't choose whether or not his master gave him anything, but he could refuse to let the gift change him. Now it starts to sound like the gospel we know.

Just like each servant received a gift, we've each received God's grace, forgiveness, and a portion of his Spirit for good measure. Some have receive more and some have receive less (since whoever is forgiven much loves much (Luke 7:47), but Christ has in fact died for the sins of the world and given all people his love. He's given you a great gift. What will you do with it?

The Challenge: Have you let God's deposit of love change you or have you hid it away and resisted being changed by God's gift to you? If you have resisted, take a load off; rest and repent. There is always forgiveness for us, though we are free to refuse it. Accept God's staggeringly generous gift of grace. Revel in it, celebrate it, and treasure it. It will produce growth in you.

RE: A Call To Conscience Chapter Three– Give Us The Ballot

“Our aim must never be to defeat or humiliate the white man. We must not become victimized with a philosophy of black supremacy. God is not interested merely in freeing black men and brown men and yellow men, but God is interested in freeing the whole human race. (Yes, All right) We must work with determination to create a society (Yes), not where black men are superior and other men are inferior and vice versa, but a society in which all men will live together as brothers (Yes) and respect the dignity and worth of human personality. (Yes)”

–­Give Us The Ballot, 1957 Martin Luther King Jr.

Each time I read from King’s speeches I am startled by the boldness with which he proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ, the coming Kingdom of Heaven, and Jesus’ command to love and forgive our enemies without condition.  I’m convinced that the heart and action that King advocates isn’t possible to achieve by human striving alone.  Our striving to live as wise and righteous people is as filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6); instead we must be clothed in Jesus’ righteousness and filled with the Spirit of God himself.  Only when our actions are the overflow of  Jesus in us do we have any hope of acting in a way that will benefit our neighbors or bring glory to God (Romans 8:5).

Persecution

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12)

One morning while I sat in eighth grade history class, a group of misguided men, desperate to get into heaven, piloted a pair of airplanes into the World Trade Center towers. These men believed it was noble to be killed for their faith and that God would reward them. Instead of living right lives and turning the other cheeks to persecution, these men sought out a death they believed would bring a reward. They threw their lives away to hurt their enemies. Sadly I’ve met Christians with a similar attitude.

Many throw away their witness for the sake of baiting persecution. They brag about how angry people get with them, but being rejected is not the same as being persecuted. To share the rules of God without sharing love will guarantee persecution, but no reward from God. These evangelists speak harshly instead of with loving kindness and respect; they rejoice when their message is rejected flippantly, imagining they’ve earned a better resurrection.

To share Christ must be to share his selfless love. To preach without love is to preach something other than the gospel. If you share God’s word for social status, for self-improvement or to earn a better resurrection, you’ve missed the point. No such person belongs on a soapbox. They belong back at the foot of the cross. Only when pride and ambition have fallen off can such a person share the gospel in all its selfless, unconditional and life changing power.

Grandpa Jesus - 1st Sunday in Lent

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8

My grandpa is commendable, excellent and worthy of praise. He doesn't think about himself in these terms, in fact he doesn't really think about himself very much. People who are so much like Jesus tend not to. He just lives simply, thanks God for what he has. My grandpa doesn't wrack his brain for ways to change the world; he just lives, is full of the Spirit's fruit and the world changes around him.

When we abide in Christ our hearts become aligned with God's heart, his power flows through us and our everyday acts of love, peace, patience, and kindness become supernaturally empowered.

Challenge:

Read Galatians 5:22-23. The fruit of the Spirit is the most tangible evidence that God is at work in and through you. Take a moment to reflect; do you see these fruits? Do you see bad fruit? Ask forgiveness for the times you've failed to let God's Spirit shine through you. The good news is that God forgives you, the other good news it that the fruit of the Spirit is the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of trying harder. On our own we cannot please God and God knows that, ask him to produce good fruit in you. Depend on him to do so, and I promise he will.

RE: Psalm 24

This psalm has changed my life. God has used it to confront me with the reality of my forgiveness. “If the son sets you free you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). God is done counting my sin against me; he has atoned for my failures (John 19:29). If your hope is in Christ than the same is true for you. There is nothing that can separate you from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). You can stand on his holy hill because you have clean hands and a pure heart; Jesus has given them to you.

Merry Christmas OR God's Blessings and Rationality

Assume every human is acting in in their own self interest, or at least what they perceive to be their self interest. I find this is a frustrating and disillusioning assumption because it allows kindness and cruelty to be motivated by identical desires and emotions. For example a person may shoplift, soldier, or parent out of a desire to feel powerful. Fathers may abuse or nurture their kids because of a desire for their kids' to not turn out like them. A person who acts in their own self-interest is said to be, rational. Assume Jesus is rational, and consider the following:

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:35)

I believe there are two plausible reasons for a rational Jesus to say such a thing. One painful explanation for his claim, that it is better to give that to receive, is that Jesus was lying. Like many cult leaders Jesus could use his influence over peoples moral beliefs in order to profit from “enlightening” their point of view. It's not so far fetched; people have used Jesus' word to do exactly that for centuries. The scandal of the thing would be a lot of fun to write about, but I'm afraid no one got rich off of the Christian religion until after Christ was dead.

The other explanation I come up with is that Jesus actually believes that giving serves his interests better than receiving. If that is that case then we can assume that he would do everything in his power to give, and that scripture would record little of him receiving. The only instances of Jesus receiving anything that I can recall are times when he took meals from a host, when he took a donkey into Jerusalem, and when the “sinful” woman anointed him with perfume. That's not a lot of receiving when compared to the rest of Jesus' life. Jesus' life was characterized by constant giving, the giving of cures, the giving of food, the giving of dead relatives back to their families, of teachings, blessings, fish, of time, affection, and attention. The best example is the giving of his life on the cross.

If this is how God's son conducted himself on earth, it seems reasonable to conclude that a life of sacrifice is in fact the most profitable way a person can conduct themselves. That may sound like an evil reason for living generously; however, it is sensible that the God who determined the rules of the universe would make virtuous living beneficial if he actually wanted anyone to try it.

Now assume God is, has, and always will act in his own interest; please remember that he knows giving to be more blessed than receiving. God's motivations become clearer. God's action of creating the world, allowing the Fall, delivering Israel from slavery, giving the law of Moses, sending his son, sending his Holy Spirit, and every other divine act recorded and unrecorded is an instance of God giving. God gave Adam his breath, and he gives us his son.

God has created a universe where we, the created beings, have no concrete means of giving to our God. We have nothing that we haven't received (1 Corinthians 4:7). We cannot even work or earn our way into our God's presence or good will. We receive those things as a gift.

When God gives, he doesn't do it so that we can owe him something. God doesn't give gifts to win our favor. God doesn't give to be an example of generosity (although He is a good example). God doesn't give begrudgingly or reluctantly. God gives because it's more blessed to give than to receive.

I don't believe that our relationship to God is at all like that of a beggar or a freeloader. I believe that God wants and likes to give. I believe that God is delighted on levels we cannot comprehend when he gives his gifts to us. Our earth, breaths, longings, passions, arts, food, days, nights, hopes, and selves are his gifts to us, and each gift we receive from him blesses the Lord.

Bless the Lord by enjoying his gifts, material and immaterial, and enjoying deeply the holy blessing that it is to give. Merry freak'n Christmas .