Tag: foolish

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I remember.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

”Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.“ ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭26‬-‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s been quite a while ago, but I still remember that for a third of my life, I was a nobody. Forty-seven years ago, God changed everything about my life! I am not trying to be cruel or humble when I say I was a nobody, but for the first twenty years, I felt very invisible. I didn’t mind it at all. As long as I was invisible, I would not be held responsible.

The Apostle Paul’s admonition to the churches in Corinth, is that they too came from humble, almost insignificant beginnings. Twice he wrote, they weren’t powerful or wealthy – neither (dunatos) powerful nor (eugenes) of noble birth. Then again, they were from (agenés) unborn, of no family and even (exoutheneó) despised. In worldly standards, this is about as low as one can get. No real influence, no family name to help by dropping into a conversation and looked down on by the rest of society. That is from where God picks His “dream team?” Well, that described the church who could not possibly boast that they rose to significance on their own! Yet, God chooses these kinds of folks to shame the self-proclaimed “wise.”

I am in that community! I came from no power, no nobility, no family heritage and despised or just pitied. And, I cannot say that I rose from the ashes, from rags to riches to become some powerful leader or a social media influencer. I do remember, however, that I came from pretty much nothing and God built a really great life for me! Since my twenties, I have had the honor and privilege of being a Pastor, even in a current culture where Pastors are no longer honored! My story, my testimony is exactly what Paul says that God does in the lives of those He chooses! He chooses people like me to prove that He changes everything – if they’ll let Him. Paul is right, this stuff works!!! God does rescue, redeem and restore still today. Don’t let your past define your future! Don’t allow your family origin story to define your family’s future legacy!

Prayer

Dad,
I don’t think about often anymore, but each time Your Word reminds me of the past, I can’t help but be grateful for everything You’ve done in and through my life. It’s been a little foggy and bumpy at times, but what a ride! I can honestly tell anyone, “If God can do this in my life, He can do it in yours too!” It is true, my boasting, my pride is completely in You. Thank you.

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Hardcore Seventies Vibe.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬-‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Coming to Christ in 1977, the tail end of the “Jesus movement,” was a radical time of faith. Calvary Chapel and Chuck Smith were very much at the forefront of this raw truth, with this “turn or burn” belief system. Our youth group’s messages were all about picking up your cross, expecting opposition, even suffering and doing life for the cause of Christ! Yes, we all had rapture fever. And, there was a unified feeling that our family and friends could miss heaven and spend eternity in hell, if they didn’t believe and become saved. “Chic-tracs,” and salvation pamphlets could be found everywhere in restaurants and restrooms. The new translations of the Bible were selling like crazy. One of them, “Good news for modern man,” was a paraphrased version of the Bible. It read like a modern young adult drama, using surfing lingo instead of the King’s English. It was offensive to older folks and a bit off in the translation, but it was a big attention getter in High Schools. It became a conversation starter on campuses across America.

Students curiously stared at those who carried a Bible to school and read it at lunch. They would pass by these new “Bible Thumpers,” and with some respect say, “Whoa, that’s radical man!” I can tell you that it was powerful to be counter-cultural with Christianity in the seventies. But the message wasn’t soft, and filled with comfort and peace. It was considered to be hard-core, and in one’s face about their faith. When we would openly talk about Jesus in class, on campus, it wasn’t seen as judging, narrow minded, bigoted or phobic, it was hard truth. And, it was expected to challenged – we were taught that our faith would be challenged because Jesus himself was challenged!

In my high school science class, my teacher made this brash, arrogant statement about the theory of evolution. But in stating evolution as a fact, he just couldn’t help taking a jab at Christianity, saying, “who would be stupid enough to believe the God created the world?” I was young in my faith, and didn’t think through the moment. I just heard him insult my faith! I raised my hand and said, “I am.” I don’t think he expected anyone to challenge him. Ah, but the sixties and seventies were all about challenging authority figures! He gleefully took opportunity to mock me in front of the whole class.

“Garvin!” He shouted, “you are dumb enough to believe that God created the world?” “Yes,” I said, my cheeks turning bright red with emotion and embarrassment. “How in the world could you believe such nonsense?” he asked. I quietly responded “God said He did in the Bible. And I believe it’s true.” He went on with his lecture and I immediately thought of this idea of picking up the cross and losing my life – or at least my dismal high school reputation. My Youth Pastor had told me this kind of thing would happen when one follows Jesus and quoted Jesus saying “pick up your cross!” Great lesson, right?

I wasn’t being bold, I was just determined not to have anyone knock my faith in the One who had saved my life, promised to change me, lead me and love me. After class, I tried to slip out to avoid the blowback from other students. Shockingly, several of my classmates came up and said, “I’m a Christian too,” and congratulated me for standing up to “the man.” Quietly, I thought, why didn’t anyone else say something? Why didn’t any of them side with me in class? Here’s the thing. I was not some kind of bold, brash evangelist. I didn’t stand on a lunch table and start preaching. I just carried my Bible, had a few conversations with friends and lived my faith with confidence.

Where is that boldness to carry my cross of faith and conviction? Where is the fear of losing my life today? It’s been masked and submerged in trying not to OFFEND others. I must remember the Apostle Paul’s words, “the cross is offensive!” It’s also foolish, he said. (Galations 5:11 & 1 Corinthians 1:18). I understand being gracious, but I was much more forward about defending my faith when I was new believer. Christ died for me, saving me. That’s not just my story, it’s millions of others as well.

Prayer

Dad,
Restore unto me the joy of my salvation! Kindness does not mean I should deny truth, not my truth – THE TRUTH. It should not mean that I can’t boldly tell my story and let you work in those who will listen. Thank you for reminding me to pick up my cross, laying down my life to follow you.

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Wisdom’s own Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“Wisdom has built her house; she has carved its seven columns. She has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines, and set the table. She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come. She calls out from the heights overlooking the city. “Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says, “Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment.” Proverbs‬ ‭9:1-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​What an amazing way to look at God’s wisdom, actually preparing for and inviting people to a beautiful setting and a meal. There are so many pictures that come to mind as I read this.

First the enormous space that wisdom has anticipated for the event, it had seven columns. It’s not just a great feast it’s a large setting, a banquet hall ready for guests to be honored and treated like royalty. Do you see this? The SIMPLE are given a chance to feel like kings and rulers. Fools are invited to this feast! This is the Hebrew word, pethiy, fool, silly (i.e. Seducible). These are the ones who are easily enticed, misled. It’s the second most used word (15 times) for “fool” in Proverbs.

The other picture I see reflected in these verses is Jesus talking about a banquet feast that no one showed up to! Luke tells us in chapter 14 that Jesus told this story of the man who wanted to throw a huge party and invites had all gone out. However, when regrets started coming back, it made the man angry. He got excuses from the rich and/or well off – a man who just bought property, who was so wealthy he didn’t even need to see it first! Another who picked up some oxen and didn’t know if they were any good. And finally, a married guy, who forgot to tell his bride he’d been invited to a posh event, sorry no plus one. All of these smell of entitlement! So the man got really angry and instructed his servants to go out and invite the disenfranchised. They were not fools, but would likely not have opportunities to attend an event like this. This old proverb is different because the entire extravaganza was planned and prepared for those fools on the fringe.

And, here’s the kicker. Wisdom reveals her motive right there in the last stanza. “Ok,” you might think, “there’s the hook, the switch, the real truth.” But look at WHY wisdom would go to such extremes to host this party specifically for those who are specifically and regularly targeted for being taken advantage of. The catch, wisdom wants them to LEAVE their normal patterns of gullibility and find out how to LIVE! And to LEARN to use good judgment. This was a fancy, free dinner and seminar on how to better themselves and to quit being duped all the time!

Genius! Come for the elegance and free drinks and stay for a life seminar. If you could only see how much God wants to GIVE you a solid life, a good life, a smart and morally sound life, you would see how much He cares for you. Jesus retold a form of this parable with the edgy, entitled angle to basically say the same thing. This grand banquet, this free seminar is open to any who would take God up on his offer. In a very odd coincidence, it feels like Wisdom has its own Chocolate Factory and has invited the Charlie’s of the world to experience it!

PRAYER:

Dad,
Why is it so hard for folks to see how much, how hard you work to love us and give us a life filled with adventure and fulfillment. Why have we pitched salvation and redemption as a jail cell filled with rules and a boring funless life? We’ve really been duped! I think the church has been complicit in pitching holiness and righteousness and as joy and freedom killers. We’ve got it all wrong, all backwards! The real lie is this idea that our free choice to do what ever we want leads to happiness. And having our every wicked desire fulfilled leads to freedom. We have played the Pethiy fool, the simple seducible for believing that! We have all been DUPED! Help us see TRUTH, live truth!