Blog by Cy

I can only imagine the scene at the end of Genesis 2. It was literally heaven. I can only define heaven as eternity in the presence of God.

At the end of Genesis 2 that is what we have. God had created and it was very good. He had found a helper for Adam, a helper so suitable that she inspired the first love poem written by man. “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man.” Genesis 2:23

I am not certain the last time you have said or thought “at last”. The great thing about this phrase is it can’t really be said sarcastically or with a second meaning. You don’t bust out “at last” unless you really mean it. In fact it might be a phrase you save or hold back for just the right moment.

Can’t you just hear the exhale of relief in Adam’s words? At last it is you.

So now Genesis 2 is like any romantic comedy movie ever made. The perfect man ends up with the perfect girl in the perfect place. That is how the movie ends. But with the story Gods wants to tell us, that is how the story begins. The perfect man – Adam (literally created by the hands of God) – and the perfect woman – Eve (also created by the hand of God) – and the perfect place (a.k.a. the Garden of Eden with God). And that is the beginning. How God intended it for us.

The reason all movies end this way is because we are constantly trying to get back to what God has intended for us all along. Get back to that perfect moment. We have been through all the crap and we just want things to be better now. But life – just like the movies – holds so true to the Bible story.

All the pain and suffering is self-inflicted. We have done it to ourselves. Don’t ace like you are exempt. If you think you are, then you definitely are not. The limited free will God has allowed us has taken us to broken places.

So now what?

This is where Hollywood usually “jumps the shark” to use a TV term. They go off on a “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” tangent. But the Bible is super clear here. From the very beginning – you can’t & won’t do it yourself. You need God. Always have, always will.

A true miracle ending would have the stars giving up – just letting go and giving control of their lives to Jesus.

Give up = happy ending.

Not give up in the sense of trying to drown yourself, but give up in the sense of trying to fix yourself and your situation. Give it up, give it to God. When that finally happens we end up right back where we started.

At last…

A friend of mine recently saw a living legend speak. He is the topic of the book Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. His name is Louis Zamperini.

Lou’s story of perseverance it unmatched in modern times. He survived more than most of us would want to. Then on the other side of all his suffering is what makes his story so remarkable.

Forgiveness.

I had a conversation recently with someone about forgiveness. Forgiveness doesn’t impact the unforgiven as much as the unforgiver. Unforgiveness is a disease that destroys us. It is not survivable. Unforgiveness is fatal. If we can’t or won’t forgive our brother, why would our God forgive us. I think someone famous said that once.

Lou is a picture perseverance and forgiveness. I am thankful I have read his story. I am hopeful his story will lead a whole generation to forgiveness for the wrongs dealt against us.

Let’s start today, with a mass forgiveness. Whatever you are harboring this day. Call it out to God and forgive your perpetrator. It will change you forever.

Pass it on.

My wife has Lupus. It is an auto-immune disease. It is kind of a rascal (i.e. it sucks big time).

If you don’t know much about Lupus, you are not alone. Sometimes the best answers we get from doctors are, “Well you just never know since it is Lupus…” What? Basically they are saying, “Since specializing in Lupus, what I have learned is we don’t have a clue about Lupus.”

Which I can be okay with until the contradictions start. For example, in a recent visit to my wife’s nephrologist (kidney doctor) he suggested continuing to treat her Lupus with cytoxan, the chemo drug she has been using to treat the kidney disease caused by Lupus. Not a totally crazy idea since it has worked to stem the damage done to Jen’s kidneys. It wouldn’t be a totally foreign idea if it weren’t for the fact that the same doctor told us less than a year ago that we wouldn’t want to treat Lupus with cytoxan because it is too toxic and not designed for that kind of use.

Can you see what it is difficult to live with? And I am not even living with it, my wife is.

So we are starting down a new adventure. We have seen in some people a remarkable improvement in quality of life just by changing diet. Significantly changing what we eat. A lot of lupus sufferers or other Rheumatoid sufferers have had success by eliminating gluten or refined sugar or certain preservatives used in processed foods.

As of now we are investigating what is the best path to take. Coming soon, no junk.

So if you have any suggestions on where to find out what foods are best. I would love to hear them. Fire away.

I’ve been talking with a friend about an upcoming trip to the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota. A total of 6 of us dudes are heading up there. I have no idea what to expect.

One friend is wrestling over a pretty difficult decision and he had an interesting take on the trip. He said, “I know something spiritual is going to happen regardless what I decide, I just don’t know which is the right something for this time.”

Well said.

If you couldn’t stay with that line of thinking, I’ll try to break it down.

We are all faced with difficult decisions. Regardless of what we choose, something spiritual is going to happen. Because everything is spiritual whether you want to believe it or not. The key is trying to figure out which is the “right” thing for this particular time.

This point he made was also valid – God will make sure I make the right decision.

I think it is interesting that many of us are stuck at one end of the spectrum on this topic. Either we are convinced nothing has any spiritual connotations so we shouldn’t think about any decisions we make because it really doesn’t matter. Or, we over analyze every decision because we know about the spiritual ramifications and we become paralyzed. Making a decision by not ever making a decision.

Few of us are able to exist in the middle. Functional spiritualism.

That is being able to live with and in the knowledge that God is in control of everything we do. He knows, cares and prays for our decisions. AND (that is a big and) being able to still make decisions because we are confident that God is with us regardless of the “right” or “wrong” decision.

Everything is something spiritual

I am reading Revelation. This is my third or fourth time reading through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Most normal people don’t read the Bible like that. They have a reading plan so they can jump around to stay interested. I can’t do that. I get so confused. I just like to read the book from front to back. That is how they were designed (in my head at least) so that is how I am going to approach.

Anywho, I am in chapter 5 in Revelation. John is getting his first glimpse of Heaven and trying to describe what he is seeing. I think most of us “modern” people can’t figure out what John was ever talking about. It is just too far removed from us. So all of his descriptions of heaven are way over our heads. Because we have no context from which to draw.

A perfect example is Rev. 5:6: “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center before the throne…”

I’ll go out on a limb and say few to none of us in this blog community have ever seen what a lamb looks like when it has been slain. But for John, a good Jew, this was nothing new. For years and years he had been a part of a community that regularly sacrificed animals. John would know what a slain lamb looks like. It was no big deal for him to see that.

But what was a big deal was the lamb that looked slain, was alive.

He lives. He has triumphed. He is able. (Rev. 5:5)

John uses simple words to create the most complex picture ever drawn. So complex we can’t imagine it.

Imagine this: the Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center before the throne – for you.

I don’t have a source for this, so I share it without knowledge or the origin. But I think it is clever. Wouldn’t it be fun if this is how it happened every time we prayed? Would you love it? Really? Read it and let me know what you think.

Blue words are your words in prayer – red words are God’s.

“Our Father Who Art In Heaven.
Yes?
Don’t interrupt me. I’m praying.
But — you called ME!
Called you?
No, I didn’t call you..
I’m praying.
Our Father who art in Heaven.
There — you did it again!
Did what ?
Called ME.
You said,
“Our Father who art in Heaven”
Well, here I am..
What’s on your mind?
But I didn’t mean anything by it.
I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day.
I always say the Lord’s Prayer.
It makes me feel good,
Kind of like fulfilling a duty.
Well, all right.
Go on.
Okay, Hallowed be thy name .
Hold it right there.
What do you mean by that?
By what?
By “Hallowed be thy name”?
It means, it means .. . Good grief, 
I don’t know what it means.
How in the world should I know?
It’s just a part of the prayer.
By the way, what does it mean?
It means honored, holy, wonderful.
Hey, that makes sense.. 
I never thought about what ‘hallowed’ meant before.
Thanks.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in Heaven.
Do you really mean that?
Sure, why not?
What are you doing about it?
Doing? Why, nothing, I guess.

I just think it would be kind of neat if you got

Control, of everything down here like you have up

There. We’re kinda in a mess down here you know.
Yes, I know;
But, have I got control of you?
Well, I go to church..
That isn’t what I asked you.
What about your bad temper?
You’ve really got a problem there, you know.
And then there’s the way you spend

Your money — all on yourself.
And what about the kind of books you read ?
Now hold on just a minute!
Stop picking on me!
I’m just as good as some of the rest

Of those People at church!

Excuse ME..
I thought you were praying
For my will to be done..
If that is to happen,
It will have to start with the ones
Who are praying for it.
Like you — for example …
Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups.
Now that you mention it,
I could probably name some others.
So could I.
I haven’t thought about it very much until now,
But I really would like to cut out some of those things.
I would like to, you know, be really free.
Good.
Now we’re getting somewhere.

We’ll work together — You and ME.
I’m proud of You.
Look, Lord, if you don’t mind,
I need to finish up here.
This is taking a lot longer than it usually does.
Give us this day, our daily bread.
You need to cut out the bread..
You’re overweight as it is.
Hey, wait a minute! What is this?
Here I was doing my religious duty,
And all of a sudden you break in
And remind me of all my hang-ups.

Praying is a dangerous thing.
You just might get what you ask for.
Remember, you called ME — and here I am.
It’s too late to stop now.
Keep praying. ( pause .. . )
Well, go on.
I’m scared to.
Scared? Of what?
I know what you’ll say.
Try ME.
Forgive us our sins,

As we forgive those who sin against us.
What about Ann?
See? I knew it!
I knew you would bring her up!
Why, Lord, she’s told lies about me, spread stories.
She never paid back the money she owes me..
I’ve sworn to get even with her!
But — your prayer –
What about your prayer?
I didn’t — mean it..
Well, at least you’re honest.
But, it’s quite a load carrying around all that

Bitterness and resentment isn’t it?
Yes, but I’ll feel better as soon as I get even with her.
Boy, have I got some plans for her.
She’ll wish she had never been born.
No, you won’t feel any better.
You’ll feel worse.
Revenge isn’t sweet.
You know how unhappy you are –
Well, I can change that.
You can? How?
Forgive Ann.
Then, I’ll forgive you;
And the hate and the sin,
will be Ann’s problem — not yours.
You will have settled the problem
as far as you are concerned.
Oh, you know, you’re right.
You always are.
And more than I want revenge,
I want to be right with You .. . (sigh).
All right, all right . .
I forgive her.
There now!
Wonderful!
How do you feel?
Hmmmm. Well, not bad.
Not bad at all!
In fact, I feel pretty great!
You know, I don’t think I’ll go to bed uptight tonight.
I haven’t been getting much rest, you know.
Yeah, I know.
But, you’re not through with your prayer, are you?

Go on.
Oh, all right.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Good! Good! I’ll do that.
Just don’t put yourself in a place
where you can be tempted.
What do you mean by that?
You know what I mean.
Yeah. I know..
Okay.
Go ahead. Finish your prayer.
For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory forever.
Amen.
Do you know what would bring me glory?
What would really make me happy?
No, but I’d like to know.
I want to please you now…
I’ve really made a mess of things.
I want to truly follow you….
I can see now how great that would be.
So, tell me . . .
How do I make you happy?
YOU just did”.

I’ll be the first to admit I have made a ton of mistakes. I have hurt so many people during my life. I have made so many selfish decisions that I can’t even begin to recount them.

With time and distance comes perspective. Think about it, on a long run, with your head down, the hill you are running may as well be the trail out of the Grand Canyon. But once you are past it a few miles and can look back at it, you can usually have a clearer picture as to what it actually was.

Life is like that. For years I was such a selfish idiot (some might say I still am). The decisions I made were never impacted by what it might do the the people surrounding me. It was all about me. I made thousands of decisions for momentary joy or fun or pleasure with total disregard for all others.

Now with time and distance I have new perspective. It is really heartbreaking. Were the moments of fun worth the damage done? In the midst of the moments I didn’t even realize damage was happening. But now as I look back I see that the field I so haphazardly and carelessly ran through was actually a battlefield. It is scarred by actions. Often times my selfish decisions blew someone up. I didn’t consider it at the time, but now that remnant is what is left. The moment is gone, just the damage remains.

Was it worth it?

Never.

Hopefully you can learn from me. Don’t let your decisions destroy someone else. Choose selflessness instead of selfishness. Choose to build someone up at your expense instead of blowing someone up for your momentary benefit.

I know now it isn’t worth the damage. I never want to forget that.

I have found myself apologizing to God a lot recently. I haven’t been praying often enough or about the right stuff. I have been making mistakes. I haven’t been reading my Bible. I’ve been focused on tasks on not on God.

I have been apologizing to God for being human.

That is messed up. God knows that I am human. He created me. He even created me to be the kind of human being that I am being. So I am constantly apologizing to God for being who He made me to be. That is arrogant.

Basically I am saying, “God please forgive me that I am not you…”

That isn’t my heart in the moment but with retrospect that is basically what I am saying. I think I can be God, so I try to be God and I fail miserably at it. I try to be perfect like Him, but it isn’t possible.

I need to be content with who I am. Not content with sinning, but content that I will never be God.  I am human, just like He planned it. Here to pursue God with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind and all my strength. That is it. That is the extent to which I will be held accountable. God never has expected me to be like Him.

He expects me to be human.

This does not mean I won’t strive to be more like Jesus everyday. I will. But this perspective check has made me realize how foolish I am some days.

Thank you for your mercies, Lord. I need them. After all, I am human.

I think things are miraculously added to my Bible all the time. I have read the New Testament a few times over the years, but I swear these verses weren’t there the first few times.

2 Peter 1:5-7 – “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.”

Wow.

We can’t save ourselves by our efforts. We are saved by grace through faith. But this faith compels us to do something. To do stuff. Because of this overflow of grace in our life we can’t help but share it with others. We can’t help but do more. Then the question is what?

What do we do? How do we do it? I have never seen this progression before. I think it is beautiful. Add to your faith goodness. Then seek to know God more. Once you know God more, you can pursue self-control. You will need perseverance in that pursuit because it isn’t easy. If we persevere we become more like Jesus. Becoming more like God, makes us more like God – therefore we can have compassion/affection for all. Which leads to us loving like God.

Isn’t that a lofty goal? To love like God?

But how great could that be?

I will chew on this for a few days I am sure. How does it taste to you?

I’m not talking about when you were a kid or even when your parents or grandparents were kids. I’m talking about way back. Back when there weren’t books. No one could write or read and it didn’t matter. Back when history wasn’t a class in school but a story told around the evening fire.

I’m reading the Case for Christ by Lee Strobel again. I’ve read it two or three times already, but for me – it never gets old. I have two or three other books I should be reading but I’m not. The current chapter is talking about testing reliability of the eyewitnesses of Jesus. The guys who wrote the Gospels. Can they be trusted? Strobel uses some journalist techniques to run the experts through the wringer.

One section is the thought that it would be impossible for men to get the story right, if there weren’t able to record everything Jesus said with a device. These days, no one could follow a guy around listening to what he said and be able to recount his teaching 20 years later. If all we could do was listen to a guy talking we would be lucky to remember his name after 20 years. Because we aren’t an auditory culture. We all live in the age of words being printed on something or words being online somewhere.

We don’t have to hear what someone says and remember it because we can always look it up later, buy the book or see the movie. But what if those weren’t options. What if our only option was to listen? Would we be better at it? Would we ask the teacher to repeat it so we could get it? Would we test each other to make sure we have it? What if for thousands of years this was our only way to share information? Do you think it would be possible that we are tuned into this sort of learning and sharing of data?

Of course. Many people want to say, “The Bible can’t be true because these guys couldn’t have possibly captured this information accurately enough for it to be reliable.”  I would say the Bible is more accurate than my local newspaper (no offense intended to local newspaper). I find grammar mistakes, mis-quotes and necessary corrections almost everyday. For example, I was quoted in the newspaper the other day and they never interviewed me. How is that possible?

I think current publications have too many ways to find information and proof their work to actually be good at it. Sometimes when you have spell check you become a sucky speller. Because you get lazy and you forget that you might have to actually look at the document because the all-knowing computer doesn’t do everything.

I love that fact that our Bible is perfect. It is exactly the way we are supposed to have it, because God gave it to us that way. And that is a beautiful story no matter how it is told.