Frank Caliendo & God

Ephesians 5:1 calls all believers to follow or imitate God.  The Greek word behind follow or imitate is mimetes.  It is the word from which our English word mimic is derived.  To me a mimic is someone like Frank Caliendo, or for us older folks, Rich Little.  These men mimic the voices and mannerisms of famous people.  However, their mimicry is in part, for they only mimic the outward acts - the voice and recognized movements of the person.  God calls us to mimic Him both in action and in attitude. Here are two examples from the passage.

In Ephesians 4:32 we are told to mimic God in the action and attitude of forgiveness.  Like God, we are to forgive those who sin against us, and we are to forgive them fully and completely as He forgave us.  A great passage, a parable of Christ that teaches this is found in Matthew 18:23-35.  Read this passage and think of those who have wronged you.  Have you fully forgiven them or are you like the wicked servant?

The second example of how we are to mimic God is found in Ephesians 5:2.  We are told to walk in love, to live our lives out in love.  And of course the example given is that of Jesus, who walked in love all the way to the cross.  Other verses that speak to this are Romans 5:8 and Hebrews 12:2.  Jesus loved us and loves us even when we are unlovable.  We then are to mimic God in this way.  We are to fully live our self-sacrificial love to all others, even when they are unlovable.

So where do we begin?  A day does not go by when we are not in the presence of people, people that we must love sacrificially, people that often are unlovable.  They might be your spouse, your boss, your neighbor, your child.  Along with this love, forgiveness must be granted.  Why should we love and forgive? Because God did so for us and because He has told us to mimic Him in this way.

-Mark

Pondering Dementia

There is a form of philosophy which teaches that people are a sum of their memories.  I don't know much about philosophy, but this idea - sum of memories - has begun to make me ponder how it may fit into biblical fact.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 teaches that man is made up of three parts.  The body is the outer shell of a person. The spirit was born dead because of sin, but for those who receive Christ it is made alive and communes with God (Romans 8:16).  The soul, then, seems to be that which defines a person. Many would say that the soul is comprised of our mind, emotions, and will.
If I am correct in my above understanding, then how does dementia, the destruction of memories, fit biblical teaching?  Dementia is a desease that attacks the mind, like cancer may attack the lungs. In a sense, dementia effects the soul of a person.  A person with dementia seems to lose in bits and pieces their personality, the who of who they are.  They lose connection with the past and stare blankly ahead.  We might say the soul of the person seems to be fading away. However, for those who are in Christ, they can be assured that God will restore them upon death.  Not only will they receive a new body, but the mind, too, will be restored.
I might be all wet. Some of the above ideas may not square.  But as I watch two parents battle with the onslaught of dementia I look for understanding from the only true source, Scripture, and I seek hope for the future.

-Mark

A Word in Times of Trouble.

This week has been a tough time for some. Illnesses have returned and loved ones have been lost to death. Reading John 16:13 today for devotions I realized that we have in our hands "all truth," the Bible. Since we hold truth, then it is only fitting that this truth will provide comfort in our times of trouble. Below are some Bible passages that will comfort you during tough times.

Psalm 9:9; 18:2; 22:24; 23:1-6; 27:4-5; 30:5; 34:18; 37:39; 46:1-2; 48:14; 55:22; 71:20-21; 73:26; 138:7
Proverbs 14:32
Isaiah 25:8; 40:18-31; 49:14-16; 51:3; 54:10; 66:12-14
Lamentations 3:31-33
Hosea 13:14
Nahum 1:7
Matthew 5:4; 6:19-34; 11:25-30
John 6:39-40; 14:1-4; 14:27

There are even more that I will include in another post.

Overwhelmed with Life

As a believer in Christ it can be frustrating when I fail, when I sin. Because of that failure, and the frustration that comes with it, life can be overwhelming. To complicate matters I know that this response, allowing life to overwhelm, is in itself not right. There must be a better way to respond.

Last night Wakefield started their new small groups. Over the next 8 weeks we are using the Discipleship Explored curriculum. This material takes the group through a study of Philippians. Our first session focused on Philippians 1:6, the great promise that God will complete in you the good work He began upon salvation. We learned in Philippians 1:10-11 that this will be complete when Christ returns for the church and ultimately we will be filled with the fruits of Christ righteousness!

How then should this fact of perfect completion change my day-to-day existence? It should fill me with joy, relief, and of course confidence. I should understand that even in failure God is still working in me to complete His intended work in my life. I hope this week when you stumble and fall that you will allow Philippians 1:1-11 to pick you up and fill you with the confidence that God is still working in your life and bringing it to completion.

Another note, small groups started last night and we had a very good turn out. We had two strong groups in spite of the blizzard. Feel free next Sunday evening to join us and become a part of a group. We would love to have you.
-Mark