Question #1

Alright, alright...it's time to tackle one of the questions. Here we go...

"Why do we always want what we can't have?"

This is a fun question to start with. I don't think my answer or any possible answer will necessarily conjure up a huge theological discussion, but hey...you never know. As always your thoughts and comments are more than welcome! So, without further adieu...let's have at it.

In looking at these questions, I think it is important that we determine the heart in which the question is asked, and deal with it accordingly.

To me, this question is speaking directly toward feelings that we may have in our heart. Feelings of greed, feelings of jealousy, and the like.

This question has probably been asked for thousands of years; just think, even the first couple dealt with this issue...wanting what they were told not to partake of...and they were consequently dealt a punishment for their actions. A punishment that we, and all of creation, are still paying today; namely, absent from the perfect state in which creation was made.

Therefore, we need to determine WHAT made Adam and Eve desire that fruit in the garden. The answer: Their lust for more. But wait...this wasn't about sex. I know that...and lust isn't always about sex either. Lust is the belief that something BETTER than our current situation is available to us and should be pursued by us.

The lie of lust tells us that the desire for MORE outweighs the cost and risk....and it promises us something that we feel like we don't already have. And sometimes, it's even about sex.

You can lust for power. You can lust for love. You can lust for acceptance. You can lust for money. You can lust for lots of things...and ultimately the lie of lust hits us square in our independent and jealous hearts. How's that? Meaning, that lust would tell us that WE, as individuals, know more of what we need and want than God does for us. And WE have a RESPONSIBILITY to pursue that and capture what God has been keeping from us. WE DESERVE MORE! That is the heartbeat of lust, and it speaks directly to the jealousy and anger in our hearts.

Jealousy and anger?? Toward who...jealous about what?

Wait...we aren't jealous are we? Are we? Are you? Have you ever wanted what someone else has? Their possessions, background, status, spouse, kids, opportunity, etc?

Have you ever felt inadequate by comparison to them?

Have you ever celebrated a bit when someone who had more/better than you failed?

If so, then you are jealous. You are. The only thing that makes a jealous heart feel any better is by seeing someone else fail. But it doesn't last. And really, it only PROVES the fact that you are indeed jealous. If you have ever snickered when someone got a fender bender in their new car, got reprimanded at their incredible job, had a fight in their unbelievable relationship, or looked a little worse this year at the beach than last year - then YOU ARE JEALOUS!

You may say, I'm not jealous. I only want what is fair. But you don't want what is fair...you really just want MORE. If everyone was fair then everyone would be incredibly average. The things in which you excel would be only normal. Fair doesn't help your jealously. Only more does.

Unless we realize the heart of our jealousy is really something else. It's really anger. Anger? Yep...anger.

If I were to tell you and someone else that I was giving away a new car, and gave the car to the other person, while giving you a matchbox Hot Wheels car, then, you would be upset.

You would say...

"It isn't FAIR that they got the car and I didn't. "
"What did I do to deserve the toy car?"
"Why did THEY get picked"

But you wouldn't be mad at them. They just got a car. Who would you be mad at? You would be mad at ME! Because it was ME that gave away the car at my discretion and I chose to give it to them. They didn't deserve it more. I just gave it to them because I wanted to.

Your anger would be directed at ME if you had a problem with anyone, because it was ME that seemingly ignored you with my gift. Right?

So when we are jealous of what others have, is our anger really at them or someone bigger than them? I believe our anger is directed at God.

I think we feel that God OWES us. That He has dropped the ball when it came to blessing us. We get mad at Him because He obviously ignored our requests, our desires, our needs, etc. We feel like He has picked others over us...and we are angry about it.

But we rarely admit that. Not sure why, if we really feel that way - He already knows...and we are still alive to read this. But maybe, maybe this unspoken and perhaps unnoticed anger or disappointment in God is a good place for you to start.

What? You want me to tell God I'm mad at Him? That I feel ignored and left out?

Yep - I sure do! And I want you to get out any and every frustration you may have with Him. Guess what...He can take it. And if He hasn't hit you with lightning yet, He probably won't for this admittance either.

Well what does this accomplish?

The admittance to being angry with God, feeling left out, ignored, marginalized, or punished by Him really gives Him a big opportunity. It becomes His turn to talk.

And what will He say?

Something like this....(A paraphrase of numerous scriptures/truths concerning God's heartbeat for His children....as imagined by me)

You weren't ignored by me. I LOVE you. I love you so much that I withstood all the pain and suffering and disgrace imaginable so that I could once again, for now and eternity have a way to CONNECT with you! You were not left out by me....I fearfully and wonderfully MADE you to be exactly the person that you are, and I want you to TRUST me with what is best for your future. After all, who knows your abilities and talents better than I....don't you think I may have placed those within you for the story that is still unfolding out of your life? You may think I could have done things better and blessed you more, but the biggest blessing in your life is really ME anyway. If I get to hold you and embrace you even while you are crying, that is so very special for me. I have given you all you need to make it...because I have given you myself! And I did all that because I believe in the power of ME living in YOU. Thanks for letting me say this!

(Maybe, in looking at the truth of scripture, it would sound a little like that.)

Still angry at that God?

Give Him more opportunity to talk....it's a great conversation!

Why do we want what we can't have? Because we believe that lie that it will bring MORE to our lives, when in reality, we have all we could possibly want, hope for, and dream of already within our grasp. Thanks be to God for being the biggest dreamer and provider for us imaginable. And even when I want MORE....I am thankful to have all that I could possibly want!

Blessings,
Andrew






**Some content concerning jealously/anger was pulled from Andy Stanley's book/sermon series "It Came From Within" concerning issues of our hearts.**

Excited About This New Read

So, I rarely get this excited about reading a book, but just from reading the back of Rob Bell's new book, "Jesus Wants to Save Christians", I have to admit I am a little jazzed.

As many of you know, I am a Rob Bell fan, but his author-ship is not what excites me about this book...and for all I know, I could be disappointed once the reading starts....I guess we'll find out.

Here is the summary from the back of the book.

"There is a church in our area that recently added an addition to their building which cost more than $20 million. Our local newspaper ran a front-page story not too long ago revealing that one in five people in our city lives in poverty.

This book is about those two numbers.

It's a book about faith and fear, wealth and war, poverty, power, safety, terror, Bibles, bombs, and homeland insecurity; it's about empty empires and the truth that everybody's a priest; it's about oppression, occupation, and what happens when Christians support, animate, and participate in the very things Jesus came to set people free from.

It's about what it means to be a part of the church of Jesus in a world where some people fly planes into buildings while others pick up groceries in Hummers."

Wow. That really resonates with me. Should be interesting....I'll keep ya updated. ; )

Questions Aplenty

Over the past few weeks, the students at Hope have berated the student team and me with a ton of difficult life questions.

We were unable to get to all of those, so, for the next few weeks, I will be attempting to unpack them on here. Some have a quick, biblical response....others will be more of mine (and hopefully your) opinions. So, I will notate those opinion questions. I realize, as humbly as I can, that I am not always right and/or true. So...if we can provide scripture to the matter...let's let it win out!

Here is a peek into some of these questions. (in reading these questions, if you would like to submit some anonymously, then do so in the comment section!)

- Why do we always want what we can't have?

- What do you say to someone who says they are a Christian, but Church is not really important to them?

- Why do we see people suffer, even if they don't deserve it?

- Were dinosaurs real?

-How do you know when you love someone?

- Why does God say He is in control, but bad things still happen?

- Will you recognize people when you get to heaven?

- What sin(s) leads to death, and why?

- Why is Israel God's chosen people?

- How do you argue the "Big Bang Theory" to a very smart science teacher?

- How do you know what the right religion is? Why are there so many?

- Why can we feel God, but can't always see God?

- How do you know you have found the right person God has planned for you?

- What is love?