Acts 17 introduces an interesting group of people to our teaching series, The Jesus Story… Continued! The group is called the ‘Epicurean philosophers.’ Most Americans, though heavily influenced by his thought, have never heard the title Epicurean Philosophers. Much of how life is lived by 21st century Americans carries amazing similarities to the teachings of Epicurus.
Epicurus lived 300 years before the time of Jesus. He was a philosopher, teacher and a prolific writer, though most of his writings were destroyed. He established a learning center where his philosophy was passed down. At the end of his life he willed this school to one of his students and set-up an endowment to continue educating and training others in his philosophy.
Over the last 15 years people have wrestled with and written about what is referred to as ‘The Riddle of Epicurus.’ The Riddle of Epicurus is older than the writings of Jesus. The Riddle of Epicurus is one of the oldest statements about the issue of the ‘problem of evil.’ Googling ‘The Riddle of Epicurus’ results in over 650,000 websites. The Riddle has been written about in books, magazines, blogs, and textbooks positively, negatively and ponderously. The Riddle is used more and more as part of an argument for the rejection of the God of Christianity and the Bible. It has received significant press over the last few years by published authors and arm-chair bloggers. The Riddle can be found in various different forms by different bloggers and writers.
The Riddle of Epicurus goes like this:
Is god willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. (All Powerful)
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. (Not Loving)
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him god?
Because this riddle was unable to be solved by Epicurus, his students or teachers he concluded that if there is a god or gods, they are not involved in life on this planet.
Do these arguments sound vaguely familiar? Have you heard some form of this idea before?
More and more people process life this way: If there is something I can’t see, I don’t understand or a question I can’t answer, then it must not be real.
This is the ultimate statement of man claiming there is no god because he himself is not god who would be able to see everything, understand everything and can answer everything.
The truth of life has been stated another way. “There are two things I know: There is a God and you are not Him!”
There is a God and I’m not him!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Happy Father’s Day!
When I pray for fathers, families and children in the church and community, I regularly pray the last verse from the book of Malachi. Malachi was the last prophet to speak in the years before Jesus came to earth. A prophet is someone who speaks on God’s behalf. The words of Malachi were the last words that the children of Israel would hear for 400 years. So the last words of the last prophet are significant. The last words of the last prophet mean something today!
His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse." (Malachi 4:6 NLT)
Turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. That is God’s desire for Father’s Day. Father’s Day is not just about honoring fathers. Father’s Day is about fathers being reminded of the call to serve and lead their children and families. Father’s Day is about emphasizing to children how important fathers are.
NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon describes being a father like this: “I had no idea of the real true purpose of everything I do until I became a father.” Driven by Ambition
Former Mariners star Alex Rodriguez said it this way: “Dad left us when I was 9. What did I know back then? I thought he was coming back. I thought he had gone to the store or something. But he never came back… It still hurts.” Would Rodriguez have made different choices than some of the poor ones he’s made if Dad had never left?
The importance of Dads is found in the words of the poem, “The Little Chap Who Follows Me.” Google it!
A careful man I ought to be; A little fellow follows me; I do not dare to go astray; For fear he'll go the self-same way.
I cannot once escape his eyes; Whatever he sees me do he tries~ Like me, he says, he's going to be; The little chap who follows me.
Happy Father’s Day!
His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse." (Malachi 4:6 NLT)
Turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. That is God’s desire for Father’s Day. Father’s Day is not just about honoring fathers. Father’s Day is about fathers being reminded of the call to serve and lead their children and families. Father’s Day is about emphasizing to children how important fathers are.
NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon describes being a father like this: “I had no idea of the real true purpose of everything I do until I became a father.” Driven by Ambition
Former Mariners star Alex Rodriguez said it this way: “Dad left us when I was 9. What did I know back then? I thought he was coming back. I thought he had gone to the store or something. But he never came back… It still hurts.” Would Rodriguez have made different choices than some of the poor ones he’s made if Dad had never left?
The importance of Dads is found in the words of the poem, “The Little Chap Who Follows Me.” Google it!
A careful man I ought to be; A little fellow follows me; I do not dare to go astray; For fear he'll go the self-same way.
I cannot once escape his eyes; Whatever he sees me do he tries~ Like me, he says, he's going to be; The little chap who follows me.
Happy Father’s Day!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Get a hold of yourself!
A few weeks ago I commented about how character has been taking a bashing of late. Every day the news gets more bizarre as the stories of well known people’s behavior is unraveled for the world to see.
The one area of character that is taking the hardest bashing is self-control. It is apparent that there is a serious lack of self-control throughout the corners of the globe. Self-control is an interesting idea. The word that is used in the original language actually means ‘to grip or to take hold of.’ The idea is ‘to grip self or take hold of self.’ We use a phrase with those words. We say to someone who is out of control: Get a hold of yourself!
Does ‘self’ control what you do or do you control ‘self’? Self-control is about controlling self. When we don’t control self – we are rightly accused of being ‘selfish.’ Selfishness is when ‘me’ is in control. Everything is me, me, me!
Self-control is when self is being controlled. Jesus said that His followers needed to ‘die daily.’ Die to what? Die to self. Die to me. The only thing that will put an end to selfishness or me-ishness is death. Dead people can’t demand that their wants get met.
Philosopher, writer and teacher Aristotle once said, “I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is the victory over self.”
Fortunately ‘self-control’ is not something I have to create or pull out of a hat. Self-control is a character strength and trait that the Holy Spirit wants to create in every life. Paul wrote to the church in Galatia saying: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, … and self-control.
The Holy Spirit wants to, is waiting to, and will, when given access, create the fruit of self-control in a person’s life.
Your assignment – Pray every day: Holy Spirit create the fruit of self-control in my life. Amen
The one area of character that is taking the hardest bashing is self-control. It is apparent that there is a serious lack of self-control throughout the corners of the globe. Self-control is an interesting idea. The word that is used in the original language actually means ‘to grip or to take hold of.’ The idea is ‘to grip self or take hold of self.’ We use a phrase with those words. We say to someone who is out of control: Get a hold of yourself!
Does ‘self’ control what you do or do you control ‘self’? Self-control is about controlling self. When we don’t control self – we are rightly accused of being ‘selfish.’ Selfishness is when ‘me’ is in control. Everything is me, me, me!
Self-control is when self is being controlled. Jesus said that His followers needed to ‘die daily.’ Die to what? Die to self. Die to me. The only thing that will put an end to selfishness or me-ishness is death. Dead people can’t demand that their wants get met.
Philosopher, writer and teacher Aristotle once said, “I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is the victory over self.”
Fortunately ‘self-control’ is not something I have to create or pull out of a hat. Self-control is a character strength and trait that the Holy Spirit wants to create in every life. Paul wrote to the church in Galatia saying: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, … and self-control.
The Holy Spirit wants to, is waiting to, and will, when given access, create the fruit of self-control in a person’s life.
Your assignment – Pray every day: Holy Spirit create the fruit of self-control in my life. Amen
Friday, June 3, 2011
Accountability - Place or Replace
Over the last 10 years of church history ‘accountability’ has become a regular part of the vocabulary of people’s lives. People talk about being ‘in an accountability group’ or ‘having an accountability partner.’ You might overhear others talk about ‘being held accountable.’ Regularly, here at South Whidbey Assembly, when helping someone break a habit or some life controlling practice, we will utilize the strength of accountability.
Accountability is an interesting practice. I might recruit someone to ‘hold me accountable’ for how I am doing in my spiritual disciplines of praying, reading, fasting, meditating, giving and so on. It is a great thought that someone would ‘hold me accountable.’ The problem is that someone else can only hold me accountable when two conditions are in operation. Condition number one is that I give full permission to and cooperate with the one holding me accountable. Condition number two is that I am brutally honest when I don’t do what I am seeking the accountability for. Both conditions are totally controlled by me! When accountability fails to work – this is most often the point of the breakdown.
One of the understandings that I have recently come to is that accountability has a place but it is not meant to replace. Let me explain.
The place for accountability is to help me, support me and coach me while CHARACTER is being formed in my life. Accountability is meant to be the supports holding up a particular wall while adjacent character walls and character structures are put into place.
Accountability is not meant to replace character creation, growth or development. When accountability hinders character creation, the person is weakened and not strengthened. When accountability becomes a replacement rather than having a simple place, the person fails to move forward as is intended.
Ultimately, the character of Jesus in us is what is to guide our choices, habits and practices - not accountability.
The bottom line question has to always be: Is the character of Jesus being formed in me?
Accountability is an interesting practice. I might recruit someone to ‘hold me accountable’ for how I am doing in my spiritual disciplines of praying, reading, fasting, meditating, giving and so on. It is a great thought that someone would ‘hold me accountable.’ The problem is that someone else can only hold me accountable when two conditions are in operation. Condition number one is that I give full permission to and cooperate with the one holding me accountable. Condition number two is that I am brutally honest when I don’t do what I am seeking the accountability for. Both conditions are totally controlled by me! When accountability fails to work – this is most often the point of the breakdown.
One of the understandings that I have recently come to is that accountability has a place but it is not meant to replace. Let me explain.
The place for accountability is to help me, support me and coach me while CHARACTER is being formed in my life. Accountability is meant to be the supports holding up a particular wall while adjacent character walls and character structures are put into place.
Accountability is not meant to replace character creation, growth or development. When accountability hinders character creation, the person is weakened and not strengthened. When accountability becomes a replacement rather than having a simple place, the person fails to move forward as is intended.
Ultimately, the character of Jesus in us is what is to guide our choices, habits and practices - not accountability.
The bottom line question has to always be: Is the character of Jesus being formed in me?
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