BECOMING LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN

BECOMING LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN

A Christian Missionary I know once commented that in the mission field they have no difficulty of sharing the Gospel to ethnic groups or tribes once they have immersed themselves in their way of life and establish communication with them, but they find sharing the Gospel more challenging when they face the intellectuals.

 

This is naturally to be expected. The mind is the battlefield, and the Word of God has been breaking down strongholds of unbelief even among the intellectuals.

It is amazing, said this missionary, that they have no arsenal of human knowledge in dealing with this type of people. They are ordinary men and women  without superior talents or education. They only trusted the pure unadulterated Word of God to open the minds and hearts of the intelligent and the wise. They are amazed of the lives that have been changed by the power of the Gospel of Christ.

Before becoming a Christian I thought only simpletons could embrace Christianity, or even any form of religious conviction. I realized later that the Christian faith can stand honest intellectual inquiry.

The challenge of the modern secular mind, against the Christian faith are not necessarily overwhelming.  It is true that many great minds are steep in unbelief, but many great minds are believers as well. The growth of anti-religious prejudice and atheistic advocacies, spearheaded by academics and intellectuals like Richard Dawkins, and the world famous physicist Stephen Hawking, has been hyped up by the secular media. But the other side of the fence who have come to embrace faith, are full of intellectual giants as well. Intellectuals like C.S. Lewis, Lee Strobel, Josh Mcdowell, and Atty. Frank Morison, have become committed Christians. Dr. William Craig and Dr. Norman Geisler have raised the level of intellectual debate, as Christian apologists.

The great Apostle Paul, Christ’s servant of no ordinary intellect, in his exhortation to the Corinthian converts, declared: “Brothers think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”(1 Corinthians 1:26-27) The Apostle further reminds us even today in this wise: “Do not deceive yourselves. If anyone of you thinks he is wise, by the standard of this age, he should become a fool so that he may become wise.”(1 Corinthians 3:18)

What this Saint is saying is, intellectual arrogance darkens the heart, and blinds the mind of spiritual discernment.

If there is one thing the unbelieving intellectual giants of this age need, it is the humility of becoming like a child. This is the first step. A little child accepts everything by faith.   

The words of Jesus Christ still reverberates to this day.

 “And he said, I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”  (Matthew 18:3)

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alumpofclayinafrica.blogspot.com

THE UNTAMED HORSE AND THE UNPLOWED FIELD

In His sermon on the mount, Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth."(Matthew 5:5)

The world in which we live honors the powerful. Meekness is viewed as weakness and the weak perish. Jesus calls the meek blessed or happy. One could hardly understand why there is blessedness or happiness in being meek, as in docile, in a highly competitive world where everyone strives to outdo one another. This teaching, is so contrary to the ways of the world. The standard of this world, is expressed in terms of power, superiority, rank, honor, wealth, possessions, and conquests. 

Mankind has been offering sacrifices in the altar of worldly success.  True enough, where would the world be without the triumphs and successes of man’s struggle to achieve? 

Does Jesus mean to be meek is for us to remain poor mediocre, spineless creatures to be dominated by the strong?

We see in history examples of men who are powerful, ruthless,  conquerors. We see them aspire and hold public office,  exercising power and authority over the lives of many people. The meek, the gentle, even the less powerful, would find themselves overrun by stronger forces than themselves. But if we look at these dominant figures, they are without weaknesses and frailties. And Jesus knows  they are not as powerful and dominant as they appear to be.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." This is one difficult teaching of the Lord to grasp, because the meek and the losers, would never amount to anything, judging from the ways of the world.

We have to find out who are the meek spoken of here.

The meek spoken of here, is not the same as one who has a weak personality. Meekness here is not weakness. In the Old Testament there was one man described as very meek. NUM 12:2-3 says, "Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth."

Certainly while Moses was meek he was no weakling. He was one the greatest patriarchs, who led his people out of slavery from Egypt. He fought and contended with Pharaoh, the most powerful ruler of the ancient world.

If the  meekness of Moses is not weakness, what then is the meaning of the meek whom the Lord describes as blessed and will inherit the earth?

The Greek word used by Jesus means "gentle, humble, considerate, patient, courteous."

The word meek in both in the Hebrew and the Greek languages means - "To be tamed" in the case of a wild or untamed animal, or in the case of a field - "To be plowed."

A farmer who prepares to plant needs to break and soften the hard soil before planting the seeds. The plowed field will then be ready to receive the seeds. A hardened, unplowed soil may be literally hard that  it will not be productive unless it is loosened up and plowed. So the “meek” or the field that is plowed, and broken up, will be blessed for it will receive the seeds and yield the crops, unlike the tough hardened soil.  

This is the same concept when we use the word meek to mean “to be tamed.” 

An untamed wild horse, is a strong, powerful beast, running wild and free. Once this horse is tamed, the same horse still retains its strength, energy, and power, but this time the power and strength of this horse, is controlled, focused, and directed by the rider of the horse, so it’s  awesome power is  directed, contained and under control.

Truly it is such a wonderful thought to be the kind of meek person, whom the Lord describes. He is like the hardened tough soil who surrenders control of his strength, and ability, to be cultivated as the Master Farmer wills him to be used for greater harvest. He is like the untamed, strong, horse who submits to the training and discipline of the Master Rider, finally yielding to His control and direction all its potential force, power and endurance, following the Master’s leading.    

Image by :subversiveinfluence.com

LESSONS FROM THE MONK AND THE CEO

LESSONS FROM THE MONK AND THE CEO

A story is told of a monk, who one day was visited by a friend, who needed advise about the quarrels which often ensued in his company’s board meetings.

 

The monk brought him to the water-well of the monastery.

As his friend peered down the well, the monk, asked, “What do you see?”

His friend replied “I see the water.”

“Is that all you see?” asked the monk.

“I see my face mirrored in the water.”

“Good, now throw down the pail and draw water,” instructed the monk.

His friend cast the down the pail which hit the water, began to sink as it filled with water, and started pulling up the pail.

As his friend was doing this the monk said, “Now do you still see yourself in the water?”

His friend replied, “No, all I see is the troubled water.”

“There’s your lesson,” the monk said, “better not to stir up things, instead, wait for them to settle down, you will see better and clearer.”

At my age, I have met and observed people who may be considered leaders, heads, chiefs, executives, and decision makers, the ones who make things happen, either in the public, or private sectors, in the academe or among the religious.

I have found that the brightest, finest and ablest of them all, are humble, pleasant, witty, and firmly resolute, but fairly humane. 

I also find them to be the most reflective of all thinkers, which is a very rare quality. They take control of sudden impulsiveness. Some struggle with a superior ego, the cause of being smart, as they wrestle with the demon of arrogance.

These are leaders who look at the facts, after all the clouds, dust and hazy particles have settled down, patiently waiting for  things to clear up. They wait for the murky waters to become clear and see their faces reflected as in a mirror, silently gathering their thoughts, feelings, and experiences to guide them in their decisions. They say what they mean, mean what they say, produce results, and give credit to whom credit is due.

I wish we have more of them, particularly in the government service, which is top heavy of self important bureaucrats.  

THE WATCH REPAIRMAN

THE WATCH REPAIRMAN

Yesterday I went to the shop of my favorite watch repairman.  This time necessity compelled me to visit him, unlike my other visits which would simply require replacement of used up battery.

My watch, an old model Cartier, was slowing down, so it needed a check- up.

The watch repairman,  was a calm, choleric middle age gentleman, who moved slowly and seemed to take his time.  I asked him to look what’s wrong with my time piece. He gave me that silly grin and exclaimed, “Ah, an old original.”

He fastened his loop, popped the back case, picked the battery, and wired the tester.

“The battery’s good, the motor is sturdy,  so this old geezer needs complete overhaul” he said.

“How long does it take to clean up its ticker?” I asked.

“Are you waiting?” he asked.

“I have nothing better to do, might as well hang around,” I said.

“Forty five minutes, more or less,” he said.

“Ok, go ahead,” I said.

I sat on the stool over looking his cubicle, and curiously observed the display of his skills.

With solemn ceremony the watch repairman rubbed his hands together, and began the painstaking process of taking apart and unscrewing each and every little, minute particle of the watch,   laid them out on the working mat. Using special tools and tweezers he picked apart each and every part which could hardly be seen by the naked eye.

The skill of this guy is amazing, his fingers and hands steady, sure, and balanced as a surgeon’s, even better. 

Then he began the slow process of washing and cleaning each minute part of the watch in a small bowl of fluid.  

“Mr. Cartier, sure needs cleaning up,” he said, showing me the dirty residues in the fluid bowl,  where he soaked the small fine particles of what used to be my watch.

 I was scared in my thought if he could ever put them back again.

Then he started the slow and methodical work of exactly putting together every frail part, back in its precise place, and the watch to my fascination came alive, in a balance movement, exactly counting time again.

As I reflect on this experience, this is what my Lord Jesus Christ did for me. 

Like the watch repairman He cleaned me up too, and it took awhile to wash me clean,  and put me back together, that I may live a new life that follows His bidding.

I was delighted to have my old watch ticking,  like new. But more so when I found my Savior, I experienced becoming new.

This is exactly what St. Paul declared: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.”( 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Complaining and Disputing

Complaining and Disputing

If there is any group or race of people mentioned in the Scriptures, whom we could describe as congenital complainers and murmurers, they are none other than the Hebrew people, the chosen race. A cursory reading of the Old Testament beginning in Exodus  would show that God’s people consistently complained and grumbled despite the greatest manifestation of God’s power and protection  in their journey to the land of promise. And when the people complained it displeased the Lord.      

In the book of Philippians the brilliant Apostle Paul of Tarsus wrote a powerful treatise on the subject of complaining and murmuring. This great Saint of  Christ was perhaps moved by what he saw in the attitude of the new believers during his day. He saw the innate complaining attitude of the Israelites repeat itself even among Christians both Jew and Gentiles.  Here St. Paul reminds us how we should conduct ourselves as men and women of God. 

I dare  say and I hope I am wrong, that we Filipinos are second to none when it comes to criticizing others and denouncing everything or opposing everyone that we have forgotten to practice the virtue of acceptance and approval. Just to give you an idea, if you open your TV set and view the local news or the wide assortment of talk shows, it is likely that you will hear one politician, critic, or person, denouncing, condemning  or complaining against another. Hardly could we hear words of praise and appreciation. The atmosphere  is depressing and obnoxious.  It seems that in this country everything is wrong and everyone complains.     

Life and death are in the power of the tongue. This is what the Bible declares. I recall an interesting study about two sets of flowering plants, where they were taken care of  equally well except that one set was subjected to tongue lashing every day. The result  was revealing. The verbally abused set of plants wilted, while the other set was far healthier. There is power in what we say.  St. Paul teaches us  to  do all things  without murmuring and disputing. 

If you are a parent I am pretty sure you experienced the awful feeling of  being at the receiving end of your children’s murmuring or if you are a husband of being the brunt of your wife’s nagging. The bottom-line is,  complaining or grumbling, while admittedly a natural human reaction should be avoided for it radiates a spirit of discord, and hate, and robs the grumbler of joy. If at all there is power in the spoken word, then the murmurer reveals his rebellious heart. What he speaks ill of, become real, inviting trouble and disaster.  God’s word encourages us to do all things without complaining, to be patient and forbearing to be hopeful and faithful. By doing this we would be described as blameless and harmless.

Philippians 2: 14-15. DO ALL THINGS WITHOUT COMPLAINING AND DISPUTING THAT YOU MAY BECOME BLAMELESS AND HARMLESS CHILDREN OF GOD WITHOUT FAULT IN THE MIDST OF A CROOKED AND PERVERSE GENERATION AMONG WHOM YOU SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD.

I was a grumbler and chronic complainer when things did not turn out the way I wanted them to be. This attitude was often the cause of bad temper, misery, and agitation, badly infecting those around me. St. Paul’s exhortation has convicted me to deal with this sin of the tongue, which is poison to the soul. It would take a long process to get rid of this bad behavior, for without the grace of the Holy Spirit who guides us unto all truth, one cannot grow in maturity. St. Paul was exhorting the Christians to cultivate the virtue of gratefulness, perseverance, love, patience and obedience,  so they could forget complaining. A Christian should not stand out as the chief complainer in any situation. It is amazing how a spirit of complaining, could thrive in any condition since the complainer could only see anything the he could complain about. I am amused to see even priests and nuns raising their fists and voices, against controversial social issues. If we review the entire scripture, our Lord, never mobilized people to rally behind Him or to rise up against the rulers and authorities.

We live in  a world where everyone cries out to be satisfied, and everyone is constantly unsatisfied. St. Paul is saying that Christians should be the first to be grateful, and to trust God, and should not grumble about their circumstances. Of course this is easier said than done. But the more thankful is one’s spirit the more difficult it is to complain.

Most of us would complain about hard times, financial trouble, poor health, unfair treatment, mounting debts, even the erratic weather, hurricanes, storms and floods, and blame the government for everything that is wrong. These are situations which give reason to grumble and complain. In this way we are not far different from the Israelites who murmured and grumbled. It displeased God who hated their lack of faith and doubted His power to meet their needs and save them from their enemies. The sad thing was the people of Israel had witnessed and experienced time and again amazing deliverance and protection, from God and yet they had such poor memory that when things did not turn out to their expectations they blamed Moses and grew weary.  

St.Paul reminds us that we should do everything  without complaining or disputing that we may become blameless as children of God. Complaining, arguing and disputing are sinful actions which incite hatred, rebellion, bitterness and turmoil instead of peace. It is like arguing against God. Rather than complain we need to be thankful and entrust everything to God who promised to carry our burden and our cares. He promised rest to the weary soul.  

Image from musingsfromhitherandyon.blogspot.com  

LOGICAL RECOURSE

LOGICAL RECOURSE

I was a skinny, shy, longhaired, bespectacled, teenager, when I entered university in the seventies. This was the age of the American  hippies and the flower people, whose  get up and free spirit somehow infected the Filipino youth . I was taking courses in Political Science when I first met this girl who was pursuing a Nursing course. 

How I happened to be in a class of nursing students was due to my indolence than anything else. I enrolled late and all the subjects in Logic, were closed, except for a slot in the block section of Nursing students. Thus I found myself the only male student in a class, which smelled  of girls. I don’t know why girls emit a peculiar smell when they are in one enclosed space. Might be the acute primal instinct in a male.

It wasn’t so bad. I had the good fortune of  sitting with a tall pretty girl at the back row. The Professor, fortunately was my Poli-Sci. professor, as well, so we knew each other. He just grinned and let me be as he focused to impress the girls with his logic and erudition.

Now,  studying logic could be very annoying. I asked my seatmate what relevance has this, in the science of caring for people anyway? She said it was required in the curriculum.  Well the course was not only confusing but could be difficult.

Imagine this: 

“All men are mortals, Socrates is a man, therefore, Socrates is mortal.”

“ Some mammals are cows, all humans are mammals, therefore, some men are cows”.

“No man is a pig. God is not a man. Therefore God is a pig.”

I know the girls were having a bit of hard-time in this mental exercise that most had low quizzes. My pretty neighbor was having a hard-time, so the gentleman that I was I promised her she could copy my answers, but not all of it, just so she could pass. So we became friends.

There were times when I missed two class days that when I got back and parked beside my pretty seatmate, she had that forlorn look. I did not know really what was the matter, she had been very quiet. When the bell rang,  she collected her things. I asked if I could walk with her. She nodded. 

When we were alone, she quietly said she failed in the last quiz. So there was a quiz which I missed.  I said I’m sorry, I’d make it up to her next time, but I couldn’t  allow her to cheat all the time. I proposed that she needed tutoring and I’d be willing to do it during free-time. So I did. We would meet up at the library and dissect the syllogisms. 

The semester ended, she passed the subject. She went on to become a Nurse.  She sweetly thanked me, and with a kiss on the cheek, whispered  to guard our secret forever.

What the hell. It happened a very long time ago. So the secret is out.   

(Photo by niyamaklogic.wordpress.com)

LESSONS FROM A STORMY BOAT RIDE

LESSONS FROM A STORMY BOAT RIDE

Mark 4:35-41

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat.(B) There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”(C)

41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

It was at the end of the day, the beginning of night fall that our Lord asked his disciples to cross the other side of the lake. The day proved to be fruitful but tiring. He had taught the multitudes, eager to hear His message.

When evening came, He called it a day. To get away from the strain of the crowd, He asked his disciples to make arrangement so they could cross the lake of Genesaret, also known as the sea of Galilee.

The disciples took Him in one of the boats which were berthed there and they sailed. The account of Saint Mark of this incident, reveals that there were other boats which followed the vessel of Jesus and his disciples. Once on board, Jesus found a place in the stern of the boat where He peacefully fell asleep. He was not simply lying down half awake, He was in deep slumber. It was a deep night time sleep, following the natural rhythm of daytime and nighttime where man would normally work during the day and sleep at night.

This tells us quite a lot in the modern world. Our Lord did not waste his energy staying awake like most workaholics do. He did not overload his day sacrificing a restful night of sleep just to beat the deadline, or surpass the output.  

This Universe follows a natural course, and man is designed to live in harmony with this design. The invention of the electric light practically removed the  natural division of night and day, and man’s worldly activities now go on and on regardless of days or nights.

The act of Jesus in leaving the crowd to escape the pressing demands of the people is a lesson in relaxation and rest. Sleeplessness has been considered a badge of achievement for the hard driven businessman, political leader, or professional, who put in a lot of frenetic activities in the hours of long and extreme wakefulness.

The image of our Lord Jesus sleeping peacefully like a baby, secure the arms of His loving Father, without the slightest worry, or care, is the most  inspiring antidote to worry, fear and anxiety.

As we follow the account of Mark, the boat ploughed through the waters, while Jesus slept, in the stern. The waters were calm at the start of the voyage, and there were other boats following. Mark did not reveal who were the people in the other boats. They were probably the boat owners who were part of the crowd.

Then in the course of their journey, a furious squall came up. The storm brought big waves beating at the boat. The waves broke over the boat and swamped the boat with water. The master, crew, and passengers of the boat who at first were confident because of the good weather, ran into a panic. This was no ordinary turbulence, it was a windstorm, the big waves battering the boat.

We live in a world where storms visit us with regularity. We have stormy months. The viciousness of storms, tornados, hurricanes, heavy rains, leaving untold suffering  destruction, and death, in their wake are  part of our earthly lives.

Man is exposed to the vagaries of nature. Figuratively man may face other storms like sickness, financial ruin, bad experiences, disappointments, failures, frustrations, and physical disabilities. These are storms of life which visit both the believer and the unbeliever, the good and the bad, the wicked and the righteous.  

The people in the same boat with Jesus, were not spared of the storm. They cried out in fear. They were desperate. They saw the big waves, they felt the boat reeling and squeaking. They were afraid they will perish at sea.

If you were in the same situation who wouldn’t be?

So they probably asked the Captain of the boat what he would do, they called for the crew to do something, until they realized that Jesus was the only one who wasn’t in a panic because he was sleeping despite the tossing and swaying of the boat.

The frantic disciples awakened their Master. When He awoke, the disciples blurted out in unison “Teacher don’t you care if we drown?”

There was the sense of hopelessness, and doom. Jesus knew their fear.

This is the same cry that reverberates in this fallen world. Doesn’t God care? In times of trouble doesn’t God care? “Don’t you care?” they cried out to Him. Implicit in this question is the thought that somehow Jesus was to be blamed for the situation they were in. After all it was Jesus’ idea to take them for a ride.  

Jesus got up, looked out to the raging sea, and talked to the rampaging winds, “Quiet! Be still!”

The most amazing thing happened which the disciples had never seen in their entire life. The wind and waves obeyed Jesus.  The wind died down then it was completely calm.

The Creator of this earth had spoken and commanded the sea to be calm. Here the entire creation bends in complete subjection.

Then it was His turn to ask them, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

The disciples became more terrified and afraid of their Master. They knew that they were no longer in the presence of an ordinary mortal, but of an awesome God, the only One to be feared, not the storms, not the wind and the waves of the sea, not even the greatest and most powerful of men on earth.

The Lord Jesus Christ rebuked the elements of nature, “Quiet! Be still!” like a father would  rebuke his unruly child. But in far higher plane, it was as much a rebuke of the disciples’ state of agitation, fearfulness, and ambivalent faith.

In times of crisis our Lord reminds us to be quiet and to be still. To put our confidence in Him because He is in absolute control, no matter what happens.

(Photo from brooklynmuseum.org)