paradoxum

It has been a while since my last update. I'm not on a blog fast for lent or anything. It's nothing that spiritual. I'm just preoccupied w/ other things. One of those "other things" is coaching basketball! This weekend we played in the USSSA Spring Shoot Out and my team (Charlotte Storm) won the Boys 13U division. It was incredibly fun.

My son (Luke) plays for me and the truth is, when he's on the court he's just my #2 guard like anyone else. When we get off the court, he's my son. Well, he averaged over 22 points a game this weekend and lit up one of our rivals for 30 points! I scored 30 and 40 points in High School games so I had a time w/ him last night where I welcomed him to the "30 point club". He liked it. I'm wondering when/if I'll welcome him to the "40 point club"...and if, someday, I'll ask him what it's like to be in the "50 point club". I'm so proud of him. Of course, my whole team played so hard. I am proud of ALL Of them, but this morning, with my "dad" hat on, I'm especially proud of him.

BTW, Luke is on the bottom left (kneeling).

God is not a fast talker. He speaks to us – of that there is no doubt – but unlike me, he thinks before he speaks. He is like my wife. He doesn’t jabber on and on about lots of nothing. No, when he speaks, it’s well thought out, deep, and his Word is powerful enough to penetrates even the deafest of ears.

Today, he spoke to me and showed me the message he has been communicating to me for almost five years:

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Just finished listening to Rich Mullins’ song: We Are Not As Strong As We Think We Are. I think if there is anything I’ve learned in the past 5 years, it’s that I’m not as strong as I think I am. I am weak and frail and full of pride and anger and rage and disappointment and frustration and disbelief and idolatry and deceit and selfishness. I am not as strong as I think I am. I can’t overcome all obstacles. I can sabotage myself. I can close the doors that will never open again. I can resist the Holy Spirit. I can hurt people very deeply. I am not as strong as I think I am. I can use people to get what I want. I can trample on the love of those I treasure most. I can deceive, lust, hate, and judge all to be guilty and myself innocent…I am not as strong as I think I am.

I need grace. I need mercy. As much as I need the mercy and grace of every human being I’ve ever known…that is not enough. I must have the infinite grace and the mercy of an infinite Almighty God. He must be bigger than the gods of the Greeks. He must be bigger than the gods of the Hindus, and, dare I say, bigger than the God of the Jews, the Muslims…and yes, even of the Christians.

I need a God who forgives men who worship sex & power, like David & Solomon. I need a God who forgives liars, like Abraham and Jacob. I need a God who forgives murderers, like Paul. I need a God who forgives people who can’t obey the simplest command, like Moses. I need a God who forgives treason, like Peter and Adam. I need a God who forgives thieves, like Matthew and Zacchaeus. I need a God who forgives murderous jealousy, like Joseph’s brothers. I need a God who forgives people who don’t want others to be forgiven, like Jonah. I need a God who forgives Pharisees, like Nicodemus. I need a God who forgives ungrateful people, like the nine lepers. I need a God who forgives people who want to be FIRST and not last…who will scheme for greatness, like James and John. I need a God who forgives doubters and skeptics, like Thomas. I need a God who will be a friend to sinners and seek and save people who are totally lost.

Judging me and condemning me would be easy. I figure any God worth his salt could do that, but forgiving me, now that would be big…and…forgiving us all…OUTRAGEOUS & AUDACIOUS!

No, we are not as strong as we think we are, but perhaps He is stronger than we think He is.

Peace.

Why can’t God just leave us? Think about it for a minute. Why can’t he or won’t he just leave us? Does he need us? Is he incomplete without us? What keeps him here? What brought him here? It’s a curious thing to consider.

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I "believe" God created certain souls / people when he created different emotions, qualities or feelings. So, when he created passion, he created David, and when he created wisdom, he created Solomon, and when he created law and order, he created Moses, and when he created faith, he created Abraham, and when he created love, he created John, and when he created hope, he created Isaiah, etc.

Each of us, I think, are descendants of someone who is the first in the line to possess a particular gift, emotion, or quality that is peculiar to them, and to us.

I know my heritage. I am a son of Isaac. When God created laughter, he created Isaac, and so he created me. I wonder who is your father or mother? What is your heritage?