by Aarron Pina | Apr 16, 2012 | Uncategorized
Last the weekend, Cristine had a great conversation with Brianna, our oldest daughter about some deep matters that have been troubling her lately. Brianna was talking with a group of her peers outside of a church setting – in fact, it was an expressly “secular”, group counseling session. There was an implied rule in the conversation that “religion” was a touchy subject and to tread lightly in that territory so as to not “offend” anyone. Ironically, through, each of the participants were asked to share what was most important in their life. As the responses came out, from “friends” to “family” to “music”, Brie noticed herself getting more and more uncomfortable with the “tread lightly” restriction. “I felt like I was going to explode.” When it was her turn, she said “my relationship with God”.
Uh-oh…
by Aarron Pina | Apr 2, 2012 | Uncategorized
It’s All About “Heem”
This week at ONE TH1NG, Ron Dunn pointed out to a crowded room of men that in the first chapter of Genesis alone, God refers to Himself by one of His names “Elohim” [‘el – o – HEEM] over 30 times. This begged the question: if someone spoke to you for 5 minutes and mentioned one thing over 30 times, would you guess it was an important part of the point?
In my life, I have a love/hate relationship with going backward. I love looking over old accomplishments, photos, seasons of change and seeing the progression of where I was and where God has brought me. Some things, I can’t stand going over again, like re-doing the same work that was done right in the first place or re-hashing a point that’s been beaten into the ground. But, God… But, God constantly refers us back to one thing over and over again throughout the Old and New Testaments: Him. Good thing – He’s the only all-powerful, strong creator, who knows all, and is all.
Jesus clarifies errant teachings of the day repeatedly in the Sermon on the Mount using the construct “you have heard it said… but I tell you this:”, implying a sort of “you’ve lost your way” theme. When the Pharisees try to trick Jesus about the nature of divorce and remarriage, He reminds them “but it was not this way from the beginning… (Mt. 19.8)” John even uses the phrase “from the beginning” about 10 times in his gospel and letters.
So, What?
So, today, you will be tempted to forget who you are in Christ, by extension “whose” you are. You will be tempted to take over where God is “not doing His job” because sin is all about taking control of something God has already put into place.
Stop.
Remember.
Reset.
He created the heavens and the earth. This alone could reset your life if you ponder it long enough – He who created millions of galaxies and illions and illions of stars, He is your “strong, powerful creator” (Elohim). Are you staying out of the Driver’s seat and letting Him be God? Where in your life are you refusing to “be still and know” that He is not just God, but the all powerful creator who made the heavens and earth, trillions of stars, yet calls you His own?
Be Encouraged
When we take our eyes off of Him, He is always faithful and just and willing to put us back on track when we acknowledge His proper place in our lives. He IS our life. He promises us wisdom when we ask for it – generously and without coming down hard on us – (see James 1:5).
May you walk with eloHim today in peace. May He keep you in perfect peace because you trust in Him.
by Aarron Pina | Mar 26, 2012 | Uncategorized
For those of you close to us, you know our family has been going through quite a time as our teenage daughter has begun an outward wrestling with her identity in Christ. She’s been given great tools and great teaching, but in the confusion of her adolescent brain (remember those days? I do… and shudder) has chosen destructive paths to express her long bottled up emotions. This is not an indictment against her, rather a recounting of the facts as she and we have discussed them. For her privacy’s sake, we’ll draw the line here in terms of detail. Let it just be said that we are fully committed to and currently engaged in getting her all the help she needs as she navigates this exponentially complicated season of her life. Her commitment to this process, moving forward over the next 90 days and beyond, is between her and her Savior – or, as we say “a vertical issue”.
Rest in Peace
Recently, a friend and mentor of mine verbalized his observation of my “stable” state of mind and attitude in the wake of all she’s done to herself, and by extension, to us as a family. I didn’t even realize how stable & peaceful I was feeling at that moment. In fact, I was torn with whether or not to even mention it here so
publicly for fear of taking credit for something that was so far outside of my own doing. But, there you have it: it wasn’t my doing. I wasn’t keeping myself in peace [Is. 26.3] by intense concentration or fierce labor of the body, I had merely decided not to fight against the all powerful God whose name is “Master of the Universe” (Adonai, melech ha olam). With regard to all Brie is going through, Cristine and I have acknowledged that God is in control and despite the fact that we disagree with His methods of sanctifying our daughter (and again, by extension, us…) at this time, we trust Him to have a far better plan than we to accomplish His ends.
Then, today, as I was reading Jim Cymbala’s “Spirit Rising”, I noticed Cristine had circled one line in Francis Chan’s introduction – “It is the Spirit who gives life. The flesh is no help at all. (John 6.63)”
Praise the Lord.
The Truth
The truth was right there in black and white. Mere paragraphs from one of my favorite and misquoted verses in scripture: “if you hold to my teachings, then you are truly my disciples. And, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John 8.31-32)” And, there I was – set free by the truth that my flesh (my natural tendency to do things in my own power and will) was of no help in bringing me peace and stability. At any given moment, we have a choice – we can wrestle with God (which very rarely pays off – see Gen. 32.35 and Gen. 18 for examples) in our own strength or we can yield to the Spirit.
The Hard Question:
Are you striving or trusting, right now?
Be Encouraged:
Jesus made a big deal about the Holy Spirit – “…it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. John 16.7)” If it was better for Him to go and the Spirit to come, shouldn’t we expect more of the Spirit in our lives? YES!!! I didn’t feel any tingling in my bones, didn’t glow in the dark, didn’t even speak in tongues – but when my mentor mentioned my demeanor, I did notice the peace that I had no part in creating. I simply yielded to the Spirit. That promise and peace are available to you, and all who call upon the name of Christ with a pure heart. Isn’t that NUTS?! Just for the asking and the yielding. You don’t have to wield an axe and chop down a forest, you just have to sit and rest.
So, sit. Rest. Know that He is sovereign and you are His.
Peace. Really – rest… in… peace.
in Christ,
AP
by Aarron Pina | Mar 23, 2012 | Uncategorized
Men’s porn teaches him to hold women to an unsustainable standard. Women’s porn does the same to men.
With the imaginary standard set so high, is it any wonder why divorce and affairs are so rampant? No one is living up to their expectations!
by Aarron Pina | Mar 23, 2012 | Uncategorized
Lies for the day. Truth to set us free.
The purpose of this column is to examine commonly held beliefs that are a part of the world system (kosmos) which is diametrically opposed to the Kingdom of God. These are the things we believe to be “just the way it is”. The truth is, it’s not “just the way it is” – there is a source from which these beliefs come and are exported into our world. There is, indeed, another world beyond what we can see, ruled by “the prince of the power of the air”, who hates God and all of the elect and will stop at nothing to “steal, kill and destroy” them.
Among these lies are statements so close to the truth that their flaws are nearly imperceptible to the naked eye. For this reason, we must look at them more closely, holding them up to the scriptures for proof that they are counterfeits.
“I’d take a bullet for my wife.” This may be a true statement, but for far fewer husbands than might admit it. The truth, as we look at it, is “I’d take a bullet for my wife, so long as she’s not the one pulling the trigger.”
