by Aarron Pina | May 19, 2011 | Uncategorized
Ever wrestle with God?
Often, when I am trying to do things in my own strength, determined to accomplish something the Lord either told me not to do, or beyond the scope of what He required, [they even have a name for that: “hell bent”] the Lord will wrestle with me. Sometimes, it is the hand of God’s discipline that takes something away from me or allows me to fall into the bed I have made in order that I may lie in it. Other times, circumstances rise up against me causing confusion, frustration, or some blockade that prevents me from building my idol to the counterfeit god, Progress. But, when I am deep in the word, steeped in prayer, and faithful to “be still and know” that He is God, the voice of the Holy Spirit will set me straight or someone in pastoral authority over me (a mentor) will ask me a “killer question” that will recalibrate my heart in an instant.
This is one of those times.
I won’t get into great detail yet. But, someone had put an idea out there to me and I decided (without consulting the Lord) that it was a great idea. I went, hell bent, on the trail to “making it happen”. As a self inflicted storm of busyness ripped through my life, a familiar fog of confusion settled in. Frustration wasn’t far behind as my plans were tossed about and made impotent. I had allowed self effort a very short, but typically effective, reign rather than the Spirit.
I took a sabbath last Friday and went to a local monastery where I knew I could step away from the many loudly spinning plates I had in the air.
I could almost hear the madness creaking to a halt as the silence settled in.
by Aarron Pina | May 18, 2011 | Uncategorized
This month, a lot of our conversations in discipleship meetings have been related to interpersonal communication – a term I’m calling henceforth “relational injustice”. When someone does you wrong, there’s a debt/debtor relationship established. Some of us are great at cleaning the ledger through forgiveness and reconciliation and others are not… True? Sometimes. Sometimes, we’re great at it with everyone but the people closest to us. Their injustice can drive us crazy, pushing us into the “I’m not doing/saying anything until he/she/they apologize(s)!”
Discipleship is about letting the truth of God shine a light on the dark places in our soul (mind, will, emotions) to expose the junk that’s clinging to us and stunting our spiritual growth. It’s about God growing us up into the image and stature (fullness) of Christ. (See Eph. 4.13-16) When we, broken and maturing people, regardless of that level of maturity, yoke ourselves to others relationally, there will be relational injustice. Somebody’s always “doing someone wrong”, even if only by accident.
Next week, expect to see articles about how some people are handling the “relational injustice” in their lives, truth about the dark places in their hearts, and what it means to “grow up” in the faith.
For now, we’re looking forward to a great wedding this weekend of two people that have been “sitting at Christ’s table with us” for a while. Watching them grow up in the faith and deal with the relational injustice factor has been an honor and a pleasure. It may seem strange to take pleasure in hearing about how people fight with each other, but this is more from a therapeutic and developmental angle – we love to see them grow to be more mature “contenders” with each other. As they (and by extension, we all) yield to who God is making them to be [that is, “one flesh”], contending becomes more mature. We become “kinder fighters” as one would have it.
We look forward to walking with them in this new season of life. Keep Rory & Coral in your prayers!
If you have not recently heard Pastor Andy Stanley’s excellent message on growing up (for adults only) called “Gentelmen’s Club” – PULEEZE, click here and watch part 2 of the series. It is as apropos to married couples (who also need to date each other) as it is to singles.
by Aarron Pina | May 11, 2011 | Uncategorized
This month, a lot of our conversations in discipleship meetings have been related to interpersonal communication – a term I’m calling henceforth “relational injustice”. When someone does you wrong, there’s a debt/debtor relationship established. Some of us are great at cleaning the ledger through forgiveness and reconciliation and others are not… True? Sometimes. Sometimes, we’re great at it with everyone but the people closest to us. Their injustice can drive us crazy, pushing us into the “I’m not doing/saying anything until he/she/they apologize(s)!”
Discipleship is about letting the truth of God shine a light on the dark places in our soul (mind, will, emotions) to expose the junk that’s clinging to us and stunting our spiritual growth. It’s about God growing us up into the image and stature (fullness) of Christ. (See Eph. 4.13-16) When we, broken and maturing people, regardless of that level of maturity, yoke ourselves to others relationally, there will be relational injustice. Somebody’s always “doing someone wrong”, even if only by accident.
Next week, expect to see articles about how some people are handling the “relational injustice” in their lives, truth about the dark places in their hearts, and what it means to “grow up” in the faith.
For now, we’re looking forward to a great wedding this weekend of two people that have been “sitting at Christ’s table with us” for a while. Watching them grow up in the faith and deal with the relational injustice factor has been an honor and a pleasure. It may seem strange to take pleasure in hearing about how people fight with each other, but this is more from a therapeutic and developmental angle – we love to see them grow to be more mature “contenders” with each other. As they (and by extension, we all) yield to who God is making them to be [that is, “one flesh”], contending becomes more mature. We become “kinder fighters” as one would have it.
We look forward to walking with them in this new season of life. Keep Rory & Coral in your prayers!
If you have not recently heard Pastor Andy Stanley’s excellent message on growing up (for adults only) called “Gentelmen’s Club” – PULEEZE, click here and watch part 2 of the series. It is as apropos to married couples (who also need to date each other) as it is to singles.
by Aarron Pina | Apr 26, 2011 | Uncategorized
Yesterday, I was reading Walt Henrichsen and his thoughts on the concept of “unconditional love” – it’s not a biblical doctrine. As a believer in and follower of Christ, I’d love to see millions come to repentance and embrace Christ as their god without rival. But, I cannot err on the side of preaching the gospel as unconditional love. It’s not that easy – God’s love for us is conditional: it is under the condition of grace.
This week, Pastor Marvin Jinks walked a class of about 75 of us through part of Chad Craig’s “Divine Design for Discipleship” as part of a continuing education course Cristine and I are enrolled in. One of the simplest truths we see people stumble over in the Christian walk is the line between faith and works. “Good works are fruit. But, they are rooted in the righteousness of Christ.” Sometimes, it’s hard for us to wrap our heads around the fact that we don’t have to do good things to be “in” with God. As a result of the one condition – salvation by grace through faith in Christ – we’re already “in” with God.
The term “in Christ” shows up in one translation ninety times. If you’re in Christ – you’re IN.
My friend, Ron painted the picture – If you had me over to your house for dinner, the meal was served, and we all ate, how insulting would it be for me to ask you, my host, “How much do I owe you?” You don’t owe me – it’s a gift. And, yet, so many of us get all tied up in trying to do good works to pay back God after He’s given us a gift. Our works are not for that – they’re for two things – showing God how much we love Him and for storing up rewards (treasure) in heaven. Titus 2:14 paints a picture of us rabid for doing good because of what Christ has done for us, but never for the purpose of paying God back.
Today, Ron sent me this comment from Walt –
“Salvation is by grace; rewards are by works. You, not God, determine your standard of living in heaven. In an act of grace He eliminates the possibility of your determining it on earth so that you can focus on the eternal.”
– Walt Henrichsen
With all the work I’ve been doing on our production of “That Day”, my eyes are growing more and more fixed on the day when we all come before Christ to receive our rewards for what we’ve done here on earth. After the most recent performance, Steve Knoblock stood up and said “How amazing is it that God gives us the resources to do stuff, grants us the grace to empower do the stuff, and yet He’s promised to reward us for stuff He did through us with the stuff He gave us?” If you’ve seen the play, you know that after all of the judgments happen, the saints who received crowns lay them at the feet of Jesus in the ultimate act of worship. It’s not to say “I’m not worthy of this crown.” That would be offensive. Rather, it’s to say – “I love You, Lord, and this is my gift of love back to you!”
When that day finally comes, He will say in return – “Here is your promised reward for what You did out of love for me.” Of course, we beg the question “am I doing good works for selfish reason – i.e., I know I’ll be rewarded for it?” Recall that He will regard every selfish motive as a zero reward – see Galatians 5.19-21.
This week, as we disciple, I’m praying that God helps me first to crucify my flesh – to win the battle against self-comfort, to “put to death the misdeeds of the body”. Then, we pray that God will continue the work in those we disciple: to live lives free from the law of sin and death… lives lived according to the Spirit. (see also, Romans 8.2-4)
by Aarron Pina | Apr 10, 2011 | Uncategorized
Interesting thought – “all a blind man needs 2 do 2 beat u up is turn out the lights”. Where r u in the dark right now?
