Godgrown

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  Mark 9:42 am on December 18, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  An Alliance of Reliance 

  Its hard not to look ahead in the story of Isaiah to see how it will all turn out.  For about a dozen chapters now, Isaiah has been warning Judah not to trust in Egypt.  King Hezekiah has sent an envoy down to the Nile to request aid from the mighty Cushite/Egyptian Empire in their fight against the impending Assyrian onslaught from the North.  Jump ahead to Ch 37 if you want to see what happens – or just read along with me (I’m doing a chapter a day) and watch the amazing story unfold!

  The way Isaiah goes about it in today’s chapter 31, it would almost sound as if he’s calling on his people to just surrender to the Assyrians.  Rather than make compromises and alliances with other countries – Isaiah is calling on an alliance with God (or should I say, reliance).

  We seem to have a choice in this life – to use our lives to garner as many alliances with others and things as possible.

  Ally with money that will buy your health in old age,

  …with powerful people who will give you approval and happy times that you’ll forget your pain,

  …or with weapons and security to give you a false sense of protection from the inevitable death that will just find another way to collect you.

  Not to put too fine a point on it – when we make an alliance, we make an agreement to rely on them for our provision.

  I think this is why Isaiah is so put off by alliances with other humans – he sees the frailty in even the most advanced military strengths and cooperative national partnerships on earth.  They are all just flesh, like we are.

  Isaiah gives his friends hope – that the LORD himself will take care of the oppressive Assyrian regime.  He calls on them to make an alliance of reliance with Yahweh God. Will they do it?  And will God come through? Stick around for the surprise ending!

  
   

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  Katrina 7:51 pm on August 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  The Cycle of Spiritual Success 

  God, Christ Jesus & Money: Americans hold ideas of prevailing extremes – we see this in the US in the promises of the “Health and Wealth Gospel” – if you pray and ask God, he will give you a mansion, a car, buy your children’s way through college, etc. Conversely, there is a group emerging that embraces the vow of “poverty” as a culture. No WiFi or Starbucks for them. If it involves money, it’s not trustworthy (that is, of course – until they need a place to sleep or something to eat). People will preach these ideas with passion from the front, and others will live out these beliefs in silence.

  And there is no shortage of critics. Many will condemn Christians for holding such worldviews on both ends of the spectrum. Different flavors of Christians pick each other apart over these differences everyday.
  
  It remains highly probable that you operate out of one of the following worldviews:

  1) Resources are limited (scarcity)
  -or-
  2) Resources are abundant (provision)

  It also remains highly probable that you do not fit into the “Health and Wealth” Gospel or the Gospel of “Avoiding All Money”.

  Just look at the sunshine, the great oceans, the vast canyons, the cool breeze, and you’ll see God’s role in our lives includes that of creator, provider and sustainer. On the other hand, when we look at the prevailing injustices that continue to incur in the world, we wonder precisely why there is such a scarcity, an imbalance.

  The imbalance caused from injustice
  and the imbalance caused from excess
  all come from
  a position of comparison.

  We focus on other people; we compare ourselves alongside others – sometimes mindlessly, sometimes obsessively. We “rank” ourselves in some self-composed continuum.

  Where did we learn this orientation? How did our understanding of God and the world shape our decisions? What breakthroughs do we dream of seeing? What constraints do we long for? When will we say, “This is the perfect amount (of money, food, sex, power, family)” and truly mean it?

  “Health and Wealth Gospel” aside, God provides. He continually creates us.

  When we play the “Do I measure up?” game with our peers (real or imaginary), we operate out of fear and we view God as fundamentally limited, the God scarcity. (And fear remains a powerful motivator!) When we appreciate God and listen to / connect with Jesus, we are on a trajectory that generates mutual compassion.

  When we position our eyes
  on Christ Jesus
  on God, the provider,
  He will be our balance.
  He will give us peace & joy.

  Here is a sneak peak at the Cycle of Spiritual Success.
  There is more where this came from inside the online course, MESO.

  

  

  Rusty Wimberly is discussing. Toggle Comments

   
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    Rusty Wimberly 11:09 am on August 29, 2010 Permalink

    enjoyed this article. i think it addresses clearly some of the issues we struggle with on a daily basis. I personally have run into both camps and find it hard to bring balance to one or the other. Interestingly, each perspective has something to bring to the other. Its unfortunate how the enemy seeks to keep a spiritual wedge in between us to prevent advancement. I also took a look at the ‘meso’ courses your providing. I love the concept! Keep up the good work in Chicago.

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  Mark 9:30 pm on July 28, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

  This is my second try to send a book to Wilbirth(?) through my phone, using jott. listen

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