Anybody Else Confused?

After doing some reading in the New Testament, in order to gain some perspective on the Old Testament, I came across these passages. 

"But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." -JESUS in Matthew 6:6

“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” - JESUS in Matthew 18:19

"For where two or more gather in my name, there am I with them." - JESUS in Matthew 18:20

Now all of these sayings I found in the book of Matthew and yet they tell a different account on how to pray. So which one is it? Are we to pray alone in the recess of our own private place or are we to keep prayer within a trusted companionship, or are we to follow the old go tell it on the mountain scenario and meet up with our "church family" circle to raise up our prayers in public rejoice? 

The Bible offers us many different ways to do things like prayer, but when one-way conflicts with the other, how do we know which one is right? 

THE MESSENGER'S BLESSING

After a long hiatus I am back to reading. I realized that I was reading the material ahead of schedule. I actually outpaced myself and kind of hit a wall, it kind of felt like having writers block.  I read the passages but found nothing inspiring to right about. Then after a while, I felt like I was forcing myself to try to write about something that I did not really believe. So, I didn’t right anything at all. Until, now. 

I went back and read a lot of Psalms and Proverbs in order to keep my reading in chronological order. And I have to tell you… man, that was a lot of boring reading. I know that Psalms is suppose to be songs of praise but, come on… these songs need to get a Will.I.am remix. All jokes aside, the good news is, after weeks of reading I found a passage worth writing about.

2 Kings 5, talks about having the ability to accept God’s blessing, even when they don’t come to you the way that you think they should. Long story short, Naaman is a great soldier for King Aram and when Naaman hears that a man of God is in Israel he goes there to ask of him to cure him of his leprosy. Now Elisha is the newest “man of God” prophet, having accepted the calling after Elijah.  So, hearing the Naaman’s request Elisha tells him to go and dip himself in the Jordan River seven times and he will be cured. Naaman is enraged with Elisha’s command, because he expected Elisha to do some chanting, burn some offerings, call out God’s name and see the heavens open up as the way for the cure. Eventually his little boy persuades him to accept Elisha’s consul and go to the river. When he washes in the river, he is instantly healed, and goes back to Elisha to praise him, accepting the God of Israel as the one true God.  

I really connected to this passage because so many times in life I feel we ask for help, only to be upset when the help doesn’t arrive exactly the way we want it. I know I am guilty of doing this and I think I am probably not the only one. A friend once told me that he was going into McDonald’s when a homeless man standing by the door asked him for some change or food. So he offered to buy the man a hamburger from McDonald’s, to which, the man replied, “Can you get me a burger from Jack in the Box, it’s just across the street”. After a bit of a debate, the man eventually caved in and accepted the burger from McDonald’s.  Now this may be an extreme case but it really does drive the message home.

Anyway, this leads me to my second favorite part of the passage in 2 Kings 5.

Elisha’s servant and disciple, Gehazi, is miffed when Elisha refuses to take any gifts (money) from Naaman for healing him. So, Gehazi waits until Naaman leaves Elisha’s house, then catches up to him, saying that Elisha sent him to collect talents and clothing from Naaman. Grateful to be blessed, Naaman gives him the talents and clothing. When Gehazi returns Elisha questions him as to where he has been and of course, he lies. Knowing the truth Elisha tells him, “Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.”

Gehazi punishment is of little concern to me. What is fascinating is that Elisha, having “twice the spirit of the Lord” in him, is upset by Gehazi’s decision/action to try to take money for doing God’s work. This is yet another instance in the bible where I see examples that God is not a fan of people collecting cash for his work or for spreading his word. Yet, this kind of behavior is still so heavily practiced and favored till this day. I have no long speech to make about people using God’s name to make a profit… I only have a question.

Why do we accept this kind of behavior in our churches, synagogues, temples, televisions, and in our lives? And yes, I did say Televisions. Evangelist answer back. 

YOUR WORD VERSES THEIRS

A message to all the agnostics out there and maybe the Christians/Catholics who don’t like reading the Old Testament: The First Installment of Kings is long and extremely repetitive. My wife said it best, “I’ll let you read it all (old testament) and then I'll just read your blog, so I won’t have to waist my time.” So that’s what it’s come down to, huh? Well in this instant, I would say she just might be right. I now understand why I know so many religious people who can’t tell me anything about the Old Testament, it sometimes does fell like a big waist of time. About 3 hours and 23 minutes. If you count, research time spent looking up unexplained words, history and places. However, like every great excavation you spend so much time in what seems like a futile search, before you make that one golden discover. And for all those who haven’t read it, I stand here as a witness to tell you that there is buried treasure within the pages of 1 Kings.

The arcing theme throughout the entire story is to use your own heart or discernment when it comes to following God. In the first few chapters of 1 Kings (1-6, 8) we read about King Solomon and how the wisdom bestowed on to him by God brought him great discernment as well as great wealth. With this wealth, he built the first temple for God, that God actually approved of and dwelled in. However, as the multitude of people from many nations flocked to seek counsel from Solomon’s great wisdom, he himself began to ignore God’s word and his covenants. Solomon began to bed women whom God warned him to stay away from, which lead him to worship other God’s and build statues in their image. And as you can guess, this pissed God off and He in turn ended the reign of Solomon’s greatness.

What is important to know about this story is that unlike many other Kings, who had only the words of their advisers or priest to tell them what God said, Solomon was able to see and speak directly to God (1 Kings 3:5 and 9:2). Therefore, Solomon unlike many Kings knew God personally and still he chose, under the influence of others, to worship false idols. 

Well, in today’s society we have so many people who claim to have a direct line with God, so many in fact that even the thought of asking, “What does God expect?” can be overwhelming.  Every preacher or “holy man” out there can have a different answer for you. You can read the Bible, Quran, Torah, and many other religious guides and still not find the perfect answer. However, what I found in this story shines a great example on where to go to find the right answer… turn inward to pray.  However, not the falsity of sitting in a dark room with a man you call father, but the true one on one connection granted to Solomon, when he was in his time of great need. I do believe that God is willing to talk to us if we are willing to listen. If we can quiet our minds and just focus on our on direct personal connection with the Creator, then we will hear the words that are right for us.

Another great example of this comes in the story of a mysterious man with no name, identified only as “A man of God” (1 Kings 13).  He comes from Judah to warn King Jeroboam against making offerings at the false alter. The “man of God” is told by God to not eat or drink anything while in the king’s kingdom, so when the king offers him refreshments he declines.  However, when one of the king’s prophets says to him “I am also a prophet and God has told me you must come and eat and drink with me”, the man of God foolishly follows him. Therefore, when he disobeys God’s word by eating the prophet’s food, a lion kills the “man of God” that very same day. 

The word of God is a tricky thing, but the message he speaks to you is clear. Hold on to that over all else and follow it. Let know man, prophet, book, movie, or website tell you something that is false to what your own heart is telling you. If God dwells inside us He must speak to us from the inside, those gut feelings, that tiny voice, or in Solomon’s case that dream. And when you hear it, hold fast to it and let know one deceive you from following your covenant with God.

Today I will pray for discernment in all that I read and all that I say. 

SCATTERED AND CHUNKED

“Scattered and Chunked” not only describes a style of hash browns you can order at a "Waffle House", it also relates to my reading methods as of lately, which leads me to today’s posting. 

I was reading 1 Kings that tells the story of Solomon, a man who was granted an unprecedented wisdom from God, when I was stunted by a question that I had. Why would God have granted Solomon this wisdom? Why is he granted the ability of having an understanding greater than any other has, before or after him, except maybe Jesus?  Which of course, lead me to the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11: 1-10. 

This is something that has always troubled me. If you read the story as it is written, is there something inherently wrong or deviant about the people building the tower?

They created a tower so that if ever they were scattered about the earth again, they would know where to return. They wanted to name the tower to make a name for themselves as people. Is that like naming a country America and calling yourself Americans?

I have read that some religious scholars interpret this story as, the people were creating a tower to glorify it in their on name, which defies the glory of God. Or maybe, the people were creating the tower so they could make it to heaven and know the ways of God. 

This is the one time in history, which we know of, were all of mankind spoke one language and got along in peace. That is assuming you believe in or except biblical history. Note I don't count Adam and Eve because Eve schemed Adam into the suffering of man, so that doesn't count as getting along in peace… and of course, they're offspring Cain and Abel also don’t count, because they were the first Hatfields and McCoy's, so no peace there either. 

For me the toughest thing to accept is, why would God scatter the people and their ability to communicate. It says God came down, saw they were building the tower and said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other”, and then he scattered the people about the earth. However, it never says why?

What was their crime, higher intelligence (no pun intended)? Wanting to know God? Arrogance? Pride? Unification? Being malicious to clouds? What is the crime that caused such a punishment? Discovering man's ability to accomplish great things? 

This makes me wonder more about Jesus’ mission. It is said, that we can do great things. "I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.” However, looking at the story of Babel combined with the teachings of Jesus, the thing that stands out the most to me, is that the people did achieve something great without praising God. They just got to work and started working. Is that their sin? 

Does this mean if you are doing many great things: curing cancer, saving children, building homes for the homeless, etc and you don't praise God or Jesus for giving you the ability to do it, that it becomes a sin. Does God come down and smash the homes you have built? Is that the message, we are to take away from this story. 

If so, then today's society is definitely disobeying God: shooting rockets to the moon, speaking English, printing Bibles in English and forcing societies around the world to speak in one tongue, forcing a one world view on people, making smart-phones and connecting people through facebook.

I can’t help but wonder, what God's plan or purpose was when he scattered the towers, which makes me question if we are messing with his plans now? Does God really want unification? Does He really want us to be able to accomplish all of our hearts desires? (OK, this one I can probably answer with a resounding, NO... let's be honest some people's hearts have bad intentions). In addition, does God want humanity to live in peace? 

There are many stories in the bible that show that God supports division amongst people. Maybe He has a grand design for division and separatism in society. Which makes me wonder if unification is simply a made up dream of humans, who desire a feeling of universality that may be triggered by a desire to know God or a universal "creator" being?

On the other hand, maybe the people were simply scattered and divided because God, didn't want them to be unified until he sent Jesus to do so. This would mean the people of Babel were not punished for sinning but they were simply scattered because God wanted humanity to wait until He sent Jesus. 

I walk away from this experience feeling a bit puzzled, a bit relieved and somewhat concerned about my own intellect and curiosity. Am I like the people building the tower of Babel, whenever I pose questions about God or to God? Does my thinking out of the box of religion and what I've been told offend? Will my desire to search for the truth and to reach a better understanding/connection with God cause me to be scattered? 

All I know is my strong curiosity is molded from the words of Luke, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." 

This is a way of life, I can truly believe in. Therefore, I guess my questioning is all right. But then again it never says what is on the other side of the door that opens, or what you will receive.  

Today, I have more questions then answers. So, my lesson today is to learn to live with not knowing. Maybe, that's the message of the Babel story. That we aren't meant to know everything, and we can not always be right. 

Ok, I feel better closing this out now. Sorry I had to drag you all along with me through this arduous up hill battle. But I think I finally get it. 

Thanks.

SOLOMON'S WISDOM

It is said that Solomon as a child prayed to the LORD and asked for wisdom. And God granted him a wisdom and understanding of dealing with people that only the Lord knew and that no man before or after him would have.

Now, it is important to note the first case that is brought to Solomon, after his prayer, is a maternal dispute by two prostitutes over a baby. Solomon remedy is to tell the women he “will cut the living baby in half and divide him in halves to each of you”. Wow!!! That's a little crazy right? But then, the woman who had stolen the child reveals her lack of love for the baby by agreeing to let the child be sliced in half. Until the true mother to pleads that Solomon allow the baby to live and gives the baby up to the other prostitute so that he may live. SOLOMON had to use swift, tough, and yes cruel tactics to get to the truth and to see into the hearts of the women. Now if Solomon has the wisdom of God, then I assume God agreed with this line of judgment and ruling. This makes sense in the world, when you apply it to the present day world we live in today, where even the innocent can endure hardship in order for the truth to be revealed.

When we lose a job promotion, a friend, or even a Loved one it is hard to look at life as a half full glass. However, we must train ourselves to accept the hard decisions that are sometimes made for us (or that GOD delivers to us) and believe that the right thing will be done in the end. I think that is what Solomon’s judgment did… it looked passed what is good; to arrive at what is right.

THE FALLEN HERO

As I finished the book of Samuel... Yes… and reveled in the feeling of accomplishment I had to look back at the stories that unfolded.

Not every chapter was revealing or informative, some were down right repetitive and a bit tedious.

But I try to approach the reading with the attitude that, “They must still be there for a reason… so find the reason.” Well, this is what I got out of the 2 Samuel.

The first lesson is that it is easy to label a person bad or good, if you only look at them or know them on the surface. I have read stories about King David before, seen the statues raised in his “image”, and marveled at the paintings. Like most people, I have always seen David as a real Hero, not just a hero, but also a hero of the people. And why not? Isn't that his depiction in all the aforementioned, as a hero with the very essence of righteousness?  Well, that describes David best if you read the first few chapters of 1 Samuel (Chapter 17-24) and then skip right to David’s song in 2 Samuel (Chapter 22). However, if you actually read all the accounts of David once he is King, then you get the picture of a different man entirely.

A man drunk with power, able to kill people at will for defying him or his orders. A man who could kill the messenger that delivered bad news (2 Samuel 1). A man who plotted against one of his own followers and had him killed, just so he could sleep with the man’s wife, Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). A man who manipulated and at times hid behind the bravery of his warriors but made sure to come forward when it was time to claim the praise and credit (2 Samuel 10-21).

After a thorough reading of David, I almost felt like I did when I heard Magic Johnson had AIDS, or Bill Clinton was cheating. A little shattered, left with that, “Come on, not him too” feeling. Then again, that is what this story of David is all about. It takes you through all the dirt behind the glory and victories, teaching us a two very valuable lesson from two different points of view.  

First: Do not place too much value in the man’s visage, before you learn what is in his heart.

In today’s society of overnight reality stars and pop-rock politicians, it is easy to be engrossed in all the media hype rather than focus on the real details that are important. We engage a lot in frivolously interaction because we try very hard to avoid being hurt or having to be the bearers of something meaningful. Maybe that is why it’s so much easier to just hit the like button on Facebook, rather than to really leave a real message. I think that’s because we all know that to take on a meaningful task would mean to take on more responsibility, more chances to fail, more times to possibly be disappointed or hurt. There is a risk in real interaction and at times a real cost. However it also gives us a chance to be great, to raise the bar for not just ourselves, but for the world around us. To create true blessings were once there was nothing.

Does this mean we should never look up to other people or to never acknowledge someone’s greatness? No. I am not saying that at all. However, I do believe we must measure each person accordingly, always remembering that we are all only human. We must try to remember not to hold people so high up on a pedestal, because if they fall the only outcome is death, sometimes literally. Mistakes will happen. Faults will arise. And sometimes scandals will unfold. This is the way of every human. We are not perfect. In fact, according to science and every religion, especially the bible, we are imperfect.

Our imperfection is probably the very reason why we continue to search for a higher power or a God. Because we long for something that, unlike us, is incapable of getting “it”, wrong. A being that gets it right every time, all the time.   

This leads me to the second lesson from this 2 Samuel:

When you receive a great blessing, whether it is a superpower, a talent, an advantage or awesome athleticism, always remember why you have it. Forget not the creator who blessed you with it. Forget not the mission or the destiny that you are aligned with. The skills or talents you have are only here for a short time, make the best use of them that you can. Use them for good, or in David’s case use them for God. Do not let your talents go untested and unused. Understand that you cannot just hoard them away expecting them to be there forever.

Gifts are given to you for a purpose. Because they are appointed to you in this world, I propose that they are for you to use for this world, and by that I mean for the betterment of this world, and by this world I mean for the people in it. Cause what is a planet without its inhabitants… Mars, Jupiter, Pluto… in other words just another rock.

When I read this story, I almost could not get through it. I almost put it on the deferred list to come back to another time, but now I am glad I completed it.

The other thing I took away from this was the idea that maybe the reason we all continue to search for perfection in others and ourselves, is because just like us, God is doing the same thing. We’re created in his likeness, so in his likeness we have his love, his creativeness, his thoughtfulness, his righteousness, his anger, his vengeance, his courageousness, his compassion and just maybe… his imperfection.

After reading about God sending evil spirits onto Saul, it made me look at God in a completely new light.

The God I read about in the Book of Samuel used his good and evil simultaneously to generate different outcomes and at times to prove a point. He moved people to react in compassionate ways, but also in malicious ways. Some of the things that took place definitely did not sound like the perfect plan to me. Choosing a King, who turns around and defies you several times, does not sound so perfect. However, if in that defiling King, you can teach millions a very valuable lesson about trust and love, then I say OK, I get it. Maybe it is not whether or not it is the perfect plan, but rather if it works.

Maybe I am saying all this because it makes me feel better as a flawed human being. Maybe I am saying this because it makes it easier for me to feel less judged by God. On the other hand, maybe I am saying it because it makes God a more understandable being to me. Maybe I am saying it because God “told me to”. Maybe I am saying it because it makes logical sense to only me.

All or none of these could be true. What I do know is that I gained a closer understanding of God and mankind, after reading The Book of Samuel. If that was the plan, I guess it worked.

Therefore, today’s lesson will be to make the best use of the talents I have today for the greater good of mankind, and to practice being thankful for having them.

Wow, that takes a lot of hot air out of being arrogant. This is exactly what I was yesterday in several major ways. Guess I should have read this passage sooner.

No House for Me.

In reading, the second installment of Samuel I found a passage that spoke to me. For a long time I searched hard, trying to figure out if going to church is important… to be more accurate if it was important for building my connection with God. For creating my personal relationship with God, which I always felt loses its intimacy when I have to involve a whole community of people.

The thought that some people believe that the best way to get connected to God is to seek him through the words of others, has always bothered me.

I have noticed that in the bible when God talks to someone it is normally when they are alone. One on One. The characters portrayed and revered the most in the bible are the ones who have a very personal connection to God.

In 2 Samuel 7, David decides he wants to build a house for the LORD, where he will rest the arc of the Lord. However, God sends message through David’s messenger that He being God Almighty, needs no man to build a house for his Name. That in fact he will build his own house through his own son.

Of course, this leads me to question why so many Christians or Catholics, attend church every Sunday.

I have read a good deal of the New Testament, enough to know that the Son of God, Jesus, never established a “house of cedar” for God. In addition, I know enough to know that the house that God is referring to in this chapter is the connection of the loving spirit between God and his people. The house Jesus creates is the human vassal in which God can dwell.

So why should we go to church on Sunday morning? Is it for the sense of community, a need to be around like-minded people, the feeling to be accepted? If God himself speaks out against men building churches in his name, then wouldn’t going to a church built by man almost be blasphemous?

Is it not arrogant to believe that we modern day people have the right to do something that could told one of his most devoted and trusted followers not to do.

So today, I am going to make a vow to continue to pose this question to my church going friends…

Why do you go to Church?