Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22
To put a lot of preparation into picking blackberries and then not going out to pick them is a self-deception. Nothing gets accomplished and the harsh winter winds will not be softened by the taste of summer.
All excuses aside (heat, bugs, business, etc.), if you prepare to pick berries then pick berries. As the famous ad slogan goes, just do it.
To hear the word of God and not do it is also a terrible form of self-deception. James likens it to a man who looks in a mirror and forgets what he looks like when he walks away.
The word of God is that mirror. It is humanity at its best and worst. All the heroes are presented as they were, good and bad traits alike. As we read it and study it, it holds up a mirror to our soul and challenges us to live up to what God expects.
James says a person who hears the word and does it is like a man who studies himself intently and sees how he measures up. This self-reflection then affects who and what he is and does in the world. It is preparation followed by action, a combination that does not let him (or her) soon forget what he (or she) saw in the mirror.
Blackberry picking has reinforced an old axiom for me--successful living is marked by preparation followed by action. It always bears fruit, in this case blackberries.
I've learned over the years that preparation without action is self-deception while action with preparation is self-defeating. How is this played out in out lives? Later in chapter 1, James mentions two areas--our words and our actions.
The tongue, as I've learned and James later points out, is a tough thing to bridle. In my early days as a Christian I used to think it meant curse words, so I tried hard to develop a Christian equivalent like "golly gee whiz" or "gosh darn." Not that I'm older I've come to realize that's childish thinking.
Based on what I've read, I think James is talking about a tongue that may not swear but easily uses words to harm others. Unfortunately, I see it playing out in our lives as people who say they are Christian hold up signs that read "God hates Fags." This kind of word us is far worse than a simple curse word. It reveals wrong thinking like bigotry, hate, racism, greed, vanity, and lust, words that reveal the true nature of the heart and the nature of the person who uses them. This is a person who never let the word of God change them, who heard the word and forgot it or even worse, ignored it.
James also mentions our actions. As with our words, which should be used to build up others, our actions are also directed at others. James mentions widows and orphans (vs. 27)--in other words, the needy around us. Our lives need to be other focused. That message doesn't seem to be getting through to a Christian culture that is so "me" focused.
God promises a blessing or the one who hears the word and does it (vs. 25), but we have careful with that word "blessing." It has become corrupted by people who preach that God wants to "bless" us with more stuff--a bigger house, a better job, a nice car, or a big bank account. I don't think that's what he wants at all. If we practice what we've learned, the blessing is seeing someone else being blessed by God.
I recently picked some red raspberries. My wife made jam and on one occasion I was able to give a container of jam to a friend. Her eyes lit up and she was so happy. Her favorite snack was peanut butter and jelly and she was thrilled to get homemade raspberry jelly. That smile was worth the preparation and the action
I think the words of Jesus sums it up best. In Luke 6:46 he asks, "Why do you call me Lord, Lord and not do what I say?" It's like a man who looks in a mirror then forgets what he looks like, or a berry picker who prepares and doesn't pick. Not doing what Jesus has called us to do is the worst form of self-deception there is.
Up next: Walking by faith, not by sight.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Preparation Part 2
One of the most important aspects of preparing for the blackberry season is scouting for the berries. This process begins in late June and continues until it's time to pick the berries. I like to walk familiar paths and trails looking for green berries. I also look for changes from last year, from downed trees to brush cuts made by the landowners.
In my meditations on this aspect of preparation I've noted two things that relate to my walk with God. The first is the importance of keeping an open mind and the second is the knowledge of that open mind is limited.
Walking the familiar paths and trails can be a benefit but it can also be a problem if that is all I do. I can miss a lot of berries if my eyes are always on the familiar.
There is a danger of falling into a routine. The danger is not the routine itself but allowing the routine to become all there is. When that happens you can minimize the possibility of surprise and wonder.
Just recently I was on a scouting walk with my beagle Reggie. As she looked for rabbits I looked for blackberries. I decided to follow her into the brush when I noticed something--raspberries. Ripe raspberries. I usually see those when I'm about ready to pick blackberries, but here they were in June, far earlier than I'd ever seen them. After finding this bush, I looked around and noticed many more red berries hanging around the trails I walked. Had I not followed Reggie off the beaten path I would have probably walked right by the raspberries not noticing they were ripe and ready to be picked. This event reminded me of how important it is to keep an open mind when walking and be willing to go off the beaten path. It was also a clear indication that despite my experience my knowledge is limited.
It is hard to admit that I don't know it all. I can relate to that old saying, "I'm not always right but I'm never wrong."
On one scouting walk I noticed how the landowner had taken a tractor and brush hog and cut a wider path in areas where I have found some great blackberry bushes. Some of those bushes were now gone or cut back. In addition, new cuts were made right through some nice patches of blackberry bushes exposing them to the harsh sun and turning some of them brown.
I was upset about the whole thing. I imagined a conversation I could have had with the landowner before the cut where I could have shown him or her the blackberry bushes and discussed the great harvests I've had from them in the past. I would offer to pick give them some if they'd just let things stay the way there were.
When it came time to pick the berries, I suddenly realized how what I what I thought was a waste turned into a bonus. The cutting had made the bushes healthier in some cases and gave other bushes access to sunlight, something they really didn't have before. The new paths opened ways into areas I didn't know contained some nice blackberry patches, patches I had missed because they had been hidden in the deep brush. The landowner did me a favor, but at the time I didn't see it that way.
Isaiah chapter 55 is titled in my Bible The Invitation to Salvation.
In it, God through his prophet invites his people to come, to simply come and be restored. He challenges their preconceived ideas about salvation and encourages them to have an open mind. He also clearly reminds them they don't know everything.
What does that mean for us today? It means that if we keep an open mind we can avoid putting God in a box. That really helps when what we're facing is overwhelming and we can't see a way out. Letting God be God opens the door for surprises and wonder. Isn't that what miracles Jesus performed are all about?
If we also accept the fact that our knowledge is limited, then we can live the words of Paul from Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Next week: Get going!
In my meditations on this aspect of preparation I've noted two things that relate to my walk with God. The first is the importance of keeping an open mind and the second is the knowledge of that open mind is limited.
Walking the familiar paths and trails can be a benefit but it can also be a problem if that is all I do. I can miss a lot of berries if my eyes are always on the familiar.
There is a danger of falling into a routine. The danger is not the routine itself but allowing the routine to become all there is. When that happens you can minimize the possibility of surprise and wonder.
Just recently I was on a scouting walk with my beagle Reggie. As she looked for rabbits I looked for blackberries. I decided to follow her into the brush when I noticed something--raspberries. Ripe raspberries. I usually see those when I'm about ready to pick blackberries, but here they were in June, far earlier than I'd ever seen them. After finding this bush, I looked around and noticed many more red berries hanging around the trails I walked. Had I not followed Reggie off the beaten path I would have probably walked right by the raspberries not noticing they were ripe and ready to be picked. This event reminded me of how important it is to keep an open mind when walking and be willing to go off the beaten path. It was also a clear indication that despite my experience my knowledge is limited.
It is hard to admit that I don't know it all. I can relate to that old saying, "I'm not always right but I'm never wrong."
On one scouting walk I noticed how the landowner had taken a tractor and brush hog and cut a wider path in areas where I have found some great blackberry bushes. Some of those bushes were now gone or cut back. In addition, new cuts were made right through some nice patches of blackberry bushes exposing them to the harsh sun and turning some of them brown.
I was upset about the whole thing. I imagined a conversation I could have had with the landowner before the cut where I could have shown him or her the blackberry bushes and discussed the great harvests I've had from them in the past. I would offer to pick give them some if they'd just let things stay the way there were.
When it came time to pick the berries, I suddenly realized how what I what I thought was a waste turned into a bonus. The cutting had made the bushes healthier in some cases and gave other bushes access to sunlight, something they really didn't have before. The new paths opened ways into areas I didn't know contained some nice blackberry patches, patches I had missed because they had been hidden in the deep brush. The landowner did me a favor, but at the time I didn't see it that way.
Isaiah chapter 55 is titled in my Bible The Invitation to Salvation.
In it, God through his prophet invites his people to come, to simply come and be restored. He challenges their preconceived ideas about salvation and encourages them to have an open mind. He also clearly reminds them they don't know everything.
What does that mean for us today? It means that if we keep an open mind we can avoid putting God in a box. That really helps when what we're facing is overwhelming and we can't see a way out. Letting God be God opens the door for surprises and wonder. Isn't that what miracles Jesus performed are all about?
If we also accept the fact that our knowledge is limited, then we can live the words of Paul from Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Next week: Get going!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Preparation
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. Ephesians 6:11
Picking blackberries can be a painful undertaking if you're not prepared for what you might face. It would be nice if they are all located along an easy to access trail or path but my experience has been the opposite. Many of the places where I find the best berries are covered with high weeds, thorn bushes and crabapple trees. It can be an adventure just reaching the place where I want to pick.
With that in mind I have some preparing to do before I go into the field, especially when it comes to what I wear. Over the years I have developed a berry picking "armor" I wear when I know reaching the berries will be a challenge.
The first thing I do is put on a light t-shirt and blue jeans. I then put on my high leather hiking boots tucking in my pant legs to prevent then from getting wet, especially in the morning when the dew is heavy. All of this is just the beginning.
After the first layer of clothes I put on a second, heavier layer. A long sleeve heavy denim shirt will help keep the scratches off my arms. I also have a pair of heavy brush chaps I put over my jeans to help keep thorns out of my legs.
The final touches include a pair of fingerless leather motorcycle riding gloves to prevent scratches on the back of my hands and a hat to keep the flies off my head. After a spray or two of a good bug repellent, I'm ready to go.
I must be sight for someone who happens to be walking by but that doesn't bother me. This outfit has reduced scratches, embedded thorns and bug bites over the years and made the task at hand a bit more tolerable.
In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul makes sure the readers understand that they have some preparation to do for the spiritual struggles ahead. Since we are spiritual beings first, how we fight this battle affects our physical well being and peace of mind.
Paul encourages them to put on the full armor of God since, in reality, the battle belongs to the Lord. We can stand when we are armored with his truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith, salvation and the Spirit. In addition, as Paul points out, our primary weapon in this struggle is prayer. As a soldier needs to stay in constant communication with headquarters, so do we need to stay in constant communication with God.
There is one addition I think that needs to be made to this armor. What Paul describes is the covering a soldier puts on or the things he carries, such as a belt, a breastplate, shoes, helmet, shield and sword. Other than the shoes (I don't think wore socks!), everything else would go on top of the clothes the soldier was wearing. I think a person is best outfitted for battle when they are clothed with humility.
In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul extols the virtue of humility. In chapter 2 he writes, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves (vs. 3)." He goes on to hold up Jesus as the perfect example of a warrior for God clothed with humility and that our attitude should be the same as his.
As a berry picker I know the importance of preparing myself for the task at hand, of dressing to protect myself from what I might run into. The same is true for anyone who wants to serve God in this life. We too have to make preparations, to clothe ourselves in humility and the armor of God, if we are to be successful in doing what we are called to do.
Up next: Preparation Part 2
Picking blackberries can be a painful undertaking if you're not prepared for what you might face. It would be nice if they are all located along an easy to access trail or path but my experience has been the opposite. Many of the places where I find the best berries are covered with high weeds, thorn bushes and crabapple trees. It can be an adventure just reaching the place where I want to pick.
With that in mind I have some preparing to do before I go into the field, especially when it comes to what I wear. Over the years I have developed a berry picking "armor" I wear when I know reaching the berries will be a challenge.
The first thing I do is put on a light t-shirt and blue jeans. I then put on my high leather hiking boots tucking in my pant legs to prevent then from getting wet, especially in the morning when the dew is heavy. All of this is just the beginning.
After the first layer of clothes I put on a second, heavier layer. A long sleeve heavy denim shirt will help keep the scratches off my arms. I also have a pair of heavy brush chaps I put over my jeans to help keep thorns out of my legs.
The final touches include a pair of fingerless leather motorcycle riding gloves to prevent scratches on the back of my hands and a hat to keep the flies off my head. After a spray or two of a good bug repellent, I'm ready to go.
I must be sight for someone who happens to be walking by but that doesn't bother me. This outfit has reduced scratches, embedded thorns and bug bites over the years and made the task at hand a bit more tolerable.
In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul makes sure the readers understand that they have some preparation to do for the spiritual struggles ahead. Since we are spiritual beings first, how we fight this battle affects our physical well being and peace of mind.
Paul encourages them to put on the full armor of God since, in reality, the battle belongs to the Lord. We can stand when we are armored with his truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith, salvation and the Spirit. In addition, as Paul points out, our primary weapon in this struggle is prayer. As a soldier needs to stay in constant communication with headquarters, so do we need to stay in constant communication with God.
There is one addition I think that needs to be made to this armor. What Paul describes is the covering a soldier puts on or the things he carries, such as a belt, a breastplate, shoes, helmet, shield and sword. Other than the shoes (I don't think wore socks!), everything else would go on top of the clothes the soldier was wearing. I think a person is best outfitted for battle when they are clothed with humility.
In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul extols the virtue of humility. In chapter 2 he writes, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves (vs. 3)." He goes on to hold up Jesus as the perfect example of a warrior for God clothed with humility and that our attitude should be the same as his.
As a berry picker I know the importance of preparing myself for the task at hand, of dressing to protect myself from what I might run into. The same is true for anyone who wants to serve God in this life. We too have to make preparations, to clothe ourselves in humility and the armor of God, if we are to be successful in doing what we are called to do.
Up next: Preparation Part 2
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