1 Thessalonians 2-4

It seems Paul had a special place in his heart for the people in Thessalonica. When he left Philippi he left with his reputation very much abused. His feeling upon arriving in Thessalonica was apparently one of discouragement but God gave him courage to share with the people there and what a glorious thing that became because the people in Thessalonica received that good word.

Paul appeals to the integrity of that event in chapter 2. He admits that his motives were pure, that he sought only to please God. He confesses the earnestness of that initial ministry. “We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For He called you to share in His Kingdom and glory.” This pleading came in the face of, or rather as an introduction to, persecution that he warned them would come.

Why the persecution? Why the suffering? Does true faith always couple with suffering and persecution? The persecution in Thessalonica came from the religious more than the political. Is that always the case?

“…live in a way that pleases God.” This is Paul’s plea beginning chapter 4. Live in a way that pleases God. He lists avoiding sexual sin as opposing Holiness. He lists our goal … “Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.” This kind of life earns respect and secures successful business and life.

A quiet life. There is so little to commend a quiet life today. Isn’t the world in a state of disquiet? Isn’t chaos the air we breathe? Quietness is a holy pursuit and a pleasing pursuit. Sexual purity is also a holy and pleasing pursuit. Loving others is a holy and pleasing pursuit.

This gives me more of a context for an ordinary faith. A life more ordinary is a life of faith lived out in the context of our day to day existence. Ordinary faith is a life that embraces each ordinary, mundane moment as a divine miracle, and an operation of God.

Our culture is entirely built upon the sex drive. Everything is about sex. Movies, advertising, even causal greetings are seen as mere preludes to some sexual meaning. An ordinary faith embraces the intimacy of life yet maintains sexual purity in thought and deed. Ordinary faith loves others purely without the corruption of impure sexual flirtation. An ordinary faith is quiet, at peace, shameless, and free. This is one way to take Paul’s instruction to heart and to life.

Every moment is divine. Ordinary is only the divine that we routinely experience.

Camon Spencer is going to be dedicated to the Lord today. He name means “Keeper of the Resurrection” (Camon – His Resurrection, Spencer – steward) He is already a miracle to us. He is so different from his brothers. He is just very peaceful, gentle, and restful. When he smiles at you, all else is forgotten. When he laughs the world just seems less important and much more wonderful.

Kristi was up early writing a 2 page speech for the dedication. She says it won’t take long! J Kristi is going to share the initial shock at the announcement of his birth, then the shock of finding out he had down’s syndrome. But the grace with which these announcements came is proof that God is always loving us unconditionally. (She’s amazing.)

I have decided to give him three gifts. A flower, because he came to my life seemingly out of season, yet contains such beauty and hope for our lives. Salt because every life know bitterness, pain, grief, and injury. But the salt is a gift, and should be received as a blessing. The last gift is wine ( I will use sparkling grape juice for you that are afraid). Wine symbolizes so many things in Scripture. Blood, death, life, love, joy, and especially hope are all symbolized in the wine. Wine teaches us to embrace each moment, to enjoy God’s precious gift of life. That life though painful should be embraced loved and lived! Grief in life must be endured but life is to be enjoyed.

I pray my son lives. I believe he will teach me how to live.

I awoke this morning not thinking about today but about tomorrow. I woke up the same way yesterday. For some reason, in my mind, it was as if today was already over, and it hadn’t even begun.

How much of today will I miss in my hurry to get to tomorrow?

James 4:14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like a morning fog – it’s here a little while, then it’s gone… 17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

Proverbs 15:10

Whoever abandons the right path will be severely disciplined.

 

How easy it must be to stray from the right path, how quickly our thoughts are misdirected and precious opportunities are lost on worthless things. How terrifying to look back and see that you have strayed into a land you never even knew existed.

How do we stay on the path? Maybe a better question is, “What is the path?” I believe the path is Jesus Christ. He is the reason that Paul’s plan was to forget all that was behind and pursue Christ. The problem for us is… that is not the kind of answer we are seeking. We want a nice black and white answer that spells out our daily activities and that plainly explains our next activity. What I don’t understand is why such an answer is even desired. We all know that as soon as some kind of rule is established for us, our main purpose then becomes to break or at least stretch that rule.

The Answer of Jesus is freedom from that base desire to sin. It is so much more than, “What would Jesus do?” It is more an active/passivity that invites the initiation of Christ into the moments of our lives? It is the awareness that Christ is in us ready to do more than we would ever dare ask or think. It is also a dependence that Christ is at work in our every thought, word, and deed.

How does one stay on the path? One remains aware of and gives attention to the path. The only way to stray is distraction.

It has been so long since I have done anything besides work. I am thirty pounds over weight again. I am a mess spiritually. I am about as undisciplined as I could possibly be. I am in the escape mentality.  

So here I am in Jackson, Wy on a getaway with a couple of my sons. Cass and Cavin get very little Dad time compared to the older and younger children so with Kristi gone home to Kentucky for a Wedding and me with four days off, the guys and I are out to have a good time.

 While on this trip my hope is to get glued back together. To remember who I am and why I am here. Also to refocus my heart which has been so wrapped up in work lately that I can’t seem to get my attention anywhere else.

 

Why is it so easy to lose sight of the holy, of the beautiful, of God? Why is it so easy to become blind to everything that matters? Why do I so quickly become soiled with guilt, sin?

 

What would I like to accomplish this weekend?

• I would like to get my heart right with God
  
• I would like to get my health back on track
• I would like to really enjoy my sons
• I would like to rest and refresh

So today we will go snow tubing. Maybe we will go to the Elk Refuge and maybe we will play some games.