The Right & Left Hands need to shake

After a fruitful visit with an old friend this weekend I felt re-energized and ready to follow Jesus continually. The real "raw" life that Christ displayed for his disciples is note-worthy.

One practical observation I have recently made, after much frustration and pondering upon such things is the following.

Many people on the Christian spectrum of life, let's call it the Conservative and the Liberal sides, choose specific parts of Christ's life to allow people to see things their way. The Liberals talk about how Christ displayed Truth to the masses, and the Liberals talk about how He loved people unconditionally. The real truth is, Jesus is not a Liberal or a Conservative. He is God.

Baptists and Pentecostals are, at times, both right and wrong. What Baptists struggle in is legalism, which can cripple and prohibit people from the richness of Christ. What Pentecostals struggle in is the freedom in Christ, which can allow for too many sins to be excused because grace covers all sin.

At times our Lord displayed more Liberal characteristics than Conservatives want to acknowledge. (Vice a versa is obviously seen also.) Why does this matter? It doesn't! To our knowledge we know that the disciples were not quarreling over such issues as these. Our hearts must allow for one another to work alongside in the desire that Christ is honored. "Feelings" of being uncomfortable should never prohibit biblical Christianity, which produces Jesus followers, which leads to souls being saved and lives being lost for the sake of the gospel.

To my Right (Conservative) brothers and to my Left (Liberal) brothers I ask that you shake hands. Put your quarrels and strife aside, and build the Kingdom of God in worshipful service to Jesus Christ together.

Respectfully,
Michael

hmm...Prayer...it works

I asked anyone reading these postings to pray for a guy in my management class. He has been faithful to ask me some good questions, and we even got to eat out together the other night. He wanted to know how he can be a "legit" Christian. He doesn't want to fake it, but wants to be all in.

Is this not what we all should be like? Either all in, or get out! Man, his basic relational theology is what we ought to strive for. Keep praying for him, and for your own heart. Never lose the simplicity of God's divine and perfect love for your soul.

Purposeful Statements

Life is meant to be enjoyed while giving glory to whom it is due. Life was given to all creatures; therefore it only makes logical sense to find out its reason for being. If there is a creator, then he must be praised. If not, then we must “eat, drink, and be merry” (Ecclesiastes 8:15).

I am seeking to write out my personal principle statement, a statement to identify the things that make me tick. This task is arduous, but somehow simple. I hope to clearly define the passion that fills my mind, heart, and soul in this small paper.

John Piper says that the mission statement for his life is to “exist to spread a passion for the of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ.” Piper is a world renowned speaker and pastor, but a man who clearly defines his life’s allegiance as being to God.

I, too, will choose to make this my personal principles statement. There was a man who lived a brief time after Jesus did. His name was Paul, and he said this: “He [Christ] died for all so that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:15). My logical conclusion is this: The Creator deserves my life, and doubly so after Jesus Himself purchased my life through by crucifixion. Therefore, my purpose in life is to live and die for Him.

This zealous and brilliant man also said “I only want to know Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). This may sound simple, plain, ignorant, or even foolish to the human ear and mind, but is it? Am I merely being foolish? Perhaps you must hear about my past to understand my present and where my future lies.

As a child, I adopted an attitude of manipulation, threatening to in order to get attention from my parents. Cunningly, I knew that I would never commit this grievous act, but I attempted to deceive people, and I was good at it. As these thoughts raced through my mind, I continued to hear about this Jesus fellow who said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me” (John 14:6). It sounded like a nice idea, but it simply was not the way I wanted to live my life. The older I got, the further away I got from this proverbial “God”. Smoking pot was a frequent event; underage drinking and partying were normal weekend activities. School was not my forte, but socializing was.

It struck me: “What am I doing with my life?” I knew that the Bible said that “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that he does not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). According to this book, the Bible, called God’s Word, I was a sinner damned for hell. Why would I want to hear that?

Messages like this cannot quickly depart from one’s conscience. This seemingly ancient man named Jesus who “was in the beginning with God” and “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” How could I do nothing but want to know more about him? If all of this stuff in the Bible were true, then I truly was a fool for not turning to this man, this Jesus.

As time would tell, this Jesus character was one that I could not escape. His personality, speech, charisma, attitude, forgiveness, leadership ability, and love wooed me. It clearly must be because “He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, and uphold all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3).

Legacies are not left by average people. Mediocrity accepts the status quo, but I choose not to be deceived by this. If I can leave one thing, one charge to people, or one memory of Michael Schwamb it would be that God the Creator is holy, perfect, and just, and following Him through Jesus is the only way to please Him while living joyfully both in the present time and for all eternity. Knowing my actions and thoughts I deem myself unworthy of being remembered, but yearn for others to remember and know “Jesus and him crucified only” as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:2. Helping people achieve this is my desire.

Activities such as these cause me to reflect deeply on the blessings that I have in life. I can have an unlimited amount of joy that is not superficial, but divine. Reading through passages that are in God’s Word, the Bible, have refreshed my mind, heart, and soul to continue pursuing that which I know is true because it has been passed down to me by men that “investigated everything carefully from the beginning…so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:3-4). Exercises that help one meditate on truth can never be wasteful.

Chapter Two boasts the title “Managing Personal Stress”. I could not think of a better way to learn about the perfect stress-reducer: knowing Jesus as my King and Lord. He tells me “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or What will we wear for clothing?’…Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33). As I seek to follow Jesus I am promised that I am already taken care of by my heavenly Father. This chapter opens my eyes that I need to have something much more than a simple method of relieving stress. “The Lord is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me” (Psalm 118:6)?