Where We Draw Inspiration From Points Us to Our Origin

photo: zetson

Inspiration is what stirs us up. It is what makes us attempt things we didn't think we could do. It is what helps make life interesting. The problem is that it is easy to lose.

Because of this, I've wondered recently, when I'm not motivated, what can inspire me? I've come up with a few things, like reading thought-provoking books, listening intentionally to fresh music, doing a hard job well, serving others, and clarifying my focus.

From this, I see ways that I was designed to function. As a picture of God's creativity, I was made with the desire to create, and to enjoy creativity. As a picture of God's love of work and rest, I was made to enjoy hard work done well, and satisfying rest. When I start to see the people around me through the eyes that God sees them, I start loving them more, and my life catches more purpose, as I point my life upward and outward.

This is great! God loves the same things I love. What I really mean is, I love the same things God loves, and I think that's the way it's meant to be. I lose my inspiration when I lose sight of God and what he loves. However, all of these means of inspiration are a means to a greater end. They all point to God, and they all help me know and love God more.

So by knowing what inspires me and by spending time doing those things, I am actually catching glimpses of the divine.

Pneuma

Apart from the breath of the Spirit, there is no life. My best efforts are tinker toys and sand castles without the breath of God upon my life.

I don't need more activity, because indiscriminate action is laziness. Instead, what I need is the focus to seek out God's Kingdom first in my life.

The Spirit is the motion of God. He empowers our efforts and comforts in our trials. He is a person. He has thoughts, emotions, ideas, and he wants to be engaged in my life. It's as though He is already moving, and I need to catch up and join him on mission where he is. He is with the homeless and oppressed. He's with the international student who doesn't know why he's here. He's with the rape victim looking for hope. He's with the thousands of people in this city who are splintered and scarred. He's inviting me to join Him. He's inviting us to join Him.

What does this look like? I don't know. I can't predict where the wind will blow, and I can't control where God goes. All I know is that I come alive most when I am where He is. To follow Him requires a loss and a gaining. It's a loss of everything that everyone else considers most precious, and it's a gaining of what actually is most valuable.

We are Redeemed for a Purpose

Here's our story, if we call Jesus our only hope.

Our hearts were broken till they were filled with the God that the universe cannot contain, and this filling is now redemption, salvation, and kingdom life. It's perpetual, it's grandiose, it's microcosmic, and it's glorious.

In all this broken seeking, we arrive emptier than we left, till we find rest in God. Then we realize that what is most wonderful, most excellent is not what we might guess at first; Jehovah Sneaky offers far better satisfaction than any other thing. It simply makes sense that only infinite being could satisfy us more than candy. or beer. or sex. or nice words. or achievement. or whatever you chase after.

 Like C.S. Lewis said, 

It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

 And so it's true, that our chief purpose is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever. All other desires implode on themselves, if they are pursued as ends, rather than used as means.

Yet even when we grasp hold of our all-filling enjoyment, we must realize that what is our greatest good is the greatest good of those that are still seeking. Many of our friends, many of our families are still making mud pies, because they don't have a frame of reference for something that actually satisfies. Their life is one gigantic implosion. In John seven, Jesus offered water that never ran dry to a woman at a well. This water was all-satisfying. Anything less than this water is about as satisfying as taking a life-giving chug of water, only to have it turn to sand in your mouth.

And it breaks my heart.

The Great Divergence

This is an incredible TED talk that speaks about The Great Divergence between the West and the East, and how it is now converging, because the six things that have made the West affluent are being lost, and in the East these things are being adopted.

Very interesting. Worth the twenty minutes.

Worship isn't(mostly) an Introspective Sport

Where did this idea come from that worship is a dude(or dudette) sitting in a corner with hands folded listening to music, and that somehow, this is the extent of meaningful worship experience? This is like a newly-wed groom trying to find the perfect way to express his love to his bride, so he goes into the other room and reads a good book. It just doesn't line up.



The point of worship is to respond to the work of God's multi-faceted grace in our lives. The key there is respond. What that looks like for people is different, but it always is something.

Sometimes we must engage in worship before we feel like worshipping.

If I had no previous experience with the church, but I knew that worship was a measure of gratitude, I wouldn't be convinced that anything significant had happened in the lives of most of the people I was watching.

There are many, many times when in the psalms it says to shout to God. I know it's a poetic book, but I'm pretty sure David is being literal there.

Just a few of the statements out of Psalm 96

-Sing to the Lord a new song
-Proclaim His salvation
-Declare His glory
-Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness
-Tremble before Him
-Shout for joy to the Lord(Psalm 98)

These all count as response.

Only one of them is quiet.

Trembling.

My prayer is that I would have a right response to the grace of God, along with especially the community at the Well.

Jesus said that who is forgiven much loves much.

Pieces of (free)Inspiration #1

Listimania!

1.) http://www.academicearth.org/

I think this has been around for quite a while, but I just recently discovered it. This is a compilation of free(yes, free) lectures from places like Yale and Harvard. Pretty legit.

2.) http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/online-books/by-title

Again, it's been here for a while, but John Piper offers all of his books for free online for download. "Don't Waste Your Life" had a profound impact on me at a crucial time of life.

3.) http://theresurgence.com/

Mark Driscoll's ministry has influenced me in my life and faith, so I love passing it on.

4.) http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/Tozer_Pursuit_of_God.pdf

"The Pursuit of God" by A.W. Tozer is another book that blows my mind. Every time.

5.) http://www.ted.com/

Of course...

That's all for now.

-K

Bitterness(and why it sucks)

 

I've had a great childhood. My memories consist of early mornings playing YMCA soccer, spending lots of time at church, where my parents played music, basketball, homeschooling, etc.
My parents have sacrificed so much for me, and I appreciate that so much, but I've realized recently that along with my diploma, bitterness is something that I graduated highschool with.
Why was I bitter? Because my perception was that in my parents' eyes, I was not successful, and it seemed that the things I really was passionate about, like basketball and music, I couldn't succeed in. I remember getting told that I couldn't make it at college ball, because I wasn't good enough; getting told to stop singing/playing guitar because it didn't sound good.

I realize that this, in comparison to what many people go through, is a small wound. It's something that has festered in my heart though, and it's damaged me and the way I interact with people.

Some of the effects that I know about are that it is difficult for me to truly encourage people, because I was not encouraged.
I've had a me-against-the-world mentality since I came to college, and it's ruthless. It leads to hopelessness and despondency.
Bitterness has also robbed me of compassion. I've thought that because I have to make it on my own so does everyone else. If I see someone in need, my typical response, at least in my head, is that their lack of planning doesn't constitute an emergency on mine.

Bitterness is the opposite of grace; and God hates it. So do I.

I had a great conversation with Josh and Sarah Siders that joined in with the discussion I'd been having with  God about this.
I have to release people who wrong me, or I perceive wrong me, or else it damages me and others around me. I need to reject the belief that they'll do it in the future, otherwise it turns into a reputation that they can't escape from(you always do that - or you never do this); and finally, I need to find my identity in Christ, not my parents. Like I said, they are great parents, and I can't have the expectation of them that they should be perfect. I need to ask God what he thinks of me.

Life is injurious.
Everyone needs to let go of something.
Forgiveness is a process.
I'm on that journey, and I hope that sharing this can help you continue, or start, down that road as well.

-k

p.s. shout out to Amy, one of the baristas at Radina's.
;)