The Reflection of God

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It is an amazing fact that when we cannot see Jesus in us personally, others can still see his reflection upon us. Often our vision is clouded or darkened by filters we have around us, or even within our own hearts. The Jesus IN US can be challenging to link-into when we experience difficult days or trials. Take heart weary wanderers! When God is working in us, his reflection still shines on us. We cannot see that glory-but it is still there. His internal work of redemption is also an external work of glory. We are being changed day by day into his image. That is his promise to hold onto.

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Saddle Up with the Jonas Brothers

Rodeo Houston 2009. There was a new sound heard on the grounds this year, in addition to the horses and bulls. There were the same people selling hats and fried oreos and various buckles and belts. Sure, the carnival rides were full of screams and happily terrrified children. But, this year there was the deafening squeal of teenage girls welcoming the Jonas Brothers. Now there were young men in that group, but this was clearly a girl power moment. The truth is, they are considered adorable. They have standards of conduct unheard of in the music business. With their purity rings shining, they swagger and sway around the stage playing their instruments and swinging their mics. Very Disneylike, but extremely likeable.
The brothers have often referenced their Christian faith in interviews. Having been around Hollywood for awhile, they know that is costly. Their lives will be scrutinized by both the skeptical cynics and sadly, the Christian community. Very risky to come out of the closet as a Christian in American entertainment.
We who believe have a choice, support them for their courage, or join the hungry ones waiting for the slightest slip-up to drag out the crosses for them to mount.
I think believers need support, period. You may not want to mix your rodeo barbecue with their sugar pop sensibilities, but you can at least hope for the best in their life. What's so bad about outspoken believers trying to make a living and enjoy their moment of success? Don't worry, cynics, this will soon pass for them. Age will push them right out of their genre and hopefully you will find them seated next to you in church or serving the needy at a community center. Let's surround them with cheers and not slams. Success is a wild and dangerous ride.

Is That All There Is?

Ecclesiastes is a hard read. Yes, not only is the name just a little unique, but the basic tone of this Old Testament Bible book is a little morbid. Inside you will find lots of messages about the coming judgment and death and old weak knees. Not exactly what most of us reach for on a late Sunday night to help us relax before our horizontal time. But, after your first read through, which only takes about 30 minutes, you might just begin to get a inside view to some pretty deep downloads.

First suggestion, pray and ask for wisdom when you read these Old Testament books. Let's face it, riding a bike takes a few afternoons of practice to get it down.
No one starts off an expert at Guitar Hero or Rock Band. You got to do your time to get it down. Same with some of the books in the Bible. You need to spend some quality time and practice the skill of listening to God as you read. You might be surprised at the deep thoughts that will rise out of your brain to surprise you. Remember, you are made in His image and capable of truly Godlike thoughts.

Bottom Line, Ecclesiastes answers the question: Is That All There Is? You know the one that will occasionally occur to you in those moments when life gets very real. Those moments usually pass quickly like your curtain that blew open with the breeze only to settle quickly back in place to obstruct your view of the great sunny outdoors. They are bittersweet moments we all share in common that show us there really is more to look forward to someday, than we can experience in this reality.

It challenges us with the concept of acceptance. What if that is all there is for now? What if life is a series of days blending into one seamless road towards eternity. What if it really is about enjoying life with the ones you love and discovering each day that fact is simply enough. Sure, there are mountains to climb, cities to build, money to be made, lives to be built, but the joy is in the acceptance that all those things can be pleasing to God. Just accepting the road ahead, looking for the opportunity to walk in love, and keeping your hopes up, may just be the message after all.

So, as the writer of Ecclesiastes says, Enjoy your youth...but remember in that enjoyment, that eternity looms in the future as a welcome place to receive the reward of your labors and relationships. Live well, love well, and enjoy the skyline view from your heavenly real estate. Remember who makes all this possible.

John Lennon said
"Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try.
No hell below us.
Above us only sky."
With all respect, I'd rather not, John.

Heaven will be the place that we finally get a better view. We will see how all the dots connect and who drew the picture in the first place. And that day, will be just the beginning of discovering all the rest of what there is to come.