Transformed Changes and changing

“Self-worth is not created, it is discovered.”  (Richard Rohr)

We do not recognize ourselves, just as we did not recognize Him. (1 John 3:1)

What is so insignificant about being created in the image of God that we would pursue the understanding of it so little? Our worth is not in what we achieve or put our efforts into…it is a dictate. As a creature, our value is dictated by our Creator, and it is most amazing that He created us in His image…a reflection and representation of Himself for the rest of creation. Very cool.

I have been studying the “Enneagram” quite a bit lately. It has been an enlightening (albeit sobering) undertaking. On one hand I am discovering that I have more that is broken within me than I realized (which grieves me), and on the other I am finding articulation for much of the struggle that wreaks havoc with my emotions…or should I say “emotions which wreak havoc…”?

The Enneagram (info here: 9types.com…or alternatively “The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective” by Richard Rohr) is helping me to understand that I am not alone in my internal battle over self; all of us have an ruling party and official opposition within…sometimes it is hard to tell which is which. It is also helping me to see the eventual outcome of the choices I could make. There are basic routes we can choose in our journey: to withdraw, to attack, and to stay humbly engaged. The first two make it impossible for us to receive or extend true love…only the latter offers this opportunity.

Transformation is all about growing the capacity to receive and extend love.

All we have as creatures comes from our Creator. All our efforts to live on our own  remove us from drawing on the life-giving energy and love of the Creator. As we continue in our own efforts throughout our journey, with an honest assessment, we eventually arrive at a place of disgust with ourselves. We cannot be the good we want to be on our own. (Am I alone in this?)

We need a greater love…we need true, deep, authentic, rich, energizing, empowering, sustaining transformation. The kind of transformation that can only flow from the Creator…not a form of Him captured in religion…but rather the source of all life, directly…in the person.

I resolve to pursue this at all cost, for I have been close enough to the edge to see that anything short of this will only end in the destruction of life.

Posted under Transformation

Enter guest writer Ken Rutherford…

Joy To The World

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Do I really believe the words of this familiar Christmas carol? It seems to be saying that joy comes when the Lord (Ruler, Master) comes, and people allow Him to be King. Doesn’t it seem more believable that joy comes when I get what I want?

Could it be that real joy comes when the “Lord” Jesus Christ gets what He wants in my life? It seems that the pursuit of happiness can be the strongest motivation in life. If we engage our pursuit based on wrong assumptions we will definitely miss the goal.

I recently met a man who was having major heart problems. In fact, his heart had stopped 3 or 4 times and had to be revived. He was told that he would need a pacemaker. He didn’t want to have a pacemaker because of certain wrong assumptions he had about pacemakers. He believed that a pacemaker would be limiting; that it would hold him back from really living. The reality was that he would die without a pacemaker, but be free to really live and enjoy life with one!

It is easy to get the idea that surrender of the control of my life to this Lord or King would be a hindrance; that it would be limiting. The truth is that without Christ as King in our lives we are dying.

This simple Christmas carol declares the truth that often gets overlooked. All of creation will “sing” when people allow Jesus the Creator to be King.

Posted under Transformation

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe…This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.” From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

John 6: 60-69

Why do I get the feeling that, through most conversations, we all assume (imply) that we are (would have been) one of the 12…not one of the multitudes that walked away?

Are we so sure?

Posted under Transformation

My faith story – my benefit

a) The desire: Fulfillment

b) The problem: Bondage to sin – penalty of death

c) The transaction: I chose to believe in Christ

d) The benefit: I can enjoy freedom…peace…

His Larger Story

a) The desire: Creation reconciled

b) The problem: Bondage to sin – penalty of death

c) The transaction: Christ paid the penalty for sin

d) The benefit: Reconciliation

I once was lost, but now am found…who found who? Who purchased who?

What difference does it make?

Revelation 5:9-10 (New International Version)

⁹And they sang a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
¹⁰You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”

Posted under Transformation