God Himself; crushed, crumpled
and shrunken down
yet no less God than before.
Dethroning himself from heaven
to slip into fingers, skin, and bones
to swallow water, sin, and air
and clothe himself with humility
hung with mortal form.
Both descending and ascending
as angels on Jacob’s stair
saving men by becoming man
crowned and conquered
by the power
and over the power
of his lawful curse.
A sharp edged, moonless night
of cold air where no cold should be
or hammers dropping like gods
before the sickles of human whims
as they move off to sleep
in comfortable beds
and deep covers
and their double-paned windows
closed to keep out foreign air
like we close borders
to keep out foreigners
in poverty on an earth
where no poverty would be
if it weren’t for ignorant, closing eyes
that could care less about lives
so long as they get their sleep
A couple nights ago I was chilling with some gentlemen that get together on a weekly basis to hold each other accountable for living lives according to God’s word, and, as is inevitable with a group of young single dudes, we ended up on the topic of relationships. I’ve had the subject on my mind lately, particularly since there has been a young lady who has caught my interest, so I brought it up before the guys to hear their thoughts. Much was said, but one of the guys, Mike, asked me the great question, “Ben, is this desire for a relationship a desire for greater purity?”
His question has stuck in my head for the last three days, prompting me to seriously examine my own motives and desires. Is my desire for a relationship with any one – particularly, but not only, a young woman – a desire for greater purity?
It’s a question of aim and purpose, the kind of question I believe we need to ask ourselves more often. Not only, “Is this right?” or “does this go against God’s law?”, but asking “What is my deeper aim here? What inspires me to do this?” Replace, “Should I want that?” with “Why do I want that?” Too often our analysis stops at action, when it is made clear throughout the scripture that God looks firstly at the heart and motive. And it’s there at the heart that we often discover that the actions that may seem good and right are the fruit of a poison tree. We can enter in to relationships with the best of intentions, laying down boundaries and taking the appropriate precautions, but if the root aim and desire is not pure, the relationship won’t be.
To be honest, I’m not sure how I would answer Mike’s question at this point. I’ve spent so long asking, “Am I doing the right thing?” that I find it surprisingly hard to discern whether what is behind my actions is right or not. That, I suppose, is why it’s so natural to forget that deeper question that needs to be addressed. But I would encourage you to do so, even as I am. Ask yourself whether your desire for intimacy with another person is also a desire for purity. Ask if your desire for success in life is a desire to glorify God in your body. Ask, “Is this desire one that matches what God would desire?”
It’s a hard question to ask, but it’s well worth it.
And my hope is that if you ever find me with a young lady and you ask me if my desires for the relationship are desires for purity, I will be able to say a confident yes.
A couple nights ago I was chilling with some gentlemen that get together on a weekly basis to hold each other accountable for living lives according to God’s word, and, as is inevitable with a group of young single dudes, we ended up on the topic of relationships. I’ve had the subject on my mind lately, particularly since there has been a young lady who has caught my interest, so I brought it up before the guys to hear their thoughts. Much was said, but one of the guys, Mike, asked me the great question, “Ben, is this desire for a relationship a desire for greater purity?”
His question has stuck in my head for the last three days, prompting me to seriously examine my own motives and desires. Is my desire for a relationship with any one – particularly, but not only, a young woman – a desire for greater purity?
It’s a question of aim and purpose, the kind of question I believe we need to ask ourselves more often. Not only, “Is this right?” or “does this go against God’s law?”, but asking “What is my deeper aim here? What inspires me to do this?” Replace, “Should I want that?” with “Why do I want that?” Too often our analysis stops at action, when it is made clear throughout the scripture that God looks firstly at the heart and motive. And it’s there at the heart that we often discover that the actions that may seem good and right are the fruit of a poison tree. We can enter in to relationships with the best of intentions, laying down boundaries and taking the appropriate precautions, but if the root aim and desire is not pure, the relationship won’t be.
To be honest, I’m not sure how I would answer Mike’s question at this point. I’ve spent so long asking, “Am I doing the right thing?” that I find it surprisingly hard to discern whether what is behind my actions is right or not. That, I suppose, is why it’s so natural to forget that deeper question that needs to be addressed. But I would encourage you to do so, even as I am. Ask yourself whether your desire for intimacy with another person is also a desire for purity. Ask if your desire for success in life is a desire to glorify God in your body. Ask, “Is this desire one that matches what God would desire?”
It’s a hard question to ask, but it’s well worth it.
And my hope is that if you ever find me with a young lady and you ask me if my desires for the relationship are desires for purity, I will be able to say a confident yes.
Just read this short post by a fellow writer. Some beautiful thoughts on life as a parent. Read the full post at Quadruplelife
I’ve never been oblivious to the fact that parenting can be a trek—an up-hill-hot-day-black-flies-no-water trek at times. These days come and go, and often with a descent nap or an evening out I am able to settle back in, pull my babies close, kiss them tenderly, and keep on hiking.
But lately I’ve noticed a shift—not in my children—they remain gloriously obvious to the hike, running on ahead—and this is just as it should be! How terrible would it be for them to have any grasp of my parenting frustrations! No, the shift is in me. The walk seems harder, the hill steeper, my pack heavier than usual…
Trees beside steady waters
ever in season, are your hearts
abiding in Words that formed mountains
nations, and men
And like seeds, your praises spring
from throats thick with joy
as you die to produce tenfold harvests
like nets weighing till the boats should sink
for you are full of God himself,
and have minds of no low, earthly things
but instead are set upon those of Spirit
in full attention
and unwavering devotion
growing into the King