14 December 2008
Unconditional Friendship
Is there such a thing as Unconditional Friendship. That is the question I was posed.
I see my friend has posted his answer, and I have not yet responded, so here I go (before reading your answer, Randy)...
My friend Craig would say my answer is a 'Chasism.' My answer is "Yes & No."
The only YES I can come up with would be Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
On a fully man to man (as different than man to God-man) plane I fear the answer is NO. I have always wanted the answer to be yes.
A big portion of my life has been spent in a passionate pursuit of the man or men who would fulfill my quest for unconditional love, acceptance, and yes, friendship. Apart from Christ (and I've discovered He is who I was actually pursuing), these things are most definitely beyond reach, and there is the biggest condition. Christ must be a part of the friendship.
There is another condition.
To the best of my ability I have followed what I know to be God's command to love and role-model that love of God to more than one individual, in essence, be a best friend whether that is returned or not. I have been hurt, abused, misled and occasionally rejected (albeit briefly) as I have attempted to be a friend-that-sticks-closer-than-a-brother.
The condition is that a friendship is a two-way street, walked together, hand in hand. What I have freely offered, w/o condition, still must needs be received.
The human heart according to Jeremiah 17:9 (?) is deceitful and wicked. This side of heaven, I don't see it happening anymore.
I've mentioned friends on this blog in the past. I love them more than I love my self and they know I will not hesitate to do anything for them (if I deem it in their best interest, or feel God's leading that way -- more conditions?), and have on more than one occasion.
Money? Time? A hand? Advice? My life? Love? Patience? Hope? A desire to share the meat of the Scripture? Love for Jesus Christ? A Passionate Pursuit of the Holy One? All these and more I gladly dedicate and consecrate to our friendship and relationship with Abba -- Father God.
Since my love for my friends is from the overflow of my love for God, and by His grace this will not change, than I would say that from this side of the street I pose the offer of unconditional (faithful?) friendship.
I see it as the love of a wife for her husband, but now-a-days that seems altogether too conditional. Many are even skipping the vows.
The love of a Father for his children? I don't know that that would stand the test, either.
In closing I would have to bow to God, the Master of the Universe, and say that Unconditional Friendship is a two way street, based primarily on a love relationship with HIM; the overflow of which can be a conditional 'unconditional friendship.'
Hope you're not too confused.
Blessings!
ChaplainChas.
Labels: Chasism, conditions, Craig, ETC, friend, friends, friendship, Nate, Randy, Ryan, unconditional
07 August 2008
Breathe Underwater
At a conference recently I decided I was a 'charismatic w/a seatbelt.'* I was raised Baptist, and went to the C&MA home school (I now participate in worship at Calvary Chapel). One of the Pastor's wives asked me why not take off the seatbelt?
You see, I have believed the gifts of the Spirit are alive and well. I believe God is real and ever present. I believe God can, and does act supernaturally today. So when I had a burning bush experience it was incredible. During some singing I was compelled to remove my shoes. I had no choice. God was there, and the ground was holy because of it. Inside I was sprawled out prostrate before Him in complete abandon and worship; AND He was receiving it.
I had told Heidi I would have moved into the aisle and actually laid down if I didn't think it would have drawn attention to myself and off of Christ. This was my response when she asked me about removing the seatbelt. I think God was good with my decision. He would have accepted worship from the floor, too. I think my heart was right for both options.
I read a book recently that was not the most enthralling, and parts of it were poorly written. I don't know but what I even disagree with some points theologically (none of which have to do w/Jesus or Salvation or the 'big' issues). Oh, it's called A Man Called Blessed by Bill Bright and Ted Dekker.
Anyhow. I'm learning to breathe underwater. I'm learning to walk of the cliff. I'm learning to fall. I'm learning about the ocean that is God's love. I'm learning to breathe there, underwater.
Having my foot securely planted on the earth (reality?, security?, ...) with the other over the edge, overlooking the unknown is still relatively safe. It's allowing the gravity of God's calling Spirit to pull me off the safe place resting in Him that He won't let me go and plummeting for moments, minutes, hours or days of supposed free-fall that get me. I'm learning to believe. I'm learning to breathe.
Plummeting off a cliff into the ocean seems safer than onto land, but God's big enough for both. Stepping off a cliff, free-falling, and landing in the Ocean of His Love is definitely a different experience. Sometimes it's taking off your shoes because the ground upon which you stand is Holy. Sometimes it falling prostrate, or kneeling publicly in worship. Sometimes it's something else.
The funny part is that even though I feel like I'm free-falling off a cliff, as led by the Holy Spirit, I'm already in the Ocean of God's love. I just need to learn to breathe it in. I need to learn to breathe it out. I need to believe. I need the faith of a little child. I'm learning to breathe underwater. I believe God loves me. I believe He's at the top of the cliff and at the bottom and there in the fall. I belieeeeeeeeeeeve!
...Wow, ChaplainChas., that sounds interesting enough, but how does that fit into 'real life?'
Well, in the past 24 hours I've taken a leap of faith and was let down by a great friend. He didn't follow through on a couple of commitments and I got hurt. Instead of following my old patterns and becoming devastated and viewing myself as the problem, as unlovable, as a wuss, I have allowed the Holy Spirit to remind me that this is just another cliff. I love my friend and I know He loves me. I'm going to make it. I believe that Jesus will use this in my life. I don't need to be depressed or despondent or... I may feel like I'm alone, or underwater, but it's the Ocean of God's love! I am breathing deeply. I am NOT alone!
Sigh. That's enough for now. I've got some dancing to do!
See if God doesn't teach you to jump off the cliff into the ocean, and show you how to breathe underwater...
Blessings!
ChaplainChas.
*I actually got that term from Marc Driscoll, who I don't know a whole lot about.
You see, I have believed the gifts of the Spirit are alive and well. I believe God is real and ever present. I believe God can, and does act supernaturally today. So when I had a burning bush experience it was incredible. During some singing I was compelled to remove my shoes. I had no choice. God was there, and the ground was holy because of it. Inside I was sprawled out prostrate before Him in complete abandon and worship; AND He was receiving it.
I had told Heidi I would have moved into the aisle and actually laid down if I didn't think it would have drawn attention to myself and off of Christ. This was my response when she asked me about removing the seatbelt. I think God was good with my decision. He would have accepted worship from the floor, too. I think my heart was right for both options.
I read a book recently that was not the most enthralling, and parts of it were poorly written. I don't know but what I even disagree with some points theologically (none of which have to do w/Jesus or Salvation or the 'big' issues). Oh, it's called A Man Called Blessed by Bill Bright and Ted Dekker.
Anyhow. I'm learning to breathe underwater. I'm learning to walk of the cliff. I'm learning to fall. I'm learning about the ocean that is God's love. I'm learning to breathe there, underwater.
Having my foot securely planted on the earth (reality?, security?, ...) with the other over the edge, overlooking the unknown is still relatively safe. It's allowing the gravity of God's calling Spirit to pull me off the safe place resting in Him that He won't let me go and plummeting for moments, minutes, hours or days of supposed free-fall that get me. I'm learning to believe. I'm learning to breathe.
Plummeting off a cliff into the ocean seems safer than onto land, but God's big enough for both. Stepping off a cliff, free-falling, and landing in the Ocean of His Love is definitely a different experience. Sometimes it's taking off your shoes because the ground upon which you stand is Holy. Sometimes it falling prostrate, or kneeling publicly in worship. Sometimes it's something else.
The funny part is that even though I feel like I'm free-falling off a cliff, as led by the Holy Spirit, I'm already in the Ocean of God's love. I just need to learn to breathe it in. I need to learn to breathe it out. I need to believe. I need the faith of a little child. I'm learning to breathe underwater. I believe God loves me. I believe He's at the top of the cliff and at the bottom and there in the fall. I belieeeeeeeeeeeve!
...Wow, ChaplainChas., that sounds interesting enough, but how does that fit into 'real life?'
Well, in the past 24 hours I've taken a leap of faith and was let down by a great friend. He didn't follow through on a couple of commitments and I got hurt. Instead of following my old patterns and becoming devastated and viewing myself as the problem, as unlovable, as a wuss, I have allowed the Holy Spirit to remind me that this is just another cliff. I love my friend and I know He loves me. I'm going to make it. I believe that Jesus will use this in my life. I don't need to be depressed or despondent or... I may feel like I'm alone, or underwater, but it's the Ocean of God's love! I am breathing deeply. I am NOT alone!
Sigh. That's enough for now. I've got some dancing to do!
See if God doesn't teach you to jump off the cliff into the ocean, and show you how to breathe underwater...
Blessings!
ChaplainChas.
*I actually got that term from Marc Driscoll, who I don't know a whole lot about.
Labels: alone, blessed, breathe deeply, breathe underwater, charismatic, cliff, Conference, Dekker, free fall, friend, God's love, hurt, learn to breathe, Love, ocean, seatbelt
01 August 2008
A Tale of two Firebirds
Lord have mercy! Jesus must be coming back soon because I'm about to talk for a whole blog post about CARS!
I think my standards may be a little high.
I value friendships, a lot. I hate betrayal, I detest divorce, and I have a sensitive side that is more than half of my personality. I realized a while back that emotional dependency is not just a female issue. I work hard at not growing dependent on anyone but Jesus. He is, after all, my reason for living. He loved me enough to get a whole book written for me to find Him in, and got a whole bunch of people into my life to show me He can really effect change in human lives.
I guess I say all that to say this. I know two brothers that God has raised up and placed into my life who are meeting my standard. Ryan and Nate. Over time I'm sure you'll hear more, but for now I'm sitting on a deck w/Nate, as we wait for today's appointment to purchase a 1990 Firebird (similar to the above picture, but all black w/T-Tops). This is one of God's blessings upon my friend.
A while back his 1992 Firebird was totaled. God miraculously provided this one to meet several needs of this up-and-coming musician. Oh, well the rest is Nate's story, not mine. Not that I can't tell his story, but I don't feel I should at the moment.
At any rate, I get to hang out with my friend and watch God bless his life. Aren't cars grand?
Blessings!
ChaplainChas.
I think my standards may be a little high.
I value friendships, a lot. I hate betrayal, I detest divorce, and I have a sensitive side that is more than half of my personality. I realized a while back that emotional dependency is not just a female issue. I work hard at not growing dependent on anyone but Jesus. He is, after all, my reason for living. He loved me enough to get a whole book written for me to find Him in, and got a whole bunch of people into my life to show me He can really effect change in human lives.
I guess I say all that to say this. I know two brothers that God has raised up and placed into my life who are meeting my standard. Ryan and Nate. Over time I'm sure you'll hear more, but for now I'm sitting on a deck w/Nate, as we wait for today's appointment to purchase a 1990 Firebird (similar to the above picture, but all black w/T-Tops). This is one of God's blessings upon my friend.
A while back his 1992 Firebird was totaled. God miraculously provided this one to meet several needs of this up-and-coming musician. Oh, well the rest is Nate's story, not mine. Not that I can't tell his story, but I don't feel I should at the moment.
At any rate, I get to hang out with my friend and watch God bless his life. Aren't cars grand?
Blessings!
ChaplainChas.
Labels: cars, divorce, emotional dependency, firebird, friend, friends, Jackson, Jesus, Nate, Ryan
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