The Plan of God |
Discipleship |
Faith |
Sin |
Perseverence |
Prayer |
Communion With God |
Pursuing God |
Devotion |
Following Jesus |
Time With God |
Sanctification |
Spiritual Warfare |
Trust |
The Word of God |
View All Categories
Today, keeping your eyes on the prize is valued, yes. But the journey, the process of getting to the goal, is valued as much or more. What is going on here?
Recent Entries
God? Who Needs Him?May 31, 2013
Self-sufficient humanism. Paul saw it coming – “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”
Imago Dei
September 12, 2012
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Why Can't I Pray?
August 18, 2012
The bible gives us several reasons, but according to Jeremy Taylor, a deceitful heart is at the root of prayerlessness.
It's Not Rocket Science
July 23, 2012
To keep in step with the Spirit should be our daily quest. And if we are successful at that, all of life falls into place.
Theological Steak
April 10, 2012
These words by P. T. Forsythe on the magnificence of Christ's work are to theology what Ruth's Chris is to a good steak.
Describing the Indescribable
February 11, 2012
What we have in Christ will take all eternity to describe. But for one segment of one sermon, a great preacher made a mighty attempt.
Making Sense Of It All
January 30, 2012
Where are things headed? Is there rhyme and reason to the endless cycle of summer, fall, winter and spring? Is there a plan in place, or is randomness the explanation?
Emerging Vs. Arriving
May 28, 2009
I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Philippians 3:12-16
Miley Cyrus (perhaps better known to the world as Hannah Montana) currently has a song that almost perfectly captures a philosophy of journey. Titled "It's The Climb," the song is a humanistic anthem that holds up determination in the face of trials, mixed with the twin sister of dogged perseverance - both admirable qualities. But the end, the goal of it all, is hardly mentioned. It's not important. And the title conveys in three words what an entire culture is coming to value most - the climb.
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"
Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking
But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high
There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb
C. S. Lewis saw this coming. There is a chapter in The Pilgrim's Regress called Tea on the Lawn. Mr. Broad admits that, as he grows older, he is....
"inclined to set less and less store by mere orthodoxy....I am coming to look more and more at the language of the heart. Logic and definition divide us: it is those things which draw us together that I now value most - our common affections, our common delight in this slow pageant of the countryside, our common struggle towards the light."
John, who is on a quest to find an island that he has sensed in a memorable dream, asks for directions to the island. Mr. Broad brushes him off:
"That is a beautiful idea," said Mr. Broad. "And if you will trust an older traveler, the seeking is the finding."
John still wants to know how to get to the island. Mr. Broad again attempts to muddle any possible clarity.
"To be sure you do. I wouldn't for the world hold you back. At the same time, my dear boy, I think there is a very real danger at your age of trying to make these things too definite."
Earlier in the book, Vertue has offered up a similar platitude to John....
"To travel hopefully is better than to arrive."
It the Apostle Paul had shared the same belief as Mr. Broad or Vertue, his word to the Philippians would have sounded very different.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but that's ok, because boy, have I learned so much on the way! I've met so many wonderful people, and heard a lot of great ideas stories of their journeys, and I shared mine with them.
Yeah, at some point it would be nice to eventually take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me, but I'm not going to stress over it - it'll happen if its meant to happen. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: celebrating what is behind I'll enjoy the journey as best I can. What's waitin' on the other side - it can wait.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Philippians 3:12-16
Miley Cyrus (perhaps better known to the world as Hannah Montana) currently has a song that almost perfectly captures a philosophy of journey. Titled "It's The Climb," the song is a humanistic anthem that holds up determination in the face of trials, mixed with the twin sister of dogged perseverance - both admirable qualities. But the end, the goal of it all, is hardly mentioned. It's not important. And the title conveys in three words what an entire culture is coming to value most - the climb.
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"
Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking
But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high
There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb
C. S. Lewis saw this coming. There is a chapter in The Pilgrim's Regress called Tea on the Lawn. Mr. Broad admits that, as he grows older, he is....
"inclined to set less and less store by mere orthodoxy....I am coming to look more and more at the language of the heart. Logic and definition divide us: it is those things which draw us together that I now value most - our common affections, our common delight in this slow pageant of the countryside, our common struggle towards the light."
John, who is on a quest to find an island that he has sensed in a memorable dream, asks for directions to the island. Mr. Broad brushes him off:
"That is a beautiful idea," said Mr. Broad. "And if you will trust an older traveler, the seeking is the finding."
John still wants to know how to get to the island. Mr. Broad again attempts to muddle any possible clarity.
"To be sure you do. I wouldn't for the world hold you back. At the same time, my dear boy, I think there is a very real danger at your age of trying to make these things too definite."
Earlier in the book, Vertue has offered up a similar platitude to John....
"To travel hopefully is better than to arrive."
It the Apostle Paul had shared the same belief as Mr. Broad or Vertue, his word to the Philippians would have sounded very different.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but that's ok, because boy, have I learned so much on the way! I've met so many wonderful people, and heard a lot of great ideas stories of their journeys, and I shared mine with them.
Yeah, at some point it would be nice to eventually take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me, but I'm not going to stress over it - it'll happen if its meant to happen. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: celebrating what is behind I'll enjoy the journey as best I can. What's waitin' on the other side - it can wait.
