• He was willing to engage of people of all walks (Matt. 12:22, Matt. 26:6, Matt. 9:12)
• He promoted health and healthy living (John 4:1-26, John 8:3-11)
• He allowed people to help themselves through teaching (Matt. 13:9-13)

And these connections have roots in the very early design and function of Freud’s Psychoanalytic Therapy.

Consider for a minute:

1. Freud strived to create an environment without distractions for his clients.

• Christians are encouraged to find a place to talk to God that limits distractions.

1. Freud believed in free-association, or speaking what is on one’s mind without limits or coaching.

• Christians are called to pray about exaltation, needs, and worries; and always from the heart (Luke 11:1, Matt. 11:28-30, Psalm 68:19)

1. Freud would situate himself behind, or at least out of visual range, of his clients as they participated in free-association. Once he gathered sufficient information he would interject with a professional dictation on the root of the problem and how to solve it.

• Christians at times relate to God as this type of “professional.” Christians believe that if they talk to God enough he will eventually intervene and solve their problem.

Albeit these correlations are loose. Though, it appears that despite Freud being a devout atheist he never completely shed his Jewish upbringing. Rather than believing that God could interact in his life in a meaningful way, he (like many of us) attempted to personally assume a minor reflection of God.

God is much more than a deity who resides in a lofty place waiting for us to make a mistake, achieve some great victory, or pass away and face his judgment. God is present in those of us who commit our lives to him and take on his mission as our own. We are promised a Counselor, the Holy Spirit, who lives within each of us (John 14:16 & 26).

What Freud never understood was Isaiah 40:13, “Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor?”

Stay faithful to the one who is over all, through all, and in all.

Both my parents were career individuals, and the holiday season seemed to be a definite break in their daily schedule. They stopped talking about the daily tasks at work, and focused on family matters. It was unique to see them sleep in, talk around the table with my grandparents, and take long breaks to walk around my grandparent’s property or watch a special T.V. program with us kids.

Of course gifts were special during this time of year. And opening presents took place on Christmas Eve, as was grandparent’s tradition, and the Christmas holiday would culminate to a time when we went to church to focus on the true reason of celebration.

This November our students accepted a 27-day challenge, in which they attempted to read the entire New Testament. Within this challenge they encountered the story of Zaccheaus. Zaccheaus was short man, so he climbed into a tree to see Jesus when he was passing by. Not only did he catch a glimpse, but Jesus called to him and said:

“Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” – Luke 19:5-10

This story reminds me about something special about our relationship with Jesus during this time of year. Zaccheaus, a man of high standing, disregarded his reputation and personal image and was so eager to encounter Jesus, that he climbed a tree. Luckily we don’t have to climb up a tree to see Jesus. We invite him into our homes as we gather around the Christmas tree with family and friends, and experience God’s love through others.

Zaccheaus reminds us of the importance of blessing others. He became like a child and willingly sacrificed his wealth to please the Son of God. Today the poor are still in our communities. We see an increase in financial giving during this time of year, but even a thoughtful act of kindness is the love of God shown to others. Through sacrifice Jesus continues to declare, “Today salvation has come to this house.” Our students made this type of sacrifice as they blessed our area widows through caroling, and continued to talk about that great experience through the end of finals

Whether through time with your churches, families, and friends I encourage you to find ways to bless your communities this holiday season.

Maybe its simplicity spoke to me as a child. It was a song that I could remember the words and sing along.

But now when I sing, I consider the words, and maybe this simple song carries a heavy weight.

This weekend my wife and I agonized over an offer to serve in as college ministry interns. Recently we had prayed for many things, with ‘serving others’ being paramount in our minds, and we get a call to interview for this newly opened position.

At 29 years-old internships are not really what I am interested in career-wise. At 29, taking a voluntary pay cut seems counter productive. At 29, trying to blend evening events with incoming freshmen with my first semester of graduate school seems, well, exhausting.

But then there is Deut. 8:2:

“Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.”

I can relate to being led in through a metaphorical desert. It has been an arid time for me as I have sought to serve God over these past few years.

So, my wife and I thought about the opportunity. As I was building up my esteem to accept this position and ‘make a difference’, the college minister says to me, “lets serve these students this fall through humility.” I honestly don’t remember what he said after this, because I froze.

Maybe it was fear. Maybe it was uncertainty. Maybe he was just talking too much (just kidding).

But it was one of those cut-to-the-core moments. I realized that ever since I started with my undergraduate degree I was learning how to be a ‘good minister’. However, in every attempt I failed.

When I broke away from the ministry spectrum I found success. I was able to utilize my hardheadedness and push through tasks to complete whatever challenge that was before me. I was being what the world trained me to be.

The world praises accomplishments and independence. God does not. The world praises titles and power. God does not. The world praises higher incomes. God does not.

Matt 22:36-40:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

So the decision was made, uncomfortably made, that our family must follow as God leads us into a new unknown. We must trust in him and seek to keep His commands. We must know that loving others and loving God, leaves no room to serve ourselves. Maybe this is the true calling of my Christian walk. To sacrifice my desires as Jesus sacrificed his own.

No longer do we consider this world’s wonders with an admiration or fear of God. Now we wait for the next great scientist to explain away the miraculous beauty, strange species, or unexplainable event.

However, if you read the Bible it is filled with miracles in which Jesus’ followers stood in awe at. To name a few: the healing of physical ailments (eyes, hand, and body), the casting out of demons, the calming of the storm, walking on water, and feeding of thousands.

These were signs, sensational acts, which no one back then could explain and credited God with the phenomenon. Today these stories have been tainted by cheap parlor tricks, which undoubtedly entertain crowds but we know are nothing more than illusion. We rely on highly educated and dedicated doctors to fix our illnesses, and the only credit given to God is that the Doctors have the intelligence to learn their needed trade. It seems impressive when Food Banks and Homeless shelters seemingly operate on shoe-string budgets, doing more good in one month than most churches do in a year.

In all this we lost that Passion. That zeal that Christ exhibited when he committed himself to a dessert pilgrimage, followed by an unwavering commitment to doing God’s will every day.

Maybe it is like Jesus’ mustard seed parable – “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matt. 17:20).

If we have faith, real faith in Christ, then our faith will turn to action, action to passion, and passion into great feats that only God can explain.

But one thing has been made clear; space and time are infinite, and I am a person of small mind, understanding, and time.

At the polar opposite is God. Infinite time and space, is not match for a God that created it.

I think that I constantly delude myself in thinking that I am special. It is selfish and self-centered to believe this, however I have lived with this belief my whole life.

In actuality, I am more than likely a person of mediocrity. I am of average height, average intelligence and average accomplishment. Nothing has given me warrant to believe that this will ever change except for my over inflated ego.

While this is depressing to admit, it is an admission that must be made nonetheless. According to Romans 9, some are raised up for God’s greater purposes and others for common purpose.

What I am convicted about is how I must accept my mediocrity and find contentment in that. This is not an easy plight, but one that I must achieve in due time.

This proclamation makes many friends and family cringe. They don’t understand how I cannot enjoy the day that Christ was born. But I see little attraction to this day, or others, marked on a calendar. I think that it’s great that others enjoy observing them and I will probably start when I have kids, as it creates a memorable way to teach them, but for now they serve no real purpose in my mind. So I will continue wandering around the house, muttering things that are best summarized by, “Bah Humbug.”

However, this past Sunday I was reminded of a very interesting fact; the definition of Ebenezer.

“The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Car. Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far has the LORD helped us.””- 1 Samuel 7:11-13

An Ebenezer is marker, or reminder, that God has helped us to a particular point. This concept of “Ebenezer” is a better definition of what the holidays should be.

With Thanksgiving upon us, the importance of being thankful has been especially laudable in recent years, as everyone has been forced to make tough financial decisions (some more than others). Though universally what we should be thankful for is that we have survived another year and that God has provided our basic necessities.

Holidays serve as easy reminders of time passing and of times of reflection. Christmas, New Years, Good Friday, Easter, and Fourth of July are some times that should make us stop and pray a prayer of thanks for our blessings and make these times more than just holidays, make them Ebenezers of our lives.

Each day I struggle with the concept of “Yourself” or “Myself”, and I know that many others do as well.

However, for Christians this is something that universally does not concern us. This is especially true of those who have overcome, or abstain, from obvious sins (drinking, swearing, smoking, adultery, etc.). What this leaves our culture with is a self-elevation of “Myself”.

In the Old Testament there are common references to “Yourself”, as all commands are given down this way.

Example: “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” – Exodus 20:4

In contrast the New Testament Gospels seem to be seemingly void of this type of “Yourself” commandment. In fact, in Matthew there is just one, can you guess it?

That’s correct, “Love your neighbor as yourself” – Matthew 22:39.

It is obvious that while the Old Testament is good and useful, there was a shift with Jesus’ teachings. He reframed the “Yourself” concept to be about others.

I am not sure that our culture has yet to understand this type of thinking, just as Jesus’ disciples struggled to understand two centuries ago.

But this is a struggle that is worth a lifetime.

As I grew up in the Church, I knew that there was this expectation to attend, be involved, contribute, and be a part of the overall health of the organization. I did not come to know this necessarily by example, but by teaching and implied expectations.

As I got older and had various run-ins with the Churches I was either involved in or worked for, and I began to have times when I drifted away from corporate worship. Now do not translate this as drifting away from God, as what my wife believes, but rather I drifted away from the people that I wanted to trust and feel safe around. Unfortunately, these unsafe-people were the ones (mostly collectively, sometimes individually) who let their church implied ethical desires over-rule their Christ-like desires within the church.

Implied ethic; for some, internal defenses just reached Defcon 1, while others know exactly what I am talking about. In every church, or every religious tradition for that matter, there are implied acceptable and unacceptable ways of acting, dressing, or conducting oneself. In general some examples of do not’s are: do not smoke, do not get drunk, do not cuss, do not commit adultery, and do not be caught in blatant sin. Some general do’s are: do shower, do look moderately presentable, do observe and preserve your church’s traditions, do provide for your family, do provide for the church, and do respect your religious leaders. In addition to these some particular’s of my religion are: do not use instruments in worship, do not question the validity of the Bible, do limit women’s roles in the church, and it is ok to look down on others if you are doing it in outwardly loving way.

While there are many conversations that can stem from my above slightly accusational list, what I want to concentrate on is the last one.

A few years ago I worked for a church and I was constantly frustrated how people would begin coming to our church and then slowly drift away to attend another church nearby. From this I would blame our programming, the worship, the sermon, the lack of community outreach, or the church leadership (including myself). To say the least I was miserable. However, after being detached from that situation for some time now I am beginning to understand that many of those within that church had come from a long line of leaders and teachers that loved only those similar to them-selves. So it was not that the church was not providing enough, it was their inability to love outsiders.

Churches are a dime a dozen in today’s society. I used to think this created a need for marketing, a good developed sales pitch, and relentless advertising until a church became the only one people thought of. This is the way of the world; promote, promote, promote. But it is not the way of Christ.

Christ did not promote himself. He did not put up billboards, pass out fliers, or advertise a free BBQ with child-care. Rather he loved people. Openly and honestly, he loved people. He served them by attending to the sick, teaching them about a better life, and being an example to his disciples.

Mark 6: 34-37

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”

The Church I currently attend has this wonderfully subservient ministry where they help people financially. I think that this is a great need based ministry as a largely lower-income area surrounds our Church. About a year ago our church saw this ministry growing beyond the capacity of one full-time minister and rather than hiring another, they asked church members to get involved. So now as classes takes place on Sunday mornings, a particular group meets and attempts to provide for the physical needs of our neighbors.

My wife tried to get me involved in this ministry, but something deep inside me resisted. It was only this evening that it dawned on me why.

When we read about Christ serving others, we read about it coming from himself and his abilities; though today we allow the Church to do this dirty work. We sit in our pews and put money in a collection plate (or use bill pay in my case), and entrust the church to divvy out what we tithe to God. So I have a suggestion, why don’t we do it OURSELVES?

Yes, we should contribute enough to have a place to worship and even pay for our full-time ministry staff (they really do have a tough job), but how much more personal, how much more loving, would it be for us to write a check to help keep someone else’s lights on? We are told to attend to one another’s needs. By pulling out that cash or using that personal check, our bank accounts take a hit and it finally becomes personal to us.

This personal connection is what our churches need today. It is what American culture is missing as we do not have a real understanding of community. We do not share and we do not serve unless it is in an appointed time and place. So what if, just what if, we began doing that sacrificially everyday?

Would the Church look different?

I think so.

Would people’s needs be met?

I think so.

Would we have the ability to connect with others?

I think so.

Would Christ-like love be displayed?

I think so.

With something so simple we could change the tradition of the Church and its ability to love.

I can sympathize with those that can’t comprehend that which they cannot touch. I also can understand those that struggle to believe because they have experienced “God” from people who have alternate, or unholy motives. I however cannot understand/sympathize with those that have replaced God with science and math. To me this seems unfathomable.

It is obvious from science and math courses that much of the universe can be understood through a reverse-engineering process (we try to understand what already exists). However, even to this day there are limitations of this. We may understand how things grow, are molecularly created, and we can even use technology to mimic or ‘improve’ the process. Though we (humans) are not the original creators.

The common thought on the origins of the world is the “big bang” theory. Essentially, “the Big Bang is the cosmological model of the initial conditions and subsequent development of the universe that is supported by the most comprehensive and accurate explanations from current scientific evidence and observation. As used by cosmologists, the term Big Bang generally refers to the idea that the universe has expanded from a primordial hot and dense initial condition at some finite time in the past (currently estimated to have been approximately 13.7 billion years ago), and continues to expand to this day” (Wikipedia). For me this is beyond my ability to understand or believe; so my only question is, where did the “primordial hot and dense initial condition” come from?

Maybe it is my simplistic nature, but the fusing of molecules, perfect temperate conditions, and the fact that atoms are held together by some mysterious force, all lead me to believe in a Creator.

The universe that we live in appears to be created and designed by something greater than ourselves. A higher power that, because we were Created, we have no real concept of. Thus the simplistic explanation provided through Biblical texts.

1 john 4:1-6

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
Undoubtedly, the writer is speaking of those teaching about false religions, but what about the “Spirit of truth” in today’s times? Would that not be a teaching of science and math?

The faith of today is in fact a faith of self-exaltation. We as humans have raised ourselves up to be all-knowing gods. So the command to challenge these teachings are ours. While most of us cannot, nor should we vainly attempt, to disprove the scientist’s beliefs/findings; what we must do is test them for ourselves. Does a chance existence make sense in opposition to a created universe?

To each and everyone, this is the first and most important question before true belief/faith in God can exist.

—–

As a kid this Voice played out the many voices of the different action figures that I played with. It had a different Voice for each one, voices that I could not mimic in real life. The action figures would go heroic adventures, winning by amazing feats. These voices not only served as dialog between the heroes, but also personified the personalities each of the characters. The more heroic ones had deeper voices, while the less heroic had timid higher voices. But in time the action figures were replaced with water guns and swimming pools; football and wrestling; girls and parties.

—-

The Voice never left me though; it just changed as I did. It is constantly there. It is more or less that inner-Voice that I imagine everyone has. Maybe it is my conscious. But I have always equated my conscious to a moral compass. If that is true, then these are two completely different things. The Voice is more of a sketch board. Before I say anything, write anything, the Voice is there to edit.

—-

I grew up as the son of a school teacher and an artist. Normal for me is not “normal” for everyone else. As the child of a school teacher you are expected to accomplish all school related assignments with proficiency and accuracy. However, as the child of an artist, creativity is expected to exude as well. So the dilemma began, do I accomplish assignments to the teachers expectations (as all “good” students do) or do I accomplish them my way, using some creative expression that will more than likely be misunderstood, at best. Maybe this is where the Voice has proved the most helpful and the most worthless. The Voice edits my thoughts into socially acceptable forms of communication, thus allowing me to complete school/work with ease, yet making creativity completely unnatural.

—-

The lack of creativity in my inner-Voice is irritating at times. I think that everyone should be creative in their own way. It is what makes us unique. Someone could be creative in the normal ways; play an instrument, write a novel, sing a song, paint a picture, draw a portrait, etc. Or there are those that claim no creativeness, but typically talk in a unique way, build something new and useful, have a peculiar way of thinking, etc. My inner-Voice needs to start making contributions. I wish I could rely on it to do more than just edit what comes from brain, but maybe this editing is needed as well. I know that in many circumstances if I would have said what I was thinking, I would be living with a great deal of regret.

—-

I have constantly worked with people that I do not care for, I imagine everyone has. These people are not necessarily rude, but many times they are; they are not always mean, but they could use an inner-Voice like mine. Regardless, for whatever reason I do not see eye-to-eye with them. These are people that at work, social events, or even church, who I find myself avoiding (a here they come, there I go, type of thing). With these people, there always comes that one encounter where I am faced with the option to speak my mind or bite my tongue.

Once there was this man who had two sided face. Out of one side he would say how he liked me and thought I was a good person. But out of the other came venomous attacks on how I did things. To this my Voice edited down my comments to where there were no snide remarks, but it left me feeling weak.

—-

I hate that my inner-Voice makes me feel weak. I believe that I should always strive to be a better individual. But this voice seems to rob me of this at times. A good example is my difficulty with public-speaking. As I constantly have this Voice editing what I say, it is hard to monologue. I am constantly listening to what is happening in my head. A one-on-one conversation is easier, as there are natural breaks to listen to the Voice. But not in public speaking; well at least not for me.

—-

I have held various jobs where public speaking is a requirement. When it came time to perform this particular aspect of my job, I was struck with anxiety attacks. Typically an anxiety attack causes sweating, exhaustion, head-aches, heart-racing, soreness, and many other minor things. These are less severe than they sound, but they always make me feel ill. Maybe it’s just fear, but I think that my trouble stems from the stupid Voice in my head. I get started just fine, talking away, and then my mind goes blank. It is like my inner-Voice is upset that it has no input, so it just blocks all cognitive process. I begin to stumble over my words, my body starts to slightly convulse, which causes me to want to just close my mouth and walk off stage. While this is what happens without fail; I do somehow get through whatever it is that I am suppose to deliver, but the delivery lacks any grace.

—-

I bet Jesus did not have an annoying inner-Voice. He seemed to always be gracious towards everyone. He never held back or acted weak, yet always spoke courageously. He seemed to have an innate ability to speak publicly, as people constantly commented how he taught with authority. Through the stories he told and the way he communicated, it would be hard to not call him creative. I bet that Jesus did not have the inner-Voice that I do.

But for better or worse it’s stuck with me, and I am forever stuck with it.