Author: Jole Miller

Words from a Wooden Beam

Posted on by Jole Miller

The four gospels record seven phrases that Jesus said from the cross. Crucifixion leads to death by suffocation, so any word spoken by Jesus must have been delivered with great difficulty. Given how hard it would have been to speak, Jesus was likely very intentional about the words he chose. We would be wise to pay attention to these words. I will list the phrases Jesus said and share why they are significant for us today.

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

Jesus commanded his followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44). Jesus practiced what he preached. We see the incredible love of Christ in that he is more concerned for the souls of those torturing him than he is about nails going through his hands and feet. Jesus isn’t crying out for justice against or salvation from his adversaries, instead he asks that they would be forgiven.

Key Point: Jesus’ love and forgiveness are greater than we can imagine. Christ died to save sinners, including those who committed the sin of nailing an innocent man to a cross. Your sin is not too big for Jesus to forgive.

“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

As Jesus was hanging from the cross, the crowd, soldiers, and the other criminals began to mock him. One criminal insulted him by saying, “If you are the Messiah, save yourself and us!” But the other criminal recognized that Jesus was innocent while he was receiving a just punishment for his wicked actions. He told Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42).

The men who were crucified alongside Jesus were likely revolutionaries and murderers. Jesus declared that this murderer is welcomed into heaven, not because of anything he did, but because his heart was repentant and there was a genuine love for Jesus in that moment.

Key Point: There is life after death, and as long as someone is living there is hope of turning to Jesus. No one is too far gone.

“Woman, here is your son. Here is your mother.” (John 19:26-27)

Jesus looked down from the cross to see his mother and the disciple whom he loved (John). I can only imagine the look of sorrow Mary must have had on her face. Having to see her beloved son beaten, tortured, and now bloody and bruised struggling for every last breath. Then you make eye contact and hear him speak, “Here is your son.” And to John he said, “Here is your mother.” Jesus wanted his mom to know that she would be taken care of and that she wouldn’t be alone. He tasked John with supporting his widowed mother and told Mary to love and care for John as she once did for him.

Key Point: The Christian family is deeper than blood. People receive a new identity when they come to Jesus. Our spiritual DNA is forever altered, connecting us to believers from all over the world. To be a spiritual parent, spiritual child, or spiritual sibling carries with similar joys and challenges as physical relationships.

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)

In this verse Jesus quoted Psalm 31:5. If you read the rest of the Psalm, you will see David declaring that God is his refuge and shelter and asking God to deliver him from his enemies. David cried out:

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;
    my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
    my soul and body with grief.
My life is consumed by anguish
    and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,
    and my bones grow weak.
Because of all my enemies,
    I am the utter contempt of my neighbors
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
    those who see me on the street flee from me.
 I am forgotten as though I were dead;
    I have become like broken pottery.
 For I hear many whispering,
    “Terror on every side!”
They conspire against me
    and plot to take my life.

But I trust in you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”

I imagine Jesus resonated deeply with these words. Perhaps he would have said them out loud if he had strength to do so.

Key Point: Jesus turned to God in prayer when he was at his lowest, we should do the same.

“My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34 & Matthew 27:46)

Jesus quoted the opening line of Psalm 22. The rest of the psalm describes a man surrounded by enemies (v .12), mocked about God saving him (vv. 7-8), having a dry mouth (v. 15), having pierced hands and feet (v. 16), and people casting lots for his clothes (v. 18). Jesus experienced all of these things too, so it makes sense that he would cry out this psalm.

This verse is also significant from a theological perspective. The price of sin is separation from God. Although Jesus never sinned, he paid the price of our sin and felt the rejection and disapproval of the Father. For this reason, when we believe in Christ, there is no chance of God rejecting us.

Tim Keller wrote, “There is no greater inner agony than the loss of a love relationship. We cannot imagine, however, what it would be like to lose not just a human relationship that has lasted for some years but the infinite love of the Father that Jesus had known from all eternity. The separation would have been unbearable.” 1

Key Point: Jesus was forsaken by the Father so that we could be accepted by the Father. Because Jesus was forsaken, we can receive this promise, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

“I am thirsty.” (John 19:28)

On the surface this looks pretty straightforward. Jesus is in agony with the hot sun beating down on him. It would make sense that he would feel thirsty.

However, Jesus also taught that those who come to him in faith would never be thirsty, but would experience water springing up for eternal life (John 4:14, 6:35, 7:37-38). Jesus was cut off from the streams of eternal life. His thirst was both physical and spiritual.

Key Point: Jesus experienced spiritual thirst so that thirsty sinners might believe, receive forgiveness, and find satisfaction in him.

“It is finished.” (John 19:30)

There are perhaps no sweeter words in the bible. Jesus completed everything his Father called him to do. He lived a perfect life, fulfilling the law. He trained a leadership team to take his place. He healed the sick, cast out demons, and raised the dead. He suffered and wept, and now realizing that he had accomplished God’s purpose for his life, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

By dying on the cross, Jesus absorbed all the wrath of God that we deserve. He drank every drop from that terrible cup. For those who have come to Jesus in faith, there is no wrath left for us.

Key Point: Jesus finished the work of making sinners right with God. Jesus paid it all, there is nothing we can contribute to pay off our debt. Sure, we all still have work to do, but the main battle has already been won. It is finished!

  1. Keller, Timothy. 2015. Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering p.120 ↩︎

The Case Against “Should”

Posted on by Jole Miller

“Should” is a weird word. We all use it multiple times a day, yet I struggle to define it. According to dictionary.com, “should” is an auxiliary verb meaning “must; ought (used to indicate duty, propriety, or expediency).” It can also be used to express an expectation: “They should be here soon,” or express a correction: “That semicolon should be a comma.”

Outside of giving or asking for advice, I think “should” should be avoided. The way we use that word today is often not helpful, and different vocabulary would serve us better. Here are some problems with “should.” It is non-commital, not actionable, isn’t honest, and it produces a vague feeling of guilt. Let’s explore these more deeply.

It is Non-Commital

How often have acquaintances said, “We should hang out sometime,” and then never hang out? By saying “we should hang out” you get the feeling that you are a caring and friendly person without having to put in any effort to follow through. Imagine a man says to his date, “We should get married.” Ladies, would you consider that a satisfying proposal? I think not.

Instead of saying “should” you could say, “I want to hang out with you, is there a good time when we could get together?” This phrasing takes for granted that the other person would want to get together with you. If you are less sure of the relationship you could ask, “Do you want to hang out?” This is more vulnerable and allows for the possibility of being rejected, but it is more likely to result in hanging out with a friend.

It is not an Action Verb

I often hear people say, “I should do X more.” It could be praying, calling loved ones, going to the gym, etc. However, just because you know that something would be good for you doesn’t mean that you will do it.

What would happen if you substituted “should” with “I need to . . .” “I want to . . .” “I will . . .” or “I get to . . .”?

“Need” indicates necessity. If you aren’t doing what you say you need, is it really necessary to you? “Want” indicates desire. Why wouldn’t you do what you want? “Will” indicates a commitment to action. It is still possible for people to break their commitments, but making a verbal commitment makes it more likely that you will follow through. “Get to” reframes your thinking from an obligation to an opportunity. “I get to pray,” sounds more positive than “I should pray.”

It is not Honest

Often when people say things like, “I should go to the gym,” what they are really saying is, “I know going to the gym would be good for me, but I really don’t want to go.” There is an internal conflict between wanting to be more fit and staying cozy. We all have conflicting desires. There is a battle between the flesh and the Spirit, and between what I want now and what will be better for me in the future. By naming the lesser desire its power over you weakens.

Consider the phrase, “I should pray more.” What is the unspoken “but” at the end of the sentence? “I should pray more, but I don’t know how, I don’t have time, I don’t believe it will do anything for me, etc.” By naming the hesitation you can then make a plan to move forward.

It Produces a Vague Feeling of Guilt or Regret

One of the ways “should” is helpful is in learning from mistakes. For example, “I should have made a reservation instead of just showing up at the restaurant.” It can express regret in such a way that you can make a better decision in the future.

However, it is unhelpful when disconnected from a specific action. Phrases like, “I should be doing more,” “I should be farther along than I am,” or “I should be more like that person,” make us feel a vague sense of guilt and shame. I believe it is better to feel a specific feeling of guilt. For example, if you said, “I need to complete these three tasks this week,” and you didn’t do them, you can feel guilty specifically about not doing what you needed. This is more productive than a vague feeling of not doing enough.

A counselor named Chip Dodd calls “should” the language of toxic shame. He says S.H.A.M.E. stands for “Should Have Already Mastered Everything.” We become contemptuous of our shortcomings and our neediness. We can’t accept ourselves for who we are, so we declare what we should be instead.

Whenever you catch yourself saying, “I should . . .” ask yourself “Why?”. Why should you be stronger? Why should you look for a new job? Why should you be farther along? When we ask these questions we get to the heart of our desire. We see what is, what can be, and then decide a next step to get to where you want to go.

Remove “should” from your vocabulary and change your life.

Chariots of Fire: Why Do You Run?

Posted on by Jole Miller

Last week I discussed how people are either driven by love or fear. According to John Lennon, “There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love.” Today, I wanted to show how these motives are lived out. I will examine Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell from the movie Chariots of Fire.

Harold Abrahams

There are three conversations that shows the heart and mindset of Harold Abrahams. The first comes while he is at dinner with Sybil Gordon:

Sybil Gordon: Do you love running?

Harold M. Abrahams: I’m more of an addict. It’s a compulsion, a weapon.

Sybil Gordon: Against what?

Harold M. Abrahams: Being Jewish, I suppose.

Sybil Gordon: [laughs incredulously]  You’re not serious!

Harold M. Abrahams: You’re not Jewish, or you wouldn’t have had to ask.

Harold was always an outsider because he was a Jew in a Protestant world. No matter what he did he never quite fit in and was never fully accepted. If he couldn’t be accepted just for being himself, he had to earn his place in society by being the best runner.

The next scene shows Harold after he lost a race to Eric Liddell. A distraught Abrahams was lamenting to Sybil, to which she said:

Sybil Gordon: If you can’t take a beating, perhaps it’s for the best.

Harold M. Abrahams: I don’t run to take beatings. I run to win. If I can’t win, I won’t run!

Sybil Gordon: If you don’t run, you can’t win.

Being the best was his sole motivation. He had no joy in competing, only in winning. Coming in second was almost enough for him to give up running altogether.

In the final scene, Abrahams is getting ready to run in the 100 meter dash final at the Olympics. He is speaking to his best friend (Aubrey), sharing his fears and doubts about the race.

Harold M. Abrahams: You, Aubrey, are my most complete man. You’re brave, compassionate, kind: a content man. That is your secret – contentment; I am 24 and I’ve never known it. I’m forever in pursuit, and I don’t even know what I am chasing . . . And now, in one hour’s time, I will be out there again. I will raise my eyes and look down that corridor – 4 feet wide, with 10 lonely seconds to justify my whole existence. But will I? Aubrey, I’ve known the fear of losing – but now I am almost too frightened to win.

Never feeling contentment, constantly striving, feeling that his entire worth depends on winning this race. It is heartbreaking to hear Harold share the burden he feels. If you are reading this, you likely aren’t preparing to win an Olympic gold medal. But are there other ways that you are trying to justify your existence? Is it through a relationship? a job? an accomplishment?

Eric Liddell

Eric Liddell also represented Britain in the Olympic Games. The challenges that he faced seem to be more external than internal. The first opposition to his running came from his sister. She believed that running track was a waste of time and that Eric should go back to China to serve as a missionary. He tells his sister:

Eric Liddell: I believe that God made me for a purpose, for China. But he also made me fast. And when I run I feel his pleasure. To give it up would be to hold him in contempt.

Eric was secure in who God made him to be. For Harold Abrahams, running was a weapon, a means of earning acceptance from a society who saw him as an outsider. For Eric Liddell, running was a form of worship. He knew that he was loved and accepted by God, so he didn’t have to run to justify his existence. “When I run I feel his pleasure.” He felt freedom to use the gifts that God gave him to the best of his abilities.

Eric was so secure in his identity in Christ that he refused to run a race on the Sabbath. He had a strong conviction to keep the Lord’s day holy, and for him that meant that he would give up a chance at winning an Olympic gold medal in order to follow God. In doing so, he upset a lot of people and was accused of not loving his country. Because he knew that he was loved and accepted by God, he didn’t need the approval of people.

Love or Fear?

When you consider your life, do you feel more like Harold Abrahams or Eric Liddell? Do you work hard in order to earn love or do you work hard because you are loved?

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1). When I see Harold Abrahams I don’t see a man who is free. I see a man who is scared, burdened, and angry. When I see Eric Liddell, I see passion, courage, peace, and joy. He knows who he is and what his purpose is.

God offers you this same freedom. Jesus died on the cross for all the wrong things you have done, thought, or said. If you have faith in Jesus you can be accepted into God’s family forever. You can’t earn this love and acceptance, rather Jesus earned it on your behalf. In Christ, we can live, work, and love freely and lightly.

Pastor Tim Keller wrote, “If our identity is in our work, rather than in Christ, success will go to our heads, and failure will go to our hearts.” If we are defined by what we do, we will boast when things go well and wallow in self-hatred or live in denial when things go poorly. We were made for more.

Love or Fear

Posted on by Jole Miller

I came across a quote by John Lennon that said, “There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love.” I don’t fully agree with his conclusion, but I still think that this observation is profound. Consider, why do people work hard at their job? Some work hard because they love what they do and are loving others by what they create. Others work hard out of fear of failure, fear of disappointing their boss, or out of fear of not having enough.

I think it is useful to simplify what we do in life into two motivations. A reflection question I’ve been asking myself is, “Is love driving me right now or is fear?” If I can’t honestly say “love,” then I know I need to adjust my course. To move from fear to love takes courage. Courage is not fearlessness, rather it is taking loving action even when you feel afraid.

Lennon’s quote seems in line with the bible. First John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” This verse suggests that love and fear are incompatible, but what does John mean what he says fear? “Fear has to do with punishment . . .” The fear that John is talking about is fear of standing before God’s judgement. He says in v. 17 that if we live in love as Jesus did, we will have confidence in the day of judgement. When we do good for others out of fear that God will punish us, we make our good deeds about ourselves and not the other person.

My critique of Lennon’s quote is that there are things in life such as hunger, thirst, or sexual lust don’t fit into the love/fear binary. I don’t think the root of hunger has to be a love for living or a fear of starving. Hunger can just be hunger. Also, I don’t think fear and love are always mutually exclusive, but first let me define my terms.

Love, Fear, Desire

Fear is an emotional and physical response to perceived danger or threat (real or imagined). Everybody feels fear, the question is, will fear keep you from living the life God has for you?

I define love as desiring the good of another. Love is often accompanied by feelings of joy and delight, but also opens the door to heartbreak. We can choose love even when we don’t feel like it.

We feel desire whenever we want or feel like we are lacking. It is the force that drives us to act. We can think of desire as the drive to meet your internal wants and needs. Desire is neither inherently good nor bad. Factors such as the magnitude of the desire, the object of the desire, and the means by which you fulfill the desire will determine whether it is right or wrong. We also have competing desires within us. For example, the desire to get fit and the desire to stay on the couch.

In his book You Are What You Love, James Smith explains how desire (eros) with love (agape) are connected yet distinct. “In its truest sense, eros signals a desire and attraction that is a good feature of our creaturehood. Instead of setting up a false dichotomy between agape and eros, we could think of agape as rightly ordered eros: the love of Christ this is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit is a redeemed, rightly ordered desire for God. You are what you desire.” Aligning our desires to God’s will is the lifelong work of following Jesus.

There may be some situations in which love, fear, and desire are all present. A man might be attracted to a woman (desire). Maybe he also realizes that being with him will help her to flourish and become more who God created her to be (love). But, at the same time, he his terrified that she will reject him (fear). Below is a graphic that shows how love, fear, and desire can overlap.

Imagine a hungry hunter who is stalking a bear. He is motived by his desire to kill the bear and harvest it’s meat for food, but he should also be keenly aware that the bear could easily maul him to death (fear). His best course of action will be to proceed with caution. Now imagine that the same hunter has his ten year old son with him. When they come across the bear the father will put himself between his son and the bear to protect him. After he kills the bear, they have a feast and rejoice together in the spoils of their labor. Out of love for his family and his desire to eat, the hunter faced his fear.

I think everyone should work to answer: “What do I want? Who do I love? and What am I afraid of?” We so often go through life without seriously considering why we do what we do. Examining which motivations drive us is a great starting place to living a meaningful and intentional life.

“There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create. Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life.”

John Lennon

Putting God to the Test

Posted on by Jole Miller

The author of Hebrews defines faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance for what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). You don’t need faith for what you already see, that is just sight. Faith is trusting in God even when things don’t look right or when we can’t see what the outcome will be.

Another definition of faith I have been pondering is “putting God to the test.” This might sound strange if you are more familiar with the bible. When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness one of the ways he responded was by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test” (Matthew 4:7). If Jesus explicitly tells us not to put God to the test, why would I argue that putting God to the test is actually an expression of faith?

I will start by showing how it is wrong to put God to the test, then show how it is right to put God to the test, and conclude with some ways you could apply this to your life.

When Testing God is Wrong

For the second temptation of Christ, Satan took Jesus to the highest point in the temple in Jerusalem and said, “If you are the Son of God throw yourself down. For it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone'” (Matthew 4:5-6).

This is where Jesus responded, “It is also written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'”

Why would this have been wrong for Jesus to jump? Didn’t he trust that God would protect him until his time was at hand? I think there are a couple reasons why jumping would have been wrong.

First, God the Father already proclaimed the identity of “beloved son” over Jesus (Matthew 3:17). Satan was trying to make Jesus prove his sonship rather than trusting the Father’s words. If you take God at his word, you won’t need to push the boundaries. This is similar to Satan’s temptation of Adam and Eve, “Did God really say . . .?” (Genesis 3:1). Adam and Eve tested whether or not they would die after eating the forbidden fruit.

Imagine you went to a wedding where the wife told the husband that she would love him and stick by him no matter what. Then the husband wanted to see if she really meant it. Will she stay if I stop helping around the house? Will she stay if I cheat on her? Will she stay if I become abusive? This is not how you treat someone you love. It is one thing for the husband to be honest about his shortcomings and quite another thing to intentionally push the boundaries of what his wife can endure.

Second, Satan is trying to get Jesus to go beyond what the Father called him to do. Jesus did not frequent the big cities. He did most of his ministry in small towns, attracting crowds of poor and desperate people. He often did things to avoid the praise of people. He said that he only came to earth to do the will of his Father. God never called Jesus to make himself a spectacle. Rather, God called Jesus to serve, bring restoration and healing, and ultimately die on the cross for the sins of humanity. Jesus knew that Satan’s temptation was beyond what God called him to do.

An example from my life where I foolishly put God to the test was my senior year of high school. I was new to my faith and didn’t have much guidance, so I attempted to do both football and cross country in the same season. I reasoned that it shouldn’t be possible for anyone to do both sports, so if I succeeded I would have used that as evidence for God’s strength and power.

Unsurprisingly, this experiment failed after a couple weeks. My body could not handle the strain because it was never meant to. In hindsight I should have realized that God made me to play football and invested my energy into doing the best I could on the field and loving my teammates and coaches. I didn’t test God by thinking, “God isn’t real unless he empowers me to do both sports.” But I did think that God needed my help to let others see his greatness (which he didn’t). I didn’t trust that God would work through my simple obedience. I believe I would have had a bigger impact if I was more intentional with those who were already in my sphere of influence, rather than trying to have God turn me into Superman.

Testing God is wrong when it takes the place of trusting God. Testing God is right when it is a means of trusting God.

When Testing God is Right

About 25% of the book of Genesis is devoted to Abraham. God called Abraham to leave his family and town and go to the land that God would show him. Abraham had many inspiring examples of faith, and some significant moral failures. After 25 years of waiting, God miraculously gave Abraham a son, through whom the whole world would be blessed.

However, Genesis 22 states, “Some time later God tested Abraham.” He told him, “Take your son, your only son, who you love — Isaac– and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

And Abraham obeyed.

He and Isaac climbed the mountain, Isaac carrying the wood and Abraham carrying the knife and fire. After building an altar, Abraham tied up his beloved son and raised the knife to slay his child . . .

The text states that God tested Abraham, but I think Abraham was also testing God.

God clearly promised that the covenant would be established through Isaac as an everlasting covenant for his descendents after him (Genesis 17:19). Abraham is holding two things in tension. On the one hand, Isaac is the one through whom the blessing of the whole world was to come. On the other hand, God commanded Abraham to kill his son. There were only four options for this tension to be resolved:

  1. Abraham refuses to obey God.
  2. God lets Isaac die, thus showing that he does not keep his promises (thus not worthy of our worship).
  3. Abraham goes through with killing Isaac, then God raises him from the dead.
  4. God prevents Abraham from killing his son and provides a substitute (which is what happened).

Abraham was testing God to stay true to his promise even if it meant doing the impossible (raising the dead). Abraham was obedient to the point of giving up what he loved most because he believed that God was trustworthy.

Notice, the only reason Abraham went through with the sacrifice was because God commanded him. He did not attempt to sacrifice his son to see if God would stop it. That would have been putting God to the test in the negative way we discussed above.

To summarize, testing God is wrong when it takes the place of trusting God. But, testing God is right when it is a means of trusting God. Below are some examples of how this type of faith can be lived out today.

Positive Examples of Putting God to the Test

  • Giving generously, trusting that God will provide you with everything you need (Mat 6:25-34).
  • Sharing the gospel with a hardened atheist, trusting that God has the power to change any heart (1 Tim 1:15).
  • Persevering when things seem unbearable because God promised to work things out for good for those who love him (Rom 8:28).
  • Forgiving someone rather than seeking revenge because you trust in God’s divine justice (Rom 12:19).
  • Sharing a hard truth with someone because it is impossible to please God and people (Gal 1:10).
  • Praying even when you don’t feel like it, trusting that God hears and cares (1 Peter 5:7).
  • Taking a professional risk, resting in the fact that you’re worth is not found in success.
  • Sticking with those who are wandering in their faith, because the God who began a good work in them will carry it on to completion (Phil 1:6).
  • Many Christians throughout the centuries have been martyred because they trusted that eternal life in God’s paradise was worth more than the world could offer them.

Imagine a man who was considering going skydiving. How would we know that he had faith that his parachute would open?

Only if he jumps. He can talk all he wants about how great the parachute is, but until he jumps out of the plane and puts it to the test, he doesn’t really trust it. It is the same with God. We might say we trust him, but until we jump out of the plane and take part in risky obedience, our words are empty. “Faith without works is dead (James 2:17).

May God give us this type of faith!

The Kingdom of God is like a Golden Snitch

Posted on by Jole Miller

I love the Harry Potter books and movies. My wife and I watch all 8 movies every year and frequently listen to the audiobooks before going to bed. Even if HP isn’t your thing, I hope you stick with me. Jesus often taught using parables. Following in my Rabbi’s footsteps, I want to show you how the kingdom of God is like a Golden Snitch.

Understanding Quidditch

Quidditch is a popular game in the wizarding world, consisting of seven team members on flying brooms. There are 3 Chasers, 2 Beaters, 1 Keeper, and 1 Seeker. The Chasers control the Quaffle, trying to throw it through one of three hoops which are guarded by the Keeper. Whenever the Quaffle goes through a hoop, the scoring team is awarded 10 points. The Beaters are the enforcers on the team. They protect the Chasers and Seeker from the two flying Bludgers, and also attempt to direct the Bludgers at the opposing team. The Seeker’s job is to find and catch the golden Snitch, a small golden ball that moves incredibly fast. The game ends when the Seeker catches the Snitch. By catching the Snitch, his team is awarded 150 points.

So, How is this like the kingdom of God?

1. The Value of the Snitch

First, the Snitch the most valuable object in the game. A team could be down by 14 goals and still win the game if the Seeker finds the Snitch.

Jesus tells us to seek first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33), and compares the kingdom of God to a man who found a fine pearl, and in his joy sold everything he owned to possess it (Matthew 13:44-46). There are a lot of things in life that we can and ought to seek. If we don’t look for a job, we won’t be able to provide for ourselves. If you don’t seek a spouse you will never have children. But seeking God’s kingdom is more important than any of these.

2. In the Game, but Not of It.

Second, the Seeker is in the game, but he is not playing the same game as the other six team members. Seekers are concerned with the Snitch and never attempt to score with the Quaffle or stop the other team from scoring.

Paul told Timothy, “No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer” (2 Timothy 2:4). There are many games that the world plays: get the most power, have the most status, sleep with the most women, accumulate the most money, to name a few. If we want to be seekers of God’s kingdom, we can’t focus on the “quaffles” around us. We all live in the world, but when you become a follower of Christ, your primary citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20).

It is so easy to get distracted, but we must always recenter on the true Snitch.

3. Slow and Steady

Third, looking for the Snitch isn’t efficient. For most of the game the Seekers are sort of flying around aimlessly. It appears that they aren’t contributing to the rest of the team, but the work they are doing is vital to achieving the end result.

Jesus valued people that society did not. He spent time with children and said that the kingdom of God belonged to those who were like children (Matthew 19:14). He often withdrew to quiet places to pray even when people were begging for his attention. He spent most of his time in small villages and didn’t have much of a presence in the big city. His closest followers were uneducated, blue-collar guys rather than religious elite. Wouldn’t it make more sense to go after those with influence instead?

God’s kingdom functions differently than the world. The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. It starts as a tiny seed, but one day will grow and spread and become the largest plant in the garden (Mark 4:30-32). Because God is patient and gracious, he often transforms us and others more slowly than we would like. This slow work allows roots to grow deep into the soil so that it can bear the weight of growth and the storms of life.

Fun fact, the average apple tree takes 4-5 years before it produces any fruit. It makes sense for spiritual fruit to behave similarly.

Conclusion

What are you looking for?

What do you desire most?

Everybody is pursuing something, but not everybody has articulated what it is they seek. Many of us end up on the conveyor belt following society’s expectations, or we float about from one dopamine hit to another without giving it much thought.

God made you unique and he made you for a purpose. I pray that you would find the purpose and passion that God wired in you, and then give you the courage and diligence to chase after that with all your heart.

How to Change the World

Posted on by Jole Miller

My theory is that the best way to change the world is to live your life as if your own sin is the biggest problem in the world. I want to examine wisdom from different times, cultures, and faith traditions that are all getting at this same point.

One caveat before we dive in: I wouldn’t apply this teaching to someone who has just experienced trauma. There are times when the sin and brokenness of the world comes knocking at your door, and you first need time to grieve and find healing. Jesus said he wouldn’t break a bruised reed (Isaiah 42:3). Please receive this as a general principle that will be applicable to most but not every situation.

“Man in the Mirror”- Michael Jackson, 1988

In his 1988 hit song, Michael Jackson sings, “If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change.” There are so many needs and so much brokenness in the world. It can be discouraging to feel like the world is run by corrupt governments and greedy corporations. What can one person do in the face of that much opposition?

Start with yourself, the man in the mirror. Start with what you can control. Maybe you can’t solve your cities homelessness crisis. But maybe you can show kindness and dignity to one homeless person on your way home from work.

“Be the Change”

Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) is one of the most influential voices on non-violent resistance in history. He was influential both in fighting for civil rights in South Africa and in gaining Indian independence. He famously said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

Do you want to see less poverty in the world? Give to the poor.

Do you want to see less racism in the world? Befriend people who don’t look like you.

Are you tired of corrupt politicians? Run for office.

We all have to ask ourselves, “What do I want? and What am I willing to sacrifice to get it?”

“I am.”

There is a popular story where a newspaper sent out an inquiry to famous authors, asking the question, “What’s wrong with the world today?” To which G.K. Chesterton responded,

“Dear Sir,

I am.

Yours, G.K. Chesterton.”

Living in the early 20th century you might expect him to say something along the lines of war, poverty, drunkenness, factory conditions, or the poor education of the masses. But I think Chesterton is both humble enough and wise enough to first look at his internal problems rather than the external problems. I think this is where activists can go wrong. They perhaps rightly point out the wrongs and injustices that exist in the world, but can turn prideful and self-righteous if they don’t also take serious where they fall short.

In the book How People Change, Paul Tripp says, “Whenever you believe that the evil outside you is greater than the evil inside you, a heartfelt pursuit of Christ will be replaced by a zealous fighting of the ‘evil’ around you. A celebration of the grace that rescues you from your own sin will be replaced by a crusade to rescue the church from the ills of the surrounding culture.” We can end being overly critical of others when we forget that we are sinners saved by grace alone.

The Plank and the Speck

Lastly, we’ll consider Jesus’ words from the sermon on the mount:

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brothers eye” (Matthew 7:1-5).

A few things stand out: First, God will judge us by the same standards we judge others. This should cause all of us to pause and consider how we think about others.

Second, we are to take the plank out of our own eye first. Jesus doesn’t say that is all that we do. He still calls us to remove the speck from our brother’s eye, but only after we have removed the plank from our own eye. But what does that mean?

I think the plank is our own sin and the speck is the sins of others. Our sin should be so in our face (no pun intended) that we can’t avoid it. So often we get this illustration backwards. We think we are the ones with the speck in our eye while everyone else has the big plank. We say things like, “I would never do that . . .” “Can you believe what she said?” “At least I’m not as bad as . . .”

Deal with your own stuff first, then you can clearly see what others are going through with a sense of love and compassion. Nobody likes having sawdust in their eye. It is unloving to let someone continue in a destructive behavior, but when we fail to approach them with humility and gentleness we often do more harm than good. How might this play out in the real world?

A Hypothetical Example

Let’s say you are in a meeting and a coworker blatantly disrespects you. What do you do? Do you lash out in the moment? Gossip about what happened? Bury your anger and pretend it wasn’t a big deal? Passive-aggressively hint that something is bothering you for the next year or so? Get the incident on film and post it to social media so that he might be shamed or even cancelled? Or do you take the plank out of your eye by self-reflecting?

Maybe you start with noticing your anger. Anger itself isn’t sinful, but it points to what is important to us. Then you might consider what exactly triggered that response. Did you feel threatened or embarrassed? Did it remind you of an incident or relationship from your past?

As you go down this path you might discover that you actually have an anger problem and are hyper-critical of those around you. Or maybe you take yourself too seriously because deep down you believe that your worth as a person comes from what you do and how others think about you.

After doing this work, you can look at the situation clearly to address your coworker. You could say something like, “When you said what you said in the meeting it made me feel ________. I’m sure that wasn’t what you intended, but I would appreciate if you would be more considerate in the future. I want our team to stay unified, and your comments created unhealthy friction.”

Doesn’t that seem more productive than anything listed in the first paragraph? Maybe the coworker realizes that he resorts to sarcasm when he is under stress as a self-protection mechanism. After noticing the problem he can take steps to fixing it.

Final Thoughts

From the King of Pop to the King of Kings, the message is consistent: start with yourself. Live as if your own sin is the greatest problem in the world. Only then will you be able to make a difference in the world. Imagine how marriages, friendships, families, and organizations might look different when individuals stop blaming others and circumstances and take ownership for the wrongs they do and the good that they leave undone.

What Drives an Adventure Stories?

Posted on by Jole Miller

What compels a hero to act? As far as I can tell, the hero in an adventure story tends to be motivated by one or a combination of these three objectives:

  1. Seek Treasure
  2. Defeat Evil
  3. Survive Danger

This came to mind when thinking about the motivations of the characters in The Hobbit and the characters from Lord of the Rings. Bilbo and the dwarves set out from the Shire to reclaim their gold and home (seek treasure). Frodo and Sam left the Shire in order to destroy the ring of power, and thus destroy Sauron (defeat evil). At first I thought these might be the only two motives, but then I thought about movies like Cast Away or The Day After Tomorrow or the book Robinson Crusoe in which the main characters are trying to survive the horrible predicament they find themselves in (I guess one could argue that they are seeking life and trying to prevent death, but I think having survival as its own category makes more sense). Here is how it plays out in some other movies:

Some Examples

In Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl Jack Sparrow told William Turner, “Not all treasure is silver and gold.” Will’s treasure was Elizabeth Swan. He would do anything to rescue her, even give his own life. Jack’s treasure was a ship, which symbolized freedom. Captain Barbosa and his crew, on the other hand, sought to break the curse that they had endured for many years.

In Gladiator Maximus has all three motives. By surviving gladiatorial combat, he seeks his freedom and plots to defeat the wicked Emperor Commodus.

Similarly, Harry Potter seeks various things in the novels: the sorcerer’s stone, Ginny from the Chamber of Secrets, all of the tasks in the Triwizard Tournament, a prophecy, and horcruxes. In the process he faces plenty of danger as he pursues his ultimate goal of defeating Voldemort.

The treasure in whodunits is the truth. Hopefully by finding out “whodunit” the detective also defeats the killer.

In the Iliad the Greeks seek to recover Helen and defeat the Trojans. In the Odyssey, Odysseus and his crew try to get home.

The rebels in Star Wars set out to defeat the evil Empire.

In Die Hard John McClane tries really hard not to die (hence the name), but he also attempts to stop the terrorists.

The kids in The Sandlot recover a baseball signed by Babe Ruth.

In the world of sports the offense seeks points while the defense attempts to stop their opponents.

Why Should You Care?

I think there are at least two reasons why you should care. First, it allows you to get a sense of the overall story arc. You can then judge for yourself whether or not the motives that drive the main characters are compelling. It also helps you keep the big picture in mind when you a plot becomes convoluted. Sometimes characters go on so many side quests that the audience can lose sight of what they are really trying to accomplish.

Second, these categories can help us live out our own stories. If you wake up and imagine that you are the hero of a story, what would you do? What good are you seeking? Money? Love? Friendship? Approval? Comfort? Success? I have used this mindset when on the treadmill. Whatever goal distance I have for the day, I imagine that there is treasure on the other side. This mindset can also help you discern whether or not the things you are doing are getting the results you want.

On the other hand, what evil are you trying to defeat? Maybe it is conquering a sink full of dishes or overcoming an illness. Maybe you are working to overcome an internal struggle or addiction. Mastering the dragon within is often our biggest obstacle.

As we get older we tend to lose our childlike wonder. Days start to feel monotonous and the grind of life with our never-ending to-do lists can wear us down. Understanding the hero’s motivations can help you reframe your tasks as steps on a quest and can add a sense of grandeur to the day.

It is also useful to know that there are seasons when you will be in survival mode. If you find yourself facing a tragedy, it is okay for your goals to take a backseat for a time while you process and heal. Just as Frodo took time to recover in Rivendell, so do we need room to heal when tragedy strikes. If not, we won’t have the strength to pursue the quests we set out to accomplish.

Remember, if you want to get the gold, you have to face the dragon. We live in a world of both abundant treasure and abundant evil. May we have the courage to get out of the Shire.

What is Work?

Posted on by Jole Miller

What is the essence of what work? What are we actually doing when we do stuff? Is it simply the stuff we have to do to keep living or is it something more? Pastor Tim Keller defines work as, “Rearranging the raw materials of a particular domain to draw out its potential for the flourishing of everyone.” God created the world, but he gave humans the responsibility of stewardship. For example, God created the trees out of which humans created tables and chairs. He created iron ore and humans mined and shaped it into tools.

I will argue that all good work consists of confronting chaos to create life-giving order. In doing so we image God in the world. Let’s start with the first page of the bible to see how that works.

God Confronts the Chaos

Before creation, God existed alone with chaos. “The earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Genesis 1:2). Out of this chaos God spoke the earth into existence so that it was filled with light and life. God blessed the humans saying, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground (Genesis 1:28). God placed the humans in the Garden of Eden so that they could work it and watch over it (Genesis 2:15). Work was always a part of the human condition. We were made to work and represent God with our creativity and effort, cultivating plants and animals so that they flourish.

However, Adam and Eve sinned, and God cursed the ground and frustrated human work. Chaos re-entered the world. “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food” (Genesis 3:17-19). This is the world we inhabit. Work is often hard and frustrating. Things fall apart. People deceive and disappoint. Deals fall through. Tragedy strikes when we least expect it. Even though work is not what it once was, the charge to work and watch over the earth and to be fruitful and multiply still stand. I turn now to consider what it looks like to confront chaos today.

Sisyphus was cursed by the gods to eternally push a boulder up a mountain, only for it to roll down again. This is how many people think of work and the burdens of life.

The Forms of Chaos

Chaos can be negative, positive, or neutral. Below are some forms of chaos:

Chaos to ConfrontWork to DoLife-Giving Order
DirtyClean UpClean
Out of PlaceOrganizeOrganized
Where you areTransportationWhere you want to be
Sick/injuredHealingWell
PotentialBring ForthActual
WildDisciplineTame
NatureBuildCivilization
ThreatProtective MeasuresSecurity
EvilRepentGoodness
UglyRenovateBeautiful
UnknownLearn/ExploreKnown
Negative EmotionFeel/ProcessPositive Emotion
Inefficient SimplifyEfficient
ConfusionClear CommunicationClarity

A teacher or coach work to cultivate the potential in children. A detective will gather evidence to solve mysteries and catch bad guys. A landscaper cuts grass and trims trees to make a yard look beautiful. A truck driver takes objects of value from one place to another. Customer service reps walk with their customers through confusion in order to bring clarity and peace of mind. An artist takes ordinary items and transforms them to invoke awe and wonder. Indiana Jones explored many places to recover items of great value.

A useful thought experiment is asking, “What would happen if I didn’t do my work?” Where would the world be if all janitors quit? What would happen if I stopped changing my son’s diapers? What would happen if I stopped making meals or washing clothes? What would happen if farmers stopped planting and harvesting? As Elon Musk once said on the Joe Rogan Podcast, “If you don’t make stuff, there is no stuff.” “The one who is lazy in his work is brother to a vandal” (Proverbs 18:9). “Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of negligent hands the house leaks (Ecclesiastes 10:18). If we don’t do our work of confronting chaos, people suffer and die.

When Order Isn’t Life-Giving

As mentioned, chaos isn’t always bad and order isn’t always good. For example, nature is both a beautiful sunset overlooking a mountain lake, and it is a lion that wants to eat you. Similarly, order isn’t always life giving. I think of TV detective Adrian Monk who had debilitating OCD and a fear of germs (among other things). His desire for cleanliness and security cut him off from most love and joy in life. Unhealthy chaos is anarchy, but unhealthy order is tyranny.

Consider the chaos of the unknown. If we never explore ideas or places outside of what we already know, we remain stagnant and become ignorant and arrogant. We need to encounter things we don’t know in order to expand our realm of understanding. If not, you will never try new foods, go new places, or meet new people. That is no way to live.

Below is a helpful chart that gives examples of chaos and order in its productive and unproductive forms:

If you find yourself in the lower left quadrant, you should introduce order. If you are in the lower right quadrant, you should introduce some healthy chaos. If you are in the top, you will constantly need wisdom to know whether you need to “stick to your guns” or to be open to other ideas. “There is a time to tear down (chaos) and a time to build (order)” (Ecclesiastes 3:3). We need to wisdom to know which to do at the proper time.

The End of Work

Not all work is good work. Imagine two chemists working in a lab. Both are meticulous in measuring out the proper elements, diligent in timing and temperature, in order to create a high-quality product. However, one of them was making medicine while the other was making meth. They may have been doing the same activity, but the end result was opposite. One chemist made something that heals (life-giving order) while the other made something that destroys (destructive chaos).

When it is all said and done, the end of all work needs to be love. During Minnesota winters, we love our neighbors by shoveling and salting the sidewalks. If we don’t people can get badly hurt. I change diapers so that my son can stay healthy and comfortable. I’m writing this so that you might be informed and encouraged. Work becomes destructive when people are motivated by greed, pride, people-pleasing, or fear.

Jesus’ main commands were to repent and believe in the gospel (Mark 1:15) and to love God and love others (Matthew 22:36-40). A key way we love others is through our work. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). When we do our work well we honor God and bring goodness to the lives of others.

What is the chaos you need to confront today?

Decluttering God’s Way

Posted on by Jole Miller

The last couple years I have been getting into the minimalism movement. The Minimalists put out great content, Joshua Becker has many thoughtful insights on his website, and Marie Kondo has a series on Netflix that shows how tidying up can legitimately change lives. All of these people and more have given me practical steps for owning less, organizing, and making space for what matters most in life. However, I only recently saw how minimalism and tidying up connects directly to God. Let’s go back to the first words of the bible.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Genesis 1:1-2).

The Problem of Chaos

In the beginning there was only God and chaos (symbolized by darkness and the waters). Chaos is disorder and the unknown. It contains great potential, but it can also drown you. How does this apply to our homes and possessions? What does it mean for a home to be in chaos? Clutter, mess, and disorder.

William Morris, an English textile designer in the 1880’s said, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” That is how I would define clutter. Anything in your life that is not useful or beautiful. Similarly, the Minimalists define clutter as anything that doesn’t add value to your life.

According to an ABC News article, cluttered homes lead to increased stress, decreased focus and productivity, and more unhealthy eating. As Tyler Durden said in Fight Club, “The things you own end up owning you.” Just looking at the picture above stresses me out, but often rooms in my house don’t look much better. How can we imitate God in bringing order out of the chaos of our homes?

Separate into Broad Categories

“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:3-4). On day one of creation God separated light from darkness. On day two he separated the sky and the sea. On day three he separated the sea from the land.

Step one for dealing with the clutter of your home is to separate your possessions into broad categories. Maybe you separate items by room. For example, if dishes are in your bedroom, that is a good indicator that chaos is winning. Marie Kondo’s method is to go through clothes first, then books, then paper, then miscellaneous household items, and finally sentimental items. You feel the effects of when things are not in their proper place, so putting things into broad categories is a great first step in creating order out of chaos.

Separate According to Their Kinds

After God separated the land from the sea, he created vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds (emphasis added). The phrase “according to their kinds” is used ten times in Genesis 1. God made different birds and fish “according to their kinds,” and all sorts of land animals “according to their kind.” On days 1-3 of creation God created the realm/category and on days 4-6 he filled each realm (see the image below).

In your home, after you broadly separate your possessions, you can then differentiate more specifically. In the bathroom you could put together hair products (brush, hair dryer, hair spray, and hair ties), mouth products (toothbrush, tooth paste, mouth wash, and floss), and healing products (bandages, Ibuprofen, and other OTC medicines). You can separate your shirts from your pants, your pots from your pans, your toys from your blankets, and jewelry from old receipts. I recently did this with my son’s toys as we were unpacking boxes in our new apartment. I put all of the stuffed animals together, all the toy vehicles together, all of his books on the bookshelf, and all of his clothes in a pile separate from the toys. I was able to differentiate his stuff “according to their kinds,” but there is still one more step.

Separate the Sheep from the Goats

Matthew 25:31-33 states, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory . . . all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.” The sheep are blessed and inherit God’s Kingdom while the goats are cursed and set apart for destruction.

I don’t mean to trivialize God’s judgement. It is something we should all take more seriously. However, for the sake of this post I want to apply the principle of sheep and goats to our possessions. We ought to distinguish between what is useful, valuable, and a blessing from what is just taking up space and keeping us from the most important things. Here are some questions to help you discern what is valuable (Many of these come from the book Love People, Use Things by Joshua Fields Milburn and Ryan Nicodemus):

  • How much is enough? Be specific. How many shirts? Mugs? Plates? Book?
    • Pare down to whatever number you decide.
  • If this object was to spontaneously combust, would you feel relieved?
    • If yes, you can feel freedom to remove it.
  • Have you used this in the past 90 days? Will you use it in the next 90 days?
    • You are already not using it, why not make the break-up official?
  • What are you afraid of?
    • Are you afraid of disappointing someone or not having enough? There is power in pressing into your fears.
  • Is there someone else who can use this more than me?
    • It is better to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).
  • Does this item spark joy? (From Marie Kondo)
    • If it doesn’t give you joy, why hold on to it?
  • If I were shopping now, would I buy it?
    • If you wouldn’t buy it again, you probably don’t need it now.

Go through all of your things and discern what is adding value to your life (sheep) and what is not (goats). The goal is to make space in your life for what matters most. The less you own, the less you have to manage, the more time and energy you are able to invest elsewhere. Here is a article of how to start the decluttering process.

We often think of our stuff as an extension of ourselves, which makes it difficult to de-own. One tip is to create a “maybe” box in which you place items you may or may not want to keep. Once you put the items in the box, leave them for for a certain amount of time (anywhere from one to six months). If you don’t miss anything in the box, you can donate it with peace of mind.

Minimalism and tidying up is a process, not a destination. Which brings me to my final point.

Rule with Wisdom, Creativity, and Love

God made males and females in his image so that we would rule over his creation. “God blessed them, and said to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.'” Psalm 8 goes so far to say that God “put everything under their feet.”

One aspect of imaging God is to “subdue” that which God has put under you. God has given responsibilities to every person. He entrusts his creation to us and expects to have a good return on his investment. He gives money and possessions so that we would put them to good use and be a blessing to others. When we “rule” over our stuff with wisdom we push back against the clutter and chaos of our homes and create a space of warmth, peace, and hospitality. Do you feel like you are ruling over your stuff or is your stuff ruling over you?

God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden to work it and watch over it (Genesis 2:15). If you’ve ever planted a garden, you know that you can’t just plant your seeds and leave it alone. You have to work the soil, water, and pull weeds. If you don’t intentionally maintain your garden, it won’t be fruitful. The weeds and rabbits will stop the growth. Similarly, if we aren’t diligent in taking daily steps to declutter, organize, and maintain our things, the chaos will start to choke out the life we are trying to create in our homes. God has given us all we need to create beauty, life, and peace out of the chaos of our home. What is holding you back?

P.S.

Here is another article by Joshua Becker about daily decluttering routines.