Mark Twain

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As He REALLY Is

Posted by Jim Thornber on July 7, 2011
Posted in: Christian Spirituality, Religion. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

Mark Twain said, “Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.” This quote hit home recently when I read this passage from 1 John 3:2: “Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is” (NLT).

C. W. A. Scott

As soon as I read this verse, I knew why it bothered me. John says that when Christ appears, “we will see him as he really is.” Inherent in this phrase is the fact that right now I do NOT see Him as He really is. And how can I? How can my puny, finite eyes really see and understand the infinite reality of our God-become-man-become-Savior?

How do I see Jesus? Usually, I see Him as I’d like to see Him-friendly, forgiving, easy to get along with, gently prodding me along to become a better person but mostly agreeing with my hopes and ambitions. I like to focus upon His place as King (Zechariah 14:16) because it gives me hope and security, but don’t spend too much time on His position as Judge and Lawgiver (Isaiah 33:22). I don’t like thinking about the many ways I’ve broken His law, and I can’t help but think that the final review of my life will be a disappointment to Him. And to me.

Furthermore, I don’t spend time seeing Him in light of my own desires and lusts. It is just too hard to imagine He ever had THOSE thoughts. Until, that is, I read Hebrews 4:15, which reminds me that He was “tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin.” Yes, Jesus was even tempted with THOSE thoughts. But unlike me, He never gave in.

It seems I’m a master at creating Jesus in my own image and likeness, making Him the type of God who comforts, forgives and accepts me, while at the same time rejecting my enemies (NOW I like to see Him as Judge. Why is it so easy only to see God only in the ways that suit me?).

 

Of course, Jesus is an American consumer who would choose to live in my neighborhood, shop at my local grocery store, eat my favorite foods, spend four dollars on a cup of coffee and buy only fluorescent bulbs. (Actually, I’ve never purchased a fluorescent bulb. I just thought my green-minded readers could relate).

There are so many ways I don’t see Him as He really is. For instance, I have trouble seeing Him as the creator of the universe, eternal and omnipotent. Just thinking about eternity brings my mind to a screeching halt. Conversely, I have difficulty thinking about Him as a mortal man-hurting, tired and hungry.

Finally, I cannot comprehend how He will return. Will it be at the literal sound of a trumpet, with blazing glory and a universal audience, with vengeance and retribution on His mind? Or, will it be in meekness and quietness, gently appearing to share His final act of love as He gathers His cared-enough-to-die-for loved ones into His strong, pastoral arms?

I don’t know. And maybe that’s good. Maybe not seeing Jesus as He really is makes the longing to know Him stronger and more effective. Perhaps that is why Paul could say, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Galatians 3:8). Instead of trying to figure out all the unknowns, maybe I just need to concentrate on Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Perhaps then, I’ll begin to see Him as He really is.

Scriptures That Bother Me — Romans 8:1

Posted by Jim Thornber on April 12, 2011
Posted in: Christian Spirituality, Religion. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

NOW Is the Time

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” – Romans 8:1

Last week, I had the wonderful experience of meeting with two other churches in town for a Saturday morning leadership conference. Six different speakers – three pastors and three laypersons – spoke for fifteen minutes each on different aspects of the word “Harmony.” I’m sure you’re impressed by the fact that pastors and members from three different churches in the same town actually get along well enough to fellowship on a Saturday, and you should be. However, the real miracle is not that three churches got together, but the fact that not one speaker went beyond their fifteen minute time limit and spoke for twenty minutes. And three of those speakers were preachers! I know you think I’m making that part up, but I was there and it’s true, my hand on a Bible so help me God.

Still, after three hours of fellowship, questions, comments and lots of laughter, this one Scripture from Romans stands out in my mind. Like you, I’ve heard this verse hundreds of times, reminding me that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” However, the part that really struck me was the word “now.”

You see, I’m all ready to stand before God after I’ve died and, knowing that Jesus has washed away my sins, enjoy eternity in His presence. My faith assures me this will be the case.

But what about now? NOW there is no condemnation, Paul says. NOW I stand before Him clean. That’s hard to wrap my brain around.

But in case I think the NOW in Romans 8:1 is a fluke, I read in Colossians 1:22, Continue Reading

The Look of Joy

Posted by Jim Thornber on August 12, 2010
Posted in: Christian Spirituality, Religion, Writing. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

“Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.” — Mark Twain

The Look of Joy

Always be full of joy in the. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do (Philippians 4:4-5 NLT).

A while back, my wife and I were co-teaching the book of James to a small group. After spending an hour talking about the book, we barely finished James 1:2, which tells us to consider it an opportunity for great joy when troubles come our way. Doesn’t that sound easy and fun?

While Barbara led the group discussion around the question, “What does joy look like?”  I meandered over to Philippians 4. I knew it had some good stuff to say about joy, so I found the above passage I wanted and read it to the group. And as soon as I did, I knew it was going to bother me.

Although Paul wrote to the Philippians from prison, he still finds a way to be joyful. I didn’t say he was enjoying his stay in prison, but that he chose joy as his attitude. So far, so good. Paul is a better man than I am, but that is not what struck me. What struck me is what I call “The Look of Joy.” We’ll often ask what love looks like, and there is even a song called, “The Look of Love.” But what about joy? Barbara asked, “What does joy look like?” According to Philippians 4:5, joy looks like “consideration.”

That is when I got bothered. I knew from experience that when I’m in a good mood and everything is right in the world, I show copious amounts of consideration. I tip the waitress more than she deserves, give more money to the needy and smile for no sane reason. However, when I am not joyful – when I am hurt, angry, disappointed or preoccupied with my own problems, I am not very considerate to others. In other words, I’m joyful and considerate when I feel like it and not joyful when I don’t want to be. If there is a trial, I’m not joyful and considerate and if the trials are minimal, I’m a nice guy.

What an awful way to live like a Christian.

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But I Don’t FEEL Like Obeying!

Posted by Jim Thornber on May 11, 2010
Posted in: Christian Spirituality, Religion. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 3 Comments

“Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.” — Mark Twain

When I read the story about about Naaman in 2 Kings 5, two things stand out and cause me pause. First, why is an entire chapter in the Old Testament given over to this one character and his leprosy? And two, why am I so familiar with just how Naaman must have felt when he was told to wash in the Jordan River?

First, I haven’t a clue as to why an entire chapter is given over to this story.  However, I am truly bothered by Naaman’s response to Elijah’s directives to go wash in the Jordan. Here is a highly regarded warrior whom the king of Aram knew to be a great man, “because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram” (vs. 1). Aram, by the way, is also known as Syria, whose capital is Damascus. But I digress.

Here’s the picture: Naaman is a great warrior, esteemed by all, adored by the masses and rich enough to own a slave girl imported from Israel. His only problem seemed to be a small case of leprosy, which is a bit more distressing that acute acne by not as bad terminal cancer.

So Naaman is a great warrior and respected by his peers. He’s a bit like me, if you will – a warrior with words and respected by the dozens of people who know I like to write.

Now comes the crisis (leprosy, or cancer or something tragic in my life like another rejection letter from an editor) and the solution (go bathe in a muddy stream, or bow to God or apologize to your family for being selfish or something equally mundane). “Wait!” I want to shout, “I’m a SOMEBODY. Elisha, you can’t be serious. Don’t just send out your maid and tell me to do something mundane. I’m special and I want special treatment!”

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Pleasing People

Posted by Jim Thornber on February 19, 2010
Posted in: Christian Spirituality, Religion, Writing. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 3 Comments

“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ” Galatians 1:10

I’ll confess this right up front: I spend an inordinate amount of time trying to please people. However, I’m not really a people pleaser. Let me explain.

A people pleaser is one who does everything they can to make those around them feel comfortable and accepted. They go out of their way to serve others, smooth over difficulties and meet the expectations of those around them, even if those expectations are unwarranted, selfish or just plain silly. They habitually give in to those around them in fear of upsetting them, and constantly put their own needs aside to meet the needs of others, even if the others never show gratitude for the sacrifice.

No, I’m not a people pleaser.

However, I do try to please people. How? Through my writing and teaching. Let me try to explain what God has been trying to explain to me.

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Jesus Is Looking At Me!

Posted by Jim Thornber on January 26, 2010
Posted in: Christian Spirituality. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

“Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.” – Mark Twain

Raphael, The Miraculous Draught of Fishes, c. 1513-14

I’ve been thinking about Luke 5:1-11 for some time now. Jesus has finished teaching and decides to bless Simon, the owner of the boat He’s been using as a platform. Simon puts up a bit of an argument with the Lord but obeys in the end (Simon argues and finally obeys. This is not my point, but it does sound a bit like me!). The result is a tremendous catch of fish that almost swamps his boat – and this after a night in which Simon and his buddies caught nothing.

It is Peter’s response to this is tremendous catch of fish that I find disturbing. “Oh, Lord, please leave me – I’m too much of a sinner to be around you” (NLT). At first, I thought Peter said this because he had never been around a miracle or the power of God before, but this is not true. In Luke 4 Jesus healed Simon’s mother-in-law, and prior to that, Jesus cast a demon out of a man, and Simon was more than likely a witness to that miracle, too. Simon was accustomed to seeing the power of God, but still I wondered, Why did Simon react so strangely when God’s power was focused upon him?

I believe the answer is in Peter’s response: “I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.” When the power of God is pointed at our neighbor, or even our mother-in-law, we don’t have to react or deal with the results – we just observe. But when God’s power comes into our lives – and in Peter’s case, his business – then we must make a decision: Am I going to continue to allow this power to remain, or am I going to send it away, because if the power stays, then there is no more room for myself.

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Eleven Days to Rest

Posted by Jim Thornber on November 25, 2009
Posted in: Christian Spirituality, Religion. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

“Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.” — Mark Twain

Eleven Days to Rest

I was reading Deuteronomy the other day, and I had trouble getting past verse 2 of the book before this passage started to bother me and my mind started to wander off in a different direction. (Maybe it is just me, but sometimes my mind has a mind of its own.) Verse 2 says, “Normally it takes only eleven days to travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh-barnea” (NLT).

In other words, a simple journey that should have taken about two weeks took thirty-eight years (they had already stayed two years at Mt. Sinai – Numbers 1:1). It made me wonder how many times I’ve over-stayed my welcome in one place because I murmured, complained and doubted God’s word. I’d hate to count.

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Scriptures That Bother Me — Philippians 4:4-5

Posted by Jim Thornber on November 16, 2009
Posted in: Christian Spirituality, Religion. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 8 Comments

“Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.” — Mark Twain

The Look of Joy

Always be full of joy in the. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do (Philippians 4:4-5 NLT).

poor childrenLast Wednesday, Barbara and I were co-teaching the book of James to a small group. After spending an hour talking about the book, we barely finished James 1:2, which tells us to consider it an opportunity for great joy when troubles come our way. Doesn’t that sound easy and fun?

While Barbara led the group discussion around the question, “What does joy look like?”  I meandered over to Philippians 4. I knew it had some good stuff to say about joy, so I found the above passage I wanted and read it to the group. And as soon as I did, I knew it was going to bother me.

Although Paul wrote to the Philippians from prison, he still finds a way to be joyful. I didn’t say he was enjoying his stay in prison, but that he chose joy as his attitude. So far, so good. Paul is a better man than I am, but that is not what struck me. What struck me is what I call “The Look of Joy.” We’ll often ask what love looks like, and there is even a song called, “The Look of Love.” But what about joy? Barbara asked, “What does joy look like?” According to Philippians 4:5, joy looks like “consideration.”

That is when I got bothered. Continue Reading

Scriptures That Bother Me — Philippians

Posted by Jim Thornber on April 17, 2009
Posted in: Christian Spirituality, Religion, Writing. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 3 Comments

This article was originally posted in Nov. ’08.

“Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.” — Mark Twain

My Problem With Paul

I’m starting to avoid reading the book of Philippians. Well, let me back up.

Have you ever noticed that when people read the Bible, they tend to read it from the perspective of their current situation or circumstances? For instance, if you are sick, then you start to notice all the Scriptures relating to healing. If you are poor, you see the abundance Scriptures, and if you are in prison, you focus on the passages that relate to feeling confined. I’ve felt like a prisoner myself lately, so I’m starting to avoid the book of Philippians. Yes, the whole book.

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Scriptures That Bother Me — Nehemiah 1:5-6

Posted by Jim Thornber on April 13, 2009
Posted in: Writing. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 4 Comments

“Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.” — Mark Twain

Nehemiah’s Prayer

“O LORD, God of heaven…listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel” – Nehemiah 1:5-6

I read six verses into the book of Nehemiah the other day and couldn’t continue. What struck me were Nehemiah’s passion and purpose, and the fact that both produced in him a prayer that continued night and day.

I’m lucky to find something to pray about that will last me fifteen minutes, much less day and night.

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