Da Finger

We have an interesting painting hanging in the university where I work.

I have walked past it probably close to a million times. 

The first few times I saw it, I thought that it was quite offensive. 

Then I saw it as a bit funny. 

Today was the first time when I looked at it and thought... hey, this is actually quite truthful. And that made me sad. Also, it made me climb back down some stairs to take this picture. 

But isn't this true... God is reaching down, trying and wanting, longing even, to get in contact with His children. Us. And all most of us do is flip Him the finger and say 'Get lost, God, I got this...' 

When I thought about this, I was initially grateful that I'm not one of those finger flippers. 

Then I thought... Maybe that's exactly what I am. Perhaps even worse... maybe I'm the "teaser". I stretch out my hand and right before I get close enough to almost touch, I pull back and tell God to get lost and mind His own business. 

That's... dumb.

To be somebody is longing for God

-above everything else

Longing for God is not longing for an experience

It is longing for a true relationship

It is not about having some knowledge of God

But it is about knowing him

-as a person

-as a friend

-as a confidant

-as a companion

Not to become high on him

But to be conformed to his image

Not to learn more, to increase knowledge

But to love him more

I am somebody when I realise

-I am created to be a God-lover

I am somebody when the very purpose of my life

-is to love God

I am somebody when I am longing for God

-only because of love.

Ah, I don't know... this is one of those times when I have a thought... and when I try to write it down, it becomes a confusing pile of... shtuff.

That's all.

Blah blah blah

Seeeeeee, people talk too much!

Seriously.

I mean, there is a good type of talking, which is what's been happening as well, where people share their testimonies and share about their lives and tell others what Jesus has done in their lives.

But then there is the if-anyone-tells-me-this-crap-one-more-time-I'm-gonna-shoot-myself type of talking, which... well, makes me want to shoot myself in the face.

It's the one where people are constantly saying that things are wrong in their lives and they really ought to change something, start praying more, reading the Bible more, discipline themselves more, get up earlier, go to bed earlier, do their school stuff or work stuff on time, blah blah blah - and then they keep on living the way they are living. To me it all starts to sound like blah blah blah after like the 3rd or so time the same person tells me the same story.

Then I no longer feel bad for them, then I no longer give them loving advice, then I just say - get over yourself and start doing stuff.

I still love them though.

My first ever blog post (from 10th March 2008) :D

Questions that only God can answer!

How old was Adam when he was created? Was he a baby and started to grow or was he a man straight away?

How old was Eve? Did Adam wait until she became a woman, or did God make it so that they wouldn't have to wait?

What language did God, Adam, Eve and the serpent use?

Where did polar bears and penguins live if the Garden of Eden was warm?

If animals lived in peace and there was no killing, how did lions, etc, who now eat other animals, manage their digestion?

If there was no killing, where did God get the garments of skin to cover up Adam and Eve?

What would life be like now, if Eve had stood up to the serpent?

a lack of love

Dear fellow-Christian, if you talk about gays and say they are gross or freaks and they should shoot themselves, burn themselves, hang themselves or kill themselves in other ways - shame on you. 

Dear fellow-Christian, if you gossip behind your church mates and say bad things behind their backs, at the same time perhaps pretending to smile and wishing blessings to that same person - shame on you. 

Dear fellow-Christian, if you serve God only on Sundays and yes, sometimes during the week at home groups, youth events, prayer events or other holy events, but at other times you get drunk, smoke, chase after girls or boys, sleep around, curse or just don't care about any of it, and on the holy days you put your holy face on and pray and feel bad for all the sinners who live such terrible lives compared to you, but who actually live the same life as you, except they don't come to church... Shame on you. 

Dear fellow-Christian, if you ignore Jesus's greatest command - to love each other - shame on you. 

Did Jesus tell us to love everyone, except if they are homosexual, or politicians, non-Christians, bad Christians, the wrong nationality, gender or race, wrong profession, poor, too rich or just different from you? Nope. 

Jesus said (John 13:34): "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

Jesus said  (Matthew 22:37-39): “‘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.'"

Jesus said (Matthew 5:22): But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell."

Jesus said (John 13:35): "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

The Bible says (1 John 4:19): "We love because he first loved us."

And finally the Bible says (Micah 6:8): "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Jesus has shown us what is good. People, it seems, are just a little bit daft.