Identity

What is your identity? Who do you want yourself to be identified with or by or what? Generally the forces of society makes you identify with one or the other although you may not genuinely agree with everything that the culture or person stands for. But that's what life is all about and as a result culture and society constantly evolve.

The other day I had an earful from our very gifted and pragmatic pastor Rich Nathan about a Christian's identity. I have always thought by separating people by their country and origins you weaken humanity as a whole but seemingly strengthen an identified intended group. More stronger the division, more negativity of comparisons, maddening race to supremacy, resentment, disagreement, hate, etc. grow. There is still no one who has shown or written how this problem can be addressed. I dabble with the idea of global citizenship which many have spoken about but does not appear to have traction as it does not address issues of patriotism, treason, loyalty, backstabbing, and so on. In this context, the pastor's thoughts were quite nice to think about. He talked about primary identity being one that hinges on the fundamental nature of us being God's children. One of the benefits to that to the mostly distraught human beings that we have known to be is to be hope-filled in a depressing world.

Success and Failure

Ask God for strength of faith every time you pray. Strength comes only from God. Praise and glorify Him for your every success. Say, if you are given credit by people for something you did, you need to tell them that it was not you, but God through you was the reason for your success. Its hard but  admitting the power within you, which is God. You may realize this when it produces a good steady state or sometimes a catapulting powerful effect on your being and your future successes.

For failures, when it happens, be thoughtful of the Biblical person Job. He never gives up praying. Pray and keep on praying, even if it takes several decades, because God answers, even if it is something you become unable to pray for. Failure can lead to making you work harder towards what has been elusive. Setback is a set-up for a come back.  There is nothing sweeter than when your hard work mixed with perseverence, got from the strength of prayer, produces success and success beyond measure.

Coal or Him

When Jesus walked this planet, there was no electricity. People still used fuel. Wood to cook food perhaps. Oil to light up their houses and other places. Coal which is a popular and the most used fuel in the modern world for producing electricity was available then but people were ignorant of its existence or knew nothing of its practical uses or both. I wonder why Jesus, whose Father created this Earth, and by that token Jesus would have known about the existence of this black mineral in Earth, did not tell the people then about this mineral and its possible potential of how it could possibly transform their lives, as it has in modern times. Don't you think Jesus should have let His people know?

Well, there are probably more reasons than I can think of as to why Jesus would not have attempted to do let His people know. First, He was not here in Earth to let people know what was in the Earth, but to tell people what was in Heaven. Second, things in Earth are for people to see, discover and use. But telling of things of Heaven, which people cannot see made more sense. People, generally, by nature would not believe anything they cannot see, even if it was told by the Son of God whose Father created it all. Moreover, his emphasis on the Heaven than Earth can be best summarized when he said, that things of the Earth will pass away, but His word by which God himself would not.

Isn't what will not pass away more precious than the black mineral we rely on for our lifestyle today? By the way there are more people in this world who don't have proper power supply than those who do. The irony is, there are probably more treasures that we may still discover in this world, and many more we may never be able to discover and tap into, but I am glad that I have what I can claim to never pass away. What about you?

Book review "God and Evolution" edited by Jay Richards

A recently published book edited by a renowned author Jay Richards and contributed by more than four eminent authors titled "God and Evolution" looks at the angle of evolution through the eyes of Catholics, Protestants, Jews and Muslims. This is a very interesting and thought provoking book to say the least. Its a must read for every church going Christian and also for the pastors and priests who preaches to them.

Jay Richards is a very intelligent and articulate communicator, and the book will be a very interesting read for anyone interested on the idea of "marrying" evolution and creation.

All saints die!

Saints! What a word man has created and how nicely it has become to be a word of value when attributed to a finite human being. Who is a saint? A person without corruption. In today's world do we not see innumerable self proclaiming saints? Are they really saints? They apparently are - for some...in fact for many hapless people.

Saints are revered in countries like India because people find an answer to a problem they face through their teaching or a certain religious practice which focuses one's mind. Thereafter they just follow the saints blindly. Saints also heal people of diseases, protect from accidents, etc. at least so they say. But here is the thing.....why can't saints heal themselves or prevent themselves from harm? This tells that saints are just humans as we are and all humans die, so do saints. Saints are just as infallible like humans be it Sai Baba from Puttaparthi or Mother Teresa from Calcutta. Hope this truth percolates deep into the human understanding.

One more thing, Easter is the day Christian believers celebrate Jesus Christ's resurrection from the death. That is the same day a "saint" (in Sai Baba) died  and to me it tells a powerful narrative. Worship worthy God rose from the dead, and "Saints" die....sometimes on the same day! 

Reliability and Independence

Its been a while! Not that I have not had thoughts or ideas that I wanted to share. But just wasn't able to blog due to a handful of other things that demanded more of my focus and attention. But that's in the past now.

This one is a simple thought. Does our trust in God create a sense of dependence or independence?

Normally when we trust someone or something, we expect in all probability that, that person or thing will deliver what is expected of it. Let me give an example, if I take my well maintained car for a long drive, I start out with a trust that my car will be reliable enough to complete the demanding  trip without breaking down on the way. It gives me a sense of independence and lets me think about other activities I may plan during the trip. That is independence to me due to my car's reliability. Should God's reliability give me independence? OR more dependence on HIM?

I can see a smile on your face on reading this tricky question. Abundance of money affords a great flexibility and independence in life and no question about that. Most of us well realize money is just a means to the end and not an end in itself. What is the true end then? Worldly "stuff"? or stuff that puts your focus always on God? Love and peace cannot be bought with any amount of $$$$, fortunately. There is only one source for these valuable possessions in this difficult world. A source which is unending and everlasting. That to me makes me so dependent on God and not independent of God. So, trust in God makes me more dependent on HIM because of his RELIABILITY. What do you think?

Another Poem by this amazing boy Mattie

Future Reminiscing


It is good

To have a past

That is pleasant

To reflect upon.

Take care

To create

Such a gift

For your future.



December 25, 2000

© Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek

http://www.mattieonline.com/about.htm