Category Archives: Culture

A New Perspective

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A New Perspective

One definition of Perspective is “the state of one’s ideas, the facts known to one, etc.”

My definition of perspective is simple- Perspective is how we view things.
Over time, our perspective will change. Experiences, people, knowledge etc will all impact our perspective.

But, here is the point- As Christians, it should be our mission to see things through the eyes of Christ. We should strive to gain a new perspective of the world, His perspective.
Lately, I have  been blessed with a new perspective. God has really been trying to show me something through the death of my mom. As difficult as this time has been, I have sought to understand more clearly God’s purpose in this event. I know that ultimately this event will bring Him glory and I hold fast to the promise of Romans 8:28-

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  

The new perspective that I have gained mainly focuses on death. Death is a terrible thing in the eyes of the world, but how does it look to Christ? How should death be viewed as a Christian? I mourn the loss of my mother, but as the old cliche goes, she is in a better place.

This perspective was reinforced in me recently while reading through 2 Corinthians 5. Specifically verses 6-10.
 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 

 The new perspective is this- to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  
To look at death from this perspective is not always easy, but it has provided me comfort.
As i consider this new perspective that I have been blessed with, I wonder about seeing all things as God sees them. The next few subjects are particularly convicting because I know that I do not always view things from the right perspective.
Consider people-
 
How do we view people?
Do we view people as the world views them or as God does?
The world views people based on how they look. Just think about how many opinions you form about someone based on how their appearance. When I think about it, I am convicted to the core. 
The Bible makes it clear how we should view people- Consider 1 Samuel 16:7 
But the LORD said to Samuel,<sup value="(A)”> “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance,<sup value="(B)”> but the LORD looks on the heart.” 
Do we see people as the Lord does? Do we look at the heart?

I can honestly say that this is a struggle for me

Consider truth-
Do we believe truth is relative or absolute?  
Do we even believe truth exists?
The world denies the existence of truth OR claims that truth is relative.
The Bible stands in direct opposition to this perspective on truth. Truth is pretty straightforward from a Biblical perspective. Truth is absolute, and the Bible itself is truth because it is the Word of God.
John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 17:17
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

In closing, I would encourage you to examine your current perspective. Consider how you view people and truth, but also consider other topics. Perspective applies to all things. Relationships, Worship, God, Faith, etc.








– B

Coming Down From the Mountain

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Background- I wrote this over a year ago during a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. I wrote this to address the spiritual highs that are inevitably created during events like a mission trip. I call them “Mountaintop Experiences”.
Now, Mountaintop Experiences are wonderful. But so often they are temporary. It is difficult to maintain the high that we felt during our experience. We are often left disappointed and discouraged when we come off the mountain and  back to the real world, or the “valley”.
This particular journal became significant recently when the youth group at my local church came back from youth camp. Lives were changed and God truly moved. It has been dubbed the Revolution. I was given the opportunity to share with a Sunday School class, and God reminded me of this journal. The timing could not have been better. Students were energized and motivated, truly seeking the Lord. But they returned to a world that had not changed. A world full of challenges and doubt. Doubt from friends, doubt from family etc.
I want this to serve as encouragement to you. God does meet and change people on mountains. We just have to remember that our experiences cannot be driven by emotional highs and lows. They must be driven by a passion for the Lord. Remember, God will sustain the Revolution.
1 Corinthians 3:7- So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
Reference-
Genesis 22– Abraham
Matthew 17, Mark 9, Luke 9- Jesus Transfiguration
Matthew 4:8 – Temptation of Jesus
John 17, Luke 22:39– Praying on Mount of Olives
Key Points
Mission trip was a mountaintop experience
  • Constant praise and fellowship
  • serving God actively
  • Away from normal lives
  • God met and changed men on mountains
    • Abraham
    • Moses
    • Jesus
  • Men were tested on mountains
    • Abraham- Isaac
    • Jesus- Satan
  • Were you tested this week?- yes
Questions-
  • How will we be when we come down from the mountain?
  • Will we be truly changed or will we return to business as usual?
  • When the challenges, comforts and stresses of life return, how will we respond?
  • We must return to the valley- no choice. Because,  Where are the lost?
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
         I will fear no evil;
         For You are with me;
         Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
Encouragement- Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.1 Cor 9:24