"God, bless us, every one!" - Tiny Tim
When A Christmas Carol was first published in 1843 it met with instant success and critical acclaim. Charles Dickens touched a nerve with his character of Ebenezer Scrooge who undergoes a complete transformation after supernatural visitations from his former business partner, Jacob Marley, and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Future.
Apparently many people related to Scrooge. When his pinched, cold heart is restored to the innocent goodwill he had known in his childhood, readers jumped to their feet in their hearts clapping with abandon. And, before long, they were evaluating their own hearts and lives in light of the startling challenges found in the story.
The evidence suggests that Christmas traditions had been waning in England for some time and the reality is that this novella almost singlehandedly revitalized Christmas spirit. Did Dickens write The Christmas Carol to provoke a change in the barren attitudes that he witnessed?
Today, we need the same strong ideological, ethical and emotional transformation we see in Scrooge. Cynicism is once again creeping into our spirits and most of us have awakened to find ourselves in unpleasant places.
How can I return to the joyful enthusiasm of my own childhood in the celebration of Christmas? Joy returns when I fill the tradition with the truth, compare my attitude to the plum line of Scripture, and then let it transform me.
In Matthew 5:45 we read that our heavenly Father "makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." God generously sprinkles common grace and care upon all of His creatures. And, therefore, because we call ourselves disciples of Jesus, we are to imitate God and love both our neighbors and our enemies.
This is only possible because we can clearly see in Scripture how God has made His will and His character known. It is the purpose of the children to manifest the nature of their Father and it is the nature of the Father to give common grace.
It may interest you to know that A Christmas Carol has NEVER been out of print. God's blessing rests upon the timeless truth of "Good Will Toward Men" that is found as a theme in the story because it is bathed in the truth of God's common grace falling on the just and the unjust.
So, Tiny Tim's prayerful benediction is indeed appropriate! God bless us, every one!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
I've been thinking about marriage...
Marriage: An Interdevelopmental Partnership
Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett, married in 1846
Frank Butler and Annie Oakley, married in 1882
Pierre and Marie Curie, married in 1895
George Burns and Gracie Allen, married in 1926
Billy and Ruth Bell Graham, married in 1943
Why are these names familiar? They represent couples whose names are linked together forever because they experienced a special kind of relationship - an interdevelopmental partnership. This is a relationship in which both partners bring out the best in each other by encouraging personal development and growth.
One famous couple, Pierre and Marie Curie, worked together for the benefit of humanity. As an industrious student, Marie caught the eye of Pierre Curie, director of one of the laboratories at the Sorbonne in Paris, France. In 1898 they discovered polonium and radium and, then, in 1903, along with scientist Henri Becquerel, they won the Nobel Prize in Physics for discovering radioactivity.
An interdevelopmental partnership demonstrates that along with supporting and bringing out the best in each other, there are many opportunities to lay down our lives for each other, as well.
The roles we each play in a partnership shift according to the need. Cindy White, a brilliant entertainment designer, said this about partners, "A great partner lets you soar without drifting away. Sometimes they are the wind that's hoisting you up. Sometimes they are the ones on the ground, holding the kite string."
A great example of this is found in the comedy team of George Burns and Gracie Allen. When they started their partnership, Burns wrote all of the funny punch lines for himself and wrote Allen's character as the "straight man." When they performed, however, the audience rewarded Allen with laughter for her supposed straight questions and responded to Burns' funny answers with silence.
Individual egos can really mess up a great partnership and this was a true test of George's ego. As Burns put it, "It broke my heart, but I was young, hungry and not a dope." From then on, he wrote routines to take advantage of Allen's natural gift for comedic delivery. This was the beginning of over four decades of fame and success for Burns and Allen. In later years, both attributed their success to each other.
It is important to note that we each have the ability to choose how we will be in an interdevelopmental relationship. Am I willing, when necessary, to encourage my partner to evolve their possibilities?
What does this look like in the DelHousaye home? "Darryl, becoming the president of Phoenix Seminary is exactly what you should do!" "Jacque, if Holly works for you, she will make you great!"
Then, alternately, when necessary, am I willing to lay down my life for the good of my partner?
What does this scenario look like in the DelHousaye home? "Let's tackle that challenge together!" "Go ahead and accept that opportunity. I will be waiting for you when you come home."
During the course of our marriage, we can provide what great partners have always provided for each other - encouragement and sacrifice bathed in love and friendship. As Jesus said in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one more than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."
Because friendship is at the heart of a good creative partnership, the whole is much greater and stronger than the individual parts. Together we are better!
Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett, married in 1846
Frank Butler and Annie Oakley, married in 1882
Pierre and Marie Curie, married in 1895
George Burns and Gracie Allen, married in 1926
Billy and Ruth Bell Graham, married in 1943
Why are these names familiar? They represent couples whose names are linked together forever because they experienced a special kind of relationship - an interdevelopmental partnership. This is a relationship in which both partners bring out the best in each other by encouraging personal development and growth.
One famous couple, Pierre and Marie Curie, worked together for the benefit of humanity. As an industrious student, Marie caught the eye of Pierre Curie, director of one of the laboratories at the Sorbonne in Paris, France. In 1898 they discovered polonium and radium and, then, in 1903, along with scientist Henri Becquerel, they won the Nobel Prize in Physics for discovering radioactivity.
An interdevelopmental partnership demonstrates that along with supporting and bringing out the best in each other, there are many opportunities to lay down our lives for each other, as well.
The roles we each play in a partnership shift according to the need. Cindy White, a brilliant entertainment designer, said this about partners, "A great partner lets you soar without drifting away. Sometimes they are the wind that's hoisting you up. Sometimes they are the ones on the ground, holding the kite string."
A great example of this is found in the comedy team of George Burns and Gracie Allen. When they started their partnership, Burns wrote all of the funny punch lines for himself and wrote Allen's character as the "straight man." When they performed, however, the audience rewarded Allen with laughter for her supposed straight questions and responded to Burns' funny answers with silence.
Individual egos can really mess up a great partnership and this was a true test of George's ego. As Burns put it, "It broke my heart, but I was young, hungry and not a dope." From then on, he wrote routines to take advantage of Allen's natural gift for comedic delivery. This was the beginning of over four decades of fame and success for Burns and Allen. In later years, both attributed their success to each other.
It is important to note that we each have the ability to choose how we will be in an interdevelopmental relationship. Am I willing, when necessary, to encourage my partner to evolve their possibilities?
What does this look like in the DelHousaye home? "Darryl, becoming the president of Phoenix Seminary is exactly what you should do!" "Jacque, if Holly works for you, she will make you great!"
Then, alternately, when necessary, am I willing to lay down my life for the good of my partner?
What does this scenario look like in the DelHousaye home? "Let's tackle that challenge together!" "Go ahead and accept that opportunity. I will be waiting for you when you come home."
During the course of our marriage, we can provide what great partners have always provided for each other - encouragement and sacrifice bathed in love and friendship. As Jesus said in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one more than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."
Because friendship is at the heart of a good creative partnership, the whole is much greater and stronger than the individual parts. Together we are better!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
I've been thinking about pressure...
Not Under Compulsion
Compulsion - the state of being compelled
Compelled - to drive or urge forcefully or irresistibly; to cause to do or occur by overwhelming pressure
Have you noticed that compelling someone to do something does not work very well? What is our natural reaction to pressure? To dig in our heels, of course. So why do we persist in trying to motivate others this way?
I know, by personal experience, that if I act in the pressure of the moment, I may later regret my action. Regret kills - murders the effect - of any satisfaction I might find in doing what I thought was right or good to do in the first place.
2 Corinthians 9:6&7 provides an interesting look into motivation when it says, The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Here are some related words to the "not under compulsion" idea:
not of grief
not regretting his gift, as if it were wrung from him (!)
not sorrowfully
not with sadness
not by constraint
The Apostle Paul, who wrote these words, never employed high-pressure methods in raising church funds. In his first letter to Corinth he asked that monies be given systematically, on a regular weekly basis, specifically so that there would be no pressure to collect an offering when he arrived.
I think we can safely launch from this idea into determining that pressure that produces action motivated by all the wrong reasons is certainly at the very least, demotivating and most often unproductive and useless.
In contrast, Jesus wisely used attraction to motivate people He came in contact with all throughout His ministry on this earth. He taught the value of becoming "fishers of men" to His disciples as a metaphor for successfully drawing individuals to the truth.
Fishermen use lures as an enticement to catch fish. Lures hint of pleasure and gain. What is the best way to gain the attention of someone? Show genuine interest in them and their well-being.
It takes more time to be patient to understand a person and what motivates them than it does to beat them into submission through exerting pressure. I know I brighten when someone understands what makes me tick and then delights my fancy by showing me a better way. How about you?
Compulsion - the state of being compelled
Compelled - to drive or urge forcefully or irresistibly; to cause to do or occur by overwhelming pressure
Have you noticed that compelling someone to do something does not work very well? What is our natural reaction to pressure? To dig in our heels, of course. So why do we persist in trying to motivate others this way?
I know, by personal experience, that if I act in the pressure of the moment, I may later regret my action. Regret kills - murders the effect - of any satisfaction I might find in doing what I thought was right or good to do in the first place.
2 Corinthians 9:6&7 provides an interesting look into motivation when it says, The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Here are some related words to the "not under compulsion" idea:
not of grief
not regretting his gift, as if it were wrung from him (!)
not sorrowfully
not with sadness
not by constraint
The Apostle Paul, who wrote these words, never employed high-pressure methods in raising church funds. In his first letter to Corinth he asked that monies be given systematically, on a regular weekly basis, specifically so that there would be no pressure to collect an offering when he arrived.
I think we can safely launch from this idea into determining that pressure that produces action motivated by all the wrong reasons is certainly at the very least, demotivating and most often unproductive and useless.
In contrast, Jesus wisely used attraction to motivate people He came in contact with all throughout His ministry on this earth. He taught the value of becoming "fishers of men" to His disciples as a metaphor for successfully drawing individuals to the truth.
Fishermen use lures as an enticement to catch fish. Lures hint of pleasure and gain. What is the best way to gain the attention of someone? Show genuine interest in them and their well-being.
It takes more time to be patient to understand a person and what motivates them than it does to beat them into submission through exerting pressure. I know I brighten when someone understands what makes me tick and then delights my fancy by showing me a better way. How about you?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)