The Nature of Sacrifice...

As I sat in church on Sunday, I thought about the nature of tithing as I see it in the American church today. I wonder exactly how much our offerings are a fragrant aroma to God. How pleased is He really with my sacrifice to Him? Because, isn't that what the "offering" is: a sacrifice?

I think the way we give is as important as if, or how much, we give. Most church-goers have likely heard that "God loves a cheerful giver," (2 Cor. 9:7) so we already know we shouldn't give out of a sense of religious duty. We shouldn't just give because we know that we should, but because we want to and because we enjoy worshipping God with our sacrifice. So each of us makes a decision in our hearts (not making a decision is, itself, also a decision) whether or not to give and how much to give. Our tithe is our act of sacrifice to God, and our acknowledgment of, and trust in, His power to provide. I recognize that I am blessed beyond measure and I enjoy giving back to God, but I've realized that I've overlooked the significance of how I do it.

How much time do we think and pray over our offering? How much consideration goes into how it will be used? Or do we take time to thank God for what He's given us, and for the privilege of being able to give back to Him? Or do we just write the check, drop it in the plate, and forget about it? I'll bet that if when we took the plate, we stopped to pray over our offering, we'd likely get a gentle nudge from our neighbor or a discreet, "PSST!" from the usher waiting at the end of the row for holding up the show. Has our method of taking offering trained us to marginalize its significance? Has our pride created a format of giving that limits the joy that comes from giving to God by forcing it into lazy anonymity? Some churches have set up the means for their parishioners to have their tithe automatically withdrawn from their bank account on a set schedule. Sure, that makes it simpler and easier, but has our spiritual act of giving to God merely become a direct deposit?

It's somewhat unfortunate that tithing nowadays has been forced to be an almost secretive, hidden act. As we sit in our pews, the plate is passed, we slip our offering in, and pass it along accompanied by a furtive glance to the person on the receiving end, and that's it. We don't think anymore about it. This sacrificial act of worship to God is over in seconds and the only thing that has really changed are a few numbers in a bank account. But what about my heart? Was I worshipful in my giving? Did I truly make a sacrifice? (I'm speaking in generalities here based on observations from my own flawed self and what I can perceive in church, so by no means would I suggest this is the case everywhere, for everyone. But what if we're missing out on something more? And by "we," maybe I just mean myself...)

Wouldn't it be cool to physically get up out of your seat, out of being comfortable, and take your offering to the altar, sacrifice it there, and leave it to God? To take something that is yours (as much as anything can truly be yours) bring it from where you are to before your God and to say, "Here you go God, I want you to have this." I believe that there is a physical dimension to almost every spiritual act. And when you connect an emotion in your heart, a thought in your head, to a physical act of your hands and feet, you experience it in a way you couldn't otherwise. The significance of the physical action that mimics the state of your heart has power. Why else would the Bible speak of different positions you can take while praying? If laying prostrate or kneeling before God in prayer didn't have the potential of changing how you pray, why would it be worth mentioning? And it's not for attention; it's not for the benefit of anyone but yourself. Why should tithing be any different?

Don't get me wrong, I don't think tithing should be paraded in front of the church. The worst thing that could happen would be people seeking prestige or approval by showing off how they give, or others feeling judged for not giving. But when the Israelites took their sacrifices to the temple, can we be so naive as to think that the others at the temple didn't know that they were there making a sacrifice? It's hard to hide a goat in your pocket, and the act of sacrificing it isn't exactly discreet. It wasn't done in secret! There wasn't any way of concealing your offering to God, but more than that, there wasn't any need to do so!

Making a sacrifice to God isn't about clamoring for recognition, it's about humbling yourself. And what better way to humble yourself than to physically go before God, instead of waiting for Him (or the plate) to come to you, and placing your sacrifice at His feet? I'm going to start by challenging myself to change my heart about giving... to take the time to pray over my tithe, and to truly recognize the significance of my offering. What would happen in my own life and in the church if I take sacrifice more seriously? The next question is, are we as Christians, and is the church, capable of something like this? Can we do it without it being abused? Can we put aside judgment, insecurity, and pride? Can we allow each other to fully experience giving to God in a new way?

I think we can. More than that, I think we should.
-Scott


P.S. I don't mean for any of this to be accusatory or judgmental to others in any way and acknowledge that some of my observations are probably projections of my own behavior. It's not my intention to condemn the church but to merely to challenge us to take the time to examine how we give. I know all churches are different and maybe there are churches that take their offering like this... I just haven't seen it.

Heat is the Enemy of Productivity

I've been discovering (re-discovering maybe) this summer that excessive heat is the natural enemy of productivity. Take any task that you have any desire to complete, add give or take 110℉ and that task quickly becomes insurmountable. Even if you manage to somehow complete the task, your remaining energy and wherewithal to complete subsequent work diminishes rapidly. As attempts to continue working progress, this draining effect is exponential.

Extreme heat results in a peculiar condition of the mind. Any task, no matter how menial, makes you feel like you deserve a break. Merely walking outside to take out the trash warrants a cool drink and 30 minutes of watching Wipeout. This same act done in reasonable weather is hardly noticeable. Similarly, upon completion of your work, you are left with an unrealistic view of exactly the scale of your accomplishment. You can look back, put your hands on your hips with pride and exclaim, "Look at what I've done!"

What I did: Took out the garbage
What I felt like I did: Hiked a mountain with 50lb pack

What I did: Replaced brake pads on car
What I felt like I did: Conquered the Babylonian Empire

What I did: Went grocery shopping, filled up gas in car, picked up dog poop
What I felt like I did: Ran a marathon

I think you get the idea. There are exceptions to the rule though. If the task involves using water, such as washing the car, or hosing off the back patio, the negative effects of the heat are more or less neutralized by the cooling effects of beloved H2O. In general, though, heat will be the bane of your existence when it comes to trying to accomplish anything in the summer in Phoenix. I wonder if I can just put off everything that needs to be done until winter...

God's explicit revelation, faith, and post-modernism

I found a blog I had written for another blog that I wanted to expand upon here...

Awhile back, I had a short conversation with some non-believing friends of mine about the apparent existence of God... or lack thereof. One of them e-mailed us all a link to a video on YouTube called "God Only SEEMS Non-Existent!" which sparked the conversation. The video essentially takes a satirical attitude towards Christianity in relation to the fact that God doesn't explicitly (see: blatantly, obviously) reveal Himself to mankind, thus "forcing" us to believe in Him through faith.



One of my friends said that he saw no benefit to mankind from God's explicit revelation, but that instead it would just confuse us all the more. I took his statement to the next level and suggested that if God explicitly revealed himself to mankind, it would only cause men to rebel against him even MORE and actually negatively affect His mission. And this is partly why:

We live in a postmodern society in which it's okay for every individual to believe whatever they want, and nobody else can suggest to them otherwise. We are driving towards utter relativism in which there can be no absolute truth, because any statement of the sort tends to result in the response: "Well that works for you, but that's not for me." And God be with anyone who attempts to suggest that individual is "wrong." People that do that are simply "arrogant."

The fact is, people generally don't like being forced to do, or believe, things. Admittedly, I am guilty of this at times. So think about it: What would happen if God came down from the heavens, appeared in the sky before the entire earth and said, "Behold, I am God! Worship me!" I think it would cause people to rebel and disobey Him even more than they might have in their ignorance of His existence, merely because they lose their right to choose what to believe in.

Maybe that's why God gave us freewill and the opportunity to choose, because ultimately it is better for us. Maybe faith is His gift to us to help us experience Him wholly based upon our view of His character and what He has done. As my friend asked, what benefit is it to us to believe in Him because of explicit revelation? Am I more blessed through a relationship with a God I know because He desired a relationship with me, or a God I know because He forced a relationship with me?

But this demanding of signs to "prove" God is nothing new. Post-modernism, which in reality isn't all that modern anyway, isn't the only cause for this sort of doubt. People have been challenging God to show signs of who He is since Jesus walked the earth. Matthew 12:38-40 says:
³⁸Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." ³⁹But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (The fact that even after Jesus was miraculously resurrected after three days, true to His statement here, the Pharisees still refused to acknowledge it, is another blog altogether. So now they received the sign they were promised and denied God anyway.)

And not so long after (Matthew 16:1-4), another group of religious "leaders" came to Jesus and ask for a sign AGAIN! This time, they are asking Jesus for a sign after he just miraculously fed 4,000 people! HELLO!? OPEN YOUR EYES! In Mark's recounting of this same event (Mark 8:11-13), it almost seems as if Jesus is exasperated with their blindness:
¹¹The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. ¹²And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation." ¹³And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side."

Here are people who lived in the midst of the miracles Jesus was performing daily, and yet they still asked for God to prove Himself. How is this possible? I think the Pharisees/Sadducees/scribes cared less about Jesus legitimately proving Himself to be God, as they did about fitting Jesus/God into the prescribed box they had already created for Him. They didn't want a sign, they wanted their sign, the one that to them would mean God is who they think He should be. But you can't just fit God into a box of your own creation, and so when God didn't fit their mold, He was hidden in plain sight. That's the danger of making demands of God to do a certain thing, look a certain way, act a certain way. And yet here we are now 2,000 years later, still asking God to give us signs on Youtube...

As my friend, Josh, so astutely pointed out: "There was in fact a time when god revealed himself, did all kinds of crazy stuff like walking on water and raising the dead... and we killed him."

-Scott

SEX!

Yes... it's true. I'm writing about one of my favorite subjects ever, S-E-X. Don't worry, Scott. I'll try to keep the personal examples at bay.  And just so you all don't think I'm disrespectful to my husband, he did okay this before I posted it. ;-)  I also would like to add that I am writing about sex in regards to a married relationship between a man and a woman from a Christian perspective, and not to read any further if talking openly about sex offends you. 

The reason I am writing this is two-fold:

#1) I am realizing more and more the importance of sex in the marriage relationship.

AND

#2) I think that many could benefit by changing their viewpoints on this topic.

Having sex with your spouse is one of the best things you can do for your relationship, as sex can increase your intimacy in a way that nothing else can. I would also be as bold to say that the absence of sex or an unhealthy sexual relationship with your spouse will cause your intimacy levels to plummet drastically.

It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that if couples are frequently arguing or not getting along, it is going to affect the sexual relationship, which is going to push the couple even further apart. Likewise, I would also argue that a marriage relationship is drastically improved by having more better quality sex. Does this mean that great sex is all that a married couple needs to have a great relationship? Absolutely, not. However,  I would definitely argue that a satisfactory sexual relationship is a huge component in a happy and satisfying marriage.

So how do you have more, better sex? The way we think about sex has to do with a lot of things: our family backgrounds, the way we were raised, our culture, positive/negative personal experiences, etc. Regardless of an individual's background, there is a unifying theme. We are all sexual beings who have an innate desire to love and be loved. No matter what your background or hormone levels are, God designed sex as a gift within marriage as He knows that used in the right ways, it can create indestructible bonds between a man and a wife. We have been given a powerful tool, and we should take full advantage.

The way you think about sex has a huge impact on your relationship. Try viewing it as more of a "necessity" in your marriage just like taking the time to go on dates and have fun together as opposed to something you just "do" when the mood strikes (which for some could be not very often!)  Now, I'm not saying that if you're super full from dinner and have an intense migraine that you should just snap out of it. What I am saying, is that maybe sometimes you could give a little for the sake of bonding and intimacy, even if you don't initially feel like it.  Every married couple could benefit from having more good quality sex. Quality and quantity.

One last thing. God is a crazy genius who designed men and women very differently on purpose and in order to have more good quality sex, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Now I'm speaking in generalities here, but:

MEN:
A large majority of men can shut off their brains and have sex with their wife anytime without giving it much thought. They just need it, want it, and there's not a lot more to it then that. Men feel more intimate and loving towards their spouse when they are fulfilled sexually.

WOMEN:
A little more complicated. Women need to feel loved and intimate with their spouse before even wanting to have sex. They need to have their heart and soul touched and want to feel connected to their husbands before even wanting to go there.

Do you see the complexity in this? How perfectly men and women fit together in God's design when it's done right? This causes men to have to be more loving and affectionate towards their wives in order to allow their wives to let go emotionally, which lets them connect sexually, which makes men feel more invigorated and fulfilled, which allows husbands and wives to be lovingly connected and intimate in an amazing way. You can also see how easily this spiral could go horribly wrong.

Now how does that affect you?  If you are a man, it means romancing your wife more.  It means buying her that $10 rose bouquet even if you think it's a waste of money.  It means telling her how beautiful she is, or how much you love her even if you think she already knows.  If you are a woman, it means being open to your husband and respecting him for who he is as a man.  It means making him feel like a man in any way you can and doing your best to appreciate him.  It means thanking him for everything he does - big things and small things.  It means making him feel that he is the king of your universe.  In treating your spouse in some of these healthy loving ways and doing the best you can to truly LOVE them, you will be more likely to experience the pattern as referenced above leading to higher quality sex more often.

No matter what your viewpoints are on this topic, there's one thing that I'm sure about: we don't talk about sex enough in a healthy way.  Satan uses it as a weapon to tear marriages apart.  Let's use it as a weapon to strengthen our marriages instead.  If you are struggling in this area, don't take it lightly.  Go see a marriage counselor or sex therapist.  At the every least, don't be afraid to be open about your issues and talk to a trusted friend or buy some Christian reading material on increasing your sexual intimacy.  Bottom line:  Sex is a big deal.  So let's be real about it.

Brianne's On-Going List of Blessings

This is a feel good post about things that fill me with joy.  This is about stopping to smell the roses.  This is about enjoying the little things in life.  This is about appreciating and loving all of God's rich blessings.  

Every once in awhile, you just need to make a happy list. 

Brianne's On-Going List of Blessings

• the color red
• puppy breath
• bubble baths
• candles
• busy coffee shops in the morning
• feeling the presence of God
• a beautiful melody
• baby's laughter
• thunderstorms
• roses and lilies
• macadamia nuts
• warm cookies
• candlelight
• worship music
• my husband
• dolphins
• new notebooks
• pianos
• kissing
• aspen trees whispering in the wind
• s'mores
• beach days
• lazy Saturday mornings
• connecting with other women
• peace, faith, and hope
• spooning
• unconditional love
• not being able to put a good book down
• slow dancing to Norah Jones
• satisfying a chocolate craving
• a good back "tickle"
• sleeping in and getting up slowly
• cinnamon rolls
• working hard and seeing results
• being overwhelmed by nature
• grilled cheese and tomato soup
• soft comfy pajamas
• laughing so hard your stomach hurts
• the smell of bread in the oven
• clean house
• looking at old photos
• a beautifully decorated Christmas tree
• scented markers
• elderly people holding hands
• inspirational quotes
• the day after your wedding
• discussing a good movie ending
• BBQ's by the pool
• feeling balanced
• the awe of a good magic trick
• dancing with children

What does your on-going list of blessings look like?

 

Here's to New Beginnings

Today I have been accepted into grad school at Ottawa University and will start classes the 4th week of August!

I have decided to get my Master of Arts in Professional Counseling and become dually licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist.

As many of you know, I have been pondering going back to school ever since I got my BA in Psychology in 2007.  After 2.5 years of soul searching and asking God what he wants to do with my life, I feel that he has finally answered my prayers and given me some direction. :)

I LOVE to learn new things, and I can't wait to get started.  I LOVE to grow, be productive, and work towards goals that excite me.  I LOVE that I will be working in a positive direction knowing that I will be working towards becoming a better person with more to offer the world and the knowledge to really be able to help people in the way that God has gifted me.  God created me to be a sensitive person with the spiritual gifts of mercy and encouragement, and I can't think of a field for who He has made me.  I can't wait to see what He is going to do with my life from here.

It is going to be a night and weekend 60ish credit program (60 credits for the MA in PC but a few more added credits/classes for the Marriage and Family concentration) through Ottawa University that will take around 3 years to complete if I don't take any breaks.

I am so excited about life and to see where God takes me from here!  Here's to new beginnings and endless possibilities!