Shema

In Luke 10:27, a prominent religious person tries to test Jesus by asking him what he must do to inherit eternal life. As he often does, Jesus turns this question back on him and asks him what he thinks. The man’s response to Jesus included very familiar words. He said “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.”

When I read those words, I was curious. Why is this basic sentence is repeated over and over again in scripture? When I was in youth group we had this really cool song we would sing which included these words as well. So I did some research….

This sentence is part of what Jewish people call the “Shema Yisreal,” (named from the first words, which are “hear Oh Israel”) that first appears in the Bible in Deuteronomy 6:5. The book of Deuteronomy is basically a long sermon from Moses. After he gives the Israelites the Ten Commandments, he continues to pronounce to them the words of God. He says the Shema, which also includes instructions about how they are to repeat these words, to commit them to memory, and speak of them often. Subsequently, the Shema is a very important part of Jewish prayer services, to be recited in the morning and the evening.

The words of the Shema are quoted in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In Matthew and Mark it is Jesus who recites them. Since I find this so interesting, I am going to break some of it down and post about what I find. I hope you will follow along…

Smelly Roses

Someone asked me the other day to describe a simple pleasure that I have. I had a hard time answering the question, because a lot of things are simple pleasures to me. I would define a simple pleasure as something that gives one unadulterated joy or exuberance. I get joy from having good conversations, learning new things, being with kids and family, solving problems, talking and listening to God, being in nature, listening and playing music, and many other things. I think life would be very sad and dark without simple pleasures. Yet it is also a pretty common experience to forget these simple moments of joy.

In Luke 10, Jesus’ disciples return to him with a good report. He had sent them out to do good work among the people, and they were successful. Upon hearing this report, Luke wrote in verse 21 that Jesus was “full of Joy.” Then Jesus turned and thanked his father.

What simple pleasures do you have? When was the last time you thanked God for the pure joy that comes from simple pleasures? When you smell the roses, do you thank God?

Legit

Something powerful happened the first day I began teaching. When I started talking, they sat down and listened. When I passed a piece of paper to them, they inspected it carefully and kept it for future reference. Most people would think this is not a big deal, but it was very different for me. The further one gets in one’s professional career, these experiences tend to occur more often. All of a sudden your words matter. Your thoughts are coherent and meaningful at least to someone. You start to feel legitimate. It can be intoxicating.

In Luke 10, Jesus sends out seventy-two of his followers to heal people and drive out demons throughout the region. Evidently they were very successful, because they come back to Jesus joyfully reporting “even the demons submit to us in your name.” It seems that Jesus shared in their joy, happy that they were doing so well. Yet he also reminded them, “do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

I think this reminder is absolutely essential to every Christ follower, especially in times of success. We need to know that knowing God is our greatest opportunity for success. Such a thought may allow us to remain humble as well as endure the struggles of life. 

Thinking Fourth Dimensionally

Great Scots! I really loved the Back to the Future trilogy. I think it would be awesome to find out what may happen in the future, as well as to personally experience what happened in the past. It seems like being able to travel in time would really help me to have greater insight and live life better in the present. Then I might be better at thinking “fourth dimensionally.” Having a flying car would be pretty sweet too.

A couple of books I have read recently have discussed how humans are often not very good at making decisions because we are also not very good at predicting the future. David Dunning’s book about “Self-Insight” says that there are many roadblocks we face to making such predictions. He says we generally underestimate the impact of our possible future emotions. We also view the future in the most utopian of circumstances.

Finally, we often fail to consider available data. For example, there may be a good chance statistically that people who speed in their vehicles will get a ticket at least once a year. Yet if you asked someone who speeds if they think they will get this year, they probably would tell you “no.” Based on Dunning’s book and other research I have reviewed, it seems that people only make realistic predictions when they are required to take the time and explore many different possibilities concerning their predictions.

In the 7^th chapter of the book of John, Jesus confronts some people who seem to be making quick judgments. Much like the way we predict the future, the people used very little information to decide that Jesus was demon-possessed. They did not consider the possibility that Jesus might actually be the one who was sent from the God they presumed to be advocating. If they would have taken the time to investigate the circumstances of Jesus’ life and the prophecy of the scripture, they may have been more inclined to believe. To this Jesus tells them: “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.”

Unfortunately, driving in my truck at 88 miles per hour is infinitely more likely to result in a speeding ticket than transportation to the future or the past. I guess I am stuck with thinking fourth dimensionally based upon my limited current knowledge. However, I think it is valuable to be aware of our tendency for quick judgments, and to attempt to be more mindful of the consequences involved.

Wannabe

At this stage in my life, I see a lot of people around me who are continually striving to build their lives. We are “wannabes.” We are baristas that want to be musicians, assistants who want to be managers, and students who want to be teachers. We are singles who want to be married, married people who want to be parents, and lonely people who want friends. May be 50 years ago people would be safely tucked into a nice comfortable spot by now, but it seems to me that is becoming the exception instead of the norm.

We want to be significant, to matter. We spend our blood, sweat, and tears in our attempts to make our dreams come true. We seek mostly what is just beyond the horizon. There is a sense of spiritual hunger that seems to drive us. Yet sometimes it seems that hunger can get so strong that one can be consumed by it. We want just one drop of…

Something.

Jesus says in John 6 that he is the goal of our striving. He says that believing and drawing to him will cause us not to hunger or be thirsty. He also guarantees that what we seek is not the temporary stuff we see around us. It seems this stuff is what makes us strive.

The truth is probably that this striving is not limited by life stage or situation. May be it is a universal human condition to want. I am not sure what it looks like, but I “wannabe” filled with that which will last.

Immigrated

Following Arizona’s new law, many people have been talking about the immigration question. There have been threats of boycotts and many protests. Washington D.C. has even taken notice. In case you have been hiding in a hole for the past week, the new law gives authorities the right to ask anyone to provide proof of citizenship. Individuals who cannot provide said proof might be subject to jail time. Many have called it racism, or a violation of privacy.

Personally, I think this law is ill conceived. It seems to have been passed out of revenge and fear. I think it will be effective solving it’s objective if enforced; yet I do not think this objective serves to benefit the citizens of the state of Arizona. The best possibility that I think could come from it is that it might cause the United States government to take notice and try something different than putting people in jail. I am not a law expert, but it seems to me that making citizenship easier to attain is a much better idea.

In the 6th chapter of the book of John, Jesus is being followed by a large group of people. These people are away from their homes, longing for a better life for themselves and their families (does that sound like immigration to you?). They had come to listen to Jesus and see his miracles. Jesus kept his part of the deal and spoke to the people. No one said that Jesus had to feed them. Yet Jesus brought it up, then he performed the miracle of feeding over 5,000 people even though he started with next to nothing. Jesus also said in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

I know that immigration is not an easy problem with easy solutions, many of which I probably do not understand. Yet I do not think Jesus would be in favor of Arizona’s current approach. He was in the business of convincing people that they are important. What do you think?

Renew

Ray Kurzweil is a famous scientist. He is famous because he was instrumental in developing software in which a computer can read text. He is also a futurist, making predictions about trends and breakthroughs in technology. He predicted the growth of the Internet in the 1990’s as well as the growth of wireless Internet. Kurzweil also predicts that before he dies, he will be able to download his consciousness on to a computer, waiting for the time when the technology will exist to give him a new body. Then at some point, he will be able to download the consciousness of his deceased father as well. He thinks they will take their new bodies and live forever.

There is no doubt that Kurzweil is a brilliant man. His intelligence has brought him many accolades. Yet just like many other men, he wants to have power over death. He chooses technology and nutrition as the tools he thinks will give him this power.

The problem is that the odds are not in his favor. All but one man in the history of the world who have sought power over death have not gained it. Many have tried in many ways. The Bible mentions other men who were resurrected from death, but only Jesus Christ has in himself power over death.

In John 5, Jesus talks about his Father bestowing upon him the power over death. He says his followers will cross over from death to life, no technology needed. We will be renewed.