John and Kathy Deisher

One Call, One Harvest, 50 Teams

Thoughts

Have a Discussion

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The thing I hate about an argument is that it always interrupts a discussion.”

— G.K. Chesterton
"The thing I hate about an argument is that it always interrupts a discussion."

We have all experienced it.

What seemed like a simple disagreement in our conversation boils over into an argument. We didn’t mean for it to happen.

But the emotion of defending our position takes over and soon we are no longer addressing ideas. We are attacking people.

Chesterton once said that he would never agree to disagree. He valued the relationship with someone so much that he would disagree to agree. He would continue to engage in discussions with someone until each had come to points of agreement with the other.

We will probably never agree with someone on everything. But we can find things where we do agree. And we can have continuing discussions addressing areas of disagreement instead of attacking the person. Our relationships are that important.

So, build relationships. Have a discussion.

Change Yourself

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When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

— Viktor E. Frankl 
"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves."
Photo by Javier Allegue Barro on Unsplash

At some time or another, we all will encounter a situation that is beyond our control.

It is not very pleasant to be in that position.

We do what we always do: we try to change the situation. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t.

When it works, it is great.

When it doesn’t, it is not so great.

So what do we do? Mostly we complain. But is there a different path?

What if we could change ourselves? That is the challenge. It means we find a different perspective in which to view this situation. 

Maybe find a Kingdom perspective?

Because in the midst of every situation, there is always an opportunity for us to become more like Christ and see what God is doing.

Our Shoes

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Christ literally walked in our shoes.”

–Tim Keller

I cannot tell you how many times I have talked with someone about something they are experiencing and have heard them say, “You don’t understand.”

They feel that because I have not had the exact experiences they have had, I can’t possibly understand.

And, maybe that is true.

But Jesus Christ can. He walked in our shoes.

Literally.

He experienced everything we will ever experience.

He was loved and reviled, accepted and rejected, embraced and betrayed.

Fully God…fully man. Fully capable of feeling and experiencing everything I have ever felt or experienced.

But with one exception. He never sinned.

So, I m confident that when I come to Christ, he understands. And he teaches me to love as he did, to forgive as he did, to embrace the journey he has placed before me.

So I can walk in his shoes.

Just Start

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It’s the job that’s never started as takes longest to finish.”

— J.R.R. Tolkien

Photo by Manasvita S on Unsplash

I have a Word document where I write down ideas for projects I would like to do someday.

It is called “Undated Projects.”

The problem with this list is that I rarely do the things on it. It is not that I really don’t want to do them.

There is a book I want to write. There is some research I want to do. There is a project I would like to build.

But I never seem to get around to doing them.

The reason is fairly simple. They are “Undated Projects.” They have no deadline, no sense of urgency in a day filled with things that have to be finished today.

So, they are never started.

And, unless something changes, they will never be finished.

Look at your list of what you want to accomplish in your life. Put a date on it.

Start it. Finish it.

Companions

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It is easier to find guides, someone to tell you what to do, than someone to be with you in a discerning, prayerful companionship as you work it out yourself. This is what spiritual direction is.”

— Eugene Peterson
Photo by Andrea Tummons on Unsplash

I have said it. So have you.

“I wish someone would just tell me what to do!”

What should I study in college? Should I marry this person? Do I take this job or that job? How do I handle this situation?

Just tell me what to do!

So we look for a book, a speaker, a conference, someone, anyone who can give us an answer.

A guide who knows all, sees all, tells all.

But we should be looking for a friend, a companion. One who will walk with us, listen to us, pray for us. They will ask the hard questions that help us discover that God speaks to us and we can find answers through him.

Life is more frustrating if you keep looking for a guide.

Life is more fulfilling if you find a companion.

Clasp Hands

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To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.”

— Karl Barth
Photo by Igor Rodrigues on Unsplash

In the Theological Roundtable class for our interns, we talked this week about how we think theologically. Part of our time was spent looking at what we do as Christians that comes from tradition, from reason, and from experience.

Why do we pray?

It should be more than just something we do because we are “Christian.”

Or because the Bible talks about prayer.

Or because we know God answers our prayers.

We pray because it is our time to join with God in declaring that the things of this world do not define us. The chaos, the clatter, the distractions, and disruptions do not dictate our actions.

It is a rebellion against the systems of the world.

We stop the noise.

And we pray.

We join together with God as we pour out our heart and find direction in the disorder. 

Join the revelation. Clasp hands. Pray.

Go!

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The child, in Jesus’ mind, was not an annoying distraction. The child was a last-ditch effort by God to help the disciples pay attention to the odd nature of God’s kingdom. Few acts of Jesus are more radical, countercultural, than his blessing of children.”

– Stanley Hauerwas and William H. Willimon, “Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony

Some co-workers of mine have a year and a half old son. I had a chance to spend some time with him this past Sunday night. He has a new word he likes.

The word is “Go”.

And he does.

I try to get him to come sit. But he grabs my hand and says “Go”.

He always seems to be ready to go. He is always moving. He is full of energy. He is full of life.

I am more comfortable with “Stay.”

But he tugs on my arm, looks at me, and says “Go.”

The Kingdom of God is “Go”. It is movement. It is energy. It is life.

And when I am comfortable with “Stay” the Holy Spirit tugs on my arm and say, “Go”.

No wonder Jesus blessed the children.

In His Image

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Much of our difficulty as seeking Christians stems from our unwillingness to take God as He is and adjust our lives accordingly. We insist upon trying to modify Him and to bring Him nearer to our own image.”

—A.W. Tozer, “The Pursuit of God” 
"Much of our difficulty as seeking Christians stems from our unwillingness to take God as He is and adjust our lives accordingly. We insist upon trying to modify Him and to bring Him nearer to our own image.”

I shared with our interns the other day a different way of looking at the Bible.

Instead of reading the Bible and asking, “What are you saying to me, God?”, we should read the Bible and say, “What are you revealing about yourself, God?”.

It seems simple when you think about it. We were made in his image. So, that means as we learn more about God, his nature and attributes, we learn more about ourselves.

We make adjustments to our lives.

What is God revealing about himself to you, so that you can live in his image?