How To Be A Christian Without Being A Jerk

Faith in real life

Category Archives: commentary

This Just In: Steve Stricker is Still Faithful to His Wife!

April 9th, 2010
He is just a normal guy from Wisconsin. Friendly, supportive of his peers, not an inauthentic bone in his body. Pretty much like most guys in Wisconsin as long as they don't have a 6 pack of Leinie,s under their belt. Today, he is ranked the second best golfer in the world. You practice hitting balls in the snow, maybe you'll get there some day. #2, yet, if you don't know golf, you never heard of him. He is not as newsworthy as golfer #1.

You see, when he comes out on the tour as a young man, his wife is his caddie for the first five years. Until their first child is born. A caddie is generally a 7 days a week, 24-hour-a day-companion.  Not much room to have wild times with the "boys." That's not his idea of fun, anyway. Sitting in a deer stand, waiting for a big eight point buck to come by, hunting with his father-in-law, now that's a good time! 

He knows adversity. He has a three-year slide, starting in 2003, going from being fourth on the PGA tour to 188th and he ends up losing his tour card. He has to start all over, and go to qualifying school ("Q" School) again. That is a lesson in humility for someone so skilled and still relatively young. He is a humble man to begin with, though, so there isn't much of a thump when he falls from the top of the list. But, he isn't done, yet. 

He gets his card at Q school, keeps improving, and becomes comeback golfer of the year in 2006. Keeps improving, wins again,a and is repeat comeback golfer of the year in 2007. The comeback is over. He is hovering at becoming the top ranked golfer in the world. 

You can watch him play today at the Masters. He is in the same foursome as golfer #1. You have probably even heard of the top ranked golfer. He doesn't have a lot in common with #2. Actually, pretty much nothing in common, almost polar opposites, except that they both hit a small white ball extremely well. 

So, even though every other word spoken about golf this weekend will be "Tiger," as in "Tiger Woods #1 ranked golfer in the world," I am a "Steve Stricker" kind of guy. 

I will be rooting for #2. 

I will even forgive him for going to U of I instead of UW.

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Will your loved ones know you in eternity?

April 6th, 2010
Jesus died on the cross and is resurrected on Easter. His body is not immediately recognizable (Mary Magdalene in the garden; two disciples walking with him to Emmaus), but it is still physical (tells Thomas to touch him; eats fish).

In the resurrected Jesus we see what our bodies will be like when we are resurrected at the end time. We, too, will have "glorified bodies." If we are like Jesus, our loved ones will recognize us, but not immediately. If we are like Jesus, they will know us when we speak or do something that jogs their memory.

Since we will be with Jesus, what we do or say that is memorable will be a good thing. There isn't sin in eternal life with Him.

Think about it this way- what can you say or do with your loved ones now that is so memorable it will reflect you clearly when you are resurrected? How will they know?

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Why we call it “Good”…

April 2nd, 2010
Do you get an uneasy feeling when you think about God being a God of wrath? 

Is the death of Jesus on the cross part of a cruel and sadistic plan?

It isn't the "person" of Jesus God's wrath destroys, it is the sin that Jesus takes into himself that is attacked.

Your sin. My sin. All sin.

This is explained in detail in Romans 8:1-4. A phrase from verse 3 is specific.

"And so he (God) condemned sin in human flesh…"

By dying with our sins upon himself, Jesus destroys "sin, death, and the power of the devil" (Luther).

God's wrath is ultimately a sign that points to his love.

www.danahanson.org for blog and online podcast

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Notes

April 1st, 2010

Today is Maundy Thursday. "Maundy" is from the Latin word, "mandatum," and connects to the teaching Jesus gives at the Last Supper when he says,

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13:34 NASB)

Apparently the teaching didn't sink in.

The disciples begin arguing who is the greatest among them, like some kind of sports talk show (Luke 22:24).

The greatest doesn't have to ask. He is the one in their midst always.

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What is our role in Holy Week?

March 31st, 2010
2 Cor. 3:7-9
7 The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. 8 Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? 9 If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God!

When the law is given to Moses, it provides guidelines for living. The law is a picture of what people can do when they are faithful to God.

But, we aren't. We turn away from God and God's ways. Our glory, the ability to do right by God fades. Yet, there is hope because God sends the gift of the Holy Spirit to those open to receiving Him. This makes trust in Jesus possible as the one who brings new life.

It is the new life made possible by the Holy Spirit that is the fulfillment of the new promise; the new covenant.

This is what the events of Holy Week make clear.

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a strange hotel experience…

March 30th, 2010

I did a quick road trip with son, Greg, up to No. Cal to visit UCSC and CSUMB. Stayed at a hotel that is also used for student housing at Santa Cruz. What a strange experience for the student who ends up there. Not only is this miles from campus, but it is a normal business hotel with conference center and all.

Do you have your room cleaned every day? That would take all the fun out of the tension of having one roommate who is OCD and the other is a throw-your-clothes-wherever-they-will-land-type.

Can you personalize your room? Can you take down the picture of the meadow from that famous artist in China so you can hang up your Farah Fawcett poster? O, sorry dated myself a bit there, 'eh?

Is there an RA? Does the guy at the front desk listen as you talk about getting dumped by your girlfriend?

So many questions…

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So, doctor, what interest rate will I receive for that college loan?

March 26th, 2010

I don't have specific insight about whether the health-care reform bill will be a good thing or not. Actually, I have no idea what just happened this past week with the health-care situation.

Neither does anyone else.

Many regulations that were passed within the bill haven't even been written. So, none of the lawmakers can say they completely understand what they just did.

This is called a health-care "reform" bill, but if Congress doesn't know what is being "reformed," because they don't know what was specifically "formed" that needed to be reformed, well…

One thing they do know is that Federal college loans will move from the private sector to the government. A wise or foolish provision? I can't say.

What I can say is I don't naturally think, "O yeh,  college loans," when you mention "heath-care."

I have no idea what just happened this past week, but I am in good company. Neither does anyone else.

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How To Be A Christian Without Being A Jerk

Faith in real life