Dudley Hall – Page 12

Living the Life of Freedom

November 28, 2015 by Dudley Hall

DUDLEY HALL -- “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

Some time ago I was in a church service where the music team lingered on lyrics celebrating our freedom. We continued for several minutes declaring that we are free. I began musing on the degree of liberty we really have in Christ. It was interesting that on that occasion the sermon focused on how we can improve ourselves and feel better about ourselves if we would only practice certain specified disciplines.

It is great to be free from the penalty of sin’s curse. We could spend several eternities praising God for Jesus’s sacrifice, which satisfied eternal justice. Knowing that we do not have to face our sins should free us to embrace life with courage and confidence.

But there is more. When Jesus died for us -- in our place -- we died. That is important because we were inextricably chained to self-absorption. Since the original fall of mankind in the Garden, we have all been focused on ourselves. We spend most of our time trying to perfect and present ourselves in some acceptable fashion. We worry about how we are perceived. We measure our performance and compete with others for our own rights. Even when we try to do something for others we experience the menacing thoughts of wondering how this will look to outsiders. We find that it “feels good” to do charity work, so we do it more for ourselves than for the people that need the service. We massage our resumes and put our best foot forward in order to climb the social and vocational ladder. We become angry when others don’t see our point of view and value us as we deserve.

Wouldn’t it be nice to be free from that bondage? What if we could live beyond ourselves and for the glory of another?

That is the liberty Jesus offers. His death cut the power cord of sin in our present lives. Of course we can still choose to live in the selfish default mode, but we have been given a choice: the Spirit will enable us to live in the love of Christ. The same Christ that gave himself in our place has come to indwell us. We can be controlled by the love of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:14) This includes two vital dynamics. First we will live with joyful gratitude. After all He is the hero. He lived the acceptable life. He died the necessary death. He is God’s Son, man’s Savior, creation’s sustainer, history’s subject and the world’s hope. Why should any figure hold more intrigue for us? The treasure in knowing Him is unsearchable. The joy available in Him is without limit.

Secondly we will live with courageous confidence. He was raised from the dead and the same Spirit that raised him now lives in us and can transform us. When the message is proclaimed it will give hope to all who need change. Nothing in life is beyond the power of transformation. We can invade any sphere of this earth knowing that we represent a kingdom that is based on resurrection of the dead.

Yes, we are free. More free than we can imagine being. It is worth celebrating as well as appropriating. Let’s not live in selfish bondage when liberty is available.

Holding It All Together

November 12, 2015 by Dudley Hall

God Holding the World in His Hands - 900

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17

For those of us growing up with a picture of Jesus the shepherd holding a little lamb, it is challenging to view him as cosmic as the scriptures present him. It is vital that we recognize him as the Son of God who became man and dwelt among us, but he was before that. His majesty is portrayed in everything that exists. He was and is eternal and transcendent. Everything was created for him -- to glorify him -- to display him. Everything is moving toward a time when every eye shall see that everything is summed up in him. He is the purpose of creation. He is the agent of creation. He is the sustainer of creation. He is the redeemer of creation. All the thoughts of the Godhead are made manifest in him.

Sadly, most of us are blind to his glory. We can only see a world where mankind is the center. We worry that mankind is destroying creation without any thought to who finally makes final decisions about his realm. People spend tons of wasted time and energy worrying about the conspiracies that are under the control of evil, thinking that evil will decide what happens to God's creation. They should check with the one whose word holds it together.

Holding it all together

It is true that creation works better when mankind cooperates with his design. When we try to alter the way he instructs in managing it, things go awry. But, we should make no mistake that he will bring things to pass in the right time to fulfill his purpose for all of creation. That means that our first priority is to know and love him. Nothing is more serious or more urgent. When we know the one who created it all and who now holds it together, we have great hope. Without that, we are at the mercy of blind men and evil forces.

Look to him!

Introducing God — The Story

October 30, 2015 by Dudley Hall

Isaiah's Prophecies foresaw the culmination of The Story

DUDLEY HALL -- All good stories begin by introducing the main characters. Much of the plot is involved in getting to know the characters as the narrative moves along. The big story of the Bible follows this pattern. "In the beginning, God ..." alerts us to the central character. He is the creator of all things. He obviously has some design in mind as he goes about putting it all together.

The crown of his creation is man. Adam is introduced as the next main character of the story. But he is alone, and so the creator makes him a companion who is like him but with distinctions. They are given the shared assignment to cooperate with God in managing the creation.

Together, they are God's partners in his overall plan to make the earth flourish. Soon, a third character is introduced. He is the antagonist. He persuasively offers the pair an alternative means to fulfill their desires, and they yield. This introduces the conflict that will be an issue throughout the story.

Because of their rebellion Adam and Eve chose to hide. This reaction made it clear they really didn't know God that well yet. Why would those cared for and created by God want to hide from him? The couple experienced shame because of their choice. They saw themselves as bad, and they did know that God was good. They perceived that he would want to distance himself from them once they had rebelled against him. But God came looking for them. They feared exposure, because they thought it would condemn them. God came to expose them, so he could cover them. This theme is central to the continuing narrative as told by God through his storytellers.

God is not hiding from sinful people. He loves his creation and longs to share all that he has with them like a father does with his children. Not only did God come to Adam and Eve when they were behind the bush, but later he came to Noah when the world was corrupted and needed to start over. Then God sought out Abram who was confused about divine-human relationships and revealed himself as a covenant-keeping God, changing Abram's name to Abraham.

Though 400 years went by as Abraham's descendents lived in Egypt, God came to them to deliver them from slavery and make them a nation of prominence. By his own initiation, God revealed the design of the tabernacle where he would meet with his people. More of his character is revealed as he identifies with them by coming to live in a tent just like they have. Other religions had gods who lived in the heavens, the mountains, the plains or the seas, but Israel's God lived with them.

He showed them how sinful people could relate to sinless God. It was by a substitutionary animal sacrifice. Blood was shed to show that sin could not be dealt with without death. Sin could not be overlooked, ignored, tolerated, denied or redefined. The substitute must die in order for God's children to enjoy life with him again. In beautiful yet bloody foreshadowing, animals died to show this picture and point to a time when a perfect substitute would die and not only pay the penalty of sin, but condemn it.

That day came when Jesus was born. In Jesus, God was again coming to sinful man to cover him. Jesus lived as Adam and Eve were designed to live. He died as the representative of their descendents. His blood was sufficient to satisfy all justice and redeem all who are held in sin's slavery. Before his final hours, Jesus told his disciples that he was going to prepare for them a place where they could enjoy the Father just like he did. He knew they would miss him, but told them that he would come again and he would send the person of the Holy Spirit who would explain what they needed to know about how to live as God's redeemed and reconciled children.

It happened just like he said. Today we have the privilege of living in fellowship with God without fear of shame -- because God is not hiding from sinners. He is coming to them.

It is time for all of us who are hiding from God to step out of our shame by stepping into his arms. He has been looking for you. Step forward. There is no condemnation in him for those who trust his Son.

We are Made for More

October 16, 2015 by Dudley Hall

DUDLEY HALL -- Five-year old Sam and his dad were on a hike through some pretty thick woods. Sam began aggressively stomping on the briars in their path.

"What are you doing, Sam?' asked his dad.

"The man is going out of me," he declared.

"Have you being talking to Papa?" his dad wanted to know.

"Yes, Papa told me that when I do hard things without whining, the man comes out in me.

A few days earlier Sam and I (as you may have guessed -- I'm Papa) went on an outing together. Before sleep one night he wanted to hear another scary story.

"Have I told you about the time my older sister took me on a deep trek through the woods for a picnic? Well, we found an old holly tree that was hanging out over a stream. We carved our initials in it, and it was always a special place for me."

Sam wanted us to do the same the next morning. So, we dressed in our hiking boots and grabbed a water bottle. The trail was rough. Sam began to whine as the sharp bushes and briars clawed at his clothing. That was the setting for the "man story" Sam was remembering on the hike with his dad. I told him how God created humans to be his partners on earth. They were designed and assigned to subdue the earth. They were made to overcome whatever obstacles they faced in fulfilling their assignment. "You are male and even though you are young, you have a man's design in you. As you face obstacles and find a way to overcome them, the man inside you comes out." Sam began to take delight in finding ways over or around the blockades to our goal. By the way, we did find a suitable tree, and our initials are carved there for a memorial.

When we as members of society lose the sense that we are created by God for a particular purpose, we find it easy to whine and make excuses. We can even make a case for abandoning the journey and going back to comfort. So many opportunities to solve the problems in front of us are aborted simply because it is painful or inconvenient. We keep the man or woman inside from growing. In times of trouble we find ourselves paralyzed. In old age can we find ourselves still whining.

We are created to partner with God on earth. What a privilege! He is the invisible but not silent partner. He has all the resources necessary to get the job done. He is not dependent on other sources or circumstances. He leads us headlong into problems because he loves doing for us what looks like can't be done. He delights in opening the sea for his people to cross. He has no problem dropping bread from heaven. He provides a donkey for the Messiah to ride. He has an unused tomb for Jesus to spend the weekend in before his resurrection. He hasn't given up on planet earth just because there are big problems. We are designed for this. We can stop trying to escape, stop trying to just survive, and instead put our energy and focus on finding out what our partner wants to do.

Jesus said that his sheep hear his voice. His sheep are those who have trusted him alone for their reconciliation to God the Father. Having been reconciled, they again hear the plans and purposes of their God-Savior-Partner. They are as secure in the Father's love as Jesus the eternal Son is. They know that nothing can snatch them from the Father's hand. As they embrace each other, they will permeate the earth with his kingdom. There is much to be done and no time to whine. We are made for more.

The Story Behind the River

October 12, 2015 by Dudley Hall

DUDLEY HALL -- Life without stories is life without context, because stories form the culture of a people. People connect with a common story which gives them their meaning and identity. The defining story is not just one story, however, but a collection of stories that weave together in a way to provide context, purpose and meaning to a people. Thus, the people of God take their defining story from the Bible, which is itself a collection of stories intentionally woven together to give context, purpose and meaning to God's people.

In observing the interwoven character of the Bible, it is wise to stop while reading a story and ask, "What is the story behind the story?"

One of the many intriguing stories interwoven in the Bible is about rivers. Genesis 2:10 introduces the plot, and Revelation 22:1-3 concludes it. There was a river flowing out of Eden that provided life for that which grew there. The biblical story begins in the Garden with a life-giving river and concludes in a garden with a life-giving river. In between, we discover the nature of life that God has prepared for his people. The rivers symbolize life because where there is water, there is life. Civilizations grow up around rivers. When the rivers stop or get polluted, life is threatened.

The prophet Ezekiel picked up on the river motif to confront Israel's hopelessness when they were in exile. He spoke of a future when a river would flow from the Temple down to the Dead Sea and the desert. He saw the trickle from the altar that increasingly became a river too big to cross as it brought hope and life to a sea where no life could exist and to a desert that only needed water to flourish. The exiles needed something to hope for. Their history included the story of the miraculous provision of water gushing from a rock in the wilderness, but now they were dry. Ezekiel's prophecy gave them hope. Though they were in the desert of captivity, there would be a day when the source of life would again act in their behalf.

They expected the revival Ezekiel prophesied to look much like the great exodus Israel had experienced under Moses. At that time Egypt's power was broken over them, and they had become a viable nation with a growing economy and vast military might. It didn't look like that, but Ezekiel's vision did come to pass. This was a twist in the story that no one expected. After the destruction of Israel's majestic Temple by the Babylonians, they could think of nothing greater than its physical restoration. At the end of their exile, a remnant went back to Jerusalem to rebuild it. They did, but it was nothing like what they had lost.

Four hundred years later a new Temple appeared in Jerusalem. Human hands didn't build it. It was the greater Temple of God where God met with man by becoming a man. Jesus came. Those trained to view the Temple as a building of stones had trouble recognizing him as the Temple of Ezekiel's vision. Most didn't make the connection and died of eternal thirst.

One day when the Jews were celebrating their journey through the wilderness, Jesus attended. Their custom was to march from the Temple down some distance to the flowing spring, fill a vessel with water from the spring, and march back to the Temple. Then, they would pour the water on the altar, commemorating the water coming from the rock in the wilderness. Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

What had been symbolized in the Garden of Eden and had been prophesied by Ezekiel was fulfilled in Jesus, who is the rock out of whom flows the water that satisfies the thirst of everyone's heart. But there is more. Now if anyone drinks of that water by trusting him as Lord, they become a channel of the water to all those around them. Like the prophecy promised, this water will go to any dead sea where no life exists and to every desert where flourishing can take place. This is God's plan to bless the nations of the world. It is life that everyone needs; the kind of life that only flows from the presence of God.

The river is just one of many stories in the Bible that testifies to the big story that offers context for life. It is great to trace the story, but even greater to taste the water. Don't die of thirst in your heart. There is a river!

Short Stories

October 2, 2015 by Dudley Hall

DUDLEY HALL -- The mother was distraught. She had grown up in a large family who enjoyed meal times together. She remembered the happy bonding time around the table as each family member eventually told stories about their daily experiences. She had dreamed of her own children having a similar experience, but it just wasn't happening.

At first they brought their cell phones to the table. That was soon prohibited. Now they just sat and ate with very little chitchat. Any contribution to the conversation was usually short and often terse. They were good kids. They just didn't elaborate. Maybe they have the "Twitter-virus." You know -- everything must be said within 140 characters. Let's face it. You can't tell much of a story in 140 characters.

Life without stories is life without context, and stories that satisfy the human need for belonging need room for development. There must be a setting with main characters. Some issue or conflict to be solved supplies the mystery and the meaning. The plot doesn't have to be long, but even short plots have some rising action. And of course there must be a climax and the resulting resolution.

Without interlocking stories, life's experience is just a blur. It is then easy to reduce our lives to a search for moments of pleasure, avoiding anything inconvenient or complex.

We learn to see the stories in life by listening to storytellers. Young children love the bedtime stories. Older youth gain from hearing parents, uncles and aunts tell their stories. I remember fondly sitting on the porch listening to my dad and his friends tell stories of their experiences. Some were so funny I would lose my breath laughing. Others were serious, but it was easy to see the lessons even when no one pointed them out.

I discovered that some people are better storytellers than others, but they weren't always the ones with the most interesting stories. There was a lasting impression: Everyone has a story and it is worth hearing. Perhaps we could regain some lost ground in relationships if we took the time to think about our own story, listen to others tell their story, and read the Bible as the story that connects all the other stories with meaning and purpose.

My parents took me to church as a child. Actually, my first memory of church comes from a class called "Story Hour." It was taught by "Miss Lily," an older lady who lived alone as a widow. She brought cookies, and we sat around her rocking chair as she told us Bible stories. For a long time I considered the Bible as a book full of good stories, but I didn't see how they all connected -- except they all had moral lessons that were supposed to teach me to be a better boy. It was a great delight when I finally saw that the whole thing was a story. It is the "meta-story" that makes sense of all stories.

The story begins a long time ago in a beautiful garden far away where God's two favorites live and work. However, there was a serpent there. (See the main characters?) The serpent tempted the pair, and they succumbed and fell out of the garden and their open relationship with God. (See the conflict?) The story then proceeds through a long series of events leading to God's Son coming to Earth to restore the humans back to God. (Rising action?) When the God-man arrives instead of being welcomed, he is scorned and eventually crucified. However, in a stunning climax, he doesn't stay dead, but is resurrected to claim ultimate victory over the serpent and bring just reconciliation between God and his people.

There is no story like it in the whole world! There are substitutes and imitations, but this story alone brings the resolution that all people everywhere long to find.

That is our story. Adam and Eve were the first parents. We are connected to them and all those who followed. Some had terrible experiences. Some had great ones. They all combine to reveal the true nature of God, the source of trouble, and the solution to our alienation. Knowing this story connects us to history, humanity and eternity. Life without stories is life without context.

Scary Stories and the Big Story

September 28, 2015 by Dudley Hall

DUDLEY HALL -- When our grandson Sam was about three years old, he often climbed into my lap and begged for me to tell him a "scary story."

Now, for Sam a scary story did not necessarily include ghosts, wild animals or fearful situations. He just wanted drama, action, surprises and a good ending. He was easily bored with moral lessons and statistics. Even being young, he was already demonstrating the need that we humans have for stories.

We live our own stories. We listen to the stories of others. Even history itself is a big story.

Our culture has been fighting about stories for years. The "Moderns" told their story in terms of rational order. A fruit of the Renaissance was a heightened appreciation for what could be proven with the scientific method. The test tube became the final arbiter of truth. When needing to verify a truth claim, Moderns like to say, "Science tells us."

But the modernist's story didn't produce the fruit it promised and some people who reacted to it were called, "Post-Modernists." Some of their spokesmen liked to use an interesting phrase to define their story. "The incredulity of the meta-narrative" was often used in philosophical discussions and it sounds pretty impressive. It means that there just might not be a big story. If there is one, who can be trusted to tell it? Who gets to say what is right and wrong?

Maybe there are just lots of individual stories. For instance, if Mary decided to be sexually active before marriage and Lori chose to wait, neither is right or wrong. Each story stands alone. Where the Moderns repeated, "Science says," the Post-moderns declared: "Who says?"

A large portion of today's society is so fascinated with the individual's story; there is no appreciation for a bigger one. We live in one big "selfie." The problem is that we actually are a part of a bigger story, and our souls know it quite well. Even though we take up the whole frame in the picture, we aren't big enough to satisfy the deepest longings of our heart. We are the creations of the Master Storyteller. The need for story is stamped upon our conscience.

God not only thought up the grandest narrative of all but he also brought it to life. It is an adventure mystery with drama beyond human imagination, and the climax is not only surprising, but transforming to those who hear it. The hero is revealed in the most unusual twist imaginable. One clue: He is a Lamb/Lion.

There are alternative stories that use some of the elements of the grand story, but tell of something less. These tend to fixate on humanity's role, with Jesus either being ignored or relegated to a supporting position. Emphasis is placed on personality, talent, vision, strategy and knowledge. If God's Son is included at all, he is seen as an assistant in reaching our destiny. His place as Lord of all creation is not showcased.

Bookstores swell with books that tell us how to get better individually. We can lose weight, improve our attitude, dress in style, get rich, live long and secure our legacy. Pulpits that encourage us to think positively and behave nicely draw crowds who are hoping to find a way to be successful, gain blessings and avoid pain. In all the competing narratives, humans seem to be both the subject and the source.

The grand story actually does include you. But it is not primarily about what you have done good or bad, what you should do, or what you can do if you try harder. In fact one of the great surprises is that you are not the central figure at all. It is about who God is and what he has done. Oh, you do play a role right along with the famous ones in history like Abraham, Abel, Noah, Moses, David, Isaiah and Paul. Your story is part of the big story and it is being recorded for eternity.

It works like this. You hear the story and gain a new perspective of reality. That new perspective allows new choices that cause new actions. You discover what God has done for you, is doing in you, and will accomplish through you. As you live in partnership with God, who is the source of all, you tell the story.

Think! Who is the most genuine Christian you know? Ask to hear his/her story. Watch their eyes light up. Listen. You will hear the big story behind the personal story.

It is time to climb into the lap of the Father and let him tell you the scary story. You will come back time after time. Each time you hear it, you will want to know more. You will inevitably begin to connect your story to it. And strangely -- you will find that you cannot stop telling it. It is just too good to be kept a secret. There are millions who have not yet heard the story that makes all stories make sense. They wait in hope. Everyone likes a "scary" story.