The Simple Life

The Jerusalem Bible translates Ecclesiastes 7.29 this way: "God made man simple; his complex problems are his own creation." God created us for the simple life.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of teaching the final class in a quarter devoted to "Christian Principles of Finance." One of our elders taught the class and it was a wonderful, thorough study of what the Bible says about correctly handling money. He asked me to teach the final class on simplicity.

Any teaching on simplicity demands study in Richard Foster's work. Foster, a Quaker theologian, has written prominent books like The Celebration of Discipline and The Freedom of Simplicity. He makes a strong, Biblical case for the truth of Ecclesiastes 7.29; that our complex lives are the result of our fallen nature's bent toward filling the void only God can fill through the acquisition of things.

Interestingly, in last Wednesday's USA Today, Craig Wilson wrote an article that caught my eye. The title of the article (In Section D, page 1) was entitled: "Think you need more stuff? Just say baah." He talked about a New Year's resolution he had made to simplify his life, referring to a stuffed lamb he received for Christmas. Within the toy lamb's wool was written the word: "Simplify." Wilson wrote that he placed the lamb on the windowsill above the kitchen sink so that he could see it every day.

Wilson's article concluded with this penetrating reminder: "If it doesn't breathe, it doesn't matter."

In our faith, we long for the simple life. We realize God created us for the simple life. But we so struggle to live the simple life, creating undue complexity by our penchant for things.

Remember Craig Wilson's wisdom: "If it doesn't breathe, it doesn't matter." It has the echo of Solomon's inspired wisdom.

For Texas Rangers fans

Once baseball season gets rolling, I will also by commenting on baseball in general and the Texas Rangers in particular. For any Rangers fans who read my blog, let me suggest Jamey Newberg's site and Adam Morris' blog for outstanding online coverage of the Rangers.

Sin Without Spin

Tomorrow, my message is entitled "Sin Without Spin" and reviews Satan's efforts to "spin" sin as an attractive alternative to the boundaries established by God. The sermon will close with a call for Christians not to "spin" sin but to admit and confess our sin.

The message is the second in a series that is coordinated with our current Connection Group study called "Cross-Ways." The purpose of the study is to remind our church family of the First Principles of Redemption. The greater purpose, though, is evangelistic in the hopes our church family will invite friends and neighbors to hear the good news.

Last week, we began the series by realizing we were created for a relatioship with God. After 5 days of creation, God sensed a void with his creation that only the creation of humanity could fill. Humanity also has a void in the heart of every man and woman that only God can fill (Ecclesiastes 3.11).

With relationship with God established, this week we deal with when and why the intimacy with God was broken - in the Garden of Eden with the fall of man because of the deception of Satan.

Welcome to my Blog

This morning marks my entry into the cyberworld of blogging. Our ministry staff is currently updating our church home page (www.villagechurchofchrist.org) and in an effort to be more internet efficient, Jimmy Mitchell, our youth and family minister, and myself are creating blogs. My blog will focus on ministry, with a smattering of baseball commentary.