Dialogue with God

If you were to walk down the street and see someone talking with God in a verbal dialogue, you might be inclined to questions such a person’s sanity.  Dialogue or  conversation with God is something that we don’t generally think of.  Sometimes, we have a dialogue with God, but it is really a monologue.  It is us talking to ourselves and hoping God is listening.  Sometimes we blame God when it is really ourselves to blame.  Sometimes we don’t think in terms of God and conversation.  But God is a personality and because we are created in God’s image, we have God’s personality.  Much of Scriptures contain active dialogue between God and man. 

I found a series of “conversations” between Jeremiah and God in chapter 14 and 15 (after the “underwear” object lesson in Chapter 13).  There are five of them and in the dialogue, you see a great glimpse into why the Bible says that we are created in God’s image.  In these chapters, God’s longsuffering and patience finally give out. 

14:11 – Don’t pray for them.
15:1 – My heart is not with these people – send them away from my presence.
15:6 – I am tired of relenting. 

God is completely exasperated.  If you have children, you can identify with God (except for mine).  He is done!  Game over!  Don’t even bother praying for these people.  He is going to judge Judah because they have long since deserved it.  Years of idolatrous worship and sinful behavior have come to roost.  Over and over again, God tells Jeremiah not to pray for his people.  What is interesting is that this conversation occurs during the reign of good king Josiah whom has instituted massive reform.  But it is too little too late.  Judgment is coming. 

Is God acting on emotion?  Never, unlike us, but we see the character of God resting in perfect holiness yet almost limitless patience.  Hundreds of years of patience have given out.  How does a God balance perfect holiness against unlimited love and patience?  In the image and actions of Christ who is the perfect answer to that dilemma.  So despite Judah’s judgment, a time is coming when he will restore Israel.  Perfect judgment leads to perfect redemption.

I am so glad that Scripture reveals the personality of God.  It makes Him completely approachable.  One that we can have a conversation with, question, even wrestle with, yet at the end of the day, completely trust.  Are you willing to have that kind of conversation?

Wall Street– A Perspective

Today, the Dow fell 634 points, the largest drop in 2 1/2 years and the sixth largest on record.  The drop was based partly on an S&P downgrade and the slowing U.S. economy plus escalating debt problems threatening Europe.  The fall is reminiscent of the roller coaster ride we had several years ago.  The market has given back all of its 2011 gains and then a lot more.  Suddenly everyone is talking double dip recession and there is anger and fear in people’s voices.  Republicans blame the Democrats and Obama.  Democrats blame the Tea Party specifically.  There is plenty of blame to go around.  I have an opinion, but that is not the point of this blog. 

Several years ago, I spent a ton of time being an active stock picker.  I attended the Money Show multiple times, took training and got my hands on just about every investment book I can find.  I am still a lifetime member of the American Association of Independent Investors.  I loved the thrill of the markets.  I dabbled quite a bit at the end in options which even heightened the thrill.  But as I look back on it now,. I find myself wondering how I could have wasted so much time.  This is not an indictment against people who do that kind of thing.  It is a rush and some people do it a lot better than I can. For a while there I thought I was really good as I significantly outperformed the market and my own former investment manager.  But it didn’t keep up and slowly I lost interest.  Further in 2008 like others I lost a ton of money in it.  That and investing a ton of money in a failed company so now we don’t have much to lose in the stock market. 

Like a lot of people, the markets for me were a symptom of other issues.  Relational issues, spiritual issues, social issues, pride issues, sinful attitude issues.  As I look back on it, I had misplaced priorities.  To some degree I still do.  It is a daily struggle to align the real priorities of faith, family, and friends.  A friend of mine lost a dear friend of his suddenly, unexpectedly.  Another friend struggles through a marriage.  Sorrow gives a different perspective.  There is the laughter that comes along with hanging out with family at the zoo Saturday.  The joy that comes from being around friends when I play baseball.  The joy of hanging out with brothers as we study the bible Tuesday morning.  True joy brings a different perspective.

I am not at the place where God could take everything temporal (not looking for a Job experience), but I am close to that.  God has slowly driven it into my thick skull that relationships and the word of God are the only things that will survive for eternity.  I have been dragged kicking and screaming into this equation.  But as I slowly come to this realization, something like scales fall from my eyes.  I am like the blind man whom Jesus partially heals in Luke that sees people walking around like tree trunks.  I don’t have full clarity, but it is getting there.