Clay Pots - Weak and Humble, but Full of the Power of God

Here is the introduction to a study that we are working on for CMA. Please read, comment and give suggestions. I could really use some input.

“We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives” 2 Corinthians 4:7 (MSG)

Clay is an amazing naturally found substance. Used by artisans and craftsmen all throughout history, clay has been formed into just about everything from household items to sacred works of art. The Bible mentions clay and vessels made of clay quite often. From the mixture of dust and spittle in John 9:6 to the Potter’s clay in Jeremiah 18:1, clay and pottery was a part of everyday life in ancient times. It is certain that the Apostle Paul would have been familiar with many clay pottery items from small cup like drinking pots, to larger cistern sized pots. Clay decorative items as well as clay households such as lamps and containers would have been commonplace around the Apostle. He would have certainly understood the availability, utility and fragile nature of clay pots.

When Paul describes our lives as clay pots, he is using a metaphor packed with meaning.
•Clay pots are humble. Unlike goblets of silver or pitchers of brass, clay pots are inexpensive and not very fancy. Paul is no doubt alluding to the fact that the contents of the vessel are much more important than the vessel itself. Clay pots are usually simple and readily available. Because of their functionality, decoration wasn’t very important. In the Old Testament, when a clay pot was ceremonially defiled it had to be destroyed (Leviticus 6:28; 11:33) illustrating that they were easy to replace.
•The use of clay reflects back to the material God used to create Adam in Genesis 2:7 (the Hebrew ‘adamah’ can be translated as dust or clay) where man is only dust until God breathes life into him. Recalling this image, Paul speaks of our helplessness and worthlessness without the Spirit (Heb. ‘ruach’ or breath) of God.
•Clay pots are also weak and easy to break. In the middle of a discussion on the struggles of being the Lord’s servant, it seems important that he compares himself to a weak, breakable clay pot. Clay pots shatter when dropped; they break into shards and can no longer be used. Even when tempered by fire and made to be as strong as possible, clay pots are at best still considered fragile. Paul speaks of his own life as being “pressed from all sides”, “persecuted”, and “struck down”, all tough wear and tear on a fragile clay pot.

As a whole, I believe Paul wants us to identify with the humble, temporal, and fragile clay pot. We are only humans, weak and unsightly when compared to the glory of God. We are imperfect; We struggle through many hardships in life, yet there is more to the metaphor of the clay pot.

•Clay pots have to be made by the hand of a potter. Clay, in it’s natural form, isn’t shaped to perform tasks. It takes the foresight, time and artistry of the hands of the potter to create a functional vessel. A potter pays special attention as he molds and forms the clay into the desired shape. Every clay pot reveals the plan and design of it’s potter. Our lives are exactly the same. Our very existence speaks of the plan and foresight of The Potter, Almighty God. Our lives reflect his leading and the intervention of His grace. He has brought us through experiences and wrote the story of our life to shape us for his purpose. As the potter creates a clay pot to carry water from a well, so does God create our lives to be used to literally carry the life-changing power of God.
•Clay pots are extremely useful. In the times of the Apostle Paul, clay pottery was used for a multitude of purposes. Water and commodities containers of all sizes as well as clay oil lamps were all necessary to daily life. Paul probably hints at the functionality of clay pots, when he uses this imagery. While it is the contents of our lives, the power of God, that is important, it is exciting to think that Jesus wants to use us to shine his light in darkness. God’s plan is to use his creation, his people, to carry his Message and move in his power.

And this is the powerful thought of 2 Corinthians 4:7: We are, as humans, weak and humble, yet God desires to use us, and use our lives as containers and dispensers of his grace and power. We in ourselves are not super powerful, but the Holy Spirit working inside of us is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. We in ourselves are weak and breakable, but the power of God working in us can withstand any attack. We in ourselves are humble and unadorned, and yet God chooses us to carry the beautiful and precious message of his love to the world.

Cultural Icon turns 75

Yes, it is true. Mickey Mouse has turned 75 years old. Is there a more visible cultural icon than the happy little rodent? I certainly know that most anything that comes around with his ears on it my kids will love. We have spent more happy evenings together as a family financially supporting the mouse than I can count. It is fascinating to me how the imagination of one man, a simple doodle really, can become world industry. What does the image of Mickey Mouse mean to you? What thoughts and feelings do you have when you see him?

As a kid, anything with mouse ears on it was something I could watch. It usually stretched my imagination and was always enjoyable. There weren't too many Disney products that I didn't love as a child. All the animation was great and the Wonderful World of Disney always was a treat. When cable came around and my family started getting the Disney Channel, which mainly consisted of animation shorts, old Disney movies and Wonderful World of Disney reruns at that time, I lived on a steady diet of mouse. When Walt narrated those nature documentary-style programs, I was entranced. It was probably the influence of the Disney Channel that made me so Disney crazy when I was in college in Lakeland, Florida. Once I began going to the parks I was hooked. I loved the design and the artwork. I loved the imagination that goes into the place and I simply couldn't get enough of it. A singing group that I was in would do some holiday singing in the parks and in the resorts and it was always so cool to walk the hidden corridors. Jennifer and I might go so far as to tell you that we fell in love there. (On our first date, we watched the fireworks over Epcot Center and one of our park trips was an unforgetable stormy Sunday at MGM.) Sure, we knew that it was outrageously expensive and mostly a glossy put-on, but we didn't care; Disney World was a place of fairy tales, color and imagination, and we liked how we felt when we were there.

Then there were the years of the Disney Boycott popularity. Spokesmen of the Christian Right began to call attention to the seedier aspects of the Disney Juggernaut. The information learned from those years soured the pristine 'we just want to make people happy' image that I had swallowed. I began to realize that Disney, like any other company in the world, wanted to make money. I also came to realize that just because a company makes cartoons and G rated movies doesn't mean they are 'pure' and not involved in any other morally forbidden behavior. My disenchantment with Disney was short lived as it was soon overcome by anger at the whistle blowers who tried to make me believe that hidden words and animated characters were going to turn my children into homosexuals. In the secret of our living room away from the watchdogs, we watched the Lion King, Alladin, Hercules, Pocohontas and every other fairy tale hero the Disney animators could throw at us. In spite of the 'christian' thing to do, we watched the shows, bought the videos and even visited the park. All because of the enjoyment the entertainment and all its accompanying merchandise brought us. Some voices against the boycott were out there, but they were definitely the minority among evagelicals for a few years. The Boycott, which still exists in some form, has lost most of its original impetus, and in my estimation did not bring the empire to its mouse knees.

Which brings us to now. If I honestly look at my family's life, I must admit that Disney impacts us on a daily basis. From Rolie Polie Olie to Out of the Box, my children are into Disney educational shows. We watch the movies, buy the DVD's and play the video games. Over the past few years, My wife and I have been introduced to Disney Channel original programs, which in my opinion shape pre-teen culture in America more than anything else. If you don't know who Shia LaBeouf is, you should tune in. Raven Symone and Hilary Duff's shows are the Father Knows Best, the Andy Griffith Show, and the Happy Days of today; And when your 4 four old sings, "Call me, beep me, if you wanna reach me", you better know who Kim Possible is.

We are, of course, keenly aware that we don't want our progeny following the life path of the mousketeers set in front of them, and that the content coming from the Mouse is not always innocent. We know that and we push to make sure that our children know it as well. While living our lives as followers of Christ we would not support everything produced from the Disney empire, but we wouldn't support everything TBN puts out either, but we have chosen not to boycott Paul and Jan this year. We don't support immorality and we have to filter junk sometimes, but you know what? I like watching Even Stevens with my kids, and I'm not ashamed to admit it! I like watching them pretend to be the skaters, race car drivers, dancers and rock and rollers they see courtesy of the mouse. Einstein is quoted as having said, "If you want to make your child a genius, read them fairy tales."

I guess the point that I am trying to make is that for 75 years Mickey Mouse has been impacting the culture of our world. It seems to me that Disney has an imagination monopoly in children's media today. Congratulations Walt, and Happy Birthday Mickey!

Congratulations to Daniel and Sharon Baker, a couple of great thinkers, on the birth of their new daughter, Trinity Eden. Thank God for a new life. Jen and I pray for her to have a life overshadowed by the wing of Almighty God.

Yaconelli Memorial





Please check out the Youth Specialties Mike Yaconelli Memorial site.

It is a great tribute to a great life. It is also a great place to hear a little of Yaconelli's approach through the words of those who eulogize him.

A Better World
Oscar Romero

Youth: ponder how we are all called to goodness,
and how the older generation – my own, I regret –
has left you a legacy of so much selfishness
and so much evil.

You are new wheat – a newly sown crop –
You are a field still fresh from God’s hand.
Children, youth: make a better world.

~Core to everything that Jen and I do is this belief that young people can make a better world. Why not purposefully live for the children? Why not invest all you have to develop young lives? Programs and structures that we construct might last a long time if they are exceptionally strong, but young lives that are cultivated, mature and seed and grow again. I pray that God will allow me to be involved in what he is planting and watering for the future.

Looking after the 'Little Ones'

In Matthew 18:10 Jesus says, "Beware that you don't despise a single one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father." Jesus was most likely referring directly to the child that was standing there in front of his disciples (Matthew 18:2). Also, without taking away from the obvious meaning, many would also believe that he spoke not only of children but of those new or immature in faith: the 'child-like' believer. As I listen to the words of Jesus, my mind quickly moves to what I believe are the important questions to ask, if I intend to do as he has said.

Who are the 'little ones' Jesus speaks of in my world? Presently today around me, who would qualify as a 'child' or 'child-like' or 'immature'? Certainly my first thoughts go to my own children. In an all-out life-effort to look after them I will teach them to walk with God; I will love and correct them. But I also want to take care that my actions do not nullify my words with them.

But I find that it is esy to look after my own little ones. The problem comes when my time or energy is required to look after those 'little ones' that I am not directly responsible for. The poor, the underprivileged and the elderly all qualify as 'little ones' to me. And what about the rowdy immature Christian, doesn't he qualify? What about that teenager who brings nothing but strife to my peaceful world, I am sure that he qualifies. I say it again, I want to look out for the 'little ones.'

A 'Pricey' Gospel

130 years ago, Missionary Thomas Baker was killed and subsequently eaten by cannibals in the remote village of Nabutautau , Fiji. He joined the thousands of Christian martyrs who have over the centuries given the ultimate sacrifice for their faith. Open Doors and their youth movement The Underground continues to call our attention to those Christians who are presently being persecuted all over the world. It strikes me again this morning that sometimes it is pretty costly to follow Christ.

No, not for us who live in the age of Time-Life worship music collections and in a nation with 24 hour Christian entertainment options. No, for us there is measured ease and maybe even social advantage in being outwardly 'Christian'. I fear the possibility of there not being enough to eat after Sunday Morning Service rather than being eaten after Sunday Morning service.

Not to say that to be ultimately committed to Christ you have to give the ultimate sacrifice, but I wonder where I stand in my commitment to the gospel. How much am I willing to pay for what I believe to be true? I'd like to think that I'd give everything, but how can I test that or see evidence of that type of commitment in my easy life? Living all out for the gospel can be 'pricey' at times, I'm not sure that I have enough in my soul's checkbook to cover it.

This is a picture of the funny face that Zoe has been making the past few days. We don't know what got her started but she does this now in attempts to be funny and make us laugh. Obviously, we laugh hard. She shows off her teeth and raises her eyebrows and we just think that it is the sweetest!

Another Good Night

We had a great night last night. Any night you can sit around the table with your family and spend the evening together is a good night. After supper I assisted Zeke setting up his new blog. He is really excited about the possibility of seeing the Tennessee Titans play when we go to visit in Atlanta in a few weeks. It is just so cool to be able to take the time to enjoy each other. Someone said, "If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups, take your wife out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the disposal."

Nothing got cleaned or fixed last night, but we all had a good time.

The Problem with Being Right

If you watch any christian television, listen to christian radio shows, go to a christian bookstore or surf the vast maze christian web sites, then you know that there are lots of people around who have the uncanny knack for convincing you that they are right. I come across this 'defense our our ideals' everyday. It seems we christians invest a lot of time and effort into proving to each other that we are right. I think that our investment has paid off, because we are by and large very good at it.

When I can listen for six or seven hours a day to a christian who is out to discredit everyone but himself, something is wrong. (Take a listen yourself especially 10 AM to 12 PM) How often do you hear their tirades? 'Watch out for that G12 junk, beware that seeker sensitive trash'. 'Bill Hybels is the antichrist and Rick Warren is his false prophet'. 'All denominations are full of homosexuals, foul mouths, abortion doctors and harry potter loving occultists'. And probably most amazing of all, 'That whole charismatic crowd is a bunch of greedy money grubbers who have never said a prayer in their lives and don't even believe in Jesus. 'Evil, evil, evil' is the cry of those who have built careers and ministries on the counting of cuss words in movies and political 'we're right!' campaigns. Not only are there a lot of people out there saying they are right, but they are downright nasty about it. It all hits home to me, when prayer practices that I have learned are attacked as being occultic. It's progressed to the place that some say if you don't pray using the same words and practices that we do, you pray not to God but to the devil.

I find that the majority of the people that are shouting 'I'm right!' do have some good points. But they come across so proud, so 'Jesus is the door, but the door is locked and I hold the only key." In fact, I would go so far as to say that I would agree with this type of person on what it takes to know Jesus and find salvation, but at times it seems to me that many have so fused the message of the gospel with their own personal bias that they cannot be viewed separately. Why is it common practice to want to scare people away from anything contrary? In the Apostle Paul's world, christians lived in the same mix of contrary religions and philosophies as we do. Do scare tactics show a lack of belief that one's idea is truly correct, or is it simply mad ambition to control people's lives? It may just be me, but sometimes these people just come off angry and combative.

So that should be the lesson here right? Don't live to destroy others. Don't criticize on the basis of newness, popularity or success. Don't spend all of your 'working for the kingdom' energy tearing down others. Don't add to message of the gospel. Don't lord your position over others. Maybe some are 'called' to this type of 'ministry' but I want to use the time and energies that I have to build the Kingdom not just guard it. Yes, all that and more should be learned, but maybe there is more.

There seems to be a big temptation for those who do have it right in some areas, to begin to live like they do. I have myself at times, learned a new thing and moved to a new model. Immediately, my first response is to build my case against the old way. Why is it that when God uses someone in a great way, we all want to copy it? I know in my own life this largely stems from laziness on my own part. In some way I feel that if I can be led by another who has been lead by God that I will be alright. It's that distant following of the follower that sometimes gets us off track. I have decided that I do not want the only interaction that I have with the voice of God to be tidbits I overheard him say to someone else.

Not to overly criticize the christian media industry. Books and materials have been used by God to bring truth into my life and have altered the path of my journey many times. But I have to remember that it is God bringing answers into my life, rather than people. I have talked to modern pastors who, at least perceivably, have all the answers. They have said to me, "When you finally find your purpose you will find joy and peace." At those moments I felt that their advice was 'Warren-ese' for "when you finally come around to seeing it our way and stop searching for more, you will have made it christian nirvana." To me a lot of times it seems to be a point of arrogance among those who are 'doing it right'. Sure Willow Creek, Saddle-back, and Mars Hill are smart and are accomplishing great things for the kingdom. It's all the 'mini-me's' that get me. Not that the copies aren't seeing salvations and growth but while the second and third generation copies have all of the contents of the originals, they seem to lack the clarity of the original's heart. A post on the blogs4god linker page has 10 or 15 sites talking about Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life book and the accompanying materials bonanza. (Jen and I own a copy, and personally love the content). There are a number of positive posts but there are a few who have some problems with the arrogance of the Hyper-Modernists. They talk about how Rick Warren has marketed his ministry style and sold us all a smooth marketing package. In some ways I agree, not on Warren, his ministry or his content, but in how we all so quickly buy up his wares. In other ways I feel that these 'post-modern' info-age guru's who criticize Warren are just as arrogant as the next guy. Is this it? Is everyone in Christianity arrogant?

I guess this morning I have just been struck by the thought that we are all susceptible to the subtle trap of pride. Having a book or video published doesn't make you arrogant: simply thinking you are better than someone else does the job just fine. Conducting a radio show or building a website to expose the infidels doesn't necessarily make you an egomaniac, but feeling that your voice is most important does. In fact, building a blog post to identify pride in others doesn't make you an arrogant somebody...er...uh... or does it?

And that's the basic problem with being right. If we aren't careful being right gives way to being loud, and then being loud gives way to being proud. Not to say that those who are right and loud are all proud, I'm just saying that in my experience it's real easy to allow the right to speak and be heard to become a platform for our own arrogance. One of the desert fathers used to say, "Every labor, without humility is vain. For humility is the forerunner of love, as John was the forerunner of Jesus, drawing all men to Him: even so humility draws to love, that is to God Himself, for God is love."