Quit excuses, live by reasons . . .

As a boy there were times (quite often actually) I would seek to get out of “potential for discipline situations.” My default mode of communication was to offer my ‘ever loving father’ an excuse. It was a common move by me; just not a good one.

He also had a default mode, (a speech actually) which went . . . 

“Johnny, don’t offer me an excuse; an excuse is merely the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie. Offer me an explanation of the truth; it might work.”

So often robbed of excuses and searching for reasons, some of Isaiah’s Easter words (53:7 c.f.Acts 8:32) ‘reflected my reality’ . . .

". . . as a lamb before its shearers is silent, so  he did not open his mouth”

Silent as I searched for reasons (which had seemed good at the time of my actions), ones I just knew would not survive parental-inquisition. They got me into situations; but they would not get me out. I began to learn two truths; live life by reasons not excuses, and silence is a prerequisite for truthful speech. Truths Jesus modelled.

It’s Easter again, and I’m ruminating . . .

In Easter-season we give renewed focus to Jesus and His sacrifice for human sin. Jesus as an eternally-dynamic member of the Trinity was a participant in the creation of humanity, yet did not make excuses for His action in our creation or our repetitious failures. With the “rationale of the Divine” Jesus lived, died and rose again. Jesus lived by reason.

Here’s some of the things I’m chewing on this Easter . . . 

• In silence and reflection, I can engage in the processes of truthful reasoning

•  If I have clear reasons, I can be silent in situations as I structure truthful reasoning and reason 

• With silence-formed reason I break silence for the reasons of truth 

• “Johnny, don’t offer excuses; an excuse is merely the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie. Offer reasoned explanations of truth; it works” 

• Yes Dad, I still hear you . . .

Awake in church (again) and thinking . . .

Last Sunday, I was awake (again) in church. It happens. The preacher was graciously encouraging us how Christian people shouldn't only behave well, in many cases we ought to behave differently. No argument from me on that one; both Scripture and my “allegedly-renewed conscience” understand there are still many enduring-oughts.

So I’m awake and also into ruminating; no surprise.

I’m still listening to the preacher, but now it’s “through my ruminations.”

It’s a good sermon, its short, and good sermons generally have three points.

Well, at that point methinks; “having a good rumination here.” Its short, good ruminations can be done in three points.

So . . . here’s the chew . . .

• Recognise your behaviour is a product of your thinking, so

• Don’t merely stop your behaviour, change your thinking . . . 

• In short - "Perspective frames performance"

So . . . now I’m thinking . . .

• “What people see of our Christian behaviour performance is formed by our perspective of what my being a Christian is about.”

Oh, in case I forget, the preacher addressed a text;

“Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. As God's messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you.” Romans 12:2-3 (NLT)