Probably my favorite food genre to cook is Thai food. A few years ago, Exie and I lived across the street from a Thai restaurant in Louisville, KY. We got to know the owner and probably ate there 3 times a month. One of the coolest parts about going was our owner friend brought us out different dishes to try on the house. This expanded our palette, and like a true salesman (or is it drug dealer), got us hooked on his product so that we wanted more.
Sadly, when we left Louisville, our new home was nowhere near a Thai restaurant. This left us with only two options: First, we could experience Thai food delirium tremens as a result of our withdraw, or second, we could learn how to prepare Thai dishes at home. I opted for the latter. I owe any success I've had in developing my skill to this website . Since then, I've worked on my technique, my equipment, and my skill. Last night we enjoyed a nice stir fry with chilies, chicken, egg, lots of veggies and basil. AND, I made my first attempt at a Thai green curry, which came out pretty dang spicy - maybe too much....it's gonna leave an exit wound.
But here's my philosophy - it will get better as I learn from my mistakes and repeat my successes.... Even now that we live in a town with several great Thai restaurants, I like improving my skill, and not settling for only eating out.
What in the world does that have to do with elections or the Bible...?
I watched the presidential debate last night. I have a lot of strong opinions politically, but I'll save most of that for another time. Regardless of your political stances, there are some facts about the president's record: the deficit has not been cut in half like he promised to do, instead it's increased by several trillion dollars; our military is still in Iraq and Afghanistan, despite the president's promises to withdraw our troops; and more Americans are unemployed today than when he took office. Romney, in my humble opinion, didn't address this enough during the first debate. Instead, both candidates tried to (pardon the pun!) curry favor from supporters with well-crafted rhetoric.
I don't know what the conclusions will be, nor how the public will ultimately vote next month, but there seemed to be a number of folks on TV saying that Romney did well, and the president did poorly, and that undecided viewers were more inclined to vote for Romney after seeing the first debate. At the very least we might say that the public has been stirred.
Well, this morning I was reading in Acts chapter 19. Part of that chapter tells of a riot that nearly broke out in the city of Ephesus. What began as a complaint from artisans and craftsmen about how Paul's preaching was going to be bad for their business, became a city-wide uproar. One verse stood out to me in particular - verse 32. It says. "The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there."
Let me ask you a question:
Do you know why you are here? Wherever "here" is for you, did you get there by choice, or by following others? Are you going through a season of transition, or of fear and worry? Are you in a troubled marriage, or are you unemployed? Maybe things are going great, but are you being tempted to coast along in your success?
I think our country is in confusion right now. Even those with strong political views - how many of them are just following the crowd? Many people are shouting one thing or another, but they don't really know where we are, how we got here, or what we should do about it.
How did we get here? Financial crisis, $16 trillion debt, over 20 million Americans unemployed. Prayer in school, Biblical marriage, and belief in creation have been elbowed out of our "tolerant" society, while terrorism is excused as an understandable reaction to a Youtube video.
And spiritually speaking, American Christians seem to waver between extremes of political over-involvement or isolationism. Bold faith like we see in the early church seems to be diminishing. If, heaven forbid, major persecution broke out against Christianity today, I'm not sure if Christians would remain strong in this country. After all, church attendance dips whenever it rains, or there's a holiday weekend, or a good ballgame is on TV. Midweek Bible study or small groups limp along, and community service is replaced by an annual check, in a number of congregations I know. If American believers are threatened with physical harm and/or social ostracism, many may choose the path of least resistance.
What's the solution? I'm going to suggest: Spiritual Maturity.
Paul wrote the church in Ephesus, the same city in which the riot once broke out, about this. He said churches need to equip believers to be more unified and mature in the faith:
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4:14-15, NIV).
Can you learn from your mistakes? Can you repeat your successes? Can our country change course? Can our churches? Yes, but not if believers continue to be tossed back and forth by every wind of teaching. Not if we fall captive to rhetoric, and wind up shouting in the political arena INSTEAD of being built up in the word of God.
Let's learn the truth, and share it boldly and in love for others. Let's understand the best thing that can happen to a struggling person or marriage or family, is to meet Jesus and follow Him. That's the best thing that could happen in our country, too, by the way. And as we mature, we can enjoy the fruit of maturity - more consistency in our walk with Christ. Don't settle for following a politician or "going out" for every spiritual meal, relying only on the skills of others to nourish our souls.
Take responsibility for your future by trusting your life in God's hands. I'm reminded to do that every time I take out my wok and fish sauce...
