What is Glory?

What is True Glory?


Such a variety of creatures,

You've made in this world,

We celebrate all You have made,

How You share Your glory--

You've made it for us to protect and praise.


What a wonder is the earth!

The earth You put together--

Wondrous in all Your ways,
 
We give You thanks for all You've made.


There is a glory of nature, a beauty that is undeniable.

"Looking down from the Falls"

There is glory of rebirth, which the seasons teach us about.  There is a sense of returning to the eternal in fall, with the harvest and the changing of colors.  This has been my favorite season, typically, because things die before being reborn again.  As Jesus said, "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit"(John 12:24). 
So there is the glory of what was lost being found, of what was damaged being restored.  The church father St. Augustine said that is the best kind of story in his book "Confessions."

I read in Charles Ringma's reader "Resist the Powers with Jacques Ellul" that the good is always a gift and sometimes fragile victories are enough to give thanks for, considering what could have been the case.  In the Greek, the word for glory is "DOXA," which means what is very apparent, and is always good in the New Testament (Zondervan New American Standard Bible Exhaustive Concordance, copyright 1940, Fleming H. Revell and Co) ... and comes from the word, meaning, "to seem" in other words, it is reality that shows and is undeniable.  Technically speaking, everything living has glory, if you define glory as "greatness" or "definition." But there are degrees of glory. 2 Corinthians chapter 3 talks about the glory of the Old Covenant (the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai), and how the Israelites couldn't bear to look "intently" at Moses after he came down the mountain because of his glory.

As it says, starting in verse 7, "But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came in glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading it was, how shall the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?  For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory."  And this is what God does, as it says in Hebrews 8 (quoted from Jeremiah 31), "After those days, 'declares the LORD,' I will put my laws into their minds, and I will write them upon their hearts.  And I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

This is what the apostle Paul gave his life to. . . .  It says in 2 Corinthians chapter 3, verse 18: "But we all, with unveiled face beholding in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit." 

C. S. Lewis wrote in his essay "The Weight of Glory," that we are all immortal creatures.  Thus everyone we live, work, or rub shoulders with is someone with a unique destiny and gifts (paraphrase of Lewis).  Thus we cannot pass over anyone out of disregard because they are just as important as us.  1 Peter 4:10 says "As each one has received a gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." A pastor of mine once said that this is a unique way of showing God's glory: everyone has something to contribute, to share, and as we give through God to others, we see God's varied glory among His people.  Thus, everyone's "glory" is something we need to appreciate, and thus it also gives impetus to witnessing, for, as it says below, God is "bringing many sons to glory,"--and in all manners obeying the mission Jesus started and passed on to His disciples, because, as He showed, "everybody matters."

And the good news is that God desires a relationship with us.  He speaks to us in ways that are rational.

John 1:14 says "the Word [Jesus] became flesh and dwelt among [the disciples], and [they] beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." So this is a glory that was especially known by those close to Him.

This is the glory of God, which if we believe His righteous works, we know Him and have a correct opinion of Who He is, and thus see His glory.  And that is what Jesus continually said the Father wanted throughout the book of John, so that "believing we may have life in His name"(John 20:31).

There is the glory of believing and persevering.

So I want my life to glorify God.  How about you?  

Romans 2:6 "[God] will render to each one according to his/her deeds: eternal life to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor, and immortality . . ."  This is what the theological term "sanctification" means.  It means becoming more and more holy and conformed to the image of Christ, which is always God's goal in bringing us through hard times.  This is what it says in Hebrews 12:7, "It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?" And as it says in 1 Peter 4:12 "Beloved, don't be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation."  This is how God and life work, just like a tree grows less distance but-stronger during the winds of winter, it says in Hebrews 2:10, "For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the leader of their salvation through sufferings" (italics mine).

Some good words to meditate on.

It also says in Romans 2:10, "[There will be] glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good."  This is a general law.

"Awake sleeper, arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." (Ephesians 5:14)

Thoughts on Love and God

"We Love to Know We're not Alone" (quote from movie Shadowlands, on life of C.S. Lewis, 1993)

Some thoughts on love and God. . . .

There's give and take to love.  Love can be both gentle and firm.  The apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 paints a good picture of love:

starting in verse 2:  Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

v.3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned [seems to be something people can do to make themselves look better] , but have not love, it profits me nothing.

v.4 Love suffers long, is kind; love does not envy; love does not act unbecomingly, is not proud;

v.5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

v.6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

v.7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

v.8 Love never fails.  But where there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease, whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

v.9 For we know in part and prophecy in part.

v.10 But when the perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

v.11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child; but when I became an adult, I put away childish things.

v.12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I am also known.

v.13 And now abide these three: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.


I've been learning to love the family I was born in, and am believing what it says in Ephesians 3:15 where the Bible says, "Every family in heaven and on earth derives its name . . .[from the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ]."  Indeed, God created families as the basic unit of support and governance.  What does it mean to love but to prefer "the other" above oneself, and letting yourself be "beat" at times?  This satisfies more than showing all you know. . . .

The next verse (Ch. 14) says, "Pursue love . . ."  So chapter 13 sets out the ideal, and we are to pursue it, according to ch. 14:1. Sometimes it seems to love is something that sets an impossible goal for which to strain, but I believe God works in us to “will and to do” (Philippians 2:13).  And I believe it is one of those things that the more we do it, the more we are able to do it—able to put it into practice.

James 3:17-18: “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Because love and truth, or love and righteousness, go together, as the epistle of 1 John makes clear. And God helps those who want to change, who feel sorry for their sin and falling short, to change, as the first part of the Sermon on the Mount makes clear as well: Matthew 5:3-6: “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” . . .

And back to the Epistle of James, in James 4:8-10, it says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Begin to lament, to mourn and to weep.  Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into grief.  Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up.”

This is good news. In fact, it is a major part of the Gospel of Jesus—that God comes to the aid of those who need Him, and is a “helper and a Father to the fatherless (as it says in the Bible many, many times). . .

One of the purposes of education is to teach to love, to understand from the "other person's" point of view, to develop compassion and empathy, and appreciation.  (in appreciation of a Great Books college I attended several years ago).


I had fun last night with friends I am living with visiting places of natural beauty in the vicinity. . .

It is my belief that Jesus loved the most.  He loved because He knew He was loved by the Father.  The Father loved the Son and the Son loved those around Him, those who were His own, "John 17:6." And the Bible also says, "We love because He first loved us"(1 John 4:19).

Another favorite verse of mine is Ephesians 2:8-10: "For it is by grace you have been saved, that not of yourself, it is the gift of God, lest any one should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which He prepared in advance for us to walk in."

I believe salvation is fairly simple.  After living a life of humanness and love toward those around Him, after doing God's will, Jesus submitted to God's will in letting Himself be arrested, beaten, mocked, and finally crucified.  He did this without losing His humanness or becoming embittered, or using His power unjustly.  He died, gave up His Spirit, and then the good part: He arose on the day after Sabbath--Sunday, then appeared to his followers and disciples, giving them the command to continue His mission of doing good, and then was raised up to the heavens in the clouds.

Romans 10:9-10 says "The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart, the Word of Faith that we proclaim, that if you confess with your mouth that He is Lord, and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.  For with the heart one believes resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation."  So a simple prayer of belief can say: "Dear Jesus, thank you for your love.  I believe You died on the cross for my sins and rose again.  I accept You into my life.  I ask you to teach me how You want me to live and help me obey You. Thank you. Amen."
God desires to give us blessing, the blessing that shows we are God's.  The book of Hebrews talks about the "rest" God gives to His people for following Him. Ch. 3:9-10: "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.  For he/she who has entered His rest has him/herself also ceased from his/her own works as God did from His."

And isn't that a major theme of the Bible?  That God and Jesus desire people who belong to them, people redeemed and thus "bought back" from darkness?  People They have a real relationship with?

And I believe this is the joy and redemption people who believe in Christ possess.  I believe only Jesus brings this because He lived a perfectly unselfish life, being obedient to the point of death, and giving even as blood spilled from His body, loving His own even to the end.  Therefore it was impossible for death to hold him in the grave (Acts 2:24), and Romans 1:4 says, "He was declared the Son of God, with power according to the spirit of holiness, through the resurrection from the dead."

. . . But back to my theme about love: It blesses the person being loved, and also brings fulfillment to the person doing the loving: It is mutually beneficial.  And to bring wholeness and holiness to places where there has been hurt and anger/pain is the answer to problems and leads to a new beginning and a new dimension to life.

But I don't believe we really experience this until we take the risk and reach out to others in ministry or helping, and making ourselves a "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1) in response to what God has done.

Anyway, I enjoyed going out with friends with whom I live, and was reminded of the supremacy of love. 


Good friends, good times.

A Poem about College Life and Bonding

This is a poem I wrote about a "college house" experience of mine.  I lived for four years in a "Christian-style" fraternity in Eugene, Oregon, with guys around my age, and this is a poem about the "start of the year" retreat.  Needless to say, I have good memories of that time, looking back.  And certain friendships and conviviality have remained as I have reconnected and stayed in touch with some of them.

We Catch a Glimpse of the Call from the Giver

Riding through the hills in Bryan's red SUV,
Radio playing while forests of fir and clear-cut slopes glide past our window,

Gas and ice cream stop now far behind us,
On our way to the annual house retreat.

This passageway to the ocean,
Where Lumberman's Restaurant and glittering gray river reflect sun breaking through cloudy skies.
We watch the landscape like settlers looking for a place to stay the night.

At the beach, after wearing ourselves out playing football and ultimate Frisbee,
we share life and scar stories on the weathered deck, all the while surrounded by coastal pines, s'mores and crackling fire pit.

On the way back, all are refreshed and enthused, excited for the new term,
Ready to dive into activities and school work.   

We listen for the Call: "This time is a gift:
 The give and take, the late-night discussions, the discovery, the grief resolved . .
So work the plot you've been given:
Cultivate this time with discipline and grace."