Yesterday, I mentioned I went to a meeting. It ended up being a Rabbi, 2 Lutherans, a priest, a Pentecostal, me and another non-denom guy. Here the Rabbi, was the one who organized the meeting. Talk about history sitting at one table. It was a little tight because of the topic matter presented by one of the Lutheran pastors on Christ reconciling us to each other but I liked it and will return again. One of the main statements the rabbi made was that protestant missionaries are obnoxious and pushy. Me being a little of both couldn’t really relate to that. (Ah that’s a Joke). I did appreciate his candor on the subject and believe I may have gotten some revelation on Loving people who are not like me and may never want to be. I do believe one of the areas where we can make some head way relationally is by learning to honor others. Respect is given to someone just because we think they’ll want to be like me. Respect is saying that a person has value because of God as creator. Help us all to see people through the eyes of God.
The Meeting
Today, I’m going to a meeting of spiritual leaders. The lead man is a Rabbi in our town. I’ve never wanted to go to meetings like this because of the Ecumenical forum that is used. This elitist attitude has been a part of my spiritual journey for a long time. It’s also self-righteous at the root. I’m hoping to use this to hear from other leaders who are searching for God and his grace. Not sure of how this will pan out but I’ll give you a heads up later on today. Let me be a blessing, is my desire.
Jorn in Real Life
Have you seen Dan in Real Life? It’s a Steve Carell comedy. I loved this movie. Let me say it takes a lot for me to make that comment. My goofy super hero name is Critical Movie Man because it takes a lot for me to say I really like a movie. The reason the movie got me was because of the reality factor. I mean the title says it all, it’s real life smacking you in the face! The whole theme of trying to hold it together when everything is falling a part is something everyone can relate too. Especially me.
Real life brings real struggles and real opportunities.
Competition
If your not a competitive person this blogs not for you. But for the 98% of us who are I’ll share my nugget! When I was growing up I came from a very competitive family. Winning was everything! I used to watch wide world of sports on ABC and they had this picture they ran all the time of the ski jumper missing the end of the ramp and flipping end over end. Man I loved that clip, man I hated that clip. Here’s why, I saw myself in both scenarios. Eventually I realized that’s what makes competition so invigorating. The unknown, anything can happen, might look like a fool kind of stuff. So I worked real hard at making sure I won as much as possible. Typical unredeemed stuff, like fleecing the teams, changing rules or not divulging them until it was in my favor. Eventually I lost my competitive edge because of winning all the time. I realized that the tension of losing is what makes winning so much more fun. Gradually and I do mean gradually my philosophy on winning changed. Now I’d rather lose by 1 than win by 20 because it brings back the tension and having to do my best each time I play.
Faith works like that for me. It’s what makes the Christ life so exciting. There is a battle for every moment, a victory around every corner and the possibility of defeat. See, faith is about lining up against someone or something and feel the tension in the out come. I’d like to say that I win most of the time when it comes to faith but most times I feel like a rookie free agent who just made the team by the skin my teeth. You know what though? I made the team and I’m in the game and I love it! Win or Lose!
Pay Back
People say, the greatest sin is pride. I don’t think it’s just the greatest I think it’s the most popular also. It’s every where and it’s running ramped. You know why? More now than ever one of the area’s, I see this time and time again is excepting someones help. We love to do things ourselves and some how excepting help means we’re weak. I remember years ago when I first started working out in a gym I wanted to bench press 135 pounds. At that time I only weighed about 125 and had the arms the size of Gumby. I was told by the trainer don’t lift those weights without a spotter in case the weight gets to heavy. No! Prideful me marched in there after about one week of workouts and decided I’d get that 135 without any help. Yes, you guessed it. It crushed me like a bug. There I was with this weight lying on my chest and thinking to myself what an idiot. I finally yelled for help and felt so humiliated as the trainer gave me a good tongue lashing for my efforts. You know what I think? In one area or another everyone is trying to lift 135 and getting crushed. Life is heavy!
I’d like to say that I learned my lesson but I didn’t. I’ve got plenty more stories where that one came from, but you’ll hear no more. Ha!
Here’s my point. We need help and there are some things that are not meant to be done alone.
Start with Jesus. He bears our burdens and doesn’t require us to pay him back.
Second let people into your life. Yea there’s a chance you may get hurt or rejected or ignored but all those experiences are not the same as being crushed by pride.
One Wish
We’ve all had day dreams about our life and how we hope things will work out or later in life seeing where we’ve ended up and wished we could go back and change our lives. Last night I was thinking about wishes and began thinking about what I would do different if I had the chance. Then I thought, what if I could just start over at 45 years old and I could have one wish to kick the new life off. Suddenly, I realized how much pressure that would be to try and get it right, knowing there wouldn’t be a wish number two. So you decide on your wish and it doesn’t pan out. It’s a dud wish! You wish for money but it doesn’t bring happiness. You wish for a wife and realize there are a lot of stipulations. You wish for a good job and there are responsibilities. You wish for good friends and you realize you have to be one back. Lots of wishes that end up not being what you thought. Suddenly, I had this thought, one wish isn’t going to be enough, I need a disclaimer wish in-case things don’t work out the way I planned.
Life isn’t about wishes because eventually, the wish fades and we’re still left with the reality that our life has to be lived out for many days. In Christianity wishes are what we call fanciful thinking. It’s like living in a daydream or a fantasy land. I’ve known people who try to live there, it’s weird. There is a word we use to describe our desires to do and be and live the good life. The word is hope. Hope is connected to faith in God. I believe that in the heart of God he has the best plan for me and my hope is like an anchor that holds in living out life everyday. The great thing about this perspective is Jesus. He is our hope the bible says and as I think about wishes that come true and end up later not sustaining me through the days ahead. He becomes the disclaimer wish! I can go back to him for another chance at experiencing the good life. There is an old hymn that says this, “My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus blood and righteousness”.
Transition from wishing to a hope filled person!
Off The Face Of The Earth
It’s funny how fast people can come in and out of our lives. Over the years I’ve had friends for a few years and then suddenly it’s over. There have also been times, when I was amazed at the people who actually became my friends. I would think, I have nothing in common with them or maybe they have nothing in common with me. Life has a way of connecting us together in unique ways. Over all I’d say I’m just the average Joe, kind of in the middle, nothing that special. I’m even reminded of myself in a scripture that talks about Jesus that way. My paraphrase goes like this, “if you saw him on the street there would be nothing about him that would make him stick out in the crowd. He would look like everyone else walking on that same street”. I think most of us would feel the same way, yet we still have oppurtunities to be remembered.
Sometimes we’ll say this phrase when not seeing someone for a long time ” It’s like they fell off the face of the earth”. Life is really about counting for something, making an impact or being remembered. The bible says that God never forgets us, but it’s nice to know that people won’t either. Here are few ways to not be forgotten.
1. Love people genuinely
2. Sacrifice is a life style not one moment in time
3. Believe you have something to offer
4. Talk about God in a way that brings hope to others
5. Talk about the good things in others
American Idol Part 2
Well, my man Jason got the boot last night! It was great watching his attitude. No tears and boo hoo’s just a big smile and Bob Marley one more time.
I was thinking, what if they had an American Idol for preachers. Every person has 5 minutes to preach a mini message that gets judged. That would be cool! The problem is I’m not sure you would get many people to participate. I believe the reason why is because preachers are the most fragile people on the face of the earth. You think standing in front of people singing is tough? Try, week in week out preaching for God. Imagine doing your best to hear from God and know that people are going to critic every word you say and every expression on your face while you speak.
No. I’ve decided that an American Idol preaching contest would not be cool. It would be more along the lines of sadistic.
Praise God for the person who will embrace criticism for their love for God and his word.
American Idol
Last night my wife and I watched American Idol. It’s something we’ve done each week this season. There is this guy on named Jason Castro. My whole family likes him a lot but man he did really bad last night. The poor fella got smoked by the other three contestants. Here’s the thing though, ever week he keeps haning around. Sometimes you wonder what’s up? I mean 45 million people voted last week and a lot of them just love this guy. Everyone says the only people voting for him are a bunch little teenage girls who just think he’s cute. Maybe so but there is something about his personality that just get to you. Last night he did I shot the sheriff Bob Marley style and it was soooo bad. After being butchered by all three judges Simeon said “What were you thinking”? Jason said “It’s Bob Marley man” It was so funny I cracked up. This thought came to mind later on. He doesn’t really care what the judges think and he refuses to get away from who he is. Suddenly I have so much respect for him and know that he’s going to have a great life and will be succesful no matter what he does.
Here’s what I found out today. He’s a christian. I found some stuff on the net and youtube that verifies it. Maybe the reason why he doesn’t care is because he has Christ at the center. I knew there was something about this guy I liked. Authentic doesn’t mean your the best at something it means your the best at who God created you to be.
American Idol is everywhere! People are judging us and the best we can do is be who God created us to be because of Jesus.
Vacation
Bonnie and I just got back from Orlando on Wed from a week of fun in the Sun. It was 80 and sunny everyday and we got our vaca tans. The trip was great! We went to gatorland (don’t let the redneck name fool you it’s well worth the trip) the Holy Land, Wycliffe bible translators and clearwater beach for some sun. One of the main things that made the trip so much fun was the low cost. If you haven’t figured it out vacations are not cheap, especially Orlando Florida. God really blessed us. I first found the cheapest tickets around because of persistence and prayer, secondly a wonderful family with a beautiful lakefront home and indoor swimming pool put us up for free. Lastly my awesome church Discovery Road took up and offering for us which provided for all our activities. We didn’t do the vacation overkill. We slept in late, only did half a day trips ate at a some nice ethnic restaurants got in early evening and did some reading.
Vacation is what I call a long Sabbath. I was on complete over load when I left and this was a well needed break. I think everyone needs to take some type of vacation to rest and relax. People who don’t know how to take a sabbath burnout, mentally, emotionally and physically.
I think God loves vacations.
