I recently read a passage in Oswald Chamber's "My Utmost for His Highest" that rang true for me. Chambers said that we too often get caught up in serving God so much that we fail to seek God's will for our lives. He goes on to say that one of the greatest dangers in our relationship with God can be our service because we put what we are doing ahead of what God wants done.
Our society is one of getting ahead. We are told it is important to strive to be first team and first chair; to strive to be in the top 10%, the top of the class, to climb the corporate ladder. There are seminars and books and all sorts of efforts to study leadership even going so far that someone wrote a book titled Jesus, CEO. We plan and execute strategy and work to do more and more and more.
Christ didn't call us to lead, he called us to serve. Maybe we should be studying servanthood instead of leadership. Maybe we should study Mother Teresa instead of Patton; instead of "Jesus, CEO" we should be reading "Jesus, the one who went so far to serve us that He suffered more than we can know because that is what God called Him to do and He came back to life because that is how good God is to those who love Him and do His will."
God, help me when I try to serve you without seeking you first. Help me remember that the greatest example of who I should be gave His life and went through excruciating pain and agony to make my path better and my future brighter than anything I can do or imagine. Allow me to glorify you even when it's not easy or convenient or pretty. Allow me to glorify you when I go through pain and turmoil and help me remember that in the times I think you have abandoned me, you are there with me. Use me God. Set me on your path and allow me to do your will.
Grace and peace to you.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Low Brain Activity This Morning
I love the book of Philippians.
The Rangers are playing great. The Angels are in another world. Can someone put some sort of voodoo curse on them for a little while?
It's still pitching that's getting the job done and Josh Hamilton can't hit the side of a barn. What's up with that?
I saw some video yesterday of a wedding where the wedding party is dancing down the aisle. The whole time I'm thinking, "these folks don't have great rhythm." It looked like they had fun though.
Just heard an old clip from Seinfeld where George is telling Jerry he wants to get a job in professional baseball. Funny but I wonder how many people have that same conversation thinking they could do some of the jobs better than the people in baseball doing those jobs.
Hosea's story boggles my mind.
Grace and peace to you.
The Rangers are playing great. The Angels are in another world. Can someone put some sort of voodoo curse on them for a little while?
It's still pitching that's getting the job done and Josh Hamilton can't hit the side of a barn. What's up with that?
I saw some video yesterday of a wedding where the wedding party is dancing down the aisle. The whole time I'm thinking, "these folks don't have great rhythm." It looked like they had fun though.
Just heard an old clip from Seinfeld where George is telling Jerry he wants to get a job in professional baseball. Funny but I wonder how many people have that same conversation thinking they could do some of the jobs better than the people in baseball doing those jobs.
Hosea's story boggles my mind.
Grace and peace to you.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Heaven
Last week I mentioned something about being ready for heaven and then heard a song on my iPod over the weekend that got me thinking about it again. The song titled Heaven sung by Los Lonely Boys (it's a band of 3 brothers and I think one of them wrote the song) speaks to me.
Save me from this prison
Lord help me get away
Cause only you can save me now
From this misery
Cause I've been lost in my own place
And I'm getting' weary
How far is heaven
And I know I need to change
My ways of livin'
How far is heaven, Lord can you tell me
Cause I've been locked up way too long
In this crazy world, how far is heaven
I just keep on prayin' Lord
Just keep on livin', how far is heaven
Lord can you tell me, how far is heaven
I just got to know how far, how far is heaven
Lord can you tell me
Tu que estas en alto cielo,
Echame tu bendiciòn
[translated from Spanish]
[You that's in a higher place
Send me down a blessing]
Cause I know there's a better place
Than this place I'm livin', how far is heaven
So I just got to show some faith
And just keep on giving, how far is heaven
Lord can you tell me, how far is heaven
I just wanna know how far, how far is heaven,
Lord can you tell me, how far is heaven,
'cause I just gotta know how far,
I just wanna know far
I, too, want to know how far heaven is but it's not my place to know. In the meantime, my prayer is that God will use me to do His will; that He will use me when I'm strong to reach those who are hurting and that He will use me when I'm weak so I will remember that He is strong. I pray that He will use me to see with His eyes and to serve with His hands. I pray that He will use me to bring hope to those who feel lost and that He will use me to rejoice with those who have found Him.
I look forward to the glory of being with my Lord but wanted to be His instrument until that time.
Grace and peace to you.
Save me from this prison
Lord help me get away
Cause only you can save me now
From this misery
Cause I've been lost in my own place
And I'm getting' weary
How far is heaven
And I know I need to change
My ways of livin'
How far is heaven, Lord can you tell me
Cause I've been locked up way too long
In this crazy world, how far is heaven
I just keep on prayin' Lord
Just keep on livin', how far is heaven
Lord can you tell me, how far is heaven
I just got to know how far, how far is heaven
Lord can you tell me
Tu que estas en alto cielo,
Echame tu bendiciòn
[translated from Spanish]
[You that's in a higher place
Send me down a blessing]
Cause I know there's a better place
Than this place I'm livin', how far is heaven
So I just got to show some faith
And just keep on giving, how far is heaven
Lord can you tell me, how far is heaven
I just wanna know how far, how far is heaven,
Lord can you tell me, how far is heaven,
'cause I just gotta know how far,
I just wanna know far
I, too, want to know how far heaven is but it's not my place to know. In the meantime, my prayer is that God will use me to do His will; that He will use me when I'm strong to reach those who are hurting and that He will use me when I'm weak so I will remember that He is strong. I pray that He will use me to see with His eyes and to serve with His hands. I pray that He will use me to bring hope to those who feel lost and that He will use me to rejoice with those who have found Him.
I look forward to the glory of being with my Lord but wanted to be His instrument until that time.
Grace and peace to you.
Friday, July 24, 2009
End of Week
It's been a crazy week with a baseball tournament going on and me coming and going from the office and working late to keep up. Fun, but crazy.
One of the things I cherish is time spent in Aracaju, Brazil with people who truly know the Lord God. It is always uplifting and encouraging to be with them and I will get the opportunity soon. It will be a blessing for me and I hope I can help them grow stronger in their walk with God.
I think I've mentioned that I have a copy of My Utmost For His Highest written by Oswald Chambers. It's an incredible book of thoughts and devotional ideas and, often, I feel like he knows me when he is writing. There are days that I have to read over and over because his words lead me closer to God each time I read them. I had the book for 2-3 years before I picked it up. I probably wasn't ready to understand the depth of Chamber's writing or the impact it would have on my relationship with God when I got it but I was led back to it at the right time. Powerful.
I'm working with some staff at work on how we see each other and how we treat each other in the hopes of continually going deeper to work on ourselves in an effort to make others better. It's incredible to hear the comments and see the changes as people take on responsibility for choosing how they will treat people and I'm thankful I work in an environment where I can invoke Christ as the example. So many places would limit or condemn the use of Christ and I am more than fortunate to be in a place where that is not the case.
I hope today I can be a living, breathing example of Christ-likeness.
Grace and peace to you.
One of the things I cherish is time spent in Aracaju, Brazil with people who truly know the Lord God. It is always uplifting and encouraging to be with them and I will get the opportunity soon. It will be a blessing for me and I hope I can help them grow stronger in their walk with God.
I think I've mentioned that I have a copy of My Utmost For His Highest written by Oswald Chambers. It's an incredible book of thoughts and devotional ideas and, often, I feel like he knows me when he is writing. There are days that I have to read over and over because his words lead me closer to God each time I read them. I had the book for 2-3 years before I picked it up. I probably wasn't ready to understand the depth of Chamber's writing or the impact it would have on my relationship with God when I got it but I was led back to it at the right time. Powerful.
I'm working with some staff at work on how we see each other and how we treat each other in the hopes of continually going deeper to work on ourselves in an effort to make others better. It's incredible to hear the comments and see the changes as people take on responsibility for choosing how they will treat people and I'm thankful I work in an environment where I can invoke Christ as the example. So many places would limit or condemn the use of Christ and I am more than fortunate to be in a place where that is not the case.
I hope today I can be a living, breathing example of Christ-likeness.
Grace and peace to you.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Middle of the Week
I remember when I used to look forward to Wednesday because the week was half-over. A friend commented the other day that he had hit the "hump day" of life meaning he reached the age he felt like it was half-over. It made me start thinking about what I will do with the latter half.
__________________________________________________________
I've heard a lot of Michael Jackson music lately. It keeps taking me back to images of high school. I remember taking Keith Dixon home from basketball practice. Keith (a black guy) always thought it was funny I (a white guy) was jamming to Michael Jackson with my stereo on steroids in my truck.
I talked to my Mom on the phone the other day and she told me Keith has died recently.
__________________________________________________________
I'm really not on some morbid, end-of-life kick today. Just a couple of things that popped into my mind.
__________________________________________________________
Joe Gibbs was just on ESPN and I only heard snippets but he was talking about some Bible scholar he's talking to who is giving him ideas of what heaven will be like. I don't know (although Rick did a great job with some sermons on it recently) what it will be like exactly but know this - there won't be pain but absolute joy. There won't be hatred or bitterness or anger - just absolute, unconditional love. There won't be cares and issues with Osama or Obama or Democrats or Republicans, no Baptists or Church of Christ'ers, no yankees or rednecks - there will be God, a majestic and perfect ruler, celebrating with His children who have come home - their only label being "saved by Christ."
I look forward to that day and hope it comes sooner rather than later.
Grace and peace to you.
__________________________________________________________
I've heard a lot of Michael Jackson music lately. It keeps taking me back to images of high school. I remember taking Keith Dixon home from basketball practice. Keith (a black guy) always thought it was funny I (a white guy) was jamming to Michael Jackson with my stereo on steroids in my truck.
I talked to my Mom on the phone the other day and she told me Keith has died recently.
__________________________________________________________
I'm really not on some morbid, end-of-life kick today. Just a couple of things that popped into my mind.
__________________________________________________________
Joe Gibbs was just on ESPN and I only heard snippets but he was talking about some Bible scholar he's talking to who is giving him ideas of what heaven will be like. I don't know (although Rick did a great job with some sermons on it recently) what it will be like exactly but know this - there won't be pain but absolute joy. There won't be hatred or bitterness or anger - just absolute, unconditional love. There won't be cares and issues with Osama or Obama or Democrats or Republicans, no Baptists or Church of Christ'ers, no yankees or rednecks - there will be God, a majestic and perfect ruler, celebrating with His children who have come home - their only label being "saved by Christ."
I look forward to that day and hope it comes sooner rather than later.
Grace and peace to you.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Welcome Home
I had a wonderful week in Colorado. I didn't catch as many fish as usual but caught enough to enjoy myself and the biggest one of the week was the last one I caught so it ended well. It was a good time with God's creation and time spent with family and I'm thankful for the opportunity to take some time away and relax. I think 3 more weeks of it and I would be alright!
I love waking up on July days and seeing the back porch wet from rain.
________________________________________________________
It was an interesting week. I was reminded of the story of Abraham and Sarah and how God had them wait to fulfill His promise to them. They took things into their own hands and it led to battles that still exist today but God's plan was good and perfect.
How many times do I get tired of waiting for God? How many times have I taken things into my own hands only to find my ideas weren't so great?
My prayer today is that I will learn to wait and that I will wait with joy and peace in knowing that God will deliver.
Grace and peace to you.
I love waking up on July days and seeing the back porch wet from rain.
________________________________________________________
It was an interesting week. I was reminded of the story of Abraham and Sarah and how God had them wait to fulfill His promise to them. They took things into their own hands and it led to battles that still exist today but God's plan was good and perfect.
How many times do I get tired of waiting for God? How many times have I taken things into my own hands only to find my ideas weren't so great?
My prayer today is that I will learn to wait and that I will wait with joy and peace in knowing that God will deliver.
Grace and peace to you.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
This Is It For Awhile
Another blogging holiday of sorts. I'm going to be out more than in over the next couple of weeks so posts will be sporadic at best. I hope to come back somewhat rested, more relaxed and ever closer to my Lord.
________________________________________________________
Did anyone stay up with the Rangers last night? I dropped out in the 8th inning but woke up to find they had won and are tied for 1st place again. I also heard Chris Davis was 3-for-4 at one point in his AAA game last night.
________________________________________________________
Do you ever read scripture that haunts you, that stays in the back of your mind interjecting itself in your thoughts periodically? I've got a few of those and one that I juggle constantly is Acts 2:42-47. I wonder what that would/should look like today. Is it a picture of me running from here to there with all my busyness and periodically saying a good word to someone or doing something for someone every now and then. Is it a picture of a nicer house, a nicer car, more gadgets?
It haunts me because I wonder what those verses mean for me, what are they telling me, where are they leading me, what are the things I need to be doing differently?
I'm afraid many in this country have thought it was a favored nation because we were prosperous. Is there any chance prosperity comes from satan? Is there any chance the good things we can afford or not always, if ever, from God but from one who wants to occupy our time, our money, our hearts?
God loves me and He gave me all I needed long, long ago. What I needed lived and hung on a cross and died and walked out of a tomb. What I needed...what God wants me to have is the hope and promise that only Jesus provides.
Grace and peace to you.
________________________________________________________
Did anyone stay up with the Rangers last night? I dropped out in the 8th inning but woke up to find they had won and are tied for 1st place again. I also heard Chris Davis was 3-for-4 at one point in his AAA game last night.
________________________________________________________
Do you ever read scripture that haunts you, that stays in the back of your mind interjecting itself in your thoughts periodically? I've got a few of those and one that I juggle constantly is Acts 2:42-47. I wonder what that would/should look like today. Is it a picture of me running from here to there with all my busyness and periodically saying a good word to someone or doing something for someone every now and then. Is it a picture of a nicer house, a nicer car, more gadgets?
It haunts me because I wonder what those verses mean for me, what are they telling me, where are they leading me, what are the things I need to be doing differently?
I'm afraid many in this country have thought it was a favored nation because we were prosperous. Is there any chance prosperity comes from satan? Is there any chance the good things we can afford or not always, if ever, from God but from one who wants to occupy our time, our money, our hearts?
God loves me and He gave me all I needed long, long ago. What I needed lived and hung on a cross and died and walked out of a tomb. What I needed...what God wants me to have is the hope and promise that only Jesus provides.
Grace and peace to you.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Give Me Your Eyes...
How do we see people? Today is the memorial circus for Michael Jackson and we will be bombarded with more stories of how people will remember him, either the rascal or the entertainer. How do people see him? How will he be remembered? I turned on ESPN this morning and the first story was Steve McNair, recently shot and killed allegedly with by his girlfriend. It was followed with former coaches and teammates talking about how they will remember him.
Two guys who have died and are having their legacy discussed in the media. Two guys who certainly made mistakes and took some wrong paths. Two guys who did a lot of good things and helped people in various ways. Two guys who, except for their fame, aren't much different than the rest of us. How do we see them? How will we talk about them?
I read The Shack recently and what the book gave me was the idea, the question, of how I will see people. Do I see them through my experience, through my idea of justice, through my idea of right and wrong or will I see them through the eyes of their Maker and Creator, of their Father who is also my Father?
I walk through Wally World and see People and National Enquirer magazines with all the latest scoops (and a little dirt) or get snippets of the latest rumor about people on the Internet - how do I see them? With my eyes or God's eyes?
Brandon Heath sings a song that speaks to me. The chorus goes like this:
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
I want to see people through God's eyes. I will see them differently.
I want to see people through God's love. I will feel differently about them.
I want to see people through God's heart. I will have more compassion.
God, give me your eyes, your love and your heart for people.
Grace and peace to you.
Two guys who have died and are having their legacy discussed in the media. Two guys who certainly made mistakes and took some wrong paths. Two guys who did a lot of good things and helped people in various ways. Two guys who, except for their fame, aren't much different than the rest of us. How do we see them? How will we talk about them?
I read The Shack recently and what the book gave me was the idea, the question, of how I will see people. Do I see them through my experience, through my idea of justice, through my idea of right and wrong or will I see them through the eyes of their Maker and Creator, of their Father who is also my Father?
I walk through Wally World and see People and National Enquirer magazines with all the latest scoops (and a little dirt) or get snippets of the latest rumor about people on the Internet - how do I see them? With my eyes or God's eyes?
Brandon Heath sings a song that speaks to me. The chorus goes like this:
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
I want to see people through God's eyes. I will see them differently.
I want to see people through God's love. I will feel differently about them.
I want to see people through God's heart. I will have more compassion.
God, give me your eyes, your love and your heart for people.
Grace and peace to you.
Monday, July 06, 2009
Monday Replay
Does it seem like Monday gets here faster than any other day of the week?
July 4th came and went uneventfully. No fires, no one lost an eye. I think I saw more fireworks than ever before though. Out driving Saturday night, they were going off everywhere. Big ones.
I appreciate the country I live in and am thankful for what I have. The freedoms we do have are a gift from the sweat and blood many have poured out for us.
As thankful as I am for this freedom I have, there is a greater freedom for me to grab hold of. I still get too many emails trying to link my freedom through Christ with the country I live in. I heard a question yesterday that had me thinking - does God love Americans more than Brazilians? more than Russians? Does God love Americans more than He loves Muslims? Does He love me more than He loves Osama Bin Laden? I don't think so.
We Americans need to remember living in this country doesn't give us greater favor in Heaven. Satan is an equal opportunity killer and his desire to rob our souls is no different than his desire to rob the soul of a terrorist. He gives them the desire to kill and has them think it is in the name of God. He gives us the desire to feel pride, maybe arrogance, and to feel safe in our prosperity and some try to tie it to a "Christian nation."
I won't be surprised to see a day when our prosperity ends and our freedoms fade in this country but no one can take away the freedom I have in God - the freedom to love, to give, to share, to be gracious and merciful - those freedoms are mine forever. The sweat and the blood have been given for me and the cross is my constant reminder that I have a freedom that far exceeds anything I can know because I'm an American.
Grace and peace to you.
July 4th came and went uneventfully. No fires, no one lost an eye. I think I saw more fireworks than ever before though. Out driving Saturday night, they were going off everywhere. Big ones.
I appreciate the country I live in and am thankful for what I have. The freedoms we do have are a gift from the sweat and blood many have poured out for us.
As thankful as I am for this freedom I have, there is a greater freedom for me to grab hold of. I still get too many emails trying to link my freedom through Christ with the country I live in. I heard a question yesterday that had me thinking - does God love Americans more than Brazilians? more than Russians? Does God love Americans more than He loves Muslims? Does He love me more than He loves Osama Bin Laden? I don't think so.
We Americans need to remember living in this country doesn't give us greater favor in Heaven. Satan is an equal opportunity killer and his desire to rob our souls is no different than his desire to rob the soul of a terrorist. He gives them the desire to kill and has them think it is in the name of God. He gives us the desire to feel pride, maybe arrogance, and to feel safe in our prosperity and some try to tie it to a "Christian nation."
I won't be surprised to see a day when our prosperity ends and our freedoms fade in this country but no one can take away the freedom I have in God - the freedom to love, to give, to share, to be gracious and merciful - those freedoms are mine forever. The sweat and the blood have been given for me and the cross is my constant reminder that I have a freedom that far exceeds anything I can know because I'm an American.
Grace and peace to you.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Don't Start A Fire
The 4th invokes so many thoughts and feelings for people because of all that it represents. While this is a great opportunity for a stirring, patriotic moment, the 4th always takes me back to a Sunday lunch when my grandmother kept telling me about a fire someone started years earlier shooting off fireworks. The conversation came up because I was going, that night, to shoot fireworks with a friend. We would be out in the country shooting them over a clay ravine. No hint of potential fire.
We were having a blast and everything was great with only one misfire - a bottlerocket that flew off behind us. Weird but everything seemed OK and we kept firing away. It was a few minutes later when my friend yelled "FIRE!" I turned around, saw a fire, turned back around to light another bottlerocket when realization clicked in. Yep, that was a fire. Our little misfired bottlerocket had gone behind us into a pile of dead pine needles. At this point the fire was a good 8 feet across and growing...growing towards the house of the brother of my friend who was out of town.
I'll spare you all the crazy details (I learned what a party line phone was that night) but the fire was eventually put out with the help of the fire department who got there more than an hour after we had been fighting to contain it on our own.
If you are shooting fireworks this weekend...don't start a fire. Take some time to remember what we celebrate and be safe.
Grace and peace to you.
We were having a blast and everything was great with only one misfire - a bottlerocket that flew off behind us. Weird but everything seemed OK and we kept firing away. It was a few minutes later when my friend yelled "FIRE!" I turned around, saw a fire, turned back around to light another bottlerocket when realization clicked in. Yep, that was a fire. Our little misfired bottlerocket had gone behind us into a pile of dead pine needles. At this point the fire was a good 8 feet across and growing...growing towards the house of the brother of my friend who was out of town.
I'll spare you all the crazy details (I learned what a party line phone was that night) but the fire was eventually put out with the help of the fire department who got there more than an hour after we had been fighting to contain it on our own.
If you are shooting fireworks this weekend...don't start a fire. Take some time to remember what we celebrate and be safe.
Grace and peace to you.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
I'm Loving This Cool Weather
Whatever. I'm not sure it will ever be cool again.
Hammerin' Hank hit a 2 run walk off homerun last night and the Rangers beat the Angels 9-7. Francisco doesn't look like he's ready to resume the closer role just yet but the bats are coming alive and the Rangers just took 2 out of 3 with the division leaders.
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Do you ever notice Satan blinding you to your own problems? Do you ever notice Satan blinding someone else from their own problems. I think most of us would fit in the second category more than the first because that's what Satan wants to do - get our focus on someone else and their problems.
I want to let God be in control of what I see, not Satan, and I want Him to make me aware of my shortcomings because doing so will draw me closer to Him who can give me the strength to win.
How focused can people be on Michael Jackson, Governor Sanford, Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson or even where the Rangers are in the standings and never examine their own lives? I don't want to live in that world and be caught up in the things that don't really matter. I want to know and see the battle I am engaged in and be focused to fight that battle through the power of my Lord.
Grace and peace to you.
Hammerin' Hank hit a 2 run walk off homerun last night and the Rangers beat the Angels 9-7. Francisco doesn't look like he's ready to resume the closer role just yet but the bats are coming alive and the Rangers just took 2 out of 3 with the division leaders.
_________________________________________________________
Do you ever notice Satan blinding you to your own problems? Do you ever notice Satan blinding someone else from their own problems. I think most of us would fit in the second category more than the first because that's what Satan wants to do - get our focus on someone else and their problems.
I want to let God be in control of what I see, not Satan, and I want Him to make me aware of my shortcomings because doing so will draw me closer to Him who can give me the strength to win.
How focused can people be on Michael Jackson, Governor Sanford, Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson or even where the Rangers are in the standings and never examine their own lives? I don't want to live in that world and be caught up in the things that don't really matter. I want to know and see the battle I am engaged in and be focused to fight that battle through the power of my Lord.
Grace and peace to you.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
It's a Tuesday
Yes, I do know my days of the week and the Rangers lost again. I listened to some of the post-game radio show and there are calls to hire a new hitting coach. People are so reactive at times. There are times when nothing but time will fix things. The hitting coach has been regarded as a guru for years and players who are suffering at the plate want to come to him to find what they have lost. Just because not everyone finds it at once, on the same pace, at the same time, others want to denounce the guy who can help them the most? Crazy.
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We had a bit of a cold front yesterday and I actually saw a temperature of 77 and felt a few rain drops. Woohoo! Do you ever wonder why God doesn't set the thermostat at 75 degrees around the world and leave it there?
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One of the best things in my life are people who will talk to me about what they believe and what I believe, share our agreements and differences, challenge each other to think and examine our beliefs more and do it with mutual respect and love for each other. It's a beautiful gift.
_________________________________________________________________________________
We had a bit of a cold front yesterday and I actually saw a temperature of 77 and felt a few rain drops. Woohoo! Do you ever wonder why God doesn't set the thermostat at 75 degrees around the world and leave it there?
_________________________________________________________________________________
One of the best things in my life are people who will talk to me about what they believe and what I believe, share our agreements and differences, challenge each other to think and examine our beliefs more and do it with mutual respect and love for each other. It's a beautiful gift.
Monday, June 29, 2009
It's a Monday
I can't get going this morning.
I've wondered while watching all the Michael Jackson hoopla and Iran protests on TV what it would have been like if there was TV back in Jesus' day.
I enjoyed it while the Rangers were on top. Now I'm left to wonder what the rest of the season will be like. The past few years, the Rangers have started off horribly and finished strong. Maybe they are in a collective slump and will still finish strong and be in the playoff hunt.
I am a little concerned with all the trade talk. I don't think they are in a position to contend for a World Series spot this year so why trade the prized farm system they keep talking about. Play the string out and see what the young guys can do unless we can get a great deal.
The Angels are coming to town. We want learn everything over the next 3 games but we may learn about the heart of the team. I'll be watching.
I wonder how much more attention Farrah Fawcett's death would have received if Michael Jackson hadn't died the same day.
I love to grill but it's weird thinking about starting a fire when it's 108 degrees outside.
We've started a class at church titled "What Is Truth?" Pilate asks Jesus that question and then walks away. Why wouldn't he stay for an answer? We're just a few classes in but I'm interested to see where it goes. I keep asking myself what we have done to truth over the years. Have we really upheld truth or have we mutated it to fit our desires, have we legalized it thinking it would make it easier to follow? Have we stayed true to exactly what Jesus taught? Questions that I don't have all the answer to.
I know this...God loves me deeply and He loves you the same way. He paid an incredible price for me and for you because He loves each of us so much. That is truth.
Grace and peace to you.
I've wondered while watching all the Michael Jackson hoopla and Iran protests on TV what it would have been like if there was TV back in Jesus' day.
I enjoyed it while the Rangers were on top. Now I'm left to wonder what the rest of the season will be like. The past few years, the Rangers have started off horribly and finished strong. Maybe they are in a collective slump and will still finish strong and be in the playoff hunt.
I am a little concerned with all the trade talk. I don't think they are in a position to contend for a World Series spot this year so why trade the prized farm system they keep talking about. Play the string out and see what the young guys can do unless we can get a great deal.
The Angels are coming to town. We want learn everything over the next 3 games but we may learn about the heart of the team. I'll be watching.
I wonder how much more attention Farrah Fawcett's death would have received if Michael Jackson hadn't died the same day.
I love to grill but it's weird thinking about starting a fire when it's 108 degrees outside.
We've started a class at church titled "What Is Truth?" Pilate asks Jesus that question and then walks away. Why wouldn't he stay for an answer? We're just a few classes in but I'm interested to see where it goes. I keep asking myself what we have done to truth over the years. Have we really upheld truth or have we mutated it to fit our desires, have we legalized it thinking it would make it easier to follow? Have we stayed true to exactly what Jesus taught? Questions that I don't have all the answer to.
I know this...God loves me deeply and He loves you the same way. He paid an incredible price for me and for you because He loves each of us so much. That is truth.
Grace and peace to you.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Being Clear
It's hard in a short blog to always cover all the bases but I want to add a little bit more to my last two posts.
The finger I am pointing is pointing square at me. It's not pointing at my current church or past churches I have attended. It's not pointing at the church across the street or around the corner. Just at me.
Maybe there's a better way to phrase "my church experience" but it's all I came up with . Anyway, it's MY experience and it's MY heart that has needed changing all along. I will say if you felt your toes were getting stepped on you may want to examine your own heart but please do not think I was talking about you or anyone else.
I am growing and experiencing a new relationship with God and through that my eyes are opening to all sorts of things. My church experience was a part of that. Do I think there are lots of people out there who were like me? Sure. I am trying to point out their issues? NO. Just mine.
I have learned that my view is shaped in great part by my heart relationship with God. I'm sharing some of what I'm learning because a) it is part of my healing and b) it may help someone else who has traveled the same or similar paths to mine.
Please know and believe my desire is to build up the kingdom. I believe God is a perfect God and I believe His ways and His desires are perfect.
I love God and shout hallelujah that I am His.
Grace and peace to you.
The finger I am pointing is pointing square at me. It's not pointing at my current church or past churches I have attended. It's not pointing at the church across the street or around the corner. Just at me.
Maybe there's a better way to phrase "my church experience" but it's all I came up with . Anyway, it's MY experience and it's MY heart that has needed changing all along. I will say if you felt your toes were getting stepped on you may want to examine your own heart but please do not think I was talking about you or anyone else.
I am growing and experiencing a new relationship with God and through that my eyes are opening to all sorts of things. My church experience was a part of that. Do I think there are lots of people out there who were like me? Sure. I am trying to point out their issues? NO. Just mine.
I have learned that my view is shaped in great part by my heart relationship with God. I'm sharing some of what I'm learning because a) it is part of my healing and b) it may help someone else who has traveled the same or similar paths to mine.
Please know and believe my desire is to build up the kingdom. I believe God is a perfect God and I believe His ways and His desires are perfect.
I love God and shout hallelujah that I am His.
Grace and peace to you.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The Other Side of the Coin
I beat up on my church experience yesterday but I don't want to leave the story there because it's not complete. The crazy thing about a church is that it will not be perfect. It's made up of people who, though made in God's image, are sinful. I think God knew this was going to happen but it didn't stop Him from creating the church.
When I was a teenager, I was at a friend's lakehouse and his dad told me "I can find God out here easier than I can at church." At the time, I didn't know what to say and, even today, I'm not sure I can give a good response to him because it's not about the church but his heart. Christ established the church with Peter. In Matthew 16, 17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter,a]">[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hadesb]">[b] will not overcome it.c]">[c] 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will bed]">[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will bee]">[e] loosed in heaven."
Jesus said this to Peter, the same Peter who would later vehemently deny he knew the Christ, Peter the fiery cut-off-someone's-ear guy. Hmmm. Maybe, just maybe, even Jesus knew things wouldn't always run perfectly in the church because Jesus says "on this rock I will build my church" and surely He knew what Peter would later do. Should we think He expects we will be better than that?
What I have found at my church are some people who love the Lord our God deeply and intimately. I have found some people who will carry each other's burdens an extra mile. I have found people who love unconditionally, who bear with each other, who endure with each other and who believe in each other. I have found people who come together on Sunday morning to worship, fall at the feet of and give praise to the Lord.
For all the imperfections that exist, there is also something perfect in the church - the desire of God for us to come together and it is in that perfection that I have grown to love my church and look forward to the times we are together in worship and in fellowship.
Grace and peace to you.
When I was a teenager, I was at a friend's lakehouse and his dad told me "I can find God out here easier than I can at church." At the time, I didn't know what to say and, even today, I'm not sure I can give a good response to him because it's not about the church but his heart. Christ established the church with Peter. In Matthew 16, 17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter,a]">[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hadesb]">[b] will not overcome it.c]">[c] 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will bed]">[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will bee]">[e] loosed in heaven."
Jesus said this to Peter, the same Peter who would later vehemently deny he knew the Christ, Peter the fiery cut-off-someone's-ear guy. Hmmm. Maybe, just maybe, even Jesus knew things wouldn't always run perfectly in the church because Jesus says "on this rock I will build my church" and surely He knew what Peter would later do. Should we think He expects we will be better than that?
What I have found at my church are some people who love the Lord our God deeply and intimately. I have found some people who will carry each other's burdens an extra mile. I have found people who love unconditionally, who bear with each other, who endure with each other and who believe in each other. I have found people who come together on Sunday morning to worship, fall at the feet of and give praise to the Lord.
For all the imperfections that exist, there is also something perfect in the church - the desire of God for us to come together and it is in that perfection that I have grown to love my church and look forward to the times we are together in worship and in fellowship.
Grace and peace to you.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Where Did It Change?
I'm part of a theological movement often referred to as the Restoration Movement - the idea being to restore the 1st century church. I think it's a great idea but as I look at my church experience, I don't think I see things matching up real well.
This from Acts 2:
42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
I am guilty of participating in being devoted to a lot of things other than the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer, of being together with everything in common, of giving all I have to anyone as they have need, of meeting every day to study.
I am guilty of participating with people in the church who are more concerned about getting to keep all my money because I earned it instead of giving it all away.
I am guilty of participating with people in the church of being more devoted to a certain political groups teachings and fighting the other group instead of focused on the apostles' teaching.
I am guilty of participating with people in church who want to segregate ourselves from other groups because our worship style is different or we want to fight a public battle over our doctrine while the lost stand on the outside wandering what all the fuss is about but knowing they don't want anything to do with it.
I am guilty of participating with people in the church who pass emails around with Congressman explaining why we are a Judeo-Christian nation to build up our country instead of talking to people who don't know Jesus and building up the kingdom.
I'm not saying my church isn't important because it was something established by Christ. I think the church is very important (and I'll have more to say about that another day because we just aren't perfect people, are we?) but I also think our movement has been less about restoring 1st century Christianity than it should be. I think many of us have been misguided and I think there are spiritual forces at work that want to keep it that way - let us fight over music and dress and women's roles and buildings and a 1,000 other things instead of doing what the church in Acts 2 was doing.
I pray for churches that are led by the Spirit and not the desire of men. I pray for churches that are building up the kingdom instead of fighting the battles of egos and politics. I pray for churches that are enjoying the favor of people and enjoying the fruit of the Lord adding to their numbers daily. I am praying that I will begin to look more like a 1st century Christian than I do today.
Grace and peace to you.
This from Acts 2:
42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
I am guilty of participating in being devoted to a lot of things other than the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer, of being together with everything in common, of giving all I have to anyone as they have need, of meeting every day to study.
I am guilty of participating with people in the church who are more concerned about getting to keep all my money because I earned it instead of giving it all away.
I am guilty of participating with people in the church of being more devoted to a certain political groups teachings and fighting the other group instead of focused on the apostles' teaching.
I am guilty of participating with people in church who want to segregate ourselves from other groups because our worship style is different or we want to fight a public battle over our doctrine while the lost stand on the outside wandering what all the fuss is about but knowing they don't want anything to do with it.
I am guilty of participating with people in the church who pass emails around with Congressman explaining why we are a Judeo-Christian nation to build up our country instead of talking to people who don't know Jesus and building up the kingdom.
I'm not saying my church isn't important because it was something established by Christ. I think the church is very important (and I'll have more to say about that another day because we just aren't perfect people, are we?) but I also think our movement has been less about restoring 1st century Christianity than it should be. I think many of us have been misguided and I think there are spiritual forces at work that want to keep it that way - let us fight over music and dress and women's roles and buildings and a 1,000 other things instead of doing what the church in Acts 2 was doing.
I pray for churches that are led by the Spirit and not the desire of men. I pray for churches that are building up the kingdom instead of fighting the battles of egos and politics. I pray for churches that are enjoying the favor of people and enjoying the fruit of the Lord adding to their numbers daily. I am praying that I will begin to look more like a 1st century Christian than I do today.
Grace and peace to you.
Monday, June 22, 2009
The Coming Week
I've got several ideas for posts this week and hope I can get them all done without writing a novel and making sense. I may have to stew on some of them a little longer.
Today, health care seems to be back in the spotlight. I didn't hear all that was said this morning on GMA but know they were talking about the pros and cons of Obama's plan that is coming soon. While government run anything makes me immediately think "FAILURE" I'm also an advocate that our current system doesn't work so well either. Currently, I make 2 house payments each month - one for my house and one for my health plan. It's not a joke, I pay roughly the same amounts for my mortgage and insurance. Does that sound like a good plan? Then, I've got Newt Gingrich as the Republican spokesman for the evils of Obama's plan. A guy who is living off a government paid pension funded my tax dollars, a guy with the best health care available fund funded by my tax dollars and a guy who gets paid millions of dollars to speak while still taking a salary paid for by my tax dollars. Great. What I would like is for my spokesman to be the husband of one of the ladies in my office. She's pregnant and his company just cut health insurance to save money. I think he's got a better grip on reality than Newt for most Americans.
Tell me the government cannot effectively manage a health program and I can't disagree with you. Tell me the plan we have now is good enough and I will disagree with you. Tell me the Republicans have a better alternative and I'll just laugh. Ask me for a solution and I'll tell you I'm as lost as the next person because I don't have the time to invest in it right now. Who does you ask? Unfortunately it's the people who are getting paid by my tax dollars, people who don't live in the real world and who don't seem to really understand the needs of the typical American.
_______________________________________________________________
This is leading me to a place I don't fully understand and reserve the right to change my opinions as I think out loud. For today, I'll simply throw the broad question out of what is the church's role going to be in the future?
Grace and peace to you.
Today, health care seems to be back in the spotlight. I didn't hear all that was said this morning on GMA but know they were talking about the pros and cons of Obama's plan that is coming soon. While government run anything makes me immediately think "FAILURE" I'm also an advocate that our current system doesn't work so well either. Currently, I make 2 house payments each month - one for my house and one for my health plan. It's not a joke, I pay roughly the same amounts for my mortgage and insurance. Does that sound like a good plan? Then, I've got Newt Gingrich as the Republican spokesman for the evils of Obama's plan. A guy who is living off a government paid pension funded my tax dollars, a guy with the best health care available fund funded by my tax dollars and a guy who gets paid millions of dollars to speak while still taking a salary paid for by my tax dollars. Great. What I would like is for my spokesman to be the husband of one of the ladies in my office. She's pregnant and his company just cut health insurance to save money. I think he's got a better grip on reality than Newt for most Americans.
Tell me the government cannot effectively manage a health program and I can't disagree with you. Tell me the plan we have now is good enough and I will disagree with you. Tell me the Republicans have a better alternative and I'll just laugh. Ask me for a solution and I'll tell you I'm as lost as the next person because I don't have the time to invest in it right now. Who does you ask? Unfortunately it's the people who are getting paid by my tax dollars, people who don't live in the real world and who don't seem to really understand the needs of the typical American.
_______________________________________________________________
This is leading me to a place I don't fully understand and reserve the right to change my opinions as I think out loud. For today, I'll simply throw the broad question out of what is the church's role going to be in the future?
Grace and peace to you.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Strength
I talked to a friend yesterday who just quit his job. Yep, just quit. He doesn't have another job lined up. The job he had paid him as much as his previous jobs had paid in 2-3 years. He just quit.
OK, he didn't just walk out. He talked to his boss, the owner of the company, before walking out. They had a talk and then he quit.
Crazy, huh? In this economy, who in their right mind quits his job? And what would possess someone to do something like that?
My friend and his boss, the owner, were interviewing a guy for a position at the company. They had asked if the guy was willing to move and the guy responded to the effect of "yes, my wife and I have been praying about it so that we make the right decision for our family and we think God is leading us to move." At this point, the boss excuses himself to go to the restroom while my friend finished the interview.
After the candidate is gone, my friend finds the boss and asks what he thought. "I left because I'm not hiring another Christian hypocrite around here. I'm not interested." There was more to it than that but you get the idea.
My friend wrestled with it for a few days. He had promised his high school aged daughter he wouldn't move her again. He was making good money. He called someone and they suggested he talk to his daughter and tell her what happened to which she responded, "you can't stay there daddy." So he told his boss how he felt and his boss told him he didn't care. So he quit.
Strength. Not muscles, not force but a strength that comes from a faith I wonder if I would have. Strength that allows him to trust that God will take care of him. Strength.
Grace and peace to you.
OK, he didn't just walk out. He talked to his boss, the owner of the company, before walking out. They had a talk and then he quit.
Crazy, huh? In this economy, who in their right mind quits his job? And what would possess someone to do something like that?
My friend and his boss, the owner, were interviewing a guy for a position at the company. They had asked if the guy was willing to move and the guy responded to the effect of "yes, my wife and I have been praying about it so that we make the right decision for our family and we think God is leading us to move." At this point, the boss excuses himself to go to the restroom while my friend finished the interview.
After the candidate is gone, my friend finds the boss and asks what he thought. "I left because I'm not hiring another Christian hypocrite around here. I'm not interested." There was more to it than that but you get the idea.
My friend wrestled with it for a few days. He had promised his high school aged daughter he wouldn't move her again. He was making good money. He called someone and they suggested he talk to his daughter and tell her what happened to which she responded, "you can't stay there daddy." So he told his boss how he felt and his boss told him he didn't care. So he quit.
Strength. Not muscles, not force but a strength that comes from a faith I wonder if I would have. Strength that allows him to trust that God will take care of him. Strength.
Grace and peace to you.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Twittering
Technology can bring good and bad to our world. Twitter is one of those things I've been somewhat fascinated by because lots of people use it and it doesn't make the company any money. I guess that's perfect in this economy but it doesn't seem like a long-term solution.
Anyway, Twitter was planning to shut down this weekend for some maintenance and has been asked by the U.S. government to postpone it so protesters in Iran can communicate what is going on using Twitter. The Iranian government has stopped most news outlets from reporting and people are using their cell phones and Twitter to let the world in. Crazy.
I still think Twitter is going to have to find a way to make money.
_______________________________________________________________
If you fly much, or even if you don't, and want to read something fun, google "29E letter" and read the comments from a passenger who was having a bad flight. There is some coarse language so beware but the letter is one of the funniest things I've read. There's a similar letter from a guy flying from Mumbai to Heathrow on Virgin Airways that ranks right there with it. You can find it through google also.
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The Rangers won in extra innings last night. I'm glad we are beating the bad teams but want to see us beat a Boston, New York or Los Angeles Dodger type team before I get too excited about making any trades to make a run this year. There are still too many holes to begin giving up valuable talent in the farm system to hope for a Series this year.
No one from the Rangers has ever asked my opinion.
_______________________________________________________________
Grace and peace.
Anyway, Twitter was planning to shut down this weekend for some maintenance and has been asked by the U.S. government to postpone it so protesters in Iran can communicate what is going on using Twitter. The Iranian government has stopped most news outlets from reporting and people are using their cell phones and Twitter to let the world in. Crazy.
I still think Twitter is going to have to find a way to make money.
_______________________________________________________________
If you fly much, or even if you don't, and want to read something fun, google "29E letter" and read the comments from a passenger who was having a bad flight. There is some coarse language so beware but the letter is one of the funniest things I've read. There's a similar letter from a guy flying from Mumbai to Heathrow on Virgin Airways that ranks right there with it. You can find it through google also.
_______________________________________________________________
The Rangers won in extra innings last night. I'm glad we are beating the bad teams but want to see us beat a Boston, New York or Los Angeles Dodger type team before I get too excited about making any trades to make a run this year. There are still too many holes to begin giving up valuable talent in the farm system to hope for a Series this year.
No one from the Rangers has ever asked my opinion.
_______________________________________________________________
Grace and peace.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Shocking (Or Not)
Word out that Sammy Sosa tested positive for steroids in 2003. Really? OK, everyone who is suprised to hear this, raise your left hand. The numbers are skewed and there's no going back so let's move on. No one cared when it was happening - not MLB or the Players Association, not owners, reporters or fans. Now people are outraged? Give it up and move on.
______________________________________________________________
Obama is proposing several new positions to monitor private industry. It's hilarious to think some government nerd really has a clue what happens in the real world but big business sure seems to have trouble policing itself and it's owners (stockholders) want immediate returns so what does anyone expect but short term thinking and pushing to make numbers look pretty? Anyway, throw the government beauracracy in the mix and prepare for disaster. Not that business managers won't bring disaster on themselves anyway. Remember MCI? Enron? Hundreds of other companies that went belly-up because of bad management and took lots of people down with them?
The danger, to me, is that people begin to focus on the government agencies as the problem when the people running the company are the problem - but make millions and millions and get to walk away financially secure while the line workers lose their retirement.
_________________________________________________________
That leads me towards another post I'm working on that asks how much we should care and where our focus and efforts should be. Some people will think I have lost my mind...and I couldn't disagree with them.
_________________________________________________________
Grace and peace to you.
______________________________________________________________
Obama is proposing several new positions to monitor private industry. It's hilarious to think some government nerd really has a clue what happens in the real world but big business sure seems to have trouble policing itself and it's owners (stockholders) want immediate returns so what does anyone expect but short term thinking and pushing to make numbers look pretty? Anyway, throw the government beauracracy in the mix and prepare for disaster. Not that business managers won't bring disaster on themselves anyway. Remember MCI? Enron? Hundreds of other companies that went belly-up because of bad management and took lots of people down with them?
The danger, to me, is that people begin to focus on the government agencies as the problem when the people running the company are the problem - but make millions and millions and get to walk away financially secure while the line workers lose their retirement.
_________________________________________________________
That leads me towards another post I'm working on that asks how much we should care and where our focus and efforts should be. Some people will think I have lost my mind...and I couldn't disagree with them.
_________________________________________________________
Grace and peace to you.
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