I’ve always thought Wednesday was spelled funny.
I missed a Tuesday post. Wow, what a busy day.
I both enjoy and can’t stand athletic practices that start early in the morning.
Did anyone see the pictures of Bud Adams, the Titans owner, shooting the middle finger at the Buffalo crowd over the weekend? I wonder what was going through his mind.
It’s basketball season. I went to a middle school game Monday and high school game on Tuesday. Fun stuff.
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I’m still in Crazy Love but have the chapter on Lukewarm Christians floating around in my head. It’s good stuff to think about and makes for a great self-exam. I’m sharing parts of it here that speak to me because of the road I have traveled through life. I’m talking to myself in what I write here but I hope it might help someone else who is or was captured with a misguided focus on what’s important for today.

Lukewarm people feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican or live in America. Just as the prophets of the Old Testament warned Israel that they were not safe just because they lived in the land of Israel, so we are not safe just because we wear the label “Christian” or because some people persist in calling us a “Christian nation.” Crazy Love p. 78

Amen, brother. I’m inundated by emails supporting the notion that our founding fathers were Christians. Well, great, but what are the people of this country doing today to be Christ-like? A history lesson is great but it doesn’t reach the lost, it doesn’t clothe the naked or feed the hungry or take care of the sick. I think the danger of calling our land a Christian nation is that we become just like the Jews who thought Jesus was there for a physical revolution. Does my effort to be Christ-like depend on what country I live in?

The new thing I’m starting to see are the protests of Obama or whoever the target of the day is taking Christ out of Christmas. Right or wrong, I’m more concerned about taking Christ out of Christian. I don’t remember the Jesus that complained about the government or the school district or other entities. I do read about the Jesus that spent his time and efforts on building the kingdom of God one lost soul at a time.

I pray my life begins to look more like his.

Grace and peace to you.

I was glad to see the Colts beat the Patriots. I was kind of glad to see the Packers shut down the Cowboys. I’m ready for college basketball.

I think the cold front is here.
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I’ve been reading a book titled “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan and it is painfully convicting in places, very illuminating in others. This week, I’m going to be posting some excerpts from the book that speak to me.

I’ve been on a journey that has caused me to explore who I am and who I should be as a Christian. There have been parts of the journey that I have enjoyed and found things I believe are pleasing to God and there have been parts where I see some holes that need to be plugged. By and large, I feel what I have grown up believing to be Christ-like living and what I believe today that I am called to be leaves a wide chasm that I need to cross. I have come to view much of my Christian life lived in safety and comfort – doing the “right things” but, looking back, not really doing what Christ did. I’ll dive deeper in later posts on what I think I am called to and the distance I need to travel to get there but for now an excerpt from the book about lukewarm Christians.

Lukewarm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don’t have to trust God if something unexpected happens – they have their savings account. The don’t need God to help them – they have their retirement plan in place. They don’t genuinely seek out what life God would have them live – the have life figured and mapped out. They don’t depend on God on a daily basis – their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn’t look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God. Crazy Love, p. 78

The last sentence makes a great question for me to answer.

Grace and peace to you.

I’ve been on a bit of a blogging break while out of town this week. I was in Atlanta to welcome remnants of Hurricane Ida as rain fell and fell and fell for two days. I’m getting a little tired of rain.
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Three people on the first night I was here said “don’t walk around downtown after dark.” I didn’t.
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I’m not going to say much about the Ft. Hood incident since it is well reported but I can’t quit wondering when people will turn the “hate button” off and turn the “love-each-other button” on. I find it very confusing to hear people talk about what a compassionate country we have while wanting to go to war and put to death people who do things we don’t agree with.
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The end of the world isn’t the worst thing I can imagine. Muslims taking over the world and eradicating everyone who doesn’t agree with them isn’t even the worst thing I can imagine.

Not going to heaven…the worst thing I can imagine.

Grace and peace to you.

The Yankees bought another World Series. I think it comes as no surprise that I don’t care for the Yankees organization but I do enjoy Mariano Rivera when he comes to the mound to pitch. His demeanor and his results always impress me.
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I heard a very thought provoking (and toe stepping-on) message from Rob Bell last night. How rich are you? Did you know that only 8% of the world’s population owns a car? Did you know that around 1 billion people don’t have clean drinking water? Did you know that nearly 800 million people go hungry each day? How about the fact that 300 million of those going hungry are kids?

I’m guilty of looking at the guy up the street and around the corner with the newer car, the bigger house with the pool, a bigger flat panel TV and thinking – now that’s rich. I’m guilty of thinking it would be OK if I had 2 or 3 cars to drive depending on my mood, guilty of thinking a second vacation home is normal. Don’t mishear me because I am not condemning anyone who has those things but questioning my desire to have so much more when others are starving.

1 Timothy 6:17-20 (NIV) – Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Is God pleased when I write my check to the cause-of-the-month and continue my pursuit of a bigger TV? Does he want more from me? Does he want my heart to be in helping the millions and billions of people – some who live very near me – or is he happy when I send my check and go on my way? How much is enough for me? for you?I added the boldness to a couple of phrases that I need to remember. It’s more than writing a check or praying – I need to DO good and I need to remember that this life isn’t the important one – there is one coming that will provide me with more than I could ever earn or deserve.

Bell also commented on the phrase “God Bless America.” God has blessed America. What will America do with those blessings?

Grace and peace to you.

Why is it that some things, some events, some conversations make no sense? I’m amazed at times by the way things can be seen and interpreted so differently. It seemingly happens all the time, at home, at work, at church, on the athletic field, in the band hall, reading a book…two or more people looking at the same thing with very different views of what they are seeing; what they are processing; what they are thinking.

It’s pretty neat when you can experience two divergent views come to a middle ground of understanding. One of Covey’s 7 Habits is “seek first to understand and then be understood.” It’s one of my favorites and one I continually try to put into practice. On the other hand, when one or both parties sees things differently and refuses to seek understanding, it can be maddening.

I get frustrated/mad/disappointed/upset/emotional when I can’t reach understanding with someone. I can spend days thinking and worrying about it.

I wonder how God feels. He had one book written and it has been interpreted hundreds of different ways with people fighting over what it says. I wonder how frustrated/mad/disappointed/upset/emotional God gets as we sit here and argue over various points and wordings while people are suffering, hurting, killing and dying. (Make no mistake, I am talking to myself here.)

I can’t help but wonder how God would have used me if my focus had been simply on the scriptures below.

Luke 10:26-28 (New International Version) ²⁶“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” ²⁷He answered: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”²⁸“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

John 21:17 (New International Version) ¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

I wonder how God will use me in the future as I try to keep my focus on loving God and feeding his sheep.

Grace and peace to you.

The Phillies got back in it last night. The Yankees are up 3-2 so the Phillies have to win 2 to hang on but the Yankees either made a great move or killed themselves with pitching. They are throwing their starters on 3 days rest when they usually need 4-5 days of rest between starts. CC Sabathia can handle it but AJ Burnett couldn’t last night and the Yanks throw Andy Pettite next. He’s a great pitcher but getting older and how he responds can shift the whole thing to the Phillies favor.
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The theme for the youth retreat was built around discipleship. Are you a disciple of Christ every day in every situation? I’m not but continually hoping and working on my heart so that I can change my answer one day.
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I’ve said this before but feel compelled to say it again…our Youth Minister and his wife are simply awesome. They challenge our kids to be Christ-like in such loving and caring ways. They are good examples of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Thank you Jacob and Heather.

I would accidentally leave some others out if I start naming names but there are some other adults at our church that have an immense love for our youth and are such a blessing to our kids. I am thankful for them.
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But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Grace and peace to you.

I spent the weekend in the woods of East Texas with 50-60 youth from our church. I slept on a piece of plywood with a piece of covered foam on it. I shared a bathhouse with 20-30 7th-12th graders, ate camp meals and didn’t have a diet Dr. Pepper or diet Coke for the better part of 2 days and it was one of the best weekends I’ve ever experienced. It was my 3rd retreat with our youth group and everyone of them has been similar to a mountain top experience for me – a spiritual high where I feel the presence of God ever so close.

Along with some great kids, we have some very loving and caring adults who have a burning desire to bring these kids closer to God. I know some of them are getting it now and others will take longer but all of them are being filled with the knowledge of who God is and what kind of relationship he wants with everyone of us.

One of the kids made the comment that they wish they could just stay there because of how it helps them respond to God. I know the feeling and wonder if some of those monks haven’t figured it out. Good or bad, we are back to the real world and the regular obstacles of life that work to pull us away from God. I am praying that we have a new level of strength to defend ourselves from the evil that is lurking – waiting on us to fall.

Grace and peace to you.

What would you think if someone walked up and handed you a check for $1,000,000 today? What if they drove you up to a beautiful house and handed you the keys? What if they led you out the front door and presented you with a brand new Corvette? How about a coupon that will allow you and anyone you want to take to travel anywhere in the world whenever you want to go? How would you feel? I think I would have to wonder what I did to get such a gift for free and why they would give me something so expensive just because they wanted to. I’m not sure I would have the words to express how grateful I was. Even more, what if they gave me something more valuable than the check, the house, the car, the travel or anything else you can think of? What if they gave you a gift that is impossible for anyone else to give you? How would you feel then?

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Grace and peace to you.

What do you think of when you think about “the end?”

I was reading an article recently discussing the end of life from two perspectives. One was that the end of life was full of sorrow and depression. Time lost, things not done, life not fulfilled. The other perspective was one of excitement and newness. Claiming the reward, joy and rejoicing.

I won’t pretend to know all the answers but people who lose themselves in alcoholism, drug addiction, hedonism, over-eating/spending/indulging, lost in depression…surely they do not comprehend the love God has for them. I have to imagine their vision is very short-sighted and they do not see or understand or believe where the end of this life can lead them.

I have been one of those people, knowing there was a heaven but not understanding my claim to it, certainly not grasping God’s feelings for me but now that I do, I’m willing to live out this life trying to follow God’s will but I truly look forward to the end of this life because of what has and will be given to me by the Father.

This world, this life, is not as good as it gets…not even close. I will wait but I continue to look forward to my eternity with excitement.

Grace and peace to you.

Crazy days in Afghanistan and Pakistan. I certainly don’t understand the mind of a suicide bomber.

Hypothetically speaking…a suicide bomber heads to his target thinking he will end up in a place surrounded by a bunch of virgins or something like that. The bomb explodes and then he wakes up and is greeted by more fire and a guy with horns and a tail (remember, this is hypothetical). What do you think goes through his mind then?

I wonder if President Obama is finding his promise of more dialogue and negotiation with these warring nations much harder than he thought. He won the Nobel Prize but I think that only impresses the intellectuals, not the street fighters. I’m not criticizing him, just wondering if it is tougher getting things done than he imagined.

I heard someone talking about where God was leading him and then talking about how he would kill someone who broke into his house. I still haven’t reconciled those two topics.

I’m reading two books right now. One is about God’s crazy love for us. The other is about a CIA operative is knocking off all the terrorists. I’m not sure I’ve reconciled my reading habits yet. 🙂

The first one, titled Crazy Love, has a chapter about lukewarm Christians and how to tell if you are one. One word came to mind as I read it…OUCH! The upside was most of the points that hurt are points I have been seeing and working on in myself.

I spent most of the evening listening to a missionary who wants the world to be saved…today. I love his passion and desire to share the good news with everyone. He encourages me and reminds me that I am also sent out – everyday – to work in the mission field. I’m trying to remind him that he couldn’t do everything, at least he can’t do it all at once. I’m not sure I’ll do much to dissuade him from giving it a try.

I love people who love and live for God on a daily basis. They lift me up. I thank God for the people who are in my life who model this lifestyle for me.

Grace and peace to you.