Navel Watching

Have you ever been navel watching? No, I am not referring to oranges.

Each of us has embarked on the endeavor of inspecting our own navels. For some it is quite easy, but for some of us, well it is a little more difficult. Each night after I wear a cotton shirt I have to inspect my navel to make sure the lint build-up is at a tolerable level. My level is much higher than that of my wife, so she generally avoids looking at my navel. However, if she happens to notice the lint that seems to be growing out of my navel, well I am quickly rebuked!

Before you are totally grossed out by this discussion, let me get to the point. All of us tend to get focused upon our own navels and enjoy our navel watching excursions. It is fun, at times, to become introspective and think about ourselves. God can even use these times to guide and direct us into a more fruitful life.

However, we quickly slip into navel watching and run into a wall. We must certainly clean the lint out of our navels, but never at the expense of those around us. I cannot think of one person who would enjoy watching me clean out my navel!

The Apostle Paul said something to this effect, “Don’t get so focused upon yourself and what benefits you that you forget about the people around you. In fact, you should consider the people around you as more important than yourself.”

Jesus also said something similar to this, “Get your eyes off of yourselves so that you might see all the people around you and their need for Me.”

Narcissism is a disease that will destroy community. But even beyond, it separates us from our Creator. And if you are so narcissistic to see the need for others or a Creator, let me suggest this – it’s even bad for you. Narcissus wouldn’t leave the pool because he was so in love with his own reflection. May I never become so enthralled with my own navel.

Mediocrity and Meritocracy

One of my favorite bumper stickers out there is about Citizens of the Month. No, it is not the one about my kid being the Citizen of the Month - its the other one, "My kid beat up your Citizen of the Month."

Not that I encourage beating up Citizens of the Month, but in my experience those were ridiculous awards that were passed around the class - not based on merit but from the mindset that every kid should be recognized as a Citizen of the Month, or at the very least Citizen of the Week.

Not dissimilar is keeping score at a little kids soccer game and then giving trophies to everyone at the end - why did we keep score again? There was a league in which my kids were involved; they didn't keep score - but the kids did!

Without a meritocracy nobody knows whether they are good or not. It is kind of like each person deciding what is good and meritorious for themselves. This sounds "good" but then each person should also be able to determine what is not evil. So, that means Hitler was a saint and a God who just wants people to be "True to themselves" must welcome Charles Manson into His heaven.

But, God did set up a meritorious system by which a person might know how they measure up to His standards. All of creation follows this system and some call it Karma, others call it "Reaping what you Sow." The point is, God has a standard of good that He established to separate it from evil. It is found mostly in the Older Testament of the Bible.

So, those who are good enough should enter heaven right? Wrong. That would not be fair. If it was strictly meritorious as most religions are, only those of privelege have the best opportunity to earn the right to enter heaven. You know these priviledged people: those people whose parents were good, who were given the opportunity to study good, and were intelligent enough to figure out good. But, God set up a meritorious system!

Yes, He did, but only to demonstrate that we do not measure up to His standard. Instead of being a meritorious system it became one that is the most fair - a free gift to all who receive Jesus as Lord.

Funny how we love meritocracies so much that we try and make Christianity one.

Caring for Bambi

I sat in the coffee shop this morning and listened to a discussion about what kind of chicken farm is best for the environment. The discussion ranged from what kind of chicken is healthiest to what was the best chicken for eatin'. Personally I like it grilled.

Needless to say, my comments were not registered since the most I know about raising chickens is that I once dated a girl whose dad owned a chicken farm in Georgia. Oh yea, in Ecuador I ate a "range" chicken - once. It was the toughest white meat I have ever eaten, but it was boiled not grilled. I much prefer "range" guinea pig to "range" chicken.

But I digress. Bambi and the rest of the environment need protection, not only from us, but I suggest that it needs protection even from itself. Managing the environment is like juggling. We need certain resources from the environment in order to live, but we cannot consume the environment. You leave an environmental footprint upon this planet whether you want to or not. Some of those who seek to protect the environment seem to destroy it in the process. We all leave footprints wherever we go.

So, what does this have to do with the church?

If we were called to have "dominion" over the earth, this inherently demands that we act as stewards of our environment. It is not unlike money. Some of us are investors and others are consumers. If we would recognize that the land is not ours any more than our money is ours, it should change the way we use the land. We are but managers, not owners. God is the owner we just serve Him. We are not called to be hoarders or consumers - our job is to be managers and investors for the future.

So, whether you drive a Hybrid, an SUV, eat range chickens or buffalo is irrelevant. The issue is much deeper - are you an investor in or a consumer of the environment?

I Don't Want to Be an Idiot

What kind of old person do you want to be when you grow up?

When I was a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child - I was a child! But, now that I am a man, I have put childish things behind me - at least I am trying. No longer do I wonder what I am going to do when I grow up, now I wonder who I will be when I grow up - will I wander? I spend a lot more time thinking and pondering my character than I do my productiveness. Productivity is important, so people tell me, but I have seen too many productive people be idiots when it comes to who they are on the inside.

I don't want to be an idiot when I grow up.

I want to be a man of character to whom people look for wisdom and insight - not professionally but personally. I used to want success and professional respect. I now want my depth of character to be known by those who know me best. As far as my professional career, big whoopdedoo! My kids won't really care how big my church was - they don't even care now. My wife could care less about how good of a preacher I was or am or will be. My friends want to know that I am the same on the inside as I am on the outside.

So, I resolve to be like Christ - that way I won't be an idiot when I grow up.

The only way I know to make sure this happens is to spend most of my time working on the stuff nobody sees. You know - those deepest, darkest places of a man's soul. Better yet, I will let those around me see those places and let God use them to work on me. I won't try and make myself more holy or pure, I will give myself over to God and let Him do it - that way I can't boast when I am old. All I will be able to say is - I just tried not to be an idiot and let God do His thing.

My Mission (and I choose to accept it): Go be a good slave - and don't be an idiot!

Living in a Glass House

When did living in a glass house become a bad thing? Shouldn't we do everything possible to make our lives an open book? Shouldn't the guy down the street know us? Why do we put up privacy fences, live in gated communities, and use the remote for the garage as the key to our house? When was the last time YOU used your front door?

Are we afraid of other people?

I would argue that we are afraid of what other people will find out about us if we were to let them see into our lives. This is the intriguing part of all the reality TV shows. We can look into other people's lives without reciprocity. We can throw stones at their glass house and keep our house free from intrusion!

Who knows you? Who knows that you yell at your kids when you are stressed and tired? Who knows that your marriage is not all that? Who knows that your time with God is a passing glance as you rush out the door? Who knows what is your greatest temptation? Who knows your dreams and despairs?

If you cannot name anyone but your immediate family, you are not living in community. You are removing the windows of your house - sure it is more efficient, but . . . Living in community is to live in a glass house. It is where we learn about ourselves and what we could become. Community is where we share our lives and learn to bless others.

Have you ever noticed that model homes have every light in the house turned on and the drapes and curtains are wide open? That is because nobody lives there. There is a place for modesty and appropriateness - but our lives should be welcoming, inviting, authentic and sincere.

Highways or Interstates?

When you go on a journey accross the country, do you take the interstate or the highway?

Interstates have limited access, there are minimum speed limits, there are rest areas every so many miles, many national chains are ready to serve you with food and gas, and the roadway is generally well maintained. The Results: the disruptions have been minimized, the comfort of travel is elevated, and it is fairly easy to determine your time of arrival (if this is difficult just visit Mapquest - they'll tell you).

Highways, on the other hand, go through small towns, the options for food and gas are limited to mom and pop diners with a gas pump out back, the restrooms are only located in businesses with signs asking that be used only by patrons, farm vehicles going 15 mph have equal rights to the roadway, and the roads are at the bottom of the state's list for improvement: unless they are on the way to a major tourist trap.

Interstates are a symbol of who we have become in America: Comfort and Convenience. We like to plan our days, our lives, our trips, and even our diversions. No longer do we stop into the mom and pop diner. No longer do we take the detour to see the giant ball of string. We want to get off the freeway only to use the restroom and get right back on. We are about the destination instead of the journey.

Success is determined by the goal, and the end now justifies the means. Distractions are no longer embraced. Comfort has become a virtue. Relationships that slow us down are now obstacles that need to be overcomed.

Maybe as a spiritual discipline we should start driving the highways again; just to reprioritize our lives. Maybe we would rediscover the wonder of our children as we embrace the distractions they usher into our lives. Maybe we would begin to understand the bigger issues of life and spirituality in the light of the journey and thus enjoy the journey.

Judge Not?

Can you imagine what would happen if Christians stopped judging?

You might immediately assume that things would get better. But, would they?

I for one appreciate the person who looks at me and says, "What were you thinking? Or, were you?" I appreciate the coach who refuses to patronize me and is willing to tell me that what I did was flat out stupid. This is one reason I love my wife. She is willing to tell me the truth about myself and tell me when I am being an idiot.

That said, if Christians stopped being judgemental, that would be a much better place to hang my hat - if I ever actually wore a hat.

Jesus never said, "Do not judge." (please note the period) However, Jesus did say, "Do not judge or by the same measure you will be judged."

We have to be willing to judge between what is right and what is wrong - especially when it relates to raising children. However, let us quickly admit that we must be willing to be held to the same standard. Will you let your child tell you that you sinned?

The problem is that too many "Christians" refuse to be held to the same standard by which they are judging the world. (The standard is the Bible.)

If we are going to call someone an idiot, we had better make sure that they know that we love them first! Let us follow the example of Christ, who being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made Himself nothing - taking on the very nature of a servant.

Now, what if "Christians" began to serve the "sinners" of this world? Would they have the platform to then say, "That is wrong?" I think we would, but we might end up hanging on a cross next to Jesus.

Defining Prayer

Below are just a few quotes about prayer. A few people asked if I could get a copy to them, so here they are. My favorite is C.S. Lewis' definition.

“Prayer is the whole personality of body, mind and spirit exposing itself to the total influence of God in a continuous offering and a continuous experience of cooperation.” – Thomas Carruth

“Prayer is nothing more than an ongoing and growing love relationship with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” – Richard Foster

“To pray is to enter into relationship with God.” – Kenneth Leech

“Prayer is either a sheer illusion or a personal contact between embryonic, incomplete persons and the utterly concrete Person. Prayer in the sense of petition, asking for things, is a small part of it; confession and penitence are its threshold, adoration its sanctuary, the presence and vision and enjoyment of God its bread and wine.” – C.S. Lewis

So which is your favorite?

What If?

I don’t think we spend enough time thinking about the “what if.”

What if we pursued God with abandon? What if I loved my wife the way Christ loves the Church? What if I did a load of laundry? What if I worked as though I were actually doing my job for the Lord instead of my boss?

The negative is true as well.

What if I were to disobey the command to honor my father and mother? What if I were to not treat my neighbor as myself? What if I were to cheat just a little at work?

I wonder, do we think anymore, or do we just go through the motions?

What if we were to recapture that sense of wonder that a child has about life? What if were to ponder the consequences to our actions? Children know that they have their whole life ahead of them and know the power of the “what if.” Much to our dismay sometimes, our children want to know “What if . . .” But, we cannot stifle the power of the “what if” in our children or we kill their dreams and worse yet, their sense of wonder about God’s creation. Beyond that, we reduce them to live in the doldrums of life without thinking. Without asking the “What if” a child is doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past and becomes a pawn of their peers.

There is great power in the “What if.” What if we were to live in the “What if?”

Some people think about the “What if” but it makes no difference in their life. They know the potential to making the right decision but they are debilitated by their lack of courage and their fear. The power of the “What if” is only useful for those who actually act upon the “What if.”

What if we were a church that was composed of individuals and families who were submissive to Christ and His desires instead of our own?

Who Cares?

Who Cares About Them?

I recently spent some time speaking with a neighbor of our church who works as the head chef at a refuge for homeless teens. Most of the teens are runaways, some have been kicked out of their homes, and still others have just slipped through the cracks of the system. Why have the teens been kicked out of their homes? The primary reason was because they declared homosexuality as their sexual preference.

Homosexuality - that sin that seems to have climbed to the top of so many self-proclaimed Christians' lists. Sure it is contrary to scripture, but so is gluttony (eating too much). Sure it is not natural according to the rules of natural selection, but so is celibacy. So why have we put it at the top of our list as one of the worst sins?

What if we treated gossips the same way we treated homosexuals? Why are we quick to cast stones at those whose sins are different than our own? Would we give them a stone to cast at us?

What if we loved them? We do not have to agree with their agenda, nor do we have to condone their sin. In fact we should clearly state what we believe in midst of the confusion regarding their agenda and even vote accordingly. But, we have to love them.

So what should be our compelling message? I think it should be clearly communicated that we all: homosexuals, gossips, rebels, etc. stand before God as condemned people. But, because Christianity is the only fair faith, we can all be forgiven by the free gift of Jesus - the only sufficient sacrifice for our sin. Remember that we are not declared righteous because of what we have or have not done. We are only declared righteous because we have received a free gift from God.

A Desperate Community

Desperate People Living The Journey Together

We love to be labeled self-sufficient, self-motivated, and independent. Why? What would happen if we lived as desperate people who need each other in order to live life? Would we be labeled differently?

Needy, Dependent, Desperate.

If we were dependent upon one another, would we become healthier emotionally, spiritually, and physically? I think so. Would you let me live in my self-pity and self-absorbtion? Or, would you call me out as such? Would you let me continue in a self-destructive pattern that not only destroys self but also those to whom I am the closest? Would you let me continue down a path that leads to destruction or would you show me a better way?

To Live the Journey Together is impart kindness to one another. To call one another out. To punch someone in the nose to help them recognize their folly. To call a spade a spade and a sin sin.

But, we live in a country that values independence, liberty, freedom, individuality, personal space and self. So, I will go on trying to surround myself with a community that values higher ideals such as Desperation, Dependence, and Need.