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.
10/24/2006
10/18/2006
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.
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.
10/17/2006
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?
“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?
10/16/2006
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?
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?
10/12/2006
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.
10/11/2006
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.
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