Why Pick on Abe???

     This morning, there was a segment on the news about how they want to DNA test a few strands of cotton from a pillow that Abraham Lincoln way laying on when he died to see if he had a rare form of cancer.  The argument is that more factual data about a president can’t be bad, but some say it is the ultimate invasion of privacy.  We have tons of history books filled with data about president Lincoln, and we have tons of people who consider themselves experts on the man and try to teach us about him.  I would venture a guess that very few people in America don’t know who Abraham Lincoln was based on the known facts and assumptions.

     Of course, I would also say that most people have a basic understanding of Jesus.  Christians may argue that many people don’t know the true “facts”, but most of us know the basics.  I wonder, though, how many actually know the man, Jesus?  How many of us, especially inside the Church, focus so much on the history and the “facts” of the man, but never take the time to really know HIM?  Do we really take the time to know His heart?

     It's kind of like telling you about my son.  I can give you all the data about his age, height, weight, and IQ (probably off the charts!!!), and I can even tell you stories of his injuries, triumphs, and adventures.  I can show you pictures of all the things he's done, but the truth is, until you decide to take a few minutes and play with him yourself, you're never really going to know him as a friend.  I think I want to take time and "play" with Jesus.

     How much would one of those historians give to be able to have a real-life conversation with Honest Abe?  What are you willing to do to really know the person of Jesus?  I don’t want to just understand Jesus any more, I want to experience Him, and I want to be around people who want that, too.  Can we quit seeing Him as a goal and just be His friend?  Are we able to stop thinking about Him and just take time to play with Him?

To be Offended, or not to be offended, that is the question!

"A person's wisdom yields patience;

it is to one's glory to overlook an offense."

                                     Proverbs 19:11

When did it become acceptable to take offense at any and every situation under the sun?  When did we decide that instead of calmly searching for logical answers or reasons for behavior, it was okay to just get offended and never deal with the situation?  Are we so afraid of confrontation that we would rather hold bitterness, frustration, and anger in our hearts instead of dealing with a problem?

When I was a youth pastor, I remember talking to a couple of girls about friendship and how they really become strong.  It's easy when everyone agrees, but what happens when there is a disagreement or even just a misunderstanding?  If you are willing to work through that. . .then you will have a very strong friendship indeed.  Over the years, I saw this with these two.  They weren't afraid to disagree and work through issues and they developed an incredibly strong bond that I assume will last their whole lives.

When I get the "opportunity" to deal with tense situations, I find it amazingly strange how many times people don't want to bring light to an issue.  Even within the body of Christ, we are tricked into thinking back channel talks with people who are affected by the situation are the best ways to gather information. . .really?  This sounds incredibly manipulative and shady, and not at all like Jesus would deal with things.  

I challenge all of you, along with myself, to deal with issues head on and not be afraid of the uncomfortableness.  Yes, it may be stressful, but then it will be over with and you won't have to play all those scenarios out in your head for weeks on end.  Who knows, you may experience just a little bit of heaven here on earth. . .

Why God?

As I've encountered different people over the past few months, I've been faced with a question that I never really asked myself. . .why God?  There are people who live their lives, never having been to church or even considering the importance of a God or some divine being.  I grew up in a christian home and never even questioned the existence or need for God.

I wonder how many people just believe because they've never been allowed to question?  I wonder if questioning is good for our faith?  I believe it is, and I'm pretty sure God doesn't mind.  He said if we called on Him, He would answer, so my questions will never fall on deaf ears.

As for the "why God" question, I don't know that there is an answer!  Every reason I can think of as I'm writing this could be true or not, depending on who you are.  We think it's all about our "decision" to believe, but unless God calls you to faith. . .will you ever believe even the best "evidence"?  

I sure hope you all add your thoughts to this, I can't wait to hear what you think.

Expectations

I've come to a realization lately.  More often than not, it's not the real idiots of this world that annoy me, it's my close friends and family.  It's the people that I have been close to and grown with and come to have certain expectations of that usually cause me consternation.  You see, once I have an expectation of how they will live or conduct themselves in a given situation, then I can be let down when they don't live up to it.

I've come to a second realization, this is probably more my problem than it is theirs.  I would say that I don't expect anyone to be perfect, by any means, but when I'm close to them and they mess up I at least want to hear an apology or for them to help me understand why they acted a certain way.  When they don't, I get pretty hurt and upset.  But. . .do I have the right to feel this way?

I think of the One I try to follow, Jesus, and how He related to people.  I know it's cliche, but out of His 12 closest friends, all were continuous "failures" and one got Him killed.  I wonder if Jesus felt like a whipping boy at times?  Did He just accept it knowing that if those 12 really cared, they would eventually see the error of their ways and change?  Sometimes He corrected them, but other times He did nothing.

I wonder if, in trying to live like Jesus, we are supposed to just take the "wrongs" sometimes and acknowledge the fact that it is God's job to change a person's heart, not ours.  This is such a hard thing to do, I'm not sure how good I can be at that.  I'm sure I will "fail" many times myself, but I hope the people I love and care about have the patience to deal with me as I try to deal with them. . .

My new Diet

Yeah, so, I'm actually starting a diet that I have to pay for, and use their "food".  I've tried so many different things in my life, but I can't seem to conquer the beast.  I go back and forth telling myself that I'm too weak to do it on my own, and that if I just had more willpower I might do better, then on the other hand sometimes we all need some help.

To be honest, it makes me feel weak to need help.  I'm usually the one who helps others, I'm usually the strong one, I'm the one who overcomes and succeeds.  Guess not this time.  So, pray for me!  Maybe that will help me stay strong and follow through.  I hate feeling like I'm not "enough".  I'm sure this feeling translates to different areas of life for different people (like ALL of us), but I hope to make it this time.  

Not a great blog, just some insight into me. . .

Caribou Community

So, I'm sitting in Caribou Coffee waiting to start a meeting, and none of the other guys are here yet.  For those of you who hate big chain stores, sorry, I didn't choose the place!  I've never been to this particular place, and it's very nice.  I remember coming here when it was a Burger King a long time ago. . .

I'm sitting here, kinda people watching, and I notice that in a room full of people, some are completely isolated, and some are completely engrossed in what I would call authentic community.  There are the people obsessed with their computers (apparently I'm part of that at the moment!), and there are friends talking over coffee and breakfast food.  Of course, there is also that annoying lady who talks way too loud and everyone wishes would leave!  There are nice comfortable chairs, and then there are the wooden chairs around too small tables.  It has a very earthy feel, and it makes me think of a family on vacation in a lodge in the Colorado Rockies.

I can't help but think this is like our families, and even like our simple church communities filled with different personalities, some loud some quiet, some social and some private.  I'm pretty sure I'm the one who talks too much (and sometimes too loudly).  In the end, though, we fit together.  We work.  We live in a beautiful blend of mess and differences and it feels like community.  I sure hope you have a community to be part of.  If you don't, feel free to check out this website, it's part of a group of simple churches that I am part of.  It feels so great to be part of something that matters, and I pray that you have that too.

Should a Christian Live in the Dark and Disorder?

I've been reading a book called, "I Became a Christian and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt", and it's great.  There are a couple thoughts in the book that lead me to this post.

1.  "If all a Christian has to do is stay on the straight and narrow path of obedience by doing right and not doing wrong, does it really matter if Jesus is out in front or not?"  This quote from the book has really triggered a lot of thoughts for me.  How many people are doing exactly what they are "supposed" to do, yet aren't following Jesus at all?  So much of what I see in the church today is about following the rules, fitting in, and being good.  Basically, all about behavior modification.  But where's Jesus in that?  What about the person who knows they hear Jesus telling them to go into a strip club and they end up ministering to a girl (it has really happened)?  We all know you shouldn't do that, but I'm sure glad they did.  

Jesus came to the dark and disordered part of society to do His work, so why would his "prophets" today be telling us to avoid those places?  Jesus didn't go to those places to leave them dark and disordered, he brought light and order and beauty to where there was none.  Isn't this our job, too?

I also read a thought in this book that basically translates that Jesus's primary concern isn't getting you to stop sinning, it's to get you to experience His love.  The sin will probably fall away, but it isn't His focus.  I agree with this.  How many fathers' primary concern is when their kids mess up vs. making sure they know they are loved?  How much more from our heavenly Father?

I hope we are listening to Jesus, and I hope we aren't afraid to follow Him to the dark and disordered places in this world.  It's where He would have been (read that as where He is), and it's where He wants us to bring His love.

The Precious One

So, do you remember that toy?  You know, the one you couldn't live without?  The one that once you had it you carried it around everywhere?  The one that you wouldn't have given up for anything in the world, even though it was the rattiest, worn-down, overly played with toy in the house.  

Okay, now that you've got that toy in mind, stop reading for just a minute, close your eyes, and just remember how much you loved it.  Remember the fun times you had with it. . .

Are you ready?  Now, honestly, what would that toy be worth?  Whether you bought a new one or found an old one at a flea market, I'm sure it really wouldn't be worth all that much.  Still, you wouldn't have parted with it for a year's salary, or even a million bucks maybe.  Nothing could have changed how precious you thought that toy was.  The funny thing is, it wasn't precious on it's own, it was your love that made it so valuable.

Now stop and think about your own life.  I would suggest that you are way more valuable than you realize, possibly even more valuable than you think possible.  It's nothing you've done, it's the fact that God's love has made you so precious.  Maybe you don't believe in God, or that He created you with a special purpose.  That doesn't change the fact that you are precious to Him, and His love makes you more valuable than all the money in the world.  

We live in a world that tells us our worth is determined by what we do, yet I think our worth was determined before we made any choices in this life at all.  Think about that, and then bask in the love of a Daddy. . .

I Don't Know

Ever just have a day when you don't know what to say or do?  Yeah, that's today. . .

I've been doing mind numbing work (transferring data from an old computer to a new one), and now I have nothing to say.

Sorry.

No really, if it bothers you that much, then write something yourself. . .

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

We got a decent snow storm last night, maybe 4-6", so there was a decent amount of snow last night.  I don't usually wake up too early, so by the time I got up I noticed that my neighbor had already cleaned the front of my driveway where the snowplow leaves the really thick, heavy stuff.  I was overjoyed, and went outside to get started on the rest of my drive and sidewalk, and maybe some of the neighbors sidewalks.

The neighbor who was already working came over, and I just wanted to thank him, but he asked for help.  He had gotten a piece of wood stuck in his snowblower and I had tools to cut it out.  It was just neighbors helping neighbors, and it was beautiful.  

I think to how many times I just ignore a neighbor so I can get inside quickly.  It's amazing how little it takes to really care about people.  I wonder what our communities would look like if we just decided to care for others just a part of the time?

Well, my neighbor and I ended up cleaning the sidewalk of all 6 houses surrounding mine, and we cleaned 4 of the driveways.  We didn't want money or recognition (even though I'm talking about it here, shh don't tell anyone!), we just wanted to care about our community and our neighbors.  I hope you find a way to do that today, no matter how small it may be.

Religion vs. Relationship

So, I've been reading this book (click the title for a link to it) and it has some great things to say.  Here's a quote:

A lot of people are not living life fully alive because they have a religion with Jesus.  To them, it's all about believing and behaving.  Their theology is lined up right and their actions are mostly right, and so they feel like they're basically pleasing God, and they're better than most of the people around, and someday they'll probably get into heaven.  But deep inside they're empty.  The one thing their life is missing is life, because Jesus came to give life, but it doesn't come through religion.  His ultimate goal isn't to get people to believe and behave.  And so, while others experience and adventure with Jesus, they just attend church.

"I Became A Christian and all I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt" by Vince Antonucci

To be honest, I like blogging because I can share my thoughts and get feedback from others.  This time, I'm not sure I can share any thoughts beyond what the author said.  I love this passage, and hope that it makes you think about what your life is really about.  If you choose to follow Jesus, are you really experiencing life?  Do you just follow a religion?  If following Jesus doesn't make a true difference in your life, then why do it?  

  Maybe that last statement will take some people off guard, but I truly do believe in the life changing message of Jesus.  I know that when I truly follow Him, I experience life beyond what I was capable of on my own.  I hope and pray that you are able to find that as well.