For the past 10 years or so, I've struggled to enjoy Christmas. From a child's perspective, it's great: You get nearly two weeks off from school, a mythical fat guy brings you free stuff and your biggest responsibility is to keep your snowman from melting. As an adult, however, the holidays are far different. In the past seven years, I've only had a few Christmases off, and holidays usually mean picking up the slack from vacationing co-workers. Not only that, but the typical holiday fare about commercialization and the "war on Christmas" pops up in the stories I help publish. Legalistic Christians say "merry Christmas" simply to be spiteful. The holidays also bring up unpleasant memories of the last couple of months of my father's life. I had to watch him battle cancer, one of the most painful illnesses one can get. So you'll forgive me when I say that I haven't looked forward to Christmas since I was in high school.
My spiritual life has grown and changed significantly since then, and, accordingly, I view Christmas through a different pair of eyes. I saw a holiday crafted by the Catholic Church in order to accommodate former pagans. They didn't have an exact date of Christ's birthday, so they took a pagan god's and gave it to Jesus. Today, most mainstream Christians still celebrate Dec. 25 for Jesus, in spite of its pagan origins. Hopefully you knew most of that anyway.
Let's get this straight: I still don't think packing malls and spending tons of money we don't have to buy Chinese-made crap for people we don't like honors Christ. I don't care how many retailers try to wrap their agenda in a sparkly package and sell it the day after Thanksgiving to a crowd ready to trample each other to death. But I'm learning that a lot of things are a matter of attitude. We teach in the church that love is a choice. So is having a good mindset. In Romans 14, Paul says, "For the Kingdom of God is ... living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too." Attitude is everything.
So I've taken it upon myself to look at the Christmas holiday not with ridicule, but with acceptance and joy. In the same chapter of Romans, Paul says, "So let’s stop condemning each other." In other words, if someone genuinely enjoys Christmas as a day to honor Christ's birth, I'm not acting in love if I bust out my ol' Ebeneezer routine. Who am I to say that person is wrong?
However, we're not to conform to the customs of this world. That means analyzing every tradition and seeing if it lines up with Christ's commands. If downing a couple bottles of Jim Beam and dancing naked in a lampshade at the company Christmas party is part of your tradition, perhaps it's time to amend that. If slugging soccer moms in Target on Black Friday while clawing for an iPod is your idea of Christmas cheer, perhaps you should re-evaluate your priorities. And Santa Claus? Well, I hate to break it to you folks, but he's about as close to a modern-day pagan god as we're going to get.
I think if you embrace the good and toss away the rubbish, you'll be able to make it through Christmas without being hauled away to the nuthouse. At least that's how I was able to survive.
12.24.2010
12.03.2010
Stuck like glue
I'm constantly reminded of the need to stick to Christ. John 15:5 ("Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.") is one of the most relevant scriptures in my life right now.
Since most of us don't live an agrarian lifestyle, I like to use the analogy of a light bulb. By itself, it really doesn't serve a purpose. It's not until it's connected to a live light socket does it become useful. It's a lot like my life. When I remove myself from the Source, aka Christ, my life doesn't shine like it should. I don't have the power to maintain the level of holiness in my life that I need. I don't feel the drive or conviction to push myself to do what should be done.
I think what's dogged much of my 11-year walk with Christ is the feeling that my salvation depends on how little I swear or look at porn or how much I pray or read scripture. I don't think, until recently, my heart attitude has been addressed, and my walk has suffered accordingly. This is why staying close to the Source is important.
Since most of us don't live an agrarian lifestyle, I like to use the analogy of a light bulb. By itself, it really doesn't serve a purpose. It's not until it's connected to a live light socket does it become useful. It's a lot like my life. When I remove myself from the Source, aka Christ, my life doesn't shine like it should. I don't have the power to maintain the level of holiness in my life that I need. I don't feel the drive or conviction to push myself to do what should be done.
I think what's dogged much of my 11-year walk with Christ is the feeling that my salvation depends on how little I swear or look at porn or how much I pray or read scripture. I don't think, until recently, my heart attitude has been addressed, and my walk has suffered accordingly. This is why staying close to the Source is important.
10.21.2010
What me worry?
I'm ashamed to say how often I worry. You're probably ashamed to admit it, too. Why? Worry seems like a natural part of life — like smelling the flowers or laughing at a joke. For a Christ follower, however, it's never considered a virtue. In Matthew 6:19-34, Jesus unloads perhaps the most profound statements about worry in the entire Bible.
Often, I worry about money and finances. It's not easy to admit, but it's true. I believe money is one of the biggest battlegrounds in our hearts — it's why Jesus mentioned it so often. Greed is a powerful force. It destroys lives, starts wars, corrupts good men and can eventually bring entire nations to ruin. If we can turn away from greed's influence in our lives, I believe God can do incredible things through us.
Turning my finances over to Christ is one of the most difficult things I've done as a believer. It's where the rubber meets the road. It separates the real followers from the fakers. It's a matter of me saying, "I really believe in this Jesus stuff." Of course, it's not going to save anyone, and you can never buy your salvation. But it's a matter of giving back to Christ in an attitude of thanksgiving and obedience.
Often, I worry about money and finances. It's not easy to admit, but it's true. I believe money is one of the biggest battlegrounds in our hearts — it's why Jesus mentioned it so often. Greed is a powerful force. It destroys lives, starts wars, corrupts good men and can eventually bring entire nations to ruin. If we can turn away from greed's influence in our lives, I believe God can do incredible things through us.
Turning my finances over to Christ is one of the most difficult things I've done as a believer. It's where the rubber meets the road. It separates the real followers from the fakers. It's a matter of me saying, "I really believe in this Jesus stuff." Of course, it's not going to save anyone, and you can never buy your salvation. But it's a matter of giving back to Christ in an attitude of thanksgiving and obedience.
10.03.2010
The power to move mountains
Boxer Muhammad Ali wasn't a modest individual by any means. He regularly boasted that he was the greatest, and few experts would argue. He was able to fight impressively against opponents bigger and stronger than he was — and beat them.
Of course, believers shy away from boasting. As it's often said: Pride comes before a fall. However, one virtue that Ali possessed was the power of positive thinking. At some points in my life, positive thinking has been about as rare as unicorn droppings. When I'm overcome with negativity, it pulls us down in other areas. I don't eat or sleep as well as we should. I'm sluggish. I lose focus on what's important.
Jesus talked about the power to move mountains. Even with our best machinery, it takes a few hours and many workers to move a small hill. Jesus told us that all we need is to tell the mountain to move over. How? With the power of faith and the absence of doubt. In other words, we don't need to think it can happen, we have to know it will happen.
Positive thinking turned a guy from Kentucky into the greatest boxer of all time. Think of what positive thinking and the power of almighty Christ can do when we put it to work.
Of course, believers shy away from boasting. As it's often said: Pride comes before a fall. However, one virtue that Ali possessed was the power of positive thinking. At some points in my life, positive thinking has been about as rare as unicorn droppings. When I'm overcome with negativity, it pulls us down in other areas. I don't eat or sleep as well as we should. I'm sluggish. I lose focus on what's important.
Jesus talked about the power to move mountains. Even with our best machinery, it takes a few hours and many workers to move a small hill. Jesus told us that all we need is to tell the mountain to move over. How? With the power of faith and the absence of doubt. In other words, we don't need to think it can happen, we have to know it will happen.
Positive thinking turned a guy from Kentucky into the greatest boxer of all time. Think of what positive thinking and the power of almighty Christ can do when we put it to work.
9.26.2010
Change we can all believe in
Every election cycle, politicians woo the electorate promising to end their problems with a flurry of legislation (or lack thereof). Yet it becomes apparent shortly after election day that the problems facing the nation won't go away so easily.
That reminds me a lot of my life. Often, I promise to do better — and I might even succeed for a couple of weeks — but before long, I'm back to the old me. My feeble attempts at morality might look spiritual, but in the long run, human effort accomplishes a net gain of zero.
Lately, God has been doing an awesome work in my life. You know when Jesus shows up because things truly change. Drug addicts clean up, alcoholics dry out and sinners repent. This way I know that it was the Holy Spirit's touch, and not my effort. I have to pray every night that God doesn't let me screw it up.
This is the change that truly makes a difference. People can write checks with their mouth that their actions could never cash. That's why I leave it up to the Almighty.
That reminds me a lot of my life. Often, I promise to do better — and I might even succeed for a couple of weeks — but before long, I'm back to the old me. My feeble attempts at morality might look spiritual, but in the long run, human effort accomplishes a net gain of zero.
Lately, God has been doing an awesome work in my life. You know when Jesus shows up because things truly change. Drug addicts clean up, alcoholics dry out and sinners repent. This way I know that it was the Holy Spirit's touch, and not my effort. I have to pray every night that God doesn't let me screw it up.
This is the change that truly makes a difference. People can write checks with their mouth that their actions could never cash. That's why I leave it up to the Almighty.
9.18.2010
Need a little patience?
One of the most elusive spiritual fruits for me has been patience. It's one of the easiest topics to discuss and one of the most difficult to put into action. Yet I think it's one of the most important. Time and time again in scripture, we find people making grave mistakes simply because they were impatient. We can all name situations where patience would have saved us a load of heartache and/or stress.
Today, I had somewhat of an epiphany in regards to patience. More specifically, I felt like I understood the importance of doing things God's way and in God's time. In Exodus 32, we see a perfect biblical example of impatience and what it cost people. When Moses had climbed Mount Sinai to speak with God, the rest of the Israelites felt like God had abandoned them. They asked Aaron to make them an idol to lead them. Instead of waiting on God, they turned to a golden calf. In the end, the incident cost 3,000 lives — more people than were killed in the 9/11 attacks.
Many of our "golden calves" have resulted in any number of things — bad relationships, addictions or heavy debt. I often wonder what the cost of giving into my impatience would have — or has — cost me. Thankfully, God has spared me from many of the fruits of my stupidity and impulsiveness. I need to repent of this attitude.
When we choose to do things our way, the enemy can take full advantage of that. We lose the comfort, security and grace that God offers us. In the end, we run back to God full of scars and frustrations. What we need is a dose of Galatians 5:22-23, " But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." I'll be praying tonight for a stronger connection to the Spirit.
Today, I had somewhat of an epiphany in regards to patience. More specifically, I felt like I understood the importance of doing things God's way and in God's time. In Exodus 32, we see a perfect biblical example of impatience and what it cost people. When Moses had climbed Mount Sinai to speak with God, the rest of the Israelites felt like God had abandoned them. They asked Aaron to make them an idol to lead them. Instead of waiting on God, they turned to a golden calf. In the end, the incident cost 3,000 lives — more people than were killed in the 9/11 attacks.
Many of our "golden calves" have resulted in any number of things — bad relationships, addictions or heavy debt. I often wonder what the cost of giving into my impatience would have — or has — cost me. Thankfully, God has spared me from many of the fruits of my stupidity and impulsiveness. I need to repent of this attitude.
When we choose to do things our way, the enemy can take full advantage of that. We lose the comfort, security and grace that God offers us. In the end, we run back to God full of scars and frustrations. What we need is a dose of Galatians 5:22-23, " But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." I'll be praying tonight for a stronger connection to the Spirit.
9.15.2010
A bunch of junk
Last night, I was watching this TV show called "Hoarders." As the name suggests, it's about people who keep so much stuff in their homes that it becomes a serious problem. It wasn't easy to watch; one family had so many dirty clothes in their house that it carpeted the entire floor. The husband nearly went into convulsions when they tossed stuff that was nearly worthless. The most shocking was a woman who had hoarded food. Perishable food. The inside of her home was full of rotting vegetables. She seemed visually upset when it was about to be thrown away. She argued and tried to reason rather than let it be tossed.
I can see how we would have a hard time relating. After all, researchers are finding that hoarding is a psychological disorder rather than a bad habit. But as I was watching the show, God reminded me how that is my spiritual life. I have a habit of hoarding things that are poisonous, yet I refuse to let God get rid of it. Not only that, but the sinful nature is more ingrained in me than the instinct to hoard is to the folks in that show. In Romans 7:18, it says, "And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature."
At the end of the show, the households were given the opportunity to have the homes cleaned by a group of professionals. They had to part with their junk, or face serious consequences (the couple faced losing their children; the woman was threatened with eviction). Are we ready to open up our doors and let God remove the junk? The best solution is to let go in our hearts of anything that's poisonous or can get in the way of our walk with Christ. After all, we face more serious consequences than just an eviction or even the loss of children.
I can see how we would have a hard time relating. After all, researchers are finding that hoarding is a psychological disorder rather than a bad habit. But as I was watching the show, God reminded me how that is my spiritual life. I have a habit of hoarding things that are poisonous, yet I refuse to let God get rid of it. Not only that, but the sinful nature is more ingrained in me than the instinct to hoard is to the folks in that show. In Romans 7:18, it says, "And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature."
At the end of the show, the households were given the opportunity to have the homes cleaned by a group of professionals. They had to part with their junk, or face serious consequences (the couple faced losing their children; the woman was threatened with eviction). Are we ready to open up our doors and let God remove the junk? The best solution is to let go in our hearts of anything that's poisonous or can get in the way of our walk with Christ. After all, we face more serious consequences than just an eviction or even the loss of children.
The value of community, part 2
I've never thought much about it until recently, but laziness is a huge reason why I've shunned Christian community in the past. In order to form bonds with other believers, it takes crawling out of my apartment, and sometimes I give into laziness. Not that I dislike the awesome friends that God has blessed me — quite the opposite — but I haven't taken the time to develop friendships. Perhaps that's one of the reasons why Proverbs warns so much about laziness.
I'd like to think I've come a long way from where I was in high school, when I was a shut-in. I didn't bother with clubs and activities, and I regret it. It was too easy to drown in my depression and watch TV all day. My attitude wasn't where it should have been, either.
There are several lessons I've learned that have helped me learn the value of great friendships, and here they are:
1. Having a positive attitude is a must. No one wants to hang out with someone who's cranky all the time and never has anything decent to say. It's true what mothers always say: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
2. Having a giving/serving attitude won't let you down. I know I'm still working on this point, but I'm thinking of ways that I can serve and give back to my friends. Scripture teaches us that we need to give even to strangers, but giving and serving is always an outpouring of love, and it's a way we can show gratitude to our friends for what they do for us.
3. Leaving the drama at home is a great idea. With all the issues we have to deal with at work and in other relationships, it's better to be an umbrella than a rain cloud. Helping people who are hurting is a great way to show you care. I've realized that you don't even have to — and probably shouldn't — find all the answers to the problems friends are facing. It's better to be an ear than a mouth.
4. Calling more than twice a year helps keep ties strong. I know that the Lord may bring some folks into our lives for a season, but I still love keeping in touch with all the folks I've met over the past 29 years. Facebook has been a great — if distracting — way to hold on to friendships. Of course, it should never take the place of face-to-face encounters. It's far easier to say hurtful things to people from behind a computer screen than to someone's face, so I always advise caution — and probably an occasional phone call.
5. Of course, the best things I can do is to stay close to Christ and scripture. If I'm not keeping Jesus first in my life, it shows. It's amazing how quickly our lives can go from fantastic to floundering. If I'm not walking with Christ, it's blatantly obvious to anyone, and it's tough for friends to watch me fall flat on my face. The best way I can be a good friend is to strive to be the person that Christ wants me to be. In that manner, I can be a blessing, rather than a burden. Withdrawal from community is one of the first signs of a failing Christian.
I can't express how amazing the people in my life are, and one day I might just make it a project to send each one of them a small note just to let them know. After all, building community is one of the best ways to build our faith on a foundation of rock.
I'd like to think I've come a long way from where I was in high school, when I was a shut-in. I didn't bother with clubs and activities, and I regret it. It was too easy to drown in my depression and watch TV all day. My attitude wasn't where it should have been, either.
There are several lessons I've learned that have helped me learn the value of great friendships, and here they are:
1. Having a positive attitude is a must. No one wants to hang out with someone who's cranky all the time and never has anything decent to say. It's true what mothers always say: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
2. Having a giving/serving attitude won't let you down. I know I'm still working on this point, but I'm thinking of ways that I can serve and give back to my friends. Scripture teaches us that we need to give even to strangers, but giving and serving is always an outpouring of love, and it's a way we can show gratitude to our friends for what they do for us.
3. Leaving the drama at home is a great idea. With all the issues we have to deal with at work and in other relationships, it's better to be an umbrella than a rain cloud. Helping people who are hurting is a great way to show you care. I've realized that you don't even have to — and probably shouldn't — find all the answers to the problems friends are facing. It's better to be an ear than a mouth.
4. Calling more than twice a year helps keep ties strong. I know that the Lord may bring some folks into our lives for a season, but I still love keeping in touch with all the folks I've met over the past 29 years. Facebook has been a great — if distracting — way to hold on to friendships. Of course, it should never take the place of face-to-face encounters. It's far easier to say hurtful things to people from behind a computer screen than to someone's face, so I always advise caution — and probably an occasional phone call.
5. Of course, the best things I can do is to stay close to Christ and scripture. If I'm not keeping Jesus first in my life, it shows. It's amazing how quickly our lives can go from fantastic to floundering. If I'm not walking with Christ, it's blatantly obvious to anyone, and it's tough for friends to watch me fall flat on my face. The best way I can be a good friend is to strive to be the person that Christ wants me to be. In that manner, I can be a blessing, rather than a burden. Withdrawal from community is one of the first signs of a failing Christian.
I can't express how amazing the people in my life are, and one day I might just make it a project to send each one of them a small note just to let them know. After all, building community is one of the best ways to build our faith on a foundation of rock.
9.14.2010
God's chosen bonehead
You never forget your first car. Unless your parents were loaded and really loved you, you saved your hard-earned cash and bought a vehicle that was ... well ... affordable. Mine was a 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. It was 12 years old when I bought it and had an odometer reading easily in the six figures, but it was mine. One of the peculiar quirks it had was the steering liked to pull to the right. So unless I was on it, the car would drift lazily toward the ditch. Thankfully, I never took it off-roading in that manner.
It kind of reminds me of me. We entered this world with an inborn desire to sin, i.e. head toward destruction. There are plenty of folks who will argue that human nature is inherently good, and I respect that opinion, but how many of us needed instructions on how to do wrong? I know I didn't.
It's frustrating when falling into sin is easier than falling off a horse. Even when I'm gung-ho for God, the enemy usually has me in the crosshairs. And I'm a target easier than a brick wall. Sometimes, I think God lets me screw up to remind me how close I am to the ditch (not that I have a scripture reference for that, so I can only speculate). What I do know is we need to stay plugged into Christ and his word. It says in John 15:5, "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."
In the past, my instinct when stumbling with sin was to run away from God. It's consistent with what happened in Genesis 3:8-9, "So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?' " Soon after hiding, God usually finds us, but it's after feeling shame and awkwardness in failing him. What happens at that point is up to us. Do we continue to hide, or do we come out and confess our sins? Do we make a life change, or do we continue to stumble? Today, I'm going to confess and turn from my sins. After all, the ditch isn't a fun place to end up.
It kind of reminds me of me. We entered this world with an inborn desire to sin, i.e. head toward destruction. There are plenty of folks who will argue that human nature is inherently good, and I respect that opinion, but how many of us needed instructions on how to do wrong? I know I didn't.
It's frustrating when falling into sin is easier than falling off a horse. Even when I'm gung-ho for God, the enemy usually has me in the crosshairs. And I'm a target easier than a brick wall. Sometimes, I think God lets me screw up to remind me how close I am to the ditch (not that I have a scripture reference for that, so I can only speculate). What I do know is we need to stay plugged into Christ and his word. It says in John 15:5, "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."
In the past, my instinct when stumbling with sin was to run away from God. It's consistent with what happened in Genesis 3:8-9, "So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?' " Soon after hiding, God usually finds us, but it's after feeling shame and awkwardness in failing him. What happens at that point is up to us. Do we continue to hide, or do we come out and confess our sins? Do we make a life change, or do we continue to stumble? Today, I'm going to confess and turn from my sins. After all, the ditch isn't a fun place to end up.
9.10.2010
The spirituality of a rock star
Rock stars and Jesus are often placed on opposite ends of the ideological spectrum. Rock stars are all about sex, drugs & rock 'n' roll, while Jesus ... well ... wasn't. However, I've noted some interesting similarities in rock stars that might make their lives resemble Christ's more than many church-goers. Before you start crying apostasy, allow me to explain.
1. Rock stars hung out with a rowdy crowd. So did Jesus. He hung out with prostitutes and tax collectors (Matthew 21:32) — the seedy elements of society 2,000 years ago. If it were today, you might think his name was Vince Neil. The people he chose as his disciples didn't even have any special religious training; instead, he chose ordinary folks. Think of how many of your favorite bands came from humble upbringings (the Beatles, for instance, were from the working-class city of Liverpool; Kurt Cobain was known to be homeless at several points in his life).
2. Rock stars broke all the rules. So did Jesus. If there's a taboo out there, there's a chance a rock star tackled it. Jesus also took on some pretty taboo subjects. He performed miracles on the sabbath (Mark 3:2), which was strictly forbidden, since it was considered a form of work. He also came to the rescue of a woman caught in the act of adultery, just as a group of men were about to stone her (John 8:1-11), as was the penalty for adultery. In Matthew 15:2, the Pharisees complain that the disciples ignored their hand-washing ceremonies.
3. Rock stars offend religious leaders. Jesus was far more offensive to them. Marilyn Manson can rip up a Bible on stage, but Jesus put his very life on the line with spiritual leaders. He called them "sons of vipers" (Matthew 23:33); I'm guessing this wasn't a term of endearment. In fact, before long, Jesus' relationship with the Pharisees and Sadusees was so acrimonious that they discussed killing him several times (and, as we know, actually "succeeded").
4. People freak out when rock stars show up. They did the same in Jesus' day. One woman was so crazy about Jesus that she knew that just touching his robe would heal her (Matthew 9:20). In fact, we know that thousands showed up to hear him speak (Matthew 14:13, Mark 8:1). People were cutting holes in the roofs of houses just to get near him (Luke 5:18-19). If that wasn't enough, a woman literally wiped Jesus' feet with her hair as she dumped priceless perfume on him (John 12:3). We've seen some hero worship when it comes to rock stars, but I'm sure this takes the prize.
5. Rock stars are known for alcohol consumption. Jesus knew a thing about wine, too. Here in the Southeast, consuming alcohol is frowned upon. The funny thing is for his first miracle, Jesus brought the booze (John 4:46). When the wedding ceremony ran out of wine, they complained to Jesus about it. Rather than launch into an anti-alcohol rant, Jesus turned ordinary water into the best wine they ever tasted.
Of course, Jesus had a different motivation — his father's will. We're told to stay away from debauchery and submit ourselves to Jesus. It's sad, however, that the paradigm exists that we have to be perfect before Christ will accept us. Jesus died so we could be reunited with God while we were still sinners. So you don't have to worry about looking and talking like Ned Flanders before God will care about you. And while Jesus hung out with tax collectors and sinners, they were never the same after.
1. Rock stars hung out with a rowdy crowd. So did Jesus. He hung out with prostitutes and tax collectors (Matthew 21:32) — the seedy elements of society 2,000 years ago. If it were today, you might think his name was Vince Neil. The people he chose as his disciples didn't even have any special religious training; instead, he chose ordinary folks. Think of how many of your favorite bands came from humble upbringings (the Beatles, for instance, were from the working-class city of Liverpool; Kurt Cobain was known to be homeless at several points in his life).
2. Rock stars broke all the rules. So did Jesus. If there's a taboo out there, there's a chance a rock star tackled it. Jesus also took on some pretty taboo subjects. He performed miracles on the sabbath (Mark 3:2), which was strictly forbidden, since it was considered a form of work. He also came to the rescue of a woman caught in the act of adultery, just as a group of men were about to stone her (John 8:1-11), as was the penalty for adultery. In Matthew 15:2, the Pharisees complain that the disciples ignored their hand-washing ceremonies.
3. Rock stars offend religious leaders. Jesus was far more offensive to them. Marilyn Manson can rip up a Bible on stage, but Jesus put his very life on the line with spiritual leaders. He called them "sons of vipers" (Matthew 23:33); I'm guessing this wasn't a term of endearment. In fact, before long, Jesus' relationship with the Pharisees and Sadusees was so acrimonious that they discussed killing him several times (and, as we know, actually "succeeded").
4. People freak out when rock stars show up. They did the same in Jesus' day. One woman was so crazy about Jesus that she knew that just touching his robe would heal her (Matthew 9:20). In fact, we know that thousands showed up to hear him speak (Matthew 14:13, Mark 8:1). People were cutting holes in the roofs of houses just to get near him (Luke 5:18-19). If that wasn't enough, a woman literally wiped Jesus' feet with her hair as she dumped priceless perfume on him (John 12:3). We've seen some hero worship when it comes to rock stars, but I'm sure this takes the prize.
5. Rock stars are known for alcohol consumption. Jesus knew a thing about wine, too. Here in the Southeast, consuming alcohol is frowned upon. The funny thing is for his first miracle, Jesus brought the booze (John 4:46). When the wedding ceremony ran out of wine, they complained to Jesus about it. Rather than launch into an anti-alcohol rant, Jesus turned ordinary water into the best wine they ever tasted.
Of course, Jesus had a different motivation — his father's will. We're told to stay away from debauchery and submit ourselves to Jesus. It's sad, however, that the paradigm exists that we have to be perfect before Christ will accept us. Jesus died so we could be reunited with God while we were still sinners. So you don't have to worry about looking and talking like Ned Flanders before God will care about you. And while Jesus hung out with tax collectors and sinners, they were never the same after.
9.09.2010
Forgive as you've been forgiven — say what??
I've always found forgiveness one of the toughest of Christian virtues. Case in point, I was out for a jog today (attempting to get back into a shape other than round) when a careless driver nearly made me a hood ornament on her Lexus. I was a bit stunned for a minute, and of course there was the temptation to get angry and bitter. Of course, putting someone's life in jeopardy may stir up some righteous indignation, but anything we hold on to beyond that can become poisonous.
That small incident has been a microcosm of my spiritual life oftentimes. When we're hurt, wounded or offended, we wrap ourselves in the blanket of unforgiveness, not understanding that it's tattered and soiled and will leave us smelling bad in the end. It reminds me of the parable Jesus told in Matthew 18 about the servant who was forgiven a huge debt.
That small incident has been a microcosm of my spiritual life oftentimes. When we're hurt, wounded or offended, we wrap ourselves in the blanket of unforgiveness, not understanding that it's tattered and soiled and will leave us smelling bad in the end. It reminds me of the parable Jesus told in Matthew 18 about the servant who was forgiven a huge debt.
23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.
29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.
31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.
35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
To me, this is one of the most convicting parables in scripture. God seems harsh, but how hypocritical is it to hold on to the sins of others while asking that our sins be forgiven? I know that I'm so dependent on God's forgiveness, but was so slow to forgive myself. Today, I told God that I just wanted to give it up to him and not hold any anger toward this woman. Chances are, she's long forgotten about me, so unforgiveness would only hurt me. Add to that the fact that there are folks who have forgiven far worse offenses, and you can see why I'd be a fool hold any grudges.
9.08.2010
Do tantrums ever end?
You probably don't remember much before kindergarten. My memory of those years, of course, is spotty, too. There's one memory that does come to mind, however. I was about 4, and I remember shrieking at the top of my lungs, banging my feet on the dash of my mom's Malibu screaming, "I WANT A TOOOOOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYYYY!"
I'd like to think that I've matured a bit since those days, but sadly I still act like that. I traded tears for rage, crying for cuss words. When God isn't pandering to my agenda. When I'm not getting all the material things "I deserve." When things aren't going the way I think they should.
One of the key elements of my spiritual growth has been learning to have an attitude of thankfulness. It's tough, because it means I have to take my eyes off myself. It's a process, and I need to keep praying that God will change my heart and my perception.
It says in Colossians 2:7, " Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness." It's a great illustration of how connecting with Christ can change your perspective. Even in our troubles, we can be thankful. It says in Romans 5:3, " We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance." How much of a departure is that for us, that we can have joy and thankfulness in the midst of problems? It's not from our own strength, but God's. As it says in John 15:5, "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."
I'd like to think that I've matured a bit since those days, but sadly I still act like that. I traded tears for rage, crying for cuss words. When God isn't pandering to my agenda. When I'm not getting all the material things "I deserve." When things aren't going the way I think they should.
One of the key elements of my spiritual growth has been learning to have an attitude of thankfulness. It's tough, because it means I have to take my eyes off myself. It's a process, and I need to keep praying that God will change my heart and my perception.
It says in Colossians 2:7, " Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness." It's a great illustration of how connecting with Christ can change your perspective. Even in our troubles, we can be thankful. It says in Romans 5:3, " We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance." How much of a departure is that for us, that we can have joy and thankfulness in the midst of problems? It's not from our own strength, but God's. As it says in John 15:5, "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."
The value of community
When it comes to our religiosity, we often forget that community extends far beyond a Sunday morning. When I went back to church for the first time in months, one of the first points of the message was that we can't go it alone. There are no solo warriors on the spiritual battlefield.
The simplest way to victory is to outnumber your opponent. It's a tactic Satan uses quite effectively. We think that church attendance, groups and friendships aren't necessary. When we get by ourselves, the enemy can feed us every type of lie possible. Soon enough, we believe what he's saying to us. With no one to counter these lies, they take root easily in our hearts.
In Hebrews 10:25, it says, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching." I've never taken that verse seriously enough. I've always wondered why the author threw in the line, "as some are in the habit of doing." In the Darby translation, it says, "as the custom [is] with some." It's among the many bad habits that can shipwreck your faith, as I've discovered.
Right now, I'm glad I have a bunch of people in my life who hold me accountable and pray for me, as I can now return the favor. Without them, I don't know where I'd be. I believe that most of the things we strive for are things that will earn us acceptance in the world — money, fame, looks, etc. We've lost focus of the things that really matter: Godliness, integrity, positivity, kindness and patience. These are things that God has been working into me, and I'm so grateful.
The simplest way to victory is to outnumber your opponent. It's a tactic Satan uses quite effectively. We think that church attendance, groups and friendships aren't necessary. When we get by ourselves, the enemy can feed us every type of lie possible. Soon enough, we believe what he's saying to us. With no one to counter these lies, they take root easily in our hearts.
In Hebrews 10:25, it says, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching." I've never taken that verse seriously enough. I've always wondered why the author threw in the line, "as some are in the habit of doing." In the Darby translation, it says, "as the custom [is] with some." It's among the many bad habits that can shipwreck your faith, as I've discovered.
Right now, I'm glad I have a bunch of people in my life who hold me accountable and pray for me, as I can now return the favor. Without them, I don't know where I'd be. I believe that most of the things we strive for are things that will earn us acceptance in the world — money, fame, looks, etc. We've lost focus of the things that really matter: Godliness, integrity, positivity, kindness and patience. These are things that God has been working into me, and I'm so grateful.
9.07.2010
How to have a lousy spiritual life
I can't hide the fact that the past couple years — especially up to a month or so ago — I have nearly obliterated my witness in Christ. Right now, I'm slapping myself upside the head wondering how I could have given God the finger for so long.
If there's one thing I've learned from this, it's how not to walk with Christ. But should you really want to try it out, there are several great ways to suck.
1. For heaven's sake, don't read your Bible. What does that dusty old book know except how to have a great life? Jesus said that he came so that we can have life and have it more abundantly.
2. Make sure you shut yourself in and let bitterness fester. There's nothing like isolation to make your life miserable. Friends and family? Who needs 'em?
3. Hang around or listen to bitter and angry people. If you really want your life to suffer, tie yourself up to a sinking ship.
4. Definitely don't bother with prayer. Connecting with the Creator of the Universe won't help you become a loser. Be sure to blame him for all your problems, too.
5. Having an attitude of thankfulness is for winners. If you want to suck at life, be sure to find fault with everything.
6. Try and fit in a few cuss words in every sentence. Make a game out of how quickly you can wear out the f-word. Make sure the elderly and children are within earshot.
7. Definitely don't darken the doorstep of a church. Finding a great, spirit-filled church is a bad idea if you want your life to be a complete train wreck.
8. Expect everything to be about you. Look out for No. 1. But remember that putting down is how the experts live lousy lives.
Of course, no one wants to follow the list above. But it's almost how a life apart from Christ can fray your sanity and give you a seriously messed-up attitude. If you don't believe me, give Jesus a shot for yourself.
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