Month: January 2010

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Happy MLK 2010

It’s the day the government has set aside to remember Martin Luther King Jr and his wonderful work to create racial equality in America.  Its also a day that I get to travel to snowy Maine to work!  Have a mentioned I love snow.

Anyway, its MLK day, so take some time to stop and think about racial harmony and racial tension.  As follows of the Christ, sometimes this seems to be one of the hardest things for us to deal with for really unknown reasons.    But this problems with differences is an issue that is discussed much throughout the history of mankind and also very much in the pages of our Bible.

For instance, Jesus, when asked “who is my neighbor”, tells the all familiar story of the Good Samaritan, a story that fundamental tells us that our neighbor is the person we hate – so go and show them mercy.  He is telling us that everyone is you neighbor and that

” A person’s a person, no matter how small” – Dr.  Seuss.

And we can’t forget the passage dealing with the oneness we have in Christ and how that unity crosses social, gender, racial, or any other barrier you want to create.

Galatians 3:27-29 (New International Version)

27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

So today, honor Dr King, and spend some time thinking about how you are treating your neighbor ( is it as you treat yourself?)

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My Way or the Broken Way

Its been one of those sort of weeks that wear you down mentally and spiritually.  One of those weeks that sets you up for doing something dumb – do you know what I mean?  Frustration at work, the ‘joys’ of parenthood, the fast pace of life in general.  So much that last night my oldest son and I are still working away on getting the documentation complete for his science fair project ( YES! SCIENCE FAIR!), and emails are streaming around from work that well frankly put are making me want to put my fist through the wall.

It was in the midst of this that I sat down and took a look at some pictures from Haiti, courtesy of the Sacramento Bee and Boston.com.  While reviewing those, I thought about one email I had received earlier in the day.  I email containing a link from the Chattanooga.com about a co worker of mine who was tragically killed by a drunk driver two days before Christmas.  (All of these links are tales of heart breaking events)

Its funny how God works. Right when I think things aren’t going my way and I should start to take control of these situations – boom, reminders hit you in the fore head.  I am really being a servant?  Am I really considering others?  Am I being humble enough? Am I really being humble AT ALL?

17 The sacrifices of God are  a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise. (Psalm 51 NIV)

So even though Alex and I were up late finishing up the science project, and even with meetings being schedule at unreasonable times,  and even with expectations and life events that don’t seem fair, can I still realize the blessings that I have.  Can I still see how good life is? Can I still come to God with humility and contriteness and lay myself before him and say “I will do whatever you ask”?  We are all blessed – beyond compare.  Let us stay humble and broken,  and let us keep the heart of a servant.
I have a strange feeling I will be surprised how different the day will be if I approach today with a servant’s heart rather than the attitude I had last night – one of anger and frustration and pride.  Its interesting how God’s Way puts is in a place of joy, and our way
puts us in a danger zone.!

So break your heart, humble yourself and live today.  Take advantage of what you have been given.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51 (NIV)

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Considering Others

Its one of those difficult days when its hard to determine what to post.   Lane Kiffin?  Well that’s old news given so much else that is going on.  I was in a study last night where this verse from Philippians 2 was discussed:

1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

The whole chapter has stuck with me, and that’s why Lane Kiffin is old news.  This verse is very profound, very threatening, even very motivating.  So today here are two things related to this verse.

First, a great example of a person doing their best to live this verse. A daily buffeter herself, this is a great story about a local school counselor doing her best to love and help others.  Hand WDEF’s Golden Apple to Jennifer Greer. (applause)

Second, a challenge, or an opportunity for you all to consider today.  Disasters are always a time when we can count our blessings, and continue to show the compassion we have been given.  Here is one place you can donate that will be working in the disaster zone in Haiti – Healing Hands International.

Look out for others today!

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Earthquakes

You may be aware of the massive earthquake that hit Haiti yesterday.  A friend of mine who is trying to adopt some Haitian children and travels there several times a year sent me a few pictures last night that I thought were worth sharing.

Before

Presidential Palace Before
Presidential Palace Before

After

Presidential Palace - After
Presidential Palace - After

Wow!.  Can you imagine?  This is just an example of the damage and despair that has occurred on that troubled island.  Likewise some of you may be experiencing earthquakes in your lives.  Its not something we can take a picture of, but the devastation, and despair are equal.  You may feel like your life is like this palace – destroyed.  It may be your job, your relationships, your children, your financial position and many other things that rock our foundation.  What do we do?

We could look at James 1

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (NIV)

or
Romans 5

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. (NIV)

Both of these are good things to know.  These lifequakes will build up our faith, and create, and in our weakness create a leaning on God.  However, I usually take strength in these two passages.  from Job

9 His wife said, “Still holding on to your precious integrity, are you? Curse God and be done with it!”

10 He told her, “You’re talking like an empty-headed fool. We take the good days from God—why not also the bad days?”

Not once through all this did Job sin. He said nothing against God. (Job 2:9-10, The Message)

and from Romans 8

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose.(NIV)

18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.(NIV)

The last one, brings the most hope. A message that even when the world falls in around you, we still have a promise of life eternal with our Lord and Savior. So if today, you world is shaking, remember this. If you are blessed with peace, pray for those in Haiti and find way to build up the people right around who maybe in the middle of the devastation of a lifequake.

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Donuts and Debate

Many years ago – many years ago, when I was in college in the great town of Nashville, TN, several of my roommates and team mates worked at the best donut shop in the world, The Donut Den. When we were tired of studying or needed a break we would ride over to the Donut Den and hang out in the kitchen talking with the guys making the donuts – and learning how to ourselves. (Eventually, I  had a job there making the muffins several nights a week – Yes, I am the Muffin Man) There was another classmate of ours that worked there on some of the same nights. His name was Aaron, or ‘Aaron the Liberal’ as we called him. Aaron was always up for some good political debate – which I found fascinating as Aaron had vastly different views then the rest of us. However, those donut debates were fun, and free and although sometimes full of frustration, they were never full of hate. Just people discussing topics of importance to them. I think Aaron influenced several of us, and I am sure that we had a small impact of him. Last week, I mentioned that I have been turned off from politics, but posted on entry that teetered on the edge of political a little. The next day, another one of my college classmates tweeted about an article in Relevant Magazine entitled “Can’t We All Just Get Along?”

This article really hit the nail on the head as to why I am frustrated with the political machine. Its not as much Clintons’ sins, or Bush’s decisions, or Obama’s agenda.  I have become tired of the right screaming and yelling, and the left name-calling and using condescending tones etc.  Its all the way around.  And that just doesn’t jive with the words I read in the collection of 66 books.  This op-ed is a ringing indictment on followers of Christ and how we engage in political debate.  I think its worth a read by all of us.  Just to stop and make sure we are treating each other, even in disagreement, with the love and respect demanded of us by Christ.

Anyway, consider it, and as you approach others today, no matter what the conversation is, remember to do so with love. ( Not the sissy kind) But the real, I care about you, love that Jesus showed us and that he begs us to show to each other.  Also, don’t be afraid to talk about ideas – you may grow yourself, and you don’t know the impact you will have on others.

1 John 3:11-24 (New International Version)
Love one another

11This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

21Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.