Category: Daily Post

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Daily Post

Sell out

I am sure you could guess that yesterday’s post was only half a thought, because I don’t think that when Jesus says “sell all” and “give” that he is only referring to material things.  I think he is referring to our complete selves.   This is the thought that I have been struggling with all week, because its such hard thing to do.  Even this morning as I prepare for the work day and recount activities from yesterday, I find myself frustrated about events, when upon closer examination that frustration is more about my point of view or the may I felt I was treated.  If I have sold out to the Christ, then my take on that situation is so totally different.  Yeah, sure, maybe somethings are not the way they should be, and maybe some people are not being completely open and truthful, but hey, my sold out response will be much kinder, and full of mercy, because I will be focused on what truly matters.

So what I am really taking about.  Well, its in found in Philippians 3:8:

8Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ (CEV)

Paul says he considers everything else as garbage!  Some translation say rubbish, dung, or worthless.  WOW!  I read that verse and I say “yeah, but what about my…..”.  It’s tough.  It’s one of those stumper verses.  HOW?

Now you see where my mind has been this week.  It’s not really about T-shirts, although that’s a symptom.  It’s about knowing Christ and understanding how much better that is then anything else in the world, and then living that way.

You should read the whole of Philippians 3, but take a look at this broader context:

7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

I am just like Paul,  I have not taken hold of this yet, however this thought has captivated my mind.  And since I am pretty visual this little mini-movie brings this home as well.  Take a moment some time today to view this video:

Ponder this today.  What do you own, what do you do, what do you think about that is better the knowing Christ.  Can you count it as garbage? Will you help me to?

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Daily Post

Stuffing T-Shirts

Earlier this week I carried some clean t-shirts to my chest of drawers and stuffed them into the drawer grunting as I struggled to close the drawer, and thinking to myself, how can it be that I have no room for the shirts that I wear?  Whats in this drawer?

It had been a few days before that I had been stumbling around Matthew and I read this exchange between Jesus and potential follower.  Its sort of goes like this.

57As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

58Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Luke 9:57-59 (New International Version)

I have been thinking a lot about this exchange, and my t-shirts and the whole idea that Jesus calls us to live a radical crazy life that is different from the frustrations of this world.  Yesterday, I mentioned that my mind is trying to work out a few thoughts, and I think that they will come out over the next few days.
So with all of that in mind, Monday night, I stumbled on this BBC article about a guy who has created a Cult of Less.  Essentially, this guy has sold almost everything except a bare amount of clothing and his electronics and lives with his “digital possessions”.  The sub title of the article is “living out of a hard drive”.  He is not the first person to try this of course, but what I think is interesting is how he describes the freedom he has with minimal material things.
hm, this sounds awful familiar.  Almost like some bible stories I have heard since I was an infant.  Things like

20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:20-22 (New International Version)

and this

33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:33-35 (New International Version)

I don’t know this guys motivation, nor will I question it.  But I do know that as a follower of the Christ, I have been provided with a motivation, or maybe a command, er, non optional requirement, er strong suggestion?

So today, I am not completely suggesting that you sell everything and live out of a hard drive.  I think there is some certain amount of reasonableness that needs to be checked.  However, this is the beginning of at least a personal challenge to take a look at my view on material things.  Why do I have them? why do I need them?  What things should I be letting go?  And what real attachment should I even have to any of it?  And that might just be the key.  Not the having, but the have to have or the attachment.  Comments?

Use your stuff today as a tool to express where your treasure really is.

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Do Good

I have several thoughts working around in my brain today, but they are all baby thoughts.  Thoughts that are not ready to be released into the mighty blogosphere. So I will keep incubating those for a few more days.  And since my mind is preoccupied, today’s thought is quite simple, yet quite astute.

It’s a simple message and a reminder to do good.

9-10So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith. (Galatians 6:10, The Message)

Be salty today, don’t back down, and impact people!

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Bring it Monday

Well, Its Monday,  and I with the way this one started, I definitely can relate to Garfield.  Last night, we came home to the realization that what was left of the homework was just a tad bit ( try 4 hours tab bit) more then what we were led to believe was left.  Add on top of that a production issue at the ol’ office, the guy that might be able to fix it sleeping in bed 5 time zones ahead and a body that just wanted to go to sleep and what you have is a Monday morning that no one wanted to see arrive!  So at 2am I was still awake,  trying to figure out how to make a HP Laser Jet print duplex with Windows 7.  (Which I did figure out  – finally!)

So it was only natural that this morning I climbed back into the comfy bed 3 different times before finally deciding that that would not do, and I had to take on the day.

Actually, it was during these “snooze” periods that I pondered my options.  I could use the excuse that I am tired, that I was up late, to make the day miserable on those around me.  I could choose to hate the day, to be grouchy and to take my temporary discomfort out on the world.  OR, I could choose to look at my blessings.  I have Windows7, a Color Laser Printer, and the brain to be able to fix it.  I had friends to help me with the production problem at work, and I knew that my Irish friend would tackle this issue with gusto when he arose.  And I am blessed with a smart child, that, despite his procrastination (which he genetically acquired from me I think), has numerous talents and incredible creativity.    So I sprang from my bed, make breakfast for the boys, and hit the road for a little 3 mile run,  realizing the gift that contentment really is.

6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (New International Version)

So with that I say Bring It Monday.

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Daily Post

Friday the 13th

Oh yes, with a name like Jason, you know I have to like Friday the 13th.  In the past when I was helping with the Inner City children, they would all invariably pull back and yell every time I would tell them my name was Jason.  And these were small children – 6, 7 8 year olds.

So Friday the 13th seems like a perfect day for a person with my name to get out and have some fun. But actually, I am not superstitious at all.  The fact is, to me Friday the 13th really has no special value.  Its another great day that we have been blessed with to serve and to love.  I walk under ladders, I used to own a black cat, I never knock on wood, nor toss salt over my shoulder.

You may be asking “How can you survive?”  Its all because of  trust.

6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;
he answers him from his holy heaven
with the saving power of his right hand.

7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

8 They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm. Psalm 20:6-8 (New International Version)

So even if today the mirror breaks while a black cat screeches in front of me and I see a dude in a hockey mask with a chain saw, I’ll still not fear. When your trust is in the Lord and Savior these other things – plus the normal “stresses” of life – tend to fade into the back ground and not be as big of fears as maybe they once where.

So get out there and enjoy Friday the 13th.  I may even open my umbrella inside!