I was ‘weed wacking’ recently and had a bit of an epiphany. I had three extension cords connected, giving me roughly about a 100 feet of cord to work with. It didn’t take long for the cords to become entangled, knotted up getting stuck on anything and everything along the way. As frustration was kicking in for having to continually detangle the cords and get them ‘unstuck’, God brought a verse to mind. Hebrews 12:2-3 “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…”
As I thought about this verse, it occurred to me that much of life tends to be like that of an extension cord. We so easily get tangled up in things that slow us down from living the life that God invites us to live. Might this be why the author of Hebrews issues the command to ‘throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run…’ Its hard to run when we are entangled. It felt like the extension cord had a mind of its own – meaning it seemed like it was looking for things to entangle itself on. I wonder how many of us look for things to ‘entangle ourselves on.’ Why would we do that? Because its what we know and have grown familiar with. I’ve learned over the years that what we grow familiar with is what we grow comfortable with, and when one grows comfortable, the thought of something different (change), is at best to unsettling.
‘So easily entangles’ – it doesn’t take much for us to get tripped up. What ever it is that is tripping you up – remove that from your path. If I would have disconnected two of the cords and just worked with one, it would have made my ‘weed-wacking’ so much easier. Lose the excess cords so that you can run – and when your running, remember to keep your eyes fixed on person… JESUS!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Mother Teresa & Bill Clinton
Former President Bill Clinton had a lot to say while in the Oval Office. What was the most meaningful thing he said while serving as our President? I would love to hear your thoughts on that question, but since this is my blog, I get to go first. Some context to help you understand the power of Clinton’s words.
Mother Teresa was invited to speak at the National Prayer Breakfast in 1994. All speakers at these bi-partisan events are instructed to avoid making any comments that might cause shall we say ‘controversy.’ Well, Mother Teresa did not get that memo. The following are some excerpts from her speech delivered on February 3rd, 1994. As you read, please keep in mind her audience which included all of the heavy hitters in Washington, including the Clinton family alongside Al Gore and his wife.
“I was surprised in the West to see so many young boys and girls given to drugs. And I tried to find out why. Why is it like that, when those in the West have so many more things than those in the East? And the answer was: "Because there is no one in the family to receive them." Our children depend on us for everything - their health, their nutrition, their security, their coming to know and love God. For all of this, they look to us with trust, hope and expectation. But often father and mother are so busy they have no time for their children, or perhaps they are not even married or have given up on their marriage. So the children go to the streets and get involved in drugs or other things. We are talking of love of the child which is where love and peace must begin. These are the things that break peace…
But I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself…
And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another? How do we persuade a woman not to have an abortion? As always, we must persuade her with love and we remind ourselves that love means to be willing to give until it hurts. Jesus gave even His life to love us. So, the mother who is thinking of abortion, should be helped to love, that is, to give until it hurts her plans, or her free time, to respect the life of her child. The father of that child, whoever he is, must also give until it hurts…
By abortion, the mother does not learn to love, but kills even her own child to solve her problems...
And, by abortion, the father is told that he does not have to take any responsibility at all for the child he has brought into the world. That father is likely to put other women into the same trouble. So abortion just leads to more abortion...
Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion…
I will tell you something beautiful. We are fighting abortion by adoption - by care of the mother and adoption for her baby. We have saved thousands of lives. We have sent word to the clinics, to the hospitals and police stations: "Please don't destroy the child; we will take the child." So we always have someone tell the mothers in trouble: "Come, we will take care of you, we will get a home for your child." And we have a tremendous demand from couples who cannot have a child - but I never give a child to a couple who have done something not to have a child. Jesus said. "Anyone who receives a child in my name, receives me." By adopting a child, these couples receive Jesus but, by aborting a child, a couple refuses to receive Jesus…
It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish…
Please don't kill the child. I want the child. Please give me the child. I am willing to accept any child who would be aborted and to give that child to a married couple who will love the child and be loved by the child…
From our children's home in Calcutta alone, we have saved over 3000 children from abortion. These children have brought such love and joy to their adopting parents and have grown up so full of love and joy…
From here, a sign of care for the weakest of the weak - the unborn child - must go out to the world. If you become a burning light of justice and peace in the world, then really you will be true to what the founders of this country stood for. God bless you!”
How did Bill Clinton respond to Mother Teresa’s speech? When asked by a reporter how he felt about what Mother Teresa had to say on abortion, Bill Clinton said the following: “How can anyone argue with a life so well-lived?”
There you have it! Bill Clinton’s most memorable words. How true they are. Might that be said of all who have read thus far. Might we live our lives in such a way, that people regardless of differing backgrounds (social, economic, political, ethnic and spiritual) would be able to speak those words over our lives as well. Let us love Jesus and humanity in such a way (i.e. Mother Teresa), that people would be challenged and encouraged to follow suit – to live ‘A Life Well Lived.’
Mother Teresa was invited to speak at the National Prayer Breakfast in 1994. All speakers at these bi-partisan events are instructed to avoid making any comments that might cause shall we say ‘controversy.’ Well, Mother Teresa did not get that memo. The following are some excerpts from her speech delivered on February 3rd, 1994. As you read, please keep in mind her audience which included all of the heavy hitters in Washington, including the Clinton family alongside Al Gore and his wife.
“I was surprised in the West to see so many young boys and girls given to drugs. And I tried to find out why. Why is it like that, when those in the West have so many more things than those in the East? And the answer was: "Because there is no one in the family to receive them." Our children depend on us for everything - their health, their nutrition, their security, their coming to know and love God. For all of this, they look to us with trust, hope and expectation. But often father and mother are so busy they have no time for their children, or perhaps they are not even married or have given up on their marriage. So the children go to the streets and get involved in drugs or other things. We are talking of love of the child which is where love and peace must begin. These are the things that break peace…
But I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself…
And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another? How do we persuade a woman not to have an abortion? As always, we must persuade her with love and we remind ourselves that love means to be willing to give until it hurts. Jesus gave even His life to love us. So, the mother who is thinking of abortion, should be helped to love, that is, to give until it hurts her plans, or her free time, to respect the life of her child. The father of that child, whoever he is, must also give until it hurts…
By abortion, the mother does not learn to love, but kills even her own child to solve her problems...
And, by abortion, the father is told that he does not have to take any responsibility at all for the child he has brought into the world. That father is likely to put other women into the same trouble. So abortion just leads to more abortion...
Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion…
I will tell you something beautiful. We are fighting abortion by adoption - by care of the mother and adoption for her baby. We have saved thousands of lives. We have sent word to the clinics, to the hospitals and police stations: "Please don't destroy the child; we will take the child." So we always have someone tell the mothers in trouble: "Come, we will take care of you, we will get a home for your child." And we have a tremendous demand from couples who cannot have a child - but I never give a child to a couple who have done something not to have a child. Jesus said. "Anyone who receives a child in my name, receives me." By adopting a child, these couples receive Jesus but, by aborting a child, a couple refuses to receive Jesus…
It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish…
Please don't kill the child. I want the child. Please give me the child. I am willing to accept any child who would be aborted and to give that child to a married couple who will love the child and be loved by the child…
From our children's home in Calcutta alone, we have saved over 3000 children from abortion. These children have brought such love and joy to their adopting parents and have grown up so full of love and joy…
From here, a sign of care for the weakest of the weak - the unborn child - must go out to the world. If you become a burning light of justice and peace in the world, then really you will be true to what the founders of this country stood for. God bless you!”
How did Bill Clinton respond to Mother Teresa’s speech? When asked by a reporter how he felt about what Mother Teresa had to say on abortion, Bill Clinton said the following: “How can anyone argue with a life so well-lived?”
There you have it! Bill Clinton’s most memorable words. How true they are. Might that be said of all who have read thus far. Might we live our lives in such a way, that people regardless of differing backgrounds (social, economic, political, ethnic and spiritual) would be able to speak those words over our lives as well. Let us love Jesus and humanity in such a way (i.e. Mother Teresa), that people would be challenged and encouraged to follow suit – to live ‘A Life Well Lived.’
Thursday, June 19, 2008
I'm Not That Old!
I might be getting old, but I can still jump out of trees 30 ft. in the air into 55 degree water. Not bad for an old man! I might not be as brave as David King who did a back flip, but I can still hang with the young guys.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Grabbing or Giving?
You might think that one person can’t change the world, well maybe God is not looking for you to change the world, but might He be looking for you to change your world! Who are you becoming with the wealth you have? Generous or greedy? Charitable, or corrupt? A Life Well Lived is not one of Grabbing, but Giving? How does one do that? Some thoughts on how to work towards making that a reality...
1. Ask yourself how you can use what God has given you to give back to Him and His mission for the world. Its learning to live ‘open-handed.’ Example – we dedicate children to the Lord, why not dedicate everything we have to the Lord.
2. Don’t be impressed with earthly wealth – it is temporal and it will fade. Do not set your heart on something that will not last! Psalm 62:10 – “… though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.”
3. IF gold has become your god – REPENT – stop trusting the gold to do for you what only God can do!
4. SIMPLIFY – use your abundance to alleviate the suffering of God’s poor. Don’t ignore those in need around you.
5. If your struggling with greed, materialism and hoarding wealth – start writing big checks! The cure for greed is generosity.
6. Ask for your Daily Bread – neither poverty, nor riches. Read Proverbs 30:7-9
7. Be thankful for what you have (and don’t have) – an attitude of gratitude!
Some quotes to consider...
“Sometimes I think, ‘If I die, I won’t have to see my children suffering as they are.’ Sometimes I even think of killing myself. So I often see them crying, hungry; and there I am, without a cent to buy them some bread. I think ‘My God, I can’t face it! I’ll end my life. I don’t want to look anymore.’” Iracenema da Silva – A Resident of a slum in Brazil
“It is arguable that materialism is the single biggest competitor with authentic Christianity for the hearts and souls of millions in our world today, including many in the visible church.” Craig Blomberg from ‘Neither Poverty Nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions’
“Tell me what you think about money, and I will tell you what you think about God.”
Billy Graham
"All I ask is for the chance to prove that money can't make me happy." Spike Milligan
“I used to think, when I was a child, that Christ might have been exaggerating when he warned about the dangers of wealth. Today I know better. I know how hard it is to be rich and still keep the milk of human kindness. Money has a dangerous way of putting scales on one’s eyes, a dangerous way of freezing people’s hands, eyes, lips, and hearts.” Dom Camara – Revolution through Peace
Scriptures to wrestle with...
James 5:1-6
Matthew 6:24
Proverbs 23:4
Psalm 49:16-17
Matthew 6:19-24
1 Timothy 6:6-10
Recommended Reads –
‘Rich Christians In An Age Of Hunger – Moving from Affluence to Generosity.’ Ronald J. Sider
‘Neither Poverty Nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions.’ Craig Blomberg
‘Simplify.’ Paul Borthwick
1. Ask yourself how you can use what God has given you to give back to Him and His mission for the world. Its learning to live ‘open-handed.’ Example – we dedicate children to the Lord, why not dedicate everything we have to the Lord.
2. Don’t be impressed with earthly wealth – it is temporal and it will fade. Do not set your heart on something that will not last! Psalm 62:10 – “… though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.”
3. IF gold has become your god – REPENT – stop trusting the gold to do for you what only God can do!
4. SIMPLIFY – use your abundance to alleviate the suffering of God’s poor. Don’t ignore those in need around you.
5. If your struggling with greed, materialism and hoarding wealth – start writing big checks! The cure for greed is generosity.
6. Ask for your Daily Bread – neither poverty, nor riches. Read Proverbs 30:7-9
7. Be thankful for what you have (and don’t have) – an attitude of gratitude!
Some quotes to consider...
“Sometimes I think, ‘If I die, I won’t have to see my children suffering as they are.’ Sometimes I even think of killing myself. So I often see them crying, hungry; and there I am, without a cent to buy them some bread. I think ‘My God, I can’t face it! I’ll end my life. I don’t want to look anymore.’” Iracenema da Silva – A Resident of a slum in Brazil
“It is arguable that materialism is the single biggest competitor with authentic Christianity for the hearts and souls of millions in our world today, including many in the visible church.” Craig Blomberg from ‘Neither Poverty Nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions’
“Tell me what you think about money, and I will tell you what you think about God.”
Billy Graham
"All I ask is for the chance to prove that money can't make me happy." Spike Milligan
“I used to think, when I was a child, that Christ might have been exaggerating when he warned about the dangers of wealth. Today I know better. I know how hard it is to be rich and still keep the milk of human kindness. Money has a dangerous way of putting scales on one’s eyes, a dangerous way of freezing people’s hands, eyes, lips, and hearts.” Dom Camara – Revolution through Peace
Scriptures to wrestle with...
James 5:1-6
Matthew 6:24
Proverbs 23:4
Psalm 49:16-17
Matthew 6:19-24
1 Timothy 6:6-10
Recommended Reads –
‘Rich Christians In An Age Of Hunger – Moving from Affluence to Generosity.’ Ronald J. Sider
‘Neither Poverty Nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions.’ Craig Blomberg
‘Simplify.’ Paul Borthwick
Monday, June 16, 2008
Father's Day!
What a great joy it is being a dad! I highly recomend to all. Here's some AWESOME pictures taken by the world's greatest photographer! Thanks for the pics Krista!
Friday, June 13, 2008
A New Friend
I met a knew friend today. He seems real genuine which is something I value maybe more than anything when it comes to relationships. OK – loyalty is pretty important as well, but when you find someone who can be authentic with you, you’ve found something good. Good friends are rare – at-least they have been in my life. If there were a moral to this story (which I’m not sure if there really is), it might be this: pay attention to the people that God allows you to cross paths with. I wonder how many people I may have missed in my travels that I might have made a ‘soul connection’ with all because I was not paying attention. I don’t know if I will have a ‘soul connection’ with my new friend, but I can say that I am thankful that God has allowed our paths to cross. So keep your eyes open and your heart positioned to embrace those that might cross your path in the days to come, you never know who might walk by.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Questions
I had lunch with a friend today and we spent a lot of time talking about knowledge and wisdom. If you want to know if a person is wise and has knowledge, look at two things: first, observe their choices, decisions, actions and reactions, attitudes and behaviors. Wisdom and knowledge is not so much what lives in ones head, but how one moves his/her feet. Godly wisdom and knowledge is seen in the ability to live a godly life. Secondly, listen to the questions they ask. Asking questions is an art form, and those who have mastered the art of asking questions are those who are demonstrating that they not only have information about a given subject, but that they have wisdom and knowledge about that subject. Jesus was a master at asking questions. His questions had the ability to not only draw people out, but draw people in (introspection). Thinking about questions got me thinking about something Rob Bell said in his controversial book ‘Velvet Elvis’ –
“When the rabbi would ask a student a question, he would seldom give an answer. Have you noticed how rarely Jesus answers questions, but how often he responds with another question? Rabbi's had no interest in having the student spit back information just for information sake. They wanted to know if the student understood it, if he had wrestled with it. This notion is difficult for the modern mind to grasp because we generally think of education as the transmission of information. The better the student is, the better she is able to produce the right information at the right time. In the world of Rabbinic education, the focus was on questions, which demonstrated that the student not only understood the information but could then take the subject a step further."
The point is simple – questions reveal the wisdom and knowledge we have. When we know something, it will show up not in regurgitating information, but true knowledge will be seen in the questions we ask.
What kind of questions do you hear being asked? What should I wear? Should I purchase this or that? Was that movie any good? The questions we ask (or don’t ask) are very revealing of who we are. Questions are an art form and for me, I pray that I will master that art of asking thoughtful and thought provoking questions.
“When the rabbi would ask a student a question, he would seldom give an answer. Have you noticed how rarely Jesus answers questions, but how often he responds with another question? Rabbi's had no interest in having the student spit back information just for information sake. They wanted to know if the student understood it, if he had wrestled with it. This notion is difficult for the modern mind to grasp because we generally think of education as the transmission of information. The better the student is, the better she is able to produce the right information at the right time. In the world of Rabbinic education, the focus was on questions, which demonstrated that the student not only understood the information but could then take the subject a step further."
The point is simple – questions reveal the wisdom and knowledge we have. When we know something, it will show up not in regurgitating information, but true knowledge will be seen in the questions we ask.
What kind of questions do you hear being asked? What should I wear? Should I purchase this or that? Was that movie any good? The questions we ask (or don’t ask) are very revealing of who we are. Questions are an art form and for me, I pray that I will master that art of asking thoughtful and thought provoking questions.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
bereshit
What is 'bereshit?' This is the Hebrew word for Genesis which means beginnings, or to begin? I've thought about it, even tried it once before and have had a lot of people talk to me about it, but now its time to begin! Welcome to the 'bereshit' of my blogging life. I'm not sure what all will transpire on this blog, but I look forward to having a place to put written words to what's happening in my head and heart. There will be many dreams, ideas, plans, prayers, confessions posted in the days to come, but more than anything, this will be a place where this raggamuffin can sort through the highs, lows and everything in-between of walking with God.
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