Speak On That!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Haters...
You know what bothers me. Haters. Sometimes when I'm hanging out, people try to hate! It's funny how everyone seems to think that they are comedians, when in fact they are haters. Now, you may be wondering how I could be so cruel. Don't read too much into this rant. It's just for fun and to ensure some friends, (aka Lisa) that I still know how to post a blog.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
More than breakfast...
We had really finished breakfast but there were three of us still hanging out for a little conversation. I stood up and moved to the side and before I knew it, the three of us had completely blocked the aisle. So we talked for a couple of minutes with seemingly no issue. The place was just about empty when all of a sudden one of the waitresses stopped and gave us a “slap you in the mouth look.”
She said, “Do you think you are at home?” “You think you can just sit all around here wherever/however you want?” We all three replied “No ma’am,” and quickly moved back around the table to continue our conversation.
Over the course of the day I’ve considered two ways of interpreting this event. Before I go any deeper here…let me say, I’m cool with what she said, actually even how she said it, but it does bring to mind some possible thoughts to consider in relation to the church.
She didn’t hold back in telling the truth. That’s refreshing actually. Sometimes in the church we hide behind the truth don’t we? What keeps us from speaking the truth in love? (Ephesians 4:14-16)
Probably afraid to lose members, upset the apple cart or some other dumb reason…but still we stop.
Or maybe people aren’t ready to hear the truth? Could it be?
Speak On It!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Okay...
I know I'm a total dork and I'm tremendously behind on posts... So in light of that I'm going to try just a little harder. Okay, maybe.
In the meantime check out the interpreter magazine...
Speak On It.... Peace
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Veggie...
So I know I'm delinquent in posting. Thanks for the heads up Mandi! I want to ease back in to this thing. I wanted the world to know that for breakfast this morning I had a veggie omelette! From my perspective I was quite pleased. It truly did fill me up. Maybe I should eat more veggies....
Speak On It....
Friday, February 13, 2009
Pretty Sweet....
So tonight, Jackson asked me if God was giving out Valentines. He said “Could God just drop them out from the sky?” I started thinking about that and as he looked at me, I couldn’t help but feel the power of the Holy Spirit. I told him that “you are God’s Valentine Jackson, and how you live your life is love.” So then Jackson says, “When we give our Valentine away, then we really give God away, right dad?”
So I was blown away. We talked a little more about it and the more we talked the deeper we went. When we give somebody a Valentines Day card they feel good and feel the love. So when we give ourselves away, we are giving God away and people begin to feel God’s love. That’s pretty cool.
So have a sweet Valentine’s Day and Give some love away.
Speak On It!
So I was blown away. We talked a little more about it and the more we talked the deeper we went. When we give somebody a Valentines Day card they feel good and feel the love. So when we give ourselves away, we are giving God away and people begin to feel God’s love. That’s pretty cool.
So have a sweet Valentine’s Day and Give some love away.
Speak On It!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Most Recent Headline....
Okay, I'm trying to get consistent...
I didn’t want to do it this week, and I tried really hard to stay away from it, but I can’t help but comment on the most famous Olympian of our era, and superstar Michael Phelps. If you haven’t heard I just bring you up to speed…
Phelps was at a party, somebody took a picture of him smoking marijuana and now the media, International Olympic Committee, and tons of households around the world are debating the most recent picture of a fallen hero.
So here’s the thing, I’m not going to bash Phelps, I think he’s got enough of that happening. I’m not going to suggest that it’s okay to smoke weed because of “youthfulness” or because of pressure. Who doesn’t have pressure? So we find ourselves in a peculiar spot.
As I think about this story, I find two responses that have been running over and over in my mind this week. First, “Who hasn’t made a mistake?” I mean, how many stupid things have we done that if people saw them captured on a cell phone and ending up on Facebook somewhere wouldn’t question our integrity or character? We need to be careful when or if we start condemning people. That’s what Jesus was getting at when he called out the Pharisees and others when they caught a woman in adultery. (John 8:1-11) Are you ready to cast the first stone?
The second piece of this that fills my mind rests on the amount of stock we put into other people. I’m not suggesting we can’t love, respect and admire others, but in many ways we make them like a “god” with power that goes beyond the realm of human possibility. Where does Jesus fit into this? Are we pouring ourselves into Jesus as much as we pour into Phelps, Obama or the most recent headline?
In order for us to continue to grow and change, and transform the world, we have to be willing to look to Jesus. He will never fail us. He will never be found online in any questionable photo. He will never leave us. He will never sell us out for another bong hit. He will never ask us for more than he’s already given us.
This Jesus is mighty to save and is ready for us to believe in the one who will never fail us.
Speak On It!
I didn’t want to do it this week, and I tried really hard to stay away from it, but I can’t help but comment on the most famous Olympian of our era, and superstar Michael Phelps. If you haven’t heard I just bring you up to speed…
Phelps was at a party, somebody took a picture of him smoking marijuana and now the media, International Olympic Committee, and tons of households around the world are debating the most recent picture of a fallen hero.
So here’s the thing, I’m not going to bash Phelps, I think he’s got enough of that happening. I’m not going to suggest that it’s okay to smoke weed because of “youthfulness” or because of pressure. Who doesn’t have pressure? So we find ourselves in a peculiar spot.
As I think about this story, I find two responses that have been running over and over in my mind this week. First, “Who hasn’t made a mistake?” I mean, how many stupid things have we done that if people saw them captured on a cell phone and ending up on Facebook somewhere wouldn’t question our integrity or character? We need to be careful when or if we start condemning people. That’s what Jesus was getting at when he called out the Pharisees and others when they caught a woman in adultery. (John 8:1-11) Are you ready to cast the first stone?
The second piece of this that fills my mind rests on the amount of stock we put into other people. I’m not suggesting we can’t love, respect and admire others, but in many ways we make them like a “god” with power that goes beyond the realm of human possibility. Where does Jesus fit into this? Are we pouring ourselves into Jesus as much as we pour into Phelps, Obama or the most recent headline?
In order for us to continue to grow and change, and transform the world, we have to be willing to look to Jesus. He will never fail us. He will never be found online in any questionable photo. He will never leave us. He will never sell us out for another bong hit. He will never ask us for more than he’s already given us.
This Jesus is mighty to save and is ready for us to believe in the one who will never fail us.
Speak On It!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Trying To Get Back in the Saddle....Starting with John
Over the past couple of days I’ve been reading the Gospel of John. It’s one on the four Gospels and has always been one of my favorites. Within the first chapter things really get moving. In particular one of the sections that caught my attention is in 1:35-42. Basically Jesus is walking and a couple of guys were following him wanting to know where he was staying. Jesus was a rabbi, meaning a teacher, and they wanted to come and stay with him for a while.
What he says next has been sitting with me and it won’t leave my mind. “Come and you will see.” Come and you will see. As they come and see things really begin to move when they actually take him up on it and decide to hang out with Jesus. Once they are with him they realize that he is truly the Messiah, the anointed one of God, who is the very “Word” of God spoken into existence, called to change the world.
It gets better when the change happens. One of the guys who had followed him was Simon, who after meeting Jesus was now going to be called Peter. Peter was now a new person because he came and saw.
Are we calling others to “Come & See.” Come and see the love of God offered throughout our homes and community. Come and see open hands ready to serve. Come and see open hearts ready to love and Come and see open doors for anybody who really wants to come and see.
Have you come? Are you inviting others?
Speak On It!
What he says next has been sitting with me and it won’t leave my mind. “Come and you will see.” Come and you will see. As they come and see things really begin to move when they actually take him up on it and decide to hang out with Jesus. Once they are with him they realize that he is truly the Messiah, the anointed one of God, who is the very “Word” of God spoken into existence, called to change the world.
It gets better when the change happens. One of the guys who had followed him was Simon, who after meeting Jesus was now going to be called Peter. Peter was now a new person because he came and saw.
Are we calling others to “Come & See.” Come and see the love of God offered throughout our homes and community. Come and see open hands ready to serve. Come and see open hearts ready to love and Come and see open doors for anybody who really wants to come and see.
Have you come? Are you inviting others?
Speak On It!
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