Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Final Attempt
Here's the thing. I'm trying to make a comeback! It's going to be hard! Who's with me?
Thursday, July 1, 2010
For Such A Time As This...
Now before I go any further, I have to tell you that if you want drama and intrigue, hero and villain action, and some of the best reality television you will ever read, you have to read the entire Book Of Esther. Honestly it’s probably best for you to go read it before you finish reading this post… (Pages Turning)
Okay… so after reading Esther you remember this famous statement offered by Mordecai when he says “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14) I recently shared this story in my community at Fieldstone and was reminded of how powerful this moment is in Esther’s life directly affects our life if we are willing to realize that we have been called “for such a time as this.”
It’s easy to get this twisted and think that we have to be willing to sacrifice our lives like Esther did, but then again maybe that’s exactly what this passage is about. I mean here’s what I’m thinking… From a Christian perspective we hear and read scripture that says, we can actually be transformed into a “new creation”, but we have to be willing to let go of the old way of doing life and take on the Way (read Jesus) and live a life of unconditional love and service. (2nd Corinthians 5:17)
Now take a breath and think about that for a second. What I’m getting at is a real acknowledgement of another way of living and responding to life. Regardless of our approach to faith we can all acknowledge that we find ourselves in daily living that calls on us to make real time decisions that actually affect others and have serious implications.
You and I were made for such a time as this. Right now, you have the opportunity to directly bring help, hope, love and peace into someone’s reality. Right now, you have the opportunity to step into someone’s hurt and brokenness and bring healing and wholeness. Right now you have the opportunity to bring light into darkness.
Oh, I know what you’re thinking. What is he talking about? Those words don’t seem to truly speak to my situation or into my specific relationship. Well, here we go…
Do no harm. Think about the people in your life that harm like family, friends, co-workers etc. Do Good. What are some real ways that you can do good with those people? What are some ways you can do good for creation? What are ways you can do good for your neighbor? (Based on John Wesley’s General Rules)
We were made for such a time as this. With the amount of bad happening in our community don’t you think we can actually start doing some good? Don’t you think we were made for such a time as this?
Speak On THAT!
Okay… so after reading Esther you remember this famous statement offered by Mordecai when he says “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14) I recently shared this story in my community at Fieldstone and was reminded of how powerful this moment is in Esther’s life directly affects our life if we are willing to realize that we have been called “for such a time as this.”
It’s easy to get this twisted and think that we have to be willing to sacrifice our lives like Esther did, but then again maybe that’s exactly what this passage is about. I mean here’s what I’m thinking… From a Christian perspective we hear and read scripture that says, we can actually be transformed into a “new creation”, but we have to be willing to let go of the old way of doing life and take on the Way (read Jesus) and live a life of unconditional love and service. (2nd Corinthians 5:17)
Now take a breath and think about that for a second. What I’m getting at is a real acknowledgement of another way of living and responding to life. Regardless of our approach to faith we can all acknowledge that we find ourselves in daily living that calls on us to make real time decisions that actually affect others and have serious implications.
You and I were made for such a time as this. Right now, you have the opportunity to directly bring help, hope, love and peace into someone’s reality. Right now, you have the opportunity to step into someone’s hurt and brokenness and bring healing and wholeness. Right now you have the opportunity to bring light into darkness.
Oh, I know what you’re thinking. What is he talking about? Those words don’t seem to truly speak to my situation or into my specific relationship. Well, here we go…
Do no harm. Think about the people in your life that harm like family, friends, co-workers etc. Do Good. What are some real ways that you can do good with those people? What are some ways you can do good for creation? What are ways you can do good for your neighbor? (Based on John Wesley’s General Rules)
We were made for such a time as this. With the amount of bad happening in our community don’t you think we can actually start doing some good? Don’t you think we were made for such a time as this?
Speak On THAT!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Thoughts...
Here’s the reality… We live in a politically correct climate that trend itself toward polarizing conversations and bureaucratic nightmares. For people of faith in the midst of this climate it seems we often find ourselves at a crossroads. If I go Left it means this or if I go Right it must mean this.
We make our mark in the sand with blue and red while pledging allegiance and loyalty to party. Look at every major issue that people discuss and ask yourself this question, “Which party defines you?” That answer writes itself into the fabric of our daily living. And as we live, people are reading what we are writing, that’s for sure. And they are wondering how or even if following Jesus really even matters.
What if instead of going Right or Left we went into the middle or maybe even a third way? What if we found the “via media” or middle way as John Wesley called it and in finding that middle way, actually found a “razor sharp, cut-glass” imagery and understanding of Jesus Christ? (Jesus Manifesto)
I believe that if we found that third way we would be given new eyes for seeing, a deeper understanding, and transformational information regarding the answers that are writing themselves into the fabric of our lives. I’m pressing myself and hopefully those reading, to dig deeper into the pursuit of following Jesus with total allegiance, sold out for the author of my life. Dude, this is what’s up!
“You and I are meant to be living epistles—that is, “Jesus Manifestos” – in our world. Cities set on a hill. Salt and light” (Jesus Manifesto) What are we writing?
The community of faith we share in at Fieldstone has a responsibility to teach others about Jesus. We need to learn more about what Jesus thought, how Jesus loved and how might change what the world is reading. Oh man! I don’t want to miss the opportunity to help someone see Jesus. This is the most important thing. Why would we keep the blessing a secret?
The world is hurting friends. Our friends and family and the people we see from day to day are hurting. Why won’t we help them see? What else do we need to do to make sure another student doesn’t walk into another school with loaded ammunition? How many more people are going to come to our door looking for enough food for the rest of the week? How many people are going to miss helping this year through SPY (Summer Project Youth)? The list goes on and on…
So let’s help others see Jesus and let’s follow the Way of Jesus knowing that in doing just that, others will be loved and we will help Heaven come down here.
Speak On It!
We make our mark in the sand with blue and red while pledging allegiance and loyalty to party. Look at every major issue that people discuss and ask yourself this question, “Which party defines you?” That answer writes itself into the fabric of our daily living. And as we live, people are reading what we are writing, that’s for sure. And they are wondering how or even if following Jesus really even matters.
What if instead of going Right or Left we went into the middle or maybe even a third way? What if we found the “via media” or middle way as John Wesley called it and in finding that middle way, actually found a “razor sharp, cut-glass” imagery and understanding of Jesus Christ? (Jesus Manifesto)
I believe that if we found that third way we would be given new eyes for seeing, a deeper understanding, and transformational information regarding the answers that are writing themselves into the fabric of our lives. I’m pressing myself and hopefully those reading, to dig deeper into the pursuit of following Jesus with total allegiance, sold out for the author of my life. Dude, this is what’s up!
“You and I are meant to be living epistles—that is, “Jesus Manifestos” – in our world. Cities set on a hill. Salt and light” (Jesus Manifesto) What are we writing?
The community of faith we share in at Fieldstone has a responsibility to teach others about Jesus. We need to learn more about what Jesus thought, how Jesus loved and how might change what the world is reading. Oh man! I don’t want to miss the opportunity to help someone see Jesus. This is the most important thing. Why would we keep the blessing a secret?
The world is hurting friends. Our friends and family and the people we see from day to day are hurting. Why won’t we help them see? What else do we need to do to make sure another student doesn’t walk into another school with loaded ammunition? How many more people are going to come to our door looking for enough food for the rest of the week? How many people are going to miss helping this year through SPY (Summer Project Youth)? The list goes on and on…
So let’s help others see Jesus and let’s follow the Way of Jesus knowing that in doing just that, others will be loved and we will help Heaven come down here.
Speak On It!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
A Mess Of Jesus
“Lord, we acknowledge that we have made a mess of what Jesus started. We affirm that we are wrong and Jesus is right. We choose not to defend what we have done and what we have become. We understand that many good Christians will not want to participate in our quest, and we will welcome their charitable critique. We acknowledge that we have created many Christianities up to this point, and they call fro reassessment and, in many cases, repentance. We choose to seek a better path into the future that the one we have been on. We desire to be born again as disciples of Jesus Christ. Now grant us wisdom and guide us in our quest, and created something new and beautiful in and among us for the good of all creation and to your glory, Living God” (A New Kind Of Christianity, McLaren, 25).
There are times when we truly do make a mess of what Jesus started. Sometimes we water it down just enough to kinda follow Jesus don’t we? Sometimes we open the playground of the mind wide open and allow other gods to come in and effectively take ownership. Sometimes we put our own agenda on Jesus so that he looks a little more like us and in those moments of messing with the real Jesus that we begin to move farther away from what Jesus has truly called us to do and who Jesus has called us to be. At least that’s what I think.
I was recently reading The Christ Of The Indian Road, by E. Stanley Jones and he talks about the travels to America around 1620, on the Mayflower and the “good ship ‘Jesus’ was in the slave trade” (The Christ Of The Indian Road, Jones, 16). Jones goes on to talk about a mess of Christianity build on prejudice. A mess of what Jesus started.
When I first came to Fieldstone people talked and shared their hopes and understanding of a place where we could really follow Jesus. The time is upon us friends to distinguish between modern/western Christianity and focus only on the person and work of Jesus the Christ. My personal prayer is that we all focus more on the Christ. May we come to a deeper understanding of Jesus and his teaching. And may we actually be a community of faith that cleans up the mess so others might see Jesus.
Speak on It...
There are times when we truly do make a mess of what Jesus started. Sometimes we water it down just enough to kinda follow Jesus don’t we? Sometimes we open the playground of the mind wide open and allow other gods to come in and effectively take ownership. Sometimes we put our own agenda on Jesus so that he looks a little more like us and in those moments of messing with the real Jesus that we begin to move farther away from what Jesus has truly called us to do and who Jesus has called us to be. At least that’s what I think.
I was recently reading The Christ Of The Indian Road, by E. Stanley Jones and he talks about the travels to America around 1620, on the Mayflower and the “good ship ‘Jesus’ was in the slave trade” (The Christ Of The Indian Road, Jones, 16). Jones goes on to talk about a mess of Christianity build on prejudice. A mess of what Jesus started.
When I first came to Fieldstone people talked and shared their hopes and understanding of a place where we could really follow Jesus. The time is upon us friends to distinguish between modern/western Christianity and focus only on the person and work of Jesus the Christ. My personal prayer is that we all focus more on the Christ. May we come to a deeper understanding of Jesus and his teaching. And may we actually be a community of faith that cleans up the mess so others might see Jesus.
Speak on It...
Friday, December 18, 2009
My Best...
So as I was trying to find some boots for this snow to come I was listening to Mercy Me’s Christmas album, which happens to be one of my favorites ever! They have some really cool arrangements of some classic songs like Silent Night, Angels We Have Heard on High and the most classic O Holy Night. But the one song that I really dig is The Little Drummer Boy.
It’s basically like you remember with all the pa rum pum pum pum’s, and what not, but then it goes into this killer bridge that gives the song a whole new life and causes me to rethink how I’m living my life before Jesus.
“Shall I play for you? Shall I play for you? Mary looked at me and nodded the ox and lamb kept time, oh I played my drum for him, I played my best for Christ… I played my best for Christ.”
Have I played my best for Christ? That’s when it hit me.
Have I done my best to serve Christ? Have a done my best to love others the same way God loves me? Have I done my best serving the people of Fieldstone? Have I done best offering everything I have to God?
As we journey closer to the manger this year, as we come bringing gifts, I pray that we all “play our best for Christ.”
Much Love & Christmas Peace,
Speak On That!
It’s basically like you remember with all the pa rum pum pum pum’s, and what not, but then it goes into this killer bridge that gives the song a whole new life and causes me to rethink how I’m living my life before Jesus.
“Shall I play for you? Shall I play for you? Mary looked at me and nodded the ox and lamb kept time, oh I played my drum for him, I played my best for Christ… I played my best for Christ.”
Have I played my best for Christ? That’s when it hit me.
Have I done my best to serve Christ? Have a done my best to love others the same way God loves me? Have I done my best serving the people of Fieldstone? Have I done best offering everything I have to God?
As we journey closer to the manger this year, as we come bringing gifts, I pray that we all “play our best for Christ.”
Much Love & Christmas Peace,
Speak On That!
Friday, December 11, 2009
TEll IT....
A couple of weeks ago we started throwing out this idea that God Is Not Done and God is still actually working in the hearts and minds of people all around. I have already seen in the past couple of weeks that God is still raising the dead.
As we journey closer to the manger, I can’t help but be drawn to new life. Now, I know that I’m grown up, have more grey hair than most and probably a little cantankerous/difficult at times. And yet, even for me, I have the opportunity to enter into something very new as I consider the ways God is moving.
I guess what I mean to say is that God can still do something within me but I have to be willing.
Are you willing?
I believe an emphasis of Christmas falls on the spirit of willingness to receive the gift offered in and through Jesus Christ. Are you willing to receive freedom? Are you willing to forgive? Are you willing to grow up and take responsibility? Are you willing to love even in those moments that hurt you the most? Are you willing to listen? Are you willing to risk your reputation for following God? Ask Mary and Joseph. They did.
This year God is looking to give a gift of life. Are we ready? Are we willing to say yes?
What if we did? What if we actually bought into the spirit and willingness of Christmas? What if we actually loved harder than anyone else?
Speak on That!
As we journey closer to the manger, I can’t help but be drawn to new life. Now, I know that I’m grown up, have more grey hair than most and probably a little cantankerous/difficult at times. And yet, even for me, I have the opportunity to enter into something very new as I consider the ways God is moving.
I guess what I mean to say is that God can still do something within me but I have to be willing.
Are you willing?
I believe an emphasis of Christmas falls on the spirit of willingness to receive the gift offered in and through Jesus Christ. Are you willing to receive freedom? Are you willing to forgive? Are you willing to grow up and take responsibility? Are you willing to love even in those moments that hurt you the most? Are you willing to listen? Are you willing to risk your reputation for following God? Ask Mary and Joseph. They did.
This year God is looking to give a gift of life. Are we ready? Are we willing to say yes?
What if we did? What if we actually bought into the spirit and willingness of Christmas? What if we actually loved harder than anyone else?
Speak on That!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Magic?
So basically our nighttime routine is like this. After teeth are brushed, flushed the toilet for the last time, Lori and I read a couple of books, take some time to pray and then one of us will lay with him for a couple of minutes.
Most of the time he wants Lori to read to him and then me to lay with him and during that time I hear all kinds of things from Kindergarten Drama, the next level of LEGO Star Wars all covered with various noises that little boys make in the midst of conversation.
Last night though, things were a little different. Jackson just blurted out, “Believe is a Christmas word dad!” He kept on going by saying, “we need to believe in the magic of Santa!”
In my mind I wanted to say something like, “Well, Jackson you know that the reason for the season is Jesus and blah, blah, blah.” But I didn’t. I listened. He asked me if I believed in the magic? Because if you don’t believe in the magic then you don’t believe in Santa. That’s when I had that Polar Express moment.
Jackson believes right now in something bigger than himself. He believes in something that is magical, something that changes circumstances, brings joy and laughter, filled with hope and expectation. Right now he believes.
Do we?
I’m not suggesting we believe in magic. Hello! But I am suggesting that we believe in something bigger that brings joy and hope, filled with expectation. Do we still believe? Are we right now, all grown up, paying bills and dealing with adult things that we don’t have time to believe in the greatest story still being told?
As we continue through the season of Advent, moving toward the manger I’m asking you to believe again. I’m asking you to believe in the power of prayer. I’m asking you to believe in the reality of forgiveness and peace. I’m asking you to believe in the power of community and the power of a servant king born on the outskirts of town in the middle of controversy.
Do you still believe?
Speak On That!
Most of the time he wants Lori to read to him and then me to lay with him and during that time I hear all kinds of things from Kindergarten Drama, the next level of LEGO Star Wars all covered with various noises that little boys make in the midst of conversation.
Last night though, things were a little different. Jackson just blurted out, “Believe is a Christmas word dad!” He kept on going by saying, “we need to believe in the magic of Santa!”
In my mind I wanted to say something like, “Well, Jackson you know that the reason for the season is Jesus and blah, blah, blah.” But I didn’t. I listened. He asked me if I believed in the magic? Because if you don’t believe in the magic then you don’t believe in Santa. That’s when I had that Polar Express moment.
Jackson believes right now in something bigger than himself. He believes in something that is magical, something that changes circumstances, brings joy and laughter, filled with hope and expectation. Right now he believes.
Do we?
I’m not suggesting we believe in magic. Hello! But I am suggesting that we believe in something bigger that brings joy and hope, filled with expectation. Do we still believe? Are we right now, all grown up, paying bills and dealing with adult things that we don’t have time to believe in the greatest story still being told?
As we continue through the season of Advent, moving toward the manger I’m asking you to believe again. I’m asking you to believe in the power of prayer. I’m asking you to believe in the reality of forgiveness and peace. I’m asking you to believe in the power of community and the power of a servant king born on the outskirts of town in the middle of controversy.
Do you still believe?
Speak On That!
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