I was trying to turn in right to the gas station but some other car was trying to turn left out of the gas station. Can you picture it? He was pulled so far left in the entrance, that it was nearly impossible for me to complete my turn. Immediately, I thought, this guy's a moron...what's wrong with him?? As I was completing my turn, mere inches away from his car, he remained completely oblivious to what was going on around him. So I was going very slowly, partially because I didn't want to hit anything, but mostly because I really wanted to glare at him. As I was looking at him through scrunched up, angry eyes, I noticed that he was wearing a uniform. There was a patch on the arm of his uniform that read "Driving Instructor." My scrunched up eyes went from narrow and menacing to big and round and they rolled back in my head. Not only was this guy a moron...he was a moron who should jhave known better.
I continued with my chore of pumping gas when the convictions (notice it's plural) hit. Ugh. The obvious is that I have no idea what this guy is going through and he doesn't deserve my judgement. The second obvious thing is that there are many things in this world that deserve our anger, but this is not one of them -- don't sweat it. The third, and maybe not so obvious is this: how many times in my life have I been this guy? So many times, I wear my patch of Christianity on my sleeve and am oblivious to the world around me. How many people have I unknowingly hurt or wronged, or made stumble?
If it was you, I'm sorry.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Common problems...
Sometimes I wonder how many people in the church are actually working towards expanding God's kingdom. This probably isn't a healthy or worthwhile topic to dwell upon, but I was drawn to it when a woman in my bible study group mentioned that she had no friends outside of the church. She was feeling somewhat guilty about that. When it came time for prayer concerns, hers was that their second home would sell. Apparently, the neighbors were "undesirable" and that might affect the price point of her house. In case you wanted to know, her version of "undesirable" meant that the couple didn't go to church and they had a gay son. Hmmm.....
Recently, I've been reading through the Sermon on the Mount with my discipleship partner. There is so much to absorb in this gospel...
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.Matthew 5:43-48"
Agape love. Unconditional. All the time. No strings. How am I supposed to be as perfect as God at loving people? **gulp**
PastorJ told me that the word Jesus used for "perfect" in this passage is the word telios. It doesn't mean perfection of character. It doesn't mean that we are sinless. Let's face it...there is only man who ever walked this earth that had perfect character and was sinless. What it does mean is that we are to be fit and mature for this task or purpose.
I wrestle with this a lot. Most of the time I don't feel fit or mature enough to love someone as much as Jesus does. I see faults. I get offended. I make judgements. Sometimes I feel cheated because I sit back and watch how the world rewards those who don't practice agape love. Then I wallow around a while in a pit of dispair because of my stinkin' thinkin'. I can be so foolish.
I think it's easier to practice agape love on the general public. To commit random acts of kindness; leave a flower on someones doorstep, pay for the guys coffee in the drive-through line behind you, actually talk to the waitress...let the lady with the crying baby go ahead of you in the grocery line. We are all fit for this kind of agape love.
But how do we practice agape love with friends and family -- the people we work with and live with? It hurts to watch someone I love struggle because they lack salvation. It can hurt equally when their actions or words offend me, whether intentionally or not. I imagine that this is where maturity factors into loving others perfectly. Being Jesus on two feet isn't something that comes naturally. It takes the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
So my friends, I endeavor on to become more mature in Christ -- to let God continue to transform my character, so that someday, I might be able to love everyone perfectly...including the woman in my bible study group and her neighbors.
Recently, I've been reading through the Sermon on the Mount with my discipleship partner. There is so much to absorb in this gospel...
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.Matthew 5:43-48"
Agape love. Unconditional. All the time. No strings. How am I supposed to be as perfect as God at loving people? **gulp**
PastorJ told me that the word Jesus used for "perfect" in this passage is the word telios. It doesn't mean perfection of character. It doesn't mean that we are sinless. Let's face it...there is only man who ever walked this earth that had perfect character and was sinless. What it does mean is that we are to be fit and mature for this task or purpose.
I wrestle with this a lot. Most of the time I don't feel fit or mature enough to love someone as much as Jesus does. I see faults. I get offended. I make judgements. Sometimes I feel cheated because I sit back and watch how the world rewards those who don't practice agape love. Then I wallow around a while in a pit of dispair because of my stinkin' thinkin'. I can be so foolish.
I think it's easier to practice agape love on the general public. To commit random acts of kindness; leave a flower on someones doorstep, pay for the guys coffee in the drive-through line behind you, actually talk to the waitress...let the lady with the crying baby go ahead of you in the grocery line. We are all fit for this kind of agape love.
But how do we practice agape love with friends and family -- the people we work with and live with? It hurts to watch someone I love struggle because they lack salvation. It can hurt equally when their actions or words offend me, whether intentionally or not. I imagine that this is where maturity factors into loving others perfectly. Being Jesus on two feet isn't something that comes naturally. It takes the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
So my friends, I endeavor on to become more mature in Christ -- to let God continue to transform my character, so that someday, I might be able to love everyone perfectly...including the woman in my bible study group and her neighbors.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Springtime Good-Byes
Hello my peeps. Sorry it has been such a long time, but I've been overwhelmed with the comings and goings of life.
I generally love the things that you get to say good-bye to when spring comes: winter coats, socks, scraping ice off of the car, etc. It's so easy to say adios gray skies, hello sunshine! This spring, however, has brought many different good-byes.
First, we said good-bye to S-in-law's dad. He had been battling cancer for such a long time. I'm sure he was exhausted. While his death may have been a physical blessing, I'm not sure it was a spiritual one. There were many prayers said for him, and Ben and his friend Ed reached out to share God's promises with Bill, but I don't know if he ever accepted Jesus as his personal saviour.
I also said good-bye to my volunteer position at church. For three years I've produced the contemporary worship services at my church. Xalt started as an overflow service for the Easter crowds. It was just me, the pastor and a few band members. Today Xalt has grown into three separate services that make-up 1/3 of the worshipping body of the church. Every Sunday required many hours of planning (from choosing and editing videos to overseeing song selections to making sure the slide techs ran spell check), overseeing around 45 volunteers, and providing the pastoral staff with post-service color commentary. It was a wild ride where I learned a heck of a lot about myself and made fantastic friends. It was also tiring. While I don't regret that this part of my walk is over, I am a little apprehensive about the future. I can't remember the last time that I went to a Sunday Morning service where I wasn't involved in some way. It's going to be weird next Sunday morning.
Finally, I'm saying good-bye to my solitude...at least temporarily. I have a friend who is going through some horrible things because he made some really bad decisions all because he doesn't know God. Consequently, he's going to be staying at my house for a couple of weeks until he gets his wits about him. If you think about it, say a prayer for him -- Ryan. And say a prayer for me too...we all know I have about three days of being nice in close proximity until I erupt with everything tough-love Chuck ever taught me.
AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
I generally love the things that you get to say good-bye to when spring comes: winter coats, socks, scraping ice off of the car, etc. It's so easy to say adios gray skies, hello sunshine! This spring, however, has brought many different good-byes.
First, we said good-bye to S-in-law's dad. He had been battling cancer for such a long time. I'm sure he was exhausted. While his death may have been a physical blessing, I'm not sure it was a spiritual one. There were many prayers said for him, and Ben and his friend Ed reached out to share God's promises with Bill, but I don't know if he ever accepted Jesus as his personal saviour.
I also said good-bye to my volunteer position at church. For three years I've produced the contemporary worship services at my church. Xalt started as an overflow service for the Easter crowds. It was just me, the pastor and a few band members. Today Xalt has grown into three separate services that make-up 1/3 of the worshipping body of the church. Every Sunday required many hours of planning (from choosing and editing videos to overseeing song selections to making sure the slide techs ran spell check), overseeing around 45 volunteers, and providing the pastoral staff with post-service color commentary. It was a wild ride where I learned a heck of a lot about myself and made fantastic friends. It was also tiring. While I don't regret that this part of my walk is over, I am a little apprehensive about the future. I can't remember the last time that I went to a Sunday Morning service where I wasn't involved in some way. It's going to be weird next Sunday morning.
Finally, I'm saying good-bye to my solitude...at least temporarily. I have a friend who is going through some horrible things because he made some really bad decisions all because he doesn't know God. Consequently, he's going to be staying at my house for a couple of weeks until he gets his wits about him. If you think about it, say a prayer for him -- Ryan. And say a prayer for me too...we all know I have about three days of being nice in close proximity until I erupt with everything tough-love Chuck ever taught me.
AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Oops.
Yes, oops could apply to the mishap that happened last night against that team down south. However, I am directing this oops to the publishers of the yellow pages.
Because we get the majority of our work from bids, we don't rely on advertising in the yellow pages anymore to attract business. We keep our number listed there, just in case. Generally, we are listed under "sewer contractors." The most recent publication has us listed under "sewing contractors." Needless to say, we are attracting the wrong kind of business.
I guess maybe it's not such a good thing to let your fingers do the walking.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Things I had to hear on my trip to Hershey this week-end...
"I can't eat lettuce anymore...I've worn down my teeth in the back."
Gma J.
"If I knew we were coming this far just to see a show, I wouldn't have come."
CEW
"I have to go to the bathroom...and it's not to pee."
Gma J.
Q. What are you most scared of?
A. snowflakes
A. long naps
A. snicker bars
A. Six-year-old little girls
CEW...and the rest of us gave answers
"Go Bucks!"
CRB
Gma J.
"If I knew we were coming this far just to see a show, I wouldn't have come."
CEW
"I have to go to the bathroom...and it's not to pee."
Gma J.
Q. What are you most scared of?
A. snowflakes
A. long naps
A. snicker bars
A. Six-year-old little girls
CEW...and the rest of us gave answers
"Go Bucks!"
CRB
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