Dear Mom,

Can I get 25 cents a day for home work?  I now all of the math that I’m douing.  I now time plus I can read.  The 2 things that I can’t do is spell and get a job.

Oh, Mom, do you now the Presdents fhone number to ask him to change some things.

1. Kids should have the rite to get a job
2. Let us have goats and chickins.

And then you do not have to pay me for home work.

Tags: children

No, I’m not talking about my favorite kind of summer shoe.

There is much in the Bible about loving and serving others.  Some are dealing with how we are treat everyone, those who are saved and those who are not…

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Others are referring to how believers within the body treat one another…

Luk 22:26 But ye [shall] not [be] so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

John 13:14  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

Most of the time, when we think about loving, serving and using our gifts it is in regards to these two ways. First and foremost, we love on those we meet with regularly for biblical encouragement and edification.  If it is in a broader context, like loving our neighbor, it’s usually within a general concept of simply being polite - Maybe waving to our next door neighbor or chatting with the checkout lady.  If we’re really wanting to take a step, we invite them to church.

But what about the “forgotten” verses, where we are commanded to love those who do not love God and certainly do not love his people?

Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

Luk 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Luk 6:32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
Luk 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and [to] the evil.

I believe this is where true Christianity becomes something real.  Loving, blessing, and doing good to those who don’t deserve it is making God’s grace a living, breathing reality. Because, in all truth, we aren’t deserving of love, blessing or anything good either.  None of us are.

In the example I gave of John 13, where Jesus washed the disciple’s feet, it is interesting to note that he washed all the disciple’s feet.  Including Judas’, the one who betrayed him.  It is a striking example of Jesus’ love for even his enemies, and he says, “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”

Sometimes, those who are unwilling to love in this way pull out the old standby..

Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].

Sounds convincing when it’s taken out of context like that.  The problem comes when one reads the surrounding verses.  The chapter is clearly referring to those who are claiming to be followers of Christ and yet continue on in blatant sin (sexual immorality and impurity, etc).   Paul is instructing the Ephesians to expose and perhaps through discussion prove to them their wrongdoing.

I wonder how big of an impact there would be if we as believers truly took to heart the entire biblical concept of love towards others?  What if we turned upside down the expected, worldly definition of love which simply entails serving those who we agree with, and instead showed just as much care for those who hated us?

What if we were known for doing what Jesus did… Loving the unlovely?

Tags: Christianity, religion, spirituality

Am I confusing apathy with contentment?

Am I willing to do the hard work of learning and growing?

Do I justify laziness with words like “enjoy” or “deserve”?

Do I justify inaction with words like “not my concern” or “I don’t have time”?

Do I justify ignorance with words like “can’t” or “too hard”?

Do I have a list of reasons for remaining in my rut?

If I am convicted of something that makes me uncomfortable, do I avoid it by hiding behind the “losing my peace” excuse until it goes away?

Tags: questions, worldview

People hurt.

That can be taken two ways, and both are true. People experience hurt, and often that translates into them causing hurt.

It’s an inescapable fact that relationships with others will involve wounds, pain, and sorrow.  It’s the nature of a fallen world.  Being that we are sons of Adam, the question isn’t if we’ll experience (or cause) grief, it’s when and at what level.

One option is to become a hermit.  Cut off contact with all potential hurt, distancing yourself physically and emotionally.

The problem with withdrawal is that you also cut off love, intimacy, encouragement and all the other things that friendship brings.  If you can’t serve others, you can’t fully serve God, and you are most certainly serving yourself.

Besides, as you begin gnawing on raw squirrels you won’t have anyone around to tell you you’re thinkin’ crazy or to take a shower already.

It’s also tempting to become jaded.  As the realization sinks in that relationships are messy, it’s easy to build walls around our hearts and lose compassion for others.  The demands can seem too much at times, and a natural coping mechanism is emotional aloofness, or even detachment.

For me, I fight the urge to become even more cynical and sarcastic.

This is especially true when dealing with those seeking help.  I am not foolish enough to assume that all will turn out well and the seeking person will emerge stronger and triumphant.  Sometimes that happens, sure.  And I’m thankful when it does. But when there are deeper needs and issues beyond a “Hey, how do you get stains out of the carpet”, things get a bit more mucky.

The difficult thing is being empathetic while still maintaining an understanding that they alone are responsible for their behavior and victory.  I can offer support, prayer, a listening ear, or even alternate viewpoints they may not considered, but I cannot and will not do what they alone can do.

I have been known to err on the side of speaking truth.  I attempt to do so lovingly, that is certain, but I’m not interested in mincing words or soothing egos.  But even truth spoken bluntly can later be twisted by the listener when it isn’t quite what they wanted to hear.  If the one seeking help isn’t willing to receive, it will probably not go well.

If it sounds like I’ve been there, I have.  It hurts.

In any case, it would be nice if the one asking for help didn’t end up crapping on your face.

But maybe that’s just my cynicism talking again.

In the ninth chapter of John, Jesus spit on the ground, made mud, and applied it to a blind man’s eyes, then told him to wash in a pool. The man was healed.

Why did Jesus use mud?

When reading about Jesus’ miraculous healings, one thing becomes startlingly clear; they were each accomplished quite differently.

In some instances, he simply touched the person. Once, he asked the person to wash in a specific river. Other times, only a word was spoken. Even this wasn’t necessary, as made evident by the occasions he healed while not even in the presence of the person being restored.

I have a suspicion all the varying methods are because of our tendency to create a formula.

It’s reasonable to assume that if people at that time are anything like we are now, when the word spread about the blind man’s healing there ended up being several people making mud with spittle; some to apply to their eyes and various other parts of their body, and others who bottled it to make a buck.

It’s tempting and all too natural to think, oh if I just do it this way, I’ll get that. We want to break things down to a recipe. We demand a system. We think it’s in the technique.

But Jesus didn’t need a formula. He IS the formula.

So, I still don’t know why Jesus used mud. He sure didn’t have to. But that’s not the important part. Perhaps he healed in so many differing ways because he wanted our focus to be on Him alone, and not so much how he healed.

We want the steps to more effective prayer, the keys to a great marriage, the plan for great finances.  We turn Him into a slot machine, pumping our good efforts into him so he’ll spit out the expected blessings.  We come to Him as if he’s a genie, thinking if we just ask the right way, he’ll grant our wishes.

But God doesn’t work that way.

He breaks all the rules, disregards expectations, and completely ignores the box we have for him.  While He certainly blesses and only wants what is best for us, sometimes that comes through persecution, trial, and suffering.  He is faithful to carry us, but we would be wise to not expect that things will happen a certain way.

God is unchanging.  God is good. God is steadfast.

He’s also surprising, creative and transforming.

Tags: Christianity, presuppositions

Do I have a generous heart?

How often do I spend time serving others, especially if it’s in a way that won’t be noticed?

How regularly do I give financially to others?  To my church?  To charities?  Do I even give at all?  If I don’t, am I truly honest about why I don’t?

Am I willing to comfort another even if it means discomfort for me?

Am I willing to offer time, energy, or money towards a need, even if I’m not personally benefiting?

Do I pray just as much for others and their needs as I do for myself?

Do I show interest in others?  Am I willing to reach out?  Do I hide behind excuses like lack of time, not my gift, I’m shy, or I don’t know how?

Tags: questions

Government schools serve the meat that fast food companies won’t use because of “quality considerations”??

You can read the full article here at Why Is Crappy Fast Food Safer Than School Lunches?

Tags: health, meals

I just watched one of those Christian dramas that seem to be quite popular. The general theme is that someone (usually acted out by a female) is lost/taken up/controlled by various sins, they spend most of the short clip getting more entrenched in them and desperate, and then at the tearful ending Christ has victory over everything and saves her.

I love the artistic efforts and there’s something neat about the visual expressions of salvation.

There are, however, a couple problems with the theology.

First of all, most depict Christ as a pleading, powerless bystander. He struggles with the representations of sin, as if Christ and Satan hold equal power. This is completely unbiblical. God is all-powerful and sovereign over ALL, including Satan and his demons. Christ already has victory over darkness and sin, and His sacrifice on the cross means that those who trust in Him already have victory too.

The other aspect that irritates me is what is chosen in the dramas to represent sin and personal struggles.  It is often things like sex and alcohol.  Um, those aren’t sin.

It is just this misrepresentation that perpetuates the idea that sin is all “out there” around us and salvation is mostly a form of behavior modification where we try and try to avoid that “stuff” and choose God instead.

Wrong.  Dead wrong.

There is a Biblical teaching of sin, which is that we are sinful at our very core.  Because of this sin nature, we misuse and abuse things like sex and alcohol and through doing things our own way, end up committing sinful acts like fornication, adultery and drunkenness.

And what about the more “acceptable” sins?  What I mean by “acceptable” are the sins that believers tend to overlook and gloss over, especially in themselves.  Idolatry, pride, gossip, anger, unthankfulness, jealousy, selfishness, legalism, and on and on.

As a side note: If we were to follow the line of thought of most false ideas regarding sin and given the number of overweight people in America, I wonder why they don’t choose to use the word “food”…  Of course, the root problem would be gluttony which may stem from other sins like idolatry and self-worship.

Sugarcoating our own sins, preaching a false gospel of self effort, and then condemning unbelievers for their sin even while they are still lost in it… Insanity.  Pure, destructive, deathly insanity.

As believers, we would do well to recognize and live our lives within the reality that we need a Savior to save us not only from the grip of Satan, but from ourselves.

AND…

Jesus isn’t a weak observer on the sidelines, desiring desperately to be allowed into our lives, begging for us to choose him.  Oh, no.

We are ridiculous, pathetic, useless specks, stubbornly bent on remaining in our evil rebelliousness, and Jesus Christ… HE is our gentle and loving yet mighty and formidable Savior who, for reasons unfathomable, chooses to rescue and redeem His people for His glory.

Get that picture of a simpering weakling out of your head.  Cuz you better believe, He is returning someday with eyes of fire, a voice thundering like waves of the sea and a sword coming from his mouth, riding on a white horse as well as followed by an army on white horses, wearing clothing dipped in blood and KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS tattooed on his thigh.

Tags: Christianity, spirituality

It was the day of my weekly date with one of my children, and on this particularly week it was Spence’s turn.

As we waited in line for our snack, Spence (age 4) entertained me with stories of his latest Lego creation.  I lovingly remarked, “You’re so funny, Spence!”

He smirked his little half smile and said in his darling halting speech, “Chase said… last night… that I am funny.”

“Because you are!” I laughed.

He turned to me, his smile suddenly replaced with a serious expression.  “Carmen… says… I am not so funny.”

—————————————————–

Spence and Carmen are sharing an electric mixer beater covered in muffin batter, taking turns eating from it.

Carmen:  I hate germs.  Ew, I hate germs.

Spence (teasingly):  I looooove Carmen’s germs.  I just love them.

Carmen:  Well, I hate your germs.  They’re always covered in spit.

Tags: children