I Don't Like Turkey

You know every year I stuff myself with turkey. Drown it in gravy. Carefully place a portion on my fork with just the right accompaniment of dressing and cranberry sauce. Scarf it down and go for more. I've done this every year for quite a long time. Except for this year. I've come to realize I'm forcing myself to eat it and truth be told I really don't like turkey. This is another addition of a growing list of things I consume that in truth I do not like. Turkey goes on the list with coffee and modern jazz. All things I have consumed in mass quantities for several years. I think I like the idea of those things just not the things themselves. I think this list is being developed the older I get. Because the older I get the more I'm sluffing off all of the things that are not authentically me. I am on a quest for authenticity. A me that really can't stand turkey, or bitter coffee, or self pity, or cowardice. But what's funny I'm beginning to think this authentic me is the me God intended for me to be instead of the one society or my on insecurities have made me out to be. But what I'm really trippin' off of is discovering that there are things about myself that I have just done out of habit more than actual preference. For years I've gotten up every morning and fixed coffee I really don't like; eaten turkey I really don't like. What other stuff is in me like that. Sins and behaviors that I just do that are done just because I've gotten into a groove with them. This becoming is no small task. Truthfully it sucks. But my sense is that I'm getting there. I just got to figure out what I'm going to eat for Christmas dinner now.

Bearing Crosses

We are no more like Christ than when we take responsibility for things we didn't mess up. I am so good at seeing messes that other people make. In their lives; in the lives of other people; messes in their homes and on their jobs; interpersonal relationships; family strife. All of those messes!!!!! Its like the proverbial juice stain in the carpeting of their lives. And many times I'm like my little sons. If I see a stain I'll ask, "why didn't you wipe that up?" And they will say, " Cuss' I didn't spill it." And I too will see problems arise and if I didn't contribute to the problem I don't see the need to stoop down and do anything about it besides stating in my infinite wisdom, "Wow what a mess!"

What if God did that? What if he judged us and our messes and stood back and merely said, "Wow, what a mess!" What if God took the stance, "Let the one who made the mess clean up the mess." No, God through Jesus Christ took responsibility for our mess even though He had absolutely positively nothing to do with the mess!!!! Jesus Christ lived a sinless life. He contributed not a drop in the deep pool of human sin. But instead of saying, "Clean that up." Jesus says I'll take responsibility for my beloved's mistakes.

Now the wonder of this truth is this: What if we lived in that manner? What if we became part of the solutions to other peoples messes? I mean intentionally and consistently determine to help, heal,& hold those around us who mess up. Instead of stating the obvious; instead of blaming; instead of accusing; we lovingly stoop down and try to do something to help in the cleansing process. In our homes, on our jobs, in the world.

I'm beginning to believe that is what is meant by bearing our cross.

In the throws of Worship

I had the greatest time while I was gone. I preached a gospel meeting at Center Point church of Christ in Rogersville Missouri, right outside of Springfield and I went to the Zoe Conference in Nashville directly after the meeting. In Rogersville I preached 4 days to a small rural congregation. How small? One of the Elders assured me if people brought their dogs there would be about 60 there. And praise be to God there where more than 60 there and each and every one of them had voices like angels. The singing was wonderful. Mostly older hymns. And the rafters of that church shook with the beautiful sound coming from older men and women, country, rural folk; all giving praise to God. Then I went to Nashville. Huge church! Thousands of people in one place. Being lead by a praise team singing praise songs. And it was wonderful!!! And while both experiences were different they were both right. And it had nothing to do with style or number. It had everything to do with the fact that God was in our midst and He was the focus of our attention and adoration. Young, old, big, small, rural, urban, contemporary, traditional none of those things mean anything in the presence of God. What did Isaiah say when he found himself in the midst of a living God? I am undone. And so are all of our differences.

Greatest Production

I have written plays that have toured around the country. I have had productions performed at the Kennedy Center in D.C. I have directed stars and trained actors that have been on T.V and on the big screen. But the greatest production I have ever been a part of are my sons. They are two of the most beautiful, funniest, coolest kids. As confusing as it is to raise them; their presence in my life makes things make sense. To be hugged by one of them is an honor. To laugh with them is a treat. To listen to the way they see the world is one of the most interesting times you could spend. I think the world is a better place because they are in it. We are truly fortunate to have children in the world. I think its proof that God has hope for His creation.

Turning the sprinklers on

I was walking this morning and passed one of my neighbor's homes with their sprinkler system on. Their yard was beautiful when all around them all of the rest of the homes grass was brown. But there was one other neighbor that had just as nice a yard. It was the neighbor right next to the one with the sprinkler system on. While the next door neighbor didn't have a sprinkler system, their grass was being watered from the run off from of the neighbor's. What a cool picture of the by product of spiritual maturity. If we are feeding ourselves; doing those things we need to do to grow in Christlikeness, others are blessed by the run off. The 23rd Psalm says, "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." Ain't it great when our growth in Christ blesses others with goodness and mercy?

I Want to Be Taken for Granted

I want to be taken for granted. I want to be able to do things without expecting a parade to be held in my name. I want to do things without looking for someone to name a street after me. I want to get to the point where it no longer matters whether I am appreciated or swooned over. I want to be able to love and serve without conditions. I don't know about all of humanity anymore. I've tended to generalize too much as of late. So I wont put this all on humanity and our "fallen-ness". I'll just say for me I tend to do things, love people, serve people out of obligation or for the purpose of getting something in return. With God's help I'd like to change my motives. I want to do things solely because God did so much for me. Everything people ask of me is stuff God has already done for me. Cleaning--God did that for me already. Lifting and lugging stuff around-- God has already lifted and lugged more of my burdens than I care to mention. Encourage-- God is so faithful to provide that up lift in so many different ways. If I am motivated by what God has already done for me through Christ I can do great things for others without looking for a thing in return. Because I would have been doing it out of gratitude for what has already been done instead of doing things for the sake of what I hope I get in the return. I want to be taken for granted.

Col. 2:9,10

In Christ is the fullness of God. In Christ we find fullness. Christ--the source of all wholeness.

It Would Need to Be a Mighty Big Room!

I was thinking about the life of the Trappist monk and author Thomas Merton recently and in one of his books he talks about this point in his life, while on a corner of a busy intersection in a major metropolitan center, where he fell in love with humanity. What?!?!?!? He talks about this moment when he realized he loved every one of the people that passed by him. His heart opened. I know what this heart opening feels like. I experienced it when my children were born. At the time I realized I loved my wife to such a overwhelming degree that I was sure there was no more room in my heart to love someone else. Then my son was born. And all of a sudden a door to another room opened up in my heart that I didn't even know existed. And the same thing happened again with the birth of my youngest son. So I know what that "opening up" feels like. But, for all of humanity?!?! This thought haunts me and now I want to be there. I want to love, truly love, everyone I meet. Despite all of their short comings and my misgivings.

It just struck me...

I'm no Paris Hilton fan, but isn't it interesting that she did more time than Scooter Libby?

Let's Hear it for the Woman Who Has Everything

When did television news become so idiotic? I find myself watching it out of obligation. And I sit there with such a stupid look on my face. The look is a mix of shock and disgust. But in a twisted way: I must watch-I must watch- I must watch. Sharita and I are amazed that they even let the Today Show stay on the air. Now keep in mind we watch it everyday. What I love is that obligatory “news” segment about the woman who has everything. You know the one where they find this poor woman: she’s beautiful, has the clothes, the car, the career, three children, this husband with this look of despair hiding just behind the “curtain of his smile”, she has all of these wonderful aphorisms and saying about success and living life. And the news anchor with words shape by their own desires for completeness says of her: She’s the woman who has everything! Really-- everything? I know one thing she doesn’t have: Rest!!! When does she get to sit down, contemplate the beauty of her children, the contradictions and illusions of success and failure, the craftsmanship of the handmade shoes she’s wearing. Where is her time for God? But what’s worst everybody, men and women alike, watch this and are suffused with this feeling of discontent with their own lives because they don’t have what she has. And the people that watch never see her tears, her anxiety that chokes her, the paranoia that haunts her steps. Let’s hear it for the woman that has everything and the news people that celebrate her.

First Blog. First Thoughts.

Hey! I'm glad you stopped in. I have been looking for a way to share random thoughts as I make it through my day. My job (although it's so much more than a job); this opportunity I have been given to be a minister is wild. As I pray, read scripture, counsel people in need, and plan ways of serving God I find insights that very seldom find there way into sermons or writings but I know are beneficial to me. I say beneficial to me because it’s not like I conceive of these things on my own. A few I do think of or discover (but those thoughts are in the minority). Most of these stray thoughts and ideas come from scripture, people that I talk to, observations from God's creation. And when I find them I'm astounded and gain greatly from them. Wisdom is at our door step. So here is an attempt to share them. If there are questions I'll be sure to try and answer them. If some find offense to some of these thoughts I'll try humbly to learn from others views.


My love to you.