On Sunday Riverside gained a new pastor. It’s been a long road to walk down. Anyway, since Karen Bransgrove was having a conniption over the lack of workers there were for the nursery I decided to volunteer.
For some reason I try to stay away from working with kids too often. I’m not sure why. But since I haven’t spent a ton of time around children it was a very interesting experience. I found myself wondering, “How much do they really know? How much do they really understand?” It’s kind of weird really. Your standing around all these miniature people and you’re just not really sure how much they’re picking up. Sometimes I’m not sure we give them enough credit. I tend to treat kids like adults. It goes along with my philosophy that if you expect more from people (kids or adults) then that’s what you’ll get. They’ll rise to the challenge. That didn’t prevent them from adding weight to their diapers and throwing fits when they couldn’t have the toy they wanted but I stand by my philosophy.
Plus the idea of “baby talk” sends chills down my spine.
Anyway, there is something magical about kids. I’m not sure what it is. They’re just so different than we are. For example I sat down at one of the miniature tables that they have in each room. It was snack time. There were three other kids sitting at the table. My addition made it a full group. These kids were just sitting there eating their Cheetos and Animal Crackers. Personally, I think that’s a less than desirable combination of snack food but they didn’t seem to mind. It was silent. There weren’t any conversations going. They were just sitting there. Staring at me (they never really stare at each other. Just at us big folks). Normally when I join a group I would have felt the need to introduce myself or start up some small talk but for some reason I didn’t feel the need this time. We were all content to just sit there and stare at each other. They, with their orange resin coated hands and slimy faces and me, dressed up for church and for the most part, relatively presentable. Normally I would have felt out of place but they didn’t seem to mind so neither did I.
After a while the silence was broken by a chorus of voices asking for more snacks...somehow they got done all at the same time. Some of them were polite and some of them were not so polite but all desired the same end. More pass-time-goodies to stuff their faces with. I think they polished off half a bag of Cheetos (which was about the size of one of those little rug rats) and a few smaller bags of Animal Crackers. Much to the chagrin of their mothers, I’m sure we ruined numerous appetites for lunch. I think children are like fish. You have to be careful how much you feed them because they'll keep eating until they pop. One thing I’m not so sure about is where all those snacks went. They just kept on packing it in.
Actually I know where one kid put it.
I changed my first diaper Dec. 12th, 2004. It was kind of anticlimactic really. Actually it was just plain weird. While I was changing this one kids diaper he was just sitting there staring at me. I wanted to make small talk but what do you say in a situation like that. I didn’t feel like the tried and true weather conversation would be appropriate and politics was the farthest thing from my mind. So we sat there in silence. He, content in blankly staring at his diaper changer and I doing everything I could to keep my breakfast down. Actually it wasn’t quiet. Half way through the ordeal his twin sister came up and peeked over the railing and started cheering me on. Apparently it was a very exciting moment for her.
Honestly I could’ve used the encouragement. Perhaps the whole thing would have been a lot worse had I not had a poop cheerleader spurring me on.
I think the highlight of my day consisted of being climbed over by 3 to 5 2 year olds who don’t know me from Adam while one small pretty little girl laid in my lap and after a while looked up at me and said, "I love you."
Yeah, it was a good day.
I think my finger still smells like poop though.
Merry Christmas.
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Monday, December 06, 2004
The Black and White Issue
"There is a startling number of people out there who are color blind." I remember thinking this as I conversed with a color blind women here at work which in turn triggered in my memory the numerous accounts upon which I discovered that someone's color perception could be summarized by the letters B&W. As an artist I think that this is a tragedy beyond words. I may make a documentary on the subject. It'll be in black and white of course.
And then I'm thinking to myself...If we're so concerned about not offending people this Christmas...I mean Holiday season why are we putting up all these colorful Christmas decorations. Isn't that kind of like slapping our color challenged citizens in the face? If I could I'd make everyone take down those pretty red bows and those brilliant Christmas decorations and put up black and white versions instead. That way all our B&W buddies will be able to rest at night knowing that they aren't missing anything and we'll be be able to sleep knowing we're not offending anyone....brilliant!
More on black & white later.
And then I'm thinking to myself...If we're so concerned about not offending people this Christmas...I mean Holiday season why are we putting up all these colorful Christmas decorations. Isn't that kind of like slapping our color challenged citizens in the face? If I could I'd make everyone take down those pretty red bows and those brilliant Christmas decorations and put up black and white versions instead. That way all our B&W buddies will be able to rest at night knowing that they aren't missing anything and we'll be be able to sleep knowing we're not offending anyone....brilliant!
More on black & white later.
It's been awhile....again.
Yes I know. It's been a while since I've posted...again. It's not that I don't have thoughts running through my head. It's just that the road that took my thoughts to this blog was under construction. And so I took an alternate route and wrote down my thoughts in my notebook. Maybe some of those thoughts will eventually make it to these digital pages.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
11.11.04
I just realized that it’s been a long while since I’ve posted.
So sorry.
Some times I wonder if anyone is reading this thing. If you are you are a very silent crowd. Maybe you’re just good at listening. Anyway, in regards to that actually I was responding to a couple of comments that made me realize I hadn’t posted for a while.
Well I’m still reading Company of the Committed. The book is the size of a Cliff’s Notes booklet but I’m a pretty sporadic reader.
A couple more quotes:
“The radical difference between the Church and most human organizations is so important that unless it is truly understood our chance for renewal of vitality is slight indeed. Though it is sad that people fail to respond to public worship wit the enthusiasm and devotion which they evince at basketball games, the greater sadness lies in the fact that supposed Church members do not even understand the difference between the two kinds of relationship.”
“The crucial question today is not whether we must have a fellowship, for on that point we are reasonably clear; the crucial question concerns the character of the fellowship. The more we think about it the more we realize that it must be a fellowship of the committed. This is because mere belief is never enough.”
So sorry.
Some times I wonder if anyone is reading this thing. If you are you are a very silent crowd. Maybe you’re just good at listening. Anyway, in regards to that actually I was responding to a couple of comments that made me realize I hadn’t posted for a while.
Well I’m still reading Company of the Committed. The book is the size of a Cliff’s Notes booklet but I’m a pretty sporadic reader.
A couple more quotes:
“The radical difference between the Church and most human organizations is so important that unless it is truly understood our chance for renewal of vitality is slight indeed. Though it is sad that people fail to respond to public worship wit the enthusiasm and devotion which they evince at basketball games, the greater sadness lies in the fact that supposed Church members do not even understand the difference between the two kinds of relationship.”
“The crucial question today is not whether we must have a fellowship, for on that point we are reasonably clear; the crucial question concerns the character of the fellowship. The more we think about it the more we realize that it must be a fellowship of the committed. This is because mere belief is never enough.”
Monday, October 25, 2004
The Committed
I just finished "Present Future". Great book. As I have stated in previous posts it's giving what I've been struggling with for a while a voice. I was talking to Brett a month or so agop and as we talked we both felt like I was going through now what he had been through a while ago as far as our views of the church.
Well I picked up a book that was given to me from my old boss at my graduation 2 years ago and based on the highlighted sections I only made it through the first part of the book. This book is amazing. I forgot that I was wrestling with questions I had about the church at least 2 years ago and I think it has been longer than that. I don't know how I forgot about that struggle. It's weird. It's almost like a section of my spiritual life was snipped from memory for a while and now I've found it again. That probably sounds strange but there it is.
Anyway this book is amazing, not solely for it's content, but for the fact that it was published in 1961. I can't believe that people were beginning to struggle with the idea of the ineffective church model/mentaility that early on. And I'm sure the book is simply a product of what the author was struggling with for a good time before he wrote the book.
The auther is Elton Trueblood by the way and the book is entitled "The Company of the Committed".
Here are a few quotes from the book that stood out to me:
"Whether our religion is segregated from common life by being limited geographically (i.e. to a religious building ), or temporally (by undue emphasis on one hour a week, which is usually on Sunday morning), or limited in personnel (by assumption tht religion is the responsibility of a special professional class called clergy), the damaging effect is the same....The major danger of our contemporary religion, then, is that it makes small what ought to be large. By segregating religion in place or time or personnel, we make religion relatively trivial, concerned with only a part of experience when it ought to be concerned with the whole of life.”
“It is hard to exaggerate the degree to which the modern Church seems irrelevant to modern man. The Church is looked upon as something to be neither seriously fought nor seriously defended. A church building is welcomed, partly because it provides such a nice place for a family wedding; and, after all, most families expect weddings, sooner or later. A church is also a good place to send the children on Sunday morning—they might learn something helpful, and certainly the experience of being sent will do them no harm. The point is that such conceptions are wholly consistent with the idea that the Church has only marginal relevance. We do not expect, for the most part , to find the gospel centered in a burning conviction which will make men and women change occupations, go to the end of the earth, alter the practices of governments, redirect culture, and remake civilization.”
Well I picked up a book that was given to me from my old boss at my graduation 2 years ago and based on the highlighted sections I only made it through the first part of the book. This book is amazing. I forgot that I was wrestling with questions I had about the church at least 2 years ago and I think it has been longer than that. I don't know how I forgot about that struggle. It's weird. It's almost like a section of my spiritual life was snipped from memory for a while and now I've found it again. That probably sounds strange but there it is.
Anyway this book is amazing, not solely for it's content, but for the fact that it was published in 1961. I can't believe that people were beginning to struggle with the idea of the ineffective church model/mentaility that early on. And I'm sure the book is simply a product of what the author was struggling with for a good time before he wrote the book.
The auther is Elton Trueblood by the way and the book is entitled "The Company of the Committed".
Here are a few quotes from the book that stood out to me:
"Whether our religion is segregated from common life by being limited geographically (i.e. to a religious building ), or temporally (by undue emphasis on one hour a week, which is usually on Sunday morning), or limited in personnel (by assumption tht religion is the responsibility of a special professional class called clergy), the damaging effect is the same....The major danger of our contemporary religion, then, is that it makes small what ought to be large. By segregating religion in place or time or personnel, we make religion relatively trivial, concerned with only a part of experience when it ought to be concerned with the whole of life.”
“It is hard to exaggerate the degree to which the modern Church seems irrelevant to modern man. The Church is looked upon as something to be neither seriously fought nor seriously defended. A church building is welcomed, partly because it provides such a nice place for a family wedding; and, after all, most families expect weddings, sooner or later. A church is also a good place to send the children on Sunday morning—they might learn something helpful, and certainly the experience of being sent will do them no harm. The point is that such conceptions are wholly consistent with the idea that the Church has only marginal relevance. We do not expect, for the most part , to find the gospel centered in a burning conviction which will make men and women change occupations, go to the end of the earth, alter the practices of governments, redirect culture, and remake civilization.”
Friday, October 15, 2004
The Website
I'm finally done with it. It took forever but it's finally done...almost. I'm not sure all the art in there is final but this stuff will continually change. Check it out.
www.redpaint.nu
www.redpaint.nu
Friday, October 08, 2004
Complications
We live in a very complicated world. This is what I was thinking as I sat with a couple of friends in a coffee house downtown talking about politics, religion and everything in between. And there is a lot that falls in between those two...actually I think the gap is shrinking.
I think the answer to a complicated world is a simple faith. At least a faith that is built upon simple foundations.
I guess my question is why do we insist on making our faith so complicated? Is it a security blanket? Do we believe that this is the oppropriate response to a complicated world?
This can be seen in the rise of seminaries and spiritual training institutions across the country. Theology defense centers is what they really are. There isn't anything wrong with these places but I wonder if it's just another piece of evidence that argues the fact that we feel like we need to be prepared for the onslaught of complication this world is bound to bombard us with.
Our walk with God is intended to be simple. Deceptively so.
I think the answer to a complicated world is a simple faith. At least a faith that is built upon simple foundations.
I guess my question is why do we insist on making our faith so complicated? Is it a security blanket? Do we believe that this is the oppropriate response to a complicated world?
This can be seen in the rise of seminaries and spiritual training institutions across the country. Theology defense centers is what they really are. There isn't anything wrong with these places but I wonder if it's just another piece of evidence that argues the fact that we feel like we need to be prepared for the onslaught of complication this world is bound to bombard us with.
Our walk with God is intended to be simple. Deceptively so.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Thank You
Seeing how boxes of bathroom supplies are not standard items thought of when thinking of gifts of encouragement I can only assume that whoever dropped off the box of shampoo and such is a reader of this blog. Now I see myself as a fairly intelligent guy and so I think I can make some educated guesses as to who the individual(s) was who graced my front door step with this gift. But since this giver of fine gifts has chosen to remain anonymous I shall keep the veil of ambiguity intact and will simply say thank you to her and possible parties.
It was meaningful.
I say her because the card was decorated in such a way to leave me with only two assumptions. One the gift giver was a female or two the gift giver is a very flamboyant male with questionable orientation.
I choose to believe it was a female.
It was meaningful.
I say her because the card was decorated in such a way to leave me with only two assumptions. One the gift giver was a female or two the gift giver is a very flamboyant male with questionable orientation.
I choose to believe it was a female.
Monday, October 04, 2004
Clarification
Recently my boss sent me an email letting me know that he wants to address some of the thoughts I have posted on this blog. This was very interesting to me since I had no idea he knew about this blog. Which leads me to another thought, maybe this blog is read by a few more people than I thought.
For that reason I am left with the feeling that I need to clarify some of the things that I have written here that, if taken in the wrong way then the wrong impression and thus conclusions will be formed about me and my views of the church.
Simply put: I love the church. It is my family. The things that I have learned in the embrace of the Bride Of Christ have long since passed the point of explanation or expression. This is where I have learned how to love and am learning how to be loved. This is where the hands, the feet, the body and the face of Christ have been shown to me. This is the place where I have fallen in Love with God, have cried before God and sought forgiveness from God. This is where I am learning that faith requires more than a sweet word on your tongue and smile on your face. This is where I have learned that faith requires blood, sweat and tears and often times much pain. And this is the place where I have learned that that pain is only bearable through Christ and the loving embrace of his Bride the Church.
I realize that some of my posts seem really scathing and deconstructive in regards to the church. Know that my intent is not to sabotage, uproot or murder the church. I myself am part of the church. So first of all know that any negative remark made toward Christ’s bride are directed at me first.
As there are many negative things about the mentality of the church today there are so many positives. There are organizations out there who are doing amazing things that are furthering God’s kingdom in tremendous ways. Riverside among them. People are coming to know Christ as their personal savior through these ministries and it’s awesome to witness.
But when you see the church failing to do it’s job as a whole in impacting the culture that it’s surrounded by or even the people who attend the church gathering on Sunday morning you have to ask questions. That’s what I’m doing...asking questions. I don’t know the answers. I barely know what questions to ask. In doing so maybe I gave the impression that I’m questioning everything or worse attacking the church. Those are not my intentions.
I know that at the end of the day I need to be able to say that everything that I did today was done in love and with the desire to further God’s kingdom and not to break it down and cause disunity in the body of Christ.
To whoever sent Drew the link please know that if you have a question as to what is meant by a post you have the freedom to come to me directly and address any concerns or questions. You can even challenge me on an idea. I'm willing to admit I'm wrong but you'll have to show me in what way. Otherwise I’ll try and be more clear about the topic at hand in future posts.
One last word. Nothing here that is said about the church is a direct attack on Riverside Baptist Church. I really do love this church and there are many Godly people here who have amazing hearts. If anything I would say that Riverside does a better job of reaching out to people than most any other church I’ve been to. Then again this is my spiritual home and I have spent much time here. I’m sure there are plenty of other bodies that are taking huge steps in taking the gospel to the lost. Unfortunately it’s the parts of the body who are doing things in a poor way that draw my attention. I think that’s due to the fact that for so long I have assumed that the church is doing everything it is supposed to and in the way it was supposed to. Only now have I started to wonder whether the things we’re doing are effective or even biblically accurate. Thus this quest for truth naturally takes me down the path of close scrutiny of that which is questionable in my mind.
But I’m no scholar. I’m just an idiot with a keyboard. I’ll say things sometimes that maybe I shouldn’t. But I’m willing to take that risk if it means finding the answers to my questions. Just know that if I do realize that I have made a mistake I will try to correct it as soon as possible.
I don’t feel like I’ve made a mistake. But I do feel like I need to be careful to express accurately how I feel about the Bride of Christ.
I hope I have done that here.
For that reason I am left with the feeling that I need to clarify some of the things that I have written here that, if taken in the wrong way then the wrong impression and thus conclusions will be formed about me and my views of the church.
Simply put: I love the church. It is my family. The things that I have learned in the embrace of the Bride Of Christ have long since passed the point of explanation or expression. This is where I have learned how to love and am learning how to be loved. This is where the hands, the feet, the body and the face of Christ have been shown to me. This is the place where I have fallen in Love with God, have cried before God and sought forgiveness from God. This is where I am learning that faith requires more than a sweet word on your tongue and smile on your face. This is where I have learned that faith requires blood, sweat and tears and often times much pain. And this is the place where I have learned that that pain is only bearable through Christ and the loving embrace of his Bride the Church.
I realize that some of my posts seem really scathing and deconstructive in regards to the church. Know that my intent is not to sabotage, uproot or murder the church. I myself am part of the church. So first of all know that any negative remark made toward Christ’s bride are directed at me first.
As there are many negative things about the mentality of the church today there are so many positives. There are organizations out there who are doing amazing things that are furthering God’s kingdom in tremendous ways. Riverside among them. People are coming to know Christ as their personal savior through these ministries and it’s awesome to witness.
But when you see the church failing to do it’s job as a whole in impacting the culture that it’s surrounded by or even the people who attend the church gathering on Sunday morning you have to ask questions. That’s what I’m doing...asking questions. I don’t know the answers. I barely know what questions to ask. In doing so maybe I gave the impression that I’m questioning everything or worse attacking the church. Those are not my intentions.
I know that at the end of the day I need to be able to say that everything that I did today was done in love and with the desire to further God’s kingdom and not to break it down and cause disunity in the body of Christ.
To whoever sent Drew the link please know that if you have a question as to what is meant by a post you have the freedom to come to me directly and address any concerns or questions. You can even challenge me on an idea. I'm willing to admit I'm wrong but you'll have to show me in what way. Otherwise I’ll try and be more clear about the topic at hand in future posts.
One last word. Nothing here that is said about the church is a direct attack on Riverside Baptist Church. I really do love this church and there are many Godly people here who have amazing hearts. If anything I would say that Riverside does a better job of reaching out to people than most any other church I’ve been to. Then again this is my spiritual home and I have spent much time here. I’m sure there are plenty of other bodies that are taking huge steps in taking the gospel to the lost. Unfortunately it’s the parts of the body who are doing things in a poor way that draw my attention. I think that’s due to the fact that for so long I have assumed that the church is doing everything it is supposed to and in the way it was supposed to. Only now have I started to wonder whether the things we’re doing are effective or even biblically accurate. Thus this quest for truth naturally takes me down the path of close scrutiny of that which is questionable in my mind.
But I’m no scholar. I’m just an idiot with a keyboard. I’ll say things sometimes that maybe I shouldn’t. But I’m willing to take that risk if it means finding the answers to my questions. Just know that if I do realize that I have made a mistake I will try to correct it as soon as possible.
I don’t feel like I’ve made a mistake. But I do feel like I need to be careful to express accurately how I feel about the Bride of Christ.
I hope I have done that here.
Friday, September 24, 2004
Shampoo
I was taking a shower the other day and as I was drying off I started thinking about how over 2 months ago I got a call from Dad telling me about mom. I had just gotten back from camping with Brett up in the Mountains. It was beautiful up there. Sometime I think God allowed me to experience His light before He took me into the darkness.
But as I was drying off I started thinking about how after getting home that day I got all my things together to go down to the hospital where my mom was staying. Everything seemed so weird. Like the air I was breathing was jelly or something.
That time seems so long ago. It didn't seem real.
And I'm thinking to myself, "did that really happen? Is my mom really gone?" I look around me and I see a shampoo bottle. My mom always gave me boxes of bathroom supplies. Randomly. I think sometimes she didn't think I thought about buying the everyday things and she just wanted to help me out. I don't think I ever spent money on shampoo or soap before mom was diagnosed with cancer.
I buy my own shampoo now. Lever 2000 is the cheapest soap I've found and you can get it in bulk. I almost don't want to finish off this last bottle of shampoo. It's the last one mom got me before she left us.
I don't know if thats a weird thought. I don't know what is a normal thought after going through something like this. I do know that one thought goes through my head on a regular basis that probably is normal...
...I miss mom.
But as I was drying off I started thinking about how after getting home that day I got all my things together to go down to the hospital where my mom was staying. Everything seemed so weird. Like the air I was breathing was jelly or something.
That time seems so long ago. It didn't seem real.
And I'm thinking to myself, "did that really happen? Is my mom really gone?" I look around me and I see a shampoo bottle. My mom always gave me boxes of bathroom supplies. Randomly. I think sometimes she didn't think I thought about buying the everyday things and she just wanted to help me out. I don't think I ever spent money on shampoo or soap before mom was diagnosed with cancer.
I buy my own shampoo now. Lever 2000 is the cheapest soap I've found and you can get it in bulk. I almost don't want to finish off this last bottle of shampoo. It's the last one mom got me before she left us.
I don't know if thats a weird thought. I don't know what is a normal thought after going through something like this. I do know that one thought goes through my head on a regular basis that probably is normal...
...I miss mom.
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Sink or Swim
I was talking to a friend today about living out my faith and just kind of working through that right now and he said something really meaningful to me.
He said that when it comes to swimming, you can read about how to do it all your life. When it comes time to swim however, that's a different story. You'll sink as fast as anyone else if you haven't done it before.
I feel like up until now, when it comes to my faith, I have been reading and reading and reading. I've never actually lived it out. Yeah I mean I've lived life and gone to church and done the Christian thing. But I haven't actually started swimming.
I think I'm in the process of learning to swim now. Maybe I was treading water all along but I just had some water wings on or something. Those things always gave me a rash.
Anyway, It's time to swim.
I hope I don't sink.
He said that when it comes to swimming, you can read about how to do it all your life. When it comes time to swim however, that's a different story. You'll sink as fast as anyone else if you haven't done it before.
I feel like up until now, when it comes to my faith, I have been reading and reading and reading. I've never actually lived it out. Yeah I mean I've lived life and gone to church and done the Christian thing. But I haven't actually started swimming.
I think I'm in the process of learning to swim now. Maybe I was treading water all along but I just had some water wings on or something. Those things always gave me a rash.
Anyway, It's time to swim.
I hope I don't sink.
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
Walls and Tupperware
A church building doesn't simply place brick and mortar between its worship gatherings and the outside elements but it places walls between our worship gatherings and the rest of the world.
A church's walls are made up of much more than simply brick and mortar. They are built with such materials as tradition, isolation, ignorance, fear and apathy all of which provide a convenient way of containing and storing one's faith.
The church today is a Rubbermaid Tupperware container that is water and air tight that doesn't allow anything from the outside to come in and anything from the inside to get out.
A church's walls are made up of much more than simply brick and mortar. They are built with such materials as tradition, isolation, ignorance, fear and apathy all of which provide a convenient way of containing and storing one's faith.
The church today is a Rubbermaid Tupperware container that is water and air tight that doesn't allow anything from the outside to come in and anything from the inside to get out.
More on Coffee
So I looked up the Dazbog Coffee website and there is a "Giving back to the community" section on there site too. Maybe it's just coffee companies. Maybe they're more aware of the needs of the community than other organizations.
Which leads me to another thought....are coffee companies doing a better job at reaching out to the community than the church?
Which leads me to another thought....are coffee companies doing a better job at reaching out to the community than the church?
The Thing About Starbucks
This morning I passed a drive thru Starbucks on my way to work and the line went clear out into the main road that it sits next to.
What is it that causes people to flock to the dimly lit, coffee filled lairs of Starbucks all across this nation? Is it for the coffee or is it for something else. Perhaps while it may provide the general public with a tasty source of caffeine, it may also offer a place where people can commune and share life together.
As I write this I'm looking at one of many fliers Starbucks puts out that talks about giving back to the community. It would seem like there is a very strong under current to everything Starbucks puts out (print, website etc.) that stands up for people all the way from the coffee field workers of South America to the communities that you find these Starbucks in. Not to mention the care they give to there employees (download some of there mission statement material from the website and you'll know what I'm talking about).
So perhaps part of this Starbucks phenomenon is that people feel like they're contributing to something bigger than themselves.
Then again maybe I'm just over spiritualizing things and people are really just interested in feeding their addictions. Helping the community is just a side benefit.
But is this Starbucks thing really just about coffee? Next thing you'll be telling me is that this iPod thing is just about music. Come on!
What is it that causes people to flock to the dimly lit, coffee filled lairs of Starbucks all across this nation? Is it for the coffee or is it for something else. Perhaps while it may provide the general public with a tasty source of caffeine, it may also offer a place where people can commune and share life together.
As I write this I'm looking at one of many fliers Starbucks puts out that talks about giving back to the community. It would seem like there is a very strong under current to everything Starbucks puts out (print, website etc.) that stands up for people all the way from the coffee field workers of South America to the communities that you find these Starbucks in. Not to mention the care they give to there employees (download some of there mission statement material from the website and you'll know what I'm talking about).
So perhaps part of this Starbucks phenomenon is that people feel like they're contributing to something bigger than themselves.
Then again maybe I'm just over spiritualizing things and people are really just interested in feeding their addictions. Helping the community is just a side benefit.
But is this Starbucks thing really just about coffee? Next thing you'll be telling me is that this iPod thing is just about music. Come on!
Who am I?
So I finally filled out my profile for this blog. I gave my name, birthday etc. And it comes up with all this useless info such as your sign and info on the year you were born in. All they could come up with for that one is that 1979 is the year of the sheep. Lame. Couldn’t I get something cool like a large jungle cat or or an eagle or something. I just learned via Napolean Dynamite of the Liger, a leopard/tiger mix.
Now there’s an animal I can stand behind.
So apparently I’m a Libra. Here are the character traits that must describe me:
Diplomatic and Urbane
Romantic and Charming
Easygoing and Sociable
Idealistic and Peaceable
On the dark side....
Indecisive and Changeable
Gullible and Easily Infuenced
Flirtatious and Self-indulgent
Bummer. I guess I didn’t know myself at all. Now I don’t buy into this crap so this is all kind of a joke to me. But I do think some of these traits are pretty accurate. I feel like I’m pretty diplomatic at times.
The definition of Urbane is as follows:
Polite, refined, and often elegant in manner.
Yeah I think I’ll take some of that. Romantic and charming...sounds good. Easygoing and sociable, idealistic and peaceable. Yeah that all fits.
Now leave out the dark side nonsense and you’ll get a pretty good idea of who I am.
Maybe there’s more to this Astrology thing than I thought.
Now there’s an animal I can stand behind.
So apparently I’m a Libra. Here are the character traits that must describe me:
Diplomatic and Urbane
Romantic and Charming
Easygoing and Sociable
Idealistic and Peaceable
On the dark side....
Indecisive and Changeable
Gullible and Easily Infuenced
Flirtatious and Self-indulgent
Bummer. I guess I didn’t know myself at all. Now I don’t buy into this crap so this is all kind of a joke to me. But I do think some of these traits are pretty accurate. I feel like I’m pretty diplomatic at times.
The definition of Urbane is as follows:
Polite, refined, and often elegant in manner.
Yeah I think I’ll take some of that. Romantic and charming...sounds good. Easygoing and sociable, idealistic and peaceable. Yeah that all fits.
Now leave out the dark side nonsense and you’ll get a pretty good idea of who I am.
Maybe there’s more to this Astrology thing than I thought.
Monday, September 20, 2004
Homosexuality Part 2
No I still don't struggle with it. But I just read an article about, essentially, how we need to fight the passing of the legalization of same sex marriage. Christians are all up in arms about how homosexual marriage is tearing this nation apart and how the definition of marriage is being destroyed. Since the article was published in a magazine entitled "Christian Citizenship", essentially the author of the article succeeded in convincing an audience that his point was a valid one who already agreed with him in the first place . Nice work! The title "Christian Citizenship" bugs me for some reason. But the point of the article was, it would seem, to convince us that homosexuality is a sin and we need to fight the legalization of homosexual marriage.
Now I agree 100% that God is not for same sex marriage or same sex sexually active relationships. I also believe that there will be punishment (in this life or the life to come) for those who embrace and practice the homosexual lifestyle who do not seek out the forgiveness that is found in Jesus Christ.
A side note: There is a difference between people who struggle with homosexuality and people who actively pursue this lifestyle.
But my question is if we actually succeed in keeping the homosexual marriage thing from being legalized will that simply be a band aid on a gushing wound? Do you think someone cares about what God's thoughts are on homosexuality who doesn't even know who God is? From the world's perspective I would say that Christians seem like heartless pricks who just want to keep the homosexual brother down and oppressed.
With all the energy we put into protesting and fighting the homosexual movement its not a surprise that when it comes time to show love and minister through action to those around us who are hurting and have no hope we simply don't have the energy or the desire. Because once you decide who the enemy is (in this case the homosexual community and liberals) then how can you possibly love them? What would it matter anyway? You just got done shouting at them and telling them that they are going to burn in hell....by the way let me rake your lawn.
Now I agree 100% that God is not for same sex marriage or same sex sexually active relationships. I also believe that there will be punishment (in this life or the life to come) for those who embrace and practice the homosexual lifestyle who do not seek out the forgiveness that is found in Jesus Christ.
A side note: There is a difference between people who struggle with homosexuality and people who actively pursue this lifestyle.
But my question is if we actually succeed in keeping the homosexual marriage thing from being legalized will that simply be a band aid on a gushing wound? Do you think someone cares about what God's thoughts are on homosexuality who doesn't even know who God is? From the world's perspective I would say that Christians seem like heartless pricks who just want to keep the homosexual brother down and oppressed.
With all the energy we put into protesting and fighting the homosexual movement its not a surprise that when it comes time to show love and minister through action to those around us who are hurting and have no hope we simply don't have the energy or the desire. Because once you decide who the enemy is (in this case the homosexual community and liberals) then how can you possibly love them? What would it matter anyway? You just got done shouting at them and telling them that they are going to burn in hell....by the way let me rake your lawn.
Sunday, September 19, 2004
Church
So I'm working through these thoughts about the church and it's role in my life and the role I play or should be playing in the lives of the lost around me. I'm reading Present Future. It's awesome. It's putting into words what I've been feeling for a long time.
more later...
more later...
Friday, September 17, 2004
Homosexuality
No I don't struggle with it. I have a thought on the subject however. I was reading an article on Relevant's site and I'm thinking about experiences that I've had and heard about in regards to Christians witnessing to gays.
I think we're going about it all wrong. I think we tend to focus in on that sin and approach these people with the intention of changing them, in this area, so that they can come to know Christ as their savior. But why don't we focus in on any other sin that people carry in their lives before they are, "ready to come to Christ".
No, what needs to happen is we need to show the love of Christ to them. In order for any homosexual to come to Christ they have to fall in love with Him right? How can you expect to tell them that they need to change and leave this "sinful lifestyle" behind them when they don't love God. What's the motivation. All your inviting them into from their perspective is to live the life of a monk.
Shoot! I wouldn't give any Christian the time of day if I was gay and they approached me with that mentality. I mean would you?
I think we're going about it all wrong. I think we tend to focus in on that sin and approach these people with the intention of changing them, in this area, so that they can come to know Christ as their savior. But why don't we focus in on any other sin that people carry in their lives before they are, "ready to come to Christ".
No, what needs to happen is we need to show the love of Christ to them. In order for any homosexual to come to Christ they have to fall in love with Him right? How can you expect to tell them that they need to change and leave this "sinful lifestyle" behind them when they don't love God. What's the motivation. All your inviting them into from their perspective is to live the life of a monk.
Shoot! I wouldn't give any Christian the time of day if I was gay and they approached me with that mentality. I mean would you?
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Liberation
Thought 1:
What is ministry? Seems like a simple question doesn't it? Especially for someone who has grown up in the church. Funny thing is I don't know what ministry is. Or at least you wouldn't think so by the way I live my life. I don't think the Church entirely knows what ministry is either.
Maybe ministry means living life. Living life as if you loved Jesus Christ with all of your heart. Allowing this love to soak up every action, thought and motive that drives you to do the things you do that makes up your life.
Maybe that's what church is. All these people living life together. HOW LIBERATING! How very liberating! You mean I can do the thing which I feel most gifted, the thing that I enjoy the most and call it ministry? If you do it with the right motives...absolutely. With the right intentions...yes. The thing that I do day in and day out can be considered ministry. As long as my intention is to show the love of Christ to the people around me.
Thought 2:
I am so bored with my church experience. It seems like the church is dead. The institutional church anyway. I don't feel like it pushes me closer to God. I don't think church helps with my spiritual life. And I think I have felt this way for a while. A long while. So many people feel the same way. There are people out there who are thinking to themselves, "man this is really boring and lame" and they don't want to say anything. They think that this is what they're supposed to do. This is the mark of a good christian. Being committed to this organization. All the while the most spirtiually moving moments of their lives occure on the 6 other days of the week.
Why is this? For me a huge part of it is the fact that I don't think church really plays a relevant role in my life other than providing a great social circle. It doesn't have application. Maybe I'll develope that thought later on. Actually a huge part of that is the fact that it seems like everyone and everything at church is fake. Everyone puts on there church faces and attitudes. No one deals with the mess in there lives. No one deals with the issues that they're facing. If that doesn't happen then I say it isn't relevant.
I don't really feel like I've been part of the solution though. I'm part of the fake church machine. I'm part of the plastic church. I'm a plastic christian in a plastic church. Squeaky clean. Except I'm not. Neither is the church. And who cares if it is. It's all fake!
So how do I become a part of the solution? Therein lies the dilemma. I don't know.
I do know that at no time before have I fealt so ready and willing to say the simple phrase, "I don't know". I don't know what I believe about this or that. I don't know what the Bible says about that. I dont' know how to minister to you. I do know how to love. I do know how to listen. Maybe that's all the ministry that needs to be done sometimes. But I do not have to be afraid of the unknown. I do not have to be fearfull of being taken to the edge of certainty and into the realm of uncertainty.
HOW LIBERATING IS THAT!
Where do I go from here? Who knows. It may be pitch black out there but at least my eyes are open.
What is ministry? Seems like a simple question doesn't it? Especially for someone who has grown up in the church. Funny thing is I don't know what ministry is. Or at least you wouldn't think so by the way I live my life. I don't think the Church entirely knows what ministry is either.
Maybe ministry means living life. Living life as if you loved Jesus Christ with all of your heart. Allowing this love to soak up every action, thought and motive that drives you to do the things you do that makes up your life.
Maybe that's what church is. All these people living life together. HOW LIBERATING! How very liberating! You mean I can do the thing which I feel most gifted, the thing that I enjoy the most and call it ministry? If you do it with the right motives...absolutely. With the right intentions...yes. The thing that I do day in and day out can be considered ministry. As long as my intention is to show the love of Christ to the people around me.
Thought 2:
I am so bored with my church experience. It seems like the church is dead. The institutional church anyway. I don't feel like it pushes me closer to God. I don't think church helps with my spiritual life. And I think I have felt this way for a while. A long while. So many people feel the same way. There are people out there who are thinking to themselves, "man this is really boring and lame" and they don't want to say anything. They think that this is what they're supposed to do. This is the mark of a good christian. Being committed to this organization. All the while the most spirtiually moving moments of their lives occure on the 6 other days of the week.
Why is this? For me a huge part of it is the fact that I don't think church really plays a relevant role in my life other than providing a great social circle. It doesn't have application. Maybe I'll develope that thought later on. Actually a huge part of that is the fact that it seems like everyone and everything at church is fake. Everyone puts on there church faces and attitudes. No one deals with the mess in there lives. No one deals with the issues that they're facing. If that doesn't happen then I say it isn't relevant.
I don't really feel like I've been part of the solution though. I'm part of the fake church machine. I'm part of the plastic church. I'm a plastic christian in a plastic church. Squeaky clean. Except I'm not. Neither is the church. And who cares if it is. It's all fake!
So how do I become a part of the solution? Therein lies the dilemma. I don't know.
I do know that at no time before have I fealt so ready and willing to say the simple phrase, "I don't know". I don't know what I believe about this or that. I don't know what the Bible says about that. I dont' know how to minister to you. I do know how to love. I do know how to listen. Maybe that's all the ministry that needs to be done sometimes. But I do not have to be afraid of the unknown. I do not have to be fearfull of being taken to the edge of certainty and into the realm of uncertainty.
HOW LIBERATING IS THAT!
Where do I go from here? Who knows. It may be pitch black out there but at least my eyes are open.
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Chapters of a Book and Scenes from a Movie
When one has traversed the highest mountain peaks, has swam the depths of the ocean, has experienced the blistering of the desert heat and the chill of a storm's rain and has traveled to a place that he has never been to before....how can one recount it all and do any of it justice? How can he give an accurate account of all he has seen and done and been through? This is the question that starts the avalanche of a million other questions. My life is a question mark and most of the time I don't even now what the sentence is that it follows.
When I got a message from Dad on Saturday July 31st saying that mom had massive organ failure and was in ICU at a hospital down in the springs I had no idea what was in store for me or my family.
The drive down left me in a state of numbness. In retrospect I think everything really did move in slow motion. Thus I had plenty of time to agonize over the many questions and fears that plagued my thoughts. When I got down to the hospital I held mom's hand and cried. My Aunt was there and so was my Dad. Nothing really seemed real at that point and wouldn't until weeks later. Even as I say that I don't think it all seems real to me now.
My mom was ushered into the gates of heaven on Tuesday August 10th at 9:54 in the morning. I asked myself if I was watching a movie. "Who's life is this that I'm peeking into? Who's ever it is it's pretty lame." But this was a movie that would not end. I couldn't walk out of that movie theater and I never will be able to. All the exit signs have been turned off and it's pitch black. There are no ushers and I have no point of reference other than that movie screen and so I am forced to watch it until the movie's end. Funny. I don't remember ever purchasing a ticket. I'm sure I paid too much. The price seems very high to me right now.
So where am I. Spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally. Like I tell everyone, I'm on this journey and I have no compass. I have no sense of direction. I don't know how long the trip is and I don't know how far I've gone. But perhaps I'm wrong. Perhaps I do have a instrument of direction. Perhaps I do have a guide. A Cosmic Usher in this movie called life. For a while there I forgot he existed. But he's there. Sitting right behind me. Making sure I'm doing ok. He's got a tissue for those sad parts and a laugh for those happy parts. Sometimes he makes comments about the movie. In fact He's always saying something. "Get ready for this part.", "Look out for that!", "This is my favorite part of the movie". These are some of things He might say. I just choose to ignore him so much of the time. Of course He knows what’s coming up in the next scene. He also happens to be the Director. But I think He really enjoys watching with me. He also knows that I wouldn't be able to make it through the entire thing without Him.
And so I continue to watch the movie. Praying that I listen to the Usher as He gives His instruction and insight.
He's the only good pair of eyes I've got.
When I got a message from Dad on Saturday July 31st saying that mom had massive organ failure and was in ICU at a hospital down in the springs I had no idea what was in store for me or my family.
The drive down left me in a state of numbness. In retrospect I think everything really did move in slow motion. Thus I had plenty of time to agonize over the many questions and fears that plagued my thoughts. When I got down to the hospital I held mom's hand and cried. My Aunt was there and so was my Dad. Nothing really seemed real at that point and wouldn't until weeks later. Even as I say that I don't think it all seems real to me now.
My mom was ushered into the gates of heaven on Tuesday August 10th at 9:54 in the morning. I asked myself if I was watching a movie. "Who's life is this that I'm peeking into? Who's ever it is it's pretty lame." But this was a movie that would not end. I couldn't walk out of that movie theater and I never will be able to. All the exit signs have been turned off and it's pitch black. There are no ushers and I have no point of reference other than that movie screen and so I am forced to watch it until the movie's end. Funny. I don't remember ever purchasing a ticket. I'm sure I paid too much. The price seems very high to me right now.
So where am I. Spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally. Like I tell everyone, I'm on this journey and I have no compass. I have no sense of direction. I don't know how long the trip is and I don't know how far I've gone. But perhaps I'm wrong. Perhaps I do have a instrument of direction. Perhaps I do have a guide. A Cosmic Usher in this movie called life. For a while there I forgot he existed. But he's there. Sitting right behind me. Making sure I'm doing ok. He's got a tissue for those sad parts and a laugh for those happy parts. Sometimes he makes comments about the movie. In fact He's always saying something. "Get ready for this part.", "Look out for that!", "This is my favorite part of the movie". These are some of things He might say. I just choose to ignore him so much of the time. Of course He knows what’s coming up in the next scene. He also happens to be the Director. But I think He really enjoys watching with me. He also knows that I wouldn't be able to make it through the entire thing without Him.
And so I continue to watch the movie. Praying that I listen to the Usher as He gives His instruction and insight.
He's the only good pair of eyes I've got.
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
Waiting
Read this quote today:
"Patient living means to live actively in the present and wait there. Waiting, then, is not passive. It involves nurturing the moment, as a mother nurtures the child that is growing in her."
"Patient living means to live actively in the present and wait there. Waiting, then, is not passive. It involves nurturing the moment, as a mother nurtures the child that is growing in her."
Hosea
Hosea called today.
He wanted to talk to a pastor.
He got me. The guy with an office tucked away in the underbelly of the church next to the nursery. The guy who works on graphics all day.
We talked about the things that are going on in his life right now and we talked about the things that are going on in my life. We talked about pain and struggle. We were open and honest with each other and we prayed for one another. We had church (the way it was meant to be) right there on the phone. Without the lights and the music. Without the coffee and donuts. Without the, "I'll pray for you's" and the "God bless you's". Without the kid's ministery, without the youth group, without the college and singles ministries. Without a choir and a worship leader and without a pastor. We had church.
Through this i realized that it isn't the people who are paid to be "pastors" that will make the greatest impact on this world's dark places and dark hearts. It's those people who have offices in the nursery and who have no faces and no names. It's the army of the invisible people. The army of the faceless, nameless people who will make the greatest advancements for God's kindom.
I also know that the greatest steps in spiritual growth do not happen within the confines of the church buildings but in the world around us. In the lives we live day in and day out. In the relationships we build and the lives we live.
He wanted to talk to a pastor.
He got me. The guy with an office tucked away in the underbelly of the church next to the nursery. The guy who works on graphics all day.
We talked about the things that are going on in his life right now and we talked about the things that are going on in my life. We talked about pain and struggle. We were open and honest with each other and we prayed for one another. We had church (the way it was meant to be) right there on the phone. Without the lights and the music. Without the coffee and donuts. Without the, "I'll pray for you's" and the "God bless you's". Without the kid's ministery, without the youth group, without the college and singles ministries. Without a choir and a worship leader and without a pastor. We had church.
Through this i realized that it isn't the people who are paid to be "pastors" that will make the greatest impact on this world's dark places and dark hearts. It's those people who have offices in the nursery and who have no faces and no names. It's the army of the invisible people. The army of the faceless, nameless people who will make the greatest advancements for God's kindom.
I also know that the greatest steps in spiritual growth do not happen within the confines of the church buildings but in the world around us. In the lives we live day in and day out. In the relationships we build and the lives we live.
Thursday, July 01, 2004
The Voice of Conflict
I don't think there has ever been a time in US history since the Civil War where American people have been so divided and resentful of their own country. Obviously I wasn't around for the Vietnam situation but , although not now, at some future point I could see our country dividing and in essence experiencing civil war. We're already experiencing this on the political level.
Of course maybe as I’m coming of age where I can see and understand the political undercurrents that happen behind everything I am really just witnessing what has happened for years.
Mankind is at odds with itself. What are we fighting? Do people really care about what happens to the Iraqi people. Do they really care about war? If the people who are so outspoken about the war cared as much for the people who are being effected by the war as they are with the war itself then shouldn’t we see them actually doing something for those who are suffering from the long arm of conflict in the middle east. I have yet to see any real action (other than protesting and yelling) being taken by those who are the most vocal about the atrocities of this war in Iraq. Huh, sounds like the Christian culture.
Of course maybe as I’m coming of age where I can see and understand the political undercurrents that happen behind everything I am really just witnessing what has happened for years.
Mankind is at odds with itself. What are we fighting? Do people really care about what happens to the Iraqi people. Do they really care about war? If the people who are so outspoken about the war cared as much for the people who are being effected by the war as they are with the war itself then shouldn’t we see them actually doing something for those who are suffering from the long arm of conflict in the middle east. I have yet to see any real action (other than protesting and yelling) being taken by those who are the most vocal about the atrocities of this war in Iraq. Huh, sounds like the Christian culture.
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
God's Thoughts...Am I Listening?
This was an awesome article that I found on Relevant. It really puts things into perspective:
What would it be like if you could actually hear what God might say to you in church? More importantly, what would he say? Maybe more than we expected.
You are here, but you feel like it’s just barely. The songs — shouldn’t those words pierce you straight through? You’re trying, but still you feel nothing. Fear not, for I am near you still.
You fasted last week and it was for all the wrong reasons. You’d never realized a person could have so many wrong reasons at once. Take heart: even your selfish awkward gifts are precious to me.
The thoughts in your head run together like train cars in a pileup. Vaguely, you know there’s something true you should be hearing here. But you are wondering, right now, whether the guy in the next pew over notices you—and if you hold your hands up during the singing, will someone think you’re a freak? What kind of mood will your boss be in tomorrow? And where should you go for lunch?
Listen: I am not counting every off-track thought you have. I am glad you have come. I am glad every time you come, no matter how you come, and when, and whether or not it’s in a church. No matter how bad you are at controlling your thoughts, your words, yourself. It does not matter what state you are in; I love it when you want me near you.
Today, you do not need to discover something no one has ever discovered before. You do not need to understand something you’ve never understood before. You do not need to impress me by how much you get out of this day, how much you learn in this hour.
You do not need to know how everything works. I will not forget what you are made of; I understand why the big mysteries make you afraid. I am not waiting to smite you every time you slip, or get confused, or feel lost.
I am there, always, when you come to me. Do not lose heart when you feel nothing. I am working in you deeper than feelings can reach. I am making you new.
Every second you are with me I can see you coming more alive. Dear one, don’t ever leave. I am in love with you.
It was really hard to focus at re:focus ironically enough. It was a good worship service and time of prayer in spite of me though.
What would it be like if you could actually hear what God might say to you in church? More importantly, what would he say? Maybe more than we expected.
You are here, but you feel like it’s just barely. The songs — shouldn’t those words pierce you straight through? You’re trying, but still you feel nothing. Fear not, for I am near you still.
You fasted last week and it was for all the wrong reasons. You’d never realized a person could have so many wrong reasons at once. Take heart: even your selfish awkward gifts are precious to me.
The thoughts in your head run together like train cars in a pileup. Vaguely, you know there’s something true you should be hearing here. But you are wondering, right now, whether the guy in the next pew over notices you—and if you hold your hands up during the singing, will someone think you’re a freak? What kind of mood will your boss be in tomorrow? And where should you go for lunch?
Listen: I am not counting every off-track thought you have. I am glad you have come. I am glad every time you come, no matter how you come, and when, and whether or not it’s in a church. No matter how bad you are at controlling your thoughts, your words, yourself. It does not matter what state you are in; I love it when you want me near you.
Today, you do not need to discover something no one has ever discovered before. You do not need to understand something you’ve never understood before. You do not need to impress me by how much you get out of this day, how much you learn in this hour.
You do not need to know how everything works. I will not forget what you are made of; I understand why the big mysteries make you afraid. I am not waiting to smite you every time you slip, or get confused, or feel lost.
I am there, always, when you come to me. Do not lose heart when you feel nothing. I am working in you deeper than feelings can reach. I am making you new.
Every second you are with me I can see you coming more alive. Dear one, don’t ever leave. I am in love with you.
It was really hard to focus at re:focus ironically enough. It was a good worship service and time of prayer in spite of me though.
Saturday, June 26, 2004
One Last Thought Today
When we pray to God. We tend to...at least I tend to forget what I prayed a month later...maybe even a week or a day later. The Bible makes much of those who pray with diligence.
But as I type thoughts out on this blog I think that's the way God looks at prayer. Even though we have prayed prayers long ago and have since forgotten those prayers they are still logged into that celestial blog where they will remain until they are answered by God. I don't think he really gets backed up in answering these by the way.
When we forget, He remembers.
But as I type thoughts out on this blog I think that's the way God looks at prayer. Even though we have prayed prayers long ago and have since forgotten those prayers they are still logged into that celestial blog where they will remain until they are answered by God. I don't think he really gets backed up in answering these by the way.
When we forget, He remembers.
Fourteeners
Well the last time I hiked a fourteener I just about died. Nobody told me I was supposed to load up on water the day before. Anyway today we tackled a beast and I worked it. I was blazin' up that mountain. I was pretty impressed with myself. I was the first to the top. I felt really hydrated and that prevented me from getting the dreaded altitude sickness.
I think I'll be doing this again.
But for now I will sleep. Oh yes I will sleep.
I think I'll be doing this again.
But for now I will sleep. Oh yes I will sleep.
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Hurry Up And Listen
This is part of an email that I sent to a friend:
I’ve come to the realization that the “art” of listening is a very rare thing indeed. People just don’t want to listen. Especially Christians. So many of us believe that we have found this truth and that we know everything there is to know about life, after-life and everything in between. So many Christians walk around thinking they’re some kind of miniature counselor and all they want to do is impart wisdom and understanding to all those sinners out there who are so lost. Well I believe that one of the greatest ministries a Christ-follower can use with a non Christ-follower is simply listening. What if we were known to take the time to listen to people. What if we were known to invest time, energy and resources into people who don’t believe the same things we do. What if we treated them the same way we treat our “brothers and sisters in Christ”.
One thing I’ve always thought you were good at is listening. You’re a good listener. I’m not a counselor nor do I pretend to know anything about the profession but I think that maybe the best counselors out there aren’t the guys who can spout off some canned counselor book answer for anything and everything that is disclosed before them but it’s those guys who take the time and listen to everything that is being said. They listen, listen, listen and then maybe say something relevant to that person. Not because they’ve “seen cases like this before” but because they’ve listened and they know this person a little bit better and are able to impart something that is of value and pertinence to that individual.
I’ve come to the realization that the “art” of listening is a very rare thing indeed. People just don’t want to listen. Especially Christians. So many of us believe that we have found this truth and that we know everything there is to know about life, after-life and everything in between. So many Christians walk around thinking they’re some kind of miniature counselor and all they want to do is impart wisdom and understanding to all those sinners out there who are so lost. Well I believe that one of the greatest ministries a Christ-follower can use with a non Christ-follower is simply listening. What if we were known to take the time to listen to people. What if we were known to invest time, energy and resources into people who don’t believe the same things we do. What if we treated them the same way we treat our “brothers and sisters in Christ”.
One thing I’ve always thought you were good at is listening. You’re a good listener. I’m not a counselor nor do I pretend to know anything about the profession but I think that maybe the best counselors out there aren’t the guys who can spout off some canned counselor book answer for anything and everything that is disclosed before them but it’s those guys who take the time and listen to everything that is being said. They listen, listen, listen and then maybe say something relevant to that person. Not because they’ve “seen cases like this before” but because they’ve listened and they know this person a little bit better and are able to impart something that is of value and pertinence to that individual.
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