They are just different

While I was driving to work today, I began to think about the value of a man. It didn't quite come to me at first that way, but I began questioning why it is that we see some people as worth developing a relationship with and others we just write off and try not to even associate with.

I think to a certain extent it is something that we learn as a child. I remember in church learning how certain things were wrong and beginning to feel that if someone is doing something wrong then they are a bad person. We have all been taught at one time or another that there are bad people in the world right? Can that be right?

Something my wife challenged me to to try quite a while back was when we speak to our kids to make sure we communicate when they are in trouble that they made a bad decision not tell them they were being bad. It sounds weird and really makes you think because how often do we say things like that?

So I have both of those thoughts running around in my head and I remember something I read from one of Don Miller's books a while back. He gave the illustration of several different types of people being stranded on a life boat and ultimatly in order to survive one person must be thrown overboard. How do you decide who to through over? As we grow up we are taught some people, based on their jobs, their status, or their usefullness are worth more than someone else.

Anyway, now to get to the real point of it all. While thinking about this, I decided I want to challenge myself. I want to try and see how many times a day I pass judgment on someone else, just based on the little I know about them.









Example:

Kid at school is a bully and he picks on your kid. What is your first reaction? What are the thoughts that go through you head? How do you deal with it? Did you know the kid is bullied by his own parents and all he really wants is to feel worth while? Bad decision right, Not a bad person.

A man has a hard life without much support from his family. The man ends up in prision for a crime he commitsbut when he gets out he changes his friends, his surroundings, his habits, and starts over. Would you give him a job? Would you get to know him? Would you allow him to be around your kids? Bad decisions, not a bad person.

A girl has a rough life. Parents divorce while she is young and she feels like no one wants her. She makes a series of bad choices looking for love and acceptance and ends up with a kid with no one to help. She becomes a single mother and wants to do better, but doesn't know how. Do you help support her? Do you help her find a job? Do you show her love? Bad decisions, not a bad person.

It's amazing how many times we sterotype people and give them less of a value. Most would say a doctor, a teacher, or preacher have more value than any of these three examples. Is that the case? What makes them worth more? Didn't Christ die for all of us? Didn't He equate himself to the "least of these"?

I challenge you to look at how you view people. Do you pass judgment before you know someone? Are some worth more than others to you?

I know I am guilty of it....time to change....change in view.

The guy on the side of the road

Do you ever wonder about that guy on the side of the road?  The guy you see trying to hitch a ride, the guy at the corner asking for money or holding a sign saying "Will work for food" or something of that nature, or that guy walking on the side of the road minding his own business.
I was having car issues a lot of the day yesterday and spent a decent amount of time going back and forth into town and in my travels yesterday I bet I saw 4 or 5 different people on the side of the road.  All throughout the day it was really bothering me that despite my own issues that I was dealing with I didn't stop to help or offer a ride to any of them.  Always thinking, "I've got car problems I need to fix" and "I will stop next time."
I know they say it can be dangerous to stop and pick up somebody along the side of the road, but can you imagine what would have happened if Jesus acted in that same mannor.  If He always though, I'm here to do something else, I can't stop to help them.  I'm too busy or my issues are bigger than their issues.
It just really bothers me, that I did that. That I thought my problems were too big and consuming to help someone else.
I wonder what their story could have been...they are important to Jesus....why wern't they important to me?
I can always justify reasons why I didn't stop, but in the end, its always going to be selfishness.  I wonder what other areas of our lives we just go on by people and ignore that they are even there.
As I was getting ready to conclude, I thought of something.  What if we are someone else's blessing and because we are to concerned with ourselves, we keep that from them.  Now that's selfish.

 Resolve: I want to be that man that is willing to stop and help anyone along side of the road.

Abraham

In my quest to find clarity, I have began to read through the bible...starting with Genesis.  Yes, I know most people don't recommend this, but I want to see God in a new way.  I want to see Him as the scriptures say, rather than others interpretations.  Which is rather hard seing as a lot of what it says needs to be put in a Jewish filter just to understand what the significance really is.

Today, however, is not necissarily one of those times.  In reading the stories of Abraham, it is easy to identify with him.  He is often scared of death, what others might do, believing what God tells him, and being willing to be patient.  I think we all deal with that from time to time.  Yet, it never ceases to amaze me that God never leaves him.  He comes back to him time and time again even in the midst of trying to do things his own way, God is still there.  One thing is evident though, they do have a relationship. 

I believe this portion of Genesis paints a beautiful picture of how deep our relationship with God really should be.  He is able to openly speak to God about how he cares for people and begs God not to kill those who happen to live in the wrong place and the wrong time.  He laughs when God tells him he is going to have a son through Sarah.  Yet, through his relationship he continues to learn more about who God is and eventually gets to where he believes so much in God's justice that he is willing to sacrifice his son to stay in relationship with him. 

This story is ever so comforting to me, just knowing that even though I might sometimes question God, find it hard to believe what He is telling me, or commit a sin against Him, that ultimatly what is important is that I have a relationship with Him.  

I challenge you to read through the story of Abraham and really look for how many times he commits what we consider to be a sin against God and yet, there God is, talking to him, challenging him, teaching him how to change.

 

Thou Shalt Not Lie

The other night, my brother and I went to see Tim Hawkins. (For those of you that might not know who he is, he is a christian commedian....check him out on youtube.)  During the show it started to amaze me how much we were just laughing at the truth. He wasn't really making a whole lot up, he was just pointing out the truth.  It made me wonder.  What makes this really funny.  Yes, I know, presentation is everything, but still its interesting.  Could it be that the reason it is funny is because we are often too scared to speak the truth?  Thank about it.  When was the last time that you bent the truth, told a little white lie.  Many of us do it every day.  Someone asks us how we are doing and we say good, not too bad, or great.  How often though, have we considered answering with the truth.  I heard another commedian a while back say that he likes to tell the waitress at the restraunt he is doing terrible when they ask, just to see if they are listening and what they would do if they heard someone say that.  Its the truth though.  Sometimes we are doing terrible. 

I wonder how much different life would be if we spoke the way God intended. I mean, He did tell us not to lie, right?  Or was that just a suggestion?

The way I see it, God told us not to lie, because it helps our relationships.  Sure it might cause a little pain at first or let you hear something you didn't want to hear.  (I say this because this is used so much) Think about it, "Honey, do you like this dress?"  "No...not really" Not necissarily something you wanted to hear, but before long that honestly will spill over into other parts of life and the two will really get to know each other. 

I think so many people really just want to be known, but are so scared of it. We spend so much time hiding so that no one knows who we are and then wonder why we feel so alone. 

Anyway, this is all easier said that done, but can you imagine what life would be like?  How much closer we would all be?  How much more we could be like Jesus?

Living "Naked and Unashamed"

  ^{Genesis 2:25 - "}And they are both of them naked, the man and his wife, and they are not ashamed of themselves."

There are so many things that can be taken from this passage, but after reading one of my favorite authors Donald Millers' "Seaching for God knows what," it became clear to me that this is yet another poitn we have been missing.  In American society, we care constantly bombarded in different ways telling us that we need to be "independent."  What this often tells us is that we can't share our real selves with other people because we need to keep our problems to ourselves.  Now, I don't think we need to go around sharing our problems with everyone or just blasting problem after problem, (people will think we are just a bunch of complainers) but I do think we need to be open and available to share our struggles with those God has asked us to. 

So often in our lives we don't want to share our "feelings", our "thoughts", our our pain with other people.  We are affraid.  I got corrected one time for saying it this way, but I believe that one of Satans best methods of controlling us is making us feel like we are alone.  Don't get me wrong when I say this, because I don't think Satan actually has the power to control us, but rather he lays the options out there in an inticing manor and we make our choice.  When we feel like we are alone in what we struggle with, we lose a lot.  We lose friendships that could have been, we lose relationships that are, and we lose oportunities God has brought before us to help other people.

Pick any problem you have, anything you struggle with, any sin you think you can hide and I guarantee you that there is someone close by dealing with the same thing.  Dealing with the same thoughts, struggling just like you, wanting to change.  What if you just took the time to open up to them? 

God created us to be open, available, and unashamed of who we are.  Through the fall of man, we immediatly became ashamed of who we are.  Its been something we have all strugled with.  Why not break that cycle and be willing to let people see who you are.  When you come through on the other side refreshed and renewed you can begin being that person who can listen to people and be that hope for someone else.

Do you think God didn't create us to share how we feel. Share our deepest secrets.  Share our pain and sufferings.  Search for it on the internet and you will find sites that let you post thoughts, feelings, things you have done so that others can read.  Posting these things give us a sense of freedom.  Freedom from feeling like we are the only ones.  Freedom from feeling like we have to hold it all in and deal with it yourself. 

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom.  God says where two or more are gathered in His name there he will be also.  His spirit will be there and you will be free.  Free to be real, Free to be who you are, Free to be "Naked and unashamed"

Praying for Clarity

I have been struggling a lot recently with conflicting thoughts about what to believe.  I want to believe what's right. I want to make sure I am not waisting my time...missing the point...missing what God has for me. 

We recently moved and have been attending a non-denominational church where for once I am free to learn to believe what I believe and search for truth in a whole new way.  It is something I have never been a part of before. 

You see a couple years ago, I was in a church that was everything I could have ever wanted.  I was growing.   We had great friends and spent a lot of time with them and through that was able to see God in a new way that what I ever have.  A lot has changed since then.  We moved to a church that was very much missing the point in so many ways and I begin to die. 

Since then I have been somewhat on a quest to find out what it is that I really believe.  Hence the beginning of this blog.  I am still struggling however with trying to see things through God's eyes rather than my eyes and what I have been taught.  I know I have been taught a lot of half truths. I know I have looked at things the wrong way.  I know I was legalistic in my thinking at times.  I want to get away from that.  I want to see the world as God does. I want His clarity.

The not so recent release of Love Wins by Rob Bell and Erasing Hell by Francis Chan has really gotten me thinking.  I love they way Chan challenges me.  I think he hits it right on the head in a lot of ways.  What if, however, Bell has it right in this case.  I can't believe right now that he does, but what if?  I love the way he looks at things differently to.  I know I can disagree with people and it be ok, but their is only one truth. 

Please pray for me as I dig to find out what the truth is.  I might never find it in this life, but I know that I will know more of who God is. 

PS. I miss my friends.  I miss being challenged by them spiritually and being able to trust that they were in the word and I knew that I was on the same page with them.  Life is hard without the right friends.

Shades of Grey

Recently I have been really contemplating, studying, and searching for answers.  We were having a discussion recently about if things can really be wrong or right and how that can easily turn into Legalism.  I grew up in a legalistic church and moved to a less legalistic church, then to a church who taught grace and love, but then back to a church that was legalistic again.  I hate attending churches that are legalistic, but I know through being there God has shown me so much.  Not so much about what is right and wrong, but rather how even while God does have absolute truths, I believe are also shades of grey.  

I believe God has given us the 10 commandments (not to be confused with suggestions) and ultimatly boiled them down to two rules to follow.  Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul....and Love your neighbor as yourself.  Easy enough right?  Then why is we have so many other rules that we have been told we have to follow, or worse yet, that we impose on others in order for them to be "Christian?"

I find that a lot of these rules really stem off things God has convicted individuals of. These convictions often stem off things that people are putting up as idols or putting before God.  For instance...the bible says not to get drunk.  It does not say not to drink.  However, I can only imagine we got the "rule" from someone who said they were convicted by God not to drink.  Why would they?  Well either God knew they had an issue with becoming addicted to things, or they were addicted to achohol and that was a method of God releasing them from the addiction.  Does this mean it is wrong for everyone?  No... It is wrong for that person because God has convicted them of if, but it is not the alchohol itself that was the issue, but rather putting it before God is.

Ok, so thats part of it all, but how does that relate to loving your neighbor as yourself?  Do we uphold someone else's conviction out of love for them?  I believe that if God asks us to, we should.  However, if they are growing in their walk, and you are growing in your walk.  Their convictions will remain their convictions and your convictions yours.  They don't need to be imposed on others, but through discussion maybe God could use one of you to help bring light to a conviction that one of you could have been surpressing. 

I don't know that their is an easy way to explain it other than, your heart must be right.  With your heart being right and being in a relationship ship with God, following His two rules (which will lead to following the 10 commandments), will not be a challenge and you will be searching for his truth and will know what He wants for you.

 

how do you decide?

How many times do parents decide what to allow their child to watch a show on TV or a movie based on a rating, yet they themselves will watch shows with much worse ratings.  For instance, they will watch a Rated R movie, but wont let their child watch a rated PG-13 movie.  How do we decide what is acceptable and not acceptable.  As Christians, if its not ok for them, then should it really be ok for us?  I don't know how many times I have watch a movie that was PG-13 and looked back at what was PG-13 10 years ago and the two movies not be in the same realm.  Are we just so desensitized to what we watch that we think it is ok for us, but we don't want our children to watch because it might cause them to talk about what we are watching.

I know kids mimic what they hear and see on TV, my son has done so.  Do you ever stop to think if we are doing that too?  Maybe not on the outside, but on the inside.  If you didn't the movies would disgust you.  If for nothing else than just the language. I know I wouldn't want my Grandma walking in why I was watching the movies with all the language.  Is it because I think I can handle more than her?  Is it because I am ashamed at what I am seeing/hearing?

How do you decide what to watch?  I wish I had the strength to say I would never watch anything more than PG.  Would it change my life?  Would it affect how I saw life?  Would it affect my attitude?  How many other things in life to we allow to creep into (alright, they arn't really creeping, we know we are putting them there) our mind and just go on like nothing different.  It makes us different.

I always thought those people who limited what they watched to PG or less were odd.  I never wanted to watch movies that they picked for fear it would be boring...and maybe they would be.  What if we started telling Hollywood that we didn't want to watch that kind of stuff anymore.  What if we limited what we watched to what was wholesome and good?

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. (Phil 4:8)

How often have you spent two hours filling your head with these as compared to the two hours of a movie filling it with Garbage that won't change anything in your life other than getting away from the truth for a while?

Will I change?  Will You?

Where do you stand?

I have spent the past several years really trying to figure out who I am and what I believe.  There have been a number of circumstances that have really challenged my faith and what I believe.  Through these circumstances I have come to realize that there are many views I once held so tight.  One of the hardest things to deal with for me currently is where to draw the line on living a "normal" life and living one completely sold out for Christ.  I have a great family and I wouldn't want to  give them up for anything in the world, but I can completely understand know why Paul said it would be better for a man to stay single.  I know my happiness and joy is made so much better by the family I have, but what if I could really give up everything and following him.  It would be easy with out a family to spend your entire waking existence giving knowing that it would be furthering his kingdom.  So where is that line now?  Can we really ask our families to give up everything or is there a balance?  I have been dealing with this for years wondering if I have too much and should be giving more of it away.  I know where I want to say my heart is, and I know God looks at the heart, but I also believe that our actions match our heart.  So really, how do we determine what is right and what is wrong?  How do we determine what is too much stuff or what is ok to have?  Where do we start drawing the line between building up what we have here and giving away so that we might reach more?  Where do you stand?