So, how do you respond to this?
Is it out of your 'sphere of influence'?
Or is there something practical/helpful that you can do?
What do you think?
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Playstation 2 Incites African War?
Gaming Blood Diamonds
So, how do you respond to this?
Is it out of your 'sphere of influence'?
Or is there something practical/helpful that you can do?
What do you think?
So, how do you respond to this?
Is it out of your 'sphere of influence'?
Or is there something practical/helpful that you can do?
What do you think?
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Man-Created Trinity of Terrors
"I'm not to big on religion," Jesus said a little sarcastically, "and not very fond of politics or economics either." Jesus' visage darkened noticeably. "And why should I be? They are the man-created trinity of terrors that ravages the earth and deceives those I care about. What mental turmoil and anxiety does any human face that is not related to one of those three?"
Mack hesitated. He wasn't sure what to say... Jesus down-shifted. "Put simply, these terrors are tools that many use to prop up their illusions of security and control. People are afraid of uncertainty, afraid of the future. These institutions, these structures and ideologies, are all a vain effort to create some sense of certainty and security where there isn't any. It's all false! Systems cannot provide you security. Only I can."
"The Shack", Page 179
Mack hesitated. He wasn't sure what to say... Jesus down-shifted. "Put simply, these terrors are tools that many use to prop up their illusions of security and control. People are afraid of uncertainty, afraid of the future. These institutions, these structures and ideologies, are all a vain effort to create some sense of certainty and security where there isn't any. It's all false! Systems cannot provide you security. Only I can."
"The Shack", Page 179
Thursday, July 24, 2008
The Shack
On the plane ride home from Seattle last weekend (btw - what a beautiful city that is in the summertime!) with much interest I read the book, "The Shack". This is a book that has stirred up as much attention as any book in recent memory in Christian fiction. Find out about "The Shack" here. There are also lots of reviews. Here's one I particularly like from Scott Daniels blog. But... don't read the reviews before you read the book. Unless you want to...
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The One Prayer always Answered
The one prayer always answered is the honest prayer.
I.
David found out about honesty after the presumptuous yet covert fling with the Hebrew beauty, Bathsheba. David assumed the event was hidden until the prophet, Nathan, came calling. Forced to be honest, he had to admit his mistake, his issues, his tendencies.
It was a horrible moment for David.
It was the best moment for David.
Through it all he learned how much God desires honesty. (See Psalm 51:6)
II.
My most memorable Halloween costume was Evel Knievel. Memorable because a)Knievel was so ‘huge’ in the 70’s, b)I think it was the only costume we ever actually bought new from the store, c)mostly because I looked so good... full-body white suite with the stars and stripes across the chest, flowing cape, the big collar and to top it off an Evel Knievel mask. I was the coolest. The over all effect was stunning. But as with all costumes, the drawback was the stinkin' mask. It was hot, suffocating and made everything smell like cheap plastic. (hmmm, as opposed to expensive plastic?) On more than one occasion I felt compelled to remove the mask. So to summarize, with the mask on I was incredible but claustrophobic. With it off I was ordinary but able to breathe. To be the coolest or to breathe is always a tough choice for an 11 year old but finally I decided to take the mask off once and for all, give it to my dad and enjoy normal respiration.
III.
Masks are fun as a child. Unfortunately lots of adults I know still wear them. You might be wearing one right now. (Probably not a Knievel mask although if you were that would be awesome! ) Most likely you are wearing another kind of mask, a barrier, something you hide behind.
Unlike the Halloween mask - you would prefer to not take this one off.
Like the Halloween mask - you cant breathe unless you take it off and give it to your Father.
What’s your mask?
Who are you trying to impress,
hide from,
manage,
convince,
deceive,
protect?
Who are you trying to be?
Who are you?
Be honest, discard the mask. I learned what David learned what all spiritually growing people learn what you need to learn...
The one prayer always answered is the honest prayer.
(This idea pretty much comes from Vince Antonucci’s book, “I Became a Christian and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt”.)
I.
David found out about honesty after the presumptuous yet covert fling with the Hebrew beauty, Bathsheba. David assumed the event was hidden until the prophet, Nathan, came calling. Forced to be honest, he had to admit his mistake, his issues, his tendencies.
It was a horrible moment for David.
It was the best moment for David.
Through it all he learned how much God desires honesty. (See Psalm 51:6)
II.
My most memorable Halloween costume was Evel Knievel. Memorable because a)Knievel was so ‘huge’ in the 70’s, b)I think it was the only costume we ever actually bought new from the store, c)mostly because I looked so good... full-body white suite with the stars and stripes across the chest, flowing cape, the big collar and to top it off an Evel Knievel mask. I was the coolest. The over all effect was stunning. But as with all costumes, the drawback was the stinkin' mask. It was hot, suffocating and made everything smell like cheap plastic. (hmmm, as opposed to expensive plastic?) On more than one occasion I felt compelled to remove the mask. So to summarize, with the mask on I was incredible but claustrophobic. With it off I was ordinary but able to breathe. To be the coolest or to breathe is always a tough choice for an 11 year old but finally I decided to take the mask off once and for all, give it to my dad and enjoy normal respiration.
III.
Masks are fun as a child. Unfortunately lots of adults I know still wear them. You might be wearing one right now. (Probably not a Knievel mask although if you were that would be awesome! ) Most likely you are wearing another kind of mask, a barrier, something you hide behind.
Unlike the Halloween mask - you would prefer to not take this one off.
Like the Halloween mask - you cant breathe unless you take it off and give it to your Father.
What’s your mask?
Who are you trying to impress,
hide from,
manage,
convince,
deceive,
protect?
Who are you trying to be?
Who are you?
Be honest, discard the mask. I learned what David learned what all spiritually growing people learn what you need to learn...
The one prayer always answered is the honest prayer.
(This idea pretty much comes from Vince Antonucci’s book, “I Became a Christian and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt”.)
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Broken Relationships
I had a friend ask me about a relationship that didn't work out. They wanted to know why and if God was punishing them. Here's the essence of my reply. If you know someone that could benefit from this email it on...
a) The most simple explanation is it's possible God is sparing you from a relationship that is not in your best interest. For that you should be thankful.
b) A more complicated explanation is it's possible that this relationship just didn't "work out" because God allows us all to make choices, have personalities and make decisions that influence how our lives are lived. That's a great freedom and a great responsibility. Sometimes because of those decisions relationships just don't materialize like we had hoped.
a) The most simple explanation is it's possible God is sparing you from a relationship that is not in your best interest. For that you should be thankful.
b) A more complicated explanation is it's possible that this relationship just didn't "work out" because God allows us all to make choices, have personalities and make decisions that influence how our lives are lived. That's a great freedom and a great responsibility. Sometimes because of those decisions relationships just don't materialize like we had hoped.
c) Whatever the reason the relationship failed, your job now is to not live in the past or to be a victim. Learn and move on. Be stronger for it.
d) Finally I would say that I know for sure God is not punishing you. That's not how He operates. Yes, life is painful sometimes but there is a difference between the pain from a surgery and a pain from a mugging. Both have guys with knives and masks asking your for money.
One is meant for your harm.
The other is meant for your good.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Sink or Sit
My friend, Ron Lush, sent me this excerpt taken from: In a Pit with Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson, pages 114-115
Sink or Sit
Peter gets a bum rap. Peter is the disciple who denied Christ three times, but he was the only one who got close enough to Jesus to get caught. Peter is the disciple who impulsively cut off Malchus' ear when the lynch mob came to arrest Jesus, but he was the only one who came to Jesus' defense. And he is the disciple who sinks in the Sea of Galilee , but he was also the only disciple who walked on water.
It's so easy to criticize Peter from the comfortable confines of the boat.
I think there are two kinds of people in the world: creators and criticizers. There are people who get out of the boat and walk on water. And there are people who sit in the boat and criticize water walkers.
Here is what I think: Sinking is better than sitting.
I'd rather get wet than have a numb gluteus maximus. When everything is said and done, I think our greatest regrets will be the God-ordained risks we didn't take. We won't regret sinking. We will regret sitting. In the words of German author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “Hell begins the day God grants you the vision to see all that you could have done, should have done, and would have done, but did not do.”
Anything less than getting out of the boat is spiritual voyeurism.
It is so easy to criticize water walkers from the comfortable confines of the boat. But I think the other eleven disciples were haunted by this missed opportunity. Think about it. They could have walked on water. But they chose to stay in the boat. They missed a once-in- a-lifetime opportunity because they weren't willing to take a God -ordained risk.
Sink or Sit
Peter gets a bum rap. Peter is the disciple who denied Christ three times, but he was the only one who got close enough to Jesus to get caught. Peter is the disciple who impulsively cut off Malchus' ear when the lynch mob came to arrest Jesus, but he was the only one who came to Jesus' defense. And he is the disciple who sinks in the Sea of Galilee , but he was also the only disciple who walked on water.
It's so easy to criticize Peter from the comfortable confines of the boat.
I think there are two kinds of people in the world: creators and criticizers. There are people who get out of the boat and walk on water. And there are people who sit in the boat and criticize water walkers.
Here is what I think: Sinking is better than sitting.
I'd rather get wet than have a numb gluteus maximus. When everything is said and done, I think our greatest regrets will be the God-ordained risks we didn't take. We won't regret sinking. We will regret sitting. In the words of German author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “Hell begins the day God grants you the vision to see all that you could have done, should have done, and would have done, but did not do.”
Anything less than getting out of the boat is spiritual voyeurism.
It is so easy to criticize water walkers from the comfortable confines of the boat. But I think the other eleven disciples were haunted by this missed opportunity. Think about it. They could have walked on water. But they chose to stay in the boat. They missed a once-in- a-lifetime opportunity because they weren't willing to take a God -ordained risk.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Will You be Exposed?
Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
...it exposes my innermost thoughts and desires...
That's either incredibly freeing or incredibly scary. I guess the choice is mine.
At Peanuts.com Linus says to Charlie Brown, “You want to know what the problem with you is Charlie Brown?” Charlie replies, “No.”
Linus just stares at him for a minute, then says, “The problem with you Charlie Brown is that you don’t want to know what the problem with you is.”
...it exposes my innermost thoughts and desires...
That's either incredibly freeing or incredibly scary. I guess the choice is mine.
At Peanuts.com Linus says to Charlie Brown, “You want to know what the problem with you is Charlie Brown?” Charlie replies, “No.”
Linus just stares at him for a minute, then says, “The problem with you Charlie Brown is that you don’t want to know what the problem with you is.”
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