Loving is More Difficult

Loving is more difficult than controlling
Its tension
Tight rope walking
Waiting

Questions are more honorable than answers
It’s wondering
Open-ended
Furrowing

Giving is stronger than receiving
It’s hands-off
Letting go
Blessing

Being Motivated

Randy Alcorn reminded me a while back that we are motivated in three ways:

Fear
Love
Reward

My children will obey based on fear, love or reward. Each of these motivators has their place. Each has value. It's true with our relationship with God. It's true with our relationship with our leaders. There should be a balance. Think about those you follow or those who follow you... is there a balance between these three? If it's out of balance, why? What can you do to change it?

The Church of the Exclusionary

The Church of the Exclusionary translasion of Philippians 2:3-4...
Do most of what you do out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, and seriously, do not consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look to your own interests. Others will figure it out in due time.

Or Romans 14...
Shun contact with fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with—in particular when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, you have a religious institution to protect. Treat them harshly.

Or Colossians 4:5-6...
Be ungracious in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of truth, seasoned with harshness, so that everyone has the answers to the questions you want them to ask.

Well, what do you think? Is it the responsibility of the un-churched to adapt to our sub-culture or is it the responsibility of the mature believer/church to adapt to the un-churched? Sometimes we get it backwards don't we? All we really have to do is seek him first and then all the other stuff will be given us.

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.

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.

Martin Luther King Jr Day

My friend, Jason, sent me this quote. I can't do better than this...

"There is a power in love that our world has not discovered yet. Jesus discovered it centuries ago. Mahatma Gandhi of India discovered it a few years ago, but most men and most women never discover it. For they believe in hitting for hitting; they believe in an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; they believe in hating for hating; but Jesus comes to us and says, "This isn’t the way." And this morning, I think of the fact that our world is in transition now. Our whole world is facing a revolution." Martin Luther King, Jr.