What about this? Maybe we need to read the story of Zacchaeus with the realization that this is a, man who desperately wants to see Jesus. This is a desperate sinner who longs to see Jesus but can't. The reason he can't see Jesus is because in the way are all the crowds of Jesus-followers. These are a lot of people who already see Jesus and perhaps they are blocking out the sinner and despised tax collector. They don't even notice the incredibly needy sinner just behind them who wants desperately to come to Jesus. These people likely already knew Jesus was the Messiah. That's why they followed him, but in the midst of it they left Zacchaeus to the side....the one who desperately needed and even WANTED to see and know Jesus.
Isn't it interesting that one thing changed since the time of Jesus in that it used to be the sinners, whores, and drunks that came running to the compassion of Jesus and the Christian elite who hated Christ? So what has changed now that it is the lost who hate Christ and even the mention of Christ? What changed? The compassion of Christ? I'm leaning on no.
Kiddie Pools and Oceans
Why are Christians so terrified of reaching out to the lost? We were called to be in the world but not of the world and yet we are afraid to actually go out into the world in any way. We are terrified of non-Christian music, rated R movies and wearing hats in church. But we are also afraid of bars, 'bad parts of town', credit cards, public schools, and even Santa Claus (He's not the real reason for the season....surprised you didn't know that [in the voice of Chris Farley in Tommy Boy). When we are afraid long enough, we can become utterly indignant about it. We find ourselves flaring up our chests at Olive Garden to proudly deny the complimentary taste of wine. "Proud to say I've never touched the stuff," while the waiter thinks to himself, "Okay, fine! A simple, 'No thank you.' will suffice.....jerk."
I think it is because if you jump in the deep end without knowing how to swim, you will likely drown. So why not just stay the heck away from the entire pool? We are afraid of the world because we can't swim. We are not confident and strong enough in our faith, beliefs, and stances to not be swayed by the thoughts and ways of the lost. I think we are afraid because we are not strong enough.
On the other hand, I do not think the fact we cannot swim should keep us away from the kiddie pool or maybe, I know its risky, the shallow end where at least the water comes up to our chests.
We have to learn how to swim and we have to begin getting out of our pool and swim the ocean as we are called to do.
But we are terrified of the world for some reason. I think that reason is because we are too weak to stay strong while being in the world. Sure, it's risky and it will come with temptation, but how strong am I? And if I am truly not strong enough yet, then what have I been doing in the church this whole time? Have I been strengthening myself enough to get out into the world or am I just going to bask in the kiddie pool for the rest of my life?
* We should know where we are especially weak and stay away from dangerous temptations we KNOW we will fail in, but we cannot avoid the entire pool.
He'll just buy booze with it
My heart breaks to know many Christians and I have disregarded certain people because they'll buy booze with my change, they got themselves into this lifestyle, or their parents were piss-poor. It breaks my heart the most to realize I focus more on HOW they got there than the fact they ARE there. I am broken at reading the story of the prodigal son and knowing the father did not withhold compassion because the prodigal chose this life. I am hurt not to find the prodigal's father within me and my friends; this father who realized only one thing in the moment. He realized his son needed compassion and love. YES, his son DID choose this life. His son DID use the father's money for booze, sex and other disgusting things. These are all realities, but the father chose to realize only one thing: his son needed compassion, love and relationship.
I am broken at the reading of the prodigal son's brother and finding myself resonating, "Exactly! He's been there at home serving his Dad faithfully. And now look!"
I am broken to my lack of compassion, love and relationship with the least of these.
Are these things excuses for these people's current life choices? No, but I cannot overlook the fact it just may be part of the reason. Never mind how they got where they are; the fact remains, these people need compassion, love, relationship, and Jesus, and I have all of these to offer.
Improv(ing) God's will
Many of my favorite moments took place in any given improv class I took or as part of the traveling improv comedy and drama team I was part of for several years. While there is technique to improv, it is a lot of creating details around and within a framework of smaller prompts. Many of our classes took place outside where we could receive these prompts from passers-by...or from the audience at shows.
You may only know where your character is (setting) or a problem to overcome (conflict). You may only know a character trait. The rest of the plot you fill in with improv. You learn how to best interact with fellow actors in order to make your character stronger and help the scene stay alive. You follow improv rules and technique to help give to the scene and your fellow actors.
When many of us wait to hear God's voice in our lives, we are thinking we get to be character actors like Moses with God's cosmic voice speaking the script in perfect English (or at least in KJV Old English). When he does not do this for us, we start to doubt and assume he no longer speaks.
Today, God gives you a setting and a scene. He gives you a conflict to overcome. The rest is improv.
The rest is opportunity for your character to grow. To learn. The rest is opportunity for you to learn his rules and contribute to the scene, to give to your fellow actors.
Some scenes will fall drastically flat and fail miserably, but that is improv. It's life! Tomorrow God will give you another scene with new prompts to interact with.
You're Welcome: Seryn
I commonly come into various obsessions with bands and artists. Right now, I cannot stop listening to Seryn. There is not much I could say to describe them in comparison to other artists. It just really is fantastic music. Here is a live performance of Beach Song. It is not even my favorite song on their album, but the video is pretty good quality. Enjoy! [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOiaBW6HBRw&w=420&h=315]
Why you get angry all the time
"There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, then he who captures a city." -Proverbs 16:25,32 NASB This is an issue of control. It is an issue of whether or not you have control over your emotion. With God's grace and our work, we need to control our anger and emotion.
Do not allow your anger and your emotion to be out of your control to points where you start thinking and saying things like, "I just get this way some times" or "I do not know how I got to this point" or "I just can't help it". THESE are points you are out of control.
Be very careful when something SEEMS or FEELS like it is right or good. Our feelings are undoubtedly fickle. They can (and DO) often lead us astray. Be careful in those moments when things just FEEL right.
Check these emotional moments, thoughts, and feelings. Check them with wiser people in your life. Check them with God's Word. "He who gives attention to the word will find good and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord." (vs 20)
When we are out of control with our anger and other emotions, it is because something in our broken heart actually believes (or FEELS) like that is the best reaction.
Our hearts are fickle, deceptive, and destructive when they are not constantly entangled and in-check with God's Word and Heart.
Book Review: Father Hunger by Douglas Wilson
Books about manhood and fatherhood are beginning to pop up everywhere for good reason. Fatherlessness is an epidemic in our culture today. Douglas Wilson addresses this enormous issue with this book.
With very heady information, he walks the reader through the original intent for men and fathers. This leads well into a revelation of the ways the culture has drastically neglected those intentions. That neglect has lead us into several saddening realities in our culture as we know it today. 
The title interested me, which is why I accepted the offer to review the book for Booksneeze and Thomas Nelson. As a new father, there as encouragement in the possibility of good information regarding leading a family.
The larger surprises were found in the amount of discussion regarding sexuality, gender roles, masculinity and feminism. It grew to be a bit much at several points along the way.
There were different ways he handled certain topics, which were very enlightening. His connection of modern atheism to the fatherless epidemic is very intriguing. The connection to education is also very clear and easy to recognize.
On the other hand, there were quite a few topics addressed which felt like a great stretch. There are some generalizations that strike me more as an opinion, which smacks of conspiracy theories and “hell in a hand basket” outlooks. Even with the offerings of advice and challenges to step up as fathers, there remains a lack of restoration.
Finishing the book proved more daunting than I had expected.
Fatherhood: planting seeds
This is what I needed today. This may be what many other fathers need today. [vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/44208249 w=400&h=300]
12 Stone Life
My friend once explained all his tattoos to our small group. It was interesting to hear how much each of them explained something in his life at one time. He went on to explain one of the reasons he has them. He talked about the book of Joshua when he is told by God to walk into the river and once he comes out of the other side to build a tower to remind his children and his children's children where God has brought him and what God has brought him THROUGH. Hector (my friend) explained how his tattoos are his 12 stones.
God tells many more people to do the same thing. It was not always 12 stone towers, but there was always a challenge and command to have something to show your kids and your kids' kids for generations down the road where God had brought you through.
For Hector, his tattoos are his 12 stones. There have been times people notice a tattoo of his and they ask about it. This gives him the opportunity to explain to them what each of the tattoos signify. He is able to explain them to his daughter and one day to his grand kids. All the tattoos have stories about where God has brought Hector.
So I began to ask myself what my 12 stones will be. What will I leave that will show my children and my children's children where God has brought me? Of course it hit me immediately. My journals will be those books, my legacy, my 12 stones. My writing will last longer than I do, which is absolutely crazy. But nonetheless, those are my 12 stones. I hope my kids read my journals and pass them down for generations to come. I hope they serve as a tower of evidence of where God has brought me. These are my 12 stones.
Peculiar Trust
Trust is a peculiar thing to understand and even more difficult to live out. Trust is difficult because it requires honesty most of us are not used to. In order for me to trust, I must be willing to be honest fully. I must be willing to present the reality of myself. This honesty involves everything and not just honesty about the things that are easy and pleasant. This means my emotions are included. It means when I am angry, hurt or sad, I have to be as honest as I am when I am thrilled. If I am willing and able to be honest with these things, I am able to really trust. If am not able or willing to be honest with Tonya when I am angry or saddened, I do not trust my wife. If I am only fully honest with Tonya when everything is great and thrilling while hiding away my frustration or pain, I do not trust my wife.
How then do we trust an invisible God? How then do I learn to trust a Heavenly Father? I suppose the question to answer that question is, "How honest am I with God?"
When I am frustrated and angry with the circumstances of life, why am I praying without the cursing and fury in order to remain reverent even in my anger? When I am terrified and stressed about a big life decision I need to make, why am I praying pretty "if it be thy will" prayers? When all the world feels against me, and I am down and out, why are my prayers absent? Why are my prayers only passionate and heart-felt when I am thanking God for something?
Why? Because I do not really trust God?
I do not trust God enough to be angry with him or my circumstances. I do not trust God enough to bring myself bedraggled and broken and absent of piety. I do not trust God enough to simply be honest with my worry and stress.
If I am unwilling to just be honest with my pain, anger, worry, and hurt, I do not trust God enough to be thrilled and thankful.
The moment when...PEACE
When we discovered we were pregnant again our world was jostled a great deal more than we imagined it would be. We knew one day we wanted another, but NOW?! That was not in our plan or expectation. We were very nervous, anxious, and fearful as to HOW that was ever going to work. Where would the finances come for this? Where would childcare come while we both have to work to support our family? Is this the best neighborhood for raising a family? Should we move to a better more expensive place? How could this work?
We came to worship together in that same way we all come to worship some days. Our minds and hearts clouded and distanced with all of life's impossibilities and troubles. It makes our worship feel faint and fake.
Once the opening chord of Forever Reign is begun, God met us in that place. We sang the words "You are peace. You are peace when my fear is crippling," and our worship became sincere and authentic in a moment's time.
God would be peace in our crippling fear. We slowly learned to trust those words in the following moments.
Months later (say about 9 or so), we were still without a name for our second daughter who would be born the next day. In a seemingly unrelated moment, we would name her Haddisen PEACE.
A couple months after she was given to us, my wife made the connection that was there all along. "How incredible that the moment we were so worried, we sang that song and now her name is PEACE!" God must have known.
Yesterday, on Father's Day, we had both of our girls dedicated. It is nothing magical or mystical. It is a symbol by which we set apart or dedicate our children to God. It is also when we are dedicated as parents. We are saying in this moment that we will raise our children to know Jesus. To say "These are Your children entrusted to us, and we will honor You in that."
We came into the worship center and stood to worship together as a family. I held Haddisen Peace in my arms and we heard God whisper his outrageous love for us in the opening chord of Forever Reign.