Thoughts?

Since Jesus did not call us to religion, how do we continue to meet together without becoming a religious body that Jesus would not like or would call Pharisaical?

Things That Make You Go - Hmmmmm???

License plate frame - *blank* Christian University Alumni

Window sticker -

YES
This is my truck.
NO
I won't help you move!

I also read an article in today's paper from which I took the following words. Pope Benedict XVI approved a document which says that "other Christian communities are either defective or not true churches and Catholicism provides the only true path to salvation." "The commentary repeated church teaching that says the Catholic Church 'has the fullness of the means of salvation. Christ established here on earth only one church, the other communities cannot be called churches in the proper sense because they do not have apostolic succession - the ability to trace their bishops back to Christ's original apostles - and therefore their priestly ordinations are not valid, it said."

I refer to my second question from last Saturday. Why do we feel the need to focus on rules - even if we believe we can point to them in scripture as a proof of their existence? Why do we think we can follow a rule perfectly anyway? Why do we think God is interested in us following the rules just so we can say we follow the rules?

By virtue of my heart rate getting elevated when I think of the article, I show I have missed God's point in changing my heart from the inside. It is easier to focus on the rules I prefer and love those who love my viewpoint.

Maybe that is one of the problems. I think we too often, consciously and unconsciously, gravitate toward the easy.

Two questions:

1) Why do coaches and managers in baseball wear team uniforms and they don't in other sports?

2) Do you think that God believes there are any non-"Pharisaical" religious organizations in existence?

I'm It

In deference to my wife, I keep asking what the rules are to this cybertag game.

I am different from Danna in that she asks what the rules are so she can follow them and I ask so that I can break them or find a flaw in them that would render it ridiculous to follow the rules. That is number 1.

I can sing the Wyoming Cowboy (the real Cowboys!!) fight song and will do it for you if you ask and sometimes even when you don't.

I was born on the same day, in the same year as Michael Jordan.

I am very particular about my lawn. So much so that after repeated requests to try to do it close to my expectations, I fired my own son as lawn man.

I always wished I was 7 feet tall.

I had a small plaster cast on my nose after reconstructive surgery and I had people sign my cast.

I often save my meat to eat last at mealtimes.

I have volunteered to preach on many occasions but have never been asked - see number 1.

Now, here are the rules since I am supposed to put them here but it never said to put them first.

1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

I am tagging, Clint; Terry; Tim;

Worse Than A Plank In My Eye??

Is there anything worse than the planks in my own eye?

(Humorous side bar - my wife was reading my draft and pointed out the "plank" in my writing since I had the word "than" two times in my first sentence!!)

I amaze myself because, even though my planks are HUGE, I am still able to see around them to point out the speck in others' eyes!!

I feel (yes I - so highly likely some error involved) it is important to be open with people whom I have a relationship. My perception of the level of the relationship determines what I say and how I say it. I feel it is important enough that if I don't say something, I am not doing the right thing.

As in most situations, delivery is everything. I must convey in a loving manner. It is possible to be clear, firm and loving. I don't often achieve that goal.

The easy part is to act on what I think I should say. Besides the hard part of delivering a clear, firm and loving message, the hardest part for me is my additional related responsibility.

I am responsible to listen to others when they need to point out the planks they see in my life.

I stink at my delivery. Worse yet, I am wrapped up in the stink of not even trying to accept clear, firm and loving messages about the planks in my life.

I quit listening immediately.

I begin to form my own thoughts of justification.

My eyesight becomes very clearly focused on what I see now as planks in others lives. No longer are they specks - NO WAY!!

I NEED YOUR HELP!!!

God created us with very powerful minds. Satan knows that and attacks us through our minds. I am not effective at taking "captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ". Those thoughts that I don't take captive are the seeds of "speck" which quickly grow to be planks.

My thoughts of justification are the worst.

I need help from you. I need your boldness in delivering to me clear, firm and loving messages of the planks I need to extricate from my life.

I need the training of people pointing out to me when I get defensive as they are delivering a very important message I need to hear about my planks. I need to be much more humble to allow myself to really listen to your messages.

I really need to want to get rid of the planks that are visible because there are so many more that need to be illuminated.

Gratitud - Dos Parte

During church this morning, it struck me that we, the individuals which make up the bride of Christ, can tell if we have love from ego or love from the heart.

Am I grateful for Jesus love? Am I overwhelmed that God chose to use Jesus so he could share life together with me?

I must admit, I often think about what God has done for me and what awaits. I too often think it is about me. I want to be overwhelmed with what God chose to do in order to share life with me. I want to be grateful from deep within my heart. I want to be so humbled, it brings tears of joy.

Gratitude

From Donald Miller's book To Own a Dragon

The chapter is about girls. Miller's friend asked him if he felt he deserved to be in a relationship with a female. Miller thought it a strange question and explained so in his hilariously quirky way!

His friend went on to say that he had concluded that he didn't deserve his wife. He found it incredible that she chose to spend the rest of her life with him. His friend said he was grateful.

Miller's friend went on to say that often we use other people and romantic stuff to validate ourselves. True love involves gratitude and being overwhelmed that another person chose to share life together.

Miller summed up the chapter by wondering if love from ego versus love from the heart signalled a transition to maturity.

I began to tell Danna about what I felt was this incredible insight from the book. I started to get choked up! As I explained the words I wrote above, I began to cry and I made her cry. It is incredibly humbling to realize she chose to share life with me. I don't deserve my Angel. I call her that because she is an Angel. Yes, we have our struggles but she loves me in spite of myself. I am in awe of our relationship.

I also told her that it is so much different than my previous marriage, thankfully!! Anybody that has heard me talk about that phase of my life has heard me readily admit I made many mistakes. One big one was being too immature to get married in the first place. I was mature from a worldly, having my goals which drove me, point of view. I didn't have the maturity or the humility to know I needed God. Life was about me. I wasn't grateful.

God saw me through my immaturity. I haven't arrived, by any means. However, he has blessed me tremendously with a wonderful woman who is truly my Angel!!

After we both cried for awhile, I said a line I have said a lot. "I have become my Mom!!" I was puzzled as a kid why she cried when she was happy. It made no sense to me at all!! Now, it DOES!!!!

Burned Up Stuff or Burned Up Self?

I Corinthians 3:10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Matthew 25:31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Are the works discussed in I Corinthians similar to the works in Matthew 25? Do you notice that in Matthew 25, the cursed call him Lord as well? Do you think they were baptized? Do you think they asked Jesus into their hearts? However or whenever you think someone is saved, does the cross and the grace of the cross cover over ignoring the people described in Matthew 25?

Are these passages talking about different people?

Is my stuff, my works going to get burned up or am I going to get burned up?

Somedays I do OK with having good works and occasionally I help a person like mentioned in Matthew 25. Will God's grace cover 5o times? 40 times? 30 times? 20 times? 10 times? 1 time? No times?

How do you know if your faith is growing?

How do you know your faith is growing? How do you measure faith growth?

Work Out Your Own Salvation?

I don't think going it alone in trying to become transformed into the image of Christ is a good idea.

Following the crowd is not a great idea either.

So how and why is it important to work out your own salvation?

I guess the first reason is because the Bible says so (Philippians 2). I think the other reason is that ultimately, I am going to be judged as an individual. From what I understand, the judgement discussed in Matthew 25 is an individual judgement. What did I do in this life for other people? How did I show my love for God by taking care of my neighbor?

Have you ever thought about your neighbor as a very legalistic religious organization in which you might find yourself? Am I supposed to love them? Take a look at Matthew 23:1-3.

1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

I had never focused on the first sentence of verse 3 before. I must confess past sins of hammering organizations and doctrines. I must repent.

I also think the rest of verse 3 is key for individuals in any religious organization. Am I doing what the organization says I need to do or am I doing what I feel I need to be doing? Am I looking to what Jesus says he is going to judge me on as an individual?

It seems to me to be very dangerous if I was to think that my association with a religious organization who has convinced me they have the right answers guarantees my salvation and prohibits others. What if I don't take care of others? What if I don't love my neighbor?

I think I need to respect and love people in such organizations, associate myself with people who will help me and hold me accountable on my transformation journey and work out my own salvation by doing what Jesus said for my neighbor. That is a challenge!!!

Thank you Jesus for grace, but am I relying on that to cover over my selfishness in all too often ignoring my neighbor?

Satan's Most Effective Tool?

I wonder if Satan's most effective tool is getting us to believe we have to do something big?

I think he understands that if we obsess about doing something big, we are frozen. We downplay "little" things. We tell people "it was nothing" which is often a way of saying I wish it was bigger.

Satan is effective in getting us to focus on a goal and not the journey. Every step of the journey is exquisite. There are no little steps. Exquisite and little do not equate!

Getting Old is Interesting - I Think!?!?

It occurred to me that one of the things I wanted to discuss in my last post, I forgot to add before I published! Getting old, wow!!

What I was going to add about the parable of the shrewd manager:

Do you think that God had passages like this in the Bible to remind us that he is so much bigger than us, our doctrines, our thoughts about whether people are right or wrong, our interpretations of what scriptures mean? Do you think he threw us certain curveballs to remind us we are not to sit around and try to figure him out? We are not to try to develop a flawless theological doctrine? Perhaps we are to read, contemplate, study so that we can be, so that we can spread life?

Back to Questions

I was thinking today that I have been getting away from the main reason I started this blog stuff - asking questions because I don't have answers. The more questions I have, the more I figure out that often, there are no answers.

Interestingly, in Rob Bell's book Velvet Elvis that I recently read, he talked about how in the Jewish educational system, the way you demonstrated knowledge was by asking questions. I think I am on the right track in asking questions but I am afraid my questions don't demonstrate any knowledge.

Anyway, back to the question(s).

Luke 16 the parable of the shrewd manager. I am not sure what to think of this. What does it mean? We often quote verse 13 about not being able to serve two masters. That verse makes a very good point. But what is the point of verses 1-12? What are we supposed to learn here? What are we supposed to pass along to future generations about this passage? Did I miss what earlier generations passed along about these verses?

Wrong Message?

I saw on Cope's blog and on the news last night that the NFL cracked down on a church which was going to have a Super Bowl Bash. They were going to show the game on the projection screen. (Don't you wonder how they found out? My guess is they have "cops" searching on the net, media reports, etc. which is sad to me.)

The NFL has the legal authority to do this. I don't agree with it but it is the law.

On that news story, the reporter interviewed a local church for reaction. The pastor couldn't believe the NFL either and said they were going ahead and projecting the game on their screen.

What kind of message is that church, and others like it, sending? We know this is illegal but we are moving forward anyway?

Strange Sight

On the way to work on the slushy roads, the snow was slowly starting to fall some more. Drivers were actually being appropriately cautious today. As I was waiting to head up the on-ramp to 169, I saw a strange sight for February 1, especially with the snow.

A truck turned in front of us to go on that same on-ramp . . . with his boat in tow!!

Midday Update - Strange Sighting #2

Snow on the ground, more forecast, temperature freezing, at best. Man seen wearing tennis shoes, a cowboy hat, no coat, t-shirt and shorts!!!

Makes me wonder what I will see this evening!!

Why do we do what drives us crazy when others do it to us?

Do you ever notice something you get upset about in others is usually something you do?

I was on my way to work this morning and noticed a truck who was cutting in and out of traffic and cutting people off. Have you ever noticed that if someone cuts that person off, they ride the tail of the car who cut them off? They get really upset with people who do what they do!!

I began to wonder if we paid more attention to the things that drive us crazy and try not to do those things to others what a difference that would make.

Teaching Respect - A Very Lost Art

I heard Tim Russert make a presentation today in Tulsa. His presentation was insightful in many ways. I loved how he continues to talk about his Dad so fondly. I must admit, I didn't realize he wrote a book about life lessons he learned from his Dad.

One story he told resonated with me. He told the story in the context of doing the right thing and how we are taught the importance of doing the right thing. In my opinion, he was taught the difference between right and wrong and respect for people primarily at home. Again, in my opinion, his parents respected others to instill in Tim a sense of right and wrong.

The story was from Tim's days in Catholic schools. He mentioned one of the Fathers at the school (are there more than one?) bounced him off a locker for, as Tim said, one of many reasons. Tim said he asked the Father something to the effect, what about mercy? The Father replied mercy is up to God, I am about justice. Tim commented about how different that is today. The Father or any school teacher would most likely get sued.

Interesting, isn't it??

Voices in the Stall

Before church services today, I stopped by the restroom. In the stall, a man was helping his 3 year old daughter finish.

"Thanks, Dad . . . thanks Big Guy"

I had a smile on my face the rest of the morning.

Tonight at church. The 3 year old is behind us before the singing began with her parents. A man had gotten her to do the Hook'em Horns. One of her parents is an OU grad and the other is an A& M grad. Hook'em Horns is not acceptable! The 3 year old figures out her parents aren't fond of the Horns and looks at the man and says "I don't belong to you!!" We laugh and she looks at all of us and says, "Don't laugh!!"


Switch gears.

In another conversation after church a young man is talking about setting a date for his marriage to his pregnant girlfriend. He mentions a court wedding. He talks about how much his girlfriend wanted a church wedding. They talked to the pastor of her church and he said they couldn't get married there because she was pregnant. (I wonder why we forget so quickly how Jesus dealt with the lady caught in the act of adultery!!)

A friend of mine was with me. We talked about how we think they can have the church wedding at Memorial. At that point, my friend continued to minister by an awesome display of speaking the truth in love. He talked about how God's plan is clearly to have the man and woman become one in marriage before the children. However, God allows us to start over each day and try to live the way He has called us to live.

Where Does God Want Me To Go?

I often wonder how you know when what seems to be an obvious decision is from God or Satan? Even if it is from Satan, doesn't Romans 8:28 still ring true? God calls us to suffer. Since he allowed Job to suffer so strongly by Satan, why do I think should be immune?

I often think about just quitting my current life, packing my bags and going to Africa. As I mentioned the other day, I have grand plans on how God could use me. I also have an ego problem. Like a lot of things in my life, I try to keep this hidden. I know. God knows.

I don't think there would be anything wrong with making an abrupt change. Would it be from God or just my worldly thinking? God knows what is going to happen in my life. When I think of God being in control, I am not one of those who believes every step is planned out in advance. I think God clearly has in mind for me to live up to the potential he created in me. I am his. I am created in his likeness. I have the ability to be like him. I am called to be like him.

I am not like him. I think I suffer from looking too far into the future. I have plans out a decade or two in the future. I don't think this is inherently wrong. I think I make it wrong because by focusing that far out, I miss the opportunities to be like him right in front of me.

As I struggle with the major questions in life, I wish I would get better at daily journey. In the book I am reading now, Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell, some words rang true. God has faith in me to live up to what he created in me. I am disappointing God by not living up to his faith in me.

Tagged

My lovely wife, I call her Angel, tagged me so here goes.

The tag was to pick up the book nearest me and turn to page 123, go four sentences down and record the following three sentences and then give the author, name of the book and tag three others.

Page 123 was the beginning of a chapter so here is page 124

"They realized that something much bigger was going on here, involving them and the people around them and all of creation. Something involving God making peace with the world and creation being reclaimed and everything in heaven and earth being brought back into harmony with its Creator. But before all the big language and grand claims, the story of Jesus was about a Jewish man, living in a Jewish region among Jewish people, calling people back to the way of a Jewish God."

Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis

I tag my Mom, my Father-in-law and my Mother-in-law. I am also throwing down a challenge to each of you to begin blogging. You three have VERY rich lives. You change people who are privileged to be around you. Your stories are great stories of faith. SO, what do you think?

Inspiring Sadness

Today, I went to a funeral of a great young man, Adam Langford. I didn't know him personally. I was connected to him, though. One connection comes from a great friend, Clint Davis, who was able to recently spend some time with Adam in Uganda and Rwanda. Terry Rush is always commenting on how we are connected through God's wonderful family. I was connected to Adam through my family at Memorial. I was connected through Adam's brother Ben. We (Memorial) support Ben, Kim, Elijah and Baby #2.

Danna was at Quail when Adam and Ben were growing up. Danna commented on the way home that she always wished she could have spent time with Adam and Ben's parents. When they got a chance to participate in worship at Quail as teenagers, she said she questioned whether they were teenagers because of the depth of what they communicated. Danna said she wanted to spend time with their parents to understand how you raise such Godly young men.

Many connections. Many blessings. All that was part of the funeral was very emotional. We laughed some. We cried a lot. Usually, lives are impacted by someone directly. My life was impacted greatly today by a man I never had the pleasure to meet.

I have been to funerals before for people I didn't know all that well. I often wonder if what was said was really true. I know it is true to the people speaking the words, but the way they portray the individual, I wonder.

NOT TODAY!!! I don't wonder at all. I KNOW, as one speaker said, that words cannot capture Adam. Knowing Clint and hearing Ben speak before, I know that what was said about Adam was true. The best part is that it is so true that Adam will live on in how he inspired, even during the sadness!!

Ben spoke of Adam during a wonderful eulogy. He started by addressing, in Lusoga (sp?), those in Jinja, Uganda who were watching by webcast. Although I couldn't understand all of it, I understood Adam and Moses names. I WILL NEVER FORGET THOSE NAMES!!!

Ben told a story of a man in a pit. He told that story in Tulsa back in the fall when I got to hear him at U4U United 4 Uganda. I am afraid I am one of those business men who just drops off a check. I want to be more. The questions in my head are more intense after today.

The most credible reason I know what was said about Adam was true is that Ben read words that Adam had formed. The perspective from Adam's words really challenged all who heard. It challenged us to be more transformed by God. We need our hearts, our minds and our eyesight transformed. Adam challenged us to suffer with the suffering.

I am so insulated from them. I so often find excuses for why I don't change my approach to life. One of my biggest problems is that I am looking for solutions, big solutions. I want to make a big difference. I have an ego problem. I want to have people say good things about me. I care more about what people say about me rather than what God says about me. God has spoken. What you did for the least of these you did for me. WHY can I not overcome this even when I know it and admit it? I am afraid. I mentioned the questions in my mind. I want to be doing something different but I am afraid to take the steps.

Adam's words intensified the questions in my mind along with recent challenges from some books I am reading. I have struggled with Shane Claiborne's interpretation of "you will always have the poor among you". I often use this to justify that I can't fix it. Shane's take is that we are supposed to have the poor among us - we need to be rubbing elbows with them, helping them, sympathizing with them. I don't. Another from Shane. Generosity is not measured by how much you give. It is measured by how much you have left. I have much left. Guilty!!

Adam, thank you for inspiring me today through the sadness. I promise to continue to transform, to rise to your challenge. I pray for God's continued forgiveness and grace for the slowness of my transformation.

Other thoughts from today.

Clint - I love you. My heart hurts for you. I know your head is spinning. You challenge me as well. I look forward to your continued transformation as you let God lead you to answers from all the things spinning in your head.

Heather - As I said to you after discussing how Adam inspired us today, you also inspire me. You fill your space in God's world VERY well!! I love you.

Danna - You inspire me everyday!! Thank you for listening and helping me address the questions in my head. I LOVE YOU!!!