When you get ready to go into the dentist office, take a minute, go to a mirror, and check your nose.
I won't elaborate.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Duh...
"Pot eases pain for HIV patients, study says"
I saw this title for an article on MSNBC, and I am thinking to myself, "You could take that title and insert almost ANY disease known to mankind and this would pretty much be true." Paranoid schizophrenia might be an exception.
I guess we have once again proved that the human race, on average, only uses about 25% of our brains.
And again... duh.
I saw this title for an article on MSNBC, and I am thinking to myself, "You could take that title and insert almost ANY disease known to mankind and this would pretty much be true." Paranoid schizophrenia might be an exception.
I guess we have once again proved that the human race, on average, only uses about 25% of our brains.
And again... duh.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Why is it...
Why is it that being "radical" for Jesus is so often seen as being cynical, sarcastic, and judgmental toward "the church"? There is no shortage of blogs out there that have this hateful, self-righteous attitude that just breaks my heart when I read it. More than likely these people have been hurt by "the church" or someone else significant in their life, and now they hide their pain by pointing out the failings of others.
"Look at me. I am so smart. And everyone else is sooooooooo screwed up!"
Its sad.
Don't get me wrong. I am one of the more "black and white" people I know. Just ask anyone who knows me well. But it has softened and mellowed with age. I don't think its compromise. I think that I just realize more each day how little I know. But I don't think I ever had that sarcastic, condescending attitude that seems so prevalent here in blogdom. I hope not. (Some of my friends would probably chuckle and think, "Are you kidding me????")
Anyway, when I read some of these, I wish I could just sit down with the person, hand them a cup of coffee, and ask, "Why are you so angry? Do you really think that Jesus would handle things the same way?" And then they would probably remind me of how he made a whip and cleansed the temple, and called the Pharisees a bunch of snakes. Jesus wasn't wishy washy. He wasn't afraid to step on a few toes. But everything He did was motivated by love.
And sometimes when I read these folks, I don't feel the love.
The prophet Jeremiah spoke some pretty strong stuff against Israel. And he wept for his people. Isaiah said some scary things. And he made some of the most profound declarations of God's love and care for His people that are found in all of scripture. Jesus called the religious leaders "white washed tombs full of dead men's bones." Sweet. And then he laid down his life in the ultimate act of love for those people.
I guess I just think we need to make sure our hearts are filled with His love before we put on our John the Baptist hat. Ridiculing and mocking people probably wont bring them to a change of heart.
We don't want to walk in compromise, but we do want to walk in a love that is pure and free from judgment, anger, and pride.
Help, Lord.
"Look at me. I am so smart. And everyone else is sooooooooo screwed up!"
Its sad.
Don't get me wrong. I am one of the more "black and white" people I know. Just ask anyone who knows me well. But it has softened and mellowed with age. I don't think its compromise. I think that I just realize more each day how little I know. But I don't think I ever had that sarcastic, condescending attitude that seems so prevalent here in blogdom. I hope not. (Some of my friends would probably chuckle and think, "Are you kidding me????")
Anyway, when I read some of these, I wish I could just sit down with the person, hand them a cup of coffee, and ask, "Why are you so angry? Do you really think that Jesus would handle things the same way?" And then they would probably remind me of how he made a whip and cleansed the temple, and called the Pharisees a bunch of snakes. Jesus wasn't wishy washy. He wasn't afraid to step on a few toes. But everything He did was motivated by love.
And sometimes when I read these folks, I don't feel the love.
The prophet Jeremiah spoke some pretty strong stuff against Israel. And he wept for his people. Isaiah said some scary things. And he made some of the most profound declarations of God's love and care for His people that are found in all of scripture. Jesus called the religious leaders "white washed tombs full of dead men's bones." Sweet. And then he laid down his life in the ultimate act of love for those people.
I guess I just think we need to make sure our hearts are filled with His love before we put on our John the Baptist hat. Ridiculing and mocking people probably wont bring them to a change of heart.
We don't want to walk in compromise, but we do want to walk in a love that is pure and free from judgment, anger, and pride.
Help, Lord.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Let us run
Song of Solomon 1:4 Draw me after You; let us run.
Jesus told a parable about a sower. If you have walked with the Lord for any length of time, you are very familiar with it. He compared the message of the gospel to seed sown in various types of soil. Based on His interpretation to His disciples, most people don't end up bearing the sort of fruit that He intends for us to have in our lives. He explains several reasons for this. Spiritual warfare and lack of depth in those initial encounters with the truth are mentioned first. Then He gives the one that I most often battle with myself.
"As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful."
The cares of the world. It is so easy to get buried with the cares of the world. Life is so busy, and there is so much to deal with. We jump out of bed in the morning, run off to work, compete with co-workers for job security and that promotion we "need", compete with other companies for market share, and then fight the traffic to get home, inhale some dinner, rush off to a soccer game, or a band concert, or a board meeting, or a bowling league, or any of a million other things. If we do happen to stay home for the evening, we typically settle in front of the television, where we are bombarded by "entertainment" that glorifies sin about 95% of the time. In between segments the commercials tell us how unhappy and inadequate our lives are without a shiny new car, or a Caribbean cruise, or the newest drug to enhance sexual performance. So, when we sit down to "relax", we are still driven by the spirit of this world. We finally go to bed exhausted, and wake up the next morning a little tired, and climb back on the treadmill. This is no great profound insight. Thousands of books have been written over the past few decades on "the rat race", and how to get out of it. But most of us don't. Its not as easy as the books make it sound. This world system is addictive. I want out. I want to run after something deeper and better. I don't want to run after things that are destined to perish.
I want to run after Him. I want to live like the faithful of Hebrews 11. The writer describes the faithfulness of several; Noah, Abraham, and Sarah. And then he says this about them.
Hebrews 11:13-16
All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
I want to run with Him. Its not a type of running that is driven. Its not running to avoid missing the bus. Its not running in fear of coming up short. Its running to get somewhere because you just cant wait for something to happen. You have seen it at the airport. He is pacing back and forth, looking at his watch every few minutes, and then staring out the window. When is that plane going to land? He walks down to check the departure/arrival schedule. Its still on time. The waiting is killing him. Then the plane lands, and still he has to wait. He scans the faces of the people coming up the ramp. Was she sitting in the very back seat? Did she miss her flight? What is taking so long? Then he sees her. And he starts to run. He cant help it. He just wants to feel her in his arms once again. He is running, and nothing will stop him until he reaches her.
Its like that. I want Him. I want His purposes. I want that life He created us for. I want to live in that "city" He has prepared for us. I don't want to settle for the "passing pleasures of sin". I want to run with Him.
I want to run with Him.
Jesus told a parable about a sower. If you have walked with the Lord for any length of time, you are very familiar with it. He compared the message of the gospel to seed sown in various types of soil. Based on His interpretation to His disciples, most people don't end up bearing the sort of fruit that He intends for us to have in our lives. He explains several reasons for this. Spiritual warfare and lack of depth in those initial encounters with the truth are mentioned first. Then He gives the one that I most often battle with myself.
"As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful."
The cares of the world. It is so easy to get buried with the cares of the world. Life is so busy, and there is so much to deal with. We jump out of bed in the morning, run off to work, compete with co-workers for job security and that promotion we "need", compete with other companies for market share, and then fight the traffic to get home, inhale some dinner, rush off to a soccer game, or a band concert, or a board meeting, or a bowling league, or any of a million other things. If we do happen to stay home for the evening, we typically settle in front of the television, where we are bombarded by "entertainment" that glorifies sin about 95% of the time. In between segments the commercials tell us how unhappy and inadequate our lives are without a shiny new car, or a Caribbean cruise, or the newest drug to enhance sexual performance. So, when we sit down to "relax", we are still driven by the spirit of this world. We finally go to bed exhausted, and wake up the next morning a little tired, and climb back on the treadmill. This is no great profound insight. Thousands of books have been written over the past few decades on "the rat race", and how to get out of it. But most of us don't. Its not as easy as the books make it sound. This world system is addictive. I want out. I want to run after something deeper and better. I don't want to run after things that are destined to perish.
I want to run after Him. I want to live like the faithful of Hebrews 11. The writer describes the faithfulness of several; Noah, Abraham, and Sarah. And then he says this about them.
Hebrews 11:13-16
All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
I want to run with Him. Its not a type of running that is driven. Its not running to avoid missing the bus. Its not running in fear of coming up short. Its running to get somewhere because you just cant wait for something to happen. You have seen it at the airport. He is pacing back and forth, looking at his watch every few minutes, and then staring out the window. When is that plane going to land? He walks down to check the departure/arrival schedule. Its still on time. The waiting is killing him. Then the plane lands, and still he has to wait. He scans the faces of the people coming up the ramp. Was she sitting in the very back seat? Did she miss her flight? What is taking so long? Then he sees her. And he starts to run. He cant help it. He just wants to feel her in his arms once again. He is running, and nothing will stop him until he reaches her.
Its like that. I want Him. I want His purposes. I want that life He created us for. I want to live in that "city" He has prepared for us. I don't want to settle for the "passing pleasures of sin". I want to run with Him.
I want to run with Him.
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