Have you ever known that person that was all talk about stuff? You probably know the kind of person that I'm referring to here. It's the person that is more than happy to TELL you all about what great things they have done or can do, and yet you've never actually seen them DO these things that they are talking about being able to do. It can be pretty tiresome and annoying. After all, we want proof that they can do what they are saying they can do.
In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (that's the 2nd book in case you didn't know that) there is a character by the name of Gilderoy Lockhart. Lockhart is a very famous, very good looking wizard. He has published numerous books about the things that he has done and on top of that he talks a big game ALL THE TIME. He is always telling various teachers what a great wizard he is and making wild claims about things. The only problem is that when push comes to shove, Lockhart is exposed for what he was: a fake. He has been able to talk big and fool many people, but when evidence was called for, when it was time to back up all the claims, Lockhart's facade crumbled.
The same holds true for us as Christ followers. It's one thing for us to talk a big game about following Jesus and being a Christian. But when it comes down to it, when it is time for us to go beyond the words, then what will people see? Will they see someone who actually lives out the faith that they claim to have? Or will they find a person that is a shell of what they have claimed to be? John the Baptist seems to have stated it best in Matthew 3:8. He said to PROVE by the way you LIVE that youthat you have this faith, not just by the words you say.
The Pharisees and the "religious" leaders that John was speakking to talked a big game when it came to faith in God. But what they said didn't match what they were doing. Is that what people will see in us? Or will they see an open, true, genuine faith that gives proof that we have turned from sin and are going hard after God? Peace and Love y'all.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Too Light
Do you remember that old VBS song? You know the one:
So in Luke 11:33 Jesus talks about us having this light in our lives. He makes the point that no one lights a lamp and then goes and hides it, or puts it under a basket. That would be pointless really. Instead when you light a lamp like that you would make sure that it was in a place where the light could be seen and would be useful.
After I graduated from high school, my family moved from Midland to Snyder (that's all in West Texas in case you are wondering). One of the things that we did at our new house was to put up a basketball goal. The only real problem was that the only outside light we had didn't really shine bright enough and throw far enough for us to be able to play at night. Then one of my parents showed us something that we had. In the garage we had a much brighter work light that we could move out there. So we would plug in the work light, place it on the corner of the roof and be good go even though it was dark. I would have pointless for us to have this light and to take it out and plug it in and then stick it behind a wall on in the flower bed.
That is what Jesus is talking about here. As Christ's followers we have his light burning inside of us. But if we hide it or try to cover it up, what good is that to us or anyone else? This world is a dark place desperately in need of the Light, and it is up to us to shine that light for others to see. Peace and Love y'all.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Hide it under a bushel-NO! I'm gonna let it shine. Hide it under a bushel-NO! I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Won't let satan whufff it out, I'm gonna let it shine. Won't let satan whufff it out, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.Man that was a great song for vacation Bible school and children's Sunday school and stuff like that. It made a point and it was fun to sing. I remember doing all the hand motions and stuff like that and getting up in church to sing this song.
So in Luke 11:33 Jesus talks about us having this light in our lives. He makes the point that no one lights a lamp and then goes and hides it, or puts it under a basket. That would be pointless really. Instead when you light a lamp like that you would make sure that it was in a place where the light could be seen and would be useful.
After I graduated from high school, my family moved from Midland to Snyder (that's all in West Texas in case you are wondering). One of the things that we did at our new house was to put up a basketball goal. The only real problem was that the only outside light we had didn't really shine bright enough and throw far enough for us to be able to play at night. Then one of my parents showed us something that we had. In the garage we had a much brighter work light that we could move out there. So we would plug in the work light, place it on the corner of the roof and be good go even though it was dark. I would have pointless for us to have this light and to take it out and plug it in and then stick it behind a wall on in the flower bed.
That is what Jesus is talking about here. As Christ's followers we have his light burning inside of us. But if we hide it or try to cover it up, what good is that to us or anyone else? This world is a dark place desperately in need of the Light, and it is up to us to shine that light for others to see. Peace and Love y'all.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Patriot Games
The time has come to start again. I am planning to start writing again on this blog on a regular basis and with daily topics once again. So with that said, the topic for Mondays have in the past been sports, so here we go.
Lots of great stuff in the sports world over the last 5 days it seems like. From the BCS National Championship game in college football (The Alabama Crimson Tide rolled over the Texas Longhorns 37-21 to win their 13th national championship) to the first round of the NFL playoffs (Cowboys won their first playoff game in 13 years; the Cardinals won a shoot-out, 96 combined points, on, of all things, a defensive play in overtime) it was a great 5 days of football (I honestly didn't pay close enough attention to any of the other sports that were going on).
But in all of that there was one thing that did seem to stand out and it happened yesterday. The New England Patriots showed that they are possibly on the downside of being a dynasty when they lost to the Baltimore Ravens 33-14. Not that big of a deal really just to look at the score. The thing that IS a big deal about it is the fact that it was a loss at home for the Patriots. And in the playoffs, well, that just doesn't happen. Not since 1978 at least, which they showed yesterday was over 11,000 days since they last lost a home playoff game.
Lets think about that for a moment. It has been 32 years since the last time these guys lost at home in the playoffs. That's three decades of dominance for them on their home field. I mean what kind of crazy advantage is that? There have been so many things that have happened in that time span. Here is a list of things that have happened in my life alone since the last time the Patriots lost at home in the playoffs:
Lots of great stuff in the sports world over the last 5 days it seems like. From the BCS National Championship game in college football (The Alabama Crimson Tide rolled over the Texas Longhorns 37-21 to win their 13th national championship) to the first round of the NFL playoffs (Cowboys won their first playoff game in 13 years; the Cardinals won a shoot-out, 96 combined points, on, of all things, a defensive play in overtime) it was a great 5 days of football (I honestly didn't pay close enough attention to any of the other sports that were going on).
But in all of that there was one thing that did seem to stand out and it happened yesterday. The New England Patriots showed that they are possibly on the downside of being a dynasty when they lost to the Baltimore Ravens 33-14. Not that big of a deal really just to look at the score. The thing that IS a big deal about it is the fact that it was a loss at home for the Patriots. And in the playoffs, well, that just doesn't happen. Not since 1978 at least, which they showed yesterday was over 11,000 days since they last lost a home playoff game.
Lets think about that for a moment. It has been 32 years since the last time these guys lost at home in the playoffs. That's three decades of dominance for them on their home field. I mean what kind of crazy advantage is that? There have been so many things that have happened in that time span. Here is a list of things that have happened in my life alone since the last time the Patriots lost at home in the playoffs:
- I had three brothers born in that time.
- I went all the way from elementary school through college graduation.
- I got married.
- I had three children.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Being "that" Fan
One of my favorite things is sports. If you know me, you probably know this little tidbit of information already. If not and you are reading this just because, well I like sports. Football and basketball take the top two spots for me, but really I like others as well. And I like them at just about all levels (no matter how painful they may be to watch at times). But there is one thing about sports, and especially going to a sporting event in a small gym or football field that is hard to deal with: The obnoxious fan.
You know the one I'm sure. It's the person that sits in the stands and yells (wanting to be heard of course) at the refs, at the coaches, and the kids. It's the kind of thing that I am afraid of doing myself when my kids are actually old enough to participate in games that aren't as painful to watch. It's part of the reason that I am not sure about ever coaching my kids in pee-wee sports. I'm afraid that I would make myself look bad. Granted I have done this before and been reprimanded for it. I sit there at games now and can hear this type of fan yelling and I think the same thing that a couple next to me voiced: "This isn't Little Dribblers anymore. Nobody wants to listen to that now."
The thing that gets me though is when the person isn't just yelling indiscriminately, but instead is yelling very specifically, usually at their own kid. I can understand having a passion for the sport (or just sports in general) and even the desire to see your team and your kid do well. But is it really called for to yell at or to your child things that aren't exactly encouraging? My parents were great when it came to my sports. They were there and they were supportive, but thankfully they didn't yell at me about what I was supposed to do (in part that may be because they didn't really know any different). I remember a friend's dad who would come down and stand on the track behind us at Junior High football games and yell stuff at his son. Look let me put it like this, you're not coming off great to the folks around you. People that I've been around aren't generally supportive (or always appreciative) of this kind of thing. I know you're trying to help, to get a call, to get your kid to realize what's going on. I'm just saying that it may not be the best way to go about it.
I think in a lot of ways, people take that same view of Christians. Here we are on the outside, not in the heat of doing life with these people, and yet we are voicing (loudly usually) instructions about how they should be doing stuff. We are pacing on the track yelling out at those who are actully playing. What good does that do? Honestly, even if they hear us, do we think they are going to suddenly just listen to us? I think this is one of the reasons that Christians are often times seen as being that obnoxious sports fan. We think we know everything and we will loudly voice it for all those around us to hear, and yet what we doing to really help make a change?
In Acts 2:42-47 it talks about the early church. If you are a part of our youth ministry then you know that what we call it is 2Forty2. This refers to Acts 2:42, which talks about what the early believers did as far as worship, and prayer and fellowship and breaking bread together. But when we read further we also see that they shared what they had, not just amongst themselves but with others as there was need. They saw a problem and they found a way to deal with it, they didn't simply shout solutions. Then in verse 47b we reach the real kicker: "They enjoyed the good will of all the people. And God added to their number daily those who were being saved." They were not the obnoxious sports fan. This is what our call is. To live out our faith in such a way that people are drawn to us, not repelled by us. And that is hard to do, just like it is sometimes hard to not be that obnoxious fan in the stands. Peace and Love y'all.
You know the one I'm sure. It's the person that sits in the stands and yells (wanting to be heard of course) at the refs, at the coaches, and the kids. It's the kind of thing that I am afraid of doing myself when my kids are actually old enough to participate in games that aren't as painful to watch. It's part of the reason that I am not sure about ever coaching my kids in pee-wee sports. I'm afraid that I would make myself look bad. Granted I have done this before and been reprimanded for it. I sit there at games now and can hear this type of fan yelling and I think the same thing that a couple next to me voiced: "This isn't Little Dribblers anymore. Nobody wants to listen to that now."
The thing that gets me though is when the person isn't just yelling indiscriminately, but instead is yelling very specifically, usually at their own kid. I can understand having a passion for the sport (or just sports in general) and even the desire to see your team and your kid do well. But is it really called for to yell at or to your child things that aren't exactly encouraging? My parents were great when it came to my sports. They were there and they were supportive, but thankfully they didn't yell at me about what I was supposed to do (in part that may be because they didn't really know any different). I remember a friend's dad who would come down and stand on the track behind us at Junior High football games and yell stuff at his son. Look let me put it like this, you're not coming off great to the folks around you. People that I've been around aren't generally supportive (or always appreciative) of this kind of thing. I know you're trying to help, to get a call, to get your kid to realize what's going on. I'm just saying that it may not be the best way to go about it.
I think in a lot of ways, people take that same view of Christians. Here we are on the outside, not in the heat of doing life with these people, and yet we are voicing (loudly usually) instructions about how they should be doing stuff. We are pacing on the track yelling out at those who are actully playing. What good does that do? Honestly, even if they hear us, do we think they are going to suddenly just listen to us? I think this is one of the reasons that Christians are often times seen as being that obnoxious sports fan. We think we know everything and we will loudly voice it for all those around us to hear, and yet what we doing to really help make a change?
In Acts 2:42-47 it talks about the early church. If you are a part of our youth ministry then you know that what we call it is 2Forty2. This refers to Acts 2:42, which talks about what the early believers did as far as worship, and prayer and fellowship and breaking bread together. But when we read further we also see that they shared what they had, not just amongst themselves but with others as there was need. They saw a problem and they found a way to deal with it, they didn't simply shout solutions. Then in verse 47b we reach the real kicker: "They enjoyed the good will of all the people. And God added to their number daily those who were being saved." They were not the obnoxious sports fan. This is what our call is. To live out our faith in such a way that people are drawn to us, not repelled by us. And that is hard to do, just like it is sometimes hard to not be that obnoxious fan in the stands. Peace and Love y'all.
Star Gazing
Sunday morning we were sitting in church. A pretty typical thing for me on a Sunday morning really. In case you were wondering, Sunday was also the 9th day of Christmas. So I got up to read the scripture for the day which was Matthew 2:1-12. It is the part of the story of Jesus' birth that talks about the Magi coming to see him, about how they saw the star in the West and followed it, possibly for two years, in order to worship the King of the Jews that had been born. It is a great story and has a lot of great things in it that we can and should consider.
Yesterday however a thought occurred to me that I had never had before about the star. First of all let me say to you, think about everything you have have heard or seen when it comes to the Star of Bethlehem. What comes to mind? Is it some small pin prick of light that just happens to shine a bit brighter, perhaps like the North star? It seems that on most occasions when we think about this star, or we see a rendering of it it is pretty much a huge shining beacon in the night sky lighting the way not only for the Magi but for the shepherds and even some incoming air traffic. It seems that everyone believes that this star was like a spot light marking the location of where Jesus was for all to see.
And that's fine, and maybe it was that way. But if that were the case, why didn't (or couldn't) Herod and all his advisers see it outside of their city? Maybe it was because they lived in the city and the street lights and office lights were just too bright, I don't know. All I know is that if this star was as big and bright as what we tend to believe, it seems like it should have been hard to miss, and at the least someone should have noticed and maybe pointed it out to Herod so they could investigate. As I thought about this question in the last 36+ hours I have come up with a couple of reasons.
1) Herod and his "people" were blinded to the star. I can't help but wonder if it was a hard heartedness that kept them from seeing this sign from God that he was doing something in their very midst. In Habakkuk 1:5 God says that he is going to be doing a new thing. Herod was not the kind of king who was really hip to doing "new things". I think it is possible that they were blinded in some way to what was going on right there around them. It's the same way that people are today. God can be moving in the very midst of people, and yet some are so hard hearted, so determined not to see or acknowledge Him that they are basically blind to what is being done.
2) They weren't really looking something to happen. When the Magi come to Herod and tell him about the star and why they are there, the first thing Herod does is to call aside his priests and teachers and scribes and ask them about where the Messiah is supposed to be born. They all know the prophecy and tell him where Jesus has been born. Yet even knowing this information it seems that they weren't really looking for something to happen. Again we are this way at times. We have the information, we know what we need to know, and yet we are not really looking for anything to go down, therefore we miss what God is doing.
3) They didn't know what to look FOR. When the Magi arrived they talked about how they had been watching the sky and the stars and had seen this star as a sign that the King of the Jews had been born. These were not men who claimed to follow the One True God as the Jews did. These were people who followed the patterns in the stars and relied on that to navigate through life. Yet in the end, they knew what they were looking for when it came to the star that they saw. They recognized that there was something special going on and they wanted to be a part of it. Herod and the others didn't even seem to know where to start with all this.
So where do we fall in all of this? Are we like Herod who was hard hearted and didn't want to see what God was doing or are we more like the Magi who saw that God was doing something and knew that whatever it was they wanted/needed to be a part of it? That is something that we have to figure out and decide for ourselves. What choice will we make? Peace and Love y'all.
Yesterday however a thought occurred to me that I had never had before about the star. First of all let me say to you, think about everything you have have heard or seen when it comes to the Star of Bethlehem. What comes to mind? Is it some small pin prick of light that just happens to shine a bit brighter, perhaps like the North star? It seems that on most occasions when we think about this star, or we see a rendering of it it is pretty much a huge shining beacon in the night sky lighting the way not only for the Magi but for the shepherds and even some incoming air traffic. It seems that everyone believes that this star was like a spot light marking the location of where Jesus was for all to see.
And that's fine, and maybe it was that way. But if that were the case, why didn't (or couldn't) Herod and all his advisers see it outside of their city? Maybe it was because they lived in the city and the street lights and office lights were just too bright, I don't know. All I know is that if this star was as big and bright as what we tend to believe, it seems like it should have been hard to miss, and at the least someone should have noticed and maybe pointed it out to Herod so they could investigate. As I thought about this question in the last 36+ hours I have come up with a couple of reasons.
1) Herod and his "people" were blinded to the star. I can't help but wonder if it was a hard heartedness that kept them from seeing this sign from God that he was doing something in their very midst. In Habakkuk 1:5 God says that he is going to be doing a new thing. Herod was not the kind of king who was really hip to doing "new things". I think it is possible that they were blinded in some way to what was going on right there around them. It's the same way that people are today. God can be moving in the very midst of people, and yet some are so hard hearted, so determined not to see or acknowledge Him that they are basically blind to what is being done.
2) They weren't really looking something to happen. When the Magi come to Herod and tell him about the star and why they are there, the first thing Herod does is to call aside his priests and teachers and scribes and ask them about where the Messiah is supposed to be born. They all know the prophecy and tell him where Jesus has been born. Yet even knowing this information it seems that they weren't really looking for something to happen. Again we are this way at times. We have the information, we know what we need to know, and yet we are not really looking for anything to go down, therefore we miss what God is doing.
3) They didn't know what to look FOR. When the Magi arrived they talked about how they had been watching the sky and the stars and had seen this star as a sign that the King of the Jews had been born. These were not men who claimed to follow the One True God as the Jews did. These were people who followed the patterns in the stars and relied on that to navigate through life. Yet in the end, they knew what they were looking for when it came to the star that they saw. They recognized that there was something special going on and they wanted to be a part of it. Herod and the others didn't even seem to know where to start with all this.
So where do we fall in all of this? Are we like Herod who was hard hearted and didn't want to see what God was doing or are we more like the Magi who saw that God was doing something and knew that whatever it was they wanted/needed to be a part of it? That is something that we have to figure out and decide for ourselves. What choice will we make? Peace and Love y'all.
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