Hearing from God

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It’s almost football season again. I admit I struggle with my fanaticism when it comes to football. I have to be intentional about how much time, thought, and energy goes into the season. I have my favorite teams and players like many people, but I study football. So, as you might guess, sometimes my passion for football gets in the way of other things.

One of the things it gets in the way of is “hearing”. Imagine the scene with me for a moment: The football game is on and I am studying intensely. Becky comes into the room and begins talking to me. I recognize she is present and I “hear” something, but I am not really listening because of my focus on the game. I say “ok” or something like that and continue watching the game. A little later in the day I vaguely remember that I said “ok” to something, but cannot remember what it is. I look around for the obvious stuff – trash taken out, clean the kitchen, etc. – and hope that those suffice. Sometimes that works. Usually it doesn’t. How do I know? I know because Becky will say, “Did you hear what I said earlier about ____________ ?” It is then that I sheepishly have to admit, “No.”

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I’m learning that to hear my wife during a game I have to stop the game, turn and face her, and engage in active listening. It’s hard to do sometimes – especially when the Cowboys are about to score a touchdown. However, I’ve learned it’s worth it (although the thought just crossed my mind that is a good reason to have Tivo™).

I believe that many of our conversations with God are like this too. We are so focused on our “stuff” that we don’t hear the specific words that God wants to share with us. Our hearts and minds are distracted by all the other voices. It takes effort to put aside the distractions of life to hear from God. However, I guarantee that it is worth it.

What distracts you from hearing from God? When are you most available to hear from God?

P.S. I don’t have N.F.L. Sunday Ticket because that would only feed the hunger. I am tempted, but have refrained so far.

Weird Wednesday

Here are a few weird, wacky facts from the animal kingdom:

* A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.

*A snail can sleep for three years.

* Butterflies taste with their feet.

* The ant always falls over on its right side when intoxicated.

* Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds, but dogs only have about ten.

* An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.

* All polar bears are left handed.

* On average, people fear spiders more than they do death.

* You are more likely to be killed by a Champagne cork than by a poisonous spider.

* Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump.1

What are some crazy animal facts that you know?

1) Excerpted from http://www.crazynews.net/dp/1-35.htm

I Am Angry With You God (Jonah Pt. 3)

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I carry around a box. It’s a nice shiny box. It’s been wrapped up real nice and neat so that when people see my box they think that my God is attractive to them. It’s my duty right? My duty to make it look like God always does things according to how He should so that people will be attracted to Him. However, to be honest, the box underneath the shiny, neat wrapping is all torn up and ugly looking. It has been put back together with duct tape and is all scarred up. That is what my real life looks like underneath the nice, pretty packaging.

Well, a few weeks ago my box was ripped open. A friend mine died way too young, it seemed that I did a thousand funerals, every other person was being diagnosed with cancer or some terminal disease, or they were losing something or someone important to them. It was to the point that I had a heated debate with God over what He was doing. He obviously was not cooperating with my agenda for Him.

I was directed to Jonah 3 & 4 and it seemed that Jonah had walked in the same shoes that I was walking in that week. In Jonah 3 God re-establishes Jonah’s call to share God’s impending doom upon Nineveh. Jonah was excited about the opportunity to see God bring justice to the city of Nineveh. He could not wait to see them get what they deserved. Jonah preaches and the people are moved by God to the point that they repent. Jonah was MAAAADDD!!!! I’m sure Jonah was saying, “God, why do the scum of the world get to experience your grace? They deserve your mighty justice! Wipe ‘em out!” I’ve thought that same thing. I’ve said in my heart,  “God, why do the scum of the earth keep prospering and the good…die young?”

I then thought about all the reasons that I get angry with God. First, is when God does not provide healing when I ask for it. I mean, I am asking for his glory to be done. I know that the person who has been healed from their malady will tell the story of how God healed them and everyone will be moved and give God glory for their healing. I think about the story in John 5:6-16 of the man who sat by the Pool of Bethesda for 30+ years waiting to be the first person into the pool so he can be healed. Then Jesus walks up to him one day and asks the most obvious question ever, “Do you want to be healed?” What the heck? Can you imagine the lame man saying, “Uh, no, I like sitting here. I will pass on the healing offer, but thanks anyway.” The man by the pool said, “Yes.” Jesus told him to get up and take his mat. So he did. He didn’t even know Jesus’ name.

Then I think about the man whose friends brought him to be healed by Jesus but the crowd was so big they couldn’t get to him. So, being good friends, they climbed up on the roof, tore through it and dropped their friend at the feet of Jesus (Luke 5:17-26). Jesus heals him too. I have brought my friends’ needs and dropped them at the feet of Jesus too, but nothing seems to happen. Why? I then read Matthew 21:22 and it tells me, “Whatever you ask for in prayer you will receive, if you have faith.” Do I not have enough faith to ask for my friends and loved ones healing?

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I also get angry with God over shattered dreams. A loss of a job, a loved one, etc. I think of the story of Lazarus and his death (John 11:20-27; 32-35). We know the end of the story and that Lazarus was brought back from the dead, but Mary and Martha didn’t. Their dreams were shattered when Lazarus died. They sent word to Jesus, one of their best friends, and he didn’t show up on time. He was too late. Martha runs out to Jesus when does arrive (late) and tells him, “If only you’d been here!” Mary then hears that Jesus has shown up (late) and falls at his feet and says, “If only you’d been here!” The pain is deep in the midst of shattered dreams. I’ve thought the same thing…”Jesus, if only you’d have been here when I asked you to be here!”

I also get angry with God when I believe he doesn’t care. Remember the story of Jesus and his disciples on a boat in the midst of a storm (Mark 4:35-41)? A storm comes up and the disciples are freaking out. They are using buckets to keep the boat from being overcome by the waves of water and sinking the boat. It’s an all hands on deck situation. They are scrambling around and then someone looks over and sees Jesus…sleeping?! Someone in the group runs over to Jesus and wakes him up. Can you imagine that conversation? “Hey, uh, Jesus…yeah, sorry to wake you but we got a little situation here. Feel those rain drops? Yeah, well…WE ARE ABOUT TO DIE! HOW CAN YOU SLEEP DURING THIS?” Jesus’ response is basically, “Uh, (yawn), why are you guys fearful? Storm, be still.”  It stops… Do you ever feel like God is sleeping at the wheel? Your boat is sinking and he does not seem to give a rip. Or as the disciples asked him, “Do you not care that we are perishing?”

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I also get angry with God when he blows up my theological understanding of Him. I have a doctorate in God. I’m supposed to tell others about how God works; “If you do this, God will do this.”  I was reminded of the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).  You know it well. The younger son comes to the Father and asks for his inheritance and he gets his half early. The younger son runs off and squanders his inheritance on everything that the Father has told him to stay away from as a young man. He does it with an intention of hurting the heart of his Father. The whole time the older son is at home performing his duties, doing his thing, and being obedient to what his Father asks of him. The older son cannot wait to hear the “dressing down” his younger brother is going to get when he comes home after spending his inheritance. He loves to see justice given out. Then one day the older brother comes in from his duties and  hears a party going on and I bet he is thinking, “Finally, father is going to celebrate me. Yes, I’m getting some big-time gifts.” Then a servant tells him, “Uh, that’s for your younger brother. He has come home. Your father has lavished him with gifts…” The older brother thought, “What?! I’ve been the good son. I’ve been here the whole time doing what the Father asked. I deserve the party, not my brother. He deserves justice!” I’m the older brother.

So, when do you get angry with God? Why do you get angry with him? God has reminded me, “My ways are not your ways Chris; My thoughts are not your thoughts Chris.” Then I’m reminded of Romans 6:23 and what the wages of my sin is…okay, I’m really deserving of those wages, BUT I’ve accepted his grace. I’ve convinced myself that I deserved God’s grace more than “those people.”

Jonah went away from Nineveh pouting & angry because God offered grace to “those people.” He wanted justice for the people Nineveh. He was just extended grace, but he deserved it. Jonah’s God-box had been ripped apart.

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Well, my box has been ripped apart. I keep duct-taping it. When God jumps out of my box that I have for him and I get angry, upset, or want to quit I have to run back to the simple truth’s. This time I was reminded of the song Jesus Loves Me. Remember the words? Jesus Loves Me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, for we are weak and He is strong…

Monday is for Marriages

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The Gore’s announced their impending divorce last week. Who knows what are the reasons?  I am sure there are a myriad of reasons, excuses and blame to go around. However, the important part is that these two have decided to call it quits. They have been married for 40 years. That is a long time in my book.

Hearing their story made me think about several important parts of the recipe for a successful marriage. The one that kept rising to the top of the list was being intentional about romance. In know, it doesn’t sound very romantic. However, romance is almost always intentional. It takes thought and preparation to do many of the things that are “romantic”.The better you know your spouse, the more romantic you can be. Giving your spouse flowers, chocolate, and a store bought card that expresses your love for your spouse that they don’t know is potentially expected, but not necessarily romantic.

So, what is the most romantic thing you have done for your spouse this month?

Jonah Pt. 2 – When Your Life Is In The Pits

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Life is a journey and along that journey we need pit-stops. These pit-stops are for rest, refreshment, refreshing your GPS, and more. These are pit-stops that we have planned or at least want. However, there are pit-stops in life that are not planned: death, health issues, loss of job, kids’ issues.

This is where we find Jonah. He had been on a self-imposed pit-stop at the beginning of Jonah (1:1) and now he is on an unplanned, God directed pit-stop. Jonah was running from God, had gotten on a boat and a storm came up and freaked out the sailors because they thought they were going to die. Jonah was crashed out below because running from God is a tiresome exercise. Jonah has been running as fast he can from God and he has not produced the results he has wanted . . . God is still pursuing him!

While we try to get away and do everything we can to numb our souls from God’s call on our lives, he is still there with us. You cannot out-run, out-wait, out-maneuver, or out-sin God. God’s grace does whatever it takes for Him to come and get us (Luke 15:4-9). Jonah’s life was literally flashing before him. He life was in the pits  (Jonah 2:5-6) to the point that he saw the “roots of the mountains”. God’s grace may be confrontational, disruptive, frightening, or demanding, but it will save your life.

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What was God’s grace in this moment? He had the crew throw Jonah overboard and make him believe that he was going to drown (Jonah 1:15). God’s grace in this moment is that he showing Jonah that even in his deepest moments of despair and when there seems to be no way out, He is there. Jonah is swallowed up by a whale at just the right time to save his life. A whale? A nasty, stinky old whale?

My natural inclination as a parent would be to hold my child closer. My grace is too naturally to rescue my kids and to provide protection for them so that they “don’t get hurt”. However, there are times that the best thing I can do for my child is to push them out of the boat into the trusting care of the Father.

So, when your life is in the pits remember that:

1) God is in control – he allowed the storms and provided the fish.

2) God is in good even when your life is in the pits – he did provide the fish!

3) God is running with you – you cannot out-run, out-wit, out-maneuver, or out-sin God.

4) God still has a plan for you – in Jonah 3:1-2, we see God repeat his call to Jonah after he was vomited back onto dry land. Jesus did the same for Peter in John 21:15-19. Peter had denied Jesus three times and now Jesus asked him three times if Peter loved him. Of course, Peter said yes all three times and then Jesus said to him what he said to him the first time he called him to be his disciple, “Follow me.”

Jonah (Pt. 1)

Jonah is a great story. It mimics many of our lives and our faith journeys. Jonah is someone who loves God and wants to be faithful to Him. So, we find him praying and asking God to use him. Now, if you don’t really want God to use you, don’t ask. Example: If you don’t really want patience, don’t pray for it, because the process of attaining patience is not fun! Jonah finds this out the hard way. He asked and he was told to go to Nineveh.

Nineveh was the last place that Jonah thought God would send him. As a matter of non-fact, I bet Jonah said, “God, what the heck are you thinking? Don’t YOU know those people?” Jonah did not like the people Nineveh. I’m sure he had plenty of reasons to not like them. They had a reputation for wickedness, evil, and ruthlessness in battle. I can imagine that he had all kinds of emotions running around on the inside when God told him to preach to the city Nineveh (Jonah 1:2).  Has God ever asked you to do something that struck fear into your heart?

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Jonah heard from God and he chose to run from the job that he had been given.  Actually, he ran in the opposite direction from Nineveh. Have you ever run from God? Why do we run? Do we really believe that we can outrun God? I mean, does God get tired of running and give up? Do we think we are playing the childhood pool game of  “Marco Polo” and that if we don’t respond with “Polo” he’s not going to find us? I believe we run for a variety of reasons: fear, the task seems too daunting, unbelief that God would want us to really deal with those people, or my personal favorite – God, you must not understand, that is not apart of my plan(s) that I have asked you to bless.

What is God asking you to do right now? Are you ready and willing to jump in and do it? Are you thinking about running? What is making you think running is a better solution than obedience?

Memorials

Memorial Day at Little Big Horn

Memorials are an important part of life. God had the Hebrews build memorials along their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Why did God command them to build memorials? So that their children would ask, “Why is that there?” The parents could then use the memorials as “teachable moments.”

As a nation, we have established many memorials over the years. They are all over the U.S. for the purpose of adults and children asking, “Why is that there? What does it mean?” It allows us to tell the story of our nation.

Families establish memorials too. Over the years a family builds memorials at different places. The dinner table is a memorial at our house. We love to gather around it and share stories about the day, dreams for the days ahead, and lots of laughter. Our bedtime tradition is a memorial too. We gather before going to bed, read a story, play a game, pray, and laugh a lot. One of my favorite memorials is on our back deck during the summer. We eat meals outside and then light a fire in the firepit (if the wind is not blowing 1,000 mph). We sit around, look at the moon and stars, roast marshmallows, talk and laugh, and just enjoy being together. What are the memorials in your home now? Growing up?

Fire pit on the back deck

Memorial Day is coming up this weekend. May your family take a moment and give thanks for the men and women who have given their all for our freedom. May their sacrifice remind you of Jesus’ sacrifice for you. May you enjoy that freedom and sacrifice by making a memorial with your family. May it be a weekend that you remember for years to come.

Do you want a chance to change the world?

In Apple Confidential the author tells the story of Steve Jobs’  pursuit and interaction with John Scully (then CEO of PEPSICO). Jobs and Scully discussed the opportunity of joining the Apple team for a little while and then Jobs lays out a challenge. He said, “Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water, or do you want a chance to change the world?”

Jesus asked his disciples basically the same question when he asked if they were willing to “Come follow me.” The disciples threw down whatever they were doing – fishing, collecting taxes, building stuff – and followed him for a chance to change the world. They did not fully understand what that meant when they started out in their new venture. However, along the way they were so convinced of the product they were selling they were willing to die to for it.

We are told that Jesus came into the world so that we might “have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10b). I see two parts to this promise. The first is the promise of an eternal, spiritual life through Jesus’ death on the cross. The second is a life now that has meaning and purpose beyond just the mundane of everyday. If Jesus is our model for living the answer could be found in examining his life & habits. Let’s see…he prayed on a regular basis, studied the bible, went to the Temple, participated in a small group, mentored a few people, and did ministry according to his passions & gifts. Does that sound radical?

What about his disciples? If they modeled their life after Jesus what did they do? I mean, maybe Jesus offered them some keen insight to them before he died. Well, they prayed on a regular basis, studied the bible, went to Temple and house churches, participated in small groups, mentored people, and did ministry according to their passions & gifts. That doesn’t sound too radical either?

It could be “hidden” in Jesus’ words when he said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:34-35). What does Jesus mean? I think he is saying that the “full life” comes from pursuing him and giving your life (what people have a tendency to call life – my comfort, convenience, etc.)  away in the pursuit of seeing others see Jesus through our us.

Maybe another way to put it is,  “Is there enough evidence (less of you and more of Jesus) to convict you of being a disciple of Jesus” (James 2:14-26)?

What will history write about you? He/She had a chance to change the world? Or will history have to add the infamous “but” to the lost opportunities?

Do you want to spend the rest of your life __________________________, or do you want a chance to change the world?

What is Your Family Doing this Summer?

Spring Break and Easter are behind us. That means summer is quickly barreling down upon us. As I child I loved the summer break. I would run, play, and just felt more “free” during the summer. I don’t know what my parents thought about summer though. It was probably more of a hassle for them to figure out what to do with me, because now being a parent I understand that my kids’ freedom usually costs me money and is not so “free.”

Summer is a wonderful time to invest more time and energy into our children. Some of you may be tired already just thinking about the energy it takes to keep going during the summer as you spend time with kids. (It would be nice if there was a magic “parent pill” that you could take sometimes to get the little extra boost you need to keep up. I used to think naps were for the kids’ benefit…now I know better).  As a parent, how can you maximize your summer time and not get burned out?

Bucket Full of Water Balloons

Here a few thoughts that I have that may help you:

  • Do a pre-flight safety check and announcement. If you have flown in a decent sized airplane recently you have had this happen. We should do this as well – before, during, and prior to landing – our summer schedules. What are you checking? You are making sure that you are keeping your life roles in proper perspective. First, you are a Christ follower; second, you are a spouse; third, you are a parent; fourth, you are a . . . and so on.  Remember they tell you on the plane to always put your oxygen mask on first before helping anyone next to you. Not putting your oxygen mask on first could be detrimental to you and the one you want to assist.
  • Check your fatigue meter. Have you over committed? Look at your schedule/calendar and plan some down time that allows you to relax and be refreshed.
  • Check your relationship gauge. Are you under connected? Are you spending time with your spouse without the kiddos? Are you spending time with adult friends (with or without the kids)?
  • Draw a picture of your child as a young adult. Next to your picture, even if it’s a stick figure, write down characteristics & qualities that you desire your children to have. What experiences do they need to have to help forge those? Use the summer to spur growth in your child – spiritually, physically, emotionally, and intellectually.
  • Have fun! Let your kids be kids. Turn on the water sprinkler and run through it. Choose to be spontaneous and just enjoy your kids. This is a special time – do not miss it!

Splat! I just “whomped” you with a water balloon…what you going to do about?

Looking forward to summer,

If You Could Choose Your Artist

Imagine with me for a moment that you really want someone to create a sculpture of you to stand for eternity. I know it sounds very narcissistic, but just pretend. Who would you choose? You have all the great master sculptors throughout history at your disposal. Who would want to be the one to “interpret” you and create the image of you that others would see and get their perspective of who you were from that one piece of art?
In case you did not know, you are already a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Ephesians 2:10 describes you as a unique poem – one that has never been before or will ever be written again – you are a masterpiece of the Creator of all art. The One who inspires all art.
However, many times we are too embarrassed by the original art work that we are, and decide to allow other artists to shape and mold us. We allow these other artists to shape and mold us because we want to be liked by the masses, we want to fit in, we do not want to be too original. Who are these other “artists”? Our culture – the voices of the day.
Who would dare walk up to “The Mona Lisa” and attempt to make it better? Only fools . . .

As a Christ follower, you have been made into a new creation by the Master Artist. You are unique. Why do you allow other “artists” to dictate to you what you are to be? Why do you allow them to chisel away at what is already been completed and determined to be a masterpiece? It is because you have chosen to listen to the wrong critics. You desire the applause from the masses, instead of the one who knows you best.
Take a moment a remind yourself – you are a one-of-a-kind, cherished, priceless creation of the Master Artist. Ask yourself, “Whose applause am I pursuing?”

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