Chris Little

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?

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.

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 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?

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 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?

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.

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 a wonderful Easter weekend! As I was contemplating Easter and all that it means for me, the Spirit orchestrated this “thought” in me. “Chris, where do you still need God’s resurrection power in your life?”

Easter is a wonderful time of celebration, but sometimes I wonder if it becomes “another holiday” for us as Christians? I must admit, it started out that way for me this year. My prayer for myself, and you, coming out of this Easter is, “Where do I still need God’s resurrection power?” I do not want a better life just because of a more disciplined life, but because God’s resurrection power has and is transforming my heart/will/mind.

How did God speak to you this week(end)? Where do you still need the resurrection power of Jesus in your life?

God’s love for His people never withers away. It is always spring time. His love for us is like a 24/7, 365 days a year for the rest of our lifetime honeymoon! Who would not sign up for that?
God is love (1 John 4:16). It is his character, his makeup, his nature. If you were to squeeze God like a sponge – love would ooze out. If you were to squeeze some of us – “stuff” other than love would ooze out. How do I know that God is love (1 John 4:7-10)? I know because I have experienced his love. My words are inadequate to describe it – you just have to experience it for yourself.
God’s love motivated him to offer us a gift, a great sacrifice on his part, himself. He literally gave his life so that I could be bought from the marketplace of slavery (Rom. 3:23-25). Real love always leads to sacrifice at some level (1 John 3:16a).
His love and sacrifice has guaranteed us the greatest life. It’s actually a pretty easy life too – love God with every part of your being and love your neighbor as much as you love yourself (Matt. 22:37-39). I got the loving God down most of the time. I am also really good at loving myself – I will go to no amount of expense or inconvenience to show myself love. My neighbor? God, do you know them? Then, it hit me. God is in the same marketplace where he “bought” me ready to buy them too.
Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41) because the people did not understand how much he loved them. Jesus counted the cost (his love persevered) and he still gave his life for mine. God wants me to love others like he has loved me. When was the last time I wept over my neighbors? My kids’ school? The people at the grocery store?
I want to love my neighbor…God, grant me the heart that weeps over them!

Or does it not fail all the time? It seems that way. As I was reading through the 1 Corinthians 13 passage these three words, “Love never fails,” are stuck right in the middle. At first I thought, “Aw! That’s neat.” Then I began to let that settle on me a little bit and thought, “Well, that’s not always true.” I know I’ve failed at loving well and I know others who have experienced the same type of failure. None of us are perfect right? Then I tried to put myself in the shoes of others and it hit me. Anyone who says “Love never fails” is naive and seriously mistaken.
So, how in the world does Paul say “Love never fails?” He says it in full view of the cross. There is no other way to say it and understand it. Love does fail – we have all experienced the pain of love gone bad. Does that make us give up on love? I hope not.
In view of the cross love never fails. Will I ever love anyone like that? Maybe. Can I ever love anyone like that? In view of the cross, yes.

Love is patient. Well, that cuts me out of the “love”. Patience is a virtue that is, and has been, difficult for me to perfect. I want to move on already! It does not help that the culture we live in applauds “instant.” We have instant everything – potatoes, popcorn, news, movies, money. You name it and I bet someone has come up with a way to make it instant! (That reminds me. I LOVE coffee! Which probably does not help with my patience. However, instant coffee is NOT as a good as real brewed coffee. It’s not. Yes, I’ve tried Starbucks’ Via(r) coffee. It’s good for instant, it’s not as good as the brewed. Just a side note…to the young man at Starbucks who tried to convince me it was the same. I appreciate your passion – but, you’re wrong.)
Anyway, a way to assist in being patient is to ask yourself, “Do I have a tendency to be a thermometer or a thermostat?” A thermometer reacts to the temperature. It responds to the heat that is generated and gives a reading accordingly. You know your kid has a temp by checking it with a thermometer. Many times in life, our impatience is due to our living life as a thermometer. We react to the “heat” of life – the situations, circumstances, relationships, etc. – that cause us to get stirred up inside. Then, in a split moment, we spew the stuff inside of us on the “lucky ones” who were present when we couldn’t handle the heat anymore. Unfortunately, too many times it is the ones we love the most – family and friends. They get it because they are “safe”. They can handle the “love” we are giving them.
However, to be a thermostat is a better way to “love” those around us. When we sense life “heating up” we choose to change the temperature. We manipulate the climate by cooling off. How do you cool off? I workout. When I go workout, it relieves stress and allows me to work through life and spew my frustrations on the weights or treadmill. I can tell when I’ve missed a day or two because I start becoming more like a thermometer than a thermostat.
In Proverbs 30: 32-33 it says, “If you have played the fool and exalted yourself, or if you have planned evil, clap your hand over your mouth! For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting a nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.” In other words, before you spew on the ones you love…cover your mouth. You can’t get those words back.
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:1,4) This is what it looks like to be a thermostat – to cover your mouth, change the temperature, and then speak words that are life-giving. We all know the phrase “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is a bunch of crock. How do we know that? We know it, because we have been recipients of words from those that love us the most that were not life-giving…and the searing pain they have caused. If only our loved ones had covered their mouth?!?
Love is… being a thermostat more than a thermometer. What’s the temperature at your house?

Have you noticed how funny a word “love” is? I mean, what does “love” really mean? I love burritos, sports, traveling, my family, and God. Surely, the way I love my family and burritos is not the same…is it? Do you remember doing the ‘ol flower deal? You know, taking the a flower and saying, “She loves me, she loves me not” and making sure that the flower petals work out to where “she loves me” in the last one. Ah, the good old days before eharmony.
In 1 Corinthians 13:4 we see Paul describe “love”. The word has a sacrificial tone. If you were to look up the word love in a dictionary and a picture was next to it to depict what love is it would be of Jesus on the cross. Self sacrifice to the extreme.
When I think about sacrificial love several things come to mind. However, I am drawn back to the movie The March of the Penguins and what sacrifices the mother and father penguin made for their egg. They traveled 70 miles in -80 degree weather, do a dance, and then the dad stays behind and protects the egg from the extreme cold and wind. By the time the new egg is hatched, several dads have died in their quest to protect their young and all of them have gone about 2 months without food. Sacrifice! Love!
Love is a verb…love is a sacrifice…love is…