Mystery Ride

While on our trip to Tennessee during Spring Break, my family and I visited Dollywood with my wife’s family. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s basically exactly what it sounds like. It is a theme park that Dolly Parton started to help support the commerce in the area where she grew up. Once you get used to the twangy music that pipes through the whole place, you see that it is really quite fun. Not only that, but since it’s built on some of the Smoky mountains there, it’s beautiful.

Of course, I always enjoy the rides the best. I’ve even written about it here in my blog before! Now that my own sons like to ride some of the same rides, It simply doubles the fun for me! (That was a joke--for those that don’t know me, I have twin sons. Get it--double the fun?) There is something special about climbing that first hill in the coaster, and reaching over to reassure my kids, and just knowing I can be there for them. In fact, last summer, when he was on his first roller-coaster, one of my boys said, “I know I’ll be okay since you’ll be with me, daddy.” There’s a lot of theology in that statement, but that’s a blog for another day.

One of my boys is less thrilled about roller-coasters than the other, but for some reason, he got it into his head that the “Mystery Mine Train” would be one he would like and could handle. For the most part, it was an indoor ride made to look like an old mine that was abandoned. There were even some cool pyrotechnics that added to the fun. However, about two seconds into the ride, my son changed his mind. Immediately the ride dipped and dropped and hit some hard, fast turns. If it hadn’t been my own kid, I would have found it funny as he shouted, “I hate this ride, I hate this ride!” and screamed in fear. (Okay, I’m a terrible dad, because now that the incident is past, I do find it funny.)

Then we came to a stop and noticed something odd. The track was directly in front of us. The ride took a ninety-degree turn upward, putting all the riders flat on their backs. As it turns out, what goes up on a roller-coaster, must come down at a much faster rate. It dropped us turned us, twisted us, and flipped us upside down before coming to another abrupt stop. This time it was pitch black. After just a moment, strobe lights from above us barely illuminated the track, revealing yet another straight up climb, only this one was much higher, and as it tipped us forward to drop us, the aforementioned pyrotechnics blasted just over our head, leaving us feeling the heat as we plummeted once again. As a final nail in the coffin that once was my son’s adventurous spirit, and further sealing the fact that he will probably never get on a ride again, the ride went through a corkscrew, but left us upside down for about 25 feet of track. I’ve been upside down quite a few times, but being left to ride that was was new for me.

Finally, the ride ended, and everyone survived. All I could do was apologize to my son, even though he was the one who was convinced that he should ride the “Mystery Mine Train.” I just felt responsible, because he had these expectations built up in his head, and I could do nothing to warn him of the truth and let him know what horrible thing really lay ahead.

Fortunately, many of us DO know things for which we feel the need to warn people. We gladly tell people which dishes not to order at a particular restaurant, which movie not to see in the theaters, which cell phones don’t work, which mechanics to avoid, and which roads not to travel in order to avoid traffic. We are really good at warning people not to do some things.

Why is it that we are quick to warn people of the things that won’t last forever, like a bad burrito, or a boring movie, but when it comes to eternal things, such as the condition of a sinful soul without Jesus, we keep our mouths shut? Why are we so quick to point out the negatives in life, but simply refuse to share the joy of God’s love with others? I am just as guilty of this as anyone. I can’t count on two hands the number of times in the past couple of weeks that I have had an opportunity to just talk with someone and see if it opened a door, and didn’t even say hello to them. Scripture tells us in more than one place that when this life is over, Jesus waits to greet us, and will separate those He knows through a personal relationship, and those He tells to depart from Him. Those that He sends away are going to a place that will be so much worse than we can imagine. It’s not just a scary ride that we want to warn them about, it’s about eternal separation from God, in a place of torment and agony. “Oh no, don’t order the Kung Pow chicken from that place, it will kill you. But Jesus, well, I’m afraid I’ll temporarily offend you so I won’t warn you about what happens to those that don’t know Him.” We care more about other people’s digestion problems than we do about their very real, and very lost soul.

Ouch. I’m looking at my own reflection off of this computer monitor, and right about now, it’s as guilty as anyone else that might feel the sting. If you are a follower of Christ, like me, then we have NO excuses for not telling others about the saving grace and relentless pursuit of a loving God through Jesus Christ. What can we do to make clear what they can expect about life after this earth? Jesus’ command was pretty clear when He said, “Go and make disciples.” We are living in disobedience when we won’t share Him with others, and that leaves us responsible for the mystery that will drop them into a dark, horrifying place.

Foggy Mirrors

I’ve mentioned before that our house is not terribly young. As a result, it is designed much more for function than for form. As a result, the bathrooms are very simple, and not too large. What that basically means is that you get what you need, and nothing more. With the exception of some really nice tile work that a good friend did for us, they are very basic. In the Master Bath, the ceiling is literally about seven feet, and you can pretty much touch both walls at the same time if you stand in the middle of the room. There is only a stand-up shower, a toilet, and a sink. There is a vent, but because the room is so small, if anyone takes a hot shower, the mirror in there still fogs up pretty quickly.

About a year ago, I discovered one trick to kind of help with that. We have a little tower fan that stands about eighteen inches high, and we have a little towel rack/shelf combo on the wall perpendicular to the mirror. If we run the fan pointed directly at the mirror while we shower, as well as running the vent, we have no fog, and can see when we get out. However, if you forget to turn on the tower fan, it still takes awhile to de-fog after the steamy shower. Just goes to show that a little preparation goes along way.

I tend to see the world in a way that shows me even little applications that relate back to Biblical principles. I believe it is a blessing that God gives me. Unless it’s one of those times I’m smacked in the head about how I’m doing it wrong. Then I don’t like it so much.

There are definitely things that happen in life that we don’t see coming. If we live every day expecting tragedy and heartache, then we miss out on the abundant life that is available for followers of Christ, as He told us in John 10:10. However, since we also know that things come out of the blue, there are some things we can do in a general sense that will help. As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth an apple a day.” Or something like that.

If you read the book of Daniel, you get a glimpse of a man and his friends who were committed to following God no matter what the consequences were. As it turns out, the consequences were death sentences in more than one of those stories, and yet, God showed up and saved the day. I think you can trace it back to one little verse. Daniel 1:8 says, “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself…” In this context, it was a resolution not to eat the food of the King, which because of the way it was prepared, would have been a direct violation of God’s laws.

However, I believe that goes to a deeper issue than just the food. Having been captured and brought to a place where any and all things of a “worldly” nature would have been made available to Daniel, and none of which would have been honoring to God, Daniel made his decision not to dishonor God, no matter what. The words that we translate as “resolved,” or “Made up his mind” in some translations, are Hebrew words that literally mean “to set, ordain, establish, or determine the inclination, resolution, determination of will, conscience, or heart of moral character.” (See why there are so many English Translations and versions?)

In other words, if you’ll indulge me, Daniel decided that no matter what came his way in this little Babylonian adventure, He would honor God first and foremost--even if it cost him his life. Daniel was making some preparations. The food being offered made it very clear to him that in this place away from home, there would be many things within his reach that appealed to his flesh, but were sinful in God’s eyes. He wanted to Honor God, so he established his spiritual and moral boundaries in anticipation of what could possibly happen. As a result, you can read that Daniel not only stayed faithful to God, but earned respect and audience from, and outlived three different kings in the process.

No, we don’t know what this life will bring, but by now, it should be very obvious to anyone that our culture makes sure we have readily available many worldly things. In a consumer world, if we have the cash, we can have the stash. If we’re willing to pay enough, and look in the right places, we can pretty much get whatever we want. This is NOT a good thing, and if we have not already determined and set the inclinations of our inner heart towards the things of God, we might find ourselves up to our eyeballs in sinful behavior.

Our mirrors will be exposed to the steam of this world. Our decision to be prepared and keep the fan on may be what it takes to keep us from getting covered in a sinful “fog.” The more “foggy” things become, the more difficult to even see your sin issues.

What is your fan? Is it reading the Word of God? Is it remaining active in a faith community at church? Are you praying that you will spot the extra-humid places before it’s too late? Do you have friends that will hold you accountable to your “fan plan?” Whatever you choose to do, do something. Be proactive, and keep your heart set to honor God, no matter what.

Tossing Out Trash

Our house is situated right on a relatively busy street here in town. As as a result, we see lots of cars pass by, and at high traffic times of day, they get stuck right in front of our house. Occasionally, we can not even pull out of our own driveway for awhile, but we try not to let it bother us to a great extent. The truth is, because of this traffic, we believe we got a very good deal on our house. Most people didn’t even want to look at a house in our location, and failed to see the back yard, which is what sold us on it. Never judge a book by it’s curb address...or a house by it’s cover...or something like that.

Now that spring has sprung, so have the weeds. All over my yard! I’ll see a nice green lawn at some point in May, but for now, it’s just messy. This all means, of course, that it is time to mow. Now, with this house situated on a busy street, I have a regular brush with death as I mow the part closest to the street. I am literally inches away from cars that drive by with high speed and velocity. So far, I still have all my parts, but I worry.

The other issue about having this yard near the street is that inevitably, I have to clean up trash on the grass. Everything that people throw from their windows between Kempsville Road and my house ends up in my front yard. We are the only house with a fence on one side of the front yard between us and the neighbors, and so it works as a trap for all the junk that the breeze blows our way. I have cleaned up many fast food bags and cups, candy wrappers, empty drink cans, plastic drink bottles, cigarette butts, cigar wrappers, newspaper, plastic bags, used losing lottery scratch-offs, even scarves and a sock. Don’t worry, I use gloves to clean up. Why can’t people toss money out the window?

It’s mostly irritating when I fail to see something hidden when the grass gets taller, and the next thing I know, my mower is making really odd sounds, and spitting pieces of whatever from the side shooter. (Beer bottle caps are the worst--they’re like little ninja throwing stars, ready to do some real damage!) I end up left with a really large mess, and the clean up is a pain.

I just try to clean up with a good attitude, because I am very thankful for the house. But yesterday, as I tore through a green plastic wrapper of some kind, and subsequently cleaned up the approximate 1,478 pieces that it left in the wake, I silently prayed down a curse on the person who left it to end up in our “crap trap.” If they only knew…

So THAT got me thinking: how often do we throw nasty words around with little to no concern with where they will end up or who they affect? Are there times that we let “trash” come from our lips thinking that the ones that hear it won’t mind?  Ephesians 4:29 is one of my favorite Bible verses to deal with this very idea. Paul says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

The word Paul uses for “unwholesome,” or “corrupt” in some translations, was SAPROS. It is a Greek word that means rotten or putrefied. The idea is that it is offensive and immediately draws a reaction as rotten meat or a putrefied animal corpse would immediately make you gag, cover your nose, or any other colorful responses. It can also basically mean something that is no longer of any use. If you speak a word that is profane, hurtful, slanderous, gossipy, or immoral in nature, you’re using SAPROS speech. There’s no reason for any of it. It’s all rotten, and does not bring a good response.

Instead, he says, we need to be speaking things that are encouraging and supportive of others, but not just randomly--according to their needs at the time! Truth is always supportive, even if not easy to hear. Compliments are encouraging, and are usually welcome in all situations. Scripture is valuable for others at any time, and if you can’t say anything good, then silence is golden. There are so many different things that can come from our mouth that we do not have to toss that SKUBALON around. (You’ll have to look that one up.)

The other idea here is the “toss off” quality of what we say. The truth is, you never know who is standing just around the corner. You never know how thin your walls really are. You can’t guarantee that what you say won’t be heard by someone else. While the words we say should be worthwhile to the intended recipients, they should also be beneficial, or of some constructive value to anyone who is standing nearby and overhears what we say.

If you offer an encouraging word to a friend with relationship struggles, the person behind you in line at the grocery store may get a nugget of wisdom from that. If you are gently correcting your child for pitching a fit at Walmart, another parent may observe it, and be challenged to better handle their own responses to similar situations. These are the positives, but the negatives can go just as poorly as these went well. What if you claim to be a Christian at work, but your quiet gossiping about a co-worker reaches her ears while she’s getting coffee just outside your office? What if you are criticizing your wife with harsh words and your daughter is playing around the corner where you didn’t realize she was there?

You see, the stuff you toss out there haphazardly can get caught on the winds of life, and can reach people you never intended. What is the clean up that will be necessary? Will it damage the ones that finally hear it? Will it kill your reputation? Will we lose all chance to share Christ with someone because we couldn’t exercise our self-control and choose our words more carefully? I put this in the collective, because I am equally as guilty of it as anyone, and I regret all the times it’s happened before.

Don’t let your trash end up in the yard of innocent home-owners. Choose carefully the words you put out there, so that if anyone hears it unintentionally, they can still receive it as if it were something of great value!

A Happy Driver

You can tell a lot about people by the way they drive. For example, you can tell when I’m running late, because I tend to believe that by switching lanes fifteen times, I am actually working my way closer to my destination. It shows that I am someone who needs to work on my time management. I also tend to demonstrate my tendency to “space out” when I’m driving by driving really close to the right side of the lane I’m in. I’m not really sure why that side, but it’s what I do. It shows that I should concentrate on the task at hand a bit more, and not be such a “day dreamer.”

This morning, after dropping off my youngest at his day-care provider, I was waiting to back out of her driveway into the street. I saw one more car coming, and then there was a large gap in the traffic that I was planning on hitting. However, as that particular vehicle was getting closer, they slowed down, and then I saw “the wave” letting me know I could pull out. I took the opportunity, returned “the wave” as a thank you, and went on about my business. (Interesting how one waving motion of the hand can mean so many different unspoken things. But that’s a blog for another day…)

I kept wondering if that lady knew that there was plenty of room behind her and that she didn’t really need to let me go. That’s when it occurred to me that it didn’t really matter whether or not there was space behind her. In her mind, the right thing to do was to let me go. If I was appreciative, then great. If my day was made better--awesome. If not, then it still didn’t hurt her to let me go. She decided to let me go, and she did.

Yes, I may be assuming too much about what went on in my fellow driver’s mind. BUT, since it doesn’t paint her in any negative light, I’m okay doing that. How else will I deliver the astounding truth that jumped out at me all the while this is happening?

You see, there are many times that all of us have great intentions. We decide to eat healthier. We intend to stop the late night snacks. We want to be more patient with our children. The plan is to read our Bibles more. We know that prayer works, and we hope to do it more. These are all good things. But, good intentions alone don’t get us where we need to be.

Sometimes God lays things on our hearts that He wants us to do, and we recognize these with no problem--as long as they are things we consider to be “big” things. Time to change jobs? We listen hard for God. Financial troubles? We are more willing to try new principles for our money. Children having trouble? We pray hard that God will take them away. Just kidding--at least about the taking them away part.

But what about the little things? What if we’re leaving the grocery store, and as we walk through the door, there’s an elderly person coming out behind us, but we’d have to wait an additional five seconds to hold the door? Sometimes God says to wait, but our selfishness tells us we need to hurry. How about while we’re out and about somewhere, and we see that the person walking towards us looks very unhappy? We often follow our natural inclination to keep our eyes forward and away from them, while we ignore that still small voice whispering that we should make eye contact and simply smile.

I have one place where I struggle so very often. It’s here in town, and it’s the place on Independence Blvd. (for those in the know) where the I-264 traffic is merging with the right lane heading towards Baxter road. I never know if I should slow down and let someone in and risk getting plowed in the back by an over-eager driver, or just keep moving and let the lights behind us provide the natural holes for cars to enter.  The truth is, if I plan far enough in advance, I can start slowing down early enough to be safe AND to provide room for several cars to merge. I believe this is the right and courteous thing to do. Yes, it’s a little thing that may go completely unnoticed by the merging drivers, and could be a big inconvenience for three-and-a-half seconds for the cars behind me.

But here’s the deal: as silly as it sounds to some people, I have felt a bit convicted about making that plan every time and letting one or two people merge. Like I said before, you can tell a lot about the way a person drives, and I want people to be able to tell I’m a friendly driver. Friendly is one aspect of love, and if I want to truly follow God love my neighbor as myself (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:39), then I need to be willing to extend to others the same courtesies that I would appreciate.

More than once in my life, my day has been lifted by someone smiling at me, holding a door for me, or simply slowing down to let me back my car safely onto the street. Just like little things can become big things in a negative way, they can have equal impact in a positive way. Many, many times it doesn’t even cost us anything but mere seconds, or slight muscle contraction in our cheeks to make a difference for someone else. But even if it did--would we be willing? (John 15:13. Check it out.)

What kind of “driver” are you? Even when you’re not in the car, what can people tell about you by the way you handle the little things in life?

Treasures in Old Boxes

Every once in a while, I like to pull old boxes out in the garage, just to see what’s in them. This week I pulled out a box with some old pictures from when our twins were just about a year old. I can’t believe how much has changed, and how fast it did! In another box next to it, I busted it open and found some old concert programs from people I went to see in college and the first few years I was out of school. Exactly NONE of the hairstyles would fly anymore. Also crammed in the same box were a handful of VHS tapes of movies that I liked in the past. For those that don’t know--a VHS tape is a designation given to a thin plastic rectangular “box” that actually contains a roll of very thin film, which is used for making an analog copy of video. It must be used inside of a Video Cassette Recorder, or VCR. Some people still have them, but they don’t get used very much anymore.

Though none of them are terribly ancient, these would all be considered old items by one standard or another. But, the fun of them is still there, and I definitely traveled along memory lane as I flipped through all the stuff. While I obviously don’t need the things I found, I certainly see the value of each of them, even if it is sentimental.

Old things are not always bad. Depending on the model of it, and antique car almost always has a cool factor that a hybrid Prius can’t match, no matter which celebrity is driving one. Vintage guitars have a tone that only comes from a hand-crafted instrument that won’t be heard in a machine-generated, assembly line guitar.

Last week, while I was working, I heard someone playing the piano in the choir room here at church, which is separated from my office by a mere door. They were playing a hymn that I know because I grew up singing it in church as a child, and then as a teenager. It brought back memories of old hymns that mean a lot to me.

I’m a big fan of new, modern music in churches. I think it is a “language” by which some people are able to focus on God and worship. Only a fool would think that it is the only way to worship God, however, and I am not a great fool, so I can clearly not choose the close-minded option in front of me. Instead, I prefer to recognize the value of all hymns and songs based on the content of the words, not the tune or the style. It just so happens that two modern versions of “old hymns” have been brought to mind lately, and both have words that have clobbered me.

Forbid it, Lord, That I should boast
Save in the death of Christ my God.
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.
From “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”

How many times am I pulled away from my commitment to Christ by things that are insignificant and unimportant? (The way vain would have been used at the time this was written.) Why am I so quick to point out my temporary accomplishments, when it is the death of Jesus that gives me permanent life in Him? These are the things that I need to sacrifice and put to death, as Paul talks about in Colossians 3. They also tie in nicely with another modernized hymn we sang in church recently:

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it
Prone to Leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, Lord, Take and Seal it
Seal it for thy courts above.
From “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”

After what I felt to be a particularly good Bible Study recently, I caught myself silently patting myself on the back about how well I presented the information, as if I really had anything to do with how God used His own Word to move through a Bible Study time that is supposed to be about Him. This passage jumped to mind, as if God were using a language I understand (music) to really get my attention about something that needed fixing.

I am prone to wander from bringing glory to God and pointing to my temporary accomplishments. I tend to boast in things OTHER than the death of Christ that brings me hope for my eternal salvation with Him. Why do I do these things? I know that “...Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved,” (Acts 4:12) and yet I still want to draw attention to me so many times.

Jesus said that to follow Him means to daily die to myself. (Luke 9:23) That means that I must sacrifice all of my pride and accomplishments, and put the glory on Jesus Christ. It also means that I must trust Christ to seal and guard my heart against the things that have the potential to pull me away. I truly do want to serve and honor God with my life, but if I’m not careful, I will be pulled away and become self-serving. But, if I abide in Christ, and He in me, then through Him, I can accomplish all things HE would have me do, and all for His glory, that others may know Him.

I thank God for the hymn writers through all the ages, and in all styles. So often, and for many people, their words can so often be the way the Holy Spirit gets our attention and challenges us to more effectively live our lives for Christ.

Broken Eggs

In our house, we eat eggs for Breakfast quite often. I know some people disapprove, and say they’re not so good for you, but they provide a relatively easy option to get some protein into the family, which is good for us, so we’ll go ahead and make the choices for our family, and leave your family to you. Deal? Good.

I say relatively easy, because for as long as I’ve been making my own eggs in one or more of it’s many different available varieties, I have had trouble with eggs. Not digestively, or anything like that. It’s a physical problem. I physically have difficulty with that stinking shell on the outside. If I’m scrambling or frying eggs, or even using them in a recipe, I have the worst time breaking eggs without getting the albumen (that’s the clear part that turns white when you cook it--for the uninitiated) all over my fingers. I keep the trash can close so I don’t drip all over the floor, and some days it’s only a little bit, but inevitably, I’m getting gooey stuff on my fingers.

Unless, of course, I’m boiling the eggs. Then, it becomes a battle with the shell and the little membrane that lies under said shell around the now solidified albumen (See above note). I have done all the tricks I can find in Reader’s Digest, Cook Books, Magazines, websites, and even watching the occasional food show on TV. Unfortunately, I always have one that ends up looking like Humpty Dumpty after a hard-night of partying. It’s just all messed up. The egg is no longer smooth, but has pieces that have been pulled away by the shell, and sometimes even just leaving a large crater in the surface. I am no stranger to making a highly emotionally-motivated decision that the egg is no longer worth it, and with great, uh, gusto, I “place” it in the very bottom of the trash can through the first fifteen layers of trash with the impact sound reverberating through the crawl space under my house.

Isn’t it interesting how people are kind of like eggs? Even though we put up our outer shell that protects us from some level of impact, if we’re hit in just the right place, or encounter something that provides enough resistance, we crack, and our lives can end up a big gooey mess. (Okay, so I used the word “gooey” two--now three times in one entry. It’s just fun to type.) Some people have been through hot water in life, think they are more resilient, and have a stronger layer of protection around them. They are just trying to fool themselves, because they can be broken by different things in life. Those that feel like they were broken, but managed to pull it all together themselves will eventually discover that their lives are just scrambled and scarred. No matter the situation, we eventually feel like all the king’s horses and all the king’s men will never get us back together again.

The good news is, we don’t have to rely on human or equestrian “fixers.” We have a God who specializes in bringing about restoration and transformation. If we’ve never turned our hearts to Jesus, we can, and in doing so, be redeemed AND made new from the sticky mess that once defined us. Even those who are followers of Christ have times where they fall and are broken. Fallen eggs get broken--and we are all fallen people. (Romans 3:23) 

The King Himself can pick up the pieces of our lives, and not simply “put us back together again,” but He will recreate us into something new. (2 Corinthians 5:17) We can have new life, and be defined not by the shells we put up, but by the heart within us that is full of the Holy Spirit, and belongs to God. It would be easy to think of all the ways that eggs can be fixed, or used together with other ingredients to make something wonderful, and that certainly would fit the illustration. But, I prefer to think outside that box, and remember that even though ten eggs in a row may look very much alike at one point, once they are broken reveal Swans, Turtles, Chameleons, Eagles, and quite the variety of different animals. In each of those, the egg must be cracked and broken to reveal the true beauty of what God has created. In the same way, until we let our King put us together in HIS way, we can never become all that we were made to be.

I know that brokenness hurts. I’ve been there, and I’m sure I’ll be there again. What my experience has taught me is that in all these things, we are not separated from God (Romans 8:38-39). Instead, it provides us with an opportunity to turn to Jesus, and allow Him to work through the pain to make us stronger than we ever were before, and revealing who we can be in Him.

Spiritual Zits

FYI: I hope the new layout is not too confusing for you, but I wanted to keep it fresh!

I know that I am not old. There are people who laugh when folks of my age begin to talk of “getting old.” It’s at this point that I would like to quote a very wise song-writer name Jon Bon Jovi: “Like your favorite pair of torn blue jeans, this skin I’m in’s alright with me. I’m not old--just older.” I’ve gotten used to who I am, and I’m cool with the whole idea that I’m not going to be “young” forever. I also ascribe to the whole “you’re as young as you feel” mentality, and hope I can hang on to my “young mindset” for many years to come. I also hope that my “appreciation” for quotation marks remains.

So, this part about getting older. First, my hair started falling out. Then, I noticed arthritis creeping into my shoulder. I hoped it was an injury that could be treated, but two doctors, several x-rays, and one cortisone injection later, it’s just arthritis, that is threatening to become painful again. I am pretty sure I have it in my left pinky as well. I have recurring tendonitis in my wrists--yeah, both of them. When my mid-section started to grow a bit faster (my fingers just had a freudian slip and typed “fatster”), I really had to come to grips with my age.

Is there such a product?

With all of these things pointing towards the fact that I am “not old--just older,” why is it that I am not too old to get a pimple? When do I outgrow those things? It seems only fair that if one is going bald, they shouldn’t have to deal with zits anymore. The other day, I had an itch on my nose, and as I reached up to scratch the underside, It hurt! As luck would have it, brewing beneath the surface of my skin was one of those pimples that starts deep within the skin and hurts for days until it finally comes to the surface. All in all, it’s a very pleasant experience. Yeah, right. Just call me Eeyore.

Most people just put Clearasil on it and move on. However, I have to think about it. Here’s how all of this craziness came together in my mind. As we grow as Christians, things about us will change. Both Peter and Paul said that we can’t stay on spiritual milk for long--we must grow up in the faith and move to solid food. (1 Peter 2:2, 1 Corinthians  3:2) Since we will live forever in eternity,I suppose age really doesn’t matter, so I guess we don’t get old--just older. However, no matter how mature in the faith we get, while we still live in this limited body on earth, we can never escape that blemish that lies beneath the surface. We are all still very prone to sin.

We can do all the exercise we want to maintain our strength and our health for our bodies, and even spiritually as we pray and read God’s Word on a daily basis. However, it only takes one little temptation or unguarded thought to begin the painful process of bringing sin to the surface.  Often times, the Holy Spirit brings conviction long before anyone can see outward manifestation of the sin in our hearts, and I believe it’s safe to say that most conviction of sin is painful. Sometimes others can’t see evidence of the “spiritual zit,” (that phrase is currently being trademarked) but we certainly feel the pain under our skin. Whether we have to swallow our pride and admit short-comings, or agonize over a confession we must make to a loved-one, we feel the sting and the hurt of these blemishes.

I kept looking in the mirror over the last few days, waiting for the inevitable, but the pimple never surfaced. In fact, it seems to have healed up and gone away. If we learn to deal appropriately with our sin at the first pain of the Spirit’s conviction, the grace of God may protect us from the embarrassing, and sometimes explosive (yeah, I went there) public showing of the “spiritual zit.” If that happens, thank God from the bottom of your heart, because it is most certainly NOT what you, or any of us deserve. Then, learn from the experience and do what you can to keep your spirit clean from that point on.

We will spend time and money on products and treatments to keep these blemishes from appearing on our skin, but how many of us really put in the same amount of effort to keep these blemishes from appearing in our spirit? There are no guarantees that face wash will work, but it never hurts to try. Getting into God’s Word daily, and spending time with Him in prayer can only benefit each of us as we grow in our faith. Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” If we fill our hearts and minds with the things of God, we have a better chance at defeating the temptations and thoughts that can become full-fledged sin in our lives. Chances are, you’ll scrub your face today. What will you do to clean your spirit?

Songs of the Past

I’m a nostalgia kind of guy. It’s not that I’ve ever been accused of being overly-sentimental or silly about it, but I can be take back to past experiences very quickly. I’m sure my wife would like me to tell her more often, but every July 4th I remember that it was on that very day in 2001 that I kissed her and “knew…” Yeah, THAT kind of “just knew.” When I was in Baton Rouge last summer for my brother’s wedding, I remember seeing a few places that I would frequent growing up, and it triggered some fun memories of times with friends. For the record, I now realize that cruising town in a mini-van with M.C. Hammer’s “2 Legit 2 Quit” blasting out the open windows is not quite as cool as me and my friends thought.

Which brings me to the one thing that has always been the strongest pull of nostalgia. Music is my weakness, and has made me into a crazed fan more than once in my life--as one friend from college recently remembered on a Facebook post. Because I tend to saturate myself with different music, certain songs immediately take me to different places in my life. Anytime I hear “Dreams” by Van Halen, I am transported to third grade when their “5150” was my very first album. (It was on cassette--do any of you remember those?) “Go West Young Man” by Michael W. Smith was what I listened to over and over during my tenth-grade year of Youth Camp. “Love of a Lifetime” by Firehouse is one of the songs I sang at my (now) Brother-in-law and sister-in-law’s wedding that made my (now) wife pay attention to me, “Faithfully” by Journey is the song we first danced to at their reception, and just over a year later, “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain was our first dance as a married couple.

Since it’s Valentines Day, I felt like going down that particular memory lane to make my point. The truth is, many songs will take me back, and many of them have great meaning. Just last week, I discovered and bought a used copy of a CD that was stolen from me just after college. The singer is Jonathan Pierce, who is pretty well unknown by many people. He never really “made it big,” but certainly had his fans. He got his start singing with the Gaither Vocal Band, and released a solo CD in the mid-1990’s. I bought the CD and on it are two songs that quickly meant alot to me.

Because of different things I was going through, I was really challenged with the lyrics (and powerhouse vocals) of two songs. “One Love” is the title track that quite simply just reminds us that with all that’s going on in our world, the Love of Christ is powerful enough to change individuals, those around us, and even the world. It’s a personal, pursuing, and deep love that Christ has for us, and that took Him to the cross on our behalf. “Healing Hands” is another song that simply reminds us that no matter what condition our hearts are in, no matter how beaten, bruised, or broken, the hands of Jesus are waiting to heal us and restore us with His love.

As far as deep spiritual insight goes, I haven’t shared anything new or particularly life-changing. But, sometimes the simple musings of one person can trigger our own thoughts and send us to that place where we remember songs or experiences that mean a great deal to us. Just for grins, I’m posting videos here with those songs, and maybe you will enjoy them for yourself. Either way, don’t ever be afraid to reminisce and think of how God has brought you to where you are either because of or in spite of the different places you’ve been. Just don’t stop there--make yourself available for God to continue moving you where He can use you in the future!

Need New Pants.

Lately, I have decided that it’s time to get some new pants. Some of the students at church will laugh if they read this because they pick on me already for tending to favor the same style of pants over and over. But laugh as they may, my reasons are different. I tried carrying around a certain pen for awhile believing that the retractable tip would keep it from leaking. Not so much. I now have at least two pair of jeans with a noticeable bright blue spot on the outside of the pocket. I have another pair of jeans with a rear pocket tearing away, and another with a giant rip above the rear pocket, and still another pair that’s just downright uncomfortable. My non-jeans pants are getting a bit snug in the waist, as I have put on a few pounds in the mid-section.

As I’ve been looking, I have noticed two things: pants/jeans cost more than I want to spend, and there are so many different cuts and styles of pants, it’s hard to find one I like. Maybe it’s because I’m too old to be wearing the pants that sit below my waist and that...uh, “creep” in precarious places. I just find those to be a bit uncomfortable and not my style. However, I’m too young to buy the Dickies jump-suit style coveralls that retired men wear when they volunteer their time at the church. I have three boys at home and I work with teenagers, so it’s seems unreasonable to buy a pair of jeans for $80 that already have holes and tears in them when that will just happen to them anyway. For more than one of the reasons I already mentioned, skinny jeans are obviously out of the question. I just want a reasonably-priced pair of jeans or pants that fit the right way and will last more than two weeks.

So, since I have to wear pants of some kind, as my wife informs me with great conviction, I guess I’m in a tight spot. (You know, because of the...oh, never mind.) I just hold to my belief that somewhere out there are brands of jeans and pants that fit my specific shape and requirements. Until said time, I’ll just do the best with what I have, and continue to look patiently in mens departments everywhere.

Spiritual gifts are a lot like pants. Not all Christians have the same ones, and the ones that do share similar gifts may not feel as comfortable in using those gifts as others. As God works in our lives, it’s possible that we could indulge a bit too much in, say for example, HOSPITALITY, and discover that it has become a bit too snug around our middles. As God sees the needs change, He moves us into a different area of ministry where our gift of PROPHECY is cutting-edge and ahead of the times. Some of us occasionally envy someone else their gift, and while we compliment them in person: “Oh that MERCY looks just great on you!” we are really saying on the inside: “Oh it’s so unfair that I have to wear last year’s TEACHING, which isn’t nearly as glamorous or as popular…”

These spiritual gifts are not like pants in that we don’t just get to go shopping and try on a few we like and pick our favorites. Our “pants” are more like military issue, where we are given what we will need in spite of how we think it looks or feels. God knows from our very beginning who we will be (Psalm 139:13-16), and what Gifts will best suit HIS purposes for our lives. When we open our hearts to Christ, these gifts are given to us freely. They were picked out long before we got them, but they are never out of style. They may not be the ones we would choose for ourselves, but they are certainly the ones that we will need as we move forward with God’s plans for us.

Just like pants are made to be worn, Gifts are given to be used. If you try to go into the world without either, you just don’t quite make the impact you are designed to make--you become a distraction. It’s admirable to want to serve God with gusto and enthusiasm, but the sign of a mature and growing follower of Christ is taking the gifts we’ve been given, and saying, “Okay Lord, point me in YOUR direction, and I’ll go for it!”

If you are a “pants-less” follower of Christ, it just means you haven’t spent time seeking out your gifts. Pray about it. You have gifts, and God wants you to use them. Ask spiritual leaders and those who know you well to pray with you, and maybe offer some observations on what they see in you. Ultimately, it’s between you and God, but trust me, others will know if you are not dressed for the occasion. Once you find these, they will break you in, and get you more comfortable and confident in wearing them daily as you seek to share Christ with this world.

Addictions?

Okay, it’s confession time. Let me step into the booth, pull the curtain shut, and slide open the window between the two compartments. “Bless me, for I have sinned. It has been forever since my last confession, and I don’t really know how to say it, but I have developed an addiction. It started as a simple way to pass the time, but now it has become an obsession. I can’t stop thinking of it. When I look at people, I immediately begin to see this vice and carry out scenarios of how to bring it to fruition in the moment. When I see places that have certain physical characteristics, I see ways to change them to lock into the right pattern in my head. I even look into the cereal bowl, and the marshmallows in my Lucky Charms trigger the ideas.”

The kindle/facebook/smartphone app for the game “Jewels” is one that many people know. I got started on it years ago on pogo as the game “Sweet Tooth,” and now then again on a Mah-jongg computer game that had a similar idea to it. Now, with a new Kindle Fire in the house after Christmas, I re-discovered it, and downloaded it for my phone. Oh, not just one, but two different versions of the same game! I can’t seem to help myself; at every available opportunity, I start it up and play. I play when I’m letting the baby play in the bathtub for awhile, I played waiting at the dentist for the big boys, I play while watching TV, and I’ve even played it in the bathroom. (TMI?)

My “addiction” to this game has gotten so that even when I look down at my keyboard on my computer, I want to slide the keys a certain way and watch them disappear. While driving, I can see the patterns that form in the signs, buildings, and cars around me, and want to weave in and out of traffic just to line up with green cars in the other two lanes to make a line. I even envisioned what it would be like if I shifted a kid’s nose between his eyes on Sunday, and then I realized how morbid that would be. Plus, they weren’t all the same, so it wouldn’t help my game any.

Have you ever noticed how quickly something can become an obsession for us? I have discovered through the years that I have an addictive personality. FORTUNATELY, and only by the grace of God, I have never really dealt with the drug and alcohol side of that issue. For me, the focus varies, but the habits are still there. When I was still single, I got hooked on the old TV show “7th Heaven.” I would watch it every day in syndicated reruns, and when I found out it came on earlier in the day, I began setting my VCR (yeah, I’m that old) to record episodes every day. To this day, I have a box of a dozen or so VHS tapes full of episodes of that show sitting in a corner of my office collecting dust.

There was another time before I got married that I became obsessed with the Donkey Kong 64 game that came out for an earlier Nintendo Game system. I would rush home from my first job in youth ministry, and turn on the game, and spend hours playing. I would usually pause the game long enough to make a sandwich or something, but then I’d be right back at it until wee hours of the morning. I was never very good, but that didn’t stop me from playing and thinking and dreaming about that stinking game.

While living in the same city, and still before I got married, I would spend lots of times at Blockbuster renting movies. There was one located on my way home from work, and it was not uncommon for me to swing in and rent a movie, and bring it back within a couple of hours and get another. I was probably in that place every day of the week at least once. The folks that worked there knew me by name, and I think they secretly pitied me for being such a sad specimen.

Aside from understanding why I was probably single until later in my life, I think I’ve demonstrated what kinds of things pull me in. What I hope it’s also done is help you to begin to visualize the things in your life that we lovingly call “our guilty pleasures,” or make jokes about how they trigger our “OCD” tendencies. The truth is, many of us carry around addictions, and just because they aren’t of the drug and alcohol variety doesn’t mean they aren’t dangerous (although, those are certainly included in this whole idea). It may be your need to have Starbucks at least once a day, or maybe you’re obsessed with getting an iPad for $23.99 on quibids.com. How much facebook is too much, and what about texting and twitter? I personally believe that the folks who are on “extreme couponing” have some kind of addiction to be able to keep up with that lifestyle. What if the compulsion to make sure your kids are “involved” and “well-rounded” leaves you killing yourself to get them to five different practices during the week and seven or eight games on the weekend as well as harping on them to finish their homework while dismissing church and Bible study altogether?

How many quality things in your life go by the wayside due to one of these addictions? I miss the opportunity to see my son play in the bathtub when I’m hooked on my game. I missed many opportunities to develop at least some friendships in those years of being single. Even worse than all of that, is the way these addictions tend to feed my “SELF” that tries to rise up within me.

As a believer in Jesus, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) I have put to death that selfish nature so that I may “...take up my cross daily and follow [Jesus.]” (Luke 9:23) If I claim to be a believer, but put so much effort into these “addictions,” and the selfishness inside of me that drives me towards them, then I am not taking up my cross and dying to myself to live for Jesus. In fact, I’ve created an idol or two; one of myself, and another from the addiction.

I’m not saying that all of these things are in and of themselves bad things. I just think that if we are going to claim to be true followers of Christ, then we need to listen to what His Word says, and recognize how easy it is to lose sight of what our true center of life needs to be, and not let the activities of our day revolve around lining up three jewels of the same color. It speaks volumes that after struggling and literally stressing about finding the matching colors, these jewels simply disappear. The things of this world are fleeting, but a growing, dying-to-self, actively-following-Him relationship with Jesus Christ will last us all our time on this earth, and through the rest of eternity. As Steven Curtis Chapman eloquently says in his song, let’s make Jesus our “Magnificent Obsession.”

Me Vs. Who?

I was in my early twenties when I finally figured out just how competitive I am. In fact, until that point, I actually believed I wasn’t so concerned with winning. The truth is, since I’d been working with youth and children in ministry for several years, I either stood off to the side and served as the “official” during games, or I was just so much older that I naturally could play and win the games against younger kids.

However, when my wife and I started dating, we began spending time with her family, and we played games. This opened my eyes to just how much I hate losing. I would find myself getting very frustrated, and would actually dread being with her family, because I was afraid if I didn’t play well, my true colors would come out, and they would kick me to the curb!

With my eyes opened to this new revelation about myself, I had to learn how to chill out, play the best I could, and just enjoy the fellowship and the time spent with other people. I couldn’t compare how well I was doing at a game I had just begun to play against people who had been playing for years and understood some of the finer nuances of the game. Of course they were “better” than me. Experience will do that. I haven’t lost the competitive nature of my personality, I’ve just learned to control myself a little bit better, and understand how to look at a bigger picture now, and base my results on a different scale instead of always winning. Sure, sometimes I win, but now, I enjoy myself a whole lot more regardless of the final score.

Have you ever noticed how we tend to carry this competitive nature into our lives beyond games? I know--we live in a world DRIVEN by competition. Who will be the best at this, win the most medals for that, who will make the most money, get the most votes, be listed in a particular magazine’s “power list,” and grab the highest honor in some particular category for some significant body of voters.

I have seen competition rear it’s ugly head in the lives of Christians. Not the healthy kind like who can stuff the most marshmallows in their cheeks and still say “chubby bunny,” or which gender can bring the most pennies to give to missions. Rather, what I see is a competition of comparisons that seems to be scraping the bottom of a barrel. Working in ministry, I hear comments all the time about “well, at least I’m not doing…,” or “I’m so glad I’m not like him…,” or “It could be worse, I could be…”

We’ve all heard those comments. I’d venture a gamble that most of us have even said those things ourselves. It’s just competition with a different twist. Instead of always trying to be first or best, many Christians do what they can to point out how they are not the worst. As long as we know someone else who is a “worse” Christian than us, we still feel like we’re doing okay, and that our “God card” is still safe.

Then there’s the other type of competition with ourselves between our good and bad. It’s like we keep a running tally in our heads: Okay, today I’ve lusted, lied, stolen, slandered, been jealous, and disrespectful. BUT, I’ve also complimented someone, shared my lunch, talked to that loser that no one really likes, let that blue car cut in front of me in traffic, gave 16% on my tip at dinner, and smiled politely at the lady in the store. Oops...it’s all tied up, I need to do something good--here, I’ll hold the door for this elderly gentleman. Whew! I’m in the black on good deeds verses sins.

The truth is, scripture tells us that we should be comparing ourselves only to Christ. All of that stuff that we believe is better than someone else? “...all our righteous acts are like filthy rags...” (Isaiah 64:6) Keeping up with all of our good stuff to make sure we’re okay? “...As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.’” (Romans 3:10-12)

Yeah, good luck with that! Here’s a better idea. Instead of wasting our time on worldly standards of good, better, and best, let’s just do what we can to live a life that looks like Christ. The Apostle Paul knew the tendency to want to compare to other people, but He pointed people a different direction: “...Be imitators of God.” (Ephesians 5:1), and for those that still watch people, be the right kind of example: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ…” (1 Corinthians 11:1)

I challenge those that claim to be followers of Christ to stop the comparisons, unless you’re willing to compare yourself to Jesus Christ. But, if you do that, be prepared to fall short--because we all will. The good news is that with the Grace extended to us through Jesus, we can continue to move forward. Paul makes better use of this idea of competition than we do in today’s world: “...Run in such a way to get the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24) Our prize is a relationship with Christ in this world, and in eternity. The only competition that could hold us back is ourself, and our unwillingness to surrender to Jesus Christ.

As we see other believers, let us encourage them to do their personal best--not compared to anything or anyone else, but in regards to their level of commitment. As followers of Christ, we already have the victory, but we must finish the race. The attitude we carry as we run can determine how many people we bring along for the race with us, and can enjoy the fellowship of the race as we await the finish line.

My Thoughts on Tim Tebow

While I like to watch a good game, I am NOT a sports writer. So, don’t expect lots of good football details from me. However, I DO want to talk a bit about the AFC Wild Card game this past Sunday between the Steelers and the Broncos. Those that know me realize I’m not a huge fan of any team. I enjoy watching exciting games, and I like to pull for teams based on coaches and players that I like. I like what I know of Mike Tomlin. I would have been okay if the Steelers had won. However, I find myself really becoming a fan of Tim Tebow. So, as a result, I was pulling for the Broncos.

When it comes down to it, I want to see Drew Brees lead the Saints all the way. Having grown up in Louisiana, there’s just something about a home state team that pulls at my heart--especially since LSU couldn't win it for us. But I digress. In the meantime, I’m going to pull for Tebow’s team and watch with eager anticipation. (Actually, I’ll just check scores for the next game, since we’ll be on a retreat while they play.)

The thing that draws me towards Tebow is the very thing that makes many people cringe. He is a man of faith. He has made no bones about it, and even in his college days, you knew where he stood. Suddenly, he starts getting play time and takes over as the starting quarterback, and it seems like his outspoken and bold lifestyle regarding his beliefs are very controversial. I don’t remember hearing so much about it in his college years, and with a wife as a die-hard Tennessee fan, believe me, we paid attention to any controversy swirling about the sworn rivals-for-life Florida Gators. Sure, there was some talk of it, but nothing like we’re seeing now.

It seems to me that people had a willingness to look past it in college, but now that he’s in the NFL, It’s time to grow up, and understand that this “faith stuff” needs to stay under wraps. So, he has taken quite a bit of criticism and mocking, complete with the SNL Skit that takes easy shots at him. There are many who rip on his ability as a player and make claims that he isn’t any good and he has no business playing this game. Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t he get nominated for the Heisman trophy three times, winning it once? Didn’t his aforementioned college team win National Championships with Him? He may not be the greatest to play the game, but I think he’s established that he’s got something going for him.

No, I believe the scrutiny for his play is just a cover to the real problem people have, which is his outspoken faith. I believe they just don’t like it that someone who is as open with his beliefs actually appears to be genuine and honest, and is making a difference. There are those who really like to see Christians fail. I bet they can’t stand it that Tim won’t back off or even dignify the criticism with comment. A few weeks back, I heard a snippet of an interview where reporters were asking him about all the criticism, and his only comment was to reference one guy that swore that Tebow’s success was a fluke and if he won the sixth game in a row even HE’D go to church. Tebow’s comment was simply to ask if anyone knew if he followed through and actually did go.

You see, when Christians maintain their faith in the world, even in places not quite so public as the NFL, other people notice. The ones that don’t want to have any accountability for their actions or responsibility to act in a moral way take notice of these Christians, and begin to accuse them of being “intolerant” or “unaccepting” of other’s beliefs. The funny thing is, I’ve been accused of this myself, and all I did was to refuse to take part in an activity that I didn’t agree with. All I said was “no thank you,” and I was accused of being judgmental and mean. Seems to me that the role was actually reversed. But, our job is to stand our ground. Scripture says to “...take our stand...and after [we] have done everything, to stand…” (From Ephesians 6:10-18) Even when we are mocked, criticized, accused, judged, dismissed, betrayed, slandered, or any other type of persecution, we need to maintain our faith, and remain true to the standards we claim to uphold. We need to know God’s Word, and put it into practice each day. When we make that kind of stand, people will notice, and some will be drawn in and become followers themselves.

I say let’s pray for Tim Tebow and other Christians in the NFL. They have a great opportunity to reach many fans with their message. While not all of them are as outspoken, they all have opportunities, and who are we to say that our prayers aren’t the ones covering them in their moments to share Christ. Tim Tebow may not be a New Orleans Saint, but I have no doubt that he’s made an impact on people, making him a saint in their eyes.

UPDATE: My sister shot me THIS LINK, and I think it's a pretty good article, only affirming the good stuff we've learned about Tim. (Can you see the link?)

What BUGGIES Me The Most

I admit it. I messed up. I’m not ashamed to say it, though I’m sorry it happened. Here’s the story: I was trying to run a quick “after-Christmas” return, and as I tried to pull into the parking lot at the store, I about smashed into one of those mini-sized shopping carts. It was smack in the middle of the parking space, and I couldn’t see it until I had almost cleared the large truck parked next to that space. I had to hit reverse and find a new spot. I did actually move that buggy and took it in the store with me so that I didn’t just leave the problem for someone else.

Later on, as I was driving with my wife as we left Target (it’s amazing what being away for a week will leave you needing at the house), I saw another buggy just shoved to the side of a curb, not really put away, and not really “in the way,” but rather lazily left behind, none the less. Feeling very righteous in my frustration, especially since I had put away the earlier buggy, I began a rant about this being just a symptom of everything wrong with our society, that selfish laziness causes so many issues that just overflow into one another. Somewhere in between the society part and the issues part, I began to have this nagging feeling.

That’s when it hit me...I AM that guy! See, the part of the story that I conveniently left out was the part where I was in Target, and decided against one of the purchases in the cart. It pains me to admit it, but instead of taking the item back to the appropriate place in the store, or even manning up and just telling the cashier I no longer wanted it, I just found an empty spot on a shelf and put it down. Now, here in the car, as I was busy talking about the evils of selfishness, I was convicted of my own act! My face was the same color as the Target.

“Oh that’s really not so bad,” some might be saying. Well, compared to other evils in the world, of course, it looks quite simple. It’s not like I robbed the place, or sprayed pepper spray in anyone’s face for an Xbox 360. BUT, what we would be guilty of in that case is comparing to the world, by looking at the outward appearance of things.

However, we are reminded that it’s not on the outside that matters, but what’s on the inside. “...The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) In my heart, I gave in to the temptation to put myself first instead of thinking of the workers that would have to take that item to the proper place on the shelves.

It’s very easy to look at what’s going on in the world, and justify what we do by comparison. It’s just a little disrespect, it’s not like I’m killing innocent people! I just took a 5-dollar bill from my dad, I didn’t steal a car. It’s only my mom’s prescription pain killer, what’s the big deal when people shoot up all the time?

Jesus tells us clearly that what is in our heart comes out in our lives. “...the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” (Matthew 15:18-19) Sure, Jesus says “out of the mouth,” but I believe firmly that the implication can safely be made that it also should be demonstrated in our lives. Besides, Jesus also says to “...Let our light so shine before men…,” which supports that as well.

The “small” acts of disrespect, “borrowing” money from parents, or taking a pill meant for someone else are symptoms of a heart that is not fully committed to God. When we rebel against any of God’s standards, no matter how many steps across that line we actually take, it shows that in our hearts, we are acting for ourselves, and not for God.

The truth is, we are all guilty of these “little” things from time to time. Scripture tells us that we have all “Fallen short of the Glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) That’s why we need a Savior so badly, because even in our best intentions, and even though we may look great on the outside compared to the world, we will never measure up to perfection. Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection give us hope that these sins don’t have to keep us from God. The gap we leave as we fall short is closed with the bridge of Jesus’ love. Instead of comparing our mistakes to the shortcomings of the world (which, if I may be so graphic, is like comparing dog poo to cow poo. Sure, one’s a larger mess than the other, but they are both nasty and stink!), let’s look at our hearts and examine from where the shortcomings originate. Let’s pray that God will lead us even in the small things to live for Him, and to demonstrate His love to the world around us. Then maybe we can all remember the buggies, AND return items to the proper place on the shelves.