Monday, August 4, 2008

One Anothers...

I've been gathering with a group of guys over the last few months on Monday mornings at 6:15 am at Starbucks...okay, what's wrong with that statement? You guessed it, 6:15 am...

Anyway, it's awesome to see how we're steadily forming relationships and realizing that we face some of the same challenges in life. And the great part is that we come from different walks of life, different ages (unfortunately most of them are younger than me...or should I say unfortunate for me...fortunate for them), and guys who have experienced different life journeys. Yet in the midst of that, we're all united in one thing--trying to live our lives in a way that reflects the love of Christ in everything we do--and we're realizing that's a challenge we all have in common as well.

Over the last few weeks we've talked about the "one anothers"...scripture verses that encourage us how to live with each other. What are some of them?

John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."

Romans 12:16 "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited."

Romans 14:13 "Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. "

Romans 15:7 "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. "

Galatians 5:13 "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love."

Ephesians 4:2 "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."

Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. "

Ephesians 5:21 "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

Hebrews 10:24-25 "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

James 4:11 "Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it."

1 Peter 3:8 "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."

1 Peter 4:9 "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling."

Wow, we could spend weeks on what each of those verses mean in how we relate to other people: family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, even strangers. And it's amazing how they are really juxtaposed to many people's "it's all about me" mindset.

So, as we've been encouraged (and challenged) to do, I'd like for you to imagine what it would be like if you lived one day responding (not reacting--that's another discussion) to folks living out the "one another" challenges.

Multiply that by encouraging family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers to do the same...that might almost be a picture of what the psalmist said when he penned, "...Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven..."

Just a thought.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Love, sweet love....

Matthews 22:36-40.
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."


It seems like every few months over the last few years I think about these verses. I find it interesting that Jesus says that "loving the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind" is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is "love your neighbor as yourself". Why do I find it interesting, you might ask? Hmmm....I'll let you think about it.

Wow, what would it be like if we decided to live one day....just start with one...where everything we did, everything we said, everything we thought reflected that we loved God with all our heart, soul, and mind? Or as it says in a different translation of Scripture (the Message)...

Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them."

So my challenge for myself...and you, Mr. Phelps, if you choose to accept it (for all of us old Mission Impossible fans) is to live one day by loving the Lord with all our passion, prayer, and intelligence and love our neighbors as ourselves.

Think about it, make all our decisions, all our conversations, all our thoughts reflect that we love God with all our passion, prayer, and intelligence and that we love our neighbor as ourselves.

Would it change our mode of operation? Probably...

For the better? Most likely...

Let's try it. We might like it...

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

work on...

I was reminded recently of how no matter what our occupation (or to Christianize it…calling) is, there are similarities in all that we do…and differences as well. In fact, I was talking to a friend who’s been with the same job for over twenty-five years!

Wow, I started reminiscing over my own occupational journey and I realized I had quite a variety of “jobs”. In the pastoring world I’ve been a children’s pastor, worship pastor, home group pastor, family ministries pastor, and executive pastor. In the educational world I’ve been an elementary teacher, a middle school and high school teacher, and a principal. In the publishing world I’ve been a magazine editor, contributing editor, copy editor, ghost writer, and publisher. And that doesn’t include my part-time or summer jobs as a short-order cook, camp counselor, furniture salesperson, interior designer, and painter…no wonder I want to become the Walmart welcome man!

So where am I going with all this? Who knows…no, really, I do have a point, only if I could just remember…just kidding. My point is, I realized that no matter what we do, or how long we do it, it’s important for us to be people of integrity no matter what we do.

We get different messages from folks and culture telling us to do what it takes to get where you want to go, get with away with doing as little as possible, don’t worry about who you hurt as you move up, there’s no such thing as loyalty anymore…and the list goes on.

So, what’s my challenge to each of us? Whether we’ve been with a job forever or we experience a variety of jobs, let’s be folks of integrity—doing our best, wisely using our time, and modeling to those around us what it means to be a hard worker.

I like how a guy named Paul said it in the Bible…”In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.”

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

and then...

As I've contemplated over how I should begin this "blog voyage" I was reminded of how so many stories are told and retold...and then all of a sudden the emotions or voice of the story teller changes and they say, "and then....."

And it's always the same but different.

"And then such and such happened...."

"And then so and so appeared..."

"And then..."

"And then..."

I was once again reminded today that our lives are seemingly tied together by the "and thens..." We're going along and then (there it is) something happens. An event, a chance meeting, a job change, gas prices, taxes, children, neighbors, an experience...we can go on and on...but it's always the same with a slight change...and then...

So, perhaps one small challenge that I hope to accomplish through this meaningless to some/meaningful to others blog is a glimpse into some of the "and thens" that I've experienced over life and hopefully will still experience until old age, prescribed drugs, or death will bring an abrupt halt to all "and thens".

Parenthetically, for those of us who call ourselves Christ-followers, at the point of death our "and thens" will collectively join together in quite an endless experience of "and thens." With the prior sentence, you assume correctly that one of my "and thens" was an encounter with Jesus Christ of whom I have been following for quite some time.

So, thanks for taking the time to read this. And I hope that after you do, you consider the "and thens" that draw your life together...and dream about the "and thens" that are yet to come.

Monday, May 19, 2008

I've gone to the dark side...

Well, I finally did it...I took the plunge into the world of blogging...what am I thinking?