'Twas the Day After Christmas

'Twas the day after Christmas
And all through the store
There were clothes put on clearance
From ceiling to floor.
At home in the living room
Where worn wrapping paper was laying
Parents uncovered kids' gifts
While they were outside playing.
Around the decorated tree
Lay boxes for lights
To be stacked in the closet
Tucked away out of sight.
We'll do it all again next year
Perhaps beginning in November
But starting now until then
His birth we'll barely remember.

Christmas has become a celebration of holiday meals, gift giving, and family photos. And we find ourselves year after year trying to create a more pleasurable experience with more tinsel and lights and family games and tacky sweaters.

Is it possible that we have found ourselves going from one scene to another hoping that our pleasures will be outdone? One relationship to the next? One job to the next? One city to the next? One social circle to the next? All to be satisfied! But only for a moment!

Not only have we forfeited many opportunities to actually enjoy life because it was simply ordinary but in many instances we as Christians have forfeited moments to find real purpose and meaning because we've reduced our lives to those momentary pleasures that left us reeling for something more.

It's sad to think that we have reduced Christmas to a holiday garnering social media hype and advertising of various brands. The birth of Christ was never meant to be neatly packaged by candlelight services, Christmas carols, or a nativity scene on our coffee tables. His birth was the catalyst for transformation. While the star pointed some to His birth, His birth pointed us to true life.

So, before we pack up all our decorations maybe we can take a moment to reflect on that first Christmas morning; the day of His birth. To remember that the first Christmas wasn't all glitter and glam. It was grimy! It was certainly not what any of us would have imagined.

Christianity isn't all for putting on smiles and attending mass or a candlelight service. It's not Santa Claus or family photos. It's not receiving gifts or even giving them away. Christianity is seeing that Christmas accommodated His arrival that led to the climactic scene of His death and resurrection.

You and me? Well, it requires a response. A response that we will declare with our lives for the next 365 days. We either believe He came or He didn't. And if He came and lived and died the way it's told, we cannot simply celebrate with the exchanging of gifts. We must exchange our life for His!

Not So Silent Night

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright

While that familiar tune is one of the most oft sung Christmas carols in the world, it's not the way most mothers tell the story of their son being born.

There wasn't anything silent or calm with her newborn baby frantically screaming; certainly, it was far from a holy night given the pains of childbirth (I read somewhere that childbirth was more like a curse).

Back to that familiar Christmas nativity for a moment. We've serenaded many a congregation with those lyrics of Silent Night, Away in a Manger, and Angels We Have Heard on High. And while they create a festive mood for this time of year, perhaps we've romanticized the story slightly more than it was ever meant to be.

Seriously! Think about the characters of this story for a moment.

A Jewish teen named Mary conceived a child by way of a miracle. Her fiancé Joseph was informed of her conception through a dream. Star gazers, called magi, from the east followed a specially named star to bring gifts to the child. Shepherds in the field were serenaded by heavenly hosts.

That sounds almost unbelievable.

While it does sound a bit make believe, Disney-like to be honest, it has most definitely made a profound impact throughout the entire world.

But what happens next is amazing in and of itself; it's the not so silent night!

It was during the reign of Herod that this other king, this savior if you will, was born. Herod was an egomaniac whose power was threatened by the reputation of a newborn. So he decided to slaughter all the male babies in the region. Let's just say he was the Hitler or Stalin of Jesus' day.

So, Mary and Joseph and Jesus fled. And all the while God was working behind the scenes, just as He often does, to secure His plan from being thwarted by inhumane human behavior.

And for thirty years Jesus walked the streets, treating others with grace, meeting physical needs, building relationships, forsaking his own means of gratification, forgoing any material gain. For what? One more not so silent night!

The night of His betrayal, He heard the screams of His accusers, the denial of one of His own disciples, and most certainly the cries of His mother. And in those moments of His crucifixion, surely, it was a 'not so silent night' as He screamed in anguish and torment upon that Roman cross.

You see, when we consider the lovely story of Jesus lying in a manger, that was simply the prologue for a story of death. The plot line takes many twists and turns from the cradle to the cross. But inevitably, He came to die. And His death requires a response.

All too often we dress up the story of Jesus in the manger as being something lovely. But His birth is meant to point to the cross. He came to die! And it cannot remain a silent night for you and me.

We must choose to believe the story of Jesus and completely surrender our lives to Him or, like Herod, feel the pressure of having our very own kingdom threatened by the coming of the Promised Messiah!

Should I Stay or Go?

Who, in their right mind, would leave their pregnant wife?

Yet, given the circumstances, who in their right mind would stay?

There he was, making an attempt to stay faithful and pure, and here comes his bride with news that certainly rocked their relationship to the core.

"I'm pregnant!" Talk about an emotional appeal!

Those words have the power to bring anyone to tears. Tears of joy surrounded with much anticipation. Or tears of anger crowded around thoughts of betrayal.

And there he was. With a decision to make. Stay or go? Public or private? Hold a grudge or choose to forgive?

And just before he finalized his decision to "put her away quietly," the unimaginable happened. Something like a supernatural being appeared to him in a dream.

You see, in this culture driven by laws and traditions, it was well within his right to have her publicly humiliated even stoned to death for her unfaithful and hideous behavior.

But this heavenly being, this angel if you will, made a serious appeal for this man to place his initial response on the backburner of human logic and receive this divine interruption as a major twist in the story line of redemption.

So this couple, Mary and Joseph, just two ordinary individuals drafted into God's grand narrative, chose to say yes to His invitation without requiring a detailed explanation.

In a culture where they were certain to be ridiculed and ostracized with heavy words that would wound their most coveted relationships, they found more solace in the unveiled promise of Emmanuel than the weight of accusations and public opinion.

No doubt "God with us" had been attributed a great cost, but they realized the reward of their obedience far outweighed the cost of any amount of disobedience.

Mary could have fled amid the fear of being "caught" in the bout of her mysterious conception. Joseph could have convincingly won any argument of her unfaithfulness and abandoned his bride. Yet they vowed to believe the unbelievable. To see the impossible made possible. To see the darkness overwhelmed by the light.

And now today, because they chose to believe the miraculous and did not abandon the supernatural, we celebrate the birth of their son, God's Son, Emmanuel, God with us.

What we never could have conceived on our own was conceived in faith by trusting Him and His plan to reconcile us back to Himself. And it all began with a Jewish carpenter and his teenage bride saying yes to the greatest invitation in the world; giving birth to the Savior of the world!

Turn Back the Clock

This weekend is like Walmart's "Roll back those prices" weekend! It's time to roll back the clocks.

I stayed up one hour later than my normal curfew watching college football because I knew I could make up the extra hour in my sleep!

We all witnessed this chance to turn back time. For what?

One more hour to rest. One more hour to play. One more hour to celebrate. One more hour to wallow in pity. One more hour to be with friends. One more hour to hide in shame. One more hour to be grateful. One more hour to doubt.

Haven't we all had those moments where we wish we could turn back time?

Gone to that school. Taken that job. Married that girl. Moved to that city.

Not gone to that party. Not stayed out that late. Not made that phone call. Not made that deal.

The unfortunate reality is while we love weekends like this where we get one hour to turn back time, we can't turn back time on decisions we did or didn't make in our past.

Regret is real. Devastating. Shameful. Haunting.

But the good thing is that you don't have to be defined by your past. By the moments you missed because you hesitated. By the moments you missed because of pride. Or anger. Or jealousy. Or fear.

Turning back your clock is not meant to rewind and re-live all of your past mistakes. But it does allow us to take a look at our lives and learn how to be a better version of ourselves from this moment on.

When I reflect on my own life I realize that there have been moments that I've based my identity on trivial pursuits like academics, athletics, relationships, and religious rituals. And every single one of those idolatrous activities, while good in their own right, proved to steal something from me instead of breathing life into me.

What I've come to realize is that my identity is found in a weekend some 2,000 years ago. So when I turn back time, I turn it back to that weekend. It was a coming out party. Out of the grave party. And the one decision I made in regards to that weekend is one that I would repeat 100 times out of 100 to say yes to following a man raised from the dead!

So, today I choose to use my one extra hour celebrating! Celebrating the life that I've been given to live for Him. No, I'm not perfect but my goal is to become more like Him with every breath I take and every step I take! That my next decision is made in light of who I am in Him!

Above and Among All Things

When I was a kid I was, how should I say, rambunctious. Hyper. Busy.

Coupled with being very competitive I was every teacher's aggravation. An occasional thorn in their side. Not on purpose. I just had a bad case of the "can't help its."

Every task was always a race. I wanted to be first to finish every worksheet. First in line at the water fountain. And what was worse, I liked to talk. A lot.

Needless to say I spent many days staring at blank walls in the hallway writing sentences or multiplication tables.

Did I mention my mom was a school teacher? In the same school where I was!

So, it shouldn't have been any surprise to hear the words "How was your day?" at the most inopportune times. "Good" or "fine" were always the wrong answer on those days. She wouldn't let well enough alone as she continued to pry and prod at the sore spots of my inability to stay focused, stay quiet, and stay seated.

On more than one occasion, I asked, "How did you know?" Seriously, how many times would it take before I finally believed her when she said, "Haven't you figured out, I know everything!"

It was like she was sitting in class with me watching my every move. And boy, were there a bunch of moves to note!

As savvy as my mom was at knowing so many of the uncanny details of my childhood, there's still one who knows more.

I feel like we often mistake Jesus as being impersonal and far away. While at other times we bring Him so close that He looks as imperfect and messy as we are.

The Bible says that 'all things were created through Him and for Him.' In other words, He is above all things and among all things.

To be above all things means He is eternal. He stands outside of time. He is before and after all things. He is perfect. He has never failed or had a lapse in His other-ness. He is all-powerful. The plan He has put into place cannot be thwarted in any way. It was always come to pass.

To be among all things means He is present. He doesn't take the day off, not one minute away from His very nature to show grace. He is faithful. He can be trusted and His words are sure. He is compassionate. He isn't taking resumes for those who might qualify for His attention. He is reaching into the lives of those who perhaps feel most dis-qualified to give hope and a future.

His eyes are on you. He sees you. He knows you. And while He loves you He will not be content to leave you where you are. He is above all things and He has a plan for you. He sees the end from the beginning. He is among all things and He promises to never leave or abandon you on this journey of getting you from where you are to the place He wants you to be. 

Ford Broncos and Dirt Roads

I recently saw an advertisement that the Ford Bronco is back!

It reminds me of one epic night gone wrong from my teenage years.

A band of teenage boys piled into our friend's Ford Bronco headed for Jack's River. One dreary night. In one vehicle. One unprecedented, unstoppable force of a vehicle.

As we approached Jack's River bridge, currently out of commission for repairs, we noticed large equipment and a huge puddle of mud where these backhoes had been excavating the river's banks. It had simultaneously become our quaintest dream and greatest temptation.

The last words I remember were, "Gas it!"

And off he went, steering the unsinkable ship right into the dregs of this amazingly deep puddle of mud that nearly swallowed up this beast of a Bronco like a matchbox car in the bathtub.

Did I mention we made this trek to the wilderness area of Jack's River at night? Midnight, to be exact!

After several failed attempts to place sticks and some random 2x4 under the tires to inch our way out of the mess we'd made, we began our journey down the long dusty roads of shame.

We walked two hours in the middle of the night before we ever crossed paths with some random couple driving through the mountains who could only offer a ride to my friend who had driven the Bronco into the gaping hole of perilous defeat.

I don't think it ever dawned on us, "what was this couple doing driving through the mountains at 2am?" At that point, we didn't know and we didn't ask. We just wanted to be home. We wanted to see daylight again!

And do you know what I learned that night? That my parents were right! Nothing good happens after midnight!!!

And here's what else I learned. Enthusiasm should be coupled with wisdom. Looking back, what we did was fun but it wasn't smart.

Veering off the course has detrimental consequences; that was a long, scary walk through the night. And our parents were not happy. At all.

Nothing man-made is invincible; every mortal has its limits and eventually will expire.

When we gather in our homes or around the table in a restaurant, we re-tell stories like this because these experiences have shaped and helped define who we are.

But the truth is, if we miss the point or the principle these memories were meant to teach, we may find ourselves repeating them. And repeating the painful stories that have already unfolded in our life isn't God's intent.

To be smart, to do good, to depend on others; those are noble pursuits. But sometimes God allows us to take detours in life to learn these lessons. To remind us that we don't have this figured out. That we still need Him to be present in our lives.

So, the next time you feel like driving your Bronco off the road or you feel like you've been hit by a Mack truck, remember, God is willing to walk with you down that long dusty road in the middle of the night. And you can rest assured; morning is coming!

Fire Pits and Hay Rides

I love October!

Roasting marshmallows over a fire pit, going to the county fair, picking pumpkins, and taking hay rides; it's every kid's dream!

The leaves are falling, the temperature is dropping, and everyone is reaching deep into their closet for a change in their wardrobe; even the hipsters are busting out their v-neck and knit scarf combo for these cool days of autumn.

But with all the noise of these festivities, if we're not careful, being present with family and friends will be invaded by a need to post one more selfie to SnapChat or Instagram.

There's a quiet verse tucked away in Mark's Gospel that says, "early in the morning he went away to a solitary place." What's so ironic about this verse is that it's preceded by a rock star like entrance onto this miracle working stage of iconic proportions.

A guy named John had been heralding His coming out party for weeks. He makes an epic appearance by the Jordan River with the sounds of heaven speaking over Him. He does miracle after miracle with sell out crowds in every town He entered. And instead of drinking one more Red Bull and feeding off the enthusiasm of His new found followers, He withdrew.

But why would He withdraw? Surely His new found fame was exhilarating. Surely the masses added value to His agenda. After all, He was doing a good work. He was making a difference in people's lives.

Living off the noise will sustain your lifestyle for a little while. But eventually the noise will create some static. The channel that you're tuned into will eventually get fuzzy. And the vision and purpose you once had will soon get blurry and start to direct your attention and gaze away from your original plan.

So, what about Jesus? I believe He realized that His alone time was not 'me' time. It was a time for His vision to be re-calibrated back to why He originally came. It's wasn't for rock star status. It was servant status.

His identity was secure; who He was would not change with a change in scenery among the crowds. His vision was clear; He saw the end from the beginning and nothing would de-rail His plan.

And it was regular moments spent in solitude alone with His heavenly father that re-united and re-ignited His relationship with His heavenly father.

So what makes us think we can forsake these moments of alone time with God and still find Him satisfying? What makes us think we can sustain a life of meaning apart from the one really gives meaning to life? What we need to find is a place of solitude to drown out the noise. A place where we can hear only His voice!

Spontaneous or Predictable?

"What would you like on your ice cream?"

"I'll take Oreo cookies and chocolate syrup, please!"

"You're a traditionalist, I see!"

As I pondered that statement I began piecing together the traditionalist puzzle she poured out of the box in the ice cream line that day. 

By traditionalist did she mean predictable? Safe? Boring?

By being a traditionalist are you telling me that I can't be fun, brave, or spontaneous? 

If I'm honest, I am guilty of often having a one track mind, thinking about the causes and effects of my decisions, and wondering about all of the if-then conditional statements of my life. 

It's this linear model of thinking that often suffocates my mind from the spontaneity of those who view life in the circles of popcorn and cotton candy!

Yes, many of us have a preferred learning style, set of personality traits, and behavioral tendencies. But that doesn't mean that we're bound to a particular lane on this highway of life. We still have options and paths ready for us to explore. 

When we start placing labels on people based on their race, background, or personality we hinder them from developing a more solid foundation for their own personal identity, purpose, and mission in life. 

Is there anyone more of a traditionalist than the Creator of the universe? 

God, who created everything under the sun, is unchanging making Him appear to be the most predictable, safe, and trustworthy source of all things known to man while simultaneously the most spontaneous, courageous, and limitless being in all the world. 

And we find every one of those traits exhilarating and something to be admired.  

Here's what I fear. That to hear the words "you're no fun" implies that our focus in life is that we're meant to be entertained. But more than being entertained I think we're meant to be involved in a mission.

A mission that in one moment may involve the exhilaration of spontaneity entering into the unknown spaces of life while simultaneously holding a pattern of peace and security because the master of our life's ship is standing firmly on the bow!

I Wanna Be Famous

"Teacher, do you have an Instagram?"

"Yes I do have an Instagram but I don't follow anybody!"

So the class carries on with comments about social media interspersed with our academic content as this thought begins to rise. In most cases, while kids were talking about their profiles, it became apparent that most students 'follow' more people than they are being followed by.

Then, a kid spoke up and said, "Famous people don't follow anybody!"

"So, let me get this straight. Famous people don't follow anybody. I don't follow anybody. So that makes me famous, right?"

Of course they quickly shot down my hypothesis! After all, I'm just their middle school math teacher!

We live in a world whether it be on social media, doing chores around the house, or finishing up last night's homework, we want somebody to notice us; we want somebody to find us famous.

I think we all live with this desire inside of us to feel important, to be needed, to matter.

Some may push back on this idea but the reality is we either want to be like someone else or be completely different than everyone else because we crave some amount of notoriety.

Two questions. What are we willing to do to be famous? Who's attention do we really crave?

Is it our parents? Our spouse? Our boss? Our neighbors?

What if we've chosen the wrong audience in an effort to garner all this attention and praise?

Can you spare me a moment to make this statement. I believe living my life for an audience of one, namely for God alone, is the most important decision anyone could ever make. And I find that this relieves me of the stress of trying to measure up or catapult my achievements to the top of anyone else's leader board.

And this creates a tremendous paradox to the cultural temperament embraced by most people. Where getting ahead, finishing first, or being the best is the recipe for achieving success.

To be famous in God's eyes involves serving others instead of being served, willing to go last instead of first, choosing to love instead of hate, giving grace instead of judgment.

When we embrace this kind of life, we may not be the most famous but it sure will make the world a better place to live.

So, today, instead of seeking to be famous according to the world's standards, choose to live differently. See the world the way God sees the world. Because when you do, you will do as He says! And He will smile! And there's nothing better than having God's attention! Because being famous in His eyes brings an incomparable fame that much of this world has yet to know!

Running on Empty

Have you ever felt like your tank was empty? At the bottom of the pile? Nothing left to give? Desperate, you thought of giving up or screaming at the top of your lungs, "HELP ME!"

In a moment of desperation, a woman began asking for a guy named Elisha. When he asked what she had in her possession she said, "A jar of oil." This jar of oil was the most valuable possession she had. But there wasn't an unlimited supply. And Elisha's request seemed whimsical and nonsensical.

Really, what could a jar of oil do to sustain her life and the life of her son?

"Begin pouring this oil into another jar!"

And another, and another!

Elisha convinced her that she would have to give up what was most valuable to her at the time, a jar of oil, to attain something of greater value, life.

And, finally, after filling many jars, she asked for another. "There are no more jars!"

Are you serious? She gathered jars, maybe what seemed to be an adequate amount to provide for her needs, and yet there was more oil to be poured out.

Isn't that just like God, to have an abundance that He wants to give and we aren't quite prepared to receive all that He has for us? Little people with a small vision of what He wants to do!

In every moment of desperation and despair, trust God to provide a way. And never underestimate His power to provide more than enough.

God is calling you to give your most valuable perhaps your last possession; your pride, a relationship, some possession, to find yourself empty of all hope in yourself so that He can show Himself to be more than enough.

Maybe we are most valuable when we are the most vulnerable!

Better yet, when we are in those vulnerable places we will find God to be our most valuable treasure and turn our gaze upon Him!

From One Beggar to Another

Have you ever seen a beggar?

Maybe not up close and personal, but from a distance?

Don't they look different than you? Discouraged; like they've missed their chance in life? Desperate; willing to take a chance on any thought of hope passing their way?

Almost immediately we begin to build a caricature of who we think we've seen under a bridge or on a commercial informing us about the issue of poverty. But the truth is, beggars are dressed in all types of array from the richest of the rich to the poorest of the poor.

There are beggars in Hollywood! Haven't you seen them? Their lifestyles are screaming for someone to notice them! To see that they are desperate! Sure, they have money, nice clothes, and plenty of people around them. But they're lonely and destitute hoping someone would prove to them that there's more to life than this.

There are also beggars in your hometown! Be it upper-middle class in the suburbs of big city lights or the working class in small towns all across America. They're everywhere! Working paycheck to paycheck no matter how many digits are showing in their bank account. They're begging for someone's attention!

And here I am; a beggar! No I haven't lived under a bridge, and no, I didn't premiere on a commercial about homelessness. But it's true; I was once a beggar. I was starving for attention. I was desperate for someone to notice me. I was empty and void of feeling like my life had purpose.

And then He found me. I wasn't looking for Him. In fact, I was reasonably sure I could do this without Him. Sure, I had heard about Him. But He seemed to be distant, uninvolved, and unimpressed with my feeble ways.

However, I was wrong. He very much wanted to be a part of my life. He fed me. He comforted me. He gave me purpose. He painted a big picture of what life was really about; a picture that portrayed the great lengths He was willing to endure to provide a way for me to know Him. So I don't have to keep begging or wandering alone through life trying to figure this out on my own.

And now, as part of His forever family, He has given me permission to take this story, my daily bread, and begin feeding it to others. So, here I am, just one beggar trying to tell another beggar where to find bread!

Happy and Healthy

I recently listened as a man described his grandson's eating habits as being a "fussy eater."

"He doesn't like vegetables! He doesn't like meat! He doesn't like fruit!"

"So, I just give him a doughnut!"

His logic?

"I want him to be happy!" He described one of the joys and privileges of being a grandparent as wanting his grandchildren being happy while implying that their health was of less concern.

While I did sense some sarcasm toward the lack of concern about his grandchildren's health, he created a valid talking point for his listeners in the happy vs. healthy debate of our lifestyles.

We live in a world that thrives in a fast-paced form of life. A constant state of busyness finds us frantically searching for 'quick fixes' to many of our health concerns.

Loads of caffeine and sugar replace our lack of proper rest. Supplements to enhance our physique. New faces to replace the struggles of working on our current relationships. Podcasts, seminars, and conferences to provide a quick dose of enthusiasm in our career. A coffee mug with a Bible verse to make us feel better about our spirituality.

And while many of these 'fixes' provide a moment of relief, the rush will eventually wear off because they were never meant to maintain an enduring state of good health. Happy isn't found in a quick fix; it's found in the slow baking oven of commitment over time.

It's a dangerous ploy to navigate the deep waters of happiness far away from the shore of good health. Chasing happiness will eventually leave us feeling stranded without a raft. It will cause us to abandon the deep sense of purpose we know we were created for. And it will cause us to neglect those deeply woven friendships meant to extend a hand in a time of troubled waters.

Our happiness is tied to our health! Not just our physical health, but our emotional, mental, social, and spiritual health as well.

So, today, when you feel tempted to take the easy way out in an effort to be more 'happy,' remember, your health is more important than the quick fix of some moment of ecstasy! To be healthy is to be whole and to be whole will lead to your happiness!

Back to Reality

I'm home now!

A week removed from the villages of Honduras where kids with tattered clothes and worn out shoes walked for what seemed like days through the coffee bean hills for school. Eager to learn basic math facts and parts of speech of their native language, they were intrigued by the truck full of "Americans" passing by their two room schoolhouse.

We parked the vehicles on a recently cleared plot of land and began to dismiss ourselves onto the dusty Honduran road toward the school. As we passed by a shed built with several timbers and an aluminum roof having wooden benches below, someone asked, "What's that?"

"It's the church!"

"Really," I thought to myself. "This is the ONE church in this village! A shed not much fit for keeping animals out of the rain is used to house people for weekly worship services! You can't be serious!" But that it was.

While I love to travel and spend days, even weeks, abroad experiencing diverse cultures, traditions, and languages, I never cease to be amazed and convicted by what I experience when my path crosses the way of Christians in those cultures.

During the week of our trip we were introduced to the work of three men who have given themselves to full time ministry. Pastors, if you will.

Not pastors in three piece suits attending meetings and public speaking engagements that may require using their private jet to get from one location to the next. No, perhaps their responsibilities looked to be more closely associated with Paul's travels in the book of Acts than the former.

From my own experience, we know what must be done yet oftentimes refuse to do so because of our apathetic tendencies. Maybe that's unfair to say. Maybe it's not that we don't care but that our schedules have been bombarded with secondary issues that we've made into an ultimate priority.

To be honest, that sounds pretty accurate for a large majority of our Christian sub-culture.

But how do we provide a more permanent presence in villages like El Ensenal who meet under a shed for their worship services?

While the church is a conglomeration of many people with diverse backgrounds, it is unified by God's singular mission of making Himself known to the world. And the leaders of the church have a responsibility of maintaining that unifying mission for the people who come under the name of Christ and His church.

At least for me, my conviction is planted in this mantra, "Go, send, or disobey!" And what spending a week in Honduras has done for me is help deepen the roots of that mission.

So, I'm back home. Back to reality. And what I will do is spend the next several days, weeks, months fighting back the urge of a self-inflicted drought toward the global mission of God. One that can become easily choked out by the weeds of my own comforts and conveniences. My busy schedule. Being entertained by the propositions of this world.

So I'm choosing to return and view my reality through a different lens. Rather than a lens that seems blurry or dim, I want to remain wide awake to the people and needs around me. One that chooses not to turn a deaf ear or blind eye to others' reality. But one that see others' needs and chooses to embrace and engage!

This Summer's Mission Adventure

The countdown is on for me to board a plane and travel to foreign soil where my interaction with a new culture, language, and demographic can at times seem somewhat familiar to the landscape in pockets of my community here in the U.S.

One of my best friends grew up as a missionary's kid in Honduras and another close friend has taught me so much about the Hispanic culture as we've spent time growing old together. And while I'm excited to spend a week in Honduras serving both children and adults in various capacities, perhaps my greatest hope is continuing to embrace the diversity of the culture I will come back to when my feet are planted back on familiar soil.

Sometimes we experience fear in sharing the gospel. And other times we have doubts. I don't know; maybe it's because we're afraid of a negative response to our invitation as if they're rejecting us. Or maybe we think we're going to mess up the story and give a blurry picture of the gospel.

The story of Jesus is exactly that; the story of Jesus. While we have the opportunity to become the mouthpiece proclaiming the message, we're not the one who changes others. That's Jesus' job. Whew! That's a relief! That takes all the pressure off you and me.

So, what exactly will I be doing in Honduras? Good question! Essentially whatever they ask me to do. I've learned through my career in education and multiple trips like this one that the key to making this a successful trip is found in one word; flexibility.

While our agenda includes tasks such as helping with eye exams, construction projects, evangelism efforts, and vacation bible school settings, our plans may need to be adjusted according to the needs of the churches and community.

While I'm confident that God has opened this door for me to serve, everyone knows it's not a free ride. And while many of you may be tempted to skim past this section of the letter, I hope you will continue reading.

I want you to pray for my team and me; for our health, for good attitudes, for our obedience. But I also want you to consider supporting me financially. Will I still raise the money apart from your gift? Yes, yes, I will. Arrogant? No. I'm just confident that God is going to provide.

So why should you give? Because I believe the Bible speaks to going and sending. And since I'm going, His church should be sending. Sending involves praying and giving. "What's in it for me," you ask? Less money in your pocket, for one. But there is a principle of sowing and reaping that while I can't fully explain it, I've seen others experience it time and time again.

Please let me know if you have any questions or want to know more about my trip. I'd also like to know that you'll be praying for our team. Thank you in advance for your willingness to invest in spreading the gospel for the sake of building His kingdom!

Idol Factories

"For many of us, our hearts have been idol factories where we punch our time card more often than we care to admit."

That word, idol. It just sounds so outdated.

In a world where religion and spirituality is viewed as an archaic junk drawer this idea of idolatry holds a less than appealing luster.

And really the only place we find it permissible to use the word worship is in the traditional religious settings scattered amidst the broad landscape of secular appeal.

Let's think about this for a moment. There's a small remnant of religious affiliates that herald the idea and intent of worship and discredit the term idolatry. But I would suggest that the sacred and secular actually are closer on this spectrum than they may care to imagine.

By defining the word worship as "giving attention to or having an affection" for some object then we can begin to more practically and with greater plausibility see that we are naturally inclined to cherish what we consider to be of significant worth or value.

Allow me for a moment to assume that the God of the Bible is a supreme being worthy of worship and that all else is inferior to Him and to worship anything besides Him is idolatry. If this be the case then I believe it's safe to say that there really are idols that are constantly vying for our attention and affection.

Relationship Idols
He goes to the gym and she buys a new dress to become more physically appealing. They each make promises hoping the other keeps their end of the deal. It's that Jerry Maguire "you complete me" vortex that so many in our culture find so intriguing. We look to relationships to fill a void and provide a sense of self-worth. In an effort to belong and feel loved we substitute human relationships into a God-shaped hole that only He can fulfill.

Work Idols
He wants to be known as a man's man, making the deal, living luxuriously, as a testament to the 70-80 hour work week he's constantly putting in for his family. He's taken the notion of providing for his family to the extreme. But the problem is he's absent. And frustrated. And tired. Sure, his wife will enjoy the new car and the kids will enjoy the new trinkets and toys. For a minute. But working religiously to appease someone else will never be a satisfying substitute to the security found in belonging and resting in your relationship with God.

Entertainment Idols
Cinemas, stadiums, and recreational sites have become sanctuaries that make big screens, soccer nets, end zones, jet skis, and golf clubs our altars where we pledge our allegiance, make sacrifices, and sing worship tunes to the gods of the entertainment industry. Seriously! Our attitude, how we treat our spouses and kids, and in some cases even our bank accounts are all riding on whether a 19 year old catches a pass in the end zone. Entertainment should never become the substitute for the passion and commitment God designed for us to have with Him

Is it any wonder why God had to tell His people to have no other gods before Him nor to make any graven images so as to become an idolater? We dress up our idols so they're more fashionable than stone or wooden images but the truth is, we all have idol issues.

We must fight the urge to punch our time card at the idol factory as often as we do. Maybe it's time to admit that your idol factory needs to close its doors. When we come under new management we should be manufacturing a new product; Christ-likeness.

Taking the Day Off

I had perfect attendance through grade school!

No joke! I really did.

In a world where little Johnny has the sniffles and Susie's parents want to take her shopping for her 10th birthday perfect attendance is becoming somewhat of an anomaly.

Not me. Every morning when the lights came on, I was up and ready to go.

What if it was my turn to be the line leader? What if our class had PE all day? What if the cafeteria was serving McDonald's Happy Meals for the entire school? What if my girlfriend got a love note that read "check yes or no" from under her desk three rows across the room?

I had to be there.

I was so eager to get to school the next day that sometimes I would sleep on an already made up bed in my school clothes. I  can see my mom now just rolling her eyes asking, "What are you doing?"

Actually, I don't know if that was my eager side or lazy streak! It just didn't make any sense to take a day off.

Have you ever taken a day off?

I don't mean a day off from work. Or a day off from going to the gym. Or even a day off from fixing the kids dinner and having to make a last minute pizza run.

Have you ever just taken the day off from making good, sensible decisions? One of those days where you look back and wonder, "What was I thinking?"

I believe the majority of us live most of our lives making sensible decisions. Not perfect but acceptable. Choices, looking back, maybe we could have tweaked or thought through a little better but not necessarily things we regret or keep hidden in shame.

Take for instance a guy many people know by the name of Samson. Here's the big picture of his story; a strong guy with long hair who had a crush on a gal named Delilah.

In spite of some of his severely off track behavior he "led Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines." Contrary to popular belief he really did exercise moments of faithfulness.

But watch what happens next. He "went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute, and he went in to spend the night with her." Talk about a senseless moment! He was most definitely taking the day off!

Before we're too hard on him, let's be honest. Haven't we had similar lapses in judgment? Maybe not sleeping with a prostitute. But maybe anger, addiction, gossip, greed, lying, lust, porn, or pride has become the motive for us taking a day off.

Just before his death, some of Samson's last words were "God, remember me" and "strengthen me." There wasn't much he could do to correct his bad behavior. It was going to be difficult to right all the wrongs from the days he took off. But, nevertheless, he decided it was time to have a conversation with God that I'm sure was long overdue.

Perhaps you and I still have several days left to recover from the days we've taken off. And if so, maybe we need to use the same language as Samson and ask God to remember us and to strengthen us. No more senseless decisions. No more lapses in judgment. No more days off!

Not Everyone Gets a Trophy

We live in a world where we make up names of awards so no one feels left out. Where everyone's a winner. Everyone is excelling at something.

And, unfortunately, we minimize the adverse effects of defeat, 2nd place, and the need to try again. Instead, we elevate others' opinions, practices, or decision to walk away when their preferences aren't embraced.

What kind of culture are we creating? To believe that someone's self-esteem, the need for tolerance of their attitudes and behavior, or re-creating the rules for their unique circumstances should be the motivating factor for excellence and success.

Not everyone gets a trophy!

Commitment, discipline, endurance. It's developing those traits along with the right attitude and physical ability that will lead to a successful path of some intended end.

Half-hearted commitment that sways with the winds of criticism and personal comfort will not lead to success. Lack of discipline that will not put in the work required to develop those skills will not result in success. Short-sightedness that easily gives up when the work becomes difficult will not lead to ultimate success.

But really, when you think about today, Memorial Day, there's a greater prize to be embraced. Our trophy, our freedom is being held in honor today. But not everyone gets to hold that trophy.

Why?

Because they're commitment, discipline, and endurance was put on display that you and I could hold the trophy high today. We owe so much to them for the fight they had to never give up, to put our preferences ahead of their own, to see the mission through to the end even though it cost them their very lives; what a great sacrifice.

But there's also another One who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The trophy of real freedom is on display in the form of an empty cross and empty tomb. While on earth He was never privileged to hold high above His head a trophy. If anything, He accepted last place by holding a towel and bowl of water.

And to see what we've gained by these people, by that One person willing to negate ever holding a trophy; life and freedom! So, today, may we be grateful for the enduring sacrifice of these brave men and women offering their lives for our freedom.

Perhaps a fitting remark for today would be the words of John F. Kennedy, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." And today, given the ultimate sacrifice of God's Son Jesus on the cross, it would also be fitting to say, "Since Jesus took up His cross for me, how now may I take up my cross and follow Him??!!"

While many of us are trying to conjure up a way to win our next trophy, our next prize, maybe we should stop to see that we all have the most amazing trophy we could ever hope to attain in the sacrifice of those who have gone before; life and freedom!

Pull Over

Have you ever been pulled over? Me too. And it was no fun--at all.

Hearing the tone of disappointment and receiving a citation with freshly written ink demanding my appearance and cash just above his signature. He was in no way going to excuse my absent-minded decision to press the pedal so sternly with my witty style of manipulating jargon.

Not only do we find ourselves pulling over because of self-inflicted acts such as speeding and reckless driving, but there are other moments that find us heading to the shoulder of the road as well.

Not too long ago I felt the weight of my truck shifting hard left. Strange to me, I decided maybe I should ease off the road to survey the ensuing problem. Flat tire!

How did that happen? I have my oil changed, brakes checked, and tires rotated like clock work and here I sit on the side of a busy highway wondering how am I going to make it on time to my next venture. Spoiler alert; I was late! Very late!

Sometimes it happens that things beyond our control, like a flat tire, get in the way of us moving seamlessly from one place to the next free of pain or worry. But pulling over instead of ignoring the tug and pull that life puts on us is the best thing we can do.

I'll never forget driving on the dusty roads of Africa admiring the beautiful landscape as we passed by countless acacia trees and creatures of the wild such as zebras, lions, giraffes, and rhinos that can only be found in their natural habitat or zoos around the world.

And as our group admired the beautiful yet rugged terrain we couldn't help but pull over, pause, and stare with amazement. There was something about that moment that captured our attention, captured our affections--our heart--that we would have most certainly missed had we not pulled over.

There are instances in life when the best thing we can do is pull over. Whether it be friends flashing their blue lights of accountability, the natural warning signs of our own life's version of a flat tire, or simply the beautiful design of relationships or God's creation; often our best option is to simply put it in park. Pull over.

I don't know how fast you're racing down life's highway but let me encourage you; don't ignore the warning signs leading to a disastrous and dangerous off road course and don't ignore the beauty of these little moments that can only be enjoyed when you hit the pause button in your life.

Life is happening fast; one selfie at a time! Instead of turning up the music with your windows down, speeding through life, scrolling through everyone's latest post and picture upload; take time to simply stop and enjoy the small moments that are telling a much bigger story than that one song, that one video, that one photo. Pull over!

Soap Dispensers

Is there anything more disappointing than walking up to an empty soap dispenser?

Standing in the buffet line, walking up to the teacher's desk, leaving someone's side in a hospital room. Expecting, anticipating, hoping that the hand sanitizing station is going to fill your germ-covered hands with its liquid cleanser.

And then...Nothing!

No liquid, no foam, not even one drop!

You feel so dirty! Like you should hang a sign around your neck that screams, "Unclean!"

So you begin an all out search for someone somewhere that has Germ-X strapped to their fanny packs for such occasions. These faulty mechanisms attached to the walls of public facilities have only provided false hope for clean hands.

Oh the joy of the tingling sensation of 99.9% of the world's germs falling to their deaths on your newly sanitized hands!

Seriously though! Do we really think that there's an endless supply of liquid goodness being dispensed from that small bottle of sanitizing therapeutic lather?

Neglecting its use or even over-extending its purpose can create a faulty mechanism that develops cracks and malfunctions. We have to quit abusing and ignoring its intended design.

Have you ever thought of yourself as a soap dispenser? Of course not! That's ridiculous!

But have you ever thought of yourself as a love dispenser?

I don't mean the sappy kind of love where romance novels bode. That's probably more like lust.

We each have an ability to dispense love in such a way that others feel its effects and it creates an affinity, a pureness, a cleanliness, an acceptance that causes them to crave it even more.

But the problem with many of us is that we let love rest in our bodies like Germ-X in a bottle and we are constantly saturating and lathering ourselves with self-love. And when we become consumed with ourselves we begin neglecting others and cracks begin to develop in our relationships with those that actually mean the most to us.

On the other hand, we can become so generous in pumping out our love for others that our love meter becomes broken and we are simply running on empty with no sign of re-filling in sight. And when this happens those closest to us will likewise suffer the results of our misused bottles of affection.

The reason I'm so passionate about soap dispensers is that I've been on the receiving end of a sanitizing station malfunction. And it's disappointing!

And the reason I'm so passionate about being a better love dispenser is because I've been on both the giving and receiving end of a love dispensing malfunction. And it's heartbreaking!

Our lives require a constant, mutual filling and dispensing of love and affection. We have been created with an innate desire to belong and feel loved. And when we learn to find a healthy balance of giving and receiving love toward others we will begin to recognize that we are fulfilling our God-given design.

Count it all Joy!

Date to the prom; that's joy. Magna Cum Laude; more joy. First job; even more joy. Wedding day; some say the best joy. Baby's birth; is there a greater joy? Better paying job; definitely more joy than the first. Grandparent's Day breakfast; can't wait for that joy.

Memories like these create a monumental highlight reel of joy. We place stakes in the ground of our past to re-visit those accomplishments and experiences with friends and family. And aren't we all notorious for re-telling our favorite childhood memories with old friends and new acquaintances with phrases like, "Remember when we...?"

To this day, one of my favorite memories was the zip line across the driveway with rope and a horseshoe!

Unfortunately there are memories we've been charged to recount that seem more like blooper videos and blundering mistakes caused by our own ignorance, apathy, or lack of self control.

Remember that phrase in the Bible, "Count it all joy, brothers, when you enter various trials?" Many of you have probably scratched your head and wondered, "What was James thinking?" I know I have. He says trials, those moments that disrupt the natural rhythm of life, are supposed to be times that we count as joy. Yeah right!

I think most of us would agree that the devastation caused by setbacks such as bankruptcy, cancer, job loss, betrayal, and death aren't worthy of our joy. Yet, every time I read James's letter, that phrase "count it all joy" sounds more like a command than a suggestion.

But what if we removed just one word? What if we removed the word "it"?

The word "it" seems to emphasize the circumstances of the trial rather than the result the trial is actually producing. There's no way our hearts can be happy when bad things happen in life. The pain of life will always hurt. Death will always have a sting. We are wired to feel and express those emotions.

What we must learn to realize is that the trials, the pain, the hurt has purpose. You see, the joy isn't found in the trial itself. Rather, the joy is found in the character the trial is producing on the inside.

When we only experience the good things in life we rely too heavily on our own intelligence, ability, and strength. When circumstances beyond our control, the seemingly bad things in life, the things that require someone else's intervention, we experience a process of change and maturity that we would never know otherwise.

So, count all the joy that can be experienced knowing that all of life's circumstances are working in you to create a more perfect version of yourself if you'll learn to yield to the work God is doing through your glad obedience!

That's Why I Believe

I woke up in English class one day....

After wiping away the saliva that had seeped out onto my cheek during a tape deck reading of "The Great Gatsby," I remember the teacher pausing the tape and asking a series of questions from chapter seven (I think--I can't remember now).

Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

And I was stumped. I wrote the questions down with no response and thought, "This will be easy to grade!" All would be lost in hopes of maintaining an "A" average in the second week of school.

Little did I know that those questions would either haunt me or drive my every decision for the rest of my life. Opportunities and plans such as school, careers, and relationships all run through the grid of those questions.

Who will you marry? What will you do with your life? When do you want to consider starting a family? Where do you want to live? Why do you want to go to school there? How will you pay the bills?

Places like Wikipedia provide quick answers to questions such as "Who was the 27th president?" (Taft, by the way) Or you can YouTube how to change a spark plug in your lawn mower. Or research your favorite colleges based on location, tuition, or degree programs. Goodness, you can even search for a potential mate through sites like Match, EHarmony, or FarmersOnly.com.

While the facts to many subjects or situations are made available through exploring the internet there seems to one question that can be somewhat difficult for any individual to answer; the question, "WHY?"

When the question "why" arises we must research and provide a simple plan or a strong defense. It's no longer citing facts but developing an argument or opinion that often involves an emotional appeal.

"Why" seldom lets us cakewalk through life.

Questions like, "Who will win the World Series? What's your favorite dessert? Where is the most beautiful place on earth?" become more thought-provoking when we attach the question "Why?" to our response.

Why do so many people see questions about faith differently? Most people's faith is centered around a collection of facts that held with strong belief to provide a defense with an emotional appeal.

Remember the story of Thomas? Jesus had appeared to all of the disciples except him. They tried to convince him that Jesus had risen from the dead but apart from the facts he failed to believe; particularly, the scars found on his hands and his side.

When Jesus appeared to Thomas, He removed all doubt and Thomas' response was, "My Lord and my God!" Then he devoted the rest of his life to making a strong appeal to those whom he met about the risen Christ. Why did he believe? Because of the proven fact of Jesus' resurrection.

Christians aren't defending an issue of intelligence, philosophy, ideology, or doctrine. They have a strong emotional appeal to a personal story of how the facts of Christ's life, death, and resurrection have impacted their life.

Our purpose isn't to argue our way to victory. There will always be someone more intelligent or perhaps more belligerent in their own defense. But we, like Peter and John, must feel so convicted to say, "We cannot deny what we have seen and heard!"

Defending your faith isn't so much convincing others as it is daily convincing yourself of the truth. We must remember that faith is believing today the promises of yesterday. Christ has always proven Himself faithful. Never once has any of His promises failed. That's why I believe!

Beware the Bleating Sheep

My uncle is raising goats!

Why? I don't know.

Recently one of his nanny goats birthed three kid goats. From what I understand, while I'm no goat enthusiast, nannies typically birth one or two but can birth as many as five kids at a time. I'm doing good to keep an eye on the one kid I've got at my house.

As his farm continues to grow there is a constant barrage of bleating goats. Seriously, think about it! All that tugging on shirt tails and jumping on the furniture. "Mom, can I have some milk? Can I go outside to play? Billy, won't stop head butting me!"

While I'm sure there are some significant differences between goats and sheep would you please spare a moment to see the implications of the following story?

There was a king named Saul who was given orders by the prophet Samuel to attack and overtake an enemy's land. "Destroy everything! Have no mercy and take nothing for your own personal possession!"

But once the king entered the land, he spared King Agag and kept for himself the best of all the livestock and possessions. "He would not destroy completely" all that was there. And God regretted that he had made Saul the king.

When Samuel confronted Saul, his response was, "I have done all that the Lord has commanded me." And Samuel said, "Then what's this bleating of sheep that I hear?"

You may be asking, "What does this have to do with me? I'm not a goat farmer, king, or prophet?" No, but we're all prone to lie, steal, exaggerate, or simply rebel against what we've been instructed to do; remove anything and everything that stands in the way of God being acknowledged as the supreme being in our lives.

While God has probably never said, "I regret that I ever made you," He does hold a high standard that He expects us to uphold. The problem is that we keep trying to hide the bleating sheep of our disobedience and show our reluctance to follow His command with a dazzling display of livestock. But He hears every form of bleating and inhales the stench of our foul behavior, and He's not pleased.

The bleating sheep represents the pastures of our wrongdoing, our sin. And when God says to destroy everything, He means it. Make no room and have no reservations for what seems acceptable, rational, or justifiable in your own eyes. Bleating sheep aren't worth God's disappointment, anger, or absence in your life; He will not contend forever with the sound of bleating sheep in your fields.

Do you hear the familiar sounds of bleating sheep in your land? Stop pretending! Stop dressing up your secret sins as something God can be pleased with! Quit justifying your actions to do what you want! Kill those sheep!

I know it doesn't sound lovely nor is it saturated with this hyper-grace version of Christianity we've become accustomed to sharing. But God isn't interested in making our lives comfortable; He's interested in making our lives Christ-like. And that requires putting to death every bleating sheep of sin in your life.

Fortunately for us, there was one last bleating sheep, the one that uttered the words, "It is finished!" Do we really even understand the implications of that phrase? "It is finished" removes the need to hide in fear, to embellish our way to some justifiable end, or to build our own monuments of arrogance and pride. And when we behold the prize of His Son we can be assured that He will most certainly be pleased with us!

Follow Through

"L cookie jar!"

While that phrase may seem random and meaningless it has become a resounding phrase spoken time and again in our driveway.

My son has taken to task with playing various sports including basketball. And I'm making every attempt to teach him the proper form of shooting in the most kid friendly way possible; hence the phrase, "L cookie jar!"

With his feet square to the basket, the ball lying on his fingertips with his arm shaped in the form of an "L," we elevate our legs and extend our reach as if we're peering into the almighty cookie jar on the counter. And for the finale of our form, "Hold your follow through!"

Life is no different. We create a plan of what we hope to accomplish. Slam dunks, one handed runners in the lane, jump shots from the corners or off the glass, and even 3-pointers way beyond the arc. We hope to develop the mechanics and formation of some intended result.

We come from a respected family in our community, graduate with honors, attend the college of our choice, begin a lofty career, marry our high school sweetheart, have cute and adorable kids, and start filling the buckets of extravagant vacations, all the while hoping that the retirement account will hold steady as we approach the end of our careers. It's the American Dream!

But just like my son, we can rush through the motions with bad form or become so short-sighted that we forget to hold our follow through. And the end result can leave us watching mediocrity creep in to our otherwise hopeful attempts to excel.

We live in a world that can garner all the necessary information made available through Wikipedia, TED Talks, and YouTube videos to be highly successful but information alone cannot replace commitment. Initiating a plan does not guarantee success or promise its completion.

While this generation is willing to take a stand for many causes and issues, does it have the wherewithal to see it through to the end? Not necessarily making the most noise, creating the most riots, or gaining the most media attention; but simply choosing to do the right thing for the right reasons.

The greatest legacy we can leave is to ensure the social fabric of society has the proper form and follow through for the next generation. While chasing the American Dream is much to be admired, perhaps it's not the greatest accomplishment in life worth pursuing.

I know it may sound silly but what if the lessons I'm teaching my son in our driveway are the most important lessons he'll ever learn in life. Do it the right way, every time, until its complete. Don't quit. Don't take shortcuts. Don't put it off on someone else. Commitment in the face of adversity, choose to stay the course when it's difficult, find meaning in the midst of the mundane.

It's this commitment that leads to a development in our character that makes our Dad proud!

Let's Go Hiking

It's hiking season!

That season of year where flowers bloom, the leaves are green, and we find ourselves escaping the toils and screams of society to enjoy the serenity and beauty of nature.

We take selfies nestled deep in the beautiful landscape of our new favorite bluffs, mountain streams, and waterfalls with phrases like #nobetterplaceonearth or #myheartishappy or #naturesfinest.

Have you ever noticed that some of the most beautiful, most alluring places to journey often have a "No Trespassing" sign posted right in front of your eyes? Doesn't that just burst your bubble?

And life is no different. There are boundaries arranged for our protection but it often looks more alluring than the dull and mundane dusty roads of everyday life. We want to escape toward something more attractive all the while ignoring the signs that we're trespassing into a world full of disappointment and frustration.

While God doesn't always post a "No Trespassing" sign in our midst, He's whispering "Don't go there" all the time. A familiar quote by James MacDonald, "When God says don't, He means don't hurt yourself," has captured the implications of choosing our own path void of the wisdom being served by God's Word.

God's goal for us is to journey through life enjoying the benefits of His blessings without stepping off the cliff of the enemy's attempts to detour our lives in the wrong direction. It's just that sometimes the enemy's voice is more enticing than God's whispers of truth.

Then every time we pass one of those "No Trespassing" signs we snatch it off the dangling limbs leading down the path of temptation and strap it around our necks for the rest of the world to see. And it becomes the badge bearing a new attitude toward those other passers-by on the trails of life.

So when people begin to notice suspicious attitudes such as short tempers and blame shifting we begin to tell them to keep out, "No Trespassing!" It's then that we've learned to take what God meant for good, protecting us from harm by telling us to keep out, and we've re-framed the phrase "No Trespassing" to keep people far away from our deceitful hearts.

God created community for us to enjoy traveling through life together. Unfortunately, when we begin to chart a new course that is leading toward destruction we begin to isolate ourselves from others and refrain from authentic community and accountability.

To fully enjoy the trails of God's creation we must also learn to stay on the course of God's design. Don't ignore the "No Trespassing" signs and guardrails on the paths and highways of life. We will never experience the fullness of the happy life God provides if we continue to ignore His signs or turn a deaf ear to His whispers.

My Pleasure

What is your favorite fast food restaurant?

For breakfast; Hardee's or Bojangles? With kids; McDonald's or Wendy's? With friends; a Zaxby's platter or Little Caesar's Hot-n-Ready? These decisions are always tough and vary with the shifting circumstances of who, what, when, and where.

My favorite restaurant, without question, is Chic-Fil-A. I don't know if it's the product of such great food, the customer service that goes above and beyond typical fast food chains, or the leadership and character qualities they employ with each member of their team.

But there's one thing I know I can always count on; it's hearing these words ringing from every checkout line, "My pleasure!" Without fail, those words always follow the exchange of my money for their #1 combo with a lemonade.

Have you ever thought about what it would sound like to hear God say, "My pleasure?"

He did.

"It pleased the Lord to crush Him."

Jesus was betrayed by His own disciple, falsely accused by His own countrymen, beaten by Roman guards, and ultimately executed by crucifixion and it pleased the Father to see His son agonizing in pain under the weight of such a devastating event.

"Father if there is any way to pass this cup from me, nevertheless may your will be done." And it pleased the Father.

"Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani?!" [My God, my God why have you forsaken Me?] Yet, it pleased the Father.

How could He be pleased?

Think about the paradox of this event. Jesus had all authority but surrendered himself to the Father's will. His suffering brought pleasure to the Father. He gave up His life for us to have life. His body was broken that we may become beautiful.

He tasted the bitterness of death that we may taste the sweetness of life. Because of this exchange, this transaction, our account has been paid in full with His words, "It is finished!"

How did Jesus muster up the boldness and the breath to speak these words? Very simply; He was obedient, He was willing to surrender, He had faith in His Father.

And what about you? What is required of you to hear God speak "My pleasure" over your life? Obey; God's will be done. Surrender; give your life into His hands. Faith; trust Him with every situation in your life.

The daunting task of crushing His son was the necessary payment to make this great exchange. And on Sunday when Jesus arose from the grave the invitation was given that we may receive life.

How fitting is it that Chic-Fil-A would be closed on Sundays; the day God opened the door to life and provided a seat at the table of His presence?

Dropping the 'F' Bomb

Have you ever said something you wish you could take back? 

I remember like it was yesterday playing at a friend's house as a kid. Amidst all the running around I remember smelling something terrible. And without hesitating, I looked at my friend and said, "Who farted?" 

The look on his face was priceless. He gave a blank stare then turned to his mom as she cocked her head with a look of disappointment and said, "We don't say the 'F' word." 

What just happened? You mean to tell me that I just dropped the 'F' bomb!

I know. I get it. We've all heard worse. Said worse. Thought worse. I mean, really, how terrible can that 'F' word be? There are countless other words that defame, exclude, and cause issue with those in our midst than that.

What about these 'F' words? Fine, fear, failure. I would suggest using these words to describe our attitudes and behaviors can be more detrimental than some other words we tend to think are brash and unacceptable in our dialogue. 

We believe the lie that we're fine. How are you? Fine. How are the kids? Fine. How's your job? Fine. Everything's fine. Seriously? When, in reality, you're physically and emotionally fatigued. Your spouse is lonely. Your kids are craving attention. Your performance at work is lacking. But in your mind, everything is fine. 

We need to stop tipping our hats with these friendly gestures and learn to be honest and transparent with those who can hold us accountable for our words and actions. Fine has become a word of endearment to keep others from digging beneath the surface and reaching the depths of our heart.  

Our best moments are being paralyzed by fear. We don't seize opportunities for success and adventure because we fear the possibilities of being de-railed along the way. Too often the risk of the unknown outweighs our attempts to accomplish or experience something new in our life. 

We often feel victimized and demonized by our past failures. We feel our identity is wrapped up in what we've done instead of who we are. Our minds are like a punching bag mauling our thoughts with words of guilt and condemnation. Our self-worth has been decimated under the scrutiny of our past mistakes. And this couldn't be further from the truth. 

We need to stop dropping the 'F' bomb and start cleaning up our speech. We need to learn how to take every thought captive. What does that mean? We need to pour our words through a filter that provides a fresh, life-altering, life-giving view of who we are and what we're to do. 

No, we're not perfect. No, we don't have it all figured out. No, we don't have all the answers. But we have a direct line to the One who knows the truth about how we're doing, who can cast out fear and doubt, and who forgives our past mistakes. He alone is the ultimate 'F' bomb; He's our Father. 

When God Doesn't Hear

"God, please don't let this happen. Will you take this away? I'll do whatever it takes. Please just answer my prayer!"

But He didn't.

In moments of desperation or in an act to avoid the pain we make our plea for God to intervene. Yet He often chooses not to intercept the pain and suffering which has allowed many of us to bear the emotional and spiritual scars to prove it.

We've all made those requests, those propositions, those promises. God if you'll do A, then I'll do B. It's as if we can convince God to act on our behalf with a list of words meant to manipulate His plan.

It's not that He doesn't want to hear from us or turns a deaf ear toward our requests. It's simply learning to understand how life's circumstances, all of them, are being used to accomplish His purposes.

So, why doesn't He answer all of our prayers?

God values our progress more than removing our pain. We're on a journey to a certain destination; Christ-likeness. And it's a sanctifying process. And sometimes that means encountering various trials in our life that are meant to chisel away some unnecessary traits in our character that deprive us from seeing Him more clearly or becoming more like His Son.

God values our long term relationship more than our momentary requests. God is our Father and it would be unloving of Him to remove every obstacle from our path and constantly give handouts that didn't ensure a growing maturity in our relationship with Him. We are practicing delayed gratification; learning not to settle for momentary pleasures that would diminish the anticipation of our ultimate treasure.

God values who we become more than what we receive. We will never be complete apart from experiencing every season of life God desires. Yes, He gives good gifts. But He will also deny us some of our requests. And it will be for our benefit when He does. As our lives are constantly being renewed, we see our ever-present Father love us in a way that we could not know if all He did was give us what we asked.

I once heard a guy say, "God does exactly what we would do if we knew everything God knows!" And I'm confident that one day we will agree with the great theologian Garth Brooks and say, "Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers."

The next time you're tempted to think that God is absent or unloving, remember God is using every circumstance in your life to accomplish His eternal purposes. And it's ultimately for your good and His glory.

Light and Momentary Afflictions

In the emergency room writhing in pain.

Sitting around the dinner table crushed by the accusations.

Walking the halls of a school not your first choice.

Standing in the driveway stunned by the doctor's latest news.

At her bedside saying good-bye for the last time.

Watching them walk away feeling betrayed and alone.

It's moments like these that our reality comes crashing down around us. And to hear others say, "It's going to be ok, God's still in control, or they're time's coming" aren't always the most consoling words for our worn out minds and busted hearts.

The truth is, things will eventually get better and the sun is going to rise again and we are going to get back up on our feet. But in the heat of such moments we're all tempted to fold. To throw in the towel. To scream the obscenities associated with life being unfair.

In our world, those circumstances are heavy and real. But to the onlookers casting a ballot of insignificance toward our situation, they fail to see how wounded we are on the inside. They lack the empathy or the wherewithal to even begin to understand.

Having personally experienced all the above mentioned scenarios, I'm learning how to come out on the other side with a renewed understanding of life. As Martin Luther King Jr, once said, learning "to be judged by the content of their character."

So, here are two simple thoughts that I'm trying to let my mind navigate as I encounter the various difficult seasons of life.

Embrace this season. There are circumstances that we encounter that are beyond our control. We can choose to deny what's going on in our lives, blame others for what's happening to us, or embrace the situation and ride the difficult waves of our trials to the end.

Choose to change. Difficult seasons do one of two things; make us bitter or make us better. It's likely that we've heard that old adage before but it's so true. Our trials are producing a particular attitude that is monumentally shaping our perspective toward life, others, and God. And to simply remain neutral is not optional. The most advantageous response to our situation is to become more humble and more honorable in our interactions with God and others.

Someone once told me, "God does not waste any pain." I didn't believe it at the time because my world was crashing down all around me. But as I continued to walk through the fire I slowly began to see the work that was producing a different me. There were sinful attitudes and expressions of selfishness being exposed, and empathy toward others walking through similar battles that I was able to acknowledge.

And while the weight of our trials can seem unbearable at times, God says they are light and momentary. The good news is He will never abandon us in those moments of fear, angst, betrayal, or desperation.

He has a plan for our lives. A plan that involves both grace and blessing and suffering and difficulty. One that causes us to scratch our heads at times and ask, "Why?" But He promises that in the end it will be light and momentary compared to the eternal weight of glory working in us.

What was I thinking?

I kissed my sister!

I know, right? I can't believe it either!

No amount of soap could wash away the taste. And I rubbed my eyes a thousand times hoping to erase what was now etched in my mind.

Before you go judging me too harshly or throwing stones at me like I'm some kind of stray dog wandering through your yard, hear me out.

She's not really my sister. It's just that we had grown so close it was like we shared the same thoughts, the same blood flowing through our veins; literally, the same heartbeat.

I've known the joys and pains of both being in relationship and being single. And to me, neither outweighs the other. Some people believe they do. Single for years, believing a relationship will heal past wounds or bring a happiness that singleness can't. But it's simply not true.

Others who believe that they are stuck in a relationship and finding a way out would free them from the prison they think they are in. We live in a world filled with deceptively eager minds. Where fairy tales only exist in our imagination and the bubbles of naïve romance are burst by the reality of two broken people trying to cure the other's brokenness.

The truth is, every season of singleness and relationship has one ultimate purpose, to chisel away the parts of you that you weren't meant to carry into the future. Every season is a period of molding. But our problem is, we seldom want to stay on the wheel until the work is done.

I don't have this figured out; not by a long shot. But I'm trying to learn and practice what I believe to be true, at least in my own circumstances.

Love is not easy. Many times, what we want is compatibility. Someone who thinks the way we think, likes what we like, and wants what we want. And often times we'll trade the sacrifice, commitment, and vulnerability of love for common interests on the surface of our relationship. We should never make an attempt to love on the basis of someone else's merit. That's not love at all. Love flows from somewhere deeper within; the place that says, "I love you anyway!"

Forgiveness is the goal. We spend a lifetime looking for Mr. or Miss Right only to find that riding off into the sunset makes for a good scene in some romantic movie. Nobody's perfect and we know that. But we start making exceptions. At least to believe that someone over there is better put together than this one right here. And instead of initiating forgiveness, because we know we aren't perfect, we shift the blame and look for a way out.

We compromise. We lose our minds. We follow our hearts. We begin to believe that our heart is the key to real, lasting happiness. But the sad reality is, our hearts can lead us down a path of momentary pleasure that can cause ultimate heartache in the end. It's like eating chocolate every day only to feel the pain of a cavity months later.

What we've done with our singleness is we've made it about us. What's wrong with me? Why am I not good enough? Why am I not pretty enough? Why won't somebody love me?

And we've even made our relationships about us. Why doesn't she respect me? Why can't he just be here for dinner? Why doesn't he tell me I'm pretty? Why can she not appreciate all I do for her?

So, in our singleness and our relationships we've created a playlist of questions for why our lives aren't perfect. Yet, we never really consider there was a time when we were unlovable. And Somebody chose to love us anyway. There was a time when we broke all the rules and instead of seeking justice, Someone offered forgiveness.

There was a time when that Someone didn't make it about Him; He made it about you. Ironically enough, what He did for you ultimately made it about Him. So, in light of His love and forgiveness, how do you need to love and forgive others in this season of your life?

Super Bowl Sunday!

It's Super Bowl Sunday! Perhaps the most notorious sporting event of the year. Where Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49er's, will become a cathedral of thousands of football fans from coast to coast.

Millions of people will gather around TV screens in homes, dorms, and bars to consume billions of pounds of chicken wings, chips and salsa, and assorted snacks and beverages.

Die hard fans will watch every second of every play, re-winding hard hits and impossible catches, all their favorite commercials, and hope for a last second Hail Mary to watch a limping Peyton go out on top or see the beginning of a dynasty as Cam dabs his way to what could be the 1st of more rings to come.

Even the fair weather fans of NFL football will tune in if for nothing else to see the pre-game hype of analysts' preferences and opinions drawn from the tactical game plans given by film or their favorite interviews and headlines found throughout the season.

Of course there will be a subgroup of hipsters anticipating a halftime show that includes Coldplay, Beyoncé, and Bruno Mars. Where a 20 minute stage will most assuredly entertain millions perhaps more than the 60 minutes of hard hitting football between the goal lines.

You see, we are all entertained by something or someone. For some, it's sports. For others, it's movies, politics, world-wide news, economics, history, or literature.

And little by little we've let the concept of entertainment seep its way into the pews, stages, and nurseries of our churches. We've placed a priority on our preferences above the central message of the church; the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We jump on the bandwagons of musical style, emotional appeal, and therapeutic sermons that are highly concentrated on the idea of consumerism. As long as there is a balanced reciprocation of feel good moments we find ourselves sitting in chairs, volunteering in the nursery, or creating automatic bank drafts to support our attempts of purpose and entertainment.

Rather than finding ourselves being Super Bowl fans of the church, we need to find ourselves committing to the ongoing ethic of loving God and loving others. Not seeking to be entertained by this church until the next wave of popularity breeds another large crowd down the street.

What many of us don't realize from the TV set is all the hard work, blood, sweat, and tears these two teams have endured to be playing on Super Bowl Sunday. And the (loose) correlation for the church is to realize that God is ready and willing to acknowledge the faithfulness of the body of Christ; His church.

crummy gods!

My son recently had a crying party; one of those snot-slinging, can't catch my breath, I'm trying to quit but can't meltdowns. M-E-L-T-D-O-W-N. Upset, distraught, emotionally torn.

No he wasn't in the floor of the cereal aisle spinning in circles because he didn't get his way. He wasn't throwing toys at me in the doorway because I told him to clean his room. It was just some twinge that triggered an emotional response. And when I asked him what was wrong he simply couldn't find the words to express why.

It happens to all of us.

So then the questions started firing on all cylinders in my head. Was it something I did? Was it something I said? Am I bad parent? Is this the product of poor decisions made on my part? Have I ignored his mental and emotional check engine light?

"My son is my world! He means everything to me! I won't let anything get between him and me!" It's statements like these and others just like it that I've said, heard from others, and often read on social media from parents just like me.

But I started to realize that I've placed an unfair weight, a heavy burden, on my son that he was never meant to carry. That my happiness, my purpose, and my dreams should be placed on him to satisfy the deepest parts of my being.

Nobody can live up to that; no child, no spouse, no significant other. No career, no car, no other possession.

Singles believe a relationship will cure their loneliness. Students think a career will satisfy their need for purpose. Spouses believe a new relationship or a child will heal the wounds of brokenness and unhappiness. But it doesn't work that way.

These are all crummy gods!

There's something inside all of us that we need. We need to belong and feel accepted. We need to feel safe and secure. We need to be free and able to explore. We need to find purpose and fulfillment.

And we go about this epic search in the wilderness places of this world hoping we will find the answers to all of life's questions. And we make functional saviors out of people, places, and possessions that can never fully satisfy.

We would never admit to bowing down to idols by worshipping anyone or anything like the carved images of Baal, Ashteroth, or even the golden calf, but if we're honest, we spend much of our lives placing our trust in crummy gods like our spouses, children, careers, and awards.

Our lives will never be happy and our souls will never be satisfied until it finds rest in knowing that Jesus Christ is the one and only source that our souls crave. We will never be more accepted, more secure, more free, or more fulfilled until our lives are hidden in Him.

When our identity is found in Christ then our behavior will be a reflection of Him to whom we belong.

The Art of Conversation

We have conversations everyday, oftentimes with ourselves, where we conjure up a fine presentation of exquisite vocabulary to present facts, express opinions, or simply talk about the weather.

Yet, inevitably our conversations tend to go sideways with spouses, children, friends, co-workers, strangers, and adversaries when our words, spoken softly in one's ear or bouncing loudly off the walls, are misheard.

And what happens when those words are misaligned or misinterpreted? Our differing views lead to sharp disagreements, controversy, and often times angry hearts! We simply do not know how to agree to disagree.

We seldom communicate with others in a way that makes us better for seeing someone else's perspective. We become so arrogant of our own experiences that we believe we're always right or have grander stories to tell. So narrow-minded that we balk at any consideration that others could add value to the conversation.

We see it in politics, business deals, and families talking around the dinner table. Our attempt to push our agenda, to make the deal, or to get our point across can sometimes blur our vision of the person sitting across the room. How do we not only find value in someone's words but also find value in the person we are engaging in the conversation?

Speak Less, Listen More. Engaging in conversation doesn't require giving proposals, clarifying an agenda, or stating a list of demands. Sometimes the best conversations are the ones where we simply let the other person express how they're feeling or share what they're experiencing. Be interested and attentive. Giving them space to share their hopes and dreams can be life-giving.

Speak the Truth. Conversations that require you to choose a side or defend a position can become intense. Speak the truth. Never resort to manipulation or coercion in an attempt to win an argument, but maintain a position of integrity so there's never an opportunity to bring your character into question. The truth always brings validity to the conversation. Always choose honesty over deceit.

Speak in Love. Conversations always occur between people, not ideas. The point of the conversation isn't to outdo, outsmart, or outwit someone else. It's to bridge gaps and build relationships. Speaking the truth is necessary but not at the expense of the friendship. Speak the truth in love. Choose to value the person more than valuing your own words. Hanging our words on the mantle of self-absorption will melt away in the heat of humble circumstances.

As you continue to have conversations consider these ideas. Don't be quick to speak and don't spend so much time mounting up some response when someone else is speaking. When you decide to speak, speak in a way that the truth is shared as your story is told. See others as important. People who have needs and desires and emotions and significance. Learn to value others as your stories collide in a thunderous heap of words!

...and a Happy New Year: Humility Overshadows Pride!

What is it that you crave at Christmas gatherings? Traditional ham or turkey dinners? Christmas morning breakfast? Anticipating Santa's arrival with cookies and milk? Admiring the exchange of Christmas gifts? The re-telling of the Christmas story?

We all have our favorite parts of Christmas and New Years celebrations! And sometimes, if we're not careful, we'll lose sight of those around us and place the spotlight on ourselves. Here's what I mean. Christmas is all about Jesus, Santa, or the kids. Yet, there's always somebody else who writes their name in the script and moves into the spotlight of such occasions.

We all know Ryan Seacrest holds the spotlight of Dick Clark's New Year's Bash but someone else is always seeking to become the host of their own little bash in the cul-de-sac of their small town and become the next YouTube sensation.

And so it is, the ongoing question, how do we make for a Happy New Year?

Demand less.

The Christmas story has a fascinating twist that is so counterintuitive of the expectations of society. The people wanted a leader to rise up to provide military, political, and economic success but what they received was a baby born to an unknown family in an unfamiliar way prepared to walk an unlikely path.

Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, the innkeeper, and the rest of people in that day had no idea exactly what was taking place the night of Jesus' birth. But here is the unique twist that Christians believe happened that night. Jesus left heaven for earth. And he was on a mission that led him from the cradle to the cross.

You see, when Jesus was born, the Father knew that his siblings would be suspect of him, the Pharisees would test him, a disciple would betray him, and the soldiers would crucify him. Yet, He did not deny His responsibility to find His greatest happiness in unwavering obedience.

But look how drastically different many of our lives will be. We walk through life making demands, giving orders, placing expectations on others that they cannot uphold. No wonder so many people live miserable and frustrated lives. Never good enough for others. Never satisfied with receiving the penultimate gifts of this life.

If we truly want to be happy we must learn to demand less. Be grateful for what we have. See everything in this life as a gift. Realize that we're not as good as we think we are and most definitely not as deserving as we think we should be.

Happiness will be more opportunistic when we learn the difference between rights and responsibilities. Jesus knew the difference. He deserved His seat at the right hand of the Father but He excused Himself from His seat to fulfill a responsibility that would enable us to truly be happy, to find life in Him.

And so it is with you and me. If you want to be happy this year, make less demands. Instead of giving orders, take orders. Instead of priding yourself with being at the top, lower yourself beneath others. Be more like Jesus, who picked up a towel and basin of water, and washed the disciples' feet. He humbled Himself. Happiness always takes the path of humility over pride, every time!