The eye of the beholder....

This evening I returned home from work to a call from my dad sharing that my mum was in the E.R. After 3 hours of sitting waiting in a small closet size room, they finally wheeled my mum upstairs for a stay. As I sat in the E.R. watching the comings and goings of people… sick, broken and bleeding there was a point at which my eyes caught a connection with a young women in her mid twenties. Our eyes stayed connected for just a few seconds but what seemed like several minutes. She had come to the E.R. by herself, strung out on drugs, compliments of a police escort. Her eyes were dark, sunken and withdrawn. However, as I engaged her what was communicated to my spirit was much more. Here was a young woman alone….really alone! There was no one in the E.R. waiting room, waiting on her. No one interested that she was killing herself with narcotics. Her EYES communicated a lack of purpose, hurt, confusion and a desperation that comes from KNOWING you are alone. As I sat with my mum in an attitude of prayer regarding her sickness; this young women was also on my heart.

I watched as doctors and nurses came in and out of her room, all the while a policeman guarded her door. The atmosphere surrounding this girl was one of ridicule and judgment. As I sat and watched I was increasingly burdened for this young woman. I thought to myself, “I am fairly certain I know what people think of this lady, but what am I to think? Should I also cast judgment on her and chalk this up as another person with a bad habit?” How should I SEE her? I was reminded that the Bible tells us that if our eyes are bad then everything is dark. If the light inside an individual is dark, then that one is truly in the dark. (Matthew 6:23). The eyes of this woman were dark, she was not able to live with spiritual vision where she could see her life as one of beauty rather than the handicaps that manifested her addiction. Ironically, nor could those around her! This observation provoked my spirit.

I am constantly challenged with the idea that as a Christian just how easy it is to become complacent and comfortable, and truly lack a burden for the sinner. I might go to church, give my money, and maybe even get involved with my time. It seems easier to live a life that demonstrates the love of Christ in my actions. I have understood the concept of living a lifestyle of evangelism by doing good deeds. These are all good things, yet this young women provoked the meditation, "Do I purposefully and intentionally name the name of Christ in my actions?" Do people move away from my presence just thinking that I am a moral upstanding individual, or do they really know the Power behind the personality? Am I really more content to wait for the sinner to visit my church, or am I truly burdened to meet them where they live? It struck my heart, had this woman heard the name of Jesus? Had anyone been intentional with her and cared enough to introduce her to Jesus Christ, the power of God for salvation to anyone who would believe? I am reminded that love is in the EYE of the Beholder. Jesus Christ loves this individual (John 3:16). The Bible tells us that Jesus did not come to save the healthy, but those that are sick (Mark 2:17). As a Christian do I sometimes forget that once upon a time I too was sick? The Apostle Paul eloquently encourages the believer, 'How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news"'(Romans 10:14-15). Love is in the eye of the Beholder and because this is so as a Christian I have been commissioned to love those that are sick ...and like Christ my burden should be to THEREFORE GO! (Matthew 28.18).

Good guys always win...even if they have to die!

"If Christ if for us....who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) "...death is turned into victory"(1 Corinthians 15:54)

Growing up my father was a cartoon junkie. We would watch episode after episode as Jerry the mouse would out maneuver Tom the cat. Week after week anticipation would build as we wondered if that would be the episode that he would finally outwit Jerry; only to find Tom in some sort of self-imposed personal crisis once again bruised, isolated, hurting and defeated. As an older child I remember wondering two things,,,First....which of these characters is the "good guy", there is always a good guy...right ? Both characters were crafty, manipulative, self-absorbed and never willing to give the other favor or say "I'm sorry!". Secondly, who would really want to impose that kind of relational disaster on themselves?

My eldest nephew has a phrase that he shares periodically that always catches me when he says it. He shares, "Don't worry Aunt Nanc...good guys ALWAYS WIN...even if they have to die!" He's eleven...can you imagine? The simplicity of this statement possess such profound truth that his theologically trained aunt trips over herself as she tries to process and put application to the statement. Note to self: "Keep it simple stupid!" When he and his siblings come to stay it is customary that we read a bed time story. Inevitability he always desires that I read them a missionary story from a book called Missionary Stories With the Millers. If you don't have this book in your library and you have kids, I highly recommend it. The stories are only a few pages in length and are packed with examples of God's faithfulness. This statement as it comes from the heart of an eleven year old, who loves God, is pure in its observation,uninhibited, honest and self-denying. Simply.... he has a faith like a child (Mark 10:15). His faith is large enough to believe that God is so powerful that He can accomplish those things that we read about. As a matter of fact his faith is large enough to believe that God can superintend ANY circumstance (Romans 8:28). Why is it that as an adult we find ourselves struggling to believe that God can do that? Although we might not say it out loud, does the application of our lives demonstrate that truth? Has life experience taught you that this a dog eat dog world? Are you of the mind that the good guy doesn't win? Does the good guy get left behind, abused, thrown away and left for dead..... is it survival of the fittest? Is life nothing more than a game of cat and mouse?

I would like to suggest that My nephew is right...good guys ALWAYS DO WIN....but who is a good guy and what are the rules of the game?

Most of us strive to do the right thing....we love our families, help others, pay our bills, obey the civil law....but does that make us a good guy? Do these things make us righteous before a holy God? The prophet Isaiah shared that all our righteousness is as filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:4-9). What does this mean? Isaiah answered when he shared, "This people draw near me with their words and honor me with their lip service, but they remove their heart far from me."(Isaiah 29:13). God desires that we love Him with all our heart. (Matthew 22:37-38). The Apostle Paul shared it this way, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"(Romans 3:23). Paul concluded that man is justified (i.e. made righteous) by God's grace as they are redeemed through Jesus Christ alone.(Romans 3:24, John 14:6) This means that God desires to be in relationship with YOU and that the only manner in which that can take place is to be literally purchased by Jesus Christ.(Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus Christ has set us free by paying the bond for our sin with His own life. In return He desires that we confess Him as Lord, and love Him as we obey what He says. This is a life of dying to our own agenda and following Christ! Unlike a "legal bond" that only ensures a temporary release, the bond purchased through Christ Jesus is binding and eternal. Stealing the phrase of an eleven year old child....Jesus Christ is the definition and model of a "GOOD GUY" who DID die so that through His resurrection we would have opportunity to be a good guy.
In this game of life what are the rules of the game? I have already shared rule one: Love God through Christ! The Bible says that the second rule is like the first one....love your neighbor like YOURSELF! (Matthew 22:39). What does it mean to love my neighbor as myself? As I shared in an earlier post, it is that person who lays down his life to serve Christ by loving others as we ourselves would want to be loved....the one who ministers to others. Ministry is revealing God's love to others by meeting their needs and healing their hurts, even if they are self imposed. Ministry in my experience is dying to self, laying down my own pride and being willing to extend a heart of grace, even when I don't want to. It is being willing to prefer another above myself...even those who have hurt me. Nothing characterizes our culture more than fractured, dysfunctional personal relationships. As people we have been created for relationship; both with God and each other. If we lack a personal relationship with God the Bible tells us that we are like Tom the Cat, a self-imposed person who is isolated, bruised, hurting and defeated.(Romans 1:18-20). As a Christian if we have broken relationships and are unwilling to do anything about it (both with God and each other) we too are a self-imposed person who having been released from the bondage of sin, has CHOSEN isolation, hurt and defeat; essentially we have preferred ourselves over God and others (Matthew 18:21-22; Colossians 3:12-13). In concluding this rambling of heart a life ordained by God is one that is a continual dying to self. A life that pursues relationship, is quick to apologize and willing to be the bigger person. The Bible tells us that it is in this type of death, that we ultimately find victory. Good guys always win....and they are required to die! (John 12:24-26).

S.L.O.B's Give Back

I was surfing around YouTube and came across a video that I think has merit to watch. I recently found out that Bart Millard's (lead singer of Mercy Me) son suffers from juvenile diabetes. Like many of us whose families have been touched by either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes he too understands the challenges and complications associated with the disease. According the the American Diabetes Association, there are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 17.9 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.7 million people (or nearly one quarter) are unaware that they have the disease. Take a moment and watch this video.

Support Sam's car.

The Tie That Binds....

The month of July has been a delightful suprise for me. The major emphasis and application has been the topic of "fellowship and friendship". This month I have experienced the homecoming and fellowship of a dear friend who I have not seen for four years. It has been a thrill to catch up, be filled up, and simply enjoy their presence. This experience got me thinking about what makes this season of time so special? Simply.....It is the Tie That Binds!

Frank Crane once shared "What is a friend? I will tell you...it is someone with whom you dare to be yourself." Have you ever wondered why there are those people in your life that are a comfortable fit....just like an old pair of jeans? That person or persons in whom you dare to rip off the mask from which you are hiding and declare with open abandonment......"THIS IS WHO I AM!" The person who values YOU as a person more than they value the relationship itself....that is a real friend. The one who is willing to bump shoulders and knock heads with you. The one that accepts you as a person, even though you might not agree with all of their values. The Book of Ecclesiastes talks about the importance of such people in our lives ...."Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10;12). Who are those persons in your life in which you can say..."You are a real friend!"?

In the gospel of John Jesus shared His perspective on being a friend, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:13-15) In the passage Jesus is declaring His disciples His friends. What is essentially important about this passage is Jesus' perspective about YOU! Can Jesus call you His friend? A personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the door to success in every other relationship. There is no way that we can reach our potential in developing relationships with eternal value ,where we can be our true self, if our relationship with God is not right.(John 15:5). Jesus Christ is the third strand....He is the Tie That Binds!

What's in a Word?

Sometimes I believe that the Lord has a great sense of humor. Being a science major in undergraduate school dealing with the art of language just wasn't my bag. However, as it turns out He has brought into my life several good friends who in large part LOVE words. Argh! Can you stand it? LOL! However as I ponder their love of words and their influence in my life, I have come to appreciate the art of language.

One word that has been on my mind is vo-ra-cious. Voracious an adjective describing an excessive appetite, or someone who is excessively eager... This is a great description of my state of being...How about you? What are you hungry for?

As Christians our lives should reflect this kind of appetite toward spiritual things, moreover Christ Himself. Isn't it ironic that we get busy filling our days with activities that have no eternal value as we struggle to fill ourselves with the most satisfying and nourishing person available (John 14:6)? Instead of heading through the spiritual drive thru for that fast and cheap "happy meal", may we find the real joy and contentment that comes from a real intimate relationship with the Master Himself. This kind of intimacy only comes as we seek Christ with all of our hearts. Several years ago I read a small publication by Robert Boyd Munger that really articulates the meaning and value of the Word ( John 1:1-5) operating in the believer's life. My blogging friends let us be mindful of the importance of making eternal investments in our daily living...may we be voracious Christians!