15 Apr 05 No School Today!
Madison’s softball team (the Dolphins), under the careful guidance of their brilliant coach (Beth), won a tough game last night against their arch-rivals (the all-stars).
I heard a few of the girls discussing the need for a new team name - something to do with the Dolphins not inspiring fear and trembling in the hearts and minds of the other teams. I will be quite interested in seeing how this discussion resolves.
We celebrated their “tuna safe” victory with a family feast of grilled salmon and grilled tomatoes stuffed with cheese and seasonings. Yum! Wished you were there.
The kids are off from school today. We love long weekends! We see changes, especially in Reese, when he’s been at school for a while which are not necessarily positive. A day or two back at home and he’s back to “normal.”
Not sure what the plan is for today. Leading suggestions have been going into DC to look at the remaining cherry blossoms or going fishing. I wonder who suggested each activity?
It’s nice to have a day off every now and then - especially with how busy most of our Saturday and Sunday’s have become. Friday is usually the day I like to take off so it will be nice to spend the day together.
Enjoy your weekend and let’s have a cheer for the killer whales!
14 Apr 05 We’re Following The Leader
We were standing in line at the happiest place on earth (Costco) waiting to purchase much needed items such as a pallet of water, a flock of chickens, and an industrial size tub of peanut butter.
A woman next to us pushes her shopping cart right up to an empty check out lane with no one at the register. The register is closed. Her husband has been in the food court grazing and proceeds to come over and they begin discussing the merits of buying a barrel of honey.
As they discuss the eternal ramifications of this purchase, four other people rush to get in line behind the dialoguing couple. No one behind these folks has any idea they are not in a real line. They all saw two people standing next to a register and rushed in to be the next in line. “Take that all you people standing in long lines, our line is shorter” I’m sure was their mocking cry.
Funny how sometimes the shortcut we take turns out to be a dead end.
Here’s the most interesting part. When one of the four lemmings discovered that this was in fact a dead end he got mad. Get this, he was mad at the couple who were just standing there talking. He was, in a very loud voice, expressing his displeasure for them drawing him into a dead end line.
He was not made at himself for his own inability to pay attention. He was not mad at himself for making the wrong split-second decision. He was not mad at himself for his failure to see past the “line leaders” to see if they were actually in line. I guess in America we are free to stand anywhere except at an empty register in Costco!
Isn’t that just like us? Without judging for ourselves we rush right down a path someone else has chosen. When we discover the path is a dead end we get mad at the leader not at ourselves.
Beth remarked how that incident would be a good sermon illustration. She was right.
13 Apr 05 Veiled Actions of Denial
I’ve been thinking more on the narrative from Mark 14 concerning the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter. Still somewhat wrestling with the question of which is worse, betrayal or denial?
Specifically, I’m trying to get my arms around the subtle ways in which we betray or deny Jesus Christ. I have a very good idea of the major ways in which we betray or deny. It’s not the obvious ways that concern me as those are easily recognized.
I fear we make a practice or habit of insidious denials here or there which eventually lead us to outright betrayal.
Here is what J.I. Packer had to say:
The modern way with God is to set him at a distance, if not to deny him altogether; and the irony is that modern Christians, preoccupied with maintaining religious practices in an irreligious world, have themselves allowed God to become remote.
This morning I plan to spend some time in reflection as to the ways in which I have been so preoccupied and thus allowed God to become remote.
Which seemingly insignificant actions and practices of mine have actually been veiled actions of denial?
12 Apr 05 The Full Musical Spectrum
In the interest of full disclosure, for the greater good of the constituency, I am compelled to come clean with “the other side” of my MP3 player.
One of the news stories this morning pertains to the music selection on “ipod one” - here’s a link:
So here’s the other side of my music taste - the side that will bring me ridicule and scorn.
I’m only going to list my top-ten non-rock choices hoping to withhold some of my other dubious choices or should I say dubya choices?
The Statler Brothers
James Taylor
Nanci Griffith
Wynton Marsalis
Earl Klugh
Alison Krauss (Union Station)
Chet Atkins
Eric Clapton
Sons of The San Joaquin
The Mills Brothers
What can I say? Time fails me to mention Roy Orbison, The Thorns, Pink Martini, John Denver, Billy Joel, Simon & Garfunkel, Phil Collins, Genesis, The Police, The Beach Boys, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Police, Men at Work, Fleetwood Mac, Matthew Sweet, Eric Johnson, Elvis Presley, ABBA or Glen Miller.
I’ve also not mentioned my old-guy rock choices like The Cars, Styx, Chicago, Journey, U2, Van Halen or Bruce Springsteen.
I haven’t even scratched the surface of my Spanish speaking artists or classical composers. Come to think of it I did not even tell you all the Christian artists in my collection.
I guess I won’t run for president. That way I won’t have to divulge the full spectrum of my musical taste.
11 Apr 05 Making The MP3 Cut
I’ve been organizing my music collection and making decisions as to which albums or artists I will add to my MP3 player.
All in all it’s been an interesting process sorting through my music. It feels like going through my closet and looking at what I have not worn (or been able to wear) for some time.
So I was thinking about being stranded on that hypothetical island and what music I would like to have with me.
Assuming that I would have everything the ZOE group ever produced (wink, wink) here are the ten artists I would have. No specific albums just the greatest hits.
Rich Mullins
Michael W. Smith
Michael Card
Robin Mark
Delirious
Caedmon’s Call
Third Day
Glad
Phillips, Craig & Dean
Chris Rice
Who would make the cut on your MP3 island?
08 Apr 05 Music To My Ears
It was excruciating and awkward.
It was often out of rhythm, out of tune and a few beats short of a measure.
It was also quite a thrill to hear them play those instruments and sing those songs.
We went to Madison’s elementary school concert last night - do I really have to say any more?
It was all those things I just described and so much more – what a delight!
Not a parent in that audience will tell you anything other than the joy of seeing their child on stage playing and singing like it was the Kennedy Center or Carnegie hall.
I’m sure that’s what God thinks as we offer our worship.
Awkward, often out of rhythm, out of tune and so many beats short of a measure.
Don’t you think he just smiles?
He leans back nudges one of the angels and says “those are my kids!”
07 Apr 05 Our Daily Bread
We had an interesting discussion last night, in our mid-week tune-up, regarding the church in Antioch and the activities recorded in the first few verses of Acts 13.
In the church at Antioch there were these prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon (also called Niger), Lucius (from the city of Cyrene), Manaen (who had grown up with Herod, the ruler), and Saul. They were all worshiping the Lord and giving up eating for a certain time. During this time the Holy Spirit said to them, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul to do a special work for which I have chosen them.” So after they gave up eating and prayed, they laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them out. (Acts 13:1-3 NCV)
While our discussion focused on many things, we spent a considerable amount of time talking about fasting.
Specifically we talked about the way in which the contemporary church and contemporary Christians do not have a regular habit or discipline of fasting. Why is that?
What are your thoughts on the subject of fasting? What experiences have you had (positive or negative) with fasting?
From your perspective, have we neglected this discipline, and if so, why?
06 Apr 05 Spring Training
Finally it feels like we lost winter! For the past two days we have been able to enjoy being out in the yard and experience that thing called sunshine!
We bought a pitching machine (for Beth’s softball team) over the weekend and spent the last two afternoons flirting with danger. The multitude of people who pass by our house, more on that later, believe us to be playing a simple game of “hit the speeding projectile.” Those of us playing the game, with experience in these matters, realize we are actually playing “how long until we break some neighbor’s window!”
Now back to the multitude of people who passed by our house. Yesterday afternoon, all because of the nice weather, it seemed like the whole block was out for a jog. At one point a group of 5 or 6 people went jogging past our house. I was looking for race bibs and aid stations as if somehow unaware of the Cherry Blossom run going right by our house. Everyone is out shaking off the rust and trying to get in shape.
This is also the time of year when the UPS drivers get a serious workout. You may think it’s during Christmas that the men and women in brown are pushed to their packaged ends. That’s not entirely true. During the spring these mocha warriors are pushed to the limits delivering all the workout equipment, the home gym, the treadmill, or bowflex your neighbor ordered while eating ice-cream and watching a late night infomercial. On my way to lunch yesterday I watched in anguish as a rookie, an earth-tone clad delivery specialist struggled to get a bowflex off the truck and onto his cart.
Spring training, fitness training, and basic training. Let’s not forget spiritual training. The Bible says:
Train yourself to serve God. Training your body helps you in some ways, but serving God helps you in every way by bringing you blessings in this life and in the future life, too. (1 Timothy 4:7b-8 NCV)
What’s your plan to exercise and use your spiritual muscles in service to God? What’s your plan to exercise and use your physical muscles in service to God? In other words, how are you training yourself to serve God?
Maybe it’s been a while since you’ve flexed your ministry muscles. Maybe finding your ministry muscles should be your first goal? What a perfect opportunity you have right now - because of the nice weather - to exercise those ministry muscles.
Get out there and get to training!
05 Apr 05 I Will Change Your Name
Does anyone out there have eight grand you just don’t know what to do with? Let’s see, what was my mailing address?
Forget that dream vacation. College for the kids? Please, that’s so boring! If you want something worthwhile done with your hard earned money I’ve got great news. You can pay to legally change the middle name of a complete stranger.
Yesterday, on the popular auction site Ebay, a man was offering the world a chance to bid on an auction. The winning bidder would be allowed to legally change that man’s middle name. Don’t we live in a great country?
I‚Äôm sure there are many people out there who don’t like their names. Let‚Äôs face it, if he weren’t such a star we all know Regis would have changed his own name by now! Or did he change his name to Regis?
I do appreciate the parents who are sensitive to the baggage certain names carry. Though I have to wonder about the couple we met camping one time who had not yet named their 3-year-old daughter. They were waiting for her to pick her own name. Wouldn’t you like to be around for that moment? “Hi we just moved in next door and this is our daughter Hello Kitty.”
I‚Äôm also sure there are many people who do not like what they are called by others. I’ve heard my fair share, and have sadly offered a few of my own, of not so flattering names for people.
You’ve been called ‚Äústupid‚Äù or ‚Äúidiot‚Äù or ‚Äúcareless‚Äù and many other hurtful names. You know what it’s like to be defined by what others think about you. You’d welcome the chance for a fresh start. You’d take the offer to be called by a different name. But is EBAY really the venue to turn for inspiration for something as important as a name change?
It seems everyone else, inspired by this developing story, is rushing to setup auctions on EBAY hoping to cash in on the name change phenomenon. I wonder if the cost will be too great. Not the price paid by the winning bidder (who obviously has more dollars than sense) but the price paid by the one who sold to change his name.
Some time ago another auction was held and a higher price was paid for naming rights. The winner of that auction offers to change your name.
He wanted to bid his life that you would no longer be defined by your pains and your hurts. He wanted to bid his life that you would be defined by his promise and your future. An even though he won the auction, and paid a great price, he does not demand to change your name.
No, his offer is voluntary. His offer is joyfully accepted by those whose ears long to be called by their new name. God’s offer, given through Jesus Christ, is aptly expressed in the words of D.J. Butler.
I Will Change Your name
You shall no longer be called
wounded, outcast, lonely or afraid
I Will Change Your name
Your new name shall be
Confident, Joyfulness, Overcoming one
Faithfulness, Friend of God
One who seeks my face
This, my friends, is one name change you cannot find on EBAY.
04 Apr 05 Co-Dependant And Loving It
A friend of mine (Danny Mann) sent me this article he wrote. Hopefully it will help you start your week.
Fifteen or twenty years ago, popular psychology gave birth to a buzz-word - co-dependant. This new explanation for unhappiness caught on and is still with us today. There have been hundreds of pamphlets, articles and self-help books written about it. Thousands of lectures have been delivered and millions of dollars have been spent on therapy to help us cope with it - but it’s still with us.
About fifteen years ago, I was shocked to find out that I, too, had been afflicted with this terrible disease. Co-dependency was the reason for my unhappiness. I had placed too much importance on what other people thought of me. I had depended too heavily on two or three significant relationships for my self-worth. I had relied too much on influences that were outside of me rather than finding my joy, peace, motivation, and self-esteem inside of me.
It was true. When my friends struggled, so did I. When the people I cared about got sick, lost jobs, had relationship problems or wrestled with faltering faith, I hurt too.
What was I to do? How was I to go about untangling myself from other people and their influences so I could be happy?
The cure for my kind of co-dependency was simple. I needed to distance myself from other people. Whether it was their joy or their pain, I had to stop getting so close, so involved. So that’s what I did. I backed off, became less available and spent more time alone.
Guess what happened? I went from occasional unhappiness to chronic depression. The cure was worse than the disease.
Now before the phones start ringing or the cards and letters start coming in, let me acknowledge the fact that co-dependency is a real problem. There are many people whose lives are in turmoil because they are in co-dependant relationships.
Some are married to spouses who drink too much. This reeks havoc in the family but they ignore it, pretend the problem doesn’t exist, because to face it seems more difficult than ignoring it.
There are people who stay in abusive relationships because they fear being alone more than they fear the abuse. These kinds of co-dependency are destructive. If you find yourself in one of these relationships get help and get it soon.
Having said that, let me ask a question. Is it possible that we have let this fear of co-dependency move us to some very unhealthy, even ungodly extremes?
We go to work, do our jobs and go back home. We have many shallow relationships but almost no deep ones. When we ask someone how they are doing, we really don’t want to know. And if they should happen to tell us, we sure don’t want to get involved. They might come to depend on us - and wouldn’t that be terrible?
I have a confession to make - I’m co-dependant - and loving every minute of it! I have two or three friends who are so important to me that I have some kind of contact with them everyday. If I don’t, my day just isn’t as good. I’m co- dependant.
When I preach, teach, lead worship or counsel with someone who is struggling, I am thrilled when someone is blessed - and upset when someone is not. I’m co-dependant.
And I’ll have to be honest with you - this co-dependency of mine has its drawbacks. It costs me some sleepless nights. It interferes with my free time. Sometimes it even costs me money. But the joys far outweigh the pain.
Maybe Paul knew what he was talking about when he wrote, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15)
Just one last thought - I wonder, if God were to go into therapy, would he be diagnosed with a big case of co-dependency? His joy and his pain seem to be all wrapped up in people. He has gone out of his way, made adjustment after adjustment, to have a relationship with us. It even cost him his son. It sure sounds co-dependant to me.
Let me know what you think. Have a manageable monday!
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