Love Big.

Luke 7:47 - "...But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."

How do you love little? I think to answer that question, we need to answer, "How do you love big?"

Most everyone is familiar with 'The Love Chapter' in 1 Corinthians...we've heard it at almost every wedding we've ever attended. But, instead of quoting it word for word, I'm going to paraphrase. This is is no way trying to change God's Word, this is just how I interpret verses 4 through 8 in a simple-minded way:

Love puts up with annoyances, yet is still kind; love does not lust; love does not flaunt itself seeking men's applause; love is not vulgar, and is not self-centered; love does not react in anger, there is nothing evil in love; love does not put up with wrong, but rejoices in truth; it endures all things. LOVE NEVER FAILS.

That's a Big Love. That's a Real Love. But is that how we love? I would venture to say that for most of us, we don't make it past the first line.

I'm going to take this Big Love a bit further now. What about our time? What about our talents? What about our money? Are we loving big with all of these?

To me, here's the answer to our first question; here's how to love little:
-Give God ten dollars a week when we're making six-hundred dollars a week.
-Pass up a church service to watch a movie we've been waiting to see.
-Spend 10 minutes in prayer and reading God's Word but watch an hour long CSI episode.
-Never help those that are in need of things we possess.
-Don't feed the hungry because 'They should get a job.'

You get the idea. But here's the other side of the fence: Loving big doesn't mean you give God 500 dollars a week when you make 550 dollars a week. Loving big doesn't mean you are in church every time the doors are unlocked. Loving big isn't spending 20 hours a day with God. Loving big isn't paying our house off and giving it to a homeless person. That would be too easy.

Loving big means that all we do...we do it with kindness; we do it without seeking praise for ourselves; we give God our tithes not wondering how we're going to pay our bills this month, but rejoicing in the fact that even if we lose all we have, we had an opportunity to give a little bit back; we attend church without any reservations; we feed the hungry because we realize that could have just as easily been us sitting on that street.

'With great power comes great responsibility." Are we showing our share of responsibility?

Have we only been forgiven of little? If you consider eternity small, then yes.

God gave a Big Love so that we could Love Big. Do we care enough about our Christ to do it?

35 Pet Peeves.

In no particular order, here is a list of 35 of my pet peeves:

1) Stopping the microwave before it's done and not clearing the time left.

2) People that accelerate hard when going from a red light.

3) People that pass me, then slow down on the interstate.

4) Couples who sit on the same side of the booth when there is no one on the other side.

5) People who, no matter what you're talking about, relate to something you have done and try to "one up" you.

6) Noisy eaters.

7) Drivers who won't turn right on red.

8) People who cross the 11E bypass on the wrong side of the median.

9) Couples that own a dog together and call themselves mommy and daddy.

10) Celebrities claiming to be environmentalists.

11) The way people walk in flip flops.

12) Jerks who take up 2 parking spaces...if you can't park it, don't drive it.

13) When Christian radio stations don't play guitar solos.

14) When it's raining and I turn my truck off before I turn the wipers off, and they stop in the middle of the windshield. So I turn the truck back on, the wipers off, and then the truck off.

15) The creepers at red lights. You know, those people that start inching forward in their cars slowly until the light turns green.

16) People who don't know the difference between its/it's and they're/their/there.

17) People that while telling a story make a long pause, and I think they're done, so I try to break the awkward silence by saying something, only to have them cut me off after 2 words and continue the story they were telling.

18) People who smoke in front of entrances.

19) People who go the wrong way in a parking lot.

20) People who leave shopping carts in the parking lot instead of taking them back to the corral.

21) When I adjust the volume of the TV and the volume display blocks the subtitles during an important dialogue.

22) Suburban kids who think they are gangstas.

23) Hair strands left on shower walls.

24) People who are always late.

25) People that realize that a lane of traffic is backed up so they go into the next lane over because it is moving quicker and they go up to the front and expect someone to just let them back over in that lane.

26) People who say "Oh! You have to try this! It's the best thing ever!" And when I do try it...it sucks.

27) When people continue to stare after they ask a question, as if they need me to expand more on my answer.

28) When the tiolet paper roll is backwards.

29) Websites with horizontal scrolling.

30) When people call me but are talking to someone else when I answer and I have to wait till they stop talking for them to talk to me after they called me.

31) People who talk about their favorite sports team and say "WE" like they are a part of the team.

32) When commercials are way louder than the TV shows.

33) When I order a pizza and they don't cut the slices all the way and I have to tear the pizza apart.

34) Pee all over the place in public restrooms.

35) Things sticking out of drawers

The Fantasy of Church

Everyone has opinions about government run programs. Some enjoy the benefits of 'government' money (if there is such a thing) while others steam over somebody else taking their tax money (sometimes dishonestly). I'm not here to argue either side of the equation, I'm here to discuss a big 'What if...'.

What if the church took literally Matthew 25:34-40...would there even be that great of a need for welfare or many other government-aiding agencies? Here's an interesting scenario: Suppose a homeless person came to you in need of a shower and some food. We might point him to the nearest homeless shelter and maybe even offer to drive him there. That's what a good Christian would do, right?

That might be what we do, but I'm beginning to seriously doubt if that's what God wants us to do. Keith Green wrote an amazing song entitled 'Asleep in the Light'. One of the lines in it says this:

"...He brings people to your door and you turn them away, as you smile and say, "God bless you. Be at peace," and all heaven just weeps. 'Cause Jesus came to your door and you've left Him out on the street."

Have we forgotten how to serve? It seems a lot easier to let some corporation do what they're set up to do, but Jesus never told us to do the easist thing.

I'm convinced that a lot of Americans are on board with the whole 'christian idea' because it's convenient. Yeah, I said it. It's become so watered down that anyone can be a Christian. Anyone can say they 'believe'. After all, we're covered by grace, so why bother with all that other stuff that takes up our time and money? "God's gifted other people to help the needy, I just can't do that kind of stuff...."

Welcome to the fantasy of the modern church.

According to a Gallup Poll in 2008, 77% of Americans consider themselves to be of the Christian religion. That's down considerably from 91% in 1948, but it's still over 3/4 of the country. Call me crazy, but if three-fourths of our country's population were really Christians, would there even be poverty in the U.S.? It was interesting in seeing these statistics, that the article on Gallup's website stated this (among other things):

It is important to note that basic religious identification says little about the relevance of that identity to the person's life. Identifying with a religion doesn't indicate how actively the individual practices the religion. It doesn't indicate whether the person rigorously adheres to that religion's beliefs. It simply states that the person has some connection to and some identity with a specific type of religion.

Words don't mean a whole lot, especially in the times we live in now. Of course it's novel and romantic to think we can believe in the God of the Bible and do as we please and still reap the benefits of a relationship that requests so much more than lip service. But the reality of it is, it doesn't work quite like that. Thomas Fuller said it best: "He does not believe who does not live according to his belief." What we as Christians believe isn't supposed to be a pretty story or a novel idea, it's real. It requires us to act. It requires us to obey. It demands commitment. It bears fruit.

James chapter one tells us to 'be doers of the word, and not hearers only.' Our faith produces works. Works of love. All that we embark on must stem from love and not selfish motives.

"If love is the soul of Christian existence, it must be at the heart of every other Christian virtue. Thus, for example, justice without love is legalism; faith without love is ideology; hope without love is self-centeredness; forgiveness without love is self-abasement; fortitude without love is recklessness; generosity without love is extravagance; care without love is mere duty; fidelity without love is servitude. Every virtue is an expression of love. No virtue is really a virtue unless it is permeated, or informed, by love ."

--Fr. Richard P. McBrien

past.NOW.future

As humans trapped in time, it seems we spend most of our lives 'now.' But for some unknown reason, our minds are mostly 'then' or 'to come.' We don't really think about it much because we hardly ever think about what we're thinking about right now. I think.

From the time we're born to the time we die, we're alive today...so why do we worry with yesterday or look to tomorrow? You might be saying, "That's a pretty good point. I wish I wouldn't always do that." Thus, making my point. Instead of wishing we hadn't done it or hope we won't do it as much; Don't do it.

The Forgotten Lost.

After being in a Roman prison for approximately two years, the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church in Philippi. This happened somewhere between one and seven years before Paul's death (he was be-headed). Just based on this knowledge, I could probably write about 14 pages on the first chapter alone of Philippians. However, for time and attention span's sake, I'll refrain.

One of the perks of being a Christian is the gift of eternal life. We have something to hope in when our time on earth is through. It can get exciting thinking about spending forever with our Maker, but Paul says something interesting in that first chapter. Something I don't think I've EVER heard anyone around me say.

21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.

Did you catch that in verse 22? Paul had such a burden for ministering to others that he didn't know if he would rather go to his Savior's side or stay and 'work out his salvation' (Read on through chapter two) on earth. What's wrong with this guy? Here he is - almost 70 years old, chained up in a prison for two years, debating whether he would rather die or face more persecution while preaching to others. For most who believe in an Almighty God the answer would be simple...I want to see Jesus! Why suffer here when you can spend eternity pain and problem free with God? What would make him even start to debate which one he would choose? Maybe the answer is this: He believed what he preached.

Ouch!

What does that mean? I'm glad you asked. We all know that Paul was converted to the cause of Christ while on the road to Damascus. After that encounter, Paul was never the same. He knew that he had experienced something REAL. Something that others had to know about. And he was going to spend the rest of his life telling them about it. When I look at these verses, I see the epitome of unselfishness.

I'd rather not suffer, so I would rather go to heaven.

I'm most concerned with my comfort - even at the expense of another's salvation.

Wow! I've never said that...but is that what my attitude is saying?

Do I believe that this whole 'God' thing is real to everyone or is it just real to me?

If it's only real to me, is it even real at all?

Paul knew he was going to face more persecution because of what he was preaching; he even warned his readers that they were going to "suffer for His [Christ's] sake" - but he was still willing to put off his glorification for others' salvation. Has it been that real for me? Am I willing to sacrifice my comforts to further the message that I say I believe? If not, do I really believe what I'm preaching?

I can't recall anywhere in Scripture when Jesus told his disciples to take comfort in knowing they were going to spend eternity in heaven and get to those lost people when they had some free time. Being a Christian is not a hobby. It's not something we do in our spare time when we're not busy with work or school or hunting or vacation or whatever it is we do. When we give excuses for not doing the things of God (such as the ones stated in the previous sentence), what we're essentially saying is "Right now, God's in second place." Does it even matter if He's a close second? No. He's still second. Even if it's for an hour...He's still second.

Here comes the hard part of all this: We can read this, then with a click of a button browse to another web page to find something to entertain me. We can hear this in a sermon and swallow the lump in our throat, get up and walk out the doors of the church to a restaurant that I like. We can go home and turn the TV to my favorite channel, then fall asleep on the couch because I've had a rough week and it's already Monday again tomorrow...OR we can quit worrying about what's going to feed our desires for more than five minutes, and tell others about something REAL that we've encountered. Something that's more than being all about my wants. Something that's changed our lives.

Or has it?

I think Paul had a firm grasp on the reality that time on earth is short and life after is forever. Paul looked forward to his life after death, but at the same time, he knew that his time to labor for the Master was but a vapor. Unfortunately, we've let culture define a lot of our priorities and how we spend our time. We know that life on earth is short, but we've been convinced to live it up. We've forgotten the lost. We've forgotten our task as Christians. Think about this - how many weekends this year have you went to the movies or went shopping or just set aside 'me' time? How often have you set aside 'witness' time?

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.

When we think of this song, we think of our worldy problems disappearing and having an unspeakable peace in Christ. But what if the things of earth that grew dim were the materialistic trappings of comfort and pleasure? What if the things that became more clear were the hurts and needs of others?

Christ have mercy.

Honestly...

"When you see the best in me, it's mostly God."

When I deflect a praise from me towards God, I don't know if I really mean to give God credit, or if I just want it to seem that way so I can receive more praise. It's a vicious cycle, really. I mean, even if a small part of me enjoys the praise, does that mean that God doesn't get it all? But then, how do you not enjoy receiving praise every once in a while? Not that receiving praise is necessarily a bad thing...maybe I just don't know how to respond to it. But, unfortunately, I think it's habit a lot of times or maybe just what I think I should say when I reply, "It's not me, it's all GOD."

Is the first step admitting this? Or accepting this?

If one thing is for certain, I can't deny it.

Have I been genuine? Totally honest and transparent in this whole Christian thing? For the most part, I think that's what God wants. Honesty. Not just with Him, but with those that are on this journey with me. With us.

Why does pretending always seem like the best thing to do? Who are we trying to please? Is it because we don't want to 'hurt our witness'? Or is it that the judgment of others has become our God? Think about it.

It's hard to see an invisible God. That's a pretty common thought, I think. So, what if (somehow) all that we see has sadly become how we see God? In kind of an ironic, twisted way, our sight has limited our faith. The writer in Hebrews says that faith is the evidence of things not seen, the substance of things hoped for. What if somehow the things we see have destroyed the evidence of faith in our lives? Have we even seen real faith in our lifetime?

I take note of small things a lot of times. My wife would probably tell you differently, but I'm talking about things in church. People are tired a lot of times, I hear it quite often: at church on Sunday morning, at choir practice after Wednesday night service, at Christmas play practices. Someone is always ready to go home. Someone has always had a long day. My question is - Do they think everyone else just sat at home all day, waiting to get off their couch so they could come to church?

This brings me to a harsh conclusion: we're selfish, self-centered creatures. It's ALWAYS got to come back to us somehow. If it didn't, why would I be whining about how hard my day was? And on the other side of that coin: why would I care if people whined about how hard their day was? That selfishness soon leads to 'sharing' with some other church member about how frustrating it is that 'So and So' is always whining about getting home. Is me talking like that about 'So and So' really any better than their whining?

Think about this - How many times do you hear the words 'me' or 'I' at church? Or what about this conversation:

"Hi! How are you today?"

"I'm doing OK."

"Oh...just OK?"

"Well, I've had better days."

Better days? What does that even mean? You live in a country where you're free to get up, put on a $150 outfit, fix your hair up real nice, and come to worship an Almighty God. Why should there need to be a better day than that? ...Because we're selfish. Which leads me to another question:

Why vacation?

Vacations are not a bad thing at all, but I've heard it said on many occasions that 'Everybody needs a vacation...a little time just to get away.' Get away from what? A nice house with running water, electricity, a clean bathroom, and a kitchen full of food? Nobody needs a vacation, we just want vacations. Why do we always feel like we deserve something else? I mean, we get stressed out about our jobs and paying our bills, when there are lots of people that would love to even know what it's like to have to stress about that.

How pampered have we become that we feel like we need to get away from a place that some people only dream about?

Handcuffing Jesus

It's amazing what a person can learn when they shut up and listen. What's even more amazing is what we can learn when we shut up and listen to God.

I've been referring back to the first chapter of Mark for a while now, and have been stuck on the 45th verse for quite some time. In context it reads like this:

40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." 41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." 42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." 45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

As I read these verses, I couldn't help but think, "How many times have I done something in complete disobedience to what Christ called me to do and left Him outside in deserted places?" I've probably read this Scripture thirty-seven times and never paid attention to the leper doing the exact opposite of what Jesus told Him to do. It's always exciting and intriguing when we see Jesus perform divine miracles, like healing the leper, but why would he then go out and do precisely what Jesus told him not to do?

Most times when we read in Scripture about a leper being healed, it's a brilliant picture of what we were like as sinners, and how Christ restored us to be made whole. But the ironic and scary part is, often times like the leper mentioned here, as Christians we go out and do precisely what Jesus tells us not to do. When we do those things, not only are we hindering our relationship with God by disobedience...but have you ever thought that you might be hindering someone else's relationship with God?

Think about it this way: How many more people might Jesus have had the opportunity to change their lives - if it wasn't for that one leper? Because of his direct disobedience to instructions, Jesus was basically not welcome in the city anymore. He was left outside. Deserted. Because of the leper, people were forced to find Jesus and go to Him; Jesus was no longer free to go to people inside the city and find them in their weakness, they had to come outside to Him. The leper didn't really do any harm to himself; he had been healed, his problems were better, what did he have to be concerned about anymore? But he made it really hard for others to come to Christ and heal them.

What's even more surprising about this act of disobedience is that we read about it, and still do it 2,000 years later. When you look at it through the eyes of the leper, it doesn't seem like it's the wrong thing to do. I mean, if you were healed from a life threatening disease, wouldn't you go around telling everyone what had happened to you? I certainly know that I would. It was a miracle! Christ cleansed the leper - just by speaking to him!

This brings me to an important conclusion - Just because I might think it seems like the right thing to do...even if I think it's good for the Kingdom; I'd better be sure that it's what Christ has called me to do:

For my sake. And maybe, just maybe, for the souls of others.

James 1:19-20 says this:
19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

It's time that followers of Christ do as we're instructed. It's time for us to shut up and listen. It's time we stop doing what we think is right, and do what God tells us is right. It's time for us to stop handcuffing Jesus, and get out of the way, allowing Him to work freely in our lives and others' lives.