Beside Me All Along

I Have Been Redeemed!

2011-07-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

What could be sweeter than suffering defeat, exiting graciously, then returning to the same battlefield, only this time, to emerge victorious? Redemption, right?

Redemption was the theme of this past week’s Chopped episode on the Food Network (http://www.foodnetwork.com/chopped/index.html). Four previously chopped chefs, back to duke it out again? And who should be in the lineup but our favorite Christian chef, Lance Nitahara!

In case you don’t know or remember, chef Lance is one of the executive chefs at a Christian resort called, Camp of the Woods (www.camp-of-the-woods.org), tucked back in the Adirondacks of Speculator, NY.

But I don’t know if this turned out exactly like the Food Network execs thought it would. There was no grandstanding. No gloating. No Rocky-style rabbit punches or condescending or cocky attitudes. No backstabbing or heated debates in the kitchen. None of the high drama that we’ve all become so accustomed to seeing in our reality shows.

Actually, it was exactly the opposite.

Friendly competition. Graceful interaction. Cool, controlled, talented cooking. And a big twist at the end that I don’t think anyone saw coming.

I have to say, it was so cool, seeing Lance back in the ring, tackling his mystery baskets, whipping up amazing dishes. Seriously, he really is amazing to watch. But even moreso (and what captured our attention in the beginning), his openness and candor about his faith. He was the same dude this time too…talking about God, faith, being blessed, showing compassion and interest in his fellow competitors.

You know, stuff that you NEVER see in reality competitions.

I’m ashamed to say that I don’t know if I’ve grown very much as a Christian since Lance’s last appearance on Chopped (back in Sept 2010), when he surprised me at his declaration of faith and his surprising, consistent humility and graceful attitude. Then, I was half expecting him to blow it and say a four letter word or go for the jugular in his competitiveness. That’s partly why I watched…to see the train wreck.

But he didn’t.

And then, even when chopped, he exited with grace and thankfulness. What? Totally unexpected. And totally humbling for me, as a Christian.

(My blog about that episode is here: http://www.rickyfitzpatrick.com/blog.html/youve_been_chopped/)

Last night, I found myself now saying “So I wonder if he’s still as staunch a Christian as he was a year ago. I wonder if this time, he’s going to be some kind of jerk, or have an attitude.”

I’m ashamed. What a pitiful view for me to have. It’s embarrassing, but I admit that yes, I was (at least subconsciously) thinking it. So I watched again, expecting to be able to smugly say “I knew it”.

But as before, I was thankfully proven wrong. And never was I so glad to have egg on my face.

Not only was Chef Lance’s demeanor as humble and gracious as always…and not only did he actually win this time…but even in winning, he used part of his prize to give something to his opponent and help her fly home to see her grandmother (I think it was her grandmother).

And then he said something to the effect of “It was a pleasure to be able to be here and use this experience to serve people”.

Come on! Seriously? Are you kidding me? Lance, what are you doing, man? Are you TRYING to make me feel like a loser, bro? :)

It had an effect on me. I’m watching this unfold and I’m feeling like, super-heavy convicted to go pray for forgiveness for my selfishness and insensitivity to the people around me.

I have no doubt that God used Lance Nitahara and is Chopped experience as a platform to speak to me, and probably a lot of other lukewarm Christians out there, just like me. Who would’ve thought that God was in the business of exercising conviction in His people, through a Food Network show!?

So today, I wanted to re-blog about Lance and say to him “Congratulations on your win!” and “Thank you for allowing God to use you as an example of His grace in action”.

And here’s a link to the Food Network Promo, in case anyone wants to give it a look: http://www.foodnetwork.com/chopped/sweet-second-chance/index.html

OK, now what’s next…Lance Nitahara on Extreme Chef or Iron Chef America…?

- Ricky

By the way, I think it behooves us to acknowledge chef Lance for…well, for being who he is. I’ve already emailed the folks at Camp Of the Woods and told them what a gift I think Lance is to their organization and what an inspiration he is to me. I would encourage you to do the same, and to bring honor to a Christian guy who has not tried to honor himself, but to use his time in the public eye to honor God. And example for all of us.

Shoot an email to Steve Tann, VP of Operations and Marketing at COTW at stevet@camp-of-the-woods.org and let him know. You might want to even cc Lance on it (lancen@camp-of-the-woods.org).

Forget About It!

2011-01-03T08:20:00.000-08:00

Given the fact that this would be the first blog entry I’ve posted in…well...over 3 months, I would say a reasonable resolution for 2011 would be to contribute more regularly. :)

But what’s the deal with New Year’s resolutions? I mean, really? What’s up with that?

Every January 1st, we suck it up, shed a tear and vow to do something we’ve been meaning to do or change the way we’re currently doing something. Why?

I mean, not “Why make the commitment?” But “Why are we so preoccupied with this special connection between change and the new year?”

I'm sure there are pages and pages of historical data to enlighten us on the origins of New Year's day and resolutions and all the spiritual and psychological intricacies surrounding it all. But on this, I would defer to one of the great modern sources of human knowledge and insight...Forrest Gump.

I think Cunning Carla…or maybe it was Long-legs Lenore who summed it up best. You know, one of the two girls in Forrest Gump who were partying on New Year’s with Forrest and Lieutenant Dan? And they’re at the bar, confetti is falling and she say’s "Don't you just love new years? You get to start all over. Everybody gets a second chance."

Let's get real.

It isn’t about finding an opportunity to do what we think is good or right or correct, is it? Do you think, in general, people are really that concerned with doing the proper thing? So much so that we spend billions of dollars during the month of January to help us do so?

When we get right down to it, down to brass tacks, to the real nitty gritty…it isn't about much other than getting the monkey off our back, is it? (Whatever your monkey happpens to be.)

Isn’t it about wiping our life-slate clean and trying to start over? I mean, at the end of the year, I can certainly say that I have a lot of junk on my slate…a lot of stuff that I would rather not have hanging around. A lot of history that I’d love to erase.

Isn’t that a universal commonality among people? Among humans? The desire to have access to the big ole biological delete button that undoes all the dirty missteps and thoughtless choices and mistakes and coulda-woulda-shouldas?

Just forget about it. “Fah get about it!”

But get real. We know there is no such button. There is no such thing as "starting over". There are no"do overs". Wiping it clean. Acting like it never happened. There is no such thing as unwinding a watch or unspringing what has been sprung. You can’t just forget about it. It's like the song says...

“She may forgive, but she don’t forget.”

Done is done is done. We can choose to move on from here (and that isn’t a bad thing). But there is no pretending that it didn’t happen, forgetting the past, erasing the memory of. It isn’t possible. I mean, we literally cannot do it. We do not have the capacity to forget something by choice. Not that we don’t want to, but we simply can’t.

And it gnaws away at us, doesn’t it? It kills us when we can’t do something. What is it with human beings (or is it just Americans), that if someone says “you can’t”, we become obsessed with proving that we can?

But like it or not, starting over is a biological impossibility.

Or is it?

I could refer to a lot of different things right here. But one of my most favorite and one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible is found in the rarely read book of Micah, in 7:19. It says…

“He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”

And on in Psalm 103:12 we read that…

“as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

God is the only one who has the ability to forget the past. He is the one to whom we should be making our New Year’s resolutions. (Or our any-time-of-the-year resolutions.)

God promises to cast our sins into the depths of the ocean…to the other side of eternity…so far away and inaccessible that we never need to worry about them ever again. God doesn't just forgive our sins; He wipes them completely away. In Hebrews 8:12 God says He will “remember no more” our sins.

Let me encourage you as we step into a new year, to use this time to let God do His thing. Let Him forget what has been done, and choose to move ahead, from today.

No, we can’t undo the affect our words and actions have had on the people and situations around us. And we can’t make those people pretend like things in the past, good or bad, didn’t happen. We are all forever touched by the actions of one another.

But God can look ahead into eternity and see the spiritual and eternal effects of those things, and make them simply *snap!*…disappear. And choose to never remember them again. Ever.

So my suggestion for a New Year’s resolution…resolve to make the ultimate change and let God cast your sins and your past and your regrets into the sea. As far as the east is from the west. Let God do what no man can do for you…what you can’t even do for yourself…

Forget about it.

Here’s to a bright and fresh and truly NEW year.

*** More scripture references for God’s willingness to forget our sins: Micah 7:19, Jeremiah 31:34, Hebrews 8:12, Isaiah 33:24, 37:17, 43:25

*** And for help or to speak with someone about how you can learn more about seeking God’s forgiveness and finding a new beginning, regardless of the time of year, you can email ricky@rickyfitzpatrick.com, contact your local body of Christian believers, or go to one of the following:

http://godtoday.com/saveme.htm

http://www.allaboutgod.com/prayer-of-salvation.htm

http://www.lifeway.com/salvation/

Or, even feel free to get in touch with someone from my own church home, Corner-Stone Baptist Church, here in Jefferson, GA or online at http://www.corner-stone.org/.

When You Get Chopped

2010-09-13T11:51:00.000-07:00

Let me ask you a question: “How will you act when you get chopped?”

“What?” you may be asking yourself.

How will you act…what will you do…who will you honor, when you get chopped, cut, slammed, tackled, hit, slandered, beaten, knocked down, humiliated?

I was talking Sunday with Phoelicia, one of the members of our Church's praise team, about the following story. And the more I think about it, well, the more I think about it. Let me share this with you…

My wife and I absolutely love The Food Network. My personal favorite was the old Japanese Iron Chef! (Classic!) We like Bobby Flay or Guy Fieri and Duff Goldman or Alton Brown. We also like the new Food Network Star winner, Aarti, and Aarti Party. (I just like the way Aarti says it. :))

But we also watch a lot of the show, Chopped, where four chefs compete in these surprise ingredient lightning round type settings, with one chef being “chopped”, or eliminated, with every challenge, until only one remains. Brutal.

Lance Nitahara

The other night, one of the chefs on Chopped was a Christian named Lance Nitahara. A really humble guy who is the head chef for a Christian organization, Camp of the Woods (http://www.camp-of-the-woods.org/) in the Adirondacks of Speculator, NY.

When he introduced himself, I was struck by his openness about his faith (why would that strike me???). And he talked about his love for God and how he prayed for God to grant him things like creativity and strength in the contest, and to help him compete in a way that would honor Him.

Wow.

Now, how many of us would pray that prayer?

Don't answer...

Anyway, to make a long story short, he competed very, very well and advanced to the final one-on-one round before finally being chopped. But the judges raved about both competitors’ dishes, saying that was some of the best food they had ever tasted in any Chopped contest.

And when Lance left the judges, he was smiling and polite and still thanking God for the opportunity to have competed. Even as he left, having been defeated, he didn’t allow the situation to defeat HIM. He didn’t let the pain of losing, overshadow his true purpose…which was to honor God with his actions, words, talents, demeanor, looks, motions, comments.

He maintained the heart and attitude of Christ, even as he was chopped.

It was very inspiring. And personally, I think we should all acknowledge Lance for his skill and talent and for his Christ-like demeanor throughout the entire process. He certainly doesn’t appear to be up for honoring himself, so maybe his Christian brothers and sisters should do it on his behalf.

(As a matter of fact, if you actually want to do that, email your thank-yous and comments to Camp Of the Woods at info@camp-of-the-woods.org.)

So what does all this have to do with me or you or God or being a Christian or anything remotely important?

Well, a lot, actually. Look…

When it comes to how Christians should act, Paul gives us a down-n-dirty schooling in the first two verses of Romans:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” - Romans 12: 1-2

A “living sacrifice”? “Acceptable to God”? “Transformed by the renewing of your mind”? That’s pretty heavy stuff. Very, very deep. Surely this passage was designed to be inspiring through its poetry than to be taken literally in application. Right?

I don’t think so.

I challenge you to admit, that while these verses tell of a state of being that is probably a world apart from where most of us are (myself included), it’s also one that we can (and should) aspire to. And Lance Nitahara exemplified this passage, perfectly, for me. So it can be done.

Let’s get real…I was honestly watching the show, waiting for the guy to say a foul word. Or do something sneaky against one of the other chefs. Or even glare at someone in anger or jealously. Probably so I could shout “I knew it. I KNEW it!” at the TV.

But, nothing.

I mean nothing. He was true to his profession…that is, his “profession” of faith.

He was presenting his body as a living sacrifice, or to be of good use, to God. He was IN the competition, but did not conform to the typical mannerisms of the normal competitor. And I believe he displayed qualities that proved the will of God.

Can we do the same? Can we hold ourselves to a higher standard? Can we conduct ourselves, even in times of stress and discomfort and duress and public view, in a way that is not only acceptable to God, but that proves His will?

Think about that. Will your actions, regardless of your situation, prove that God’s will is being accomplished in that place or in that time? Proving God’s will…that’s mega-heavy.

Let's face it, there’s more here than I can cover in one blog entry. So let’s stop here and let that sink in. I know I could stand to let this whole idea absorb more, into my own life.

And for more detail on exactly what kinds of behavior God expects from His people, you could go to any one of dozens of biblical passages. But since we’re already in Romans, take a minute and read the entire twelfth and thirteenth chapters. And get your pencil out.

And be prepared to ask yourself “How will I act when I get chopped?”

Prayer: Lord, please help me to be aware of the fact that my life is not my own. But that while I am subject only to your judgment, I am bound by my love for You, to conduct myself in a way that is honorable to You, in all the moments of my life. Please help me to desire to live, constantly, in that way. Please help me to lead others to look to You, as they see the shadow of Christ in my actions and in my heart.

Take Away: Think and pray about the question: “How would I act if no one is watching?” Put yourself in a hypothetical, tempting situation and then imagine that you are truly alone. How do you react? Don’t just cop-out with some religiously correct answer. Be emotionally honest with what you would desire to do and why you would do it or not do it. Give yourself details to make your picture as life-like as possible. Then apply it!

Knowing the Difference Between Yes and No

2010-05-25T09:55:00.000-07:00

My youngest son, Jude, is a year old. And he is crawling…crawling like a mad man. And let me tell you, he is fast. Quick. Like a cat. And when he gets a certain toy or book or remote in his sights, he is relentless. When he gets that burning desire for the glass of cherry Kool-aid sitting on the end table, then I become mute and invisible. He just doesn’t seem to know the difference at that point, between yes and no.

He’ll be wide open and I’m yelling “No!”, and I can say “no” a dozen times, but when his mind is fixed on something, he just doesn’t want to hear me anymore.

I believe that’s how it is with us and God, more times that not. He’s saying “no” and we’re determined to do it anyway. Sometimes we need to learn the simple difference between yes and no.

Most of you know that I’m still finding my feet, helping out with Sunday morning worship services at our church, Corner-stone Baptist Church, here in Jefferson (GA). Part of that learning process involves song selection.

If you’ve watched ten minutes of American Idol, then you’ve heard someone talk about the importance of “song choice”. And that is true, both on American Idol and as it relates to worshipping our God and King.

But how do you decide? I mean, I’ve been performing for years…I know how to pick a song or a set of songs. But how much of it should be me and how much of it should be determined by the Holy Spirit?

As I ask that question, I can’t help but remember one of my favorite (and my least often applied) passages of scripture:

“…for He must increase and I must decrease.” – John 3:30

To me, that is one of the most profound pieces of theology in the Bible. It sums up the whole concept of God and Jesus and salvation…the simple but massive idea that between God and me, we take up a finite amount of “space”, for lack of a better description. And the bigger my pride, my ego, my head gets, then the less room that leaves for God.

If God is to increase in grace and mercy and love and wisdom and power and authority (as they all relate to my life), then the only choice is for me to give Him some elbow room. I must make myself smaller. I must decrease. I must fade from view until absolutely nothing is left for the world to see, but Him.

And as one of the people who selects the songs our congregation will worship with on Sundays, I face the awesome responsibility of making that very un-natural decision to withdraw.

It’s human nature to step out. To step up. To raise our hand and say “me!” We like to be noticed. We like to be recognized. We feed off of the compliments of others. We love surveying our handiwork.

It isn’t the nature of a man (or a woman) to defer the credit to anyone else.

But for Christ to be glorified, He must increase and I must decrease.

So what does that say to me about worship song selections?

It says that number one, just because a song is a “hit” or sounds good or makes us want to dance or jump or shout…that doesn’t mean it’s automatically a great worship song.

I’ve said before that as human beings, we’re very emotional. And God of course, knows that. And even though God has a use for our emotions, He tells us to depend on the Holy Spirit to lead us into truth:

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth…” (John 16:13)

I wonder if that applies to song choices too? (ahem, the answer is “yes”.)

Number two, it tells me that my criteria for worship song selection is no longer “familiarity, singability and emotionally stirring-ness”. The heart of the worshipper is what plays the key role here, not the song they sing.

Not to say the song is completely unimportant, but as redeemed children of the most high God, we should be able to choose to worship, not have to depend on a particular chord progression or singer’s voice to get us there.

So instead, my criteria are now “scriptural soundness, spiritually uplifting and openly expressing the glorification of God, Jesus and/or His Holy Spirit.”

And lastly, number three, in spite of all the abilities (or lack thereof) God has given me musically, I truly believe that He yearns for me to lean fully and completely on Him and seek His guidance and His revelation and His voice for the selection of music for our worship service.

My gifts, whatever they may be, are only a stale, scientific mixture of DNA and environmental influences, when used alone. But when coupled with the Holy Spirit, they become powerful and useful tools for God.

Does that guidance, revelation and voice come only in the form of goosebumps and dreams? No. It may come in the form of a suggestion from the congregation. Or a conversation with the pastor that “coincidentally” turns to a certain song. Or maybe a passage from a book I read, or a verse of scripture that keeps popping up, or a line I hear in a movie that won’t let me go.

Maybe it’s something my son says to me when we’re doing baths.

Who knows how God may choose to lead me. But it’s my responsibility to seek Him and be prepared to receive His choices when they come, to apply them according to His will and know when He’s gently telling me “no”.

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Prayer: Father, please help me to seek You and to depend on You, completely, in all my decisions, no matter how big or small they may seem. I know that You are the way, the truth and the life…I know that You will never desert me…and I know that I can count on You when my path is unsure to me. Please lead me in the way You would have me go, not only in choosing music for corporate worship, but in every area of my life. Amen.

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Take-away: Ask yourself “What is my favorite worship song?” Then ask why. Is it scripturally sound? Dissect it and see. Is it spiritually uplifting and not simply emotionally charging? And does it unquestionably glorify God, in no uncertain terms, no hazy statements, no “understood” ideas within the lyrics? Is it openly a song of worship? And if your song doesn’t pass these areas, maybe the Holy Spirit is telling you “no”…be faithful and willing to ask Him to lead you in looking for a new song to sing!

When Is Worship Not Really Worship?

2010-04-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

I recently joined an online Christian community of worship leaders and musicians called Worship the Rock. Very cool place.

Among other things, WTR also has a forum where questions and issues get posted and discussed. Mostly, I stay out of it. But the other day, I saw the following comment about worship in our congregations:

Have you found that the more we polish the worship team, the worship trend becomes more performance minded rather than worship? I have watched worship leaders parade across the platform interacting with the congregation and members of the team as if it is a performance at a concert or a show. I am finding myself hunting for the true worship in this. What ever happened to the simple, meaningful, heartfelt worship…How do we get back to the true heart of worship?

As you’ve probably guessed, I just had to reply to this one. And my reply seemed like a good piece for today’s devotion.

Here’s what I had to say:

I feel you, Bill. I struggle with the same thing.

As a musician and songwriter, and also as a worship leader in our church, I struggle with the issue of "entertainment", not only in our P&W service, but in Christian music in general.

Is being entertained wrong? Probably not.

Is it a waste of God's time? Again, probably not, but not exactly the most pressing of His desires for us, I would guess.

It's cool to be entertained. And excited. And emotional. And all that. God created us as emotional beings, and our emotions (very much so, through music), help pave the pathway to communion with Him. There's nothing wrong with a good song.

Remember though, we don’t NEED our emotions to commune with God. Just like we don’t NEED a diving board to dive into the pool. The diving board is a vehicle that helps facilitate the process. God doesn’t need us to need a diving board to dive into Him.

We just jump because we choose to.

But it does help us overcome a lot of our human shortcomings, and circumvent a lot of the self-imposed barriers that we have when it comes to entering into His presence…so to speak.

At the end of the day, I think we have to determine where we (and God) draw the line between "ushering in" the presence of God and simply rockin' out.

In my opinion, I'm not a huge fan of the current worship climate. I love the fact that people are openly and excitably worshiping the Lord, I dig the crowds, I’m all about the guitars and drum solos and amazing harmonies.

But when it takes a top ten worship tune to wake the congregation up, while a simple rendition of “I Surrender All”, puts them to sleep...something's wrong.

When we base our ability and willingness to worship and honor our Holy and deserving God and King, upon the popular acceptance and statistical success of a certain song...when we ignore the truth and simplicity of the lyrics and gravitate only to clever twists of a phrase...when we say we can’t “get into” worshipping because a particular song isn’t “working”…something is very wrong.

Since when do we NEED a song to worship God?

Did you NEED to get a present, in order to thank your parents? While most of us would PREFER it that way, that answer is still “no”. Neither do you need a gift or a word or a miracle or a certain style of song, to worship God.

Maybe you’ll say “But some songs are just anointed by God.” And I agree.

But don’t you realize, the anointing isn’t some coat of paint that God applies here and there, that we have no part in at all? The anointing, is upon you. Upon us. Upon God’s people. Through the sacrifice and redemptive power of Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we don’t need an anointed song in order to worship our Father…any more than we need a certain brand of shoe or shirt before we can get dressed.

I don't want to squash the freedom of P&W in our churches. But we MUST NOT compromise the holiness of God, for the pleasure of the moment. We can (and should) passionately worship God, with or without our Praise Teams.

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Prayer: Father, please help me to remember that my worship is most pleasing to you when it comes from a heart of gratitude and love, not through the artificial stimulation of something outside of You. Outside of me. I will promise You to not let my worship be controlled by my circumstances, my surrounding or my worldly influences. But I will praise You, regardless, no matter what may happen around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture: Psalm 34:1 - I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Think About It: The Lord our God not only desires our heartfelt praise, but requires it. Would God require something of you and then not provide a means for that thing to happen? So if our best praises requires the company of a great and anointed song, are we to disobey God when the music stops?

Increasing My Surface Area

2010-04-12T11:20:00.000-07:00

I love the Lord and I love to sing. And I love to hear other people singing. So leading worship at our church gives me the best of all worlds.

God has been very gracious to me and has blessed me with so many opportunities to share with others. And in leading P&W, I not only get to worship Him in a way that is effective and expressive to me, but I get to light a potential path for my brothers and sisters to do the same.

It’s a sweet deal.

But being a worship leader carries with it a host of assumptions and expectations, many of which, just aren’t my thing. I am who God made me and not someone else. And it’s important for each of us to find his or her own “voice” when it comes to our praise. Even though I may lead in worship, I still have my own, personal praise that I seek too, and finding and knowing my own voice of praise is a crucial element in my spiritual journey.

So how do you find your voice?

Well for me, it’s through a combination of scriptural study, prayerful searching and, to an extent, being around or watching the people whom I respect and admire. As for the latter…

There are and have been remarkable worship leaders. I mean, just dynamic. The first person that comes to my mind, and one of my biggest musical influences, is Lyndell Cooley. When the Brownsville Revival was building into a global phenomenon, Lyndell was at the heart of the music pouring out of that place and his direction literally changed the way most of us looked at “church songs”. He was (and continues to be) a naturally gifted leader, vocalist and songwriter and a generation of P&W leaders owe their positions, in no small part, to Lyndell and his ability to find his own voice.

And then today, we’ve got an amazing group of newer worship leaders in our midst. People like Paul Baloche, The David Crowder Band, Hillsong, Chris Tomlin, Laura Story, Matt Papa, Aaron Shust, Vicky Beeching, Matt Maher…I really could go on and on and on. Not only are these people anointed ministers and incredibly talented musicians and songwriters, but they are animated and charismatic and downright infectious with their passion for worship.

Then, there’s me.

Although I’ve been influenced by so many of these musicians and artists in the church, none of these people are exactly me. But they’ve all had a hand in helping me find who I am. My voice.

Where do I fit into the current landscape as a P&W leader? I’m not sure. I play. I sing. I write some. I’m not shy, but I’m not “bouncy” either, if you know what I mean. I tend to stand fairly still when I sing. I generally close my eyes. And I rarely pay attention to anything going on in the congregation or on the stage area. I’m typically lost in my own world.

I just worship and lose myself and do my thing, and hopefully God has an avenue for that type of worship, with His people.

I’ve said it before, I love the “Spirit-filled” congregation. I love to be in the middle of it and see God’s personality revealed in His children. But I, myself, am not a shouter. Or a runner. I’m not a dancer, a twirler, a stutterer, a stomper, a spinner or a jumper. I don’t leap the pews. I don’t wave my arms. I don’t shake my head or make siren noises. Although those things are all cool, and I love to observe them (if they’re all done orderly and in-sync with God’s design), they just aren’t part of my personal make-up.

There are two ways the Holy Spirit seems to manifest Himself in me. Weeping and hand raising.

Why do I weep? I have no idea. But at times, I’m suddenly overcome with emotion and it just causes me to quietly cry as I sing or pray. Some would say it’s just an emotional response to something. Some might argue that I’m reacting to external stimulae like stress or nervousness or vitamin deficiency. Some doctors might diagnose me as bipolar or manic depressive. But I don’t need therapy or a doctor or a vacation or a pill…I believe it’s part of God’s expression, in and through me. All perfectly normal.

Having said that, my other thing is raising my hands.

Not too intrusive. Not loud. Not attention-getting. But just semi-privately lifting my hand or hands as I praise Him feels good to me.

Why? I mean “Why do I do it?”

I look at it as expanding my surface area.

Since turning about 30, I’ve been expanding my surface area quite regularly (aka the middle aged spread). But what I’m talking about here is an opening up of myself, spiritually and emotionally…and yes, physically too.

If you had two sail boats and one had a small sail and the other had a large sail, which one would catch the most wind? The larger one, of course. The sail with the greater surface area has the best chance of coming in the most contact with the winds and thus, moving the boat.

So I look at raising my hands and arms and opening myself up in that way, as a type of enlarging my spiritual sail. Or moving my Jesus-boat. As I expand my spiritual surface area, the better chance God has of showering Himself on me.

I know, kind of weird. And not exactly theologically sound, but that’s the visual image I hold and that’s the idea that helps me to freely worship God and express myself.

You may try it (or something similar) and find it works for you too. Or you may need to pursue a completely different path. Regardless, pray for God to open a way for you to find your unique self in your praise and for Him to help you express yourself in a way that’s consistent with your own personality.

Today hand-raising. Tomorrow…who knows? I may do the robot at the altar.

OK…not the robot.

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Scripture - Psalm 63:4 - I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Take Away – There is no essentially right or wrong way to express yourself when praising God. But relax and know that God created you and made you who you are, even apart from your praise activities (or lack thereof). So rest in Him and trust that He will create in you, an expression of praise that is in harmony with your own personality.

Prayer - Father, You have placed within me, a desire to praise You. So please help me to find my true self, so I can express my love and gratitude and honor for You in the best way possible, whatever that involves. Starting today, I will no longer limit myself to ideas and activities that may cause me to praise You in any way that is not full and truthful and free, and overflowing with all my passion and intensity and desire to please You. In Jesus Name, Amen

Doubly Blessed

2010-03-29T09:49:00.000-07:00

In my life, I have been doubly blessed.

Actually, I’ve been blessed many times, over. But in regards to my dad, I believe I’ve been uncommonly favored.

My dad passed away this past weekend and even though we may not have been bosom buddies, we had developed a different kind of relationship from the one we had when I was say…13…or 21. Or even 30.

But I digress.

Why do I say “doubly blessed”?

Because I’ve actually had two dads, in my life. Let me explain, for those of you who aren’t real familiar with my history…

One blessing for me is my biological father, whom I know fairly well, but we don’t “hang out” exactly. We share common features and habits and mannerisms and that’s cool. We’re both leftys. We both like the arts. We both like useless trivial stuff. We move our hands the same way when we talk. We have our differences and we’ve had our moments of clarity together. Actually right now, we rarely, if ever talk.

So considering all that, I am blessed to know him and to be able to see part of myself in him and to have had him as a part of my life…in whatever capacity. I am who I am, at least physically and some, emotionally, because of him

Secondly, my adoptive father, is the man I remember most as a child. He gave me his name. Made me a part of his entire family (who all embraced me like it was no big deal). He bought me my first go cart, signed me up for guitar lessons, taught me to shoot a gun and gave me my first car. He took me to see Star Wars, taught me to ride a bike, how to hook a worm, how to cut the grass and stood beside me during the best and the worst decisions of my life.

He worked, traveled, borrowed, and did whatever our family needed to have whatever we needed. To this day, I don’t know if we were moderately wealthy or forever on the verge of bankruptcy. But to his testament, we never had to worry about it. We never went without.

I am who I am, spiritually, emotionally, socially (and some would even say, physically), either directly or in indirectly, because of him. Whether I liked it or not…good, bad or ugly…right or wrong…he was the most formative figure for me as I grew from a young boy to a teenager to a stubborn young man all the way to a middle aged husband and father.

This is the dad I lost this past Sunday. This is the man I called “Daddy” for the majority of my life. Adoptive or not…legal or not…in agreement with him or not…he’s my dad.

He was my dad.

So I’ve been thinking a lot, over the last 24 hours, about families and death and loss and the most effective use of our time together. What does it mean? Why do I care? What can I learn from this? God, what are You wanting to show me?

As I mentioned earlier, my recent relationship with my dad was vastly different from what it was as a younger man. Both from my perspective and his. Over the last 4-5 years, each of us had moved into places we’d never been in before. We were evolving. Changing.

Life was taking its toll on both of us, in similar and in different ways. Life was expanding our view and giving us depth, again in both similar and different ways. And I think it made us both different people from what we were 10 years ago. Or 20 or 30.

I know that God has designed us both to evolve physically during our lifetimes and to grow spiritually, along with our bodies. For some, those processes are very much in sync with one another, maturing physically and spiritually at roughly the same pace. For others, this double-growth can be disjointed, bringing us to spiritual landmarks either early or later on than that of our peers.

For my dad and myself, I think we both arrived at our landmarks, later, rather than sooner. Why? I don’t know. That’s just the way God let it play out.

Although we disagreed bitterly the first 30-some odd years of my life, and although we continued to both be very opinionated about how we should do this or that…what I should do…what he should not do…I grew to understand him more as a man in many ways, these last few years.

I don’t understand everything about him, at least not yet. But at 41, a husband, father, homeowner, grass cutter, taxpayer and perpetual, obsessive answer seeker, I’m starting to see things from his point of view, more and more.

And that encourages me. Because as I go through my life, all the ups and downs and twists and turns, sometimes I just have to say “God, what are You thinking??? I don’t get it!” And I won't get it because I'm not at a place where He can give me answers that I'm ready to accept yet.

But I believe He will reveal those truths to each of us, all in time, all in order, when we’re able to understand and have perspective on them.

And that does give me peace with the things that I do not yet know, knowing that one day God will reveal His grand purpose to us and we will see Him as He really is and understand Him as He created us to.

“Lord, I do pray to You for wisdom and understanding. But even more than that, Father, please give me the mindset to accept the fact that I cannot comprehend everything with my human mind. Help me to accept the fact that You are the only holder of the answers that I cannot reach yet. And that You are the only place I can rest and confidently turn to when the unanswered questions of this life are too overwhelming for me to handle.”

I Corinthians 13:9-12 – “For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

How Much Does It Cost to be a Christian?

2010-02-11T08:14:00.000-08:00

I’ve got something to get off my chest. So bear with me if I seem to ramble in this entry. And please don’t be offended if I seem narrow-minded about it…I’ve only got 800 words or less here…

I was watching a certain show on a certain Christian television network last night. And not to knock this network specifically (all their shows aren’t particularly like this), but I thought it was interesting…well, I’ll just say it…it was embarrassing to me as a Christian, that the host’s conversation always seemed to meander back around to money.

And isn’t that what people expect? For Christians to always be asking someone to give? I just thought we might be beyond the “send me a million dollars or God is going to take me” thing. But I guess not.

Tell me…how much does it cost to be a Christian?

Don’t get me wrong, I understand that it takes money to operate a television network. A lot of money, in fact. There are satellites, cameras, A/V equipment, hundreds of crew persons, facilities and payments and taxes.

And don’t forget all those elaborate stage settings. Gold trimmed draperies. Gold and purple thrones, I mean…chairs for the hosts and guests to lounge around in while they sip bottled water from crystal stemware.

There’s “The Holy Land Experience” theme park (Is it just me, or does that keep making me think of Tim Allen in For Richer or Poorer?). That takes a boatload of donated money to operate…even though admission is still like $40 a head.

You’ve got all the private planes. Helicopters. Limousines. “Mission” trips, abroad. All the tailored suits and executive salaries.

Christianity is expensive, man.

And apparently, it’s up to me and you to make sure the devil doesn’t have nicer stuff than the Christian TV people do.

Honestly…there are some Christian television shows that are like a never-ending telethon. And I wonder, when is enough, enough?

How much does it cost to be a Christian?

Here’s part of my thinking…why don’t some of these mega-global-gigantic companies that sell Christian products and services (music, concerts, seminars, retreats, camps, jewelry, bibles, books, gifts, home décor, clothing, clergy items, colleges and universities, etc…) sponsor these shows? They could cover the costs of the broadcast, then the hosts could actually host their show instead of hounding me and you for money.

But could that possibly, ever work??? It’s so radical…right? They give money to the network, then the network plugs them or one of their products…

I think it’s called…“advertising” And believe it or not, non-Christian networks, radio, print publications, even websites seem to have done pretty well with the concept.

I’ve noticed, not just last night, but over the last few months of channel surfing, that several key program hosts are not shy about just coming right out and asking for our financial support. And it’s almost presented as sacrilege if we doubt their sincerity.

And if you’re struggling financially, then God’s message (through them, of course) is that you should give anyway. (I know about the theology of giving toward your need, but I’m talking about common sense finances here.)

It starts small…a dollar…a day...for a year…automatically deducted from your checking account. Or something like that.

Then it’s $100…from 1,000 “believers”. (That’s $100,000 dollars, by the way.)

Then it’s “sowing a seed” of $5,000, $10,000, maybe $20,000. Or more!

I don’t know about you, but $20,000 would probably take care of one of our local church budgets for the entire year.

How?

Because the building never had a dime borrowed on it and was probably built by the sweat and skills of the members. The preacher preaches three times a week. For free. Then works full and part time jobs “on the side” so he and his family can ride 30 miles to church in a 15 year –old, faded yellow Caprice that smokes like Betty Davis and smells like burning cabbage.

They don’t pay some premium landscaping company to keep things trimmed, planted and mulched. The elders take turns cutting the grass on their old Snappers, the WMU plants flowers every Spring and the youth choir keeps fresh pine straw in the beds, raked from the yard of a member with a front yard full of white pines.

Nobody ever has to ask, beg or promote a new fund-raising plan. And amazingly, everything still gets done.

Just how much does it cost to be a Christian?

Here in North Georgia, apparently not as much as it does in Southern California or in New York.

How much does it cost to be saved? To be reborn? To have access to the Word of God being preached. Or sung? Or written, read or taught?

How much does it cost to be a Christian?

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Romans 10:9 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Take-away - Don’t allow yourself to be caught in the trap of “money makes the world go ‘round”. Remember Proverbs 3:5… “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not to your own understanding and acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will direct your path.”

Today’s Prayer – Father, please help me to remember that You own and control this world and everything in it. And when I lose focus on You and Your glory and Your purpose, please help me to turn back to You and to seek You and the things that honor You. Help me remember that even though our society operates financially, through the use of money, it will never be my master. You are the only master I desire. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reality Check: Thoughts on Dying, Living and the stuff in the middle

2010-01-29T06:19:00.000-08:00

I discovered today that J. D. Salinger passed away. Very sad. Not that we were buddies or close or even knew one another. But when an artist or author or public figure dies, it’s hard for us not to feel some attachment.

We associate with the works of people. Be it a building (think: Frank Lloyd Wright) or a car (Henry Ford) or a painting (Norman Rockwell) or a song (Michael Jackson). Or in this case, a book. We transfer our own life into that thing, whatever it is, and because we become a part of it, we feel close, even connected in some way, to its creator.

Catcher In the Rye was one of those timeless works (and actually one of my own favorites) that spoke personally to generations of people, young and old. Of course, Lee Harvey Oswald owning a copy and the ensuing assassination of President John F. Kennedy, did no harm to the book’s popularity.

But we identified with Salinger, maybe only in some tiny part. And we wonder what makes his work so influential, so powerful, so compelling. We think on him. We read him. We feel like we must have similarities. And we mourn him now. It’s a poignant loss, even though he was in his nineties.

I remember very well when my mother passed away. Not too very long ago. Funny how certain memories can be crystal clear, but at the same time, almost foggy. We were “expecting” her passing at some point, but nothing really prepares you fully for that.

I remember standing alone in the funeral parlor, looking at my mother lying there in her casket, and thinking about all the things I didn’t say. All the presents I forgot to give. All the visits I put off til later. All the conversations I should’ve lingered in. All the hugs I thought were trivial.

There’s nothing like death to make you think about life. There’s nothing like the sudden void that death leaves, to remind the living of how trivial this life can be at times.

But in her death, I also found a new focus. A new outlook. A different point of view and a fresh beginning. In some way, her death was part of God’s gift of continuing life. Even though we mourn the loss of someone, in their passing, God reminds us of our own mortality.

He shows us our past and reminds us of our once-optimistic gaze into our future. We feel a new start. A new foothold on things. And we tuck our old thoughts and memories and associations away into our pockets, dry our eyes and take a deep breath, and look out to the horizon, thinking about how much better things are going to be.

Today’s Scripture: Psalm 27:4 - One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

Today’s Prayer: Father, as I go through this day and as I think on the subjects of death and loss, please help me to remember the greatest gift I have is the life that You’ve given me. And please help me to seek You and Your beauty, everyday.

Last Thoughts:

When someone dies, we don’t have to die (emotionally or spiritually) with them. Remember that life is beautiful and we’re blessed to live it.

When Christ died, his followers were in shambles. But through His death, they soon found encouragement and strength to do amazing things. Look ahead!

When celebrities die, we mourn them as if they were close friends. THINK ABOUT IT: Who (celebrity or public figure) do you identify with most closely? Why? And could you seek out better influences?

My Granddaddy's Things

2009-12-07T07:32:00.000-08:00

I have a box…actually several boxes…of my granddaddy’s things. Many of them, from his time in the Army during WWII. Serviceman’s Bible, wool earmuffs, maps, brochures and flyers, ticket stubs, pictures, postcards and “official” letters from all over Europe.

He didn’t fight at Normandy or escape from some Nazi prison camp. He didn’t save a platoon or rescue a sinking ship. But he served as a humble mechanic and that was enough to keep the troops rolling across Europe.

And that was his M.O., as far as I know, for his entire life.

Those things are some of my most prized possessions. Not because they’re valuable or collectible. But because they belonged to a man that I respected and admired and loved, very deeply. My hero and my compass in life when I’m facing new situations or when I don’t know what I should do.

Those things remind me of him and that I am also a part of him. He lives in me and hopefully, some of the better parts of him will surface in my own life and personality. Should I be so lucky.

I was thinking today, how we share a similar relationship with Christ. We are His and He is ours. He lives in and through us. And because we belong to Him, we become precious. Not because we’re beautiful or talented or gifted or athletic…but simply because we belong to Him.

And knowing that, it reminds me that I have a great responsibility. To conduct myself in a way that will bring honor to Him (and to my granddaddy). Because people will not only size me up based upon my actions, but they also form and revise their opinions of the ones to whom I belong, largely because of the way I act. And the way you act.

It’s a great privilege and an even greater responsibility to be loved. :) That gives a whole new meaning to the idea…the things that belong to you will help to define you in the eyes of the world.

I pray today…Father, please help me remember who I belong to. Help me to act in a way that will glorify, and not embarrass you. The people I meet will judge You by watching me. I want to make You proud of me by being the man You would be in my shoes. I pray in Jesus’ name…Amen.

Gettin' Jiggy Wid It

2009-11-12T07:03:00.000-08:00

Huh?

I know…how long has it been since anyone said “gettin’ jiggy” with anything? Unless of course, they were talking about Fresh Prince of Bel Aire?

At my day job, I’m in charge of drawing a monthly masterpiece (ok, a dry erase sketch), promoting our upcoming Safety Raffle. I admit though, it’s fun and I get license to draw pretty much whatever I want. And over the months, it’s become kind of a “thing” with my peers. Everyone is always asking me what I’m drawing or sending suggestions. So you could say I’m sort of, dare we say “famous” for it?

Well, for Thanksgiving I was struggling with what to draw. Traditional? Unusual? Serious? Funny?

And after several days of temple-tapping I did finally decide to draw a Gansta Turkey. Complete with bling, slack, a lid and kicks. And holding a huge, gold necklace that sported a Walmart gift card (our raffle prize).

But I needed a saying to go with it. So, unable to think of anything, I asked Cretia, my wife, if she had any bursts of genius to go with it.

She sent several things, right away of course, one of them being “Safety…gettin’ jiggy wid it.”

I laughed out loud. It was so bad, it was funny. It was hilarious even.

Actually, it was perfect.

“Gettin’ jiggy wid it” was so out of date and unlike anything I would normally say…it was just right.

Why? Because it got people’s attention. It made them look. It made them notice.

And my job, as the resident artist, is not to make everyone safe or smart or better workers or to make them like the drawings, say nice things to me or be led to foster a positive work environment. My job is to draw…period. To plant the seed. The rest is out of my control.

And I thought, that’s the way Christ expects us to be too. And many of you know this is a concept I’ve talked about, many times…controversially, to some. :)

Christ needs seeds. Sowers. Not growers. Not waterers. Not pruners or trimmers or fertilizers. Christ needs us to sow His seeds of love and hope and salvation…then back off. He knows what He’s doing.

I can’t talk someone into loving Jesus. I can’t coerce them into heaven. I can’t convince you to follow Christ. That’s completely beyond my abilities. But the Holy Spirit can. And He will. But as followers of Him, we start the process by sowing the seed, first.

Then if people don’t like it, okay. If they reject it, okay. If they accept it, fantastic! But we have to realize that it’s not our thing to meddle with the seed once it’s cast.

That’s God’s job…so let Him do it.

Today’s prayer: Father, as I go through today and every day, please help me to remember that You bless me with talents and abilities that allow me to sow the seed of You in people’s hearts. Help me to understand that You alone have the power to save them and complete the work of salvation that You allow me to be a part of. I trust You and ask for Your help in making me a better steward of Your grace and to be more trusting of Your ability to do all that You desire. In Jesus’ name…Amen.

Heavy Water

2009-10-16T05:32:00.000-07:00

I got the following in an email today. Not exactly a brand new story, but one worth repeating, I thought. And during a time that, for us, has been quite hectic and stressful, this was a nice shake-awake for me…

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, 'How heavy is this glass of water?' Answers called out ranged from 8oz. To 20oz.

The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it.'

'If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.'

'In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.' He continued, 'And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy,we won't be able to carry on.'

'As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.'

'So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work/life down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can. Relax; pick them up later after you've rested.

Cool story and very relevant to most of our lives. As Christians though, the above paragraph isn’t the last word on burdens.

Jesus said, in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

As a child of God, you don’t have to rest so you can pick your stress back up again tomorrow. You can lay it down permanently. “Cast your cares upon Him” (I Peter 5:7), because He loves you.

If your glass is getting heavy, then give it to Jesus.

Refrigerator Faith

2009-09-19T05:27:00.000-07:00

I walked into the kitchen this morning and saw a note my wife, Cretia had written and stuck on the fridge. It was about, interestingly enough, all the things on our refrigerator. What was there. What it all means to us.

Why did she write it? I have no idea. Some devotional exercise, maybe. But nevertheless, I believe the Holy Spirit used her and that simple note to teach me something very profound.

Most of us like to think we can tell a lot about someone by the things stuck on their fridge. And maybe so.

On ours, we happen to have some pictures, drawings from the kids, recipes, newspaper clippings, a notepad, coupons, a chore list for Emma, lots of little magnets, lady bugs, dragonflies, princesses. And these are all things that for the most part, we use or look to, almost daily. Some have a deep emotional attachment and some are just stuck up there. I don’t exactly know why.

Now what does that say about us?

We have friends whose refrigerators don’t have a thing on them. Nothing. They have kids. Pets. Jobs. Lives. But nothing on the fridge. Why is that?

I’m not sure. I’m just asking.

Then we have other friends who have a metric ton of junk and 325,000 apple, banana, Sponge Bob and insurance company magnets stuck all over theirs.

What does that mean?

Again, I don’t know. But probably not as much as we’d like to believe it does.

Still, if you walk into someone’s home, let’s agree that most of us believe you really can tell what’s important to a family by what they have on the ice box. That the front of the refrigerator is a snapshot of “where their treasure lies”.

For example, when I see our friends who have the bare fridge, it doesn’t mean that they’re boring or that they don’t do anything. As a matter of fact, they’re exactly the opposite. But that might be the impression you get when you see the fridge…if you didn’t know them and if you believe in the whole refrigerator-mirrors-your-treasure theory.

Take our other friends who have the cluttered fridge. The fact that their refrigerator door is cluttered doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re messy. Actually they aren’t at all. But people would probably think that, if that’s all they knew about them.

What does all this mean? Well, at the end of it all, it made me start to think in general, about how something looks on the outside and what those appearances makes people think. Real or imagined. And specifically, how that relates to our walk with God.

There are a lot of analogies we could use there. But what I want to focus on is what I like to call “refrigerator faith”. I think refrigerator faith is a pretty good mirror for what Jesus says to us in Matthew 5:16.

He says, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

If your life was available for the world to see, like the front of a refrigerator, what would people think when they saw it? Would they see Jesus? What would others see about you? What would your refrigerator say to the world?

Better yet, what do you want it to say?

Father, as I go through my day today, help me to arrange the front of my own “refrigerator” so that when people look at my life, they get a sense of my faith in You, my love for You. Let people see what’s important to me. And please let that be, You. In Christ, Amen.

Who’s Watching Me?

2009-09-15T05:47:00.000-07:00

Jeremiah 23:24“Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD.

Matthew 6:3-4… your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

I remember sometime, circa the 80’s…cruising through downtown Jefferson, late night, windows down, radio up, blasting my Maxwell cassette...“I always feel like, somebody’s waaaatching me.” (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, watch your Geico commercials more often.) Man, Michael Jackson could’ve sung the phone book back then and people would still love it. Mmmm. Good times. Cheesy music, but good times.

In the song, the singer feels like someone is always watching him. I feel like that myself sometimes. But we all know that isn’t completely true. There are times when we’re all alone. When no one is around. Not another person. When no one is watching or listening.

No parents. No siblings. No kids. No spouse. No friends or neighbors or co-workers. No boss. No preacher. No public official to lay down the law.

It’s important to note that it’s in these times when God expects the most from us.

So let me ask you the same question I asked myself the other day. “What do you do when no one is watching?”

Better yet, “If you knew that you absolutely could not be caught, would you still do what is right?”

It could be something as simple as driving over the speed limit. Or stealing something valuable. Or something cheap. Or talking about someone behind their back. Goofing off at your job. Watching a TV show with foul language. Use your imagination…it could be anything. Big or small.

It’s not always easy to be honorable, honest, forthright, compassionate, sincere, helpful, selfless, thoughtful. Holy. We live in a time when it isn’t always fashionable to be a nice guy.

But as hard as it is to follow God’s plan for us, anytime of the day, let’s be honest, isn’t it infinitely tougher when you don’t have anyone to hold you accountable? My answer is “yes”. It is for me. That’s why I announce my intentions so often. I want folks in my circle to hold my feet to the fire and keep me true.

But despite our best intentions to surround ourselves with friends and helpers and encouragers, there will still be times when we’re going to fly solo.

But even in these times, God is always there. God is always watching, always near, always listening, always waiting. Not in a big-brother kind of way, but as a loving Father.

When no one is watching you but God, when no one else is there to notice your sin, when you know you won’t be seen, and yet you still choose to do the right thing, knowing that you won’t receive any attention, praise or pat on the back for it…I believe that these are the times when God says “Now that’s what I’m talking about”.

These are the times when God will reward you for honoring Him with your sincerity. Not because someone will notice. Not because someone will see you. Not even so you can be an example to others. But simply because you know it will make Him proud of you.

Remember that as you go through your day and as you take on your challenges and goals. As you meet and face your mountains today, God will be watching you to see how you handle yourself when you slip out of normal view. And He will reward you for the honorable things you do for Him, in secret.

On Being Young

2009-09-12T05:42:00.000-07:00

I got a message today from an old friend that brought back a lot of memories for me.

Memories of being 16 and thin and full of energy and unwavering belief and limitless confidence. We were all a pretty tight-knit group at our church, and we were sincere about Jesus. Really. And Summer church camp was the pinnacle of our year as young believers. There was nothing like it.

We would go up on the mountain, leaving the cares of a teenage life behind and become close and strong and excited. We sang and studied and played and swam together and became fiercely dedicated to Christ and to each other.

I met my first love there. Dozens of friends. Got tapped out (that’s another story), thawed warm fuzzies, washed each others’ feet, made rain in the dining hall, cried around the campfire and battled scorpions in our sleeping bags. I learned to start my devotions before sunrise, to really read my Bible and Jesus became an intimate friend to me, not just “the Holy guy”.

By the time we all left, it was with a new sense, knowing that we had truly been on our mountain and now were headed back down, like Moses, bound to deliver God’s plan to the people. We were ready to literally change the world for Jesus.

The point of all this lengthy recollecting is to set the scene for my general frame of mind at the time and to tell you about a trip we took as a group one year over to the area nursing home. You can imagine, a hundred teenage Jesus freaks, descending from camp on this place.

I remember one particular lady…she was out of her head. But we were there, Bibles in-hand, to show compassion and love to the residents, to share Jesus with them. But she was having none of it. She cussed and cursed and yelled and said the most awful things I’d ever heard anyone say about Jesus.

I was devastated.

I remember crying and telling everyone “I can’t believe she said those things.” I know she didn’t know what she was saying, but at the time…whew! I was so tenderhearted about Christ and so green about…well, everything. And for years now, I’ve looked back on that day with embarrassment. I always wished I could go back and not be such a baby.

Today though, I don’t feel exactly like that.

I’m still embarrassed, but not for crying in front of my friends, but for spending so much of my life after that, not coming even remotely close again to feeling the same pain over His suffering. It’s a shame, really. That I’ve gotten so calloused. That I’ve gotten so used to it. That it doesn’t break my heart anymore.

I can almost imagine Christ, watching and feeling like crying, Himself, saying “Ricky, I thought surely you would defend me.”

So my prayer today comes from those thoughts and reading a passage of scripture just last night (imagine that).

I John 2:14: …I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Father, help me to remember what it was like to be young and strong and new and passionate about everything that had to do with You. Attune me to You. Speak to me and break my heart. And please don’t let me grow dull and unfeeling when I see this world treat You badly. Please use my emotions and feelings to help me better understand the things that You need me to see.

Everydays

2009-09-11T04:29:00.000-07:00

With today being the anniversary of 9/11 (has it really been eight years already?), I felt like today’s posting should be tied to that idea. I thought and searched and studied. Nothing. No scripture. No title. Nothing.

Then as an absolute last resort, I prayed. :)

I asked God to please give me something that would be meaningful and relevant. Something that would make people think about Him. Something that would meet people where they were, giving them the answers they need, for whatever questions may be cropping up for this day. These are good requests, right?

Funny thing.

I realized, at the eleventh hour (the prime time for realizations) that this kind of seeking and passion should be a part of every day’s devotion. Why is today so important, and yesterday was not? What about tomorrow? Or last Tuesday? Or June…I don’t know…17th?

I was ashamed that I had put so little focus on my everydays.

So today, there is no verse or scripture. No clever tie-in to the events of September 11. No play on words. No inspiring quote. No poem or lyric or excerpt from some inspiring author. Just me, trying desperately not to mess things up.

I believe today is worthy of remembering, but not because of our calendars.

Even though there are days in our history that carry great importance for us, I believe that today, Christ is yearning for me to stop working so hard at the fanfare of only the “special days” and to start making Him the underlying focus of my everydays as well.

God help us treat tomorrow with the same intensity, respect and desire as we do, today.

Throw-up

2009-09-10T04:34:00.000-07:00

Revelation 3:15-16 - I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I will spit you out of my mouth.

I was thinking about some of the things I have to do, musically. Friends I have to meet that I haven’t seen in a few weeks or longer. Folks who haven’t really talked with me since I made the decision to turn my life in a new direction. And I felt a little nervousness, just thinking about it.

There’s something unnerving to most of us when it comes to making a stand, especially if you aren’t sure how popular it will be or what may or may not be said behind your back, after you leave the scene.

The more I thought about explaining myself, the more I got this lump in my throat. Almost like I was about to throw up. (I know, there is no socially acceptable term for throwing up, is there?)

And that’s what brought me to this passage.

I remember a friend of mine, actually my best friend at the time, standing up as a teenager at church camp and putting this verse in layman’s terms for us. I’ll never forget it.

The scripture for today’s devotional comes from the book of Revelation, as I’m sure you’ve already noticed. Heavy stuff as a rule, but what Christ has to tell us here is pretty blunt.

Jesus has never been one to be half-way about things. “Get up and walk”, “Get thee behind me”…you remember. He means what He says and generally says what He means. He’s a pretty blunt guy.

And He expects a certain level of frankness (I believe) from His followers too. When it comes to matters of faith or belief or salvation, you know, the big stuff, I believe He expects nothing less than absolute single-mindedness.

All the way, off the fence, left or right, in or out or as He puts it “hot or cold”. Anything in the middle is just unacceptable to Him. And if you’re lukewarm, He plainly says He will spit you out.

I don’t want to be throw-up.

Depend on Him Again

2009-09-09T08:06:00.000-07:00

Deuteronomy 31:6: Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid. For the Lord your God is with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you.

That passage of scripture has become my personal anchor, as of late. For me, it reminds me that God is with me, as he has always been with me, and He will always be with me, regardless of me.

But even more, it’s important to not just take this verse at face value and pass it off as a shallow pond that we splash in. It’s much deeper than that.

Note that in the original context of this verse, Moses is reassuring Israel that God will not abandon them in their hour of need, then He goes on to encourage Joshua as he leads the people. The key point for me here, and the most interesting part of the whole thing, is that Moses is delivering this sermon of encouragement right as the children of Israel are poised to enter the promised land.

Do you wonder “Why, if they’re about to inherit all the blessings of the promised land, does Moses need to encourage them and reassure them?”

I believe it’s because Moses was wise enough to realize that in the times when we’re about to receive a prize or reward, something we’ve worked for or waited on, this is the time when we’re most venerable. We relax. We let down our guard. We get lazy or complacent. We become easier targets for the trials and temptations of our enemy.

I believe Moses was planting the seed of hope in his people when he told them “You’re about to have it all, but when trouble comes (and it will come), don’t lose hope. God is still with you. Remind yourself at that time, to depend again on Him.”