Commitment

What is commitment? Is it a decision?It it a feeling?Is it permanent? Or not?Does it change based on where you are or who you are with?Does it change with the seasons or holidays? Does it change with your age? Or not?Does it change based on what the commitment was originally based on? Does it change based on fairness or justice?Does it change because you want it to or because you need it to?Does it expire?Fade out? Get less important?
Don't make commitments lightly.Don't say you are committed to something and then change your mind based on which way the wind is blowing.Too many people confuse commitment with convenience and they are not the same thing.Not at all.Commitment is all of you, not just part of you and not just when you are of a mind to be committed.
Everyone needs to be committed to something bigger than themselves. Whether a theology, an ideal, a person or people, or whatever as long as it's something.You can't be committed to "nothing". Commitment is what sets us apart from people who go "willy-nilly" through life and never accomplish anything great or even small yet meaningful. Commitment is what enables us to move past the schemes of the devil and his crew into accomplishing things for the Kingdom and the children of the Almighty. Commitment is what keeps us doing things that the world scoffs at, such as loving people that the world would say are not worth it. Commitment is what keeps us giving instead of standing there looking around to see who is going to meet our needs like a small child waiting for someone to hand over the cotton candy. Commitment isn't selfish, it's selfless. The focus is never on the one committing, but rather on the object of the commitment. Commitment doesn't stop when it's not easy to go on or when something more desirable or just plain easier to do comes along. Jesus was committed to the cross. Thank God, Jesus was committed to the cross! Who are the people in your life that you know are committed to something?What are they committed to? What are you committed to, honestly, totally committed to? There aren't levels of commitment. You either are or you are not. Am I? Are you?

$5 Footlongs and Feeding the Homeless

Ok..so...I decided to get a $5 footlong at Subway and since I don't need to be eating a footlong I purposed to give the other half to one of those "homeless" guys that beg on the corners. Pulled up just as he was about to leave and handed the baggie out the window. He snagged it but just kinda rolled his eyes, shook his head and walked off. If the light hadn't turned green I would have gotten out and got it back rolled my eyes and shook my head and gone and found someone else that was really hungry. His sign was "hungry, every little bit helps". Sigh! But that is a good idea to go ahead and get the whole thing and give half to the corner dudes. I'm going to start eating more Subway. It's an easy way to do a little something once or twice a week.

WWJD? Pick YOU!

I was thinking about all you wonderful peeps the other day and how you allow God to use you to show His love to the world. Then the thought crossed my mind that if Jesus were alive today picking His disciples to spread the gospel He would be picking YOU. Oh wait....He is alive....He did pick you! You are today's fishermen, today's gatherers, today's salt, today's light....today's bearers of the Good News that Christ died to save us from our own natural instinct to self-destruct. He has placed you all with your unique personalities and talents in various places throughout the city to make an eternal difference in the lives of those around you. And...you are doing it. You are making a difference for Him. You make a difference because you aren't afraid to be real, not perfect and not altogether sinless. Your transparency about your weaknesses is what makes what you say about Christ's unconditional love believable. Your love for Him and each other is so attractive to the lonely and hurting people He places in your paths. You aren't afraid to befriend these people...You don't treat them like lepers because they don't know Him and you listen, and care, and love without expecting to be loved in return. Christ walked among the sinful...that's who He came to save. I admire the way you love each other. You take care of each other in good and bad times. You are able to balance holding each other accountable for living right without being judgmental or self-righteous. You hug, you laugh, you love, you are LIGHT in a dark world. Not perfect....just perfectly loved by God. People can argue with your theology all day long.....but love....they can't argue with the love.

My Prayer for You My Family and Friends

My prayers for you are always spilling over into thanksgivings. I can't quit thanking God our Father and Jesus our Messiah for you! I keep seeing and hearing about your steady faith in Christ, our Jesus, and the love you continuously extend to all Christians and even to those who don’t yet know God. The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven, and kept taut by hope.
Jesus’ Message is as true among you today as when you first heard it. It doesn't diminish or weaken over time. It's the same all over the world. The Message bears fruit and gets larger and stronger, just as it has in you. From the very first day you heard and recognized the truth of what God is doing, you've been hungry for more. It's as vigorous in you now as when you learned it.
Be assured that I pray for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits in tune to His will, so you will acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. I pray that you'll live well for the Master, making Him proud of you as you work hard in His world. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. I pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that He has for us.
God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He's set us up in the kingdom of the Son He loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.
We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, He organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.
He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—He is supreme in the end. From beginning to end He's there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is He, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in Him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of His death, His blood that poured down from the cross.
We are a case study of what He does. At one time we all had our backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of Him, giving Him trouble every chance we got. But now, by giving Himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for us, Christ brought us over to God's side and put our lives together, whole and holy in His presence. You don't walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message.
I’m so blessed to live here, in this time, in this place with you all. I love you. Together let’s purpose to be His Light in this dark world.

On Crying in Target-A Confession

Ok, so I've just got to get this off my chest...heart...whatever. Monday night I was in Target trying to do the Christmas shopping that just hasn't gotten done (and still hasn't). While walking around like a zombie (yes really-almost dead-or was dead-or just looked dead), anyway at one point (11pm) I got to thinking about how fast time goes by and how the urgent always seems to take the place of the important. And....then it started happening....I started crying....right in Target in the aisle. At one point I thought I might have to sit down in the display case and just cut loose, but I managed to pull it back in and pretend my mascara was supposed to look like that. (after all when you have purple streaks in your hair you might actually think your mascara would look good running down that way). Well, anyway, it wasn't unexpected. After all the time and energy spent on the "Jesus The Light" arts festival I was waiting for the attack. Thing was though, it was personal and not related to work. I started thinking about the fact that my 11 year old dog Butch has died and I haven't grieved for him yet. Stupid right? Well it's not stupid to me. He was more than a dog, much more. I'll write about him in another note...a tribute to all dogs everywhere....later. Anyway, back to the time thing....I was thinking about all the Christmases in my past as a grown up, where so much time was spent in the buying and planning and execution of said plans. Sometimes (a lot of the time) the buying wasn't so much because the money wasn't so much so the planning had to be greater (like the time we couldn't afford a tree when we lived in the country and I got an axe and made the girls walk through the woods with me to find this scruffy little tree. Tried to make that fun but it wasn't and the tree was pitiful looking). So...shuffling through Target crying and thinking about how stupid it was to be there totally worn out, looking for presents that aren't going to mean very much in the grand scheme of things particularly over the course of time to anyone on my list, I passed a small child in a cart who was also crying (except he had a place to sit). He stopped crying, looked at me, and said "Hi"! Then he laughed and I did too. His mom said "see, you weren't so upset after all" to him and I thought...well I was..... but God sent me a little "it’s ok smile". I still have some shopping to do but it’s not urgent. It either gets done or not, but I’ll not waste another minute that I could be spending with my family. Especially NOT IN TARGET-they probably have my picture posted somewhere anyway with a warning on it.

Lessons Learned From Walking With A Hobbit

Life and marathon training have a lot in common. There are many ways to train and live. The destination or goal is the same-to finish the race. In life, finishing is guaranteed, not so for marathons.

One training/living method is the "Procrastinate, Push, Pain" method. In this method one "Procrastinates" by putting off starting to train. Any excuse will do: It's too hot. It's too cold. It's too early. It's too late. I had to work late. I need to spend time with the family. I need new shoes....a different shirt. The dog threw up. It doesn't really matter what the excuse is or even how ridiculous it might be...all excuses will justify not moving forward (or indeed moving at all). "Push"-now since I've procrastinated I must push hard toward the goal. No excuses allowed now. No common sense either. I'm going to go as hard and as fast as I can to make up for lost time and training. I lose focus...I have to focus so hard on the goal that I don't have time for anything else-family, friends, God, or even myself. I should have made time to listen to myself because now there is "Pain". I didn't listen to what my body and brain were saying to me-I hurt-will I even be able to start the race? It hurts so bad-will I limp forever, will I ever be able to race again? I feel so stupid. I will go ahead and race regardless of how I feel. There is no choice-I've already entered and I don't want to fail....again.

Another training method could be called the "Persevere, Pace, Patience" method. I "Persevere" by getting up each day with the goal in mind. I can put aside the excuses that keep me from making progress with "the plan." I do have a plan-a training chart-with my goals broken down in daily/weekly goals. I can feel good about each day-because I can see not only the big goal, but how to get there. I do something each day that will make a difference-even a slight one. I go "one foot in front of the other" through the chart at my own speed.
"Pace" is daily progress-I'm not trying to go at someone else's pace. God makes us all different-we are like snowflakes-no two exactly alike. So even though the big goal is the same and the training chart is the same-my pace is different. I'm an individual with my own set of needs and skills. I need to listen to my body to find out what my pace is and do that.
"Patience"-I need to have patience with myself. You can't build endurance in a day. It takes time. It takes effort. It takes being attuned to myself. I need to be patient with myself until my reality catches up with my dream.Both methods produce an athlete that can finish the marathon.

But is the finish the goal? I think not entirely. The race to get to the finish line starts long before the gun goes off. It begins first with the goal to finish and ends with the goal to finish well.

COEXIST DOES NOT EQUAL LOVE

I love that "coexist" logo. It really appeals to the old hippie that lurks just under my surface, dying to get out and wear long skirts and sandals and play a tambourine. I grew up in the "peace" era or shortly thereafter and have always felt rather tolerant, just because of that.But...what does it mean? Does it mean I just "let it be"? If I'm a Christian and really belive what Jesus said and believe in how he lived, how can I just "coexist"? Jesus didn't. He literally challenged every belief that existed when He walked the earth. Should I do less? If I believe that Jesus is the way and the truth and the life and say that I love people why would I not share with them? If I don't share, is that really hate?So is to coexist to hate? It is if I'm really a Christ-follower.I don't think the people that like that logo too necessarily mean to be complacent and apathetic. I think that for me anyway that it is easy to confuse embracing the person with embracing what that person believes. I can love someone and believe something completely different. But if I don't share what I believe is the difference between Heaven and Hell or Life and Death then I'm just saying that I love and I really don't....at least not enough.I've been thinking about this for several days and lo and behold today at church Tim quoted this atheist dude, a real ATHEIST dude. He, Penn, actually said what I've been thinking.

Here is the transcript of the video that you can find on utube. Go check it out. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JHS8adO3hM

LAS VEGAS (BP)--Penn Jillette, the verbal half of the magician duo Penn and Teller, and an outspoken atheist, has posted a YouTube video exhorting Christians to share their faith.Penn and Teller are headliners in Las Vegas, and their shows generally are marked by foul language and shock appeal. Penn Jillette, though, used no coarse language in telling about an audience member who gave him a New Testament.Jillette was signing autographs after a show last fall when he noticed the man standing over to the side of the crowd."And he had been the guy who picks the joke during our psychic comedian section of the show. He had the props from that in his hand because we give those away. He had the joke book and the envelope and paper and stuff," Jillette said in the Dec. 8 YouTube video.The man walked over to Jillette, complimented him on the show and handed him a Gideons New Testament."And he said, 'I wrote in the front of it, and I wanted you to have this. I'm kind of proselytizing,'" Jillette said. "And then he said, 'I'm a businessman. I'm sane. I'm not crazy.' And he looked me right in the eyes."It was really wonderful. I believe he knew that I was an atheist. But he was not defensive, and he looked me right in the eyes," Jillette said. "And he was truly complimentary. It didn't seem like empty flattery. He was really kind and nice and sane and looked me in the eyes and talked to me and then gave me this Bible."Jillette then stated he doesn't respect people who don't proselytize."I don't respect that at all. If you believe that there's a heaven and hell and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think that it's not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward, and atheists who think that people shouldn't proselytize -- 'Just leave me alone, keep your religion to yourself.'"How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize?" Jillette asked. "How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? If I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming at you and you didn't believe it, and that truck was bearing down on you, there's a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that."Jillette reiterated his impression of the man's demeanor."This guy was a really good guy. He was polite and honest and sane, and he cared enough about me to proselytize and give me a Bible, which had written in it a little note to me -- not very personal, but just 'Liked your show,' and then listed five phone numbers for him and an e-mail address if I wanted to get in touch," Jillette said."Now I know there's no God, and one polite person living his life right doesn't change that. But I'll tell you, he was a very, very, very good man, and that's really important. And with that kind of goodness, it's OK to have that deep of a disagreement. I still think that religion does a lot of bad stuff, but that was a good man who gave me that book. That's all I wanted to say," Jillette said at the end of the short video.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS GUY AND I COULD AGREE ON ANYTHING! WOW!

Another Mother's Day

Well another Mother's Day come and gone. I'm always quiet on Mother's Day. I have a great Mom who was also one of my best friends while growing up, but that's not what makes me quiet and thinkie-like. For years after Scott and I got married there were no children, at least not the kind that lived with you night and day, well day, well night, well both night and day. We've been active in youth ministry for a long time, long time and for those first ten years of marriage those kids were our only kids. When asked how many kids we had (always something you ask young married folks) we usually laughed and said oh 50 or so. Inside however the hurt went pretty deep, maybe more for me than Scott, not because he didn't want kids, he just didn't have that biological clock ticking the months off, month after month. I cried a lot, a lot, sometimes outloud, but most of the time secretly, late at night. Then one wonderous Christmas, Hope was born! (literally-we named her after Jesus-the hope of the world-not because she was the child we had longed for 10 years plus). Then a year later, here comes Leah. Two more precious children did not exist on the face of the earth. I remember the early childless Mother's Days sitting on the pew, trying not to cry as all the mothers stood up, category by category, age, number of kids, etc. and then the obligatory-stand if you had a mother, that was somehow supposed to make it hurt less. It didn't. I remember sitting there, never hearing whatever the sermon was, just thinking that I wished my dress was wrinkled from some kid sitting in it. Then there were two and I was sufficiently wrinkled, but still crying. Now crying from the deep places inside because of the blessings that God had given to me and still crying for the others, who were sitting in the pews with the smiles plastered on their Sunday faces for fear someone would think them weak or lacking in faith, somehow. It's ok to cry for sad things. Jesus did. It's not ok to cry and not pray, but it is ok to cry while you pray. There isn't a magic formula, a certain prayer, certain scriptures to memorize...we even did the fertility drugs for a while. It just wasn't God's plan at the time, but it still hurt. What would I have done if He hadn't given me my own personal set of kids? Would I be bitter or just childless. No not childless-there are the others. With kids come the almost kids. You know the ones that are just always around, that you worry about just like your own kids-mostly because they come in herds, or at least they do at my house. This Mother's Day I was kinda sick and wanted to just stay in bed for my annual thinkie day. As I was laying there in a Dayquil induced sorta sleep I started thinking about my kids, all my kids and about the fact that my two "laps" as Hope used to call my legs, anyway that my lap wasn't big enough to hold all the kids I now have and I'm really not much of a dress person anymore, anyway. Some of my "kids" were leading worship at another church and my two kids persuaded me to get up and go with them to support their brothers and sisters. In fact, Leah's gift to me was a collage of a lot of the girls that are my almost kids. I cried, a good cry, a joyous cry. We had a big old bunch of kids for lunch at Flying Fish and then later that night, well over 60 of them worshipping together around God's throne. My heart is full. Even now, downstairs, right now, I don't have any idea how many of them are here. I'm in my pjs already and doing a little Nyquill. But I hear them, laughing, enjoying each other, all brothers and sisters who will cling to each other like real family in good times and bad, not because they are blood relatives-but oh no, wait, they are blood related-by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. They are downstairs being family. I have more kids than the Old Woman in the Shoe. Ain't God good?

Been Thinking, For Pete's Sake!

Been thinking a lot lately about life...and death....and what's really important. A young girl died in a car accident and I pass the cross on the side of the road on my way home from work everyday and think about her often. What would she have done if she knew she only had 5 more minutes to live? What would I do? Would she have called her parents and told them she loved them and wished she had been a better daughter? Is that what I would do? Would I pray to my Father God and tell Him I love Him and wish I had been a better daughter? There wouldn't be time enough to do very many things so it kinda gets down to where the focus needs to be on the most important thing. What would that be? None of the material things of life would be on the list. You don't call your house and tell it you loved it and wish you had kept it cleaner. It's all about the relationships, either the eternal one in heaven with Jesus, or the eternal one with the people in your life that will be in heaven with you, or the relationship with those you love who will have an eternal life, but not with you. None of the stuff matters. I have an aunt that is dying slowly of cancer. She started smoking in her teens and was never able to quit (at least for very long). Aunt Pete has always been the Energizer Bunny of the family. She's been the caretaker for most of the extended family (which is a considerable number of people). Who's to say that she wouldn't have gotten cancer anyway but I'm sure that's not what she's thinking as she lays in bed, too sick from the treatments to move or eat or caretake for anyone. I know that's hard for her-being in the bed and unable to help anyone else. The cancer started in her lungs-she had a bad cold and just couldn't get better. She went to the doctor and it was bad. It was in her lungs and hips. Lots of chemo later it moved to her brain. It doesn't look good. Would you please pray-for Pete's sake? I know one thing for sure-she would encourage all you people who are smoking to STOP NOW. I know she wishes she had never started. It's hard to quit, but dying this way is awful. It's hard on her and it's hard on the people who love her so much. Maybe if you smoke you could pray for her when you smoke? Or maybe if you are trying to quit you could pray for her when you feel like smoking and it's all you can think about? Life is so precious and there are so many relationships yet to have. So...a couple of questions here: What would you do if you only had 5 more minutes? and...What would you do differently if you could turn back the clock and change one thing? Just been thinking...for Pete's sake!

Abraham & Sarah are Together Again

With the passing of Dr. Carl Wenger Wednesday, two dear people who seemed the perfect couple were reunited in Heaven. Carl and Lib always reminded me of Abraham and Sarah. I remember thinking that they were who i wanted to be when i grew up. When i think back over the years that i've know them all the memories are sweet, gentle, and most of all Christ-like. I'm not sure I know anyone else that looks as much like Christ as those two! God blessed them both with keen intelligence and the gift of sharing vast knowledge with you without making you feel stupid. So often today the great minds let you know that they have great minds. Humility-they were some of the most humble people ever. Generous-whether with time or resources they gave and gave and gave. Laughter-they laughed a genuine bright laugh--complete with twinkling eyes-that's how i know God laughs too, because they did. In the Bible it talks about reflecting the glory of God-that's just what they did. When you looked at them you could see the glory of God. Heaven is sweeter now and the cloud of witnesses takes on new meaning. I know they will be cheering for me, for all of us.

Dogs Rule

God made dogs as reminders of what unconditional love is supposed to be like. They always greet you at the door with a wagging tail, even if you are late and they need to pee realllllllyyyyy bad! They don't care if you run out of dog food and give them stale bread instead-they will do all their tricks anyway. Even if you put them outside when company comes they are soooo grateful to be let inside they forgive you for missing out on all the fun. Even if you yell at them, ignore them or put them "in time out" they will still come-a-running with a wag and a smile each time you call their name. and....they will lay at your feet with adoring eyes for just a belly rub. If there is a dog in your life, go give them a hug right now. (and wag your tail like you mean it!)