Trees

The City of Galveston recently handed out trees to citizens. So many trees were killed by Hurricane Ike.

 

Tree planting takes on a different mindset than grass or flower planting. Trees take forever. Flowers take only a little while to be fully enjoyed. That hammock between the trees may need to wait 20 years. The petunias are good to go today. Yard of the month!

 

I looked up our house in Rifle, Colorado the other day on Google Earth. GE let's you see a pretty good satellite's view of almost any where in the world. The first thing I noticed was the trees. We planted these spindly little fruit trees our first year. We move on in year three.

 

We plant trees (usually) for others. Others whom we do not know or never will know. Trees are an investment in the future but not the instantaneous "bottom line."

 

Jesus enjoyed the moment and so should we. But his investment was in the future. I am in my 7^th decade and I see how much it is important to invest in the future. My template is the Kingdom, as Jesus described it. But it does not lead me to simply contemplate spiritual things (whatever that means.) It leads me to want to make investments in people's futures – financially, environmentally, educationally, and emotionally.

 

What will you do today to plant for the Kingdom? Even if all you will enjoy is something spindly.

 

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

Just Because

Facebook is a great platform to trumpet the triumphs of our kids and ourselves (does any one trumpet our parent's triumphs?)  We like winners. We are proud of the good things our loved ones do. Alas, in a competitive world, most of us are losers. One thing I think this leads us to is a self-rejection, one which we won't admit or are not aware of. But one that eats away at us from the inside. God forbid.

 

Jesus does expect good things done in his name. But his love goes beyond that and ours should, too. Jesus loves us IN SPITE of what we do because he finds us inherently lovable – as is! Consider today loving another "just because." Set up someone else for a lifetime of self-acceptance that is not based on circumstances. Most of those are out of our control.

 

"Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity, or power, but self-rejection. Success, popularity, and power can indeed present a great temptation, but their seductive quality often comes from the way they are part of the much larger temptation to self-rejection. When we have come to believe in the voices that call us worthless and unlovable, then success, popularity, and power are easily perceived as attractive solutions. The real trap, however, is self-rejection. As soon as someone accuses me or criticizes me, as soon as I am rejected, left alone, or abandoned, I find myself thinking, "Well, that proves once again that I am a nobody." … [My dark side says,] I am no good… I deserve to be pushed aside, forgotten, rejected, and abandoned. Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the "Beloved." Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence."  Henri Nouwen

Randy

I met Randy today. He makes stone crosses from limestone and granite. I bought aa beautiful multicolor cross from stone from Llano. We got to talking.

 

Randy told me that he calls what he does a ministry. People come with all sorts of stories. About loved ones, lost ones and miracles. He used to talk but now he sees his real ministry is to listen. Not to judge but to be a safe place of peace.

 

Listening is a lost art. The Prince of Peace, Jesus, while always resident in our interactions, is visibly present when we listen.

 

Make Christ real for someone today. When the conversation goes beyond gossip; when someone begins to reveal herself (or himself,) don't talk (no matter how interesting you are and I'll bet you are.) Just listen. If the conversation is all weather talk, ask a question. "Who had the biggest influence on your life (and why?") "Where were you when you felt closest to God (and why?") "What have you done that you are the proudest of (and why?") "Who is your greatest cheerleader (and what is it that he or she sees in you?")

 

May you know Christ today.

Ferrari

Graham Brenna wrote in the blog Church Crunch a quotation from Jim Elliston.

 

We're convinced that the world needs us to be good at a lot of things. But the truth is, the world really needs us to be great at one thing.

 

Brenna's thought was this.  A red Ferrari turns heads when it drives by. What about your church or ministry turns heads? Churches spend a lot of time trying to be all things to all people in order to be "inclusive" but may miss the mark by being "nothing to anyone" instead. John, in the Book of Revelation, has God spitting out "lukewarm," preferring hot or cold instead.

 

But get closer to home. God made you deliciously unique. We are not a consumption driven drone of the American Dream nor a disciple cookie cutter robot nor are we created by God to be Miss/Mr. Popularity, a people-pleaser. Here is the question, "What about you did God "build in" you that should turn heads? An answer of, "I don't know," is a cop-out. Find out. Do not rest until you find out. Loads of help and inventories are out their. Test it out. Then be/do that. You will glorify God and be less stressed. You are great!

Blessings

Author Dennis Lehane was interviewed recently on National Public Radio. He said something tangential to his new book that I found made me pause to think about.

Lehane stated that we spend life pursuing happiness and that, in his mind, was an illusive if not impossible task. One never gets there. Instead, LeHane says, we should work to make the blessing outweigh the regrets. In other words, the totality of life can be blessed even if happiness is not always present. As a hospital chaplain, I heard a lot of end of life regrets. Most of them had to do with busyness at the expense of family and the things that are truly important.

 

Jesus tells us a whole lot of ways to be blessed and to bless. All have to do with giving of ourselves or staying true to him. The blessing of giving is two-fold in that we give AND get blessings when we bless others. A blessing is an unselfish gift that costs the giver.

 

Tip the scales of life in your favor today. Bless each one you meet today. Especially bless those not related to you and who can offer you nothing in return. Not only will you build up your "blessing account," you will not have any time to formulate new regrets.

Life Lessons #2

With the release of his new book Decision Points, President Bush appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show recently.  The following are quotations from President Bush. I find something both faithful and useful about each one. Maybe you will as well.

1. "Don't sell your soul for the sake of politics.  Have a set of principles.  Defend those principles no matter what it might cost you in the polls."
2. "One of my proudest accomplishments is that I didn't sell my principles for the sake of popularity."
3. "If you chase popularity you're chasing something for a fleeting moment.  Principles last forever."

Jesus tells us in Luke 14 that the cost of discipleship is high but worth it. Life literally hangs in the balance. Another theologian told us the there is no cheap grace. Grace is God gift of the ability to rebound when we neither earn nor deserve it. Grace is unleashed in a follower and lies dormant in a people pleaser.

Today, ask yourself, "What do I stand for that no amount of pressure will change?" Another way to state this might be, "What am I basing this life and the next on?" Jesus Christ will freely give you everything if you will follow him. Following him, however, does not come cheaply. Go against the grain today. Make every moment based on principle and none on popularity.

Life Lessons #1

With the release of his new book Decision Points, President Bush appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show. The following are quotations from President Bush. I find something both faithful and useful about each one. Maybe you will as well.

 

1. "I view politics as a chapter of my life.  Not my life."
2. "If I would have allowed the critics to affect me during the presidency, I would not have done my job as a leader."

 

What defines your life? Kids and their accomplishments? Your job? Your material possessions? Your past? Obstacles? Busyness? Christ?

 

To what audience do you play in life? Family? Boss? Critics? Sycophants? Friends?

 

Jesus chose to let God define his life and God be his audience. It did not mean that he had no social life or friends. It did not mean he forsook his family. It did not mean he had no fun. It did mean that he was at Peace no matter what the world threw at him.

 

Most of us want Peace (contentment) if we want anything. It remains elusive. Maybe we need to change who or what defines us. God cherishes you and only has your well-being in mind. He does not wish to control you or work his agenda. Now that's love.

 

Jesus saw his Father in Heaven as his audience. Playing to more than one person or to persons who, as nice as they are, have other agendas for us, is draining. Much of our busyness comes from trying to please too many people. If we just please God, all the others will sort themselves out. Again, Peace moves to our center.