Monday, January 21, 2013

Poser




The frogfish (yes it is there) above is mimicking a sponge. It’s a poser. It wants you to think it is something it is not. The reward for posing is safety, security.

Recently, we discovered that renowned cyclist and “role model” Lance Armstrong was a poser. He posed as a clean, good-guy, obstacle overcoming super hero. In fact, while he did raised money for cancer research, Lance was a bully and a lair. Lance was a poser. He claimed to be something he was not. He was rewarded for his posing.

However, put down the brick. While grievous in his posing, we cannot claim to be guiltless. People pose all the time as perfect, in control, right-minded, faultless, powerless, rich, poor, self-made, urbane, witty when, in fact, we are scared-to-be-found-out, opinionated, ageless, flawed, passive, in debt, self-centered, cynical. We get “rewarded” for our posing with the praise, fear, envy, or pity of others. We agree to not expose one another’s posing. We die in our self-imposed poser isolation.
The cure for this death is transparency. Being no more and no less than we really are. Being comfortable with our gifts and liabilities. Being true to our God-made and circumstance bound selves.

Where do you pose?  Oprah Winfrey may not care if you confess but God does. Life and the peace that passes understanding await. Pray for me as well.


Thursday, January 17, 2013

Degrees of Love




St. Bernard of Clairvaux  (1090-1153) said that there are four ascending degrees of love. Where are you? What would it take to move up a degree?

  • Love yourself for your own sake.
  • Love God for your own sake.
  • Love God for God's sake. 
  • Love yourself for God's sake.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

God Hates My Family




Pretty strong, huh? Maybe it is true.

I have heard more often arguments to the effect that a family had to skip worship because they needed to stay home and have family time. The reality behind this logic is that worshiping God would be detrimental to family life. It teaches children that God must be tamed or else God will get out of control and the family will be hurt as a result. “God time” and “quality time” would seem not to be one and the same. God is one big old imposition.

Webster would define imposition as “an excessive or uncalled-for requirement or burden.”  On the face of it, that would seem true. God brooks no rivals (see Commandments 1 and 2) God is a jealous God. God wants to be top priority but he says the “good stuff” will come as a result. God believes in “family values.” But not so much blood related family. God’s family is the Church. Parents are advised to help form their family with Godly decisions.  And God acknowledges that the “kids” forget him when things are going well (we tend to ring God up when we need something.) 

Are God and Church at odds with your family’s welfare? How could that change? Would you like it to change? How could you help?


Tuesday, January 15, 2013

We’ve Got Your Number




The Dunbar Number is the approximate number of people we can  associate with and still keep some sense of community. I am not surprised. Often, people’s greatest memories are of churches of 150 or less. I like groups where we all have a sense of ownership, impact, and dependency on one another. Maybe you do, too.

This got me to thinking. What is the Jimbo Number? Okay, I made that up. What I was thinking was the number of activities in which we can really invest ourselves without being burned out, overextended or marginally involved with. As an observer of people and families, I see people in as many as 15 to 20. I suspect we are designed for 4-6. Remember, I am speaking to activities that really have an impact and ones in which we add and receive real value. Ones where true community is found.

How many activities are you in? List them. Prioritize them (are you afraid to do this?) Is doing nothing on the list? Where is church life? How did family time fair (did I beat out God?)
What did you learn? What, if anything, will you change?

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
John 15:16 (NIV)


image:http://www.englishwithjo.com  
 

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Balance





On average, we are a balanced people. But only “on average.” By that, I mean that we have wide swings that average out. We get super busy (why, I am not sure. I guess it validates us somehow.) Then we get sick or just bail out (which creates havoc) and become a slug. Then we start the cycle again. In this scenario, we have a moment of balanced bliss but most of the time we are an empty shell of a person in a manic/exhausted cycle.

Jesus tells us that his mission included a full if not overflowing life for us (John 10:10.) He tells us further that tough choices must be made (narrowdoor) in order for us follow his lead. He reminds us to “count the costs” before we blindly act or react. His advice includes simple speech of “Yes” or “No.” Paul goes on to say that we were not meant to be pulled back and forth. We are to be grounded in Christ.

What would happen if you made tough choices and brought more balance into your life? What could be gained? Take some Sabbath time to reflect on this. Life and beauty are found in the balance.

Photo: Michael Grab www.gravityglue.com
 


Monday, January 7, 2013

Freedom




Most of us would consider ourselves free. Freedom is a basic tenet of democracy.

The Bible speaks of a larger freedom, one which we find more elusive.  First, here is a question. Is your life marked more by

A. Anger, tension, debt, tiredness, envy, overeating, sarcasm, blame, overwork, fear, worry about what others think?
B. Love, sacrifice, deferred gratification, joy, contentment, generosity, patience, trust, kindness, self-control?

Sadly, I am often in the “A” category. Paul tells us (in Galations 5) that we are better off investing in Christ than depending on the world around us for our validation.  
  
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

He further says, “Acts of love borne out of trust in God” truly make us free.

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. 
Galatians 5:6 (NIV)

Today, ask yourself if you are free (A) or trapped (B.) In whom or what do you really place your trust? If you want to be free or freer, try the same kind of love Christ did. When we love, we claim the freedom that is ours. Whether on the political battlefield or the spiritual one, the only freedom worth having is the one that costs.