Something So Soft

My cat Taylor loves to have his chin scratched. No. not there, a little to the left, that it, aaaahhhhh.

His chin is so soft.

And yet, if you were to come visit and look at the lamp shade in our family room, if you were not the polite type, you might ask, “What in the world happened to your lamp shade?”

You see, every day Taylor hops onto the end table and rubs his soft little cat chin on the lamp shade. And with time,he has completely ruined the shade. We will replace it someday, but not until we have figured out why he does this.

How does that soft little chin do so much damage? Slowly, and just a small imperceptible bit at a time.

We loose our liberties the same way, a small almost unnoticeable piece at a time. The current administration is making a mistake by trying to remove large chunks of our liberty with disastrous health care reform, and we are noticing, so maybe this time we can stop it. But usually it’s just a bit at a time.

We slide into sin the same manner. Most people don’t dive into degeneracy, they slip into it; a small compromise here, a wink and a nod there, and gradually we become who we detest.

So the next time you think a little sin, a little compromise a little loss of freedom won’t hurt too badly, think about Taylor’s soft little chin.

Leaves and Life

Raking leaves this evening I got the feeling that leaves and life are a lot alike.

Now I know your thinking, there’s nothing new with that analogy, and I agree, there is nothing new under the sun. But I wasn’t thinking about the typical analogy that everyone sites: spring, summer, fall, winter…blah, blah, blah. No I was thinking about raking leaves and life.

When I start raking I am strong and fresh and ambitious. I feel like I can rake all day. I can use the biggest rake and move a mountain of leaves.

By the time I’m finished I need the littlest rake in the garage, and I can hardly move the leaves a foot at a time. And of course when I start raking there are just a few leaves and by the time I finish, when I am all worn out, the pile of leaves I need to move are up to my waist. And it’s getting dark out.

Life is like that. When we are young we can do anything, and the most difficult task seems easy; we never run out of energy. As we age the tasks seem more difficult, the piles seem higher and once simple jobs are more difficult and take longer. And the sun is going down.

OK, after that depressing drivel I need to tell you, I love the fall, I love raking leaves, and I love the place I am in right now. I got married in the fall to my best friend, who is still my best friend, so autumn is not only beautiful, it if full of wonderful memories. Being outside doing yard work is always enjoyable, but raking leaves is great; when I’m finished I can see the results, and I have a big pile of leaves I can jump into. And right now my life is pretty cool; I have dreams, goals and plans that excite me and life is sweet.

So life is like leaves, that’s not so bad.

Sam at the supermarket

When I left my ministry position and said my goodbyes a few months ago, I reminded the kids that Base Camp was still going to be fun, because they were still there and because God was going to find just the right person to take over for me. This person would be different from me and Base Camp would be different, but it would still be a great place to be on the weekend. God is God, I reminded them, and one last time as a group we said, “I can trust God no matter what!”

“No matter what?” I asked a bit tearfully. “No matter what!” came the tearful reply.

Well I ran into my friend Sam at the supermarket the other day. I have several Sam friends, but this Sam is one of my favorites. Sam’s in the third grade. And the first thing he said was, “I love Base Camp!” He then proceeded to tell me about all the fun things he was doing on Sunday morning. It was his favorite day of the week, and he can’t wait to slime Pastor Chris.

Things are different. Sometimes different can be good. but kids still love Base Camp. And God still shows up.

You know, you really can trust God no matter what!

See you again soon, Sam.

Keep up the good work Pastor Chris.

I am thankful

Snow is coming to Buffalo. Not today, maybe not tomorrow, but it’s coming. Except for when it lands on the road I like snow. It covers all the browns and grays that used to be my gardens. I like the change of seasons. And I like the fact that winter does a few others things.

For example: I read an article the other day by Jeanna Bryner, of LiveScience about the World’s largest web-spinning spider. Here is an excerpt: (Oct 21, 2009)

“About the size of a standard CD, a newly described spider is now considered the largest in a class of web-spinners. Scientists discovered remains of the species of golden orb-weaver, now called Nephila komaci, among museum collections in South Africa and recently more dead specimens from Tembe Elephant Park in South Africa… The oversized dimensions — a body length of 1.5 inches and a leg span of 4 to 5 inches — describe the females of N. komaci only. The males, which are considered normal-size spiders, are on average five times smaller.

(The largest spider in the world may be the Goliath bird-eater, or Theraphosa blondi, which has a leg span of up to about 10 inches, 25 cm, according to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. This tarantula does not spin webs.)”

In Buffalo, Spiders never get the chance to be big enough to carry off our children. The cold keeps spiders from growing large enough to build a web capable of capturing Indiana Jones.

I love warm weather, and think I may someday move to a warmer location. But in the meantime, I will not complain about the snow. Because there is at least one thing that I would hate more than snow on the road, and that would be finding the remains of my cat in a spider web.

No matter where you are in life today, be thankful for what you have, and for what you don’t have.

The greatest suggestion

So what is it we are supposed to do when our neighbors do things that we disagree with. I went to the Gospel of Luke to find the answer, this is what Jesus said:

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Argue with your neighbor until he agrees with you.’there is no commandment greater than these.”

No, I don’t think that is quite it.

: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: Criticize your neighbor so he feels bad about himself.’ there is no commandment greater than these.”

No that not it either. Maybe…

” Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Turn your neighbor into a clone of yourself.’ there is no commandment greater than these.”

Perhaps…

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘ignore your neighbor if he doesn’t shape up.’ there is no commandment greater than these.”

We are supposed to LOVE our neighbors. And here is something I know…I have never had someone draw closer to God because I won an argument. I have NEVER been able to bully someone into believing like me. I have never, ever been able to berate, belittle or cajole someone into following Jesus. But HAVE loved people into the kingdom.

There are some very fine Christian organizations out there that do really great things for God, but have lost the ability to reach the lost because they are always telling the world what is wrong with them. In an attempt to keep Christian on the right path (a noble cause) they have alienated people who do not walk the straight and narrow path. As much as I believe that I need to live a holy life, I can’t, so trying to convince someone they should do something i can’t do is not only futile, it is (I believe) the wrong thing to do.

Jesus told us the most important thing for us to do is to love God whole-heartedly; and to love others as we love ourselves. His final words were similar; in essence, we are to tell everyone we can about God’s love for us. His final words were not an admonition to tell people to change their way of living but to change their way of believing. To tell people that they are loved by the Creator of the universe.

The Holy Spirit does a much better job of convicting and convincing people to change their habits. We would do well to love the way we have been loved; that WILL draw people toward Christ better than any argument we could make.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’there is no commandment greater than these.” Luke 10:26-28

This wasn’t a suggestion.

Weaving a web in the wind

Sometimes I feel sorry for spiders.

Don’t get me wrong, I scream like a girl if one drops down in front of my face when I’m driving. But think of all the work in making a web, so often for nothing. Or, really they do all that work just to get bugged. Their work is so temporary.

We were driving through the country one misty morning and passed a field with a hundred webs, each covered with frozen fog. The morning sun was just rising and the webs glistened like jewels. I don’t know why we didn’t stop and take pictures.

These miniature masterpieces would only last a few hours before they would disappear and have to be rebuilt if the spider hoped for another meal.

Sometimes ministry feels like weaving a web in the wind, doesn’t it? We create a work of art in hopes that we might catch a few flies. (or kids or converts) But our efforts often only last a moment. Sometimes they are destroyed by the winds of change, sometime by the whims of others. Often our masterpieces are taken apart by exuberant leaders with apparently no more malice (nor thought) than a child running through a field with a stick. It seems so haphazard, so intentionally accidental. (That’s a phrase I coined to describe they way children are often destructive without really trying to be; they are just running around having fun without thinking of the consequences.)

So why weave the web. For spiders it is they way they were made. God designed them to weave whether the wind whips they about or not. It’s the only way they will eat, and is some cases attract another spider.

I guess, on a somewhat, but not much deeper level so do I. I weave my webs because that is what I have been created to do. That is what brings meaning and purpose to my life. I may attract one fly for one meal, or I may get a swarm. Along the way others of my species may also come by to see what is up, and we will weave webs together for a season. And multiply our effectiveness for our joined efforts. My webs will all eventually be swept away in a moment, but that is not my concern. My Maker has asked me to weave regardless of the outcome. The outcome is in his hands as much as my web-weaving talents are. I will weave.

And love it.

Random surprises

Today (October 16th) I was surprised by God in the following ways:

• Waking up with snow on the ground. Cold but pretty.
• A phone call from a dear friend. Warm and wonderful.
• A box of meat. Protein and prayers.
• An Emu standing in the van in front of me. Adjectives fail me.
• A check from another dear friend. Now they really fail me.
• A heartfelt e-mail prayer from a total stranger. Hebrews 13:2
• Fall colors everywhere I look. Like I need another reminder of God’s love.
• Another box of meat. I sense a conspiracy of love.
• An envelope full of cash. OK, what’s going on here?
• A dear, dear friend who is also a sneak.
• Did I mention an Emu in a van?

I got your back

It seems like only in the movies, where enemy soldiers or alien creatures lurk do we hear someone say, “I got your back.”

It’s a potentially reassuring phrase, “I got your back!” Go forward without fear. Step out! Take a chance! Don’t worry about who may be sneaking up on you from behind, worry only about the enemy and adventure in front of you.

Unfortunately, we rarely hear the phrase, and when we do, can we truly trust the person to have our backs, to be looking out for us? This may sound a bit jaded, but I can count on only a very few people to really have my back. And if it came right down to it, there are not that many that can count on me.

The concept of “I got your back.” is not only protection, but an actual hand on our back. There is nothing more reassuring to a child than a hand on their back, except for maybe a hand-in-a-hand. And even adults feel protected if someone has a hand, a gentle but strong, guiding but not forcing, protecting but not sheltering hand in the middle of your back.

So why am I jaded? Surely I have fallen into this trap as well, but it seems that whenever someone says they have my back I have to wonder, how can they have my back when they are so busy protecting their own backside? The whole idea of having your back is that I care more about protecting you than I do my own safety. Alas, that is rare indeed.

In Genesis 15:1 God reminds Abram, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

And in Psalm 18:2 David says, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

My mistake, and perhaps yours, has been to trust in people to watch your back. That rarely works, most of us are just too self-centered to live out Philippians 2:1-5 when the going gets really tough. But GOD always has your back.

Psalm 20:6-7 reminds us, “Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.“

People will let you down, they will be to busy looking out for their own backs, their own jobs, their own agendas, their own self-interest. Romans 5 reminds us that other-centeredness is very rare in us mortals; but God never lets us down, ever.

He’s got your back!

Is it worth it?

Sometimes we have an opportunity to grow and stretch our boundaries. And those opportunities come with a price. There is a cost in the time involved, so we ask ourselves, is it worth a weekend of our lives? And there is almost always a cost in dollars and cents. And we ask ourselves “it is worth my scarce resources?” We have to determine whether the money we are exchanging could be better used elsewhere. Not simply, “This is expensive!” We need to ask, “What else could I do with this money? Is there a better use?”

So the bottom line for investing in learning is this: will the exchange of time and money create a reward that is worth more than the time and money I gave for it? Sometimes that is easy to determine, sometimes it’s not.

We are usually not that analytical. Usually I just don’t have the time or money.

So the next time you are faced with an opportunity and there is an opportunity cost involved, don’t be too quick to say no, but don’t be too quick to say yes. Ask yourself, is it worth it? Count the cost.

In Luke 14 Jesus talks about this, both in terms of making financial decisions and the even greater decision as to whether or not we will follow him.

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’

31″Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. (28-33)

Count the cost, make the wise choice.

Toss me the ball kid!

You may not believe it looking at me today, but I used to be really skinny. And not only was I skinny, I knew I was skinny and therefore was not a confident athlete. I loved sports, but because I was not confident, (Lets face it, I was a scared, skinny kid.) I wold not go for it with gusto, and so I would not succeed most of the time.

One day I was in a park playing catch with a football, and this giant of a man shouted out to me, “Hey kid, throw me the ball!” Well, I was afraid to throw it because I thought this man wanted to steal it. (Did I mention paranoid, scared skinny kid?) But I was afraid not to because this man could crush me in one hand. (did I mention…oh yes, I guess I did.) So I reeled back and with all my might let go with a might heave, then I ran over to the ball and threw it again, because the first toss only went a few yard. I finally just handed it to him, embarrassed that I couldn’t throw the ball far enough.

Well this giant must have played ball once or twice, and he took the football and said, “Put your arm back like, this, hold your elbow this way…” and he proceeded to coach me in tossing a football.

I tossed it back and he said, “That’s good, now try…” and he pointed out how I could improve and made positive comments on my improvement. I felt like a million bucks.

I was flabbergasted, then fascinated then….I threw the ball, farther and farther and farther with each toss! With less than five minutes of coaching I could throw the ball two or three times farther than just a few moments before. Wow!

Did I suddenly become physically bigger and stronger? No It was all in the coaching and encouragement. That’s all it took coaching and encouragement.

We can make a positive impact on the people around us with two simple steps. To the people who look to you for advice, point the way, give directions, be precise as you coach. Then as you direct, encourage. Let them know what they are doing right. For me, as a kid of about 12, this was the first time I remember anyone ever saying, “good job, that’s the way to do it.” Those words of encouragement, along with the coaching made my day, heck it made my summer. I still remember it more than 40 years later.

And, just a few years latter I was the best fourth string receiver on my Jr. High team.