My Mom passed away earlier this year.
Strained, seemingly from the beginning, I can't remember a time ever truly being connected with my mother. She was in every way a stranger to me. Without a vital maternal connection, I learned early in life that no one was worthy of my trust and as a result lived terribly disfigured emotionally through most of my twenty somethings.
It has been my wife of 32 years who through the tumultuous ride with a husband who could achieve almost anything professionally and yet very little relationally, saw me through to better days. Her stubborn example of trust in God and how that transformed her to trust others has been a powerful lesson learned - again and again.
Crystal often has jovially remarked; 'Dan, you would have killed most women by now!' She's right of course about how incredibly perfect she's been for the wound I carried.
The mother that was being memorialized by her friends was not the mother I knew. They spoke of her loving ways and one after another would laud her fidelity towards those in her life. 'She would give you the shirt off her back' one person said.
Like I said; a stranger.
Each of her children, there are six of us, received a rose in her memory as we were seated. It struck me as odd that the rose in my hand had thorns. Serious long thorns. My immediate mental response was how careless the person was who came up with this genius idea.
But God. Those two words when used together, contrast what you know against Who He is.
On the front seat of the sanctuary and in the midst of people extolling the life of my mother He spoke. As if sitting next to me and leaning over into my ear He explained the rose.
He talked to me how I only knew my mother during the thorn part of her life while others knew her during the blossoming years. In that seat. At that moment. God created an intersection for me to choose.
David said to the Lord in Psalm 131; 'I do not concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me.'
The rose was all I needed that day to lay at rest the years of thorn and to embrace that on a day in which I was not present and without my permission; my mom blossomed.
With His observation complete God rested His case. He left me there as quietly as He arrived. Would I know my mother from a different place and though a stranger to me, certainly and obviously - not a stranger to others, would I allow her to be more than a thorn?
A few days from now. Toledo will set aside an evening to honor the unhoused who died this past year. Once again, I've been asked to say a few words on behalf of those who passed away.
I think about the thorns in their lives and the thorns potentially they've been to others and how they blossomed apart from family or loved ones - which will be the essence of my few shared moments with those who gather next week.
Here's today's question; 'What about you?'
Are you blossoming where once there were thorns? Do the folks who knew you as thorns have the opportunity to understand the eventuality associated with migrating with God?
Becuase eventually there will be a rose.
Too many people who are referred to as a late bloomer carry with them a quiet guilt for the years of thorn. Don't be that person.
Perhaps your story parallels mine today. What about you? Find a moment with God and let Him lean into your ear. Allow Him to reconcile the balance - He will.
He did for me - the very day my mom became a rose.
Making a dent.
Dan
Friday, December 17, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
The Smooth Surface of Wrong Things
Dan's note:
This is a continuing thought from the last entry.
As a young man I blew through more than my fair share of cars. And as a person who grew up and graduated High School in the 70's, I was a freak about muscle cars in particular. With rare exception, if the car was between 69 and 72 I was in love.
Camaro's, Chevelle's, Mustangs, SuperBea's to GTO's - man what a time to for fast! However, my all time favorite car to this day - hands down, is the 55 Chevy. Properly restored and with the right equipment it's a head turner for most anyone.
When you have the privilege of actually standing beside a restored master piece like a muscle car, you'll be drawn to the attention the owner has given to meticulous detail. Of course there is one thing that will capture your attention above all else - the finish.
Bending down just enough to look from front to back and with your hand running ever so slowly across the surface as though your finger tips have eyes, you'll pay careful attention to how perfect the surface is. Of course the smoother the surface, the more impressed you are.
The smoother and perfect the surface is, the less distracted you are. Simply put, the owner of the vehicle has not given you any reason to be distracted or disturbed in what he's given you to observe.
However - if there is one single blemish, one ding, even the tiniest of flaws, your eyes will focus without effort to the spot on the surface that has interrupted smooth. Your appreciation diminished, the memory of the imperfection is well noted.
When I first encountered Bob (not his name) his state ID said he was 27, while everything else about him looked more like 50. He had the familiar smell of the street; the paradox of freshness associated with the great outdoors blended with the pungent aroma of bad decisions.
Bob had the behavior of a well groomed salesman, his clear intent was to relieve me of the burden associated with carrying about an unused dollar.
You've met Bob, he's a lot like the Bob's in your life experience. To me, encountering Bob is just like observing the smooth unblemished surface of a finely restored car.
Bob has the smooth surface of wrong things.
Unchecked poverty. Unchecked illiteracy. Unchecked recidivism. Unchecked homelessness. Unchecked health issues. Unchecked addiction. Unchecked brokenness. Unchecked Family disintegration. Unchecked disenfranchisement of Parents.
Most of these unchecked and nearly pandemic issues have not even a single blemish - they are unchecked! Just like the smooth surface of the finish of a car, without a blemish there is no real reason for anyone to pay attention - no reason to be distracted.
If you think the wrong thing going on with Bob is the blemish - human behavior and the associated historical reality is against you. If the wrong things going on in Bob's life were viewed as a blemish we would pay attention. Our eyes would focus on the blemish. We would roll up our sleeves and as though our fingertips had eyes we would do something about it.
His blemish would be the only thing we would think about and it would be well noted. But my brothers and sisters Bob is not well noted - not by too many of us.
His surface is smooth. The smooth surface of wrong things has conditioned him to capitalize on not really being noticed. His smooth unchecked, without blemish and not a single dent surface allows him to go unnoticed to the point of relative freedom to ask perfect strangers for the imperfect gift of a dollar.
Here's today's question: 'Have I made a dent today in someones smooth surface of wrong things?'
When you step into someones life, you are leaving a blemish, a mark, a dent. That dent will be noticed by others who will add their dent and soon the reality of their life will no longer go unnoticed by even them - which is the point.
Making a dent,
Dan
From last week; "What did He mean:
What did Jesus mean when He said 'the poor you will have with you always?' He was and is mocking you. Jesus did not come to abolish, but to fulfill the law. According to the law, it was a shame to allow there to be poverty at all. His statement in question form to Judas could easily have been; 'Why are there poor among you to begin with Judas?'
This is a continuing thought from the last entry.
As a young man I blew through more than my fair share of cars. And as a person who grew up and graduated High School in the 70's, I was a freak about muscle cars in particular. With rare exception, if the car was between 69 and 72 I was in love.
Camaro's, Chevelle's, Mustangs, SuperBea's to GTO's - man what a time to for fast! However, my all time favorite car to this day - hands down, is the 55 Chevy. Properly restored and with the right equipment it's a head turner for most anyone.
When you have the privilege of actually standing beside a restored master piece like a muscle car, you'll be drawn to the attention the owner has given to meticulous detail. Of course there is one thing that will capture your attention above all else - the finish.
Bending down just enough to look from front to back and with your hand running ever so slowly across the surface as though your finger tips have eyes, you'll pay careful attention to how perfect the surface is. Of course the smoother the surface, the more impressed you are.
The smoother and perfect the surface is, the less distracted you are. Simply put, the owner of the vehicle has not given you any reason to be distracted or disturbed in what he's given you to observe.
However - if there is one single blemish, one ding, even the tiniest of flaws, your eyes will focus without effort to the spot on the surface that has interrupted smooth. Your appreciation diminished, the memory of the imperfection is well noted.
When I first encountered Bob (not his name) his state ID said he was 27, while everything else about him looked more like 50. He had the familiar smell of the street; the paradox of freshness associated with the great outdoors blended with the pungent aroma of bad decisions.
Bob had the behavior of a well groomed salesman, his clear intent was to relieve me of the burden associated with carrying about an unused dollar.
You've met Bob, he's a lot like the Bob's in your life experience. To me, encountering Bob is just like observing the smooth unblemished surface of a finely restored car.
Bob has the smooth surface of wrong things.
Unchecked poverty. Unchecked illiteracy. Unchecked recidivism. Unchecked homelessness. Unchecked health issues. Unchecked addiction. Unchecked brokenness. Unchecked Family disintegration. Unchecked disenfranchisement of Parents.
Most of these unchecked and nearly pandemic issues have not even a single blemish - they are unchecked! Just like the smooth surface of the finish of a car, without a blemish there is no real reason for anyone to pay attention - no reason to be distracted.
If you think the wrong thing going on with Bob is the blemish - human behavior and the associated historical reality is against you. If the wrong things going on in Bob's life were viewed as a blemish we would pay attention. Our eyes would focus on the blemish. We would roll up our sleeves and as though our fingertips had eyes we would do something about it.
His blemish would be the only thing we would think about and it would be well noted. But my brothers and sisters Bob is not well noted - not by too many of us.
His surface is smooth. The smooth surface of wrong things has conditioned him to capitalize on not really being noticed. His smooth unchecked, without blemish and not a single dent surface allows him to go unnoticed to the point of relative freedom to ask perfect strangers for the imperfect gift of a dollar.
Here's today's question: 'Have I made a dent today in someones smooth surface of wrong things?'
When you step into someones life, you are leaving a blemish, a mark, a dent. That dent will be noticed by others who will add their dent and soon the reality of their life will no longer go unnoticed by even them - which is the point.
Making a dent,
Dan
From last week; "What did He mean:
What did Jesus mean when He said 'the poor you will have with you always?' He was and is mocking you. Jesus did not come to abolish, but to fulfill the law. According to the law, it was a shame to allow there to be poverty at all. His statement in question form to Judas could easily have been; 'Why are there poor among you to begin with Judas?'
Thursday, October 14, 2010
What did He mean?
One of my favorite all time movies is; 'The Princess Bride.' Jim Kingsburry a long time friend and missionary, turned me on to this classic years ago.
The movie has a ton of great one liners like;
'stop that rhyming and I mean it!' 'Does anyone want a peanut?'
'have fun storming the castle!'
'maybe he's not using the same wind we are using?'
Among the numerous funny dialogue scenes is the exchange between Vizzini, a Sicilian man of genius and Montoya the Spaniard who was known for his swordsmanship, who together with the giant Fezzik had kidnapped the fiance of prince Humperdink who wanted to blame Guilda, the land across the sea in order to start a war.
There you go, that's about as geeky as I plan on being (for now).
Vizzini kept using the word 'inconceivable' when answering any one's questions regarding whether the three of them would be successful in their kidnapping of the princess. After one of the many times he said 'inconceivable' and having not been questioned about his word usage before, Montoya said; 'That word you keep using, I don't think it means what you think it means.'
On another note.
Long ago in a time of rampant and obvious poverty, a time not so different than our own present realities where the poor are in need of great assistance, there was a women who for the love of a dear and trusted friend used an expensive ointment to wash his feet. The act while a sincere portrayal of gratitude and fidelity was viewed by an observer with a thief's heart, as waste.
And so he protested; 'Why wasn't this ointment sold for three hundred denarii (a years wage) and given to the poor?'
With the fragrance filling the room the woman's friend, who is my friend and your friend as well, said; 'the poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. '
What did He mean?
If you are in the work of serving within the river of the human condition, I guarantee you've encountered and pondered this verse which can be found in all four Gospels. Personally, I often have this verse quoted to me when I'm speaking about ending or at least (somebody please) reducing poverty and poverty causing realities like homelessness.
Comes the quick witted response; 'Well Dan, you know Jesus said, the poor you will have with you always.'
I will confess, somewhere between my blood boiling when I hear that sentiment and my heart aching over the ill effects of unchecked poverty I manage to summon the answer; Whatever He meant, I don't think He meant what we think He meant.
News flash: Even reasonable observation would suggest His statement certainly wasn't a blanket insurance policy that covers us for the head on collision we're having with poverty.
Furthermore, I don't think with hundreds of references in the Bible related to poverty and the poor, Jesus was somehow signing our perpetual hall pass when it comes solving, not fixing the systemic and rooted causes of poverty.
I believe we can say with certainty though, His statement about the ever existence of the poor was qualitative, not quantitative. While we may always have people within our community that need food, clothing and shelter (qualitative) does there have to be so many? (quantitative).
Here's today's question: Have you considered what your next decision would entail if you became intolerant of poverty?
Next week's post: The smooth finish of wrong things.
Making a Dent,
Dan
The movie has a ton of great one liners like;
'stop that rhyming and I mean it!' 'Does anyone want a peanut?'
'have fun storming the castle!'
'maybe he's not using the same wind we are using?'
Among the numerous funny dialogue scenes is the exchange between Vizzini, a Sicilian man of genius and Montoya the Spaniard who was known for his swordsmanship, who together with the giant Fezzik had kidnapped the fiance of prince Humperdink who wanted to blame Guilda, the land across the sea in order to start a war.
There you go, that's about as geeky as I plan on being (for now).
Vizzini kept using the word 'inconceivable' when answering any one's questions regarding whether the three of them would be successful in their kidnapping of the princess. After one of the many times he said 'inconceivable' and having not been questioned about his word usage before, Montoya said; 'That word you keep using, I don't think it means what you think it means.'
On another note.
Long ago in a time of rampant and obvious poverty, a time not so different than our own present realities where the poor are in need of great assistance, there was a women who for the love of a dear and trusted friend used an expensive ointment to wash his feet. The act while a sincere portrayal of gratitude and fidelity was viewed by an observer with a thief's heart, as waste.
And so he protested; 'Why wasn't this ointment sold for three hundred denarii (a years wage) and given to the poor?'
With the fragrance filling the room the woman's friend, who is my friend and your friend as well, said; 'the poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. '
What did He mean?
If you are in the work of serving within the river of the human condition, I guarantee you've encountered and pondered this verse which can be found in all four Gospels. Personally, I often have this verse quoted to me when I'm speaking about ending or at least (somebody please) reducing poverty and poverty causing realities like homelessness.
Comes the quick witted response; 'Well Dan, you know Jesus said, the poor you will have with you always.'
I will confess, somewhere between my blood boiling when I hear that sentiment and my heart aching over the ill effects of unchecked poverty I manage to summon the answer; Whatever He meant, I don't think He meant what we think He meant.
News flash: Even reasonable observation would suggest His statement certainly wasn't a blanket insurance policy that covers us for the head on collision we're having with poverty.
Furthermore, I don't think with hundreds of references in the Bible related to poverty and the poor, Jesus was somehow signing our perpetual hall pass when it comes solving, not fixing the systemic and rooted causes of poverty.
I believe we can say with certainty though, His statement about the ever existence of the poor was qualitative, not quantitative. While we may always have people within our community that need food, clothing and shelter (qualitative) does there have to be so many? (quantitative).
Here's today's question: Have you considered what your next decision would entail if you became intolerant of poverty?
Next week's post: The smooth finish of wrong things.
Making a Dent,
Dan
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Line of Sight
The movie; The War of the Worlds, released a few years ago with Tom Cruise is a great example of how the smallest of things end up making the most significant impact. A typical Sci-Fy thriller, the movie is about aliens who apparently had been planning the attack for generations, arrived and just started tearing good old planet earth up.
The movie ended abruptly when, also apparently, the alien who was in charge of research for the invasion, failed to note that the earth had microbes that when ingested by the aliens would kill them, thus ending their plans for world domination ... 00ppsies!
It's the smallest of things that build or destroy.
There is an old saying; 'If everything matters, then nothing matters.' There is a lot of truth to this statement when it comes to planning strategies and executing initiatives. Basically the idea here is if everything is a big deal, then you'll never really know when you're confronting a big deal.
Now - this statement is NOT true nor has any place when it comes to people. With people everything matters ... everything.
Last week while driving into the back side of the Cherry Street parking lot, I noticed four people standing down at the end of the block. All of them are people being served by one or more of our ministries. One of the four individuals was Linda (not her real name). Linda is one of the neighborhoods prostitutes (what she does, not who she is) and as I stood and watched, she was clearly 'working' the group of guys she was hanging with.
As is my habit, I began walking down the block toward the four who had already noticed me watching them and they all began to walk to the next block. I called out; "What? No Good Morning Mr. Rogers?" "No, how are you today?" "How is your family?" "Nothing?" "You're just going to walk away and leave me hanging?"
One of the fellows, who I know quite well, Mr. Smith (not his name), stopped and we began to dialogue about his life where he was going not just today, but the next few days and not just about where he was going geographically, but mostly how many 'corners' did he think he had left until something, someone or some bad would befall him.
We also talked about Linda. I asked him if he cared enough about this young lady to not use her - did he care enough about himself. I asked did he realize she is a daughter of our neighborhood like he is a son.
Here's today's question; "What's regularly in your line of sight you've been ignoring?"
Maybe you've not been ignoring it. Maybe you've been watching all along the thing going on in your neighborhood, your family, your friends marriage - your own life. But what to do? What is the right approach? You know somethings not right. You can feel it, taste it - sense it. It's keeping you awake at night. Sometimes it's troubling you so much you can't think through even the smallest of daily routines.
It - whatever it is, has made it into your line of sight.
You're in trouble and you know you're in trouble. To ignore it is starting to become less and less an option. In your prayer and worship life, you know God sees it to - it's in His line of sight ... it's always been in His line of sight. Now you realize that you and God are seeing the same thing at the same time. You begin to feel how disturbed He is by it and you realize it's not the thing distracting you, keeping you awake at night, interrupting your daily routine ... it's God.
Because people matter. Everything people do, matters.
Need help? By attending the next Biblical Rescue Intensive, you'll learn about you and what God says about you in relation to others and the trouble that you're in relative to your line of sight. The questions plaguing you have answers.
July 22-24. To register, email Crystal at somaministries@sbcglobal.net. or my direct email is danrogers@cherrystreetmission.org.
Let's clear up your line of sight,
Dan
The movie ended abruptly when, also apparently, the alien who was in charge of research for the invasion, failed to note that the earth had microbes that when ingested by the aliens would kill them, thus ending their plans for world domination ... 00ppsies!
It's the smallest of things that build or destroy.
There is an old saying; 'If everything matters, then nothing matters.' There is a lot of truth to this statement when it comes to planning strategies and executing initiatives. Basically the idea here is if everything is a big deal, then you'll never really know when you're confronting a big deal.
Now - this statement is NOT true nor has any place when it comes to people. With people everything matters ... everything.
Last week while driving into the back side of the Cherry Street parking lot, I noticed four people standing down at the end of the block. All of them are people being served by one or more of our ministries. One of the four individuals was Linda (not her real name). Linda is one of the neighborhoods prostitutes (what she does, not who she is) and as I stood and watched, she was clearly 'working' the group of guys she was hanging with.
As is my habit, I began walking down the block toward the four who had already noticed me watching them and they all began to walk to the next block. I called out; "What? No Good Morning Mr. Rogers?" "No, how are you today?" "How is your family?" "Nothing?" "You're just going to walk away and leave me hanging?"
One of the fellows, who I know quite well, Mr. Smith (not his name), stopped and we began to dialogue about his life where he was going not just today, but the next few days and not just about where he was going geographically, but mostly how many 'corners' did he think he had left until something, someone or some bad would befall him.
We also talked about Linda. I asked him if he cared enough about this young lady to not use her - did he care enough about himself. I asked did he realize she is a daughter of our neighborhood like he is a son.
Here's today's question; "What's regularly in your line of sight you've been ignoring?"
Maybe you've not been ignoring it. Maybe you've been watching all along the thing going on in your neighborhood, your family, your friends marriage - your own life. But what to do? What is the right approach? You know somethings not right. You can feel it, taste it - sense it. It's keeping you awake at night. Sometimes it's troubling you so much you can't think through even the smallest of daily routines.
It - whatever it is, has made it into your line of sight.
You're in trouble and you know you're in trouble. To ignore it is starting to become less and less an option. In your prayer and worship life, you know God sees it to - it's in His line of sight ... it's always been in His line of sight. Now you realize that you and God are seeing the same thing at the same time. You begin to feel how disturbed He is by it and you realize it's not the thing distracting you, keeping you awake at night, interrupting your daily routine ... it's God.
Because people matter. Everything people do, matters.
Need help? By attending the next Biblical Rescue Intensive, you'll learn about you and what God says about you in relation to others and the trouble that you're in relative to your line of sight. The questions plaguing you have answers.
July 22-24. To register, email Crystal at somaministries@sbcglobal.net. or my direct email is danrogers@cherrystreetmission.org.
Let's clear up your line of sight,
Dan
Thursday, May 27, 2010
The Prodigal Parent
It's an interesting portrait Jesus paints as He tells the story of a young man who was lost long before he ever got lost and was found long before he ever realized he was never lost.
Because it is a parable and because Jesus is teaching about how God views things that get lost, who knows how long the younger of the two sons had dreamed about living beyond his means and certainly living free from the provision of his surroundings.
Such is humanity.
There is always the potential of 'grass is greener' type of living which has for many lead to some pretty remarkable decisions. Equally, and in too many instances this same view point has lead to more than one devastating outcome.
In this parable, widely known as 'The Prodigal Son', the young lad asks for an early withdraw of his inheritance and after a few days of the cash burning a hole in his tunic, sets off to a wild spending binge.
The word prodigal means extravagant or wasteful. You should take a minute and read up on this particular parable, and because Jesus is telling the story, it ends well.
The point?
NO MATTER HOW WASTEFUL YOU ARE - THERE'S ALWAYS MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM!
Now, you may not like that but you'll have to take it up with my boss - he's the one telling the story.
Are there consequences? Yes. Did people get hurt? Yes. Hopefully lesson learned. I say hopefully, because in the parable Jesus doesn't elaborate on whether the son learned a lesson from his extravagant and wasteful attitude about life. Nor does there exist in the content of the parable a guarantee his actions won't be repeated.
Now here is the distinct difference between us and God.
Too often, our love, support and welcoming back of the wayward is tied in part or in whole, to whether a lesson was learned and whether or not sufficient evidence exists that the wayward will be so no longer - as is demonstrated in the attitude of the older son.
Not God. He is neither one son or the other. He's the Father.
The reality, and again the point of the parable remains; while we knuckle-head our way through life, God is always at the ready ... He's always there.
Think about this for a minute. Slow your shutter speed down. Do you think God is in relationship with you in an effort for you to be better ... or for you to be the son or daughter He's always wanted?
I've got some life freeing news for you. He doesn't give a rip whether you get better or not. He just gives a rip about you.
Fast forward now to the 21st. century. What about parents?
So many parents are prodigal when it comes to the inheritance stored up for them in the right living of their families. Hell bent on spending their fortunes now, parents are wasting precious moments that won't soon be back.
What is our position towards these parents? Will we continue to serve around them in an effort to 'reach' their children? THEIR children?? And if we do, aren't we dangerously, if not outright saying, they're not worth our time or effort to reach them?
The father in the parable stood for his wasteful, extravagant son when no one else would. Not his friends, not his brother, not the people who hired him to feed the hogs - no one. Just a lone father standing his post.
I have to tell you. If you want to be effective in reaching others, particularly parents, you better be like the father Jesus talks about in the parable. You'll have to lay aside whether a lesson learned will yield a better result. And you'll need to retrain your calculations on what an outcome is.
You'll have to be prodigal yourself.
When everyone else gives up and goes home because it doesn't make any sense to wait ... you'll have to risk looking like the only one who is willing to 'waste' your time on the wayward parent.
Here's today's question; Am I willing to accept the point of the parable?
If you are, please find a parent and be the father - enjoy effectiveness!
Dan
Illuminating the Darkness
Because it is a parable and because Jesus is teaching about how God views things that get lost, who knows how long the younger of the two sons had dreamed about living beyond his means and certainly living free from the provision of his surroundings.
Such is humanity.
There is always the potential of 'grass is greener' type of living which has for many lead to some pretty remarkable decisions. Equally, and in too many instances this same view point has lead to more than one devastating outcome.
In this parable, widely known as 'The Prodigal Son', the young lad asks for an early withdraw of his inheritance and after a few days of the cash burning a hole in his tunic, sets off to a wild spending binge.
The word prodigal means extravagant or wasteful. You should take a minute and read up on this particular parable, and because Jesus is telling the story, it ends well.
The point?
NO MATTER HOW WASTEFUL YOU ARE - THERE'S ALWAYS MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM!
Now, you may not like that but you'll have to take it up with my boss - he's the one telling the story.
Are there consequences? Yes. Did people get hurt? Yes. Hopefully lesson learned. I say hopefully, because in the parable Jesus doesn't elaborate on whether the son learned a lesson from his extravagant and wasteful attitude about life. Nor does there exist in the content of the parable a guarantee his actions won't be repeated.
Now here is the distinct difference between us and God.
Too often, our love, support and welcoming back of the wayward is tied in part or in whole, to whether a lesson was learned and whether or not sufficient evidence exists that the wayward will be so no longer - as is demonstrated in the attitude of the older son.
Not God. He is neither one son or the other. He's the Father.
The reality, and again the point of the parable remains; while we knuckle-head our way through life, God is always at the ready ... He's always there.
Think about this for a minute. Slow your shutter speed down. Do you think God is in relationship with you in an effort for you to be better ... or for you to be the son or daughter He's always wanted?
I've got some life freeing news for you. He doesn't give a rip whether you get better or not. He just gives a rip about you.
Fast forward now to the 21st. century. What about parents?
So many parents are prodigal when it comes to the inheritance stored up for them in the right living of their families. Hell bent on spending their fortunes now, parents are wasting precious moments that won't soon be back.
What is our position towards these parents? Will we continue to serve around them in an effort to 'reach' their children? THEIR children?? And if we do, aren't we dangerously, if not outright saying, they're not worth our time or effort to reach them?
The father in the parable stood for his wasteful, extravagant son when no one else would. Not his friends, not his brother, not the people who hired him to feed the hogs - no one. Just a lone father standing his post.
I have to tell you. If you want to be effective in reaching others, particularly parents, you better be like the father Jesus talks about in the parable. You'll have to lay aside whether a lesson learned will yield a better result. And you'll need to retrain your calculations on what an outcome is.
You'll have to be prodigal yourself.
When everyone else gives up and goes home because it doesn't make any sense to wait ... you'll have to risk looking like the only one who is willing to 'waste' your time on the wayward parent.
Here's today's question; Am I willing to accept the point of the parable?
If you are, please find a parent and be the father - enjoy effectiveness!
Dan
Illuminating the Darkness
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Take a Hand
Continuing now with the whole idea that Parents, not children, are our most valuable asset.
An asset is; a useful and desirable thing or quality. So in the context of Webster's definition; what I'm saying here is that Parents, not children, are our most valuable, useful and desirable quality within the communities in which we all live and serve.
Recently on another pilgrimage to Florida and while riding public transportation, I heard the following recorded message over the loud speaker as we approached our destination; "Please gather your belongings and taking small children by the hand, watch your step as you disembark."
I thought to myself; "Who are you talking to?" Having no small children with me, I thought; "Should I take the hand of any small child?" Of course, taking the hand of the nearest small child would no doubt be met with stiff resistance from the relative or parent the child was actually with.
My guess is, the recorded message was talking to the parent or relative of the child. OK, so I thought; "Why would you need to tell a parent to take the hand of their own child?" Perhaps children have been left on the bus before ... I could see that happening.
As a matter of fact, I was on one of these buses earlier in which a child was really acting badly. I thought to myself; "You better watch yourself chica, the parent you're with could ignore the admonition to take your hand, and leave you for the driver to deal with."
But I digress.
Like I said last time, (Our Most Valuable Asset) I get it. I understand why we as a society feel compelled to marginalize Parents, even to the point where a recorded message on a bus feels compelled to manage parents whether they are mis-behaving or have ever mis-behaved.
I like the whole idea of taking a hand though. The notion that we are better when we're connected is not only good common sense, it's rooted in Biblical truth. Ecclesiastes chapter four talks about; 'two is better than one .." and ".. woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up."
The buddy system works. We learned the value of taking our neighbors hand in Kindergarten. As adults we do carry on this tried and true model of service and support. At Cherry Street Mission Ministries I see the community intersect around this whole idea every day.
The community of people who rally around the hungry, the hopeless, the addicted and homeless are offering a hand ... they are, you are, taking your neighbors hand. I love it.
What is important for us to acknowledge however, is we must not take the hand of someone who needs our help based on our prerequisite musings about whether they are worthy of our help. For example, if you take the hand of your neighbor who is strung out on heroin. You are doing so, knowing full well, that they made significant choices to be a drug addict. They certainly were not born a heroin addict.
However when it comes to mis-behaving parents, taking them by the hand doesn't seem to be our primary urge as a community. What seems to be our 'out of the gate' response is to take charge of their children or to even in small ways marginalize them to the point where they are nearly unrecognizable as a person of distinction.
I think what we learned in Kindergarten is all we really needed to learn; Take a Hand. Be a buddy. Don't let your neighbor stay on the ground, help him up.
Here's today's question; Am I willing to take the hand of the nearest Parent?"
Two is better than one. What you are having a difficulty doing alone, is better done anyway with the help of someone else.
The Community Briefing on the Philip Project is just around the corner on Tuesday, May 25th at 8:00 a.m. The Briefing will be at the newly forming South Toledo Community Center, which is the old First Lutheran Church building on the corner of Walbridge and Broadway in South Toledo.
For additional information or to register, please contact Liz Simon at lsimon@cherrystreetmission.org
Dan
Illuminating the Darkness
Friday, April 9, 2010
Our Most Valuable Asset
I get it. I want to start off by saying; I get it. As you read on, please refer back to my acknowledgment; I get it. I get the community think that got us here - did you hear? I get it!
The flyer that came across my desk that day was an invitation for an evening of rally and support for the youth of our community. There would be at this event, college admission people, career professionals, job developers, agencies encouraging volunteerism and a wide array of other professional competencies within our community - all assembling to reach our youth.
Sounds like a great idea - and it is.
It was the statement within the invitation though, that caught my attention. The statement was intended to be the rallying cry for all would be attenders. It was meant to raise awareness and solicit involvement;
Come out and support our communities most valuable asset, our youth.
I value the well known and oft told tale of the king who wanted a new robe for the annual parade. Long story short, the tailor assigned to the task convinced the king that the robe he made was the best robe any king had ever worn. By describing in explicit detail each thread, weave and color, he filled the kings mind with the splendor of the image he described - it was exactly what the king wanted to hear and wanted to see. The tailor carefully placed the robe on the king and stood him in front of the mirror. The king saw what the tailor was describing and it was exactly as he had imagined and hoped the robe would be.
The day of the parade the king was anxious to show his people the regal of his office by the robe he wore. As he paraded down main street, the townspeople all told the king what he wanted to hear; 'The robe was indeed beautiful', 'There has never been a more wonderful robe' they all said. It was the boy however, who only knew what his eyes told him and who was just crazy enough to say it out loud;
The king has no clothes!
Youth are NOT our most valuable asset - there I said it!
Presently, the 'youth parade' we've all been invited to is tantamount to the tailor in the story. Someone, somewhere in the past few decades stood the community in front of the mirror and wove in descriptive detail an image we all wanted to hear. My brothers and sisters brace yourself; on the topic of youth as our most valuable asset - we're naked as a jay-bird.
After years of repetitive community think, we have a ton of right people doing right things and for the right reasons regarding our youth. Unfortunately, as a community we are also completely going about it in all the wrong ways. The problem plaguing our youth has been correctly diagnosed; they're in trouble. But the 'tailor', or common held belief, has prescribed the wrong solution which is - let's focus on the youth. It makes sense; if the youth are in trouble, lets focus on the youth.
Like I said, I get it. I just don't accept it!
The right solution?? Seats and tray tables in the upright position please - brace yourself once again for impact;
It's parents! Parents are Our Most Valuable Asset.
More than home, more than family - it's parents. Presently in our society, parents in most cases and in reference to THEIR children, are talked to instead of talked with. They are often considered 'stake-holders' in THEIR children's education. Are too often thought of as a problem, rather than a solution regarding THEIR children, and ignored with prejudice rather than observed with distinction when it comes to THEIR children.
We have to change this. To be clear, I'm not talking about 'parenting' which focuses on what we want parents to do - I'm talking about focusing on the human being called parent.
Here's today's question; 'Isn't it time to fire the tailor?'
If you're interested in more, contact Liz at lsimon@cherrystreetmission.org and tell her you would like to sign up for the informational session I'm conducting on 'The Philip Project' scheduled for late May.
Dan
A Runner
The flyer that came across my desk that day was an invitation for an evening of rally and support for the youth of our community. There would be at this event, college admission people, career professionals, job developers, agencies encouraging volunteerism and a wide array of other professional competencies within our community - all assembling to reach our youth.
Sounds like a great idea - and it is.
It was the statement within the invitation though, that caught my attention. The statement was intended to be the rallying cry for all would be attenders. It was meant to raise awareness and solicit involvement;
Come out and support our communities most valuable asset, our youth.
I value the well known and oft told tale of the king who wanted a new robe for the annual parade. Long story short, the tailor assigned to the task convinced the king that the robe he made was the best robe any king had ever worn. By describing in explicit detail each thread, weave and color, he filled the kings mind with the splendor of the image he described - it was exactly what the king wanted to hear and wanted to see. The tailor carefully placed the robe on the king and stood him in front of the mirror. The king saw what the tailor was describing and it was exactly as he had imagined and hoped the robe would be.
The day of the parade the king was anxious to show his people the regal of his office by the robe he wore. As he paraded down main street, the townspeople all told the king what he wanted to hear; 'The robe was indeed beautiful', 'There has never been a more wonderful robe' they all said. It was the boy however, who only knew what his eyes told him and who was just crazy enough to say it out loud;
The king has no clothes!
Youth are NOT our most valuable asset - there I said it!
Presently, the 'youth parade' we've all been invited to is tantamount to the tailor in the story. Someone, somewhere in the past few decades stood the community in front of the mirror and wove in descriptive detail an image we all wanted to hear. My brothers and sisters brace yourself; on the topic of youth as our most valuable asset - we're naked as a jay-bird.
After years of repetitive community think, we have a ton of right people doing right things and for the right reasons regarding our youth. Unfortunately, as a community we are also completely going about it in all the wrong ways. The problem plaguing our youth has been correctly diagnosed; they're in trouble. But the 'tailor', or common held belief, has prescribed the wrong solution which is - let's focus on the youth. It makes sense; if the youth are in trouble, lets focus on the youth.
Like I said, I get it. I just don't accept it!
The right solution?? Seats and tray tables in the upright position please - brace yourself once again for impact;
It's parents! Parents are Our Most Valuable Asset.
More than home, more than family - it's parents. Presently in our society, parents in most cases and in reference to THEIR children, are talked to instead of talked with. They are often considered 'stake-holders' in THEIR children's education. Are too often thought of as a problem, rather than a solution regarding THEIR children, and ignored with prejudice rather than observed with distinction when it comes to THEIR children.
We have to change this. To be clear, I'm not talking about 'parenting' which focuses on what we want parents to do - I'm talking about focusing on the human being called parent.
Here's today's question; 'Isn't it time to fire the tailor?'
If you're interested in more, contact Liz at lsimon@cherrystreetmission.org and tell her you would like to sign up for the informational session I'm conducting on 'The Philip Project' scheduled for late May.
Dan
A Runner
Saturday, March 27, 2010
The Blind Spot
Amy, in our Development office at Cherry Street said the other day; 'I know this will end up in your blog'. When she said that, I was fairly certain it would not - but as in most things, Amy got it right.
The thing she got right?
On Thursday of this week, and in my car to go home for the evening, I drove right into a steel pole in the parking lot. While it was all of three feet of distance from park to crash, it caused considerable damage to the front of the car. The funny thing (funny boo-hoo, not funny ha-ha) is that I've driven AROUND that pole for nearly nine years. I acknowledged it's existence long ago and was aware of it's ability to be a steel pole.
By the way, the pole is fine. It just gave me a wink and kept standing.
In my case with the steel pole, as in most instances where barriers are concerned, most of us already have a good sense of where barriers are in our lives and have a reasonable appreciation for what they're capable of. However, not all barriers are that way. Some barriers show up in the most unusual places and at the most unexpected times, and some barriers are hidden deep within you.
A barrier is; 'Anything that restrains or obstructs progress or access; a limit or boundary of any kind'. The fact is, we all have them.
I was talking with a good friend of mine this week. A retired judge with considerable wisdom, we were debating terms and definitions of a project we're working on ... yes, I was debating terms and definitions with an attorney. Frankly when I'm in conversation with him I imagine myself sitting in front of a talking encyclopedia. The sheer wealth of information he holds is staggering and the joy of learning from him is one of my few delights.
But here's the problem.
As is with me and you, my friend's immense knowledge and body of work that accompanies that same knowledge has become a barrier. His objection in our debate took me by surprise. His barrier showed up in our conversation unexpectedly and in an unusual place in our relationship.
His long held view, though right in principle is wrong in practice as it stands in contrast to present day realities - in short, his vast experience on the bench and in practice have become an obstruction that may limit access or progress.
The good news is, he is working it out. He has been around long enough to acknowledge a barrier when he sees one, especially when it's with him.
Can you say the same thing? Are you able to see the barrier within you? Not so much the external barriers - like my steel pole, or the unexpected barriers like I found in the relationship with my friend, but the hidden barriers that are in you - the barriers in your blind spot.
Here's today's question; 'Are you, your own obstruction to access or progress?'
If we all have barriers, then we all have blind spots - for sure! But if you're not desperate in the right kind of way then you won't be able to navigate well around those barriers because 'blind spot barriers' need the subsidy of a trusted friend or ally.
In fact, you may have desperation right now but your desperation my be about the fact you keep hitting the same barrier - again, you're repeated crashing suggests its in your blind spot - you can't see it - you need someone else to help ... hello?
Desperation creates friction, friction creates traction and traction creates movement.
Get desperate about the right thing though. Be desperate enough to expose yourself to someone else who has a 'line of sight' to your barrier. Oh my friend its scary to allow someone else to provide specific navigation around your barriers. But the alternative is to continue allowing your future to look like your past. Without trusted companionship you'll keep running into the same barrier.
Wouldn't it be great when my car comes out of the shop this week, I don't drive into the same pole?
Dan
A Runner
The thing she got right?
On Thursday of this week, and in my car to go home for the evening, I drove right into a steel pole in the parking lot. While it was all of three feet of distance from park to crash, it caused considerable damage to the front of the car. The funny thing (funny boo-hoo, not funny ha-ha) is that I've driven AROUND that pole for nearly nine years. I acknowledged it's existence long ago and was aware of it's ability to be a steel pole.
By the way, the pole is fine. It just gave me a wink and kept standing.
In my case with the steel pole, as in most instances where barriers are concerned, most of us already have a good sense of where barriers are in our lives and have a reasonable appreciation for what they're capable of. However, not all barriers are that way. Some barriers show up in the most unusual places and at the most unexpected times, and some barriers are hidden deep within you.
A barrier is; 'Anything that restrains or obstructs progress or access; a limit or boundary of any kind'. The fact is, we all have them.
I was talking with a good friend of mine this week. A retired judge with considerable wisdom, we were debating terms and definitions of a project we're working on ... yes, I was debating terms and definitions with an attorney. Frankly when I'm in conversation with him I imagine myself sitting in front of a talking encyclopedia. The sheer wealth of information he holds is staggering and the joy of learning from him is one of my few delights.
But here's the problem.
As is with me and you, my friend's immense knowledge and body of work that accompanies that same knowledge has become a barrier. His objection in our debate took me by surprise. His barrier showed up in our conversation unexpectedly and in an unusual place in our relationship.
His long held view, though right in principle is wrong in practice as it stands in contrast to present day realities - in short, his vast experience on the bench and in practice have become an obstruction that may limit access or progress.
The good news is, he is working it out. He has been around long enough to acknowledge a barrier when he sees one, especially when it's with him.
Can you say the same thing? Are you able to see the barrier within you? Not so much the external barriers - like my steel pole, or the unexpected barriers like I found in the relationship with my friend, but the hidden barriers that are in you - the barriers in your blind spot.
Here's today's question; 'Are you, your own obstruction to access or progress?'
If we all have barriers, then we all have blind spots - for sure! But if you're not desperate in the right kind of way then you won't be able to navigate well around those barriers because 'blind spot barriers' need the subsidy of a trusted friend or ally.
In fact, you may have desperation right now but your desperation my be about the fact you keep hitting the same barrier - again, you're repeated crashing suggests its in your blind spot - you can't see it - you need someone else to help ... hello?
Desperation creates friction, friction creates traction and traction creates movement.
Get desperate about the right thing though. Be desperate enough to expose yourself to someone else who has a 'line of sight' to your barrier. Oh my friend its scary to allow someone else to provide specific navigation around your barriers. But the alternative is to continue allowing your future to look like your past. Without trusted companionship you'll keep running into the same barrier.
Wouldn't it be great when my car comes out of the shop this week, I don't drive into the same pole?
Dan
A Runner
Sunday, March 21, 2010
The Power of If
"God helps those who help themselves."
You can't find the word 'if' in this oft used phrase, but it's definitely an 'if' statement. I've heard people use this phrase as though it's in the Bible. Of course it's not in the Bible and as a matter of fact, it's not even a true statement about God. The whole idea that God will only help the helpful is not even in His nature. I think what's happened over time, as usual of course, is that people have taken what is true about them and made it true about God. We would do well to reverse the flow and have what is true about God be true about us.
Now that's not to say God isn't an 'if' God, because He is. In the search engine I use, there are 3,473 occurrences of the word 'if' in the King James Version and 3,522 occurrences in the New King James Version.
The word 'if' is a pivotal word for sure. It is the kind of word that puts pause, hope or doom in any statement. And therein lies the power of the word. 'IF' It's the ultimate conversational speed bump.
Not always is the word 'if' a speed bump, there are times even within the above mentioned occurrences that the word 'if' is used less dramatically as in the example of Noah in Genesis 8:8; "He also sent out from himself a dove, to see if the waters had receded from the face of the ground." However, even in this context the word 'if' is still pivotal in that Noah needed to know whether the water was still high or was it beginning to recede.
Think about it, without the word 'if' we wouldn't be able to frame or define consequence. The word 'if' is the fulcrum or tipping point in all our lives. The question that must be used when working with others, or even ourselves is; where will the tipping point be placed? Where you put the word 'if' in relationship is critical to how failure or success will be measured.
For example, the word 'if' introduced too early in the relationship can derail intention and placed too late in the relationship can weaken hope that anything will ever change.
IF is a powerful word.
Quoting part of a verse doesn't help either, as in; "I'm the head and not the tail." Partially quoted from the book of Deuteronomy chapter 28 verse 13, which in it's entirety says; "And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only and not beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them."
Spoiler Alert! You're not the head or above anything baby unless (if) you obey God and keep His commandments. IF you are an obeyer of God and a keeper of His commands - then quote on brother, I'm with you.
God has indeed placed 'if' in our relationship with Him and as a wise Father has measured 'if' for us in just the right places - not too early and not too late. He has placed the tipping points in all the right places. He loves us unconditionally and has forgiven us far more times than we've even forgiven ourselves - and yet has critically embedded 'if' so that we may know the boundary of our straight and narrow followership of Him ... now that's love. That's God!
Here's today's question, starting with yourself and then moving towards others; "Where is the critically placed 'if' in the conversation of relationships you're in"?
If the word 'if' is too early in the relationship, you're far to legalistic to be free enough to free others and if it's too late in the relationship, you're far to loose to be of any real service to those around you.
This is why I teach principle six in my Rescue Intensive; "Time is not a factor when you pursue the inevitable of God". When you take time off your wrist and build time into the person or relationship, then and only then will you know where the fulcrum or tipping point of the word 'if' belongs.
Dan
A Runner
You can't find the word 'if' in this oft used phrase, but it's definitely an 'if' statement. I've heard people use this phrase as though it's in the Bible. Of course it's not in the Bible and as a matter of fact, it's not even a true statement about God. The whole idea that God will only help the helpful is not even in His nature. I think what's happened over time, as usual of course, is that people have taken what is true about them and made it true about God. We would do well to reverse the flow and have what is true about God be true about us.
Now that's not to say God isn't an 'if' God, because He is. In the search engine I use, there are 3,473 occurrences of the word 'if' in the King James Version and 3,522 occurrences in the New King James Version.
The word 'if' is a pivotal word for sure. It is the kind of word that puts pause, hope or doom in any statement. And therein lies the power of the word. 'IF' It's the ultimate conversational speed bump.
Not always is the word 'if' a speed bump, there are times even within the above mentioned occurrences that the word 'if' is used less dramatically as in the example of Noah in Genesis 8:8; "He also sent out from himself a dove, to see if the waters had receded from the face of the ground." However, even in this context the word 'if' is still pivotal in that Noah needed to know whether the water was still high or was it beginning to recede.
Think about it, without the word 'if' we wouldn't be able to frame or define consequence. The word 'if' is the fulcrum or tipping point in all our lives. The question that must be used when working with others, or even ourselves is; where will the tipping point be placed? Where you put the word 'if' in relationship is critical to how failure or success will be measured.
For example, the word 'if' introduced too early in the relationship can derail intention and placed too late in the relationship can weaken hope that anything will ever change.
IF is a powerful word.
Quoting part of a verse doesn't help either, as in; "I'm the head and not the tail." Partially quoted from the book of Deuteronomy chapter 28 verse 13, which in it's entirety says; "And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only and not beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them."
Spoiler Alert! You're not the head or above anything baby unless (if) you obey God and keep His commandments. IF you are an obeyer of God and a keeper of His commands - then quote on brother, I'm with you.
God has indeed placed 'if' in our relationship with Him and as a wise Father has measured 'if' for us in just the right places - not too early and not too late. He has placed the tipping points in all the right places. He loves us unconditionally and has forgiven us far more times than we've even forgiven ourselves - and yet has critically embedded 'if' so that we may know the boundary of our straight and narrow followership of Him ... now that's love. That's God!
Here's today's question, starting with yourself and then moving towards others; "Where is the critically placed 'if' in the conversation of relationships you're in"?
If the word 'if' is too early in the relationship, you're far to legalistic to be free enough to free others and if it's too late in the relationship, you're far to loose to be of any real service to those around you.
This is why I teach principle six in my Rescue Intensive; "Time is not a factor when you pursue the inevitable of God". When you take time off your wrist and build time into the person or relationship, then and only then will you know where the fulcrum or tipping point of the word 'if' belongs.
Dan
A Runner
Saturday, February 6, 2010
The Speed of Solution
No matter what your observation based opinion has been regarding the folks from Idaho taking Haitian children over the border to the Dominican Republic, the speed they chose to serve Haiti, the children and parents of the village, was entirely unappreciated by the Haitian government.
Why is their decision to aid hurting children in an earthquake torn country being called into question? Their cause was noble. Their desire to help children admirable. So what's the complaint?
Well, according to Haitian officials - everything. The folks from Idaho didn't follow legal protocol required to remove children from their own country and unfortunately, when asked at the border where the children were from and how they came to be on the bus, the group deceived the authorities.
Frankly, the consultation I would have given to my well intentioned brothers and sisters from Idaho, would have been to sell all that you have and follow Jesus. I would have encouraged them to take the proceeds from the sale of their homes in Idaho and instead of removing the children from the village and from their parents, move into the village themselves and spending the rest of their lives improve the life of the village by serving the parents of the children and actively participating in something truly noble - village transformation.
There you go. The problem of poor children not being raised in a Christian home without a good education needed to have a better life is solved. Solved for generations of villagers to come.
It's hard to follow Jesus, that's why so few actually accomplish it. To follow Jesus requires everything and everything is often harsh. The rich young ruler faced the same harsh dilemma in the Gospel of Luke chapter 18 verses 18-23.
Here's today's question; 'Am I living toward God in such a way as to answer His imminent observation with an everything response?
Dan
Why is their decision to aid hurting children in an earthquake torn country being called into question? Their cause was noble. Their desire to help children admirable. So what's the complaint?
Well, according to Haitian officials - everything. The folks from Idaho didn't follow legal protocol required to remove children from their own country and unfortunately, when asked at the border where the children were from and how they came to be on the bus, the group deceived the authorities.
An old sharp-shooter term comes to mind; slow is smooth and smooth is fast.
A hurried rush to remove the children from danger and a swift effort to aid the Haitian children to a better future in the Dominican Republic did not end well for those who were caught up in the crisis. As a matter of fact, their swift response to the crisis of others resulted in a very slow quagmire of legal and international wrangling.
And therein lies the problem. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FIX AND SOLVE.
The speed of fix moves at the speed of the crisis, and crisis moves very quickly. For those of you who have been caught up in running after the crisis in someones life and have even from time to time successfully matched speed with the crisis - you just as quickly realized that the crisis has another speed and just as you were able to offer your fix, the crisis moved out in front of you once more.
Now that's exhaustion.
The speed of solution and unfortunately the speed less chosen, rejects legacy building, grand standing and one-up-manship. The speed of solution is much slower than anyone wants. But it is the right speed if we want to ultimately move faster. The speed of solution suggests the momentary relief of a problem through fixing it, is not valued over the arduous pursuit of lasting and sustained endurance.Frankly, the consultation I would have given to my well intentioned brothers and sisters from Idaho, would have been to sell all that you have and follow Jesus. I would have encouraged them to take the proceeds from the sale of their homes in Idaho and instead of removing the children from the village and from their parents, move into the village themselves and spending the rest of their lives improve the life of the village by serving the parents of the children and actively participating in something truly noble - village transformation.
There you go. The problem of poor children not being raised in a Christian home without a good education needed to have a better life is solved. Solved for generations of villagers to come.
It's hard to follow Jesus, that's why so few actually accomplish it. To follow Jesus requires everything and everything is often harsh. The rich young ruler faced the same harsh dilemma in the Gospel of Luke chapter 18 verses 18-23.
Here's today's question; 'Am I living toward God in such a way as to answer His imminent observation with an everything response?
Dan
Monday, February 1, 2010
A Brand-New Ending
For those of you who follow and/or forward my weekly blog, thank you for your patience as I intentionally took the month of January off.
One of the axioms of Cherry Street is; 'Rock bottom is a firm foundation from which to build'. Based on this, we who serve in this part of the river of the human condition have a rather developed belief system which allows us to have high comfortability creating and being in an environment of 'rock-bottom crashers' who are encouraged to get on with it .... and crash.
David, in Psalm 139 verse 8 wrote; 'If I go up to heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in hell, you are there.'
Now listen, many who follow God these days do not know - in the Biblical sense of knowing - what David is talking about here, nor have you embraced God's complete comfortability with us as He watches and waits for us at rock bottom.
In fact, many of us who have potential 'rock-bottom crashers' in our lives are trying to slow their rate of speed as we witness them spiraling out of control, while others of us try to cushion what we know is going to be a hard landing ... why?
God is there - are we?
Scottish Theologian Carl Bard once said; 'Though no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending.'
Frankly, its hard to start something new if you're still holding onto something old. It's as though we want for others what we know is not even possible for ourselves. Life has amply taught you by now that rock bottom, though harsh, was your salvation. It was there that you found God - I mean really found Him. You found Him waiting to bind the wound of your fall and solve the reason for your decline.
Here's today's question; Are you willing to risk standing where God is standing?
To stand at rock bottom is to stand at a brand-new ending. The Apostle Paul wrote in II Corinthians 5:17; 'Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.
We now live in a world who largely wants the new start without having a new ending. If you are to be an effective voice of rescue in 2010, learn the lesson of 'a brand-new ending'. Develop your relationship to God in such a way that those around you will know, really know Him, as the One who waits like no other at rock bottom.
As you do, you'll also be known for the same quality.
Dan
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