She walked slumped over. Constantly leaning forward, her gait was unsure and her steps fragile. The obvious ravages of chronic pain was having it's perfect way in the way only pain can disrupt and disturb the simplest of tasks - like walking.
Like most people, regardless of issue, she was alone in a crowded room. It's not that people who are in observation of the obvious are uncaring or without feeling when confronted with the pain of another. Their reluctance is in the simplicity of not knowing what to do or say. So nothing is said ... and worse yet, done.
In any case, there she was. Out in public view, reminding passersby that all in life is not perfect. Being reminded they didn't know what to say or do last time, they scurry along to shop, to worship, to pray to fellowship - to love and be loved.
There was one though. There is always one.
One person in the crowd who having long ago breached their boiling point, is no longer able to tolerate the chronic and unchecked of life. There is always one who having reached this point of personal crisis has tooled themselves sufficiently to impact, to make a dent in the perfection of trouble.
I'm glad it was the jail breaking, rule ignoring, death defying, whip making, stereotype jacking, hope refreshing Jesus who happened to be there that day. Shining brightly in His divine intolerance.
Of course, the rule making, stereotype establishing, unwhipped and jailer robbing hopeless were angry - they're always angry. Hope deferred always makes the heart sick.
The single act of Jesus' addressing this women's condition through a miraculous, instantaneous healing in the temple that day stirred the pot the wrong way and He became vilified for not waiting for a more appropriate time and day.
My brothers and sisters if you're going to be intolerant, be intolerant in a ground breaking, risk taking, backlash rendering phenomenal kind of way. Be so intolerant to the injustices around you that you disturb even your best of friends.
Be the one.
Rise above the normal responses of ignoring the pain in you or around you simply because you know no other response. Cultivate the kind of response laid out so simply by your great example; Jesus.
I was that woman. Slumped and leaning forward. Walking, stumbling and painfully grinding out each step. Until one day, toiling under the weight of perfectly poor choices that had turned into the reality of harsh consequence - I had my own encounter with the divinely intolerant Jesus.
You were that woman. You may be that woman right now.
You can be straight to the crooked around you!
Here's today's question: 'Are you ready for the divinly intolerant Jesus?'
Making a dent,
Dan
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
The Culture of Things
Recently here in Toledo, and on the air waves of WSPD AM 1370, radio talk show host Brian Wilson said some extremely inappropriate remarks regarding Toledo Public School students while in the process of indicting the School system itself.
Here's what he said; "Certainly teaching little monkeys to peel bananas and so on and them learning to do it correctly on cue does not mean that they've learned everything except a funny parlor trick."
The monkey reference of course has outraged more than a few citizens in that no one prefers to have their children referenced as animals. Of course, the reference in the African American community means even more and is therefor more troubling.
Monkey's have long been a common racial references against the African American citizen. So of course there has been outrage and calls for apologies from Mr. Wilson and all manner of speech regarding boycotts of WSPD and so on.
Should there be outrage?
Certainly!
An elected official conducting a sidewalk meeting in her district in Tucson Arizona was critically wounded by an armed assailant a few weeks ago. The gunman left 6 dead and 15 wounded including Representative Gabby Giffords before being apprehended by others. Among the dead was a 9 year old girl.
Since then there has been much discourse through national and local media outlets regarding the tone of political rhetoric in the United States. The political 'right' is indicting the political 'left' for being too soft and the 'left' is indicting the 'right' for being to hard. The phrase vitriolic speech has been used again and again - by everyone about everyone.
Should there be outrage?
Certainly!
"Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never harm me." I sure wish this were a true statement - but it's not. In thirty years of service within the human condition I've not seen it.
I've not seen this statement true in the countless lives sitting across the table from me and I've not seen it personally. As a matter of fact, there have been times being the recipient of a tongue lashing I would have preferred the stick.
Words are very powerful. With words we can shape the destiny of our children, paint landscapes of imagination so vivid they become realities and with words we can forge new horizons of thought provoked innovation.
In the month of January two great orators are often remembered. Men who spoke in such a way that pricked the conscience of their generation - so powerful were the words they used, we remember them and point back to them to this very day.
Martin Luther King Jr. for his many speeches on justice for all regardless of color, which sparked a revolution and John Fitzgerald Kennedy for his inauguration speech that challenged a generation to do for their country.
Words are also an explanation. Words explain our culture and our belief system.
Words are powerful.
That's why, for me it's always amusing when those who speak perhaps out of turn or in a way that is harmful back-peddle when challenged or found out. It's amusing to think that a person can speak words- any words, and claim those same words have no meaning or have no power.
I always say; 'Brother, you can't talk yourself out of something you behaved yourself into.'
Jesus said as it is recorded in Matthew 12:36,37; "I can guarantee that on judgment day people will have to give an account of every careless word they say. By your words you will be declared innocent, or by your words you will be declared guilty."
All I'm saying is; words are powerful.
Here's today's question; 'What will you shape, paint, forge or explain today with your words?'
Each day God gives us new canvas. Clean, pristine and yearning for creation the new day sits there and stares at us waiting for our next move.
My prayer is that we who follow God will set aside paralysis born of indecision or fear and with careful word evoke innovation, shape the framework of hope for our generation and explain ourselves to a generation who is at watch.
Making a dent,
Dan
Here's what he said; "Certainly teaching little monkeys to peel bananas and so on and them learning to do it correctly on cue does not mean that they've learned everything except a funny parlor trick."
The monkey reference of course has outraged more than a few citizens in that no one prefers to have their children referenced as animals. Of course, the reference in the African American community means even more and is therefor more troubling.
Monkey's have long been a common racial references against the African American citizen. So of course there has been outrage and calls for apologies from Mr. Wilson and all manner of speech regarding boycotts of WSPD and so on.
Should there be outrage?
Certainly!
An elected official conducting a sidewalk meeting in her district in Tucson Arizona was critically wounded by an armed assailant a few weeks ago. The gunman left 6 dead and 15 wounded including Representative Gabby Giffords before being apprehended by others. Among the dead was a 9 year old girl.
Since then there has been much discourse through national and local media outlets regarding the tone of political rhetoric in the United States. The political 'right' is indicting the political 'left' for being too soft and the 'left' is indicting the 'right' for being to hard. The phrase vitriolic speech has been used again and again - by everyone about everyone.
Should there be outrage?
Certainly!
"Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never harm me." I sure wish this were a true statement - but it's not. In thirty years of service within the human condition I've not seen it.
I've not seen this statement true in the countless lives sitting across the table from me and I've not seen it personally. As a matter of fact, there have been times being the recipient of a tongue lashing I would have preferred the stick.
Words are very powerful. With words we can shape the destiny of our children, paint landscapes of imagination so vivid they become realities and with words we can forge new horizons of thought provoked innovation.
In the month of January two great orators are often remembered. Men who spoke in such a way that pricked the conscience of their generation - so powerful were the words they used, we remember them and point back to them to this very day.
Martin Luther King Jr. for his many speeches on justice for all regardless of color, which sparked a revolution and John Fitzgerald Kennedy for his inauguration speech that challenged a generation to do for their country.
Words are also an explanation. Words explain our culture and our belief system.
Words are powerful.
That's why, for me it's always amusing when those who speak perhaps out of turn or in a way that is harmful back-peddle when challenged or found out. It's amusing to think that a person can speak words- any words, and claim those same words have no meaning or have no power.
I always say; 'Brother, you can't talk yourself out of something you behaved yourself into.'
Jesus said as it is recorded in Matthew 12:36,37; "I can guarantee that on judgment day people will have to give an account of every careless word they say. By your words you will be declared innocent, or by your words you will be declared guilty."
All I'm saying is; words are powerful.
Here's today's question; 'What will you shape, paint, forge or explain today with your words?'
Each day God gives us new canvas. Clean, pristine and yearning for creation the new day sits there and stares at us waiting for our next move.
My prayer is that we who follow God will set aside paralysis born of indecision or fear and with careful word evoke innovation, shape the framework of hope for our generation and explain ourselves to a generation who is at watch.
Making a dent,
Dan
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Move along folks ...
It was watching the Wizard of Oz as a child that first grabbed my attention to the reality that life is more than it seems and certainly more than some want it to seem. I watched with interest as the 'wizard' said; "pay no attention to that man behind the curtain! The Great Oz has spoken!"
It's a good lesson at any age; there may be more than you see.
In marketing, some would believe that its not important to change people's minds about a product or idea but rather to change the truth about a product or idea. It works of course. By the way, for the discriminating thinker - yes, changing the truth is what most of us call a lie.
You've seen this in movies for example as a crowd gathers around some catastrophic mess on the sidewalk and authorities begin to rope off the area and say something like; move along folks, there's nothing to see here.'
Recently, I was approached by a gentlemen riding a bike who having successfully flagged me down in a parking lot, said he had just ran out of gas and would I help with a few bucks. Perhaps he hadn't thought this whole thing out properly.
The two images didn't match. The gas I get and the bike I get, but often folks don't carry bikes in their cars for gas emergencies - apparently the guy behind the curtain pulled a lever when he should have pushed a button.
But oh yes, carefully slowing the shutter speed of sight - there he is. Behind the carefully woven tapestry that has taken years to manufacture is someone who is desperate to appear larger than he is.
There's a lot of desperation associated with operating behind the curtain. Including the desperation to stop and the desperation to be known - truly known for who you really are.
I often say to the guests at Cherry Street; 'You can't talk yourself out of something you've behaved yourself into.'
Most people we encounter of course are wizards. Each one demanding in their own way for you to 'pay no attention to the man behind the curtain - the wizard has spoken!'
It's tiring you know. People are exhausted.
Even folks who are excited about their charade slip from time to time as you catch a glimpse of the who and the what. Quickly the cover up begins as they pull more levers and push more buttons to distract you from what or who you saw.
Moses struggled with this when he wore a veil to cover his face not so others wouldn't be blinded by his God-given glow, but rather so they couldn't see his glow was fading.
That's most of us though. Each one behind our own curtains pulling the levers and pushing the buttons that direct the image we project. It's our own way of saying; move along folks, there's nothing to see here.
But there is something to see - the question is, are we willing to see? More importantly have we taken the tedious steps necessary to ready ourselves to see?
From the day Jesus died on the cross to this very day, God is in the business of curtain ripping. He clearly determined on that day there no longer would be a separation between His great ability to heal the masses and the masses great need of Him.
And so Jesus came - the Great Curtain Ripper Himself.
This is why so many are in love with Jesus but don't like Him. We love the whole idea that He accepts us where we are but don't like Him because He threatens our carefully woven existence - our curtain.
We tell Him; 'move along Jesus, there's nothing to see here.'
Here's today's question; 'Are you ready for exposure?'
Your exposure:
You first. Allow the Great Curtain Ripper Jesus Christ to expose you. Ask Him to remove the carefully woven tapestry that disallows others to see you - the real you. The you Jesus loves. Acknowledge you were a button pushing, lever pulling wizard before you accepted Him and you've not lost your wizard ways. Ask Him to expose you - you'll be amazed by grace in new ways.
Others exposure:
Now you're ready. Because you've surrendered your cover up, you're now ready to see without hesitation what and who lies behind the curtain of others. They will see the true you and have new found or first found grace for what they too have carefully hidden from sight. They will see God and it will be amazing - for you and for them.
Making a dent,
Dan
It's a good lesson at any age; there may be more than you see.
In marketing, some would believe that its not important to change people's minds about a product or idea but rather to change the truth about a product or idea. It works of course. By the way, for the discriminating thinker - yes, changing the truth is what most of us call a lie.
You've seen this in movies for example as a crowd gathers around some catastrophic mess on the sidewalk and authorities begin to rope off the area and say something like; move along folks, there's nothing to see here.'
Recently, I was approached by a gentlemen riding a bike who having successfully flagged me down in a parking lot, said he had just ran out of gas and would I help with a few bucks. Perhaps he hadn't thought this whole thing out properly.
The two images didn't match. The gas I get and the bike I get, but often folks don't carry bikes in their cars for gas emergencies - apparently the guy behind the curtain pulled a lever when he should have pushed a button.
But oh yes, carefully slowing the shutter speed of sight - there he is. Behind the carefully woven tapestry that has taken years to manufacture is someone who is desperate to appear larger than he is.
There's a lot of desperation associated with operating behind the curtain. Including the desperation to stop and the desperation to be known - truly known for who you really are.
I often say to the guests at Cherry Street; 'You can't talk yourself out of something you've behaved yourself into.'
Most people we encounter of course are wizards. Each one demanding in their own way for you to 'pay no attention to the man behind the curtain - the wizard has spoken!'
It's tiring you know. People are exhausted.
Even folks who are excited about their charade slip from time to time as you catch a glimpse of the who and the what. Quickly the cover up begins as they pull more levers and push more buttons to distract you from what or who you saw.
Moses struggled with this when he wore a veil to cover his face not so others wouldn't be blinded by his God-given glow, but rather so they couldn't see his glow was fading.
That's most of us though. Each one behind our own curtains pulling the levers and pushing the buttons that direct the image we project. It's our own way of saying; move along folks, there's nothing to see here.
But there is something to see - the question is, are we willing to see? More importantly have we taken the tedious steps necessary to ready ourselves to see?
From the day Jesus died on the cross to this very day, God is in the business of curtain ripping. He clearly determined on that day there no longer would be a separation between His great ability to heal the masses and the masses great need of Him.
And so Jesus came - the Great Curtain Ripper Himself.
This is why so many are in love with Jesus but don't like Him. We love the whole idea that He accepts us where we are but don't like Him because He threatens our carefully woven existence - our curtain.
We tell Him; 'move along Jesus, there's nothing to see here.'
Here's today's question; 'Are you ready for exposure?'
Your exposure:
You first. Allow the Great Curtain Ripper Jesus Christ to expose you. Ask Him to remove the carefully woven tapestry that disallows others to see you - the real you. The you Jesus loves. Acknowledge you were a button pushing, lever pulling wizard before you accepted Him and you've not lost your wizard ways. Ask Him to expose you - you'll be amazed by grace in new ways.
Others exposure:
Now you're ready. Because you've surrendered your cover up, you're now ready to see without hesitation what and who lies behind the curtain of others. They will see the true you and have new found or first found grace for what they too have carefully hidden from sight. They will see God and it will be amazing - for you and for them.
Making a dent,
Dan
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