Look out for falling bricks

Every once in a while something hits me like a ton of bricks. Sometimes I'm amazed at how slowly I figure things out...

I think I figured out another key difference between the Church that I now call home and the one that I grew up in.

Personal Relationship with God. In my past, that has always been one of those phrases that could spark a conversation in a flash (not unlike, "Praise Team", "Visitor Friendly" or "Home Bible Study"). People threw it around for different reasons... Some would throw it out there to show that they really understood what was important, others would cringe at it knowing that...others...would feast on such words chewing them up and spitting them out as some perversion.

It now occurs to me that in my past, I was encouraged to learn about God and develop my relationship with His Church and THAT would lead me to a closer relationship with God. As I studied scripture and discussed it with my Christian brothers and sisters I might mature as a Christian. My goal was to be considered a "mature Christian".

Only those that were busy with Church-work were growing...if you wanted to become more mature in the faith, mow the grass at the building, speak your mind at the business meeting, hang out at the office, be visible. I mean, how else does everyone else gauge your level of Christian maturity?

Now I think there's a better way. I know it may sound radical, but hear me out. I've seen it in action...

I am now seeing people walk into the Church building that already have a personal relationship with God. Their relationship with God does not depend on who they know, how much time they spend at the building, how many potlucks they attend, how well they sing...

They come to "Church" to enhance the relationship they already have! To combine their praise and adoration to God with others so that it might be more powerful and effective. They are not using "Church" as a sole means to get to God, they are participating in it to enrich a relationship they already have.

For me, that explains why I see people with very different backgrounds worshipping together, some are quiet and contemplative, others are active...raising their hands, clapping and even shouting, still others are in between. You see their "Church" has not defined who they are, but God has and how they (we) participate in worship to Him is expressed differently because the source of our faith is in Him, not brick and mortar, not the preacher, not peer pressure or our friends...HIM.

I'll keep looking up for the next set of bricks...

Cacophony

I've been distracted lately. I don't know if it's the old standard...stress or something else. I think it's something else...

Someday's it feels as if my mind and my heart are in a battle to determine where my energy is going to be spent. In the process, of course, they spend energy which is taken away from that which I finally decide to devote my time.

I know that part of it is the change in weather...it's officially spring here, but it feels much more like summer. I think there is something about each season that I really like and this one is no exception. There are so many things you can do in the summer...

But something else is going on inside of me. I mentioned this to a really good friend of mine a couple weeks ago and I basically said to him that more and more I am looking for a creative outlet. Now, I'm a pretty straight-forward kind of guy so this is a funny thing for me to say. I mean, in the past, I have left such things for others (you know, creative types - those that go to school and get..."Art" degrees) while I just got on with the real work - I mean, I AM the workhorse - the strong back.

In the past, I have always been the one everyone wanted around because I was "a strong back" and I just jumped in and started working and I worked and I worked and didn't make waves and just...well you know...worked. Lately, I find that I have a number of things to say from my heart and my heart is starting to sound like the little girl that keeps tugging at your shirt asking crazy questions.

"Why is the sky blue?", "Why did God give frogs green skin?" "What would happen if I ate 100 popsicles?", "Are you listening to me?", "Can we go to the park?", "I want to learn how to ride a bike, a really cool one with red handles and steamers.", "Are you listening to me?", "What would happen if flies blew up when you hit them?", "Hey, are you listening to me?", "Can I sing you a song?", "Hey, look at what I drew...it's an elephant with polka-dots", "ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?!?"

My heart is making a lot of noise and the sound is deafening, I have to figure out how to work through each day, listen to my head, listen to my heart and keep both of them happy.

Any ideas?

Rock Star

If Jesus walked the earth today would he be treated like a rock star?

OK, I know that seems like a strange question, but consider this. In this country (and others) we hold rock stars in highest regard.

We follow their every movement, memorize every verse they utter, sing their praises when they do something we like, get mad when they do something we don't. They are often followed by an entourage that either loves and adores them or just wants to be around when something happens (good or bad). They are usually loners that are often misunderstood but studied profusely. Most came from humble beginnings and emerged to household names.

Rock stars, we either love 'em or hate 'em. Either way we know who they are.

All of that sounds like someone else I know...Jesus.

He came from the humblest of beginnings, born in a stable from a family out of a little wide part in the road called Galilee. He proceeded to vex those around him with his talent to understand people and His Father's business. He eventually was followed by thousands that just wanted to see him, touch the hem of his clothes, feel a drop of his sweat as he walked by, hear what he had to say, or be there when he messed up...

Still, those closest to him still didn't really understand him and often argued about what he might say about this or that. Everywhere he went he had little privacy and had to seek it out (remember the boat?) , in fact at least 4 books were written specifically about him, the larger context of those is the biggest selling book of all time! He was loved by the masses and hated by those that had the most to lose.

There is at least one difference...when Jesus spoke, what he said was really worth listening to...in fact it's his words that have the power to save our lives.

Jesus,

he makes me want to get up and yell and jump up and down and
dance and scream his name until I have a headache and I lose my voice.

..just like at a concert from my favorite rock group...only a whole lot better.

I must be crazy... (wink)

"Friend"

Lately, our choir has been singing a song titled "Friend of God". It's a great song with a simple, powerful message..."I am a Friend of God...He calls me Friend".

One thing that I have noticed while singing this song and watching our director mouth the words as he directs us is...it's impossible to say the word FRIEND without smiling. I don't know what the origin of the word is but it seems logical. Try it for yourself, see if you can say the word friend and frown. Trust me, it's going to take some work.

When you call someone your friend or talk about a friend it should invoke good thoughts and feelings...and...make you smile.

The Trees

I have been lucky enough to live my entire life in a climate that has 4 distinct seasons. One of the things I always look forward to each year is that time when the trees literally explode over the course of a few weeks. They go from bare branches to shade-making green fireballs.

Just the other day, I took a break from working and walked around outside for a few minutes and I noticed it...again.

One leaf rubbing against another makes a sound so indiscernible that only a dog might hear it. But it has to make some sound because, when several thousand rub against each other at the same time when the wind is blowing through the trees it makes a very soothing sound...rustling.

Just think, you can't hear two, how about 10, 100, 200? It takes a lot of leaves to hear a tree rustle, but when it does...wow. However, if each leaf decided not to move and touch others then we wouldn't get to hear the rustling sound.

Isn't that true of life? My voice, my part in life might be small, but it's important to the rustling of the world.