True Equality

Probably one of the last places in this country where people cannot get over by who they know, where they live, how much money they have, or what kind of car they drive, is the Drivers license office.

Today I sat and was amazed at the different people who came through that office. Rich, poor, black, white, brown, yellow, young, old...They all were there. And no matter who they were before they came in that office, they, we, were all reduced to a number when we sat down.

next to me was a man from India, or someplace who smelled like BO, or strong onions. On the otherside was a wanna be rapper. Across from me was a nicely dressed woman and her preppie son. A Spanish man and his wife sat quietly main g no eye contact with anyone. An old man was talking to any one who would listen. We were all brought together for a moment in time for the same purpose. Driving.

I thought about all my years as a minister and professional Christian. Each Sunday and Wed I was with so many different types of people, but mostly the same color, for a purpose. But then I realized how many times I had come to church with my own agenda. Sucking up to certain people to get something, playing the game. Then I realized that if I had done this, others must have to. Thinking the agenda was the same, but now understanding that most of the time I had come not to see Jesus, but to fulfill a certain duty or get something for my self.

every body there today was there to get or fix their driving priveledges. All I needed to do was change the address on mine, but the same was true.

Salvation is a common need for all people. Color, creed, standing in the community does not matter. Today was a big deal for me. All my life I have gone to churches with white bread middle class people. No color in the crowd but blue...(hair) if we are all as believers going to worship around the throne of God, why not get a jump on that?

My thinking has been challenged. Just by getting my drivers license changed.

what is it going to take for us all to wake up to the inclusiveness of the Gospel?

Same old song and dance

His world is falling down around him. His wife has had enough of constant drinking and neglect. He will not see his kids each day. She is packing up and moving and he is not on the packing list.

His name is Mike. He works with me. His heart is broken. He has realized the err of his ways, possibly to late.

Oddly, I believe it is part of my calling to minister to him. I am al to familiar with the situation. I have walked this road before. I have known the pain of separation, the hurt of loss, the lack of desire to go forward.

I am asking you who read to pray for Mike. Not for the return of what he has lost, but an open heart for Jesus to save him.

and for me as I minister grace to his hurting heart.

thanks

Cuban cigars

I read an article about a youth group that ministered in an inner city. Good stuff. It is cool to hear of a youth guy who has missions and actually sharing the Gospel as a priority. Funny though, so many youth groups are expected to do that...But so many pastors go a year and never share the Gospel.

The article mentioned this phrase..."When God shows up."

no knock on the writer, cause I have used this phrase many times, as have many others. But as I read, I was reminded of David. "Where can I go from Your presence?"
Truth is, it is not God who shows up, it is us. He is already there...Preparing, moving, loving, healing and saving. We just get to see it happen.

I had a conversation with a true thinker today. A man who is not satisfied with milk toast faith. These men are not many in numbers. Most of us (me too) are not interested in the real emphasis of being a people of God, we just want blessings personally. Corperately, as a people of God we are brain dead. But, after all God loves you...And that includes your mind. I long for the day when I can love Him with all that I am, including the mind that seems to be filled with stuff that will make MY life better...Protect MY family...Keep Me from hardships...Give ME a good day. You get the picture.

This week, there will continue to be more arguing and trash talking about something that has not yet happened than concern about lost souls. I wish we as a people of God would be more concerned about those who live and die with out Jesus than a supreme court nominee. Hey...Is that you in that political picture? Or is that you at visitation? Or maybe that is you at the shelter...

I have learned more about relaxation by being at a minor league ball game than from anything I have done.

it is possible we have now become what fear most? Ineffective? Irrelevant? I was such a huge advocate of technology in ministry, yet now I fear that I may have tried to create an atmosphere of eye candy rather than give Scripture it's place...

Billy Graham is a democrat! HAHAHAHA!!! That messed up a large number of right winger evangelical. Funny...Could Jesus really not be republican? Will the heavens split open and the waters dry up? Stay tuned...Clinton is a Southern Baptist...Just goes to show ya. Politics and religion. You never know.

Why is it that all these so called prophets and televangelists claim to have the answers to health, success and happiness, yet, they sell their wares? If it will really change our lives...As a believer, shouldn't it be free??? Why is there no faith healers in the emergency room? And why, someone please tell me why do they have the combover? Can't Jesus heal that???

I took a look back today. If I were to die tonight, I am content with my life. coulda done more, said more, but I have loved deeply, been loved passionately and have had the opportunity to do what I love. My life is good. My wife is a wonder, my kids are grown and know Jesus, and I have grandchildren. Smoked a Cuban cigar, tasted some fine brew, tasted great food, seen many magnificent places on His creation and have been blessed with some great friends. From this point on...Every thing else is gravy. Thanks for this life Lord.

Billy Graham and Las Vegas

"What happens here, stays here."

Seems like a good slogan to build an advertising push. After all, why not offer what every one wants anyway? A chance to get away from the responsibilities of life, the job, the family, and just go some where and party like you really want to...With the realization that when it is over, it is over. No guilt, no remorse, no problem.

deep down, most of us want that. A place to let it out and not worry about the whispers of someone who may have seen us in a bar, walking into a nudie joint, or being seen with some one other than our spouse.

Enter Vegas. A place where your sinful desires can be realized and when it is over...It all stays there.

actually, a lot of that is happening at home...But there is that whisper thing when we go to church.

I watched an interview with Billy Graham last week. It made me sad. The last of a dying breed. A generation that will be soon forgotten. After all...He is not post modern.

I was sad because of his simple message. "God loves you." somewhere along the line, that was not enough for me, or for many of those emergent types I ran with. Somewhere along the line, we figured we needed more...It could not be as simple as love...Could it?

The simple, faithful, honest life of integrity this man led is an inspiration for me. God gave him a message to deliver and he did his part.

Today, many religious types believe God is going to use politics to change the world. Many demand a seat in the political arena simply because they are Christians. That is ok I guess. God wants you to have political representation. It just does not have the same ring as God loves you.

The life long pursuit of a simple Gospel delivery. Offering man the love of a God who created him and reminding him of the result of death with out that God. I never saw him preach in person. But I remember as a kid, my dad would have us all sit down and watch every night of every crusade that was on TV.

What happens in Vegas never stays in Vegas. We know that. We cannot hide from our sin, just like we cannot hide from the pursuing love of a Creator who killed His own Son that we may know Him. Billy Graham has been seen by more people in person than any man alive...and he told them all God loves them.

Here's to ya Billy! Thanks for being a model of life and faithfulness. If we do not see each other in this life...See you at the feast!

HARDCORE? Or just soft shell?

I was in Home Depot today buying some stuff. There was a man in front of me in line with a ball cap on that read "Hardcore Christian."
I wanted to ask him what it meant, but he was gone to quickly.

so, as usual, I pondered the word...Hardcore.

I have heard the word to describe several things over the years, such as:

Porn
Music
Hunting
Football
Bodybuilding
4 wheeling
Skating
Drug use
and last but not least, now, Christianity.

so what is the line between Christian and hardcore Christian? It seems to me that we get a kick out of adding adjectives to the word Christian, which was given by pagans to begin with, just to make our faith more cool, or mainstream, more vibrant.

Christianity, real Christianity is already hardcore, already radical, already simple, already freakish, already, WWJD, already wide open, already out of the norm. Why do we find it necessary to add adjectives to something already completely outrageous?

I saw a T-shirt from a camp a few years ago that read "extremely saved." is there any other form of Salvation?

using words that are used to describe porn and sports and other things really makes no sense to me. Jesus was the biggest freak and radical rebel who ever lived. But we want to put sandals and a cross necklace on Him, give Him blonde hair and blue eyes and forget words like "eat my flesh" and "take up your cross." and what every you do, do not mention anything about "bearing fruit" or being "cut down and cast into the fire." I call this guy "Mullet Jesus."

but, as usual, we Americanize things. "Normal" Christianity does not seem Hardcore, nor does it seem radical. That is why each summer, youth camps come out with these words that offer a different kind of faith, better, stronger, more real than what the students see at their churches and sadly in their homes.

this is harsh, but if we would back up a bit and analyze the situation, we would see the problem.

we have dumbed down the faith in such a way as to allow the money changers an opportunity to cash in on our lack of vitality and fervor.

Was Jesus radical? Was Jesus hardcore? Most would say yes. And if you compare the words of Jesus to what we hear today, His words are still that way.

so how do we explain to youth, and adults for that matter, why we never adopted Jesus radical and hardcore ways.

Jesus should not be thought of today as a radical, but the beginning of a radical movement. Christianity today should not be thought of as hardcore, but merely the continuation of a hardcore way of life that was introduced 2000 years ago.

but because we have settled for a less than way of life, Christians need to be reminded that we are hardcore and radical...By wearing hats, t-shirts and bumper stickers. This way, people can read it and we don't have to say anything.

no doubt this will anger a few. It hit a nerve with me. But hard core Faith is more than a membership. More than a slogan. It looks more like someone taking food to the homeless, selling everything and moving to the mission field, helping someone who we are less likely to help, getting our hands dirty when we don't want to, going out of our way to make the unlikely feel loved.

I look for opportunities like that more than I used to. I used to be stuck up and full of my self. Using service opportunities to pat myself on the back, lift myself up in my own eyes. Pride has brought me to my knees. It has not been a pleasant journey.

I think it was James who said something about true religion and orphans and widows and prisoners. If we focused more on the "poor" Jesus read about in Isaiah and less about the people of status so we can keep our buildings open...We might have a revival in this country.

"The least we can do", as I remember hearing a friend say, "is what Paul did. He gave his life for his faith." somewhere along the line, it turned into a choice. I can see the signs now...

Hardcore to the left, this line will include missionaries, and those willing to loose it all to gain it all, but the road will be hard, you will see Jesus as most do not, and it will be a difficult road. Softshells to the right, this line will include those who want a relationship with Jesus, but are not really interested in Him changing much, only offering success and comfort. We have room for both...No pushing please...There is plenty of room.

I fear I may have chosen one while wanting the other.