Death

I didn't decide to be a pastor.  

It just happened.

I'm not sure when it

became part of my identity

but it did

Now, after all these years,

I can't imagine any other

career

But there are parts

of this job

that I never anticipated

Tasks I've always dreaded

Painful days

Difficult words

Tear filled moments

For you see

in my job

death is part

of my work

Today I will

be part of a memorial

for a member of

our church, a friend

It's always hard

because

we avoid death

we don't want to deal 

with it

think about it

experience it

but

we all

WILL

And so

today

once more

I will

be part of the story

of one who 

died

Family and friends will gather

tears will be shed

laughter will happen

but will feel odd and uncomfortable

Memories will be shared

hugs exchanged

And then

tomorrow

we

all go back to our "normal" lives

and as quickly as possible

put death out of our minds

But we will each meet our end

we each will face death

we each will come to the end of our days

And then we will meet God

The question today is this-

Will you meet him as Father

or

as judge?

It's your choice

Death will find you one day and the very next

thing on your calendar will be

your appointment

with God

Are you ready?

It's your choice

It's your choice

You get to make it each morning

Each moment

In each event of life

You get to choose

whether you will be 

happy,

angry,

grumpy,

mean or

at peace

It's your choice

You need to know

that the choices

you make soon

become habits

soon become YOU

It doesn't take long

It's not hard to do

It only takes a few choices

to imbed

happy,

grumpy

or 

angry

into your face

and heart

It's your choice

But know each choice

forms you

molds you

into

the YOU

you will be in 

20 years

Choose happy!

Creating an upside down, inside out world

These are words from the master of how to live in a world of broken and hurting people. In these simple instructions he turns everything upside down, inside out and offers us a vision of life that would change the world. I wonder...what would happen if a few of us tried it? What would happen if you really lived them out?  Why don’t we try it and see….

“To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, gift-wrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously. Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that. I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind. Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”  -Jesus

What can I do?

In days like this I ask simple questions.  

I ask myself, "What can I do?"  What can one person do that will make a difference?  I know many are going to Facebook and other social media to proclaim the solutions we all must believe, but that really solves nothing!

So what can I do?  In my world, in the place God has put me, what can I do?  As I think about that it becomes rather simple...at least it seemed simple as I worked through these thoughts at 4AM this morning.  I can do one thing well, but it demands I do something else first.

Jesus described it this way when asked what is the most important thing to do.  He made the one thing into two because you can't do the second until you do the first. Here are his two things that will change the world-  1. Love God, and 2. Love others.

Some will tell me they can love others without God, but Jesus would tell them you can't even understand loving others correctly until you love God first!  Love for others must flow out of a love for God. It's the overflow of loving and being loved by the God who made you.

Only after you have done the first can you do the second well.  And, to be honest, we are loving one another badly these days. I could outline the list of things we aren't doing, but that would only produce more guilt and I'm sure you have enough to deal with. Instead, let me suggest you daily pray a simple prayer and begin to live out the results of it in your world.

Here it is-  Lord, help me to love you with all my heart, soul and will.  Show me your love for me as well. I need that!  And would you give me someone each day to love as you have loved me.

It means a phone call to a lonely person, a meal for a homeless person, a kind word for a weary waitress, it means a smile for a mom dealing with kids out of control.  It means seeing others with the eyes of love.

What can I do?  I can love others.  So can you.

Today's bumper sticker

On my drive back to church this afternoon I saw this bumper sticker on the car in front of me.

It made me wonder.....

....how do they know that?

Normality

"Normality for a human being is when God can be seen by anything and everything which that person does and says and is." -Major Ian Thomas

Thoughts on a Wednesday morning

I must admit I'm finding it hard to write these days.  My thoughts wander and I struggle to find my passions.  Before I began these thoughts this morning I stopped by Facebook.  It seems thoughtful discussions, photos of babies and stories of good things are gone. Now all I read are words of fear, anger, hatred. What happened?  Were those thoughts and feelings always there and just now erupting?  I think that is probably the truth of it.  In days past these were thoughts reserved for a personal journal, but now they are vomited on Facebook for the world to read.  I do wish the false words of "we must love one another" were really lived out, but I fear few even know what that would look like in our day today.  What would it look like for me to love well? It sure wouldn't include angry words or thoughts that cause fear. It would be an intentional desire to encourage, help and support others.  But I find that in few places in our culture.  It seems we use the words "love one another" but have no idea what that looks like lived out.  It makes me reflect on Jesus' profound question,  "When the son of man returns will he find faith on the earth?"  It seems we are quickly losing the very threads that have woven us together as a human race!  With fear dominating our culture love and faith fade.  Next stop?  Anarchy.  I guess it's time for more prayer.  May I be one person who looks for ways to love and care for others well. May I, as Paul invited us all, be an imitator of Christ and walk in love.

Once upon a time

Once upon a time

in days

distant future

I woke

to realize

the world had changed

In 2017 I never imagined

it would be so

wonderful

We talked about these

days back then

but

we had no idea

How could we?

But now

here we are

in this amazing

time

this amazing eternity

Long ago we stopped

counting days

and years

days and nights

Long ago we stopped

dealing with 

pain

sickness

sorrow and death

Hospitals are gone

we don't need them

Police don't exist anymore

They aren't necessary

Everything is so different

so amazing

so peaceful

People stop on

the sidewalk to visit

and linger

for an hour

There's no hurry

No watches anymore

No need for a schedule

a calendar

So much has changed

So much of what we needed

in the old days was

needed to deal with

the results of sin

But now

that's all gone

Now sin

sickness

tears

sorrow

pain

and death

are distant memories

Most of us can't even remember

those days

It's as if the pain and tears of the past

The sorrows and grief

of bitter days

bad decisions

broken promises

are all gone

As if they have all been wiped away

Now

we know one another

we care for one another

no need for jealousy

competition

fame

money

success

All that is gone

and

none of us miss it at all

Now

our dreams

of

Once upon a time

have all come true

Now

the fairy tale

of the old days is

the reality 

of eternity

Now

it is

as it

was always meant to

be

and it's wonderful!

The great adventure

Life is an amazing adventure. I often feel I'm in a situation much like this photo....walking a tightrope, risking it all, to simply get through the day.

..................

But to be honest, in my attempts to survive the day, I often miss the beauty around me....all that God is doing, all that he has made. I miss it all because I'm just trying to keep my balance and not fall. How can you enjoy all that God is doing when you're just trying to keep your balance? I think the thing I will regret when life is over is that I have focused so much on not falling I miss the wonderful view and amazing adventure.

.....................

I think this is the reality in many lives as I talk to people. They are just trying not to fall off the tightrope they are walking with work, kids, soccer, church, family time, homework, e-mails......and the list goes on. How much we miss when our focus is on keeping our balance.

..............

But then something happens...the rope is cut:

................

The company downsizes and we are laid off.

..................

Our mate gets sick and we spend the days in hospital.

............

A child rebels and suddenly we feel as if we are falling,

.........

and all our attempts at balance are suddenly meaningless in the light of the present crisis. The truth is that in those moments we most try to avoid we often find a new passion for God, a fresh relationship with him because we can no longer depend on ourselves, we can't do it without him...we need HIM. Once you find yourself at this time in life realize you are about to experience a portion of the great adventure.....you will discover that you wouldn't trade those difficult times for anything because it's in those moments that you find an intimacy in your walk with God.....you will begin to experience the great adventure we will be part of for eternity.