So Yesterday we went to the playground for a little swing and slide action. Always a good time. It was fairly uneventful but something pretty awe inspiring happened. As we were palying this other little girl came and joined us. She was a second grader so a little older then my 2 girls. Anyway they played together for about an hour, laughing, swinging and having a great time. The interesting thing is that the little girl was of a different ethnicity, different back ground and different neighborhood. She was not like my 2 girls but it totally did not matter. They just played together and loved it. They did not see the differences they just saw a friend that they could swng with and all was well with the world.
When do we loose that sense of freedom? Letting down our guards and enjoying the people around us , even if they are different. I sat in awe watching them play because I want to live my life the way they do on the playground. It was amazing, it was actually a glimpse of what the Kingdom of God looks like. I hope that we may always see the need to have friends and relationships that are way different from what is the norm. In fact perhaps it is time to redefine the norm to what it was like on the playground.. Where we all play and laugh and all of the things we think matter, Don't....
See you at the playground....
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
A thought about the Super Bowl...
We had a a super bowl party at church ..not really because apparently it is illegal so we didn't but had we have had one I might have been there. Maybe? Anyway after the fantastic halftime performance by Tom Petty I cam home and went to my neighbors house to watch the rest of the game. My neighbors are die hard Giants fans, they truly bleed blue and red all season and post season long. I have to admit I am a sports fan, I like spots, I watch sports , I listen to sports, I even from time to time play sports. I would call myself a sports fan. I am nothing compared to these guys, I have no understanding of what it means to be a fan. I felt as if I were a part of the game watching it with them, I did not really care who won and yet I was the most stressed out I had ever been in my life. I have never seen such pure joy and raw anguish in the same moments in my life. In fact after the Giants won another neighbor was congradulating the Giant fans on their win as if they had given birth to a child, it was one of the proudest moments in their collective lives. I have never seen anything like it, it was in many ways amazing and yet it raised an interesting question for me. If they can be that excited about a win in a football game why can I not be that excited when God is doing something amazing in someone's life.
When was the last time you saw to Christians exchange high fives and say God's team rocks. Or see a good chest bump when Jesus does a totally Jesus thing. I do not know if I have ever been so enthrawed with what God was doing my every breath revolved around that. Joy or agony for a healed or a broken world. I am just saying I know what the "Good news " is and not done a touchdown dance. Maybe we as a church are loosing people because we act as if the game does not really matter. We act as if the "good news" is just "ok news"... Seriously what are we doing... I don't know but I do not even like the Giants ( Go Skins)but after last night I have seen the light..or at least a glow. What glow are we proclaiming in our message, in the way we are living out Christ to the world. Sharing the most incredible message known to mankind.. God loves You and wants you to know that.. Go Giants..Now go and give someone a high five and tell them Jesus loves you...
When was the last time you saw to Christians exchange high fives and say God's team rocks. Or see a good chest bump when Jesus does a totally Jesus thing. I do not know if I have ever been so enthrawed with what God was doing my every breath revolved around that. Joy or agony for a healed or a broken world. I am just saying I know what the "Good news " is and not done a touchdown dance. Maybe we as a church are loosing people because we act as if the game does not really matter. We act as if the "good news" is just "ok news"... Seriously what are we doing... I don't know but I do not even like the Giants ( Go Skins)but after last night I have seen the light..or at least a glow. What glow are we proclaiming in our message, in the way we are living out Christ to the world. Sharing the most incredible message known to mankind.. God loves You and wants you to know that.. Go Giants..Now go and give someone a high five and tell them Jesus loves you...
Monday, January 14, 2008
Chic Fil-A VS McDonald's ( A battle of the ages)
Most everyone knows my affection I have for the Chic , I truly hold it close to my heart but I also love a good cheeseburger. And what I mean is thinly pieces of sliced onion, 2 pickles, processed cheese and the perfect combination of ketchup or catsup (depending where you live ) and mustard on a slightly toasted bun. It is mannah with an additional 1000 calories. Of course I am talking about a Mc Donald's cheeseburger.
Recently our family went to dinner at McD's and I got my usual ( 2 double cheeseburgers and a small fry) the girls ordred roughly the same thing. It took forever and the service was lousy. I am sure that I will continue to support the Golden Arches but what makes an experience at Chic Fil A so much better. Here is what I think:
1.At Chic Fil-a they say "My pleasure " see blog below
2.They get your food to you quickly
3.It is good.
4.Most importantly They are concerned about Chicken.
They do chicken strips, sanwhiches and nuggets all be it in different forms but chicken none the less. They do not do, Mc Ribs , nuggets, pancakes, Big Mac, Iced Coffee ( although I hear it is good) cheeseburgers and so on. It is so cloudy and confusing in fact I believe it shows up on the face of their employees. Chic Filet does Chicken and I would never go there for anything else but Chicken. They make it painfully simple. And they do what they do really well. There is no doubt you know what you are going to get.So now you are thinking so what, well here is the so what.
What if Church was that simple,and I mean what if we did one thing and did it really well, to the point that we became known for that one particular thing maybe in varying forms but all the same chicken. It seems to me that many churches and denominations try to become all things for all people, the problem is when you become all things are you really anything. When you are all things your focus is everywhere, your people are stressed and unclear about direction and no -one or at least only a select few really know what is happening. Service is slow and the mission is not really accomplished. A singular purpose in various form seems to me to be a better way to go. Maybe it means you go somewhere else for a cheeseburger but maybe that is ok because if that part of the body is doing what it ought to be doing that cheeseburger will be delicious, in fact you will proably tell your other cheeseburger eating friends, you have got to try this. The Church can do what it does really well.
A clairity in purpose to pin point percision allows you to know exactly where you are going or at least what you are aiming for. It allows you to make necessary steps to get there. Everyting you do gets you to where God is calling you to be, because as Andy Stanley sugests , it is about one thing what God is calling your particular church to in your particular setting and context.
I say this to say when I want Chicken I go to the Chic when I want a cheeseburge I head for the arches, maybe the Church ought to think more in that direction. Just a thought.
Recently our family went to dinner at McD's and I got my usual ( 2 double cheeseburgers and a small fry) the girls ordred roughly the same thing. It took forever and the service was lousy. I am sure that I will continue to support the Golden Arches but what makes an experience at Chic Fil A so much better. Here is what I think:
1.At Chic Fil-a they say "My pleasure " see blog below
2.They get your food to you quickly
3.It is good.
4.Most importantly They are concerned about Chicken.
They do chicken strips, sanwhiches and nuggets all be it in different forms but chicken none the less. They do not do, Mc Ribs , nuggets, pancakes, Big Mac, Iced Coffee ( although I hear it is good) cheeseburgers and so on. It is so cloudy and confusing in fact I believe it shows up on the face of their employees. Chic Filet does Chicken and I would never go there for anything else but Chicken. They make it painfully simple. And they do what they do really well. There is no doubt you know what you are going to get.So now you are thinking so what, well here is the so what.
What if Church was that simple,and I mean what if we did one thing and did it really well, to the point that we became known for that one particular thing maybe in varying forms but all the same chicken. It seems to me that many churches and denominations try to become all things for all people, the problem is when you become all things are you really anything. When you are all things your focus is everywhere, your people are stressed and unclear about direction and no -one or at least only a select few really know what is happening. Service is slow and the mission is not really accomplished. A singular purpose in various form seems to me to be a better way to go. Maybe it means you go somewhere else for a cheeseburger but maybe that is ok because if that part of the body is doing what it ought to be doing that cheeseburger will be delicious, in fact you will proably tell your other cheeseburger eating friends, you have got to try this. The Church can do what it does really well.
A clairity in purpose to pin point percision allows you to know exactly where you are going or at least what you are aiming for. It allows you to make necessary steps to get there. Everyting you do gets you to where God is calling you to be, because as Andy Stanley sugests , it is about one thing what God is calling your particular church to in your particular setting and context.
I say this to say when I want Chicken I go to the Chic when I want a cheeseburge I head for the arches, maybe the Church ought to think more in that direction. Just a thought.
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