I Love This…
The thought that someone discovered my blog yesterday because they might have been searching for posts stating that God won’t lead them definitely brings me joy.
The Place We’re In
You there. What are you doing where you are? How are you making a difference? How has life changed as a result of you being where you are?
There’s something very defining about the place we’re in. Have you ever thought about the scene of a car crash? Seconds before the wreck occurs, there was no scene. Once the wreck happened, there was a time, place and consequences.
It only takes a few seconds for things to change where you are, no matter how long there’s been a status quo. Maybe this should tell you that where you are and what you are doing will shape your future.
What will the outcome be about the place you’re in? What are you doing while you’re there? What will come out of your being there? How will your life change because of where you are?
We are nowhere by accident. Life is missional. Everything you do counts–how it counts is up to you.
Results May Vary
A recent event invitation I received on Facebook brought me back to an annual decision that has to be made among a college ministry leadership team. Here’s the deal: the ministry holds their large weekly gathering on the same night of the week a big Christian concert comes to town once a year. What to do, what to do . . .
I’ve seen and heard of how this scenario will play out with various solutions. The option I can picture being presented the most is to hold a shorter version of the weekly gathering, and go from there to the concert. There’s also going on with business as usual and giving people the choice of what they want to do, or just calling off the gathering and meeting at the concert. This year, the last choice prevailed in what has the potential of being a weighted decision-making process.
Seeing an invitation to join the ministry at the concert almost two years after graduating college brought back memories for me of the times I’ve been involved in the discussion on what to do on that particular night of the year. Honestly, there’s no wrong answer among the options.
What a learning and growing experience this is for the ministry’s student leadership team each year! It presents them with the opportunity to work together in coming to a consensus and moving forward with it. This year, the consensus was to hold off the gathering and everyone go to the concert. The details I read also showed me thought was put into what should be done for the people who can’t or don’t want to pay the admission. It was a great consensus that will leave very few to no people who would normally go to the gathering out in the cold (great job, team!).
Next year, the decision may be different. What happened this year may or may not be taken into consideration. The important thing is the team will once again work together on a solution, even though the results may vary.
The idea of having teams is to be a team. Everyone in the team has something to bring to the table. Every detail goes into the finished product. Hardly anything remains set in stone, but that’s not the point. A team should move forward with what it agrees is the best solution. When you’re working as a team, you can take on anything. There may be challenges to your decisions, but if you’re a team, you’re ready!
Misconceptions
The other night, I was in Atlanta, GA to watch some wrestling. While I was there, I came across some people who had my stereotypical wheels spinning.
One of these people was a street preacher. Technically, I guess he was a parking lot preacher, but you get the drift. He was across from Centennial Park, and I caught what I believe to be the end of his message. He presented the Gospel and was telling any listening ear what they could do in order to not go to Hell.
I also came across a couple of people in the city with plastic cups in their hands looking for spare change. Just change. No big speech or build up.
In both of these instances, I assumed the worst. What were the endgames of the preacher and the other men? Was one motivated by condemnation and the others by a need for a fix? Those were the judgments I rushed to.
What if I was wrong in both cases–what if the preacher was answering his call to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and the men were trying to get something to eat? What if I was right–what if the preacher was being condemning and the men were wanting money for drugs or alcohol?
In either case, these people are creations of God. In either case, something greater than the glimpses of them I saw motivated their actions. In either case, I’m called to respond with love.
It’s a horrible thought to think you’ll be associated with a preacher who is damning everyone who walks by or helping others damage themselves. However, you have something to offer these people: love. By loving them, you will never go wrong. By loving them, you are showing them the light of Jesus. By loving them, you are letting God take over–He can do more than your conceptions anytime.
Furniture Store and Place of Worship
I remember the first time I drove past the side of an IKEA on my way to Charlotte, NC. I saw a big, blue building with yellow letters on it, but I didn’t know much about it. Days later, I heard a friend get excited about going there on a Charlotte trip she was taking. It seems like I’ve heard about IKEA regularly since then; even seeing it in the movie (500) Days of Summer.
IKEA, you have my attention.
None of this made me really want to consider going. After all, it’s a bunch of furniture, and that’s not my idea of a trip destination. That was until I read this post on my Bible study leader’s blog last week. The post speaks of how exciting of a shopping experience IKEA is; even comparing it to Disney.
The night of my next Bible study, I asked what was so special about IKEA. I was then presented with all the wonders of going there. When you walk in, you’re given supplies to help you shop. There is a level that is nothing but showrooms–literal “rooms” simulating apartments, dorms, houses, etc.–and a second level where you do your actual shopping. There’s a restaurant, and since IKEA is Swedish, so is the food. I was told you can spend hours there. The furniture is sleek and contemporary, and the price ranges are pretty affordable. As if this didn’t do the trick, I was then handed an IKEA catalog to get a little taste for myself.
I want to go to IKEA now.
What I ultimately walked away with are thoughts on how I to share about my church with someone in a way that produces the same result as IKEA being shared with me. What do I say or do when telling someone about my church? Like IKEA, do people want to hear how big and modern it is? Should I tell them we brew fresh Guatemalan coffee; that when they walk in, they will be handed items to help them connect to the worship service?
While all of these things are part of creating a positive and memorable reaction upon arrival, I’m not sure that’s what people want to hear about when you’re sharing about your church. After all, they could just go to IKEA for most of what’s mentioned above.
People who are considering going to your church are looking for answers, and not a free donut. Tell them about what your church has meant to you. Share your story. Tell them about the lives you’ve seen changed. Share with them the things God is doing in your church. Help them become hopeful that where you worship is a place they may get their answers. Then feed them a donut and hand them a program once they’re there. Pray for them, excitedly share about where you go, and lead them to a place that may leave them saying, “I want to go to church Sunday.”
Take these things I’ve mentioned, and then go all “IKEA” with them.
The SarcMark: Asking My English Teacher
Dot + circle + swirl=sarcasm???
According to the folks at Sarcasm, Inc., that’s how you make the SarcMark.
You may have heard of the newest addition to the punctuation family last week, and at $1.99 per download, a way to express sarcasm is raking in some serious cash.
The SarcMark is gaining attention in news reports and across the ‘net. Allow Jimmy Kimmel’s stunt double to show you how it works:
How does the SarcMark favor in the writing world? Has its time finally come? I decided to ask my eighth grade English teacher, Mrs. Laurie Frazier:
Okay, Matt, I think the SarcMark is a really innovative!! Like the ad says, its time has come. When you want to ask a question, can’t you?? When you want to shout, you can shout!! I think this little mark has the potential to revamp our traditional system of punctuation. Let’s face it, language is an ever-evolving organism. It grows and changes as the human race progresses. Look at the word “nice.” According to Maria Boomhower at EZine.com, it used to be ”an insult and meant foolish or stupid in the 13th century,” but, of course, it now means “good and pleasing or thoughtful and kind.” Words like “cool” and “postal” have taken on a whole new meaning in the world of slang. Then new words have had to be invented to again keep up with humankind’s progress – words like “spyware,” “supersize,” and “manga.” So, it only stands to reason that if our language is “alive” and must continue to develop and grow, why shouldn’t our system of punctuation? I, for one, like the SarcMark so much that I decided to download it. If I feel like making a sarcastic remark, I want to make sure everyone knows it’s a sarcastic mark! No more misinterpretations or scratching of the head. The SarcMark makes it plain and simple and keeps no one guessing, even the geniuses (if I had the SarcMark, I’d put it right it here!).
Thank you, Mrs. Frazier! What do you think about the SarcMark, and is it worth $1.99 for people to get the hint?
Why Everywhere Matters
Whenever a tragic event like that in Haiti occurs, two sets of emotions seem to arise. Some people feel led to help out in any way they can. Others wonder why so much attention is being paid to another country when theirs has people in need. Why give money away to another nation? Why go and help them out in their time of need? Why have a telethon for them?
While I’m no expert in the answers to these questions from a government or celebrity perspective, I hope I can shed some light on the Biblical commandment to help other nations:
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’
–Matthew 28:16-20
Jesus wants us to go everywhere and share Him. When you look through the four gospels at the beginning of the New Testament–Matthew, Mark, Luke and John–you will see the ministry of Jesus Christ while He was here on Earth. He didn’t stay in one place, but traveled to many, and preached how to be with God for eternity. However, He didn’t stop at preaching. He healed people, spent time with them, ate with them and loved and cared for them. This work continued with His disciples in Acts:
‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’
–Acts 1:8
By saying His disciples will be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the Earth, Jesus means their homes, their regions, their nations and beyond. This call was answered as His disciples spread past where they lived to share Jesus with others and to meet their needs.
This is why everywhere matters–be it Haiti or outside your door. We do need to meet the needs of the people of our nation. That has been true and always will be. Celebrity telethons were there post-9/11 and post-Katrina. They were there for Haiti, too. Praise God they were, as the influence of these people raised money in a couple of hours that would’ve taken weeks to be received otherwise.
We need to be there for everyone. Maybe the relief efforts of Haiti have brought forth places locally and nationally you would like to help out citizens of your country. That’s great. They need you. The best thing to do is respond as you are called. You don’t pick up a phone and say, “hello?” before it rings. The world is a global effort, and the best way to find out what actions you should take is to seek the counsel of God. He is the hope we all need.
Thanks for Stopping By
Word Up
- John 14:16-17And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
What Gets You Talking?
About a year ago, I was looking into making the switch from cable to satellite. This left me having to choose between the two main companies as to where do my dishing. I did web searches to read up on both, but was realizing there was a balance in reviews. Then, I updated my Facebook status to see what my friends thought. About an hour later, I had a healthy amount of opinions to choose from.
Weighing in on which satellite company was the better choice is something that plenty of people were interested in weighing in on. At least I think they were interested because they left comments. I can think of plenty of times I’ve had an opinion about something in question, but didn’t really feel passionate enough about it to speak up. Ah, there’s that “p-word.”
Do you ever notice that? We engage in things we’re passionate about. If you ever want to know what that is, take a look at what gets you talking. Our passions are a big part of everything we do. My friends didn’t only tell me ‘Company X’ or ‘Company Y,’ they went into what they liked about their dishes of choice. For some it was the football options. For others it was the price. For me, I ended up having trees in the way, so it didn’t matter in the end anyway.
What gets you talking? If you’re someone who would very rarely or never calls into a radio station to share your opinion or offer some advice, what would be the thing to make you dial the number? If you’re not big on promoting brands you use or wear, what are the ones that make you look past that in an effort to engage others in them? What are your everyday passions? What do they say about you?
How about your relationship with God? What gets you talking there? How are you sharing this relationship with others?