I Love You "This Much"

2 Corinthians 11:27 - I have labored and toiled and often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

Does this come to your mind when you do something for the church or your fellow brothers and sisters in the church? or when you do ministry? who can say what the apostle Paul says? Yes, we are not establishing a nascent religion. We are maintaining and working through what the original apostles and disciples laid out through the holy spirit. We do labor, we do toil, and we do lose some sleep. Maybe we eat bad food - like pizza, pizza, and pastries and lots of coffee - but I doubt any of us go hungry or parched like Paul. This is in no way diminishing our labor. We need to spend time with God to remind us how much He loves us. He is the reason we do what we do, in any vocation, and the ultimate expression of His love for us, through Jesus's sacrifice and resurrection, is powerful. Have a lovely weekend. See you soon.

Speculate

How are you doing? Are you still paying attention to the headlines? Not anything rosy so far...but that is the media, you grab people's attention with "doom and gloom", headlines that titillate sex, death, and of course, money. It is done so to make you keep watching so as to elicit a response - shock, revulson, amusement, or hopelessness. I suppose they want you to watch so they can get ratings to sell advertising slots but I think there is something more insidious. They want to change the way you behave and think and deny it as much as you can, I think they get to do so over time. I certainly think we are a hyper-activity society...everything on television to the Internet seeps with things that are not good for you. I am not advocating throwing out your television sets or your computers but merely to think about what you consume. What passes by your eyes and those of your friends and family. The more time we dive into other pursuits the less time we have to devote to what is good and right.

Psalm 145: 11-12 They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all men may know of your mighty ats and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Move On, Nothing to See Here

Living in New York City, don't you love driving? The wide open roads? Then the reasonable flow of traffic abruptly halts. There is nothing on the radio about a traffic delay on the road you are traveling. But after a few minutes of delay, you pass by and there is some traffic incident on the other side of the road that people want to slow down to take a peek. Isn't that also true with some of the news we read about - the latest meltdown with celebrities - Britney, Lindsay, Madonna, Tom Cruise, wall street villians - Madoff, Stanford, AIG, or politicians who forget to pay taxes and the sort of things that only apply to the "little people." Should we really care or get caught up in their antics? Should we spend time ruminating about their choices in life? If you want to see what is going on, seek out somewhere closer to home. See what you may be doing. See if you look at your friends, neighbors, colleauges, brothers and sisters in the same way, looking for flaws, sins, failings, and troubles without being part of the solution. Think about it the next time you slow down to see a "car crash" or a "train wreck"....let's move along people, nothing to see here.

I Thessalonians 4:11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business..

Drafting

The recent spate of warm weather has me thinking about outdoor fun in the sun in the months ahead. I want to go hit some golf balls, swim, and ride. The latter activity, if one races, which I do not, can be extremely exhausting. When I have occasion to watch speed cycling -- think the 1970's movie, Breaking Away, which some who are reading this were just a glimmer in their parents' eyes - or not even yet. yesshh...makes me feel old. Let's move on. While speed cycling, you can see it is about speed but also about strategy. The maneuvers. The darting in and out and between your opponents. On the longer stretches of road some employ a strategy of letting others lead. The strategy of staying among the leaders and staying within striking distance of victory. These riders will ride behind the leaders to catch a draft - let someone else cut through the wind - let someone else take the onslaught of the wind -- because it may seem inconsequential but having someone else cut through the wind and take the cumulative "punishment and wind force" helps conserve energy needed for the last leg of the race. Someone has already ridden in front of us. Someone has taken the punishment and given us the victory.

Matthew 9:2 "...Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."

Prom Dates

I should always be in a praiseful spirit. But more so now. We just went through an episode at work that was akin to a high school prom. A business plan competition is sort of like trying to find a good date for the biggest night of your high school life except that we sponsor the competition annually so it would be like going to a prom every year. So, as a senior in high school, you draw up a list of possible atractive dates. Then you put your plan in place - ask friends' opinions (judges), look at yearbooks or printed materials (preliminary background checks), and then you do more surveillance (observe lunch room habits, shadow them at the mall, movies, etc.) and speculate on the competition (who else am I competing with and who is in demand?). so far so good right? well what is missing her in this great strategy? Ahhh, criteria...then you have to eventually ask your prospective prom date out and get to "yes"! Well, we got to "yes" and then the date called back and said, not thanks, I am staying at home. Hmmm...so we were fortunate we did not tell the whole world who our date was so it was a blessing from God. It would have been embarassing, but not fatal...so, did you go to your prom? how did it work out? Let me know. Comment.

Psalm 84:1 How lovely is your dwelling plae, O Lord Almighty.

Words of Wisdom - Temporary?

From the NY Times - In just the seven months since the stock market began to plummet, the recession has aimed its death ray not just at the credit market, the Dow and Detroit, but at the very ethos of conspicuous consumption. Even those with a regular income are reassessing their spending habits, perhaps for the long term. They are shopping their closets, downscaling their vacations and holding off on trading in their cars. If the race to have the latest fashions and gadgets was like an endless, ever-faster video game, then someone has pushed the reset button.

“I think this economy was a good way to cure my compulsive shopping habit,” Maxine Frankel, 59, a high school teacher from Skokie, Ill., said as she longingly stroked a diaphanous black shawl at a shop in the nearby Chicago suburb of Glenview. “It’s kind of funny, but I feel much more satisfied with the things money can’t buy, like the well-being of my family. I’m just not seeking happiness from material things anymore.” To many, the adjustment feels less like a temporary, emergency response than a permanent recalibration, one they view in terms of ethics rather than expediency. “It’s kind of like we all went overboard,” said Ms. Taylor, 33. “And we’re trying to get back to where we should have been.”

We have been caught up in this lie of consumption and growth (great article in Sunday Times) regarding the ponzi scheme of consumption - how consumption led to growth and more growth led to more consumption -- exponentially.

2 Timothy 2:26...and they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Spring Forward to Action

Will the coming warm weather and official start of Spring in two weeks bring us a better economy or state of mind? The sun and the warmth over the weekend certainly was invigorating? Did you go out and have some fun even if you "lost" 1 hour of time? I took some hacks with my golf clubs, did some landscaping work, and relaxed afterwards with some lovely Chardonnay. Fun time. In Oswald Sanders' book, Spiritual Leadership, it talks about leaders who must make the most of their time. Citing Ephesians 5:16, he lays out the mathematical limits of your days (capacity) and focuses on utilitization. In our very distracting and technological progressive world, are we surprised that this generation is prone to being of short attention span? How do we alot our 16-18 hours when we are awake? I am guilty of being on Facebook more than I should...even Youtube...and as they used to say, "it is time I can never get back". Let's use the loss of 1 hour this weekend to spur us to spring ahead in better use of our time. Can you help me and help others?

Ephesians 5:15-16 Be very careful, then, how you live- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Something to Believe In

There was a song from the early 90's called Something to Believe In. It was full of cliches - fraudulent televangelist, emotionally scarred vietnam vet, unethical lawyer, and class division. The singer wants to believe in something. That something probably is something hopeful but you don't know. We live in a day where many people do believe. They believe in something. What is that something? Is it that this life is meaningless? or is it that this life is all there is? or we need to be believe that all people are "good"; do we worship sentimental feelings like "love"? nostalgia? There are many distractions, dilutions, derivatives out there even among the Faithful. But don't get me wrong, the Faithful can stumble, are certainly susceptible to all sins and temptations too. Paul instructs us to test those claims not for the sake of being a critic or theological know-it-all but to be sure of what we believe in and to be wary of those who make it easy for believers to live lives of comfort and convenience. By the way, if you want, the video of the song is on Youtube.com

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Love Watching It

I have been up late the last few nights for work and for play. Doing exciting things like looking for the next best not-for-profit, for-profit, and arts ventures from our own Christian community. I certainly have not spent more than 5 minutes watching the continuing economic correction or the overreaction by many companies and governments. Is it any wonder that people run to the theatres or entertainment to escape the bad news and to look for better things. This is why i will always be drawn to watching reruns of the Lord of the Rings - the Trilogy. I cannot help it. The series was magnificent the first time around. Few stories are as well written and timeless in relevance. The consequences of not standing up for and doing what is right. The power of friendship. The importance of each one of us in the grand scheme of life and our noble calling. A story of hope. If there was a time we needed this, it may be now. What are you watching and watching out for?

Isaiah 24:1-3;16 "See, the Lord is going to lay waste to the earth and devestate it..."; "From the ends of the earth we hear singing: "Glory to the Righteous One."

After Heaven, Then What?

Good morning. As we get older, we probably think about crossing the "finish line" more often. In our teens and twenties, we are immortal and pursuing our dreams. In our thirties we reflect on whether we are pursuing and living our dreams and start to mature a bit...some of us in our forties, well, we start to feel the consequences of the other generations. We start to think about and feel the aches and pains and the overall breaking down. Yes, break out the violins now before senility sets in!! No, I think about heaven more not because I fear or think I am near the finish line but because our eldest is in her first year of meaningful Children's church and is immersed in stories about Jesus and the Bible. She asked me about Heaven and wanting to see Jesus there. Then she said, 'daddy, after we go to heaven to see Jesus, do we come back home?' It is one of those incredibly precious yet difficult moments in life. It is great to know my little girl is learning about God and heaven at an early age. As an amateur theologian and parent in training, I could only muster a "we all get to stay with Jesus in heaven and that is wonderful, like a long vacation". But she still wants to come "home" after being with Jesus in heaven.

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

Daddy Day

Can you help me out? No, I don't need a dime. I need help. I thought I could do it all on my own. It has been a grueling 6 months, maybe longer. Not just work. It's more than that. How about you? Have you been beaten up a bit lately? No, not just financially, I mean it has been a grind at times. They say that ministry is a lonely job and especially so when you don't have "help". Thankfully, when I feel sorry for myself, I get bowled over by reminders of God's love and grace for me. Last night I was greeted by both my girls with big hugs. The icing on the cake, my eldest, who is as sensitive as she is sweet, said, 'Daddy, I love you.' Now she says that a lot. Well of course, we are the "universe" that both girls have known their entire lives. I sometimes weep when I remember that I justly deserve wrath but received grace. So, with those 4 words, God reminded me to have the same attitude toward him.

Luke 18:17 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.

Sexy and Greedy?

It only took a few days into this new blog to talk about 2 things sure to catch people's attention. I was prepared to write about something else on this cold wintry morning but on my way from the subway, I passed by two ads that made me "think". Both advertised warmer climates - and of course featured bikini-clad women. Proper context. So it goes that sex, like money, are wonderful things given to us by God the Father and anything God has created is certainly not unclean. What society and the sin of Man (and woman) has done is to make it "dirty" in its use and message. Sex is not a thing to "consume" and certainly not meant to be taken casually and neither is money. Both in the proper context - sex in a marriage and money being handled carefully in stewardship - is what God intended for us. As believers, in community, these are things we can talk about and work through the Biblical approaches for both. We know these are 2 important topics that we cannot and should not ignore.

Ephesians 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because they are improper for God's holy people.

Weather Report: Hidden Treasure

If you have not gone out yet, the streets are full of slush, snow, and slick so be careful. The snowflakes are still tickling your nose. Take heart! For in 3 weeks, it will be officially spring.

Yesterday at service, my pastor preached on Matthew 13:44-46 (see below). To me, the message spoke of how we should be so overwhelmed by the wonderful news of the kingdom of Heaven that we would sell all of our possessions just to lay claim to this new hidden treasure. How utterly useless and unworthy the "things" we have in comparison to that which is the eternity with God. These things are not just possessions, but traits, habits, and other "things" we bring with us before we know and live Christ in our hearts. The other part of the message is the cost of following Christ. We are to follow him to Calvary. To death. No loud glorious trumpets per se, no Hollywood ending, no parades down Broadway, certainly not for people like Bonhoeffer in Germany or Elliot in Ecuador. The impact, the courage, and the joy they had in "selling all their worldly possessions" just to secure that field.

Matthew:13:44-46 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.