And I Thought I Was Alone...

What am I referring to? I'm referring to Christians who "can't find a church". Why? Oh, there are lots of reasons. Perhaps they're looking for a church that will meet all their needs. Or maybe they're tired of "all the hypocrites" and don't want to associate themselves with that group of people anymore. Then there are the people who can't seem to get over the fact that "so and so" (who really should have known better) hurt their feelings...whether it was two weeks ago, two years ago or 20 years ago. You fill in the blanks.

I can relate. Two years ago, when I was experiencing conflicting emotions over this very subject, I came to the realization that I needed to stop looking at people and start looking at God. The fact is, it is highly unlikely that whatever hurt you is encouraged in the Bible. BTW, I'm not talking about people who take things out of context...or throw their own spin on things. I remember, years ago, a pastor told me to be sure to refrain from taking his word as gospel. He reminded me and others that he is just a human being that is susceptible to human error just like anybody else...so to please make sure we run anything he says by what God in the Bible says.

Alas, you will have a difficult time doing that if you don't know your Bible. I'm not talking major theological issues, here. I'm referring to simple things like "Love the Lord your God with all your heart,mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself". God teaches us to be loving, kind, gentle, patient, etc. Chances are, you were hurt by someone who didn't display those characteristics...but since they were "religious" you associated those actions as "church" related - not because it was biblical but because someone in the church acted in a way they may have thought was correct...but it really wasn't. Just run it by what God teaches.

But people are people...and they're everywhere. Churches,work,restaurants,movies...everywhere. And what's more - you are there with them whether you like it or not. Yeah... even you make mistakes. Same here.

And I thought I was alone...

Butterfly Wings

Story by...our friend, Anonymous

One day a small opening appeared on a cocoon, a man sat and watched for the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no further.
So the man decided to help the butterfly, he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily.
But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened!
In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.
What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been.
We could never fly.

The Scar Experiment...

(Story adapted by Louis Lapides from Still More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks, Wayne Rice, Zondervan Publishing House. Pg. 79.)

A scientific researcher assembled ten unsuspecting volunteers for a psychological study called the Scar Experiment. The participants were separated into ten different cubicles equipped without mirrors. The purpose of the study was to observe how people would respond to a stranger with a marred physical appearance, such as a facial scar. Using Hollywood makeup tricks, the scientist put bloody and gruesome scars on each volunteer's left cheek, and displayed the new "scar" to each participant using a small handheld mirror. After glancing at their marred image, the mirror was taken away. The researcher's final step was to inform each volunteer that some finishing powder needed to be placed on his/her scar to prevent it from smearing. In reality, the researcher used a tissue to wipe off the scar. But the volunteers still believed they had the awful scars on their faces.
Each individual was sent out into the waiting rooms of different medical offices with instructions to notice how strangers responded to their appearance. After the appointed time, the ten volunteers returned to the scientific researcher and all shared the same report. In their encounters they noticed that strangers were ruder to them, less kind and stared at their scar. Regardless of the removal of the false scars, their unhealthy perspective on themselves affected how they thought others saw them.
In contrast, the scars and pain we carry inside us are hardly ever obvious to everyone on the outside. We make them visible by our actions towards others. If we see ourselves as unlovable, worthless and defective, we will often respond towards individuals in an unloving, insecure and discouraging manner. Meaningful and trusting relationships become very difficult to form.
It is surprising to learn a positive self image does not come from how we look on the outside, but on how we feel on the inside. In order to have a lasting, healthy view of self, we must base our worth upon God's unconditional love and value of us. King David sings, "Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous-and how well I know it!" (Psalm 139:14) (NLT). Through a personal relationship with our Creator, we can find healing of those inner scars and deep wounds that hinder us from enjoying fulfilling relationships. There is no need to worry about what other people think of us when we know God has already placed His highest worth on our lives.

Big John

I don't know who wrote the story below, but I wanted to share it with you. You see, I can relate to the bus driver in this story. I won't say anything else. Read on. :)

One fine day, a bus driver went to the bus garage, started his bus, and drove off along the route. No problems for the first few stops, a few people got on, a few got off, and things went generally well.
At the next stop, however, a big hulk of a guy got on. Six feet eight, built like a wrestler, arms hanging down to the ground. He glared at the driver and said, "Big John doesn't pay!" and sat down at the back. Did we mention that the driver was five feet three, thin, and basically meek? Well, he was. Naturally, he didn't argue with Big John, but he wasn't happy about it.
The next day the same thing happened--Big John got on again, made a show of refusing to pay, and sat down. And the next day, and the one after that, and so forth. This grated on the bus driver, who started losing sleep over the way Big John was taking advantage of him.
Finally he could stand it no longer. He signed up for body building courses, karate, judo, and all that good stuff. By the end of his summer vacation, he had become quite strong; what's more, he felt really good about himself.
So on the next Monday, when Big John once again got on the bus and said, "Big John doesn't pay!" the driver stood up, glared back at the passenger, and screamed, "And why not?"
With a surprised look on his face, Big John replied, "Big John has a bus pass."

Reign of the Brain!

Did you know that it takes approximately 17 years for a solid medical study to actually make its way to your average doctors office? Yeah. I was indignant when I discovered that little tidbit of information. I have to say, though...I'm beginning to relate to being behind the times instead of behind the eight ball. That's how I feel right now, anyway.

I knew the human brain was complex. So complex I didn't bother studying it as much as I would listen to other people tell me things like ... well, I'm not going to go there because I don't want you to focus on any particular issue. The point is, I oftentimes will buy into things without blinking twice. Hey, when a person speaks with confidence...it apparently doesn't matter what they say. Most of us "eat what we've been fed".

Over time I discovered I was wrong to believe everything so easily. But recently I've been realizing how much true scientific study has been done on the brain and it is fascinating. Go to Google and type in "Brain Patterning". You'll be amazed. Is everything accurate? I don't know. But I do know that enough things are repeated that it gives me a better picture of the serious role our brain plays in our everyday lives.

Have you ever heard of brain plasticity or neuroplasticity? The basic definition says that neuroplasticity is the lifelong ability of our brains to reorganize "neural pathways" based on new experiences. Very simply put; our brains respond to new information, images, concepts, etc. If that is true, then it stands to reason that since experiences actually physically alter our brains, they can also alter how we "see" the world. Hhmmm...interesting. I wonder if that is why some people say they feel like they've been "born" with homosexuality, for example. Also, interesting to note is that since the vast majority of our brain growth took place as we were growing up...well, it helps explain why so many people have a hard time getting "over" issues that were pertinent in their childhood.

The Reign of the Brain is nothing to take lightly.

A Bad Ending Can Signal a Good Beginning...

Why do I get so upset when I think something has come to an end? I do. I cry. I mourn the loss of something I saw as a good thing...and I hate it. But, how many times does the end of something simply signal the beginning of something new? Does that happen? Well...

War ends and a new culture emerges. A caterpillars life ends but a butterfly takes wing. A good book ends...but the resulting inspiration leaves you feeling good. Wasn't a good book? Good thing it came to an end. There are many examples of how an end can be a good thing. When I've got on my negative cap,though, I forget that the "end" might result in something good.

True, there are tons of times when ends aren't at all welcome. Sometimes they are a real bummer, to say the least. The end of a good job comes to mind. How can that be a good thing? The end of my ability to wear small clothes. Uh, I'm not liking that either. The end of a favorite pets life? The end of a persons life who you really loved. How can those be good things?

My answer. The end of something good isn't always a good thing. That's why I, as a Christian, love the verse "For God causes all things to work together for good...for those who love Him and are called according to His Purpose". Romans 8:28 It's the verse I hold onto when things are looking bad.

With God at the helm, even ...

A bad ending can signal a good beginning.

The Warrior... Part 1

Where are you in this story? Are you God's friend or Satan's friend? Where do you want to be? People can flip sides all the time! Is it time for you to change your path and listen to the God who loves you?

The Warrior-Part One

Are You Convinced...or Excited???

Wow. Earlier, I was talking to my daughter, Cari, and she told me something that I thought was so insightful that I asked her if I could share it with you. Being who she is, she gave me the green light.

You know how you hear things sometimes that are, like... whatever. Other times you hear something that really rings true and "resonates" with you? This was one of those times for me.

Well, it's like this. I've been walking with the Lord for almost 34 years. Why so long? Because I was convinced that Christianity was true. I'll tell you more about that another time, but for now I want to relay a story.

"Katy" told "Suzanne" about a product she was excited about. After listening to Katy for a period of time, Suzanne eventually told Katy that she was convinced that the product was a good one. She probably thought Katy would be pleased with her answer... but instead, Katy said "What? I don't want you to be convinced... I want you to be excited!"

That's an excellent distinction that Katy made. When Cari relayed that message to me, it hit me like a ton on bricks. Wow! In regards to my Christianity, I have been someone who is absolutely convinced that it is true. I'm so convinced that I'm willing to be rejected over it. And that, for me, is huge. Seriously, huge. So... I am convinced. But am I excited? I'll ask you the same question:

Are You Convinced...or Excited?

DO WE DARE SHARE?

Yesterday, I said that I understood why people embrace the "Preach the Gospel...use words when necessary" idea...to a point. But more and more, I am seeing the other side of the equation. Oh, how the pendulum swings, eh? We either have people "living the gospel...but not speaking out" or "speaking out...but not living the way God intended." The "balanced" approach doesn't mean we should sit on the fence. Reminds me of the proverb...He who walks down the middle of the road can be run down by traffic from both sides." I want to take a stand in that regard, but for me it is difficult. But, I know it is not impossible to live a loving life that is a reflection of God and share God's Word...with words. What an idea.

Do I sound harsh when I suggest that we don't "speak out" enough? Hey, it's hard for me to hear as well. But I am willing to look at the possibility that perhaps we have gone too far with our "Preach without Speech" philosophy. I mean, how many people today even know what the gospel is? If you are already a true, believing Christian...that question is a no-brainer. But is it so easily grasped outside your Christian circle? Outside my Christian circle? Or am I too busy trying to be a nice person that I use that as an excuse to refrain from sharing God's Word? "Don't want to offend anybody." "Don't want people to think I am an unloving person." "Don't want to be rejected."
Sigh...yeah, that's me. Typically.

What I am saying is simply that we take the "Preach without Speech" thing too far. That's all. We use it as an excuse to ignore at least 513 commands in the bible that I am aware of that tell us to...preach. Share the Good News of Christ with words.
Now the question is...

Do we DARE SHARE?

Preach Without Speech...

I've heard it said in many ways by people of various persuations, that it is important to "Preach without Speech". You've undoubtedly heard the "Preach the gospel...use words when necessary" phrase or concept. I certainly understand that thinking and have embraced it myself, thinking I was being very broad minded and mature when I so easily espoused that point of view.

A few weeks ago, somebody challenged my thinking in that area. At first it made me angry, but slowly I began to see the point that the person in question was trying to make. Frankly, so many times people have preached the gospel without living it in their everyday lives that the gospel to some people almost became a synonym for "religious hypocrisy". That's because people were equating the gospel with religion and religious people. People who obviously had not yet learned how to truly apply God' words to their everyday lives. Not as big a deal as we make it out to be. I mean...do we expect physical babies, for example, to act like mature adults?. No. Apparently, however, the world has that expectation of us. And to a point, I understand what they are saying.

Tomorrow, we can check out this idea a bit more...