People that come into my office (the place where I work, I don’t have an office at home or church) never seem to know what they want. And they wait until the end of the day to come in every day. My co-workers and I say that they are getting their desks cleared off, but piling it all on our desks. And they wait until late on Fridays. That is the worst. They wait until 4:15 on a Friday afternoon to bring in work, which screws up our weekends. But at least their desk is clear, their workload is lessened. Isn’t that all that matters?
Recently some of the young people I am acquainted with brought up an interesting point. They worry about where they are going when they die. Now, at least in my personal beliefs, if you believe in Christ and have the assurance that you forgiven of your sins, then worrying about whether you end up on the up or down escalator should not be a problem.
And then there are the people who wait their entire lives to make some sort of decision about their beliefs when it comes to faith. Notice I say faith, not religion. My simple point today is this: Do not wait until it is too late to know where your soul is ending up someday. The Jesus I worship is pretty easy-going. He died for you, for your sins, and for your worries about the future. You do not have to wait until 4:30 on the day of your death to make some sort of decision about where you end up standing in line. And if you do not know what you want, well...here is a simple choice. Heaven...paradise, no more worries, no more tears, or hell.
A man dies and goes to heaven. Jesus greets him at the gates and says: “Welcome home, would you like to see your mansion that I have prepared especially for you?” and the man is perplexed by this, he just does not seem so sure about this mansion. He looks at Jesus and says in response: “I do not want a mansion, I would not know what to do in some great big house, you got anything else?
And Jesus is surprised by this, but he responds. “I actually have a stable out back, the roof is barely there, but it is so comfortable there. The breeze that comes through it is so comforting, and at night you can lie there and look up at all the stars. It is where I stay, you are welcome to join me there.” Do you want to guess where the man slept from then on? He stayed where he was welcomed, comfortable, and relaxed. Isn’t that what we all want in the end?
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The Horse Story
Luke 3:7 (The Message)
7-9When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God's judgment? It's your life that must change, not your skin. And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as 'father.' Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there—children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire."
Monday evening was pretty much shaping up to be a typical night. Kim was off work that day, so Andrew and her were at home. I was driving by myself, and had just left Rochester when the evening changed. About a mile out of town two horses ran in front of my car, both without reins and unbridled. I immediately called the police and turned the car around, I guess I believed I could somehow stop the horses from running out into traffic. As I stopped the car in the middle of the four lane highway, one of the horses was hit by a car, or the horse hit the car, it really did not matter at that moment. I watched the horse fly at least 30 feet into the air and then hit the pavement with a sickening crash. I ran up and pinned the horse down at his neck, a trick I honestly learned from watching westerns. The police and other people showed up and helped, and eventually a veterinarian came and eased the horse’s pain by putting him to sleep. Pastor and Vicki drove by, and Vicki told Pastor, “I think that was Kevin!” I left an hour after witnessing the accident, colder and very upset. I stopped at Edinburg, got coffee, and washed my hands. And was so very ready to be home.
At one point, the owner noticed that I had my eyes shut and was talking softly to myself. She asked if I was praying, and I replied in the affirmative. She thanked me for that. And why not? This was one of God’s creatures, and he was suffering so much. I had done the same thing over the last year for my uncle Roger and for my mom. It has really started to bother me, watching something or someone so complex, so well crafted, destroyed by pain. I love God, but I don’t understand pain, and this may be one of the biggest mysteries I cannot find answers to when I ask.
John the Baptist became one of my favorite people in the Bible about a year ago. I started to realize that John was put on the earth for one thing, and that was to announce the arrival of Jesus. I preached on that subject, asking the question, “what if you were only put here for one reason?” “What if, God decided that your whole purpose was to save one life, or change one person’s attitude about life, or to give someone meaning?” And that was it, there was really nothing else left to accomplish. Go ahead, marry, have babies, work at your job, drive your car, watch some t.v., but you fulfilled your purpose years ago.
It is a hard idea to grasp. But it makes John so much more impressive. Because he knew what his life held, what his future would turn out like, and he worked even harder to fulfill what God had in mind for him. This is why he tells the people who came down for the “show” to change their lives, because if it is deadwood, then it is going to burn.
How do people who are not living their lives in “a full blown Christian mode” handle pain? How do they handle grief? I will be honest with you, I hated 2008 and 2009, and I am glad they are over. They were rough, they were extremely taxing, and they stunk. Between losing family, losing our house in Taylorville, the former governor making this state a joke, and every other problem, 2008 and 2009 just really blew chunks. And the horse, that was the capper. I didn’t sleep for two nights because I kept seeing the horse, and even as I wrote this, it still remained fresh in my mind.
So why this story and this scripture to start off the new year? Because the owner said something that made me think of the words John spoke to the crowd that day. “This isn’t the first time they have gotten out, it’s my fault, I should have fixed that fence.” It's your life that must change, not your skin. A life is gone because you did not fix a fence, and even today, as Kim and I drove by the farm on the way to work, the fence is still not fixed. Is there not a lesson to be learned here? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God's judgment? Don’t whitewash the fence, fix it. You still have another horse, aren’t you for a minute worried about it? John tells the crowd they should worry, because nothing, not even their claims of relationship to Abraham, are going to help them.
Try that right now. Claim to know the former governor, see how far it gets you. Jesus himself reminds us in Mark 10:23 (The Message)
23-25Looking at his disciples, Jesus said, "Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who 'have it all' to enter God's kingdom?" The disciples couldn't believe what they were hearing, but Jesus kept on: "You can't imagine how difficult. I'd say it's easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for the rich to get into God's kingdom."
People who have it all will find out how difficult it is to enter. Because their fences are in disarray, their hedges are askew, and their lives are not green and growing. And they cannot find anything to fill that void in their hearts. It is just another horse, another child, another car, more money, more worries.
And John advises the people accordingly. You want to save your horse, your children, your lives. Then change. Nothing else you do matters. Baptism is not the answer. Change is the answer. But for some it does not come easy. You want to save the horse, the kids, the way you live,
then it is time to rebuild the fence. It is time to realize that things have to change. But it means real work. It means that on a cold rainy day you may have to go outside and work. It may mean dirty work, around people you may not like, but you have to get over prejudices and look towards the big picture.
That’s just the way it is.
There is not another exit to take.
There is no other television show on tonight.
Real change has to take place.
Baptism, trips to the altar, giving to the poor, it all means nothing if the heart is still stoic and hardened.
That’s all I have.
7-9When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God's judgment? It's your life that must change, not your skin. And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as 'father.' Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there—children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire."
Monday evening was pretty much shaping up to be a typical night. Kim was off work that day, so Andrew and her were at home. I was driving by myself, and had just left Rochester when the evening changed. About a mile out of town two horses ran in front of my car, both without reins and unbridled. I immediately called the police and turned the car around, I guess I believed I could somehow stop the horses from running out into traffic. As I stopped the car in the middle of the four lane highway, one of the horses was hit by a car, or the horse hit the car, it really did not matter at that moment. I watched the horse fly at least 30 feet into the air and then hit the pavement with a sickening crash. I ran up and pinned the horse down at his neck, a trick I honestly learned from watching westerns. The police and other people showed up and helped, and eventually a veterinarian came and eased the horse’s pain by putting him to sleep. Pastor and Vicki drove by, and Vicki told Pastor, “I think that was Kevin!” I left an hour after witnessing the accident, colder and very upset. I stopped at Edinburg, got coffee, and washed my hands. And was so very ready to be home.
At one point, the owner noticed that I had my eyes shut and was talking softly to myself. She asked if I was praying, and I replied in the affirmative. She thanked me for that. And why not? This was one of God’s creatures, and he was suffering so much. I had done the same thing over the last year for my uncle Roger and for my mom. It has really started to bother me, watching something or someone so complex, so well crafted, destroyed by pain. I love God, but I don’t understand pain, and this may be one of the biggest mysteries I cannot find answers to when I ask.
John the Baptist became one of my favorite people in the Bible about a year ago. I started to realize that John was put on the earth for one thing, and that was to announce the arrival of Jesus. I preached on that subject, asking the question, “what if you were only put here for one reason?” “What if, God decided that your whole purpose was to save one life, or change one person’s attitude about life, or to give someone meaning?” And that was it, there was really nothing else left to accomplish. Go ahead, marry, have babies, work at your job, drive your car, watch some t.v., but you fulfilled your purpose years ago.
It is a hard idea to grasp. But it makes John so much more impressive. Because he knew what his life held, what his future would turn out like, and he worked even harder to fulfill what God had in mind for him. This is why he tells the people who came down for the “show” to change their lives, because if it is deadwood, then it is going to burn.
How do people who are not living their lives in “a full blown Christian mode” handle pain? How do they handle grief? I will be honest with you, I hated 2008 and 2009, and I am glad they are over. They were rough, they were extremely taxing, and they stunk. Between losing family, losing our house in Taylorville, the former governor making this state a joke, and every other problem, 2008 and 2009 just really blew chunks. And the horse, that was the capper. I didn’t sleep for two nights because I kept seeing the horse, and even as I wrote this, it still remained fresh in my mind.
So why this story and this scripture to start off the new year? Because the owner said something that made me think of the words John spoke to the crowd that day. “This isn’t the first time they have gotten out, it’s my fault, I should have fixed that fence.” It's your life that must change, not your skin. A life is gone because you did not fix a fence, and even today, as Kim and I drove by the farm on the way to work, the fence is still not fixed. Is there not a lesson to be learned here? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God's judgment? Don’t whitewash the fence, fix it. You still have another horse, aren’t you for a minute worried about it? John tells the crowd they should worry, because nothing, not even their claims of relationship to Abraham, are going to help them.
Try that right now. Claim to know the former governor, see how far it gets you. Jesus himself reminds us in Mark 10:23 (The Message)
23-25Looking at his disciples, Jesus said, "Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who 'have it all' to enter God's kingdom?" The disciples couldn't believe what they were hearing, but Jesus kept on: "You can't imagine how difficult. I'd say it's easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for the rich to get into God's kingdom."
People who have it all will find out how difficult it is to enter. Because their fences are in disarray, their hedges are askew, and their lives are not green and growing. And they cannot find anything to fill that void in their hearts. It is just another horse, another child, another car, more money, more worries.
And John advises the people accordingly. You want to save your horse, your children, your lives. Then change. Nothing else you do matters. Baptism is not the answer. Change is the answer. But for some it does not come easy. You want to save the horse, the kids, the way you live,
then it is time to rebuild the fence. It is time to realize that things have to change. But it means real work. It means that on a cold rainy day you may have to go outside and work. It may mean dirty work, around people you may not like, but you have to get over prejudices and look towards the big picture.
That’s just the way it is.
There is not another exit to take.
There is no other television show on tonight.
Real change has to take place.
Baptism, trips to the altar, giving to the poor, it all means nothing if the heart is still stoic and hardened.
That’s all I have.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Randomicity
I thought that this week I would share some just random things with you.
I have all kinds of ideas what to write on each week, here are a few that I have decided against:
I work in the Illinois State Capitol. When people walk into our bathroom they are almost always amazed by the size and (I guess) magnificence of the room. What will they think of Heaven? Honestly, I could not figure out where to go with this past the initial thought so I stopped.
What is love? (yep, I could not come up with anything for this one, except for the words, “Baby, dont hurt me, dont hurt me, no more). Stupid “Night at the Roxbury” guys.
The good things about Facebook and MySpace. This idea seemed good until I realized that no one is really using MySpace anymore. And Facebook annoys me too much to come up with a lot of good ideas.
It is really hard to come up with topics every week. We always seem to have good services on Sunday a.m., but how often can I write about them without possibly boring everyone to death? One friend responded to me by saying, and I am quoting word for word: “Wow, I wish I went to your church because ours seem to consistently suck, and yours is starting to make me crazy jealous.” “Is it always that good there, because I am just not buying it.” I responded with: “It’s not perfect, just forgiven.” He did not get the joke.
I want to recommend “So You Don’t Want to go to Church Anymore”. Great book, but it is not a way to get out of going to church, it is a tool to help you change the way you go to church.
I love Toby Mac’s new C.D., “Tonight” and can say, even at almost 47 years old, I love it. Love the new Stryper (they are 25 years old and I feel old) and the new Switchfoot c.d.’s as well.
Have you seen “The Hurt Locker” yet? I am so sick of all the hype about Avatar that I don’t even remotely want to see it. But I loved Hurt Locker. Andrew and I also watched The Cove, about the murder of dolphins in a small lagoon in Japan. It is terrifying, true, and incredibly sad. I will never, ever, go to SeaWorld or any dolphin show again. Kudos to the people who braved death to make this film.
I got my new Bible from NavPress the other day. They are awesome and told me to let them know if someone needs a bible from now on to let them know. I really appreciate how quickly they responded.
I love our Pastor. He is a true man of God, he gives until it hurts, and I believe he is a true example of Jesus. If you are ever in the Pana area, stop by and meet him. He is unique, fun, short, stubby-like, and quite likeable. He makes visitors feel welcome and the oldtimers feel appreciated. That is it for this week. Keep me in prayer, as health issues are weighing me down (in addition to weight issues). But, I am so grateful for Kim and Andrew, Bill and Ivy and Sheila, my family in Pana and other places (Thorton and NIU always), my good friends, my church family, and so much more. I work with some awesome people, my car seems to be running okay, and overall, life is good. What more can I ask for?
I have all kinds of ideas what to write on each week, here are a few that I have decided against:
I work in the Illinois State Capitol. When people walk into our bathroom they are almost always amazed by the size and (I guess) magnificence of the room. What will they think of Heaven? Honestly, I could not figure out where to go with this past the initial thought so I stopped.
What is love? (yep, I could not come up with anything for this one, except for the words, “Baby, dont hurt me, dont hurt me, no more). Stupid “Night at the Roxbury” guys.
The good things about Facebook and MySpace. This idea seemed good until I realized that no one is really using MySpace anymore. And Facebook annoys me too much to come up with a lot of good ideas.
It is really hard to come up with topics every week. We always seem to have good services on Sunday a.m., but how often can I write about them without possibly boring everyone to death? One friend responded to me by saying, and I am quoting word for word: “Wow, I wish I went to your church because ours seem to consistently suck, and yours is starting to make me crazy jealous.” “Is it always that good there, because I am just not buying it.” I responded with: “It’s not perfect, just forgiven.” He did not get the joke.
I want to recommend “So You Don’t Want to go to Church Anymore”. Great book, but it is not a way to get out of going to church, it is a tool to help you change the way you go to church.
I love Toby Mac’s new C.D., “Tonight” and can say, even at almost 47 years old, I love it. Love the new Stryper (they are 25 years old and I feel old) and the new Switchfoot c.d.’s as well.
Have you seen “The Hurt Locker” yet? I am so sick of all the hype about Avatar that I don’t even remotely want to see it. But I loved Hurt Locker. Andrew and I also watched The Cove, about the murder of dolphins in a small lagoon in Japan. It is terrifying, true, and incredibly sad. I will never, ever, go to SeaWorld or any dolphin show again. Kudos to the people who braved death to make this film.
I got my new Bible from NavPress the other day. They are awesome and told me to let them know if someone needs a bible from now on to let them know. I really appreciate how quickly they responded.
I love our Pastor. He is a true man of God, he gives until it hurts, and I believe he is a true example of Jesus. If you are ever in the Pana area, stop by and meet him. He is unique, fun, short, stubby-like, and quite likeable. He makes visitors feel welcome and the oldtimers feel appreciated. That is it for this week. Keep me in prayer, as health issues are weighing me down (in addition to weight issues). But, I am so grateful for Kim and Andrew, Bill and Ivy and Sheila, my family in Pana and other places (Thorton and NIU always), my good friends, my church family, and so much more. I work with some awesome people, my car seems to be running okay, and overall, life is good. What more can I ask for?
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Update to give it away post.
I just got word from NavPress, the publishers of my recently given-away Bible, that they are sending me a new Bible to replace mine (Cayla's now). What an awesome company.
Give it away, give it away, give it away, NOW (I love the Chili Peppers)
What a strange week it has been, and it started last Sunday. Here is how it began.
I gave away my Bible last Sunday. I really liked that Bible. The service was good, actually really good. There were people I had not seen in a while, and I was really glad to see them. I saw some incredible maturity in some of our teenagers. The praise band was incredible, even though Anthony’s amp was loud. But I am so glad he is coming, and bringing people with him, that a loud amp can be overlooked. It was awesome, overall.
Did I mention I gave away my Bible? Man, that was tough. It could have been a typical service, but it wasn’t. Pastor did things differently, and there was incredible spirit over the place. I guess I could sound all churchy and say “God’s Holy Spirit moved across the congregation in a mighty wave” but I don’t talk that way. It was just an incredible morning service. Maybe some of us needed that to suppress the guilt would were going to feel later on when we missed evening service because of the Super Bowl. (it is kind of sad, I don’t even like either team, I just like the commercials but I stayed home anyway). But the service became incredible, people caring for one another, praying with one another, hugs, laughter, tears, support. I love those kind of services.
Except for the whole Bible giveaway thing. Those things don’t grow on trees (well, I guess they are trees, so technically...) Honestly, I have no problem with giving away my bible. I have several of them. Over the years I have bought them because of version differences, or I like the translation, or they were on sale, or they were gifts, so I have several. I guess I want to know what happens to them after they are gone. I want it to mean something. I want the person to whom I gave it to be the next Billy Graham or Martin Luther or Allen Ebbler (owww...my stomach hurts from laughing here). I want to know that they enjoyed it the way I had, that they in turn gave it away. That would be kind of cool. And then they wrote a blog that few people read. And then they made fun of their short pastor in that blog....
Anyway...I loved the service, gave away my Bible, liked the Betty White/Abe Vigoda commercial and the screaming chickens for Denny’s, have been having asthma attacks, my back is hurting, I am going to the fish and boat show in St. Louis with Glenn tomorrow, may see the Wolfman movie, am taking my wife to a Valentines dinner somewhere (Pastabilities maybe, and without Andrew (heaven forbid)) and I gave away my bible. Not a bad week after all.
I gave away my Bible last Sunday. I really liked that Bible. The service was good, actually really good. There were people I had not seen in a while, and I was really glad to see them. I saw some incredible maturity in some of our teenagers. The praise band was incredible, even though Anthony’s amp was loud. But I am so glad he is coming, and bringing people with him, that a loud amp can be overlooked. It was awesome, overall.
Did I mention I gave away my Bible? Man, that was tough. It could have been a typical service, but it wasn’t. Pastor did things differently, and there was incredible spirit over the place. I guess I could sound all churchy and say “God’s Holy Spirit moved across the congregation in a mighty wave” but I don’t talk that way. It was just an incredible morning service. Maybe some of us needed that to suppress the guilt would were going to feel later on when we missed evening service because of the Super Bowl. (it is kind of sad, I don’t even like either team, I just like the commercials but I stayed home anyway). But the service became incredible, people caring for one another, praying with one another, hugs, laughter, tears, support. I love those kind of services.
Except for the whole Bible giveaway thing. Those things don’t grow on trees (well, I guess they are trees, so technically...) Honestly, I have no problem with giving away my bible. I have several of them. Over the years I have bought them because of version differences, or I like the translation, or they were on sale, or they were gifts, so I have several. I guess I want to know what happens to them after they are gone. I want it to mean something. I want the person to whom I gave it to be the next Billy Graham or Martin Luther or Allen Ebbler (owww...my stomach hurts from laughing here). I want to know that they enjoyed it the way I had, that they in turn gave it away. That would be kind of cool. And then they wrote a blog that few people read. And then they made fun of their short pastor in that blog....
Anyway...I loved the service, gave away my Bible, liked the Betty White/Abe Vigoda commercial and the screaming chickens for Denny’s, have been having asthma attacks, my back is hurting, I am going to the fish and boat show in St. Louis with Glenn tomorrow, may see the Wolfman movie, am taking my wife to a Valentines dinner somewhere (Pastabilities maybe, and without Andrew (heaven forbid)) and I gave away my bible. Not a bad week after all.
Monday, February 8, 2010
The New Andrew
A few years ago my wife and I made a really big decision that has changed everything about us ever since.
His name is Andrew.
When we first met him, it was at a lunch date with our pastor and his wife. And somehow, all these kids were involved. In addition to the pastor’s daughter and son, there was the son’s then girlfriend, her sister, the daughter’s friend, another friend, another friend, and the son’s friend, Andrew. I called him ski cap because of this cap he wore, constantly. It was black with a skull in the middle. I immediately hated it.
Somehow Andrew and I were instant friends. I don’t know why. We did not have much in common at the time. The two things though, were church and wrestling. WWE, not the other kind.
So, one Saturday I invited Andrew to Taylorville to our home to stay over until church on Sunday. We attend church in Pana and lived in Taylorville, making the 18 mile trek on Sundays and Wednesdays. (How we ended up at the Pana church is a story for another blog time). Andrew came down, we watched Saturday Night’s Main Event and TNA, and a trend was started. Every weekend after that, Andrew would call, and we would head to Pana to get him. I eventually moved our guest bed up from the basement and made Andrew a room out of our office. I guess couples that do not have kids do that, make their spare bedrooms either guest rooms or offices. Ours was for Pampered Chef and AFLAC, and it held all the junk we did not want in the living room or dining room.
So Andrew becomes a part of our lives. Finally, one Friday night at the Dairy Queen in Pana I asked Andrew what he thought about us adopting him. It seemed that he was kind of an orphan (in an odd way) and we had come to love him. Plus, if you meet him, you would kind of swear that he and I are related. Well, that did not work out, his mom did not want us to adopt him, but it did work out anyway, just not the way we wanted.
We decided to move to Pana so Andrew could live with us and finish high school where he was comfortable. At the time he had long hair, plus he has gauged ears (holes, the boy has holes in his ears, he puts pencils through them, seriously) and the principal and superintendent of schools both liked him. So we put the Taylorville house up for sale (yet another story), and bought a house in Pana (even further from our jobs in Springfield).
And Andrew ended up being our son, in whatever weird way it happened. And I have watched him grow up in so many ways.
Recently though, I have seen a maturity that is truly beautiful in “the boy”. He has developed a heart for others, and instead of taking party trips on spring break or Christmas or summer breaks, he is going on missions trips. So far, he has been to Mexico, Minnesota, and wants to return to both, in addition to Kenya this summer. He wants to teach elementary school. Little kids love him, and he loves them. He worries about people, and loves unconditionally much of the time. He is reading books on his faith, and he does not like to read. And he cares deeply about his friends. He wants the best for them, and yearns to be around them so much. He is something to watch. (Straight way dude!) For a kid that just a few years ago was more worried about his ears, his hair, his tattoos, his hackysack, his music...now he is more concerned with people’s hearts. It is truly something beautiful to see happen. He is not my son, biologically, but I am a proud father anyway. He is everything I could want in a child, and I love him so much.
So the lesson from this post: Watch the people you are around, they may occasionally surprise you by becoming a whole new person while you are watching.
His name is Andrew.
When we first met him, it was at a lunch date with our pastor and his wife. And somehow, all these kids were involved. In addition to the pastor’s daughter and son, there was the son’s then girlfriend, her sister, the daughter’s friend, another friend, another friend, and the son’s friend, Andrew. I called him ski cap because of this cap he wore, constantly. It was black with a skull in the middle. I immediately hated it.
Somehow Andrew and I were instant friends. I don’t know why. We did not have much in common at the time. The two things though, were church and wrestling. WWE, not the other kind.
So, one Saturday I invited Andrew to Taylorville to our home to stay over until church on Sunday. We attend church in Pana and lived in Taylorville, making the 18 mile trek on Sundays and Wednesdays. (How we ended up at the Pana church is a story for another blog time). Andrew came down, we watched Saturday Night’s Main Event and TNA, and a trend was started. Every weekend after that, Andrew would call, and we would head to Pana to get him. I eventually moved our guest bed up from the basement and made Andrew a room out of our office. I guess couples that do not have kids do that, make their spare bedrooms either guest rooms or offices. Ours was for Pampered Chef and AFLAC, and it held all the junk we did not want in the living room or dining room.
So Andrew becomes a part of our lives. Finally, one Friday night at the Dairy Queen in Pana I asked Andrew what he thought about us adopting him. It seemed that he was kind of an orphan (in an odd way) and we had come to love him. Plus, if you meet him, you would kind of swear that he and I are related. Well, that did not work out, his mom did not want us to adopt him, but it did work out anyway, just not the way we wanted.
We decided to move to Pana so Andrew could live with us and finish high school where he was comfortable. At the time he had long hair, plus he has gauged ears (holes, the boy has holes in his ears, he puts pencils through them, seriously) and the principal and superintendent of schools both liked him. So we put the Taylorville house up for sale (yet another story), and bought a house in Pana (even further from our jobs in Springfield).
And Andrew ended up being our son, in whatever weird way it happened. And I have watched him grow up in so many ways.
Recently though, I have seen a maturity that is truly beautiful in “the boy”. He has developed a heart for others, and instead of taking party trips on spring break or Christmas or summer breaks, he is going on missions trips. So far, he has been to Mexico, Minnesota, and wants to return to both, in addition to Kenya this summer. He wants to teach elementary school. Little kids love him, and he loves them. He worries about people, and loves unconditionally much of the time. He is reading books on his faith, and he does not like to read. And he cares deeply about his friends. He wants the best for them, and yearns to be around them so much. He is something to watch. (Straight way dude!) For a kid that just a few years ago was more worried about his ears, his hair, his tattoos, his hackysack, his music...now he is more concerned with people’s hearts. It is truly something beautiful to see happen. He is not my son, biologically, but I am a proud father anyway. He is everything I could want in a child, and I love him so much.
So the lesson from this post: Watch the people you are around, they may occasionally surprise you by becoming a whole new person while you are watching.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Know what you want before you go shopping!
I have recently come to the conclusion that about 80% of the people who come into the office where I work don’t have a clue what they want when they walk through our doors. Maybe they are hoping that we can offer guidance on the bills and resolutions they want the House and Senate to pass. I cannot imagine walking into any situation as blind as they seem to be.
But then I got to thinking about another situation. Recently a dear acquaintance read the book “So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore” by Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman and now believes she does not have to attend church to have a complete relationship with Christ. The Bible is pretty clear about “not forsaking fellowship with others” so we need to associate with like-minded folk as much as possible. And the real problem is we already ALL forgo too much in our relationship with Christ. This is supposed to be a friendship, He is supposed to be our brother, yet, for a lot of us, we barely ever talk to Him, we forsake devotional time, prayer time, and other opportunities because life gets in the way. Can we afford to forsake church?
Church, the people or the building, gets on everyone’s nerves once in a while. The temperature is not to our liking, some kid is screaming during the service, someone new (God forbid!) has our seat, or there is that thing called reality. Finances are strained, the weather is awful, the kids or the wife is sick, our back hurts, we feel like staying home and watching football, and sometimes we just do not like the person who is speaking. I recently did an all-night lock-in, and quite honestly I felt like doing nothing for a week afterwards. How do adults make it to church two hours after a lock-in? How does pastor make it to Sunday morning service after being at the hospital all night with a dying person? It comes down to this: remembering the friendship, keeping the commitment.
Like the people that come into the office looking for guidance, that is what we are all looking for when we go to church. Our problem, like theirs, is that we are not honest enough to admit it. Imagine if you walked into church this Sunday morning, and Pastor walks up and says “How are you?” and you grab his microphone off his head or lapel, and you scream to everyone that can hear, “How am I, let me tell you, I am hurting today, my kid is sick, I cleaned up cat puke four times before I left the house and expect more when I get home, the bills are late, we have no money until payday and we need gas, there are members of my family that do not speak to me over past hurts, I have to diet, I need friends, I need tearcatchers, please help me.” What do you think would happen? First, there would be people to help you, to listen, to let you borrow money, to catch your tears. But there would also be people wanting the microphone after you were done. That is what true church is about: friendship and commitment.
So if you are thinking about leaving, please stay. Not everyone is a jerk. And if you are tired of looking at the horse’s butt, walk around to the front of the horse. For, believe it or not, there are people at your church just like you. Hurting, needing, craving more. Maybe you do not go for yourself this week, maybe you go for someone else.
But then I got to thinking about another situation. Recently a dear acquaintance read the book “So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore” by Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman and now believes she does not have to attend church to have a complete relationship with Christ. The Bible is pretty clear about “not forsaking fellowship with others” so we need to associate with like-minded folk as much as possible. And the real problem is we already ALL forgo too much in our relationship with Christ. This is supposed to be a friendship, He is supposed to be our brother, yet, for a lot of us, we barely ever talk to Him, we forsake devotional time, prayer time, and other opportunities because life gets in the way. Can we afford to forsake church?
Church, the people or the building, gets on everyone’s nerves once in a while. The temperature is not to our liking, some kid is screaming during the service, someone new (God forbid!) has our seat, or there is that thing called reality. Finances are strained, the weather is awful, the kids or the wife is sick, our back hurts, we feel like staying home and watching football, and sometimes we just do not like the person who is speaking. I recently did an all-night lock-in, and quite honestly I felt like doing nothing for a week afterwards. How do adults make it to church two hours after a lock-in? How does pastor make it to Sunday morning service after being at the hospital all night with a dying person? It comes down to this: remembering the friendship, keeping the commitment.
Like the people that come into the office looking for guidance, that is what we are all looking for when we go to church. Our problem, like theirs, is that we are not honest enough to admit it. Imagine if you walked into church this Sunday morning, and Pastor walks up and says “How are you?” and you grab his microphone off his head or lapel, and you scream to everyone that can hear, “How am I, let me tell you, I am hurting today, my kid is sick, I cleaned up cat puke four times before I left the house and expect more when I get home, the bills are late, we have no money until payday and we need gas, there are members of my family that do not speak to me over past hurts, I have to diet, I need friends, I need tearcatchers, please help me.” What do you think would happen? First, there would be people to help you, to listen, to let you borrow money, to catch your tears. But there would also be people wanting the microphone after you were done. That is what true church is about: friendship and commitment.
So if you are thinking about leaving, please stay. Not everyone is a jerk. And if you are tired of looking at the horse’s butt, walk around to the front of the horse. For, believe it or not, there are people at your church just like you. Hurting, needing, craving more. Maybe you do not go for yourself this week, maybe you go for someone else.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
