How Do You Do

We've all heard the quote about "it's not how many times you fall it's how many times you get back up that matters." A few folks have taken credit for that excellent advise, and I believe Vince Lombardi was the coolest name to attribute to it (perhaps he was first). And the quote makes sense, and I believe is right, and great inspiration to give the "fallen".

When we manage through, or overcome adversity we have such an opportunity to impact not only our state of affairs, but an opportunity to impact (positively or negatively) those who are watching. We are not perfect. We will say and do things we regret as we strive. But HOW we "get back up" can have just as much impact as "getting back up" itself. Perhaps in some cases more so.

We all know when we've seen people "get back up" in a manner that has impact. And we all can attach faces to those who've impacted

us

through

their

adversity. 

I've seen parents manage through a prodigals departure. I've seen a woman deal with a parent who's battling the effects of age. I've seen friends take a big hit. I've seen a man persevere through a time of unemployment. I've seen a couple walk through cancer. I've seen people simply do life well.

How do you do your "get back up"?

In Corinthians it says "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."

Life is hard. Adversity comes in many forms. A wayward child. An ailing parent. A financial blow. A lost job. An illness. A chaotic household. A car that's kaput. Etc. And of course it matters that you "get back up" from these things. But do it well.

I Walk the Line

I've got to call myself out. I consistently walk the line of cynic. And I walk the line of liking and not liking that I walk that line.

This morning on Good Morning America, they showcased a "challenge" that was to create awareness and generate funding to support ALS. Here's how it plays out. Someone challenges a social network "friend" to either make a donation to support ALS research, or post a video of them dumping a bucket of ice water over their heads. This challenge was started as an awareness campaign by a woman who's husband is battling ALS. A noble and meaningful effort. An effort which my son participated in last night. Not sure he's fully aware of what ALS is. Not sure I am.

So let me share my thoughts on the two aforementioned "lines" I mentioned that I walk.

The Line of the Cinic

I'm 47. While I believe I listen and have an ability to change my thinking about things via exposure, education, and understanding, I find myself pretty darn set in my ways. So this line is outwardly probably the worst. You see, I can dismiss an effort like this ALS challenge because of the seeming social media "celebration of me" or "social celebrity" of mere participation. This "social celebrity" plays out in many ways, but here's a few that seem to stick in my cynical craw.

• Sudden rich perspective about a current event (e.g. Robin Williams death)

• "Look at me" volunteerism or giving

• Oversaturation of ideology or theology to the point where your thoughts are ignored like a nuisance

• The "I don't live out but vehemently share opinion about things" expression

• And, like the ALS Challenge, shallow understanding about something I believe that I believe

So I may be a cynic. I may be ignorant. I may even be an asshole.

Liking the Line of the Cinic

I am muddled between the fact that I am pretty darn confident about my opinion(s), but want to make sure I am teachable still. I do know a good bit. I've got 47 years on this planet. But as I continue to learn more and more, I don't know what I do not know.

I read in a book somewhere "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." So forgive me and I will you. Perhaps not even in that order.

My dear friend,

Stephen Kee

says (and I may be misquoting, but you'll get my/his drift) "I will try to understand your intention while I may not understand your action".

I am calling myself out. Calling myself out to know more, to learn more, to know others more. To never be untrue to the facts, to myself, to others, to God (as if He wouldn't know). To look for intention first. Even when I don't want to.

A Father's Day Early

I know I'm a day early, but wanted to make sure I had a moment, and was "in the moment" when scribing my latest installment. A bit of an ode to my Dad.

I recently have had the privilege of caring for my Pop a bit. He's in his early 70s, and has had some health issues. Nothing like a lot of folks' parents have had. No cancer. He's got his mental capacities. But there's been weight loss, weakness, lack of energy, and the doctors to date haven't really been able to but their finger on what's been going on. All things considered, he's doing "fine" or "okay" as he likes to say.

So this gives me a chance for me to show my honor-thy-father in a newfound way as I support in more physical and mental fashions. Which is a pleasure. You see, our dads (well, most that I know) have been there for us. I mentioned in a Father's Day ode a few years back that my Dad was sort of a quiet supporter. A strong supporter for sure, but a quiet observer, and a quiet provider. And now I have the honor of distinction of supporting, observing, and providing for him in return.

My eldest is now 15 and while on the cusp of true employment is pretty much relegated to cutting lawns for a few bucks. And my parents have a lawn that grows. So this not only allows him to earn some cash, but gets me up to my folks' house more frequently. And I get to sort of live with them a little more now. You see, the proverbial time with my folks is on a special day (e.g. Father's Day), or when one of my kids has an event. But this is different. There's a bit of the old me who looks into their fridge and digs around a bit, but moreover, I get to hang with them. I'm truly enjoying this. This lets me see them smile more.

The other day my Dad had a doctors appointment, and in lieu of his recent weakness, my Mom had asked if I could accompany them in case they needed an extra hand or two. I was honored by the ask, and more than happy to participate. What made this all the more special was the fact that my eldest and I went to their place a night in advance and we got to spend the night. More smiles.

My dad has "his chair" and fortunately for me, there's a couch right next to it. This let's me sidle up alongside him for a Braves game and some dialogue. The dialogue around player performance, while still present, is lessening. And we talk more about how he's doing, getting up and down stairs in Maine, and such.

While this time has brought about a lot of questions and thoughts, (like what would it be like with this guy not around? How would I care for his wife?—perhaps a little morbid, but very real.) it is becoming a very special time. A time that I love.

It says in Proverbs (22:6) to "Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it".

Dad, you've done this. And is a joy to apply that training for your benefit.

A Kee Insight

It's been a long time since I rock and rolled. I mean since I've posted. And it's something I've thought I needed to get back to. Writing consistently in this space is a discipline that I regret not keeping up with as it helps me live life more purposed. In addition, my life passes and I've no record outside of my mind and my smart phone. So I hope to find the discipline to make the time to record my "Imperfectisms". That said, let me tell you a bit about a neighbor of mine...well, a friend of mine...hmm, a brother of mine and a project that he's just put out.

Stephen Kee has been a neighbor of mine for about 10 years give or take. Over the course of those years we've become "family". He and his wife have had impacted my wife and I (and our boys) in more ways than they know. Steve is a bit of a renaissance man. He's an entertainer, author, musician, speaker and more. An artist of all arts. I'd like to take a moment to tell you about his current endeavor. And in a bloggeddy blog way, promote it.

His inSIGHT project is a collection of Steve's writings and songs in which he's pulled family and friends in to provide vocal, instrument, production, and love support. It's an eclectic mix of spoken word and music influenced by gospel, R&B, reggae and more. These pieces of word and music cover various expressions as Kee views life from the perspective of his 57 unique years on the planet. And then shares his message from himself, as well as a varied cast of characters.

Now this may not be your style of art and music, but if you truly listened, I'd bet there's something within inSIGHT that would at the very least, make you pause and consider yourself—something which I believe Kee would hope for. And while you may not agree with Kee's message—I'm not sure if that'd matter to him either.

So I encourage you to visit iTunes and search under Stephen Kee to give a quick listen, and if so inclined, to download.

Hope to be back soon. And to steal Kee's sign-off, "Peace".

For Cluck's Sake

First, let me caveat this and say this is not a point of view on free speech. Nor does it really have anything to do with what Phil Robertson said or did not say in his

GQ interview

. And its not an op ed on the authenticity of Robertson's faith, or his family either. Moreover, its some thoughts around the public reaction.

To surmise a bit for posterity's sake, Phil Robertson is the patriarch of the Duck Dynasty clan—who one might say are, the "christian" version of the Kardashians. Duck Dynasty is a reality show about a family who invented a duck call, and they've since made fortunes in sales and merchandising. Its a really popular show on A&E. Oh, and they pray around the table, and talk about God.

So Phil has said some comments that some found insulting and cruel to the homosexual community, and A&E has suspended him from the show. Well, there's been a tremendous amount of backlash from the "liberal media", the "right wing conservatives", "the hollywood elite", the LGBT community leadership, Christian groups and sundry other "organizations". Piers Morgan nearly blew a gasket in discussion about the subject on his CNN show yesterday, and Shawn Hannity and various Fox News analysts have steamrolled guests and shouted over one another with their perspectives and beliefs.

But enough about that. This is about the "church" and "christian" community who are yelling loudly across Facebook and other social media. There are all sorts of "those hypocrites", "they", "them", "we", "our" culture warriors in full force lambasting and protesting.

I wonder what Jesus would have done with a Facebook account.

There is so much outrage, or better yet, table turning about this topic. Now I'm not the brightest bulb, nor the most intensive Biblical scholar, but I believe the only table turning Jesus did was when He turned them over in His Father's house when others turned it into a "den of thieves". Jesus turned tables when His Father's house was impacted. When outside His Father's house, he served, loved, protected, ate with, drank with, and told stories to people. He loved them so much.

I'm not sure Jesus would have taken to the airwaves to defend Himself or His Faith.

I don't understand the Christians response of such anger, and outrage, outside of His Father's house? Jesus didn't respond that way outside His Father's house (although He did have some direct conversation with the "religious" church leadership of the day—"Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?"). Jesus also said that His Kingdom is not of this world. Yet we are so focused on making it so. Where are the relationally-motivated status updates? Where is the compassion to meet others where there is need? Where are the invitations to sup? To share the Gospel vs. tell it? Where is the acknowledgement of our own sins, vs. the index fingers aimed at others?

I'm sure there's lots to this story, and I know there's lots of passion around this issue, and there's probably some theological defense, but I'm just taken aback by the lack of grace and mercy. Its like we want—check that—

need

to win. We're right. You're wrong. And we will gloat when we win, too. 

I guess this is a call for Grace. Too non-existent these days.

I was talking with a guy who said that he and his family have a gay friend and they went bowling with him and some of his gay friends. I don't think Jesus would lambast homosexuality. I think He'd go bowling and tell some stories. And maybe buy the first round.

Mine or Thine

There's a lot of conversation in and around the Church and the churches these days. Political, Socio-economic, Sexuality, and more. In the dialogues I've been a part of, the discourse is both closed and open-eared. I read a book over the summer by

Jonathan Merritt

 called "

A Faith of Our Own

" that I believe illustrates components of a misconception by a lot of church goers. In the book Merritt challenges that its not necessarily, "what would Jesus do?", but "what would Jesus have you to do?". I've come to a conclusion that a lot of professed Christians seem to believe that we are to build THIS kingdom for God, rather than building the Kingdom of God.

In Matthew 12:28, Jesus is asked by "one of the teachers of the law" which is the greatest commandment? And Jesus replies "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.", and the teacher agrees and says "you a right in saying that" (on a side note, do you think Jesus got an ironic chuckle when this "teacher" confirmed His statement?).

I think proclaimed Christians are too clouded with political slogan and agenda, and even a call for "revival" in the churches and in our nation. Now hear me right, I am not against a Spiritual resurgence if God so sees fit, but as I am hearing about and seeing the activity around political slogan and "revival", I am curious of something. Is the intention to build THIS kingdom for God? To make it a safe and peaceful place? To make it some sort of nirvana? To make it fit a political agenda? To make it "well" for the haves? And perhaps even the have-nots?

I must continue to challenge my own thinking along these lines as well. Around hoping for and moving to make better. And why I truly want "it" to be better.

The Bible clearly states that this will pass away. And that His Kingdom is not of this world.

Let your/ours/my works be of the noble Purpose(s) of God. Not for your/ours/my ownership, peace, power, safety, security, and agenda—from our own smallness.

Yes, love and serve. Give. Help. Encourage. Revolt. Stand. Change. Hope. Participate IN THIS world. But not FOR THIS world.

Because of Relationship

Its been a while since I've written a post. A lot has been going on. Not that that's an excuse, its just that I've been speaking it or doing it, vs. writing it. So I hope that any rust is okay, and that I continue to speak and do rather than write. Or at least alongside it.

I've been rereading Don Miller's book

Searching for God Knows What

. It is a great read and was a big catalyst for introspection into my faith, and how its lived out, my first time through the pages. It talks a ton about the concept of relationship vs. lists. Particularly relationship with God vs. what is required to be a Christian. And what we think actually pleases God.

I was in discussion with my wife the other day, and we were talking about this concept. How, as a spouse, there are certain things you do and don't do. When I look at a marriage there are things like, dating another woman, keeping secrets, ignoring, or not listening, of which the "manual" would tell you you can't do. The joyful thing within real relationship is that dating another woman, keeping secrets, ignoring, or not listening to, the things you don't do—not because of any marital rules, or you could argue even vows—come out of relationship.

BECAUSE I am in relationship I will not do such and such. BECAUSE I am in relationship I will do such and such.

I've known a lot of folks that do or don't do things because of certain rules. Even live their faith out this way. And I think that would just exhaust the heck out of me, and I'd be laden with failures. My inability to keep the rules would be exposed. Perhaps I could manage the exposure, or at least I'd think I could.

But when it comes to true love, and true relation, we can't function out of rules (or at least I can't.). We must function from our relationship.

Greatest of These

Bob Goff shared the other day on Twitter "Every time we treat people as ordinary, we turn the wine back into water".

If I would just look at all through the lens of love, and not the lenses I put in front of my eyes. Jesus did, and laid down his life. He saw everyone qualified. Or better yet, He saw that He needed to qualify everyone.

Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:13.

Don't be a Good Christian

A little while ago, I was in a conversation with a few church-going guys about how to "live out Christianity in the workplace". This is a frequent topic among affluent, white, male, church-going circles. There are many blogs, email subscriptions, books, seminars, which cover this subject matter—how to be a "good Christian". Mind you, there are some incredible minds, hearts, and motives behind a lot of this. I've followed folks like

WisdomHunters.com

and have on occasion read 

Boyd Bailey's

 blog.

But I think too many of us are too focused on being a "good Christian in the workplace", and too concerned with what we do and say to ensure we are "being that."

So, I was in this conversation with some guys and as we discussed this "being good Christian in the workplace" experience, I asked the question, "Why?".

Why do concentrate so hard on this? Why do we need to figure out what this looks like? How it should manifest itself? The Bible is loaded with answers. So why do we struggle so much with this? Why do we need to define it? I think its because we think we can control it. Our "goodness".

Maybe I am just a "bad Christian" in the workplace, and I don't define or work hard enough at it.*  

I am a Christian. A follower of Christ. Desiring to be like Christ. Not reading enough Bible. Not praying enough. Swearing too much. Drinking too much. Putting myself first too much. And I am in the workplace. 

If I am looking too hard at being a "good" one. I am looking at others. And what

they

think of what I am doing. My focus is elsewhere. On my reputation. Or worse yet, my reputation on behalf of God's. And He doesn't need my help.

Jesus never called us to be good. He called us to be like Him. To "

Be holy because I am holy

(1 Peter 1:16)" and that "

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

(James 1:27)" and that "

the kind of fasting I want calls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn. I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome the poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and don not hide from relatives who need your help.

(Isaiah 58:6-7)"

E.T. told us to "Be good.". God did not.

* That's my safe statement, y'all. It absolves any critical observation and comment from being too cutting, and puts any blame on myself and my shortcomings. After all, "

All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God

."–

wink

.

By 2013

A little late for a New Year's resolution, but I wanted to get the show on the road none the less. I had a great Holiday season, a good bit of time off work, some quality family and friend time, and some down time for just me. Some of which was spent looking back through my annals of blog entries. And it was good to see a bit of my journey since 2010. If I do say so myself, I believe there's some good stuff there. Check that.... I KNOW there's some good stuff there. Maybe the "good stuff" is writer (THIS writer) -directed content. And I know its good...for me.

Which brings me to a New Year's declaration. This year I want to:

BELIEVE BY KNOWING
While I will never (on this earth) fully know the mind of God and His Providence. And there is such an existential quality to faith in God, His Son, and His Spirit, that sometimes what I know will be something I don't understand, or even want to hear. But I want to know more. Through study, experience, and trust.

SAY BY DOING
Words mean things. Attitude and activity mean more.

RISE BY FALLING
To my knees. Seeking more of and about God, and in-turn, myself. Being vulnerable. And perhaps failing.

I started last year with a semi-ambiguous resolution New Year's Evolution, and have found that acted upon, faith-followed, intentions happen.

I know there are some things ahead that will challenge, discourage, and cause pain, from all of the above. Additionally, there will be joy, fulfillment, and self-discovery.

10 days in. Here we go.

Dear Wormwood

My Dearest Wormwood,

I must commend you for the work you are doing. You've distracted many from some of Our Father Below's greatest work. Now they are grumbling about "why" this so called tragedy has occurred. They are arguing amongst themselves, searching for places to put the blame. They blame their government, their laws, their entertainment, their family units, and even the makeup of their minds. And many have now lost sight of Our Father's activity almost entirely. Unfortunately I have also seen many turn to the enemy for mere comfort, and some actually believe they are receiving it. This cannot happen, Wormwood. Shame on you.

That said, you are recovering well as you have refocused many to this holiday season and its crowds, spending, and gift hoarding, instead of the celebration of our enemy's coming in this laughingly human form to supposedly save them. Those you've refocused away from the "tragedy" will easily fall into your plan of laziness and selfish inactivity.

I must forewarn you however that there will be some of their leaders in the buildings in which they meet who will claim the untruth of this silly savior. Be sure and occupy the congregants minds on visiting relatives, the gifts which help them to better their neighbors, and feeling bad about the drunken behavior they displayed at their holiday get-togethers. I'd rather them feel guilty, than special in this season.

In addition, be sure you continue to fuel the ongoing argument many have as to the existence of our enemy. This is a powerful discussion to leverage as many will be distracted to feel they must defend their beliefs rather than stand firm in them.

Don't mess this up, Wormwood. Our Father would not be pleased. These are important times.

Your Deviant Uncle, Screwtape

NOTE:

This evil which reared its horrible face in Newtown on December 14th caused me to consider CS Lewis'

Screwtape Letters

. Its been a while since I've read it, but a lot of the conversation surrounding the Sandy Hook killings brought Screwtape's letters to mind. And how he may have written his nephew. I hope I've done it justice. My apologies to CS. May we continue to pray for the community of Newtown and the family and friends of all affected.

Stay Encouraged

Recently, a verse was placed in my heart and mind. Admittedly, I can't quote chapter and verse, so had to Google the actuals. So here goes:

Proverbs 16:9 states "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."

Some recent activities in my life have brought me some clarity to "why this verse". Without getting into details, I've seen heart-of man-plans, and I have seen Lord-determined-steps lead to an unforeseen bend in a road.

Pastor Bob Vann with the Atlanta Mission shared this statement a while back, and I found it befitting and encouraging. "A bend in the road is not the end of the road. Unless you fail to make the turn. God did not promise smooth sailing, but He did promise a safe arrival. We give our problems sovereignty—God is sovereign! Adversity is a purifying agent. Be gracious under attack. Not everybody likes you. Not everyone can handle God's blessing and favor on your life. What has been taken from you may be God's way of giving to you. Let God comfort you. God didn't promise you that he wouldn't let you go through what you're going through. Yet, He WILL comfort you. Let your life speak for you—just keep following the Savior"

Or as my Pastor, Crawford Loritts puts it. "Let God do what He does."

Stay encouraged...

Our Christmas Carol

Yesterday was the mass killing in a Newtown, CT elementary school.

Last night I saw my second born perform in the role of Scrooge's nephew in a local adaptation of

A Christmas Carol

. The director is a 5th grade teacher here in town. I can't imagine how the day's tragedy played through his heart and mind. He loves kids. He teaches kids.

So the lens of the day had Scrooge's Christmas Past, Present, and Future ghosts loom a little differently in my mind and caused me think about our future. Based on our present. Stemmed from our past. We are a crazy country, in a crazy world, at a crazy time. And we all want everything to be "fine". The problem is the methods we use to make it fine. We typically wait, blame, apply solely reason, legislate, excuse-make, suppress, or just sit on our behinds and complain. Rarely do we take action. All too often, we don't see love.

This past election season was a tough one for me. I've spent the past year volunteering once a week at

The Atlanta Mission,

a homeless shelter in downtown Atlanta. And in doing so, I have learned a lot about myself, my Faith, my culture, and my socio-economic acumen. In addition, I've seen other perspectives, lifestyles, social and cultural realities, and societal inequalities. A revisited perspective caused me to really wrestle with my vote. My desire to truly do the right thing. I wrestled, tossed and turned, wanting to make a difference. I was for one guy, then the other. Then I decided to just vote for the one guy who hit on a couple core things I believed in. Then I voted. 

I tuned in to the election coverage for a few hours that night, and watched the networks use there cool charts, touch screens, and exit polling. Then I got tired. Went to bed. Woke up later that night and turned on the TV to see if there was some sort of conclusion. I heard Stevie singing

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

. Then turned it off, rolled over, and went back to bed. 

I learned that God's love, my love, my life, my activities, my words, cast more opportunity for impact than my cast vote.

There have been a lot of "hug your kids a little tighter" comments all over the broadcast and social medias. And I understand that. And surely we should. And maybe this is a right season for just that. We need to mourn*. But, we can't remain hunkered down in our own safe zone. There is a world out there that needs our love, our prayer, our activity.

Maybe somehow this evil, tragic, horrific, non-sense, will cause pause to visit the importance of 

how

we live in the world we live in. I said in

my post yesterday

, "I don't think we can shelter and escape it." I pray that we all decide to take action in love. Move from here in love. Scrooge had an opportunity to change a future. We do too.

"Do not merely listen to the word, and in so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" - James 1:22

--------

* Ecclesiastes 3:1-7

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

A time to be born and a time to die, 

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak

Dumbfounded

Today 20 Children and 6 Adults were murdered by a gunman in a Newtown CT elementary school.

I can't get my head around this. Does God look at us and weep and say, "My Creation, My Creation. Look at what you have made of yourselves." Does God look at us and weep and say "My Children, I too know what it's like to have lost a Son." I try to imagine the mind of GOD.

Humanity looks to attribute a reason for this. Do we blame the person? Do we blame the mom? Do we say "Well she must have neglected her child."? Do we blame the guns? Do we look at the video games our kids play "shooting and not feeling." Has society and culture numbed us to the point that someone is influenced to the point of insanity and we want to make sense of it. I don't think we can shelter and escape it.

We want to rationalize evil. We want to legislate evil. We just want somewhere to look and say "THIS is why this happened."

It is just horrible.

I believe in God, His Son, and His Spirit. But right now, I can make no sense of it. But I trust Him.

Lord, somehow bring peace and comfort....

I Abstain

November 6, 2012. Election Day. I was 12th in line, and there were about 200 or so behind me when the polls open. Its a chilly, rainy day. We are a about a week removed from the "superstorm" Sandy, which has ravaged the northeast. I know many without power and vicariously some without homes. Yet the dialogue around the Presidential election has seemed omnipresent.

I remember hearing an older generation speak as to how their vote was "a matter of privacy". Politics really weren't discussed outside of the fringe. Now things are so public. Viewpoints are spewed. Statistics are skewed. Opinions are news. And the discussion seems to bring conclusions that the end of the world is upon us (or at least the good ol' USA).

So, the votes are cast. Then we move on about our way into our country's demise.

Well....I abstain.

• I abstain from not listening

• I abstain from not speaking

• I abstain from not doing

• I abstain from not serving

• I abstain from not considering

• I abstain from not caring

• I abstain from not being in relationship

• I abstain from not sharing the love of God

And I ask that you hold me accountable.

____________

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

____________

Abstain: to refrain deliberately and often with an effort of self-denial from an action or practice.

Left Not Right

We are in the heat of election season. Opinions and perspectives are aggressively high. Words like "they", "them", "my", "mine", "ours", take on venomous tone. Sides are taken. Debate seems to have taken a backseat. Facebook is a battleground state for the loyal. And status updates and comment chains are lengthy. Each "side" believing they are correct.

Those that lean Right often opine that the government (or in this year's case it's worded as "Obama") wants to take more money from the folks who have worked hard and earned it, and give it away to "those" who don't work and gladly want to stay in a lesser income, or poverty, and simply just take the handouts, and drink and have babies to get more.*

Those that lean Left see through a lens of social injustice and believe that the government should serve as a vehicle to help level the playing field because people in and of themselves won't. And that people like "Romney" are racist, homophobic, and want to force women to stay in the kitchen or at the very least, earn a lesser wage and not get breast cancer examinations—and certainly don't have a heart to help the less fortunate.*

I believe that this debate is a result of failure. Not the government's (although it is easy to question the application of some of its position and influence), but ours. The Church's. Mine.**

Maybe its John Lennon-like, but I believe that if we were less concerned about what was "ours" or "mine", or "theirs" and "not ours", we would live in a better world. What if we lived under the umbrella of words like hospitality, generosity, servitude, sacrifice and joy?***

Jesus said His Kingdom is not of this world. I want my focus to be out-of-THIS-world. Surely bigger than a position and a vote. I do know that I will fall short. Dreadfully short in some cases. But I want to set my heart toward this.

"And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them." - Luke 6:31

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" -  James 1:22

*Clearly these are generalizations, but a lot of folks vote through this lens. Of course, there are a lot of additional perspectives (like past success rates of government programs, or the reality of social inequalities) which form a voters decision making process. However, I think you know what I am talking about.

**I believe that our fallen, sin-influenced world is the primary impetus for this failure. So the failure of all else shouldn't be a surprise. But I do believe we have a responsibility here within it.

*** I guess some folks do. If you are one of them, thank you.

Gather No Moss

Sometimes I really think I am pretty smart. I've got over 44 years under my belt. Married. Two relatively teenaged boys. Worked for a while. Seen enough folk orate, status update and instigate that leads me to an all-to-often pious opinion of their matters. Surely with age and experience comes wisdom, but conceit, rigidity and narrow-focus can follow as well if we rest on laurels and "what we know."

Albert Einstein said, "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving."

Glad life continues to put road in front of me. Winding roads with turns, and even bumps in it. And family and friends continue to show me a more invigorating, more scenic, or more efficient route. Lord, help me keep the feet churning and the wheels turning. And not to just coast.

Serious Fun

In an old sermon, after commenting on the immorality of the human soul, C.S. Lewis stated "This does not mean we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exit between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously."

As I can recall, the greatest times in my life have come alongside those closest to me. I remember a time early in the relationship with my wife. Sitting next to her, perched on a toilet (closed), watching her blow dry her hair. Now if you knew my wife, and her hair, this can be a time consuming affair. Anyway, she's standing there, the dryer is screaming away, and I proceed to make faces in the mirror. Stupid faces. Goofy faces. This is making her laugh, and I am finding it pretty amusing myself. These faces put the workings of my facial muscles to the test. I actually awoke the next morning a little sore. Seriously. My face was sore from making stupid faces.

This silliness could only be appreciated by someone who loves me a lot. Her eyes looked at me in the mirror not with a "look at this idiot", but rather an "I love this nut".

You see she loves me. She knows me. And this is a springboard for many things. But one of the best is fun.

While Faith is a serious business, don't let It's gravity be the end all be all. Surely there are seasons of desert and solemnity, and foundational rights and wrongs. But let's not be too overbearing. Like Lewis shared, if we understand the severity and seriousness of our life, and our Beliefs, it sure gives a lot of foundation for joy and fun. Or at least it should.

Joy can be serious business.

Donkeys and Elephants and We, Oh My

I have been watching the Republican National Convention. This coupled with the onslaught of far left and far right broadcast and social media propaganda and opinion has gotten me quite frustrated. Frustrated more in the people, than the process.

The other day a Yahoo reporter was fired for stating that Mitt and Ann Romney are "happy to have a party with black people drowning" (apparently he didn't realize his microphone was on). And Chris Christie's "the educational savages will only put themselves ahead of children". Really?

We are incensed as a nation. We are pissed off at "them". And the fact that "they" hate what we love. And "they" are so "greedy. And they are so "lazy". And that's just the mainstream media (yes, mainstream, Fox News. You are a part of "them").

The status update anger on Facebook is seething, and will only get worse through the election. I shake my head, and while I'd like to share my opinion (as narrow as it may be), I hold off from commenting. I DON'T want to be a part of the rhetoric. I don't want to say or write. I want to do.

I watched a George HW Bush bio piece, and really was drawn to his "thousand points of light" thinking. Say what you will, but this guy who I am sure received his fair share of lambast, had a great heart for people, and was really on to something. What if we all did and didn't say. What if we all served instead of held. What if we worked instead of sat. What if we shared instead of told. What if we listened instead of walled.

"Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's" And they were amazed at him (Mark 12:17).

What if we recognized what is God's and treated it accordingly?

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matt 22:37-40)

What if we lived these out and hung on them?

The reality is that there's a ton...a mountain...a world of national dept. The reality is there are a ton....a mountain....a world of undereducated and less fortuned. And tons, mountains and worlds of so ons. Lets ensure we're not pointing out the specs in eyes, and doing what we can do.

Chicken Sandwich in a Pickle

There's been a lot of back and forth about Chick-fil-A and Dan Cathy's views on gay marriage. It is as hot a topic and as divisive an issue as there is today. And to be honest, I am not 100% sure of my stance.  As most know who've read my blogs before, I can be a bit of a Jesus or church guy. Perhaps I should dig deeper on this issue in the good book.

I just hope that as we status update or discuss, when we look in mirrors and examine ourselves before pontificating or protesting.

I do know that the more black people I meet, spend time with, converse with, through love, makes me realize that I don't know as much about black people as I thought I did. Conversely, I also uncover the lack of difference. Perhaps I need more gay friends.

I believe God can and does handle a lot more than people give Him credit for. I also believe all to often we think God is on our team. But His Providence is larger than ours. And most likely is different than what we think it is. Or ought to be.

Let our offense be love.