As most of you know, we took a vacation to visit my parents in south Texas this last week. On our return home, we had a layover in Houston. The weather was horrible, some predicting a hurricane. After being delayed on the runway in McAllen, TX for about 2 1/2 hours, we finally flew to Houston. Planes were backed up and many flights cancelled from every airline. The airport was completely inundated with travellers, most unhappy with their circumstance. Bottom line, we were supposed to land at 2:30 PM and finally landed at 11:00 PM. Ever spend 9 hours in an airport with 3 little kids?
While we were there, I decided to try something that I had read about a few weeks ago. I was reading an article concerning the psyche of man. In it, the author stated that everyone wants to be friendly and nice. The piece also interviewed another sociologist who believed that not everyone was created that way. "Our makeup is unique as our fingerprints," he said,"Some maintain the capacity to be nice and others do not have it in them." I immediately disagreed with the sociologist and opted to embark on my own experiment.
During the day at the airport, we had to eat, buy snacks, magazines, deal with the customer service counter, the gate workers. Our bags didn't arrive with our plane, so we had to engage the baggage claim attendants. To be honest, normally my patience wears thin after a long unexpected day like Monday, but I was on a mission.
Most of the time each of the individuals started the exchange with a somewhat sour,"Can I help you?" Each encounter I had started with me replying,"I'll bet you have had a long tough day, haven't you?" Nearly every time, that response illicited a beleagured and reticent smile. Not once did someone snap back at me or respond that time was critical and the line was long. Each and every encounter wound up incredibly pleasant. I heard a few stories of rude fliers, tough supervisors, and sore feet. The end result, you might say, was that I got incredible service from people who might not be normally very friendly. Though that was true in every situation, that was not the end result.
The result was that the sociologist who claimed that not all people are nice, in my experiment, was false. God made each one of us. We know that each of us has inherent God-like qualities. We can love, forgive, show mercy, sacrifice and show faith. I hope God used me to make a small impact on some of these tired workers that day. However, the bigger impact was on me. I learned that through trying situations, a little compassion and faith in others goes a long way. I had a commander in the Army tell me once that no one wakes up in the morning determined to screw something up. What he meant was to be compassionate and show mercy. I don't always remember that, but after Monday, and the unexpected responses I received every time, I oray I will show more of those qualities every day.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Judgment Day
How does this pertain to our book, you ask? I think it might, but who cares if it doesn't. I'm just sharing some thoughts I have had lately.
One of these days we will all stand at the pearly gates awaiting for our names to be found in the Lamb's Book of Life. When we face our Maker, after walking through the entrance, we will approach the throne and God will utter very profound words to each soul. He might say,"Well done my good and faithfull servant." He might say,"Why have you forsaken me?" What He will say is,"Your works for Me are heralded here in Heaven by the angels, however,you are accountable for your actions and thoughts. Now is the time to answer for those sins."
Daunting, exciting, and frightening all at once isn't it? I realize that I will have probably a list longer than any of you, but there are certain items I hope to ensure never again get scribed on my scroll. One in particular is judging other people.
Grace is the virtue that God employed when He sent His son. By grace, we must accept all others as He has accepted all of us. If God allows each unique person the opportunity to accept salvation, then who are we on earth to engage in judgment? Scripture states that Christians are called to exercise discerment between good and evil, right and wrong. However, what separates some Christians is the next action. Some choose to open their arms, realizing that we all "have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. " Others choose to segregate and separate, even churches engage in this behavior.
It saddens me that church leaders and lay leaders allow this to occur in many churches as well as the community. I was talking with a member of a different denomination the other day and he was explaining to me that in his church(a very popular denomination), the church leaders approached a practicing alcoholic in their congregation. They encouraged him to seek treatment. He replied that his personal life was his own and his issues were between him and God. I believe that is is Godly to offer support and help to those that might need it. However, the leaders then informed the member that if he chose not to seek help then he couldn't continue his membership in the church, it would be revoked! What?!?!?!? When is casting out Christians helping them to see God's infinite glory? The leaders further went on to explain that it was distracting to other members and causing some to feel uncomfortable in the church. Sounds to me like the gentleman with the alcohol issue wasn't the only one in the church needing counseling.
Church is a hospital for the spiritually sick. We all come seeking guidance, knowledge, support, leadership, fellowship and community. By asking someone to leave, who wasn't disrupting services or threatening other attendees, you are breaking that trust and contributing to hardened hearts. That does not come from God.
Long story short, this situation truly disturbed me. I am thankful for a forgiving God who will pardon my sins. I am thankful that God accepts me for who I am because He created me. I am thankful that our denomination and local church in every aspect supports not only its members but also those who attend. I am thankful for an open communion table for all denominations. I am thankful that God continually points out my own flaws so that I do not have the time, energy or desire to look at someone else's. I am thankful for God.
Please post any comments.
One of these days we will all stand at the pearly gates awaiting for our names to be found in the Lamb's Book of Life. When we face our Maker, after walking through the entrance, we will approach the throne and God will utter very profound words to each soul. He might say,"Well done my good and faithfull servant." He might say,"Why have you forsaken me?" What He will say is,"Your works for Me are heralded here in Heaven by the angels, however,you are accountable for your actions and thoughts. Now is the time to answer for those sins."
Daunting, exciting, and frightening all at once isn't it? I realize that I will have probably a list longer than any of you, but there are certain items I hope to ensure never again get scribed on my scroll. One in particular is judging other people.
Grace is the virtue that God employed when He sent His son. By grace, we must accept all others as He has accepted all of us. If God allows each unique person the opportunity to accept salvation, then who are we on earth to engage in judgment? Scripture states that Christians are called to exercise discerment between good and evil, right and wrong. However, what separates some Christians is the next action. Some choose to open their arms, realizing that we all "have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. " Others choose to segregate and separate, even churches engage in this behavior.
It saddens me that church leaders and lay leaders allow this to occur in many churches as well as the community. I was talking with a member of a different denomination the other day and he was explaining to me that in his church(a very popular denomination), the church leaders approached a practicing alcoholic in their congregation. They encouraged him to seek treatment. He replied that his personal life was his own and his issues were between him and God. I believe that is is Godly to offer support and help to those that might need it. However, the leaders then informed the member that if he chose not to seek help then he couldn't continue his membership in the church, it would be revoked! What?!?!?!? When is casting out Christians helping them to see God's infinite glory? The leaders further went on to explain that it was distracting to other members and causing some to feel uncomfortable in the church. Sounds to me like the gentleman with the alcohol issue wasn't the only one in the church needing counseling.
Church is a hospital for the spiritually sick. We all come seeking guidance, knowledge, support, leadership, fellowship and community. By asking someone to leave, who wasn't disrupting services or threatening other attendees, you are breaking that trust and contributing to hardened hearts. That does not come from God.
Long story short, this situation truly disturbed me. I am thankful for a forgiving God who will pardon my sins. I am thankful that God accepts me for who I am because He created me. I am thankful that our denomination and local church in every aspect supports not only its members but also those who attend. I am thankful for an open communion table for all denominations. I am thankful that God continually points out my own flaws so that I do not have the time, energy or desire to look at someone else's. I am thankful for God.
Please post any comments.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Heroes
There is a television show that premiered this past fall and is about to conclude its first season titled "Heroes." As a lifelong fan of superheroes, Batman is my all-time favorite, I was highly intrigued with the initial articles I had read over the summer pertaining to this new show. Now understand, I only watch 3 shows over the course of a week: "Lost", sports, and now "Heroes". What, you say? Sports isn't a show? Well, I like almost any athletic event, but with 3 little kids, I watch few of them outside of football season. BOOMER SOONER!
The plotline of the show is simply that if we assume that man has evolved physically over time from Neanderthals to present day humans, then why shouldn't we continue to evolve. Thus, certain individuals across the globe are realizing that they have super human abilities, i.e. hearing other's thoughts, flying, stopping time, passing through walls, self-healing, fire starting, persuasion, etc. There is one character in particular who has captivated me. His name is Peter Petrelli. His ability is that he can absorb the powers of other special people once he has been in contact with them. You see, Peter is an optimist who was a home hospice nurse who always clung to the belief that he was meant to affect or change the world. He didn't know how or why or when, but he was supposed to have an impact in a dramatic fashion.
Once he realized his ability, he continued his pursuit of making a difference, especially when others kept telling him he was just a regular Joe who should remember his place in the world. He kept pleading that he was trying to find that place and he knew better than to sit still. he wanted to use the gifts he had been given.
In light of the book we have been reading, I find the storyline very appropos. Visually watching someone struggle with his own gifts and trying to sort out exactly his purpose in some plan is quite surreal in our context. I feel that I understand the gifts I have been blessed with so far, but daily I ask God for direction. Our purpose is simply to glorify God with all we have been given, but I want to ensure that I am headed in the right direction. I want to be "more of myself, and not less."
Please share your thoughts.
The plotline of the show is simply that if we assume that man has evolved physically over time from Neanderthals to present day humans, then why shouldn't we continue to evolve. Thus, certain individuals across the globe are realizing that they have super human abilities, i.e. hearing other's thoughts, flying, stopping time, passing through walls, self-healing, fire starting, persuasion, etc. There is one character in particular who has captivated me. His name is Peter Petrelli. His ability is that he can absorb the powers of other special people once he has been in contact with them. You see, Peter is an optimist who was a home hospice nurse who always clung to the belief that he was meant to affect or change the world. He didn't know how or why or when, but he was supposed to have an impact in a dramatic fashion.
Once he realized his ability, he continued his pursuit of making a difference, especially when others kept telling him he was just a regular Joe who should remember his place in the world. He kept pleading that he was trying to find that place and he knew better than to sit still. he wanted to use the gifts he had been given.
In light of the book we have been reading, I find the storyline very appropos. Visually watching someone struggle with his own gifts and trying to sort out exactly his purpose in some plan is quite surreal in our context. I feel that I understand the gifts I have been blessed with so far, but daily I ask God for direction. Our purpose is simply to glorify God with all we have been given, but I want to ensure that I am headed in the right direction. I want to be "more of myself, and not less."
Please share your thoughts.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Butterfly Effect
The last few weeks I have seen the world a little differently. Since we first discussed the notion that we all have a preconceived mission or assignment from God, I walk around more cautiously, observe my surroundings more closely, regard my interactions with others more purposefully. I believe that we all as Christians know that we are called for a divine purpose, but for the first time, I feel that not solely in my head but in my soul as well. Does that make sense to anyone?
You may have all heard of the butterfly effect, or the chaos theory. What Edward Lorenz first popularized in the 1960's was that theoretically a butterfly could flap its wings and thus cause a change in atmospheric conditions, could initiate a wind storm or tornado, and affect the world all over. Simply, a small change in the condition could initiate other small changes, which ultimately leads to major phenomenal effects. This is how I am starting to view my assignment.
We all have read or heard stories of people doing a little thing that blows up big and takes off. How about on a smaller scale. One kind word or positive encouragement, or listening with more intensity, or writing a friend an uplifting e-mail, could have dramatic effects that we may never realize. I may never have to utter the word "God" to have Him be seen.
Did I know that before? Sure, I did. But I'm not convinced I walked around daily with that purpose in mind.
Please feel free to comment.
You may have all heard of the butterfly effect, or the chaos theory. What Edward Lorenz first popularized in the 1960's was that theoretically a butterfly could flap its wings and thus cause a change in atmospheric conditions, could initiate a wind storm or tornado, and affect the world all over. Simply, a small change in the condition could initiate other small changes, which ultimately leads to major phenomenal effects. This is how I am starting to view my assignment.
We all have read or heard stories of people doing a little thing that blows up big and takes off. How about on a smaller scale. One kind word or positive encouragement, or listening with more intensity, or writing a friend an uplifting e-mail, could have dramatic effects that we may never realize. I may never have to utter the word "God" to have Him be seen.
Did I know that before? Sure, I did. But I'm not convinced I walked around daily with that purpose in mind.
Please feel free to comment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)