Athiests and Fools

Yeah, yeah...I know it's spelled athEIsts.  That I before E except after C rule = FAIL.  But there's a point to my error...

A while back, a friend of mine and I were talking about twitter and he mentioned a person that goes by Godless Spellchecker...check out his website HERE if you'd like.  This guy searches twitter for misspellings of Atheist or Atheism and responds with a snarky (and often funny) comment.  Unfortunately, it's fairly common that people who claim to follow Christ retaliate with hate-filled attacks (not so 'Christian').  For some people, this is probably just more funny.  But truly...it's just sad.

One of my favorite verses is probably an odd choice.  1 Corinthians 1:18 says this - "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."  So...why are we so surprised when people think our faith is the stuff of fairy tales?  And why are we so quick to attack when our beliefs are questioned?  Is our faith so fragile?

And Christians don't own the rights to seemingly illogical beliefs.  Everyone in the world clings to some degree of foolishness...every day we leave ourselves open to the criticism of those who don't agree with us.  But we still believe we're right...right?  I regularly tell Sara that we ALL think we're right.  If we didn't, we wouldn't think what we think.

For the record, she doesn't always appreciate it when I say this... 
(Is it bad that I think that's ok, because I'm still right?)

If we're completely honest with ourselves and each other, everyone of us holds firmly to beliefs that we know aren't completely founded on knowledge.  A few years back, I heard someone say (repeatedly) "I know that I know that..."  It grated on me every time I heard it.  Without personal experience (and even that's suspect), do we really KNOW anything?  Experience, education or evidence may lead me to believe something, but that doesn't make it the truth.  I can tell people that I believe that God completed creation in 6 days or it was a natural process over 6 million years.  But I wasn't there!  My belief does NOT define the truth.  I believe the Bible is the truth.  But again, my belief does not make that statement true. It either is or it is not...and every time we tear someone (or their beliefs) down, we imply that we're somehow more enlightened than they are.  We bask in our own arrogance.

I came across a quote recently that was part of an Atheist's argument against Christianity.  While you (and I) don't have to believe everything (or anything) this person says, we should at least consider the logic of this part of his argument:

And being in a Christian part of the world, I feel that I would have no trouble convincing most of you that the Moslem holy books are false, that those books are not the true word of God. You would tend to agree that all those other people, who have other Gods and other religious books, are mistaken. You might agree that they have been misinformed, or even deceived. It would seem that people in other parts of the world are so easily made to believe whatever is accepted in their part of the world. They so easily believe in false idols. Only we, who happen to be born in the Christian part of the world, have the "true truth." Well, most of us do. There are, of course, the Jews, and those terrible old Atheists, and many others who refuse to accept the "truth" of the Christian Bible .... but they don't count.

As for me, this got me thinking about why we believe what we believe.  I would say that I believe in my interpretation of the Bible.  But why do I believe the Bible is true...and why do I think the interpretation I follow is better than others?  I believe in gravity because it hasn't failed me yet and because the science that measures gravity doesn't conflict with more deeply held beliefs.  Again...this doesn't mean that my understanding of gravity is correct.  But I didn't at some point choose to believe in gravity any more than I chose to believe the Bible...I just believe!  And even in the face of what some would call logic, someone can't just choose to stop (or start) believing in God.  In The Convert, Oliver Broudy puts it this way: 


Belief is, in fact, nothing like what it is so often made out to be: a fully intentional, multiple-choice answer to the question of how to make sense of reality.  It is much more like a state of mind one occupies, inspired by a relational paradigm that the word 'belief' alone does little to illuminate.  For the same reason, comparing belief to science, or any other answer, dramatically misses the point.  You might as well compare it to music.  (One does not ask if music is 'true'.)
In fact, if anything distinguishes the onset of belief, it's that, at that moment, individual choice could not possibly matter less.


The funny thing is that most of us aren't even all that confident in our own beliefs (although we would never admit it)!  On a recent album, Propaganda released the song "Forgive Me For Asking".  I'd definitely recommend clicking on the link and listening to the song.  But if you'd rather read, the lyrics are at the end of this post...at least scan them!  This song is a truly honest look at the way we choose to lie to ourselves and each other every day.*  

So (you may wonder), what's the point of all this rambling?  My point is that our beliefs were not something that we chose...they just are.  I can present overwhelming evidence for my faith, but that won't necessarily spark faith in someone else (that's God's job, not mine!).  And with that in mind, isn't a bit ridiculous that we choose to ridicule people for what they believe?  Isn't it just as ridiculous to get combative in defense of our beliefs?  Instead, can't we engage in respectful dialogue and learn to grow from our conversations with those that disagree with us?  Christians - I'm pretty sure Jesus didn't tell us to berate people into the kingdom of heaven between bouts of berating those who may be a part of the kingdom but are clearly confused by some jacked-up denomination.  Instead, the Bible states that we should be known by the way we love our brothers and care for those in need. 

To be clear, I don't think we should ignore or trivialize our understanding of the truth.  Christians are called to make disciples.  Other faiths (including Atheists) are free to do the same.  However, all of us should approach every interaction with humility...knowing that our views may be somewhat off...at least occasionally.  

John Adams - "Admire and adore the Author of the telescopic universe, love and esteem the work, do all in your power to lessen ill, and increase good, but never assume to comprehend."


* - Yes, I realize I constantly quote artists.  I tend to think that some (not all!) of the people making our music are the prophets and philosophers of our day.  Deal with it...that's pretty much how I roll.  Ok...here's the lyrics to Forgive Me For Asking:

Question: (And this is embarrassing)

You ever been scared you had no idea what you were talking about?

Yeah, me too.

Honestly perplexed.

I've lied and so have you, Christians.

Lying.

Like you never had questions?

Like you never had a moment

when your inner dialogues

were all of a sudden in third person like,

"Are you really buying this?"

You're lying.

Like your eyes are 100% always satisfied by your spouse

and you don't need accountability

neither of which is biblical, by the way.

YOUR EYES ARE NEVER SATISFIED.

Us, overgrown primates with egos, lying.

You quote the devil when you declare yourself okay!

You get it but you don't get it.

Like you've never planted your Chuck Taylors firmly in the sinking sand...

You're lying.

We for centuries sing hymns of grace,

and THIS IS WHY IT'S AMAZING!

And if it's not, you don't understand…

Or you're lying.

Which is why your friends don't believe you. 

There is just as much Jesus' blood on your hand as there is his.

You sure you understand the cross?

Forgive me for asking.

Forgive me for asking.

And Muslims— excuse my boldness— but what if you're lying, too?

Like you don't ever have questions?

As if you've never wondered why Allah's ears only hear directionally,

and if you accidentally pointed slightly north easterly then you've blasphemed?

As if the thought has never crossed your mind

that the Jihadists interpret the Quran correctly

and you are what we Christians would call 'lukewarm'?

Which makes you much more like my evanjellyfish churchianity would allow me to admit. 

And you can call me on it; I'll deny it, just don't believe me

because I'm lying.

I strain at gnats; I focus on silliness; I act like God has joined a political party— just like you.

As if you've never thought,

"What if I was paralyzed and I can't make my pilgrimage to Mecca—

yet I follow the text better than my whole family? Is there enough mercy for me?" 

Forgive me for asking.

Forgive me for asking.

I know it's wrong for me to front like I understand your theology

as well as I think I understand mine,

but I know we can agree on this: 

Something is deathly wrong with us. 

And you, smarty pants, don't front

Like the little you know about our universe

you ready to draw conclusions about it's origins?

Maybe we don't know as much as we think we do…

Science still can't explain yawning.

Like you never took your world view to it's furthest conclusions?

That if human behavior is just what protoplasm does at this temperature,

then there is no need for humanitarian effort,

because these atrocities weren't wrong,

IT'S JUST THE UNIVERSE WEEDING OUT BAD GENES.

Them is fingernail-on-chalkboard words, ain't 'em?

You're lying.

Maybe I'm wrong, maybe you're right.

Maybe we'll find out the day after the world ends.

Yeah, I guess we're all a little inconsistent,

SO MAYBE WE CAN JUST SHOW EACH OTHER SOME GRACE.

Forgive me for asking.

Forgive me for asking.

Forgive me for asking.

You ever bury yourself in self-righteous guilt?

[Huh, me too.]

Are there fresh tally marks on the walls of your brain's prison,

[Mine, too]

hoping that the count of good deeds outnumber the bad ones?

Are your miserable failures your badges of honor?

And when you count those tallies, 

and the day the good outnumber the bad,

pat yourself on the back:

YOU HAVE JOINED THE REST OF HUMANITY.

You, too, are lying.

Like you never thought,

"Someone might catch me in my contradiction."

Yeah, me too.

You ever think to yourself,

"I have no idea what I'm talking about"?

Yeah, me too.

Forgive me for asking.

Forgive me for asking

The Stinky Porter

Last June, I had the opportunity to hike the Inca Trail with a group of amazing guys...and it was epic.

So Joel Malm is a guy in Texas that had a great idea and launched it into something that's still going strong.  With Summit Leaders, he pairs leadership development with hiking.  Pretty basic concept, but not something that everybody is doing out there.  You should totally check it out if you're into hiking...or leadership I guess.  For our trip, he enlisted Matt Chandler to lead devotions and struggle up (and down) the trail with us.  The idea, of course, being that everyone taking part would grow in their faith, their leadership ability, and their relationships with God and each other.  

At the end of the trip, we all hung out with a final cup of coca tea and talked about what we'd learned, or what our best memory was, or whatever awesomeness happened to jump out at us at the time.  Pretty much everybody mentioned the night on the trail when it was so clear we could see the bands of the milky way...or the spectacular sunrise we woke up to after our final night on the trail...

Others talked about overcoming the climb up Dead Woman's Pass...in the snow...because it never even rains in June.  They discussed the fact that God gives us the power to overcome so much and shared other personal revelations.  Honestly though, I'm not entirely sure what I talked about when it was my turn to 'share'.

Looking back, it's odd to say that the people that taught me the greatest lesson were the people that were trying their hardest to be invisible.  Our porters were tiny giants.  These men all had to be under 5'6" and 150 lbs.  But while hundreds of tourists struggle to the end of the trail with 10 pounds of random stuff in their backpack, these guys power through the trail carrying a ridiculous load of stuff tied to their back with a blanket around their neck...and they do it in FLIP-FLOPS!!!  So yeah...they pretty much rock.  

Of all of our porters, the one that has been on my mind the most is the man that everybody just called 'The Stinky Porter'.  This guy carried our trash (or even worse) on his back for 4 days.  He had the job that nobody else wanted.  Makes me wonder how many of us would be willing to do the same to provide for our families...even if it was the only job available.  

Back in October, Dick Foth (who was recently called 'the grandfather of National Community Church'), preached a great sermon about Jesus washing the feet of his disciples...and how we should be willing to serve each other in the same way.  Here, right near the end of his time with his disciples, he knelt down and served them in a way reserved for servants.  Dick said Jesus "blows up the idea that it is nobody's who wash feet.  This is what the Creator of the universe does.  This is what the Father of all creation does."

But that was just the start of it.  Jesus then did the unbelievable.  He became our Stinky Porter.  He picked up our trash...he put our shit* on his back and carried it down the trail that we were supposed to walk.  He took every bit of everything that separated us from innocence and said 'don't worry...I've got this.'   He did what was necessary to give us the ability to make it to the end of the path.  

And while I know he dreaded it, I'm pretty sure he powered through the trail.



*I don't normally throw obscenities around for no good reason...and yes, it's my intention here to make a point, even if it offends.  If we truly believe that the SON OF GOD embraced everything that we are, our sensibilities should be overwhelmingly offended!  Why are we more offended by a preacher's kid throwing out a 4-letter word than we are by the one who IS perfection being rolled around in our selfishness, bitterness, lies, adultery and pride?  Seriously?!

Derek Webb - "The cross is both beautiful and offensive, and it must be both." 

Thoughtless Thankfulness (say that 10 times!)

So this morning I had a random feeling of overwhelming thankfulness for my wife (Sara).  And yeah...I know that shouldn't be such a random thing, but I can be thoughtless with the best (worst?) of them.  Anyway, I try to struggle against the idea of setting her up as an idol, but she definitely impacts my life more than any other single person.  And I guess that makes sense!  I love my kids and extended family deeply, but all of that is eclipsed by what I feel for Sara.

But why?  It may be a trivial question...but here it is...why are we thankful for the people that surround us?  Or more importantly, why do we love the people we love?  It's easy to focus on how someone looks, or what they do for us, or whatever...but most of that is really tied to narcissism, right? 

Saw this recently in the book Untamed (which you shouldn't read unless you want regular kicks in the gut in a good way)...a quote from Susan Hope...she's talking about what went down during Jesus' baptism:

This is the start of the public ministry, the kick-start to all that follows.  And it is kick-started with a word, not about the mission, but about being a son, and being greatly beloved.  And not only greatly beloved, but greatly delighted in - "with you I am well pleased" - carrying not so much the meaning "I'm pleased with you (because you've done a good job/obeyed me/you've met my demands)" as, "You delight me; I enjoy you; I like what I see."

  One of the things I've told Sara over the years is that I love her because I said I would.  And while it should be obvious, I'll clarify that this is NOT the most romantic thing I've ever said.  But to me it's the essence of marriage and family.  We choose to love (not just stay with) the stunning, the ugly, the perfect, the flawed, the selfless, and even the destructive people that surround us based on a promise.  We choose to delight in THEM and not what they do for us. 

So I'm completely thankful for the fact that Sara is amazingly beautiful...that she pours herself into me and our kids every day...that she puts up with me dragging her to things that she'd rather skip (or into this blog).  But I love her...I delight in her because she is mine as I am hers...because she is.

Now if we could only apply that idea...not just to our spouses, but to everyone around us.  How awesome would that be?

That is all...go look at something else now...

Random thoughts...

Ok...so I've had several random thougts/ideas/whatever rattling around my head the last few days, but I can't seem to take the time to sit down and develop them into coherent 'blogs'.  So instead, I'll present three unrelated ideas now...underdeveloped but still powerful (I think).  So here you go...
  
1 - The whole Chick-fil-A thing got me thinking about the future of our country, the dynamics of what we call 'family' and the Church.  Regardless of anyone's personal beliefs, I think it's likely that the government will (at some point) overturn the Defense of Marriage Act and embrace some form of same-sex marriage.  A crucial question, at that point, is how do Christians (and the Church as a whole) respond to same-sex couples?  While several denominations have accepted ongoing homosexuality, it's difficult to reconcile it with the Bible.  As it stands, if a heterosexual couple were living together and came to faith in Christ, they'd probably be encouraged to either get married, break off the relationship, or stop living together.  But what if it's a same-sex couple that is legally married?  Does the church encourage a divorce?  And what if children are involved?  I have no great answers...but I think we (Christians) are failing if we're not considering the implications of our changing society.

2 - I was reading a magazine the other day and a deep thought popped out at me from an unlikely source.  Santi White (also known as Santigold) said this: "I think the current American Dream is to achieve fame, status and/or riches with the least possible effort or skill...pretty much to blow up quick by any means. It used to be about earning success through hard work and having the opportunity to learn the skills you need to become the best at what you do. I think there is a problem when we live in a society where the end justifies the means. That is a very dangerous concept—on so many levels. And in the process, we’re becoming a nation of idiots.” 

Now it's easy to make this political, but I'm not going there.  Instead, I'll tie it to something Sara and I have discussed recently.  Most of us (at least those of us under 50) have been given WAY more than we've ever earned.  I think that has created in us the idea that if we want something, then we should just be able to get it without any real work.  I know I'm regularly guilty of that in the workplace, but even more so in my personal relationships.  Fairly frequently, I don't even know what I really want until I'm pissed that it didn't happen...and yes, all of that is idiotic.  How much better would we be as individuals, families and communities if we actually put thought into goals and then worked to meet those goals?

3 - This is pretty awesome, but requires a bit of confession on my part.  So I don't really like praying most of the time.  I 'know' that God is there for me, but I struggle on a real level with the concept that he actually interacts with us (or acts directly in response to our prayers).  Reminds me of something our pastor says pretty regularly: "most Christians are educated way beyond their level of obedience." 

So anyway, this morning I was making coffee before sitting down to 'spend some time with God.'  So I'm in the kitchen talking to God about the fact that I really don't want to pray today...and yes, I recognize the irony of this scene.  Basically, I said "It just feels like I'm talking to myself most of the time...why don't you ever answer?  And don't tell me that you answer through the Bible, because that's BS."  Anyway, I grab my cereal and cofee and sit down to read...and Romans 8:26 slapped me.  It says "For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."
 
Seriously!?! 

While this was a major punch in the gut, it also was amazingly comforting.  While I may continue to struggle with prayer...I can rest in the fact that God's plan included the fact that I wouldn't always be able to pray like I should.


Ok...this is more of a book than I thought it would be, but there you go.  Buh-bye now...

Really Delicious Chicken

Did you hear that the Chick-fil-A cows hate gay people?  They not only want to encourage the murder of countless chickens...they also want to prevent loving same-sex couples from enjoying the 'rights' of marriage!!!


So...maybe sarcasm isn't welcome in this subject, but it's pretty much how I roll...


If you haven't heard, in a recent interview, the president of Chick-fil-A discussed their WinShape program.  This program has several different facets, but one is directly focused at preparing for, strengthening or saving marriages.  During this discussion, Mr. Cathy mentioned that his company supports a traditional and Biblical view of marriage.  So obviously, the mascots hate gay people...


And many have determined that they must be stopped.  There have been articles and news stories bashing Chick-fil-A for their so-called 'family' values.  The Jim Henson Company has cut ties with them, and both Chicago and Boston are now attempting to block the opening of new Chick-fil-A restaurants in their cities.  The Boston mayor even said that having one of the franchises in town would be an "insult" to the city.  


So here's my question - Why does anybody care what Dan Cathy thinks?!?!  The man runs a company that sells chicken...really (seriously) delicious chicken!!!  He doesn't shape U.S. policy in ANY way!  And at what point did it become 'evil' or even 'socially unacceptable' for a person to have a belief or viewpoint different from someone else's?  Would anybody care if the situation was flipped...if the CEO of United Airlines came out and said they were in favor of a woman's right to choose and would be donating to Planned Parenthood?  Some people might freak out or boycott or whatever, but odds are, most people wouldn't care.  It's their company, they can do what they want with their money...and it makes sense that they'd donate in ways that fall in line with what they support as a company.


Here's the deal...the Bible is pretty clear about a bunch of stuff that's unpopular.  Yes, it teaches that homosexual behavior is wrong.  But it also says that ANY sex outside of marriage is wrong, and nobody is saying that Dan Cathy is a bigot because he doesn't want to 'support' swinging or premarital sexual relationships.  


And ultimately, do Christians really believe that the government gets to define marriage?  I don't...my union with Sara may be recognized by the government and I may enjoy some 'rights' associated with that, but our marriage has everything to do with our relationship in the eyes of God (NOT the state).


So to wrap this book up...develop your beliefs how you see fit.  If you want to use culture, or a holy book, or nature, or a weird mix of whatever, go nuts!  To quote my Dad, "we all have every right to be wrong."  And yes, every one of us believes some things that are probably completely off base.  But let's acknowledge that all of us have a right to hold fast to the beliefs dear to us even in the face of religious or societal crusades.


As for me, if you want my take on Magic Mike, dispensational theology, politics, or even gay marriage, I welcome pretty much any respectful discussion.  But I'd prefer to have that discussion while enjoying an amazing chicken sandwich, waffle fries and a sweet tea.

Full Heart

Recently (maybe the past few years), there's been a push for those of us that follow Christ to pray for a 'heart that breaks for the things that break the heart of God.'  Don't know if this phrase started with Hillsong United, or if it started somewhere else and Hillsong pulled it in for their song Hosanna (watch the video HERE).  Either way, it's a pretty awesome idea (or maybe ideal)...but I'm not really sure it's practical.  


Before I get attacked for disagreeing with Hillsong (blasphemy?), let me explain a bit.  I absolutely agree that we should never choose to overlook injustice, poverty or the sin in our own lives.  But can you imagine if we could even begin to grasp the unbelievable sadness we'd embrace if we wept for everything that breaks the heart of God?  I never really thought about this until this morning...


So I've been reading Uncle Tom's Cabin.  I know, I know...I probably should've read this in 7th grade or something.  But I didn't, so I'm doing it now...and it's an amazing book so far.  Anyway, there's a part where a man is explaining how he owns slaves despite his belief that slavery is horribly immoral...and he says that "the best we an do is to shut our eyes and ears, and let it alone."  He also said that "if we are to be prying and spying into all the dismals of life, we should have no heart to anything."  


Here are my thoughts from that...maybe we weren't designed to be able to comprehend everything that breaks the heart of God.  Maybe instead we've all been given (in Christ) a measure of compassion for those in need that we encounter and passion for certain 'greater' areas of service.  My friend Adam Taylor, for example, couldn't pass by the boys we met in Ethiopia...he was given a passion to involve himself directly and completely in their lives.  But if Adam was constantly overwhelmed with the evil of human trafficking in Greece or the persecution of the Church in China, he probably wouldn't get much done.  I'm not saying we should 'shut our eyes and ears' to the areas outside our passions, but maybe we should acknowledge that ultimately, it's God's job to fix everything (not ours)...and maybe he uses our passions to direct our actions.


So my prayer is that God would break my heart where he wants it broken.  Also, and maybe more importantly, I pray that he'd give me joy in the things that delight him.  How awesome would that be if we could look around this world not just with an eye and heart that discovers and embraces pain, but with an eye and heart for the beauty, love and grace that he's poured into everything that surrounds us.  That may just overwhelm us, but it would be truly amazing...

What's So Good About Grief?

Good Grief!, by Erica McNeal, is a great book that I'd recommend for anyone.  More specifically, I'd say it's a reference manual for dealing with grief either personally or in the lives of friends and loved ones.  

This can be a bit of a hard book to read...primarily due to the subject matter.  Most of us don't normally look for opportunities to get cozy and read a book about the crushing grief that can come from cancer, the loss of a child, and the sting of careless words.  But unfortunately, most of us will need the perspective and advice Erica offers in this book.  

Erica tells her story with honesty and vulnerability.  For those in a season of grief, she discusses her fight with guilt surrounding the tragic loss of her daughter and the hypocritical words and actions of Christians in her life when she most needed friendship and comfort.  But then she outlines the amazing hope that comes from knowing our God who "reveals His desire to relate to our own human brokenness."  

Unfortunately, I've lived life with friends that lost a child...and honestly, I disengaged because I didn't know what else to do.  Erica's book would've been an invaluable resource.  For those (like me) who struggle with knowing how to respond to the grief of others, she offers crucial recommendations for what (and what not) to say and do.  Here are a couple things that stuck out for me:

        -  Telling someone to call if they need anything isn't helpful.  Cleaning their house or taking their kids out for something fun...much better plan.

        -  It may not always be a good idea to quote scripture at someone when they're grieving...your take on God's plan for them may not be welcome just then.  Also, asking a cancer patient about weight changes or baldness probably isn't great either (really...that needs to be said?).  

        -  Prayer IS an action...pray for them!  Erica thoughtfully provides specific ways to pray for and talk to loved ones that need you now more than ever.

So...to wrap up...go buy this book (Click HERE)!  It offers grace and hope in the face of tragedy and wisdom when it's needed most.

Bedtime Prayers

So last night I got really frustrated while trying to pray with my kids before bedtime.  Here I am trying to thank God for everything in our lives and teach them how to pray...


meanwhile Justin is crawling on top of me while Kate is watching birds eating at the feeder we have in the back yard.  So I snapped a bit...prayer time was over and bed time started.  I know, I know, I'm the best dad ever (ok, maybe second best), right?  But it's hard for kids, especially American kids whose parents give them everything they could possibly need, to imagine that they really need to be thankful for all that God provides.  And is it really easier for us?


Not looking to make this a summary of the sermons at NCC, but I'm going to go ahead and reference this past week anyway.  


So...Lysa TerKeurst spoke on how our reactions determine our reach.  It was awesome...go watch it HERE.  But what most hit me was a story she told about her son (adopted from Liberia).  This boy was an orphan who lived on one meal a day, walked a long distance to school and was ostracized by the kids with families when he got there.  


He didn't have much to be thankful for.  But one day someone picked him out of a crowd and told him to stand and tell everyone what he thanked God for.  There was nothing that this kid could say without lying...what could he be thankful for...his life?  That wasn't anything to be excited about...his life pretty much sucked.  The one meal of rice that he was getting for the day?


So instead, this amazing boy started singing.  He praised God and worshipped him with a song...not because of what he has done, but because of who he IS.  


This is huge.  I've spent alot of time teaching my kids to pray...giving them examples of blessings, things and situations that they could thank God for.  That's not bad...but it's so incomplete.  If all we focus on is what he's done for us (like thanking a genie), what do we do when we don't believe there's anything to thank God for?  Even in those situations where everything I hold dear is falling apart, I want to be able to thank God and praise him for who he is.  That is worship in spirit and in truth.




Side note...the day after Lysa's son stood up an sang a song, another kid did the same thing (and her son joined in), and it grew every day.  After a while, their singing caught the ear of someone who was visiting and they started traveling around the world to sing and raise awareness about the needs of orphans.  Because of one song...one fumbling attempt at worship in the face of despair...many families have had the chance to grow in size, faith and love through adoption.

Burn The Fleet

The old flag will burn with the sail
And a new one won't fly if we fail
But the fire continues to rise
And it shows not a hint of any fear in our eyes


Burn the fleet, we can never go home
It's on to victory or under ground
Burn the fleet, we'll be heroes or ghosts
But we won't be turned around


The lyrics above are from one of my favorite songs...Burn the Fleet by Thrice.  Sadly, I had no clue about the historical basis of the lyrics until this past Sunday.  It's a bit of a crazy story...


So here's the deal.  Hernando Cortez wanted to conquer the Aztec capitol, but the loyalty of his men in the face of danger was questionable.  So he burned his ships...destroying the possibility of retreat or escape.  


So at church we had the chance to hear from John & Eli Tiller.  I didn't know anything about the Tiller family, but please check out their story HERE.  The main point of John's talk was that we need to destroy the connections that tie us to a life without God.  Only be doing that can we find hope in him and him alone.  


Easy to say...so insanely hard to do sometimes.  But why?


I'm not sure about most people, but I think I struggle with this mostly because I don't believe that God's plan is more important than mine.  That's hard to write because I really do believe that God has this beautiful and amazing plan for us as individuals, families and nations.  But I can admit that I don't really want my family or friends (or me individually) to suffer in any way to further that plan...where's the good in that (for me!!)?  


So instead of trusting God fully and completely, we build safety nets and false security under the premise that we can step up when God decides to fail us (in our estimation).  And when difficulty or tragedy strikes, we care much more about using everything at our disposal to get out of that situation than we do about looking for what God may be doing through it or just growing in faith through it all.


If our plan (or script as John Tiller put it) is the most important thing to us, then we'll continue to live in this way.  If tragedy strikes, we'll find ways of convincing ourselves that this cannot be what God wants for us...as if our comfort, or even our life, is the most important thing to him.  However, if we can embrace the idea that God is sovereign and his ways and plans (even those that crush us) are good, then we can be shaped by that plan.


So if you can accept that God is good and his plans are perfect, then burn the ships.

A Day to Celebrate?

It was a year ago (in a couple days) that Special Forces rolled into a compound in Pakistan and took out one of the most infamous men of our time.  People all over the world celebrated his death (or mourned it, depending on their persuasion).  At the time, I wasn't sure what I felt about all this...I was glad that Bin Laden no longer posed a threat and I felt like justice had been served, but I struggled with the idea of celebrating the death of any person (regardless of his actions).

So today, I read a random interview (click the link! it's a good interview!) with Aaron Weiss from one of my favorite bands (mewithoutYou).  I don't agree with everything said in the interview (or even in the part I'm putting below), but I definitely think it gave me something to think about, so I thought it was worth sharing.  So in my regular trend of plagiarism, here's Aaron Weiss:

I don’t know anything about who Osama Bin Laden [was.] I don’t understand any of it. But I can go inside and find that there are terrorists in my heart. I could find all sorts of extremists and religious fanatics and murderers and hiders. But to point and say “He’s the bad guy because he did that, I’m a good guy.” Well, it would undermine everything we were talking about earlier.

You say, “We’re all one, let’s all hold hands and have a potluck.” It’s easy to say when everyone’s getting along. But when somebody murders your family, are you one with them? Are you one with the murderer? Are you one with the terrorist? Are you one with the religious fanatic?

It seems like that’s where the line is drawn. “No, no, nope. That’s not me. I would never do that. I’m not like Osama Bin Laden, I’m not like… a pedophile or serial killer.” Or any other sleazy character you could imagine. It’s very easy to keep them on the outside and make ourselves somehow better. But the sword comes and cuts that too. There’s nothing that anyone’s ever done that you wouldn’t do. There’s no one that you’re better than.

I think that last line is an epic kick in the gut...there's no one that any of us is better than.  So did Osama get what was coming to him?  Probably.  But I'm really grateful for the ridiculous mercy that God offers every one of us...even those of us who are not such obvious monsters.