-From "Could Be" To "Could Have Been"-

I bought a lot of books recently. In fact, my book que hasn't been this full in a long time. At the moment I have eight books in my lineup on top of the three I am currently reading. If you're not a "reader," let me encourage you to become one. There is so much to be learned in this world and I believe that reading by reading what others have learned and gone through we will be better equipped to navigate the course of our own lives.

The problem I have with books though, is that I can't seem to get through them fast enough. It seems like for every one book I read, five more are written that I want to read. I have some fantastic books on deck to read right now. Books like "The Starfish and the Spider," "Beyond Opinion," and the classic "Mere Christianity." But there were so many others that I wanted but didn't get. Books like, "Crazy Love," "The Sacred Echo," or "Wide Awake." I just wish there was a way to read faster. I wish there was a way to get things done now so I can move on to what the future has in store for me.

Have you ever felt like that? I don't mean with books but just with life in general. I remember wanting to get out of High School so badly because I felt useless there. I felt like I couldn't do anything with any degree of significance while I was stuck there. Then, as I moved into the working world I always believed I could do a better job then the people in the positions "above" me. If only someone would give me the chance. If only someone would give me the opportunity to show how great I am. If only they would open their eyes and see my talent. What's wrong with them anyway?

Then I became the guy in charge. After some hard work and experience I was given the opportunity to show what I was capable of. All of the sudden I found myself explaining to people with less experience why we do things the way we do them. A few people on staff were constantly saying that they would do things differently if they were in charge. But what they didn't understand was that what they were suggesting wouldn't work. I knew it wouldn't work because I had been in the business much longer than them. Then one day during one of these conversations it dawned on me that I used to be just like some of my staff members only now, I had more experience.

I heard a speaker once say, "Too many people want to be discovered, not developed." I was one of those people. Fortunately I have learned the value of being developed rather than just waiting to be discovered. Maybe you're in a place where you keep constantly looking into the future. Obsessing over what will someday be. The problem is that when we obsess over the future we neglect the present. If we are faithful to do the things God has called us to do TODAY then tomorrow will take care of itself. If we focus on how we're being developed in the present, then someone will discover us in the future.

I realize that this is not a mind-blowing, ground-breaking, deep-minded concept. I am aware that you're not reading this and thinking, "Wow! No one has ever said that before!" And I suspect I may even be breaking copyright laws for such an unoriginal concept. But I feel it's important to be reminded of this every now and then. To be reminded to live for today and not tomorrow. Because if we find ourselves constantly thinking about what "could be," on day we may find ourselves constantly thinking about what "could have been." I hope you never find yourself doing that. Just a reminder from someone who needed to be reminded himself.

-Love In A Bag-

Later this morning five other people and I will be leaving to attend a conference. We live in Fresno, CA and the conference is in Orange County, CA which gives is a four hour drive to get there. I usually am not a big fan of long drives. Something about being stuck in car just bothers me. Oddly, I also hate stopping when I'm on a long drive. I hate being stuck in the car but I also hate getting out until I've arrived at my destination. I'm such a hypocrite. But this morning when I came into the office, (where we'll be leaving from later), I was given several bags of snacks and drinks to help us through the long drive ahead.

Judy, (my Pastor's wife), was the one who made sure to provided us with the "road grub" for no reason than that she wanted to do something small to help us have a good trip. It was like getting love in a bag. Maybe you have a person or two in your life who are like Judy. People who somehow always manage to find small ways to make your day smoother, your burden easier and your life better. Whether it's a quick encouraging text, (something my wife has a PhD in), or a cold drink hand delivered, it just seems to make us smile even for just a second. This is what Mother Theresa meant when she said, "We can do no great things, only small things with great love." It's funny; the little things always seem to make us feel more loved than the big things do.

Jesus knew this too. Sure He did some big things for people. Huge really. But it was always the little things that had such a great impact on individuals. Zacheus whole life was restored and changed because Jesus simply had a meal with him. The woman at the well was given new life because the humble Jewish rabbi simply sat and talked to her over a drink of water. These small, simple and seemingly insignificant acts meant the world to these people and their lives were revolutionized because of it. It makes me wonder how many people I know who's life could improve if someone, (like me), would just sit down and have a meal with them.

It's strange really. How important the little things are. How impactful they are. A bag of snacks and a six-pack of Dr Pepper has me sitting here pondering what little things I can do for others too. Join me won't you? Lets make people's days just a little bit better one small act done with great love at a time. Lets send those texts. Lets deliver those cold drinks. Lets do someone else's chores. Lets pick a flower or two. Lets bake some cookies Lets share a meal. Lets do the little things. Because the little things always seem to make us feel more loved than the big things.

-Guilt In Church Clothes-

Over the last few days I've been bombarded by the facebook phenomenon of "becoming a fan." If you don't know, basically what happens is that little messages pop up on the side of your facebook page with a tiny picture and a label and asks you if you'd like to be a fan. These things range from organizations like, "In-N-Out" or "Disneyland" to specific things like "cookie dough" or "The Office" and even activities like, "sleeping" or "jogging." Participation is completely voluntary but sometimes you just cant help it.

 

On facebook, I have "become a fan" of several things. Twitter, The Angels, Samoa Girl Scout Cookies, U2, Dr. Pepper, and Cow Bell are just a few examples of what I am a facebook fan of. But earlier this week I added three more things. Earlier this week I became a fan of "Jesus," "God," and "The Bible." (Sorry Holy Spirit but I haven't found a "become a fan" for you yet.) That got me thinking about how many other people became a fan f Jesus, God and the Bible more out of obligation than desire. I hate that idea.

 

I've never been a big fan of guilt, especially being guilted into something. Every now and then when Krissy and I are having an argument she or I will will throw something out there because we know the other person will feel guilty. It's stupid really. But the first time she did it I said, "Pack my bags!" The said, "What?" and I repeated, "Pack my bags." "Why?" she asked playing right into my hands and I closed the set up. I said, "Cause' I'm going on a guilt trip!" (Husbands, don't make jokes like this in the middle of arguments, it only increases the likelihood that you'll be sleeping alone that night.) But I wonder how many people feel guilted into being a facebook fan of Jesus.

It's like those Christian chain-letters that I HATE with every fiber of my body, mind, and soul. You know, the ones that always end with, "If you really love God, send this to 20 people bla bla BLA." Some of them even go as far as to say something like, "If you don't really want to stand up for God just delete this." (FYI to all my friends; I delete these immediately upon receiving them and never think about them again.) I seriously can't see Jesus talking to me after I die and being disappointed that I didn't forward the email to my friends. "Well John, Dad and I had big plans for you and Ghosty was all ready to make it happen. But then you deleted that email and it sent shock-waves throughout eternity that caused unparalleled repercussions. We thought Lucy, ha ha he really hates it when we call him that, was going to win there for a second."

 

I believe that Jesus came to set us free from guilt. To help us let go of the past and move forward instead. Jesus demonstrates this over and over again with Peter, the woman at the well, and the adulterous woman just to name a few. He says, "Nor do I accuse you." You can't be found guilty if you're not accused. But we Christians have dressed up guilt and given it a different name. Christian guilt is called, "conviction." Are you serious? Conviction is just guilt in church clothes. We can't be convicted if we're not accused either. So what's it called when we really do feel bad or awkward because we've done something we know God isn't fond of. I think a better word is "remorse". I don't think we feel convicted because Jesus didn't come to condemn. I think it is our heart and soul feeling remorse for letting our body take us a step away from God. Yeah, remorse is a better word.

 

Incidentally, I am a facebook fan of Jesus but not because I felt obligated. I wanted to. The word "fan" is actually short for the word "fanatic." If I'm going to be fanatical about something or someone, I think it should be Jesus. He was pretty fanatical about us so I'll gladly return the favor. But not out of guilt. Not out of conviction. Not out of obligation. Not even out of remorse. Out of joy. Out of love. Out of gratitude. Out of choice. I hope He doesn't get upset that I just deleted another Christian chain letter.

-Jesus: Alpha, Omega, Cosmic Umbilical Chord-

Being in the room for the birth of your children is a strange experience. At least it was for me. Watching my wife give birth is probably the most difficult thing I've ever been through. I know that sounds strange considering how difficult it was on Krissy but that's a subject for another post so for now we'll just leave it at that. But shortly after both Felicia and Ian were brought into the world the doctor handed me pair of scissors and directed me to cut the umbilical chord. So I did. (By the way, the umbilical chord has more girth to it than you'd think, it's not just a quick snip.)

There is power in the umbilical chord. So much power that I think only a mother can really fully grasp it. It links a child to it's mother for much longer than just the 9-and-a-half months of pregnancy. It connects them at a level that goes beyond the physical into the spiritual. When a child is hurt badly, their father tries to end their pain with everything in him, while their mother feels their pain with everything in her. That is the power of the umbilical chord. It's really quite beautiful and extraordinary.

 

Because of the deep and powerful link that the umbilical chord symbolizes, I've always found it quite the dubious honor to be the one responsible for severing the connection between my children and their mother. It's poetic really. From the day they were born I was pushing my children toward independence. Preparing them for life in this world that is much colder than the warm embrace of the womb they were accustomed to. A world that is noisy and where they can't hear mommy's heartbeat anymore.

 

I think this is one of the ways God shows us what happened all those years ago when Adam severed his connection with God. Humanity having to leave the Garden is like a baby leaving the womb. It must have been a shock to Adam's system. The world was colder, bigger, and noisier than he had ever known. There were dangers all around him that he never knew existed. And he couldn't hear God's heartbeat anymore. Because when you leave the womb, the umbilical cord must be cut.

 

But this isn't how we were created to live. The cosmic umbilical chord that connects our souls to God was never supposed to be cut. Our soul wasn't originally designed to leave the womb and God never had any intention of allowing the separation to persist. So, He provided a new cosmic umbilical chord. A new way to bring our souls back into the womb. Jesus came to not only be that connection, but to make it stronger than ever.

 

Interestingly enough, the powers that be during Jesus' time tried to sever that connection as well. You see, if our souls were connected to God once more, we wouldn't need them and the life they provided. God would be the one who provided us with our sustenance. So they killed Him. They pounded holes in Him and tried to break the connection to God that He represented. But it didn't work. Three days later Jesus was alive again. Demonstrating that this connection could not be broken. And He lives today, still demonstrating the unbreakable connection to God He represents.

 

That is what this Sunday is about. Easter is a reminder that God has provided our souls with a new umbilical chord link to Him. A reminder that no matter how many holes we pound into Him, the connection Jesus provides will never be broken. A reminder that our souls were not created to live in a cold and noisy world. A reminder that, through Jesus, we can once again hear the heartbeat of God. And that is the most comforting sound in the universe. Can you hear it?

-Felicia and Ancient Jewish Rituals-

I've said it a million times and odds are, I'll continue to say it until I'm dead: My kids have taught me more about God than anyone else. If you are a parent, you probably know exactly what I'm talking about. Our children will say and do things that somehow transcend the level of wisdom they should have for their age. I am convinced that this is because things like faith, life, and love aren't rally as complicated as we adults make them out to be. We somehow lose sight of the simplicity of them over time, usually in an effort to justify our behavior in one way or another. Young children don't really bare that burden though. They are simply living without any preconceptions or any real agenda to speak of. Maybe this is the "childlike faith" that Christians talk so much about.

 

A few years back, my wife's Grandfather died. It was a hard time for her because it was the first person close to her that she had lost. He was also the patriarch of the family which made it difficult for many of her relatives as well. Watching them say goodbye to him at his memorial, I could see how much his children and grandchildren would truly miss him.

 

If I recall correctly, my daughter, Felicia, was right around 3 years old, (give or take a few months), when this took place.  She attended the funeral with us and it was my job to keep her "under control." Because she was so young, she wouldn't understand the gravity of what a funeral was and so we thought it best for everyone if I simply kept her close. It would be quite embarrassing if she ran around the cemetery at the outdoor funeral service thinking she was at a park.

 

As the funeral began, Felicia did very well. She stayed quiet and remained close to me, fixated on the silence and somberness of the goings on. We stood off to the side of the gazebo because there were not enough seats to accommodate the number of people there and I felt it prudent to give the seats to family members and the seniors that were there. Felicia watched as the service began. In the front row she could see and hear the sights and sounds of her mother, grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins as they wept. Then something beautiful happened.

 

With no warning, Felicia let go of my hand, and walked over to the front row where the family was sitting. She quietly squeezed her way in between two family members that were crying and reached over to hold one of their hands. Then, as if by instinct, Felicia began to cry with them. Not because she understood that her great-grandfather had died, but because she saw people she loved hurting, and wanted them to know that she was hurting with them. Remarkable.

 

What Felicia didn't realize was that she was, in an indirect way, taking part in an ancient Jewish mourners ritual known as "sitting Shiva," where you simply sit and mourn with a loved one who has lost somebody close to them. Many Jewish families still practice this tradition today and to me, it is a very small glimpse into what Jesus had in mind for His church.

 

Remember, Jesus was Jew. He lives in a Jewish town, in a Jewish country, had a Jewish upbringing, celebrated Jewish holidays, said Jewish prayers and ate Kosher. Jesus would have likely taken part in sitting Shiva for others and perhaps have even had people sit Shiva for him. Jesus would have understood the importance of hurting with someone who is hurting. Remember when He asked Peter, James and John to pray with him on the night of his arrest? "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."  (Matthew 26:38) But I think this was simply one facet in God's plan for us as a people.

 

Hurting with someone is only part of the plan. The Bible is full of the phrase "one another" for a reason. God is interested in not only restoring our relationship with Him, but also with one another. We were created in God's image. This is an image of community. The Trinity demonstrates to us that God's very nature is one of community and therefore, as God's image bearers, our nature is as well. We were created to know and love not only God, but also one another. This means we laugh, cry, smile, rejoice, mourn, celebrate, rest, love, and live with one another. Many of today's Christians call thins, "Doing life together," and it is a beautiful thing.

 

At 2 or 3 years old my daughter taught me what it means to really "do life" with one another. She did not know what was gong on, she simply saw those she loved hurting and so she decided she would hurt with them. She decided they shouldn't be alone. She decided to love with tears. And in doing so she became the most visual, real life, flesh and blood representation of Jesus that I have ever seen. I hope I can be more like she is.