-Jesus Blog Part 4: A Life of Significance-

One of things I hate the most is when Christians have a "transaction mentality" of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. What I mean by this is when they see their faith as a transaction with God. They say, "Okay God, I'll believe in you and accept Your Son and in return, when I die, You'll let me into heaven." Of course this isn't usually a conscious thought. Usually it's just totally normal because that's how faith seems to work in Western Christianity, (western word not west coast). We put in our time at church and try to play by the rules and in the end we avoid hell. Yay for us. And what makes it even more difficult is that this is really the only kind of faith people know. So, well meaning people who really do love God simply live their lives the way they're told they're supposed to.

But providing us an opportunity to go to heaven when we die is not what Jesus lived, died, and resurrected for. It is simply a fruit of what he actually came to do. Jesus' life was about the restoration of all things. He came to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:10) and by save he didn't mean simply saving us from hell. He meant saving us from ourselves. Saving us from our own attitudes and our own perceptions of how life should be lived. He talked a great deal about loving the unloved and caring for those who couldn't care for themselves. He discussed at great length the idea that forgiveness and reconciliation are much better than living with grudges and bitterness. He talked about loving God, loving others and, yes, even insinuated that you should love yourself. He got frustrated when those closest to Him stopped believing in themselves because He believed in them.

You see, Jesus also said that He came to give us " a rich and satisfying life," (John 10:10). I think we like to quote this verse but then we forget it. Jesus gives me a better life NOW. Not just when I die. And he didn't mean a life of wealth. He meant a life of significance. A life that has an impact on the world around it. A life that He doesn't just pour into, but a life he also pours out of. This is the life that Jesus came to give. Here. Now. At this time. In this place.

So yes, Jesus came to give an opportunity to go to heaven. But He came for so much more. And when we fail to recognize and respond to that we rob the gospel of all it actually offers us. We lose a great deal of value in our lives when we think of it as an "after-death" arrangement. And we tear away a significant amount of Jesus' sacrifice when we don't let it infiltrate our whole life.

A life of significance. That is what Jesus offers. Not just a ticket to heaven. And until each of decides to grab hold of the life Jesus extends to us, we will continue to rob the gospel of all of it's weight and meaning. And unless we begin exploring the life of significance Jesus offers, we will redeem our ticket to heaven only to find that when we get there, it's not as full as it would have been had we taken Jesus up on his offer. A life of significance. Jesus had one. Jesus came to give you one. Will you accept it?

-Letters To Myself Part 2: Dear 25 Year Old John-

Dear 25 Year Old John (March 30, 2003),

It doesn't seem like that long that I was you, but so much is going to happen to you over the next few years that you won't know how you managed to navigate through it all. You will mature more over the next five or so years than you did in the previous 15 combined. So buckle up and put your helmet on because life isn't the "roller coaster" it's been made out to be, it's more like the bumper cars.

You got married about a year and a half ago and that has worked out quite well for you hasn't it? But you're still learning to be unselfish aren't you? It's not easy but you're finally starting now to understand that in marriage you can't think in terms of "me" but always in terms of "we." Continue to cultivate this attitude. It will be invaluable to the success of your marriage. You've also set some good ground rules with Krissy that will serve you well for the upcoming years. The "veto" rule was good. Giving your spouse the power to tell you you're not allowed to do something and knowing that they have given you that same authority shows a tremendous amount of trust and respect. You were also wise to agree to never let an argument cause you to spend the night under different roofs. These simple things have proven to strengthen your marriage like nothing else could. You love and respect and trust Krissy and she does the same for you. This will only continue to grow over the years causing you two to become closer than you knew was possible and you will have the ability to talk about anything without fear. Ultimately, you will realize that what you were suspicious of all along is, in fact, true: she is way too good for you. Fortunately, for you, she loves you anyway.

You're also just a few months away from being a father for the first time. Now, I won't ruin it by telling you if it's a boy or a girl but I want to prepare for a few things. Holding your child for the first time is going to wreak havoc on your equilibrium. Never will you feel so important yet so insignificant at the same time. Nothing will inspire you to be the best you can possibly be like this event will. You fell in love with Krissy over time. You got to know her. You got to know about her. You interacted with her and came to appreciate her personality and uniqueness and it has grown into a deep sense of love and devotion that could never be replaced. But it happened over time. When you hold your child for the first time, all of that love an devotion is going to come crashing down on you in a matter of nanoseconds. You WILL be overwhelmed by it. But even as i type this i know my words aren't even a fraction adequate enough to prepare you. So, good luck. As for the actual birth part, you're about to see Krissy in a whole new way that will simply add to your knowledge of how amazing she is.

Professionally John, you've got a long way to go. You're still cocky and think you know it all. But an off the cuff comment from Billy Phipps is going to snap you back into focus. He won't know it when he says it because he wasn't even really talking to you or even about you; but will be a ginormous, (that word will be added to the dictionary in 2008), wake-up call and you will never forget that moment. Right now you are learning to always be learning and that is good. But in a few years a book recommendation, (once again Billy Phipps will play a major role), will altar how you see the church, the world, people, politics, ministry, and relationships. It will set you on a path of learning and growth that take you to new heights and help you combine your intellect with your spirituality. This step is a major turning point for you.

Introspectively you will really start to come into your own. You will be filled with ideas and dreams and visions for amazing things. When you don't make them all real it will be taxing for you. It will even hurt. But you will press on and find more and more creativity hiding just beneath the surface. It's there for the taking but there will be obstacles in finding it. Pride and self-centeredness will always be a struggle for you. You will have to come to terms with this or you will never be able to grow. This won't be easy for you but I hope that in the long run, growth will be more important to you than always being right. Keep learning and keep loving because if you don't there will be no reason to keep living. You're becoming a grown-up now John. It's time to put away childish things. There is more to you than your sarcastic fun-loving exterior. There is depth. There is the ability to affect people on a deeply personal and spiritual level. Dig deep John. Find it. Bring it out. Make a difference. It's up to you.

Truly,

-John Hall (age 31)

P.S.

I didn't mention your trips to the Philippines and Fiji that will shatter your life into a million pieces. You will see things that will rock your world. They will bring you to tears and to your knees. Breathe in these experiences. They will help you understand your role in this world.

-First Name Basis With God-

My son turns two in just a few months here. He's an interesting kid so far. Having a very outgoing and affectionate older sister has made him fairly aggressive and independent. He wants to turn the lights off and on, feed himself and sometimes tries to dress himself as well. If you try to help him, you get yelled at. He LOVES his mommy which, for me, is great to see. "Mommy" is by far the word he uses most with "no" coming in second and "mine" a close third. Other favorites of his are "doggie," "sissy," "thank you" and "bye-bye." Did you notice an important word that is strangely absent from that list?

For whatever reason, my son refuses to call me "daddy." He also won't say "dada," "dad' or even "pop." No, when my son is talking to or about me he calls me "John." That's right, my not even two-year-old son insists on calling me by my first name. And it's not as if he doesn't know to call me "daddy." When he calls me "John" I don't answer him and when my wife hears him she tries to correct him. He'll say, "John!" and she'll tell him, "Daddy," and he'll tell her, "No!" and then proceed to call me "John." The fact that my son thinks we're on a first name basis doesn't bode well for me when he gets older.

Now, I don't think Ian realizes that when he calls me by my first name other than "daddy," he is refusing to acknowledge my relationship to him. He is not properly recognizing me as his father, provider, protector, teacher, caregiver, and giver of life. What he doesn't realize is that by using my first name, he is putting himself on the same level as me. I wonder how often we do this with God. I wonder if we think we're on a first name basis with the Creator of the universe. My son has an excuse in that he is merely a toddler. Do we have an excuse?

As a worship leader I sometimes play a song called "Friend of God" written by Israel Houghton and Michael Gungor. This is a great song that I think really illustrates how amazing it is that the Creator of time and space and everything in it still longs for a relationship with us, His creations. But I think there is a danger when we get TOO caught up seeing God as our friend. Yes He is that but He is so much more. And when we fail to recognize that we are essentially putting ourselves on His level. And that is a tragic mistake.

Look, I'm not saying we shouldn't call God our friend. Jesus himself called His disciples His friends and so it's safe to assume He kinda feels the same way about us today. But what I am saying is that when we focus only on THAT aspect, we run the risk of forgetting that God is also our father, provider, protector, caregiver and giver of life. When we get to comfortable calling God by His first name we lose site of the fact that He is also the one who sustains us. The one who provides the very oxygen we breath. The one who keeps our hearts pumping. The one who in vast enough to imagine and create the infinite universe. When we think of God primarily as our friend, we forget to stand in awe and wonder of who He and what and why He is. Growing up my dad used to tell my brother and I that he wanted to be our friend but that he was our father FIRST. I think we need to see God as our God first, and friend second. It doesn't mean He's not our friend. It just means that He's our God first.

-Gay Marriage Questions For Everyone-

I've been pretty deliberate to not blog when it comes to politics or my political views. I usually try to keep my blogs to spiritual issues or, in most cases, my own mindless ramblings about things I think are fascinating but the rest of you wonder what I'm even so interested in. And while I think this post is more spiritual than political, many people will view it as the reverse. With that disclaimer, I'll begin.

Yesterday, (05/26/09), the California Supreme Court ruled to confirm the November 2008 California ballot initiative known as Proposition 8. In a nutshell, Prop. 8, which passed by a margin of 4%, defined marriage in California as being between 1 man and 1 woman, effectively closing the door to gay couples getting married. The State Supreme Court basically said, what the majority of voters want is OK with us. (Of the 7 judges, 6 voted to confirm Prop. 8 and only 1 voted to overturn it.)

I don't know where any one of you stands on this issue. Due to the general content of most of my blogs, I am persuaded to believe that most of you are against gay marriage. I'm some of you aren't and quite frankly where you stand on this issue is not my concern. The point of this blog is NOT to influence anyone to one side or the other. What I want us ALL to do is ask ourselves a few questions and really consider then before "towing the party line," whatever party you may be in. So, below are some questions we need to ask ourselves before we get so emphatic about this, clearly, polarizing issue. 

1. Are we all prepared for the probability that gay marriage will be legal within the next 2 election cycles?

It is VERY likely that gay marriage will be legal in California in a matter of just a few years. Those against gay marriage should not simply plug there ears and pretend this isn't true. This is the direction that our culture is headed and that's all there is to it. I am not suggesting you change your beliefs or that you give in and vote contrary to your own convictions. I am simply suggesting that, baring an act of divine intervention, (which God rarely does in matters like this), the outcome will eventually turn toward legalizing gay marriage. Now, if you are for gay marriage you should prepare for this day with a certain degree of anticipation but please, if and when gay marriage is legalized, accept it with humility and not with an "in your face" attitude.

2. If gay marriage IS legalized, where then do we draw the line?

What happens when we redefine marriage? Other groups will come out of the woodworks with a cry of "Hey, what about us?" Will polygamy, (the practice of having more than one spouse at a time), be allowed next? Will someone be able to marry a dog? A tree? A corpse? I know these sound like far-fetched examples but if there is anything we have learned about people in our society it's that there is not limit on how far we can take something. Look up an organization called NAMBLA and you'll find proof of what I'm talking about. We need to be aware of where the line should be drawn.

3. Are we too hung up on the word "marriage"?

This is a question for both sides. If you are against gay marriage you probably feel that way because of certain faith-based morality and applaud your commitment to your convictions. But if God doesn't recognize a union between a gay couple then do we really care if the State of California does? Why are we OK with it if a heterosexual couple who had sex while they were dating gets married? Isn't their life-style just as sinful? If you are FOR gay marriage you may not be aware that same-sex couples who had civil unions already have the exact same rights as married couples in California. So why the NEED for the word "marriage"? Is it out of spite for "those religious people" who you just don't like?

4. What happens to clergy and church rights if gay marriage is legalized?

One of the reasons many churches are against gay marriage is because it creates a concern that the ministers, pastors and priests will be FORCED to perform ceremonies for a same sex couple regardless of their own personal convictions. As a pastor, I could be fined or jailed for refusing to perform a wedding ceremony for a same sex couple because I would discriminating. Doesn't this infringe on my Constitutionally protected freedom of religion? The same is true for the actual church facilities. Churches could theoretically be fined or lose their tax-exempt status for not allowing a gay couple to be married in their church. I think this is a travesty. You don't extend rights to one group, and in doing so trample the rights of another. And before anyone starts the, "Gay people don't want to do that to churches" argument, let me just say this. You're wrong. While the VAST majority of the gay community wouldn't want this to happen, there are activists in that community that would do just out of spite for how they've been, "mistreated by those religious people for years." It's the few that WOULD make an issue out of it that worries me.

5. For all our talk of love and equality, what's our real agenda?

All of us need to check our hearts. If you are against gay marriage out of your commitment to Biblical principles then you must also take into consideration the attitude with which you express those principles. Are we, as Christians, being an extension of God's love and grace? Is that the message we are sending? I believe there is way to disagree with someone's lifestyle without alienating them. I believe you can be against gay marriage but not against gay people. because Jesus was and is always FOR people. He expressed our need to change by dying for us. As Christians, are we willing to express others need to change by dying for them? If you are for gay marriage, is it really about equality for you? Or is it just about winning? If people against gay marriage should just accept you for who you are then shouldn't you just accept them for who they are? 

I have made a VERY concerted effort to not list where I stand on this particular topic. Those of you who know me probably know that. But the point of this blog wasn't to express where i stand but to try to help all of you have a better understanding of where you stand and, hopfully, where others are coming from. All of these are highly personal questions that I am not saying an entire people group should ask themselves but that individuals should ask themselves. Don't answer for the group of people who share your point of view but answer for yourself. With brutal honesty. Then encourage others to do the same. Only by seeing someone else's point-of-view will we really grow. I am not saying we have to agree with them. But I am saying that we should make an honest effort to understand them. Then, maybe we can disagree without demonizing our opposition.

-Reverse Theology-

There is this method of motivating people that I think I probably first heard about in an episode of The Brady Bunch or some other old sit-com. The idea is that you deceive another person to believe that the results that you want to happen are actually the opposite of your real desired results. This type of approach is called "reverse psychology" and I'm quite sure you've heard the term before. For some reason this came to mind the other day as I was reading the passage in the Bible that can be heard in about 86% of all weddings. 1st Corinthians 13.

  

As i came to this chapter, which describes what love is, isn't, does, and doesn't do, I began to try to look deeper. I mean, I've read and heard this passage countless times but I knew there was still more to draw out of it. That's when the reverse psychology concept hit me. I thought to myself, what if I looked at the opposite of all the things this chapter says about love to draw out a more specific understanding of it? What if i employed a system of what I am calling; "Reverse Theology?" (By the way, I don't believe for a second that I am the first person to use that term so please don't send me comments about how I stole someone else's idea. Besides, in ministry there is no such thing as plagiarism.) What could I learn about love that way? Lets see shall we?

If "Love is patient" then we can also assume that it is not in a hurry. It doesn't need everything RIGHT NOW. This may be a great thing for single girls and guys to remember when they're in a relationship, (especially girls). If the person you are with is not being patient then you have to wonder how much they really "love" you. Love is not in a hurry.

 

If "love is kind" then we can also assume that it is not mean. I realize this sounds elementary but it's true. Love does not mistreat others. It doesn't dehumanize people either. Doctors are taught to detach themselves from their patients to avoid emotional involvement. This is a cold approach that love doesn't take. Love is kind and values people and life.

 

If love "does not envy" then we can also assume that it celebrates the fortune of others. That means when someone else gets the promotion instead of you, love celebrates their achievement. It doesn't mean you're not disappointed, but it means you don't target your disappointment at someone else. Love is happy when good things happen for anybody. Even when it's not us.

If love "does not boast" then we can also assume that it remains humble even when it has reason not to. So when you DO get the promotion, love takes the responsibility seriously and doesn't talk about how much it deserved it. When good things and blessings come, love quietly accepts it with gratitude.

 

If love"is not proud" then we can also assume that it doesn't need accolades and credit for every accomplishment. Ronald Reagan said it well, "There is no limit on what a man can accomplish if he doesn't care who gets credit for it." Love doesn't seek credit, rather it seeks to pass credit on to others.

 

If love "is not rude" then we can also assume that it is polite. Love says things like, "please" and "thank you." And especially things like, "after you" and "please take MY seat." It's not always easy, but love is polite and has manners.

 

If love "is not self-seeking" then we can also assume that it is generous. Love gives more than it takes. In fact love doesn't even take, it accepts when it is offered something freely. Love is willing do without so that others don't have to. Love is generous.

 

If love "is not easily angered" then we can also assume that it keeps a level head. Love realizes that other people are not perfect and makes allowances for that just as James instructs us to. Love has a looooong temper. Not something that is easy to have.

 

If love "keeps no record of wrongs" then we can also assume that it does keep a record of "rights." Love remember the good that others do. Love learns from the positive contributions people make and helps them learn from their mistakes. Love doesn't allow itself to become bitter.

If "love does not delight in evil" then we can also assume that it mourns it. Love sees injustice and hurts with those that are suffering. Love feels sorrow and grief when it sees senseless acts of ambition at the expense of others.

 

If love "rejoices in the truth" then we can also assume that doesn't keep the truth hidden. Love seeks truth in everything it sees and when it finds it, love celebrates it and shares it without prejudice. Love cannot keep the truth under a rock. It understands that truth exists for all people everywhere.

 

If love "always protects" then we can also assume that it never lets other be exploited or taken advantage of. Love is moved to action by the suffering of others. Love protects the image of God that all people were created in and recognizes that no one life is more valuable than any other.

 

If love "always trusts" then we can also assume that it is not suspicious. Love doesn't look for reasons to accuse people of wrong-doing. Love takes things as they are not wondering what someone might be up to. Love believes in others and works to bring the best out in them rather than assuming the worst about them.

 

If love "always hopes" then we can also assume that it isn't pessimistic. Love always hopes for the best instead of assuming the worst. Love recognizes that as long as there is a tomorrow things can be better and works to make it happen.

 

If love "always perseveres" then we can also assume that it never gives up.  Love does not end. Love has no expiration date. When love is abused is still loves. When love is taken for granted, it still loves. Love is willing to go all the way to the end, even if that end is on a cross.

 

So there's my exploration of 1st Corinthians 13:4-7 using "reverse theology." It was a good experience for me so i thought I'd pass it on. I hope you got something out of it. I'd love to know what you think I missed. Surely I didn't cover it all so please, comment and tell what else we can assume about love from reading this passage. I hope you'll try some "reverse theology" next time you come across a passage that it could apply to.

-10 Things That Get On My Nerves-

Do you have things that get on your nerves? Of course you do. i feel it's healthy to get these things out. So below are 10 things that really get under my skin. This is by no means an exhaustive list but it's a start. The most irritating part is that I'm guilty of many of these so, by definition, I annoy myself often. Here's 10 of mine though:

1) When people leave their blinkers on and don't change lanes.

I don't know what it is about this that just gets on my nerves but that constant yellow flashing in front of me for no reason is the visual equivalent to nails on a chalkboard for me.

2) When people bring more than 15 items into the express lane.

OK, I admit it. I'm a item counter. So sue me. I just find it arrogant and rude to believe that rules like this don't apply to you. 16 items is one thing But where does it stop? 20? 25?

3) When women wear clothes that are tight and revealing and then complain that men gawk at them.

Seriously, why is modesty such a problem these days. Sure we should always be respectful and not objectify women but, ladies, HELP US OUT. Especially if you think it's wrong for men to stare.

4) When I can't have a normal conversation with another Christian.

Does it bother anyone else when another Christian has to quote scripture to you the whole conversation? Don't get me wrong, I love the Bible... a lot. But when I ask "How are you doing?" I don't need to be reminded that "This is the day the Lord has made." And if I tell you I'm tired, I don't need to be reminded that Jesus said, "Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest." I'm glad you're memorizing scripture and excited that you can apply it to daily life. But please, can we just chat, one human being to another?

5) When people think their car is too important to merely use up 1 parking space.

This really gets on me nerves in crowded parking lots but it is always just plain rude. Once again is displays an arrogance that seems to say, "The rules don't apply to me!"

6) Drama-prone people.

This is the kind of person that moves from one life crisis to the next. There always has to be a major issue going on with them. If there isn't, they find a way to cause one. Some people just don't know how to be happy I guess. It's probably a serious issue that they need help with too and usually I feel very bad for them. That is until their self-induced life crisis vomits all over me. I try to help but, for me, people like this suck the energy right out of me.

7) When someone has to "1-Up" everybody else in conversations.

Have you ever been talking to some people about something that happened to you and then someone steps in and say, "That's nothing," and then proceeds to share how their experience makes yours look lame? I'm sorry I wasted everyone's time with my "nothing" story.

8) When someone speeds up so I don't get in front of them on the freeway and then proceeds to slow down to 60 mph.

What the heck!? I just don't understand the HURRY UP AND SLOW EVERYONE DOWN mentality. These people have a sense of urgency for about 4 seconds and then it magically disappears.

9) Militant Raiders fans.

OK I'm all for being a fan of a sports team. I love sports and have favorite teams myself. Shoot, I'm even generally OK with some of the body-painting or bizarre outfits. But I should be able to cheer for whatever team I want in whatever stadium I want without the fear of being assaulted for it. But if I go to the Oakland Coliseum and root for the Dolphins, there's a 78% chance I'll be leaving the stadium in an ambulance. Settle down Silver and Black Brigade. Why are you all so bent out of shape anyway? Is it because the Raiders suck? (P.S. Red Sox fans are not far behind on this one)

10) Oblivious Drivers

Hey, lady. THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD! I am a true believer that I am not only responsible for the safety of the people in MY car but also people in the cars around me. I think that not killing anybody is a pretty big priority. So when you're driving, pay a-freaking-tention. Get off the phone, put the burger down, and for the love of God and everything that's holy, put your make-up on at home.

So there's my 10. I know it's a super spiritual blog post but like I said, I think it's healthy to get these things out in the open. Did I miss anything? Do you agree with these? Do you take issue with any of them? What did I forget? I'd love to hear what you think and what gets on your nerves.

-Jesus and the Super Bowl-

The Super Bowl is Sunday.  Many of you don't care.  A few of you pretend to care.  Still others of you actually do care but not because you like either the Steelers or the Cardinals, but simply because it's the Super Bowl.  This is the category I fall in.  I love football.  The strategy, the nuances.  Really, I consider a football game to be a Soap Opera for men.  It has deceit, and drama, and sometimes violence.  Just no dialogue which makes it perfect for men.  But I digress. The last category of people are the ones who care about the Super Bowl because they are fans of one of the two teams.  As a Dolphin fan, this is not a category I have fit into since the early 80's.

These fans generally suffer from a temporary case of insanity who's symptoms include, (but are not limited to):

• Inexplicable increase in voice volume at random times.
• Desire to "high-five" total strangers.
• Celebrating someone else's accomplishments as if they were their own.
• Excessive shouts of "wooo hooo!" and/or "In Your Face!"
• Yelling at the television in the hopes that a coach or referee will hear them in their headphones.
• Excessive self decoration in only two or three colors; sometimes as severe as altering the color on ones skin.
• Denial of reality despite the use of video documentation, AKA: instant replay. (This particular symptom is known as "Raiderous Delirium" because it commonly occurs to fans of the Oakland Raiders throughout the NFL season.)

If you or someone you love shows sign of these symptoms this Sunday, I'm sorry to tell you that there is no known treatment at this time.  The good news is that their return to reality is fairly likely.  More so if the team they are cheering for loses.  If their team wins, they are likely to display some of these symptoms for up to 7 days.  Sometimes people are just too obsessive.

I once heard a Christian speaker suggest that as Christians, we should be able to get just as excited about Jesus as some people do about their favorite sports team.  Our zeal and boisterousness should be equal or greater to that of the thousands of fans that fill entire stadiums to see their favorite teams play.  Quite frankly, I don't know if that is such a good idea.

I don't think face painting, chest bumping and random, incoherent shouting is quite was Jesus had in mind. Besides, it would be difficult to eat ice-cream out of a miniature crown of thorns.  But what scares me the most is how close we really are to being belligerently fanatical about Christianity.  Think about it; we have our own bumper-stickers, T-Shirts, coffee cups, magazines, anthems, web-sites, jewelry, and even our own MINTS.  In a sense, Christians have out marketed major sporting franchises.  Christians can also be way too "In your face" about Christianity that ultimately makes people look at us like we're as psychotic as the scary raider fans who dress up like Gwar every week during football season.  (If you don't know who Gwar is, just do a google image search and you'll see what I mean,)  I don't think that's what Jesus died for.

Don't get me wrong, I believe wholeheartedly that we should be excited about the truth that has been revealed to us and I have nothing against "Christian" products like t-shirts and magazines. In a manner of speaking, this blog itself is part of the "Christian machine."  I think our zeal and excitement about Jesus should manifest itself in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. (These attributes are described by Paul as "the fruits of the Spirit")  Look at that list of qualities again.  Now compare that to a fanatical admirer of a sports team.  Does the fan display any of those qualities?  I think Jesus had something much larger and more revolutionary in mind than a bunch of screaming "fans" to fill his divine stadium. I think Jesus wants us to be ON His team, not just fans of it.

-Perpetual Infection of Siblings Syndrome-

My one year old son, Ian, has been sick this week.  It's the first time he has really thrown up so he has no clue what's going on.  The odd thing is that he doesn't have a fever and he's acting totally normal except for the whole horking up chinks of food thing.  Then there's the joy of the obligatory parental clean of the chunks.  Yeah, not exciting stuff.  But if you have multiple kids, you know what I mean when I say there is an even greater concern when one gets sick.  It's called PISS, Perpetual Infection of Siblings Syndrome.  It's a real disease with doctors and drugs and everything.

OK so maybe it's not but it does actually happen so we will treat it like it is.  The general rule of PISS is that one sibling will pass it on to another and they will continue to pass it back and forth for what seems like forever.  The more kids you have, the longer PISS generally lasts.  there is also no real form of prevention.  It's like swimming in a public pool...there's just no way to keep the PISS off of you.  Often times PISS is followed by Chronic Release to Adult Parents or CRAP for short.  If this happens, there is an 87% chance that at least one person in your home will be sick for 10.7 consecutive months.  And don't even get me started on what happens if you have pets.

Krissy and I are currently trying to minimize the effect of PISS and CRAP in out home and scientists are hard at work trying to find a prevention measure.  But until that glorious day finally arrives the rule is simple:  When one of us is sick, we're all sick.  I think this is how it's supposed to be though.

We have a bad habit, as Christians, of alienating other Christians when they have made mistakes and allowed temptation to get the best of them.  People who were once considered close friends are all of the sudden ostracized because they slept with their boyfriend, got caught looking at internet porn, are struggling with alcoholism, or voted for a democrat.  Why do we do this?  Why is it that when these people need the love and support of Christ the most, His representatives, Christians, shun them like they're the Antichrist?  Even an elementary reading of the Gospels would conclude that this is not how Jesus acted or intended us to act.

Christians, every one of us together, are described in the New Testament as "the Body of Christ."  In alienating and ostracizing other Christians we are effectively amputating a part of the body that isn't even infected yet; just wounded.  If I get pneumonia I don't rip my lungs out of my chest because they're making me feel bad.  I devote my energy into helping them heal so that my whole body can function properly once again.  I think this is what Jesus had in mind.

I think He put us here and connected us together as a family of faith.  he gave us a new commandment that we love one another.  He actually used the word commandment not suggestion.  I know it sounds strange, but as a family of faith I think the PISS and CRAP rules apply.  When one of us is sick, we're all sick.  And we should spend our energy helping heal the illness rather than trying to just pull it out of our chest.

P.S.

When I stated that Christians ostracize people for "voting for a democrat" I, in no way, meant to indicate that there is something wrong with democrats who Christians who vote democrat.  I was simply pointing out that many Christians get all worked up over the republican/democrat debate and believe, for whatever reason, that the republicans actually care about the causes of Christ and that democrats worship Satan.  Both perceptions are absurd.