Rejection Sucks!

No matter where rejection comes from, it really sucks.  Being rejected in love = sucks.  Being rejected because of a choice = sucks.  Being rejected for a job = sucks.  Being rejected for a mortgage = sucks.  Being rejected when trying to sell a product = sucks.  Being rejected for beliefs = sucks.  Being rejected for style or lack-there-of = sucks.  Being rejected for age = sucks. Being rejected for race = sucks.

Any way you cut it…rejection sucks!

Do we really trust God?

In Genesis 22: 1-14, Abraham told by God to sacrifice Isaac.  Abraham obeys but God stops him before he kills Isaac.  Then God provides a ram for the sacrifice instead. Abraham calls this attribute of God’s character: Jehovah-Jireh – The Lord Will Provide.

Notice Abraham had to be willing to give back to God his one and only son.  The son he had waited 100 years to receive.  The son on which he was counting to build nations for God.  Some might argue that because Abraham had seen God work so many times in his life that it was only natural for him to trust God with Isaac, even if it meant killing him and sacrificing him to God. However, how many parents do you know that would be willing to do the same thing today? Even those who have experienced great miracles in their lives would likely think they were going crazy before believing that God might be asking them to kill their child. And how would society react if a man claimed he had heard God tell him to kill his child as a sacrifice unto Him?

Well, the good news is that none of us will ever be asked to sacrifice our child’s life to God by the work of our own hand.  God doesn’t ask for that type of sacrifice anymore because He gave the ultimate sacrifice, HIS Son, Jesus Christ.  Only Jesus is worthy enough, Holy enough to satisfy God’s requirement of sin atonement.

But, I believe God does ask us to sacrifice, in other ways. He asks us to give Him all that we have in order for Him to become all that He Is in our lives.  If we insist on getting in God’s way and trying to do things our way, we are not really trusting Him or relying on Jehovah-Jireh to provide all that we need.

I struggle with letting go of my control on my life every day.  I don’t like surprises and I hate feeling lost.  But I know that if I want to get anywhere in this life, I have to let go of my limited human capacity and rely fully on the all seeing, all knowing, all loving, all forgiving, all powerful, God of Abraham, Jehovah-Jireh.

Rain

I have a headache today probably due to the weather front that’s going through.  It’s rainy and dreary – most likely will be for the entire day.

Have you ever noticed how most things in life can be a blessing and a curse?  Take rain, for example.  Let’s forget how we need water to nourish the land for a second and think about another way “rain” can be a blessing.

Rain washes dirt away. It cleans off our cars, sidewalks, decks, buildings, etc.  If there were no rain, I can’t imagine how much dirt & dust would settle on trees and buildings and walkways.

Today instead of griping about the dark skies, all day rain & this headache it produced, I’m going to focus on the good that comes from the rain & remember the life it can help nurture.

And, while I’m at it, I’m going to focus on a homophone for the word rain – “reign”.

1 Chronicles 16:31
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”

Self-Involved Americans

I am continually amazed at how self-involved we are as Americans.  It’s as if we pretend the world does not exist outside our boarders unless it directly affects us.

Let’s take the New Zealand earthquake, for example.  So many are dead. Many others missing. The city of Christchurch has been reduced to rubble but our news is covering new Broadway plays with big name actors.  Oh, they’ve mentioned the quake and even shown a few pictures but the balance seems quite OFF.  If this were San Francisco or L.A., there would be non-stop coverage.

This picture from Yahoo news shows just some of the devastation

New Zealand Earthquake

Of course, this disaster isn’t the only one that we, Americans, barely recognize.  There have been bombings and wars and rampant Aids and starving children and human trafficking and all kinds of world news that seems to just get a minute or two of our time.

I would like to ask forgiveness of the world community for my lack of attention to their ills and make a vow to start paying attention and spread the word so others cannot continue to bury their heads in the United States-only sand.

CHURCH!! Wake the FRICK up!!!

What is wrong with the church today? Ok, THAT is a loaded question.  But let’s just talk about a few things here.

1) How can we call ourselves followers of Christ and sit back and let children die?

2) How can we “Christians” not do something to stop the trafficking of human beings around the world?

3) How can we claim to have a relationship with God yet not reach a hand to our brothers & sisters in need in our own backyard and around the world?

We claim to be pro-life but do not adopt that unplanned baby or to stop bullying or to speak up for human rights.

Today’s American church is so far off base from what I believe Jesus planned for church to be that I am embarrassed for it.  Who gives a rat’s butt if you have thousands of members but don’t love the homeless guy on the corner?  Pastors, if you’re not empowering and encouraging your members to BE Jesus to everyone they encounter, you FAIL!  That “church” you lead is NOT about you, it’s about Christ.  Get over yourself.

If you call yourself a Christian and are not reaching outside of yourself, your family, your community and your country, then I would have to recommend you re-think that moniker.

Common Church!  We are supposed to lead the way – not coast (ever hear the term “Luke Warm”?).  Let’s get off our ever growing backsides and show the world the love of a loving, risen, living, savior – Jesus Christ!

 

Celebrity obsession

Why are we so obsessed with celebrity?  Is it because they make more money in a year than most of us will ever earn in a lifetime? Is it that they are so well known and get recognized? What is it?

I just saw an article on Yahoo about celebrity couple Valentine’s gifts.  Who cares?!? I’m sure I’ll never be lavished with such expensive gifts so why tell me so I can be envious?

Even Christians have their little celebrities: mega church pastors, authors, singers, TV evangelists, etc.  Seems to me that celebrity is the exact opposite of what Jesus sought after while here on earth.  He was usually running from the crowds, not trying to attract the paparazzi.

I guess it’s the “IT Factor” that draws us to these folks in the first place but let’s remember, they are NOT God!  They are mere mortals who have a particular gift or talent.  But, hey, so do you!  We are all created uniquely and God has given us each something spectacular that only we posses.

Let’s yank those celebrities, especially the Christian variety, off of their pedestals and remember to obsess about only one thing…God.

NOT PC (Politically Correct)

I wish I spoke another language.  I regret somehow circumventing the system in High School and graduating without so much as one ‘language 101’ course.  I think that it would be beneficial to Spanish or German or Slovak or Mandarin or something in addition to English.

BUT, I don’t think it should be mandatory for companies, governments, schools, churches and organizations to cater to the minority by requiring them to print information in another language or have employees speak multiple languages.  This is the United States of America.  The language we speak is English.  If you decide to move here, learn the language!!!

Do you think for one second you would be welcome in France, for example, if you moved there and refused to learn their language?  Heck no!  Not only would you handicapped socially but you would likely be rejected and even bullied for refusing to learn the language of the land.

I do NOT advocate bullying.  That is NEVER the answer.  What I’m saying is if you chose to move to a country be willing to assimilate.  Learn the culture and the language.  Be able to interact.

When my grandparents moved to this country they did not hold on to their old language and expect others to bend to their will.  They INSISTED on learning the language and speaking it as flawlessly as possible so as to integrate and flourish in this “new” land.  They still spoke their birth language at home but in public they WANTED to be American so they spoke English.

I’m not saying that one has to reject their culture of origin or their language.  On the contrary, I wish my grandparents had passed on the knowledge of their original language to their children and grandchildren. I am saying that in order to fully embrace your new life in a new country, however, you have to learn to speak the language.

I know American English is not easy to learn that’s why I LOVE meeting someone who is giving it their all to learn the dialect, proper punctuation and grammar.  I admire those who try but am truly frustrated with those who refuse to try.  It’s like trying to teach someone how to use a computer but they insist on sticking with a typewriter.

Go ahead, blast me. I know this is not a PC way of thinking but I have never really considered myself Politically Correct anyway.

 

Letter to the Church

I found this on another blog site.  I couldn’t have said it any better, so I’m just going to post a link to Mentanna’s blog.  Be sure to check out the follow up letter, as well.

http://mentanna.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-letter.html

Global Warming, my A_ _!!

Anyone who ever believed even an iota of what scientists call “global warming” must now be having some doubts. All you have to do is look at all the extremely cold temperatures and record snowfalls to feel some doubt.

It amazes me how science has become religion instead of science being the search for evidence of our faith.  Theories become truth instead of what their name implies…THEORY!

A guy I know put it this way…“Science deals with the “how” and Christianity addresses the “why.” I believe God didn’t biblically explain how everything works in the universe so we’d have the pleasure of discovering things for ourselves. We go astray when science becomes religion; when we believe our understanding of the “how” somehow renders the “why” of God irrelevant.”

I love how people of science don’t see what a HUGE leap of faith it is to believe in something as random as a “Big Bang” that created our universe and ultimately all life as we know it.  Remember kids, it’s called the “Big Bang THEORY”!! And they say we’re crazy for believing in a God, a greater power who brought all of this into being.  Hmmm.

Lighten up & have a drink!

First, I’m going to say this is NOT something I ascribe to for those with substance abuse issues.  Second, stop judging.

I was raised in a religious denomination that is very liberal when it comes to alcohol consumption.  In fact, on certain holidays, our church would hold parties with a cash bar for adults to raise money for projects.

When I started to interact with other Christian denominations, I found it absurd that a beer or glass of wine was on the “do not do” list.  I understand that one should not get intoxicated.  That seems pretty clear in the Bible but even Jesus drank wine.  And, yes, I know why they drank wine in their time and part of the world…even though some denominations insist it was grape juice.

I think the entire American Christian community would be a whole lot better off if they just relaxed and had a drink from time to time.  We get so serious about the stupidest little things that I’m guessing don’t matter much to God: like having a beer, for example!  In my opinion, I bet Christ thought we’d have our hands full with just trying to Love God and Love one another.