Day 3
12:03pm simpleTime
10:03am CS Time
One thing I have forgotten to mention, I have decided to mention now…since this will be my only time stolen today (Very hectic today) and will not be on till later tonight. In this hotel, which is very nice, my room is almost the furthest room away from the lobby/Conference center. There are only like 4 rooms further away, honestly. This place is THE most confusing hotel I have ever been in, (And for those of you who went to Detroit with me…that is saying a lot) I feel like every time I go to my room or head to the conference center I enter Pan’s Labyrinth. I have yet to run into the faun, but there is a little Hispanic man that had he not had a hat on, I believe he could have been faun indeed.
I have figured out something like 5 different ways to get back and forth, non-the-less, I feel that I have found the quickest way…and with only half a day left lol.
While there, of course, are some draw backs, I am nearly finished with another class, I do NOT have to put the toilet seat down for the first time in several years, and I do NOT have to make my bed! HA!
Not much longer before I have to go, and I want to wrap up this class work today too, so, this will be a short entry for simpleTravel.
Till this evening…simpleMan must brave the Labyrinth, fauns or not…some things must be done.
So ventures the simpleMan.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
simpleTravel (pt.4)
Day 2
9:10pm simpleTime
7:10pm CS Time
So I decided with some of the extra time I took to work on some church work, guess I should give some background.
I ended up writing three papers for my schoolwork, I put he three papers on a jump drive (there are like 12 different names for the USB storage drive, but that what I call a jump drive.) So I was going to bring it home so the simpleWife could check/edit them for me.
Once again, simpleMan forgets…OYE!
Well that is all well and good, until I get here and go to work on the church stuff, which I thought I had saved on the good ol’ laptop….NOPE!
It is ALSO on the jump drive.
WHY!?!?!
Well anyway I began working on the schoolwork I brought to be somewhat productive, because I am once again skipping something…but let me tell you why…
Tonight after dinner is the entertainment styling of the Colorado Wranglers…a country western band and cowboy humor…
If you know the simpleMan…you know simpleMan does not do country, especially the type of styling that are similar to the Colorado Wranglers.
Yee-haw ya’ll!
My first break after the Pike’s Peak I napped a bit, woke up to see the Browns within striking distance…field goal GOOD…THE BROWNS ARE 2-1!!!
Ohh..wait…it’s the Browns.
Yeah, time out called before the kick. Rekick…aaannndddd BLOCKED!
Daft!
So suffers the simpleMan.
9:10pm simpleTime
7:10pm CS Time
So I decided with some of the extra time I took to work on some church work, guess I should give some background.
I ended up writing three papers for my schoolwork, I put he three papers on a jump drive (there are like 12 different names for the USB storage drive, but that what I call a jump drive.) So I was going to bring it home so the simpleWife could check/edit them for me.
Once again, simpleMan forgets…OYE!
Well that is all well and good, until I get here and go to work on the church stuff, which I thought I had saved on the good ol’ laptop….NOPE!
It is ALSO on the jump drive.
WHY!?!?!
Well anyway I began working on the schoolwork I brought to be somewhat productive, because I am once again skipping something…but let me tell you why…
Tonight after dinner is the entertainment styling of the Colorado Wranglers…a country western band and cowboy humor…
If you know the simpleMan…you know simpleMan does not do country, especially the type of styling that are similar to the Colorado Wranglers.
Yee-haw ya’ll!
My first break after the Pike’s Peak I napped a bit, woke up to see the Browns within striking distance…field goal GOOD…THE BROWNS ARE 2-1!!!
Ohh..wait…it’s the Browns.
Yeah, time out called before the kick. Rekick…aaannndddd BLOCKED!
Daft!
So suffers the simpleMan.
simpleTravel (pt. 3)
Day 2
6:42pm simpleTime
4:42pm CS Time
So the beds here are pretty nice, easy to sleep in and not the status quo cardboard mattress for a hotel. Today I got up and went to breakfast, and had a “service” and it was…meh…ok.
Allen looked over and said, “Hey…let’s roll.” While we were getting ready to get out of here, he overheard that Pike’s Peak wasn’t too far away. In fact it was about 30 minutes away, so off we went. It took longer to get up ON Pike’s Peak…but WOW…WOW…WOWWW.
To say it was amazing is an understatement. It is 20 miles to get up Pike’s Peak, and you literally have your heads in the clouds, you get out to go look around and your head gets like and your chest begins to pound a little because the air is so thin…what an experience!
Of course no camera, no phone, and not much of a way to share the experience, but now I have some memories and these feeble words to use to describe the amazing landscape these simpleEyes have taken in.
After seeing that, I had to skip some more “stuff” and take a little nap, do some church work, and watch some football!
More later, hopefully, but the week is going fairly well so far…tomorrow could be the sticking point.
So marvels the simpleMan
6:42pm simpleTime
4:42pm CS Time
So the beds here are pretty nice, easy to sleep in and not the status quo cardboard mattress for a hotel. Today I got up and went to breakfast, and had a “service” and it was…meh…ok.
Allen looked over and said, “Hey…let’s roll.” While we were getting ready to get out of here, he overheard that Pike’s Peak wasn’t too far away. In fact it was about 30 minutes away, so off we went. It took longer to get up ON Pike’s Peak…but WOW…WOW…WOWWW.
To say it was amazing is an understatement. It is 20 miles to get up Pike’s Peak, and you literally have your heads in the clouds, you get out to go look around and your head gets like and your chest begins to pound a little because the air is so thin…what an experience!
Of course no camera, no phone, and not much of a way to share the experience, but now I have some memories and these feeble words to use to describe the amazing landscape these simpleEyes have taken in.
After seeing that, I had to skip some more “stuff” and take a little nap, do some church work, and watch some football!
More later, hopefully, but the week is going fairly well so far…tomorrow could be the sticking point.
So marvels the simpleMan
Saturday, September 22, 2007
simpleTravel (pt.2)
Day 1
3:00pm simpleTime
5:00pm Colorado Time
…and yes I know the proper terms for the time zones.
Well we were boarding the flight from Cincy to CS (Colorado Springs) and a guy from Baltimore sat next to me and it turned out he was also going to the CMA conference in CS. We began talking and he said he was going to rent a car so I could ride with him….
…Things are beginning to look a little brighter.
I was talking to him about the conference and how I wanted to find a time to get away and just hang out and … I dunno…watch a movie or something. He said, well since I rented a car I am sure we can find a time to do that…
…Excellent…
We talked back and forth about several things and it made the 2.5 hr flight go a little smoother. We land and lo and behold…the dude rented a new Dodge Charger…
…sweet…
We got to the hotel and I go to check in…
I have NO roommate!
Fantastic news!
So I take my time and get organized, actually iron my khaki pants…nothing better…oh oh oh…and get on here…yep, charge to get online. I don’t know if I will ever get that…anywhoo…if you see this before Tuesday, it means I caved to THE MAN and paid the lousy $10 to sign on for a day.
And since I forgot my simplePhone…it’s probably going to happen.
More later…
So settles the simpleMan.
Day 1
10:37pm simpleTime
8:37pm CS time
So, tonight I went to dinner and sat with Allen (Dude from plan and has the Charger) and out of no where this guy comes up and sits by us and LO AND BEHOLD this was a dude in my group from DCLA…odd.
As I was finishing up my fajitas, I look up and what do my wondering eyes see?
THE EVANGELISM LINEBACKER!!!! WHAT!?!?! WOW!!!
So I go up and introduce myself to him and talk to him for a few, he isn’t as tall as my but thickness…he is about two of me lol.
After dinner and chatting with peeps for some time we had our first meeting…OYE…def going to have to sneak out.
More tomorrow, I am tired and jet lagged and missing some of the importatn details of today, but tomorrow will be chocked full of boring meetings so I will have plenty of time to catch up.
Till then…
So sleeps the simpleMan.
3:00pm simpleTime
5:00pm Colorado Time
…and yes I know the proper terms for the time zones.
Well we were boarding the flight from Cincy to CS (Colorado Springs) and a guy from Baltimore sat next to me and it turned out he was also going to the CMA conference in CS. We began talking and he said he was going to rent a car so I could ride with him….
…Things are beginning to look a little brighter.
I was talking to him about the conference and how I wanted to find a time to get away and just hang out and … I dunno…watch a movie or something. He said, well since I rented a car I am sure we can find a time to do that…
…Excellent…
We talked back and forth about several things and it made the 2.5 hr flight go a little smoother. We land and lo and behold…the dude rented a new Dodge Charger…
…sweet…
We got to the hotel and I go to check in…
I have NO roommate!
Fantastic news!
So I take my time and get organized, actually iron my khaki pants…nothing better…oh oh oh…and get on here…yep, charge to get online. I don’t know if I will ever get that…anywhoo…if you see this before Tuesday, it means I caved to THE MAN and paid the lousy $10 to sign on for a day.
And since I forgot my simplePhone…it’s probably going to happen.
More later…
So settles the simpleMan.
Day 1
10:37pm simpleTime
8:37pm CS time
So, tonight I went to dinner and sat with Allen (Dude from plan and has the Charger) and out of no where this guy comes up and sits by us and LO AND BEHOLD this was a dude in my group from DCLA…odd.
As I was finishing up my fajitas, I look up and what do my wondering eyes see?
THE EVANGELISM LINEBACKER!!!! WHAT!?!?! WOW!!!
So I go up and introduce myself to him and talk to him for a few, he isn’t as tall as my but thickness…he is about two of me lol.
After dinner and chatting with peeps for some time we had our first meeting…OYE…def going to have to sneak out.
More tomorrow, I am tired and jet lagged and missing some of the importatn details of today, but tomorrow will be chocked full of boring meetings so I will have plenty of time to catch up.
Till then…
So sleeps the simpleMan.
simpleTravel (pt.1)
(While I normally use this for other types of subject matter…well read on, communication is a little… bah, just read!)
Day 1 (Cinncy)
Everyone has forgotten something as you prepare to travel on a trip, it has happened to just about everyone at some point in life. While this is true, simpleMan many times is knows for being a proficient packer, well organized, thinking of things that many would forget. I plan, even with my proficiency, for there to be some mistakes and some forgetfulness, and basically go by something similar to a handicap in golf, this trip (since I wasn’t particularly excited about going) a hefty 5 “swing” handicap meaning I would forget up to 5 things. Since simpleMan is known for his aptitude in packing and traveling…a rather lofty handicap that shouldn’t be a problem.
I am nearing failure on day ONE!
I get out of the car, as I was dropped off by simpleWoman (my lovely wife) and a friend. I walk off to the side to get organized and get my bearings (A wise decision…or so I thought) only to remember, “Where is my phone?” I had plugged it in for a charge when we left the house…and therefore, I am out my celly.
I really like my cell, has GPS and you can locate local restaurants, movie theaters and things of that sort. I was hoping to rely heavily on it especially as I was hoping to either sneak out for a meeting or go out after we had finished. If I got lost, GPS, so I can find my way back. AWESOME!!!
Or not…
Cus it is in my lovely Vue at the Yankee Peddler…BAH! Lol.
Oh, but that is just the beginning…
It gets better….AND I AM NOT IN COLORADO YET!
My travel agents print out said my flight leaves from CAK @ 11:20. I get to the AP (Airport cus I am lazy) at about 10:00 to 10:15 so I think, “Gee whiz, I should eat something. So I get myself a subway sub and a coffee…I have three bites left and I hear, “This is the last call for flight XYZ departing to Cincinnati, the last call for flight XYZ to Cincinnati.” I am sitting there swallowing a poorly chewed piece of sub and thinking, “Nooo waaayy!”
I immediately open my info for the flight and while the print out from the agent said 11:20; the one the lovely simpleWoman printed out for me this morning said 10:45. Of course, I didn’t look at it because I KNEW what I was doing….right.
Daft!
I still haven’t gone throw “Operation: Probe the Passenger” yet. While it is a small AP, my gate was the furthest away.
I somehow made it, but I missed the ramp and had to manually walk out and onto the jet.
Fun.
I arrive in Cincy and get a coffee to wait out my over an hour layover. I begin to think, man the schedule for this thing is brutal, I wonder when/if I will get to walk for exercise?
Oh, that’s right…YOU DIDN”T BRING YOUR SHOES!
Idiot.
I am sure I forgot something to say in this initial report…but yeah, I am already down to a -2.5 on my handicap (.5 because I am not REALLY sure I would get to exercise in the first place.) Nice start and I am not even there yet.
Till a few hours from now! WAHOOO!!!
Please take it easy on the texts and cell calls…for obvious simpleMinded reasons.
So travels the simpleMan.
Day 1 (Cinncy)
Everyone has forgotten something as you prepare to travel on a trip, it has happened to just about everyone at some point in life. While this is true, simpleMan many times is knows for being a proficient packer, well organized, thinking of things that many would forget. I plan, even with my proficiency, for there to be some mistakes and some forgetfulness, and basically go by something similar to a handicap in golf, this trip (since I wasn’t particularly excited about going) a hefty 5 “swing” handicap meaning I would forget up to 5 things. Since simpleMan is known for his aptitude in packing and traveling…a rather lofty handicap that shouldn’t be a problem.
I am nearing failure on day ONE!
I get out of the car, as I was dropped off by simpleWoman (my lovely wife) and a friend. I walk off to the side to get organized and get my bearings (A wise decision…or so I thought) only to remember, “Where is my phone?” I had plugged it in for a charge when we left the house…and therefore, I am out my celly.
I really like my cell, has GPS and you can locate local restaurants, movie theaters and things of that sort. I was hoping to rely heavily on it especially as I was hoping to either sneak out for a meeting or go out after we had finished. If I got lost, GPS, so I can find my way back. AWESOME!!!
Or not…
Cus it is in my lovely Vue at the Yankee Peddler…BAH! Lol.
Oh, but that is just the beginning…
It gets better….AND I AM NOT IN COLORADO YET!
My travel agents print out said my flight leaves from CAK @ 11:20. I get to the AP (Airport cus I am lazy) at about 10:00 to 10:15 so I think, “Gee whiz, I should eat something. So I get myself a subway sub and a coffee…I have three bites left and I hear, “This is the last call for flight XYZ departing to Cincinnati, the last call for flight XYZ to Cincinnati.” I am sitting there swallowing a poorly chewed piece of sub and thinking, “Nooo waaayy!”
I immediately open my info for the flight and while the print out from the agent said 11:20; the one the lovely simpleWoman printed out for me this morning said 10:45. Of course, I didn’t look at it because I KNEW what I was doing….right.
Daft!
I still haven’t gone throw “Operation: Probe the Passenger” yet. While it is a small AP, my gate was the furthest away.
I somehow made it, but I missed the ramp and had to manually walk out and onto the jet.
Fun.
I arrive in Cincy and get a coffee to wait out my over an hour layover. I begin to think, man the schedule for this thing is brutal, I wonder when/if I will get to walk for exercise?
Oh, that’s right…YOU DIDN”T BRING YOUR SHOES!
Idiot.
I am sure I forgot something to say in this initial report…but yeah, I am already down to a -2.5 on my handicap (.5 because I am not REALLY sure I would get to exercise in the first place.) Nice start and I am not even there yet.
Till a few hours from now! WAHOOO!!!
Please take it easy on the texts and cell calls…for obvious simpleMinded reasons.
So travels the simpleMan.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Jean-eric Con-denim-ation
Please watch video first….
So, as funny as this video is, and as much as I would LOVE to say that I hadn't had this conversation with people from my church…I have. I have sat down with some people/persons and been told that dressing casual can be seen as a reflection of the heart and could be seen as someone taking a casual approach to their relationship with God.
How do I even rebuttal? Well, I am sure many of you have already thought of several of my rebuttals, so I won't go exhaustively into all of mine.
But I have to say this…because I am not going into all the other rebuttals…this argument…
Absolutely
Hurts
My heart!
It makes me tired, and all the other arguments like it, these types of things make me so weary and honestly…it absolutely makes me unhappy.
In recent days I have been yelled at for having a sip of coffee in a large covered mug in the sanctuary (before church time) because it was, "holy ground". I have been told to "SHUUUUUSH" for trying to gently play my guitar during prayer time, although it is ok for the piano to do so. I have had the discussion about jeans in church as well and a few others. I have had digs tossed at me about how I go about doing what I do in ministry. I have had people try to impose their will into my ministry even though it isn't their ministry to impose their will.
So…why?
Why do I do what I do…and the only thing I can think of is…is because even though these issues are so huge to those people that push them…in all reality, and to me…I have bigger and more important things to do then to play these games. I don't have coffee in the sanctuary any more, I don't play my guitar during prayer, I don't wear jeans to Sunday morning services, and while I take stands in protecting the ministry God has placed me in…I still let people be as involved as they wish…within reason.
So am I a complete pushover? Nope. In each of the cases listed (except the shush whom I am not sure who did it, since they did it from the midst of the congregation while I was on stage) I addressed the situation head on, I told them fully that I disagreed, and told them the only reason I was going to not do those things anymore was because I loved them, not because they were wrong.
I am tired of fighting, and to be honest, I need prayer because my leash of submission is getting shorter and shorter. I pray to have a gentle strength, and I may realize that as great as it is to have that…the cost of attaining it may be a lot higher than I imagined.
There may be more to this later….but for now…
So plods the simpleMan.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
"Way" to "More"
Eternal life…
What is that?
It’s a curious thing to think about.
Eternity is defined as infinite time, duration without beginning or end.
Can you believe in that? How can that exist? I have mentioned numerous times about scientific laws are fact and theories are not scientifically proven at all. Well one of the laws of thermodynamics is the law of entropy, which is the law that everything is running down. A kind of, your dying as soon as you’re born type of law, a law that is a sort of downer, if you will.
So how is there more? You know more. That feeling hat you get, that there must be more than this. Well, I believe there is, but how can that be if everything is wearing down? Life wears down, at least, how we know it…it all ends. So we come to the conclusion that if there is more, there must be something we cannot experience fully here in this life, because this life wears out and we end up being dust.
If I cannot experience the “more” fully in this life how do I get in connection with the “more”? Well there are several theories on that, I mean if you look at all the thousands of different religions out there, and then add in everyone’s “educated” guesses, for example, I talked to a chap recently that believed (honestly he does) that just like in a comic strip God is asleep and dreaming (you know with the little cloud like bubble above His head) and when He wakes up we are done because we are His dream.
And that is what his life is based on.
I say that because look at people’s actions, I mean it, look at them. People will act out what they believe will happen in the future. For the Buddhist, they follow the teachings and live a life that adheres to what the teachings of that religion say they should do.
I guess I am similar, but I follow Christ, now having said that…I want to also add, I am in the “ministry”…so how many of you stopped reading? Why do I even ask that question? Well, because I am fully aware that there are a lot of “Christians” out there that are in NO WAY like my Jesus, THE Jesus and because of that drag His name through the mud and in my opinion, and in many cases, have no right to call themselves by the “Christian” name.
I have gone to 4th of July celebrations where people walk down the street with huge banners condemning Harry Potter readers and immediately passing judgment on anyone that picks a Harry Potter book up. This is Jesus? Jesus could handle a woman caught in adultery with truth and grace and we can’t handle a book? A BOOK! We can’t handle that with any amount of grace?
Which brings me to the point where I must tie all of this together, I am a Christian, and I do believe there is something far greater awaiting me after I pass. I believe that I have made the contact to that greater thing I mentioned earlier, the “more”. That connection comes through my belief in Christ, His sinless life, His death, and His resurrection.
Now I want you to think…whether you don’t believe, whether you are the guy holding the banner, whether you have been saying amen through this whole thing, or whether you are one of the miscellaneous others…If you are out there and you are representing my Jesus in a way that causes slander to His name, causes people to build a wall against a true, honest belief in Christ, cause people to view church as an organized religion as opposed to a place of healing, a place of forgiveness (remember that? Yeah We were forgiven at some point…and guess what…we STILL are… but for the grace of God there go I), a place of hope, a place of restoration…and yes it IS a place of TRUTH…but TRUTH with GRACE doesn’t make it any less truth…TRUTH without GRACE does make TRUTH less received, and therefore less productive… and if our purpose, as Christians, is to point people to what we feel passionately is the “More” then we would be dropping the ball, and not just any ball…we would be dropping the most important ball of all!
I am passionate about the way I know leads to the “More”, I believe it to be the only true way to the “More”, and when I see the only way to the “More” being handled with foolishness, selfishness, legalistic ruling, graceless, hypocrisy, Pharisee-like actions, it really gets under my skin. Jesus told the lady caught in adultery to “Go and sin no more”, He gave here truth…but only after He had shown grace to her and saved her life from being destroyed.
Acting like Jesus doesn’t mean we work towards perfection and point at those who further behind us in the perfection race. Acting like Jesus is living this journey, knowing what our future holds…knowing what those who do not believe future holds as well, and passionately seeking to draw them into the “More” that they need, and at least presenting that to them for them to make a decision.
Remember I mentioned the Buddhist and their actions… If we truly believe what we believe, what would our actions look like? I have used a term “eternal mindset” before, what would that look like? If we really, I mean REALLY were trying to save someone’s life…would we stand on the cliff and point and ask, “look how you got yourself into this one!” Or, “if you hadn’t walked off the cliff in the first place you wouldn’t be in this mess now!” Or finally, “You are wrong for hanging off the ledge, you should be standing here with me where it is safe!” I would imagine you would drop what YOUR PRIORITY IS AT THE MOMENT (your agenda) and take care of the necessity, which is getting to that person before whatever they are holding onto snaps and they are lost, forever. I could stand and push my priorities all I want at you if you’re hanging from a cliff but that is not what you need…you need help. If I truly believe what I say I do, think about how important it is to me to rush to that cliff side and get to the person that is about to fall… imagine if it is my family member, my friend, or even a stranger…
How would you react?
Think about it.
Grace and Truth.
simpleMan
What is that?
It’s a curious thing to think about.
Eternity is defined as infinite time, duration without beginning or end.
Can you believe in that? How can that exist? I have mentioned numerous times about scientific laws are fact and theories are not scientifically proven at all. Well one of the laws of thermodynamics is the law of entropy, which is the law that everything is running down. A kind of, your dying as soon as you’re born type of law, a law that is a sort of downer, if you will.
So how is there more? You know more. That feeling hat you get, that there must be more than this. Well, I believe there is, but how can that be if everything is wearing down? Life wears down, at least, how we know it…it all ends. So we come to the conclusion that if there is more, there must be something we cannot experience fully here in this life, because this life wears out and we end up being dust.
If I cannot experience the “more” fully in this life how do I get in connection with the “more”? Well there are several theories on that, I mean if you look at all the thousands of different religions out there, and then add in everyone’s “educated” guesses, for example, I talked to a chap recently that believed (honestly he does) that just like in a comic strip God is asleep and dreaming (you know with the little cloud like bubble above His head) and when He wakes up we are done because we are His dream.
And that is what his life is based on.
I say that because look at people’s actions, I mean it, look at them. People will act out what they believe will happen in the future. For the Buddhist, they follow the teachings and live a life that adheres to what the teachings of that religion say they should do.
I guess I am similar, but I follow Christ, now having said that…I want to also add, I am in the “ministry”…so how many of you stopped reading? Why do I even ask that question? Well, because I am fully aware that there are a lot of “Christians” out there that are in NO WAY like my Jesus, THE Jesus and because of that drag His name through the mud and in my opinion, and in many cases, have no right to call themselves by the “Christian” name.
I have gone to 4th of July celebrations where people walk down the street with huge banners condemning Harry Potter readers and immediately passing judgment on anyone that picks a Harry Potter book up. This is Jesus? Jesus could handle a woman caught in adultery with truth and grace and we can’t handle a book? A BOOK! We can’t handle that with any amount of grace?
Which brings me to the point where I must tie all of this together, I am a Christian, and I do believe there is something far greater awaiting me after I pass. I believe that I have made the contact to that greater thing I mentioned earlier, the “more”. That connection comes through my belief in Christ, His sinless life, His death, and His resurrection.
Now I want you to think…whether you don’t believe, whether you are the guy holding the banner, whether you have been saying amen through this whole thing, or whether you are one of the miscellaneous others…If you are out there and you are representing my Jesus in a way that causes slander to His name, causes people to build a wall against a true, honest belief in Christ, cause people to view church as an organized religion as opposed to a place of healing, a place of forgiveness (remember that? Yeah We were forgiven at some point…and guess what…we STILL are… but for the grace of God there go I), a place of hope, a place of restoration…and yes it IS a place of TRUTH…but TRUTH with GRACE doesn’t make it any less truth…TRUTH without GRACE does make TRUTH less received, and therefore less productive… and if our purpose, as Christians, is to point people to what we feel passionately is the “More” then we would be dropping the ball, and not just any ball…we would be dropping the most important ball of all!
I am passionate about the way I know leads to the “More”, I believe it to be the only true way to the “More”, and when I see the only way to the “More” being handled with foolishness, selfishness, legalistic ruling, graceless, hypocrisy, Pharisee-like actions, it really gets under my skin. Jesus told the lady caught in adultery to “Go and sin no more”, He gave here truth…but only after He had shown grace to her and saved her life from being destroyed.
Acting like Jesus doesn’t mean we work towards perfection and point at those who further behind us in the perfection race. Acting like Jesus is living this journey, knowing what our future holds…knowing what those who do not believe future holds as well, and passionately seeking to draw them into the “More” that they need, and at least presenting that to them for them to make a decision.
Remember I mentioned the Buddhist and their actions… If we truly believe what we believe, what would our actions look like? I have used a term “eternal mindset” before, what would that look like? If we really, I mean REALLY were trying to save someone’s life…would we stand on the cliff and point and ask, “look how you got yourself into this one!” Or, “if you hadn’t walked off the cliff in the first place you wouldn’t be in this mess now!” Or finally, “You are wrong for hanging off the ledge, you should be standing here with me where it is safe!” I would imagine you would drop what YOUR PRIORITY IS AT THE MOMENT (your agenda) and take care of the necessity, which is getting to that person before whatever they are holding onto snaps and they are lost, forever. I could stand and push my priorities all I want at you if you’re hanging from a cliff but that is not what you need…you need help. If I truly believe what I say I do, think about how important it is to me to rush to that cliff side and get to the person that is about to fall… imagine if it is my family member, my friend, or even a stranger…
How would you react?
Think about it.
Grace and Truth.
simpleMan
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