Let's Get Together

I will be speaking with a college basketball coaching staff in San Diego, California, today (they’ve been reading through my book for several months), and will meet with a small group in Poway tonight. Tomorrow night I will speak with a counseling ministry group in Charlotte, North Carolina. To be able to do this is why I’m such a big fan of internet video conferencing via Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, and more. Would you like to meet with me? It’s easy and terrific. Simply message me, or go to: http://lifecourse.org/Face_To_Face.html.

Let’s get together!

An Earth Day Toast

On a day known as “Earth Day" (at least in the U.S.), I’d like to propose a toast to the brilliance of humans, who have turned wastelands into farmlands rich in agriculture, barren waters into those teaming with fish, darkness into light, and uninhabitable terrain into useful and beautiful environments pleasing to all (except the “humans-are-destroyers-and-must-be-stopped” types). I offer the famous little pinkie salute and a heartfelt “Thank you!” for the creativity and strength that shows how much we are like our Father, the Original Creator.

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To Hell With That

Last Sunday night I took what might have been my greatest-ever leap of a public confession:  I have been watching the television show, “The Walking Dead.”  Not just binge-watching as a secret way of addiction, but year after year, season after season—6 years.  Scandalous.  How could I do such a thing?  How could I watch an awful, hellish show like that?

Because I care about people. 

An important part of story telling is putting people into situations in which they must adapt, change and grow in order to move forward.  If it’s well written, many of us are drawn into the lives of the characters because we want to see what they will do and how they will do, as well as what relationships might look like for them in that story’s situation.  It’s about people.  In this show, we don’t care about the fictitious zombies—they’re a hazard, to be sure—we care about the people; their struggles, their failings and successes, their attempts at creating a community of trust and support, and what difficulties they must overcome in a pretend situation.  It’s the same old story of what happens to people re-told in a different package.  I know—a very different package, but that’s why we care, that’s why we watch.  The show is not about “a big lie of hell,” as some have said, it’s about a good, godly caring. 

I have watched or read hundreds of stories that are really the same thing.  An adolescent is magically endued with super-athleticism for a season, and leads a professional team (baseball, soccer, basketball, and more) to the championship.  A young woman is magically gifted a single evening as a princess at a ball, and still wins the affection of the prince after the magic disappears—the glass slipper fits.  A group of disparate teens must bond together in order to vanquish an awful alien/force/army/tyrant that could never actually happen, but we want to know what they do, how they do, and how their relationships look in that story. 

I believe that most of us deeply care about people and how we interact.  Reading or watching stories about that stimulates a goodness in us.  When I consider the many friends I have whose opinions about politics, religion, economics and sports are waaaaay different from mine, with a few exceptions, we’ve learned pretty well how to remain friends and remain genuinely caring, even while communicating our differences—sometimes with heat.  I often drink a beer on Tuesday nights with some of my “different opinion friends,” and we care deeply for each other.  It’s an invaluable time for us, and few things get in the way of it.  There are some who, learning this, would condemn me for drinking a beer.  I occasionally target shoot with a friend, and we have a blast together, all the while talking about the craziness of life, our terrible flesh and its lusts, and more.  There are some who would condemn me for shooting guns.  Over the years, I’ve gone with my wife and daughters to the movies many times and watched films that provided a way for us to talk and discuss true issues of the heart.  Some would condemn me for the movies, some for the Diet Coke, some for the GMO popcorn. 

All of that to say that most of us highly value the biblical story and our experience of “God with us.”  We’re crazy in love with Him because He made that happen through the reconciling cross and resurrection of Jesus.  If our being reconciled to Him, our being put into harmony with Him, means anything, it means we are safe to be with Him exactly as we are . . . and exactly as we are not.  We are safe.  Loved.  Open hearted.  Genuine.  Free.   And in the love of “God with us,” free of fear.  Frankly, most of us want that same reconciliation to extend into as many relationships as we can find, where we’re safe and open with each other.  In my experience, that’s where God—and God in me—does His best, most evident work.  That’s where the good news of His life and love and grace for us is best given and received. 

However, relationship with you through text or video on a computer screen is not easily managed.  I haven’t had coffee with you, I haven’t been with you when you were sick or discouraged or happy or stupid or brilliant or loving or angry.  I don’t know your story, but I know you’ve got one.  It’s important to you.  It’s important to God, who wants you to know how good and capable and perfect He is with you in your story—all of it.  God with you.  Yes, He might well change your opinion about a thing or two; wouldn’t you expect that?  Wouldn’t you want that?  That’s what can happen in friendship, and that’s particularly good when you’re safe with God, Mr. Know-It-All Friend. 

His opinion of you is better and more accurate than the one you’ve got rattling around in your brain, influencing your relationships.  He’s not mad at you because you like stout beer over pilsner, “Kill Bill” over “The Sound of Music”, plastic grocery bags over hemp, or Bernie over Donald.  None of that is actually YOU—it’s not the heart of your story.  So if you and I major on the minors, if we get most passionate, most heated about the minors, we’ll raise invisible shields around our hearts and come to believe that’s the way of relationships.  Shields up.  People around us, but not people with us.  Not really.  Worst of all, we’ll come to think of God around us, but not God with us.  Reconciled in The Book, but not in experience.  What a killer that is.  I say, “To Hell with that.”  I want to walk with you as best I can—even through a computer screen—whether you’re sick or well, sad or happy, stupid just now or smart, “dead” or “alive.”

So is anyone besides me looking forward to next Sunday’s first episode of season 2, “Fear The Walking Dead”?

(This is a transcript of day-before-yesterday’s video, “To Hell With That,” and is for those who might rather read than watch.  To see the video, click https://youtu.be/XddlziWmDUA, or scroll down this blog page.)

To Hell With That

Got 9 minutes?  I have something to say about the things that are keeping you from the freedom and joy of authentic relationships—with God and people.  I hope it helps you.

Unashamed

Here’s an unusual book that I highly recommend: “Unashamed” - Candid Conversations About Dating, Love, Nakedness and Faith, by Tracy Levinson

After reading the manuscript, here’s what I wrote: "If you are daring enough to finally have those difficult but vital conversations about relationships, sex, faith and intimacy with someone you can trust, choose Tracy and ‘Unashamed’. In a style that reminds me of a challenging, focus-commanding workout that is both breath taking and invigorating, Tracy shares what I want my daughters to know, but I don't have the guts to tell them."

Here’s the link to a 3 minute introductory video from Tracy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB0-0oWitIk

For more info and to order: http://www.amazon.com/Tracy-Levinson/e/B01BT1ZWZ6

Give You Rest

If you’re feeling a little worn out, a bit worked over today, please do not try to work up something for Jesus.  While working yourself over or up for Jesus is never a good idea, we seem particularly prone to thinking about all of the work we should be doing upon ourselves when we are least capable.  I do not like feeling, “least capable,” and often entertain lunatic thoughts that I’d better get myself together.  But the two don’t go together.  Right?  Instead, the best course I have ever found is to offer myself to Jesus—Mr. Capable—who lives in me.  I don’t make it my goal to do that very well either.  I don’t gin-up some manners when talking to Jesus in me, because not only does He know all about my “worked-over” condition, He actually enjoys meeting with me in every condition and situation I encounter.  That’s the plan.  He proves Himself to me over and over again, earning my love and trust over and over again.  And what’s more valuable than that?

Happy Easter!

When I was first a Christian, all the world was a curiosity to me since I was “seeing” and “knowing” for the first time. The music of Keith Green had a major effect upon me, and while I don’t now agree with all of his songs lyrics, still they were incredibly real, raw, meaningful and passionate. I was transfixed by how genuine he was—not selling anything—and that has marked me since. Here’s one of my favorites, “Your Love Broke Through” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h89-3_kIRDA), even though it isn’t his famous and timely “Easter Song” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3kc1jDahU4).

Happy Easter, everyone!

Jesus & My Baggage

The Jesus that I know seems relatively unconcerned and rarely talks with me about “my baggage,” the stuff that stumbles and plagues me concerning how I want to be and what I want to do. You know, my frustrated desire for self-righteousness, my work on getting myself right, so that I’ll finally make myself work right. That. Obviously, He sees and knows another way and another me, the real me, the me that He made a new creation and focuses His attention right there. Perhaps today I will look there, too, and let Him handle the baggage. He seems pretty good with it.

Do you let Jesus handle your baggage, or are you still too caught up in it to let it go? Are you not done working on it yet? He really is perfect with our junk and sin and baggage that sticks with us because we insist upon handling it and doing something with it—at best, moving it around, from here to there.

But Jesus picked you, baggage and all, because He has a plan to be great with you—to handle your junk and baggage and sin, and the stuff that plagues you. So whether it’s drinking too much, sexing too much, swearing too much, being mean too much, or WHATEVER too much, Jesus is really good right there—with you and for you, so you can let it go, look away from it, and look at Him.

He knows all about it anyway. He has been an expert baggage-handler for a long time. It’s part of His plan. Writing to the baggage-overloaded Corinthians, the apostle Paul wrote:

1 Corinthians 1:26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.

Reading it now, does this reveal a little bit of why you are so appealing to God and His choice? Do you ever look around at your junk and stuff and baggage and think, “What am I gonna do with this?!” Well, that’s part of His plan to look good in what He does for you. See?

1 Corinthians 1:30 It is because of him that you and I are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, He has become your righteousness and mine, He has become your holiness and mine, and He has become your redemption and mine. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

And why wouldn’t you boast in what He has become for you so you don’t have to try? See? It’s all a set up for Jesus. Have you thought of your baggage, your particular brand of junk or sin or fleshly stuff in that way, that it’s something for Him to deal with and to carry so you can do something else? It is.

So look at Jesus and how He is for you and with you, and let go of controlling your baggage. He can handle it. He can carry it for the rest of your days.

(This is a transcript of yesterday’s video, “Jesus & My Baggage,” and is for those who might rather read than watch. To see the video, click https://youtu.be/D7gh3pPbsDo, or scroll down this blog page.)

 

Jesus & My Baggage

Got 4 minutes?  If you’re bothered and burdened with problems and the troubling baggage of bad habits and sin, has it occurred to you that you’re probably working way harder than Jesus is?  It’s time you gave Him something to do for you.  He’s been waiting and He’s ready.

The Xchange-Life Grace Conference

Got 2.5 minutes?  If you’d like a four-day event that focuses upon knowing Jesus as your deepest satisfaction, best counselor, most trusted confidant and perfect lover, this is it.  I hope you’ll share this video with friends who would benefit, as well. 




Helpful links:  thegraceconference.com
https://www.facebook.com/events/1960420504184140/
#XchangeLifeGraceConference2016
#SynergyOneDay2016
#ChristAsLife2016

How to Cure the Crazies

Chances are good that you’re going to see someone you know this weekend behave in a way that is crazy and contrary to who he is.  How will you help him? 

I suggest that if someone is acting crazy, the best thing you can do is not to correct his behavior with a scolding, but to help awaken his faith in God, who has made him a son.  Instead of giving him restrictions, assist him toward revival.  When our faith is dormant or sickly, who looks particularly good?  You know how that feels, you know how that goes, right?  Well, what revived you?  What’s needed is the truth about the mercy, grace and goodness of God.

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.  (Italics mine.)

Without the proper “view of God’s mercy,” nobody rightly offers his body and nobody has any particular reason to worship, no matter how we might scold him.  Build him up!  Give him reasons to worship by giving him a new view of God’s mercy.  In other words, put some wood on the inside fireplace of his heart.  Tell him what Jesus did to him and for him in making him holy, pure, forgiven, cleansed, secure and safe in God, no matter his crazy behavior, and watch his mind begin to turn toward the truth that revives and away from the lies that have been crippling him and affecting his behavior.  Hang in there, because it might take a little while.  In my experience, crazy creeps up on us, and takes a while to creep away. 

Help him, help your friend to see again by assisting him to the truth that renews.  He will come to his senses through your care, and rest again in the good, pleasing and perfect will of God. 

(This is a transcript of yesterday’s video, “How to Cure the Crazies,” and is for those who might rather read than watch.  To see the video and more than 100 others, go to my YouTube channel:  https://youtu.be/IkLZm-wi9RU.)

How to Cure the Crazies

Got 3 minutes?  The weekend is here, and that means you’re likely to see some crazy behavior happen.  It might even be damaging.  It might even be yours.  Here’s how to help someone recover from “the crazies.”

Empty Pretenders Exposed

“Delight yourself in the Lord” (Psalm 37:4) is not a command to dance about and make merry as though the appearance of delight fulfills the command. It’s a directive for our own enjoyment. When we find God to be our greatest joy and pleasure, the presumed pleasures of drink and sex and ambition and covetousness are exposed as the comparatively empty pretenders they are, and their grip upon us is loosened.

Through the Bumps

Many of us make tremendous efforts to smooth out any and all bumps we might see ahead, thinking proper smoothing techniques measure our Christian maturity. It isn't so. Christ in us is our measure, which means we're doing rather well, no matter the bumps. Think of the apostle Paul's bumpy-life ride, and ours in comparison seems fairly tame. Enjoy Jesus today, and He will provide through the bumps.