Going All Out For Jesus

I love good theme parks. As a kid, the one I enjoyed the most was Disneyland out in California. More recently, my family and I really enjoyed going to Celebration City in Branson before it closed down last fall. We also enjoy others, like Worlds of Fun and Silver Dollar City.

I also remember a theme park that I did not enjoy much as a child. Some may recall Dogpatch USA in northern Arkansas. It's long been shuttered up, although a recent trip to Russelville revealed that the property is still there...unused.

What's the difference between the good ones and the bad ones? Investment.

With the parks that remain popular after many years, what you discover is that the ownership invests a lot of time and money to attract millions of visitors each year. In short, ownership goes all out in an effort to get you to come for a visit. That's a principle that often times we forget in our churches.

I've attended churches and even sat in meetings where it was obvious that the most important thing was not doing what we could to reach people for Jesus. Instead, the top priority tended to be the discovery of ways to not spend all of the church's money.

Now, we could go back and forth on the importance of saving for hard times, or certain projects. There's some merit in that, although even it is debatable. But, I personally know of churches who have building funds full of cash that won't be used anytime soon, if ever. And, the thought of transferring some of that money to needed projects and ministries is unthinkable if not nearly criminal.

Unfortunately, these churches are missing out on the theme park principle. Investment is probably the single most important thing that a church can do with it's people, finances and property.

Think of it this way. A theme park will spend millions each year to attract people just for a fun time. But, the message the church holds is much more important than theme park fun, and deserves that we give it our best all the time. We may not have millions of dollars to invest in our people and church facilities, but that doesn't mean we can't give our best. That doesn't mean that we can't take the money we have and invest it in ways to reach people with Jesus' message.

If I've convinced you of the need for investment, let me point you in a direction to invest. Statistics have proven over and over that the easiest group to reach for Jesus are children. The most difficult group is seniors. Yet, in some churches, money is poured into senior activities and pulled from childrens programs. I'm not saying that seniors don't deserve the Gospel. By all means, they do. But, if you look at the habits of people to become less interested in Christ as they get older, then logic dictates that you invest the most of what you have in the children of your community.

Here's one last way to look at this investment idea. It's short, and simple. It's the no-brainer of the discussion. It's the argument that ends the debate. I heard a pastor in South Carolina sum it up this way once: Jesus gave his all on the cross. We should desire to give our all back to Him.

Taking Responsibility For Your Actions

There's a lot of talk in Washington this week about Monday's Air Force One flyover of New York City, and all the panic that it created. The incident itself isn't really that big of deal, and only requires a simple apology from the president to the people of NYC. But, in D.C. today, we are enjoying every governmental agency denying any knowledge that AF1 was going for a photo-op over the Statue of Liberty. It would seem that from Obama down to the least secretary in the White House, no one wants to claim responsibility. It is definately pass-the-buck season in D.C.

I've been reading Andy Stanley's book "The Principle of the Path," and some of what I'm taking from that book made me think of the AF1 incident where no one wants to take responsibility. I'll give my review of the book later, but Andy talks a lot about how the decisions we make thoughout life have an impact on what happens later in our lives. So, an angle on that would include "responsibility."

As we listen to the talking heads and the governmental heads try to shirk responsibility, I wonder what would happen in our country if those at the top simply admitted they blew it. Maybe, just maybe, people would start to have respect for politicians and public leaders again.

Instead, we see leaders hard at work saving their appearance rather than admitting what everyone already knows. It's a clear case of "The Emperor's New Suit."

Prov 28:13 - Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

Noticing Your Pastor Looks Like Someone Famous

You've no doubt heard it said that everyone has a double. I've even been told by a friend that they found my double somewhere on Facebook. But, what about when you're sitting in church and realize your pastor or someone on the stage looks like someone famous? For me, it started messing with my mind.


See, I attend North Point Church, and was sitting in on the Saturday night service this past weekend when it dawned on me that my pastor and friend, Tommy Sparger, looked like a celebrity. So, for several minutes I sat there with this realization, and missed part of the message while the thought messed with my mind.


So, who is Tommy's double? None other than Jan Michael Vincent. So, what do you think? And, do any of the people in your church look like celebrities?

Standing Up For What You Believe

This past week has drawn a lot of attention to the gay-marriage movement, and a woman who voiced her support against it. Carrie Prejean, the reigning Miss California and runner-up in last Sunday's Miss USA pageant, has been the lightning rod for the homosexual community as they have bashed her for holding Christian-based, family values. If you've missed any of the discussion, be sure to read the posts from Tuesday and Thursday.

This week, we have seen a lot of supporters of the gay marriage movement call Miss Prejean just about every vile name in the book. That only intensified when she commented to interviewers that her beliefs were based on her faith in Jesus.

To her credit, Carrie has not fired back in the same manner. The world would have immediately retaliated by equalling the muck-throwing, but not Carrie. She has not only held up the integrity of a beauty pageant winner/contestant, but more importantly, she has lived out Jesus' words. And, so long as she maintains her integrity, she will survive this battle.

So, what can Carrie expect now? Two things. First, the Christian community will no doubt attempt to turn her into the newest spokeperson and conference speaker. The opportunities should start rolling in before long, and her story would serve as inspiration to all Christians facing tremendous pressure from the world.

However, there is a danger in going this route. Right now, Carrie is very relavent to society. Her face is in the public spotlight. Her beliefs are splattered across the public viewing screen. But, to turn her post-pageant career exclusively to the Christian world would eventually make her relavent only to Christians, and that may not be the best thing for her or us.

At the moment, she has the attention of the world. People want to know why she believes what she does. The world is asking why she would throw away the thing she worked hardest for all because of her religious beliefs. The world has a genuine interest in Carrie Prejean. To turn away from the world's interest would hurt everyone.

The second thing Carrie can expect is that her opponents will continue to degrade her publicly. The fight began with a voiced repulsion at Miss Prejean's comments at the Miss USA pageant. The media then tried to get her to lower herself into name-calling, but she refused to play along.

If the media and vocal liberals continue their expected pattern, I anticipate they will begin digging into her past in an effort to defame her (see: Sarah Palin). If that fails, they will try to make her irrelavent, likely by ignoring her and hoping she goes away quickly.

All that being said, I think we as Christians have a duty to vocally and prayerfully support Carrie Prejean. Most of us have never held the public spotlight, and therefore do not fully understand the amount of pressure and lonliness that comes when we're being attacked for our beliefs. Right now, she needs to know she has a bunch of friends who view her as a hero, and she needs to know that we'll support her viewpoint to our questioning friends.

One last thing I would like to point out. Carrie has said that she was praying that she would not be asked the same-sex marriage question. However, God allowed her to face that test of faith. Tomorrow, you may face a similar situation where you'll have to make the decision to stand up for your faith, or cave to the pressure and sacrifice your beliefs for comfort, fame or fortune. Here's the ultimate deal...some day we will all kneel before God, and discover that the fame, fortune and creature comforts of this world pale in comparison to an Almighty God.

So, when you're faced with the questions on your faith, consider the eternal consequences.

Shots Across the Bow

I think most Christians knew it was just a matter of time before American society degraded to the point that Christianity would become a dirty word. I don't think most people ever thought it would happen so quickly, so soon.

But, American Christians are getting their first real taste of persecution. Oh, there has been a growing tide of public opinion against a certain type of Christian that ignores the world around them, and shows no care for people desperately in need of Jesus. It doesn't take many rotten apples to spoil the experience of those who aren't Christ followers, and develop a nasty stereotype for Christianity.

This post is a followup to Tuesday's regarding the debate surrounding Miss California's comments at Sunday's Miss USA pageant, where she stated her support for marriage to be defined as between one man and one woman. In some circles, she is being destroyed because of her pro-family stand. But, not to be left out of the fuss is Christianity, which is getting some blame for her views.

Five years ago, I don't think most Christians would have ever imagined they'd see a day where Christian beliefs would be attacked so openly or in such a nasty fashion. Yes, persecution has come to America, and it's only gaining steam.

Jesus and the New Testament writers had a lot to say about persecution. Jesus warned us it was coming, and told us to be wise around those who would destroy us for our beliefs. And, in an indirect way, he encouraged us to prepare ourselves for persecution lest we run at the first sign of trouble.

So, what are Christians to do in face of the growing persecution? I have a few ideas:

• As referenced in the parable of the sower, those who have studied the Bible and know what it really says will be able to withstand the persecutions, and provide a wise response to the attackers.
• Remember that Jesus forewarned us that we would face great opposition, even greater than what He faced.
• Rejoice in the Lord always. Peter and John remembered the words of Jesus when they were flogged for preaching in Jesus' name, and they rejoiced over being found worthy to face persecution for their Lord.
• Expect it to get worse before it gets better. If you check into history, the stoning of Stephen was just the first in a long line of Christians slaughtered for the cause of Christ.
• Know that Christianity has never spread faster than when faced with persecution. It's one of God's paradoxes. You would think people would flee from the ideology being persecuted, but they flock to Christianity. The church grew like a wildfire through dry brush in a strong wind during the days that Rome was blaming Christians for their problems. Many Christians lost their lives for their beliefs, but the numbers of those that believed in Jesus grew to the point that the society that tried to destroy them became Christian itself. There's something peculiar about a person that won't sell out his core beliefs when faced with death. That's gets the attention of the world.
• Finally, understand that God opens unexpected doors of opportunity during persecutions. The early church had grown comfortable in Jerusalem. They weren't really fulfilling Christ's command to take the Gospel into the world. But, Acts 8 changed everything. Persecution sent the believers scrambling to outlying towns where they took their faith with them. I love the story of Phillip, because he is the first Christian missionary, and his faith brought Jesus to Samaria, fulfilling part of the Great Commission.

Today, the church is facing persecution in America like never before. Now is the time to be wise. Now is the time to share our faith, not just our opinions. God is beginning to move in the church in a mighty way. Our doors of opportunity are opening now. Are you ready to charge through them to win people to Christ?

The Religion of Green

Today is Earth Day, the 39th annual Earth Day, in fact. All around the world, people are doing what they can to protect the Earth from themselves. Massive clean-up efforts are taking place today, speeches against global warming (or the new catch-phrase "climate change") are occurring, and the public in general is being made to feel bad about destroying the planet.

By now, you have probably figured out that I am not a fan of Earth Day. In fact, Earth Day frightens me. Here's why.

I have a scientist's mind, having been a fan of science since high school. That essentially means that I don't just buy into claims regarding a topic. I want proof. Solid proof. And, that's just something the folks behind Earth Day cannot provide. Why? Because there is no solid proof that the climate is changing. If anything, it's acting NORMAL.

Adding to the concern is the movement to destroy certain industries deemed climate-unfriendly, while getting the public to buy into products that supposedly save the environment. Meanwhile, what you don't fully understand is that the same proponents of this new green initiative also have financial interests in getting you to buy into their bad science. You've heard the adage "follow the money trail." That definately applies here. And, there's a lot of money to be had if the government starts handing it out for "green" initiatives.

But, there is something even bigger here that has caught my attention. The green movement has almost taken on a life of its own. It is almost becoming religion-like. Environmentalism in our world has taken a new spin. It's no longer the fringe group trying to prevent the extinction of an owl out west. It has now hit the mainstream, with people blindly accepting the propaganda as fact, then attempting to draw their friends into going "green." The feel of it seems very similar to the cults that worship Mother Earth.

Now, that being said, where does Christianity fit into the mix? I think we have to go back to Genesis 1 & 9. In the beginning, God created everything, then created man as the custodian. It was man's responsibility to care for God's creation. That includes keeping it clean from pollutants that destory life. That's all from Genesis 1. Genesis 9 is kinda of a do-over between God and Noah. The partnership is a little different, but much remained from the original God/Adam deal. So, ultimately, Christians (and mankind for that matter) have a responsibility to clean up after themselves.

However, that does not include the acceptance of false data to support a movement that threatens the way of life that was created or enabled by God. Today, we have legislative and governmental efforts to place God-created gases, coal and other natural resources on green-unfriendly lists. So now, the very by-products of life that God created may someday soon be determined to be bad for the Earth that God created. This movement is growing quickly, and time is running out to put clamps on it.

I would encourage you on this Earth Day, to actually listen to the message from the green proponents. Then, take the time to see if it holds real scientific water.

Miss California

I want to open this post by pointing out that I don't follow beauty pageants. I did when I was a kid and teen. But, as an adult, I find them utterly boring. And, judging from their TV ratings, most people have been bored to tears for a long time.

But, one happening from Sunday night's Miss USA competition has the country stirred up, because it is very possible that the answer to one of the questions in the Q&A session cost that contestant the crown.

Miss California, Carrie Prejean, lost the competition, and many folks think it was because of the following exchange with columnist Perez Hilton, who is openly gay:

Perez Hilton: “Vermont recently became the 4th state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit. Why or why not?”

Prejean: “Well, I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised and that’s how I think it should be between a man and a woman. Thank you very much.”

I'm not so much concerned about the question or the response. The whole point of the Q&A in a beauty pageant is to try and make an irrelevant pageant into something relevant. In fact, if you look at the first part of her answer, she is giving the politically correct lines that most contestants do while they're searching for their real answer. But, it's the second part of her answer that is drawing attention.

For what it's worth, I personally agree with her answer. And, after watching video of the exchange, so did the majority of the audience, despite what the mass media is saying.

The first couple of days of this week have been filled with bloggers and commentators either standing up for Miss Prejean, or ripping her (mostly ripping) and those who think like her to shreds. In fact, in Twitter posts, Mr. Perez posted this: "I’d rather be fugly(and fat) than go through my life a pea-brained moron. Pretty fades, stoopid is forever!" Similar comments from he and others have gone out on blogs and news commentaries all over the country.

Sad to say, but people on both sides of the issue are warring this week, and many are resorting to low-life discussions that do nothing but tear other people down. As Christians, we should follow Paul's advice on addressing others. Christianity is inadvertently being pulled into this discussion, so how we answer people's questions and comments will do a lot toward winning them to Christ or alienating them.

Handle yourselves wisely, and you will not only with someones respect, you may also win them to Jesus.

UPDATE: Carrie Prejean gave this interview to Fox News. In it, she says she was being tested by God with the same-sex marriage question. I applaud her for standing up for what she believes in. And, all who believe like she does should voice their support for her in a respectful, but loud-enough-to-be-heard way, because her detractors are showing no respect, and are slaughtering her image.

When NOT to Hit SEND

The other day I was reading some Twitter posts, and one of the guys I follow resent a Bible verse someone else had posted earlier in the day. The verse was from Proverbs and dealt with an issue that a friend of mine is struggling with at the moment.

I immediately started to click on the verse link with the intention of forwarding to my buddy when common sense grabbed me. Does my friend really need this biblical advice just emailed to him?

As I thought of that question, it occurred to me that this is the equavilent of what we do when we sit in church services and hear a message, then think of a friend we want to get a copy of the message for, because they'll want to hear it. Or, will they?

Let's turn this one around. Say you are the one with the addiction, and your Christian friend drops a CD copy of Sunday's message on your desk with the words, "I thought about you when I heard this." UGH! Slap a little insult onto the injury.

So, let's approach the hey-friend-my-pastor-spoke-on-your-issue gift from a different angle. Here's the suggestion. Go ahead and get the CD, but hold onto it until your conversation turns to this topic of need. It may take a week or more, but be patient. Then, when the topic comes up, you can say, "Hey, my pastor spoke on that at church not too long ago. Would you like me to get a copy of the message for you?" After that, you just go on what they say. And, who knows, if they like what they here, it might open the door for an invite to your church.

So, remember that patience is a virtue, don't hit send, and wait for the right opportunity.

My Battle With Pride

I've become a very honest person with myself lately. Circumstances going on in my personal life have forced me to face some hard facts about who I am. One of the personal issues that I am facing is pride.

You see, I hate to admit when I'm wrong. I always like to be right. But, I've discovered, sometimes in difficult ways, that I'm right probably 50% of the time. The rest of the time I blow it. And that does weird things to a guy who also works in broadcasting.

That's because the number one issue with radio people is ego. We all have one, but for broadcasters, we're constantly getting our egos stroked by fans. And, we get to liking it, which only pushes the pride problem to new levels.

For the last couple of years I have been making plans for the future, and doing what I believed was what God wanted. Unfortunately for me, I made two critical errors in thinking. First, I assumed what God wanted. I didn't actually ask Him. I played connect-the-dots, and assumed I was supposed to do something right now. It turns out that I am not supposed to do that thing. Making it more difficult was that I let my pride get in the way of what were clear signs telling me "not right now."

Why did I keep going in that direction? Good question. I had told several people about the ministry decision I thought I was supposed to be doing, and had even had some folks send money (unsolicited). I used that and a few other events as justification to prove my argument. Meanwhile, God was over on the side whistling to get my attention, but I wasn't listening.

The other issue I've been dealing with is the realization that this dream of mine had become more about me over the last two years than it was about God. I found my pride wanting the personal success more than I wanted God's success.

Oh, don't get me wrong. If you talked to me, I'm sure I sold you on it all. I had convinced myself of it, too. Yep, I convinced myself that I was right and anyone saying the contrary was wrong.

Unfortunately for me, it took a series of rather painful, humbling events to open my eyes to the truth that I had let pride get in the way of God. Fortunately, I'm now on the path to recovery. But, there has been some damage. Some relationships have been strained, and must be repaired. Additionally, my focus had become so intense on my success that I lost sight of my passion for God's heart. I now have to rediscover that.

"Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud." - Psalm 138:6

Criticism Revisited

I didn't think I'd be revisiting this topic so soon, but a friend's blog post regarding the church I attend has really brought some thoughts to mind.

The writer was rather critical about North Point Church's use of secular movies as discussion themes for the Reel Time series. This past weekend, the church used a movie as an illustration for the sermon. (For those wondering, no, the movie wan't shown, just clips.) Instead of describing how it was used, you can watch it here.

But, my friend, who doesn't go to the church and wasn't attending on Sunday, took some shots at the church, and so did some commenters to their post. My issue isn't necessarily with the comments, or even with the fact that the criticism came without having seen the service. What I take exception to is something I should've added when I talked about church critics last week, and that's the notion that we can criticize the pastor.

Now, I don't think anyone is above criticism, especially those in the public spotlight. However, I do think we need to take special care when we turn our biting comments toward pastors.

Pastors are often the most beat up and lonely people on the planet. People demand of their time, and then complain when it wasn't quite good enough. The details are insignificant. The fact is that it happens...a lot. Most pastors who have flamed out can chalk much of it up to stress caused by difficult people in their churches (and a few in other churches).

If you're reading this and you are a person who has criticized your pastor (or another church's pastor), I have some difficult words for you...the Bible says you are sinning. Yep, that's right. The Bible says to not touch God's pastors. In the NLT, God calls them "MY chosen ones" (emphasis mine). For the pastor, those are valuable words. For the critic, 1 Chronicles 16:22 is a warning.

So, what's the big deal? The pastor is in the public spotlight. If he doesn't do something you want, shouldn't he be subject to criticism? After all, we're all submissive to God, right?

Here's what the big deal is. Let's say you hear of a local pastor doing a particular thing in the church he leads. Instead of going to hear it for yourself, and seeing the results in person, you light up your flame thrower and start spraying criticism from long distance. (By the way, maybe you were in attendance, and you just didn't like it...this also applies).

The sticky point for you, as the critic, is that if God directed the pastor and church staff to take that particular approach to lead people to Christ, then you aren't critcizing the pastor. You are criticizing God.

So, what are you, as the wannabe critic supposed to do? I think the first thing you do is keep your mouth shut, especially if your ire is directed at a church you don't attend. By openly criticizing a church for it's methods, you are automatically saying that the people who came to Christ by those methods didn't do it the right way, or are only partial Christians.

Secondly, I think you need to ask God whether or not your opinion is really justified, or just an opinion of preference. By giving this enough time for God to reveal the truth to you, you also give that church enough time to see whether there are any spiritual results from what they're doing. Oh, and by the way, if you ask God about your opinion, chances are pretty good that he'll tell you that you're in the wrong.

Third, read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. If you don't like the methods used, but the Gospel is being preached, you just don't have any ground to stand on.

Finally, if you have made your unjustified criticism public, you probably need to apologize to everyone you discussed the matter with...and maybe even to the pastor you criticized. Yeah, I know it means eating some pride, but I'm learning that eating pride can be good for you (more about that another day).

Oh, lastly, if you're a pastor who is constantly being criticized and accused of various things, here's a word for you. If you're doing what God told you to do, and what the scripture says, then do what Perry Noble says (read point #7) and ignore the criticism, especially from outside your church.

The clock is ticking. We don't have enough time in our lives to quarrel over what some other church is doing, or fret over what others are saying about us. We need to take care of God's business right where we are.

Dating is for Grownups

My wife and I have known each other for roughly 17 years (married for 14), and the other night she asked a question that both hit home and opened up a thought process that I think would be helpful for other couples.

You see, in our 14 years of marriage, we went through a long period of time of raising the kids, and that took time away from date opportunities. She simply asked how that could happen. In the course of our conversation, we realized that we both know couples who have done the same thing - given up the date scene to raise the kids.

It's all too easy to slip into a life pattern that ends up slowing eroding your marriage. When you're are persuing that person of your dreams (and even for a while after marriage), dating is a common part of the relationship. Without anything to tie you down, you are free to head to the movies, go to non-fast food restaurants, take vacation trips, etc. You do all these things in order to grow close to one another and get to know each other better.

But, over time something happens for many couples. You have children. As parents, your new responsibilities dictate that you spend time raising your children. So far, nothing wrong. You're doing what any responsible couple would do. When they're little, you don't really feel comfortable leaving them with a sitter. As they get older, their activities take up the calendar. Then, when opportunities do arise to begin dating, the bank account or that calendar says you can't.

As time passes, stuff happens to us as individuals that gradually changes who we are, how we perceive life, and what we believe. Without marriage dates, the husband and wife may continue to work toward the common goal of raising their kids, but will actually be working their way apart.

Picture it this way. You're doing the right thing in raising your kids, but have given up dates. A few years past, and then one day you wake up and realize the person you're married to isn't the person you married. They've changed. You've changed. And, that person you woke up next to is now a stranger. Untreated, it becomes all to easy to separate and eventually divorce.

This is why dating during marriage is so important. So much life changing stuff can happen to couples in such a short time that without that constant, private time, husbands and wives lose contact with who each other is. The clock is ticking on your marriage. Be sure to use your time wisely, and be sure to find a sitter and schedule some regular dates with your spouse. There are no excuses allowed when you're trying to save your marriage.

Easter Recap

I've been checking in with various churches in our area and around the country, and I'm hearing great reports of God's work from the weekend. Many places had record crowds, and people giving their lives to Jesus. Hell is going to be less crowded, because of what happened this weekend.

The church I attend just added Saturday night services this weekend, and the first service of the night had a record attendance for any single service in the church's five-year history. The previous attendance record for the church was somewhere around 3800, but this Easter saw more than 6,000 people in attendance, and around 150 committments to Jesus. But, my church isn't alone in that respect.

I talked with a pastor of a small church that runs between 40 and 70 each weekend. He had gone most of four years without any salvations. This weekend that church saw three people become Christ followers.

Other churches that I follow saw thousands more than normal in attendance, and hundreds in each place becoming Christians.

I know that traditionally, Easter and Christmas see attendance spikes as folks make their bi-annual church visits, and no doubt the poor economy helped spike things. But, my hope and prayer is that what took place in churches this past weekend would lead to permanent life changes for all who worshiped our risen Savior.

A couple of final thoughts for churches.... If your church experienced no attendance spike and no changed lives, you have a problem. That may be hard to swallow, but it's the truth. You need to seriously examine what is holding the Holy Spirit back.

However, if your church saw an increase in attendance, and more importantly, salvations, now is the time to put your feet and hands to the truth you profess. There are new Christians that will need help on this new journey.

The Political Critic

I could've easily labeled this the Celebrity Critic, because the concepts behind both are nearly the same. So, what brings me to discuss critics of public figures? Simply put, it's all the hubbub surrounding criticism of President Obama. One side details daily about how poorly the new president is doing, while the other tells us that it's not fair to criticize him before he has a chance to prove himself.

I have my own critical review of the current administration which I will save for another day. Today, I want to look at critics of those in public, because so many of them can be right and so many can be way off base...all at the same time.

Yes, some public figures deserve to be hammered for their actions. But, sometimes, this hammering can go too far. I can disagree with the policies of the current president. I can publicly state my views. I can even run for office to overturn those policies and institute my own. But, as a Christian, I still must maintain a level of respect that honors my God.

I spend a lot of time listening to talk tv/radio, and there is one thing I'm having difficulty with - the name calling. I'm hearing more and more of it, and it's not limited to any one political persuasion. Disagreements with public individuals, especially politicians, more and more are surrounded with word play on the public figure's name. Words such as "dummy" and "idiot" are becoming commonplace. And, this all has me wondering where the line is that shouldn't be crossed in public criticism.

As Christians, we need to become aware of this line. Jesus said we are supposed to love everyone just like we would want to be love. Translation: criticize those around us in a manner we would feel acceptable to be criticized should we deserve it.

The way we critize those in public will speak volumes to those around us who we are trying to influence toward a decision for Christ. If we're nasty, they'll look at us and see no difference than the world around them. If we're courteous and wise in our discussions, they will notice that we are not like the world around them. Time is short, make a difference today to those around you by guarding the way you criticize others...even those in the public spotlight.

The Family/Relationship Critic

If I didn't nail you yesterday, then you'd best duck, because you're gonna get hammered today.

We're all imperfect, although most of the time we live in denial. As part of our dismissive personalities, we turn our attention to the errors of those around us...usually those closest to us. We use attacks on others as our way to cope with our own imperfections.

I've been the perp and the vic, so again it makes me a quasi-expert.

It's wierd. We will treat complete strangers, who have never earned our trust, with more respect than we give to those we say we love. It's probably because we know all the junk of those we spend the most time with.

To that extent, what we do to our friends and family at times is nothing short of reprehensible. We take other's mistakes and beat them around the head with our criticisms. In just a few seconds, with just a few words, we can destroy the self-esteem of those around us. I know, I've done it. And, I'm not proud of it.

It's so easy to nitpick the behaviors of those around us, to the point of driving them away from us. This isn't the role that Jesus tells us to take. He told us to love our neighbors as ourselves. We never want to point out the junk in our life. Likewise, we should use great caution when going after someone else's baggage.

There's a time and a place for correction, but that must only be done in a mentoring situation where the correction leads to positive change in a person's life. Pointing out someone's failures without a mentoring attitude not only destroys the person you're attacking, but it also lessens their respect for you.

My wife and I just completed the Love Dare, and this book (along with the movie Fireproof) went a long way toward showing us how unfair criticism can hurt relationships and drive people away.

The clock is ticking. How about making a vow to God today to change the way you criticize those around you before you ruin those relationships? Ask God to point out the areas you are being unfair toward others, and to help you overcome this problem in your own life. Chances are that change won't come easy. It will take time, but we must put 2 Corinthians 10:5 into practice every waking moment of our lives.

The Church Critic

Ah, the church critic. We find you everywhere. And, you find something to criticize everywhere you look. You are so good at what you do, that your actions have been put into a song:

Well, the preacher he's too young. And, maybe he's too old. The sermons
they're not hard enough. And, maybe they're too bold. His voice is much too
quiet-like. Sometimes he gets too loud. He needs to have more dignity. Or, else
he's way too proud. Well, the sermons they're too long. And, maybe they're too
short. He ought to preach the word with dignity instead of "stomp and snort."
Well, that preacher we've got must be "the world's most stuck up man." Well, one
of the lady's told me the other day, "Well, he didn't even shake my hand." - "Excuses" by the Kingsmen

Yes, you have perfected your craft, but you don't limit your criticism to just the pastor (although he is your favorite target). You also like to point out how loud the worship team is, but how hard it was to hear the special music. You continue to insist that hymns be sung, and scripture be read from a version no one really understands. If I didn't know better, I'd say that you really dispise your Sunday School teacher, but you keep telling him that your corrections are done in Christian love.

Oh, church critic, we have become very familiar with you...almost as familiar as you are with the church constitution and Roberts Rules of Order. Yes, you really enjoy the church business meeting. These are the real spiritual moments for you. The pastor may bring down heaven on Sunday, but you feel closest to God when you're decrying the latest business item presented by your church leaders.

After all, you do know what's better for the church, the community and the country than your inferior leaders. I mean, it's not like they actually sought God's will before presenting their ideas to the church. At least, you suppose they haven't, because you view yourself as much more holy than they, and you would never stoop to the level of seeking out God's will. That just wouldn't be Christ-like, now would it?

We love thee church critic. Yes, if it weren't for you, we would have installed that projection system in the auditorium years ago. We would've even replaced the wood paneling that darkened our walls if it hadn't been for your insistance that they remain in honor of a member who moved away three decades ago.

We have hung around you long enough, dearest church critic, to know that your favorite color is red. But, you really only like that color when it's on the red flags you keep mentioning anytime progress is made within the walls of the church. And, you really love to wave them everytime the youth leaders want to hold an activity on church property.

Why, you have honed your skills so well that you have personally run off 32 individuals with your criticism. But, of course, they weren't Godly enough for this church, and it was just part of the weeding out process, wasn't it. Indeed, your skills are highly refined. 3/4 of the church are terrified of crossing you, and you have the pastor and his wife constantly on edge for fear of the trouble they might cause you. Granted, 1/4 of the church isn't afraid of you, but you view them as inferior heathens who are bound for Hell, and you are protecting yourself by not associating with them.

Oh, dear church critic. How unproductive you have become. You could be using your energy to encourage and improve your church to be able to reach folks who have never set foot inside a church before. You could be holding up your pastor and his family in constant prayer. You could be volunteering to help the youth leaders make those activities some of the most enjoyable experiences. You could be offering to teach a class, so you could share all the knowledge you've stored up in your many years as a sermon listener. You could turn in your red flags, and lay down your hammer of self-righteousness. You could humble yourself, just as Jesus did. You could learn to sacrifice your time, money and energy. You could try and see the world like God sees it - lost and going to Hell, but desperately in need of a savior.

The previous posting was gathered through more than a decade of actual experiences. I might've even been the critic some of the time, but I've learned my lesson. How about you? Do you have any experiences to share?

Everyone's a Critic

Anyone who has ever spoken publicly has likely encountered the most dreaded individual they will ever face...the critic. Let's rephrase that, anyone who has ever lived has likely encountered a critic.

The critic serves up opinion, either good or bad, on what they have just witnessed. The good critic will use the criticism to build up the individual - to coach them to become better. The bad critic only serves to distract, tear down and destroy.

I must admit that I have been on all ends of the criticism. I've given the good and the bad, and I've received the same. So, I suppose that makes me a bit of an expert on the subject, even if it's just a quasi-expert.

This week, I'm going to be tackling the topic of criticism from a number of angles: church critic (Tuesday), family/relationship critic (Wednesday) and political critic (Thursday). Sure, there are a dozen other angles I could have chosen, but these are the ones that interest me, so check back this week to gauge your critical nature.

I'll leave you today with this thought. We all need one type of critic in our lives. We need someone who is caring and compassionate enough to tell us when we're wrong, then will set out to show us the correct ways. We call these people mentors.

What we don't need are people who jump on us, and use what we say or do as a means to destroy us. Their motives vary, but none are positive...all are destructive. Unfortunately, there are far more destructive critics in this world than there are mentors. They're a dime a dozen, and anyone who has ever been in leadership, or public speaking has felt their wrath.

I want to point out one verse that has really helped me deal with negative critics. It's Galatians 1:10. I won't say this is necessarily a life verse, but it has gone a long way toward making me bolder in my approach to leadership and preaching. And, it definitely has helped me gauge my critics better. Plus, with the clock ticking, I really don't have time to waste on destructive critics, and neither do you.

How about you? If you ranked critics on a scale of one to ten, with one being destructive and ten being a mentor, where would you fit?

A Great Perplexing Hope

I love God, and I love Jesus. But, right now, God has me very perplexed.

Two-and-a-half-years ago, God gave me a vision and a calling into Christian ministry. Now, I have worked in Christian radio since the mid-90s, and have served in various church leadership capacities over the past decade, but that calling meant God was going to ramp up His mission for me.

I have assumed this "calling" meant pastoring a church, and for the past couple of years I have worked toward that end. I sensed the clock was ticking to get ordained and begin the church work. I'll be 35 on Easter Sunday, and I have been wanting to quit wasting time and get started.

But, it seems that at nearly every corner, stuff has just not worked out like I thought it should. This has led to a lot of confusion and stress over what God's "calling" really meant for myself and my family. Adding to that, I took a ministry assessment earlier this week that totally flipped me over, because it revealed a lot of deficiencies in areas I thought were pretty solid.

A couple of days have passed, and now I'm getting frustrated, because I am desperate to know God's plan. I'm also frustrated, because I'm realizing that it isn't God the one who is perplexing. I'm realizing that my frustration is caused by my impatience. And, it's my short-sightedness that prevents me from understanding His will.

Have you ever been there? Eager to get involved in what God is calling you to do, but a too impatient to wait for Him to reveal it? Too short-sighted to see the big picture, even though you know it's there...somewhere? Tell me your experiences.

Welcome to My Blog

The clock is ticking. It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, your political persuasion, your beliefs, your economic condition, the clock is ticking. And, for each of us, some day that clock will expire.

What is life about? What happens when my clock expires? Is God really for me? We all have questions. This blog is my attempt to capture my thoughts in print form regarding life, Christianity, and other assorted things. There will be humor. There will be seriousness. There may be tears. And, there might even be cats, dogs and kids.

Essentially, this blog will be about life. We all have one chance...one clock that ticks. What will you do with yours?

Feel free to comment to the posts on this site, because it'll be your comments that drive this blog.

Happy reading!