In a couple of weeks, I turn 31. Its an odd year. At 30, I had the mindset that I was just barely out of my twenties. I basically was still 29, with a few days added. At 31, I feel far less like a kid. The past few weeks, I have been doing a lot of reflecting. Reflecting on my life, and what I have learned. Asking myself, "What does it mean to be a man?" But not just a man, a good man. A man who walks in integrity. A man who is gentle enough to cuddle with his wife and kids, but tough enough to kill a bear with his bear hands, (see what I did there?)
These are ten things that I have learned in the past 31 years. Most, in the last 5. Although these are all things I am deeply convicted about, I am a man who is in process. In no way have I perfected these or feel that I can sit on a moral high stool preaching down to others. I am a deeply flawed man who strives to be more like Christ. The order does not reflect the importance.
1. Leadership is always earned, it can never be demanded or forced. Until people respect you, they will never follow you.
2. Always admit when you are wrong, especially to your children. Not only will they learn to admit when they are wrong, but they will admire your humility and courage.
3. Always lead by example. If you want your co-workers to work hard, work hard yourself. If you are in a leadership role, always set the example and pace.
4. The most difficult times in your life, will always give you the biggest chance to grow as a person. In trying times, always look for ways to grow.
5. If you cheat your way to success or victory, it means very little. Work hard, get better, and you will feel great about your accomplishments.
6. Remember you are always in process, when you make a mistake, learn from that mistake.
7. Although it is okay to make time for yourself, and at times, its a must, life is about sacrifice. Give your life to others. Living life solely for oneself is a terrible way to live life.
8. Happiness comes and goes, but you will be surprised how happy you become when being happy is not your primary goal. I have seen horribly selfish acts committed when people have the philosophy, "I have the right to be happy."
9. Morality does not shift with the culture. Seek truth and walk in it. If you are engaged in the culture like you should be, you may have to walk in your moral endeavors alone.
10. Although I believe it is crucial to be self aware, knowing your flaws and weaknesses as a person, we are under grace. Walk in the grace that Christ has put you in. He has promised to work out all things in you.
Perhaps in the next 31 years I will come up with another 10 things I've learned, but until then, these will have to suffice. Keep pressing forward, always learning, always growing.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Monday, September 15, 2014
It's a Beautiful Life.
Our culture offers a plethora of distraction. With cellphones, television, video games etc., its no surprise that most of us don't stop to question what life is actually about. Everybody has a worldview, but few, truly meditate on the implications of the worldview in which they have. We walk through life, with moral beliefs in which we take much for granted, never once, philosophically thinking them through.
Lets take human equality for example. Why would anybody believe in human equality? Lets face it. People are not equal in aesthetic beauty, intelligence, athletic ability, social status etc. Why would we believe that people have an underlying moral equality that transcends the things listed above? But most (not all) of our society walks through life believing in this equality despite those things.
What about social justice? We believe in "social justice" without really pondering on why something is right or wrong. What makes one decision right, while another decision is wrong? What are the guidelines for determining such a thing? Why is it wrong to do away with inconveniences if it benefits myself or society (E.G. elderly, mentally handicapped, physically handicapped etc.)? If we are just a product of chance and time, on what grounds can we call something a "moral injustice".
If there is no God, there is no right or wrong. There is only what happens. We may call a hurricane "bad", but we would never call it immoral. We can claim that something is an inconvenience, but we have no grounds for calling something right, or something wrong.
Peter Singer is one of the leading bio-ethicists at Princeton University. He writes the leading text books on bio-ethics. He is also an atheist. He believes that mothers should have 30 days after their children are born, to decide whether or not the child should be euthanized. Now, you may feel a certain moral outrage to this claim, but he is very consistent with his worldview. If we are nothing but the product of chemicals which evolved through natural selection, then why shouldn't we hold such a view?
If a certain area is infested with, lets say mice, the city contracts an exterminator to eliminate the problem. If we are the product of mindless, natural occurrences, we have absolutely no more value than they.
My purpose isn't to convince you whether God is real or not real, but to encourage you to think through your worldview. Why do you have the beliefs that you do? On what grounds do you have for those beliefs?
I will end with this, if God is in fact real, then we have real grounds for a belief in human value, justice, and equality. If God exists, then we have a legitimate reason to celebrate the diverse cultures around the world, because human value transcends geography. It transcends social status, and it transcends what the world considers beautiful.
Lets take human equality for example. Why would anybody believe in human equality? Lets face it. People are not equal in aesthetic beauty, intelligence, athletic ability, social status etc. Why would we believe that people have an underlying moral equality that transcends the things listed above? But most (not all) of our society walks through life believing in this equality despite those things.
What about social justice? We believe in "social justice" without really pondering on why something is right or wrong. What makes one decision right, while another decision is wrong? What are the guidelines for determining such a thing? Why is it wrong to do away with inconveniences if it benefits myself or society (E.G. elderly, mentally handicapped, physically handicapped etc.)? If we are just a product of chance and time, on what grounds can we call something a "moral injustice".
If there is no God, there is no right or wrong. There is only what happens. We may call a hurricane "bad", but we would never call it immoral. We can claim that something is an inconvenience, but we have no grounds for calling something right, or something wrong.
Peter Singer is one of the leading bio-ethicists at Princeton University. He writes the leading text books on bio-ethics. He is also an atheist. He believes that mothers should have 30 days after their children are born, to decide whether or not the child should be euthanized. Now, you may feel a certain moral outrage to this claim, but he is very consistent with his worldview. If we are nothing but the product of chemicals which evolved through natural selection, then why shouldn't we hold such a view?
If a certain area is infested with, lets say mice, the city contracts an exterminator to eliminate the problem. If we are the product of mindless, natural occurrences, we have absolutely no more value than they.
My purpose isn't to convince you whether God is real or not real, but to encourage you to think through your worldview. Why do you have the beliefs that you do? On what grounds do you have for those beliefs?
I will end with this, if God is in fact real, then we have real grounds for a belief in human value, justice, and equality. If God exists, then we have a legitimate reason to celebrate the diverse cultures around the world, because human value transcends geography. It transcends social status, and it transcends what the world considers beautiful.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Ecclesiastes
"Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun? One generation passes away, and another generation comes; but the earth abides forever." - Ecclesiastes 1:2-4
"I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind." - Ecclesiastes 1:14
I have spent a large amount of time feeling unfulfilled throughout my life. Professionally, where I thought I would be at 15, isn't who I am at 29. I have worked hard, and materially, I have very little to show for it. I don't own a house. I don't own a cool car. My savings account has about 14 dollars in it, and I work serving tables to ungracious assholes who talk down to me.
At this moment, it would be easy to get caught up in the "When I (fill in the blank), I will be happy" mentality. But this is foolishness.
King Solomon (who is the author of Ecclesiastes) was the wisest, richest king to have ever lived. He had 300 wives, 700 concubines, limitless amounts of entertainers,and limitless amounts of money. He spent his life trying to find meaning. He said that whatever his heart desired, he indulged in. He built private parks, palaces, etc. His life was the ultimate picture of "living the dream", but he found it all meaningless.
It was meaningless to him because he knew that one day he would die, and everything that he worked for would be passed on to another.
He knew that everything that he had done, had been done before. Nothing was new. Despite all his greatness, he found only despair. Every step he took, took him closer to the realization that this life is temporary. This life is here today and gone tomorrow.
Everything in this life is a shadow of the life that we will live. Find your life unfulfilled? That's great! Because this life was never meant to fulfill. Everything in and of itself is meaningless because we try to find meaning in temporary things that were meant to point us to something greater. Everything in life was meant to point to a creator who isn't temporary. Everything in life was meant to point to something that transcends this reality. Everything from the relationships we have, to the sunsets we watch was meant to be a shadow of something amazing, or more accurately someone.
The problem is that we get caught up in worshiping creation. We see money, a great relationship, or the next goal accomplished as the golden ticket to fulfillment, when it was only meant to foreshadow the thing that will ultimately give us fulfillment. This only causes disappointment. Once we accomplish these things, there is always something more. The one who loves money, never has enough. The one who is in love with the "in-love" feeling jumps from relationship to relationship telling him or herself that the next one will be real, true, and fulfilling. These people lack wisdom and they will never find what they are looking for because it can only be found in Christ who is the fulfill-er of these desires.
Romans says that our unbelief is without excuse because his attributes are clearly seen in the things created. I would encourage you to take a look around and search for the God which all of creation points to. Look inside yourself and see if there is void that you have been unable to fill thus far. If the wisest, richest king who has ever lived couldn't find fulfillment in wealth and success, what makes you so confident that you can?
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
James 2:13
Mercy triumphs over judgment - James 2:13
Pride is a powerful mask. Though it fits perfectly on our face, it lacks all functionality. It is a mask that is blinding. It is a mask that I choose to wear daily. It is so deeply rooted in us, often times, we don't even recognize it as pride. It hides in a little corner surrounded by false humility.
I often stand in awe, that Christ uses prideful, angry, bitter people like me. This is not ploy to seduce encouraging words from you, it is simply a recognition of my own depravity. But recognizing ones own depravity is only half the picture. Christ has make things right. He saw a young man like me, rolling around in sin, and decided that he was worth the cost. The price was death on a cross. Now I have taken on the righteousness of Christ, not because I uphold some moral standard, but because Christ has paid the price for me. Because mercy triumphs over judgment, every time.
The other day I was driving to the supermarket. On the curb, there were two homeless men holding signs. I pictured myself running them over. I was filled with anger because in my blind perspective, these men were begging despite an ability to work, but in that same moment, the above verse came to mind.
I try not to be the person who liberally uses the phrase "God told me", but there are a few times in my life that I feel pretty confident that the Holy Spirit spoke to me. This was one of them. What I find the most interesting, is that in that moment, nothing circumstantially changed. I didn't get out of my truck and give them money, or share the gospel, or even smile at them. But there was a major paradigm shift that day. I realized that I am no better then they are. Nothing in me, has any more intrinsic value then they do. It is simply mercy triumphing over judgement, in my life, and in theirs.
Often times as Christians we get caught up in preaching morality. We push our political and moral views on people with a well intentioned although misguided attempt to show them the error of their ways. But we have two choices, we can either give people our hope, or we can give people our morality. We can share politics, or we can share the Gospel. We can spread hate, or we can spread love. One shows people a God who gives hope, and purpose, the other brings condemnation and bitterness.
In the end, there is one thing we need to remember, that is, mercy triumphs over judgment, every time.
Pride is a powerful mask. Though it fits perfectly on our face, it lacks all functionality. It is a mask that is blinding. It is a mask that I choose to wear daily. It is so deeply rooted in us, often times, we don't even recognize it as pride. It hides in a little corner surrounded by false humility.
I often stand in awe, that Christ uses prideful, angry, bitter people like me. This is not ploy to seduce encouraging words from you, it is simply a recognition of my own depravity. But recognizing ones own depravity is only half the picture. Christ has make things right. He saw a young man like me, rolling around in sin, and decided that he was worth the cost. The price was death on a cross. Now I have taken on the righteousness of Christ, not because I uphold some moral standard, but because Christ has paid the price for me. Because mercy triumphs over judgment, every time.
The other day I was driving to the supermarket. On the curb, there were two homeless men holding signs. I pictured myself running them over. I was filled with anger because in my blind perspective, these men were begging despite an ability to work, but in that same moment, the above verse came to mind.
I try not to be the person who liberally uses the phrase "God told me", but there are a few times in my life that I feel pretty confident that the Holy Spirit spoke to me. This was one of them. What I find the most interesting, is that in that moment, nothing circumstantially changed. I didn't get out of my truck and give them money, or share the gospel, or even smile at them. But there was a major paradigm shift that day. I realized that I am no better then they are. Nothing in me, has any more intrinsic value then they do. It is simply mercy triumphing over judgement, in my life, and in theirs.
Often times as Christians we get caught up in preaching morality. We push our political and moral views on people with a well intentioned although misguided attempt to show them the error of their ways. But we have two choices, we can either give people our hope, or we can give people our morality. We can share politics, or we can share the Gospel. We can spread hate, or we can spread love. One shows people a God who gives hope, and purpose, the other brings condemnation and bitterness.
In the end, there is one thing we need to remember, that is, mercy triumphs over judgment, every time.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Unmeasurable Worth
Earlier today I was pulling weeds from my garden. My plants seem to grow a tremendous amount every day. It amazes me to think that such a large plant, that yields an amazing amount of vegetables all started from a seed. A seed that died, then sprouted, then grew producing tomatoes, peppers, etc.
Our society is one that loves to measure worth. Whether its capital gains, popularity, Facebook likes, and so on, we measure success by the numbers.
God on the other hand, plants seeds. Tiny little seeds that by themselves, appear useless. But they sprout into something beautiful. Then they grow into something that produces fruit and vegetables that sustain billions of hungry people.
As Christians, we often measure our lives in the same way as the rest of the world. How many people have you brought to your church? How many people have you shared the gospel with? How much money have you given? How much? How much? How much?
But what if God uses us the same way that he uses a gardener? What if we plant little seeds that we can never measure? What if that seed someday produces a crop far greater then you could ever imagine? What if, in this life, you will never witness this crop? What if God wants you to be content with how he is using you today, even though it appears to be small?
What if god wants you to just love the person at the counter, love the guy at the gas station, or smile at the child at the bank? What if the small things, eventually yield a fruit that is more amazing then anything we can physically measure? What if God has our lives figured out in the midst of chaos?
Its easy to get caught up in numbers and measure success by them, but I would encourage you to seek Christ, to give up, and see how he uses us when we cease to strive for greatness.
Our society is one that loves to measure worth. Whether its capital gains, popularity, Facebook likes, and so on, we measure success by the numbers.
God on the other hand, plants seeds. Tiny little seeds that by themselves, appear useless. But they sprout into something beautiful. Then they grow into something that produces fruit and vegetables that sustain billions of hungry people.
As Christians, we often measure our lives in the same way as the rest of the world. How many people have you brought to your church? How many people have you shared the gospel with? How much money have you given? How much? How much? How much?
But what if God uses us the same way that he uses a gardener? What if we plant little seeds that we can never measure? What if that seed someday produces a crop far greater then you could ever imagine? What if, in this life, you will never witness this crop? What if God wants you to be content with how he is using you today, even though it appears to be small?
What if god wants you to just love the person at the counter, love the guy at the gas station, or smile at the child at the bank? What if the small things, eventually yield a fruit that is more amazing then anything we can physically measure? What if God has our lives figured out in the midst of chaos?
Its easy to get caught up in numbers and measure success by them, but I would encourage you to seek Christ, to give up, and see how he uses us when we cease to strive for greatness.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Often Percieved As Mundane
While rolling into the end of January I have been thinking a lot about life. More specifically what it means to actually be alive in this strange life that we share. I get caught up in the here and now's. I get so wrapped up in being a father, and a husband who is trying to scramble enough money to provide the necessities for my family, I often forget that these things are temporary.
The stress of life can be very consuming at times. I often forget to take a few moments out of my day to thank God for the blessing that I have in my life. I forget that I serve a God with things that have eternal value. I often forget that what I do now, has eternal value.
Since I lost my job last June, I have been working in the service industry. Right now, I am working at my friends restaurant 'The Bistro' as a server. I really like it, but it is hard work and it gets really stressful at times.
I get depressed because waiting tables isn't something that I find a lot of value in. When I worked at the Juvenile Center, it was easy to see purpose there. Until it closed down, I didn't realize how much identity I found in that job. People would ask me what I did for a living and they would be impressed by my answer.
Nobody is impressed with a 29 year old waiter, but that isn't my point. The point is that I serve a God who is sovereign. I serve a God who's hand was in me getting a job as a counselor and a God who's hand is in me getting a Job waiting tables.
When I really think about my life, I have incredible opportunities to share the love of Christ with people. Not in word, but in deed. Serving others and counting them greater then myself is what Christ asks of us. I get to do that everyday. Its actually a pretty great experience. It is a humbling experience and it is an experience that God has placed me in.
Our identity is not found in our job, our talents, our friends, or our hobbies, it is found in Christ. Tomorrow when I go back to work, I will try to remember that Christ's love lives through us as we fulfill our often perceived mundane tasks, but they are not mundane, they have value that transcends into eternity because Christ love is shown through the simple elements of our lives.
The stress of life can be very consuming at times. I often forget to take a few moments out of my day to thank God for the blessing that I have in my life. I forget that I serve a God with things that have eternal value. I often forget that what I do now, has eternal value.
Since I lost my job last June, I have been working in the service industry. Right now, I am working at my friends restaurant 'The Bistro' as a server. I really like it, but it is hard work and it gets really stressful at times.
I get depressed because waiting tables isn't something that I find a lot of value in. When I worked at the Juvenile Center, it was easy to see purpose there. Until it closed down, I didn't realize how much identity I found in that job. People would ask me what I did for a living and they would be impressed by my answer.
Nobody is impressed with a 29 year old waiter, but that isn't my point. The point is that I serve a God who is sovereign. I serve a God who's hand was in me getting a job as a counselor and a God who's hand is in me getting a Job waiting tables.
When I really think about my life, I have incredible opportunities to share the love of Christ with people. Not in word, but in deed. Serving others and counting them greater then myself is what Christ asks of us. I get to do that everyday. Its actually a pretty great experience. It is a humbling experience and it is an experience that God has placed me in.
Our identity is not found in our job, our talents, our friends, or our hobbies, it is found in Christ. Tomorrow when I go back to work, I will try to remember that Christ's love lives through us as we fulfill our often perceived mundane tasks, but they are not mundane, they have value that transcends into eternity because Christ love is shown through the simple elements of our lives.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
A New, New Year's Resolution
Until now, I have never really liked the idea of a New Year's resolution. I have always had the mindset that one should work to better themselves throughout the whole year. But the more I think about it, the more I find the idea beautiful.
There is something to say about a new year. There is something to say about reflecting on who you are and who you want to be. There is something tremendously appealing about starting fresh, about knowing that your past mistakes have been forgiven and redeemed.
This year, I have taken a lot of time reflecting on my mistakes, but with that, reflecting on the idea of redemption. I have made a lot of mistakes in my life. If there was a hand basket, I would be traveling straight to hell in it. But I have been redeemed by a God who said that I was worthy of redemption. Not worthy because of something that I have done, but worthy because of him. I am worthy because he see's the righteousness of Christ, not my basket full of mistakes.
I have always loved the sunrise. To me, it is the perfect picture of redemption. Each sunrise, is a fresh start. It is a new beginning of a new day where I no longer have to dwell on past mistakes. Because of redemption, I can press forward with confidence because my mistakes are no longer counted against me.
This is why my feelings have changed about New Year's resolutions. Because of Christ, I can press forward in who he has made me, and who he is currently making me. I can press forward, because you and I were made with intrinsic value.
My New Year's resolution is this, to press forward in who Christ has made me. Because in that, I will find purpose. In that, I will discover that I have already been made whole.
There is something to say about a new year. There is something to say about reflecting on who you are and who you want to be. There is something tremendously appealing about starting fresh, about knowing that your past mistakes have been forgiven and redeemed.
This year, I have taken a lot of time reflecting on my mistakes, but with that, reflecting on the idea of redemption. I have made a lot of mistakes in my life. If there was a hand basket, I would be traveling straight to hell in it. But I have been redeemed by a God who said that I was worthy of redemption. Not worthy because of something that I have done, but worthy because of him. I am worthy because he see's the righteousness of Christ, not my basket full of mistakes.
I have always loved the sunrise. To me, it is the perfect picture of redemption. Each sunrise, is a fresh start. It is a new beginning of a new day where I no longer have to dwell on past mistakes. Because of redemption, I can press forward with confidence because my mistakes are no longer counted against me.
This is why my feelings have changed about New Year's resolutions. Because of Christ, I can press forward in who he has made me, and who he is currently making me. I can press forward, because you and I were made with intrinsic value.
My New Year's resolution is this, to press forward in who Christ has made me. Because in that, I will find purpose. In that, I will discover that I have already been made whole.
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