Only Human

I was listening to NPR and they were describing the Somalian refugees fleeing their country's famine and violence to Kenya, where they are encountering another layer of violence and lack of food. Their are nearly 30,000 children under 5 dead as a result of this horror.

Rapper, Kaynon, a Somalian by birth, was being interviewed and asked if and how he would use his art and celebrity to bring awareness to, or somehow affect this crisis. His reply was quite outstanding, thought provoking, and authentically honest. 

"I am just a human being dealing with these circumstances." Profound.

We are just humans dealing with circumstances. But we don't have to go it alone. Yes, we have others to walk through valleys with us. Others who've worn our shoes and can provide wisdom. And this is good. But God Himself can be with us in our circumstances. No matter how horrific. We just need to ask and seek.

"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever" (John 14:16). 

Not sure how this will help me make sense of 30,000 dead. I guess I could say that this is a result of sin in the world. And it may be. But I can't write it off as just that. There is a lot more at stake around us. A lot more places we can live into. A lot more people we can love. We just need to ask and seek them. Then act.

And I can just sit here. Safe in my suburban America. Yet atrocities abound around the world. Even next door if I am looking. Shame on me when I sit.

Engine Idol

I was listening to a podcast of Bob Rowland, Pastor of something or other at our church. I know he has something to do with family and parenting. Anyway, he was describing how good we are at making idols. He even described us as being idol factories. And that idols require sacrifice.

I think, typically when we look at idols, the calf, the Sphinx, even Greg Brady's Hawaiian necklace comes to mind. But if we dig a little deeper we may see images of work, status, our children's success, even position in the church.

But what idols really drive us. Push us towards things that become in the place of God.

God made it pretty clear to Moses and everybody that we shouldn't have any other things in His place. His first place. And yet we put things there.

I believe that our deep drivers. The real engines that push us (well surely me) toward idol worship are things like acceptance, affirmation, or demanded respect. And our idols build from there. They then move on to take the forms of the idols we are familiar with—the ones we point our fingers at.

1. Dad spends way too much time at the virtual office, let alone at the brick and mortar venue because he wouldn't want to be viewed as lazy.
2. Mom spends too much time planning the kids schedule because she wouldn't want her kids not competing and doing as everyone else.
3. Johnny spends too much time online because he can find more interest—a more provoking life—online than offline.
4. Mary spends too much time in front of the mirror because she doesn't want her classmates to see her as ugly.
5. Bill checks another item off of his list of "things to make me a good Christian" because it will put his mind at ease that he was ogling Glen's wife.
6. Etc., etc.

And these things are easy to point our fingers at. We see these so much in others. And condemn the surface idol*. I believe the "what" becomes the issue. The thing we need to "change" or simply put a band-aid on. And the "why" is not addressed. Ergo the next idol brewing.

What are the engines for our idols? And what do we sacrifice to keep them running? And have we asked why?


*Clearly there are some idols which need to be addressed for their own sake. But the deep-rooted idol needs the attention as well.

Bubble Boy

Sometimes I feel like I walk around with some sort of protective layer outside of me. A layer that creates a buffer from the world. Or those things which could affect me. Recently its shown itself as a buffer of cynicism—keeping me a peg above folks and well protected from any opportunities for relationship and understanding. Often keeping my ears sealed.

Its easy to protect yourself when you keep things at bay. After all, defense wins Super Bowls.

Its easy for me to be smarter, wittier, more creative, more correct, more "christian", or oddly more anti "christian", within my protective bubble.

I was in a conversation with one of those acquaintance friends (the kind of one that you might not put the "friend" label on, but have a liking for and have dialogued with). We were talking about how we have preconceived notions about people based on what we've heard, or based on a limited experience. And it became clear that I am not alone with my buffers. Wrong as they may be.

My buffers show up to protect myself and my opinions. They rationalize. They don't allow for influence. They don't allow for understanding. They don't allow for true opportunities to love.

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"*

Our Senior Pastor stated yesterday morning that "God wants to be preeminent, not prominent."

My biggest stumbling block to give God the position of preeminence is me.

When we put God as preeminent he provides the buffer. He provides the protection. He provides the lens. He provides the understanding—the love. Now God's protection is just that—His protection. The type of protection that is out-of-this-world. One which we most likely wouldn't understand all the time. And this might not take the form we'd want. His protection may be painful.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds"**

Joy in trials. Not my cup of tea. But God's cup. And it overflows.




* Matthew 7:3
** 1 James:2

How Trustworthy?

Today is the first day back at school for both of my boys. One into 5th grade—the top of the heap at elementary school. The other into 7th—brimming with confidence having had a year of middle school under his belt. We had a great summer. And now are back into some much needed normalcy of schedule, dinner, etc. And the boys are once again sent out from the house. Into their world. One which doesn't have any of my or my wife's parental supervision. I hope (once again) that they remember the things we've taught them. And experienced alongside them.

This can be a pretty intense experience for both parents and kids. Particularly if it is a first or second time experience—the drop off at the bus or school. Seeing the little back pack waddle off towards a destiny not entirely known.

We just have to trust that they've listened. Believed. And embraced all the teachings from their parents.

I read yesterday an Ernest Hemingway quote which stated "The best way to find out if you can trust someone is to trust them." Well, this is one of those times. A lot is now in their hands. Not ours.

In the first chapter of Romans, it talks about an element of this. From God to us. In verse 20, God provides his truth statement about his existence "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."

So God is kind of saying "you know I am God, right?" "I've made this clear to you."

"Now, little Billy. We've talked about all of these things you need to remember at school." "Do this. Don't do that. Honor what we've told you as parents."

And yet in verse 25 "they exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator".

The kids are on their own—to remember what they've been taught. And how it would distress us to have our teachings ignored.

This is one of those empathetic moments (albeit on a less omnipotent scale) where we can identify a little with God when we ignore His teachings. And how He might feel. Watching our backs wander off with the warnings of being sheep amoung wolves.

A Bugs Life

I have just started another Don Miller book, Through Painted Deserts. And from the sixth page or so, Miller has started to craft another great story. I love this guy. He truly is gifted at illustrating a unique perspective toward the Gospel, God, and Christianity itself*. And I am excited about taking a van ride, through this book, with Don and his buddy across half of the US through the pages.

So by the sixth page or so, Miller has started visiting "Western Christianities propositions of behavior modification" and how we are relatively programmed on "how" we do things. Things we all see a good bit of on bookshelves and blogs. How do I become a better Christian. How do I raise a child. How do I maintain a healthy marriage. How to succeed in business. How to become a better leader. Verses "why". Why do we treat things with different degrees of importance. Why do we, as Miller says, buy $50 jeans vs. $30 jeans.

I have a friend that shared that if we dig deep within ourselves as to "why" we do things—and keep asking deeper and deeper "whys", we might be surprised as to what we uncover. Why do I dress in a certain way. Why do I look at that person and think this. Why do I write. Why did she leave me. Why do I fill in the blank.

We are a being searching for answers. Or perhaps at least we should be thinking about them. I guess we could get too caught up the noise of life that we don't pause to take a literal or figurative van ride with a buddy across half of the US.

Our life should be asking why.** And when we uncover answers, act accordingly.

• If our "why" identifies a piety or presupposed ism, we should stop. 
• If our "why" identifies an behavior of over-security, we should loosen up and brave some more in life. Testing our faith.
• If our "why" doesn't consider another culture —or even a counter-culture, we might need to step outside our world. 
• If our "why" places a more expensive pair of jeans over another, we should....well you get where I am going.

I am challenged by this. I want to consciously ask why. I am sitting in a coffee shop and there are folks walking in and out. I see them and can easily develop quite an opinion. Why. Maybe its just me. Maybe I am just an ass.

So on page 13, Miller is leaving a rest area and squashes a bug. To which he states "all your questions are answered." Perhaps all our questions will be answered when we are squashed or snatched from this world. But what do we do for the time being.

What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. - 1 Corinthians 7:29-31





* Admittedly, sometimes I can get caught up in an author's opinion and perspective on life and keep The Author's book of Life secondary on the night stand. I don't believe Miller's perspective is un-biblical it's just that. A perspective. And I believe a good one. Hopefully I have a perspective of my own too.

**Sometimes I think our world, the makeup and beauty of it is screaming out its answer. We are just too blind to see. To busy. To self-absorbed.