Self Service

The compassion toward a greater domestic and world need seems to be more apparent than ever.  Perhaps because there is a greater need than ever. There's definitely a 60's quality to it. Occupy protests and ideologically-driven recommendations are debated. Lots of organizations focused on the poor, the aids-ridden, world debt. Continents and third world nations are focused upon to bring micro economies, clean water, and lifting general living conditions.

We hear of great organizations like Tom's Shoes who makes shoes and gives a pair to a child in need for every pair bought. Shaun's Shades and their buy their sunglasses and glasses are given to help the visually impaired. Matchstic, an Atlanta-based branding firm has their On the House program offering their branding and design talents to qualified organizations and non profits. And a friend of mine has recently started Mwana providing blankets for African babies to sleep well through a cold night.

These are all great organizations that are applying gifts and incredible talents in wonderful ways to serve others.

I was in a brief conversation yesterday with a guy and we were touching base on how wonderful organizations like the above have taken entrepreneurial efforts for the benefit of others. And we were speaking about the talent of the entrepreneur. Their skill set, their vision, and drive. And how we may not all possess those talents to do something like that.

But we can. It can start with our neighbor. Its an attitude.

I believe we should all carry that spirit. Not that we must start some 501c3 organization to find clean water sources to qualify. But identify the needs within our community. Our neighborhoods. Our friends. Our areas of influence. The opportunity is there.

And we need to start with activity. Not an "I should really do something like that", but just freaking do it. Steal time. Reach out. Get creative.

I am such a group follower and can be swayed and influenced by the mob. If a group movement is taking place, I'm in. But I need to stretch beyond that. These are individual decisions to act upon. And some of them may be God-breathed. We must respond. And I am holding myself accountable to this with the words on this page.

I'm not talking "pay it forward". I am talking investment.

Proverbs 21:13 “If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.”

James 1:27 “Religion that God our father counts as pure and faultless is this, to look after widows and orphans in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

And then, let's not make a big deal about it. Facebook doesn't need to know of your good deeds.

Imagine a movement of individuals taking individual steps to reach the needy, and impact their situations. And nobody heard about it.

Mark 7:35-36 "At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone." 

Matthew 6:17-18 "But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

Who Do You Say?

A week or so ago, I watched a spoken word video ( Jesus > Religion ) about Jesus being greater than Religion. As a matter of fact, the artist boldly says he loves Jesus and hates religion. And that Jesus hated religion. Definitely an interesting perspective, and a lot of it I agree with (some, I am not smart enough to understand).

There is a lot of discussion around religion. The religion of "coexistence"—whether your religion impedes on mine. The religion of performance and reputation. The religion of ideologies. The religion of piety. The religion of values. The religion of love for the fellow man. The religion of intelligence. The religion of our educations. The religion of our jobs. The religion of our health. The religion of doubt. The religion of no religion.

And we all want our religion to be "right". To win the argument.

This morning on a walk I was listening to an audio version of the Book of Matthew. I didn't think I was going to like an audio Bible, but it actually was a unique experience. While I can't reread a verse, make notes, etc. it did sort of have a real time quality which allowed me to pace along with the author. In an odd way, physically walking brought some sort of feeling like I was there with guys like Andrew and Peter.

So I walked along through the birth, the beatitudes, the miracles, feeding tons of people with a little bit of food. And the stuff Jesus said and did was amazing. Very counter-culture. Very counter-pharisee. Very healing. He is attacked by the church throughout. And reached out to by the poor, the social outcasts, and the forgotten. And he loves them. And he heals them.

And his disciples are a part of this. Seeing all of this. This Jesus is amazing to them. He is healing people. And saying ground breaking things. And he tells them to go out and do all of the same things. Heal. Love. Serve. All very cool.

Then Jesus asks the disciples what other people say about him. Some say he is a prophet, a great teacher, John the Baptist, maybe even people said he was an example of how we should treat others. Or someone like Mother Theresa. Or somebody really nice. Or an exclusionist. Or a blasphemer. Or the devil himself.

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Jesus heard their answers and seemed to be pleased with what they said.

Then he tells them he is going to die. Oddly, by the request of religious people in the church. And the hands of government officials.

Now I don't know that I hate religion. Hate is a strong word. There is so much confusion, piety, reputation-concern, vanity, pride, oppression within all aspects of religion. And in life, we judge each others' faith and actions.

But Jesus is fly in the religion soup. Who do you say that He is?





Note: Clearly there is atonement of relationship with God through Jesus' sacrificial death and the grace which follows is beyond our understanding. My intention is not to belittle the magnitude of this with a "soup" comment. Just using some creative freedom to make a point about Him being an agitation to society and religion in general. 

New Year's Evolution

Spent the holidays driving through much of the northern midwest with the family. The four of us in our Xterra. Boys in the back playing a portfolio of video games on hand held and rigged devises. My wife as navigator and status updater. We spent nights in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Kentucky. With a few day trips to a handful of others. Pleasantly, we didn't encounter too much of the wintry stuff. Sure it was cold, but only short moments of the rip-through-your-skin and seek shelter winds. And just enough snowfall to allow for a day of skiing (I as an observer from the chalet bar) and a dreamlike New Year's Eve of snowball fights, snowmen and oddly enough, a snow recliner. A beautiful time with extended family mixed with intimate moments of the four of us. We racked up nearly 3,000 miles. A long haul.

We have always been the road warriors. My kids are one of a handful that believe you are actually close to something if you have an hour and a half car ride ahead of you. The trips have gotten better and better. The percentage of down time to complaining time has drastically decreased over the years. And I really enjoy it myself. I do the driving. My wife does the managing. The boys have grown tolerant and find joy in the journey themselves. One of the major highlights for me is the open road. Miles and miles. Hours and hours of time to: Weigh life and all of its nuances, challenge my attitude and activities, and do a heckofa lot of daydreaming.

The daydreaming. The thinking. The internal "what if" sessions are even more intensified on these long trips when they fall at year's end. Visions of resolutions mixed with "is this really what I want to be doing with my life" pepper in and out. I love this. I believe too many of us don't take this time to self examine for a long duration. Sure we have our moments in the dark, face up on the mattress, but hours and hours on end are unique.

So as for my thoughts going in to 2012 (Wow, 2012. Thought we'd be in flying cars by now.).

• Clearly I could lose a few pounds
• Need to achieve a better work/life balance
• Need to exercise more
• Yadda Yadda Yadda

What really stands out for me is my attitude. My person. Not that I am walking around pissy. I just want to be less meddlesome, less wrongly concerned, less worried, more considerate of others, more giving of my talents, more active, more serving, more adventurous, more bold, more available for whatever.

All those things for me (and I'd think most) are clearly unsustainable as a resolution. Or with a strategic plan. Or by pulling up my bootstraps. I believe I'd have to evolve into a being more like Jesus. I guess that's a tall order. Being like Jesus. Perhaps even one I might regret. After all, He had a rough go of it. Really rough.

But THIS road. This long road of evolution. Takes more than gas and a map. It requires the road of Calvary. And of dieing to myself daily. It requires a deeper understanding of Jesus himself. And I can't travel that road and don't have the fuel to do so alone.

I can't do it. I need Him to.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in me will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.* I can't go THIS evolution alone.

We can't evolve without other influences or agents which cause appropriate change. Be it a Darwinian-believed reach requirement evolving a giraffe's neck. Or me becoming less an ape.

I need Jesus to make me be like Jesus.

He's done the redeeming work. Allowing God to be able to see us clean, and as his own again. Now I need to let him evolve this ape out of me. And transform me into something better. More adapt at understanding, dealing with, and leading within this world. Moment by moment. Decision by decision. Action by action.


*Referring to Philippians 1:6