A Father's Day Early

I know I'm a day early, but wanted to make sure I had a moment, and was "in the moment" when scribing my latest installment. A bit of an ode to my Dad.

I recently have had the privilege of caring for my Pop a bit. He's in his early 70s, and has had some health issues. Nothing like a lot of folks' parents have had. No cancer. He's got his mental capacities. But there's been weight loss, weakness, lack of energy, and the doctors to date haven't really been able to but their finger on what's been going on. All things considered, he's doing "fine" or "okay" as he likes to say.

So this gives me a chance for me to show my honor-thy-father in a newfound way as I support in more physical and mental fashions. Which is a pleasure. You see, our dads (well, most that I know) have been there for us. I mentioned in a Father's Day ode a few years back that my Dad was sort of a quiet supporter. A strong supporter for sure, but a quiet observer, and a quiet provider. And now I have the honor of distinction of supporting, observing, and providing for him in return.

My eldest is now 15 and while on the cusp of true employment is pretty much relegated to cutting lawns for a few bucks. And my parents have a lawn that grows. So this not only allows him to earn some cash, but gets me up to my folks' house more frequently. And I get to sort of live with them a little more now. You see, the proverbial time with my folks is on a special day (e.g. Father's Day), or when one of my kids has an event. But this is different. There's a bit of the old me who looks into their fridge and digs around a bit, but moreover, I get to hang with them. I'm truly enjoying this. This lets me see them smile more.

The other day my Dad had a doctors appointment, and in lieu of his recent weakness, my Mom had asked if I could accompany them in case they needed an extra hand or two. I was honored by the ask, and more than happy to participate. What made this all the more special was the fact that my eldest and I went to their place a night in advance and we got to spend the night. More smiles.

My dad has "his chair" and fortunately for me, there's a couch right next to it. This let's me sidle up alongside him for a Braves game and some dialogue. The dialogue around player performance, while still present, is lessening. And we talk more about how he's doing, getting up and down stairs in Maine, and such.

While this time has brought about a lot of questions and thoughts, (like what would it be like with this guy not around? How would I care for his wife?—perhaps a little morbid, but very real.) it is becoming a very special time. A time that I love.

It says in Proverbs (22:6) to "Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it".

Dad, you've done this. And is a joy to apply that training for your benefit.

A Kee Insight

It's been a long time since I rock and rolled. I mean since I've posted. And it's something I've thought I needed to get back to. Writing consistently in this space is a discipline that I regret not keeping up with as it helps me live life more purposed. In addition, my life passes and I've no record outside of my mind and my smart phone. So I hope to find the discipline to make the time to record my "Imperfectisms". That said, let me tell you a bit about a neighbor of mine...well, a friend of mine...hmm, a brother of mine and a project that he's just put out.

Stephen Kee has been a neighbor of mine for about 10 years give or take. Over the course of those years we've become "family". He and his wife have had impacted my wife and I (and our boys) in more ways than they know. Steve is a bit of a renaissance man. He's an entertainer, author, musician, speaker and more. An artist of all arts. I'd like to take a moment to tell you about his current endeavor. And in a bloggeddy blog way, promote it.

His inSIGHT project is a collection of Steve's writings and songs in which he's pulled family and friends in to provide vocal, instrument, production, and love support. It's an eclectic mix of spoken word and music influenced by gospel, R&B, reggae and more. These pieces of word and music cover various expressions as Kee views life from the perspective of his 57 unique years on the planet. And then shares his message from himself, as well as a varied cast of characters.

Now this may not be your style of art and music, but if you truly listened, I'd bet there's something within inSIGHT that would at the very least, make you pause and consider yourself—something which I believe Kee would hope for. And while you may not agree with Kee's message—I'm not sure if that'd matter to him either.

So I encourage you to visit iTunes and search under Stephen Kee to give a quick listen, and if so inclined, to download.

Hope to be back soon. And to steal Kee's sign-off, "Peace".

For Cluck's Sake

First, let me caveat this and say this is not a point of view on free speech. Nor does it really have anything to do with what Phil Robertson said or did not say in his GQ interview. And its not an op ed on the authenticity of Robertson's faith, or his family either. Moreover, its some thoughts around the public reaction.

To surmise a bit for posterity's sake, Phil Robertson is the patriarch of the Duck Dynasty clan—who one might say are, the "christian" version of the Kardashians. Duck Dynasty is a reality show about a family who invented a duck call, and they've since made fortunes in sales and merchandising. Its a really popular show on A&E. Oh, and they pray around the table, and talk about God.

So Phil has said some comments that some found insulting and cruel to the homosexual community, and A&E has suspended him from the show. Well, there's been a tremendous amount of backlash from the "liberal media", the "right wing conservatives", "the hollywood elite", the LGBT community leadership, Christian groups and sundry other "organizations". Piers Morgan nearly blew a gasket in discussion about the subject on his CNN show yesterday, and Shawn Hannity and various Fox News analysts have steamrolled guests and shouted over one another with their perspectives and beliefs.

But enough about that. This is about the "church" and "christian" community who are yelling loudly across Facebook and other social media. There are all sorts of "those hypocrites", "they", "them", "we", "our" culture warriors in full force lambasting and protesting.

I wonder what Jesus would have done with a Facebook account.

There is so much outrage, or better yet, table turning about this topic. Now I'm not the brightest bulb, nor the most intensive Biblical scholar, but I believe the only table turning Jesus did was when He turned them over in His Father's house when others turned it into a "den of thieves". Jesus turned tables when His Father's house was impacted. When outside His Father's house, he served, loved, protected, ate with, drank with, and told stories to people. He loved them so much.

I'm not sure Jesus would have taken to the airwaves to defend Himself or His Faith.

I don't understand the Christians response of such anger, and outrage, outside of His Father's house? Jesus didn't respond that way outside His Father's house (although He did have some direct conversation with the "religious" church leadership of the day—"Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?"). Jesus also said that His Kingdom is not of this world. Yet we are so focused on making it so. Where are the relationally-motivated status updates? Where is the compassion to meet others where there is need? Where are the invitations to sup? To share the Gospel vs. tell it? Where is the acknowledgement of our own sins, vs. the index fingers aimed at others?

I'm sure there's lots to this story, and I know there's lots of passion around this issue, and there's probably some theological defense, but I'm just taken aback by the lack of grace and mercy. Its like we want—check that—need to win. We're right. You're wrong. And we will gloat when we win, too. 

I guess this is a call for Grace. Too non-existent these days.

I was talking with a guy who said that he and his family have a gay friend and they went bowling with him and some of his gay friends. I don't think Jesus would lambast homosexuality. I think He'd go bowling and tell some stories. And maybe buy the first round.

Mine or Thine

There's a lot of conversation in and around the Church and the churches these days. Political, Socio-economic, Sexuality, and more. In the dialogues I've been a part of, the discourse is both closed and open-eared. I read a book over the summer by Jonathan Merritt called "A Faith of Our Own" that I believe illustrates components of a misconception by a lot of church goers. In the book Merritt challenges that its not necessarily, "what would Jesus do?", but "what would Jesus have you to do?". I've come to a conclusion that a lot of professed Christians seem to believe that we are to build THIS kingdom for God, rather than building the Kingdom of God.

In Matthew 12:28, Jesus is asked by "one of the teachers of the law" which is the greatest commandment? And Jesus replies "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.", and the teacher agrees and says "you a right in saying that" (on a side note, do you think Jesus got an ironic chuckle when this "teacher" confirmed His statement?).

I think proclaimed Christians are too clouded with political slogan and agenda, and even a call for "revival" in the churches and in our nation. Now hear me right, I am not against a Spiritual resurgence if God so sees fit, but as I am hearing about and seeing the activity around political slogan and "revival", I am curious of something. Is the intention to build THIS kingdom for God? To make it a safe and peaceful place? To make it some sort of nirvana? To make it fit a political agenda? To make it "well" for the haves? And perhaps even the have-nots?

I must continue to challenge my own thinking along these lines as well. Around hoping for and moving to make better. And why I truly want "it" to be better.

The Bible clearly states that this will pass away. And that His Kingdom is not of this world.

Let your/ours/my works be of the noble Purpose(s) of God. Not for your/ours/my ownership, peace, power, safety, security, and agenda—from our own smallness.

Yes, love and serve. Give. Help. Encourage. Revolt. Stand. Change. Hope. Participate IN THIS world. But not FOR THIS world.

Because of Relationship

Its been a while since I've written a post. A lot has been going on. Not that that's an excuse, its just that I've been speaking it or doing it, vs. writing it. So I hope that any rust is okay, and that I continue to speak and do rather than write. Or at least alongside it.

I've been rereading Don Miller's book Searching for God Knows What. It is a great read and was a big catalyst for introspection into my faith, and how its lived out, my first time through the pages. It talks a ton about the concept of relationship vs. lists. Particularly relationship with God vs. what is required to be a Christian. And what we think actually pleases God.

I was in discussion with my wife the other day, and we were talking about this concept. How, as a spouse, there are certain things you do and don't do. When I look at a marriage there are things like, dating another woman, keeping secrets, ignoring, or not listening, of which the "manual" would tell you you can't do. The joyful thing within real relationship is that dating another woman, keeping secrets, ignoring, or not listening to, the things you don't do—not because of any marital rules, or you could argue even vows—come out of relationship.

BECAUSE I am in relationship I will not do such and such. BECAUSE I am in relationship I will do such and such.

I've known a lot of folks that do or don't do things because of certain rules. Even live their faith out this way. And I think that would just exhaust the heck out of me, and I'd be laden with failures. My inability to keep the rules would be exposed. Perhaps I could manage the exposure, or at least I'd think I could.

But when it comes to true love, and true relation, we can't function out of rules (or at least I can't.). We must function from our relationship.

Greatest of These

Bob Goff shared the other day on Twitter "Every time we treat people as ordinary, we turn the wine back into water".

If I would just look at all through the lens of love, and not the lenses I put in front of my eyes. Jesus did, and laid down his life. He saw everyone qualified. Or better yet, He saw that He needed to qualify everyone.

Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:13.

Don't be a Good Christian

A little while ago, I was in a conversation with a few church-going guys about how to "live out Christianity in the workplace". This is a frequent topic among affluent, white, male, church-going circles. There are many blogs, email subscriptions, books, seminars, which cover this subject matter—how to be a "good Christian". Mind you, there are some incredible minds, hearts, and motives behind a lot of this. I've followed folks like WisdomHunters.com and have on occasion read Boyd Bailey's blog.

But I think too many of us are too focused on being a "good Christian in the workplace", and too concerned with what we do and say to ensure we are "being that."

So, I was in this conversation with some guys and as we discussed this "being good Christian in the workplace" experience, I asked the question, "Why?".

Why do concentrate so hard on this? Why do we need to figure out what this looks like? How it should manifest itself? The Bible is loaded with answers. So why do we struggle so much with this? Why do we need to define it? I think its because we think we can control it. Our "goodness".

Maybe I am just a "bad Christian" in the workplace, and I don't define or work hard enough at it.*  

I am a Christian. A follower of Christ. Desiring to be like Christ. Not reading enough Bible. Not praying enough. Swearing too much. Drinking too much. Putting myself first too much. And I am in the workplace. 

If I am looking too hard at being a "good" one. I am looking at others. And what they think of what I am doing. My focus is elsewhere. On my reputation. Or worse yet, my reputation on behalf of God's. And He doesn't need my help.

Jesus never called us to be good. He called us to be like Him. To "Be holy because I am holy (1 Peter 1:16)" and that "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)" and that "the kind of fasting I want calls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn. I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome the poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and don not hide from relatives who need your help. (Isaiah 58:6-7)"

E.T. told us to "Be good.". God did not.

* That's my safe statement, y'all. It absolves any critical observation and comment from being too cutting, and puts any blame on myself and my shortcomings. After all, "All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God."–wink.