A Person Built For Others

Stick with me here...

Built For Self
NBC launched a new series this fall called "Book of Daniel" that raised a few eyebrows among the media and more than ruffled some feathers in Christian circles. I've never seen an episode, but a good friend of mine named Mark (who also happens to be the Sr. High Pastor at our church) did, and was shocked at what he saw. So shocked, in fact, that he not only blogged about it to the parents of his Sr. Highers, but he sent emails to people trying to get them to contact stations and ask them to pull the show. He's not an activist type, so for him to go to such lengths told me just how offensive the show was.

One of the people who decided to look into this matter after getting Mark's email was our Sr. Pastor. Bob had heard from another friend back in Ohio who had seen the show and was quite offended, so when Mark emailed, Bob decided to contact the station. His email was polite, but stated why Bob, as a follower of Jesus who had made his life vocation that of a pastor, was offended by the show's premise, plots, and characters. After typing it out, he sent it Tuesday morning, January 24th, to KWWL, our local NBC affiliate.

Dale Woods, the VP and General Manager of KWWL, sent a reply about an hour later to Bob. Here's what he wrote:

Bob-

Thanks for your email. NBC has cancelled this show, so why are you still complaining?

Thanks for watching Iowa's News Channel.
Dale?

Bob had no idea that show had been cancelled (NBC seems to have made the decision Monday night, January 23rd, but one NBC affiliate said it was Tuesday afternoon, which would have been AFTER Bob got the email from Mr. Woods.

Built For Others
Mr. Woods terse reply stood in strong contrast to the message I received out of the book "Season of Life" which I had just finished the morning I read Mr. Woods curt email. The author, Jeffrey Marx, tells the story of Joe Ehrmann (pictured), a former Baltimore Colt star who at the time of the book was a pastor and an assistant high school football coach. The book tells the story of the Gilman High School 2001 football season, but it is so much more than about football. What Joe Ehrmann, and head coach Biff Poggi, are trying to accomplish is in the name of their "organization" - Building Men For Others.

I was so surprised to find myself choked up at times during the book, praying that I would be a man built for others, and that I would be the type of father that would raise my son and daughters to be Built for Others. It is not a "Christian" book, and yet I found myself being drawn once again to be like Christ, who's focus through his time on earth was on others.

So do you want to be like Mr. Woods of KWWL, who views feedback as complaints and people as a nuisance, or do you want to be a person Built for Others, who views people as our purpose, who seeks justice, who empathizes with the afflicted, and who isn't afraid to say "I Love You" (and isn't afraid to say "I'm sorry" when you haven't been a person of empathy)?

How will you live your life? Built for self? Or built for others?

A Marriage for the Ages

Just read this:

Rev. James Rual Chalk ? 100-years-old ? quoted from one of his favorite books of the Bible, Genesis 2:18: "It is not good for man to be alone," before tying the knot for the third time at the House of Mercy in Morris Chapel, Tenn. Rev. Chalk married his longtime friend, 68-year-old widow, Evelyn Johnson.

I'm not quite sure what my reaction should be to that!

Mac Accountability Software

I'm a devoted Mac user, so I was very glad to get an email today announcing that someone has finally brought accountability software to my favorite platform.

X3Watch is completely free, so you have nothing to lose. It is in beta mode right now, so keep that in mind.

Loving Law More than People

I was listening to an Erwin McManus sermon in the car today and he told a story he found in Sports Illustrated about a football player with no legs.

Turns out the refs came out after halftime and said that he couldn't play because he wasn't wearing any shoes, knee pads, or thigh pads, and according to the rules, a player must be wearing those items. Forget the fact that the student has no legs and therefore doesn't need shoes or knee pads or thigh pads - a rule is a rule.

This is what a small band of Pharisees were doing in John 8:1-11 (yes, the highly-contested-and-possibly-not-original John 8:1-11). They dragged a woman to Jesus claiming she had been caught in adultery and therefore deserved to be stoned to death. A rule was a rule.

But Jesus wisely turns the situation back on to the accusers. If they were without sin and completely spotless in observing the law, then they could condemn her. Thankfully they knew the truth (their self-righteousness hadn't completely blinded them to their own sin). And so they dropped their stones, and walked away.

How often do we hear of (or even witness) people's sin and condemn them? When a husband confesses unfaithfulness, we immediately judge him and give the wife the out of divorce (it's allowed in Scripture - a rule is a rule!). When an unmarried girl finds herself pregnant, we judge her and emotionally ostracize her (after all, Paul judged those engaged in sexual sin - a rule is a rule!). When a fellow Christian ends up drunk, we heap on shame for such an unbiblical act (for Ephesians says "do not get drunk" - a rule is a rule!).

What is happening here is we are loving the rule, the law, more than the person who is violating the law. If I remember my Bible correctly though, God loves His creation, the world, so much (even more than His laws) that he sent his only Son to pay the penalty for violating the law.

Are you quick to condemn, or to love? Do you cling to spiritual rules, or do you cling to God and follow His heart toward loving people?

Living without Clarifiers

Personal News
Since we've told most everyone in person, figured I'd put it on the blog that no one reads, but at least I'd FEEL like I shared the big news with all of cyberspace. LeAnn and I are expecting Baby Bird #4 sometime around September 1! We are super excited, but I tell people we'd be even more excited if LeAnn wasn't so sick. So you can pray for my wife and our family as we battle through conflicting emotions of excitement and discouragement (and pray that LeAnn would feel well!).

Our family website has been updated too (finally after two years!).

Personal Thoughts
LeAnn and I received am unexpected $25 Target gift card as a late Christmas present. Since LeAnn will be gaining weight this year, and I need to lose some, we felt that after 11 and a half years of marriage it was finally time to get a scale.

After opening the box and placing our new Taylor scale on the floor, I thought I'd better skim the manual (you know, it's been so long I wasn't sure I knew how to use one anymore...). I stepped on the scale, and the number was way too high, so I thought I had better check the manual to make sure I did everything right. But the manual said nothing about the scale having a sense of humor and randomly elevating the number on the LCD screen.

As I got ready to throw my incredibly-extensive-and-highly-informative-and-very-possibly-sarcastic manual away, I noticed some words on the back page at the very bottom. It said "Made to our exact specifications in China."

I laughed! I found it funny they put "exact specifications" so that you didn't think the scale was a piece of junk. But that's what "Made in China" means to a lot of people - junk. And so the Taylor Company felt they had to add a clarifier in order for the scale to be accepted.

It's kind of like when G.W. ran for president. He classified himself as a "compassionate conservative". The term "conservative" had taken on a bad reputation in the public's eye, and so George's team added a clarifier to make him more presentable and acceptable to the voting public.

Unfortunately, many in Christendom have felt the need to do the same thing. We need to be "Evangelical Christians" or "Charismatic Christians" or "Liberal" or "Conservative" or some other clarifier so that we will be accepted by the right groups.

Why do we do this? My theory: a need to feel accepted. We tack on clarifiers so that we are more palatable. Maybe we should call these "sugar words". They shouldn't be necessary, but we seem to think they are needed in order for us to be liked by the right people.

But I notice something about Jesus in the Scriptures. We don't see him living life with clarifiers. He wasn't labeled as a Pharisee Jew. Or a Saducee Jew. Or an Essene Jew. He's not even associated with other rabbis (as the disciple of Rabbi Hillel or Rabbi Shimmai). In fact, many of the religious leaders tried to get him to add clarifiers to his identity. "Who gave you this authority to teach or to heal or to forgive sins?" "He gets his power from Beelzebub" "If you really are the Son of God, come off that cross - then we'll believe!"

But Jesus lived his life without clarifiers to make himself more palatable or presentable or acceptable. Does this mean we find a jerk in the Scriptures who lived life devoid of love, caring nothing of people and their opinions? Hardly! But because Christ didn't allow himself to be shaped into the image of a particular group, he was free to love everyone. He was able to be a servant without it being detrimental to his self-esteem. He was able to hang out with "sinners" despite the opinion of the elite. And He was able to die on a cross for the sins of the world.

So let me ask you: are you living with clarifiers? Are you trying to make yourself more presentable to certain groups so that you will be liked, or given a raise, or nominated for that coveted award, or more loved by the God you've shaped in your mind?

Be like Christ: seek to be who God made you to be so that you can love those God sent you to love. May you not live for the acceptance of others, but rather may you live for the acceptance of the Father through Jesus Christ, who gave his life for yours upon a cruel cross.

What makes you attractive?

CNN has a report on their website about the skin-care industry targeting young adults to use their products before they "need" to use them (like when they are an "ancient" 45 years old...).

If someone wants to use anti-aging creme when they are only 22, that's fine with me. But I wonder - is that person putting in the same amount of time and energy and effort to also be inwardly attractive?

What about you? Is your focus on your outward appearance (skin, clothes, hair, car, job, schedule, friends, etc.)? Or are you giving priority to the inner world (spirit, mind, humility, love, peace, joy, hope, faith, courage, wisdom, etc.)? Because God is REALLY attracted to who you are more than he is to what you look like.

"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7b (NIV)

Were they worse sinners?

Personal News
My family had a WONDERFUL Christmas vacation to my parents' place in beautiful Pella, IA. It was very restful and filled with lots of laughter, and none of us wanted to leave last night. That's the way it should be, I think...

Personal Thoughts
Last week I heard that Hurricane Katrina was voted the top news story of 2005. I recalled that shortly after the hurricane, I was having a conversation on the phone with a lady who believed that God used Hurricane Katrina to punish New Orleans for their Mardis Gras celebrations and homosexuality-embracing culture. I was so saddened to hear her opinion.

I was reminded of that conversation this morning as I was reading in my Bible and came across this passage (I was reading in the NET Bible so I will use that translation here):

Now there were some present on that occasion who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. He answered them, ?Do you think these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered these things? No, I tell you! But unless you repent, you will all perish as well! Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them, do you think they were worse offenders than all the others who live in Jerusalem? No, I tell you! But unless you repent you will all perish as well!? (Luke 13:1-5)

Whether it was the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, last year's tsunami, or the school board election in Dover, PA this past November, many people have been making judgements and claiming those judgments to be from God.

But as I read Jesus' words, I'm struck by the fact that Jesus didn't want me pointing fingers at those who were victims of these events. He was teaching me to look at myself. I must repent. I must turn from my sinful ways. We are all sinners who deserve the same fate (Romans 3:23). It is only through Christ that we can find forgiveness. And as we experience his grace and compassion expressed through the cross, my prayer is that you and I will be people of grace and compassion as well, inviting others to repent with us.

So when an event happens and you hear the news, what's your first response after the shock? Judgement? Or personal reflection?

Wouldn't Angel Food Cake be a better choice?

So if someone was going to make a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Day, should they be allowed to use Devil's Food?

A Generous Christmas

Here's a beautiful true story that tells of God's provision and blessing. The story is about generosity, a subject I am interested in and want to see captured by all people. And Christmas, the season we celebrate God's generous and indescribable gift of Jesus, is a perfect time for a story such as this one.

But there's something that bothers me a little about the story. Actually it's not the story that bothers me - but the reaction some people might have from it. I fear that some young adults might read an article such as the one I've just linked to and think "so if I just give generously to others - God will give me more!"

I've heard this mentality before. It seems just as selfish to me as the non-generous attitude so prevalent in our culture. The only reason we give is so that we can get more. And if we didn't get something in return, then we wouldn't give in the first place. That doesn't seem truly generous to me.

What makes the mentioned story so beautiful is that the couple didn't expect anything in return. They felt God's urge to be generous to another family, and they were obedient. They struggled with their own emotions, but eventually knew this was the right thing to do. They didn't do it expecting or demanding that God pay them back so generously.

May you capture a truly generous heart - that you will give without thought of getting. May you seek to be used by God as a blessing in the lives of others by being generous to them. And may you walk to the mailbox without expecting a "reimbursement" check.

"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." Winston Churchill

Traveling for Christmas

I just got this story via email from a friend, and I thought I'd pass it along since many of you will be traveling for Christmas and New Year's. While the story is probably not true as with most email forwards (but a check with Snopes, HoaxBusters, and Truth or Fiction turned up nothing), the message is still the same. Please drive safe and smart!

Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone. Fourth time in as many months. How could a guy get caught so often?

When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour, Jack pulled over, but only partially. Let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard. Maybe some other car will tweak his backside with a mirror. The cop was stepping out of his car, the big pad in hand.

Bob? Bob from Church? Jack sunk farther into his trench coat. This was worse than the coming ticket. A cop catching a guy from his own church. A guy who happened to be a little eager to get home after a long day at the office. A guy he was about to play golf with tomorrow.

Jumping out of the car, he approached a man he saw every Sunday, a man he'd never seen in uniform.

"Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this."

"Hello, Jack." No smile.

"Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and kids."

"Yeah, I guess." Bob seemed uncertain. Good. "I've seen some long days at the office lately. I'm afraid I bent the rules a bit -just this once."

Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement. "Diane said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight. Know what I mean?" "I know what you mean. I also know that you have a reputation in our precinct " Ouch. This was not going in the right direction. Time to change tactics.

"What'd you clock me at?"

"Seventy. Would you sit back in your car please?"

"Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as soon as saw you. I was barely nudging 65." The lie seemed to come easier with every ticket.

"Please, Jack, in the car"

Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door. Slamming it shut, he stared at the dashboard. He was in no rush to open the window.

The minutes ticked by. Bob scribbled away on the pad.

Why hadn't he asked for a driver's license?

Whatever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat near this cop again. A tap on the door jerked his head to the left. There was Bob, a folded paper in hand Jack rolled down the window a mere two inches, just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip.

"Thanks." Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice.

Bob returned to his police car without a word. Jack watched his retreat in the mirror. Jack unfolded the sheet of paper. How much was this one going to cost?

Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of joke?

Certainly not a ticket. Jack began to read:

"Dear Jack, Once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when killed by a car. You guessed it- a speeding driver. A fine and three months in jail, and the man was free. Free to hug his daughters, all three of them. I only had one, and I'm going to have to wait until Heaven before I can ever hug her again.

A thousand times I've tried to forgive that man. A thousand times I thought I had. Maybe I did, but I need to do it again. Even now. Pray for me. And be careful, Jack, my son is all I have left."

"Bob"

Jack turned around in time to see Bob's car pull away and head down the road. Jack watched until it disappeared. A full 15 minutes later, he too, pulled away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and hugging a surprised wife and kids when he arrived.