HAITI is such a strong word

Recently, I was reading an awesome story of a woman missionary/doctor in Haiti. In her powerful story she describes a young 16 year old boy, on the other side of a chain-link fence, trying to get all the American ladies' attention. One of the doctors, Dr. Jen. had been refusing his advances to take a love note from him, but this woman decided to take the note. Here's the story in her words:

"Angelina..." he called suddenly, in my direction. I was cynically flattered. I chose not to be, in any way, overtly peeved by his insultingly conniving, wishywashy, two-timing, less than monogamous intentions. I was impressed by the bold sixteen-year-old confidence that allowed him to turn his attention to me...despite the fact that I had just witnessed his impassioned, enamoured plea to the woman two feet to my left. He'd remembered my pseudonym-- Angelina Jolie; that scored him a few points. And, yes, perhaps lost a few points for the absence of subtlety and sincerity. But still, his score was in the black.

He raised his eyebrows and smiled sweetly now in my direction, imploringly, impassioned. He again tried to push the rolled up piece of paper through the mesh. This time, in my direction.

I raised a cynical eyebrow in return.

"For me?" I asked, with a smirk. Then, flatly, "I'm honored."
"Angelina...." he whispered. "I love you."

I laughed at him. He shoved the piece of paper further through the mesh, wiggling it slightly, urging me to take it. Finally, I grabbed it, and held it like a contaminated cigarette.

"For me?" I asked, amused. He nodded earnestly, eagerly. I turned to Dr. Jen. "See, now it's mine. Too bad for you."

I unrolled the paper with an air of sarcastic dubiousness, but as I read, I was taken aback. This was no quickly scribbled love note. This was, in fact, a manifesto. Not a spontaneous appeal. Not a childlike whim. No, this was, in that moment, an entrancing literary wonder. A blue inked seduction. Obviously planned for quite some time...with no particular audience in mind. Cleverly entitled, "Cherie..." (translation: "My dear...") to enable it to be shared with no particular woman...or, as in this case, passed around, until some poor sucker finally bit. I imagined this young man sitting intently with a Creole-to-English dictionary, a ball point pen and small notebook on his lap in his darkened cinderblock room in the slums, spending hours carefully penning this note. When had he written this? What had been his plan? How long had he had it, rolled up in his pocket. And, at exactly what point had he said, "I will write a love note in English, and hand it to every English speaking woman I meet, until, at some point, I succeed in my quest."

I read the note and smiled, definitely impressed. "That's great," I said. "That's really great." I attempted to hand the note back.

"No," he said, refusing its return. He gestured for me to keep it. "I love you," he said, in English.

"No," I replied, amused, trying to push it back through the mesh. "You don't love me."

He grinned, refusing to take it. I smiled, still gripping the end of the rolled up note.

"Well, okay," I said, and stuck the paper into my shirt pocket. "Merci. I'll keep this."

I smiled to myself, then turned back to my dressing change. He smiled back, completely insincere in his flirtatious, boyish grin. But sweet. And endearing. And completely non-threatening. An A+ for effort. A hilarious, sweet, amusing memory. Of innocence. And youth. Of boyish courageous charm. And love. And hope. And the wonder that it represents -- that this neighborhood is healing. That thoughts are turning, from sadness and devastation and loss, to flirtatious moments of happiness. Healing.

I suspiciously wonder how many copies of this scroll he carries, and in how many languages. But, for today, on our last day in this slum, it is a symbol for me of something sweet and innocent and kind and beautiful and welcoming that is the people of (Haiti) Cite Soleil. Our people. Our patients. This community of challenged, impoverished yet not poor, strong, driven survivors.

So, here's to all you potential suitors out there. Take note...of how you might effectively court a woman... if you're trying get a woman's attention, and get her to pause and take note...here's how it's done:

"Cheri, Darling. You thrilling me. You give me goose bumps. You're driving me crazy. I fall in love you. I'm boun to love you. You really I need. I want to be with you. I want to be you sweet. Call you beautiful. I've a place deep on my heart for you. I think with you everitime you always on my mind baby. When I look at you I see the sun shining on your face. Please don't make me suffer. Im head over heel since I met you."


This blog, which can be found here, really touched me.

I've been to Haiti three times. I've adopted two girls from Haiti. I love Haiti. Now that the "earthquake" is "yesterday's news"... it's easy for Haiti to slip our minds. May we all remember that there are still millions of people who need to be loved... practically - not only in Haiti, but all over this world.

May you and I be known for our sincere love for God... absolutely. But may we also be known for our deep love for others.

Today... LOVE.

When I look at you, I see the sun shining on your face.
I'm boun' to love you.
I've a place deep on my heart for you...too.

Feel Fantastic, Refresh Yourself

According to Rain Wilson's web-site, this beautiful little dispenser was found in a men's restroom somewhere in Arizona. I thought it was pretty awesome and am currently trying to find where I can order one for Desperation Church's Men's restroom.

Wouldn't it be great if you KNEW you were going to get refreshed and feel fantastic each time you went to church?

Wouldn't it be great if you could truly 'feel fantastic' and 'refresh yourself' for only twenty-five cents?

Truthfully, going to church won't always be 'refreshing' and attending services isn't always 'fantastic', is it? I find that one gets out of something what they are willing to put into it.

Sometimes we look at life as a choice between following Jesus or being happy, but it's really not that way at all. In fact, I'd suggest that we can't be truly happy without following Him. When Jesus gave His sermon on the mountainside, He said, "How blessed are the poor in spirit... How blessed are the meek... How blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness... How blessed are those who make peace" (Matthew 5:3-9). That's a lot of blessedness. Although this sermon is translated from the Greek language, Jesus was Jewish, which means that He knew Hebrew as well. The word for "blessed" in Hebrew is ashrey. It doesn't just mean "blessed"; it also means "happy," or literally, "How happy!".

Ashrey actually comes from a root Hebrew word for "straight" or "right." I find that interesting, because in the end, the way of happiness and the way of righteousness always turn out to be the same path.

Do we want to 'feel fantastic'? Do we want to 'refresh ourselves'? Do we want to be happy? Then maybe we should stop seeking happiness. Perhaps we should seek righteousness instead? Seek what is right, believe what is right, receive what is right, do what is right, walk in what is right, live by what is right. Didn't Jesus say that all the rest would be added unto us? What if God's way is really the way of true joy? I honestly think that if we'll follow it,... we'll be blessed, and not only blessed, but happy... and not only happy, but we'll actually be able to say, "Ashrey!" (How happy!) - with an exclamation point!

Wow... feeling fantastic... experiencing total refreshment... and it won't happen in a restroom, or even cost twenty-five cents. Pretty sweet!

John 4:23

In my morning devotion I read an old Jewish story that tells of a mute shepherd boy who slips into the back of a synagogue toward the end of the Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) service. He is totally frustrated that he cannot join in with the fervent prayers of the Holy Day. The service approaches its climax as the entire congregation cries out seven times, "Adonai Hu HaElohim!" (the Lord, He is God). At this exact moment the shepherd boy pulls from his pocket a little whistle that he had carved from a peach pit to call his sheep. At the final repetition of the mighty declaration, he lets out a shrill blast that lingers long after the words end. The congregation gasps in unison and gazes at him in horror. He has desecrated this holy moment! But the wise old rabbi smiles at the lad. "Finally," he says, "we are ready to end the service, because we have prayed with all our heart."

This mute kid was worshipping with what the Jews call, 'kavvanah'.

You see, the form of prayer is important, but kavvanah - the heart's intention to worship God - is indispensable. I believe that we are all involved in a constant struggle to maintain kavvanah in the midst of our busy routines and schedules. Sometimes even religious routine can inhibit kavvanah. But like the old rabbi, we must recognize that some "distractions" may actually serve to draw us closer to God. Some "distractions" might be perfectly appropriate... when they come from hearts of those who authentically love and adore God.

May I care way more about the God I'm worshipping than the way I worship.

May I be open to the unexpected people or events that may come to shake up my little routine and restore my focus on the true Love of my life, Jesus Christ.

Today, may nothing else matter to me in comparison to my deepest desire, which is to hang out (fellowship, abide, cling to, intimately commune) with the Lord - Adonai.

"Everything in me waits for Adonai more than guards on watch wait for morning (Psalm 130:6).

Two Birds With One Stone

I rode my motorcycle to work today. A drive that should have taken me 5 minutes took me 30 minutes. Why? Because, I accomplished two important goals with one simple ride. But before I get into that, let me explain...

Thursdays are my study day. I seclude myself in my study and I pour into the Bible and various other books that help me understand this supernaturally unique Book.

Can I be real honest? It's a day that I totally love... and at the same time, sorta dread.

I love it because reading God's Word is something that I've always thought was cool. I truly believe that the Bible is God's Love Letter and that it has the distinctive power to speak to right where I'm living... today. I dread this day too, because I find that I'm often reading and studying for the express purpose of making it clear for others... and not for my personal edification or enjoyment. With that comes a serious measure of 'stress' and a number of questions: 'Will this make sense to anyone other than me?' 'Am I interpreting this correctly?' 'Who am I going to offend this time if I reveal what I'm truly finding here?'

I suppose over the years the love of studying has out-weighed the dread of it. Perhaps due to the fact that, even in the midst of in-depth study, serious stress, and heart-felt questioning... God seems to always speak directly to me. He consistently encourages me. He constantly convicts me. He faithfully shows up... to be with me.

So... I sorta dread it. But I mostly love it.

When Jesus arrived in a city called, Bethany with many of His disciples (Luke 10:38), Martha knew that she was going to have a lot of work to do. In her culture, women often measured their worth by how well they performed "women's chores" like cooking and cleaning.

But Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His teaching, remember? In her culture, people sat on chairs for normal occasions or reclined on couches for banquets. Folks only sat "in the dust" at someones feet (as rabbis put it) if they were that person's disciple. Mary was, therefore, making a pretty radical statement, because women were not supposed to become disciples according to the culture of the day. Women were rarely trained as disciples. In one recorded exception, Beruryah (the wife of Rabbi Meir), had became so well educated that she was like a rabbi herself. Nevertheless, most men would not listen to her simply because she was a woman. Jesus, however, welcomes Mary as His disciple, to learn at His feet.

Remember how Martha wanted help with the chores, but Jesus commended Mary for seeking to be a disciple? "Mary has chosen the right thing, and it won't be taken away from her"(Luke 10:42).

Too often we are like Martha, consumed by the things our culture demands that we accomplish. What if Jesus wants us, most of all, to take the time to learn at His feet - to be His disciples?

I think a disciple's main goal is to become like their rabbi (teacher), not to simply gather information in order to teach it to others.

This is a huge issue with me... and I'd be willing to bet with other persons who are required to teach, preach, and share the Gospel Message. I firmly believe that I must be a man who sits at the feet of Jesus in order to, first and foremost, become like Him as I learn from Him what He's trying to teach ME. Secondly, I take those truths and do my best, with the help of the Spirit of Jesus, to make them applicable to those He's put in my life.

I rode my motorcycle to work today. A drive that should have taken me 5 minutes took me 30 minutes. Why? Because, I accomplished two important goals with one simple ride:

First, I got myself to work. This is a practical necessity for me. I've got to get to my place of employment. Riding a motorcycle helps me do this in a very cost-effective way.

Second, I enjoyed the ride. On a beautiful day like today, I can just soak up nature. I feel the freedom of the air whipping me in my face. I have no radio, no cell phone, nothing but a few moments of quiet, which leads to a perfect environment for a much-needed conversation with God.

Is it possible to kill two birds with one stone? Sure it is. I'm finding that it's as I study, as I sit at the Master's feet, that I not only am being fed personally, but I'm also able to learn things that I can hopefully pass on to others.

However, the goal for such times is to simply be with, and be like, my Jesus.

Selah

What Are You Waving This Flag Day?

Maybe you didn’t know this, but in the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened on that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.

Happy Flag-Day! Most folks don’t care much for Flag Day, the gift openings are too predictable.

This morning I was doing a Messianic Jewish devotion, and read Romans 15:20 in the Jewish New Testament: “I have always made it my ambition to proclaim the Good News where the Messiah was not yet known”. The word ‘ambition’ stuck out to me, because I find that people can be pretty ambitious about a lot of things; To some, reaching specific goals in their careers is what is most important. To others it might be some sports aspiration or perhaps seeing their children succeed in a certain area. To still others it might simply be obtaining a certain relationship with someone special. One of these objectives might not be better than the other, but when all is said and done, the question that really seems to count is whether we have lifted Jesus, the Messiah, to the place of highest importance in our lives?

There was a Messianic Jewish leader who lived in Russia in the nineteenth-century, named Joseph Rabinowitz. Reading his stuff today, I found how he radically expressed the ambition of his life with a simple story. I want to share it with you in his own words:

“My position is to be compared with one who went out to the ocean in a ship and suffered a shipwreck with all on board. Now all of those who are shipwrecked try to get to some firm ground on which to save themselves. If one after struggling for life finds a rock, the moment he feels he is on firm ground, he will shout to those still struggling in the sea. And if some are beyond the reach of his voice, he will try to raise something – a stick or flag – to attract their attention and call them to head for the rock. Now that is my position. Russia is like the ocean, the Jews there are like shipwrecked people, and since, by God’s mercy, my feet are on the Rock [Yeshua], I have tried to do what that person I spoke of tried to do. I am shouting to my shipwrecked people to come to the Rock.”

Here it is, June 14th, 2010 – Flag Day. What if we saw this as another opportunity to be reminded that we are to have a revolutionary ambition to wave a flag for the cause of Jesus Christ to this drowning world we live in? What if we were even a bit fanatical about it?

Do you think I’m being too extreme?

Did you know that being a fanatic about the flag is nothing to be ashamed of? On this date, June 14, 1908 Theodore Roosevelt was dining outside Philadelphia, when he noticed a man wiping his nose with what he thought was the American Flag. In outrage, Roosevelt picked up a small wooden rod and began to whip the man for "defacing the symbol of America." After about five or six strong whacks, he noticed that the man was not wiping his nose with a flag, but with a blue handkerchief with white stars. Upon realization of this, he apologized to the man, but hit him once more for making him "riled up with national pride."*

Gang, today may we get a little bit riled up and remember that we are called to signal to the shipwrecked people God lets us meet that Jesus is the Rock on which it is safe to build their lives. I pray our arms would get incredibly sore from waving the right flag today.

*americanhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/usa_flag_day_june_14

WARNING: This Blog Could Disturb You... it does me.

So, there's a new movie coming out. Before you read this blog, you might want to watch the trailer. Just click here.

We live in a strange, difficult, and dare I say "wonderful" season to be a God-follower. It seems that there was a time when bashing religion and those who believe in something unseen was only done in a small number of circles within a minority of lecture halls of hardly any Universities. That is no longer the case. Multitudes of people are not satisfied with merely walking away from formalized religion, but are dead-set on exposing it's perceived falseness to the world. Hours upon hours are exhausted in this pursuit, and in some cases millions of dollars are spent.

How do we stand against such an onslaught of cynicism?

Perhaps a better question is, "How can we expect our children/the next generation to stand under this barrage, when it seems to only be growing rapidly by the day?" Fast forward ten years. What is Christianity going to look like? Who'll be left that's under 30?

I've been working nights at a second job. I'm blown away by how many young people come into my workplace that I know. You see, a number of years ago I taught at a local Christian School in the town that I am now working (Excelsior Springs, Missouri). The school was ultra legalistic and my wife and I felt we should pull our kids and that I needed to distance myself from it. A few months later the entire school just went away for other absurd reasons (but that's another story). Anyway,... I'm seeing all these students that I used to teach. They walk in and recognize me and we begin talking about where they are at. Do you know that I have not met even one that is currently attending church. Three that I've met are living with their boyfriend/girlfriend. All of them are pretty much done with God. These were 'Christian' kids.

I suggest that what we've done... what we're doing... isn't working.

I know. Let's try and make Jesus 'cooler'... more 'hip'... more 'relevant'. Oops, wait a second... we tried that and now the skeptics are making fun of us too. Whether its in their late-night cartoons (ie. 'The Simpsons', 'Family Guy', 'Southpark'), their stand-up routines, or their 'mockumentaries' (ie. Bill Maher's 'Religulous') we're taking quite a beating.

Listen to these quotes from the aforementioned Bill Maher:

"Faith means making a virtue out of not thinking. It's nothing to brag about. And those who preach faith and enable and elevate it are intellectual slave holders, keeping mankind in a bondage to fantasy and nonsense that has spawned and justified so much lunacy and destruction."

"Religion is dangerous because it allows human beings who don't have all the answers to think that they do. Most people would think it's wonderful when someone says, 'I'm willing Lord, I'll do whatever you want me to do.' Except that since there are no gods actually talking to us, that void is filled in by people with their own corruptions and limitations and agendas."

Do you hear how certain he is? How he comes off sounding like the garbage coming out of his face is fact? Do you see why I use words like 'barrage' and 'onslaught'? Our generation is not just being bombarded with a message to 'sin'... they're being stormed with a message that God is not only a figment of imagination, but you're an idiot if you believe in Him.

So what do we do?

I'm not sure, but I've got some thoughts. I know I'm not going down without a fight. I know I'm not letting my kids and future grandkids get sucked into this without preparing them for the battle that lies ahead for them. I know that I need help. I know that I need to pray more than I do. I know that I need to stop screwing around with the unimportant and wake up to the fact that the enemy of God is kicking our ***. I know that being authentic and having a genuine relationship with Jesus - that supersedes a mere facade - is desperately needed to be what is seen in me by my kids.

So yeah... I do believe it is a strange, difficult, and even "wonderful" season to be a God-follower. I think that because in the midst of all of this, God has been showing His great love and care for us by interrupting our lives and admonishing us to wake up, grow up, man up and walk this thing out like never before,... like lives actually depended on it.

The thing is, gang: They do.

Having A Problem With Authority

Recently I've been given the opportunity to submit to some new 'authorities' in my life. The purpose of my taking on a second job at nights was to earn money and pay off the immigration and adoption lawyers we must retain in order to finish our adoption of Maria and Merci. However, little did I know that God would use this opportunity to remind me of the importance of submitting to God delegated authorities in my life.

I've never thought of myself as 'rebellious', but after a prolonged season of being 'in-charge', and now being the 'low-man-on-the-totem-pole' at a secular work environment, I've been experiencing some interesting thoughts and attitudes. Some of which I'm none too proud of. Romans 13:1-2 talks about authority being ordained of God and about how whoever resists authority is actually resisting God. That's definitely NOT something that I'm interested in doing, so it's time to do some self-assessing.

Colossians 3:22-23 (New Living Translation)
"Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people."

I believe that God establishes all authority in chains of command under Him. On this earth, from world governments to church governments, obedience to higher authority is ordained by God. Heaven seems to be run under a principle of authority: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, then I suppose the archangels, and then the rest of the angels (called cherubs and seraphims), who are submitted to authority over them.

What am I talking about? Well, if Michael the archangel tells an angel to go take care of a situation on earth, that angel doesn't say, "I don't think so. I only take orders from Gabriel." He would never do that, because he probably remembers very clearly what went down the last time a group of angels acted that way.

All offices of authority are set up by God, and the authority rests on the office, not the man. We are to submit ourselves to the office, whether or not we like the man in the office. If he missuses his office, we can pray for him to change or pray him out of it.

Having a 'boss' again has reminded me that in order to properly submit to authority, I must have a clear understanding that the authority rests in the office, not the man. For example, if a president is voted out of office in this country, he no longer has authority in what goes on. A former president cannot just drive up to the White House and walk into the Oval Office without going through the exact same security protocol that I'd have to go through. Why? Because he no longer is in authority.

In the Old Testament (Numbers 20:8-29) we see Moses and Aaron both in rebellion against what God had commanded. Moses angrily struck the rock instead of speaking to it, and Aaron stood with him in this rebellion. Well, as you probably know, Moses never got to go into the Land of Promise. What you may not remember is that God also told Moses to bring Aaron and his son, Eleazar, to Mount Hor. There, Moses was instructed by God to take the high priest's robe off of Aaron and place it on Eleazar. When that happened, Aaron kicked the bucket. Pretty crazy, huh? However, this shows us what happens when we misrepresent God before people. The authority on the high priest's office remained, but it was now on Eleazar.

When we submit to people and to authority, we submit to the office. The only right we have not to submit to authority is when that authority directly violates the Word of God. When we are asked to do something that is in direct violation of the Word, then we don't submit, because we have a HIGHER authority.

But let's be real honest,... that ain't usually the case, especially in the Church. Rebellion usually starts when we have to submit to the rules of the church nursery. That's where it begins. Then it goes into the requirements of becoming members, and when you finally get through with that, you are faced with what it takes to be on the worship team, or lead a small group, or be a part of some other ministry.

Outside of the church, in our secular jobs, rebellion can play a major role too. Wherever we work, unless we're the boss, we'll be faced with the kinds of authority that says, "That is the way we do it around here." It doesn't seem to matter whether you agree with the way things are done or not, you must submit if you know God wants you at that place of employment.

If we get mad and begin to speak against the boss or the other leaders at our work places, much like if we were to get mad and speak against the pastor and leaders of our churches, then we are in rebellion. We aren't coming against the people in those offices; we're coming against God. What if, when we had a real problem with something, we took the time and effort to go and talk with the leadership in an attitude of love and let them explain why they operate the way they do? What if we were to stop complaining and start praying? What if we simply made sure that we were on time and did a good job?

Remember that centurion who told Jesus to just "speak the word" and his servant would be healed? He understood authority. The centurion was a man in authority. He also was a man under authority. Jesus said He had not found anyone in Israel with this kind of faith. Why did that Roman centurion have such faith? He understood authority. (Matthew 8:9) He could tell that demons and disease were submitted to the authority of Jesus.

So, what's my point? Authority is here to stay. We will never graduate from being under authority. Even when we get to heaven, we'll still submit to authority. I think I'm finding that all those that have been given positions of spiritual authority - those who've advanced the Kingdom of God in radical ways - are always those who know how to submit and flow with God-given authority. God will never exalt us into a greater place of authority until we learn how to submit to the authority He's already put us under.

So,... may you and I learn to be those that willfully, joyfully, and non-rebelliously submit to ALL those that have been placed in our lives as authorities.