Discipleship – Love, Trust, Christ-likeness

Many Christians consider discipleship to be only something the disciples of Jesus went through to become apostles. Others consider discipleship to be something only pastors have to go through. Before we look at what discipleship is, let’s look at what discipleship is not.

Discipleship is not another program.

Discipleship is not simply a workbook to complete.

Discipleship is not about ego or title.

Discipleship is not about boosting membership numbers.

If any of those areas become the focal point of discipleship then the point of true discipleship has been misplaced. I don’t presume to have all of the answers here, but we cannot simply treat this important element of the Christian faith lightly or as just another component to what we’re already doing. I cannot stress it enough but Discipleship in your church is NOT just another program or a stat line in a monthly report! Discipleship is and should be the life blood of spiritual maturation and biblical/doctrinal understanding. It’s not catechism, or indoctrination, please don’t misunderstand what is being said here, Discipleship is mentoring others in the very foot prints of Christ.

I remember my youngest son, Ethan, watching me in the bathroom one morning as I shaved in front of the mirror. Earlier in the year he had received a toy shaving kit which included a plastic faux razor. As I made my shaving stroke up my neck, I glanced over and Ethan was copying me. I shaved my chin and again Ethan mimicked my motion with his little plastic razor. Every movement I made while shaving, he copied me and we both laughed but I will never forget my son wanting to shave just like his daddy.

In a very real sense we too are to copy the movements and emulate the behavior of Christ, who is our heavenly example of godly living here on earth. Holiness is the primary purpose, but discipleship is the conduit by which holiness happens practically. How did the Jesus’ disciples learn and grow in their faith? They did so by watching the actions and teachings of Christ while learning at His feet. When Jesus called his first disciples he said, “Come follow me!” And the Bible says they left their nets and followed him (Mark 1:17). His command was the command of a Rabbi, a teacher who said to these men you can be like me, you will be my disciples.

How does that match up with how the present day Church is leading people into forms of mentoring and discipleship? Perhaps there are some wonderful examples of mentoring and discipling going on out there but by and large many churches fall short in this aspect of ministry. Where does a new Christian go after becoming saved? Do they just get put into a Sunday school or to warm a pew for the next twenty years or more? When people get up from the alter and profess Christ in their lives and want to learn and live it we as more mature Christians ought to come alongside them and help cultivate a healthy long term relationship with Christ. We as elders of churches ought to become their example of godly living so that they too will emulate and reflect Christ in their lives.

Discipleship is also about trust. Have you ever been thrust into a mentoring program and been told this is your mentor? Don’t get me wrong, some wonderful stories and testimonies might come from these times, but by and large discipleship cannot be forced upon people who are unwilling. Also discipleship is a two way street. Without a developed comradely, understanding and relational side, the mentor to the mentee relationship is just an obligation and not a longing. When we look at scriptures we find disciples of Jesus loving him, wanting to be like him. Sure they made lots of mistakes…LOTS of mistakes! But there was trust within that relationship, a relationship that changed lives not mandated and dictated terms of submission. True discipleship requires time, love, patience and trust. Without an invested caring, reciprocated relationship, discipleship can and will only go so far. Because if the truth is spoken in love, and yet love isn’t present, why should the one being discipled comply and change?

How have you been discipled? Was it just some program you had to attend? Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with programs, but discipleship and discipleship training is not JUST a program! The disciples of Jesus spent many many hours with their discipler, with their Rabbi. They ate together, they laughed together, there was fellowship, there was trust and genuine love sparked change…not edicts or mandates, but love. Who do you want to emulate today? Who can you ask to come along side you so that you can become more and more like Christ? We cannot do this Christian thing alone, we need help, we need mentors in our lives!

A song that says it all for me is “To be like Jesus” . The lyrics speak for themselves:

“To be like Jesus!

This hope possesses me,

in every though and deed,

this is my aim, my creed;

To be like Jesus!

This hope possesses me,

His Spirit helping me, Like Him I’ll be”

Our goal, our mission : To be like Jesus

Our objective: To find Christian Elders who can challenge us, whom we can trust, and who will hold us accountable in love.

March 7, 2013 9

Question: “Why Did God come to Earth?”

“It is only because he became like us that we can become like him.”

-Dietrich Bonehoffer

Jesus came to earth. That impact alone has been felt through time, like a ripple in an ocean that eventually became a tidal wave. God came to us! This one statement should touch us in a way that no other statement on earth can compare itself to. The Creator of this planet, and everything else for that matter, descended to our level…descended to become one of His creations. Why? Why would He do this? What would the motivation be for Almighty God taking on human form? Was He bored? Was there nothing else to do? Obviously there must be a reason.

The Reason:

John 3:16 tells us plainly the reason for God coming to us as a man. “God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life!” God loved us! Not just the world that He created, but the men and women that He created in His own image…you and me! God came to our level so that we might be saved.

Wait.

Saved from what? Was there some sort of cosmic invasion? Were there still dinosaurs out there that needed vanquishing and we needed protecting? No! So what were we saved from?

The answer is that we were saved from ourselves. Huh? What does that mean? Romans chapter three puts it plainly for us: “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” –Romans 3:22-24 (NIV)

Everyone on this rock that we call Earth has sinned. Everyone. Romans 3:23 says “all have sinned.” Back up a few verses and it also says, “There is no one righteous, not even one…” Romans 3:10 (NIV) Since Adam and Eve broke God’s heart in the garden of Eden and committed the first sin, everyone who has ever lived carries this ‘sin gene’ within themselves. There is no one on Earth that is good enough, holy enough or perfect enough to merit meeting the expectations of “righteous”. So this is why God had to take on human form and save us. He came to save us from ourselves. To save us from our own punishment that is certain death without his redemption and sacrifice on our behalf. God knew we needed a redeemer and so He provided a way for us to be saved. Why do this for us? Because He loves us that much! He loves us more than we could ever comprehend or understand. He loves us even before we reach out and reciprocate (or try to reciprocate) that love. Then and only then can we truly understand what Jesus was saying when He said, “The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.” –John 10:10 (ASV)

Do you need some assurance today that you’re loved? Do you realize just how important you are to God himself? He extends His arms of love to us today and still says to us “I have come that you might have life, and have it abundantly!” Our Father in heaven invites you to experience real life today. If you need help learning more about this great love He has for you, begin by reading the gospel of John…read the gospels and especially read the very words of Jesus. Don’t miss out on the abundant life that God has for you! Don’t miss out on His love. Begin today…I dare you!

March 4, 2013 1

The Perils of Propagating Apathy

Apathy:

lack of enthusiasm or energy: lack of interest in anything, or the absence of any wish to do anything

emotional emptiness: inability to feel normal or passionate human feelings or to respond emotionally

There’s a real danger in our world today. It’s not death…well not initially…it could be linked like some shoe string cousin. It’s not any kind of phobia. It’s apathy. I’ve talked about this danger before but sometimes it needs to be belted out through a bull horn before we wake up to its dangerous venom. Unlike hate or violence or any other kind of life threatening plague on humanity, Apathy can inflict the worst kind of sickness on the spirit on mankind.

There have been countless stories of real life examples of this disease. A woman in the state of California was mugged in broad day light and no one would come to her rescue…she fought with her attacker as he tried to swipe her purse In Broad Day Light! The only person that did come to her rescue was a homeless man who happened to be nearby. Everyone was far too busy to even care about her life threatening situation.

It’s hard to imagine people witnessing something of a violent nature and not doing something about it. Perhaps there was an element of fear or self-preservation, but to do nothing when one has the opportunity to do something…mind boggling. You might content that I wasn’t there so I couldn’t judge the merits of the would be witnesses…true and yet this is just a small example of this plight of apathy in our world today.

As Christians images of the parable of the Good Samaritan come to mind. Read it now from the Message version:

Luke 10:30-38 (MSG)
³⁰Jesus answered by telling a story. “There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. ³¹Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. ³²Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man. ³³“A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. ³⁴He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. ³⁵In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’
³⁶“What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?”
³⁷“The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”

Did you catch the last thing Jesus said to the teachers of the law in this passage? “Go and do the same.” Go and do the same as what? The same as the Priest? The same as the Levite? NO! The same as the Good Samaritan. It’s funny that the one person that the Jews would have avoided in their lives came to the rescue of this man. The person with the least to offer gave what he could to the hurt and possibly dying man. That doesn’t sound like an apathetic person to me. This parable captures an attitude that we too should adopt in our lives.

Do you care enough?

Can we say that we would have done the same in our lives? Are we people who care about more than just ourselves? Are we willing to risk something not for ourselves but for someone else? For a complete stranger?

You do for me! (Jesus)

Matthew 25:34-40 (MSG)
³⁴“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation.
³⁵And here’s why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, ³⁶I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.’ ³⁷“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? ³⁸And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’
^{39 40}Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

Do care enough? Do you care at all for others or those around you? Apathy is a deadly disease of the spirit, and if we let it loose in our lives we run the risk of not only missing out on blessings but much more. We could lose our very souls. That is a very, very scary proposition to think on!

Get on with it!

In a very real aspect, we can rid ourselves of this plague of Apathy by getting on with it! What I mean is that we ought to stop talking about loving others or helping others by actually doing something about it! Take action! Roll your sleeves up and get to work!

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless–it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.” -C.S. Lewis

February 26, 2013 0

The Arrow Beyond Us!

In the early hours of the evening, just as the shadows begins to touch the edges of the palace and the waning light of the sun slips quietly beyond the horizon, Jonathan arrives to the feast. This is the second day of the feast of new moons, Jonathan is apprehensive; his sworn oath to his best friend David still fresh in his mind replays itself over and over again. This task, this allegiance is not going to be easy. Jonathan is stuck in the middle, and yet he is motivated by an intense devotion to his friend, and there is a fire in his heart of certainty that David’s safety is in grave danger. King Saul, Jonathan’s father is extremely jealous of David and his popularity; for David is a true battle hero to the people. Songs are sung about him and children are being tucked in at night with tales of David’s war victories told with great exaggeration and embellishments. King Saul does not hide his distain and jealousy well, for his years in power has tainted his moral compass and his reasoning has become self-indulged and consumed by paranoia and hatred. Still, Jonathan hopes that his presence there with his father is enough to stave off any notion of murdering his best friend David. In a very real sense Jonathan’s seat at the feast tonight is a veiled attempted to gauge just how far his father will go to rid himself of David and his perceived threat to the throne. Jonathan is an optimist at heart and he hopes to hear and see any evidence of King Saul’s humanity and compassion. So he enters the feast as he did the night before and reclines himself down into his ornate arm chair of honor before dignitaries, war leaders, and his father who is nursing a large chalice of deep burgundy wine. King Saul appears troubled; then again he always appears troubled these days. But as he glances up from his cup and realizes David has once again not accompanied Jonathan to the festivities, his troubled brow that he has worn regularly like a uniform on a soldier becomes a deep ravine of creases like a tide rolling with anger and hatred.

“Why isn’t Jessie’s son here at the feast?” the king asks spitting out the words as if he’s just bitten into something foul tasting or poisonous. Jonathan notices that his father can’t even bring himself to say David’s name. King Saul’s question is more of an accusation directed at Jonathan than anything else; there isn’t even a hint of concern or compassion in the accusation either. Jonathan looks over to his father and this sudden exchange quiets the regular chatter and festive atmosphere as all of the party guests sense danger in the air and they turn their attention cautiously to their king like an animal in the cross hairs of a predator. Saul looks directly at Jonathan for some sort of explanation. Jonathan, thinking quickly, recounts the phony explanation that he has rehearsed in his mind over and over again to the king. “David asked me permission to attend a sacrifice with his family in Bethlehem, his oldest brother, first born of Jessie ordered him to be there.” The excuse held some customary merit, a son honoring his family’s wishes, spending time together over this cultural holiday and harvest festival of sorts.

But Jonathan waits; he knows his father’s temper all too well. He waits for the explosion of anger, recalling other fits of rage that he has endured. The king’s other advisors, seated at the table, also hold their collective breaths while shifting their eyes in this moment of great agitation and dread as this intense silence blankets the room like a shroud on a death bed. Then it comes like a storm, the fit of rage arrives exploding like a kettle under pressure in a fire too hot, king Saul stands, red faced and convulsing in fury, beard dripping with wine as he bellows, “Jonathan you son of a bitch, I know you have helped that son of Jessie escape and you have brought dishonor on yourself and the mother who brought you into this world!”

The venom that the king has just unleashed to his very own flesh and blood reverberates off of the stone walls of the feast hall like a sentence of death to an innocent man. An uncomfortable silence replaces the outburst as the festival guests and dignitaries consider making an exit from this hall but knowing the king’s reputation are mortified to even move a muscle. The conversation isn’t over yet, as Jonathan, loyal as ever, stands up to his indignant father, “Why should David be here, you plan to kill him, what has he ever done to you?” Saul reaches for a nearby weapon in response to what can only be considered an accusation and insult to his station and stature as king of Israel. With spear in hand and murder in his heart, Saul takes aim at his very own son heaving this deadly weapon of war at Jonathan. If there was ever an indication that David’s life was forfeit before this king it is now evident to all.

Jonathan is stunned and stricken as the spear narrowly misses him, and with sadness he storms out of the festival hall certain that he will never trust his father again. There is a deep wrenching within the pit of his stomach and he knows now that he must warn David to flee.

Early the next morning, after a sleepless night of tears mixed with pensive resentment towards his now estranged father, Jonathan gathers his bow and an assortment of arrows and makes his way to the hiding place of his best friend. He has a servant boy with him and the plan is simple yet covert, no one else will know. With emotions brimming over and exhaustion nipping at his heels, Jonathan draws back the string on his bow, exhales and lets fly his arrow of warning. It sails overhead catching a small updraft on the breeze and hits the dark earth far off into the distance. As he does so he instructs his servant boy to run and retrieve it. While the boy runs to fetch the fallen arrow, Jonathan, with a lump in his throat calls out in a shaky and mournful voice; “Isn’t the arrow beyond you? Hurry quickly, don’t stop!” To any passerby or would be spy of the king this passing comment would solely be instructions to servant boy, yet he has just told the future king Israel to run for his life. Can you imagine such love and devotion? In a single command, Jonathan has warned David, knowing one day his family may be replaced in power and glory within this kingdom. This was not an easy feat but a gallant hope; Jonathan chooses the most honorable path. And minutes after the boy servant departs, Jonathan meets his best friend. They embrace one last time; they weep and with hearts heavy with these burdens thrust upon them forever vow loyalty and honor.

This would be the last time Jonathan and David would meet each other, but their bond of love, companionship, and loyalty displays for us integrity, strength of character and the kinds of priceless qualities that are rare in our world today. How far would you go to stand up for what is right? For what is just? For what is best? This tale of honor and loyalty should cause us to examine our own relationships and what truly matters in this world no matter the threat or pressure and peril we might find ourselves squaring off against. Mahatma Gandhi once said; “be the change that you want to see in the world!” I believe that to be true for all of us. Jonathan selflessly sacrificed everything for his friend, his crown, his safety and his fortune, because of this he changed the world around him. What are we doing to change the world around us? The arrow is beyond us, so stand up, be bold and change the world!

February 15, 2013 0

Comfort, Peace Crammed into a Crazy Busy Schedule

Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Do you sometimes feel weak, disappointed, alone, uneasy? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. According to some research on the topic of anxiety, some 40 million adults over the age of 18 struggle with anxiety and anxiety disorders in the U.S. alone. That’s a lot of people feeling depressed, anxious and afraid. If anxiety reigns in our lives, it has been proven that anxiety can lead to other sicknesses and diseases because the body and its immunity has been compromised from the outside in.

This simple verse from Isaiah says something to you and me that we should prescribe to our bodies, souls and minds like medicine to an ailment. Our Father in Heaven wants us to lean on Him for strength, support and assurance. In this verse alone there are 5 assurances for us from God himself:

1) I (God) am with you!

2) I am your God!

3) I will strengthen you!

4) I will help you!

5) I will uphold you with my righteous right hand

What I have found in my life is that every promise God gives to his people – He keeps it!

He loves us that much, and He does not want us to fail, despair, or doubt Him!

Are you at the end of your rope today? Are you lacking confidence, assurance, hope? God comes to us and says; “I am with you don’t be afraid!” Lean on Him, know that He is there for you through thick and thin…but faith is a two way street…you have to place it in His hands.

So go ahead, find comfort and peace in your crammed, crazy busy schedule today, by realizing this verse in your life…I dare you!

January 24, 2013 4

John 3:16 (More than a Church thang, it’s a love thang!)

John 3:16…

“For God so loved that world that He gave His only son, so that whosoever believes in Him, will not perish, but have everlasting life”

we needed saving, we’re hopelessly lost, our life is literally going to hell in a hand-basket and what does this passage of scripture tell us? God loved us. It’s like giving your watch to a bank robber…it doesn’t seem to make sense. We don’t deserve such grace, and yet grace is just what we get with God.

God gave us His one and only son…so we wouldn’t have to die eternally…so that we could once again have a relationship with our Creator. This Son of God’s, was perfect, without sin, and He sacrifices his life for ours…so that his blood now covers our ocean of sin.

I’m not sure about you, but when I read this passage of scripture I don’t just think, “yeah I’ve heard that passage many times in church and Sunday school”; but I now think “Wow…I don’t deserve it…and yet it’s there for me!”

Christmas just came and went. and during that holiday season – kids will be kids and ask for so many things that it drives parents crazy, yet we know that we love them and we desire to give them what they need not what they want.

In God’s case, however, he gave us what we need and what we will want for all time. To be loved. The next time that you feel unloved…think again. You may not have your friends or family around you at that moment, it may hurt, the circumstances around you may not be great, but YOU ARE LOVED!

I want to challenge you to cry out to God in your times of need and in your times of plenty. Know that you have been thought of from the beginning of time and God wants a relationship with you!

January 23, 2013 0

At Bed Time…

After I have collected

Mortal fingers and toes

Wrapped in cotton

Bathed, smoothed down

Deeply breathing

Faint wisps of

day time energies

and ever so slightly

nestled in these

undeserving arms

growing older that I

should recognize as mine.

They both look like me,

of that there is no

perjured witness.

Pointed nose that,

Lacking arch and rounded

Bulbous, points its

Finger at me.

Flaxen colored haired

Waves to me as I carry

Them up the creaking stairs.

Treasures come in all shapes

And sizes,

Some planned,

Others surprises

Valuable determined

By how much pain

Joy, buckets full of laughter

Handfuls of tears…

These are my treasures

Enfolded in aging arms…

Blessed.

January 9, 2013 0

Les Miserables: A story of intervention, redemption and hope.

Their hands and feet are in chains. The scenery begins with the misery of deplorable labor camp conditions; and if a prisoner dies, another takes their place. Life is expendable and short lived in this hell on earth. Their words echo and resound in our hearts: “Look down, look down don’t look ’em in the eye. Look down, look down, you’re here until you die…The sun is strong It’s hot as hell below, Look down, look down, there’s twenty years to go. I’ve done no wrong! Sweet Jesus, hear my prayer! Look down look down, Sweet Jesus doesn’t care.”

Spoiler Alert…

This is the opening scene of Les Miserables, a book by Victor Hugo, transformed into a world renown musical and now a soon to be academy award winning movie. The content of this story pulls at our heart strings, makes us weep at the human condition and lament the loss of love, life and hope. But within the narration of this classical tale dwells a redemptive element that is personified in the character of Jean Valjean. At the beginning of this tale, Valjean is a prisoner because he broke into a bakery and stole a loaf of bread for his sister’s children who are starving. He is convicted and sent to work in this labor camp prison and now identified by the law as prisoner 24601, his life is a perpetual hell…until he is paroled. The story picks up following his release and his trouble only continues because of his identity as a convicted felon with his yellow identification card – indicating his post prison status. He is taken in by a Bishop only to give into temptation and steals some valuable silverware, but Valjean is caught and brought back to the bishop. At this point a first time reader might assume Valjean is doomed by his guilt, but the Bishop does something remarkable, he tells the police that he gave Jean Valjean the valuable silverware. Following the departure of the police, the Bishop tells Valjean to take the valuable treasure of silverware and use it for good. Jean Valjean is amazed, conflicted and broken by this gift of generosity and forgiveness. He vows to use this gift for good and within this amazing story He keeps his promise by redeeming and saving others.

This is more than just a story of hope and salvation in humanity; this is our own redemptive story of grace and reconciliation given to us by God through His Son Jesus Christ. We can identify with the character of Jean Valjean in many ways. We too have been a prisoner, our prison is sin, condemned to live a life of hell without the hope of true salvation. Living in our fallen world, we have all seen the evidence of the hopeless condition in humanity by just watching the news and witnessing horrific acts of violence, selfishness, greed, envy and so much more. Conditions in parts of our world are deplorable and it even infects the very communities in which we live…there is no place on earth that we can escape these effects of sin. Many, even those who have resources and are affluent, feel the weight and burden of such hopelessness. Henry David Thoreau once said; “rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.” The truth is this: we are hopelessly shackled to this life of depravity and sin without an external intervention breaking through and saving us. The character of Jean Valjean is you and me. What would have happened if that Bishop had not intervened? He was the very hand of God in Valjean’s life. We too need an external intervention. Jesus was that intervention for you and for me. When He came to this world He took upon Himself our sin and our shame…He took our place…that execution on the cross – should have been ours. Can you feel the shackles breaking yet? We have been given hope, a release from our death sentence; we’ve been taken in, cleaned up and restored in right relationship with God himself…because of Jesus’ intervention. So what do we do with this grace, this forgiveness? I think Victor Hugo had it right in Les Miserables! His character Valjean doesn’t disappear never to be heard of again, instead he extends that hand of God, grace, hope and love in his intervention to others. That is the essence of Redemption! First it comes to us from an external intervention, and then we in turn extend that intervention to other…we become the very hands and feet of God. Mark 16:15 says; “He (Jesus) said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” We become God’s intervention to the world…we don’t become God, but rather we are used by God to spread this good news!

So how about it, is it time of an intervention in our world? Do you want to be a part of God’s redemptive plan in your life as well as the lives of others? It begins with accepting this gift of redemption and grace that Christ gives to us all, then from there be a part of spreading that good news of His redemptive love to those around you! This tale of Valjean is you and me…and we have been redeemed for a purpose…so do something about it!

January 7, 2013 2

Uniquely Created, One of a Kind!

I remember thousands of twinkling Christmas lights setting fire to the room with its ambient glows of reds, greens, and oranges. For every Christmas light, tinsel was draped precariously in every nook and cranny in the small room. Where ever the tinsel fell is where light spill out in all directions as the semi metallic coating reflected Christmas in every corner and in every crack in the wall as well.

This is my first real, tangible memory of Christmas. It was on the Island of St. Helena, I know there was Christmas’ before this one, but at four years old who can remember the years leading up to my first memory? Father Christmas had not arrived yet on that volcanic rock of an Island. The weather was most definitely not frightful outside either; I guess living near the equator does have its drawbacks if one is expecting a white Christmas. I don’t remember whose house I was in, or why I was there, but the gaudy tinsel and the Christmas lights are forever etched in my mind, like a chiseled marble statue of a Greek god in Greece, this memory is the quintessential celebration of the Christ-mas on the island of St. Helena for me. To this day there is that warm feeling I get when I draw back the now older and dusty curtains of my mind and think of that time long ago…in a faraway place. It is this fond thought there in my childhood, that I, with child-like eyes, drew joy, love and peace in but a moment in time. That memory is still something that I cling to even now as an adult when other memories are not as resplendent or warm and fuzzy.

Isn’t it funny how specific moments in time are captured so vividly in the recesses of our mind, and if we think on them from time to time it is like watching a re-run of your favorite movie. I would never want to trade such memories for anything in the world! These memories are unique to me, to who I am as a person and who I was then as a child. No one else shares these specific memories with me; and my perspective as a four year old in a big world would also make each captured still frame in my mind one of a kind in this world.

Isn’t it interesting to think that each of us carries these types of memories that are one of a kind, and are specifically unique to our brain’s hard drive? For example, no one else in this world shares your memories and perspectives of the first time you actually rode a bike. Perhaps you had a parent there keeping you balanced, but even their memory of that occasion varies from your account. Perhaps it wouldn’t vary all that much, but your parent wasn’t seated on the bicycle they were next to you as you pushed and pumped those foot pedals in order to obtain one of your first moments of childhood liberation. Our memories, our recollections make each and every one of us unique and different from the next. Just as our fingerprints are never duplicated; so too our memories are our own to keep and to treasure.

The same can be said for our conversion experiences as well. All of our salvation stories are unique and one of a kind. God speaks to each of us in our own unique and special ways. No two conversion stories will ever be the same, because God has crafted us from different canvases. We all share His image in some way shape or form because we have been made in His image. Let’s take that thought a step further however, if we are all made in the image of God and each of us are cut from different canvases then we can begin to grasp just a fragment of the scope and scale in which this creator God has created us and the world around us, but also bits and pieces of His character as well. Because if we are created in His image, and no two people in this world are alike (minus identical twins) then we are to understand our Creator is unique, vast in identity and mighty in His creations. My memories are mine, shared only in snap shots that I can describe and with my God who sees all and lives these experiences with me. Sometimes we feel alone, sometimes we wonder if anyone will ever understand what we’ve been through or who we truly are…God knows you, and God understands you!

You are unique and special to Him! You are one of a kind in this universe; it is by design that you are created so. You also look like the Creator, perhaps sin has marred that image, but you are His! Take a moment today and consider this thought today! Accept it, embrace it, and then live it.

December 18, 2012 0

Don’t be the box of chocolates and roses kinda guy!

Hey guys, do you want to do something different this year than the same o’ thing? Are you predictable, do you do the same thing year in and year out? No this is the the start to some cheesey info-mercial, but it’s a reminder that valentines day shouldn’t be the only time you express your love for your significant other! Infact, I know some of you out there don’t like valentine’s day…it does seem to be a Hallmark created holiday doesn’t it? Just another marketing ploy by companies to make a buck…well putting the cynicism aside how about we look at it as another day to display love to the one you love! We don’t need to buy stuff to do that! How about write a poem, clean the house, take the kids for some much needed alone time by your spouse? There are countless ways to say “I love you” other than the same o’ thing. Let your attitude and actions say what words and chocolates can’t do. -Just a thought!

February 14, 2011 0

Tag: love