personal

As if my summer wasn’t already packed enough… I’m heading out today to do a camp. I’m the main speaker for a youth camp that lasts all this week. Does over committed lead to being committed? We’ll see.

I’ll be gone, but my blog will live on…

Do you know what continuity is? It’s defined as: something connecting to the whole or as I like to say it, “seeing God’s thumb print on your life.” I firmly believe that God speaks through his word, but also through situations in your life. There’s been some interesting thumb printing I’ve been hearing today. It involves courage and stepping forward boldly. Here’s what I’ve heard or read today:

“We spend too much time being careful and waiting. Are we being courageous?”- Mark Evans, president of Youth Dynamics (spoken during a meeting today)

“That was a bold move. It has some risky aspects to it, but it was a time when we made bold moves.” – from the documentary preview of In the Shadows of the Moon

“The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for the could see that they were ordinary men who had no special training. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” – Acts 4:13 NLT

So how’s God speaking to you in your life? Where do you see the continuity? I journaled last week about me dealing with fear. It seems that God has an answer for me…

President Lincoln once turned down a job applicant citing his reason, “I don’t like his face.” One of his Cabinet members expressed surprise and let the President know that he didn’t think the reason given was a sound one. But Lincoln wouldn’t bend, saying, “Every man over forty is responsible for his face.” Pat Morley “Man in the Mirror“

A man’s face reveals or betrays what kind of life he has lived.

Often we live by intention. Very few of us seek to live life with evil intentions. We try with good intentions to be good people, but you know what they say, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” We may not mean them, but if the result of your actions lead to evil, your intentions don’t really matter.

Step outside of the people we want to be, and try to see who we really are. We’ve tried to get our kids to understand that “what I do says who I am.” And to take it a step further, what I do says who I am and who I am is written on my face.

Here’s my challenge to you:

1. Ask the Lord to reveal to you what you need to see. Step forward with expectation.
2. Take two minutes in front of the mirror to examine the life that has been written upon your face. What do people see? What has caused those lines and wrinkles? To people see joy, anger, fatigue, depression…
3. Then [if you're brave enough] post it.

To get to where we want to be (or who we want to be) we must first begin with where we are at. To every great journey, there is a starting point. So let’s start with ourselves and see where God can take us.

So here I go: I see apprehension, uncertainity, along with a tired weariness. That tells me I’m trying to to too much on my own. I’m not relying upon God enough and living like everything depends on me. Not enough faith, and not enough trust.

I thought about commenting on the recent killing of students on the VA Tech campus, but I’ve read so many great posts on the topic – I didn’t feel I had anything poignant to add that hadn’t already been done better.  Here are the best I’ve read (great and different perspectives):

Angry and Shallow (keeping perspective)

Who Mourns the Killer’s Family (something we don’t think of)

Why? (gun control in America)

Stupid Fundamentalist  (how idiot Christians respond)

The Games Boys Play (the rush to demonize boy’s waring ways)

Va Tech and Youth (how to process this with kids)

Ed Asner (Mary Tyler Moore Show) – “You little b*stard”

Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)- “Ha ha you’ve got b*lls kid”

Slash (Guns N Roses) – “Hey Man, [BUURP!] what’s up!?!”

Tim Roth (Pulp Fiction) - “You know Steven, I really like you”

Sharon Gless (Cagney & Lacey) “Move it, I want the lobster.”

Jay Leno (The Tonght Show) – “Security!”

If you know me at all, most of these responses shouldn’t surprise you. If you want to hear the story that accompanies it, I’ll divulge.

Any run-ins with famous people you’ve had?

This is a great video piece that cuts together concert footage, Bill Hybels Leadership Summit interview, and Bono’s prayer from the national prayer breakfast.

I’ve always been a fan of Bono and the boys. I own all their albums and I actually liked Pop (I know it’s hard to believe).  What I haven’t liked is the U2 Eucharists many churches have put on where they use U2 music to worship (and attract people) – but, hey, that’s not U2’s fault.

I know many people like to poke holes in Bono’s beliefs, politics, and occasional salty language, but man he’s out there trying to change the world. And he’s’ trying to change the world wearing his Christianity showing on the outside.  How many of us can say we’d done that? How many of us as Christians would rather scrutinize those doing instead of doing it ourselves. That is one of the great sins of Christianity.

[Video link compliments of the coolest preterist with glasses from Ohio that I know - Virgil]