Missing Car Keys

Have you ever lost something so important that you frantically look everywhere in your house to find it? Like your car keys, or your cell phone, or a remote control? You start looking everywhere, tearing the house apart. You look in the most unlikely places. You look in the garbage can for your car keys. The fridge for the cell phone. In the sock drawer for your remote control. More often than not you find what you are looking for in obvious places. After you find it, you feel ridiculous in that it wasn't the first place you looked. "Hey, my car keys were right in my coat pocket!" Sometimes what you're looking for is right out in the open, and you've passed by it multiple times and didn't see it. "Hey the remote control is right on top of the TV!" or "The cell phone was right on the footstool in the middle of the living room all along!"

People often ask me why I believe in a God that I cannot see. Well, the truth is I do not believe in a God I cannot see, I can in fact see God. No, I don't see a face peering out of the sky reminding me of commandments. I see God in some of the most obvious places that are often overlooked. I even see God in the darkest times of my life.

Two of the worst days of my life were January 27th and 28th of 2004, the day that my brother got into a car accident and the day my father had to make the hardest decision of his life. At about 5:00 or so on the 28th, my dad, along with my mother and myself finally accepted that my 17 year old brother would never make it from his massive head injury and his coma, and we decided that it was time to take him off life support. We said our goodbyes, and shortly after the doctor informed us that my brother had died.

The next few weeks were nothing short of a miracle. After my brother died, we went home, with members of our extended families of both sides. People came together from not only my families church, but the church that Heather and I attended at the time as well. My brother and I both worked at two different stores but for the same grocery chain, and both stores gave food, soda, and deli plates for his visitation and funeral. Family that I haven't seen in years, and some that I haven't seen since, came and stayed for weeks to help us out. Meals were prepared, I swear we didn't cook for a month. I saw agnostics and atheists see the outpouring that the community of Christ made to our family, and admit the presence of God. In the darkest period of my life, in my family, friends, co-workers, and strangers, I saw God.

The months following Brad's death people constantly asked me, especially at work where they knew both of us, how could I believe in God at a time like this. The fact is that I believed in Him before, and have believed in Him since. If He was there in the darkest time in my life, He will be there in the dark times to come, shedding His light on the situation. He will be there for me in the bad, and is also there in the good.

Do you see God? If not, I encourage you to look. You never know, He may be right in front of you. Like your cell phone that you're missing.

Amen.

More Stuff I Learned From Ethan

A little anecdote: The other night it was time to read Ethan his bedtime stories, and as usual I let him pick. To my delight, he picked one of the Jesus books. If you read my post last week, you would understand my joy. The book he chose basically chronicled the life and death of Jesus. After the book was over, he instinctively said "The End!" to which I replied, "No, not to this story."


I said this first and foremost because the story didn't talk about Jesus coming back, and therefore left out a very important part. Second off, even if it did talk about His resurrection, and even his ascension, the story still would not be over.


People look at the life of Jesus as a typical story, with a beginning, middle, and an end. The beginning being Christmas, the middle being His life, and the end being Easter. If Easter truly was the end of Jesus, that would be kinda bad.


People that have read previous posts would say that this is another post about anticipating the second coming of Christ. And in some ways it is. In fact, a lot of my life is spent thinking about the future. Things like: When will I start seminary? How old will I be when I graduate? How long after graduation will I be ordained to the priesthood? What will I do about dinner tonight? You know, the important stuff. The fact is that it will be over two years before I start seminary, but a lot of focus has been on that lately.


I'm sure that other people are in similar positions, but the goal is different. Things like: When will I retire? When will I get that next raise or promotion? When will I be able to move into a bigger house? Or get a bigger car? What will I do about dinner tonight? Let's face it, that last one is universal.


Let's apply this attitude to driving. If you plan on driving from New York to Los Angeles, and you have this destination focus, you will only have Los Angeles in your mind, and your focus will be entirely on getting there. The truth of the matter is if you have this attitude about driving, you may end up on the side of the road because you were too focused on getting there that you forgot stop and get gas. You may get into a wreck because you were too busy looking toward Los Angeles you didn't notice the eighteen-wheeler in front of you.


Some emphasis has been given to the second coming of Christ in some of my past posts. This is an important thing to look for, just as all the examples mentioned earlier are also important. But it is a journey to get there. Sometimes you are right where you are because that is where God wants you to be. I'll use me as an example. I am so focused on being a priest, that I keep thinking about what ministry will be like as a priest. What kind of church will I be in, where will my church be, etc. But what I fail to realize is that I do not need to be a priest in order to do ministry. I can't be focused on ministering to people that I haven't met yet, that I ignore the needs of the people around me.


I don't know if you think about either the second coming of Christ or about when you meet Him in Heaven upon your death, but it should be something that you need to think about. But you should realize that it is a journey to get there, and if you miss something along the way, it might distract you from your final destination.


Amen.

Bedtime Stories

Every night, I read Ethan two bedtime stories of his choice. He has some classic favorites, like the Cat in the Hat, and The Berenstain Bears. He also has some new favorites, like Llama Llama Misses Mama. The Llama Llama books are among his favorites.


That is why when Christmas came around, we got Llama Llama Holiday Drama for him. I thought that this story would have at least some glimmer of Christmas, but I was wrong. It was just a vague glossing over of the "Holiday Season." Not that I think books like this shouldn't be read or printed, they just aren't to my taste. I was then determined to find a book that would explain Christmas in a way and format that a three-year-old would understand. 


About a day or two later, my stepmother was reading my son a bedtime story at their house. He liked it so much that he wouldn't leave their house without the book. It was at that time that my stepmother decided to part with the book that she started reading to her children years and years ago. He now wants me to read this to me almost every night.


I read him the book a few nights later. The book is called The Poky Little Puppy's First Christmas. I figured that this would be another book glossing over what Christmas was about, but as has happened many times in the past, I was wrong.


In a nutshell, the book is about a little puppy, Poky, that befriends a skunk, Herman. On the way home from making friends with Herman, he comes across a muddy rubber boot that he adores, but his mother wouldn't let him bring it inside because it was dirty. The mother then cleans it up and gives it to Poky as a Christmas gift. Christmas morning, Poky goes out into the woods where Herman lives, only to find that he was cold and wet, because his home was destroyed. Poky takes Herman home, and Poky's mother, surprised that Poky had made friends with a skunk, feels sorry for Herman and lets him sleep in the doghouse outside. Poky decides to sleep outside in the doghouse as well. The next morning, the whole doggy family along with Herman awoke to find Poky missing. Poky was in the woods, with his favorite rubber boot. He gave Herman the boot as something for him to live in.


I read this story a few times and despite whether the author intended it or not, he told not only what Christmas is about, but what the Great Commandments are about as well. When you think of a list of dirty, disgusting animals that no one wants to be around, skunks are most likely towards the top. In a way, skunks would be the "outcasts" of the woods. Many times in the Bible, Jesus talks to those who society at the time rejected. Thieves, lepers, Samaritans, even the 12 Apostles were composed of the least of society. Yet it was for these sinners that Jesus not only came into the world, but died for as well, so that we may live. While Poky didn't pay the ultimate price, he did give his most prized possession, his boot. 


The thing is, if there was a children's book out there that talked about the birth of our Savior, and that he died for our sins, it would be lost on my three-year-old. However, this little golden book tells the story in a way that he understands perfectly. Merry Christmas.


Amen.




P.S.: I'm waiting for you Crazy Hippy!

Like a Child

I have a three year old son named Ethan. Ethan is still at that stage where he loves his parents no matter what. I got home from work the other day, and usually that is about five minutes before Ethan gets off the bus. So I usually go inside for a minute or two, tell my wife I'm home, then go back outside to wait for the bus. I get him off the bus and inside. Usually after he gets inside he tells me "Eat! Eat!" Then I get him a snack. He then says "Milk! Milk!" and I get him his milk. He is still at the age where he depends exclusively on my wife and me. Everything that Ethan has, has come from my wife and me. When he needs something, he asks. Sometimes he knows what he needs, but doesn't know how to ask. Sometimes he doesn't know what he needs at all. But still, I provide. Sometimes he asks for things he doesn't need, and he doesn't get them. Sometimes he misbehaves, and I get upset. But when it comes down to it, he is my son, and I will always be his father.


I am a proud parent, and thus believe my child is smart. The difference between me and most other proud parents is that I believe my son is smarter than me. In fact, Ethan has things figured out, and I am far from that. You see, we are all dependent on our father. That is, our Heavenly Father. He leads us to where we need to go, as I lead Ethan off the bus. When I am in need, I call out to Him, just as Ethan calls out to me when he is in need. Even if I don't know what to say, God knows what is on my heart. Just as I know what Ethan needs even though he can't say what he wants at times. At times we will ask for things that we don't need, like a million dollars, a mansion on a golf course, or what have you. Just as Ethan asks for the things we try in vain to hide from him. Even with all this, we still stray, we still sin against our Father's will for our lives. But keep in mind, we are His children, and He will always be our Father.


The thing is, we need to understand that we are completely dependent on our Father, just as Ethan understands that He is dependent on my wife and me. In fact, Jesus says this very thing in Mark 10:15 says "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." What He is saying is that we need to realize that we are dependent on Him for everything we have, and everything we are. What we really need to understand is what our lives would be like, and where we would be, if our Father had not loved us so much to send us His Son.


Amen.

They Don't Get It!

Do You Hear What I Hear? - Third Day This is the Third Day version of the classic Christmas carol, which I will be referencing later. If you have never heard Third Day's version, please give it a listen, the best version by far, and if you have read previous posts, you know I get picky with my Christmas music.


So rewind a few days ago, and the "Holiday Season" has officially begun. The lights are going up on the houses, the street lights in front of city hall are being decorated with snowflakes, and the decorations are put up in front of the park. Even at work, the store was decorated with lights, snowflakes, and four large inflatable decorations that are meant for outdoors, are inside on the sales floor (not my idea, not my fault, and they scare my three year old son). In addition, the Christmas music was playing on three different radio stations that I know of, possibly more.


My little subdivision every year decides they need to kick it up a notch. I believe wholeheartedly that certain houses in my subdivision are responsible for the bonuses of a few of the executives over at Ameren UE. With all the decorations, the shopping, the lines, and I realize something.


They don't get it! Not only that, but some of them never will. You see, in the context of this little blog post, there are two types of people. Those that get Christmas, and those that don't. The good news is that in our current American society, these two groups of people coexist and have civil conversations with one another. 


I came to this realization a few days ago while going back to work from the gas station to get my daily soda. I really wasn't paying attention to what was on the radio, and asked God what to do. The final verse of Do You Hear What I Hear, (you know, the link earlier in the blog that I said I would reference later, I'm referencing it now) came on the radio. The verse goes like this:


Said the king to the people everywhere
Listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people everywhere
Listen to what I say
The child, the child
Sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light


The last part of this verse is what really hit me. We (the ones that "get it") mingle and talk with those that don't get it! We have the good news about Jesus Christ, and what better segway into the conversation than the fact that it's Christmas for goodness sakes! Readers of my blogs (I think the number is up to three now) may have started noticing a pattern in the topics I write about, specifically about Christians going out and spreading the Gospel of Christ. The reason I keep talking about it is no coincidence I assure you, there are many reasons I keep bringing it up. First off, it is something that I am not the best at doing, and God keeps giving me gentle little reminders. Second, it is something that a great deal of Christians are not doing, and I am giving the 20 or so people that read my blog a week (the real number) a little reminder. We have the message, we have the truth, we have the Gospel, and we know that our hope is in the Lord. It does no good to keep the Good News to ourselves.


Amen

Obligatory Thanksgiving Post?

Well, it's Thanksgiving time again. I should know, I work in a meat market. All the different bloggers across the country will be blogging about what they are thankful for. Most religious bloggers will be blogging about how they only give thanks to the Lord, from whom all blessings flow.

Not me. I'm gonna talk about sin. Most importantly, the standard reactions to sin. From what I've noticed, there are three primary ways that Christians as well as so-called Christians react to sin.

Ostracize: The first way is to treat the person as an alien life-form and either avoid them altogether, or ostracize them. If you use this extreme hate, they will stay away from God, and never hear the true Gospel. In other words, Satan wins.

Total acceptance: This is the opposite of ostracizing. The other method is to tell them that they are fine and what they are doing is not a sin. Using this method, they will continue worshiping something that is not true, and never hear the true Gospel. In other words, Satan wins.

Ignoring the issue: Well, this is exactly as it sounds. This is when someone exhibits sinful behavior, and no one talks, engages, encounters, or even approaches the person. A big problem with ignoring an issue is that the person may know what they are doing is wrong, but feel like no one cares. Sadly, these people often take their own lives, when there are Christians nearby that are fully equipped to help with the situation. When we ignore the issue, then the person will never hear the real Gospel. In other words, Satan wins.

So how do we make Satan not win? The easy answer is to not do these three things, but something in between the first two. It says in 1 Peter 3:15-16: " But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."

The key point here is to treat everyone with gentleness and respect, without endorsing or condoning any sinful behavior. But how do we stay prepared to give an answer? First and foremost is something I say almost every week, to make sure you not only read the Bible, but to be familiar with the scripture that you are reading as well. However, not everybody has the Bible memorized; I don't either. But that cannot and should not keep a Christian from defending the faith. The answer to this situation is in the first part of the passage, to set apart Christ as Lord in your heart. If Christ is with you, then you can call upon Him in tough situations. This may sound easier than it is, but trust me, from personal experience it is true. You might not notice what is happening at the time, but you will recognize it later. If you're like me, you will think at that moment "huh, that was weird."

There are many ways to react to sin, most of them bad. But keep in mind also what Jesus said in the Great Commandments and the Great Commission about loving God and loving your neighbor, and bringing the Good News to others. With these verses, and all others, keep on reading the Good News.

Amen.

Christmas Music

Warning: This post is more of a rant than any real organized though. But then again, what is the purpose of a blog than an unorganized rant?

Well, it is that time of year already. The Christmas decorations are out and the Christmas music is on the radio. In St. Louis, two stations have their formats changed for all Christmas music all the time. In fact, I picked up the Il Divo Christmas CD today at Target, however it pales in comparison to Jon Garrett: To Find Love There. (Jon, I really do like your CD, but I would like the three dollar advertising fee in small, unmarked, non-sequential bills) I ventured away from my usual radio listening today and went back and forth from one Christmas station to another. They played the classics, and new renditions of the classics. I heard things like Deck the Halls, I'll Be Home For Christmas, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. After listening between the two stations for about twenty or so minutes I noticed a similarity in all the songs, other than they were Christmas songs, of course. None of them mentioned Jesus, with the exception of one. That one was Silent Night by Taylor Swift, which is up there in my book with Stevie Nicks version of Silent Night as the worst renditions of any Christmas song ever, and I wish I hadn't heard it to be honest with you, just didn't do Silent Night justice. Anyway, back to my original rant.

First off, I do not wish to demonize or otherwise criticize secular Christmas music. All of the songs mentioned above (except for the Taylor Swift and Stevie Nicks slaughtering of Silent Night) are good songs and are most likely some of your favorites, as they are mine. It's just that we need to remember what Christmas is all about.

About 2000 or so years ago, God sent His only son to Earth not only in the form of a mortal human, but as a mere child born not amongst kings but amongst livestock. Born not in a palace fit for a king, but in a stable built for the animals. He came into this world as a perfect creation with the knowledge that he would die a gruesome death so that anyone who believes in Him and puts their faith and trust in Him will not suffer the penalty for sin, but be united with God and Christ forever.

No matter what music you listen to this Christmas, whether that be religious Christmas, secular Christmas, not Christmas at all, or even the abomination that is Silent Night by Taylor Swift or Stevie Nicks, just keep in mind what Christmas is about.

Amen.

P.S.: For more on this subject, visit the post that started the worldwide craze: Christmas in August.