Only God Can Judge Me

Have you heard this term before?  Recently this saying has become very popular in many non-Christian subcultures.  I have seen it spray painted on walls, printed on t-shirts, and most recently tattooed across the chest of one of the youth I work with.  Even though I have not yet had the chance to talk with this teen about the reasoning behind this decision, I can't help but think through some questions as to why this saying has become so popular.

Is it a way of justifying actions?  Is it a way of doing what I want, the way I want, when I want?  Is it just a saying?  Does it even have any meaning to the people who are saying it?  Is it just a fad that will fade with time unlike this young man's tattoo?

To be honest with you, I don't know the reasoning behind the sudden popularity of this saying.  I do know that Jesus is truth and that His teaching in Matthew 7 is something we should not take lightly.  When I saw this tattoo my first reaction was to judge, and I don't know, maybe you're judging right now too.

I think that before we do anything else we need to pray.  Pray for forgiveness so that we will not be hypocrites and for this generation that tends to believe that their own thoughts and actions are more important than their Creator's.

Grace & Peace,

Dave

A High Flying Adventure

It’s been a while since I have felt my nerves at work. My hands were a little sweaty. I recognized that I was breathing a little more shallow than I would normally. What was causing this uneasiness? You might find this a little silly but it was all due to my taking a little ride in a little plane.



Back in July, I was blessed by a friend with the gift of a flight around the city of Toronto in a small plane that he has access to. My friend is both a pilot and a certified flight instructor. Very capable and fully qualified for what we were about to do. As I sat in this little plane or what I would prefer to call the “tin can”, I realized that I was about to put my fate into the hands of this good friend and the equipment he had us sitting in. By the way, so you get the picture, the two of us are jammed in, shoulder to shoulder sitting on what looked like 1950 camper seats. With this said, my number one thought as we taxied out to the run way was p to pray that the Lord would bring me to my family, safe and sound.


To keep this tale short and to the point I must tell you that the take off, flight and landing went off without a hitch. My friend’s flight skills were impeccable and I quickly began to relax and lose all the nervous tension that I had began this adventure with. In other words I found myself trusting him completely and he didn’t let me down.


This little trip caused me to do some thinking about my relationship to God. Way too often I am the one doing the “flying” in my life and putting God in the passenger seat. When I or anyone takes the control we should be very nervous. It’s when we allow God to take the controls of our lives that we can start to truly relax and enjoy this flight we call life.

Psalm 91:1-2

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Blessings in Christ,

Alan

Alone!

Ok...so I just read my blog on "summer slowdown" from July 7 (have you?) and now my summer vacation time has arrived!!

Summer vacation!  Just the words have a nice ring. Through the courtesy of the "post-dated post" option, I'll be away on vacation when this blog is actually posted. Cool!

As I retreat from normal activities for a time, I take comfort in the fact that even Jesus had some mini-vacations along the way: "After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray." (Mark 6:46)  King James says "there he was alone."  Jesus did this several times...I looked them up!

Mountainside...prayer...alone! Sounds like a good strategic plan for at least some of my summertime vacation.  How about you?

Gotta go now?  Remember, I'm on vacation...

Dear God...

"Dear God, I'm trying hard to reach you.

Dear God, I see your face in all I do.

Sometimes, it's so hard to believe it.

But God, I know you have your reasons." 

These words, which make up the introduction and chorus to the song 'Dear God 2.0' by The Roots feat. Monsters of Folk, hit me like a ton of bricks when I heard them for the first time last week.  I have felt this way before.  I have felt frustrated and agitated and have been inquisitive like this before.  I have prayed prayers like this.

The Roots have been one of the most influential and innovative secular hip hop groups to hit the music scene in the last 25 years.  It amazes and encourages me that a group of musicians who are at the top of the music charts are including deep thoughts like this in their message.  So often do artists rely on catchy yet meaningless words to catch the ears of listeners.  Here, however, The Roots are reflecting on thoughts and asking questions that have struck a chord with the feelings I am certain many Christians have had.  I know I have.

"Be agitated and do not sin;

Ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.

Offer right sacrifices and put your trust in the Lord."

- Psalms 4:4-5 (ESV)

Let us be encouraged by these words when we are frustrated and searching.  Rest in our Creator's promise, because even when we feel this way He will show up in places we least expect him to...like in the chorus of a hip hop track!

Grace & Peace,

Dave

A Minister of Grace

We celebrated the Lord’s Supper as a church family this past Sunday.  Not sure why but as I was receiving the elements from one of our servers the phrase “minister of grace” came to mind.  With my hands I received symbols meant to remind of God’s grace in Christ.  Something given to me freely.  Something that makes me smile, feel loved, secure and at peace. Yet also something that I did not or could not earn – I’ve tried. 

As I began to think about this idea more I asked myself “Do I live my life as a minister of grace?”  Do I serve symbols of grace to others just like the server did for me this past Sunday?  Do I dispense happiness?  Do I give love freely or with requirements?  Do I provide a sense of safety for others?  Do I speak words of peace?   

Just as the elements are symbols of God’s grace in Christ, my life can be.  I can be.  We can be.   Ministers of grace.  Something about that seems so right.   What do you think?

Gary 

If you want to hear an inspiring version of the song - Amazing Grace check this link out- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXV6HJxUebg

Summer slowdown...

     Ok, so maybe I'm slow (no comments please)! The other day I tried to start my motorcycle to go for a "mental health" break (how's that for justifying?) but the engine wouldn't start. Totally dead! 

     Now, I've got enough mechanical skills to figure this out: dead battery, bad wiring, no gas. The usual suspects. Only this time, everything is good: battery, wiring, gas.  What gives?

     Men don't ask for help too quickly and I'm true to my kind. So I step back and contemplate the situation in solitude for a minute or two (of course, while trying to hide my problem from onlookers). Then it comes to me...along with the requisite smack on the forehead that seems to come naturally with these "aha" moments.  The kill switch is turned on! The engine can't start when the kill switch is on...that's why it's there, so the engine won't start.  And it's the first place to look when the engine is dead.

   

     Looking around to cover my embarrassment in case anyone was watching, I started the engine and took off faster than I might normally.  You understand!

      Now, not everything in life generates a Bible lesson, but this one did. It got me thinking about Psalm 119:105 and my need to slow down, step back and contemplate life's situations. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." My current ways ("my feet") need some illumination as does the way I should go ("my path"). Both my way and my direction require a little reflection in order to go in good directions. And God's word does both.

     Maybe a little summer slowdown might help me remember how to start a motorcycle...and reflect on my feet and my way a bit more.   For what it's worth...

La Belle Province!

For the last 5 days I have had the opportunity to enjoy the City of Montreal, Quebec, which is where I am writing from. A national youth ministry conference has more than accomplished its task of providing times for reflection, refreshment and worship and has lead to a rich and rewarding cultural experience.

I was very excited in the days leading up to my time in Montreal and I could barely wait for the different sights and sounds I would soon be seeing and hearing. However, when my wife and I entered the city I suddenly developed a sense of nervousness. The nervousness had nothing to do with the somewhat confusing highway system (although, Sandra would attest that this was the pinnacle of her uneasy feeling), but rather a worry that I wouldn’t be able to communicate with the people of our French province.

The French I learned in elementary school has long since been forgotten because I have been out of practice for several years, which has greatly affected my ability to truly submerge myself into this French-Canadian culture.

Is there something in your life which has been forgotten as a result of a lack of up keeping? Has it limited you from being able to communicate of fully understand something?
I encourage you to revisit a forgotten ability in attempt to appreciate the value it once had.

Bonne Chance!
 
Dave