You Can't Make This Stuff Up

Poignant moment this afternoon...
The wifey works with blind co-workers. She happened to see one of these delightful ladies board the bus prior to hopping in the car with me. As the bus (and our car) seem to be heading in the same direction, she rolls down her window and waves at her blind friend sitting beside the window seat on her side of our car. I wanted to crawl under my seat - well, maybe just a little bit.

Earlier today...
I told the beagle to go to her cage (as we were leaving for the workday). Her name is "Mustard" - no, the poodle's name isn't "Ketchup", we were merely going down the spice rack. Apparently this hound has a stellar grasp of prepositions - as she went "to" the cage but did not go "in" the cage. Guess the Mustard wasn't flowing as well as we'd hoped.

This past Monday...
I'm trying to get the pups squared away, put the food out on the deck, water (check) and go searching for the leads (a.k.a. leashes) whilst yonder dogs bark-and-bay (loudly, wanting out). I was NOT walking in the Spirit by the time I found them, realized that the reason the leads were beside the "other" door was because the "man of the house" decided over the weekend that we would be taking the pups out THAT door. I sheepishly apologized to my wife.

 
Last month...
When I went to "Wally World" and purchased a DVD, I decided to do the whole "self scan" thing - figuring I'd save time. So, after a couple of taps on the touchscreen, bagged my item, showed the cashier/jockey my receipt, passed the greeter... and set off the alarm. So, after going back two MORE times - and noticing folks who weren't even in line at some of the OTHER (read: normal) check-out lines leaving the store BEFORE me... I get the permission of Der Commissar to proceed with my guilt-ridden purchase, walking out feeling like "public enemy number one".

Earlier this year...

When our work office moved just north of the city, I took the opportunity to setup a co-worker for a practical joke. Most of the buildings were older than my father and use to "house" people. So, after walking about with two of my co-workers, I turn to the "mark" and point up to the third floor window, asking her, "Hey - did you see that, looked like a woman wearing a housecoat staring down here at us." Fast forward one week. I sneak in to the work area, after coming back from lunch, sit down outside her office and intermittently start tapping on the drywall. When she stops talking on the phone, I stop - when she resumes, so do I. Then I hear her say, "Let me call you back, I don't know what's going on in here." She comes around the corner and I tactfully introduce her heart to her tonsils (classic).

Couple of Halloween's ago...
My wifey had a marvelous notion to buy a fake, brown, wire-and-Styrofoam, four foot wide (legs) spider for our house. Not to be outdone, she wanted it to scare our eldest with it - who is near-deathly afraid of them. So-o, her younger sister gets wind of the freakish ambush awaiting her sibling and places a video camera in the closet, where I placed said arachnid (yep, I cow-towed and joined the hooligans). So-o, as you might've guessed, all went according to plan. Yep, our eldest opens the closet door and (yep) she freaks HARD - caught on camera, and, yep... if I wasn't a Christian, I'd definitely know WHY I was going to Hell after that one. MMLIA

What Ship Are We Booked On?

The 21st century Christian church in America has it (chiefly) wrong. Fellowship is not discipleship.

Now, Fellowship, in and of itself is not the problem - in fact, it's NECESSARY within the family of GOD; but, without Discipleship, even the best Fellowship will cannot grow the Kingdom of GOD the way Scripture intends.

As a body of believers meeting corporately (read: in a gaggle called "church"), we know that...

...rightly divining Scripture, by itself, is BIBLE STUDY.
...building relationships, by itself, is FELLOWSHIP.
...Christian service, by itself, is MINISTRY.
...communicating our needs to the LORD, by itself, is PRAYER

I fervently long for these things; but, what I want even more so is DISCIPLESHIP - to build all of these individual things (above) in to those who, walking in the Spirit, subsequently being in one accord, could be embolden in our church family for Christ in such a way as to impact our area of the county like its never been done before.

By way of example, for those not familiar with the concept of DISCIPLESHIP, it...

...goes through Scripture and doesn't ask, "How does that make you feel?" but rather, "As Christians, how then should we live in light of this?"
...gets intimately involved in the lives of others where folks become accountable to (and for) each other - "warts and all", per se
...grows individuals, prepares them to use their spiritual gifts for ministry, and partners with them - ensuring no one "goes it alone"
...grabs a hold of GOD's promise and prays fervently for each other, knowing that confidence is there - trusting whole-hardheartedly in His Word

More examples of what this looks like...

In Fellowship, one says, "We need to reach the lost."
In Discipleship, one says, "I desire to pour myself into you, who was once lost, to build the kingdom."

     "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Jesus, Mat.28.19.esv)

In Fellowship, one says,  "We love GOD and the family of GOD."
In Discipleship, one says, "I love GOD enough to pick up my brother's cross and walk with him."

     "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." (Jesus, Luk.14.27.esv)

In Fellowship, one says, "We love to hear the Word of GOD, because He has set us free!"
In Discipleship, one says, "I love to do what the Word of GOD says, because it can set those who were walking "in the Way" with me, free!"

     So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (Jesus, Jhn.8.31-32.esv)

In Fellowship, one says, "We came together, having so much in common, to worship the LORD and to edify fellow believers."
In Discipleship, one says, "I set out, apart from the comfort of my group, and went to my brother (or sister) because they had a need for encouragement and were in want."

     "And all who believed were together and had all things in common." (Luke, Act.2.44.esv)

     "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common." (Luke, Act.4.32.esv)

In Fellowship, one says, "We pray for each other, lifting our prayers up, together, to GOD."
In Discipleship, one says, "I got to know you well enough to pray for you the moment you voiced it, grieved with you in the darkest hour, and genuinely rejoiced when He delivered you from within these circumstances."

     "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James, half brother of Jesus; Jam.5.16.esv)

Fellowship requires the follow-on of Discipleship. Discipleship requires some basis of Fellowship to be effective. So, the questions beg...

Do you merely want Fellowship; or, are you needing Discipleship? And, are you at a place (or in a position) to disciple others? Ready to jump "ship" or to "board"? MMLIA

I'm Not An Island... I'm A Continent

The late English clergyman and poet, John Donne (1572-1631) was attributed the following quote from of one of his works on meditation, as saying...

"No man is an Island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee."

There - you learned something today. You might want to sit down if the room's spinning on you - can only take SO much enlightenment at one time, eh?

Not As Strong As We Think We Are

Saw someone today I hadn't seen in a while - and when I say "seen" I don't mean via Facebook... I mean "seen" without the assistance of this "bane-and-blessing" known as technology.

It heartens me when these folks take the ferry from their "Island" (either by choice of His design) - conversely, what disheartens me is that there are many out there that want to be proverbial "Islands".

Everybody needs help, from headaches to hangovers, from splinters to (heart) splints, from callouses to cancer - if it weren't so, you wouldn't ever be in dire straits.

Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." (Gen.2.18.esv)

Double the Work Versus Half A Care?

Do we dare jump off our "Island" - leaping headlong or feet first?

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him--a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Eccl.4.9-12.esv)

Hello? This was written by one of the most (if not THE most) DEPRESSED individuals in The Bible. And, if he realized this... what's our excuse when we throw ourselves back into the briar patch (if you don't understand the reference, Google it)? His highness was brought low, even on an "Island" of fame, fortune and glory.

Having X-Ray Vision

Time wanes on - both on-and-off our "Island"; but we don't. Just because I use to act like Superman, looked like Superman (try to hold the chuckle in, will ya'), didn't make me Superman... I'm mortal enough to know (now) that although everything still "works", some things "hurt" when they do (LOL).

And getting together (fellowship) ain't the same as getting to know you, getting to know all about you... getting to like you, getting to hope you like me (kudos to R&H). That would be an honest, open and transparent discipleship going on there, boys and girls - no secret identities (a.k.a. masks), being the same in both public and in private!

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Heb.10.24-25.esv)

Damaged Goods or Good-n-Damaged?

People act like that don't want the very thing which you ain't caught. Oh, it's always more comfortable to keep folks at arms-length by bugging out for our "Islands"... why let those Christians get close, they'll only see everything about us and we'll get hurt.

Like any of our family members EVER hurt us before, right? It's true, those who know us best wound us deepest. They find the buttons... and press them.

They paint a big ole bullseye on the back of our heads, get a bead on us and then KA-POW, right?

Sorry, not everyone who says they ARE concerned are concerned with injuring you. But, we need to take the first step and lay that vulnerable side out there. Just know that in the vulnerability, something sacred is grown... a Continent (1Cr 12:20-26.esv). MMLIA

Things Scribbled on a Receipt

Sat down and ate breakfast this morning - with a lot on my mind; so, I jotted down some thoughts about the "human condition" - e.g. inside a church. What I came up with was more questions that I'd care to shake the proverbial stick at - what my "take away" was included answers and some more unanswered questions through Scripture...

As a church, how do we edify each other?  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works... (Heb.10.24.esv)

Do we really want fellowship without discipleship?  And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Act.2.42.esv)

Are we concerned about those whom we do not know as well within our church body, and let them know they're missed when not here?  My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. (Jam.2.1.esv)

Do we really desire to walk this journey with fellow believers who know us well enough to correct us, challenge us and love us (sometimes) despite ourselves?  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1Jo.1.7.esv)

Within our body of believers, where is our desire to "be transparent and to "broker some openness"? Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. (Act.4.32.esv)

If followed around for a week, would we be found to be the same person we are at church as we might be at home, at school or at work?  Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (Eph.4.25.esv)

Have we emptied ourselves into the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ?  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Phl.2.4.esv)
Why is it easier to share our difficulties with complete strangers, whom we can comfortably keep at arm's length, versus those who want to know us?  Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (Jam.5.16.esv)

Thoughts, ideas, suggestions? MMLIA