Don't laugh or judge me, but I got hooked on Celebrity Apprentice a couple weeks ago. I even DVR it (I can't believe I just said that). This past week Dennis Rodman was the project manager. A lot of you are turned off by Dennis Rodman because of his radical look and take on life ( I am not a fan either). I have to admit, he is different, but he is still a person, a child of God.
I know a lot of the reality shows are edited to get the story they are looking for and I know they did the same with this episode, but it got really intense in the board room. Jesse James, confronted Dennis Rodman about his drinking problem.
The show took a turn, it became less about the show and more about a person who has a serious problem. It became as Joan Rivers said an intervention. The women's team agreed with everything that was said about Rodman.
His defense turned to the fact that he was a great athlete and had won five championships. Herschel Walker said that is the past, what matters is today. Who are you today is all that matters.
The point of me blogging about this today is that some times we have to look past our initial judgements of a person to love them. We have to see people where theymay be struggling and have the courageous love to tell them the truth about themselves.
Sometimes we have to realize that what we are doing at the moment, needs to be redirected in order to love people (looking past the show, to a person who has a problem).
I am going to embed the last 9 minutes of the episode. I hesitated doing so because there is some language that may offend some. I am asking you to look past it to learn a valuable lesson on loving people. Then let me know what you think.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
What a great time of Year!
It's started! The NCAA Mens basketball Tournament! I love it!
My Final Four: Lousiville, UConn, Carolina and Duke.
Finals: Carolina over Louisville in one of the best finals of all time!
What's your picks?
My Final Four: Lousiville, UConn, Carolina and Duke.
Finals: Carolina over Louisville in one of the best finals of all time!
What's your picks?
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
The Biggest Enemy
I am reading a book right now called "Righteous: Dispatches from the Evangelical Youth Movement." It is written by a Jewish atheist who travels around the country spending time with various Christian Movements. As a secularist, the author, Lauren Sandler tries to expose a movement, made up of many movements, that is threat to the secularist movement.
I think she tries to reveal what is wrong with Christianity, pointing to some pretty messed up versions of Christianity. There are times I have cringed while reading her descriptions of some Christian movements. Then there are times, she has been really moved by the authenticity of some of the people she has met. Like Sandler, the thing I am finding out is that authenticity makes the difference when living as a representative of Jesus.
One of the groups she spends time with is a Christian Hip Hop band named Goodside. One of the guys involved with Goodside is Gaudscent. He told Sandler this, "The biggest enemy to Christianity is the misrepresentation of Christianity."
Think about that statement for a while and ask yourself this question, "How do I misrepresent Jesus as a follower and what are the consequneces of that misrepresentation?"
I think she tries to reveal what is wrong with Christianity, pointing to some pretty messed up versions of Christianity. There are times I have cringed while reading her descriptions of some Christian movements. Then there are times, she has been really moved by the authenticity of some of the people she has met. Like Sandler, the thing I am finding out is that authenticity makes the difference when living as a representative of Jesus.
One of the groups she spends time with is a Christian Hip Hop band named Goodside. One of the guys involved with Goodside is Gaudscent. He told Sandler this, "The biggest enemy to Christianity is the misrepresentation of Christianity."
Think about that statement for a while and ask yourself this question, "How do I misrepresent Jesus as a follower and what are the consequneces of that misrepresentation?"
Friday, March 6, 2009
Wandering Sheep
Staying with the idea of the lost sheep of Israel, I want look at Matthew 18. Everyone tries to position themselves to be in a place of power and influence. We see it in our government, we see it in our families and we see it in the church. So it is not unusual to see it among Jesus' disciples.
Jesus' disciples ask him this question, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" I am not sure what answer they were really looking for, but I think they were surprised by the eventual answer. Maybe they looked at the religious system with all its prestige and thought that was normal. Those closes to Jesus would be considered the greatest. Maybe they were jockeying for position amongst themselves.
Regardless of what they were looking for Jesus called to a child and had him stand among the disciples. Jesus then said, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
I don't believe this story is about children.
Place yourself in that childs position. The child comes and stands among thirteen adult men. It would be a pretty intimidating position. Mature men standing over a small child. And Jesus then says, you need to be like this child. You need to put yourself in a place of humility, not thinking to highly of yourself.
When a child is standing in a crowd of adults, it is easy to get lost in the shuffle. When I take Seth, my soon to be nine year old to a Cavs game, it has to be intimidating walking through the crowd. He can not see over everybody, people can not see him very well and it is hard for him to discern where we are headed. When we are at that game, Seth, Cole or Eli get the greatest attention in my kingdom.
In the church, we sometimes carry an attitude about us. We see ourselves as spiritually mature, having this great knowledge. When a person who is not as mature as us, physically and spiritually, we often times stand over them like the twelve who stood over this child. We get caught up in our mature conversations, talking about the business of the church. As we talk, we show our biblical knowledge, posturing for the highest position, because that is what it is all about. Sometimes this posturing has to do with the longevity of being a member of this particular institution.
I mean, that's what it is all about isn't it?
Jesus' disciples ask him this question, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" I am not sure what answer they were really looking for, but I think they were surprised by the eventual answer. Maybe they looked at the religious system with all its prestige and thought that was normal. Those closes to Jesus would be considered the greatest. Maybe they were jockeying for position amongst themselves.
Regardless of what they were looking for Jesus called to a child and had him stand among the disciples. Jesus then said, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
I don't believe this story is about children.
Place yourself in that childs position. The child comes and stands among thirteen adult men. It would be a pretty intimidating position. Mature men standing over a small child. And Jesus then says, you need to be like this child. You need to put yourself in a place of humility, not thinking to highly of yourself.
When a child is standing in a crowd of adults, it is easy to get lost in the shuffle. When I take Seth, my soon to be nine year old to a Cavs game, it has to be intimidating walking through the crowd. He can not see over everybody, people can not see him very well and it is hard for him to discern where we are headed. When we are at that game, Seth, Cole or Eli get the greatest attention in my kingdom.
In the church, we sometimes carry an attitude about us. We see ourselves as spiritually mature, having this great knowledge. When a person who is not as mature as us, physically and spiritually, we often times stand over them like the twelve who stood over this child. We get caught up in our mature conversations, talking about the business of the church. As we talk, we show our biblical knowledge, posturing for the highest position, because that is what it is all about. Sometimes this posturing has to do with the longevity of being a member of this particular institution.
I mean, that's what it is all about isn't it?
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Church Planting: Zimbabwe Style
Last summer our family invested $100 in a new bike. The bike has been delivered to Zimbabwe! I am so pumped to see this picture! This bike will be used to start a new church in the Chiremwaremwa (I can't pronounce it either) area of Zimbabwe. An initial investment $100 will go a long way in this part of the world. There are people who long for the gospel and the story of Jesus. In such a hopeless part of the world, this bike will bring hope to people who desperately need hope.
This is a picture of Solomon who is the lead planter. He will use it to travel to the Chiremwaremwa area teaching people about Jesus. People who have been asking to know more about Jesus. As Derek (my friend from Zimbabwe) said in an email, "As you can see he is overjoyed." He is not overjoyed because he has a new bike, he is overjoyed because now he gets to experience the joy of seeing people know Jesus. Please pray for Solomon and the Chiremwaremwa area. You know the enemy will do all he can to discourage this servant of God.
If you want to know how you can get involved in supporting this church plant in Zimbabwe let me know in a comment. It will take about $60-80 a month to support Solomon and his mission to tell people about Jesus.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Lost Sheep of Israel
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field'" (Matthew 9:36-37).
Keep in mind how Matthew described the people Jesus saw, "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." When I read that I think of people wandering looking for a place to settle. The people Jesus is looking at are people who have become disenfranchised from Judaism. They have been harassed because they are not devout followers of Judaism. They are helpless because the most religious have harassed them to the point they feel like God is so far away.
Maybe they are believers in God, but not sold out to the institution. The yoke has become so heavy they feel like there is no way they can live up to the standards placed upon them by the most religious. They live their daily lives believing, but not participating in the religion of the day. Jesus looked upon them and had compassion on them. He includes them in the harvest that is plentiful. He is looking for workers to go into this harvest field, giving them hope in God.
Matthew 10 starts with Jesus gathering his disciples and sending them out with instructions to gather the wandering sheep. The instructions begin with Jesus saying, "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel" (Matthew 10:5-6).
Who are these "lost sheep of Israel"? They are the same people Jesus has compassion on, the "harassed and helpless." Those who are not a part of the religious institution. The religious leaders call them sinners, "people of the land." Jesus calls them important worth leaving the ninety-nine to go after the one (Matthew 18:10-14).
How does this apply today? After reading books like "Revolution" (Barna), "Essential Church" (Rainer), "They Like Jesus but not the Church" (Kimball) and others, there are people who believe but are tired of the institution. I am hesitant to call them lost because they believe, but they are wandering looking for something authentic, something real.
Look, I am not trying to bash the church here, I have been a part of the institution all my life. I love the church. But as church leaders we have to admit there is something really wrong with the institutional church. We have become more like the religious leaders in Jesus' day than Jesus himself. The caution for every church, even new churches, is to be careful not to become an institution. This seems to be the tendency of every church at some point in its life.
Jesus changed his strategy during the last part of his ministry on earth. He was trying to build something that would last. So he instructed his disciples to go after a harvest that had the most potential of producing a large crop. It was not the most religious. It was not the Gentiles, those who were farthest from God. He went after the sheep who were wandering. People who knew God and wanted a relationship with God. People who were harassed by the institution.
As church leaders we need to change or strategy. Churches are in decline because of our unwillingness to change our strategy. The strategy Jesus instructs his disciples to have is the same strategy that would work best today in our culture. We need to leave the ninety-nine and pursue the lost sheep of the church.
When we reach the point of becoming an institution, protecting and sustaining the institution, people begin to wander.
More on this later.
Keep in mind how Matthew described the people Jesus saw, "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." When I read that I think of people wandering looking for a place to settle. The people Jesus is looking at are people who have become disenfranchised from Judaism. They have been harassed because they are not devout followers of Judaism. They are helpless because the most religious have harassed them to the point they feel like God is so far away.
Maybe they are believers in God, but not sold out to the institution. The yoke has become so heavy they feel like there is no way they can live up to the standards placed upon them by the most religious. They live their daily lives believing, but not participating in the religion of the day. Jesus looked upon them and had compassion on them. He includes them in the harvest that is plentiful. He is looking for workers to go into this harvest field, giving them hope in God.
Matthew 10 starts with Jesus gathering his disciples and sending them out with instructions to gather the wandering sheep. The instructions begin with Jesus saying, "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel" (Matthew 10:5-6).
Who are these "lost sheep of Israel"? They are the same people Jesus has compassion on, the "harassed and helpless." Those who are not a part of the religious institution. The religious leaders call them sinners, "people of the land." Jesus calls them important worth leaving the ninety-nine to go after the one (Matthew 18:10-14).
How does this apply today? After reading books like "Revolution" (Barna), "Essential Church" (Rainer), "They Like Jesus but not the Church" (Kimball) and others, there are people who believe but are tired of the institution. I am hesitant to call them lost because they believe, but they are wandering looking for something authentic, something real.
Look, I am not trying to bash the church here, I have been a part of the institution all my life. I love the church. But as church leaders we have to admit there is something really wrong with the institutional church. We have become more like the religious leaders in Jesus' day than Jesus himself. The caution for every church, even new churches, is to be careful not to become an institution. This seems to be the tendency of every church at some point in its life.
Jesus changed his strategy during the last part of his ministry on earth. He was trying to build something that would last. So he instructed his disciples to go after a harvest that had the most potential of producing a large crop. It was not the most religious. It was not the Gentiles, those who were farthest from God. He went after the sheep who were wandering. People who knew God and wanted a relationship with God. People who were harassed by the institution.
As church leaders we need to change or strategy. Churches are in decline because of our unwillingness to change our strategy. The strategy Jesus instructs his disciples to have is the same strategy that would work best today in our culture. We need to leave the ninety-nine and pursue the lost sheep of the church.
When we reach the point of becoming an institution, protecting and sustaining the institution, people begin to wander.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Did He Call Her a Dog?
I was reading Matthew 15:21-28 last night and read a story I had read before. This time something really bothered me. A Canaanite woman came up to Jesus asking for him to have mercy on her. She had a daughter who was possessed by a demon.
Matthew records that Jesus "did not answer a word." He snubbed her, blew her off, he ignored her. I was amazed. Jesus usually acknowledges people who seek him out, it's in his character, right?
This woman persisted to the point that Jesus' disciples came up to him and asked him to do something about her. Jesus said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." Wait, I thought he was sent for all mankind. He talked with the Samaritan woman, the centurion and others. What is going on here?
The woman throws herself at Jesus' feet and pleads with Jesus, "Lord, help me!"
Jesus said, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." Did he just call her a dog? He is referring to all Gentiles here, but that includes this woman.
This is toward the end of Jesus' ministry while living among men. He has narrowed his focus and his strategy has changed. He spends the last months of his life trying to connect the lost sheep of Israel to the kingdom.
In Matthew 10:5-6 Jesus went to his twelve disciples and told them, "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel." He has narrowed the people he wants to reach to only the lost sheep of Israel.
But something happened with this woman that changed his mind. After he called her a dog, she said, "Yes Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." She plays along, accepts what he said and even uses the dog analogy. Then she says to Jesus, "All I want is a crumb Master."
She knew who she was talking with and knew that a crumb would be enough. That is some serious faith. She understood that all it took was faith as large as a mustard seed so she asked for a crumb.
Jesus was moved by her faith. He answered her saying, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." Even though he began to focus on the lost sheep of Israel, he was not going to ignore this person who had a complete understanding of the man Jesus.
Next post I will address the the idea of "the lost sheep of Israel.
Matthew records that Jesus "did not answer a word." He snubbed her, blew her off, he ignored her. I was amazed. Jesus usually acknowledges people who seek him out, it's in his character, right?
This woman persisted to the point that Jesus' disciples came up to him and asked him to do something about her. Jesus said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." Wait, I thought he was sent for all mankind. He talked with the Samaritan woman, the centurion and others. What is going on here?
The woman throws herself at Jesus' feet and pleads with Jesus, "Lord, help me!"
Jesus said, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." Did he just call her a dog? He is referring to all Gentiles here, but that includes this woman.
This is toward the end of Jesus' ministry while living among men. He has narrowed his focus and his strategy has changed. He spends the last months of his life trying to connect the lost sheep of Israel to the kingdom.
In Matthew 10:5-6 Jesus went to his twelve disciples and told them, "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel." He has narrowed the people he wants to reach to only the lost sheep of Israel.
But something happened with this woman that changed his mind. After he called her a dog, she said, "Yes Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." She plays along, accepts what he said and even uses the dog analogy. Then she says to Jesus, "All I want is a crumb Master."
She knew who she was talking with and knew that a crumb would be enough. That is some serious faith. She understood that all it took was faith as large as a mustard seed so she asked for a crumb.
Jesus was moved by her faith. He answered her saying, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." Even though he began to focus on the lost sheep of Israel, he was not going to ignore this person who had a complete understanding of the man Jesus.
Next post I will address the the idea of "the lost sheep of Israel.
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