Don't Get Boxed In

For years, at least in the business world, a big saying has been to think outside the box. The theory is that we all have our own boxes and that the majority of our ideas come from that box because it contains all of our training and experience, etc. Thinking outside of that box is to come up with ideas that are so different from the norm that they will actually work. They’ve talked this idea to death in the business world, and I know that it also spilled into the real world.

The reason I mention this is because I think that quite often we as Christians live inside boxes of our own. We’re seen by the outside world as regular, boring, etc. I mean, aren’t all Christians people who go to church every Sunday, and are nice people? Don’t they do things for others because it’s what they should do? And they never have arguments or problems, right? Why do we have to be a stereotype?

I’m not saying that you should go bar hopping every night, or fight with people just to prove you are different. What I am saying is that we need to show the world that it’s not boring to be a Christian. Let me give you an example: this past weekend Traci and I took the boys to Winter Jam in Cleveland. This is a great concert that has quite big diversity in the bands and fans that attend. There was a guy dressed up like the joker (he was a youth pastor of a church in fact) and then there were people easily in their 50’s and above there to watch. The bands were diverse as well. The headliner was Third Day. They have been around for awhile and have a huge following. They are more of a rock emphasis, but they are great at doing hymns as well. Before them was Tenth Avenue North. This group of 4 guys is not a huge rock sound, but not R&B either. Then there was Thousand Foot Krutch and Fireflight. They are definitely hard rock. I was taken back to my head banging days with these groups. They really rocked the place, and left everyone wanting more. Sidewalk Prophets seem to be more of an R&B type group, and actually started their set by doing Man in the Mirror that was originally from Michael Jackson. There was also Revive (looked like a much hipper Jonas brothers kind of group) and Robert Pierre who is a solo act who is only 17 and wore a pink shirt with a vest over it!

Each of these groups was unique. They were anything but your cookie cutter Christians that the world tries to portray us as. We had one guy with dread locks and face paint, almost every male had his ears pierced, and of course the guy in pink. Then, instead of the hymns that the world thinks we listen to all the time you had some bands doing rock music that almost blew the lid off of the Wolstein Center. You see, these groups are not going to be limited by any box.

We don’t have to be who the world thinks we should be. How boring would that be? How would we get others to a relationship with Christ if we didn’t have anything in common with people in the world? I’m not saying that it’s ok to do many things that people in the world do, but what I’m saying is that it’s ok to go out there and shine. You can have a Mohawk and still love God. You can pierce your nose, listen to rock music, and dress up like the Joker if you wanted to do so. In fact, I’d like to encourage people to do things just like that. Sure, it’s not for everyone (me included) and it takes a special person to do some of those things. I don’t expect everyone to be that way, or how would reach the people that are more like us “normal” folks? My main point this week is that we don’t have to live inside the box. You can be “different” and still be effective for Christ in leading others to Him. Go ahead and think outside the box, and you might just find a lot of other people there, waiting for you to lead them.

What A Team!

Has anyone who has kids not put them in some kind of team activity? Be it sports, music, or a play of some sort? Also most adults work in team environments, even if they don’t see it that way on a day to day basis. So, you can see that teams are a very important part of our lives, even from a young age.

I mention this as I had the opportunity to watch both of my boys play basketball this past week. Noah is the team player of his 3-4^th grade team. He’s not the most athletic player, but he knows where he’s supposed to be and will help make sure the other players get to the right spots as well. Andrew is on a K-1^st grade team and completely different from Noah. Sure, he’ll work with his teammates but he frustrates easily when they don’t catch a pass or get him the ball when he’s open. So, Andrew often will not worry about the team as much and instead try to do it all himself. Both are perfectly acceptable ways to play at their age.

No, I’m not trying to brag on my kids here, although I am proud of both of them. What I am trying to do is show you that it takes all kinds of people to do the job. In team sports you need role players and stars. Lebron James wouldn’t be nearly as successful without a Z or Wild Thing. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees don’t get to this year’s Super Bowl without the Offensive Line who gets in the rushers way, and the receivers who catch all of their passes. And don’t forget the defenses each team has that get them the ball back time and time again.

The same is to be said of the work that we do in His kingdom. It takes a preacher, a prayer warrior, a worshiper, etc. for the kingdom to move in other’s lives. We say quite often that it’s often not the first person who contacts a non-believer to get them to a relationship with Christ, and that is extremely true. It may take 2, 18, or even 50 of us before that person’s heart is changed. The question I have for you is do you think it’s worth it? Will you accept your role knowing full well that it make take more than just your contact to help that person God has laid on your heart? I know that when you feel it’s worth the effort you’ll truly be a part of His team. Sign up yourself and your friends to this great team opportunity today!

What Are You Looking At?

Why is it that we all have such a problem looking away from a car accident? What is it that draws our attention? Do you really want to know if the people are ok, or are you really interested in how badly the cars are mangled?

We can be like this quite often in our day-to-day lives. For example, let’s say you see a drunk person take another drink, and continue watching while he stumbles while walking to see if he will fall. We don’t help him get to where he’s going safely, we watch him fail. We do that more often than you we probably even realize. On the news and in the paper every day is story after story of failure. The positive stories get pushed mostly to the end of both because they aren’t what draw our attention.

What would your life be like if you made God the focus and gave Him all of your attention instead of the above? It’s time to get an eye exam and get your life back into focus. Get focused on what really matters….God!

Silence!

That’s right, it’s time to be quiet now! You spend way too much time talking. You know that right? In fact, you spend too much time thinking too! You spend a lot of time planning on top of that. It’s now time for you to just sit down and shut up, as the saying goes.

You see, I’m convinced that we don’t spend enough time listening to God. We pray all the time for all kinds of things, and barely ever spend the time to listen for the answers! We don’t give Him time to work in our lives because we’re too busy voicing what we think He will say.

I challenge all of you this week to be quiet for once. Spend time with him doing nothing else at all. It’s not a time for us to take action in the normal ways that we do. Instead, come to Him without an agenda of your own, instead listening for His agenda for your life.

Snow

Just seeing that word probably makes many of you cringe like it does me. It usually brings negative feelings due to the cold and extra work that usually come along with snow. Yet, since I’ve always lived in Ohio I’ve grown accustomed to being here every year.

I remember when I was a kid and I looked forward to the snow coming. I always enjoyed the way it looked as it fell. I enjoyed making snow forts and participating in snow ball fights. Those were the days weren’t they? My dad usually did all the shoveling and I just got to enjoy the spoils, so to say.

Turn the page to the present. The snow now means that I have to go outside and shovel, and that the roads probably won’t be too much fun to be on. Sure, I want snow for Christmas, but only a little to make it look nice.

Yet, the other day I started to look at snow a different way, more like the thoughts of the past. You see, the other day during the snow I had two different people help me with getting the snow off my sidewalks. I started to think about how the snow can actually bring out a sense of community in all of us. Let me explain that further:

At our last house I had a big driveway to shovel. (No, I did not, nor do I currently own a snow blower) I would always take at least 45 min to an hour to shovel that entire thing even on a light snow. I’d then take the time to at least do the sidewalks of the neighbors on either side. I didn’t do it to get praised for it or anything, but instead to help those who lived next to us. At our current location on Welton I have a lot less to shovel. I still try to do some of the sidewalks on both sides, but a lot of the time my neighbors have already done it, or someone has done it for them already and myself as well.

What an idea, people helping other people! You don’t get those acts of service as easily the rest of the year. I don’t have neighbors coming over to my house to mow the lawn or rake the leaves. Yet, those same people will be happy to use their snow blower (which use gas at over $2 a gallon) or shovel to help out others that they barely know. I actually finally met a neighbor the other day in the freezing cold as he told me to take a break as he’d do the sidewalk for me.

So, I have a new appreciation for snow. I’m starting to see it as I did a long time ago as a child. It’s a positive kind of thing. It brings neighborhoods together by giving us a common adversary. Now the question is how can we use snow to advance His kingdom? The simple act of service can lead to many an open door in the future. That neighbor you never talk to or see may be search you out in the spring to thank you for the help this winter. That could possibly lead to other subjects which can lead to you witnessing to them and helping them to find a relationship with Christ. Have you ever thought that something as simple as snow could be a witnessing tool? Think about that the next time you are clearing your driveway, as maybe that dreaded next snowfall could just be that open door you’ve been looking to get!

The Christmas Tree

Well, now most of the hoopla of Christmas is over. The presents have been opened, and the family has hopefully been visited. The wonderful foods have been made and the leftovers are minimal. Some people have even began to take down the decorations at their houses, and if you drive around enough you'll even see a tree or two already on the curb.

Let's focus on that tree on the curb right now. The Christmas tree symbolizes the holiday for many people. They put it up and enjoy it for a few weeks, and as soon as they can they get it out of the house as they don't want that constant reminder around too long. You see, some of those people don't believe in God. What they are celebrating is presents, family, etc. Their celebrations are not as full and they want to sweep it all under the rug as quickly as possible. They celebrate the holiday because the world says they should.

Don't be like those people. I don't care if you take down the decorations the day after Christmas, but I do care if you let God leave your heart as soon as the holiday is over. Christmas is a celebration of Jesus' birth, but it doesn't stop there. He is a part of your life and the lives of the people around you. Don't stop celebrating His life just because the world says you should. Let Christmas live in your heart all year long. Encourage others to do the same. Don't be like the person who dumps the tree at the curb the day after Christmas, keep it up in your heart all year.

The Little Drummer Boy

Have I ever mentioned how much I enjoy this time of year? I really love to hear all the Christmas songs all over the place. I also love to sing along to the many hymns that are used this time of year, one of my favorites being "The Little Drummer Boy."

The reason I mention this one in particular is because I think there is a piece of that boy in all of us. He's obedient as he's told to come and see the newborn King, and he does. He doesn't feel like he has anything that could measure up to what this King could ever want. Yet, he feels the call and decides to give the one thing that he does have to give, his playing.

Don't we all feel that way when it comes to being in His presence? We feel like what we have to offer isn't worthy at times? Yet, we go as we're called to do because we know that is what we need to be doing. We give to Him what we can, but never feel like it's enough. That is what that little drummer boy feels during this song.

Read the words to the song below, and tell me that this isn't you. I think you'll easily find that this song is all about you and your relationship with God at one time or another. Enjoy:

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.

I hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas. God bless and stay safe. Feliz Navidad (my favorite Christmas tune)