A different approach

Over the years my approach to Bible study has changed dramatically. First, let me take you through a quick evolution of my study and preparation methods.

• Infant Stage: This is when I would lean heavily on a sermon outline book, or commentary from a competent source to tell me what I am supposed to believe and understand.
• Child Stage: I began reading and studying lots of materials, doing comparative analysis on the text and drawing informed conclusions from my study.
• Young Adult Stage: I started my study with the word. What did the Bible say? Who was it written to, what were the circumstances of the writing? What was the author trying to say to that audience? After drawing my initial conclusions I would look for others who had come to similar realizations in their works (as a means to test my theories).
• Mature Stage (or at least I hope so): I read and study the Bible as a series of letters written just for me. What is the author (God) trying to communicate into my life. The first readers of the scriptures did not have commentaries, lexicons or Ph.D's to consult when they read the text - it made an impression on each of them in a personal way.

A few years ago my mother passed away. Of all the treasured things she left behind, I most cherish a letter she had locked away for after her death. In that letter she shares her faith, love and hope for my future. When I read that letter I don't parse each word, diagram the sentence structure, but I clearly understand the theme and purpose for which it was written. My mom wants me to go to heaven. She wants me to be faithful. She loves me more than life and left me a gift to insure that I would never forget her, or her hopes and dreams for me.

Our Savior did the same thing. He left me a letter that defines his hopes and dreams for my future. It is full of practical instruction on how to live and motivitational examples of what others have done before me. You don't need a Ph.D to know what God wants for your life - just pick up the collection of letters he left for you and read them now and again.

Blessed be the name of the Lord

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the Lord be blessed."  (Job 1:21).

How many of us come anywhere close to having the spirit and forbearance of Job? We moan and complain if the pizza delivery guy is 5 minutes late. I can't imagine losing my children, my health, and my posessions before I can stop to take a breath. Add to that a nagging wife and some well-intentioned, but misinformed friends and I think any sense of optimism I had would be long gone.

What does it take for us to put life in the proper perspective (God's perspective)? We are more like Job than we stop to think about - at least the pre-trial Job. We are wealthy beyond imagination (yes, most of us are in the top 1% of wage earners in the world). I can't speak for everyone, but I have a great family, good job, wonderful friends and so much to stop and be thankful for. To be perfectly frank - it scares me!

Job was selected by God because he was faithful, "there is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil" (Job 1:8). I, on the other hand, am seriously lacking in many of those areas. I don't think God is going to single me out because of my lily-white character, but he might decide I need a little lesson in humility and self-sacrifice.

My phone has been ringing a lot lately with opportunities to serve really worthy organizations. A humanitarian aid agency drilling water wells in Ethiopia and Sudan, a children's home working with our Native American populations and Christian schools that are training men and women to spread God's word across the continent of Africa. These organizations are struggling while I sit in my recliner with a cold Coke and a bag of chips, frustrated because they aren't showing my favorite movie in high-definition.

Like it or not, Job is right. "Naked we come from out mother's womb, and naked we will return." All the things we accumulate in this life are just things that will return to the dust. Those things that truly endure center around the lives that I touch, and the people that I serve.

My Addictions

I was reminded this morning of how much we all have in common. You probably opened this blog to find out what I was coming clean about. Does he have an alcohol or drug addiction, is he hooked on internet pornography - what is the juicy scoop? If that is your only motivation - shame on you. If you logged in to what was going on and how you could help -  God bless you!

The truth is I have lots of struggles in my life: pride, arrogance, a judgmental spirit. Like most men I have to be very careful about lust, greed and selfish-ambition. Are they addictions - I don't think so, but as David said, "my sins are ever before me."

No, this post is about the power of transparency. I have a friend who is at a challenging place in her life and she was open enough to share her struggles and her failures with her Facebook community. It was amazing in a matter of minutes how many people came to her side. They shared their own struggles and offered prayers and support in her time of need.

We only rob ourselves of friendship, fellowship, love and support when we keep our cares and worries to ourselves. Occassionally I get a nice note from someone thanking me for my openness and transparency, as if I was doing the world some kind of favor. The truth is I am the benificiary when I put away the pretense and open my life to those who love me.

A belated tribute

In Wild at Heart, John Eldridge spends a good bit of time discussing the "wounds from the father." He talks about how our fathers have left scars that we must bring to reconciliation. While there are difficult memories of trying times growing up, there is a fundemental truth that over-rides every  harsh word, or errant action of my own father - HE LOVED US.

Yes, he had a strange way of showing it sometimes. He was a hard man! He was old-school when it came to discipline! He certainly was not the great communicator, but you couldn't question his love for his family. How many times did he come to our rescue? How often did he bail us out of trouble? He put groceries on the table, paid for a college education and provided well for my mother even after his death.

I believe there is a problem in our society with wanting to blame somebody for the circumstances of our own lives and parents are easy targets. I haven't lived a perfect life and if my children choose to focus on my mistakes, there are plenty for them to choose from. I have failed them at times, I have not always set the best example, but I feel the most guilt when I see them making mistakes they learned from me. Even with all that, if I can accomplish two goals in raising my children, I will take whatever criticism and harsh words that may be etched on my legacy:

1. May my children always know that I loved them. I know my father loved me and "love covers a multitude of sins." Whatever else happens in this world - know that I love you unconditionally.
2. God loves you! Where I have failed with my imperfect love, God loves you perfectly, genuinely and completely. His arms are always open to you and forgiveness is just a whisper away.

So to all the dads who have messed up, failed miserably, and fallen short of the Huxtable model of parenthood - there is still a path to redemption. Remind your children today how much you love them. Tell them, show them, and bestow upon them an endless flow of love and understanding.

LIghten Up

I have done some pretty ignorant things in my life. From high school antics that nearly landed me in jail, to thrill-seeking adventures in developing countries that could have gotten me killed. With the exception of those times my actions and behaviors really hurt other people, I've had a great life.

I have accidentally walked into women's rest rooms and laughed at myself later. I have stood in the midst of crowded theme parks and done the YMCA song just to embarrass my children. Last year I decided to do a little Lynyrd Skynyrd karaoke on the cruise ship, only to be mocked by someone who sings even worse than I do.

Isn't it time we all lightened up a little bit and learn to live. Jane Austen wrote in one of her books, "What do we live for but to make sport for our neighbors and laugh at them in our turn." With that in mind I only have two suggestions in today's blog:

1. Learn to laugh at yourself. Don't be shy, don't be ashamed, don't be afraid. If you are living life with the volume turned all the way up, people will stare, they will make comments, they may even try to impune your character - so what. Don't rob yourself of the joy of the moment and don't let others rob you of it either.
2. Cut others some slack. If you haven't read "The Sisters of Angelica" post I added a couple of weeks ago, go back and read it. These women were loud, obnoxious and absolutely hilarious. I almost missed the chance to join in the revelry by judging them. Most people are just trying to squeeze a little joy out of the day. Who are we to rob them of that moment.

So, lighten up. Go out tonight and dance under the stars. Walk up and talk to a stranger in the supermarket (tell them you like their shoes and see what happens). Pick up the phone and swap a childhood memory with an old friend.