Washable Markers

All night last night, I couldn't really sleep. I could not sleep because I kept thinking about the activity we did during Bible Class, and where I was during the whole process of cleaning up my mess. During class I had you write with washable markers on the floor a number of sins. Sins from several passages and are sins where people struggle. Seriously struggle. Then I had you go around with a toothbrush and scrub them off the floor or a paper towel and wipe them off. During this activity we got all kinds of involvement and below is a list of what the adults and myself saw:

1. Some enjoyed the part when writing on the floor and did it with a great attitude, but did not like it when asked to clean it off, especially with a toothbrush.
2. Some wrote on the floor, then let the others clean up their mess with no effort from you.
3. Some wrote on the floor and cleaned up without any complaining.
4. Some wanted to stand and watch others do everything.
5. Some only wrote half the words on the paper, then cleaned up half as well.
6. Some were excited the whole time.
7. Some when asked to clean, said they needed to do something else.
8. Some cleaned their mess, then looked for other places to clean.
9. Some asked others to help and you cleaned together.

And the reflections that I made to you were about our journey with God. Because the truth of it is we all have made a mess in our journey. Sometimes we get off path. But God asks us to clean up our mess by asking forgiveness and turning on the right road that leads to Him. And when God asks us to clean it up, what is your response? Is it any of the above 9 observations from last night? Do you get excited about making a mess, then sigh because God asks you to clean it up? Do you stand back and watch others work hard at trying to clean up your mess? Do you do what you are asked without complaining? Do you clean your own mess then look for others? Do you give God half of your full effort?

I could not sleep last night, (not because Elijah woke up and woke us up) but I kept thinking where I was on the journey. So at 5:30 am today, I was guided to a conclusion. And now I am glad that I was awake. Tired, but glad! Maybe God wanted me up most of the night to bring me to this point where I can make true reflections on my life. And I have to ask, where are you?

Matthew 7:13, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

BB

Large Crowds Followed

In what avenues do large crowds gather today? Sporting events, Olympics, concerts, musical festivals, church worship or events, opening day for Harry Potter or Twilight, and the list goes on. But what is it that large crowds are attracted to? Good music, entertainment, new intriguing storylines, people, and the list goes on.

On a whimsical thought today, I looked in the Bible and searched for the phrase "large crowds". And guess what..... they all were about Jesus. The large crowds were following Jesus. Why were they following Jesus? Some followed Jesus because they wanted to get healed. We see this in Matthew 8:1-4. Some followed Jesus because they wanted to be entertained. They wanted to see him perform miracles. Some followed because they truly believed He was the Son of God and they were interested in His teachings. Some followed to catch Him in His words, so they could bring accusations against Him. And the list goes on..... But for the most part large crowds followed because there was something about Jesus that people desired. "He taught as one who had authority....." (Mt 7:29), He had compassion on people (Mt 9:36), He fed people (Mt 14), He fed people spiritually, and the list goes on.

Why do you follow Jesus? Do you follow because you want to be entertained? Do you follow because your friends do? Do you follow because you want good food at church potlucks? And the list goes on.

BB

The Bear Necessities

Today, Elijah convinced me to watch The Jungle Book with him. You know how you watch something your whole life and never get the real message of the movie til you are about ohhhh....let's say 29. Well that was me today.

Moguely (sp) has grown up his whole life living with the wolves. When word gets to the wolves that Shir Khan (the tiger) is coming back in the area, they decide to send the "man cub" back to the "man village". So the black panther (don't know his name right now) volunteers to take him to the village, so he can grow up with a normal human upbringing. Along the way he encounters several animals that detour his journey. Some want to capture him and take him back to live with them or eat him. One friend that finds Moguely is Balou. Balou is a big bear who becomes his friend...............oh what do I keep writing this, you probably have seen it. Now let me get to my point.

At the end, Shir Khan locates the man cub and wants to eat or kill him. As he is about to do so, Balou comes and rescues Moguely. Moguely gets away unharmed, but Balou fights a tiger and loses......well Balou doesn't die, he is just badly injured. Anyway while Balou is lying on the ground........the black panther begins to talk with Moguely about how Balou fought for his safety and that's what friends do. He then quotes John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Of all my years of watching this movie, I never recognized that quote in this story. I don't know what was happening in my ADHD mind that I could have missed that......oh wait the Sonic commercial is on right now, man I love these things, those guys are so funny........oh yeah sorry about that. Back to my blog. "Greater love has no one that this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Just a couple verses later Jesus, as he is talking with his apostles, no longer calls them his servants he calls them his FRIENDS, because they know his master's business.

How many times have you told another person to "stay out of my business"? How many times have you said that to someone you love? I can remember several times, telling my parents that. You know their response......"You are my business!" What is our "master's business"? Luke 19:10: The Son of Man came to seek and save that which was lost. You are His business. I am His business. The person sitting next to you at your lunch table is Jesus' business. The teacher who you dislike sooooo much is His business. And maybe the only way they or you will know that is that you are a true FRIEND to them.

Live it,
BB

Because that's the way God made it!!

Elijah is going through the phase of asking the "Why's". I will give you an example of what I am talking about:

Me: Elijah, can you see that cow over there in the field?

Elijah: Yeah!! Hey Papa I see a cow over there. What is it doing?

Me: It is eating.

Elijah: What is it eating?

Me: Grass.

Elijah: Why is it eating grass?

Me: So it doesn't get hungry.

Elijah: Why does it get hungry?

Me: Becasue it's stomach is empty.

Elijah: Why is its stomach empty?

Me: Because is it hungry. (At this point I don't know what else to say)

Elijah: Why is it hungry?

Me: Because that is the way God made it.

And Elijah has now come to the point where he accepts that answer as the final answer of everything. He knows when he hears that there is no more asking why.

What a powerful point......that we should not ask anymore questions about why things happen, why do we look this way why, why, why? It is because God is in control! That's the way God made you. End of discussion!!

But let me continue, of course one day when Elijah was telling me about something I thought I would turn the tables and ask Him the "whys".

Elijah: Look at my animals, Papa!

Me: Yeah, they look cool.

Elijah: The tiger is standing next to the hippo.

Me: Why is the tiger standing next to the hippo?

Elijah: Because he likes him.

Me: Why does he like him?

Elijah: (looks at me for a second with a confused look on his face) Because that's the way God made them.

Me: Why did God make them that way?

Elijah: Because He loves them.

I didn't ask anymore questions after that. What else could I ask?
A 3 year old teaching a 29 year old about the sovreignty of God. I was humbled.

The song "Praise the Lord" is based on Psalm 148. You know....."Praise the Lord, ye heavens adore Him, praise him ye angels in the sky........"
This is what verse 5 says of Psalm 148, "Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created."

What else do we need to know.

BB

The Carlton Dance!!

For all of you Fresh Prince of Bel-Air fans, enjoy this video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxdauqh3epw

You might be an Idiot if.....

Last night I was putting Elijah to bed. Before Elijah goes to sleep he has a sequence of events that he likes to do. Around 8:00 pm he likes to have a cup of yogurt for his bedtime snack, then brushes his teeth, plays with his animals for 1 last minute, kisses mom goodnight, Papa reads him 2 books, then prays, tells everyone "he loves them infinity and see you tomorrow".

Last night he prayed this way, "Thank you for everyone, thank you for the clock, thank you for the walls, thank you for the carpet, thank for........, the list goes on. As I was laying there beside him I have to admit I grew tired of his "thank you's". I even interrupted him during his prayer and said "No, Elijah we have to pray for the people who are sick and need help."

Yes I know, I'm an idiot!

I interrupted a prayer where my son was thanking God for all the things around him and told him something else. It's not that praying for the those who need help is bad. I just interrupted a heart felt prayer by my son and let my idea of the traditional prayer outwiegh his.

I am sure there are lots of lessons to be learned from this. And I am sure this probably won't be the last time I show my stupidity in fatherhood. But I wonder how many times we let our own thoughts outweigh others or more importantly how many times we let our thoughts outweigh God's?

BB

Dirty or Clean Hands

Does anyone know what a car mechanic looks like? What I mean is when you walk into a car shop, what is one thing that will distinguish a mechanic from the front desk worker? They all may be wearing the same uniform that says Brian’s Auto Shop, but not all of them may be a mechanic. They all will probably be wearing boots to protect their feet from heavy objects. They all may look a certain way, but if you will notice a good mechanic’s hands will be dirty. Their hands will be dirty from the grease, dirt, or oil from a vehicle. The mechanic will get their hands dirty from being underneath the car, changing the oil, working to repair an engine part or changing the tires. If a mechanic claims to be working real hard but has clean hands, then what can you conclude about the mechanic? Either they have some miracle soap or they are lying. My guess is that they are lying. James 2:17 says, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” The mechanic’s dirty hands are representation of his actions. Dirty hands tell others his actions are following his responsibility. They tell others that he is doing what he is supposed to be doing. The mechanic could go in the back of the shop and rub dirt from the ground to get his hands dirty, but then again his actions would not be true. Our faith in God is more than just a belief or idea. It is showing what you believe. If your actions do not accompany your faith, then your faith is not real.

So my question to you is: Are your hands dirty?

Live it,

BB