Look Up

     I am sitting here watching a dozen or so spider monkeys play in the tree tops here in the rainforest in Costa Rica. I guess I don’t really know if they are playing — but from my vantage point it does look like fun. Swinging from branch to branch — leaping in the air, flying along the tree tops. The baby bouncing alongside her momma. I am actually totally enthralled by this scene. Capitvated. I find myself sitting here just watching and I realize that there is a smile on my face. There is joy in my heart watching God’s creation just be exactly who they are supposed to be.

     And two things strike me.

     First, I would seriously have missed this all had I failed to look up. I am happily sitting here by the turtle shaped pool as it finally cools down a bit — reading, writing and listening to some worship music. I could easily have sat here for the next two hours before dinner and never looked up from my book or notepad. And if I hadn’t looked up, I would have completely missed this little piece of joy I am experiencing right now.

     I think life is like that sometimes. We get so content going about in our normal routine, like sitting at a table reading a book and writing — that we miss the world in front of us. We miss all these amazing things God has for us — if we would only look up.

Isaiah 40:26 “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: who created all these?”

Psalm 27:13 “I remain confident in this, I will see goodness in the Lord in the land of the living”

Philippians 2:1-4 “Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from this love, if any common sharing in the spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.”

     What would you see if you looked up? Would you see a friend who is maybe withdrawn because he / she is hurting and struggling — who just needs someone to see them and care. Would you see some larger injustice in the world that God is calling you to attack — would you see the widowed, the poor, the orphan, the least of these? Would you see the person that you don’t really like to be around — really see them. See that the anger they display is just the only way they know how to be. Would you see that they still are a child of God — who He loves and cares for? Loved by the Father just as much as He loves you.  Needing someone to stick around long enough to break through that impossible, broken, hardened heart to find the hurt and to fill the hole with God’s love.

     What would you see if you stopped walking ( or sitting) blindly where God had you and looked up to where God wants to you be.

     What do I see? What are my monkeys?

     The second thing that strikes me is the joy I find in just watching God’s creatures be who they were made to be. I think we humans may be the only ones who get this wrong over and over again. I don’t recall ever seeing a dog try to be anything but a dog, or a fish trying to be a parakeet. These creatures know if they are supposed to swim in the ocean or wag their tail when scratched behind the ears. They know if they are to fly high in the sky or to rule the jungle. They know if they are supposed to waddle or quack, meow, roar, slither, soar, or yes — even pop effortlessly from branch to branch in the trees.

     Wouldn’t it be great if we could know just as easily what we were called to be. If we knew where our feet were supposed to go, what our lives were supposed to look like.

The only way us living breathing, thinking, choosing imperfect human race can get there is to stop thinking and choose to let God be our instincts. Let God guide us and tell us where to fly, step, leap or even be still.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is true worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is. His good, pleasing and perfect will”.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old is gone and the new is here”

     All this because I took a second and looked up.

     Look up next time you find yourself content — see what God has waiting for you — dancing in the tops of the trees.

Anyone who knows me (and probably anyone reading this blog) knows that I love sunsets. They are my favorite thing in nature. I love them no matter where they are, though I have a very special place in my heart when they happen to be over an ocean. In my life I have seen some particularly amazing ones.

On the rooftop deck of a small hotel in Florence.

A year later at Michaelangelo’s Point also in Florence.

San Francisco, San Diego, and Ireland

New York City

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The bush in the Limpopo Province of South Africa

Sunset Beach / Table Mountain in Capetown South Africa

And I even got to fly right into one in an airplane

To me, the sunset is God. It is His personal artwork done new every day. Never the same two days in a row. Never the same for different people even when standing right next to each other. Each one has its own colors, patterns, passions. Each one brings a different emotion, a sense of peace, a sense of being wrapped in the greatest gift of life. Being wrapped warmly in the glow of God’s love and grace. The light of the world dancing on everything it touches. Throwing its patterns and life even in the darkest shadows.

Recently, I posted on a social media site about a  great day with the hash tag #livinginthesunset. Someone said to me “what does that even mean?” Well, let me tell you.

Living in the sunset is fully living in the world God has placed me in. It means giving all of me to join the dance of God’s light in the world – letting that light shine from deep within me and letting it touch everywhere it can reach. Even the darkest shadows. It means walking every great day, every bad day, and every day in between warmly held in the glow of God’s great love for me and His totally undeserved, unwarranted, unmerited grace. Living thankful for the blessings and the challenges — thankful for each and every color that blends together to create this journey I get to walk.

It means knowing God, praising God, serving God, and thanking God through my actions for every moment of my life because I was fearfully and wonderfully made just as each new day is — and each new sunset is. It means living this life knowing I am God’s favorite. How could I not be – He creates a new and glorious masterpiece for me each and every day.

Yes, that man with all the tattoos and the hair and the high tops and the skinny jeans is my pastor. And that one too! Yes – I know they don’t look like what the world expects… I am not even sure if they own more than one suit. But then again, I don’t really remember the scriptures telling me my pastor had to look like any picture society has created. Then again, I imagine the disciples probably had to regularly say yes, that is my rabbi, my teacher, the one hanging out with the tax collectors and sinners. Yes, he did in fact sit at a well in Samaria and share a cup with a woman of ‘questionable’ past. Yes, the one that heals people – heaven forbid – on the Sabbath.

See, I don’t think good leaders in the church are good leaders because they “look” like good leaders – or because they “act” like good leaders.

1 Timothy 3:1-7 “If anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good! But there are preconditions. A leader must be well thought of, committed to his wife, cool and collected, accessible, and hospitable. He must know what he is talking about, not be overfond of wine, not pushy but gentle, not thin-skinned, not money hungry. He must handle his own affairs well, attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a new believer, lest the position go to his head and the devil trip him up. Outsiders must think well of him, or else the devil will figure out a way to lure him into his trap.”

That is my pastor.

I don’t care if he has tattoos – I care that he is focused first on God, second on his family. I care that he loves his wife and children — and that they love and respect him back. I care that when he speaks from the bible, I can study and check and find confirmation in his teaching. I care that people in the church much more grounded in scripture than I, hear him and respect him. I care that those we should be focused on in this world, the lost and hurting, have access to him and are drawn to the Jesus that shines in the way he lives his life. I care that no matter how “manly” me might appear – he is moved to tears when talking about people who don’t know the love of Jesus in their heart, or when talking of friends taken too soon from this life.

That is my pastor.

He is not perfect, I would be highly suspicious of one who “is”. I know everyone will not understand, not everyone will like him. And that is ok – everyone should find for themselves a church leader who is grounded in biblical teaching, who puts God and Jesus front and center in every part of his life – who inspires people rooted / planted in the house of God to serve and grow and even question and challenge. And who they can proudly say of, “Yes, that is my Pastor”. If that doesn’t look like him to you, that is ok.

But for me, he is my pastor and I am thankful to God for this church where I can plant, root, learn, grow and serve — all while fixing my eyes on Jesus!

Often in life I learn some of my best lessons from just being in the world around me. Like when driving my car… on the first night of really good weather, beautiful sunshine and warmth – so of course traffic on the West Side highway was really bad. An hour of stop, go, hurry up, slow down, go, stop, go, stop and an awful lot of sitting and waiting and sitting and waiting to hurry up, stop, go, and slow down.

After the first half hour of watching the people running up and down the river, I started thinking about how that drive was a bit like my faith walk. When I first joined God’s “West Side highway” I was definitely in hurry-up mode. Everything was fast and new and exciting and I wanted to do it all, experience it all, and serve it all. Initially, God put some stop lights on my roadway, some serious Christian community traffic to slow me down and make me pay more attention to the roadway, to what was moving around me. And then I would hurry up again, to slow down again; occasionally looking at the world around me. Somewhere along the line I started to put my own stop lights on my roadway. I stopped listening to Gods cruise control, stopped being tuned into the community around me – deciding I could do it all on my own. Amazingly enough, every time I took total control back – my faith drive would come to a full and complete stop. And I would sit and wait, and maybe complain just a bit about the fact that I wasn’t going anywhere and maybe complain a bit about the people around me who I thought were stopping me instead of being on the journey with me.

And I would sit and wait and expect it all to get better because I wanted it to.

And then I would call out to God, get back to his plan. The light would turn green and forward I would move. Sometimes slowly, sometimes more quickly, always hitting bumps, lumps, and holes in the road. Sometimes coming close to being taken out by a fallen traveler on his own path, sometimes being guilty of doing the same to others. Sometimes being thoughtful, patient and serving – sometimes more focused on my own drive at the expense of others.

It was a long time to think while on the West Side highway. At the end I was maybe a bit wiser, maybe a bit happier. Thankful for God’s light on my path (did I mention I was in the convertible with the top down?) I am sure this brilliant revelation won’t mean the rest of my faith walk will be smooth sailing. I am sure I will continue to put my own red lights in my path, and as always I will have to deal with others along the road going different places at different speeds. But I am still glad for this glimpse of knowing! And believe it or not, it was a little sad to be turning of the West Side highway. Good to know that God turns right along with me, and is always there whether I let him drive or whether I have taken control back.

My God is Amazing
Shh, Don’t tell anyone
#spreadingrumors

In my life I have been blessed with great people who have been friends, supporters, storm wreckers, prayer warriors, cry ’till we laugh and laugh ’till we cry partners. They have been sunshine when clouds crowded in, smiles when frowns seemed so much easier, and pillows to cushion inevitable crash landings. They have stayed up all night with me just because we can, goofed and laughed and built amazing memories with me. They have stood with me on the court, field, and diamond and battled with me when a fight needed fighting. They have been my camp-mates, school-mates, play-mates, work-mates and church-mates. They have lead me, they have followed, me and they have stood right beside me. Some have come and stay fast and true, some have come and are still there on the edge, some have come and are gone – from my world but never my heart.

I pray that they all know they are crucial to me being me, important to me now and in memory. And I pray they all know they are loved. That when they experience joy I smile with them. When they are in pain or hurting, my heart aches for them. When they are in the midst of the storm, I stand in the rain with them. I pray they know in this world they are never alone, whether we talk daily, weekly, every once in a while, or even if we haven’t talked in a year (or since grade school). A shout out and I would be there – a shoulder / ear / or prayer away!

And as great as that all is — it is impossibly small compared to the love, friendship, and grace of our God who has been everything in perfection. Who waits only for us and whose gifts to us are greater than could ever be fathomed. I am God’s favorite… and so are you!

In light of the recent disturbing news that a convicted felon’s photo has become a viral hit and hundreds of thousands of women are swooning over this “handsome” man — forget that his arrest / conviction history includes weapons, drugs, gangs, theft etc — I decided to share my thoughts on the rebel syndrome.

I see so many girls go for the “bad boy”. They say he’s attractive because he is a rebel. They think that is cool. And by girls, I mean teens to adults. But the “bad boy” is no rebel. The Urban Dictionary has a great definition of a rebel. “Rebel – A person who stands up for their own opinions despite what everyone else says. A true rebel stands up for what they believe is right, not against what is right. It is not about smoking crack, drinking til’ your rendered unconscious, or beating the crap out of anyone that crosses your path. It is all about being an individual and refusing to follow a crowd that forces you to think the same way they do even if it means becoming an outcast to society. The rebels know who they are and do not compromise their individuality or personal opinion for anyone. They’re straightforward and honest and they will sure as hell tell it like it is”.

“Bad boys” aren’t rebels, they are predictible and complete products of everything that the world tells them they should be. They will tell you they aren’t, but just watch a “bad boy” for awhile. My guess is you will have seen at least 10 of him modeled on some television show. My guess is, after a very short time, you will be able to guess just exactly what he is planning to do, what his next move will be. There is not a unique thought nor does he stand up for ideals. Frankly, the only stance a “bad boy” takes is against authority — even when authority is clearly right (and how predictible is that?).

The real rebel — give me a Christian man who is not afraid to praise God, pray in public, live a pure life before and after marriage despite the cajoling and constant pressure from the world to do otherwise.

The world says: have as much sex as you can with whoever you can.
The “bad boy” does (predictable)
The rebel says that is not what God intended, I will save sex for my marriage and honor God and my bride with my purity even though everyone is making fun of me for my choice.

The world says: Do whatever it takes to make money, get ahead, and don’t care even a little for how you do it or who you damage along the way.
The “bad boy” does (predictable)
The rebel says I will follow the path that God has called me to even if that is not filled with glory or dollars — and I will love and support others in my quest. I will not leave ethics or people behind. I will not leave casualties of my conquering even if it means I will not be famous or rich by the worlds standards.

The worlds says: Go for the youngest, prettiest, the easiest… and if you find someone younger, prettier, or easier, drop the first and go for it.
The “bad boy” does (predictible)
The rebel says I will wait for the partner that God has planned for me and she will be my partner for life. Even if others look from the outside and don’t understand, even if the world throws other choices in my path — I will be faithful to God and to the partner he planned for me.

The world says: amass as much stuff and money and gizmos and gadgets as you can, you are what you own.
The “bad boy” does (predictable)
The rebel says I am known by my love for and relationship with Christ and He is all that I need. I may have money or things or gizmos or gadgets, but I use them for His glory and He owns it all. My stuff does not own me.

I don’t kow about you — but I don’t want some boring, predictible “bad boy”, I will take the real rebel any day. Him I will wait for.

For awhile I had maintained another blog site, but it was hard to use, hard to share and therefore I didn’t keep up. But with a new plan, new goals and a new passion, I have decided to jump ship to a site that meets my needs a bit better.

Enjoy!