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In the past few months I have been through a barrage of medical tests for various reasons, mostly a similar physical examination. As a part of these tests I have had some hearing tests and found out that I have some mino hearing loss in the very high frequencies. While I am not sure what that means for some of the things that I’ve been set upon doing, I have been learning much about listening.

How often have you been in a conversation and had to ask the speaker to repeat? In all honesty, I do it every night when I’m talking to my wife on the phone. I’m listening in my other ear to another set of conversations, so I can really only hear one ear at a time. Too much input and I cannot compute. In my personal life, I have learned that I have been listening to too many conversations at once. I’m asking the most important speaker in the conversational cluster to repeat Himself. We love living here. We love the places that we’re involved in. We love that we can spend pretty much everyday outside. I personally love that my wife freaks out about bugs. What am I saying? Part of what I’m really hearing is that we are where we are supposed to be. Some good things are on the horizon for me in my work life, so one of the main things that really is a struggle and keeps me from doing all the things that I already heard from God is being taken care of. This process is not easy and it is actually a bit humorous that I’ve had to have minor hearing loss in order for me to hear all this. I mean really hear!

What about you? What areas of your life are you turning a deaf ear to? What part of the conversation do you need to hear again? I’d love to hear some of your story….

Just checking out the iPhone app for WordPress. Seems to be pretty good. Features are light, but what more do you need from your pocket?

I’m using my computer less and less these days. This phone has been revolutionary for me. I can read my bible, track my fitness, track my finances, surf the net, get my email, and make phone calls. Not too bad!

Read a great blog post at Jeff Kapusta’s blog that is a ‘reprint’ of an article by Francis Chan, pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA and author of Crazy Love.  Chan has a way of speaking and writing that really hits the nail on the head and cuts the reader/listener to the heart. If you want to read the article, head on over to Jeff’s site or Catalyst Space and check it out. Over here, I’d like to share one thought on the pinnacle verse that Chan shared. 

“Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.” — 1 John 2:6

What kind of life did Christ live? He lived, for most of his 33 years on Earth, as a normal human being. Of course he did some amazing things even before he began his public ministry, but by all appearances, he lived a normal life. He was born a baby. He wore diapers. He lost his teeth. He had chores. He got summer jobs. He was just like you and me. When he began his public ministry, he was still living as a ‘normal’ human. He had the same struggles that you and I have. He also did some crazy things. He performed miracles. He washed dirty, smelly feet. He ate and drank with some of the most hated people of his day. He touched lepers. He prayed a lot. He struggled with his calling. We talk about him like the life that he led is not attainable by us, even if we really wanted to live like him. Chan says, “In short: You think He’s a great Savior, but not a great role model.” I have to agree. I have to say that in my life, this is most often true. Sure, there are plenty of times where I’m totally living the Jesus life, but a lot of the time I’m living the Tony life. I claim that I’m intimate with Jesus, but my life doesn’t show it. 

One of the dreams/visions that I have for myself and my family is that we would be Jesus with skin on to the people around us. It is kind of hard to do that when I’m living the Tony life. It is hard to do that when my wife is living the Destiny life.  Sophia is only two, but she has a built in propensity to live the Sophia life. It is my hope and prayer that as I live the Jesus life, that she will long for that life as well. It is my hope and prayer that as I live the Jesus life that my neighbors and co-workers will long for the Jesus life. It is my hope and prayer that as I live the Jesus life that you will want to live the Jesus life as well.

Good thought to keep in mind: Would this (insert action/thought) imitate the life that Jesus lives and calls us to live?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

  John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word. He was with God and he was God.  Everything in existence was made by him and through him.  In the beginning was this man named Jesus.  We’ve been studying this man named Jesus’ life for the past few months in our worship gatherings at Real Life and it has certainly been interesting.  I always love to hear other people’s takes on scripture and the story of God and humanity and Real Life has some gifted teachers who bring new life to old stories.  This morning was no different.  Allow me to share a bit about my take on what the preacher shared. 

You’ve may or may not have read the Gospel of Matthew in which he records the genealogy of Jesus.  I say you may not have read this record simply because most people don’t.  Unless you are Mormon or really into genealogy, you probably skim over it like I have done many times.  The intersting thing about this section (and book) is that it is written primarily for Jews.  Jews would probably have taken great interest in what Matthew laid out.  Who is this man named Jesus?  Well, he was begotten by Joseph, the son of Jacob, the son of Matthan, the son of Eleazar…..You get the idea.  In all, 42 generations spanned from Abraham to Jesus.  A  Jew reading these names would know most all of them.  Names like David, Solomon, Uriah, Josiah, Obed, Ruth, Jesse, Rahab, Tamar…All ‘famous’ names in Jewish writings.  Some of these folks accomplished great things.  Some of these folks did great things…Most of these folks had something in their past or present lives that would exclude them from looking great on the outside. David, one of the most beloved Kings in all of World history, an adulterer.  Solomon, the wisest person to ever live.  Josiah, the good king.  Rahab, a friend to spies, but also a friend to many, many men who left money on the bedside table before leaving.  Tamar, a likely candidate for the Jerry Springer show because she pretended to be a prostitute so that she could seduce her father-in-law in order to bear a child in his line.  

The line of people that God chose to use in order to fulfill literally hundreds of prophecies simply amazes me.  And it gives me hope.  If there is hope for people like Tamar and Rahab and David and Jechoniah, then there is certainly hope for the rest of us.  If you think your family line is disfunctional, take a look at Jesus’ family line.  There are more miscreants and screw ups in this line that you shake a stick at!  I’m still amazed that I get a great deal of traffic to this site from the phrase “I suck at everything I do”.  If you’re here because you think that, this message is especially for you.

What is God’s message through all of this? His message is this (quotation and paraphrase mine): 

 ”I’ve been working through the entire span of human history, using ordinary, messed up people to accomplish what I wanted to do from the beginning.  What is that, you might ask?  I’ve been searching for you.  I’ve been longing for you to be near me so much that I used a long line of adulterers, prostitutes, and really bad kings to give you this man named Jesus.  All of history has been building toward this day, this day when I can be reunited with you, my child.  I love you.”

Christmas is undoubtedly a special time, even for people who don’t celebrate the birth of Christ.  Record attendence at churches across the land show time and again that there is still something amazing about this man named Jesus.  This year, more than ever,  Christmas is returning to the celebration of this man.  The glitz and glamour of presents and wrapping paper are fading, people are being humbled by life’s curveballs, and they are returning to the Bethlehem manger to gaze at the Christ child.  Whatever your leaning, I implore you to take a moment and relect on the monumentous accomplishments of God through a bunch of misfits to bring you grace, love, and peace through this man named Jesus.  At the risk of sounding corny, He is the reason for the season. 

From our family to yours, have a merry and blessed Christmas!  We wish you nothing but God’s blessing in the New Year and pray that you would start living life with this man named Jesus. 

A little more than 17 years has passed since I decided there was something missing from my life.  I remember clearly being at Pine Haven, the camp I went to and worked at for a good portion of my life, and responding to an altar call.  I spoke with my Cabin Dad about my decision and then when I returned home I spoke with my minister as well.  Later that week I was baptized.  Why am I thinking about this?

This past week a dear friend and minister of the Gospel passed away.  A man that has had and will continue to have a great impact on the Kingdom of God, David Kester.  A man that is dearly loved by many.  I was reading a transcript of the Eulogy that was delivered at his funeral by another friend and was deeply moved.  Not really by the words (although they were moving as well), but by the man whom the words were spoken about.  It dawned on me that one of the differences between David and myself is that David truly lead a Gospel Centered Life.  He understood that the Gospel isn’t something that we simply preach, it is something that we are.  The Gospel isn’t something that we read and write about, it is something that we embody.  Do we need to use words?  Sometimes.  Is the Kingdom impact even greater when we’re able to be the incarnation of the Gospel that we preach?  Indeed.

How is this done?  One of the things that struck me in reading my friend’s tribute to David was my memory of this man.  He was one of the wisest people I’ve ever met.  On the other hand, one of the funniest and most sarcastic people I’ve ever met.  His embodiment of the Gospel was simply by being him.  Sure, he was a pastor, a board member, a committee person, an author, but he was mostly just David.  I think that I often try to compartmentalize my personalities.  No, I’m not in need of medication.  I’m in need of repentance and repair, however.  It isn’t that I try to be someone I’m not.  It isn’t even that I’m dramatically different in the different sectors of my life.  I simply want to live a Gospel Centered Life.  I want my life to make even half the impact that David’s had.  I want my relationship with Jesus to be as personal as David’s.  I think that, more than anything, is what I’ve just now realized.  How can I invite people into a relationship that isn’t even that personal.  Oh sure, I have a lot of personal closeness with Jesus.  But thinking of the life of my friend David reminds me that I can be closer.  it isn’t a challenge to see who can be closer.  At the end of the day, David’s life was simply about helping people become closer to Jesus.  Thank You, Dave.  You’ll be missed until we meet again.

Today I dug out my copy of Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon.  I was reminded of this little book when I was reading my friend Chris Elrod’s blog a few days ago.

I was sitting at our kitchen table drinking an iced coffee and eating leftover pizza (the bachelor lifestyle!) reading what I thought was today’s entry.  Turns out it was actually yesterday’s, but since I slept until 4pm yesterday I guess I’m a day behind.  The verse for the entry is from Ezekiel and it says,

“Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.”
–Exodus 14:13

Spurgeon says, ” These words contain God’s command to the believer when he is reduced to great straits and brought into extraordinary difficulties. He cannot retreat; he cannot go forward; he is shut up on the right hand and on the left; what is he now to do? The Master’s word to him is, “Stand still.” …–keep the posture of an upright man, ready for action, expecting further orders, cheerfully and patiently awaiting the directing voice; and it will not be long ere God shall say to you, as distinctly as Moses said it to the people of Israel, “Go forward.”

I’m in an interesting season of life right now.  We’ve recently relocated to another state, changed jobs (including a halving of salary), and feel a tremendous force upon us to ‘do’ something.  I’m encouraged by the words of C.H. Spurgeon.  I’m here, standing still, waiting.

How many times have you chosen to serve or bow down to something or someone other than God?  How many times have you traded the good things of God for the garbage of this world?  I’ve gotta tell you, I’ve done it thousands, probably millions of times.

I’ve had this thought in my head for the last couple of months.  I’ve been playing back this one sentence from Romans 1 over and over.  When I’m thinking about all of the stresses of this life that are weighing on me like a ton of bricks, I think about the lies that are behind that stress.  I miss the beauty of the truth of God in the mess of life, when fact of the matter is that the truth of God is the beauty of the mess.  Often I talk with people who wonder why bad things happen to good people or why if God called them to do something then why are they struggling financially or physically or emotionally?  God never said it would be easy.  He never said it would be without trials.  In fact, he guarantees that there will be.  The truth of the matter is that in the face of those trials is where the beauty of God’s Kingdom is found.  I think about our own situation, our own mess.  I go back and forth in my mind with God about what He wants us to do here.  I struggle with trading the truth of God in the beauty of the mess for the lies that the world and those around me are telling me.  We knew coming in that it would be hard and I’m stepping it up big time.  I’m pressing on, I’m living in the beauty of the mess.  I reflected on this beauty the other day when I was on break at work.  I was sitting in a break room with a guy in a wheelchair who is from Haiti, a Chinese girl and a Puerto Rican girl and we were all talking to each other.  I glimpsed the Kingdom in that moment.

Exchanging the truth of God for a lie can look different for everyone.  It could be the porn addict exchanging the truth of God for the lie that the woman/man on the computer screen wants them.  It could be the work-a-holic that trades his family for cash.  It could be the school kid who cheats on the exam.

For me, it is the things of my past that I exchange for the truth of God.  I’m letting go.  I’m trading in the lies for the Truth.  Going back into the beauty of the Truth.