Tag Archives: humor

Pondering a Viking Posed Question

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“What’s in your wallet?” is a well known phrase. It is a clever caption coined by the credit card company master card. I suppose the phrase correctly belongs to an overweight Viking wreaking havoc in some modern day setting, as is the usual scenario for the commercial. But the question posed by this simple Viking is rather complex. What is in your wallet? In our society the wallet represents that which gets us the things we need to survive. We pull out our wallet at the gas pump, the grocery store, and pretty much anywhere we need something. Yet our wallet is also our source of charity. We pull it out at church, when our kids are in need, even perhaps when we see a homeless man asking for assistance on the roadside. We all have a spiritual wallet as well, a source from which we supply our spiritual needs and the needs of those around us as well. And frankly this Viking posed question is far more profound when it is considered spiritually. It would not be difficult for all of us to pull out our wallets this morning and answer the question “What’s in our wallet”. I have a few receipts, some business cards, a photo or two and so on. But to answer “What’s in your spiritual wallet” is challenging, especially when it comes to what we can give to others when they ask us for help.

What we do give to those who ask is a deeply important subject in the Word of God and the book of Acts gives us a story that will help us to understand what we should give to those seeking our help. Take a look at Acts 3:1-10.

The simple truth is Peter gave what he had and we need to be the type of people who “give what we’ve got”.

Peter first had to figure out what he had, because what he did not have what was asked for, namely gold and silver. He knew his life had been changed so he offered the only thing in his possession that was able to meet this man’s need, Jesus Christ. Are you focused on what you have or what you don’t?

Next, Peter had to give what he had in a way that connected with this lame man. He did this by offering dignity to this man. How many times have you stopped to look a beggar in the eye? Offering dignity with our gift is huge! People need to see they are loved. Jesus spent time with prostitutes, tax collectors and thieves and in each one he saw someone worth dying for. Do we see as Peter saw…as Jesus sees? Peter was truthful too. I love the fact he told this man he was broke but not unable to give him what he needed. Be honest with people. Lastly, he offered this man compassion. He stopped. He reached down and picked this man up. He took the time to “give what he had”.

The world is asking us to answer some pretty deep questions. I don’t think this lame man was only asking for money alone. He was looking for a way to survive. He found this and more in Jesus the Nazarene. What are you giving to those in the world who are looking to you for an answer to the deep questions of their life? They need to hear from you that Jesus can help them right where they are!

Friends, when we answer the questions of the world we don’t just impact one life, we impact many. Look at the end of the story. Everyone who knew this lame man were amazed at what had happened to him. When those around see someone connect a question with the answer they are profoundly impacted.

The truth  friends is that you can have absolutely nothing in your wallet and still have everything to give one who is asking you for help. When Christians give what they’ve got men and women around them experience the transformation of Jesus Christ. Let us be those who would seek to answer the questions asked us with the grace of Jesus Christ.

Community Questions:

Do you ever find it difficult to give what you’ve got when someone is asking for something else?

Why is it important to address spiritual needs along with physical needs?

 

A Sure “Sign” Part 2

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I never ceased to be amazed  by the throngs of people who show up at a God sighting. Story after front page story record the numerous ways in which the maker reveals himself; On a hillside, in the clouds and even in a taco (Read the Story)!

Why is it that people show up by the thousands to see a “sign” from God yet so few people have a real understanding of what the Bible has to say?

Consider it, the Bible is the best God sighting of all time yet many people would disagree…I wonder why.As you try and decipher God’s plan for you remember this second guideline.

Guideline 2: If you want to know what God wants, follow what the Bible has to say.

It’s not over simplistic, rather it’s foundational. The Word of God guides our understanding. You may ask, “why is this the second guideline and not the first?”. Notice from our story in Acts (1:12-26) that is was only after Peter had united around the mission of Jesus that he was able to fully understand what the Bible had to say (verses 16-22). There is something to be said about understanding that these guidelines build upon one another. If we know the mission yet are divided about uniting around it then we can never really understand the Word of God fully. The mission is a lens through which we view the Word of God.

Now, I want you to see how familiar Peter was with the Word of God. Given his situation and where he was I am amazed that he recalled the book of Psalms and yet, without hesitation it seems, he rattles off two verses from two separate chapters that help him understand the way forward. At times, the way forward for us can seem complex. Yet if we are familiar with the Word of God. If we spend time in it, ruminate it’s books, and get ink on our fingers it can often guide us forward despite the complexities of life.

So is it time to brush up on your Bible reading? Maybe you need to revisit your plan for regular reflection in the Word.

Why look all about for a God sighting when He can be found in the Bible? It seems strange to me to pack up and head across country to stare at the face of Jesus on a billboard when He is in our living rooms, library, churches, bedrooms, and even in the dresser drawer of hotels. Spend time getting to know God in the places He is already. The more you know His Word the clearer His direction for your life will become.

Community Questions:

Why do you feel so many people flock to God Sightings?

Do you have an effect Bible study practice or tip? Why not share with others your secret to success.

Don’t Forget to Say Grace

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My wife and I love to watch cooking shows. Some shows boast great cooks; some just an entertaining story line. But no matter the chef’s expertise or how “impossible” the meal, all cooking show hosts share one thing in common; they’re in love with their own food. Don’t believe me? Settle in for a quiet evening with the Food Network and prove me wrong. Every taste test delivers a delicious explosion of flavor to the chef’s delicate palate.  And they’re quick to tell us so.

Never a mistake. Never a flaw. But there is one big problem; I can never recreate the master piece without a little mess.

Sometimes as Christians, we act a lot like these chef’s, only instead of complimenting food we constantly focus on our own lives. Every time even a little introspection is performed we laud our own accomplishments. We present to those who are watching a perfect life.

Never a mistake. Never a flaw. But there is one big problem; no one can ever act like that.

Watching cooking shows has never inspired me to be a chef and I think it’s a safe assumption to say that “perfect” Christians rarely inspire others to pursue a relationship with Christ.  It’s a real shame too, because cooks and Christians get it wrong sometimes. We mess up. We’ve all burned a soufflé or two in our time (figuratively speaking of course).  So grace, not perfection, is what we need to celebrate. Grace is what we need to praise and hold up as the star. Not ourselves.

Only when we allow grace to steal the show can we provide those watching the inspiration to try and see that they can experience the love of God that will change their lives forever.

Community Questions:

What is your favorite cooking show?

How can we allow Grace to be prominent in our every day lives?

Gourmet Garbage

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Even gourmet food found in a dumpster is garbage! There is just something about a half eaten slice of pizza that in a single moment transforms it into common garbage when it goes into the waste can. Food in the trash is such an intriguing subject for our culture that even sitcoms have gotten into making fun of the topic, or have we all forgotten the classic Seinfeld episode where George gets into trouble for eating an eclair? Yet it doesn’t stop there…activist groups have coined the phrase “freeganism” as representing an alternative lifestyle which has as a defining characteristic dumpster diving your dinner on a regular basis.

Isn’t it odd that in a world full of food some people, who could otherwise easily afford a meal, actually prefer to dumpster dive their dinner? Yet when it comes to spiritual matters many individuals who are disgusted by garbage gluttons are seemingly unaffected when they themselves dine on spiritual swill. Are we among them?

Have you ever stopped to consider the condition that your soul is in? One author I was recently reading told an excellent story about a young woman he met in an inn one day. She was a lowly servant girl and she asked this man to teach her to pray. He taught her a simple four word prayer… “Lord show me myself”. After a few days of praying this prayer the girl was so overcome with sorrow and guilt that the weight of it all was almost unbearable. It was at this time that the man taught her another four word prayer… “Lord show me yourself”. She was never the same again. When we come face to face with our spiritual condition, with the decay of our own soul, the selfishness of our heart what else can we do but be disgusted by what we see. Yet, when we see Jesus in all his glory what else can we do but rejoice and be thankful for all He accomplished on the cross.

Friends never forget the spiritual squalor we were in when Jesus found us, because if we do it won’t be long until we have convinced ourselves that our original condition was never really that bad…and that my friends is like waking up one day, going into the kitchen and saying to yourself what’s the difference, I’ll just each some trash!