Everything I Need to Know About Killing Cockroaches I Learned on Twitter

          I love Twitter.  It lets me enjoy the insanity that passes through the day to day lives of my family and friends.  And everyone knows that sharing insanity will keep you sane!  It also lets me enjoy the wisdom and humor of those much smarter and more famous who share their lives and insights as well.

          And so it was, that I was fortunate enough to be following @tonymorganlive when he announced the sign up for the early PDF copy of his latest book, Killing Cockroaches.  If you have followed Tony's blog or twitter, then you know the book is going to be good before you ever read it.  And, no surprise, it was great.  The book encompasses many topics common to leaders at all levels. The common denominator throughout is his ability to take the question at hand, and peel away the pat answers, and cause us to consider the true purpose for all the things we do.   And by focusing on those purposes, we spend more of our time doing what we were called to do, not killing cockroaches. The book is divided by topic; many will make you laugh, most will make you think; and rethink.

This is a book you will want to buy, not borrow from your pastor or friend.  The topics may not all apply to you at this point in your life or ministry, but down the road, you will want to be able to go back and read a particular section again.  Cockroaches have a way of reappearing from time to time.

You can find much more concise info about the book at tonymorganlive.com and you can go to Amazon to order your copy.

Counting My Pennies

One of my all-time favorite speakers is John Wood, pastor of Christ Chapel in Macon.  Several years ago, he made a comment in a sermon that I have reminded myself of many times.  To paraphrase it, he said, that each day, we only have a certain amount of "pennies" to spend.  Those pennies represent our minutes and hours, emotions and energies.  He cautioned his listeners against spending them foolishly, because when you are out, you are out.  You just can't spend more than you have.  (at this point, I could make an enormous comparison to the economy, however, I will refrain.  He wasn't going there at the time and neither am I now.) 

At the risk of sounding ( and being) harsh, I wonder how many of us spend way too many  of our "pennies" on needy Christians when it would be better stewardship of those times and energies to reach out to the unchurched around us.  When that thought went through my mind earlier this week, I felt guilty at first.  After all, we are called to love each other.  "For by this all men will know that you are my disciples", right?  And we are called to share each other's burdens, "Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ", right?  But when some Christians depend more on other Christians to sustain them, than they do on God, is that helping them?  I'm not saying we should abandon our Christian friends in time of need.  But those people who seem to stay in a time of need, and that need is me, not God, it may be time to cut the cord.

Reaching out to the lost can be time consuming.  And they may require extra patience and grace on my part to show them the true love of Jesus.  If I have spent all my "pennies" on my Christian friends and have none left for the lost, I just don't know that I have been a good steward.  

Where do you spend your pennies?

Not Keeping Score

I have taken some days to think about this one:  Keeps no record of wrongs.  Hmmm.  Not really sure I want to think about it, because when I do, I feel like this is something that is humanly impossible.  I KNOW when someone has "wronged" me.  I can choose not to act like it, but I still KNOW that they did something that was wrong, or mean, or just bothered me.  I can't forget it.  I can forgive them, but the next time I see them, I will remember the deed.  I don't forget much. 

So, I studied some, and I thought some, and this is idea floated through my head sometime today;  "if I'm not keeping record of these wrongs, maybe that's like playing tennis and not keeping score."  If one player is a lot more skilled at tennis than the other, they both know who has won more points.  They just don't talk about it.  

And maybe not keeping a record of wrongs means that I'm not looking for a chance to get even for those hurts.  I'm not watching for an opportunity put someone down, because they were rude to me a week ago.  I don't take the opportunity to share my hurtful experience with others, even if they bring the subject up. 

Often the purpose of keeping score is to accumulate bragging rights at the end of the game.  Maybe when we truly love like Jesus does, we aren't looking for bragging rights.  Because we know that in light of His love, we don't have anything to brag about anyway.

This one still bothers me some.  I'm working on not keeping score.  It really shouldn't be that hard for me.  I'm not real good with numbers anyway.

I'm out of 1 Corinthians 13, finally.  I think I have enough to work on in my own life to keep me busy til next Valentine's Day!  

Trying to be Proud and not be Proud!

Trying to continue in this chapter on love, I have moved on, but not far.  Still in verse 4; these words describe love; "It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."  I avoided Mr. Webster this time, and went to Google instead!

The world puts great value on being the best and being recognized as such.  There are countless books on self-promotion.  "Promote yourself, no one else will!"  The ends to these advisories are all self-seeking and self-serving.  You can google the "Most Profitable Companies", the "Best Actors & Movies", the "Highest Ranked Athletes", and the "Top Sales Results" and see results that the world applauds.  And, in the church, we should settle for nothing less than being the very best we can be for Jesus.  But the goal of that excellence is to bring Him glory, not ourselves.  When the focus shifts from Jesus to me, I am on shaky ground.  

I don't have to discount my achievements or accomplishments to avoid being proud.  I can acknowledge these with the humility that the only way I can succeed at all is through Jesus.  After all, it is His gifts to me that I use to live my life every day.  All I have and all that I could ever hope to do or achieve is a direct result of His unfailing mercy and grace poured in my life. 

If I use the words, best, most, top, and highest; let them be to make my top priority be to bring my highest praise to the most Holy God who has given His love through the best gift ever, His Son, Jesus.

When my pride is in the Lord, not myself, everything else stays in perspective. 

 

Distraction!

 I have been distracted. Well, I have been made mad. And that distracted me. So, instead of doing the next word in my weekly study on love (which, by the way was, proud), I have to throw my two cents worth into the traditional church debate.

It makes me mad when I hear speakers in places of great influence bashing traditional churches and methods.  Granted, the way things were 25 years ago, is not how things are now.  And the best ways to present the gospel, technically, 25 years ago, isn't the best way to present the gospel today.  However, there were churches that were effective!  They did the best they could with what they had.  Today, I heard a sermon literally ridiculing songs that were sung in the mid 70's as well as some of the methods of teaching that were used.  These were songs that brought my heart to a place of sincere worship of God.  How dare we ridicule those who God used for that time?  Flannelgraph was used to teach kids because we didn't have DVD's or Powerpoint for illustrations.  We sang "How Great Thou Art" because Chris Tomlin was 2 years old, and hadn't written "How Great is Our God" yet.  

God has never had a problem using what was available and seemingly insufficient to meet the task at hand.  He used a willing servant and unlikely tools:

David & some stones to kill a giant.

Samson & a jawbone of a donkey to kill a thousand men.

A boy & his lunch to feel 5,000.

He used Jehovah Jireh and flannelgraph to reach me.

I know there were many churches that were judgmental.  I know there were many people who acted spiritually aloof.  But, there were many that loved God.  And served Him faithfully.  And reached out to everyone with that love.  I owe them my thanks and respect.   And the best way I can do that is by serving God just as faithfully, to reach out to everyone I can with that love, using everything I have at my disposal today.  And in the case where that isn't sufficient, He will meet the need of the task at hand.

 

Love is Patient, Even on Mondays!

So, following my Sunday "love" challenge, I have spent much of today with the word "Patient" floating around in the back my mind.  This morning, I did just some basic research; I got out the dictionary.  I all ready had this sneaking suspicion that this was going to be more than just a week's devotion material.  I imagined that  to look at the scope of these verses in 1 Corinthians 13 would, at best, challenge me to love at a new level, and, at worst, cause me to slink away from my desk shameful that I have ever said that I have the "love of Christ" in me.  So, I didn't get the concordance, or Bible commentaries.  Let's go with something a bit easier to start off.  I got the dictionary.  

I haven't read the biography of Noah Webster, but I think I will be adding it to my list.  He has to be a preacher, son of a preacher, or something religious.  This is what he says about being  patient:

"from Latin, pati- to suffer".  "from Greek, pema- suffering"

ok, all ready I have had enough, but he continues,

"1. bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint

  2. manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain

  3. not hasty or impetuous

  4. steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity."

So, key words here are:  pains, trials, provocation, strain, opposition, difficulty and adversity.

None of those are on my "Happy Word of the Day" calendar.  Where is the definition that says if you are patient you smile if you have to wait in line at Starbucks?  I can do that.  And it doesn't involve pain, trials, strain....etc.  So, I suppose that means that if I truly want to love, I am going to have to deal with those key words.  And deal with them using the other key words, calmly, without complaint, forbearing, steadfast.  

Monday's choice:  Happy Word of the Day Calendar or Patient?

What do you choose?

The Weekend of Love

What a great weekend. Valentine's Day. I got cash and chocolate. 2 of the 3 necessi-C's of life! And I all ready have plenty of coffee, the 3rd "C", so, pretty much, life is as good as it gets on Valentine's Day! Of course, you can't get through the weekend talking about love, without thinking back on 1 Corinthians 13. So, I thought, what better way to end my weekend than to read those flowing, soothing, verses of harmony and peaceful living? I gathered two pieces of chocolate, a fresh cup of coffee, and settled down with my Bible open to page 1949. It all starts so nice, "Love is patient, love is kind..." but as I read, I found I couldn't just skim through those familiar verses as usual. In fact, I had a hard time getting past the first line. Patient. I'm a fairly patient person, most days. And I try to be kind. As the verses go on, I linger on these words, not jealous, boastful, proud, rude, keeping no record of wrongs, never gives up, never loses faith, hopes and endures. So, what I thought would be a soothing ending to my Sunday, has stirred a compelling to look at these verses every day this week and see what they look like lived out in my day, in my house, in my family.  I plan to look at these verses and try to absorb what they mean in real life.

I'll post my thoughts each day. I'd love to hear yours, too.

I hope your Valentine's Day was a good one.

I hope you know you are loved, not just at Valentine's Day, but every day.

And, this week, I hope to make sure I am loving like I should be. God's way.

I Would Switch to Decaf, But....

According to the 2008 CIA World Fact Book, I can expect to live until I am 80.97 years old.   That puts my funeral at Dec. 20, 2038.  (I guess I will miss Christmas that year.  Rats.  I like Christmas.)  I had plans for today that were suddenly changed this morning.  So, with the unexpected, and rare, unappointed morning hours, I began to think of what I should do.  Or could do.  Or wanted to do.  And the more I thought, the more I realized that I have so many "do-s", I probably don't have enough days for all those "do-s".  Here are some of the thoughts that I have contemplated this morning:  

I love to cook.  But recently,  looking at my collection of 75+ cookbooks, I decided to go through them, try what looked good, and then pass them on.  Ok, that means if I could use 1 entire cookbook a week, it will take until August 2010 before I can get through them all.  And most of my days would be spent cooking.  But I can't cook all day, because I also need to:

Read.  I love reading.  My 13 "read next" books on my desk are looming.  I have some on my computer.  If, while I am cooking all day, I can read two a week, by April, I will be ready to start on my bookshelf books, and whatever new ones have come out since then.  Perhaps after reading while I cook, I can:

Write.  I have 3 books started on my computer.  People who have known me a while and know about these keep asking.."How's the writing coming"....Well, I'm thinking about it.  Writing is time consuming, too. You see, right now I'm trying to cook, and read, and..

Teach.  I really, really love teaching the kids.  So, between cooking and reading that writing, I can plan my lessons, and games, and do my followup, and recruit, and encourage volunteers,  and besides that, I have these....

Dreams.  To travel to some of the beautiful places that God created.  To get to hike and white water kayak in (exotic) Idaho.  And then, of course, the ultimate dreams, to have a clean house, and the yard to look nice....and who doesn't dare the dream that you could open your garage door  without embarrassment.

Lord, I just need to ask for an extension.  I just don't see all this happening by 2038.   

And Stacie thinks I should switch to decaf.

Seriously?

One of the best things about teaching children is that it always seems that the lessons apply just as much to me as they do to the kids.  For the month of February, we are following the theme; "Got Love?".  Last week we covered that we all have God's Love, because He first loved us.  And this week, we take that foundation, and apply it to our families.  Since we have God's Love, we can love our families.

Seems simple enough.  But, loving our families isn't always an easy thing to do. I mean, I love my family, but there are days I don't like my family.   Why is it that our own families are the ones that seem to get on our nerves the most.  Why do we often have less patience with them than we do total strangers?

Now, I'm all for Random Acts of Kindness.  I joined, and then actively solicited members for the "365 Club" that challenges it's members to do one random act of kindness a day.  I think that is an awesome concept.  And I have been doing my best to watch for opportunities to be kind to the people I pass along my path each day.  (aka: scenery.  This was a great sermon that Pastor Ross preached a couple of years ago.  Crossroads #3.  If you haven't heard it, get it.  If you did, remember it.  "Every person in your path today is someone that Jesus died for".)

back on track:

I am trying to be kind to strangers.  But I have come to the conclusion that, some days,  it is so much easier to be kind to a random stranger than to my family members.  Maybe it's because we are with them so much, that they have more opportunities to upset us.  Maybe it's because we expect so much more from them because they are suppose to love us most!  Maybe it's because, especially moms, have spent many hours teaching and nurturing our children and when they fail to do the things we have tried to instill, it feels like we either failed as a parent, or worse, that our children (or husbands) know what we want, and they just don't care enough to do it.  Whether it's picking up clothes, closing closet doors, leaving dirty dishes on the counter, or watching TV while we talk, it makes us mad!  And we have a very short fuse for these infractions!

I'm just saying, if we were all as courteous and agreeable with our families as we are with the people at church on Sundays, things might be different at home.

The kids verse for this Sunday is:

"How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers (and sisters and moms and dads) live in harmony."  Psalm 133:1

Got Love?

too cold for Georgia

Looking out my backdoor this morning....

Passion

I sat in a meeting today and realized that people can be passionate about the strangest things. Prior to the main speaker, several people presented their ideas and services for consideration.  And because their particular passion has such a small place, if any, in my life, I found it surprising that they could really care that much about it.  But as I listened to them speak today, I realized, not only do they think it's important, they think everyone else does, too.  I tried to listen attentively.  I only twittered a few times.  And it wasn't that the ideas and services that they were promoting were bad, they just didn't appeal to me.  I could tell that they believed in their product.  That's fine for those who want them or like them, but I'm not buying.  I just didn't see the urgency or attraction of the given topic.  

Thinking about it this evening, it seems to me, that if we want people who are far from God to understand how great He is and how great He makes our lives, we have to convey our passion to them.   It takes more than a list of statistics.  It takes more than a brochure.  It takes more than a 3 minute infomercial stating all the reasons He can make life better.  They need to feel our passion.  Passion comes from the heart.  It comes with sincerity.  I to comes with measured words that are often holding back tears.  It comes with a voice that cannot be ignored, not because of it's volume, but because of the intensity with which those words hit the heart, not the ears.  

Lord, help us convey Your Wonder and Grace, passionately. 

The Eyes Have It

I love kids.  There is nothing I enjoy watching more than a child as they discover something new.  The delight over a pop up toy, or playing hide and seek, is as much fun for me as it is for the kid that squeals at finding the surprise in a toy or game.  Their eyes sparkle!  

It's rewarding to watch a child "get it".  When you are explaining the "why" or "how" that they have asked about, and you see their eyes widen, you know, they got it.  They understand. 

I will never cease to be thrilled at the sight of a child in church when they "get it".  Yesterday I was using flash paper, my oldest, yet still most favored object lesson, to show how, through Jesus, our sins could be completely gone.  No smoke; no ash; just gone in thin air.  Oh, the bright flash caused many oohs and aahs, but I saw one set of eyes widen.  And my spirit leaped.  This is what it's all about; he got it.