Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Partying... with Jesus?
After this he went out and saw a man named Levi at his work collecting taxes. Jesus said, "Come along with me." And he did - walked away from everything and went with him. Levi gave a large dinner at his home for Jesus. Everybody was there, tax men and other disreputable characters as guests at the dinner. The Pharisees and their religion scholars came to his disciples greatly offended. "What is he doing eating and drinking with crooks and 'sinners'?" Jesus heard about it and spoke up, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I'm here inviting outsiders, not insiders - an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out."
Levi, Levi, Levi, what were you thinking? He just became a follower of Jesus, and I know he was excited about his new-found faith, but his friends were scum of the earth! He wasn't exactly making himself look good either. How awkward must that dinner party have been? I wonder if the disciples politely grinned and looked out of the corner of their eyes at one another as the others talked and laughed about the crimes they had commited and the money they had stolen that day. Do you suppose the disciples' faces turned red at the filthy stories and vulgar jokes shared over dessert? I wonder if the immoral lifestyle lived by these friends of Levi made the disciples uncomfortable. Do you suppose Jesus was masterful as He articulated the segue from their corrupt conversation into the saving mercy of His Father? And what about those Pharisees? I bet they felt stupid when Jesus pointed out the obvious, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick?" Oh to be a fly on the wall at that dinner party.
Jesus sure got Himself into some controversial situations and yet He was without sin... dining with "outsiders - not insiders." Why do Christians get so pretentious when it comes to their social circles? Take a lesson from Levi, you cannot change lives by helping the FOUND get found, you have to help the LOST get found. You cannot invite people IN who are already in, you must invite those who are OUTSIDE in. Or in the words of Jesus, "Who needs a doctor - the healthy or the sick?" I am personally challenged by the adorable excitement of Levi. He was so green to following Christ, he didn't even know he was supposed to be snob. Love that! Go Levi! I strive to NEVER find myself in a situation, or a church, that resembles the Pharisees. Bring them in, bring the wandering ones to Jesus.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
POKE. POKE. POKE. POKE. POKE.
Friday, September 18, 2009
My Kryptonite
A few weeks ago, my friend Traci gave me her plan. She picks out recipes from magazines, cookbooks, and online resources, prepares a shopping list, and shops once every two weeks. She said it might cost her around $160 for a family of 4. So, I did it. I picked out 9 recipes, wrote down all the ingredients that I would need and went to the store. I spent $360. Apparently I have no reservoir of groceries and spices to draw from and therefore had to purchase more than Traci typically purchases.
Responses to the first two weeks of cooking have been, and I quote, "too spicy", "too bland", "not enough cheese", "not hungry enough to eat this", and my favorite, "it tastes like ammonia smells." Tastes like ammonia smells? I followed the recipe precisely! It's as if food touches my hands and somehow becomes polluted. The food doesn't start out rotten it just ends up that way through the cooking process. I'm not giving up though. It is do or die! Cook or be cooked! Fry or get fried! I will not quit because I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and, doggonit, people like me! I'll keep you posted.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
"Hey, That's What I Said!"
Footnote: I was advised not to post the link of the plagiarizing pastor and to take the high road. It sure is lonely up here. :0)
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Remember Backward Masking?
Friday, July 31, 2009
Led by Truth

A few weeks ago I found a website that you can upload your photos and do some pretty fun things with them. So I was goofing around and uploaded pictures of me and the kids. This morning I was cleaning off my desktop on my computer and opened up this picture. It's just a picture of me but I've been converted into some kind of museum display that is being gawked at by various people. Just before I hit delete, I had this moment of realization that this doctored picture represents so much of the emotion that has encumbered me these last two years. I won't go into all the events that have transpired but the results of those events have left our family in the critics' eye. Now, anyone who has ever been in a position of leadership knows that there are always going to be critics, that is accepted. The difficult thing to accept is the final judgement by those individuals who do not understand the subject they are gawking at. Even worse, is the passing of that judgement from person to person, people who have no personal information or relationship to the subject. This is not exclusive to leadership either, this social defect sabotages students, coworkers, television personalities, families, etc. Why is it that people feel entitled to determine "truth" about an individual by merely discussing them with others rather than actually talking TO them? Is it just easier or do we feel entitled to our opinions and therefore choose to believe our opinions are factual? Facebook and other social networks certainly do not help. One comment on a social network can begin a flurry of speculation and opinion. Let me add here that everyone is guilty of this. Face it, it's easier to come to an assumed conclusion and let that be our own personal "fact" than to attempt to find resolution or seek out truth. After all, the truth might not be what we wanted to hear or even worse, it may not be any of our business. Next time you make a presumption about a person or a situation, ask yourself this question, "Does this have anything to do with me and/or am I part of the problem or solution?" If the answer is "No", make it a personal challenge to not formulate "truth." If you are a victim of speculation, remember that truth always has a way of revealing itself. Practice good character and you will find yourself supported by people of equal character. Practice poor character and... well, you get the picture.
Psalm 25:1-5 "O Lord, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God! Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you."
