The Final Random Question for the Time Being

Hey everybody, thanks for journeying with me this week...very introspective and fun week...lots of good comments.

Which brings up another point, if you read my blog, and like it, tell somebody about it. Better yet, link to it and let me know so I can link back to yours too.

With that said....here's the Final Random Question for the Time Being:

What can you do at work today that will bring recognition to Christ? How can you let others see Him in you?

For me, one of my employee's mother passed last night. I'm praying for Christ to be her comfort and peace. I'm also going to try to be God's comfort and peace to her and her family via flowers, a card signed by all of us, a phone call, and more. I'll be honest and tell you I often don't know what to do or say in times such as these, but I do know just being there for someone means more than you know.

How about you?

The Masters - Caddies

I love the game of golf. One of the reasons I love it so much is because of caddies and the manner by which they serve their player. Which got me to thinking....


What if Jesus had a caddy?

• He wouldn't have been the one washing the disciples' feet.
• There would've been three people on the lake that night.
• He wouldn't have had to endure those 40 days alone.
• He would've had a much better ride into town - his caddy would've seen to that.
• He would've had something more thirst-quenching when He needed it most.

Come to think of it, Jesus did have a caddy at one point in His life and he's mentioned here. He served his Pro well.

How can you be Jesus' caddy today?

Quotes.3

Here's one that really gets me pumped up:

Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity. - Horace Mann

If you've been following my blogs this week, yesterday's may've seemed a little critical. I admit I after reading it the tone sure sounded critical to me. That wasn't my intention, however. I was trying to be motivational, and it came up a bit short of that aim (at least, I felt). Horace, on the other hand, hit a homerun with his statement.

I want The Church to take this quote to heart. Who's The Church? You and I. We are The Church. Lately, I've become discontent with my content. I'm too content - physically, spiritually, at work, and at home. I've been running, reading, praying, loving, serving, evaluating, eating better, and striving for excellence at work more than ever. I want Christ to be exalted in every way in my body, my words, my actions, my thoughts, and most importantly my life.

What about you? If you were to die today, what victory for humanity would you be "ashamed" you didn't achieve? What victories are you winning?

Thinking of "Joe"

"Joe" was one of my best friends (I'm using a pseudo-name for privacy). I say "was" because our relationship is not what it used to be.

I met "Joe" my freshman year at college, and we immediately connected on many levels. Sports. Love of the outdoors. Politics. Zest for education and broadening our horizons. Living life for all its worth. Leadership. Cigars. And especially, Christ.

"Joe" introduced me to Rich Mullins - the first Christian musician who truly impressed me. He challenged me to pour myself into my daily quiet times. He reminded me a lot of King David - a warrior poet, a true renaissance man. He was a major player in my spiritual growth and development. Iron sharpened iron.

I don't know when or where or how it happened. Maybe it was from his overbearing father's unmet expectations. Maybe it was on his 100-day-trek across Europe the summer after he graduated from undergrad. Or maybe during the other trips he took to other countries. All I know is somewhere, somehow "Joe" lost his faith. Somehow his view of Christ as Savior, Redeemer, and Lord became blurred and compromised and "narrow-minded." Silver tarnished. Iron rusted and became brittle.

Our last conversation (via email) ended like this:

I respect you and your faith. All I ask is that you respect my new outlook on life. Please respect that I have put a lot of thought into this decision. If you want to continue our relationship, please keep your thoughts about Jesus to yourself. You can not change my mind. "Joe"

Today I fasted from sunrise to sunset. Mainly to prepare and to reflect upon Easter. As I did so, I was reminded that Easter is a celebration of Resurrection. Despair gave way to Hope. Gloom took a backseat to Joy. Death exited. Life triumphantly took center stage. And I prayed for "Joe" that this Easter would be the Resurrection of his faith in Christ.

May He truly become ALIVE in YOU this weekend!

My Top 20

Whoa! Where'd the week go? Geesh, it just seemed like yesterday when I began my Top 20. Sorry to leave you all hanging like that. Here we go...

15. I am God's handiwork - created by Him intentionally to accomplish good works for Him. (Eph. 2:10)

14. I am raised up and seated with God in the heavenly realms. (Eph. 2:6)

13. I have been tattooed with a seal - the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 1:13)

12. I have every spiritual blessing at my disposal. (Eph. 1:3)

11. I am a son of God! What do I have to fear? (Gal. 3:26)

Of course, in all of these, so are you! Which one means the most to you right now in this moment of your life?

My Top 20

A few years ago I went through a "Preaching for Dummies" class with our campus pastor and several other men in our church. It was a really neat class designed to challenge and sharpen our skills in the area of preaching. One of our first assignments was to spend some time in the Word identifying the "Top 20 Things of who we are in Christ." Here's mine:

20. I have been gifted with eternal life. (Rom. 6:23)
19. I am purposefully set apart by grace. (2 Tim. 1:8-9)
18. I am complete in Christ. (Col. 2:9-15)
17. I am richly cared for. (Phil. 4:19; Matt. 6:25-34)
16. I am guarded by God's transcendent peace. (Phil. 4:7)

Have you put together a Top 20? Do any of these speak to you so far? How?