Same Difference!

I’ve had the opportunity to work with many, many churches over the last few decades.   Earlier I was thinking about this ever-growing list of churches and ministry situations that I’ve stepped into.  I departed each of these situations (some much more quickly than others!) with some indelible marks on my spirit.  Which is a testament to God and the many ways he allows us to be impacted.

Old Church, New Church, Big Church, Children’s Church, or maybe just:  The Church

Different buildings in different parts of town.  All filled with different groups of people.  With different doctrines.  Different histories.  Different priorities.  Different ways of approaching God.  Different, different, different.

√-1=i

Ummmm… 

Wait… What? Are you sure?

I was told there would be no math.

Is there math?

I hate math.

Well, no.  There’s not really any math except my likely poor explanation of the title.

Perhaps many of you read the title and understand what it says. If not, then here’s where the actual math ideas come…

The square root of negative 1 equals i (which stands for imaginary number… since nothing squared would result in a negative number).  So i is an imaginary number.

Okay.  So this is simply a formula that has an imaginary answer.  Just grab that point and walk away!

Your Crazy Family 3:16

Well… yes and no.

You’ll need your Bible today.

Are you approaching a difficult life decision?
Just look in the book of What You Should Do In Every Thinkable Situation, Chapter 3, Verses 5 and 6.

Have a child who is beginning to make bad decisions?
Turn to the book of 21st Century Child Rearing, Chapter 7, Verses 11-26.

Do you have some serious doubts about this Jesus guy and what he did?
Open your Bible to Why You’re Crazy for Not Believing in Jesus 4:13-17.

Would You Read Elvis’ Bible?

Well, it’s off the market…  Elvis Presley’s personal Bible now belongs to someone new.  And since the winning bid was a mere $94,600, I assure you it isn’t me.

Elvis’ Bible

Apparently this particular Bible is his well-worn personal copy, having been used from 1957 until his death in 1977.

I also read that there was another bit of “memorabilia” from the same auction that did not find a new home.  What was it, you ask?

Try Harder!

We “attack” life, don’t we?  Most of us, anyway?

Or we at least like to “get motivated” to go out there and do, do, do!  

Achieve, achieve, achieve!

You know… “Carpe Diem” and all that.  Think about it: Seize the day!  Seize it!  Throttle it!  Throttle today into submission.  Make it give you what you need.  If not now, then when?  Seize it, I tell you!  Seize it! SEIZE IT! NOW!!!

[deep breath]

It’s exhausting.

“1,068.”

As I pushed the keys across the counter, I answered the girl’s question.  ”One thousand sixty-eight.”  She raised her eyebrows and whistled in amazement.

“Long way.”

“No kidding.  I’m exhausted.”

Ya Gotta Have Faith!

One of the greatest innovations in the true spectator sport of ‘channel surfing’ is the availability of the “Info” button.  The magical ability to know, by the simple press of a button, what a particular episode or movie is about is truly awesome!  Maybe you take this ability for granted.  But I, for one, grew up on rabbit ear antennas and changing channels by twisting a large knob on the front of the TV.  So I love being able to find out exactly which one of the 178 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation we’re watching.

"Bones and Brennan investigate after a man is found dead."

I bring this up because of a recent description I ran across while channel surfing last week.  I imagine many of you have at least a passing familiarity with the FOX television series Bones.  This particular show has been around, according to my exhaustive Wikipedia research, since September of 2005.  So maybe you, too, will see why I thought the following episode description was amusing.  After hitting the “Info” button on a Bones episode one evening I read the following:

Bones episode description:  Booth and Brennan investigate after a man is found dead.

“Oh for grace…”

I want to start by sharing some selected thoughts today. Take them in… as snapshots of life. Don’t over-think any of it. Don’t “think ahead” of any of it.

Just let the images float through your mind. Insert yourself into the picture.

peace… with my Lord so near

my path grows brighter every day

I am safe. I am secure. From anything that would frighten or disturb me.

Fellowship, joy, blessedness and peace… just by relying on him

Sounds great, doesn’t it? Sign me up for THAT ride, friend!

Contractually Obligated

Confession time:

I’m unemployed.  And so is my wife.

Now, this isn’t actually news to regular readers here… (see previous posts like this one).  But I mention it to again frame up the situation.  This same framework that makes up our “situation” isn’t exactly completely of our own construction, of course.  One doesn’t usually design your life around being asked to resign a few days before you get married.  That’d  be weird.  And likely detrimental to the overall health of your marriage (or even your life, depending on your wife’s temperament).

So we find ourselves in this situation.  We didn’t really make it, but we’re here, nonetheless.  We also both feel very strongly that God is calling us to another place (honestly, it’s a completely different state, but more on that later).  And as we wrestle with this and try to leave, we learn that we’re locked into a lease that the owner (not the management company!) .  Which says we have no right of early termination.