These really don't get old! Every time I see them..."funny for the masses!"
Friday, May 30, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
For Sale?
"She parks her car outside of my house and
Takes her clothes off,
Says she's close to understanding Jesus."
-"Round Here" by Counting Crows
"The first will be last and the last will be first."
-Jesus
"If Jesus came back and saw what's going on in his name, he'd never stop throwing up."
-Woody Allen
"Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducess (religious leaders)"
-Jesus
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
-Jesus
"Love your neighbor as yourself."
-Jesus
How much of my life has been spent trying to acquire value? Identity? Love? Life? Acceptance? The crazy thing about the message of Jesus is that it speaks to the core of who we are as human beings and what we've created in a western culture. Our culture seems to say that you get value through your job...because of your kids...because you're married...because of what you own (house, car, assets)....because of...you get the picture. The message of Jesus speaks to a different reality. You have value because you are created and are a human being. You are loved and accepted, not because of your job...not because of working at a church...not because of your parenting skills...not because of what you own...not because of your spouse or family...you are loved and accepted because you ARE loved and accepted. That's God's "economy".
Have you ever met someone who wasn't impressed by people who were obviously trying to be impressive? Have you even met someone who was completely human and completely content in who they were? It's so foreign to most, if not all of us, to look at ourselves and others through the "valued and accepted" perspective, isn't it. It's so hard to believe for ourselves. How much energy has been spent in the pursuit of something that we've always had in God's economy?
Have you ever found yourself getting sleep...but not rest?
It's so beautiful to see people who are aware of their "be-lovedness". The game doesn't work. You learn to see through it. You see how it impacts people. You see how it's impacted you. You see how things could be. You see how things are meant to be. God loves you...just as you are. God loves you...and accepts you...and values you...just as you are....where you are. Just....as....you....are. It takes repetition to internalize it. We get the other message all the time...all day...in all avenues...sometimes from so-called "God" avenues. If you know people who have learned and are learning to live in this reality...hang out with them...listen...be. There's a much cooler story unfolding all around us. May we learn to see.
"Round here we're carving out our names
Round here we all look the same
Round here we talk just like lions
But we sacrifice like lambs
Round here she's slipping through my hands
Sleeping children better run like the wind
out of the lightning dream
Mama's little baby better get herself in
out of the lightning
She says It's only in my head
She says Shhh I know it's only in my head"
-"Round Here" Counting Crows
"The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."
-Jesus
Takes her clothes off,
Says she's close to understanding Jesus."
-"Round Here" by Counting Crows
"The first will be last and the last will be first."
-Jesus
"If Jesus came back and saw what's going on in his name, he'd never stop throwing up."
-Woody Allen
"Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducess (religious leaders)"
-Jesus
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
-Jesus
"Love your neighbor as yourself."
-Jesus
How much of my life has been spent trying to acquire value? Identity? Love? Life? Acceptance? The crazy thing about the message of Jesus is that it speaks to the core of who we are as human beings and what we've created in a western culture. Our culture seems to say that you get value through your job...because of your kids...because you're married...because of what you own (house, car, assets)....because of...you get the picture. The message of Jesus speaks to a different reality. You have value because you are created and are a human being. You are loved and accepted, not because of your job...not because of working at a church...not because of your parenting skills...not because of what you own...not because of your spouse or family...you are loved and accepted because you ARE loved and accepted. That's God's "economy".
Have you ever met someone who wasn't impressed by people who were obviously trying to be impressive? Have you even met someone who was completely human and completely content in who they were? It's so foreign to most, if not all of us, to look at ourselves and others through the "valued and accepted" perspective, isn't it. It's so hard to believe for ourselves. How much energy has been spent in the pursuit of something that we've always had in God's economy?
Have you ever found yourself getting sleep...but not rest?
It's so beautiful to see people who are aware of their "be-lovedness". The game doesn't work. You learn to see through it. You see how it impacts people. You see how it's impacted you. You see how things could be. You see how things are meant to be. God loves you...just as you are. God loves you...and accepts you...and values you...just as you are....where you are. Just....as....you....are. It takes repetition to internalize it. We get the other message all the time...all day...in all avenues...sometimes from so-called "God" avenues. If you know people who have learned and are learning to live in this reality...hang out with them...listen...be. There's a much cooler story unfolding all around us. May we learn to see.
"Round here we're carving out our names
Round here we all look the same
Round here we talk just like lions
But we sacrifice like lambs
Round here she's slipping through my hands
Sleeping children better run like the wind
out of the lightning dream
Mama's little baby better get herself in
out of the lightning
She says It's only in my head
She says Shhh I know it's only in my head"
-"Round Here" Counting Crows
"The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."
-Jesus
Post It Notes
Thought-provoking stuff from Dr. Paul Fitzgerald.
http://pauldfitzgerald.typepad.com/graceconnexion/2008/05/marriage---two.html
http://pauldfitzgerald.typepad.com/graceconnexion/2008/05/marriage---two.html
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Will The Real Friction Please Stand Up?
"And with all that love, he was completely honest. Yet even when his actions or words exposed people's darkest motives, they didn't feel shamed. They felt safe, really safe with him."
-taken from "So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore"
"And you're like a 90's Kennedy
And you're really a million years old
You can't fool me
They'll throw opinions like rocks in riots
And they'll stumble around like hypocrites
Is it just me or is it dark in here?"
-"No Pressure Over Cappucino" Lyrics by Alanis Morissette
Maybe it's a Teddy Bear
"I was so young."
Maybe it's a Bible.
Jill grew up in a very strict religious home. She knew more about what she couldn't do then what she could. Freedom? Freedom? It seemed to her that people that knew God actually knew very little about freedom. At least the people she knew that said they knew God. Her parents really didn't want to know her life. They didn't want to know the awkward conversations she had had with her church leaders that had nothing to do with God and were ridiculously inappropriate. They didn't want to know about her lifestyle or drug abuse. She knew what happened to people like her. Don't rock the boat...play nice...give them what they want. A smile. A nice dress. Pat answers. They also didn't know the depth of bitterness she had towards them and ultimately God for the whole thing. Everytime she saw the large Bible on the coffee table it triggered her. It still raged.
Maybe it's a watch
-"You never have time for me!"
Maybe it's a belt.
That sound still makes him jump. People wonder why he never wears one around his pants. When his pants are screaming "wear a belt!", 1 foot past his waist. How many times did it happen? Dad in his anger. Mom running to the bedroom in seeming indifference. On average, he figured, he was whipped 20 times each time...sometimes less...sometimes more. It started when he was 8...what do you do with that at eight years old? It continued on through high school. Until....he never saw love in his Dad's eyes. Never....when they were happening. He still has scars to prove the magnitude of them. He didn't know the state could do something about it. He didn't know it was wrong for his Mom to silently cry in the bedroom. She felt just as trapped as he did. He didn't know it wasn't right or normal. He didn't know he didn't deserve it. He didn't know it wasn't his fault. He didn't know he didn't deserve it. He didn't know. Deep down....it boiled. He still doesn't really know.
Maybe it's Money
"Is that all you care about?"
Maybe it's a picture frame with someone "lost".
>Luengele had lost 9 family members to AIDS....9 brothers and sisters...Nine!
>Tony lost his wife tragically.
>She lost her innocence and heart.
>He lost his job.
>They lost their children.
>Sam lost his home.
The picture in the frame is so much more than just a picture. Only they could really know how much that moment...that season...changed their lives.
Maybe it's "the bottle"
"Why does Joe drink so much?"
"I DONT HAVE A PROBLEM!"
Maybe it's food
What....are you holding onto?
It matters so much what we think about God and Jesus in these seasons in these realities of our lives. Is it safe? Is God really loving? Does He care? "Sometimes I might not hope He cares or knows about these things...most of the time...deep down...I hope He does. I hope what I hope about Him is true."
"You know, you don't have to live like this." He whispers
"I love you no matter what. No matter what."
How much pain and shame has been caused by that thing? What would it be like to trust that in someone else's hands? What would it be like to trust? That's where so many of us are at isn't is? If we trace the friction back...it leads to these moments often...or seasons. I don't know what you've done. I don't know what's been done to you. I don't know what you think about yourself. I know...I know...God loves you. Period. You...can...be...more...free. You can grow in the journey of that. Life is there.
"And may God bless you in your travels in your conquests and queries."
-"No Pressure Over Cappuccino"
-taken from "So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore"
"And you're like a 90's Kennedy
And you're really a million years old
You can't fool me
They'll throw opinions like rocks in riots
And they'll stumble around like hypocrites
Is it just me or is it dark in here?"
-"No Pressure Over Cappucino" Lyrics by Alanis Morissette
Maybe it's a Teddy Bear
"I was so young."
Maybe it's a Bible.
Jill grew up in a very strict religious home. She knew more about what she couldn't do then what she could. Freedom? Freedom? It seemed to her that people that knew God actually knew very little about freedom. At least the people she knew that said they knew God. Her parents really didn't want to know her life. They didn't want to know the awkward conversations she had had with her church leaders that had nothing to do with God and were ridiculously inappropriate. They didn't want to know about her lifestyle or drug abuse. She knew what happened to people like her. Don't rock the boat...play nice...give them what they want. A smile. A nice dress. Pat answers. They also didn't know the depth of bitterness she had towards them and ultimately God for the whole thing. Everytime she saw the large Bible on the coffee table it triggered her. It still raged.
Maybe it's a watch
-"You never have time for me!"
Maybe it's a belt.
That sound still makes him jump. People wonder why he never wears one around his pants. When his pants are screaming "wear a belt!", 1 foot past his waist. How many times did it happen? Dad in his anger. Mom running to the bedroom in seeming indifference. On average, he figured, he was whipped 20 times each time...sometimes less...sometimes more. It started when he was 8...what do you do with that at eight years old? It continued on through high school. Until....he never saw love in his Dad's eyes. Never....when they were happening. He still has scars to prove the magnitude of them. He didn't know the state could do something about it. He didn't know it was wrong for his Mom to silently cry in the bedroom. She felt just as trapped as he did. He didn't know it wasn't right or normal. He didn't know he didn't deserve it. He didn't know it wasn't his fault. He didn't know he didn't deserve it. He didn't know. Deep down....it boiled. He still doesn't really know.
Maybe it's Money
"Is that all you care about?"
Maybe it's a picture frame with someone "lost".
>Luengele had lost 9 family members to AIDS....9 brothers and sisters...Nine!
>Tony lost his wife tragically.
>She lost her innocence and heart.
>He lost his job.
>They lost their children.
>Sam lost his home.
The picture in the frame is so much more than just a picture. Only they could really know how much that moment...that season...changed their lives.
Maybe it's "the bottle"
"Why does Joe drink so much?"
"I DONT HAVE A PROBLEM!"
Maybe it's food
What....are you holding onto?
It matters so much what we think about God and Jesus in these seasons in these realities of our lives. Is it safe? Is God really loving? Does He care? "Sometimes I might not hope He cares or knows about these things...most of the time...deep down...I hope He does. I hope what I hope about Him is true."
"You know, you don't have to live like this." He whispers
"I love you no matter what. No matter what."
How much pain and shame has been caused by that thing? What would it be like to trust that in someone else's hands? What would it be like to trust? That's where so many of us are at isn't is? If we trace the friction back...it leads to these moments often...or seasons. I don't know what you've done. I don't know what's been done to you. I don't know what you think about yourself. I know...I know...God loves you. Period. You...can...be...more...free. You can grow in the journey of that. Life is there.
"And may God bless you in your travels in your conquests and queries."
-"No Pressure Over Cappuccino"
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Friction, Clothes, and Hope
"'The darkness hides the true size of fears and lies and regrets,' Jesus explained.' 'The truth is they are more shadow than reality, so they seem bigger in the dark. When the light shines into the places they live inside you, you start to see them for what they are.'
'But why do we keep all that crap inside?' Mack asked.
'Because we believe it's safer there. And, sometimes, when you're a kid trying to survive, it really is safer there. Then you grow up on the outside, but on the inside you're still that kid in the dark cave surrounded by monsters, and out of habit you keep adding to you collection. We all collect things we value, you know?'
'So, how does that change, you know, for somebody who's lost in the dark like me?'
'Most often, pretty slowly,' Jesus answered. 'Remember, you can't do it alone. Some folks try with all kinds of coping mechanisms and mental games. But the monsters are still there, just waiting for the chance to come out.'
'So what do I do know?'
'What you're alread doing, Mack, learning to live loved. It's not an eas concept for humans.'"
-taken from "The Shack" by William Young
"But this won't work as well as the way it once did
cuz I want to decide between survival and bliss
and though I know who I'm not I still don't know who I am
but I know I won't keep on playing the victim
These precious illusions in my head did not let me down when I was a kid
and parting with them is like parting with a childhood best friend
I've spent so long firmly looking outside me
I've spent so much time living in survival mode."
-"Precious Illusions" by Alanis Morisette
We spend so much time talking about things that don't really matter...that don't really change us...that don't really change our relationships...that don't really change how we see God...how we see others...how we see ourselves. Have you ever been in a season of friction and gone to a place, maybe a church, and you hear the same thing again and you leave thinking..."Is anyone talking about what's really going on in my life? In people's lives?"
Sometimes it can seem that the things that really matter are the style of our car, the type of clothes, the job status, how well we are seen in a religious community, etc. It can seem that way. If we listen enough, we can come to believe that those are the things that matter. Yet when you really talk to people and you talk about this (friction)...you know that for nearly everyone there is stuff deeper. Beneath the surface.
What is the friction? We know it's there. We know, in some part, how it affects us. What is it?
In letters to people in the cities of Ephesus and Colossae, Paul talks about beneath the surface stuff. He describes them like clothes that we wear. Put off...put away things that don't work. Ways of doing life that don't give life...that don't work.
*Bitterness (Thick...heavy...deep...the root of a plant was the picture...somebody hurt me...somebody lied about me...I've lived with it for years...it shows if you really know what to look for...bitterness...rooted deep within)
*Anger (Not the healthy, "innocent kids are dying" anger...but it's the "I don't really like my life but I can't say it" anger...I don't want to deal with my stuff so I lash out at others...often those I say I "love" the most...rage even sometimes...anger)
*Slander (Seems innocent..."Oh I didn't really mean it...smile...attack with words defensively...never to the person themselves...subtlely...smile to their face..."I'm doing great"....if anger is cutting someone down actively...slander is passively)
*Unforgivness ("I'll never forgive you for what you did! You ruined my life!"...very...strong...words...you may secretly cultivate malice or deep ill-will toward someone...to the point that if you found out they were injured in an accident...it wouldn't affect you...but it does affect you...you know it does...that's why it's so hard to talk about this...why would it be hard to talk about if it weren't a player in your life...doesn't mean forget or okaying something...forgive...release...)
Know what it's like to wear these? We do our best to hide it...but we wear it.
How much have these "clothes" limited your life? Kept out love?
The real question is...deep down...what do I wish I were wearing? Maybe it's peace. Maybe it's confidence. Maybe it's forgivness. Maybe it's purpose. Maybe it's joy. Are the "clothes" I'm wearing giving life to me and others or taking life from me and others? What would it be like to wear the "clothes" we want to wear? The words we want to believe. The heart. It's hard to think about living in the land of forgiving, if you're lived all of your life and built your home in the country of bitterness.
'But why do we keep all that crap inside?' Mack asked.
'Because we believe it's safer there. And, sometimes, when you're a kid trying to survive, it really is safer there. Then you grow up on the outside, but on the inside you're still that kid in the dark cave surrounded by monsters, and out of habit you keep adding to you collection. We all collect things we value, you know?'
'So, how does that change, you know, for somebody who's lost in the dark like me?'
'Most often, pretty slowly,' Jesus answered. 'Remember, you can't do it alone. Some folks try with all kinds of coping mechanisms and mental games. But the monsters are still there, just waiting for the chance to come out.'
'So what do I do know?'
'What you're alread doing, Mack, learning to live loved. It's not an eas concept for humans.'"
-taken from "The Shack" by William Young
"But this won't work as well as the way it once did
cuz I want to decide between survival and bliss
and though I know who I'm not I still don't know who I am
but I know I won't keep on playing the victim
These precious illusions in my head did not let me down when I was a kid
and parting with them is like parting with a childhood best friend
I've spent so long firmly looking outside me
I've spent so much time living in survival mode."
-"Precious Illusions" by Alanis Morisette
We spend so much time talking about things that don't really matter...that don't really change us...that don't really change our relationships...that don't really change how we see God...how we see others...how we see ourselves. Have you ever been in a season of friction and gone to a place, maybe a church, and you hear the same thing again and you leave thinking..."Is anyone talking about what's really going on in my life? In people's lives?"
Sometimes it can seem that the things that really matter are the style of our car, the type of clothes, the job status, how well we are seen in a religious community, etc. It can seem that way. If we listen enough, we can come to believe that those are the things that matter. Yet when you really talk to people and you talk about this (friction)...you know that for nearly everyone there is stuff deeper. Beneath the surface.
What is the friction? We know it's there. We know, in some part, how it affects us. What is it?
In letters to people in the cities of Ephesus and Colossae, Paul talks about beneath the surface stuff. He describes them like clothes that we wear. Put off...put away things that don't work. Ways of doing life that don't give life...that don't work.
*Bitterness (Thick...heavy...deep...the root of a plant was the picture...somebody hurt me...somebody lied about me...I've lived with it for years...it shows if you really know what to look for...bitterness...rooted deep within)
*Anger (Not the healthy, "innocent kids are dying" anger...but it's the "I don't really like my life but I can't say it" anger...I don't want to deal with my stuff so I lash out at others...often those I say I "love" the most...rage even sometimes...anger)
*Slander (Seems innocent..."Oh I didn't really mean it...smile...attack with words defensively...never to the person themselves...subtlely...smile to their face..."I'm doing great"....if anger is cutting someone down actively...slander is passively)
*Unforgivness ("I'll never forgive you for what you did! You ruined my life!"...very...strong...words...you may secretly cultivate malice or deep ill-will toward someone...to the point that if you found out they were injured in an accident...it wouldn't affect you...but it does affect you...you know it does...that's why it's so hard to talk about this...why would it be hard to talk about if it weren't a player in your life...doesn't mean forget or okaying something...forgive...release...)
Know what it's like to wear these? We do our best to hide it...but we wear it.
How much have these "clothes" limited your life? Kept out love?
The real question is...deep down...what do I wish I were wearing? Maybe it's peace. Maybe it's confidence. Maybe it's forgivness. Maybe it's purpose. Maybe it's joy. Are the "clothes" I'm wearing giving life to me and others or taking life from me and others? What would it be like to wear the "clothes" we want to wear? The words we want to believe. The heart. It's hard to think about living in the land of forgiving, if you're lived all of your life and built your home in the country of bitterness.
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