At one point in time every time I heard the question, "Where you at?" I couldn't help but think of those old people in the Boost Mobile commercial, remember that one? With each day that goes by it feels like it is getting easier and easier (almost to a fault) to know the locations of our friends at all times. With GPS, iPhones, and with Facebook "Check-ins" we can let people know where we are at and tag others with just a few taps on a screen.
Just this weekend I was able to attend a winter retreat with an organiztion called Athletes in Action. One of the tight things about the whole experience was to see a crew of about 300 college athletes from all different locations within the Great Lakes area. There were ballers from all locations, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Ohio State, Michigan State, Marshall, and Pittsburgh just to name a few. We not only came together from different locations physically, but also spiritually. We were a living definition of diversity. Some people grew up in the hood, some in the suburbs, and some grew up without a father. Some had grew up in the church, some even pastor's kids, while others barely had a clue who God was and had only bad impressions of people who at least called themselves Christians. The whole spectrum, I'm telling you.
The crazy part for me, when I was taking this all in, was the fact that just about every status in this world, including being a college athlete, requires certain skills, credentials, experience, and pieces of paper (diplomas/degrees). I feel like this is why I have struggled at times, as I'm sure others have, wrapping my head around the fact that God does not require us to have a skill set or a resume' that's legit in his eyes. When we think we can get to that point, we need to remember that it is impossible to build a resume' on our own that will earn us a spot in heaven. We have it twisted. God asks us to stop trying for a second and recognize we need some back up, better yet, a spot on the roster without a reference or tryout. Where we have been, no matter what we have done, or what we have said in the past doesn't effect his desire to recruit us. In other words, we don't have to go through a spiritual version of P90X to get jacked in order to start a walk with God, he can meet us wherever we are at, either literally or relation to him. This video is my boy Lecrae's real life story in a rap, definitely some real talk, check it...
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Blow your high!
Not to long ago I came across the classic hit song "Higher" by Creed. It's fair to say the lyrics are talking about Heaven when they are rocking out the chorus. Many times being "high" is considered a good thing, athletes want to move up on the depth chart, a businessman wants to be higher on the corporate ladder and almost everyone can appreciate a view that is only possible from high up. After doing work in the gym or after a run our bodies produce a natural high through endorphins, it feels good, unless of course it's been awhile and you're too distracted by how out of shape you are too enjoy it.
It's no wonder that we can get things twisted sometimes into feeling like anything that gets us "high" is automatically a good thing. As well all know, there are some highs that can really screw us in the long run if we are not careful. One of the first ones that probably comes to mind is the high that people get from smoking weed, however, it is a much wider range than that. Some people can get a high from gambling, and everyone is prone to getting gratification from fulfilling a lust on some level. It can start with that extra long look at the opposite sex and escalate on from there. The problem with these highs is that they can feel awesome...for a little bit. Even though they are so temporary, they last just long enough to bait us into the next time, convincing us that more of the same will eventually fulfill us. The reality of it is even though it feels like we are gaining something, the whole time our fake high of choice is stealing from us slowly but surely. It can involve our money, our time, our relationships, and most importantly our minds and hearts.
So what? No one is perfect, everyone has a vice, that's just a part of life...or is it? In Psalm 39, David reaches out,
“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is."
Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is."
It is no secret that EVERYONE is only here for awhile, so why not try and make the most out of each day? One solid approach I've come across is written in Col. 3:2, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Love ya'll.
Check this song that is very relevant to this topic, by Lecrae, "Blow your high" (lyrics here)
Monday, January 24, 2011
Are you Perpin'?
Perpin' - The act of bragging and or lying in conversations about things that one posesses to impress people, a person who is usually perpin, has nothing but a wide imagination and a desire to fit into the "in crowd". (Urban Dictionary)
How many times do we see it? Somebody talks about something they believe in and then proceeds to do something that makes you sit there and think, "wow, yet another person that is full of it." How many times do we hear it? We all have at least heard about if not experienced the go-to phrase by some parents, "Do as I say, not as I do." Clearly, there is some serious space between what people genuinely want to be and what ends up actually happening in their lives. Why is this so? Well that is one deep question. No one-liner answer comes to mind, but life is rarely that simple.
One thing that helped me at least chip away at this was seeing how strongly we believe something be put on one of three levels.
1. Public convictions - This includes what you want everyone else to think you believe and how you want them to see you. Basically this is your reputation and how you handle it, some care more than others, just look at how different people manage their Facebook profile.
2. Private convictions - These go a little deeper in the sense that these are the values that you really want to live out. In an honest heart to heart with a best friend, you'd still tell them, "Yes I really believe in ____."
3. Core convictions - This is the real deal, these beliefs are called "core" because they are so deeply rooted in you that they show up in your actions. There is no slick talking with core convictions, they are either there or they aren't. (For more check this book by John Ortberg)
You may be asking, "Who cares what level the different beliefs we have go under?" Well, WE need to. Taking a look at our actions and seeing what is showing up in how we live can be a good thing, whether it ends up being an encouragement or a wake-up call. No one is perfect, bottom line. There are Atheists that are "practically Christian" judging by their actions just like there are Christians who are "practically atheists" because no one could tell one way or the other, I've been there at times.
I'll end with a little would you rather...Would you rather hear someone TALK about how they have a heart for God and others or see them DOING something that would tell you that without them saying a word? Let's keep the Perpin' to a minimum! Peace!
(Comments welcomed)
How many times do we see it? Somebody talks about something they believe in and then proceeds to do something that makes you sit there and think, "wow, yet another person that is full of it." How many times do we hear it? We all have at least heard about if not experienced the go-to phrase by some parents, "Do as I say, not as I do." Clearly, there is some serious space between what people genuinely want to be and what ends up actually happening in their lives. Why is this so? Well that is one deep question. No one-liner answer comes to mind, but life is rarely that simple.
One thing that helped me at least chip away at this was seeing how strongly we believe something be put on one of three levels.
1. Public convictions - This includes what you want everyone else to think you believe and how you want them to see you. Basically this is your reputation and how you handle it, some care more than others, just look at how different people manage their Facebook profile.
2. Private convictions - These go a little deeper in the sense that these are the values that you really want to live out. In an honest heart to heart with a best friend, you'd still tell them, "Yes I really believe in ____."
3. Core convictions - This is the real deal, these beliefs are called "core" because they are so deeply rooted in you that they show up in your actions. There is no slick talking with core convictions, they are either there or they aren't. (For more check this book by John Ortberg)
You may be asking, "Who cares what level the different beliefs we have go under?" Well, WE need to. Taking a look at our actions and seeing what is showing up in how we live can be a good thing, whether it ends up being an encouragement or a wake-up call. No one is perfect, bottom line. There are Atheists that are "practically Christian" judging by their actions just like there are Christians who are "practically atheists" because no one could tell one way or the other, I've been there at times.
I'll end with a little would you rather...Would you rather hear someone TALK about how they have a heart for God and others or see them DOING something that would tell you that without them saying a word? Let's keep the Perpin' to a minimum! Peace!
(Comments welcomed)
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Love is not money!
In our world today it is often said that we throw around the word "love" too loosely and have weakened its meaning. That is true in some instances, however, we really take it a step further on how we actually love when it comes to our day to day life. Donald Miller's book (soon to be movie), "Blue Like Jazz" is a perfect example of a book that is full of some real talk. Towards the end of this book he discusses love and how we mistreat it. How easy is it for us to feel like we have a set amount of love we can give each day and we are faced with the task of dividing it out the way we see fit? This is understandable in a sense because we have a limited amount of time and energy, but really the amount of love we can show for others has no ceiling. When a parent has a second child, the love they have MULTIPLIES and does not divide between the two kids.
Why is this important to realize? Simply because love is vital to everyone's life, especially those of us within the Christian faith. When Jesus was asked to share the single most important calling, he responded by saying, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' "
Pretty cut and dry, huh? The struggle happens when we try to actually live this out. Following Jesus is never easy, but the reality of it is that it is never that complicated. God's love for us is so great it is beyond our comprehension. In return, he seeks a relationship with us and desires that we give him and others the best we have. There is nothing wrong with having a inner circle of friends (Jesus only rolled 12 deep in his) but don't circle the wagons and stop there. In the book of Hosea it states, "Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love."
I for one am imperfect in this pursuit, good intentions and a big heart only go so far (that conversation is for another day), but it is an approach that is worthwhile and beneficial in many ways. Let's not be stingy with our love for God and others, most of us can agree that it is a powerful thing and it's free to give!
Until next time...
Why is this important to realize? Simply because love is vital to everyone's life, especially those of us within the Christian faith. When Jesus was asked to share the single most important calling, he responded by saying, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' "
Pretty cut and dry, huh? The struggle happens when we try to actually live this out. Following Jesus is never easy, but the reality of it is that it is never that complicated. God's love for us is so great it is beyond our comprehension. In return, he seeks a relationship with us and desires that we give him and others the best we have. There is nothing wrong with having a inner circle of friends (Jesus only rolled 12 deep in his) but don't circle the wagons and stop there. In the book of Hosea it states, "Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love."
I for one am imperfect in this pursuit, good intentions and a big heart only go so far (that conversation is for another day), but it is an approach that is worthwhile and beneficial in many ways. Let's not be stingy with our love for God and others, most of us can agree that it is a powerful thing and it's free to give!
Until next time...
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