Vulnerability

Monday was not a great day. It wasn’t a jump off a bridge, cut your wrists kind of day; but it wasn’t good. I didn’t make it to prayer Monday night, but I did ask for prayer relating to how my day had not been great. My normal inclination would have been just to say I couldn’t make it and not to admit that I was struggling.  I was prayed for on Monday night, and Tuesday was much better. For example, one of my toughest cases, in which I represent a friend, made a turn in our direction and will now likely be resolved exactly as we hoped. It was better in other ways as well.  It’s interesting that when I met people who had been at the Monday night prayer, they asked if I was feeling better and assumed that I had been sick. I guess in our society it’s okay to admit you are ill, but not so much to discuss being under spiritual attack or emotionally strained. These admissions make us vulnerable and that’s something we avoid. Nonetheless, I am convinced that our willingness and ability to become vulnerable to one another is critical to our […]

Team Jesus

I didn’t play team sports as a kid. In fact, I didn’t play sports at all. I was a geek or a nerd. If Big Bang Theory had been popular when I was growing up I could have been a star. I missed a lot of important lessons by not being familiar with team work.  I have a solo law practice and that’s no accident, but we can’t do everything alone.  So much we do as adults, we do in groups. The same is true of Christianity. Although we talk about a “personal” savior and we take up our individual crosses and face individual judgment, Jesus taught us to pray in plural: Give us this day… forgive us… we forgive. He also spoke extensively about the body and the importance of it’s individual parts. If we look around the church today, it’s pretty clear that I’m not the only one lacking in knowledge of team work. There are benefits in working together.  Problem solving: When we put our heads together we are more likely to come up with solutions to problems.  Accomplish tasks faster: A single person taking on multiple tasks will not be able to perform at a […]

A Holy People

If you have ever travelled to Amish country in Pennsylvania, you will not likely forget it. The small fertile farms, the distinctly dressed Amish, their quaint modes of transportation, all seem to transport you to another time. These people seem oblivious to the bug eyed tourists who snap pictures of them and their homes day and night.  You can understand the curiosity seekers. These people are certainly unique. On the one hand, you wonder how folks could live that way in the twenty-first century. On the other hand, you kind of envy their simple lifestyle and their clear identity. Remember back in high school when you could tell what group someone belonged to by their dress? Some tried to dress like their peers. It just seemed to happen to others without trying. We are possessed of a strong desire to be identified for whom we are. It seems as Christians, however, we struggle for identity. Have you had the experience that I have had, when someone who has known you for years suddenly says to you, “I didn’t know you were a Christian.” Wow. What condemnation.  In these days when the government seems interested in  “fundamentalist” or “evangelical” Christians, […]

Encouragement and Direction

This time last month Rose and I were in New Orleans. We had gone off to be alone to celebrate our anniversary. Turns out we aren’t very sneaky because several people found us. That was okay. It was basically two groups of people whom we love and who were having real problems. I find that when people are troubled they are usually discouraged and lost. Being the wise man that I am I try to offer encouragement and direction. Encouragement. I find that it’s not very helpful to tell folks in these circumstances things like: “It’s going to be okay.” “It’s always dark before the dawn.” “Things aren’t as bad as you think.” These kinds of statements aren’ve very helpful and really aren’t encouraging. People are discouraged because they lack courage. The absence of courage is fear. I tell folks. Jesus hasn’t gone anywhere. He’s still there. He’s the source of our courage and the one who can chase away our fears. Nothing is more encouraging than to know even though we can’t see or feel Him, that He is still around. Just telling them this isn’t quite enough. You have to be Jesus to them. You have to […]

National Donut Day

It’s National Donut Day. I have to admit I haven’t properly prepared. In fact, I didn’t realize that it was National Donut Day until I woke up this morning and saw it on Facebook. And you think that there is no benefit to social media.  In fact, I never celebrated National Donut Day before. But as part of my new whirlwind lifestyle (see yesterday’s blog for details), I think I will celebrate it today. As I look around it seems to me that way too many folks are trying so hard to live a long life that they are missing out on having a good life. I know lots of people that might eat one donut today but they will be so overcome with guilt thinking about the calories involved that they won’t really enjoy it. Don’t get me wrong. It’s great to exercise and watch what we eat and take care of our teeth and get regular checkups and all that. It’s not so great to be so consumed with it all that we never have any fun. If we are honest about it, when we find ourselves acting that way, it’s because we are afraid. We are […]