Captivated by a Child

What is so alluring about a baby? Seriously, why are people instantly drawn to an infant? I was at lunch today and a baby at the table completely stopped the conversation by saying, "Hello, everybody." And when the words left her mouth, the entire room was staring, smiling, and let out an "awww." Her words were a little mumbled and sounded adorable. Even complete strangers, who had no connection with the child were swooning. There is something mysteriously beautiful about kids and I love it.

I don't remember being so captivated with children, until recently. In fact, I have a confession... I am obsessed with my baby niece. She is absolutely adorable. I have a picture of her on my iPhone that comes up every time I turn it on. And every time I do... I smile. She brings instant joy to my life. I get excited to go home to my family because I know she will be there (nothing against the rest of the fam, Love you all!). But there is something about a child that makes people excited. Maybe it is because everything to them is new and thus AMAZING. Maybe it is because we never know what they will do or say next. They are unpredictable. "Kids do say the darndest things!" Or maybe it is because they are our future. They have a fresh start at this crazy world and haven't been completely tainted by the darkness that is all around. Babies, youth, kids bring a hearty amount of joy to our lives.

After observing this little girl at lunch today, I thought of a movie that I think demonstrates this idea a bit. The movie is entitled, "Children of Men." If you haven't seen it, I highly suggest seeing it. But, it focuses on a future world where women can no longer have children (if you want to see the movie and you don't want me to ruin it, I suggest going to the next paragraph). Something happens to the entire earth population and not a single woman can get pregnant... or so they think. But the movie mainly follows a older man and his calling to protect the last young woman who is pregnant. The scene that captures what I am talking about is of the woman walking through a blazing battle with her child in her arms (picture below). Both waring sides instantly stop what they are doing and stare at the baby. They stop fighting for one instant and put down their guns. There is peace for maybe a minute. They are captivated by a child and what that child means for the world. There is hope for humanity.



And this brings me to another child. A baby that was born a long time ago, but is still alive in our hearts. A baby that gives us hope, joy, peace, and love. The baby that is Jesus Christ (God with us).

I am so glad to know that God came to dwell among us and did so by first being a baby. He could have chosen to come down instantly as a man, but no, He came as a fragile, tiny, baby. And I think that means something because there is something captivating about a child. They bring us hope, joy, peace, and make us want to truly love one another.

So... I pray that this Christmas be a Christmas focused on THE baby. Not on gifts, not on amazing holiday drinks from Coffee Shops, not on the long awaited break from work, but on Jesus. Not to say those things aren't good, but they aren't Jesus. And Jesus is REALLY GOOD!

AMEN

Passions: God and Music

Nearly everyday or at least every week, I ask a student, "What are you passionate about? What do you love to do? What do you think about? What do you find yourself doing in your free time? Etc. I thought these questions were pretty easy, but the more I think about them, I find them quite hard. As I drove home from work the other night, I started asking myself this question. "What am I passionate about?"

The dictionary defines "passion" as a "strong and barely controllable emotion."

So, what gets me so excited or emotional, that I become barely controllable?

The two things that come to my mind quickly are God and Music. Done. I am passionate about God and Music. There is my answer. But, then I started to think harder. If I was so passionate about God, I would be trying to spend every second of my day with Him. However, I find myself on Facebook more than I find myself reading scripture or praying for our troops in war, or adopting orphans in Africa, etc. etc. etc.

For music, I do find myself listening to music a lot. But if I was truly passionate about music, I feel like I should have mastered (or nearly mastered) an instrument, be in a band, or be spending my day researching new artists. Yah, I do that from time to time, but it isn't what captures my every thought. And the more I learn to play music, I find it is difficult and I lose interest. I want the easy way out.

This then brings me to thinking about what I do most often, or think about most often, or say most often, or laugh at, etc. And the more I do, the more I realize, I am passionate about Sin. I feel Sin has come into our lives and Satan pushes us to be passionate about sinful things. Things that make us lazy, things that fulfill our lustful desires, things that distract us from God.

I am passionate about Sin. However, I want to be passionate about God. Thus, I run, I pray for God to give me an undying desire to love Him and others. I pray God would give me the energy to seek Him. That He would fill my heart with an uncontrollable emotion to do everything for His glory.

And to bring this together...

Tonight I witnessed an older man playing the piano magnificently. He closed his eyes and played as if no one was in the room. Only Him, God, and the piano. It was truly beautiful. It honestly gave me chills. It was obvious this man was doing something he was passionate about. To make it better, this man had just recovered from 7 months of battling cancer. A cancer that could have taken away his gift, his passion for music.

Just thinking about this, inspired me to pick up the guitar and give it another try. Maybe I'll master (or nearly master) an instrument someday.

Prayers from Kids... Awesome!

These are too great not to share...


Dear God,
Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each so much if they had their own rooms. It works with my brother. -Larry

Dear God,
I think about you sometimes even when I'm not praying. -Elliott

Dear God,
If you watch in Church on Sunday I will show you my new shoes! -Mickey D.

Dear God,
Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones, why don't you just keep the ones you got? -Jane

Dear God,
I bet it is very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it. -Nan

Dear God,
If we come back as something please don't let me be Jennifer Horton because I hate her. -Denise

Dear God,
In bible times did they really talk that fancy? -Jennifer

Dear God,
I went to this wedding and they kissed right in church. Is that ok? -Neil

God,
I would like to live 900 years like the guy in the bible. Love, Chris

Dear God,
Please send Dennis Clark to a different camp this year. -Peter

Dear God,
If you let the dinosaur not extinct we would not have a country. You did the right thing. -Jonathan

Dear God,
Please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now. -Ginny

Dear God,
I think the stapler is one of your greatest inventions. -Ruth M.

Dear God,
I am American. What are you? -Robert

Dear God,
We read that Edison made light, but in Sunday School they said you did it. So I bet he stole your idea. Sincerely, Donna

Dear God,
If you give me genie lamp like Alladin, I will give you anything you want except my money or my chess set. -Raphael


Kids truly say the "darndest things."

A letter from Jesus...

My Dad just sent this to me and I thought I would share it with everyone. Another good reminder in the Christmas Season!



Letter from Jesus


It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santa’s and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :


I LOVE YOU,
JESUS

The Road... Living Freely!

There is so much intrigue in a road trip... so much mystery, allure, and excitement. This is why I want to go. I would love to hit the road tonight. Get lost. Meet complete strangers. Find God in a new way. Rely on only what I have in my car. Rely on the complete generosity of strangers. Rely on the work of God.

I think what gets me excited about a road trip is the unknown. Sam and I are trying to make this trip as unplanned as possible because we want God to lead us. We want life to happen. We do not want to be controlled by plans. We don't want to be controlled by time. The only time we have to worry about is two weeks. That is how much time we have to cut loose, see something different, and escape routine. There is something freeing of not knowing what tomorrow brings. If we want to hangout with a homeless friend... awesome. If we want to go on a hike... awesome. If we want to explore a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, we will! 14 days to live freely, create a better friendship (with Sam), and see God from new surroundings.



I sometimes think God's intention with creation was for us to live freely and not depend on plans. We could live without sin, without worry, and without plans. And I sometimes wonder if Heaven will have clocks? Without plans, no need for time. We no longer will need to live in a culture focused on the where we need to be. We will just be. Be in the presence of God and the multitude worshiping Him. Awesome. Simply awesome.

So what does all this mean? I think I want to spend more time doing things spontaneously. Things that aren't planned. If a friend needs me at that moment, I want to be there. I do not want plans to screw it up and get in the way. I also want to keep praying that God would remind me that He is in control. My stupid plans are nothing compared to what He has planned for my life. I need to just give in. Give in to His will.

Road trips, living freely, and letting God take the wheel.

Commitment... What happened to following through?

Commitment. I stink at it. A lot of my friends stink at it. Our nation stinks at it. Most married couples stink at it (divorce rates are scary). And I know the Church has made a few commitment errors throughout history to God (aka Sin). But, why do I feel commitment is worse in this day? Maybe it is not, but it sure feels that way.

I had two conversations earlier today with two different friends and both conversations ended with the same conclusion: "No one wants to commit to anything anymore." I know that is a pretty bold statement and it is definitely exaggerated, but we keep finding numerous "friends" who no longer follow through with what they commit to doing. Is it saving face? Is it because we live in a world where a person doesn't need to make a firm decision until last minute or they at least have the option to make a decision up to to the last second.

Think about it...

Technology is changing drastically every day. We live in a world where a person (mostly the younger generation, my generation included) would rather text a friend who is in another city (maybe just another room), then talk to the person sitting across the dinner table from them. They would rather check their Facebook than look into the eyes of a living, breathing, human sitting next to them. We are glued to our computers, our phones, our social networks. We want to know what everyone is up to at all times (I know I find myself doing this!). We live in a world where we can be up to date instantly with what is happening. Instant communication. Instant updates. Instant notifications. So...

With this instant communication, I personally believe we have become a little worse at committing to each other. Committing to showing up at that movie. Committing to showing up at that birthday party. Committing to helping with that group project. Committing with joining that group. "Why," you say? I believe this is because we no longer need to rely on "follow through."

Before cell phones, if you were going to meet someone at the movies, you had to actually plan it out. If your friend didn't show (they didn't follow through), you got worried. The "follow through" was important in this situation. Today, you can literally text your friend seconds before the movie starts and say,"Sorry dude, can't make it." You didn't need to "follow through," because you can cancel on your friend instantly. Is this right? Yes and No. Even though it is nice to know your friend hasn't been attacked on the way to the movie, you still get frustrated that they didn't "follow through." They didn't commit. Now, I know this movie example is pretty lame and we have all had friends that have ditched out on something, but isn't it nice when a person says they are going to be somewhere and they actually are?! Follow through means something. Commitment shows respect. It shows you care for the person. It's as simple as that.

Now, one thing that I struggle with is the response "Maybe." In my opinion the term "maybe," which could mean yes or no. Has become the new "no." Everyone wants to be nice. They want people to like them. So instead of saying "no," which can be seen as a flat out rejection. They say "maybe." But is it nice? In my opinion it is just confusing. Now, instead of knowing if that person is actually going to come to the event, you are stuck wondering and hoping. And when they don't show, you get more frustrated.

"Maybe" can also be seen as a cop-out. People say "maybe" so they can make the decision later and wait to see if something better comes up. Which makes you think, how selfish is that way of thinking? You are saying, "I am going to see if something better, someone better, or something beneficial (to me), will come up. Sounds pretty selfish. I find myself doing this sometimes. And I truly question my intentions. Am I being selfish? Sometimes it can look like it. So...

To sum this up...

I want to be better at commitment. I want to pursue saying yes and no (not so many "maybes"). I want to respect others better with their time and truly love my friends. Most of all I want to commit myself to pursuing God honestly and regularly. This is the most important commitment I could make.

Love goes hand in hand with commitment. And if we can't commit, how are we to love?

*Side note: When is Facebook going to create "Become an Acquaintance" in addition to the "Become a Friend" option? There is no way I can truly be a good or even real friend to over 700 people. No way.

* Second Side Note: And here is one adorable young lady that I definitely will commit to teaching, loving, following through for! My lovely niece, Hailey!