Cheese Touch!

I went to my daughter's school the other day to have lunch with her.  I do this once or twice a month and she and I both look forward to it.  She loves it because she loves when I show up at the school and I love it because I love seeing my daughter and I still like school pizza.  Yes, I go visit my daughter on pizza day at school.  Her whole class gets involved.  Some days the boys want to arm wrestle me.  Other days I'm the audience for "Look at this" which involves various tricks in the line of "look what I can do."

So this particular day I was enjoying my daughter and my pizza when I was introduced to the "cheese touch."  I was in the middle of a deep conversation with one of Abby's classmates about the merit of eating Fruit Loops without milk using a fork when all of a sudden my daughter reached over, touched me with her finger and declared, "Cheese Touch!"

She could have declared, "Monkey sidewalk running bubbles!" and it would have had as much meaning for me.

"What does that mean, honey?"

"It means you have to keep your fingers crossed so you don't get a cheese touch" is what she said.

Wait, what?  That doesn't help me.

"Monkey sidewalk running bubbles."  She could have said that and given me exactly the same amount of information.

All I knew was that I had to keep my fingers crossed as I ate my food so as not to contract what I could only assume was an incurable case of cheese touch.

We finished lunch and I stood with Abby in line, fingers crossed, while she waited for her teacher to come pick them up from the lunch room.  That day happened to be "wear your favorite sports team's shirt" day and Abby and I were wearing Pittsburgh Steelers shirts.  Me, because that is my team.  Abby, well, because that is my team.  My wife asked me to send her a picture of the two of us so I got out my camera.  One thing led to another and before I knew it her whole class was involved.

She went back to class and I went back to wondering what a cheese touch was and how I could recover from it.

Now I realize that I am a man in his 40's who doesn't really care that much about pop culture so I am out of the loop on what is popular or trendy.

For example, I was chatting with a teenager from our church the other day as they were waiting to leave for a weekend retreat.  She had sprained her ankle and in the course of conversation she told me that she felt like a "non-functioning, tasteless noodle."

What?????

Once again I interjected my standard question, "What does that mean?"

"It means I don't have any sauce," she said.

"Monkey sidewalk running bubbles." is what I heard.

Being disconnected from teenage cool, I had to probe deeper.  I had to ask her if that was a teenage subculture thing that they all understand or just a teenager flourishing in their spiritual gift of randomness.

It was randomness.

While I may no longer be in the same zip code with what teenagers are into, I do have a secret decoder ring at my disposal...Google!

Google serves me well when I come across things that I don't get.  For instance, Google helped me understand why it should be even remotely interesting to me to find out What Does the Fox Say?

I assure you it still doesn't matter to me but at least now I know why.

Anyway, back to the cheese touch.  After using the secret decoder ring I learned about the cheese touch.

Here is a short video to explain:

Having the cheese touch is like having "nuclear cooties!"  I love that line!

I learned that the only way to avoid it is to keep something crossed!  So that is why I had to eat my pizza with my fingers, or eyes, or legs or something crossed.  Heaven forbid I leave the school with nuclear cooties.

Nuclear cooties.  Now I'm relatively sure none of you are probably thinking, "It bet that is in the Bible!"

But I believe it is, kind of.

Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34 and Luke 8:43-48 all record the biblical story of the "cheese touch."  Only it is the story of the woman with the issue of blood.  She had been bleeding for 12 years, had seen every doctor she could and had spent all of her money trying to recover.  Problem was, in that society she would have been ostracized for having that infirmity.  In essence, she had nuclear cooties, she had the cheese touch.  Having done everything she could to fix the situation she turned to Christ.  She wasn't looking to pass it on, she was looking to be free.  She touched the hem of His garment and was immediately made whole.  Her bleeding stopped.  Jesus turned to look at her and told her that her faith had made her well.

It didn't take having her fingers crossed but rather one touch from the Man who would die on the cross for her to be healed.

So what is your cheese touch?  What is that thing you just can't seem to get rid of?  Take it to Jesus.

Isaiah 53:5  But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities;  the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

You Are More Than Welcome!

So I went on a Daddy-Daughter date with my 6 year old, Abby, the other night to McDonalds.  It seems that McDonalds is the origin of all kinds of randomness that I feel compelled to write about.

We get up to the counter, Abby and I order and then it happens...I tell the lady at the cash register, "Thank you" and she responds, "You are more than welcome!"

I'll admit it, I have said that very same thing.  But think about it, what does that actually mean?

If you are more than welcome are you welcome and a half?

Is that like being welcome with a coupon or a rebate?

At McDonalds, I would think it should mean something like, "You are welcome and here is a free ice cream cone!"

"Why am I getting a free ice cream cone?"

"Well, its because you are more than welcome, of course!"

The world would be a better place if we got a bonus for saying thank you.

I can think of some places that I would love to be "more than welcome:"

The bank

Pizza Hut

Thanksgiving dinner

The bank

I love the concept of being more than welcome.  I just wish people really meant it when they said it.

The concept is actually biblical

 Romans 8:37 says, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

 (NKJV)

We understand the concept of being a conqueror.  Engaging a foe in battle and coming up the victor!  That's the stuff great action movies are made of.  

Personally I have been quite the conqueror for many years.  My family loves engaging in a spirited board game now and then and I have often been the victorious conqueror.

But what does it mean to be more than a conqueror.

To be more than a conqueror means that we reap the benefits of the conqueror without the risk or cost involved in conquering.

I have never been a huge boxing fan but there was a time that I did take a passing interest in it.

The 1984 U.S. Olympic team was hugely successful.  Of 12 possible medals, the U.S. won 9 golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze.  

Oddly enough, the lone bronze medal was won by the boxer who ended up being the most famous...Evander Holyfield.

But it was the silver medalist-Virgil Hill-who stoked my interest.

You see, Virgil was from North Dakota like I was.  So I followed his career.  He was truly a conqueror.

I imagine his bouts went something like this...

Virgil got in the ring and went round after round, dispensing and receiving blow after blow.  At the end, battle weary, Virgil's hand would be lifted in victory.  He would stand in the ring, the promoter would hand him an envelope with a check containing the victor's share of the prize purse.  He would hold the check up, pry open his swollen eyelid and look at the amount and smile, knowing he was a conqueror.

But his wife, Carla, she wasn't just a conqueror.  Virgil would hand the check over to her and she would smile knowing she was MORE than a conqueror.

She reaped the benefits of victory without having to endure the pain.

We too are more than conquerors.  Christ endured the pain of the cross so that we could be the recipients of His grace and mercy.  No pain, all gain!

It happens like this, we realize that we are lost in our sins and need a Savior.  

Christ Jesus forgives our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

We say thank you.

He says, "You are more than welcome!"

Guarding the Hair Products

So the other day my wife and I made a trip in to Target.  As is our tradition, she goes to look at girl stuff and I go look at clearance stuff.

We usually reunite somewhere between electronics and the movie/music section.  We loiter for a while, fantasizing about overpriced lawn furniture before meandering toward the food.

Somewhere in the next few aisles I will get bored and defect back toward electronics or maybe into household items.  Clocks...I like clocks.  Especially the really big ones that take up too much space on a wall.  I also like the picture of the United States map made out of license plates.

After a text or two sending me on a fact finding mission or object locating junket we reconverge near the household cleaning products or the toilet paper.

This particular day our travels had us looking for cheap clearance items we could give our daughter for Christmas as stocking stuffers or other gifts thereby extending our gift budget AND raising our status on our daughter's hero meter.

It is about this time during our Target adventures that we relocate to the health and beauty section, only this week I was sent ahead as an advance scout.

I'm not really sure what she went to look for but I know I ended up with the directive to go to the hair immobilization and follicle concrete aisle.  As my eyes began to glaze over and my eustachian tubes began to narrow I remember faintly hearing her say something about switching to a different brand of mousse for our daughter's hair.

Being the good husband I try to be, I arrived at the outpost and began looking at the myriad of hair products available to me and I quickly came to a realization.  I am standing alone in an aisle full of products, of which I am mostly unfamiliar with their use or application.  Spritzing, curling, moisturizing and thickening all scare me so I will not be making a selection.  This is outside my strike zone.  All I am really able to do is compare the cost of the items which I'm convinced is the last measure my wife will consider, let alone implement in her selection process.

The truth is, I have no decision making authority in this arena!

My wife has not yet arrived so in essence....I'm guarding the hair products!

I'm not sure why or from whom.

Why was I sent here?

I would never send her to the woods to bring back a moose so why am I in her domain trying to bring back a mousse?

And seriously, I'm over 40 years old and have had the same hair style as long as I've combed my hair. Well, that is with the exception of the brief "part it down the middle" phase from college.  But everyone experiments in college....right?

No authority...just guarding the territory.

I begin giggling somewhat quietly to myself.  (This accomplishes nothing except possibly scaring off other female shoppers who wonder why the guy is giggling to himself as he clearly guards the hair products for his wife.)

So what is the spiritual lesson in this?

Here it is:

As a child of God there are promises given to me in His Word that I have every right and authority to walk in.

I am who God says I am regardless of how insecure I may feel, unworthy I may appear or how often I have failed in my attempts to follow Him.

I know that no weapon formed against me shall prosper. (Isaiah 54:17)

I am an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb AND the word of my testimony. (Revelation 12:11)

If I confess my sins, He is faithful and just to forgive my sins AND cleanse me from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Etc., etc., etc.  The list goes on and on.

It really doesn't matter if the enemy of my soul is standing guard with no authority over the things I want and need as I walk with God.

As a child of God I am entitled to all of God's promises!  The only authority that matters is God's authority.

I'm going to live my life unafraid!  That guy giggling to himself in the aisle, guarding all the spiritual goodies God has for me, can't stop me.  He can only try to stand in the way.  Truth is, he realizes he has no business there whatsoever!  Once I know that, he is powerless!

What Is Your Penguin?

So how did I end up selling candy bars in the men’s bathroom?  

Well, I’m glad you asked…Penguins!

What?  You need more explanation?  

You see, I have a 6 year old daughter!

Six year old daughters go to school.

Principals aren’t stupid.

Schools need money.

Fundraisers make money.

Schools have a built in fundraising sales force.

Children don’t care about raising money for school.

Children love cheap, achievement based prizes.

Parents hate selling stuff.

Parents love their children.

Parents sell stuff so they don’t have to see sad eyes and a bottom lip.

The other day my daughter brought home a permission slip we had to sign saying we agreed to turn our daughter into part of her school’s sales force.  The incentive for her is a penguin toy that hangs around her neck on a lanyard and an hour of play time in a bouncy house for every box of candy she sells.

It could be worse, I could be schlepping $7 rolls of Christmas paper or overpriced, under flavored tubs of cookie goo.  At least it is chocolate.  Everyone is susceptible to coco vulnerability on occasion, and its only $1 a bar. 

I remember selling the exact same brand of candy at my school over 20 years ago as a sophomore to help raise money for something so important I don’t even remember what it was for anymore.  I’m sure I ended up eating at least half and paying for it myself.  Or, as it will probably be in the case of this sale, the child ate and the parents paid for it.

 I picked up my daughter from school and she was determined to get a jump on her sales quota so she brought them in to work with me.  I work at a church with a daycare so she immediately started hitting up everyone she saw.  She decorated the inside of the box to help drive sales.  She then proceeded to stand out in the hallway with several candy bars in hand trying to draw people into her sales speed trap with her cuteness. 

I headed into the hallway only to be accosted by my daughter, asking me, “Daddy, stay with me!”

“I can’t honey, I’m heading to the bathroom.”

An innocent enough statement…at least I thought it was.

“Daddy, take some of my candy in there so if you see someone you can try to sell them some!”

WHAT!!!!!!!!  Clearly she doesn’t understand the code of the men’s bathroom.  Talking is discouraged but reluctantly accepted around the sink but conversation stalls as you enter the stalls.  I didn't want to take them but in my daughter’s eyes, there was a penguin at stake.  What was I to do?  So I took candy bars and headed toward the bathroom.  I felt sure I would be alone but knew if someone was in there I would be forced into an awkward conversation at best.  Much to my delight and her dismay I had to turn on the light, virtually ensuring no chocolate sales in the men’s room.

Isn’t it funny how when we are properly motivated, we will go to about any length to accomplish our task?  

For my daughter, all that was required was a toy penguin.  As believers, we are all commissioned, or given the task, by Christ to tell others about Him.

Mt 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

So what is your penguin?  What is it as a believer that will motivate you to do whatever is necessary to accomplish your God given task?

Thank You In Advance

I drove through the drive thru at McDonalds a while back and just had to take a picture.

Does anyone besides me find this just a little bit annoying?  Now I know it is really a trivial thing in the larger scope of life but it still bugs me...and I have biblical support.

Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes.
Song of Solomon 2:15 (NKJV)

It isn't usually the big stuff that causes problems.  Its all the little stuff that piles up.

Anyway, that sign was a little fox on that particular day.  I read that and got to thinking, "Wow, that is really just being bossy in a sweet way!"

Let me run that through the "unsugarcoated translater":

"Don't waste my time...have your money out.  And by the way, hang up your phone!  I have a business to run."

I guess it caught my attention that particular day because of another phrase that amuses me:

"I'd like to thank you in advance..."

Once again, just another polite way to be bossy.  By thanking someone in advance, we get to tell them what to do and if they don't want to do it, they come off looking bad.  I mean, come on...I thanked you in advance!

Thank you in advance for putting my stapler back on my desk. (Anyone inclined to borrow it and not return it.)

Thank you in advance for closing my door on the way out. (Anyone who comes in my office when the door is closed, props the door open to talk and then turns and leaves.)

Thank you in advance for picking up your toys, clothes, shoes, insert carelessly discarded item you expect me to pick up later. (My 6 year old daughter.)

In my mind I can see this being integral to an argument between two little old ladies:

"Doris, that hat you are wearing makes your earlobes look fat!"

"I don't know how you could tell, looking through those Coke bottle bottom glasses you wear!"

"Well, I don't really need to see that clearly because your earlobes have always been fat!!!"

"Well, I'd like to thank you in advance for keeping your opinions to yourself!!!!!"

"Well, I'd like to thank you in advance for leaving me alone!!!!!!!!!!!"

Silence as a few moments pass...

In a much calmer tone, "You coming tomorrow to pick me up for bingo?"

"Sure, I'll be there about 9 am."

"Thank you in advance for the ride."

"You're welcome."


To me, one for the most comical things about "Thank you in advance..." is that I hear people use that when they pray!

It goes something like this, "And God, we want to thank You in advance for what You are going to do in this (whatever it may be) situation."

Really?  Are we too busy that we have to pre-record our thankfulness?

What if He answers in a way we don't like?

Do we "unthank" Him in retrospect?

At the end of the day, the sign at McDonalds really doesn't bother me.  More than anything, it draws my attention to the fact that we don't always think through the real meaning of what we say and how important our words really are.

Growing up I always heard, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

That's simply not true.

I have a sign that used to hang in my grandparents kitchen.  It says, "Kind words, how little they cost.  Scatter them freely, that none may be lost."

I used to see that every time I visited and liked it so much that I asked if I could have it.

Our words matter!

Anyway, thank you in advance for your comments on this post!

I Assume You Will Read This

Assumption: something taken for granted, a supposition.

            We make assumptions every day.  I assume that when I flip the light switch the lights will go on.  I assume that when I put my key in the switch and turn the ignition the car will start.  I assume that when my daughter hasn’t seen me for a couple days and I come home, when she notices me sneak into the room, she will drop everything, shriek with joy and come give me a hug that would make a python proud.  And there really is no problem at all with that kind of assumption.  We make suppositions all the time based on our knowledge of how things work, maybe our past history of interactions.  Honestly, if we didn’t make assumptions, we would be completely unproductive.  For example, getting up in the morning to brush your teeth might go something like this...toss something out of your bed to make sure it falls to the ground because you have to know that gravity still works before you swing your legs out of bed.  Get the first leg out and test to see if the second one will follow.  Just because your legs are similar you can’t assume that they will act the same way.  I won’t even get in to all of the assumptions required by walking.  How about testing to make sure your toothpaste is ok and hasn’t been taken by spider monkeys overnight and injected with poison.  I point out a few crazy things to demonstrate that we make assumptions all the time about many things simply because the alternative would leave us productively paralyzed.

            While that may be the case, assumptions can get us in a great deal of trouble.  One biblical example we see is in the life of Jesus himself.  When He was 12 years old His family went up to Jerusalem as was their custom.  When the Feast of the Passover was finished they returned home.  In those days, people didn’t just hit the interstate and make it home in a few hours.  Rather, they would travel in a pretty sizeable caravan for safety.  Luke 2 records the story for us.  It says that Jesus lingered in Jerusalem and His parents didn’t know it.  Why you ask?  Because they ASSUMED He was with some of their relatives that they were traveling with.  Panic began to set in and three days later, they found Him in the temple listening and asking questions of the teachers.  If I just made that assumption and left my 6 year old daughter, Abby, unattended for 3 days, Child Protective Services would be all over me.

            While that was just an innocent assumption there is another biblical example that is much more sinister.  In the book of Esther we are introduced to Esther’s uncle Mordecai and Haman, the King’s right hand man who hated Mordecai.  Never mind that Haman had his position because Mordecai discovered a plot to kill the king and Haman took the place of the King’s eunuch’s who were hanged for their plot.  Mordecai wouldn’t bow down to Haman like everyone else and Haman’s pride couldn’t let that go. 

            Haman plotted against Mordecai and built a gallows 50 cubits high with the intent of hanging him from it.  That night the king couldn’t sleep and so he asked for a bedtime story.  Just happened that the bedtime story they read to him was entitled, “Mordecai Saves the King.”  The king asked what was done to honor Mordecai and found out that nothing had been done.

            Anyway, the next day, as Haman was plotting against Mordecai, the King was planning to honor him.  Here is where assumption does Haman in.  When the king asks him how he would honor someone, Haman assumed the king was talking about him.  If you remember the rest of the story, it didn’t work out so well for Haman.  If you don’t remember the story, you can pick it up in Esther chapter 6. 

              My point in all of this is simply that we must be careful what assumptions we make.  They may come back to bite us.  The definition I started with for assumption is “something taken for granted.”  Nobody wants to be taken for granted.  As Christians, if we are not very intentional and careful, we may take God for granted.  Let me leave you with a test to see if you take God for granted.  Let’s look at the area of thankfulness.  What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for today?  Philippians 4:6 says “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”  Something to think about!  

"Less"

Today's post is a poem I wrote 15 years ago.

“Less”

I give of my less to the Master,

What I give seems to be afterthought.

Forgetting His best, His Son’s sinless blood,

Is that with which I was bought.

But morning arrives much too early,

And the rest of the day slips away.

I speak of much needed devotions.

Time spent-true priorities betrayed.

I long for much deeper connection,

The branch grafted into the vine.

Spirit is willing but flesh is weak,

Though I feed it most all of the time.

Father, You've revealed you are holy,

Though I know-less with heart than with mind.

Help me give of my best to the Master,

And a life of less “less” I will find.

                                                November 1998

Covered In Feathers

In the early days of our country to be covered in feathers meant that you were in serious trouble.  Being tarred and feathered was a very shameful thing.  Its hard to believe that anyone would want to be covered in feathers.  But as we look to scripture we find that being covered in feathers isn’t such a bad thing after all.  In Psalm 91 we are told God will cover us with His feathers and under his wings we will trust.  It is also in this passage that we are encouraged to dwell in the secret place of the Most High and also to abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  It is in that place that we can be covered by His feathers.

But how do we find that secret place to dwell in?  I remember as a small child finding a hiding place.   It wasn’t unusual for me to be in trouble for something I had done or was framed for.  I knew that when I was found I would be in trouble.  This particular time I wasn’t in trouble but my dad was getting ready to leave.  Because most of my interaction with my dad, when he was around, revolved around punishment I didn’t really want to see or talk to him.  I took refuge in the secret place I had found.  That secret place happened to be under the bed in my older brother’s room.  So there I hid, quiet as a church mouse, hoping my secret place wouldn’t be discovered.  I remember hearing mom and dad calling out my name all throughout the house trying to find me so dad could say goodbye.  I had no interest in talking to him so I never said a word.  Finally mom went so far to say that I wasn’t in any trouble and dad only wanted to say goodbye before he left.  I didn’t care.  I didn’t want to talk to him and even more, I didn’t want my secret hiding place to be known.  It was my fortress, my refuge, my place of safety. 

God wants us to find that place of safety in Him.  God longs for that intimacy with us that our innermost being longs for even if we don’t realize what that longing is.  There is a secret place God has reserved for each one of us; a place where we can be who we really are.  There is no need to be strong, no need to live up to anyone’s expectations.  We can be completely safe and fully protected from anything the world might try to throw at us.  It is in that place of refuge where we can become intimate with the living God.  Where we can know and be known by Him.  So many people never get there because they never really get hold of the fact that we can trust God with everything.  We don’t have to be in control, God can be.

Here comes the difficulty.  Dwelling in the secret place of the Most High is not an easy thing.  It is not something that can be microwaved in our lives.  We must learn to enter in to the secret place.  It will take time for us to learn to abide under the shadow of His wings and develop that intimacy.  In the same way we cannot immediately have true intimacy with a person, intimacy with God takes time to develop.  Satan will try to convince us that we can never have that kind of relationship.  He will lie to us and make us think there is something wrong with our relationship with God.  When the truth is we just need time to grow.  We need patience and perisistence and determination to get there.  Remember, it’s a secret place.  We need to seek God and allow Him to lead us to that secret place.  Don’t get discouraged but keep seeking.  Jeremiah 29:13 sums it up well, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for me with all your heart.”

Devotions

As a new believer I was instructed that you are supposed to have daily devotions.  You must have a "quiet time" with the Lord.  For years I have tried to make this a regular part of my life.  I'll admit, at times I have done really well and at other times...sometimes for long stretches...not so much.

But I have always known it was important.  When I was really little, I remember learning the books of the Bible when my dad would lead us in family devotions.  He would come home from work, sit down on the couch and my sister and I would untie his work boots.  I loved that because the top 4 or 5 weren't eyelets but loops and dirt from work would often be dried in there and unlacing them meant shooting a little dirt clod across the room in an effort to release the captive shoe lace.  Dad would then do some form of devotions with us and I remember learning to recite the books of the Old Testament specifically.  Apparently I eventually learned the New Testament as well because I do know them in order.

I was even taught a song about devotions as a kid:

Read your Bible, pray every day,
pray every day, pray every day.
Read your Bible, pray every day,
and you'll grow, grow, grow.

Neglect your Bible, forget to pray,
forget to pray, forget to pray.
Neglect your Bible, forget to pray,
and you'll shrink, shrink, shrink.

In high school, my best friend and I  would end up over at our Pastor's house occasionally and they would include us in their family devotions at night before they sent their children to bed.

I had devotions modeled for me by multiple people as I was growing up.

Unfortunately life gets busy and if you aren't intentional about it, devotions can fall down the priority ladder. Busyness creeps in, responsibilities mount and there never seems to be enough time for God.

At least that's what I thought...

I was praying this morning and God impressed upon my heart the phrase, "Everyone does devotions."  As I continued to pray God revealed to me the truth of that statement.  The only problem is that they don't always include nor are they directed toward God.

If you will honestly evaluate your use of time then your "devotions" become evident.  What are you devoted to?  What "thing" is the object of your devotion?

For some it's a job, possibly a hobby or maybe an indulgence of their flesh.  But it is there!  You may not realize it, but it is there.  We all do devotions.

Hopefully your devotions involve you and your maker.

I've had people tell me that they just don't have time for devotions.

Matthew 6:21 and Luke 12:34 say it well, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

You are devoted to something.  How are you spending your time?

So the question isn't, "Have you done your devotions today?"

But rather, "Who or what are you devoted to?"

I wrote this on Facebook a few weeks back but decided to move it over here.

There is a very real distinction between “Jesus loves me just the way I am” and “Jesus loves me in the current state I am in.” The difference is this…the first statement is untrue and the second is true. We often hear the first and will even nod our heads in agreement but that is simply a deception. The truth is that God loves us no matter where we are when we encounter Him but He loves us too much to leave us that way. I have served God for years but I still can’t say that He loves me just the way I am. If that were true, He wouldn’t convict me by His Holy Spirit when I do something that doesn’t line up with His will for me or His Holy Word. God is constantly putting His finger on different areas of my life and saying, “Now that we fixed that last thing, I want to address this next.” And on and on the process goes and will continue to go. Jesus loves me in the state that I am in but not the way I am.
The problem is the world has embraced the idea that Jesus loves us just the way we are and want to continue in that manner of living. The church hasn’t done much to correct the deception either. Churches are full of people who want Jesus on their own terms, living the way they want and asking God to put His stamp of approval on their lifestyle. Unfortunately for that kind of thinking, you must come to God on His terms. He will be Lord of all or not at all. Excusing sinful behavior and saying “Jesus loves me just the way I am” will only lead you down a path away from the God you say you love. Hebrews 12:14 instructs us that without holiness, no one will see God. Holiness is God’s standard and sanctification is His process for cleansing us. I am thankful that God loves me in the current state I am in but I’m also thankful that He doesn’t love me just the way I am!

Some jobs should be hired out!

"If we ever do this again, I am hiring someone to do it for us!"

That was the declaration my wife heard the other day.  It was uttered near the end of a 16 month, yet unfinished project to complete my garage.  We decided to finish the walls.  I say "yet unfinished" because it is yet unfinished (profound, I know).  I still have to finish painting and put everything back.

The story actually begins three years ago.  At the time we were searching for a home to purchase.  We had been living in an apartment for some time.  "Some time" is a standard of measure used by apartment dwellers to rate their tolerance for their neighbors.  Other units of measure include but are not limited to, "Oh look, new neighbors," "Where is the apartment manager's phone number," "Really, 3 am?" and "Where is my NRA membership form?"

We had spent hours pouring over pictures of available homes on the internet and had found one we wanted to see in person.  Being the kind, thoughtful people we are, we felt bad dragging our Real Estate Agent 45 minutes to look at just one house so we added a couple others to the list even though there was only one we thought had a chance.  The house we were interested in turned out to be horrible, the second house we added to help justify the trip wasn't much better.  The last house...the house we eventually bought...we almost didn't look at because it wasn't photographed with a real estate camera.

I know, many of you are wondering, "What is a real estate camera?"  Its a camera that has a peculiar ability to photograph tiny, dark, ugly rooms in such a way as to make them appear spacious, well-lit and beautiful when posted online.  It can take a neglected front yard that is 20 feet deep with a 45 degree slope and make it look like the flat, well manicured outfield at Turner Field in Atlanta.

We were absolutely blown away when we walked in the front door of the house.  It was amazing!  We fell in love with it.  It had a great yard, lots of space and enough things that we could change and upgrade to really get us excited.  HGTV had turned us into crazy people that thought it really was as easy as they made it look.  Surely good-looking people with crews of people and a camera crew were already on their way to help us make our home ownership dreams come true, and pay for it!

Over the next few weeks we stalked our new home.  We would drive by, sometimes multiple times a day and just look at it.  Sometimes late at night.  By the time we finally closed the deal I'm sure some of the neighbors had alerted authorities of unusual activity.

We are still waiting for HGTV!  But about 16 months ago we decided to drywall our garage.  That was one of the projects we talked about doing when we moved in.  I wish we would have done it then.  We didn't, we waited until 16 months ago.  Now granted, our garage has a 12 foot ceiling so it isn't the easiest of projects but I keep having to move stuff around to work on it in sections.  Right now our dining room looks like our garage because I have relocated much of the contents there in a concerted effort to finish the project that won't go away.  When I say "We" decided to drywall our garage what I really mean is "we" my wife and I decided "we" me should drywall the garage.  So I drafted my brother in law to help me hang drywall.  That part was completed about 14 months ago.  The last year has been spent taping, mudding, sanding, griping, avoiding, griping more, avoiding even more, occasionally working on and now almost completing the project.  I strongly dislike finishing drywall.  In fact, I turned 40 and think I would probably prefer "the exam" 40 year old men are encouraged to get instead of finishing more drywall.  It isn't the prettiest drywall finishing you will ever see but it is done and its a garage so I'm ok with it.  The part I started on looks better than the part I finished on as my resolve eroded as the sanding wore on.  A little more paint and it will be complete.

Here is what I am taking away from this experience:

1.  I'm glad I don't do home renovation for a living.
2.  If we buy another house, we need to better think through the "must complete before we move in" projects.
3.  Hire out the drywall!!!!!