My Inconsiderate Driver Fantasy (Warning: Large Guns Involved)

A few months ago, I was driving home from my mandatory 8-hour gauntlet of pain and suffering, that I am very thankful for because it makes me appreciate the remaining 16 hours so much more, when a car raced up behind me faster than a jack-rabbit on espresso.  I was in the left lane, but was keeping up with traffic, so in my now-a-bit-angered-but-controlled mind, I felt the aggression was unwarranted.  So what did I do? The  rest of the story in a few minutes.  First, a fantasy sequence.

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[Begin dream sequence] When I find myself in these situations usually my first instinct is to slam on the brakes, cut the wheels fast and hard, and in a slow motion, rubber-squealing, spinning U-turn with sparks and smoke (and worthy of a John Woo movie- think Face Off and Mission Impossible II), I grab the wheel with my imaginary 3rd hand because I need the other two for the guns (they do it in the movies I can do it in my fantasies).  I pull out two ridiculously huge automatic, military grade, 50-caliber weapons, usually reserved for tanks, but now about to be employed on this inconsiderate driver, and smile menacingly.  At him.  Because he is about to get what he deserves.  

Before he realizes just who it is that he has unwittingly offended, I pull both triggers simultaneously, unloading a barrage of smoking lead welcome committee on his Chrysler.  The sound of the round casings hitting the 75-mph pavement are like the chattering teeth of the grim reaper.  The smoke coming from the barrels of my now red-hot, Iron Punishers is like incense to Rage.  Every round that punches a nickel-size hole in his pathetic excuse for a machine is a lesson in manners.  And as the firing pins run out of "messages" to deliver, the offending party now humbles himself and backs off of my more-manly SUV.  A defeated foe.  [End dream sequence]. 
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I think this is normal alpha male behavior. Right?

So after my dream sequence is done (it happens in my mind in about 5 seconds) I do what I am sure all passive-aggressive Christ followers do who prefer not to "do time", I take my foot off the gas.  And pray he doesn't hit my rear end. But then, glaring at me in the rear view mirror, is my sticker Conscience...my lil' Christian window sticker, NOTW, which shouts to the 4-lane world "CHRISTIAN ON BOARD, TAILGATE WITHOUT FEAR OF RETRIBUTION!", and I move out of the guys way.  Not gladly.  And as he passes me going about 90, he swerves over as to sideswipe me, (narrowly missing me because I have cat-like reflexes) and I noticed that he too has a lil' Christian bumper (not window) sticker.

I am immediately convicted because if I had not been reminded of all the eyes on me and my identity in Christ via the sticker, I could easily allow my angry reactions to take over just like him.  Allow road rage to take over.  And bring humiliation to the name of Jesus.  "Just another Christian hypocrite", would be the thoughts of the other drivers.  Just like they may have been thinking about that guy.  He was talking, but not walking.  And it's the walking that makes or breaks our reputation.  Our testimony.  Do that enough times, and though Christ will forgive you, the world will not.  

There was a low period in my life where I was angry all the time. But seeing the ICTHUS fish on my car did not bring conviction and I eventually realized that I was continually offending Christ's reputation, because I was an overly aggressive driver. So, I took it off.  That was a low point for me, but now looking back, I believe it was the right thing to do.  Eventually, I made it through to the end of that tunnel, and now anger doesn't control my life (my kids do).   I guess my point is that the world is watching us, and I believe they desperately want to believe in a God that forgives them, that loves them, who is merciful, benevolent, and kind.  If all they see is His people react in sin every time they are offended it is like "another brick in the wall" to Christ and eternal life, to miscast a Pink Floyd song.  Maybe just better to take the sticker off for a while.  
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Question: Anybody struggle with anger?  How did you deal with it?  Do you agree with this?  All opinions welcome...

I Dare You To Pray This

This is an amazing and scary challenge from Francis Chan (spontaneously while he's  on a plane).  But in my humble opinion, if you're too afraid to pray things that scare the living daylights out of you for fear that God may actually answer then why on earth did you become a believer in Jesus in the first place.  This is a scary prayer, but I say let's go for broke, let's take the leap.  God's abundant life is not boring, you can be sure.  It has challenged me and my wife greatly.  I prayed...and am now very much afraid.  Go ahead.  I dare you.

A Passionate Janitor

It's been a month since I wrote, sorry about that.  In an effort to try to be more consistent I am going to try to keep my thoughts shorter.  With that said, in a nod to the most influential person in my life who I've never met, I'd like to parrot a thought from Oswald Chambers.  For at least two (maybe three) years I spent my devotional time (almost slavishly) meditating on his daily thoughts about all things spiritual in his book "My Utmost for His Highest".  I credit Chamber's amazing insights with helping a me desire a deeper life with Christ when I was in college. I've found over the last 20+ years that this desire is not a given...I must continue to fan it or risk a hardened heart.  So this is me fanning.

Christ used his death on the cross to symbolize communion.  His body is the broken bread, His blood is the poured out wine.  We understand that, as believers, it is what defines "half" of our faith (the other "half" being the resurrection).  What Chambers emphasized is that we should offer our lives to be so available to God for His purposes and glory that our lives (I believe the Greek word is "Zoe") are also broken bread and poured out wine.  Then, and only then, will the power of the resurrection be so part of us that whether we are a prophet, a pastor, a shoemaker, or a janitor...will we be identified not as mere churchgoers, but as disciples of the living Christ.  And many lives changed eternally.  God glorified. It is, after all, why we're here isn't it?

So Who Put A Spiritual Beat Down on You?

My Christian life can be divided up into categories.  I believe this is true for most people.  Mine is pretty intuitive, college, post-college/pre-marriage, marriage/CHILDREN.  Yours may not be so neat and tidy,but just because mine are doesn't mean there aren't some untidy sub-categories.  Just saying. I put the children in caps because I'm yelling.  Just kidding. No, because having children is a spiritual game-changer.  Everything you do up to then really affects nobody. Not in the way what you do affects your children.  For us havers-of-children nothing on earth is more important.  Can I get an "Amen"?  More on this in another blog.

So this morning I'm thinking of who did God put into my life in each of these categories that had that person not been there, things would not be the same. In college, it would be my good friend Wayne and my Campus Crusade discipler Leslie Gregory.  Both put a college size beat down on my worldly man that kept making an appearance right after I switched sides (that's "became a believer" for all you who don't talk street.) They changed my life and I'm grateful God put them in my life.

Post college would be Tom Tracy.  And my Bible teacher, Chuck Carter.  Tom had the guts to tell me hard things.  He made me mad for 3 days.  3 DAYS!  And he was right.  My ego needed to hear what he told me.  I would not be the same today if he did not rebuke me then.  May God put into every persons life at least once, a Tom Tracy. May I be a Tom Tracy to someone.  Chuck was so gifted at teaching that people would fall over in the Spirit when he would read the "begats" in Leviticus.  He transformed how I read and interpret the Bible.

Post-marriage I would have to say my wife.  And it's only partially because it's in my wedding vows that I have to. I think most men's wives would make this list.  Stacy complements me perfectly and like Tom is not afraid to tell me the things I hate to hear, but need to hear.  And I adore her for it (at least after I'm finished being mad.)

So, who is your Leslie, your Tom, your Paul?  And when, if ever, was the last time you siad "Thanks". I'm very interested in knowing who has God put in your life that made it richer, better, that changed it.   Lastly, who's life are WE changing?  2 Peter 2:22.