How Annoying Things Remind Me of God (Sorry, Lord )

Note regarding my last post.  Due to the apparent disinterest in Demotivational posters based on the fact that only 10% of you cared to read, I promise to never do that again unless at least 10 people beg me to...and I still might say "No."  I'll just post them on the timeout wall to torture my kids. 
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If you could look in the back of my '99 Nissan SUV (pushing 200,000 miles thank you very much) you would see an assortment of items ranging from a battered box of tissues, a child's car seat with no less than 6 months of cookie crumbs in the crease, gum wrappers (those that haven't been sucked out the window- I do feel bad for that), my Ipod (which is not the real Apple product, but a suitable knockoff) because I'd rather listen to it, then have to endure my CD's skipping to the beat of the potholes on Rt 288, sunglasses, of course, and a pile of receipts that I really don't know why I haven't thrown away.  And that's just the backseat.

In the very back is the good stuff.  Tools, chairs, (trash...but not much), a football, a box of shirts, a Frisbee, and baseball equipment.  And this leads us to the subject of my gripe. Bats. Not the little flying ones, the long ones made out of metal that hate me.  That roll around incessantly while I'm in stop-and-go traffic all the way home.  The ones that roll back and forth and back and forth and BACK AND FORTH, like a  clanking, crashing, wave, of screaming metal trying to make...me....lose...my...MIND!  Until I finally get home and throw them in the trash can.  Then take them out because my kids are crying (OK...I just made up that part, they're still [secured nicely] in the back of my SUV.)

OK, so how does this remind me of God?  How can this make me a better Christian? Because all the way home with every bang of the bat against my wheel well, for some odd reason, instead of getting angry, it made me think of how God, like those bats, is trying to get my attention, over and over, using any method at his disposal (and let's face it - He's Almighty God - He has a lot of methods), saying look at me, pay attention to me, I love you, I love you, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU!!!!  Until I finally get it. And realize that I was made to love Him back.  For some of us it takes God's clanking bats throughout our life to keep us from forgetting Him.  His insane, perfect, crazy, Jesus-died-on-the-cross-for-me, love. The love that would go to bat for you (sorry I know that was lame), that promised to never leave you, or abandon you, or betray you, or gossip about you, or call you stupid, or lie to you...I just hope God doesn't have to hit me with that bat.  That would really hurt. 

Jesus and Baseball

I was playing baseball with my 3 boys today.  For me this is one of the joys of being a father of boys. We got dusty, we got hit by balls, we spit, we yelled.  We played baseball.  Maybe not well, but a little better than last time.  I am truly living the dream.    I wonder if Jesus played baseball (or whatever sport they played in ancient Israel) with his father.  Did he yell and scream? Did he spit?  Did he try to show off for the girls that were watching?  It reminded me of a great song by the late Rich Mullins.  Lyrics included.  Enjoy.

What Would Jesus Tweet?

Throughout the Gospels people are continuously chasing after Jesus.  They loved Him.  Couldn't get enough of Him. In one Gospel account He gets in a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee and the crowd literally walks around the sea to meet Jesus on the other side. Say Whhaaa??!  They walked around a SEA!! Another place, He's walking down the road on His way to Jericho and he has a parade of people following him.  Apparently, Jesus had a posse...one that would make even Leonardo DiCaprio jealous..Hold on a second!!  The only instance of similar fanatical popularity in our lifetime is the paparazzi chasing after celebrities, athletes, and billionaire geeks.  When was the last time the paparazzi waited outside of your home just because you were a Christian? 

When was the last time the paparazzi waited outside of

your home just because you were a Christian?

[On a completely unrelated note, I really love to say the word "Paparazzi" with an Italian accent.  It just rolls off the tongue so nicely...go ahead and say it...you know you want to].  

OK...so Jesus was a celebrity.  He was famous. I mean if He were alive today his limo driver (probably one of the lesser disciples like Bartholomew) would be in a constant race against dudes on motorcycles with waving cameras swerving in and out of traffic just to get a picture of this superstar Jesus!  And could you imagine how many people would be following Jesus on Twitter?  Surely in the millions. I can see His tweet now, "Just brought another guy back from the dead.  See, I am the Messiah, yo! Believe in me."  

How many people would be following Jesus on Twitter?

And let's not even talk about Facebook.  I wonder how many FB Friends Jesus would have. (I know someone out there just thought "not more than 144,000"...you Bible literalists.  OK, I did too).  A ridiculous amount clearly.  I think I have 143.  Maybe I shouldn't be making that public information.

So, the point is, if Jesus was sooooo popular with the people (everyone, that is, but the lawyers. But who wants to be friends with lawyers anyway) and we are supposed to be just like Him...why aren't people today following Christians around, walking around lakes to hear us preach the Gospel or following us in long parades on our way to work?  Now, I realize that I'm making this way too simple, and the answer is more complex.  But since this is mostly a rhetorical question, I'm allowed to make certain logical assumptions and presuppositions...right?  

What was it that made Jesus so attractive?

I just want to know what was it that made Jesus so attractive to the people in his culture?  And what is it about us Christians today that make us so unattractive to ours?   And what can I do to make people more attracted to me....attracted to JESUS IN ME.   Somehow, I think I know the answer,  and I think it starts with loving God and loving people...although I was really hoping for more of a "do good deeds and throw some money into the offering plate" solution...it's way easier.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.  The Greatest Commandment. Jesus did it all perfectly...us not so much.  So that's where we start.  Also reading more about Jesus in the Gospels, what He did and didn't do, what He said and didn't say...is probably a good choice too.P96HVST74RPS

The Coolest Thing You'll Read This Week!

It's late, so my title is lacking.  I re-stumbled over an old lesson that I think is pretty cool. I promise - if you stick with me, you will be glad you did.

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Most of you are familiar with the story about Jesus and Nicodemus (John 3).  It is essentially Jesus explaining to Nicodemus that in order for one to enter into the kingdom of heaven he has to be born again.  Upon Nicodemus' ridiculous (my opinion) response about a man being unable to enter his mother's womb a second time Jesus explains further.

Jesus answers, "Truly, truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."  What is amazing is that after Nic. still doesn't understand Jesus insults him.

He says to Nic., "Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?"  So Jesus is astonished that Nic. isn't getting it.  Why, I ask, does Jesus expect him to understand this new teaching. Because it's not new. Now not to overstep my pay grade here, but as I understand it, back in those days, young boys who were being groomed to one day be rabbis had to have the Tanakh (Old Testament) memorized.  So a rabbi of Nicodemus' stature would have been expected to not only have it memorized, but to know it better than just about anybody. (And since he was a rabbi in a time when Israel was occupied by Rome he likely knew it in several languages).  Now to the cool part.

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If you look in Proverbs 30:4 it reads:

"Who has ascended into heaven and descended?

Who has gathered the wind in His fists?

Who has wrapped the waters in His garment?

Who has established all the ends of the earth?

What is His name or His son's name?

Surely you know!"

Starting to see where I'm going??  OK.  Last part to put this together.  In the verse in John most Bibles translate that as "born of water and the Spirit", but the Greek word used for spirit is the same word used for wind...pneuma. So is it possible that when Jesus told Nicodemus that "He had to be born of water and the wind" He expected "the teacher of Israel" to immediately be reminded of the verse in Proverbs, which he undoubtedly knew...and realize that he was face to face with God's son?  When Jesus was incredulous that he didn't understand...even that was a key for Nicodemus.  "Surely you know."  

Notice how badly Jesus wanted him to not just get it, but to make the connection, see God before him, bow down to worship him and have eternal life. I was stunned when I first saw this.  Hope you are too. 

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If this isn't the coolest thing you've heard this week you need to check your pulse.  If you do think this is the coolest thing you've heard, share it with someone.  I promise not to send them spam.