A Story of Selfless Love

A Powerful Story of Selfless Love.  The story of Ian & Larissa.  Can love be anything but selfless? http://vimeo.com/38033654

The Power of Memory – Part 1

Memory is an incredible thing.  In many ways, it is our memory that enables us to function.  Every aspect of our daily routine is based on memory.  Four million people in the United States have Alzheimers, a disease that slowly robs one of memory.  Many of them cannot drive because they do not remember what the car even does nor do they remember how to crank it.  They forgot.  Many of them do not swallow their food because they forgot they were supposed to swallow.  Many of them do not bathe because they do not know they are supposed to turn off the faucet.  They cannot function because they cannot remember.    
On the other hand, other people in the world have incredible memories.  People like Marilu Henner can remember the day they bought a specific pair of shoes in the 1990’s.  They can remember the weather on a specific day from years ago and what they ate for dinner on that day.
(See: http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-18560_162-20071071.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody)
Since we obviously don’t want to remember everything, what do we want to remember?  Moses taught us about the importance of remembering in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 6 to be precise): 
        When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.  Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.  Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

The process is simple:  Abundance becomes Pride becomes Forgot becomes Disaster.

We must be careful that we never, never forget where it all came from. . .
(See The Power of Memory – Part 2)   

The Power of Memory – Part 2

  The greatest test most people face is rarely their adversity.  Quite often, it is their success.  Life can be more difficult when you succeed than when you fail.  When we achieve wealth, it becomes something else it was not intended.  Abundance can appear to be god-like.   

        Wealth can become our identity.  Our perception of others is often based on what they own or earn.  We judge people based on what they drive, how they dress and where they live frequently.  It is a natural response.  Our thoughts about people are usually founded on the decorations they have rather than the heart they possess. 
        Wealth can also become our security.  When couples marry, they often struggle financially.  And then a salary increase comes and they begin to feel more secure.  Then a job change brings a raise and an opportunity to buy a house & secure a 30-year mortgage.  Wealth becomes our security. 
        In a sentence, wealth gives the feeling of power & sufficiency.  And it is deceptive.  Wealth can come and wealth can go.  Our recent economic stall has proven that to be true.  The security that many people had in their incomes shriveled as their income did.  Now people are living in fear. 
        Wealth’s false impressions of security and identity are why GOD told us to be careful about success.    When wealth becomes the focus of our lives, we tend to leave GOD in the dust.  We end up being owned by their possessions rather than being free to follow GOD.  And that is a recipe for disaster.    
        Security is more than finances or health or relationships.   Security means having confidence even when life has taken a downward turn, perhaps in one’s health, finances, relationships or career.  When life has gone south, but you can still look w/ assurance into the future, then that is true security.  
        Security means living in the confidence that GOD is sovereign over all things – past, present & future.  Our security about tomorrow rests in the sovereign knowledge of GOD, not in the abundance of our personal affluence. 
        GOD has given us regular reminders that bring our hearts back to the reality that at the core of everything we are is a GOD who loves us and faithfully provides.  The Sabbath is a reminder that our days are from Him.  The tithe is a reminder that our dollars from Him.  The Bible is a reminder that everything is from Him.
Be careful then that you don’t forget.   

Trying a new deal here - from the written word to the spoken word.  Video blog.  Yep, kept it simple using a web cam.  Click on the link & give it a look.  http://vimeo.com/36926810

Point And Propel
Have you ever shot an arrow?  If so, then you know that the arrow goes exactly where you aim it.  It may not seem like it does, but it does.  Obviously there are other elements such as the wind that may cause it to get off course, but for the most part, the arrow ends up where we aim it.  In the words of William Shakespeare, “The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in our stars, but in ourselves if we are underlings.”  Sometimes our aim is not very good. 
Parenting is a lot like shooting arrows.  In a phrase, we parents have a critical responsibility – to point and propel.  We point our children in the right direction, then we propel them in that direction.  Yet, pointing and propelling begs the question:  Which way?  In which direction are we pointing our children?  The haphazard propelling of an arrow is hazardous.  So it is with children, but multiplied a hundred.  What do we want our children to be?  This question is not about career or college choices.  That question is:  What do we want our children to do?  That is a different question.  Point and Propel is about being, not doing.  Rather than focus on what we want them to do, we need to ask what we want them to be.  Working as a lawyer, plumber or teacher is not the answer to that question.  The question about being is about character.  It means pointing our children in the direction of integrity, courage, compassion, strength, perseverance and humility. . .if that is what you want them to be.  And it causes us to ask the question if we want them to be more than we have been?  We often discuss how we want our children to have more than we did growing up, but the greater question to ask is do we want them to be more?  Remember that what a person is always trumps what a person does.  If we can point the next generation in the right direction of being, then the doing will take care of itself. 

Pass it Along

I pointed out some interesting black & white photographs on the wall of the hospital corridor to my wife.  They were shots of various random scenes of an old farmhouse, a windmill and other scenes.  She said, “When I was young, I would go to the motocross races to watch my brother ride.  I would take our camera and take the pictures.  I really enjoyed it.  My parents ordered a photography magazine for me.”  I chuckled because it reminded me of when our middle school started a 4H club.  The advisor asked each of us what we liked to do.  I noticed they had information on small engine repair.  Since our lawnmower at home was constantly broken, I thought that would be a great area to learn.  The next week I got an instruction manual.  We both chuckled.  

It reminded me that young people need more than information when it comes to pursuing desires of the heart.  They need someone who will walk down the path with them.  They need someone who is interested in them, someone who will listen.  Hopefully that person is a parent.  Sometimes it is not. 

If I can be that person for someone, then I will gladly invest my time and energy. 
Now that I have passed the “50” mark, I believe that the most fruitful years of my life are ahead of me.  They may not be the things I do personally.  Rather they may be the things that others do because of me.  As I invest my life in a new generation, I believe it will multiply and live on in the hearts and minds of those who follow me down a road marked not only by my footprints, but also the footprints of many others, including Jesus.  I want to invest in others so that when they experience the “AHA” moment of why they are here, I can be a catalyst for them to embrace that purpose and live a life of purpose. 

While Leaving the Mall One Evening. . .

On a recent evening, my wife and I were exiting the mall with a Classic CinnaBon® (she talked me into it).  Out of nowhere came a loud and repetitive expression of an expletive that begins with the letter “F”.  She kept saying it over and over and over.  The volume and passion of her voice caught our attention.  “Who was she talking at?”  We looked her direction and behind her was a man repeatedly shouting just as loud, “You are not allowed back in the mall.”  Yes it was the security guard.  And she was walking into the mall.  His security measures were not working.  I am not sure it was an issue, but the woman was somewhat larger than he was. 

As we drove away from the incident (I did not volunteer my martial arts talents and experience for either side), I wondered, “What caused her to act like that?  Something exploded from her.  Why was such anger seething inside of her?”  Had she been abused as a child?  Or had she been spoiled?  Was her family incredibly rich?  Or were they impoverished? 
Call me psychic if you like, but I don’t think this encounter was an isolated event for her.  I imagine she uses that word and many other similar words regularly.  My words may sound judgmental, but that is not my intention.  She is a reminder of the broken world in which we live.  We all are broken.  Her display of brokenness was on display that evening whereas mine is not always in public view. 

When the Bible talks about salvation, it is more than rescuing people from hell.  Salvation is the offer of GOD to heal our inner wounds here and now.  He desires to radically change the thoughts and desires of our own hearts so that we can live free from the constraints of humanity – the constraints of pride, rebellion, fear, bitterness, lust and greed among others.  Those are the things that imprison us.  Those inner shackles hold us in bondage to a life that is much less than what GOD desires for us.  Our Creator desires immeasurably more for us and in us. 
And He can do immeasurably more even when all we can offer Him are lives that are imprisoned and broken.  His grace is not only sufficient to forgive, but to heal and liberate.