May 24, 2013

The small difference between living and LIVING

“I am so scared of pain that I will easily settle for a mundane life to escape it…”
 
I hadn’t written in my journal for a while. To be honest, I was frustrated with myself. I was frustrated that I couldn’t feel anything and I couldn’t figure out why.

The even worse part was knowing I couldn’t blame anyone but myself.
 
I’ve always been wound pretty tight. Anxiety-stricken, some would say. Scared that at any turn something might happen to me or to someone I loved.

Then the Boston Marathon bombings happened and within an instant all the fears that I had been shoving as far down as I possibly could for the past 22 years came to the surface.

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May 23, 2013

My perfect older brother (literally).

Did you ever feel really jealous of your siblings growing up? 

If so, let me know so we can start a country club for only people like us or a recovery group for kids with sibling jealousy problems. Or maybe we can just start a Facebook group. Yea, thats a lot easier and cheaper than the first two options. 

Because he's bigger. 

That's what my mom said to me when I asked her why my brother got more beans than I did. And more meat. And more rice. 

Why did he get more than I did even though I was older? Because he's bigger and can eat more. 

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May 22, 2013

10 ways to know if you need to shut up about the truth already.

1. If you get into internet (or real life) arguments even though you know it won't really change anything. 

2. If you spend time role playing the perfect zinger in your head and you just can't wait to get back to that conversation and give them a piece of your mind. 

3. If you feel the need to ALWAYS say something every time someone doesn't adhere to what you believe. Can't move on with your day until you respond to that Facebook message huh?. 

4. If you consider it a moral imperative to clarify and declare truth in every situation. Feels likes everything lies in the balance of what you feel compelled to say? 

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May 21, 2013

2 words that give me hope in the midst of unspeakable tragedy.

Jesus wept. 

It's the shortest verse in the bible (John 11:35) but it might be one of the most powerful images of Jesus ever recorded. 

Jesus wept. 

Maybe it's just me but I mostly picture God as a far off largely aloof stoic being who shakes his head and rolls his eyes every time we cry, complain or hurt.

"Get over it. Can't you just trust me?"
"Grow up and look beyond the pain" 
"Oh ye of little faith. Look at the big picture"

Those are the words I assumed came out of God's mouth when I hurt and hated life. But then I read John 11 and I see a different God. I see a God who weeps? 

But wait, that's not the whole story. It gets even more bizarre. 

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May 20, 2013

4 simple ways to grow your faith (without feeling like a loser).

Don't you hate it when people tell you to have faith or trust God and then they don't say anything else?

It's like if my kid says she doesn't understand her homework and I say... 

Well understand it. 
Come on now. Understand it. 
Do you understand it yet? 

No sir but I'm sure if you keep telling me to understand it, I will eventually just start understanding it.
Or not silly dad. 

That's what we preachers sometimes do isn't it? We say stuff like...

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May 17, 2013

Change the way you think.

Hypocrites. Homophobes. Hate Mongers. 

What do these three words have in common – besides all starting with the letter “H”? They are all words that are frequently used to describe people that claim to be followers of Jesus Christ.

You know what else they have in common? None of them would be used to describe Christ himself. Not one. Not once. Not ever. 

The fact is that this is the way most of the world sees us and we’ve allowed it to happen – we’re really at fault for the way we’re viewed. 

We try to blame the media and Hollywood for all the negativity - and to be fair neither has really helped us. We’ve been willing participants in the destruction of what should be a life changing, people loving movement. 

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May 16, 2013

Why the world needs you to be more boring and cliche.

“But dad, you're supposed to say that about me because you're my dad.” 

You parents ever heard that one? 

Even if you're not a parent, I bet you've seen that scenario play out. I bet somewhere sometime recently someone you care about dismissed something you said or did because you are supposed to say or do it. 

“It's your job.”
“You're my mom.”
“You're a pastor.”
“You're a Christian.”
“You're just a good friend.”
“You're just being nice.”
“It's my birthday.” 

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May 15, 2013

Life according to crazy prophetic stalker prayer lady with a bird hat.

We've already talked about crazy flag lady.

Now lets talk about crazy prayer lady with weird prophetic words. 

I met her last month while on tour. 

I'm sure you’ve met her. No, let me rephrase that. I'm sure she made sure that you met her. I know it was hard for me to miss her when she haunted me down, laid hands on my shoulders and started prophesying "at" me in the crowded church lobby. She was so weird. 

Can I say that out loud? Can I be honest? 

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May 14, 2013

Why Jesus loves people with snot tissues.

Wanted: Christians who are comfortable with snot tissues.

'Man, If I have to pick up another snot filled tissue I'm going to flip out'.

And I did.

I literally walked in my daughter's room and dropped all 5 million soaked tissues I picked around the house on her floor.

I've had enough. Really. Pick up your sick tissues please. Is that too much for this daddy to ask of his daughter?

It's not that I don't feel sympathy for her illness or I don't want her to be healthy. It's just that I really, really don't want to get sick. And with all germs she's leaving everywhere, I might as well declare not getting sick mission impossible.

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May 13, 2013

My mom is the rock.

"Rock". 

That's my mom. She's a rock. I would NOT be where I am today or even close to knowing Jesus like I do without my mom. 

She's the hardest worker I know. She loves Jesus with all of her heart and I couldn't have asked for a better mom.

No one has prayed harder or more for me than my mom. 

Her faith is unrelenting and if you asked her about any random Psalm from the bible (just pick a number from 1-150 chapters), she can probably either recite you the whole chapter by memory or at least paraphrase most of it.

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