BLeach

Why I Use His Name

I had a close call this morning.  I'm still waiting for my heartbeat to return to normal. 

I was merging on the highway on my way to the office when the car behind me sped up to pass me.  I put my foot on the brake to let him by, hit an ice patch, lost control, spun 180 degrees, and crashed into the guardrail.  I've been in other accidents (like rear ending my dad last year) but none where I had time to think about what could happen before it was over.  Today I probably had a good 5 seconds after I lost control where I knew I couldn't slow down and that I was going to crash hard. 

The first person I thought of was Jesus.  Seriously.  I probably said His name 15 times in those 5 seconds.  He didn't seem far away to me.  He seemed to be the closest person on the planet.  When I got out of the car a few minutes later I called my mom.  But the first person I called was Jesus. 

The name of Jesus is used for alot of different reasons today.  Some people use it to laugh at it.  Some people use it to curse.  Others use it to express their anger.  For me, that name is my lifeline.  I wouldn't dare misuse it, because I know how much I need it. 

Sure, I'm still getting over the frustration of another $500.00 deductable.  Sure, I'm still getting over the frustration of a probable hike in my insurance premium.  But mostly I'm grateful to have walked away without any injuries. 

My mom gave me a ride back from the body shop.  Keith will fix my car.  But Jesus and his angels kept me safe. 

Aslan is Near

It's been awhile since I've had more anticipation for a movie then I do for Disney's release of The Chronicles of Narnia.  Not only is CS Lewis one of my favorite authors, but The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is one of my favorite stories.  Adventure, Courage, Heroism, Sacrifice, Victory; it's all there.  In it I see myself.  And in it, I see my Savior. 

Starting this Sunday I'm going to take our church through five of the rich Bible metaphors that are in the movie.  I'm going to start with "A Door To Another World."  The Bible says that Jesus is the Door.  He is the Gate.  But what too many Christians miss is that to walk through that door, and engage in a relationship with Christ, is to walk into a life of adventure and missoin that Jesus described as abundant life, or life that's really life.

If you haven't read the book yet, you've still got a few days.  It's an easy read.  Pick it up, read it, then see the movie.  If you like fresh glimpses at the gospel, then get ready to be inspired!  I just read it again last week and loved it as much as ever.  You never know, you just might even re-discover your inner child!  Didn't Jesus encourage us to pursue the faith of our inner child?

I love this quote from CS Lewis.

I never wrote down to anyone; ...it certainly is my opinion that a book worth reading only in childhood is not worth reading even then.  The inhibitions which I hoped my stories would overcome in a child's mind may exist in a grown-up's mind too, and may perhaps be overcome by the same means. 

Rosemary Sprig

Whoever names paint colors is not a bachelor. 

I'm painting three rooms in my house this week.  My kitchen has been bright green since I moved in three years ago (no comments please).  And the two main floor bedrooms need some color.  So I swung by Home Depot to pick up some color samples and now my head is spinning. 

For starters, take these three "colors."  Sunset Beige, Smokey Topaz, and Warm Nutmeg.  Sounds like three opposite colors doesn't it?  Wrong!  I can't tell the difference between them.  Why don't the paint people just save us all some confusion and call them what they are; brown? 

Life was more simple when I was in Kindergarten.  If you learned your primary colors you were set for art class.  Red, yellow and blue were the key to creating anything.  But all these free paint swatches complicate things. 

Just try buying blue paint.  What you'll get is a choice between Lake Stream, Teal Mosaic, Silent Tide, Ocean Shadow, Evening Symphony, Yacht Harbor, China Pattern, and Cobalt Flame.  Do any of those sound like blue to you? 

Caramel Latte isn't a color, it's a drink! And right now I'm looking at Ultra Pure White.  For a white that is ultra pure it kind of looks cream. 

My theory is that somebody opened the dictionary and just picked two words at random and stuck them together. 

Fragrant Cherry?  Cherry's don't smell. 

Desert Rose?  Must be a mirage. 

Juicy Fig?  At least if you have some left over you can drink it. 

My suggestion is to simplify the painting process.  Start with your primaries, throw in some secondaries, give it a couple coats and let it dry. 

That's enough ranting for one painter.

X-Ray Vision

I found myself zoomed in this morning on Hebrews 4.13.  This is a good verse to memorize.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

God has x-ray vision.  He sees what I do, but so does everyone else.  God has something like 40/20 vision.  His eyes work supernaturally.  Not only does He see what I do, He sees who I am.  He sees who I am inside.  He sees every passing thought even as it races through my mind.  He sees every fleeting desire, good and bad, as it passes through my heart.  He is aware not only of how I appear, but how I am. 

I realized in prayer this morning that I tend to spend alot of my prayer time covering things I am doing for God.  I ask often for Him to do things through me.  Those prayers are legit, but my activity is not all that God is interested in.  He is concerned about who I am becoming in Christ, and what He desires to do within me. 

I'm adding two requests to my prayer for today. 

Open my eyes.  Help me see beyond the physical appearance of things; beyond what I am doing to who I am becoming. 

Transform me.  I understand your work of transformation is not done in me.  Continue changing me today.  Don't just fix what I do.  Fix who I am.  Put your desires in my heart, and your thoughts in my mind. 

I don't want to be surprised when it's time to give account and my insides are laid bare.  I know God won't be. 

Decoration Inspiration

Confession Time: In almost 3 years of being a homeowner I have yet to hang up Christmas lights outside my house. I do have a decorated Christmas tree in my basement from last year. It's all ready to go. Now I know what I've been missing: inspiration. I don't know whose house this is but this guy's got vision.

With Thanksgiving over it's officially time to hang those lights.  If you're like me and needed some inspiration, here you go.

Thanks John Roman for the link.

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New Design

Here's a shout-out to my friend Angela Yarnal for designing the new banner for my blog.  She has done graphic design for our church since the beginning, and designed this banner as a personal favor to me.  if you think of it, pray for her.  Her family has pledged to build a larger snowman than us this year.  It is an impossible task, but I guess she is depending on a miracle. 

She and another talented friend named Scott started a mega-creative graphic design business that we've used several times at the church.  Check them out at grandandweller.com. 

As for the new colors, what can I say, I'm a Michigan guy at heart.  Hail to the Victors!

Thanksgiving List

Since I didn't have access to my blog on Thursday, here's my Post-Thanksgiving Day Top 10 List.

10. I'm thankful for family that loves Jesus.  There's nothing like getting together with family for holidays and having spiritual values in common. 

9. I'm thankful for my health.  Everytime I visit someone in the hospital I'm reminded not to take that one for granted. 

8. I'm thankful for the snow (alright, I thought if I threw the snow into this list it would make it feel better...maybe not)!  But seriously, without the snow how would any of us build giant snowmen?

7. I'm thankful for the holiday flavors at Starbucks.

6. I'm thankful for the incredible circle of relationships in my life.  Friends from Adrian (where I grew up), through high school, college, and four years of church planting are scattered all over the country but enrich my life constantly.  I just had dinner with one of them tonight.

5. I'm thankful for about 150 volunteers who join me in ministry every week to impact Metro Detroit. 

4. I'm thankful for a God-sized dream to pour my life into.  What would life be without adventure and the opportunity to impact eternity?

3. I'm thankful for a father and mother who constantly make sacrifices to give me more than they had; spiritually, physically and memorially. 

2. I'm thankful for Cici's Pizza.  It was my lifeline in College and they just started one in Southfield!

1. I'm thankful for Jesus Christ.  He shows more sacrifice than Aslan.  He fights with more courage than William Wallace.  He loves with more passion than a life-long friend.  And He changes more than gas prices.  He changed me, and He's changing my city.  He is my Savior, my hero, my King, and my best friend.  He has my heart, my mind, my trust and my future.  He died so I can live and lives so I can experience that life forever.  In a word, He rocks!

Vacation Lessons

I'm sitting in the Orlando airport waiting to board a plane that hasn't landed yet.  You gotta love airport delays.  The good news is that with the wireless in the airport I'm back online again.  So with only a few hours of vacation to go here are some vacation lessons from a week in Florida. 

Monday: Think twice before you challenge five teenagers to a game of tackle football in the pool.  My pride as the oldest of the cousins won't allow me to go underwater.  It makes demands my body is starting to have trouble meeting.  Very fun, but very sore. 

Tuesday: If you're gonig to fish for shark, make sure your bait is still alive when it hits the water.  We got some interesting video footage of our fishing excursion.  I'm going to try and post it soon. 

Wednesday:  If you find yourself at a continental breakfast with either bagels in a bag, trix yogurt, or Frosted Fllakes cereal, go with the Frosted Flakes.  Trust me. 

Thursday: Getting your hopes up for Lions games is like eating too much ice cream at Coldstone Creamery.  You know it's going to make you sick but you do it anyway.  On a brighter note, if you sunburn easily and go golfing on a sunny day in Floriday, either put sunblock on your legs or don't plan on wearing sandals for awhile. 

Friday: If your playing tackle football in a swimming pool with your cousins, try to convince them not to inadvertantly splash women who are sitting on the side of the pool to avoid getting their hair wet.  Let's just say she sent a couple of security guards to meet us. 

Well, the eagle has landed!  See ya in Michigan. 

Rough Losses

Ouch.  Today was a tough day on the sport's front.  Michigan lost to Ohio State on a last minute Buckeye drive.  We had them by 9 points with about 7 minutes to play.  I thought it was over but Ohio State was just getting started.  I've had some bitter tastes in my mouth but few like the taste of a loss to Ohio State. 

Meanwhile, the Pistons are in the fourth quarter of their game against Dallas and getting smoked.  They've had the best start in the NBA this season, and the second best start in franchise history, but it looks like 9-0 isn't meant to be.  The score is 104-71 with 6 minutes left.  Do you believe in miracles? 

I guess I'll go to sleep and expect the miracles in our services tomorrow morning! Then it's an afternoon of football games and an opportunity for the Lions to string two wins together.  Hope springs eternal. 

Alien Invasion

I've been thinking all day about Philippians 3.10. 

But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ.

As a Christian, I'm an alien.  I'm an alien on this planet.  I'm a citizen of heaven posing as a resident of earth.  My theology agrees. I just wonder how often my life values do. 

If our citizenship is in heaven, then there are some surprising things about far too many of us who identify with Christ. 

I'm surprised we become so attached to earthly things. 

I'm surprised we work so hard to accumulate material things.

I'm surprised we don't rejoice more when someone who knows Jesus passes away. 

I participated in a funeral service yesterday that was really more of a praise party.  The family actually called it a homegoing celebration.  If the person who has passed was a Christian, homegoing celebration is a fantastic name for a funeral.  I understand that it is painful for those who loved and are left behind, but the sense of loss is because of something we have lossed, not something our loved one has lost.  They have gained access to their real residence. 

Being an alien is not an excuse for being irrelevant.  As long as we live in the world we're called to love the world.  But my fear is not that we will be too heavenly minded that we're of no earthly good.  It is that we'll be too earthly minded that we're of no heavenly good.  The more we think of eternity, the more it should cause us to maximize every day of life on this earth. 

I just wonder if we lived like we were just passinig through, like earth was not our real home, and like eternity matters most, if more of our friends would long for heaven as well.