A great combination of words

I just finished reading "Truck: A love story" by Michael Perry. It is a great read about a man and his journey through the trials and delights of rehabilitating a 1951 International Harvester L-120 (or -122 depending on your model knowledge) pickup. However, the book is about much more. It is about his journey through love and life for that year. He is a delightfully sentimental man - I mean that in the very best of terms as I share his love of the simple and nuanced - taken by the love of a good woman, his family and friends, and an old truck. It is a good read. We don't agree on all aspects of life, but I certainly appreciate his use of the English language to portray his time.

I write all of that to get to just a couple of items I want to share with you from the book. The first is from early in the journey, March to be exact, when he is in his basement preparing for his spring garden while listening to NPR. The radio personality was recapping the trouble in Rwanda. Michael was happy with his sweet little spot, but "humbled by the fact that my gratitude alleviates no one's misery." Wow. I know he is not saying to be unhappy in my blessings, but to be mindful that I am, in fact, blessed. It is something I try to keep in mind but it is good to be reminded from time to time. I read that sentence and immediately dog earred the page.

Later in the book, in "the new year," the author has met a woman, fallen in love, and is on the verge of marriage. After some pre-marital counselling, he is thinking of an essay he read and has this to say about what he thinks in regards to a line in the essay, "making me all the more grateful that (Tracy) has agreed to walk beside me of her own free will, despite the unknown. That when the day comes for one of us to release the other we will have shared in this life what we dared hope we might." Now, as you will notice, I substituted my wife's name in that quote. Michael's wife's name is Anneliese, but I thought it was a wonderful sentiment and I wanted to personalize it. I hope he doesn't mind.

Yelling works

So, as you can plainly see, I am well on my to making a large pile of cash by updating my blog frequently and driving lots-o-traffic this way!

I was flipping channels the other night and rolled past a clip that made me press the channel down button a few times really quickly to see if I saw what I thought I really saw (fun sentence). When I reached my channel of desire, I saw a guy standing outside of a Motley Crue concert yelling at everyone going in to the show. He was yelling, "God hates Motley Crue. God hates people who go to Motley Crue concerts." What? Why? Then, just to make sure everything is even-handed, they showed a clip of one of his fellow shouters explaining something to the effect of the concert goers shouldn't feel singled out because they also do this at John Mayer concerts and others. Oh, good. I thought is was just the Crue listeners God hates. I am so glad he cleared that up for us.

I am going to let you in on a little secret: God does not hate Motley Crue, John Mayer, any other singer or listener. What he hates is sin. My sin, your sin, everyone's sin. No one is above this or singled out.

That got me to thinking again about these blog posts I wanted to write about how Christians are, many times, perceived: haters, not lovers.

I see video clips of protesters outside of abortion clinics and I shutter at the image portrayed. God fearing people shouting at scared, pregnant women as they enter a clinic to do something so emotionally tough. The mothers are probably scared to death. However, inside they find love and caring and acceptance. They have "sanctuary". Funny isn't it? The run through a bunch of Jesus freaks to find calm and safety. Maybe some reading this will find my use of the term "Jesus freaks" a little troubling here, but I think that the people outside those clinics truly believe they are doing what God wants them to do. I just think somewhere along the way, something went off course.

You see, we are not to be haters. We are to LOVE! The scared women walking into that clinic need to find peace. They need to feel secure. That baby inside of them scares the crap out of them. They don't know how they could possibly have that baby. While I have no first hand knowledge of this, I would bet a dime to a dollar most of them are not taking that action because they can't be bothered by a baby. I bet a fly-on-the-wall in one of those counseling sessions would tell you they just don't know how they could raise it alone or afford it or how they could accomplish goals they have set with a baby there or how they could handle the emotions of going full-term, delivering a baby, and giving it to another family to raise.

So, someone patiently, calmly, and lovingly tells them how an abortion is an alternative. Why aren't we patiently, calmly and lovingly telling them about God's love for them and that baby and about the other options they have if they are unable or unwilling to raise that child themselves? Do some really think that shouting, "WHORE", "KILLER" and "SINNER" at some little girl is going to make her stop and think, "Oh, you know, you are right. Nevermind. I will go home now"?

We need to show love. Not lip-service. I need to not just type up some blog full of my thoughts. WE need to go out and show the broken-hearted and scared we care for them. Not superficially, but that we, and more importantly, God truly care for them.

When the Pharisees brought to Jesus the woman in adultery, he didn't yell at her. He didn't call her a whore. He didn't shame her. He, after addressing her accusers, simply showed her love and compassion. For all we know, due to the lack of birth control back then, she may have even been pregnant. Man, I want to be like that. Let's all be like that.

Perceptions

I have been thinking quite a bit lately about how much people are searching for something real; something spiritual to fill the void we all have. It seems that most are willing to latch onto anything that is not Christianity. Kabbalah, Paganism, Buddhism, etc., but not the one thing which would be bring true happiness and fulfillment - an acceptance of the one true forgiving God. Why is that?

Some would say the reason for this is Christianity is the ultimate sacrifice and people don't like to up the things that they think bring them joy. Some would say it is because it is as God said, the world would hate us. I think both of those are true, but I also think it is because of a perception of Christians that has, at least on some levels, been brought up on the Church from the inside. It is almost as if some Christians revel in the knowledge that many non-Christians want nothing to do with the Church.

I grew up in church and have loved it - most of the time. I have also gone though periods of my life where I was very cynical about church and "religious people." I have seen truly devoted Christians who love God with every fiber of their being and only want to do what is pleasing to God. I have also seen people who appear to be that way yet have an attitude that is judgmental, hateful, and cold towards anyone who would dare to disagree with them. Sadly, I have seen people like this who truly believe they are living their lives as God intends. However, the Bible shows a very different Christian.

Today, my friend, Lucas Parry (@lucasparry for you Twitter folks), spoke about "More Outreach" at church as part of our "More" series. In his talk, he mentioned a book titled, "Unchristian." It is a book about the perception non-Christians have about Christians. He sited a few items from it that spoke directly to what I have thought in the past and what has been very heavy on my mind lately. Non-Christians see us as judgmental, hypocritical, and hateful. Why not? Many Christians give them reason do believe it!

Not wearing the right clothes to church shows you aren't really saved. Right?
Christians hate gays. Right?
Missing a service on Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night is against God. Right?
Having tattoos is just a step on the road to hell. Right?

This post is getting long and has been re-written many times now so I think I will bring it to an end. I plan to cover these topics and many others like them in the coming posts. Some will be what I have found to be true in the Bible. Some will be more open-ended items I am posting to get others opinions. I hope to spark conversation and get you thinking about what you believe and why. I am sure there will be people who disagree with me strongly. I just hope we can have honest, rational discussion about it to get us thinking about what we can do to show Christ's love without letting our man made beliefs get in the way.

Until next time,

Tim

Starting over

As both of my readers may have noticed, I have deleted old blog posts and redesigned this blog. Recently, I have decided to take this in a new direction. I will now be a blog about things that are on my mind about the world around me. Hold on tight. Some will be serious, some controversial, and maybe a few humorous. I just hope it will be a place that will challenge you to take time to think about how you think and act with those around you.

The first real installation will be up soon. It is something I have been composing for a while and was bolstered today by Lucas during this morning's message.

Tim