You've got a friend in me

(Guest devotion from my brother Chris)
You've Got a Friend in Me

If you're anything like me (I'm sorry), the title of this devotion instantly brought Randy Newman's one of a kind voice into your head singing the theme song to Disney Pixar's movie "Toy Story".   For those who haven't seen the movie, first I question where you've been and how you've managed to escape this classic, but more importantly, it's a timeless tale about friendship, growing up, sticking together and learning to trust each other.  Andy, the main human character, is a boy who loves his toys, his favorite being his cowboy doll named "Woody".  Normalcy and routine are thrown to the wind when "Buzz Lightyear" a futuristic space ranger action figure appears on the scene; Andy's latest birthday present.  Eventually, Andy learns to love both toys and Buzz and Woody become the best of friends and life is golden (until the sequel).

The focus of our Monday devotion this week was friendship in the workplace and the benefits that comes from promoting such relationships.  While the "riding off into the sunset" part of the Hollywood version of friendship stories like Toy Story may not always be realistic, the benefits of caring for and sharing with others IS real and tangible and scientifically proven to improve health, well being and attitude.

So, how does one go about establishing a work friendship you ask?   I'm glad you asked, because this devotion would need to be a short one if you hadn't... :)

1) As with all things - begin with God.  If you're seeking a friend @ work and haven't yet found one, seek God's guidance through prayer.  Not just once, but continual and ongoing prayer.  Be specific in your prayer and in what you ask for.  God invites and commands us to ask for the things we want in prayer.  He WILL bless your efforts in His time and according to His plan.

2) Be patient -  Friendships don't spring up overnight.  They are often the results of unplanned circumstances.  Assigned seating at a class or seminar.  Mixed up mail deliveries.  Having to ride share with strangers.  Joining a bible study or other group.  Remember, friendships aren't a "just add water" endeavor.  The strongest friendships are often forged through much work, perhaps hardship and selfless work.

3) Take it back to God.  In EVERY human relationship, because we are sinful, there will be conflict, hardships, heartache etc...  Keep God inyour relationship and ask him often to bless both of you, especially when hard times come.  Friendships based on shared beliefs, prayer and faith are deeper, richer and more fulfilling for both parties.

This list is by no means comprehensive, but if you're in a place where you simply don't feel your seach for friendship has met with the success you'd hoped for, consider taking it to God for his guidance, insight and assistance.

1 Samuel 20:42 highlights one of the bible's most beautiful and enduring friendships betwee David and Johnathan.  "Johnathan said to David "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying "The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever."..."

What's your favorite bible friendship?  Mine is the friendship between Jesus and Lazarus, a friendship so deep that it lead Jesus to tears when Lazarus passed away. 

But even more important and powerful and endearing is the friendship our Savior Jesus shared with us when he reached out His arms, allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross and bore the weight of our sins in order to purchase an eternity in heaven for us.  Arms outstretched as if to say, "You've got a friend in me!  I will NEVER fail you, NEVER cause you stress, NEVER break your heart.  You've got a friend in me!"

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What's the big deal about Jesus?

When statistics get real

I saw this article about Texas maternal mortality on USA Today.

"The rate of maternal mortality in Texas spiked from 18.6 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2010 to more than 30 per 100,000 in 2011 and remained over 30 per 100,000 through 2014, according to a recent study in the medical journal Obstetrics and Gynecology. That’s significantly higher than Italy (2.1 deaths per 100,000 live births), Japan (3.3) and France (5.5), and more in line with Mexico (38.9) or Turkey and Chile (15.2), according to World Health Organization statistics.

Across the USA, the rate of maternal deaths also  jumped from 18.8 per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 23.8 in 2014 – a 27% jump, the study showed."

Just numbers, right?
And then it gets real.

My son came home from work Friday with a small black ribbon on his uniform.  He's not supposed to wear any extra attachments to his uniform so he said "I"ll bet you're wondering why this is on my shirt".

A co-worker (one of the kitchen crew) had gone into the hospital due to complications with her pregnancy.  
Both the baby and mother died.
The joyful expected event is gone and replaced family tragedy.
The numbers get real.
Texas maternal mortality rate just rose.

Aside: Want to help?

This leads us to wonder - if God is almighty - why did this happen?

Pastor Patterson answered it well in a sermon to us in July - "If God is almighty, why is there evil and suffering?".  It's well worth a listen or a watching.
Bible Reference: Romans 5:6-9, 12, 20b-21

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Lord,
This reminds me that statistics (like "1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will personally deal with cancer in their lifetime") will get real for me.
When it does - turn my attention away from myself and the pit of self-pity to You and your grace.
And to what is really real.
Your promise to me that heaven (perfection like I can't even imagine) is in my future.
Amen.
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What's the big deal about Jesus?

Confused and confused-er

I am a Christian.
What does that mean?
Is it just that I'm trying to be a good person - following in the footsteps of my ultimate role model - Jesus Christ?
That's what I read in 1 John 2:6 (NIV) - "Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did."

But I'm also a sinful human being.
I'm trying to "live as Jesus did".
I'm failing miserably.
I'm confused.

I live in this world.
This world tells me to "believe in myself".
It tells me that if I just do that - I can do anything!
It's "me first" all the way.

But when it's "me first" I just head into the darkness.
1 John 2:9-11 (Message)
"Anyone who claims to live in God’s light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. It’s the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God’s light and doesn’t block the light from others. But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn’t know which end is up, blinded by the darkness."

I'm confused-er.
Darkness or light?
Jesus first or me first?
Am I trying hard enough?  Am I good enough?

And then I read 1 John 2:12-14 (NIV) and get peace, comfort and clarity.
"I am writing to you, dear children,
    because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
I am writing to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
    because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, dear children,
    because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
    because you are strong,
    and the word of God lives in you,
    and you have overcome the evil one."

I AM a Christian.
I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
He gave up his divine nature and became human - so he could live a perfect life and die for me to save me from my sin.
I'm not perfect.  It's OK.
Jesus was and is so I don't have to be.

I still don't fully "get it".
I can't - because I'm a sinful human being.
My brains not capable of making it all make logical worldly sense.
And that's OK, too.
It only makes sense to me now because of the faith that the Holy Spirit has knit it into my heart.

Are you confused?
Is this all nonsense to you?
Let me introduce you to my friend, my Savior, my Jesus.

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Know Jesus, know peace.
No Jesus, no peace.
Amen.
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What's the big deal about Jesus?

Oh LORD! - and - OH, LORD!

Is your life peppered with these moments...
1) Oh LORD! (spoken as you exhale quickly, shoulders dropping down)
2) OH, LORD! (spoken slowly with great emotion, while looking up)

Oh LORD!
Typically the first one is when we don't really mean to call on our Lord at all.
That moment when the last straw has just been broken.
The last shreds of our ego/pride/dignity have been trampled.
When we have arrived at the end of our rope...

OH, LORD!
And the second is when we are amazed, dazed and totally fazed.
When we narrowly miss being hit by a careless driver.
When lightning strikes so close our hair is standing on end.
When someone offers a helping hand when we need it the most.

The Psalms are full of both the "Oh LORD!" and the "OH, LORD!" moments.

Pick your own adventure!
Read these in numbered pairs if you want to enjoy the emotional contrast and the poetry.
Or read each set sequentially if you want to first feel the futility and then the joy.

Oh LORD!
1) Psalm 2:1-3,10-12
2) Psalm 3:1-2
3) Psalm 52:1-4
4) Psalm 53:1-3
5) Psalm 55:4-8
6) Psalm 55:20-21

OH, LORD!
1) Psalm 2:4-9
2) Psalm 3:3-6
3) Psalm 52:8-9
4) Psalm 53:4-6
5) Psalm 55:16-19
6) Psalm 55:22-23

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Oh LORD!
You alone know where I'm at right now and what I need most.
OH, LORD!
Thank you for being with me every step of the way.
And picking me up and carrying me when I just can't do it myself!
Amen.
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What's the big deal about Jesus?

Teddy's Bully

(guest devotion from my brother Chris) Teddy's Bully

I remember being very confused in grade school when we studied President Theodore Roosevelt, who had ties to my home state of North Dakota.  I wasn't confused by his ties to and love for our state, nor his accomplishments, attitude and shortfalls.  I was confused by his use of the word "bully". 

In a letter dated September 27th, 1907, President Roosevelt used the word bully as an adjective, saying "Bully for you." as an exclamation of commendation to the then President of UC Berkeley, Benjamin Wheeler.  This may not be the first time Roosevelt used this phrase in writing and was most certainly not the first time he'd spoken it, but this phrase became emblematic of his presidency nonetheless.

As a young man, I hadn't a clue what "bully for you" meant.  It made no sense to me.  Why on earth would someone want a bully; someone who insults you, beats up on you, talks you down and makes you feel worthless.  Can you understand my confusion?

To me, bullies were the bigger boys on the bus who liked to "knob" me, remove the spiral wire binding from notebooks, rub it back and forth on the spine of a text book and "burn" me and other "little" kids.  We all had/have our bullies.  

Proverbs 22:8
Whoever sows sin reaps weeds,
    and bullying anger sputters into nothing.

Earlier this week as part of our devotional study on the book of Judges, someone related some of their real life adult experience with someone who likes to bully in the workplace.  In the simplest of terms, a bully is anyone who used their power, influence or strength of will to force or coerce and/or convince others to do their bidding or to get their way.   Until this week, I'd never really thought of some of my "difficult" co-workers and peers as being bullies, but when you apply this definition, it makes sense.

I still don't have a clue what led Teddy Roosevelt to adopt the word bully as a compliment, but I do know what our Creator has to say about how we are to react towards bullies in life and in the church.  First, we are to love them and not just in words, but in actions.  We are to live the love of our Savior in all that we do and say and we are to love our enemies as we do ourselves. Does this mean that we are to stand by and let them bully us and others? NO, but it does mean that the example Jesus set for us in how he lived His life, should always serve as our example for dealing with those who sin against us.

Bully for you, Teddy might say.  I say "Jesus for you!"  I think it just makes more sense!

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Ephesians 5:1-4
Amen.
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What's the big deal about Jesus?

Go!

Does this picture look wrong to you?
It pulls you in by looking kind of familiar.
And then says "Go!?!"
This seems confusing.

This past Sunday Pastor explored how our God pulls us in close, builds us up and then says "Go!"
This can seem confusing to us, too.

But over and over we see this pattern in the Bible.
- Moses - Go and lead the captives out of Egypt
- Noah - Go and build an ark to save God's people.
- Abram - Go from your country (your land, your successful farm, your family) to the land I will show you.
- Peter and the disciples - Go and be fishers of men
- Jesus - Go away from being God for a little while, become human (starting as a little bitty baby) so that everyone on earth can be saved.

Our God pull us in close, builds us up and tells us to "Go!".
It's not just those "big names" from the Bible - its you and me, too.
He has given us his Word to grow in, build us up in and stay close in to Him.
He give us the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion to taste and see.
And then tells us to "Go!"

Matthew 28:19-20
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Now that I think about it - God created families so that we could raise our children to "Go!"
Our children start out as helpless and grow and build out of it.
We teach them to be independent and strong.
We hold them close, build them up and then encourage them to "Go!"

In the animal kingdom we see God's creation plan following the same "Go!" principle.  
When the little birdies are ready to fly - mom and dad encourage them (strongly) to leave the nest.  Go!

Come in close, get built up and Go!

Children, Go Where I Send Thee (Kenny Rogers with Home Free)

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God,
I like to stay, not Go!
Or if I must go - I like to "go my own way".
You make it clear that is not the right way to go.
Help me to come in close, be built up and then "Go where you send me".
Amen.
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What's the big deal about Jesus?

Are your ears awake?

My bicycle commute "bat bridge"

Are your ears awake?
There's a bridge on my way to work that I ride under (I'm a bicycle commuter).
It is home to a small colony of bats (not quite the 1.5 million that live under the Austin Congress Avenue bridge).
But their tiny chirping "bat chatter" is going on every time I ride to and from work.
Tiny sounds.  But when there are thousands of them - you can't ignore it.

Are your ears awake?
As a child I worked with my dad at a turkey farm.
The baby chicks would arrive just after they'd hatched and start their young lives in our nice warm, comfortable barn.
If a couple of them were alone they sounded like this.
Now imagine that sound times 10,000 - because there were 20 thousand of these little chirping chicks.  
Tiny sounds.  But when there are thousands of them - you can't ignore it.

Revelations 2 and 3 asks this question several times.
Are your ears awake?

It's not only directed to the churches to whom these portions of scripture are written - but to me the reader, too.

Am I hearing the sounds?
Of salvation and thankfulness?
Or calling attention to sloppy, slothful, sinful living?

Notice how Jesus addresses the churches (there are 7 "mini-letters" to each church in these 2 chapters).
In 5 of the 7 churches - He wakes up their ears by calling attention to what they are doing right.  
He knows that we love to be praised and raised up as "good examples".
We like to listen to that.

But in all 7 churches - right after that - he calls them out with constructive criticism.
In some cases - very harsh constructive criticism.
But when we go so far wrong - it takes strong words (and pictures) to get our attention.

And in most of the cases he drives the point home by asking "Are your ears awake?".
Are YOUR ears awake?

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Jesus

My world today will be full of noise.

Trying to distract me from the tiny sounds of salvation planted in Your Word and in the thousand blessings I'm enjoying.

Wake up my ears to hear.

Open my eyes to see.

Warm my heart to share Your love and salvation story.

Making my own tiny sounds!

Join my tiny sounds with thousands of other Christians into something we can't ignore. 

Amen.
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What's the big deal about Jesus?

Worldly Wise vs. Heaven Bound

Worldly wise vs. Heaven Bound

Are you savvy?
Do you know your way around?
Are your life hacks really working out for you?
Are you "worldly wise"?

It seems like those are all good things. 
But are they?
God reminds us that things are not always what they seem to be...

1 John 2:15-17 (NIV)
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes,and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Worldly Wise?
Not so wise.  
Very worldly.
So what's the alternative?

Instead - as believers in Jesus Christ and his gift of eternal salvation (see link at bottom for more details)...
we are Heaven Bound!

1 John 3:1-3 (Message)

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to.

But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own.

Jump on the train - your ticket is already paid for and your seat is reserved!
YouTube: Heaven Bound Train

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Lord,
Stop me in my endless pursuit of worldly wisdom.
Stop me in my tracks.
Put me onto Your tracks.
The Heaven Bound tracks.
Hallelu-yay!
Amen.
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What's the big deal about Jesus?

Work is calling...

Retirement.

The American definition for the "end of your career and working life" conjures up things like...

...You've earned this.

...Time for a life of leisure.

...Your work is done.

...You worked hard (maybe) for x years, now it's time to relax.

Our devotions this week (and coincidentally, our pastor's daily prayer today) focus us on retirement in a different direction.  

Retirement is NOT just what's "left".

Not WHAT you've done.

Or that you ARE done.

Retirement doesn't mean those things WHEN your work is your calling.

Your calling is your work.
Do what you love.
Love what you do.

Your God is at the center of it all, defining it.

Retirement can be metamorphosis that you go through multiple times.

Your calling and work changes as God shapes the people, places and things you encounter.

And you realize... 

[From Pastor Don Patterson] Daily Prayer Wednesday August 31, 2016

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:12-14

Dear Jesus, I know that my life isn't quite over because I am still here.  

And I know that at the moment my body dies, my soul will be perfected.  

Until I receive that gift, I have a purpose for my life; it's to live out faith and love in your name in an athletic way and so to press on to the day I experience your perfect love and power in heaven.  

Every now and then, I am overcome by memories of past failures and they turn me inward and downward.  

But in this passage Paul tells me that even he willfully forgot what was behind so he could truly live the present moments to their fullest.  

Help me today to forget everything sin and failure as well as every accomplishment. 

Give me the singular purpose to live today the way you have called me to. 

And thanks for paving the way with pure grace.  

AMEN

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What's the big deal about Jesus?