Explaining Your Life...

This is a title that’s been bouncing around in my head for some time. I would anticipate most peoples reaction to it to be one of, “To who? I don’t have to explain myself or my life to ANYONE!” and of course you don’t, but how about explaining it to ourselves? How well do we understand the various influences and circumstances that have each played a crucial role in shaping who and what we are today? How important is it after all? Are we still acting out the unresolved issues in our lives? Could we somehow be allowing ourselves to be victimized by our own flawed belief systems? One of the things that differentiates adulthood from childhood is the ability to “see around corners” and that is SO handy, but one day, usually when it would’ve been the handiest for it to of been true, we find out differently. We find out that when you think you know most of the answers…naturally they change the questions! We find out that there are things that will knock you down that you never saw coming…

“the unofficial statute of limitations on blaming your parents for your messed up life is around 25-30…So I must take the responsibility for myself and my life from here and move on…”

Sometimes, believing that there are no exceptions or extenuating circumstances pertaining to statements like this is where people become confused. While the statement itself is true, it becomes more true when you add this to it… ”doing the best that I know how to do with what I’ve got” Our parents were supposed to prepare us to be successful in life, to of protected us from making bad choices that would hurt us… either then, or in our future, which is now. Those of us who had to raise our hands just then may of had to face adulthood “harmed”. Sub-consciously driven like spawning salmon to get our unmet needs met while disregarding what might of seemed to be more rational behaviors for ones which often inspire people to wonder exactly what we were thinking.

Another popular ”quip” used by a certain TV psychologist is that “If you choose the behavior, then you choose the consequences” that’s another phrase that is at times used to bludgeon people who couldn’t possibly of had any idea what the consequences of their behavior would be when they chose them. There are those of you who even now as you read this are feeling angry or are making that face you make whenever people say something you think is absurd… while thinking to yourself, “these people should just get over it, Lord knows I did” or “what a bunch of cry baby’s, just grow up and smell the responsibility” You’re anger is a connected issue here, perhaps you’re not nearly as “over it” as you think you are. What I’m trying to illustrate here is our lack of compassion, and our inability to fully appreciate the love that was shown to us in our lives. We see people through a one size fits all, good for the goose is good for the gander mindset. Our unwillingness to choose to see others in any other context only leaves us one other option…”As you sow so shall you reap” and brother,that’s OUR problem!

We’re people who were raised with some if not all of the so called advantages, but was it enough? Apparently not…We still find it necessary or preferable to build our house on the bones of others who “fell short.” It seems to somehow add to our own self aggrandizement if we can point to all of the people who failed to make it to where we think we are. I’m reminded of the quote, “If it’s a rat race, then let the biggest and best rat win”

And so it goes…

Whats the real purpose or benefit of being able to explain your life? I think I can sum it up by saying that “It’s not the things people call us that matter…It’s what we answer to” and that it’s only the things that we believe about ourselves that can be used against us by people who are inclined to do so. Knowledge is power, true ignorance may be bliss, but partial ignorance is like knowing just enough for us to be dangerous. Like we have just enough of an ego to be vulnerable to people who will try to maliciously lay guilt, lies and shame on you and yet not enough wisdom to understand that peoples condemnation’s of you are in reality more of a statement about them than they are about you. Since it’s kind of rare to be truly ignorant, or actually irrelevant, there is some merit to our having an understanding of a few critical pieces of truth that pertain to all of us.

Nobody just gets up out of bed in the morning and says “How can I screw up my life today”

Some people will talk to you as if you had, not true.

My parents were raised by people who passed on their dysfunctions to them and who also passed them on to me.

Blame is so pointless! blame who? your parents’,parents’, parents’?

And yet you persist in holding me accountable for being flawed in some way.

Which I will freely admit that I am, I’m just not accountable to YOU! friend…

I don’t believe in blame, I believe in blessing!

All of the most screwed up things we’ve done in our lives are related to our misunderstanding of God and of love, and our search for both.

It’s hard for me to criticize someone who rather than sit on the sidelines in the “No thanks, I’m “good” section of life chooses to jump right into the mud pit if they believe that the missing piece of their puzzle is somewhere in there…That’s whats called “courage” which reminds me of the opposite which is “dis” courage, which is what some of the “good” folks I mentioned before will do to you while you’re down there in the mud searching around for whatever it is you’re needing that you won’t find there and that most likely you will only recognize when you hold it in your heart…

As I was driving my bus route this morning through an extremely dense fog the point I’ve been trying to make suddenly came into clear view. As I see it, knowing who just needs a hug and who needs a kick in the pants is very close to being at the essence of love. At times it seems our approach to people is to teach them about nutrition while they're bleeding profusely, and then wonder why it doesn't help. It's all about comforting the afflicted,and afflicting the comforted.

This blog is personal to me, maybe it’s personal to you too. I think that we all find ourselves on both sides of the equation at different times on our journey. I want to say that I am a true believer in people taking responsibility for their thought life which is the ultimate deciding factor in all that happens to us and that it’s in our thoughts that our best opportunity to effect change in our lives is found.

Therefore, be of good courage, fear not, search on, bless your mistakes if they were a part of the process that got you here. There’s much work to be done, you’re help is greatly needed…

Romans 12:5-8

⁵so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. ⁷If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; ⁸if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

The "Big Dance"

Few things in life have as much potential to restore in us a sense of all that is good and right in this country like high school sports does. Over the past few days I’ve had the privilege of chauffeuring the Couch School Lady Indians on their trip to the “Final Four” Class 2 championship tournament in Columbia, Missouri.

Our journey began with a proper send off by the whole school, the surrounding municipalities gave us a police, ambulance, firetruck, escort through town…People lined the streets, waving and honking, it blew me away! We’re talkin’ small town Americana at it’s finest.

Shortly after our arrival we set off to explore the venue, it was quite impressive!

It’s a fairly new facility, a part of the University of Missouri sports megaplex.

On the day of our first game we arrived and were ushered through the myriad of security checkpoints to a separate practice court for some last minute fine tuning. As the team was practicing I stepped out into the doorway of the auditorium and watched the first game of the event begin.

Our team lost both of the games it played, and it’s left me a bit at “loose ends”…

Of course it’s a great honor to even make it to this level of competition, and for some, that’s enough…to make it. To win it all requires the same thing from any champion, to step up and step out, to risk stumbling, to recover your balance, to be able to say at the end that you left everything out there on that court..

People will sometimes say, “I just had a bad game, I didn’t play my best for some reason”…And I understand that under some circumstances, especially with women…

If you’re intimidated by your opponent, and you decide mentally that loss is inevitable, being able to explain it away won’t expose you to the same personal vulnerability that saying “We played our best, and JUST GOT BEAT!” can… It’s rarely so simple, and usually gravitates toward the lower echelons and becomes a “head hunt” of sorts. It reminds me a bit of what columnist George Will referred to as the “Sainted American People” who couldn’t possibly be responsible for the huge mess we’re in…

The Last Two Minutes

While I’m obviously just a simple bus driver, I’ve watched a few basketball games. One thing seems abundantly clear to me. Beyond physical conditioning which in teenagers is less of a factor, it’s entirely a mental game and mostly comes down to who handles the moment better…Teams can play fairly competitively for a time and then after one team makes a few shots and takes a small lead the other team often becomes discouraged. I’ve seen teams go through the motions for the most part the whole game and then suddenly in the last two minutes start playing like the world’s on fire!

Suddenly, they WANT to win…but it’s too late.

For the last 50 years, we as a nation have conducted ourselves in a very similar manner to these high school kids. We’ve had some poor leadership, we’ve made some mistakes, we’ve seen the rest of the world pull ahead of us in education, and other quality of life issues and we’ve kind of gotten our head down. I can also relate to plodding along as if there was an unlimited amount of time to set things right, I suppose that the “mad scramble” we see going on in this country right now isn’t much different than the “two minute drill” either.

Think we’re going to win?

The moral of the story is the same in both instances,

Our success is based in our ability to work together as a team.

To put aside our personal agenda’s and adopt a greater vision.

That vision has to come from our leaders.

A man will follow another man that he believes knows the way.

A real leader inspires faith, courage and cooperation among people.

They say things like,

“Sure, right now things may look bad…but guess what!”

“We’ve merely fooled our opponent into thinking that we’re done. He’ll never expect us to come at him like we’re going to, we have the element of surprise on our side and right now is the precise time to boldly strike out and seize victory”

“When we act as one, our individual power is multiplied far beyond the simple sum of it’s collective parts”

“This is the great secret all champions learn, all who are victorious in whatever arena they are tested.”

All of us must attend our own “Big Dance”

Expressions

Expression is a word we use to describe the "means of conveyance" of an otherwise intangible or abstract concept,quantity,or feeling.

In mathematics, specifically algebra, it's a symbol or a combination of symbols representing a value or relation to each other. There's an order to it, and a beautiful symmetry that's most appreciated by those who understand it's language.

A2 (x+y) > X (a-y) = ?






It's what we as humans do to interface with the world, we express ourselves through our verbal and non-verbal communications and through our behaviors toward others and ourselves, the study of which is called, "psychology."




Music is also a profound method of expression. Armies march to the syncopated rhythm of drums, people fall in love under it's "influence." Musical harmonies have a very real effect on the chemical and electrical functioning of our brains, who hasn't been enchanted by it's beauty, or somehow been moved by it's resonance within us?




In the field of quantum physics, they have whats called a "Theory of Everything." It has to do in part with whats called "String Theory" which says that at level's way smaller than we can see with an electron microscope everything is small vibrating loops.

These "loops" are thought to be the common denominator of all physical sciences and that by studying their "expressions" they could give science a whole new perspective on the physical laws which govern all aspects of life as we know it.

That's why it's called the theory of everything...

I believe that the consummate expression of anything (including science) is art...

In this instance,I prefer to think of it as a "He-art" (He, being God)

because I think that "He's" in it, He created it, and His fingerprints are all over it.

Why not? a simple loop shaped like a heart is a representation of love.

(get over the corniness of this, lol it's my theory and I'll tell it like I need to)

Like some sort of microscopic signpost that announces to us that the next stop ahead on our cosmic journey will be "love-Town." How funny would it be if some scientist was looking at these "loops" with a microscope and he turned up the power and saw an eye looking back at him? That kind of gives new meaning to the gospel hymn...

"Oh Let Us Magnify The Lord"




It makes sense to me that God would structure our world in such a way that we all have an equal opportunity to, through our own individual perceptions and aptitudes, come to know His "expression" of love towards us.

It transcends our differences, it's there in all things, it's the ultimate explanation of "matter" at any level,whether it's microscopic or as big as the universe! It's a theory that doesn't appear to rely on any deeper explanation. Personally, I don't need a microscope to see God or to witness His miracles...but then I'm not a physicist, I'm a philosopher (of sorts). We both know it's an elephant we're describing but we each have a different foundation on which to base our understanding, not of just the elephant but of our creator and the many ways that He expresses Himself, His relationship to us, and His great love for us.

Contenders for the Faith

Here's a scenario for you, you're at work and you overhear someone talking about Christianity to another co-worker...Great right? Except that after listening to the conversation for an appropriate amount of time you realize that what the person is saying about Christianity is fundamentally wrong, or perhaps it's just a misrepresentation of the covenant of grace VS legalism...

what do you do?

There's a reason why politics and religion aren't considered "polite conversation"

the ability to disagree without being disagreeable is a very high art form!

Black people and white people sometimes don't get along that well, we fight amongst ourselves like brothers have been known to do and things can sometimes get carried away, WAY carried away, scars are left, grudges are held.

I may have beat on you, but there is no way I'm going to let anyone else beat on you!

Why? because we're a family! And despite our differences, dysfunctions and disputes you're still my brother and I love you!

(please don't tell that around,okay? if he found out it would be the end for me)

The body of Christ is composed of family members, as such I think that we need to be strong enough to bend but not break. THAT is what shows real strength to an unsaved and watching world! If you're in a relationship with someone and you don't have the ability to communicate with them honestly then what you have is "acquaintance's" not a family...you know what I mean! I see it as important that we present an atmosphere to people where questions and discussions are encouraged, not an atmosphere of spiritual eggshells that we all walk on.

Gods word has many examples of people arguing. Conflicts can be opportunities to clarify ideas, expectations and goals. They may bring into the open what needs to be changed. Even good change rarely happens without conflict.

^{Ephesians 5:11} And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. ¹²For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.¹³But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light

To reprove: To confute, admonish, convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke (Strong's Concordance)

I believe that our enemy appreciates it when Christian people stay silent rather than risk possibly having to defend their faith or having someone take out their religious frustrations on them. (that happens) When Christian's are more concerned with not stepping on anybody's toes darkness is "un-disturbed" and satan doesn't have to re-tell all of those lies he's told people.

Jude 1:3 (King James Version)

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

My pastor once told me that any good sermon has to end up being about the blood of Christ. It's at the core of who we are as Christians and THAT is something definitely worth contending for.
If we as Christians are squabbling over are stuff like "who WAS Cains wife?" or "what color should the new carpet in the sanctuary be?" then yeah, we need to just grow up and learn to "let it go," but when we see stuff that might serve as a stumbling block to people I think we should speak up. Some people here on 360 feel bothered by people who have questions, or by people who are rude, or argumentative, not me! There's nothing in this world that my Lord cannot use to attempt to save someone, no darkness that He can't shine on, He's not offended! Can you see the absurdity of ME being offended? He loves them, and I think that maybe I hadn't oughtta too! LOL I choose to take any opportunity I can, wherever I can, In season or out, to share His love with people!

Can You Hear Me Now?

Just about everyone has heard this catch phrase pitched by one of the largest telecom providers in the U.S. It's a brilliant marketing concept that works because we can relate to it,because everyone who has a cell phone has said it at least once if not hundreds of times.

The point being, as the commercial says, "It's the network."

You can trust us, we don't mind being put to the test because we know how important it is to you...and if it's important to you, well....thats the whole reason we're here!

WOW! that's service, It's the kind of service you'd recommend to a friend or to a family member.

It's the kind of service you can trust when your very life may depend on it.

That's why they're number one, why they can't build cell towers fast enough to keep up with the demand!

Friend, given what you and I know about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are we anywhere near as enthusiastic about sharing Him with others as we should be? (we have a "network" too)

Psalm 34:8 (King James Version)
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

I love sweets, there's a salvage grocery store close to me that recently got in a shipment of Russell Stover thin mints and peanut butter cups. They're so good, and they're selling them for dirt cheap, so after I had tried them I came back and bought some more. I wanted to share them with basically anyone and everyone I could! (LOL) They're SO cheap,and so good, there's just no reason everyone shouldn't enjoy them!

Salvation is like that, (except it's not "cheap")

John 3:16 (King James Version)
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

2 Corinthians 6
1 As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. 2 For God says,
“At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.”
Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

It's a free gift to us from God! And sweet? What could be sweeter? Imagine standing before God on judgment day looking over the edge there and seeing hell and then looking over the other way and seeing heaven, knowing absolutely that the life you've led here would qualify you for uh, (down there) where there IS no cell service, and the only network consists of the minions of the devil conspiring as to how to most painfully torture you!

Romans 6:23 (New International Version)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

WOO-HOO! I do feel like running and jumpin! I am going to shout it out to whoever will listen!

Timothy 1:15 (King James Version)
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

We as people tend strongly to talk about what we love! I'm thinking of making a bumper sticker that says...

Ask Me About My Savior!

The one thing I'm proudest of, that I feel most compelled to boast about, is what Jesus has done for me! I'll not stay silent about my deliverance from the lies of the enemy, or about my transformation through the renewing of my mind, I'm going to put my lamp on a post where it can shine!

Revelation 3:20 (King James Version)

²⁰Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Actions,speak louder!

As you may know, we had a hum-dinger of an ice storm here where I live in Southeast Mo. It knocked out power for an extended period of time and left "tree debris" everywhere in our town. The ministerial alliance in our community got together and decided to go out into the community and clean up peoples yards last Saturday, I volunteered!



We cleaned up the large limbs, and cut what would be usable as firewood into stove logs. It was a wonderful feeling to help the mostly older people who really appreciated it!






I was talking to one of the pastors who told me about a lady who's yard was full of limbs. He had offered to clean up her yard but she simply couldn't accept that anyone would do it for free and was very reluctant to allow it. I told him about a man who we had worked for who had insisted on giving us money, after we had explained that we were "volunteers"...he said "I can't see you guys doing all of this work for nothing" I told him "we're not" and that we were happy to do it because we truly believed there was a blessing from the Lord in it for us, and also that we were happy to help him because of what the Lord has already done for us! (set us free from sin). There were some confused expressions on the faces of people, which grew into smiles, and seemed to warm the chilly morning.



I can totally relate to people being reluctant or being confused by this "free lunch." I can remember how I felt when people told me about Gods gift of salvation,and how I thought it sounded too good to be true. I had, like many people been let down by many things I had trusted in before. The memory of the pain was a strong deterrent to me being able to accept Christ or this "gift" I had heard so much about. Our worldly mindset tells us that there are always strings attached to things that seem to be free, so it's better to pass on things that not only don't make sense to you but that also might obligate us somehow with the fine print we didn't understand when we accepted the "free" item. It's a dark bit of business that our enemy is up to, convincing us that we're unlovable by anyone... that we are hopelessly condemned to blindly fumble through life searching for the square peg to fit into our square hole, and that we're failures, or "losers" because we can't find that "peg" in the things or stuff of this world. I spent the majority of my life doing just that, but it was Gods ACTIONS toward me that opened my eyes and my heart to what He had for me. Not simply the many times he saved me from my own incredibly dangerous stupidity, or delivered me from the addictions I was ensnared by, but mostly for what He did for me on the cross. I grew to love Him after I began to understand how much He loves me! ME! and friends, that is the silver bullet to the werewolf of this world! It is the antidote to what this world has to try and scare me with! whats going to happen with this economy? (God loves me and He's in control) My job...? Whats going to happen to me and my family if,if,if, same answer! I can face anything that this world can dish out, (even death) how? because of the love of Christ, FOR ME! He stood up in my place, He took my punishment, He paid my debt, and someday, I'll go to where He is for eternity! I know, too good to be true right? but it IS Because He is the WAY,the TRUTH, and the LIFE! and He's waiting for YOU!

The Old Tree

Generation after generation it stood, even before the school was built or the playground was laid out around it. Under it's bough's children played, hiding their faces and counting or digging in the dirt around it's flowing roots. Under it's bough's first kiss's and other games were played by dirty faced moppet's, noses were bloodied, honor defended.

It was a wonderful listener! It heard their confessions and brought them comfort...



Indeed, It was a grand life!

Oh Great tree! I climbed up high to see,
what was out there just waiting for me.
you gave me hopes,
inspired my dreams,
and challenged me don't you see?


So don't cry at my passing...my life has run it's course.
my roots still run deep in the soil.
As long as there's children,
and playgrounds,
and Oak's,
I'll abide,with my acorn's and yours.







Just like childhood, all things must pass...
yielding treasures of rock and glass
so life is a mystery, and so then are you
how they got there? we may never know...