DARE 50.5

A dear friend of mine has been reminding me lately that I am now 50 and a half years old.  She has earned the right to needle me about such things, but being "of a certain age" does cause one to think about what's gone before, and what is left.  This has inspired me to use a "word" for the year rather than beginning several resolutions that will fall by the road by February. I feel it will spare said resolutions the agony of neglect, and will in turn spare me the guilt of causing their demise.

My world for this year is DARE, not to be confused with Drug Abuse Resistance Education.  No my word has no acronyms, it's just a simple yet powerful word.  Webster defines dare as.....fear not good readers!!  I will not use Webster.  It's my word, so I will define it for the year.  Sorry Merriam.  Honestly I'm not sure I can define it succinctly.  Since it is a word that will define the time span of a year, it will evolve and hopefully grow.

I think I can best illustrate my intentions by sharing a daring moment in my life with you.  In the summer 2012 I found myself strapped to a tethered line atop a VERY tall mechanism that was about to fling me over the Royal Gorge near Canon City, Co.  I am not fond of being flung over fabulous vistas, but I felt the need to be daring this day.  My sweet wife and my dear friend of the 50 and a half ilk can attest to the fact that I did NOT want the flinging to occur.   The need to be daring took over, so I pulled the cord that would release me and over the fabulous vista I flew.  See Jamey Being Flung Over Fabulous Vista  This momentous (to me it's momentous) event has reminded me that I can be daring in so many things in my life.

So what do I dare?  I dare to be me this year.  Yes I'm sorry world, but it's going to happen.  Seriously I see this word as a liberating mechanism to allow God to do with me what He's wanted to do for a long time, but through selfishness and through a sense of "doing what others think I should do", I've not allowed Him to work what ever it is He has in mind for me.  That really clears the slate for the year, with one exception.  I truly feel called by Him to make REFUGE a viable ministry in my community.  So God, here I am.  I'm ready to be daring in what I do.  I DARE you to use me.

God bless us one and all.

Jamey

PHIL ROBERTSON AND

THE DIXIE CHICKS 

BOTH HAVE FREE SPEECH.

As I've thought about the controversy over Phil Robertson's interview, I've been struck by the similarity of this situation and The Dixie Chicks when they made disparaging remarks about George W. Bush while they were over seas.  As you can see in this cover pick from Entertainment Weekly they received many of the same comments that Mr. Robertson is receiving today.  Some call them hero and brave, others call them traitors or in Mr. Roberts case bigot. 

In my travels through the world wide web today I've seen mostly comments about free speech being violated.  I can't see that it's being violated in either case.  Phil and Natalie Maines can still say anything they want to about those two particular subjects, and no one is going to arrest them for it.  That's the whole point of free speech, however constitutional protections don't alleviate the consequences of what we say.  The Dixie Chicks employer (their fans) basically fired them for what Natalie said.  A & E has suspended Phil Robertson for what he said. Phil and Natalie can continue to say anything they want to, but like any of us, there may be non-legal consequences for our actions.  Whether you stand with Phil or A & E is your own business and opinion, but we have to realize that when we express a thought, though it may be legally protected, it doesn't stop the people around us, or possibly our employers, from reacting to what we think.  The fans fired Natalie and she can still rant about George W. Bush.  A & E has suspended Phil Robertson, but he can give a television interview tomorrow and still express his opinions about homosexuality.  We just need to understand that when we step out for what we believe in there is usually a price to pay.  

Just my opinion.

Jamey

What Heaven and Hell Will Not Be (Yeah, awkward wording)

I am a BIG fan of The Who.  The original bunch.  You know....Pete, Roger, John, and Keith.  Well maybe you don't know.  Use the internet (reference the song The Relay).  I digress.  I have a particular affinity for John Entwistle because I love his lyrics, he was the greatest bass player ever, and the connection for the word affinity is that I am the world's worst bass player.  Now how does this all lead to Misconceptions of Heaven and Hell.  It just so happens John wrote a song about both places.

On top of the sky
Is a place where you go
If you've done, nothing wrong
If you've done nothing wrong

And down in the ground
Is a place where you go
If you've been a bad boy
If you've been a bad boy

Why can't we have eternal life
And never die?
Never die

In the place up above
You grow feather wings and you fly
'Round and 'round
With a harp singing hymns

And down in the ground
You grow horns and a tail
And you carry a fork
And moan and wail

Why can't we have eternal life
And never die?
Never die

                   John Entwistle - Heaven and Hell

 

Well, there you have it.  As I talk to people, even church people, this is pretty much their conception of both places.  Now I'm not intending to tell you what heaven and hell will be.  I just want to point out that they will not be the cartoon version you find in John's song or in any other form of art that conveys the same message.  Here's what I'm encouraging you to do.  Read.  Read what?  The Bible is always a good place to start, and there are other sources that discuss what heaven and hell may or may not be.  I'm currently working through N.T Wright's book Surprised by Hope, and there are so many others written on the subject.  Will you find it confusing?  Probably.  Will you find it helpful?  Certainly.  Will you come to any conclusions?  Maybe.  Most importantly you will find it fulfilling to discover, that regardless of the theology, heaven will be more than just flying around forever singing hymns you no longer want to sing.  

 

God has great things in store for us.  Go, read, think, pray.  Talk amongst yourselves!!!

 

Fosh

Real Life Of A Single Mom

 The following is written by my Facebook friend Kim Holland.

This is a copy and paste of a Facebook status by her, and used with her permission.

Grammar Nazis be kind.  She was posting not blogging!!

Being a single mother is truly the hardest task I have ever had to manage...my days start at 5:45am (ok, 6am, cuz I like to snooze!), I get up let the dog out & feed him, make myself some coffee and enjoy a few minutes of quiet by myself; then I shower & get ready for work. At 7:30am, I get my 3 kids up for school, finish getting myself ready, holler for them to get out of bed multiple times...make sure hair is brushed, snacks are in backpacks and teeth are brushed...I stopped worrying if clothes match a long time ago, lol. We leave the house around 7:50-8:00am & I drop them off at school, then I head to my job & work for the next 8 hours. If I am able to leave work by 5pm, the drive to pick-up kids is only about 15-20 minutes, however, if I leave at 5:15pm, the drive is 40 minutes (UGH!). SO, I pick-up the kids, head home & start making dinner; go through backpacks while cooking & get them started on homework. Sometimes I can throw in a load of laundry too. Finish cooking, serve dinner, eat, clean-up; finish any remaining homework and then start bath time. Do kids bath time, make sure teeth are brushed, get clothes out for tomorrow, let kids play for a minute, run dishwasher, switch laundry over from washer to dryer & usually start another load...tonight was really special, because I had to mow my front & back yard too and water! So we didn't sit down to do our 20 minutes of daily reading until 8:30pm. Typically try to get kids to bed by 8:30-9:00pm; switch laundry again, fold the dry laundry, put some away and now sitting down to read email & pay bills. So after a 15 hour day of go, go, go...I might actually get to sit down and watch a little TV, if I don't pass out. What's my point, you ask? I have several....1) for those of you that don't have kids (or custody of), enjoy your free time & have a little compassion when those of us that DO are a little crazy 2) this is a SHOUT OUT to all the single parents (moms & dads) who go through this EVERY DAY and manage to keep a smile on their faces 3) I wouldn't change this for anything in the world, although I am exhausted and sometimes crabby, there is nothing greater than, like tonight, doing homework w/my kids and realizing that the twins are READERS now!! The greatest gift was seeing their faces light-up and asking me, over & over, if they could read to me. I am one proud mama!!

My Friend Doesn't Believe in the Christian god.

"If you have an opinion, and somebody disagrees, let them. Just make it known what you think about the issue, listen to them closely, and then love and care about them regardless. If they keep trying to change your mind, gently explain to them that you simply don’t agree, but you don’t want it to interrupt your friendship. If people can only be friends with others who think the way they think, this is a weakness in character." Donald Miller

No sooner had  I posted this than my friend Jan (her name has been changed to protect the....you get my drift) sent me an inbox with a great link to a TED talk about compassion.  I've known her for probably a year and half, and you see Jan "doesn't believe in the Christian god", but she is my friend.  Some might ask how this is possible since she doesn't  believe in my core belief.  I don't know how to explain this dynamic, but I do know it works for both of us.  We've had several discussions about church, God (or god as she would put it), religion, spirituality, family, guys, girls and it's usually most enlightening for both of us.  You see we don't have the same ideas on most of those subjects, but we're both open to listen and learn what the other thinks.  

Tonight, in a Facebook chat, I said to her, "I always hesitate to ask people to label themselves but I think you know me well enough I'm just searching for context in your thoughts, where in the spectrum of Christian all the way over to Atheist do you put yourself, or do you even fit there?'  I love the thoughtfulness and honesty in her reply. "That's an interesting spectrum. Because being a so called Christian doesn't make you opposite of atheist. I've looked into a lot of religious beliefs and I can appreciate different things and take what I like from it. I don't believe in the Christian god. I don't even like the Christian god very much. But I believe in the universe as best I can call it. Some guiding force of life. It's kind of like the concept of Taoism in some ways."  These are core places we are discussing, and it could be uneasy and difficult because these are certainly not my beliefs, but in reality it is very easy conversation, because we accept each other right where we are.  

She went on to say "I am spiritual person not a religious person. I don't worship anything except I like to gain wisdom through other people and decide what I think is right. So I don't go to church but I watch TED talks and maybe some Oprah. Because I think it's more important to be the best version of myself possible to make the world better. And I think we don't need a bible or our parents to give us purpose. How can you lack purpose when there is so much that can be done all around us. If you can get past materialism and selfishness to a point you'll understand there's so much purpose in the world. I have a relationship with the universe. I think it speaks to me in its own language."  Even for me as a believer in the Christian God I find kernels of truth in this.  

I could react like I would have in my earlier years and sent back some reactionary words.  Instead we had the following exchange. I said, "Thank you for sharing that with me. As we say around here 'that'll give me something to chew on for awhile'. I love your honesty and the fact that you THINK."  Her reply sent shivers up my spine. "I like that you think. Which is why I like sharing these things with you. You're the only Christian I know that doesn't make me want to bash religion."  How sad that her exposure to Christians has caused her to believe we don't think, and cause her to want to bash religion. I can't say that I fault her in this.  I remember how vehemently I would have opposed these words in the past, and Jan wouldn't have had a conversation like this with that version of Jamey.

To be honest, I want to bash religion, and focus on relationship.  Relationships with people, and my relationship with God.  A final comment she made helps wrap this up quite nicely.  "I like that you're trying to bridge a gap here."  Amazing words.  Isn't that what Jesus is all about.  Bridging the gap between God and Man.  Jan and I are bridging the gap between people.  A gap that for some would seem insurmountable, but because we both care about "relationship" we are friends.  Do we agree? No. Will we ever?  On some things absolutely, on others time will answer that question.  I do know that we connect and because of that we will both change because of the exchange of ideas.  Hopefully both of us for the better.  

_________________________________________________________________________

 The quotes from Jan are a small part of our conversation and do not convey the totality of her beliefs.  The quotes work contextually to convey the conversation, and she has graciously allowed me to use her words for this blog. 

 FISH ARE FRIENDS

I love Bruce from Finding Nemo.  In this quote from the movie he really defines his life, "I am a nice shark, not a mindless eating machine. If I am to change this image, I must first change myself. Fish are friends, not food."  What's not to love about a shark who wants to turn his food into friends?  There is a moment in the movie where you see his philosophy waver.  It seems that the word food has become more important than friend.  Scary!!!  Especially for the fish, but like all great movies of this genre all is well.

I feel like Bruce sometimes.  I have appetites in my own life that I try to overcome.  Bruce's appetite was fish.  What's yours?  I've often wondered if Paul from the Bible had that same problem.  Maybe that was his thorn in the flesh. He said this in II Corinthians "Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become." (Quoted from The Message)  I don't really know what it was and it doesn't really matter.  What I do know is that I have, and I think we all have things in our lives that Satan has introduced  that hold us back.  I know I do.

So what do we do with these appetites, these thorns?  I think we take a hint from Bruce.  He said, "I'm a nice shark, not a mindless eating machine."  Maybe this is a stretch, but this reminds me that I'm a child of the King.  I'm a nice human, not a mindless bad guy.  I do bad guy things sometimes, but I believe that "fish are friends, not food".  Well I guess what I believe is that the shark in me is overcome by God's grace in my life.  I get pushed to my knees sometimes, and it's then I need to realize God's grace in my life, and must know that all my baggage and foibles are just what allows Him to work through me in greater ways than I could have ever imagined.

This will be a good day to find the inner Bruce in all of us.  God told Paul that his thorn (Bruce's fish) had to stay, so His power could work through the weakness. Let's ask God to use those appetites in our lives that we feel draw us away from Him to His glory.  Let Him over come them, and use us in ways we couldn't have even imagined.  I get this.  Even as I'm typing part of me is screaming "I'm not worthy!" (Hello Wayne and Garth), but I feel his grace and power, so I type, I walk with Him, and allow Him to direct what I'm gonna do today (Phineas and Ferb). 

Satan Don't Hit Me With Them Negative Waves Today,

Fosh

A friend of mine recently posted something on Facebook from one of my favorite movie characters.  His name is Oddball, and he is a WWII era "hippie" in the movie Kelly's Heroes.  One of my favorite lines from the movie is  by Oddball. "Oh, man don't hit me with them negative waves so early in the morning." That really resonated with me, and as I've been preparing this blog site I though to myself what a great theme.  DON'T HIT ME WITH THEM NEGATIVE WAVES.

So here it is.  What will it be?  Who will read it? Will it be readable?  Truly only God knows, but as I begin this venture I say to you and the rest of my readers, "Oh man, don't hit me with them negative waves...."

Fosh