Great and Full or Grateful?

We have a problem with gratitude.

Years ago a bunch of us made a goofy little video about what a new and improved man might look like. At the end, one of the summary statements was that he would have "less attitude, more gratitude." 

There have been times for me when that is true, where thankfulness and appreciation and gratitude come naturally. However, that isn't always the case. 

In reading through Deuteronomy, a book about a pivotal time in the history of Israel where they were moving from the desert to enter the promise of God, there are a few statements that stand out to me. Most notable are the almost word for word repetitions of "when you eat and are satisfied." (Deut. 6:11, 8:10, 8:12, 11:15)

Why did they stand out? 

Not because I'm hungry, but because I'm overfed. 

It's hard to know want when you're over satisfied. The people of Israel knew want. The generation listening to Moses were born during a 40 year road trip through harsh wilderness. A wilderness that Moses describes as: "a vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions." (Deut. 8:15)  

After each use of "when you eat and are satisfied" comes a warning. "Do not forget the Lord."

Why, because at first when you move into a city you did not build, or eat the food from a pantry you did not stock, or drink water from a well you did not dig, you are filled with gratitude and readily thank the provider. However, over time the tendency is to begin thinking that the true provide is not God but the one who maintains the city, the food supply, and the well. 

That is fine if we continually recognize that God is the maintainer. 

Too often we see the efforts we put in and think the maintenance is up to us.  Then it becomes the city we have built, the food we have provided, the well we have dug. And we begin living Bart Simpson's prayer: "Dear God, we paid for all this stuff ourselves. So thanks for nothing." 

"When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God." (Deut. 8:10-11a)

"When you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." (Deut. 6:11b-12)

Now, this relates to more than food but to spouses, children, homes, vehicles, relationships, and countless other ways the Lord has provided. 

How then does one continually recognize them as gifts lovingly provided and avoid the trap of looking at my kids and thinking yeah, I made that, or my wife and responding I put a ring on that, or my house and lamenting I'm signing away my pay cheques for that, or my car and worrying will I eventually wreck that? 

The Israelites wrote reminders on the door frames of their houses, and strapped them to their bodies, and built altars where they sacrificed. Their worship was all related to remembering that God is the provider. 

For the Israelites, and for us, to remember well meant writing something down, reading something daily, reciting something throughout the day. There was a physicality to remembering. The eyes saw, the ears heard, the tongue twisted, the hands carried, erected and prepared. 

I can't say that I've been through a wilderness like the Israelites. I have had my own experiences of being without, of waiting for the Lord to fulfill his promises, but no land of snakes and scorpions. I am in a place of absolute abundance, all because that is where the Lord has placed me. 

I am usually great.

I am always full. 

I'm not always grateful.

If there are some of you rocking the gratitude share your secrets? What have you done to maintain focus on God as your provider? 

"Listen, O Israel! the Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Ruth to Boaz: "Call me, maybe?"

Dear Miss Carly Rae Jepsen:

Thank you for recording Call Me Maybe.

It's catchy, and I like it.

And I have a question about it. Were the lyrics inspired by the biblical book of Ruth?

You may not be aware of this, but you've done a masterful job putting the words and actions of Ruth, as recorded in chapter 3 verses 7-9, in modern language. Read it for yourself if you like. Every time I do, I hear Ruth saying: "Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy, but here's my number, so call me, maybe?"

so, thanks for that.

Love Does And I Will Too...someday

My wife's husband makes "to do" lists.

That's good enough isn't it?

No, that isn't love?

Really? Are you sure? They're made quite lovingly with really good intentions.

Of course there's saying you'll get around to something and then there's doing something. Which comes across as love? It's obviously the latter. And there is the book "Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World" by Bob Goff.

Like a lot of people I was introduced by Bob Goff while reading a little book by Donald Miller. When I saw I could get a copy of Bob's book for free I didn't think twice. I just did.*  And I'm oh so glad that I did.

It's been quite a while since I've read a book so fast. It's far from being a complicated read. Don't expect heavy theological arguments. It's a 2012 prose form of a 20 year old DC Talk song. There are numerous great stories. They kept me hooked. Stores are full of long biographies about people who have done half the crazy stuff this guy has.

However, you can read this book for its entertaining stories or you can accept the challenge that lies within and ask yourself: Am I really loving God and others by the way that I live, or is there something needing to be changed?

When that question entered into my reading of the book, chapter 29 became a difficult read. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, and perhaps it will be a different chapter for each reader, but how I teach youth as a youth pastor and my kids as their father will be different from here on out. It has to change.

Go buy it, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. If you're on the fence know that the few dollars you spend will help kids in Uganda. Helping kids is reason enough to part with the cash. Actually for that reason, I feel kinda guilty about accepting a free copy. I guess I'll have to go buy one for myself.


*see what I did there? I was learning from the book before even reading the book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Am I a Follower?

In college, 13 years ago, I had to read a book by Leonard Sweet.

I didn't like it.

Actually, my classmates and I mocked it. I think the only one in the class who like it was the professor. Many of us vowed to never read another book by Sweet.

You could say that I lacked a Sweet tooth.*

Recently, I was at a pastor's conference where I would be seeing some old classmates. I had just picked up my review copy of “I Am A Follower: the way, truth, and live of following Jesus” by Leonard Sweet. I had to not only confess that I broke my vow, but that I was really enjoying it.

I think what I enjoyed most was the different take on leadership it provided. As a pastor the second statement of my job description begins, “To provide leadership...” It is my job to lead. There are scores of books out there to help me in my role as leader, but Sweet comes along and draws the attention back to what it means to be called by Jesus. The reader is reminded that the apostles were all called not be be great and might leaders, but to follow Jesus. Then on page 21 Sweet reminds us that: “The Jesus paradox is that only Christians lead by following.”

I will best fulfill my role as leader by following Jesus.

There is an incredible sense of freedom in that: in remembering that it is Jesus' ministry, and these are Jesus' people.

So like Paul I need to be saying “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Or perhaps better yet, “Let's all follow Christ together.”

The rest of the book is about what it means, and how to, follow Jesus. It's about a setting right of our perspective of what it means to be the church.

I've already recommended it to others, and will continue to do so. I think the church needs to understand that we are to follow Jesus and Jesus alone.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

* If there is a Leonard Sweet fan club I highly encourage them to be known as Sweet tooths if they are not already. That would be a killer name for fans of his writing.  

Another hair cut, another ...

I got my hair cut today.

all of them

but one.

Sheena calls it the worst hair cut ever.

That's saying lots, because last time there were about nine hairst right in the middle of the front that stretched two inchest past the rest.




Or the time before where there were missed clumps all over my head.

I should point out that all cuts were by different people. 

The real problem with this cut is that it is short. Before scissors touched my hair she asked, "what is one thing that you would never want to have happen to your hair?"

I said go bald.

technically I didn't go bald.

But only technically.

I've decided that I'm going to begin naming my hair cuts. This one will be known as the quick dry. Or maybe better yet, I'll now be telling people I'm quick drying. I'm not evern certain there's enough hair to retain water. I may not even need a towel now.

The hair cut before will be referred to as "the rogue" because that clump in front disregarded all the rules.

The worst part about all this, despite my wife not being able to look at me, is the response from my son. When he wakes up from a nap he is all smiles. It's a rule. It has always been that way. Now that my hair is shorter than his, some paradigm has changed. When I went in to get him after his nap he was, instead of ear to ear smiles, frightened. He didn't recognize me. I leaned in to pick him up and his lip quivered. He was frightened.

That's no good.

Want to see the cut?

Anyone have a hat?

It might look longer than it is. That's because it is longer at the crown, you know, where a lot of guys go bald. Maybe that's what she took from my comment about baldness.

If you don't see much of me for the next few weeks, it's because Sheena isn't letting me out in public.

the worst time to shop

I stopped at Wal-Mart yesterday on my way home from work.

There are a few important facts to get straight before I go on with this:
    1. Wal-Mart is super close to where I live and the most convenient place to do basic shopping,
    2. I had previously finished Sheena's valentines gift,
    3. I had recently killed a potted plant Sheena purchased for our dining room table.*

So I stopped in to pick up a new plant and quickly realized that in many ways 5pm on Valentines is a horrible time to shop at Wal-Mart, if you're a guy. "How many ways?" you ask. Well, let's count them.

1. The seasonal aisles (the ones closest to the entrance) are packed with guys purchasing candy that, I'm assuming, they're hoping will help them impress a lady or will help drown their loneliness.

2. Every female in the place gives you a dirty look for waiting until the last minute to purchase something that is supposed to express your never ending love. Or they're thinking, what kind of a valentine's gift is toilet paper?


3. You can't get anywhere near the card aisle. Even if all you want is a sympathy card or to wish someone well, forget it. Guys are taking a number to see what's left of the cards. No doubt more than a couple people got cards with the word "birthday" crossed out and "Valentines" written in sharpie. I've never seen so many people in a card aisle before.

4. Any move you make could inspire a guy, and therefore either make or break the valentines day of his girl friend/fiance/wife, or hoped to be girl friend/fiance/wife. The guy in line behind me was purchasing a box of chocolates and two clear storage totes. I don't know where he got the idea but that is not a winner of a gift. The guy in front of me had a fern: that's at least headed in the right direction. Another gentleman saw I had a pot of mini daffodils and after proclaiming me a "genius" he grabbed one too.**

5. The female cashiers have a tone about them. They say the words "happy valentine's day" but you hear "I better remind these guys what day it is because they probably forgot."

In conclusion: are there good times to shop at Wal-Mart? Yes. They've got great deals and everything you could possibly need. But are there times to avoid? You better believe it.

Next Feburary 14th I'm going to check out the 5 pm scene at the 7-11. I bet some crazy stuff is going down there.


* who knew you could over water flowers?
** To the lady that recieved the mini daffodils, if they aren't your thing I'm sorry. I didn't tell him what to buy, but made no attempts to stop him. Also, I got the best ones. By far. You see, my pot was the only pot that had a large number of  flowers yet to blossom, so there were flowers for yesterday and many more for tomorrow. While yours are fading and dying my wife's will still be blooming strong. See, I know how to pick them. I don't know how to keep them alive, but I know how to pick them. If you loved the flowers then forget all that. You're welcome.

Reviewing "Why Men Hate Going to Church"

Today I finished reading David Murrow's book "Why Men Hate Going to Church." I was reading the revised edition. I've never read the original. I'm not sure how they compare. I'd be curious about the difference, but I'm not sure I could bring myself to read it.

I really wanted to like this book. When I picked it up, I had high expectations. Our church struggles to get guys involved. I was eager to learn about changing that.

I almost didn't finish it. In fact, had I not agreed to read it in its entity I probably would have dropped out in the middle. It's a bit like reading the Bible cover to cover. It all starts strong, but then around Numbers things go off the rails and the repetition just about kills it. Here's what I mean: he bashes churches that repeat the same praise chorus until everyone is in what he calls "a worship coma" but does practically the same thing as he repeats again and again all the things that churches do to repel men. I get it. churches turn men off. And not only is he nauseatingly repetitive, at times he comes across homophobic. I'm sure he doesn't mean to, but he's got to let up on how "gay" some church practices come across.

If you'd like to read the book here's my recommendation: read the first two chapters to get his point, understand where he is coming from, and to begin to wrestle with the need. Then skip to chapter 16. All the qualities, the redeeming characteristics, and the value of the book begin in chapter 16. Then you'll be able to read something helpful. There is some good stuff in there, but I wonder how many will have the patience to find it. I'm sure men won't.

I suppose the irony of all this is that the book itself is incredibly man unfriendly. All the things he says the church does wrong in regards to men are done in the book. The only way it could have been worse would be if each copy came with a crocheted book mark.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255