True Greatness
Posted on April 30, 2008
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I love to study people and discover a element of greatness that might be in them. Everyone one of us, every human being on this planet, has been given a capacity for greatness from our maker. I’ve also discovered that people use that greatness in differing ways. I usually simplify the differing uses of greatness down to one of two categories:
- Greatness that only benefits themselves.
- Greatness that benefits others and the world around them.
I read this morning in a William Barclay devotional, about the measure of truly great men and women. It really got me thinking, perhaps it will you too. Here were some of his thoughts on truly great people:
- always thoughtful
- never finds it safe to judge others by externals only
- shows grace in both giving and receiving
- does not think of his place or prestige
- only little people think of how great they are
- only unimportant people think of how important they are
- no task that helps someone else is ever below their dignity
Thoughts About Criticism
Posted on April 29, 2008
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As I’ve matured, I’ve found I’m learning how to take criticism better, and further how I can use it for something positive. For criticism to be healthy for us, we need a few things:
We need humility. To think we could never be wrong is foolish.
We need to love truth at least as much as we love ourselves. Truth and my self-esteem sometimes differ.
We need to love growth more than we do stuntedness. To refuse to listen to criticism is never to move, never to advance, never to improve.
And finally–this is my personal favorite for when criticism is offered in the wrong spirit–We need to occasionally use the delete button! We all have one; both on our computers and in spirit.
Love and Hurry
Posted on April 28, 2008
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Do you think love and hurry could be fundamentally incompatible? Think about this: Love takes time, but hurried people have too little of it [time].
The most obvious sign I’m too hurried is a diminished capacity to love. Ever struggle with this? You come home after a long, hurried day, only to be frustrated and short with those whom need your love and time the most.
I wonder sometimes, are we so over-commited and so entirely over-extended with our time, that hurry is what might lie just beneath much of our frustration. Could we be too tired, too busy, too drained, too pre-occupied, too hurried, to love the people we love the most in the right way? I think, so. What say you?
Advertising vs. Reality
Posted on April 25, 2008
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I’m so gullible at times, how bout’ you? Why does it seem that advertising so often overstates and yet under delivers?
To All My New Friends At “Charge”
Posted on April 24, 2008
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I wanted to give a “shout-out” to all the wonderful leaders and students I met last evening at “Charge.”
Charge is the student ministry of Cross Point Community Church. Many of you are just simply madd [I've never seen the insane sport of 'chair wall rammin' till last night; glad you more brilliant friends chose to wear helmets even though your feet were left exposed to be severed], but you all love God and life!
Thanks for such a warm welcome, I’m looking forward to getting to know you all better!
Inspiration Of A Deeper Kind
Posted on April 23, 2008
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Last night I had the privledge to hear N.T. Wright with a few friends here in Nashville. Although, Bishop Wright has been a mentor to me through his books for some time, I’ve never had the opportunity to actually hear him speak in person till yesterday.
As I listened [to a man who I have the utmost admiration for] I was captivated by a different kind of inspiration. It seemed to come from a deeper place then just being mesmerized by intelligence, outward beauty, gifting, presentation, or celebrity.
Now, I’m no different then anyone else in our western culture that’s so easily impressed by the aforementioned things, but last night I experienced something much more profound.
I experienced–through a man who has discovered the scriptures to be truly living and active–that real things of spirit and life cut right through our infatuation with the trivial, and give us real life and true inspiration that is deeper and different than any other inspiration I know.
I desire more of my own life to represent this deeper kind of inspiration, not to impress but to give life. We all need inspiration that is deeper and more substantive than just intelligence, outward beauty, gifting, presentation, or celebrity. At least I know it’s possible, I experienced some of it last night and it’s still inspiring me today!
Check out Pete Wilson’s blog, www.withoutwax.tv, he wrote a bit about the kind of inspiration I’m speaking of.
Earth Day
Posted on April 22, 2008
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Each year, April 22 marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement. Earth Day began in 1970 to draw attention to our need as human beings to care for this beautiful earth.
I believe ‘Creation Care’ is something all Christians should care more deeply about. Put in its proper context, being better stewards of what God has given us, could and should be a wonderful way for us to shine a light. It’s also the original mandate given us by God of the creation story found in Genesis.
What convicts me most is this: of all that God’s created, we have the unique distinction to steward and care for everything else God’s created. Do you think we could do a better job of leading the way?
Here’s one final thought: Earth Day is the only event celebrated simultaneously around the globe by people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities. More than a half billion people participate in Earth Day Network campaigns every year.
Is It Any Wonder…
Posted on April 18, 2008
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Take a few moments to stop and look–perhaps even from how God sees it–at this amazingly beautiful floating blue ball we call earth.
Is it any wonder that God absolutely loves all that He’s created, including us? No wonder He’s so commited to redeeming it all.
The Earth Is The Lord’s And Everything In It!
Art At Its Best
Posted on April 17, 2008
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As a Christian who believes God is redeeming everything He’s created through Christ, my outlook and worldview–both of creation and of people–is bursting with great hope. To be a Christian is to choose hope over despair, and to reflect the beauty of that hope in view of what God has promised. We are to be committed to describing the world not just as it is, but rather as God says it should and will be.
Christian artist, no matter their artistic outlet, should understand genuine art as flowing out of this center of beauty and hope–even in the midst of all that’s wrong–ultimately pointing people to the beauty of God.
N.T. Wright says: “When art comes to terms with both the wounds of the world and the promise of resurrection and learns how to express and respond to both at once, we will be on the way to a fresh vision and mission. Art at its best draws attention to the way things will be, when the earth is filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea!”
Think You Have Bad Hair Days
Posted on April 16, 2008
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