a word about "sacrifice"

A moralistic society notes sacrifice as something we do for someone else that provides them something we value with no expectation from them in return. Memorial Day was a day we note the "sacrifice" others have made through the years for our freedom by giving their lives in war. Certainly people serving others by risking their lives  is always admirable. However, if we look at sacrifice as it is generally practiced, their seems to be a sense of the giver that the receiver is obligated to respond to the giver in some way. Further, when we speak of sacrifice we generally hold the view that what we give is ours (a possession) to give based on our own discretion.

Historically, sacrifice meant giving something of value to appease a god. All religions of the world have this notion that "god(s)" need to be happy with us and to keep them happy, we need to "sacrifice" to them. Interesting how this view of sacrifice has crept into the Gospel of Grace. We speak about "sacrificial giving" for instance as if we are giving something to God (via the church usually) from what we own to satisfy some obligation to Him (or His church) for being included.

The irony of the way we view sacrifice is that what we give (including our life) is not our own and the Gospel of Grace carries with it no obligation (unmerited favor). So, when we make sense of sacrifice through a carnal mind, we again lose the understanding of grace. The Kingdom mind says we cannot sacrifice anything because we own nothing - everything we have is "on loan" to us by God Himself (real meaning of stewardship).

"As to every man God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor - this is the gift of God."  Ecclesiastes 5: 19

Secondly, the Kingdom mind knows that appeasing God for things that displease Him has already been taken care of by the Cross.

I was always amused at church campaigns on sacrificial giving and how these messages distorted the very message of the Gospel. I wondered, "how is giving something of no eternal value for something of eternal value a sacrifice?"

So what do we really mean when we say "we sacrificed" this or that?  Something to think about :-)

"Seek out the grunt work"

I was chatting with a young man this morning who is headed off this summer to do a research internship. Our discussion led me to a principle that I have followed all of my adult life. I encouraged him to aspire to do everything that no one else wanted to do, to "seek out the grunt work."

In 1969 I got a summer job working in the computer section of the State of Ala Highway Dept. I had never seen a computer before but I was a Math major and computers were the up and coming thing. I show up and they have no idea what to do with me. I said, "I'll do whatever no one else wants to do." So they gave me a rag and cleaner and said, "wash all of the computers." I did this for several days and got very familiar with computers. After that i went to the computer programmers and asked them to let me help them do what they do in anyway I could. The long and short of this story was after two summers and it was time for me to graduate college, I had learned as much about computers and how to program them than most anyone around. This experience served me very well for the 28 years of my career as an IT/IS professional.

30 years later I leave that profession and enter graduate school as a Ph D freshman. Although I entered with a distinguished career behind me, I was starting anew. So i asked my professors, "what is it that I can do for you that you really don't want to do?" From this level of willingness I got all kinds of experience and data for my research and finished the program in 3 years (5 was normal). Plus, I got a very robust research stream that has served me well as a scholar.

I have made many mistakes in my life and many bad choices (I was not good at delayed gratification), but one thing I did right was to "seek out the grunt work." No matter how smart or successful (or old) you are, doing what others do not want to do will strengthen you in many ways.

From a professional looking back for professionals looking forward - "seek out the grunt work!!"

"Blogger's block"

It's common knowledge that author's and journalists get writer's block. This is a dry period of inspiration and constrains creative writing. Well, I may be coming down with "blogger's block". For the past 4 months or so I have been inspired by situations (teaching school and bible study) and by the "sunshine to my soul" that comes from knowing and enjoying special relationships.

This season seems to be in a lull and along with it inspiration for blogs. It's kinda that "grooves and funk" thingy I blogged about recently. Maybe after a little sabbatical the creative juices will again flow. In the mean time read the past posts that you haven't read or reread those that especially connected with you.

As the saying goes, "it is what it is", but wait, there is more - "until we change it!!"

Until next time, just spend some of your own time pondering - it doesn't hurt :-)

The role of vision

An anonymous blogger commented on the previous post on planning. This person raised the question of the role of planning in creating vision. Well, what exactly is vision and what is its role in our lives? How does it relate to planning?

Vision is from the root word meaning "to see". To see what? We might say one's vision is seeing a future state, a picture of possibility, or maybe a picture of destiny. Vision is not formed by our planning, but rather should guide any planning we do. But "a plan" is not necessary to strive toward our vision. Vision gives us a picture of the future that allows us to make decisions each day consistent with our idea of the future. We are intentional rather than random when we decide in favor of our vision each moment we live.

A plan is a predetermined path to our goal. A vision may not be as specific as a goal, but still has enough clarity to guide us. Sir Walter Raleigh shares his vision of the discovering the new land with Queen Elizabeth I in the movie "Elizabeth: The Golden Years". Here we see Raleigh being inspired and inspiring others with his vision. He does not give a plan but simply describes what the end state is like in picture words that moves himself and others towards it.

Moving daily towards a vision for our life allows us to be opportunistic and serendipitous. By being inspired by the vision but not locked into predeterminded path, we can enjoy the journey and respond to unexpected curves in the road.

A picture of possibility rather than a goal to obtain unleases us with direction but does not constrain us with the illusion of control. A life driven by vision versus concrete goals with a predetermined path is more scary, seems more risky - but hey, it includes room for faith, which is right in God's sweet spot :-)

Is planning overrated?

While making our 6 month, 1 yr and multi-year plans sounds so right, experience shows us that we generally only know enough to take the next step. Taking one step at a time is all we can do. Life throws us curves and road blocks. Uncertainty constrains us. Planning is an illusion of control.

Its how we put one foot in front of the other that ultimately matters. Do we act consistent with our soul or do we take the pulse of everyone around us to discern our steps? As we age we find times to look back and its then we see which way we chose to determine our steps. Regret and disappointment comes when we see that our life's dance was to pride or fear or guilt coming from music supplied by others and not the rythmn of our own heartbeat.

Playing out what God put in us is not accomplished by seeing the future but trusting in Him who holds the future, one step at a time!!   Think about it :-)

It's more than just a perspective

People who are serious about being a good person place high value on self-control or maintaining behavioral discipline. While "doing the right thing" is always admirable, it is not the issue for Christians.

Are we exercising self-control so we can do things FOR God or does God do something TO us through His Spirit that produces the fruit of self control.

Colossians 2 says "regulatory wisdom" has NO VALUE.

This is more than just a matter of perspective!!!   Think about it :-)

But God, what does this look like to you?

A number of years ago a major part of my Spiritual growth was to anchor my sense-making in asking God, "what does this look like to You?"  Right after I started this discipline, I had an intense experience where God confirmed to me how important this is. Gail had just obtained her "dream car", a Honda Prelude sports car. After obsessing over the car for about three months, something "terrible" happend. I say terrible" because from a carnal perspective (one that focuses on how things affect us personally), this was a bad circumstance. I am at work one afternoon focusing deeply on business issues when the phone rings. On the other end is Gail, obviously upset. In an emotional way she cries out 'my car has been stolen'. She goes on to tell me she had pulled up to a C-store, run in to get a D Coke, and left the car running. While in the store she looks back to see two young black teens driving off in her car. A 2 hour car chase by the sheriff follows only to end with the car totalled in Columbia, over 90 miles from Ft Mill.

Now I do not handle surprises well so this was a challenge for me. My first response would have normally been, "I told you so" since I had often warned her of leaving keys in her car, must less leave it running. I think God grabbed my tongue and I just said, "I'll be there in 20 minutes."  Once in my car my mind was racing, all kinds of emotion, none really good. About 3 blocks down the road God reminded me of my commitment to check with Him, so I asked (out loud), "God, what does this look like to You?" If we seriously ask this, He is faithful to answer. The answer came immediately back, "I am much more interested in the lives of those 2 black kids than Gail's car." The remaining time I spent praying for the kids. When I arrived to Gail, I was exactly for her what I needed to be, patient and understanding, not what I would be in my natural self.

I had a close friend who was out of a job and coming to the end of his resources. Riding down the road one day I was explaining this spiritual discipline to him and so he stops me and says, "then what do you think God has in store for me?" He recalls that I looked right at him with no hesitation, "the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, everything is really immaterial." This perspective changed his life.

I just got back from seeing "the Soul Surfer" movie. I have to admit I cried throughout the whole movie until my eyeballs ached. Often in the movie the question was asked how losing an arm plays into God's plan for the life of a championship surfer. I think the movie answered that question. An interesting point in the movie came as the surfer with one arm came in 5th of 6 in the chanpionship event. When asked if she struggled with trying so hard and not winning, she said "I came here to surf, that's what i was made to do."

The lesson for all of us is that God simply asks us to play out what He put in us. Our needs, the way we want things to go, what others think about us are never the issue from God's view. He simply uses our faithfulness to play out our life from our soul (His design on us) to impact the lives of others, for His glory, not ours. What a beautiful way to make sense of our lives because then no circumstance is ever a bad one!!

Mothers

Our mother commits her body to birthing us, her heart to loving us, and her life to nurturing us selflessly and unconditionally. What a visible picture of God's grace!!!

Miss U mom :-)

Grooves and funks

Life is a lot like the game of golf. People who play golf understand that sometimes one is in a groove, the ball is flying straight and putts are going in. Other times we are in a funk, and slightly missed hits become bad breaks - balls bouncing in bunkers, out of bounds or into the water (just barely).

Some people start off fast, in their groove early, only to finish in a funk. Others start slowly, the swing is slightly off and we feel like we are in a funk. When we are in a groove, the breaks go our way - we are gracious to other golfers and easily follow the rules. But, when we are in a funk, the temptation is to fudge a little, pick our ball up in the rough "just to make sure it is ours" and then place it back down in an improved position. Afterall, things are not going our way and we "deserve" a little help.

18 holes of golf is a journey. yes, we keep score and somebody wins, or at least does better than someone else. yet, the joy of golf is in the play. Its the feel of hitting a shot in rhytm or sinking a long putt. Its the beautiful setting in which the game is played and the relationships of those we play with and against. Its appreciation of the privilege to enjoy the game.

And so it is with life - think about it!!!!

Something Beautiful

Why is it that people see the need to be so critical of others? Just because someone is different or doing things that are out of the norm does not mean they are wrong. Legalistic tendencies we have for ourselves and others to fit into some tight box of expectations is what makes things "ugly". Looking at the beauty in the expression of others will bring more beauty into our own lives.



Let's not beat the beauty out of each other, let's create the environment where people around us are more free to express the heart that is in them!! Now that is something BEAUTIFUL!!!!!