What about the giant pink bunny?

Have you ever seen this commerical?  Construction workers are preparing to tear down an old building, they keep the crowd back, machinery is making all kinds of noises.  And then you see it a giant craine, is positioned into place, you realize they are going to use a wrecking ball to tear down the building.  But, instead of a wrecking ball, there is a giant pink stuffed bunny.  They take several swipes at the building, and cut to people saying things like: "That ain't going to work, or This may take awhile" 
     I don't even remember what they were trying to sell, something about having the Right Tool for the Job. 
   That got me thinking, (if you know me, then this is the part you start worrying) : God has given us certain "tools" for our walk here on this earth.  My Pastor is going through a series of sermons on "Home Improvment Life Edition"  We have been talking about the "Tools" we are given by God to do certain things.  A few weeks ago he mentioned how we, as humans, sometimes try to use the wrong tool for the job at hand.  That is when this commerical came to mind.  How stupid to try and use a giant pink bunny rabbit to knock down a building.  This really seems stupid, but it accomplishes a visual image I won't forget. 
I have a sense of humor, I love talking to people, but I enjoy a good joke (clean only please). I take after my Mom, who took after her Dad..............Love people, love to laugh, love jokes, love to "Crack up"  Then there is my Dad.  Serious, dosen't get many jokes, unless you explain them to him, then maybe.  Dosen't get out of his saftey zone very often.  Really has to make himself talk to others, or socialize.  My Dad, is an awsome preacher, though, he studies the scriptures like no one I have ever known.  Anytime,(almost) one of us thinks of a scripture , maybe the "jest" of it, or the sorta version, all you have to so is ask Dad:  "Where is that found, Dad"  More the likely he will give you Book, Chapter, verse and quote it at about 500 miles an hour. 
My Mom and Dad made a perfect Pastorial team.  When they would visit with people in their home, or better yet, when they would invite others over, Mom was the "People Person" and also the fantastic cook, I might add.  But she would get to know them, ask them about their children, their jobs their home, where they grew up,...................Mom loved people.  Dad, dosen't hate people, but has a hard time doing those things.  Making "Chit Chat', If you will.  Mom had the right tools to get to know people, show her concern, pray for/with them, and love them like they have never been loved before.  These were her best tools.
But Dad, he knew the word of God like nobody's business, he would pray the scriptures quote scriptures while, praying, He would know just what to say to people in situations that was from the Lord, His word and right for the occasion.  Dad had great tools also, and knew how to use them.  This is why people loved them so much, and they were effective.  They each had their strengths (tools) that went so well with the other. 
     Now, let's get back to the Giant Pink Stuffed Rabbit.  It was being used as a tool, but not the place it would be most effective.  I'm thinking at the entrance to a Childrens hospital, or maybe at a Amusment park somewhere.  But again this got me wondering, where was the wrecking ball that was supposed to be tearing the building down?  Was it "serving" at the entrance to a Childrens Hospital?  Was it at Six Flags in the Childrens rides part?  I don't think any children facing a hospital stay would see a giant wrecking ball at the entrance, and feel better.  Just as the Giant Pink Stuffed Bunny didn't do much good tearing down the old building.
We are all different, God gave us each different "tools" to use for Him.  Some of us are very talanted artists, (There is a guy at our church who paints with colored chalks, while the praise and worship is going on, he just draws what he is feeling in the worship, this is his way of worshipping, it's awsome) Some of us are "People People" others are not.  There are Morning people, and Night People, there are Coffee drinkers, and tea drinkers, people who love to exercise, and people like me who avoid it at all costs.  But whatever you are, what ever you like, there is other people that don't know Jesus as a personal savior, who like the same things, and need someone like you to tell them.  At the Coffee Shop, while running Early in the morning when they are awake, or late at night when they are awake, While driving motorcycles togather, while playing softball, watching football, playing board games................You see, we all have interests and  we all have tools.  It is so easy to talk to someone while you doing something you enjoy, and there is someone else there who is having a good time also.
I heard of a minister who loved roller coasters.  He would travel as he had time and money to all the best, fastest, tallest, scariest, newest, weirdest,  coasters just to be thrilled.  One of these trips, led him to set next to a man, who like himself was a "coaster nut".  They started up a conversation waiting in line, then went togather on the coaster, had lunch at the park, talked all afternoon, rode other rides togather..............exchanged email address' kept in touch and about 5 years later the minister led this other man to the Lord, and he is now serving as his assistant pastor.  All because of loving Coasters.  (Notice, this didn't happen overnight, it took time, investment, and love.  The Pastor continued to keep in touch with his friend, they would meet at other Amusement parks and ride more coasters together, the Pastor did not pressure his friend to accept Jesus, he just lived Jesus, and loved his friend}
We, as humans, seem to drift to those who share the same intrest as us.  These I consider our tools. 
Figure out what your tools are, how you can enjoy them and talk to others with the same intrest.  And remember somewhere there is a Giant Pink Stuffed Bunny Rabbit sitting where children can see and feel good about where they are and what they might be facing.

Until next time, Chris

Opinions, everyone has one.

Next month I'll be 54.   Not a milestone, but I am getting older.  I remember my Dad about this age, he was so opinionated.  Now I have been getting myself banned from certain blogs, and recently "befriended" from someone on Facebook, because of my opinions.  I admit I can be a little "In your face" about my opinions, but , hey what is wrong with that? 
I come from a time when peoples opinions counted for something, people listened, agreed or disagreed or didn't care.  But they listened.  Nowadays it seems, that if you have a different opinion then others, it is so easy to  just click a button and not have to listen to them anymore....
This I believe is damaging.  Maybe you don't agree with someone on some issue, is it rude to just ignore them and continue to think they are wrong?  Say this person is a good friend that you respect, do you just "dis" them?  Maybe they have some truths you have never thought about before.  Maybe they have a passion about their beliefs, right or wrong, I believe, you need to listen and give them your honest opinion  discuss it with them and just show them some respect. 
Jesus was considered "in your face", He had some radical ideas, ideals, and wasen't afraid to tell everyone about it.  Was this wrong?  He made people so mad, they killed Him. 
I do not in any way want to compare my opinions on certain things to Jesus'.  Big differences, my opinions, on say the IPhone, has nothing to do with God's love for us and our love for Him.
Have you ever had a Jehovah's Witness come by your house?  What did you do?  I knew a guy once that invited them in, and compared their "Bible" to the true Bible, He would listen to them and there memorized speechs, with attention and respect.  Then he would tell them about his God, and savior who died for all of us, and is alive in his life.  He didn't change anyones mind, that I know of, but he did listen to them first, respect them for their opinions, then share his  with them. 
     Like I said, I am VERY opinionated and not afraid to use it.  I will tell anyone who listens, what I think about certain things,  political, sports, current affairs, the Bible, you name it, I have a opinion about it,  and as I said recently : If you don't know I am opinionated, and if that bothers you, that's your problem not mine."
One very good way to talk to people, is to listen to their opinions, and comment your feelings, thinking ect.  If your respect others opinions, they will listen to you. 
In the city I live, their are many homeless people who stand on the street corners with signs for money.  I have learned, even if I don't have any money to give them, if I roll down the window and just say "Hey, how about this weather?" or something, they smile, and we carry on a conversation until the light changes.  One guy told me that so many people just turn away and pretend we aren't there."For someone to acknowledge us" he said,"  makes our day."
     Yes , I have opinions about everything, don't you?  Yes, I get in your face, if your opinion differs from mine, but I like it when you get back into my face with yours.  Discussion, viewpoints, respectful conversation about the things we see differently, is part of who we are.  As Christians, and Americans, this is the only way we can change or alter our sometimes wrong ideas.
If you just ignore others who have different ideas then you, then how will you ever broaden your horizons?    I read about a woman  that married a Buddhist  man, after they were married for several years, she gave her heart to the Lord Jesus Christ.  She did not immediately start telling her  Buddhist husband he needed to convert to Christianity, but she suddenly got interested in what he believed and how this differed from her own new found Christianity  She asked him many questions about the customs and worship of the Buddhist  community.  He was very glad to tell her and show her.  She would go to the temple with him, on occasion.  But she never made fun, or tried to "push" her religion on him.   Several years later, her husband begin taking an interest in her church.  He attended services now and then.  It wasn't long before he started going to her Home cell group meetings  He met and got to know others in her church that treated him with respect and love.  You guessed it, several years later, he was regularly attending  her church, no longer attending the Buddhist temple. He didn't start attending because his wife ignored his religion,(difference of opinion), he started attending her church because she showed respect for His religion.  .  You see, he had a different opinion about God, then she did, WAY different.  But what do you think would have happened if she constantly critizied him for his "choices".  I really don't think they would still be together anymore.
You see, everyone has an opinion, be them wrong or not, and all they want is to be heard. 
So, what does all this mean to us  now?  Listen to people, let them tell you their opinions, ideas. ideals
Think about what they are saying, agree to disagree, and live your life without shame or  doubt.  Show your friends that you have very strong opinions also, and share them, throughout your friendship.  Don't push your religion , relationship with Jesus, on them.  They will respect you for it.
And who knows, they may start to question their "opinions" and start taking interest in yours.

"You Can't Take the Truth"

With memories of a very good movie, and Jack Nicholson being Jack Nicholson, I am reminded of the above phrase.  Here is another one: "The Truth Hurts".  What do you think about this?  Does the truth hurt?  Are we opposed to "taking" the real truth?
     There is a blog site,: "Mycultlife.com" that I have been blocked from .  I, basically have disagreed with the author as to why she is so mad, and vindictive, and has such a "get even" attitude towards a certain orginization, church, denomination, and individuals because of the problems she encountered.  Her newly crafted blog site is quite nice, she has a section on the history of this denomination, a timeline as to what happened to her, and a section basically telling the readers what would constitute being banned from commenting.  I had wondered what it was that "got to her" in my many comments.  Well there it was:  "Calling her or anyone aggreing with her, angry,bitter, trying to get even wit...."  I did call her bitter, and angry and vindictive, so there you go, I was blocked.

     But, she was did come across as angry, bitter, and trying to get even.  I never said she did not go through some things, or that certain things did not happen, although she thought I did. 

You see, sometimes the truth hurts.  I have gone to several counselors, Dr's .... for counseling in my life.  I have been told that I was being Bitter, or angry or vindictive to those that hurt me.  I was told that forgiving them would help me more then it would them  (Your getting a spanking, but it's hurting me more then it is you, there is some truth to that).  And not all these people were Christians, a few were just regular plain ole' counselors.

     I believe when a person gets SO upset at someone or something that they take as drastic a measure as banning them from their website, for disagreeing with them and pointing out there may be somethings going on here, that  won't agree with, then perhaps there is an element of truth.
I know several people at my church that have gone through the same things as this author, but they see things Much differently.  One young lady told me,: "Yes , there were some things going on that I didn't agree with, but I am not going to let them control me.  That was in the past, and I need to learn from those mistakes, and move on in the Lord."  You see, when someone wrongs us, we can let it control us, for the rest of our lives, sometimes.  Yes, there are people out there that will try and destroy you and your whole lives,  But, don't let them, by trying to get even.  What good does it do?

You see in the situation above, the principle leader has been fired, one of the churches involved has had it's group remove the name it was operating under.  I see no more "justice" needs to be done here, only healing.
Remember the Lord says" "Vengeance  is Mine", we try to "help" him all the time, but He is the one to "get even".  We are to hold no grudges, but move on and do as He wants us to do.  
     I am reminded to the time of Christ's being taken away in the clouds, the Disciples were gazing up into the clouds, and an Angel of the Lord appeared and basically said:  "What are you doing, looking into the heavens?   There is work to be done, stop wasting time"
In my opinion, the author and the contributors of this blog (because only those that agree with the author are allowed to comment) are "Wasting time".  You see "Vengeance it His", and He will take care of those that wronged them, and you,  in the Lords name.

Finding God: Heart of Head?

I recently got into a conversation about "Feelings" vs "Intelligence"   This became quite a friendly disagreement, but it got  me thinking.   How do we approach God?  Do we use our brains, or our heart?  I have always felt it is the latter, our heart, but how does our mind come into play?
 Matthew 25:26 tell us: We walk by (the eye of) faith and not by (natural) sight" (The Message ).  Now that tells me to think to much about our faith is in the "Natural way of living", but to "walk by faith, (notice The Message interjects "the eye of" here), is the right way of living.

In talking to my friends about this, I used the illustration that my eyes see the rain/snow outside, and I hear the thunder , see the lighting, see others walking around with umbrellas, raincoats, hurrying so they won't get wet, But until I go outside and feel the rain for myself I am not absolutely definite it is raining,  I am pretty positive, but not completely.  Have you ever seen it snowing outside, your excited,(I live in Texas, THAT is pretty exciting),  you bundle up, put on your gloves, coat, hat, warm socks and go out in to it.  Wow, snow angels, wow it is so white and pretty, wow that snowball almost  got you........You see you feel the snow, you feel the cold, you feel the snowball whiz past your ear.    So the point I am  trying to make?  We saw the rain/snow, we saw all the things that tell our brains that it is raining/snowing/cold/warm/very hot/ outside, but until we open our door and feel these things ourselves we are not 100% satisfied.
     My friends were not impressed or persuaded by this point, they still felt Thinking was the way to understand God. 
OK, lets look at education:  When I was in school, science was not my best subject, Math was.  Math was easy for me, because I saw everything right in front of me.  The equations, the formulas, the problems they were all right there for me to memorize, solve, or not.   If I had problem with one, my teachers could use that dreaded red pen and show where I goofed.
Science, on the other hand was hard for me.  Yes there was that dreaded table with all the elements symbols, abbreviations or whatever we were supposed to memorize (Why not use the first letter of the element for the symbol?  And if there were two or more with the same letter, use a number after it.  Like Gold would be G, and grass (you see why I did so bad in science, I actully think grass is an element!), would be G1, but you get my point, unless you were one of those science geeks,  I was a Math geek, oh well we were all "geeks" of one sort or another, I digress.)  When we did experiments in Science, then my understanding started peeking, Oh , I SEE how that works.......You see when we use one of our senses to visualize something it helps our understanding,  and of the senses "Feelings" wither  emotional or physical are the strongest. 
How can we understand God, well the Bible says "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your HEART that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9 New Living Translation)  Notice it doesn't say:  Believe with your mind, or think about it for awhile,or mull it over in your head, or sleep on it, and think about all night.  It Says "believe in YOUR HEART".  That is where it is won or lost, isn't it.  You can think a certain thing about whatever, but once that thing is in your HEART, it is not embedded in your soul.  How are habits (good or bad) formed?  Repetition. If you smoke, it is because somewhere in the past you started picking up a cigarette and lighting up, weather it be after a good meal, the first thing in the morning, before bed,,,,,it became a habit to smoke at certain times, then it just became a habit.  Now a Habit is something you do without even realizing it.  Your mind doesn't say :"Pick up that cigarette and light up, now inhale, now exhale, now shake off the ashes, now inhale......"  You just do it.
  When serving God, if our minds ruled then we would have to think about every single thing we do for Him,  but since we serve God in our hearts, the things we do because we love Him are habits, we do them without even realizing it.  We have no selfish thing to gain, just being obedient to Him,because we love Him.
Cults and Legalism start by getting into our head instead of our hearts.  God becomes real to our hearts and then gets ahold of our heads.  Don't try to think God into your life, there is NO WAY to do that.  God is knocking at the door to our Hearts, not our heads.  And I am glad about that. 
Think about your Heads and your Hearts and let's talk more about this.   I don't know if anyone is reading this stuff, have no comments, yet, but it is helping me get straight in my Heart  what I do and do not believe.  It is good to put down in words the things I have been feeling for along time.  Later Chris