Is It Just Black Friday?

I recently took part in Black Friday for the first time - it was an experience. As soon as the excitement of 50-60% off wore off (about after an hour of standing in line), it became a lot of cranky soccer moms, thrifty college students, and early Christmas shoppers all trying to navigate the early morning hours.

In what can only be described as an ironic twist, these people who hours earlier had sat down at a table and told everyone (truthfully) that they were thankful for the little things in life - sunshine on a cloudy day, the smell of fresh baked bread, spending time with family and friends - are now putting all of that satisfaction behind them and placing it in material objects and are no longer satisfied by sunshine. This irony has been identified on the internet by meme makers.

Now before you, like a high schooler looking to pick a fight after an intro class, declare me to be a hypocrite since I too went Black Friday shopping I want to state that this is not what my post is about and that I am including myself in this observation.

As ironic as it is, I find it even more interesting that we believe that it only lasts on Friday (or the weekend, as most store now have their sales lasting that long). This "me-centric" ideology continues for the next month - Black Friday is like the pep rally to the big game of Christmas. We spend one day (Thanksgiving) being thankful for the many blessings that we have been given, then a month thinking about material things that would make us happy until on Christmas we are once again shown that it isn't the things that come wrapped in string but the people who gave them to us that matter most.

So here is my challenge, during this next month that leads up to Christmas don't lose sight of what truly matters. There is nothing wrong with wanting to enjoy that latest design, or toy, or gadget - but don't let that distract you from the things that you should truly be thankful for. It will be difficult - if you need proof just look at the people who fought outside the local mall until being pepper sprayed just hours after telling their family that if they had nothing it would be ok because they had each other - but don't let that discourage you.

As a Christian, I believe that "Jesus is the reason for the season" so let's not commit treason this season by giving glory to someone other than the one who came to earth as a man and died so that we might have life. That is the greatest gift of all, and you are not going to find that in a brochure or advertisement. It's not going to go on sale at midnight (b/c it's free!) nor is it going to be in a buy one get one sale (b/c it is all you need!). Let's not forget this amidst the snow and lights and festive music, but let us enjoy these things through Jesus for it is by doing this that we shall truly be thankful.

The Election

Unless you are living under a rock (in which case I ask, how did you get reception down there? b/c I go into a basement of a building and I get nothing) you know that there was an election in the US recently. Also, unless you were living under a rock you probably were on social media at least once, and have seen the way that they exploded in response to Obama being reelected. Tweets/Status updates like the following appeared like a red light when you're late for work:

"I'm moving to Canada"
"America is going down the drain"
"What have we done?!"

then about a half hour later a new breed of "Christian" updates arrived:

"America needs Jesus. My hope is in him!"
"Let's pray for the president"
"Good thing my citizenship isn't of this world!"

Now while these last updates can be Christian and are good things to remember - that we need to pray for those in authority, we need to be missional, and we need to not be of the world - this is not how they were presented. It was only after our human attempts to "save" America (because was all know that Jesus was a Republican...) were thwarted, that we turned to God. We did not turn to God because we were seeking his will, and desiring his will to be done - we were turning to God because we had not gotten our way. (Before I continue, I want to give props to those people who put status' which stated that they voted, and that they were now praying for the process and whoever might win)

Now this isn't meant to be a political rant, nor is it supposed to be something that makes you angry. We complain about how all of a sudden politicians are religious every time they need to be elected - yet we only remember that God has calls us to remember those in authority and pray for them after our candidate does not make it. When we do this our prayers are not true prayers, but are prayers laced with toxins. We do not pray that God might be with our leaders and that he give them wisdom to lead our country in a wise and honorable way - we pray that God might be with our leader (because he really needs help) and that he be given wisdom (because my candidate would have been better) to lead our country in a wise and honorable way (because we all know that he intends to do none of these things, but is secretly a <insert favorite villain here> whose only goal is to ruin everything).

Let's pray for those who are in authority, regardless of their political affiliation. Let's show them a true respect, not one dripping with sarcasm. What sets us apart if we don't honor those in authority?

Do we need God in America again? Yes.
Is God a Democrat? No.
Is God a Republican? No.
Are we called to honor those in authority over us whether they are Republican or Democrat or a tyrannical ruler who is using the bodies of Christians to light his garden (yep...Obama doesn't look so bad now does he...)? Yes.

So let's pray for those who we have elected, not because "they" need God but because we all need God and we are called to do it.

Do You Have the Time?

Time.

Time is money.

Time is ticking away.

Time is always moving.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

How much time do we actually use in the day?

I know for me one of my favorite sayings while I was in college, and even still while I'm in seminary is "When I have time I'll...". This phrase is the 'Get Out of Jail Free Card' of the Christian walk. Now before you assume that I am saying that I am preaching a) a Gospel without works b) that Christians shouldn't plan ahead c) that Christians should never say no d)whatever you might be thinking, let me explain.

Whenever someone would recommend a book to read, a sermon to listen to, a video to watch (educational), or a Bible Study to go to - I would often respond "when I have time..." or "if I had time...". Now sometimes it was true, I didn't have to time to do that, I had other responsibilities that needed to get done. However, the amount of times that I would say that and then find myself staring at facebook, or watching youtube videos, or looking up sports stats/stories far outnumbered the times that I would be doing homework. This became my habit: Putting something on the "To Do Later" list and never actually looking at that list, but favoring the vices of out current generation (video games, the internet, etc). There is nothing inherently wrong in any of those things, however when they become the priority there is something wrong.

Side Note: Another Christian line that we use so well is "I'll pray for you." I don't know about you, but I will admit (and apologize for doing this) that there are times when I say this and then never actually pray for the person. So instead I have made it a habit that when I know that I might forget the prayer request that I give a short prayer in my head for them after our conversation is done.

I could go into a Don't Waste Your Life speel now, but I feel like John Piper and Lecrae have done an adequate job, and all I would be doing is repeating what they have said. So instead I will send you to them, and make sure that I don't accidentally get credit for something they have said. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh1wmPQA0QA - Piper; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbQyQavqqMI - Lecrae)

I could try to convince you to live your life to the (Christian) fullest. I could put up lists about how much time we waste on facebook, twitter, pinterest, playing video games, youtube - but that would only be a temporary guilt trip. I cannot make you use all your time wisely, that has to come from you. You have to put in the effort - you are not going to wake up one morning and all of a sudden have this urge (and if you do, congratulations). If you need someone to tell you to get off the internet here it is - GET OFF! CLICK THE EXIT BUTTON! (I mean it, stop reading what I have that comes after this isn't as important as you starting to use your time wisely.)

All I can say is that we should not fill our day with empty things; fill it with things that matter.

My prayer is that when you sit there pondering what to do you would ask yourself and seriously consider, do you have the time?

Rock Bands and Revivals

I recently attended a Rise Against concert (it was great!). One of the things that I like about Rise Against is that their songs have a point. This is not aimless singing to a catchy beat/tune in order to make money. They are singing to create awareness for a cause, or to get a message across. Several times during the concert Tim  McIlrath, the lead singer, would mention to the audience that it didn't matter who we were, or where we came from when we were in that concert venue - we were family. The Rise Against family.

Here I was in the midst of this family. Family is a good way of describing what it was - here we all were crammed in this small area - yet no one complained. People were bumping into each other - but when someone fell down everyone around him was quick to help him to his feet. Complete strangers put their hands over each others shoulders and swayed to the same song. There was a unity that was unexplainable, save for their enjoyment of a band. A band. That's it. Just four guys with guitars, mics, drums and tattoos. That is what was causing this community. That's it. Those guys don't know the names of the people in the crowd - yet the people in the crowd were willing to follow anything they told them.

In the midst of the songs, the sweat, and being offered a beer (which I was informed did not have a "roofie" in it, I still didn't take it) it hit me, why isn't Church like this? I don't mean why don't we hand out drinks, all stand in a circle and have a mosh pit in the center. I mean why don't we unashamedly declare who we are following, or get psyched about a message, or sing loudly, or turn to our neighbor and high five after a good point in the sermon? I know there are times when I go to church and I'm thinking more about the football game that is on afterwards than what the pastor is saying or I am annoyed that the person behind me is singing way out of tune instead of worshiping with them.

As Rise Against began their set, the lead singer asked the crowd how many of us were there for the first time (a large number, whom I was part of, raised our hands); he welcomed us to the family and then told us that we were going to have a fun time tonight. He then turned his attention from those who were new, to those who had already been there - he reminded them of the fun they had in the different venues they had played in Michigan. In one of the songs the band mourned the loss of a punk rock legend, and the crowd mourned with them. They unashamedly told us to stop being cruel to animals, that they thought some wars were unjust, and that even though America thinks it is the best country in the world it is behind in a lot of statistics and it will take major changes to fix that. How often do we celebrate what God has done in the past? How often do we mourn with people, even if we don't know the deceased/sick/hurting? How often do we stand up for our faith?

(Quick aside about that: If a person was to ask me what sports teams I followed (LA Lakers, LA Dodgers, SD Chargers, and ANH Ducks) I would tell him quickly. Depending on what he said I would be willing to defend why I followed them. I can tell you their history. I can bring up names of the greats. Are we willing to do these same things when people ask about our faith?...but that's for another time...)

So in the midst of a concert, plastic cups and sweaty people I began to pray. I began to pray for the people there, for the band, but mostly for myself. That I would live my life in such a way that people who know who I follow. That I would not get bored of church but remember what (and who) I'm there for. That I would not stop seeing revivals in the midst of a rock band.

The Beginning

I told myself I would never start a blog. Then again, I've told myself that I wouldn't do a lot of things (listen to country, watch NASCAR, get a twitter account, tell anyone that my secret identity is batman...)(well almost all of those are true). So why did I decide to start blogging? There are several reasons, I guess - but none of them are really good ones. First, I felt like doing it and I started one. Second, I've been told by people I should have one. Third, I feel like I have some ideas that I want to share. Fourth (and probably biggest), I need to.

Now that might sound strange that I need to blog, because I really don't. What I mean by I need to blog is that it is a way for me to get my thoughts out in a way that is different than journaling (which I would recommend doing). This blog is not meant to be my personal soap box of ranting, raving, and reviewing - as some blogs often are. There might be times when I rant, or when I rave, or when I review; those, however, are not the goal of this blog. The goal is a journey.

"A journey?!" you might say, "Where are you going to go, your power chord can only be so long and you have to run out of battery at some point? " To that I say you're absolutely right. This isn't about a journey I am going to take on Route 66, but rather about a journey I am taking through Route 66. We might get off and stop in some of the places along the way which may be unfamiliar - Canaan, Jerusalem, Rome - or they might be really familiar - your home, your church, your neighborhood. You may have gathered that I am not actually talking about a journey on a physical Route 66, but instead through a Route 66 that is on your shelf, or beside your bed, or in the nightstand at your hotel.

The Christian Life is often described as a journey. This blog is not an all inclusive tour guide to what you will experience and how to get from point A to point B. Instead, think of this as the picture slide-show as I say what I noticed about the different stops I made along the way.

So, with that being said, let's dim the lights and begin.