A Fortune Worth Believing

I really wish fortune cookies would stop flattering me. A fortune I once read stated, "You have an open mind and find it easy to make new friends." I believe one from an urban area might respond with the phrase, "Stop playin’ me!" The next fortune is likely to be a cheap pick-up line such as: “You’re late. I've been waiting for you my entire life." The fortune might also say, "Are you tired? You've been running through my mind all day long." A relationship between a man and a cookie would never work out. Well, I suppose this could explain gingerbread men, E.L. Fudge, and other man-shaped cookies. Could animal crackers be the offspring of similar relationships?
How does one explain to a confection that he or she is already seeing someone? Do the words "Let's be friends" hurt a cookie as much as they hurt a human being? I bet cookies dunk themselves in milk when they get depressed. Maybe I need to start a dating service for cookies. I can set figs up with Newtons and cream up with Oreos. Maybe all together new confections will be born of my efforts! Forgive my food references as I have yet to partake of any food today. A more logical explanation for all this could be that the Chinese would like me to buy more of their food. First, it's MSG and the “being hungry an hour later” theory. Now, it’s coy cookies. Another conspiracy uncovered by Johnny Wriston, super sleuth. I am so having Chinese for lunch.
I believe that all of the positive statements made in scripture regarding Christians are absolutely true. We are not called “children of God” in 1 John 3:1 because God wants to entice us to join him. We are not called “new creations” in 2 Cor. 5:17 to get us to drop a little more cash in the collection plate. We are told that we “may participate in the divine nature” in 2 Pet. 1:4 because God wants to give us false hope. God’s love for us is real. The changes he makes in our lives are real. The rewards promised to us are real.

Artificial Christians

I spend quite a bit of my time attempting to invent modern conveniences to simplify every day life. Wouldn't it be sweet to have a clone or at least a highly sophisticated robot Doppelganger to replace you in some of your more mundane, daily duties? I would merely like him to cover for me at the office a few times each week. Sometimes I listen to myself speaking and I don't sound all that different from the artificial intelligence featured in U-Scans at local grocery stores, ATM machines, or Haley Joel Osment (look up that last reference). It's sad really. It's about as sad as the thought I just had that my favorite Meijer cashiers, "Flock of Seagulls Hair" or "Mullet Master," could one day be replaced by machines. At least California has a governor in office prepared for such a "rise of the machines." You know, I would settle for a robot that could make my bed. Why my parents were always so insistent on such a worthless task I will never know. Perhaps my father knows more than I give him credit for. Perhaps he wants to be presentable when the robot king visits to choose slaves worthy of his glory. Truly my imagination defeats my practicality at times.
Many things that Jesus said support the idea that he requires one’s full attention and support. In a world of quick fixes and short cuts, the Christian life is often expected to be easy. Life brings many hardships regardless of whether one chooses to follow Christ or not. The difference is that a Christian faces these difficulties with armed with the hope of salvation. In Luke 9:57-62, Jesus talks about the costs of following him. One who “looks back” when doing the work of the Lord is not fit to serve him. When a follower of Christ looks ahead, he or she is able to see joy in the future. God and his church support us in all we do. We don’t need robots or artificial intelligence to be the followers God wants us to be.

Are You Hungry?

Millions of people struggle with diets, weight loss, appearance, and body image. Losing weight can be quite difficult and keeping off the weight is even harder. An article I read states that the difficulty doesn’t always come in lack of motivation, discipline, or will power. Often, the problem lies in body chemistry and environment. We have to be aware of how our bodies work before we decide to try various diets. Hunger pangs aren’t the only reason we eat. Lab rats with mostly removed stomachs continue to eat regularly. Chemicals in our brains tell us not only that we need to eat, but also what foods we prefer at certain times. In our environment, certain cues like the smell of freshly baked bread or the amount of food on our plates cause us to eat. The set point theory states that we are predisposed to keep ourselves at a certain weight. If you loose too much weight, out hunger grows while our energy levels drop.
Whether or not you believe various ideas and theories regarding hunger and weight loss, one must admit that hunger is a force that drives us. If hunger didn’t exist in any respect at all, there wouldn’t be the motivation for us to obtain the necessary energy from food in order to live. In Luke 9: 10-17, we read about when Jesus feeds literally thousands of people. Not only did he tell them about the kingdom of God and provide healing, but also Jesus satisfied their hunger. Just as it is natural to hunger for food, it is also natural to hunger for the presence of Jesus in our lives. In John 6:51-58, Jesus calls himself the “living bread”. When we live in Christ, we do more than extend our stay on Earth or fight hunger pangs. In Christ, we have what is necessary to live forever. Without Christ, our lives are empty. We can try to fill them but only Jesus can really gratify us.

Part of the Team

Being part of a team is one of life’s best experiences. If you ever question the value of team sports, then allow me to at least partially negate your concerns. It might shock you to find out, but I was never a star athlete. I would love to tell you that I scored four touchdowns in a single high school football game. However, the role of leading scorer never quite fit me. I was always the defender. Though I didn’t put the ball in the net, I kept the other team from doing this as much as I could. Though I rarely even shot the puck, I enjoyed being a part of the team as I stopped the flurries of incoming shots.
Everything just seems to get done faster and more efficiently with a team working towards a common purpose. Typically, a skilled and experienced coach is one of the biggest differences between a win and a loss. A coach passes on his knowledge and gives the team the necessary information to defeat its opponents. Some of my favorite athletes didn’t simply fade in to obscurity once their bodies prevented them from reaching the highest levels of physical prowess. They became coaches, using their experience to lead a younger generation. The fundamentals of team play learned by the coach are passed.
Jesus empowered his apostles to do amazing things. In Luke 9:1-9, Jesus sends out the twelve, giving them “the power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases.” He tells them to leave everything behind, preach the gospel, and heal people. It’s not that Jesus had passed his prime, but he needed a team. We each have important roles to fill. God has given us all abilities, and each one is necessary to the team. We are Jesus to those who have yet to encounter him. It can be daunting, but we have the ability.

Jesus, the Great Physician

We have all been wounded at one point in our lives. Whether it was a laceration, abrasion, or puncture wound, I don’t think any of us have completely avoided damage to our bodies. I can only imagine how a parent must feel watching his or her child play recklessly among numerous sources of danger. Working with youth, I find myself a lot more aware of potential hazards. In Canada this past weekend, I cringed every time I watched a teen climb a rock or dive to catch a Frisbee. If something happened, we would have to drive to the United States to receive insured medical care in anything but an emergency situation. With the border being very close, I had little to worry about.
If somehow you’ve avoided physical injury, there is always emotional damage. Every time you are insulted or betrayed by another person, you feel pain. Occasionally, we bring this pain on ourselves when we tell ourselves that we are not good enough, unlovable, or unworthy of God’s grace. We often attempt to find release from emotional pain in all the wrong places. Sometimes it is addictions. Sometimes it is a toxic relationship. Sometimes it is through financial gain. We don’t even think of the source of healing that is just over the border, so to speak. The healing of Jesus is always available.
In Luke 8:40-56, we read about two serious situations that needed the healing of Jesus. A woman, bleeding for 12 years, and the lifeless daughter of a synagogue ruler are healed by Jesus. Jesus didn’t make them ‘jump through hoops’ to obtain this healing. Jesus required faith. Life is full of hazards and pain comes frequently. Because of Jesus, life is also full of grace and mercy. If you are hurting, come to Jesus. He can heal all wounds.

America's Roller Coast

Shame and guilt are two of Satan’s most effective weapons against us. While often we feel little remorse for our sins, shame and guilt have the potential to become anchors that tie us to our pasts. Frequently, we enter a “cycle of shame and guilt”. Just when we emerge from that binds of sin, we begin to feel too unworthy of God or out of place amongst the church. It reminds me of a couple trips that I have taken to Cedar Point. At Cedar Point, there are many amazing thrill rides. However, you often have to wait in a line for several hours to experience a couple minutes of excitement. When this waiting gets to be too excruciating, I typically find a less thrilling ride like the Gemini. The wait for the Gemini is often non-existent. You get on the ride, get off, and then you get back on again. This is how it works with sin. We enjoy cheap thrills for a while, make somewhat of an attempt to leave them behind, and are pulled back by shame and guilt. God has a bigger, more exciting ride in store, but our shame tells us not to wait.
The dimension of guilt and shame was not one I first considered when I read the story of the demon possessed man in Luke 8:26-39. In this story, we find a man completely controlled by Satan. The demons inside him cause him to take off his clothes and hurt himself. Jesus approaches him, living in tombs, and casts the demons out of him. People find the formerly demon possessed man “dressed and in his right mind”. This man was clothed in mercy and grace. Jesus’ presence is so powerful that it can drive away demons. No matter what is torturing, tormenting, or controlling you at this moment, Jesus can remove it. Jesus sees us as what we have the potential to be and we need to be as excited about this idea as he is. Let the pigs have shame and guilt. I want mercy and grace.

He Commands the Wind and Water

I was not only the firstborn son of my parents, but I was the firstborn among my cousins. For several years, I was the only child receiving attention at family gatherings and I was blessed to be the lone recipient of toys and other gifts at Christmas. I would completely consider myself as a spoiled child. I don’t know if it is related, but I suspect that this was the reason I was the last among my peers to try several new things. If I didn’t want to learn to do something, I avoided the subject entirely. The first obstacle I had to overcome later than my friends was a fear of water. I could wade but not dive.
Once I could actually go near water, I had to face one of my worst fears, the diving board. While other children had little problem flying through the air and landing several feet below the surface of the pool, I stood poolside feigning a stomachache or claiming that I had just eaten. Instead of working on my cannon ball, I was thinking of new excuses I could use to hide my shame. Instead of trying to break the surface of the water without making a splash, I was picturing myself choking and gasping for air as I became unconscious under water. I always had a knack for considering dangers.
God often calls us to leave what is comfortable and familiar. He asks us to choose building His kingdom over creating a kingdom of our own. In Luke 8:19-21, Jesus talks about leaving one’s family. I don’t think Jesus is suggesting that we leave behind our responsibility to care for our families. He states that “those who hear God’s word and put it in to practice” are his brothers and sisters. We can wade in the pool, or we can dive in to a life led by God’s teachings. In Luke 8:22-25, Jesus calms the storm. When we have faith, we learn that God is in control. We have to face difficulties, but not without God.