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Saturday, 28 June 2008
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Welcome, friends!
Saturday, 16 June 2007
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Father's Day
With Father's Day tomorrow, I decided to share some thoughts about my earthly father. If I had to try to characterize him with someone that most would be familiar with, I would call him a modern-day John Wayne; not the private John Wayne, but the tough cowboy in the movies. My dad left the Air Force early, resigning his commission, when his dad became ill, and came home to begin a ranching career on the rocky, mesquite-infested soil of Southwest Texas. He is a tough man, even today at 73 years old, and could still work most men half his age to death. Born in 1934, he sees life with a different lens than I do most of the time. He experienced first hand the depression, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, as well as Civil Rights marches, desegregation of schools, the launch of the space program, and other world-changing events we now study in history books. His expression of his faith and mine differ, not because of a lack of commitment to the Lord, but because of a shift in traditions and expression of that relationship and commitment to the Lord. As tough as Daddy was and is, as strong as he was and is, as many mistakes as he made (and I repeat), he is the most loving father a man could ask for here on this earth. He is brutally honest, compassionate, willing to serve, and diligent in his work, both for the family and for the Lord. He laughs loudly, listens intently, cries openly, hugs those he loves, and kisses them on the lips. I hope that someday when my children are in my stage of life, they will see some of the things in me that I see in my dad. He and Momma have been married over fifty years! Is it any wonder that all their children (me and two brothers) are still married to our first wives? Daddy gave us a picture of God that represented a right balance of wrath, judgment, love, sacrifice, commitment, and forgiveness. He has marked us with his life. He was never perfect and never professed to be, but he was perfect for his time, his wife, and his children. Thank you, Daddy, for the part of me that is you. May I pass that part of me on in my children. Happy Father's Day!
Saturday, 09 June 2007
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Off the Beaten Path
So far my writing has focused on things that I believe are essential to living the life Christ intended for us as we bring His kingdom to earth. Today, I will go off the beaten path and vent a little, sharing a personal experience of a symptom of of our self-serving society. Now the thing is, I don't know if it is a symptom or a cause, but either way, I am apalled and what is acceptable in our society and its long-term effect on the economy and on poverty. Six years ago, I had lower back surgery. Since the surgery, I have had some very uncomfortable spasms in my lower back, and also some stiffness in my neck. I was told by my surgeon at the time that my problem was a degenerative problem, so I might need attention in the future. I am by no means disabled, but uncomfortable and in pain often because of my back/neck. I decided that I would get it seen about this summer, so I made an appointment with a spinal specialist. My insurance is 70/30, where I pay 30% of reasonable charges. Of course, the specialist could only look at me, but had no x-ray pictures or MRI pictures. My part of that visit, basically a consultation and referral to the radiology department for an MRI was $60. I was in the doctor's presence for fewer than ten minutes! They made my radiology and follow-up appointments for me, and I was out the door. The following day the radiology department called to inform me that my 30% of their work would be required up front and the amount would be $565! After I got myself up off of the floor and recovered my phone, I declined my appointment then called and cancelled my follow-up. I am not in THAT much pain! Just to find out if anything was wrong would have cost me $625, plus the follow-up visit, and that is only 30%! That is outrageous! Someone in the medical food chain is way overpaid! Why is it that education is federally regulated, but the medical field operates on a gaudy free-enterprise profit? Are doctors any less public servants than police officers, teachers, and fire and rescue personnel? I know this: I would rather be a crippled old man than line another doctor's pockets with gold. I truly believe that one day, probably long past my days on earth, that a few entities in our country will have driven us into something far worse than depression days. These entities are big oil companies and their price gouging, the medical field and their ludicrous charges, and credit card companies with their unreasonable interest charges. Those who are young among you and read this, mark my words; remember I said this. The point of all of this is that we are a country that has the resources to bless the world with acts of kindness, change the world with the love of Christ, and still ensure a comfortable existence for each of our own, yet we have bought into the distraction of possessions, the devil's lies of power in accumulation, and we are no longer stewards of our resources. Jesus Himself said that to whom much has been given, much will be required. My war isn't against oil companies, the medical field, or credit card companies; my war is against the evil one and the manifestation of his temptations in exploiting the weakness of man. And it is in the face of this evil that we must continue to pray, love, serve, and worship our Lord, who resisted the same temptations and brought glory to God.
Thursday, 07 June 2007
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Whose job is it, anyway?
If you are like I am, which most of you probably are, you are sitting at a computer, drinking coffee or green tea, and reading through your blogs and emails right now, trying to make sense of it all and stay in touch. Imagine with me for a moment that you had no computer, no television, no running water, no electricity, no home. What if your biggest worry was making sure your kids got a morsel for a meal three times daily, or even once, instead of a certain video game, soccer club, or gymnastics camp? Can you even imagine that? Can you imagine going to sleep at night with only the clothes on your back between you and the dirty alley you call home? Can you imagine lining up for hours waiting for food at a mission or church? Can you imagine having no place to take a shower, get a haircut, shave, or any of the other amenities that having a home in the United States has to offer? Can you imagine a society that lets this happen right under our noses? Can you imagine Christ and His reaction to this as churches continue to split over trivial manmade rules, music, order of service, communion, baptism, and many other trivial religious problems? In our selfish consumption with making our little church fit in our little box, we miss the message of Christ and His ministry completely. God is about justice; God is about reconciliation; God represents the poor, the orphan, the widow, the hungry, the homeless, the imprisoned, the crippled, and the alien. God hears them when they cry out, but somehow the church isn't listening. The government has never been successful at solving society's problems, regardless of the type of government or the nation. God has intervened for these people in the establishment of the church, not as a building, but as a united body of Christ, using the gifts of the Holy Spirit, following the example of Christ and the resources which have blessed our lives to bless the lives of others. We don't take Christ anywhere; we don't take God anywhere; He is there already, waiting for us to be obedient, faithful, and available. Will you answer the call? Will you make a difference? Christianity is a relationship with Christ and an engagement in Christlike activities regardless of the cost, regardless of the reward. "Greater love has no man than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) That is what Christ did for you and me. This is what He ultimately expects from both of us as we seek to bring His kingdom to earth.
I am adding a link at the bottom to my friend's blog from Central Dallas Ministries. His name is Larry James. I hope you are challenged to either help Larry in Dallas or find out how to do the same in your own corner of the earth. Enjoy!
Tuesday, 05 June 2007
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Currently Reading
The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth that Could Change Everything
By Brian McLaren
see relatedAlien Lifestyle
So, what do you think about "the kingdom of God?" Is this a place that we will someday go? Is it a kingdom that Christ will someday bring here to this earth? Is it a kingdom that is the result of living and ministering in this place as a follower of Christ? Is it somehow a combination of these? It is a phrase used often by Christ in the New Testament, and I am intrigued at the context in which it was used, always addressing a ministry or a lifestyle rather than a place that that we aspire to go after we die. I do not believe that it is church, although I believe it is important to attend church and worship with fellow believers. Neither do I believe that it is mission trips, but again, I think that mission trips are essential to the development of the ministry of a Christian. If I look closely at Christ, if I listen closely to His words, I am impressed that this kingdom that He so often alludes to is our day-to-day, step-by-step walk through life, ministering to those that He places in our path, seeking out the hungry, the thirsty, the widows and orphans, the sick and crippled, challenging the religious establishment with revolutionary and thought-provoking insights, and being faithful and obedient to the calling of the Father, obedient to death, even death on a cross! Christianity is not the songs we sing or the building we attend. It's not about listening to sermons and striving to punch our ticket and as many other tickets as possible to heaven. Christianity is about a relationship with Christ, seeking to change the world as we know it to a place that He would recognize as His, eagerly awaiting His return and crowning as King. Thanks for reading.
Bluemustangpride
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- Name: Bill
- Gender: Male
- Member Since: 4/19/2007
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About Me
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I am a 50 year old father of three and husband of one. As I journey in this life, I am continuously convicted by the Holy Spirit that, as Steven Curtis Chapman says, there is more to this life than just living and accumulating. We were put here to intentionally love and engage and serve those around us, bringing the kingdom of God here for others to see. I am a school teacher, avid geocacher, and baseball fanatic, and I continue to grow in my vision of the kingdom of heaven and its place here among us.
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