Monday, September 20, 2010

Rumble Strips of Life

I've heard many a person talk about driving rumble strip to rumble strip. In other words, when things get boring on the highway, you just let your car go until you hit the rumble strip and then correct your car away from it.

I used to joke with the kids on our missions trips that rumble strips were just a "massage from the road". Of course this was just an excuse after running over the rumble strips.

As I was thinking about this the other day, it occurred to me that they are much like the Holy Spirit's influence on my life. As I travel the road of life, occasionally I seek to move off the path, and when I do, the Holy Spirit reminds me that I am moving into dangerous territory. The reminder is not a wall that does not allow me to pass. The reminder is not a correction to my position. Rather it is an alert that tells me that if I continue the way I am going I am heading into trouble.

Could you imagine a driver heading off the side of the road, hearing and feeling the rumble of the tires, choosing to continue off the road at the same speed he is traveling on the highway? Wouldn't you consider such activity foolish? I think the same is true of a person, myself included, who ignores the noise of the warning of impending danger.

One other thought, if you have ever traveled for a while on the rumble strip, it gets to be a lot less impacting when you get used to the sound, when your body begins to relax at the vibration the car is experiencing. It is a dangerous place to be no longer concerned with the danger that the strip is there to remind you of.

The same is true with the prompting of the Spirit. He will continue to remind me. He will continue to woo me back to the road. But eventually, I will become less inclined to hear as I tolerate the sound of his call, and refuse to move back where I belong.

Father, allow Your Spirit to continue to "protect" me from myself. Help me to listen and be obedient to the correction of Your Spirit. Thank You for Your faithfulness when I am faithless.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Who is worth $50 million dollars?

As I sat and watched the Dallas Cowboys play the Washington Redskins last week, the commentator kept talking about this guy - Miles Austin. He would catch a ball, run, and even score a touchdown. A good player - without a doubt. An excellent player - definitely. The best player ever - that would be an difficult position to take, but some might say he is.

The announcer talked about how he stayed low to the ground, how he kept his feet moving, how strong his legs were... On and on throughout the game the announcers would talk of his ability. Then he made the comment, "That is why he is worth 50 million dollars!".

This comment floored me (as talk of pay for professional sports always does). Does this commentator realize that this guy is playing a game? Even if he plays it exceptionally well, it is still a game. It does not improve the value of life. It does not solve important issues of life. Actually, after the game is over, it is just something to talk about. IT IS A GAME!!

As I prepare for Haiti, and think of all of the places I have been in the world, I am reminded that we have our priorities screwed up, and we want to blame government, the president, and whomever else we can come up with. As long as people playing games are getting millions of dollars, while others are jobless, struggling financially, and others go to bed hungry, we've got things skewed.

I am not saying that hard working athletes should not be paid well to perform, but I will say that balance has been lost a long time ago. For an announcer to say a man is worth millions of dollars because he stays close to the ground when he runs has to make you wonder what we value.

What is it I value? What am I giving my money, time, resources to?

Just a thought.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Trip to Haiti - 3 weeks away.

In just under 3 weeks, three nurses, two doctors and I will be heading to the small island that contains the countries of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

As I prepare for this trip, I realize that there really is no way to prepare emotionally for what I am about to experience. The poverty of Haiti far exceeds anything I have ever seen, and my incapacity to help them is going to be overwhelming. It will be a life changing experience, and I am excited about it.

I also know that my focus must be on the things that can be done on behalf of the children of Haiti. AMG International has 2 childcare centers and a medical clinic. Doesn't seem like much, but they are ministering to hundreds of people every day. I will not be able to feed all of the people of Haiti, but I will be able to help a small number receive food for the time I am there. I have no medical expertise, but I will be helping the 5 medical specialists that I am taking with me to minister to the people of Haiti.

I am getting excited about how God is going to use me there, but even more, I am getting excited about what God will do in me while I am there. I will need the prayers of others as well.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

What are you proud of?

1Cr 15:34 Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

I read this verse the other day, and it made me think of things that I am ashamed of and things I am proud of. Isn't it interesting that we can be proud of minor accomplishments - beating someone in a game of Jungle Jewels for instance. We boast in our athletic abilities, our cognitive ability, even our wit and sarcasm. We boast in things that we have little control over. We boast in things that we have NO control over. (ie- my team beat your team at football).

Conversely, our ability to experience shame has diminished over the years. Men used to be ashamed of seeing women inappropriately dressed, and women used to be ashamed to be seen like that. Men used to be ashamed to be lazy, to accept "charity" from others, for being a burden on others/society. Women used to be ashamed of inability to bear children, keeping a dirty house, etc.

Paul reminded me to think about the things I hold in high esteem and evaluate them in light of eternity. When I reach the other side, will I experience extreme shame for the things I held so proudly here on earth? Time wasted doing things of little or no value. Time wasted selfishly. Time wasted on things that are temporary. All the while, others are missing out on the good news of the Gospel.

Just a thought.