Breaking the Ice... It's Not So Bad

So there I was, sitting in a Freshman Parents' Meeting at my daughter's school in the midst of a no-nonsense group of parents who were barreling questions at the Principal as he cautiously tried to explain the latest standardized test. You see, this year is the first time this newest "bright idea" from our state's legislature will be administered, and our kids are the prized test subjects they'll use to see if it all works out. Pass the hot, steaming cup of frustration and angst.

Now normally I lay low at these things, especially when I know the atmosphere is thick with fatigue, confusion, and a thin layer of anxiety. I don't blame the Principal for stepping lightly through all of that.

That's when I decided to do something to lighten the mood. I became slightly elated at the thought of doing this, but one thing that induced a little fear was the fact the I wasn't amongst friends; at least not known friends. But as the Q & A wore on, the thing that encouraged me to go ahead was that I recognized this as a situation that could use a quick infusion of lighthearted diversion, if for no reason than to bring some comfort to the Principal. That's what I love to do - encourage and comfort. Plus, I asked myself, "Even if you were among your "known" friends, wouldn't this just be natural for you to do anyway? Just be yourself. Who knows? Somebody might just appreciate it."

So I raised my hand to receive the mic for the next question. When I got it, I had a very serious look on my face as I warned the Principal that this was going to be yet another two-fold question. I could see him bracing himself as he waited for it. So I dropped the first one on him.

"Will the Houston Texans beat the Baltimore Ravens this weekend?"

It only took a second for it to register, but the humor of this question quickly set in all around the room (with the exception of a few lemonizers). The Principal even quipped to the counselor who was taking notes to make sure she got that question answered, as it was of vital importance to the education of our children. Nice touch Dr. A.

After the laughter subsided, I was able to actually ask a perfectly relevant question, and wonder of wonders, the Principal promised to forward it to his own boss because of it's validity. All in all, I'd say that this was a successful leap. So I encourage you to be aware of the next opportunity to change the atmosphere around you for the better by breaking the ice. Don't let what others may think of you stop you, because chances are you're underestimating your own appeal. And even if you bomb, you still remained true to who you are.

Now let's pray for those Texans - because that's what's really important. LOL!

Apply Here

Have you ever had a revelation that struck you so intensely it truly qualified as a life-changing a-ha moment? You know. The kind that makes you want to give yourself a thump upside the head because it was there all along but you somehow missed it.

I felt that way a few days ago. I was reading the account of John the Baptist's testimony about his first encounter with Jesus in the first chapter of the Book of John. The first few verses are quite commonly used in sermons, bible studies, and the like. By them we know that Jesus Himself is the Word (expressed will) of God. But it was when I got to verses 35 - 37 that something clicked which had never clicked before. In John 1:35-37, it is noted that there were two of John the Baptist's disciples present when He pointed Jesus out as He was passing by. When John acknowledged who Jesus was, those disciples took what He said as truth (applying the Word to their lives), then proved that they believed it by immediately taking off to follow Jesus, even without knowing much else. That's applying your life to the Word. Actually abandoning your former plans, dreams, and thoughts to attach yourself to all that Jesus embodies as the Son of God. It posed the question in my mind, "Is it enough to just apply the Word to my life, or was it God's original intent that I apply my life to the Word?"

What's the difference? Well, as I see it, it's really more about WHO we stand for than WHAT we stand for. In America alone there has been a steep decline in the number of people who would actually call themselves "practicing" Christians. The term "christian" itself seems to have moved far from the lifestyle of the people it was originally coined for. It used to mean "Christ-like" because of the 1st century believers who were known for living like they adhered to a higher authority than their counterparts. Now it's not a lifestyle, it's merely a religion; one of many. But that's what happens when you lose site of your WHO because you're so focused on the WHAT.

The WHAT of Christianity is the same dilemma the Jews faced when Jesus arrived in the flesh. They were so blinded by the Law that they totally missed the spirit of the Law which would have made recognizing WHO Jesus was so simple. The same goes for us today. Sometimes I think we get so bound up trying to cross all the "t's" and dot all the "i's" of a set of rules and traditions that when they prove to be too much for us, we inadvertently throw ourselves into a vicious cycle of compromise and condemnation over and over again. At the end of the day, it's really always been about building relationship with our Lord - the One who purchased us back from slavery to our base, sinful nature. You know how it is. The longer you hang out with somebody, the more of their habits you tend to pick up. You don't have to try to do that. It just happens. The old folks used to say "show me who you run with, and I'll show you who you are." Running for Jesus made for a catchy church song back in the day, but it's actually running WITH Jesus that makes such a powerful change in your life that it causes others who don't know Him to want to know Him.

I'll end with this: It could very well be that the main reason why the Church's significance as a powerful positive influence to this world is all but indiscernible is because, no matter what we profess, we look, act, and think just like them. We are too tied to an idea and totally disconnected from the source of true vision. But I challenge you today to go beyond just reading the Bible to actually "doing" Jesus. It's good to start there, but it's better to go beyond that. Get to know Him. Not the Church, not the traditions and the protocols. Him! And just as it happened when Jesus walked the earth Himself, we'll surely experience a revolution that changes the world.