Stuck in Neutral?

The question this week for the SBS was given to us by Mr. Holiday. The question is this.

My question, dear friends, is twofold: can to much of a morally neutral thing be eternally bad; and are there morally neutral things in your personal life that Christ is asking you to get rid of, or remove - things he just wants out, even though there is nothing evil about it?


Morally neutral. Hmmm. Let me break this into two parts, then bring them together. What is moral or morality? It is a barometer used to gauge right and wrong, or good and evil. Neutral, to me, is going nowhere, spinning my wheels and not moving, not engaged if you will. So now put the two back together, and I think moral neutrality means you are neither good or bad, just copacetic, or doing nothing.

So are there morally neutral "things" or moral neutrality in my life that God wants me to get rid of or change? A resounding yes. For me wiping out moral neutrality would be to engage Christ. Example. Don't be complacent and comfortably numb as the Pink Floyd song says. If you had and employee, would you want them to just punch the clock each day and go through the motions? Would you be happy with that? Of course not, just as Christ doesn't want us to be complacent. Oh we're not necessarily doing anything bad, but not good either. Stuck in neutral. Morally neutral that is. Engage Jesus Christ and get in gear.

5 for 50

Our small group was killer tonight. It's obvious to see the Spirit moving in the heart of these young adults. It's exciting to see how Jesus is working and changing lives. One thing we discuss is how we should get off our butts and actually do something and not just flap our mouths and try to impress others. Usually our Christian friends. Well, I would like to throw down a challenge to anyone so inclined. I have a friend,Tom Davis. Tom is an esteemed author who has written some excellent books. One of those books is called Red Letters. Read it. He is the president of an organization called Children's Hopechest. They work with orphaned children in Russia, Africa, and places around the world. Some starving, some with AIDS, some with seemingly no hope.

Check out one of his campaigns called 5 for 50. Here is a chance for you to step up and help someone. To read some of the stories that are posted on Tom's blog will make you tear up, and also realize how great we really do have it here, and all of our bitchin' and moanin' really falls on deaf ears to the rest of the world.

I hope if after you peruse the links in this post, you too will be moved. If the Holy Spirit so moves you, then help out in whatever way you feel led. If some of the stories don't tug at your heart strings , then you better check your pulse. At the very least you will be aware of what's going on and can pray. There is power in the name of Jesus.

Who Cares FRIDAY

We (I) have changed the name of the Friday post to "Who Cares FRIDAY" because it may not always be facts. It may be some stupid useless information I've discovered and want to post it anyway. You might say wow! but "who cares?" Hence the name "Who Cares FRIDAY" BTW, great comments on "negligent" twister last week. I for one will refrain from playing twister without a helmet from now on.

So without further ado, here is a plethora of useless information just for you.

1. On average, there are 333 squares of toilet paper on a roll. (count em, I dare you)

2. The numbers on opposite sides of a die always add up to 7.

3. Approximately sixty circus performers have been shot from cannons. At last report, thirty-one of these have been killed. (scratch that off my list of to-do's)

4. Pentheraphobia is a fear of a mother-in-law.

5. The ZIP in zip code stands for "Zone Improvement Plan."

6. A theater manager in Seoul, Korea felt that The Sound of Music was too long, so he shortened it by cutting out all the songs. (smart)

7. The average airspeed of the common housefly is 4 1/2 mph. (how do you...nevermind.)

8. If you passed gas consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of anatomic bomb. (research stats from N. Korea)

9. Celery has negative calories. It takes more calories to eat a piece of celery than the celery has in it to begin with. (is that counter productive?)

10. There are only 18 countries richer than Bill Gates.

BONUS FEATURE:

1. Grab a calculator (you won't be able to do this one in your head)
2. Key in the first three digits of your phone number (NOT the area code -- example: 555-976-5555 -- you'd use "976"

3. Multiply by 80

4. Add 1

5. Multiply by 250

6. Add the last 4 digits of your phone number (e.g. 5349)

7. Add the last 4 digits of your phone number again

8. Subtract 250

9. Divide number by 2.

(Who cares!!?)

What Does It Look Like When My Experiences and God's Word Collide?

Deep and intriguing inaugural question for the SBS. Especially originating from a man who goes by the name of "Tuff Pants" As I pondered this question throughout the day, a thought came to me this evening, a revelation if you will. The question in and of itself is somewhat of a paradox, as our experiences and God's Word collide on a continual basis. Thus the question "what's it like" is one of a perpetual experience that we encounter in our every day existence. We need to recognize this and act according to God's desires. For me personally, it can be tragic, or glorious depending on how I perceive God's Word at that moment. Tragic in the sense, that I engage in selfish pride and shun God's Word, glorious in the sense that I recognize Him for who and what he is and revel in His awesome wonder. My life experiences unfortunately fall on both sides of this proverbial fence. However; when I try to decieve myself of my experiences and perform a balancing act it must throw chills down God's spine. The scale should swing to the side of joy and security in Jesus. I become neither hot or cold, but balanced precariously somewhere in the middle. God spits out the lukewarm - the person trying hard to balance in the middle and please both man and God. One thing is for sure...when I see Christ as Christ, my experiences become supernaturally charged. We are always experiencing a collision, how we embrace it is our choice.

Not Of This World

Our small group last night was awesome! We are going through 1st John, and it's amazing how it ties in with what Keith is teaching on Sundays at Journey. Here is a snippet of a few verses that stood out last night.

1John 2:15-17

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions is not from the father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. ESV

Jesus commands (not suggests) for us to go out into the world and get into the world. At the very end of the book of Matthew (vs. 19) he says "GO." What I'm saying here is engage the world, but not its desires. You see if we are the salt and the light, what good are we around other salt and other light? We just blend right in. But if we go somewhere where the light is dim and the salt is bland...we stand out. For Jesus. Be in the world, not of this world. How cool is it to think we abide in God. Forever.

Factoid FRIDAY!

Yes blogging amigos, this is what you've all been waiting for I'm sure. Amazing and weird (useless really) facts, figures and just dumb things you might not even want to know about. Are they true? Heck I don't know, but they're funny. It's Factoid Friday every Friday on Sold Out. So sit back, get comfortable and learn. People might even think you stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night!

1. "Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand and "lollipop" with your right.

2. The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes).

3. No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.

4. February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.

5. A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.

6. There's no Betty Rubble in the Flintstones Chewables Vitamins.

7. It takes 3,000 cows to supply the NFL with enough leather for a year's supply of footballs.

8. Months that begin on a Sunday will always have a "Friday the 13th."

9. 75 people die each year playing Twister.

10. Americans on the average eat 18 acres of pizza every day.

Prayer Warrior?

I love to read, and last night I finished a book, and today I started reading another one. Fresh Wind Fresh Fire by Jim Cymballa. I was turned on to it by Kara Kirkpatrick, our beloved Sunday night pastor's wife. I sat down and read the first 70 pages today and was blown away. He talked about prayer. What an absolutely powerful tool we have been given by God. Some of the stories are amazing to say the least. It just goes to show what sincere, heart felt, down on your knees, begging and weeping and crying out for God's help type of prayer can accomplish. It made me realize that prayer is my weakest link in my spiritual chain. By far. I'd like to consider myself a prayer warrior, but after reading what "sold out" prayer can do, I realize I'm not even close. I'm just a PWIT! A prayer warrior in training. I'm so glad God is patient. I am excited to ratchet up my prayer life and watch the Holy Spirit show me some amazing things! There are so many uncertanties in my life right now that I can't wait to see what fruit bears from some serious "on my knees"prayer in the coming months. I realized today how much I try to control things on my own, and only get into "serious" prayer when I need to. And usually that "serious" prayer is only for me. Lord show me your awesome and mighty power. He says when you seek me you will find me, and when you pray to me I will listen. Man, have I ever limited God's unlimited potential by not praying. D'oh!

Living In Borderland

Years ago I read an incredible book by Mark Buchanan called Your God Is Too Safe. The premise of the book is about living in a land called Borderland. It's right "on" the border, not in, yet not out. Non committal if you will. Safe and comfortable. A place where many of us reside daily. Do you only call on God when things are desperate, or you just need a favor. Stay out of my life Jesus, things are going just great right now. Don't make me go on that mission trip, or give up my 6 figure income, or new car or house. But hey, thanks for getting me that raise. My Jesus is safe at a distance, but if I bring Him too close, He might make me do something "umcomfortable." Is that you? Then you live there too. I can't imagine my kids only calling out to me in times of want or need, never stopping to say thank you, or I love you, or I'm sorry. But that is what we do. We get complacent when things are status quo, and forget about God. Before you realize it, you haven't read your bible in a week, maybe two or three. You haven't prayed either. You really haven't "needed" God. So we put him on a shelf like a bottle of aspirin and only bring him down when we have some tough times to get through, or we have a favor that maybe, just maybe if I pray "now" he just might answer me. I know he's still there...somewhere. That's really about how most of us live our lives if we want to admit it. I know I'm as guilty as anyone. I have my highs and lows, and still struggle to find that even flow. The world is full of distractions, suttle, and in your face. Sex is everywhere, anything is acceptable anymore (except the name of Jesus) and we live in a society where you can have whatever you want whenever you want. My prayer today is that we (I) will seek out Jesus and thank Him for the unseen things He does for us everyday. That we take Him off the shelf and put Him on our dashboards and present Him to the entire world as the living testament of our faith! He deserves so much better than what we give Him. I'm sorry Jesus for putting you on my shelf. Today you're riding shotgun!

YAC ATTACK

Usually on Tuesday nights my beautiful wife and I host a small group that spawned from Journey (our Sunday night service) But last night the bulk of our small group was in a softball game. So small group went mobile. There were some great hits and plays in the field. Probably no calls this morning from the majors, but they played an awesome game. Brought back many memories. Here are some pictures from last nights game. When I told them I brought bibles for after the game, I got that "yeah right" and deer in the headlight look. I didn't bring any, we just enjoyed the game. By the way, they kicked some tail. 20 something to 2. Way to go YACS!

SOFTBALL PICS! http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2000903&l=46f4e&id=1285987983

Jesus Was In The House

I know I just posted about how Journey (at New Hope Church) rocks, but last night takes the cake. It was unbelieveably intense. The worship was spirit led, the message was flat out awesome, and we wrote over 200 names on the prayer "board" last night. It was a total high for me, like I just downed a 32 oz red bull! It really was an electric atmosphere. Journey is such a blessing, and it was just so cool to see the Lord continue to work. Jesus, I pray that you will plant a fire in the hearts of Journey-nation and explode it for your glory!

So be it.