Are You Burning?

I have been teaching a study group on 1 Corinthians. It has been a great, but challenging study. Today we studied chapter 9. At the end of the chapter Paul talks about his passion for preaching the gospel

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run R354 in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air.

I am constantly struck by Paul's passion and commitment to the task he was called to. Earlier in the verse he say he would rather die than stop what he is doing. As I read those words I am challenged as to my passion. Most days it feels like I am going through the motions with very little fire or passion. I live my life but it feels like I am missing something. It feels like I am just surviving.

A few weeks ago I viewed the new Pixar movie called Wall-E. In the movie there is a scene where the people have evacuated earth because it has become unable to sustain life. After several years of living in the safety of there space home wall-e discovers that there is proof that life once again exists on earth. The captain of the ship is filled with hope because they can return to earth once again. However there are other forces on the ship that want to stop the ship from returning. The pivotal scene takes place where the captain is told that they need to stay on the ship so they can survive. The captain says "I don't want to survive, I want to live". That line echoed so deeply in my heart and reflects the truth Paul proclaims in 1 Corinthians. Paul lived his life in a way that could lead to pain, imprisonment and death. He lived with reckless passion with little concern for his personal safety or well being. Paul did not play it safe. He wanted his life to matter, he wanted to live not survive.

The question that you and I must wrestle with, is the question of passion. Are we living our life with fire, with passion, with reckless abandon? Are we, like Paul, running to win? If I am not careful, I can easily settle into comfort and habit. I like predictability and uniformity. I like knowing what to expect from myself and others. I can survive very easily like this. However, what I discover is that within a very short time I feel bored and empty. Surviving is not how our life was meant to be lived. We were made for purpose, for passion, for life. How are you living you life? Are you surviving or are you living? Are you running to win or are you OK with just showing up? I am wrestling with myself to find that place of passion. Am I OK with just settling or do I want to step out and run? Passion and fire are OK to talk about, but the truth of the matter is they can also create friction and pain. If you follow passion, it's not always comfortable or easy. You will be stretched, challenged and moved. But in the end if you follow the passion God has put into your heart you will find yourself in the midst of a place of amazing life and joy. So what's it going to be, survive or live? The only person stopping you from following your passion is you.

Think about it!

Peace
Ralph

This is your life

This is your life, are you who you want to be?

Most of our life we try to figure out who we are and what we want to be. From our earliest days people around us begin to ask the questions; "what do you want to be when you grow up?" For me, I know most of my life has been trying to live up to what was expected of me. I am one of seven kids and the only one who went to college. From my early memories I remember my parents saying "he is the smart one" or "he is our good child". So for as long as I remember I lived to please my parents and in some way gain value and worth if I did enough. However it never seemed like it was enough. If I would get all A's and one B the question would be asked about that one B. I know my parents loved me but inadvertently they gave me a desire to perform so I could be accepted, loved and valued. I don't blame them for my short comings, I just know that has become part of my emotional baggage. Even in ministry, I did all the right things, said all the right things, and acted in all the appropriate ways so I could please everyone and therefore be valued and approved. But in the end I struggle with the thought of who I am. Who am I really? Am I a good son, and obedient child, and good pastor, or .......... In my journey I am starting to understand that this is my life and it's up to me how I live it. No one can tell me what's right or good or perfect for my life. God has given me this life to live and there are no do overs.

I am teaching a lesson tomorrow on God being the giver of all life. I believe that to be true. In Psalm 139:14, the author writes; "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made". It was God's idea to create me and to make me the person I am. When he created me, he made me wonderfully and fearfully. If I believe that to be true then I have to take this gift called my life and live it to the fullest for God's glory. But as I ponder the question from this song, I have to wonder if I am who I was intended to be or who I wanted to be. Of course I would like to say 100% yes but the truth of the matter is I am not. My life has been ruled by expectations, plans and ideas of others. I have allowed others to influence me more than the creator. Even now, tears stream down my face as I think about wasted opportunities, lost chances and what if's. As I get older (no comments please) I have tried to escape from the approval of others. I have tried to throw off my addiction to approval. This is my life, my time, my gift. God has given it to me and me alone to live. The old saying is true "it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks". I struggle every day trying to live the life that God intended for me. Just when I think I am ready to move I get lost in the guilt and shame of what others might think of me. I know that many others wrestle with this same affliction. So join me in the journey, share your story and together lets live this gift called our life. "This is your life, are you who you want to be?"

Think about it!

Peace

Ralph

Fathers Love

A little over a week ago was Father's Day. As a father I love the idea of Father's Day. It reminds me of the joy, challenge, and honor it is to be a dad. I have been a dad over 19 years now and it never fails to make me cry when I think about my kids. I remember it like it was yesterday when my first son Christopher was born. His birth was much anticipated and celebrated. When the day finally came for him to be born I was a basket case. I didn't know if I would be ready to be a dad. My dad did the best he could but there were so many wounds and pain handed to me at the words of my father. I was afraid that I would never be able to love my child enough or give him what he needed. But the day came, ready or not. He was delivered via C-section and I remember the marvel of seeing him brought forth from my wife's abdomen. All I could do was weep as I saw this little human be delivered into this world and into my arms. All I could say was "my son". I wept like a baby as I held this child in my arms. It's that picture of love that has helped me understand the love of the Father. The Father looks at each of us and weeps with tears of joy because of his overwhelming love for us. It's like the Father calls out to us "my child' and weeps over us with joy.

I recently had lunch with a friend who was talking about the antics and phrases that a little child had shared. My friend had tears of joy as they shared the experience of interacting with this child. That is a picture of Father's love. He loves us and watches over us with great joy. Even when we stumble or fail Father still weeps over us with joy. He longs for us to know him and to experience his love.

Maybe this is not your experience as a parent or a child, if not I understand. But Father is wanting to break through our brokenness and our past wounds to help us see him in a new, life changing way. That's the Good News! Father loves us and there is nothing we can do to make Him love us less or to cause Him to love us more. Just like my little baby didn't have to do a thing to experience my love, neither do we have to do anything to experience and know the perfect love of Father. No matter where you are today or what you have done, Father is looking at you with love in his heart and tears in his eyes. He celebrates your life.

Peace
Ralph

Lost but not forgotten

OK, I know that it's been a while since I posted. Needless to say my life has been turned upside down and inside out. It's one of those times in your life when you are not sure if you will make it out alive and if you do if you will be in one piece. I can't get into all of the details at this point, but one of the battles I have been fighting is with cancer. I was told that I had a small patch of skin cancer on my nose and they would be able to remove it with a "routine" procedure. Why do they always call it routine when it doesn't involve them. Any way, after getting into this "routine" procedure and several hours later half of my nose was removed and I found myself cancer free but missing half of my nose. I was sent immediately to a plastic surgeon. Several procedures and several months later I find myself on cancer free and with a nose, though it does need some fine tuning. Crisis and tragedy are part of life but it can shake you to the very core of who you are. I wish I could say I have it all figured out now and my life is sunshine and rainbows. However, it is not. My life continues to be filled with heartache, struggle and pain. I have stopped trying to figuring out what God is up to and what it all means. Instead I know that whatever situation or tragedy I face it is not good or bad it's just life. God is with me and he loves with more than I will ever know. He may not rescue me from my pain or heal me of my disease but I know he is with me and he will never leave me or forsake me. These days, that's all I can know for sure. No matter who you are or what you are facing this truth is there for you too. I am not going to tell you that God will rescue you from your tragedy or that every thing is going to be OK. But the truth of the matter is it may not. But even in the midst of all these things don't forget that Father loves you with and everlasting, unending love.

Peace,
Ralph

Basketball and God-2

For any of you who read this blog you may be wondering why I am talking about basketball again. First of all, let me say that I am not a huge, obnoxious basketball fan (GO KSU), however I am a huge, obnoxious Aimee fan (that's my little girl). I love to watch her play basketball and that is typically one of the highlights of my week. Last week something happened that once again reminded me of God's amazing love and forgiveness for me. This game was about as lopsided as they come. The other team was scoring on us at random. The only hightlight worth mentioning was Aimee's 2 points. Be that as it may, as I was watching the other team drive up the score I noticed that something very subtle yet profound had happened. Some time after a double digit lead, the scorekeeper zeored out the scoreboard. When I looked up it was 0 to 0. At first I thought that was a little lame and the competitive juices starting flowing and demanding that we fight back. However, a thought started to permeate my competitive brain. The phrae that was ringing in my ear was "it's all even now, the deficit has been removed". Then I remembered the "love" verse in I Corinthians 13.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast,
it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

That phrase, "keeps no record of wrongs" is what came to mind. That's the way it is with God. In our life there are times when we feel like we have messed up so much that our eternal scoreboard reflects a sound defeat and an obvious losing effort. Many of us, myself included, have kept a running total of all the wrong, hurtful things we have done in life and have found ourself in a place where we are losing and losing big. However, I have discovered a new truth about who God is. For so long I picture him as a mad father waiting for me to screw up so he could slap me upside the head with a 2 x 4 and teach me a sound lesson. But what I have discovered in my brokeness, heart break, and pain is that God is not like that at all. God is the lover of our soul. he is our biggest fan, and our greatest advocate. God is the ultimate lover awating the arrival of the love of his life (that's you and me). Because of His great love and grace for us He takes all of those wrong, hurtful thing that we have done and removes them. He erases the score and makes it even once again. God's heart is not to break us when we do someting wrong. He is not interested in lists, scorecards, or hit lists. Instead he is after your love. God has evened the score. There is no longer any guilt or shame waiting for you. There is only a God who loves you beyond measure and has been waiting for you to look up at the scoreboard and see that it's all been removed, there is no defeat, there is no defecit. There is nothing but love, forgiveness, hope and peace.

At the conclusion of the game Aimee had no clue what the score was or who won. All she knew was the abudance of love she received when it was all over. The score was not a factor because she knew that win, lose or draw. She was loved and that's all that mattered. Isn't that what God wants for us too? So many religious people get caught up in the score and keeping track of wrongs. But God says, forget the score, enjoy the game and know that you are loved.

Who would have ever known you could learn so much from watching 8 year old girls play basketball. His kingdom is all around us, all we have to do is look. See you at Starbucks!

Peace
Ralph

Basketball and God

This weekend was my daughters first basketball game. If you have never watched a group of eight year old girls playing basketball then you have missed something great in life. If you go to watch great strategies, high scoring games, and incredible ball handling skills then you will be a little disappointed. But if you have come to see a picture of God's love then you have come to the right place. Let me paint the picture for you, the sidelines are filled to capacity with moms, dads, aunts, uncles and siblings. There are more cameras than a paparazzi convention. Everyone is on the edge of their seat waiting for their child to step out onto the court. As they do the family members begin to cheer and applaud. Even before the kids touch the ball the families are cheering. Then the game begins, for the better part of 30 minutes, girls run up and down the court dribbling, tripping, kicking and occasionally shooting the ball. If you were to close your eyes for a moment you would think you are at the state championship of girls basketball. However when you open your eyes you notice that parents are cheering with extraordinary enthusiasm for or ordinary events. In fact, it wouldn't matter what the girls did, they would still get the thunderous applause and cheers of love struck onlookers. Even when one of the girls ran, not dribbled, to the wrong goal everyone cheered. As I was thinking about the game, I realized I had just had a glimpse into the kingdom of God. I believe God views each of us like those parents viewed their children. God is not as much concerned about who is winning or losing, who has the most points or who looks best out on the court. But instead, he is waiting on the sideline to just cheer your presence. You don't have to do anything for Him to stand and cheer you on. God is for you, He is your biggest van and most vocal cheerleader. No matter what happens out on the court of life God is cheering. Most of us think they we are not worth cheering for unless we accomplish some great task. But the truth of the matter is no matter how much good you do, how many times you succeed, or how many times you fail God's love for you never changes. The Bible talks about God's unfailing love. It tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. NOTHING!!!!! So if you are reading this today and you, like me, have had your share of missed plays, going in the wrong direction, or falling on your face please remember the basketball game and know that God is standing on your side and he is so madly in love with you that he can't help to stand and cheer at the glimpse of your presence. Think of about it.

Peace,
Ralph

The Power of Love

I have been processing where I am this year compared to this time last year. I know that today I am in a place where I continue to grow in my love and journey with God and with those around me. As I thought about this, I started thinking what's the difference? What has changed between today and 12 months ago. The difference and the reason I am still on the journey and looking forward is the power of love. 12 months ago I was in a place that I was questioning everything about my life. Where was my life going, what was I doing and what did I really believe about God. Now I know that it's not very "churchy" to say this, but I was even wondering if I wanted to continue this journey with God. The power of love has transformed my life and renewed my desire to pursue this journey with great passion and desire. I have been so blessed to find myself in a place where I know the unconditional, extravagant love that God designed his kingdom to reflect. For so long I believed that love was never unconditional. There was always a catch to receiving that kind of love. "I will love you when....." "I will love you if...." or "I will love you after....". But what I have discovered with my friends at DC, Awakening Community Church, Olathe Life Fellowship, and some amazing friends is that I am valued, loved, and accepted just as I am. They didn't offer me guilt, shame, and condemnation but instead offered me a love that can only come from God. They have brought the kingdom of God in my life. The power of love is something that we can never underestimate. It is a power that transforms life's and empowers us to continue in our journey. The power of love is what God gives to us and in turn asks us to give to others. It is this kind of love that scripture says is the true mark of a Christ follower. To quote a line from an old hymn "love lifted me, love lifted me, when nothing else could help, love lifted me..." So I ask you today, what are you doing with the lavish love that has been given to you. Are you squandering it on things that don't have any long lasting impact or are you giving it away to others who are lost, alone, desperate, and searching? For me, I am sick and tired of playing it safe and holding my love close to the vest. I want to be a vessel of God's love ready to pour out on dry and thirsty hearts. Look around you today, allow your eyes to see things how God sees them. As you do, you will see broken hearts all around you. People who are just longing for a kind word, a loving touch, a listening ear. I know that there are so many other things calling to us to be done. But in the scope of eternity, is that thing so important that you can not touch others with the power of love? Can I let you in on a little secret? When you share that love with others, you will be transformed as well. Love is contagious, once you start giving it away you will find it hard to stop. There is a world of people that you pass every day that could care less about your church's latest program or how much you think you know. They are longing for the good news of God's unconditional, extravagant love. So what are you waiting for????? Begin to practice the power of love.

Peace
Ralph