Dwarfs, Giants and Mentors
Will Ferrell knows something about mentoring. In one of his more classic movies, Kicking and Screaming, Ferrell plays Phil Weston, a vitamin shop owner turned coach of his sons youth soccer team. Phil takes over a hapless team that not only struggles to win a game but to even score a goal. In his first practice with the team, Phil character decides to get to know the players a little better. As the players go around in a circle saying their names two individuals take center stage. Byong Sun, a 3 foot nothing forward on the team, and Ambrose, a freakish giant of a kid, step to center stage Phil says this: “Well, maybe you and Ambrose can team up – he’s big and you might form one megaperson.” As Phil makes a humorous observation, he also touches on an idea that finds its roots all the way back to Sir Isaac Newton.
Read the Rest of the Post at http://manofdepravity.com
This post is a part of series on mentoring (more information here). A very important and needed conversation inside the church. We would love for you to be apart of the conversation. Make sure you mentioned that kyle sent you there and you could get a 10% discount on your next purchase (kidding).
The Craziest Thing I Have Ever Seen
What if I told you I could give you a flat washboard stomach in three easy steps? You would probably look at me and realize that it is not that simple. You know the effort that goes into getting washboard abs, the pain that it takes to do thousands of sit-ups, and the frustration of not eating ice cream after dinner. It is not easy, it actually is the farthest thing from easy. The idea that you could look better after completing three easy steps makes it appealing, but does not necessarily make it true.
In some senses, it also devalues the message. Instead of putting a price on something, we tend to under value it to make it look easy, to make it seem that the risk is worth the reward. On the radio the other day I heard an advertisement for a pill that would allow you to eat whatever you want and still lose weight. I could not stop laughing, mainly because of the absurdity to this idea but also because people are willing to try this. In my mind, it was a complete joke, because I knew that it was not that simple. I think we like to do the same thing with the Gospel message. Bottle it up in a quick and easy 3 step process that will get your attention and make everything better. The absurdity comes when the message does not deliver what we thought it would.
Look around any church today. The one thing you will find in most churches is a cross. The symbol that unites all Christians together under the umbrella of grace. This symbol has come to mean something more of a charm then a message for the crazy. Think about it, if we truly looked at the cross and did not think the message was absurd I would be concerned. The idea that someone would die on that thing is crazy, but then that it would bring grace to you and me takes it over the top. Instead, we want to take that message and turn it into an idea that makes sense, something that is practical and understandable. Something that we can market, share with our friends, and hope that they join the crowd.
Instead of trying to make sure that you are not crazy you might want to make sure that the message you are preaching is crazy. Instead of trying to fit in, trying to look normal, we should consider looking crazy. The fact that someone who is a sinner can still be used by God should be the craziest thing anyone has ever seen. Maybe the way we should make sure we are not crazy is by not looking at others but instead focusing on the message of the cross and redemption.
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
How To Make Sure You Are Not Crazy
Do you ever wonder if you are crazy? I do all the time. If you are like me, being crazy is not something that you want to be known for. We tend to run things through a couple of test to make sure that we are up to par with others. One of the best known techniques is the comparison game. This one is pretty simple, look at others and make sure you are better then them. Maybe this is why gossip exist, or for that matter reality TV, but comparing yourself to others is one way to make sure that you are not crazy. Another great technique is to follow the crowd. Instead of forming an identity, you just follow what others are doing. This plan is very simple, blend in and don’t stick out. It is amazing the lengths we go to not look crazy, what if we are missing the point and are called to be crazy?
One of my favorite people in the Bible is John the Baptizer. Mainly because he was crazy. I love the way the Bible describes him:
“John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey” (Matt 3:4).
That sounds like a crazy person to me. But this was not the reason why people thought John was crazy, instead it was the message that he preached that turned him from a man in the dessert eating bugs to a man preaching a crazy message. John was preparing the way for one of the craziest messages every spoken, one was coming to take away the sins of the world. What I love about John is his unconcerned feeling about what people thought of him, he was more concerned with the message.
Today, I I think we put more effort into the message making sense then we do making it crazy, this is a problem.
*kyle
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Why Do You Go To Church To Be Someone Else?
This is a very interesting question to me that I have thought about but have not thought thought about:
If Christians can’t be who they are within their own churches, why are they even a part of church? Why not go someplace where they can be themselves?
I think this question might be more impacting to ministers. But I would like to hear your thoughts.
*kyle
Question(s) for You
Sunday provides us a day to relax, reflect, and refuel. On Sunday’s I like to sit back and ask a couple of questions. Maybe it sounds a little like those awkward games you play with people you do not know so that you can get to know each other better.
Lets just call it Question(s) for You.
You can answer them all or just one
1) What is one thing you are looking forward to the most come the fall season?
2) What is your favorite gem of the Internet? Resource, website, blog,etc…?
3) With kids headed back to school, do you miss being in school or do you never want to return?
Answer them all or just one….these are questions for you.
*kyle
God Doesn’t Just Live In Missouri
I am in the land of Nash all week (that is the cool way of saying Nashville).
This has been a trip that has been developing for the last 3 or 4 months that is finally here. Last time I was suppose to be here my trip was detoured by a flood that hit the city. That was the beginning of the summer, now we are at the end of the summer and I am here and ready to go.
As I was driving here a new thought hit me…
God doesn’t just live in Missouri
Profound I know, but in reality I have limited God to the situations that I presently am in.
Its amazing to see how far God is ahead of you.
And shortly into my trip I got a glimpse of what God is doing. This thought will be something that will stick with me for the rest of the trip. The idea that God has a plan and it is not limited to living in a basement excites me. So as I hang out with friends, meet new friends, and have some interviews, I am excited to see God in Nashville.
Where is God for you right now?
*kyle
