TGIF

Suppose you had a friend that said to you "Hey, this coming Friday I am going to die. And when I do I am going to take every wrong thing that you have ever done...no...more than that...I am going to take every wrong thing that you have ever done... and... ever will do...
I will erase it from your life record...put it all on my personal record...and...when I die all your wrongs will die with me...your life record will be spotless...the price for every wrong, mistake, or sin...will be paid...in full.
That would be a really Good Friday...wouldn't it?

Only a few days separated Jesus from being hailed as King...people showering him with praise and then being hailed as heretic…deserving of nothing but death.
It makes me think of the difference between most any Sunday...where thousands join to praise Him...and then by Friday night...for some...He is no longer hailed as the hope of the world but instead...He simply becomes....inconvienent...His words forgotten…forgive…do good to those that hurt you…give to receive…serve to lead…die to live…take up your cross…daily...His words...uncomfortable...unwanted...a choice is made...His words are silenced...put to death...anything to stop those words.

On Palm Sunday we remember when Jesus road a donkey into the city of Jerusalem. The people laid palm leaves in front of Him and shouted hosanna. The stories of His miracles were being told and retold. Many thought that He was going to be their earthly king…they thought He would use His amazing powers to take over Jerusalem…to free them from Roman rule.

As what He was really about began to be realized...the excitement wore off...the party died down. He had not taken over the city but instead had been taken prisoner. He was not bringing down the Roman government…He was submitting to them…His words began to ring in their ears…forgive…do good to those that hurt you…give to receive…serve to lead…die to live…take up our cross…daily…this was not the kind of king they wanted…so they chose...silence those words…death.

While we celebrate this Holy week…His grand entrance…His ultimate death and resurrection…it’s a good time to rethink this...because …in a strange, powerful, relentless, and yet humble way....He is still arriving everyday...you will not see Him on a donkey...riding into your city...you will...instead...hear His footsteps as they approach the door of your heart...you will...remember the things He has said...forgive...do good to those that hurt you...give to receive...serve to lead...die to live...you will…make a choice...to take up your cross...or...to pick up some nails.

Blessings $1.08

day,
Often…On my way into work in the mornings…I cruise through McDonalds…to grab a sausage biscuit…that’s all I order…lots of mornings…when I pull up to the window to get my order the sweetest lady is there…she is small…really dark skin shows off her big smile... and with tiny but capable hands… she reaches out through the window…hands me my bag…and says…I put one butter in there…I say thank you…even though I stopped asking for the butter a couple of months ago… she does not forget…and then she says…have a blessed day.
I did not see her for a few days and when I saw her again I ask… where have you been…she said oh sometimes I have to do other things…I said... Well... I guess that’s okay but when your not here...I don’t have anyone to bless my day…she was so taken back…her eyes uncertain...like she had abandon me or something...and then she smiled and said in a big voice… ahhh honey… you have a blessed day. Honestly…some mornings… I am not even hungry… I just go there to get my day blessed…it only cost me $1.08.

He is older…huge shoulders…he has a set of guns as they say…he looks up and smiles and says good morning…there’s light in his eyes…I suppose at one time he ruled the gym…benched pressed hundreds of pounds…the envy of many…now at four in the morning he’s mopping the floor …taking out the trash…. at the gym… he moves pretty slow…but there is something alive about him…he makes a point to look directly at me…ask me how I’m doing when I arrive and when I leave an hour later he is smiling…nodding his head...like I really accomplished something…he says...you have a good day…everytime...I don’t even know his name but everyday I feel like someone cares about how I feel.

I have a young lady at work that greets me everyday by saying Good morning Mr. Rick…its warm and full of love and life and makes me feel…important…there is another young lady that smiles so big and she can’t help but give a wink…she makes me smile…it’s a cool wink…like… you are so okay with me…another calls me every morning in my office… and… on speaker phone I hear Hey!!!!! And then a little laugh…she makes me laugh…works every time…then there is a guy that says… every morning…How’s my old buddy Rick…we have known each other almost a year…all through the morning I get friendly nods…handshakes… and high fives… my days start great...with fun, interesting, and beautiful people.
I don’t know... but I think my $1.08 is paying off…

Easter

Lies told
Insults hurled
Hair pulled
Thorns shoved
Hear the lashes across His back

Hammer down
Cross up
Spear thrust
Agony
Hear the lashes across His back

Bitter wine
Son forsaken
Darkness falls
Hell is shaken
Hear the lashes across His back

Spirit stirs
Stone rolls
Tomb empty
Risen
Hear the lashes across His back

God loved
Gave His son
Price is paid
Sacrifice made
Hear the lashes across His back

Easter weekend
God remembers
Heavy price
His son surrendered
Hear the lashes across His back

What are you doing this Easter?

What is Happiness

I am listening to one of those funny guys that do a little news while they are taking shots at everyone in the world that is involved in politics. Or, actually, anyone that has stepped out in the open arena of life and is trying to make a difference. These intelligent and humorous fellows have a pulpit, so to speak, that we give them simply because of their unique ability to make us laugh at the decisions of those in public service.

However when history is written …about all the people these comedians have made a living cracking jokes about…they, the comics, will not be recorded in it…they will not even be mentioned…because as far as I can tell not many have ever done much to actually improve our world. They are not really seeking truth…they are merely seeking laughter and good ratings and great financial reward.

Sitting on a stage and railing…stone throwing...is not doing...they are not doers...they are talkers…these comics are there to make us laugh and they are getting very rich by merely espousing their opinions in a humorous way…so we watch…we give them a strange credibility….and we do it simply because they…can… make us laugh.

As I am listening to this obvious talent for thinking and conversation, I began to compare its value to a conversation I had today with a young business associate. This person was not throwing stones at anyone but instead had set their mind to working on some of life’s serious and complex issues. After talking for a few minutes… they ask …What is happiness? I did not have an automatic answer… I wanted to tell them something profound…maybe even a little humorous…like the guy on this show…wrap it up in one nice sentence and say “Here it is…here is the answer you have been looking for all your life.” But…I couldn’t…I could sense the weight of the question…it was loaded with other concerns like “How do we know… for sure… what will make us happy?” “How can I know I am making decisions that will bring happiness?” This person was not looking not for a punch line or a famous quote…but for applicable truth…that could be applied today…right now. Real answers…something the comic was not offering.

But here are a few thoughts to consider. Maybe a happy life is not one that has the answers but is one that truly lives through the mix of good things and hard things that life presents to us…one that thrives in the middle of the storm and celebrates the sunny days…one that is hit hard…but refuses to fall…one that touches others along the way…one that is willing to do what they think is right…regardless of popular opinion…even funny ones…they choose to live life to its fullest…to bring meaning to every day…they make bad decisions and then make better ones…they fall in disgrace and rebound in faith.

Sometimes we think happiness can only be found in another person…and there is no doubt that life is better when you have a hand that you can hold…a shoulder on which you can cry…but…maybe… even more important…and maybe...where true happiness exist… is in seizing the opportunity to be the hand that can be held or the willing shoulder that accepts the tears.

The comedian is wrapping up his show now…he has saved a few of his hardest hitting criticisms …wrapped in some of his best punch lines… for some of our world leaders…those uncommon folks who are actually making a difference ...this...a snapshot of what we see played out everyday. The critics and the doers.

The contrast of these two conversations is stark… the comedian spent 30 minutes taking shots at others…getting paid millions…the young business associate spent a day working on becoming a more valuable and useful person…getting paid by the hour.

Maybe the question is not… what is happiness… but instead…what brings happiness…or better yet…who brings happiness…someone who makes us laugh at others…or…the person who held another’s hand…the person who accepted the tears on their shoulder…the person who is not just looking for love but is looking for ways to give it away. Maybe…true happiness is not a good laugh or even something to attain…but instead…maybe…happiness… in its purest form…is when… you create it in others.

“Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Jesus

Holding Hands With God

The receptionist was pretty...hair, makeup, jewelry, clothes…she had paid attention to detail…been very intentional about her choices… accomplished her goal…pretty.
Everyone has been there…could be any office anywhere…and all too often the pretty disappears when pretty turns to arrogance…maybe a raised eyebrow says you are bothering me…a certain look says you don’t belong here…a tone of voice says your not really welcome…arrogance…its not pretty on anyone.

However, that is not what happened to day. As I waited at her desk we began to talk… she told me how she is in nursing school…as she talked about this chosen mission in life… her eyes got even brighter…her smile genuine…her demeanor accepting…no arrogance…pleasant…comfortable…friendliness...is pretty on anyone.

Within just a few minutes of talking with her I was reminded of something…It’s not a matter of if you can be amazing today…it’s just a matter of if you will choose to be. She had chosen to be amazing and a couple of things she told me have been stirring around in my mind and challenging my heart.

She told how when she first got started on this mission that she was assigned to a nursing home and how one of her greatest fears was that she would have to “wipe the butt of an old man”. As soon as the words come out of her mouth I felt two things at once….the mental anguish of being that old man and the incredible gift that some people have to be able to do such a thing.

Then she smiled and began to describe how she fell in love with the elderly…how the old men would look at her with such helplessness in their eyes and say…”I have never had to have a woman bath me before.” Then in her reassuring and compassionate voice she would convince them that she was okay with this and that they were going to be okay.

I have not been able to stop thinking of these men…helpless in the hands of a young lady… proud men who had held their own new born children in strong and capable hands….men who had worked their entire lives to care for their families…men that could still remember what it felt like… to have moments of victory…to be admired…to have someone say that they were handsome…even beautiful…they remember doing hard things…things that mattered…they remember times in their life when they would wake up with such purpose…and now... they sit helpless in a chair while someone else baths them…spirits crushed…and then… with a voice that carries no arrogance…it has the lovely tone of caring…eyes that are bright and full of acceptance…the men hear that they are still okay…they just need a little help to day…that’s all…and she breathes dignity back into their spirit.

While she continued to tell me about her experiences…I noticed that her entire countenance softened as she remembered a special lady...one that she had come to love...who was living in that same home …the lady could not remember anyone from day to day…but anytime the lady spotted her...she would watch as the old tired face would break into a smile…then she would go to the elderly ladies room and sit by her bed...she would gently take the ladies little hand and hold it in hers….sometimes they talked… but many times…no words were spoken…they would just sit in silence...and just hold hands.

As she was telling me this…I took another good look at this attractive and immaculately dressed young lady…she had gone from pretty...to absolutely gorgeous in about ten minutes time…because…while arrogance looks good on no one…love in action is beyond description…there are no words.

The bible says that love conquers all things…with love being something we do and not something we say…this young lady was the love of God reaching out to those men who could no longer care for themselves…in the toughest moments of their lives…she was there…actively washing away their feelings of dread and insignificance.

And I believe it was the love of God…the light of God… in the young nurse in training that the elderly lady could see…she could not remember yesterday but she could see that light as it entered her room…the light pierced through the darkness that was closing in on her mind…and when she reached out her hand to this light…she found…warmth… peace…assurance…maybe even purpose…as she held the hand of God.

“I will never leave you or forsake you”
God