Equal is not Fair

"Fair is not always equal, and equal is not always fair." ~unknown

Have you ever wondered why some people are treated differently than others?  It's sometimes difficult to understand this, especially when you feel like you are the one getting the short end of the stick.

Last week, I spent some time in the book of Matthew.  The story of the landowner and workers struck me.  This is a parable found in chapter 20, verses 1-16.  If you would remember this story, it is the one that illustrates that no matter when the landowner hired the workers that day, he chose to pay for a full day's wages.

The ones working all day were very upset that the ones hired last were paid the same.  The response by the landowner was that the ones hired first had agreed to the wages when they were hired.  He went on to say that he has the right to pay people what he wishes.  He admonished them by saying they should not be jealous because he is choosing to be kind to others.

Life Lessons from a Starship Captain

I definitely have a favorite Star Trek Captain, Jean-Luc Picard.  I wrote about Picard in one of my earliest posts: Defeating Oppression.

I recently came upon this article of leadership lessons, and thought I would share.  The writer definitely captured the character traits I loved watching.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2012/03/13/five-leadership-lessons-from-jean-luc-picard/

No where in the series do we understand that Picard is a believer, but if you watched him, you would think we was.  His morality center was iron-clad.  He knew what was right and what was true, and he knew he must enforce those things, no matter the personal cost.

This is the morality standard I want to live by.  There is one God and one Truth.  There is right, and there is wrong.  Picard made mistakes he would regret, just like I do.  However, he did not live each day wavering his beliefs. I hope that I can do the same.  Let my decisions and my actions reflect my beliefs.

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. (2 Timothy 4:3, 4 NLT)

Without the foundation of Truth, we waver in our moral decisions. Stay grounded in the Word.

Honoring my Mothers

I am blessed with two mothers.

My mother's name is Karen, and she could be described as a person of great moral integrity.  She is very bright, and could grasp new concepts quickly, and would want to make sure everything is just right.  She is very private and would be mortified that I put her photo out here for everyone to see.  She loves my brother and I, but we didn't always hear about it.  She's a woman of few words, but every word spoken is one of wisdom and grace.

My other mother is my mother-in-law, Connie.  While she is a person of great moral integrity, she is vastly different than my mother.  She is the life of a party, always telling great stories and jokes to make you laugh.  She's a hoot to be around.  She loves attention, and this photo was her idea.

Both of my mothers are believers.

I was reminded of the book of Ruth in the Old Testament.  Ruth was a foreign woman who became close to her mother-in-law, Naomi when her husband died.  Even though Ruth could have gone home, she chose to stay with Naomi when they would go back to Naomi's homeland.  The entire book is compelling, as you can see very plainly the love these two women had for each other.  This verse, often used in weddings, was actually Ruth speaking to Naomi.

"Don't ask me to leave you and turn back.  Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live.  Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.  Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.  May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!" ~Ruth 1:16-17 (NLT)

Let's take some time to honor all the mothers you have in life.  Happy Mother's Day!

The Last will be First

Bear with me, as this post is going to seem a little narcissistic at first.  

Last night, I was talking with some friends from church about each other's careers, and what each of us do (or did) as a job.  My job came up, and during the course of the conversation, the others became impressed with what I do for a living.  I usually try to make light of this, by saying, "I coordinate the special education programs for the area," or "I work with special education teachers."  In reality, my job could be defined as a CEO of a medium sized corporation.  We employ around 450 teachers, teaching assistants and support staff to serve the needs of around 3,100 students with individualized education programs (IEPs) across 13 school districts in central Illinois.  Our operating budget is around $26,000,000.  

Impressed yet?  You shouldn't be.  I can be replaced.  

You see, lately I am finding that what may be impressive to the world is not impressive to God.  I spent so much time climbing a "corporate ladder" in public education, that I lost sight of what is really important.  

The things that Jesus valued were humility, mercy, and grace.  He was not impressed with successes that society promotes.  He instead noticed the meek and poor.  He noticed the children.  

But many who are greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then. (Matthew 19:30)

It seems like Jesus was telling us that God was telling us to "get over ourselves."

So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last. 

(Matthew 20:16 NLT)

Some days I think I will be last in the Kingdom of Heaven.  There are many more worthy in God's eyes to go before me.  That's OK.

It was never about me.

Life Lines

Many of you may remember I began sailing last summer.  If you want to recall my first solo sailing trip, click Winds.  We are associate members of the Commodore Decatur Yacht Club, and we try to get on the lake every chance we get.  The club membership is open for anyone interested in sailing, and it only costs $75 a season to belong (family).  The club has five boats available for associate members to use, once the senior sailors deem us worthy to sail alone.

Damage to the keel

We received news this past Monday that the choppy wind conditions caused one of the club boats to break free from the ropes (lines) that bound it to the dock.  Because the lines snapped, the boat drifted against some rocks and caused damage to the keel (the weight on bottom) that made it nearly sink.

Investigating the damage

After some investigation, the senior sailors determined the lines were not adequate to keep the boat secure.  We learned that we must use double-braided ropes to secure the boat to the dock.

This made me think about the lines that keep us tethered to God.  If we are not firmly anchored to God with double-braided cords, our lifelines may snap, and we could find ourselves drifting away toward dangerous conditions.

What are some of these lines?
1. Attend a church that teaches Bible truth.
2. Read the Bible, a little each day.
3. Think about the things the Bible teaches.
4. Pray.  Again, I say pray.
5. Spend your free time with other believers who encourage you, and who can keep you accountable.
6. Learn how to love others the way He loves us and act on it.

There are more... name them!

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT)

Star Wars Day - May the Fourth be with you!

I don't know when I became such a fan of this series, but the message is clear.  There is good in this world, and there is evil in this world.  Good can become corrupted and become evil.  Evil can repent and become good.

Does that sound familiar?

It should.  The bible is full of examples of men and women who demonstrated difficulty navigating life, who made mistakes, who fell away from God, who repented, and who walks with God today.  

Be aware though, although it is never too late to repent, if you are consumed by the dark side, it will be very difficult to turn back.  This is a famous passage from the Empire Strikes Back.

Yoda: Yes, a Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan's apprentice. 

 Luke: Vader... Is the dark side stronger? 

Yoda: No, no, no. Quicker, easier, more seductive. 

Luke: But how am I to know the good side from the bad? 

Yoda: You will know... when you are calm, at peace, passive. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, NEVER for attack. 

Luke: But tell my why I can't... 

Yoda: No, no! There is no "why". 

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters.  But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature.  Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.  For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
~Galations 5:13-15 (NLT)

Dry Bones

Consider the vision of Ezekiel:

He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out.

Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the lord! This is what the Sovereign lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again!
(Ezekiel 37:2, 4 NLT)

The passage further goes on to show how the bones assembled, grew flesh and life was breathed into them, indeed they became a great army.

Sometimes, I feel as dead and dried up and useless as the bones in the desert.  These feelings paralyze me and prevent me from doing the work of the body of Christ.  I find myself sinking deeper into depression and despair.  When I feel overwhelmed, I shut down my feelings, and then there is nothing.  

I need Jesus to breath life into me.  Indeed, I need the Holy Spirit to dwell within me.  This is the only thing in my life that keeps me anchored to life.  I no longer have these moments of paralyzing depression, but I am still at risk to retreat back into a world of nothing.  

Pray for me, that I can remain passionate about the things of God.