MY BLOG POSTS
“Demystifying” Missions
I used a circular saw yesterday. And I still have all my fingers! So do the people around me. I’ll pause while you stand and applaud…
My new friend, Cory (an actual, professional Drama teacher), and I (a passionate amateur) were at a Technical Theatre class. The ladies who taught it were experts in all things “backstage” – building sets, creating props, sewing costumes…you name it. They were awesome! And they wanted to share their expertise with other drama teachers and directors, to help us do our jobs better, to have the tools to “build” our programs.
At first, they showed us pictures and gave us handouts. It was very helpful, very educational, very impressive. But then, they said, “All right, tim
e to go out back and try some of this.”
Say whaaaaat???
It’s one thing to hear and read about building sets and using things like a Mitre saw and 3 inch screws. It’s another thing entirely to actually use said equipment. People can get seriously injured. And by people, I mean me!!
But they said this was a hands-on class, and we had to get our hands on these tools.
I went last.
But I went. I held that saw, pressed the start button, and cut wood.
And I didn’t die!
The teachers explained it’s important to have that equipment “demystified”. We need to understand a circular saw really isn’t that scary. It’s just a tool used to accomplish a purpose. In this case – building a backdrop or a set piece. Sure, it’s loud, and it could seriously injure the user. But, with proper use and a healthy respect, it can be used to create some pretty cool stuff.
I kept thinking of that “demystifying” all day: Do something you think is scary, and you’ll find it really isn’t all that scary at all.
I thought of missions. Christians can get really scared about missions. It is overwhelming to think about visiting another country, where there is strange food and strange customs and even potential dangers. It is intimidating to share our faith in our own cities – forget sharing Christ with people who don’t speak English!
It’s far easier to read about missions, give to missions, even pray for missions than it is to participate in missions. But, as those who have gone on mission trips can tell you, actually going on a mission trip, or even living in another country as a missionary, “demystifies” that fear. You return far less scared and far more hungry to go again.
My social media is exploding right now with posts about friends on mission – some to England (my dream!!), others to inner city NYC, one family literally just moved to Bolivia to serve at a Christian school there. The pictures and testimonies are so exciting. God does amazing works when we step out of our comfort zones! One of the greatest works is to take away the fear of the unknown and replace it with a compassion – and passion – for others, a desire to be a more active part of the Great Commission.
Maybe you are considering missions. Maybe you’re scared, hesitant. Let me encourage you to “just do it!” Get out there. Go! You won’t regret it.
Cliff Jumping
Have you ever heard this saying…”If all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you?”?
I have. Heck, as a parent and a teacher, I’ve used it on more than one occasion.
And when we hear – or use – it, we normally think of peer pressure. Of going to that party or seeing that movie or cheating on that test.
But I believe there’s a more subtle “cliff jump” happening everyday, and we don’t even realize we’re in the air: it’s in our minds, how we think. We allow the world’s standards, their version of what “should be”, to be our standards.
In dating, for example, many Christian teens/young adults have been sucked into the mindset that you should “date around” or “sow your wild oats” when you’re young. Many are told sex before marriage is fine and living together before marriage is beneficial. But God’s word – and divorce statistics – tell us just the opposite. So who do you believe? The mindset of the world or the standards of God?
Adults face this, too: We are told to adopt the “me first” attitude at work and at home. We are told to say “I deserve ________ (whatever we want most).” And, sure, it sounds great. I’d like to believe I deserve a spa day or “me time.” But I don’t “deserve” anything. I would like things. I am refreshed by time alone. But deserve…? I think that is one of the most dangerous words in our vocabulary – it is the complete opposite of the “put the needs of others above yourself” lifestyle that God tells us to live. So what do we choose – the mind of the world, or the mind of Christ?
Ladies (and any gents reading this!), we must be careful that the standards we live by are the standards God has set – not the constantly changing standards of the world. God loves us too much to allow us to damage ourselves by “jumping” after desires that will harm us. Follow Him – the Good Shepherd – to still waters and the greenest of pastures. Stay away from the cliffs and cling to the Rock!
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
You Have NO Idea
This week, it has been “hot” here in San Diego…it has gotten up to 84. Seriously. Folks are complaining, telling us how unusual this is, assuring us it’ll get back to normal soon.
We just laugh. Floridians would kill for a high of 83 in July! New friends from Arizona shake their heads – they don’t even see a low of 84 where they’re from. These San Diegans have NO idea what hot really is.
It reminded me of something I learned at a youth leaders’ conference several years ago. The speaker was addressing those of us who worked with middle schoolers. He said when we see our youth crying about broken relationships, we often minimize their heartache — come on, a 7th grade break up?? They have NO idea! Just wait until high school or college…or beyond. We know those preteen’s tears will dry up quickly, they will move on, and eventually that guy or girl will be forgotten.
But, this speaker warned, that little 12-year-old doesn’t know any of that. And, in her life, this is the worst heartache she has ever experienced. Instead of minimizing this struggle, we should teach her how to deal with it. What do we do in hard times? We cling to Jesus even more, seeking his peace and comfort and wisdom. We ask what He wants us to learn from this hard time, how we might be able to avoid that kind of heartache in the future. If we minimize their pain, we lose the opportunity to minister to them.
This is a lesson I try to remember, not just with preteens and teens, but with adults, and even with myself. Just because I have experienced “worse” than someone else – or vice versa – doesn’t mean I should minimize pain that is very real. Jesus meets each of us right where we are. He’s not there just for the “big” problems. He offers wisdom, comfort, and guidance in every situation, every day. There is no such thing as “too small” for Him.
I hope when friends come to me with issues of the heart, I listen, comfort, and never make them feel their pain isn’t real.
Issues of heat, though — I can’t make any promises. Because….84?! I just can’t.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Cor. 1:3-4
You Stink
Last night, I was walking what has become “my route” – out of my neighborhood and down the street, past the elementary school, to the stop light, and back. It’s a nice walk with great views. Mountains in the distance, ocean breeze blowing, desert plants blooming all around…
But what I really kept noticing were the smells. Barbecue smells, laundry smells, someone-didn’t-pick-up-after-his-dog smells. The cooking smells were my favorite! I would
walk past someone’s back yard, and my mouth would water. I seriously considered inviting myself to dinner, it smelled so good!
That made me think of our first night here. Our neighborhood was visited by a skunk. And we sleep with our windows open. Yep…nasty! The smell infiltrated my dream: I bought a new perfume I was sure I’d love, but when I got home and sniffed my wrist, the perfume smelled horrible. Like a skunk! Imagine my disappointment when I woke up and the smell was still there. It took a good three or four days before we were completely skunk-stink free.
2 Corinthians 2:14 says, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.” (emphasis mine)
Did you know we, as believers, have a “smell”? When people are around us, walk past us, interact with us, they should get a whiff of Jesus. His smell should linger on us. When we walk around, we should be spreading that scent, permeating the air.
Unlike the skunk, whose smell certainly lingered and definitely was memorable, our “smell” should be pleasant — like my neighbor’s cooking. It should make people want to know us, talk to us, invite themselves to dine with us. Granted, some might find the smell of Jesus unpleasant. But let that be because they are offended by the gospel, not by our stinky, sinful behavior.
May we seek to be people whose aromas please God, honor Him, and draw others to Him. And if we start to get stinky, may we repent, “bathe” ourselves in God’s word, and seek the cleansing power of His forgiveness, so we can accomplish His purposes for us every day.