Quick Hits

I wanted to somehow keep the blog posts shorter than they've been recently (which was my intention when I stared TTS) so I'll periodically throw out there quick thoughts that have popped into my head during a week or two. Recently, here's what's been going through my mind...

1. I went to my local Kroger and saw the latest book by super-pastor Joel Osteen called, "Become a Better You." My first thought was, "I don't want to become a better me!" In fact, I don't want to be me at all. Not in a spiritual sense. Jesus did not say, "Accept yourself, sing about the cross and watch me." He said "DENY yourself, PICK up your cross, and FOLLOW Me." Paul would say we are not being transformed into better people. No, we are being transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. I want to become like Jesus, not like John.

2. Over the past two weeks my intention was to avoid watching or reading about both political conventions that took place here in the U.S. But (due to some female persuasion) I ended up sitting through the speeches of the two top Republican nominees, John McCain and Sarah Palin. Watching those speeches reminded me of how much I hate election season and convention speeches. The negativity was deep. The demonization of the other party and nominees was deep. (I'm sure it was for the other party, too). Why do we wish to cut down those we disagree with? Why do we draw such joy and satisfaction from labeling another human (and Christian) "evil" and "demonic" and "wicked"? I'll never understand this. Truly God's party is neither Republican nor Democrat.

3. I'm thinking that Derek Webb was so right when he wrote and sang: "my first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man / my first allegiance is not to democracy or blood / it's to a king & a kingdom." How often do we Christians forget that the Kingdom of Heaven and its King are real and demand "our soul, our life, our all." I wish we would remember that God is not rooting for a party. He's rooting for people, like you and me.

4. I'm thinking that I haven't heard a Derek Webb song that has not challenged the church or the individual in some way. He speaks for my generation's longing for transparency in the church (and its leaders), social responsibility (feed the hungry, clothe the naked, etc.), and the desire to reclaim the purity of the Gospel message, in his songs. His outspoken challenge of the church with biblical truth is a prophetic gift, in my opinion.

5. I'm thinking that relationships are way too complicated and the emotions of the human heart cannot truly be compartmentalized. There was a time in the American church when emotions were seen in a negative light and those who exercised emotion were thought of as "weak." A lie. Emotions were created by God, are used by God, and can glorify God when used properly by people. And emotions cannot be compartmentalized. They cross over to affect everything we do. And sometimes they get so complicated that they paralyze. I hate it when that happens.

6. I picked my best watermelon last week and licked my lips in anticipation of some watery goodness. The melon looked and sounded ripe (a good thump). It came off the vine easily. But when I sliced it open it was green inside with the exception of four small pink areas. I laughed. The melon reminded me of how some people can seem to be ripe and mature on the outside but are really green and undeveloped on the inside. More lessons from my garden...