People say that Pastors can't join the political spectrum because of the danger of losing their non-profit status. I'm not too worried about it, seeing how there has been some very politically charged pastors on TV and the Internet that haven't lost their status.
That being said, I watched President Obama's address last night. I think its important for everyone to watch them. He is our president, and at times, its important for us to know what is going on in the political spectrum.
This health care debate has been pretty messy. Its become a huge political pickle that is running the risk of polarizing the populace.
Here's what I think is going on with both sides of the aisle- fear. Fear that the plan will ruin America. Fear that the plan will cost too much. Fear that the single payer system won't happen. Fear that I wont get what I want because you get what you want.
Fear is usually not the best motivator. It can cloud your thinking, and keep you from using faith and facts to guide your decisions. The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but God never intended us to live our lives in crippling fear of anything. The Bible also says For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
I'm going to let you into a window of my political mind here today. It may cost me some street credibility, or political respect, but here it goes- up until yesterdays speech, I was adamantly against the health care overhaul. After it, I am open to discovering more about what the plan has to offer.
I had been allowing fear to be the main motivator for me in the healthcare debate, and I'm not going to alllow that anymore.
Here's why I'm sharing this with you today. Sometimes people become so hunkered down in their own ideological camps, living in fear, that they don't allow themselves to be influenced or their minds to be challenged. This type of mindset can cripple your ability to grow as a person.
Hear my heart on this- I'm not endorsing a political party or candidate. This isn't a blog about you or I signing off on Obamacare. I just want to be honest that as a Christian, a Father, a Pastor and an American, I allow myself the ability to change my mind from time to time, and I think you should too.
It may not be for this debate. Maybe something else. But there is nothing wrong with changing your view on something in the political realm, or other realms from time to time.
I spend my life influencing others for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and if I don't allow myself to be influenced from time to time, what am I saying? That I want to influence you, but don't influence me?
We'll see where it goes from here. Time will tell.
The good news is that the Good News is still the Good News and at the end of the day God is still on the throne, and in the business of healing people, so I've still got JesusCare as my primary insurance plan, so I don't have to depend on the Government for the long term.
Be blessed today
matt
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Seeing An Old Friend
I talk to people. Its what I do. Checkout lines, bus stops, airplanes. Its a past time. I notice people, and their families. I'm aware of who comes in and out of rooms. This is a blessing and a curse.
Yesterday, I was at St. Arbucks on Harvey road in Auburn. I was meeting with a pastor friend of mine. We were just talking about life, and church and stuff that pastors talk about. As we were sitting there, a guy walked into the Starbucks that I recognized.
It was a guy named Chris that I went to High School with. I hadn't seen him in years. He and I were on the football team together. We weren't the best of friends, but we knew each other.
He was wearing a uniform for some sort of delivery company, and had a baseball hat on also. He didn't notice me, but I noticed him, and mid sentence, I stopped my friend and told him that I knew that guy.
I don't know if you ever see old friends from way back when, but usually when I do, its pretty neat to catch up for a minute and see what they are up to. I was in the middle of meeting, but I couldn't help myself. I called out to him- "Hey, is your name Chris?" I was so excited to talk to him.
His reply- "no, my name is Felipe".
Oops. Not Chris. Not high school friend. No one I knew.
My friend and I laughed about it. It was funny. I'm sure I'm not the only one that this happens to. Just another case of mistaken identity. I was sure it was him. I was positive it was him. I was just wrong, that's all.
Do you know what's really cool though? Even though I may not always remember someone or recognize them, that God does? With Him, there is never a case of mistaken identity. He knows who everyone is. Where they are and what is going on in their life.
That gives me comfort today. Even if I don't get people's names and faces right, God always does. He knows Felipe, and he knows you, and he won't ever get it wrong.
Be blessed today
matt
Yesterday, I was at St. Arbucks on Harvey road in Auburn. I was meeting with a pastor friend of mine. We were just talking about life, and church and stuff that pastors talk about. As we were sitting there, a guy walked into the Starbucks that I recognized.
It was a guy named Chris that I went to High School with. I hadn't seen him in years. He and I were on the football team together. We weren't the best of friends, but we knew each other.
He was wearing a uniform for some sort of delivery company, and had a baseball hat on also. He didn't notice me, but I noticed him, and mid sentence, I stopped my friend and told him that I knew that guy.
I don't know if you ever see old friends from way back when, but usually when I do, its pretty neat to catch up for a minute and see what they are up to. I was in the middle of meeting, but I couldn't help myself. I called out to him- "Hey, is your name Chris?" I was so excited to talk to him.
His reply- "no, my name is Felipe".
Oops. Not Chris. Not high school friend. No one I knew.
My friend and I laughed about it. It was funny. I'm sure I'm not the only one that this happens to. Just another case of mistaken identity. I was sure it was him. I was positive it was him. I was just wrong, that's all.
Do you know what's really cool though? Even though I may not always remember someone or recognize them, that God does? With Him, there is never a case of mistaken identity. He knows who everyone is. Where they are and what is going on in their life.
That gives me comfort today. Even if I don't get people's names and faces right, God always does. He knows Felipe, and he knows you, and he won't ever get it wrong.
Be blessed today
matt
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
I'm Probably Going To Offend You
I offend people. Its what I do. Sometimes its when I meet them, sometimes when I call them, sometimes when I am on Facebook. At times, I offend people without even knowing it.
I'm a pretty opinionated guy. I usually have a pretty well thought out opinion on most things that matter. In somethings, I have no opinion, but usually, I have a strong one.
In 2003, when I got out of the Army, my first job was at a Technical School in Tacoma. While working there, I befriended a guy who loved to talk about politics. He had just graduated from college, this was his first job, and I think, like me, he found that politics at times can be way more exciting than a day at work.
There was a lunch room at our office, and he and I would sit during our mandatory one hour lunch and argue about everything from the war in Iraq, to term limits in the congress. I can honestly say that we couldn't have been more different in our ideological beliefs and political persuasion.
Here's what happened though- we became friends. Even though we didn't agree on almost anything, we found that we enjoyed spending time talking about almost anything.
We never got upset with each other. We never swore at each other. We didn't talk bad about each other behind our backs. We had a mutual respect for each other that understood that regardless of our persuasion, that we were both Americans that we entitled to our own thoughts, and it was okay if we didn't agree.
How do you respond to people you don't agree with? Do you chastise them? Do you hate them? Do you harbor negative feelings and emotions towards them simply because they don't think the way you do?
It is possible that you can get along with someone who isn't like you. Who doesn't agree with you. Usually those are the relationship that help you grow the most, the ones that challenge you to think about what you believe.
I like what the bible says in Romans- "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
You don't have to argue with everyone. You don't have to only be friends with people who are just like you. Its okay to have different opinions.
Blessings
matt
I'm a pretty opinionated guy. I usually have a pretty well thought out opinion on most things that matter. In somethings, I have no opinion, but usually, I have a strong one.
In 2003, when I got out of the Army, my first job was at a Technical School in Tacoma. While working there, I befriended a guy who loved to talk about politics. He had just graduated from college, this was his first job, and I think, like me, he found that politics at times can be way more exciting than a day at work.
There was a lunch room at our office, and he and I would sit during our mandatory one hour lunch and argue about everything from the war in Iraq, to term limits in the congress. I can honestly say that we couldn't have been more different in our ideological beliefs and political persuasion.
Here's what happened though- we became friends. Even though we didn't agree on almost anything, we found that we enjoyed spending time talking about almost anything.
We never got upset with each other. We never swore at each other. We didn't talk bad about each other behind our backs. We had a mutual respect for each other that understood that regardless of our persuasion, that we were both Americans that we entitled to our own thoughts, and it was okay if we didn't agree.
How do you respond to people you don't agree with? Do you chastise them? Do you hate them? Do you harbor negative feelings and emotions towards them simply because they don't think the way you do?
It is possible that you can get along with someone who isn't like you. Who doesn't agree with you. Usually those are the relationship that help you grow the most, the ones that challenge you to think about what you believe.
I like what the bible says in Romans- "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
You don't have to argue with everyone. You don't have to only be friends with people who are just like you. Its okay to have different opinions.
Blessings
matt
Friday, September 4, 2009
The Tangle Of Technology
Technology is good, to a point. I know, technology is just progress and industrialization, its toilets and hammers as much as it is Internet and cell phones. But over the last few days, I've been having some issues with the technology of my life.
At church- the lapel microphone is giving us huge feedback. Apparently the FCC sold the frequency that it runs on, so we have to use a different one. The church computer is acting up and wont talk to the external sound thing we have connected to the computer to the sound board. Today I'm going to upgrade drivers and lay hands on that thing and pray the Devil out of it.
At home- I got a new phone/modem from Comcast. Then my wireless router stopped working. Somehow my secured wireless network disappeared, and now I have a new network that is unsecured. The wireless works, but I don't know if I can print wireless now. There is no internet connection.
Do you know what this does to me? It frustrates me. It consumes me. It holds my brain and causes me to dwell on it far longer than I should.
But here's the great part- last night I called the 1800 number for comcast, and the guy on the other end fixed my wireless problem. Thank you Mr. Comcast! Also, I called my friend Rick who is going to help me with the Church's sound system today!
What the point? Sometimes we allow stuff to consume us longer than we should because we spend too much time going at it alone. Don't be afraid to reach out to someone and ask for help. There are people out there that know a ton about this stuff, but you have to be willing to ask for help! And once you do, it will make your life a whole lot easier.
Technology can be a tool of the Devil, but it can also be a tool of the Lord to allow us to humble ourselves, and allow other people to serve us and be blessed in the process.
Be blessed today
matt
Have a blessed day
matt
At church- the lapel microphone is giving us huge feedback. Apparently the FCC sold the frequency that it runs on, so we have to use a different one. The church computer is acting up and wont talk to the external sound thing we have connected to the computer to the sound board. Today I'm going to upgrade drivers and lay hands on that thing and pray the Devil out of it.
At home- I got a new phone/modem from Comcast. Then my wireless router stopped working. Somehow my secured wireless network disappeared, and now I have a new network that is unsecured. The wireless works, but I don't know if I can print wireless now. There is no internet connection.
Do you know what this does to me? It frustrates me. It consumes me. It holds my brain and causes me to dwell on it far longer than I should.
But here's the great part- last night I called the 1800 number for comcast, and the guy on the other end fixed my wireless problem. Thank you Mr. Comcast! Also, I called my friend Rick who is going to help me with the Church's sound system today!
What the point? Sometimes we allow stuff to consume us longer than we should because we spend too much time going at it alone. Don't be afraid to reach out to someone and ask for help. There are people out there that know a ton about this stuff, but you have to be willing to ask for help! And once you do, it will make your life a whole lot easier.
Technology can be a tool of the Devil, but it can also be a tool of the Lord to allow us to humble ourselves, and allow other people to serve us and be blessed in the process.
Be blessed today
matt
Have a blessed day
matt
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Bright Lights Make Your Future Brighter
From this day forth, my future will be brighter. At least it will be brighter in my kitchen and in my bathroom, because yesterday I did a small upgrade.
We were in Wal-mart and needed some new bulbs for our kitchen lights. Small ones. Like 25 watts a piece. As I was standing there in wal-mart I was thinking "do I really want to replace these puny little bulbs?". Well, the answer was no, so I went to Home Depot and bought 3 new light fixtures with 100 watt fluorescent bulbs (which only consume 23 watts each), and installed them. Our kitchen lights can now be seen 5 houses down the street. Its so bright in there.
It looked so great I decided that we needed to upgrade the bulbs in the bathroom. We have an overhead vanity that has 6 bulbs, so I went back to get that many low-watt fluorescent bulbs.
Where I live in Covington, I'm only 5 mins away from Home Depot. I have to drive on a neighborhood arterial, and then get on a bigger highway. As I came up to the light, I had to turn right, but the traffic to left was really backed up, and as I looked down the road about 300 yards, I could see that there was a few emergency vehicles and a lot of lights. That's what was blocking the traffic.
I turned right and went down the hill towards Home Depot, noticing that the traffic was backing up on the opposite side of the road. I hadn't gone that far, maybe a half mile mile or so and began to see a few people on the other side of the road making U-Turns to go back the other direction.
I thought to myself- why are they turning around? The obstruction is only a half mile away. If they would have just stayed in their lane, they would've been through the traffic in probably about 7 minutes.
Of course I couldn't tell them this. I was in my car going the opposite direction. All I could think was- if they would just stay the course, they would get through it in no time. There is no need to turn back.
Such it is in most people's lives. We go along towards where God is leading us, and we get to place where there is the slightest bit of resistance and we immediately turn around and go the other way.
Much like the traffic yesterday, if we would stay the course, we would get through it, if we have patience. Slowing down is just slower progress, but you're still moving forward.
Don't turn back today. Don't make a U-Turn. Don't turn back. The obstruction may just be a few minutes away. If you turn around, you'll never get through it.
Blessings
matt
We were in Wal-mart and needed some new bulbs for our kitchen lights. Small ones. Like 25 watts a piece. As I was standing there in wal-mart I was thinking "do I really want to replace these puny little bulbs?". Well, the answer was no, so I went to Home Depot and bought 3 new light fixtures with 100 watt fluorescent bulbs (which only consume 23 watts each), and installed them. Our kitchen lights can now be seen 5 houses down the street. Its so bright in there.
It looked so great I decided that we needed to upgrade the bulbs in the bathroom. We have an overhead vanity that has 6 bulbs, so I went back to get that many low-watt fluorescent bulbs.
Where I live in Covington, I'm only 5 mins away from Home Depot. I have to drive on a neighborhood arterial, and then get on a bigger highway. As I came up to the light, I had to turn right, but the traffic to left was really backed up, and as I looked down the road about 300 yards, I could see that there was a few emergency vehicles and a lot of lights. That's what was blocking the traffic.
I turned right and went down the hill towards Home Depot, noticing that the traffic was backing up on the opposite side of the road. I hadn't gone that far, maybe a half mile mile or so and began to see a few people on the other side of the road making U-Turns to go back the other direction.
I thought to myself- why are they turning around? The obstruction is only a half mile away. If they would have just stayed in their lane, they would've been through the traffic in probably about 7 minutes.
Of course I couldn't tell them this. I was in my car going the opposite direction. All I could think was- if they would just stay the course, they would get through it in no time. There is no need to turn back.
Such it is in most people's lives. We go along towards where God is leading us, and we get to place where there is the slightest bit of resistance and we immediately turn around and go the other way.
Much like the traffic yesterday, if we would stay the course, we would get through it, if we have patience. Slowing down is just slower progress, but you're still moving forward.
Don't turn back today. Don't make a U-Turn. Don't turn back. The obstruction may just be a few minutes away. If you turn around, you'll never get through it.
Blessings
matt
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)