I Was Blind Buy Now I See...

Just this past night while Heather and I were putting Maya to bed Maya asked for a second pillow. So, Heather being the wonderful mother that she is ventured into the closet in the bathroom (that is where our linen closet is) and grabbed an Elmo pillow case - or so she thought. As she walked back into Maya's room she unfolded the pillow case only to discover that it was an Elmo blanket. Needless to say Maya and I broke out in laughter when I replied, "don't worry Maya we will tape the blanket and turn it into a pillow case." While we were laughing Heather found another pillow case and placed a second pillow on Maya's bed. I kissed Maya goodnight and walked out of the room so Heather could do the same. As Heather walked out Maya yelled at her to remind me not to tape her Elmo blanket.

Kids take things so literal don't they? Maya was actually concerned that her daddy was going to tape her blanket. She had no clue that I was merely joking. You see, she takes my words literally because she trusts me and knows that I have her best interest at heart. She feels safe in my arms under my care so she can't help but to believe me at my word. Somewhere along the line things won't be so literal to Maya. She will begin to see gray amongst the black and white. When will that moment occur I do not know. But there will be a POINT in time in which her perspective will change, and this is what I want to focus on:

We all have points in our lives in which our perspective changes. Of the utmost importance to me at this point in time in my life is the point of change to consumerism and the racial and class divisions that are found in the church today.

This past week in my theology class we discussed our blindness to consumerism attempting to figure out how one is no longer blind. One's experience goes along way in revealing ones sight to the racial and class divisions in our churches. John Newton in his famous song Amazing Grace says, "(I) was blind but now I see..." If you know the story or seen the movie then you know that Newton was once a slave ship captain. Through his own experiences as a captain viewing first hand the horrors of the slave trade Newton repented of his blindness and sought to serve his God.

I encourage you to read, Consuming Jesus. In the book Metzger humbly approaches this difficult topic. We have a tendency, whether we know it or not, to associate and gather in homogeneous units. We feel comfortable around people who look, smell, talk, and act just like we do. The message and the meaning of the Gospel stretches beyond any and all racial and class barriers. As Christ followers we should do the same, seeking to include and embrace people who are different then us. This requires initiated-purposeful-action on our part. In other words it requires us to LOVE.

My prayer for us all is that we experience God's love in new ways so that we can be used as catalysts to break down the walls of race and class divisions in our church and culture.

For further insight and reading on this topic check out Dan's recent post.

The Story Goes....

Before you read on make sure you are up to date by reading a previous post about my new favorite word.

Marjorie Osborne Wesson was her name. She came from a very distinguished east coast family, you know the kind who shipped their horses and carriages over to Europe when they went on a vacation. Her father was a chemist who created what has become a common cooking ingredient, Wesson cooking oil. So, needless to say Marjorie grew up never worrying about being able to put food on the table or clothes on her back. Marjorie eventually moved out of her father's house when she married a man by the name of David Francis years before the Great Depression.

If you know anything about the Great Depression then you know that it was so great that it affected people in all social classes and economic status. Even the "rich" struggled to place bread on the table and clothes on their backs. During the height of the Great Depression with only $5 to her family's name Marjorie decided that she would fight and stand for those who were not able to. She decided to be a champion of the underdog and start a "milk fund" for the the local school children who did not have anything. So, Marjorie took .25$ (a quarter) and started the "Marjorie Francis Milk Fund". Now, a quarter does not sound like much money in today's world. So let me place it in perspective for you. With only a few dollars left to her family's name to live off of Mary took 20% and gave it away to help those in need.

A seed and attitude was planted many years ago during the great depression. The lessons learned, the attitude, and lifestyles that were planted in the family long ago have continued to grow and have emerged in the generations that followed. It's in the blood, the family blood. The lineage of the Wesson/Francis family travels through Heather's grandmother, my mother-in-law, Heather, and now my daughters Maya and Finley. It is a lineage of infracaninophile's and I love them all for it because I am an infracaninophile myself.

Are you?

INFRACANINOPHILE

Props to my mother-in-law for introducing me to my new favorite word. In case you are wondering what it means, here is the definition:

A person who champions the underdog. The word has three parts. The Latin prefix infra- means "interior to,below, or beneath." Related words include under, inferior, and inferno. The middle part, -canino- is from the Latin canus (dog), and-phile is from the Greek philos (beloved, loving). So, the word can be directly translated as lover of the underdog (my personal preference).

Infracaninophile has been in Barbara's (my mother-in-law) family since she was a child. It carries special meaning and is deeply rooted throughout the generations of her family. I just heard some of the history behind the word for the first time so I am still getting my facts straight. Once I do I promise I will share them with you.

In the meantime - don't hesitate in being infrocaninophile's.

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Words Your Not Ready to Hear...

The conversation in the car on the way home from Preschool last week went as follows:

MAYA: Guess what daddy?
MARK: What sweetie?
MAYA: I have three boyfriends!
MARK: You have three what?
MAYA: Boyfriends daddy.
Before I could shut my mouth and continue driving she said:
MAYA: Yeah, daddy all of the kids in my class are my friends. But I like Charlie, Elliot, and Michael because they are my boyfriends.

Now, I know your smiling (as you should be) because I was and still do as I reflect on my conversation with Maya. I share this story with you to remind you that there are times in our lives when we need to listen to words that we are not ready to hear. Because it is in those moments that God is glorified and revealed in our lives.

How might you react when you listen to the following words your not ready to hear:

"He's not going to make it, we need to keep him comfortable."
"Mom, I'm pregnant."
"Yes, he will be confined to a wheel chair for the rest of his life."
"Were are getting a divorce."
"We tried all that we could do, but we could not save her."
"Yes, your right that grade is final. You did not pass."
"There has been an accident"
- OR -
" Not you too."
"Your not one of his disciples are you?"
"Didn't I see you in the garden with him?"

Do those last three questions sound familiar? If so then you know the story of Peter and how he denied any affiliation with his Lord and Savior. In all four of the Gospels we encounter the story of Peter as he denies Christ and is unable to truthfully answer the three questions asked of him. In the Gospel of John we read the story of Peter intertwined with Jesus as he is being questioned before Pilate. When you read John's account of the story you will move back and forth between Jesus and Peter as they moved inside and outside. The imagery is magnificent as John retells his version of the story. One commentary puts it this way. "John has constructed a dramatic contrast wherein Jesus stands up to his questioners and denies nothing, while Peter cowers before his questioners and denies everything ... The foil Peter provides helps highlight Jesus' regal strength and authority, the hallmark of John's portrait of Jesus in his passion."

Sometimes the words that we don't want to hear are the divine words spoken to us so that we may continue to shine and glorify our God in heaven.

Sound Teaching & Sound Living

In 2nd Timothy 1 the Apostle Paul encourages Timothy to pursue sound teaching. In 1:13 the Apostle admonishes Timothy to pay attention and remember what he has spoken to him. "What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus." He then empowers him to "guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us" (v.14).

Often times we simply stop at these verses to illustrate how important the truth is and how we must hold onto tightly the sound teaching. If we are to read further into the chapter and into the totality of Paul's relationship with Timothy we see more then just sound teaching being communicated. As I read this passage I see two themes emerging. The first and obvious theme of sound teaching, which we previously discussed, as well as the subtle, yet just as important theme of sound living. You see I believe the apostle Paul talks of sound teaching and illustrates it with sound living. In verse 16 Paul speaks of Onisphorus & his life as an example of sound living. Another example, though not explicit in the text, is the relationship Paul has with Timothy.

Sound teaching and sound living go hand in hand, they must be communicated together. However, this is easier said then done. I believe it is easier to speak the truth and declare it because we have the Bible and can refer directly to it. On the other hand it is not easy to consistently live a sound life.

Why is this? Do you agree or disagree? What are some additional thoughts you might have when pondering over sound teaching and sound living.