Thursday, October 28, 2010

It Doesn’t Work

Imagine for a moment you wanted to learn how to pop really, really good popcorn. You come to me because you know that I am a pro. I am thrilled to show you because we all love to show others that in which we find enjoyment.

“What do you do now?” I inquire.

“I do this,” you reply as you take a small pan, put a cup of oil in the bottom and 2 kernels of popcorn and turn the stove on low.

“Yeah, um…” I mutter, trying not to call you something inappropriate. “Let me show you.” I cover the bottom of the pan with oil, turn the stove on medium high and add ½ cup of popcorn. “Every minute shake the pan until the popping slows to less than a pop every 5 seconds.” I empty a perfect pan full of popcorn into a bowl and you enjoy it. “Got it?” I ask. “Got it!” you enthusiastically exclaim.

You return the following week, despondent. “It doesn’t work.”

“Okay, show me what you did.”

You pull out a pan, put a teaspoon of oil in the bottom of the pan, add 3 cups of popcorn and turn the stove on high. In a few minutes the smoke detector starts screaming. “See, I told you it didn’t work!” you growl.

Being a patient man and giving you the benefit of the doubt that I didn’t explain well, I say, “Let me show you again.” I cover the bottom of the pan with oil, turn the stove on medium high and add ½ cup of popcorn. “Every minute shake the pan until the popping slows to less than a pop every 5 seconds.” I empty a perfect pan full of popcorn into a bowl and you enjoy it. “Got it?” I ask. “Got it!” you enthusiastically exclaim.

You return a week later, angry. “It doesn’t work!”

“Alright, show me!”

You rip a pan out of the cupboard, turn the stove on medium high, put 3 cups oil in the pan and add 10 kernels of corn. I cover my ears before the smoke alarm taunts you again. “See!” you scream, clearly mad at me. “It doesn’t work! You must not know what you’re talking about!”

“Look!” I try to respond without sending the message that I think I should call the padded truck for you. “It does work. It has worked every time I have done it.” I even show you one more time. You settle down a little as you enjoy the perfect bowl of popcorn. “Now just do it that way and it will work.”

You stop coming around and I assume you’ve started doing it right. Much later I hear that you are spreading the news that popcorn doesn’t work and Herb has no idea what he is doing because you tried to follow my instructions and IT DIDN’T WORK.

Sound silly? Sure. When it is about popcorn.

But when it is about God, it’s not silly. It’s TRAGIC! We don’t do that, do we? Yep!

So many people have come to the conclusion that God and church don’t work because they hear His instructions over and over. They even see peoples’ lives that clearly demonstrate Jesus’ peace, joy, contentment, healthy relationships, good attitudes and more.

But they walk away to try do life their way instead of God’s way and angrily blame God and church for their lives not working.

How about you?

Boldly, Herb

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Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Don’t Feed the Animal!!

As I stood in the shower, an enlightening and profound thought popped into my head. The concept was not new, but the statement caught me in its simplicity and profundity.

DON’T FEED THE ANIMAL!!

If I don’t want the stray kitten to hang around, grow, become attached and impossible to excommunicate – DON’T FEED THE ANIMAL!! So simple, yet so true.

“Why,” you might be saying, “Is this so profound to you, Herb?”

Because I look around in my own life and others and realize the reason we struggle is because we are FEEDING THE ANIMAL!! And in the shower it occurred to me that we are being dense.

If I don’t want to have thoughts and behavior hang around, grow, become part of my life and impossible to excommunicate – DON’T FEED THE ANIMAL that is my thought life!!

If I don’t want hurt and anger to consume me – DON’T FEED THE ANIMAL!!

If I don’t want to struggle so hard with temptations of any kind – DON’T FEED THE ANIMAL!!

If I don’t want to be negative – DON’T FEED THE ANIMAL!!

And then, on the flip side, DO FEED THE ANIMAL you want to hang around, grow, become part of you want to be part of your life and impossible to excommunicate…

… right thoughts and behavior
… the opposites of the temptations that threaten
… forgiveness, love, patience
… positive thoughts

So simple, yet so profound and CHALLENGING to actually do.

Which animal will you feed today?

Boldly, Herb

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Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Not so Random Thoughts on Trust

May 12, 2010

Trust comes from going through insecure situations and experiencing God coming through for you.

The path to deep trust is one of fear, uncertainty, challenging all we rely on … and it is very painful.

The natural response is to resist and cling to what we can see even though we THINK and SAY we believe what we can’t see. That is not trust.

Trust is CHOOSING to do what is against our natural inclinations, what causes us fear, what seems to make no sense, to let go of control and OBEY God’s invitation.

Trust goes against everything we understand to give us all that we really desire but cannot grasp.

Trust requires that we obey BEFORE we understand – and then we understand AFTER we obey.

When we go through really tough times, God is offering opportunities to develop deeper trust that we think we even want but the kind of trust that God knows will deliver what we really desire.


Boldly, Herb

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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

What Wavelength Are You On?

Why do we hear requirements instead of promises? Demands instead of unbelievable offers?

HOW we hear is as important as WHAT we hear.

And it seems to me we are hearing WAY wrong when we listen to the instructions of God. Let me try to paint this picture…

Suppose you have a stern, distant, demanding, finger pointing teacher who seems to delight in reminding you of the monumental amount of work required for class. Every day she reminds you “If you want to get a decent grade in this class you will have to do better than you’re doing.” Toward the end of the school term she makes a different statement, “If you score well on the final exam you will get an A for the year.” What do you hear in that statement? A demand filled warning or a promise? That you had better study well because you’re not doing well or the promise that an A is in your future if you will only study well? Because of the way of hearing she has created, my bet is on the first choice.

Somehow most of us have developed the picture of a stern, distant, demanding, finger pointing, scolding, unhappy-with-us, nothing is ever good enough God. From the time you’re born he schemes to create that image and does so in many, many ways so don’t worry about HOW we got there. We’re there. With that picture in our heads, how in the world will we hear anything other than demands and requirements when we read the Bible? And why will we want to read the Bible?

God has been showing me that we’re missing His incredible promises and the unfathomable depth of His love because we are hearing wrong. That in this “if…then…” covenant relationship with God, we’re focusing on the “if” (requirements and demands) when He wants us to experience the “then” (promises). And it is KILLING us, causing us to live with the hole in our souls that God soooo wants to fill with satisfaction that comes from embracing Him. For example…

John 8:31-32 (NIV) 31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

What did you hear when you read that? That we had better work harder at holding on to Jesus’ teaching, that our efforts are not good enough, that we’re sad excuses for disciples? That’s the way I’ve typically read it. But I’ve come to believe that instead Jesus is making the promise of freedom – that He soooo wants us to have freedom and is showing us the way to accept the offer – hold to His teaching. IT’S A PROMISE FROM A LOVING, GIVING, SACRIFICING, DOING ALL THAT HE CAN FOR US GOD!!!!!


Or…
Matthew 6:12, 14-15 (NIV) 12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

What did you hear? That you had better do better at forgiving people, no matter how much they hurt you or you’re in trouble? Yet instead Jesus is pointing us to the promise to cleanse us from anger, bitterness and hurt, that He soooo wants us to experience the exhilarating release from emotional chains that He is showing us how to accept the offer – let go of the hurts people have inflicted on us just like He let go of the hurts we inflicted on Him. IT’S A PROMISE FROM A LOVING, GIVING, SACRIFICING, DOING ALL THAT HE CAN FOR US GOD!!!!!


Or…
Malachi 3:10 (NIV) 10Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Did you hear a demand from God to give him 10% of your income? That He wants your money and does not understand how hard it is for you to pay your bills? Yet instead God is pointing us to the promise to provide for us in flood-like ways, that He soooo wants to give us what we need and He is showing us how to accept the offer! IT’S A PROMISE FROM A LOVING, GIVING, SACRIFICING, DOING ALL THAT HE CAN FOR US GOD!!!!!

I challenge you to read the Bible this week looking for the promises of the real God of the Universe, who actually died for us so we can experience true life and crush that warped, ugly, twisted image.

Then WALK INTO HIS ARMS. You will never do anything to make Him happier!!!!

Boldly, Herb

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Friday, January 15, 2010

Can’t Believe How God Hangs With Us!

January 15, 2010

The other day my wife, Sheila, got excited. “Herb, did you see my baby?” she asked. My mind reeled. We’re way too old to have kids and I was pretty certain she was not pregnant. Let alone ready to deliver.

“No… where is it?” I asked tentatively. She pointed to a shelf by the hallway window.

“Look! Isn’t it exciting? It’s growing!” she enthused as she gently touched a tender shoot.

Sheila bought a plant two years ago. An orchid plant. She has nurtured, cultivated, watered, protected, and moved it from window to window. It is a spoiled brat! And it has given her NOTHING. Not one bud, not one bloom, not one aromatic fragrance. Nothing.

“It will only have one bloom a year,” she informed me.

ONE BLOOM! I thought (but did not say out loud), “You’ve got to be kidding! You’ve been caring for this green thing for two years and when it finally blooms it will only give you ONE flower? What a waste of time!” I kept my mouth shut, nodded and smiled. (Hey, I’ve been married a long time!)

“But when it blooms, it will last a long time,” she assured me. Rats, she saw through the smile.

“And when it blooms, it will be BEAUTIFUL!” Sheila continued. Obviously, it is worth it to her. All the time, effort and care put into something with great possibilities but no guarantees.

The “baby” continues to grow; Sheila continues to care for it and wait in anticipation of what is coming.

A lot like US. A lot like GOD.

God looks at us in the same way Sheila looks at the orchid plant. Full of great possibilities but no guarantees. He cares for us, nurtures us, protects us, gives us the best shot at becoming something beautiful. And then He waits. And waits. And waits. And waits some more. Knowing that if we turn to Him, we will bloom into something of incredible beauty.

Can’t believe how FAITHFUL God is with us. I would have given up on the orchid and us long ago. But not God.

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.” Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV)

Is your life beautiful? Can be. Turn to Him and He guarantees to transform us from a lump of green leaves to a magnificent creation.

Boldly, Herb

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