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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