“I don’t care if you’re black, white, straight, bisexual, gay, lesbian, short, tall, fat, skinny, rich or poor. If you’re nice to me, I’ll be nice to you. Simple as that.”
― Eminem

Seems good enough.  But I have one question — what if they are not nice to you?  Then what are you going to do? Huh, Huh?? Yeah, then what are you going to do??( said in my best middle schooler voice)

But I say to you, love your enemies and bless the one who curses you, and do what is beautiful to the one who hates you, and pray over those who take you by force and persecute you.  Matthew 5:44 Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)

and sometimes a trip back to the King James is good:

⁴⁴But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Maybe the quote that we post all over Facebook should be something more like this

I don’t care if you’re black, white, straight, bisexual, gay, lesbian, short, tall, fat, skinny, rich or poor or if you hate me, or use me.  I’ll be nice to you. Simple as that.

He’s everywhere these days.  And I have to admit I really liked it that as I was sitting in BW3 yesterday watching some games, the pregame conversation consisted of more faith talk then it did touchdown talk! So Tim Tebow makes yet another appearance in the Buffet.

Last Friday, I was shown this video of Tim Tebow mic’d up in the Broncos come from behind win against the Bears from the previous week.  I find this to be amazing.  I actually have loved hearing this stuff from the time I was a little kid. I think the sideline banter is always fascinating.  But this video I find very impressive.  It’s not really the come from behind effort, or anything about the football game.  It’s more in the way Tim Tebow handles himself on the sideline. His temperament, his encouragement, his focus – and the evidence of where his treasure really lies.  He seems so at peace with himself and with what is going on around him.  Hm.. that sounds a lot like the words we read in that book we call the Bible.

To me it’s so impressive to see how even when he was behind, he was still focused on encouragement and giving effort.  I am sure he gets frustrated, I am sure there are moments that he would not want us to hear – he is human.  And I am sure there are others who, in their own jobs, are also great examples of this.  But to see this, in the limelight and the pressure of big time football, is quite inspiring.  I think this is a great example, one that we can take directly into our own fields of employment.

I think it would be worth to take the 10 minutes and watch this.  The example that you can see from him will help point you and others to the Christ.

 ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 New International Version (NIV)

To say it was words, is actually dramatizing the situation.  Simply put Plummer said – ‘stop talking about Jesus every play’, and Tim Tebow responded -’I can’t’.  That’s the Daily Buffet abridged version.  Check out real quotes here.

I think it’s really cool to see the poise with which he answered these questions.  It appears that he maintains his position of love, humility and grace, but still stays steadfast.  That’s a pretty good example.  Plus it reminds me of some words of the Son of God from the book of Matthew.  I really like The Message version here:

 ^32-33“Stand up for me against world opinion and I’ll stand up for you before my Father in heaven. If you turn tail and run, do you think I’ll cover for you? Matthew 10:32-33

Today, draw strength from Tim Tebow’s example and realize that if he can stand firm in front of the entire world with the TV cameras on him, maybe you can stand firm in your little corner of the world.

Plus, it has some benefits!

1. Warn those who are idle and disruptive
2. Encourage the disheartened
3. Help the weak
4. Be patient with everyone
5. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong
6. Strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else
7. Rejoice always
8. Pray continually
9. Give thanks in all circumstances
10. Do not quench the Spirit.
11. Test everything; hold on to what is good
12. reject every kind of evil.

 What is really interesting about this is that it comes from 1 Thessalonians.  Yeah, really. Anyway, maybe you already live this way, if not.. consider this a pretty good set of guidelines to consider and to reconsider as you look at your days.

But despite that I think they heard something, and the main thing I told them, is probably something all of us could be reminded of as well.

Before this parable Jesus has been asked to clarify who a person’s neighbor is.  He tells a story that we all know pretty well about a man and his rescuer.  He finished the story by with this little exchange:

  ³⁶“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37

This is really interesting, as if I can paraphrase that last bit, it might be like this:

“Go and have mercy on those who hate you, oh and also have mercy on those that you hate.”

And that’s a pretty amazing way of showing who are neighbor is that we are commanded to show love towards ( with as much love as we show ourselves!!!)

Well, what else can I say, except – Go and Do Likewise!

Believe or not,

I’m walking on air I never thought I could feel so free,

flying away on a wing and a prayer,

who could it be, believe it or not , it’s just me!

Yes, that’s quite weird.  I am not sure why the ear worm that is singing the theme song for the Greatest America Hero has landed in my head, but it’s there!

It could be because the talk radio guys where talking about real life super heroes yesterday morning.  In fact there is a web site devoted to them – http://www.reallifesuperheroes.com/.

That’s good stuff.  Some of it is actually quite fascinating and sort of motivating as these people are giving up themselves for others.

But I wonder if you have to put on a super suit to be a super hero.  It seems to me that we can be a super hero to someone each and every day by caring and serving, and treating others with respect.  Look at this

⁴²Those who give one of these little ones a cup of cold water because they are my followers will truly get their reward.”  Matthew 10:42 New Century Version (NCV)

 Watch out for the little things today and be a hero!

However, it sure is a lot of fun to put on that suit as well!!!

 ^10-14I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you’re again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles. Philippians 4:10-14 The Message (MSG)

And because of that, I think, these words popped into my head this morning

Go and do likewise.

³⁶“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37 NIV

If you remember, this these words are the conclusion of the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus’ words are all about action!  He tells us that we should go.  But not only go, but show mercy and help those who we pass, passing along the mercy that we live with.

What do you say,  Should we start off our Monday morning, by remembering to GO and DO likewise?

That got me thinking about Hebrews 12.

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, Hebrews 12:1 New International Version (NIV)

This is an excellent example of Philippians 2, and I think that it’s hard sometimes to find examples of people living that way in our society.  Last week I was teaching some high school kids about the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector from Luke 18, and during that class it was difficult for the kids to describe acts of humility.  The actions of this young man are an example of humility and selflessness in so many ways.

I applaud him and thank him for his example.  I am not so sure I would have stopped when I ran cross country.

 ^1-4If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Philippians 2