“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.

But one thing I notice is that no one checks in at work.  Whats up with that?  I guess we have Adam to blame! You know the whole work curse thing!  We spend the majority of our lives at our place of employment, but we don’t allow ourselves to acknowledge the significance.  As a matter of fact the one time that I did notice that one of my friends ‘checked-in’ at his workplace, the one comment on that post was “Lame”.

So I was thinking today that I would check in at work, and I would check in with one thought on my mind – this one from Micah:

8The LORD God has told us what is right and what he demands:

“See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God.” Micah 6:8 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

I determined this morning that this may help take some of the lameness out of the whole work thing, since it might just possibly help me look past the curse and to the influence I could exert on those people around me.  Maybe those concepts will make the work check-in just as interesting as the other fun places we go.  Well, who am I kidding, checking in at work will probably always be lame, but considering  justice, mercy and humility might change the way we consider the time we am there!

Give it a try.

Oh and here is an alternative ending!

 ⁸But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,

what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously—
take God seriously. Micah 6:8 The Message

My thoughts quickly traveled to Ephesians however, for it is here that the writer of this letter lays out some very profound and yet simple ideas for those who wish to follow the Christ.

You see, my friend was calling out the way sin has been categorized to a point that some is acceptable and some is not. However, the letter the the Ephesians clearly calls out all sorts of dark behaviors and groups them in the same pot.  Then there’s the real kicker.  It’s not a condemnation for having had these sins in your life, but an impetus to move past them:

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)

All of us have sinned. All of us continue to make mistakes.  All of us are so dependent on the grace the oozes from our Lord.  However, we are still admonished to move toward the light and to leave the other things in darkness.  The Message version of this brings home the point in a very contemporary way:

8-10You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it. Ephesians 5:8-10  The Message (MSG)

So, we need to leave the darkness behind, and move towards the light – transformed by the grace and love of Christ. As you battle the darkness in your life remember this admonishment. And as you deal with others steeped in the battle with darkness please remember that “you were once darkness” but now “you are the light”.  Approach them with the grace and love bestowed upon you.

Oh, and isn’t this just another reason to live a life of joy?

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:8-12

Years have past since those fun days but yesterday on my Facebook wall this is what I saw:

Yep, A reference back to those great days, by one of my very good college classmates.  We have joked about this one and off for years.  I am sure you have friendships like this as well, where you can meet after years and pick up just where you left off.  Those friendships are special, but how do we arrive at those.

I think its from shared experiences.  Experiences like the trauma of me coming into your dorm room in my undies.  Well, maybe, put probably deeper and more meaningful experiences then that.  I think it also from trust and “exposing” yourself.  No no, not in that way.   I mean, by opening up, and becoming a trusting soul, truly interested in what others are interesting in, and at the same time becoming slightly unguarded.  These relationships are special and are important, and I think are worth the risk.

In 1 Samuel 18:1, David and Jonathan “become one in spirit”.  They created a bond that we can continue to study as a great example of friendship.

So today, work on those friendship.  Continue to take an interest in the people around you and show them the love and mercy you have been shown.  Who knows what sort of bond you may develop.

Yep!  It’s Monday again, and here comes the monotony of the “work-a-day” world full force towards us.  It’s so easy to want to pull up the covers and stay were you are.

So it seems like one of those days that we need to turn to the the expert in futility – the write of Ecclesiastes.  It is well know that this dude, King Solomon, realized the vanity and futility that sits right int the face of men.  However, he didn’t give up, nor give him.  For he make this declaration:

¹⁰ Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave,  where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. Ecclesiastes 9:10 (New International Version)

Well, that’s a little morbid, but its real.  We get one chance at this little game of life.   I think the Message is even more plain on this topic:

^7-10 Seize life! Eat bread with gusto,
Drink wine with a robust heart.
Oh yes—God takes pleasure in your pleasure!
Dress festively every morning.
Don’t skimp on colors and scarves.
Relish life with the spouse you love
Each and every day of your precarious life.
Each day is God’s gift. It’s all you get in exchange
For the hard work of staying alive.
Make the most of each one!
Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily!
This is your last and only chance at it,
For there’s neither work to do nor thoughts to think
In the company of the dead, where you’re most certainly headed. (Ecclesiastes 9:10, The Message)

So here’s the deal, yep, Monday stinks.  But we only get so many of them.  Lets make ‘em count!  Get out there with all your might and impact the world around you!

Do it up!

But any way, back to Prayer Day.  It is the National Day of Prayer, and despite the constant emails and Facebook postings that Barry O canceled it, it’s still happening.  It’s good to take a day and pray especially for the country.  There are lots of challenges we face as a people, and I think that its good to take those to God.

Its also good to take your personal challenges there.  I mean check out 1 Peter 5:6-8 ( it is also a good verse for Joseph Bracket day, since it speaks of humility)

⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

⁸Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.  Prayer is not just some ritual done to appease our own spirituality, we do it because He wants to hear it. Did you ever think about that. The Creator of the Universe wants to hear about your anxieties, because He cares about you!

That’s sort of the crux of this whole “I’ll follow Jesus” thing isn’t it.  He cares about you and wants  you to follow him and to talk with him and to share with him.  Its nice to be wanted isn’t it!

So enjoy the Day of Prayer and remember “‘Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free!”

My mind is that way this morning, stuck and unable to work out some of the thoughts that are floating around in there.  I am really still debating this whole concept in Luke 14, about what it means to be willing to give up anything for the cause of Christ.  More and more I am realizing those are not just empty words – expect to see a more crystallized thought on this topic in the future ( no promises as to when!)

Anyway, my friend was eventually able to find a back road that was “safe” to travel and made it to his house.  However, I would ask you to remember that city.  The flooding there is really nasty and it’s not anywhere near complete.

So today feels like a day for a little Lamentations – but a hopeful section – maybe a break from any lamenting that you are experiencing today.

²¹ Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

²² Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

²³ They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

²⁴ I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”

²⁵ The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;   Lamentations 3:21-25

No matter how you look at this, America as a country will never be the same.  I have really not spent much time reading the details of the bill, and really who knows since it was passed in such an seemingly unconventional way last night.  I really don’t know whats in or out, and so its hard for me to judge the impact at this point.  I am sure some will be helped, and other will be harmed with the passing of this bill.  Time will tell us the real impact to America.  Some will offer praise today, some will ask for guidance and express concern.  Personally,  I am not overly excited about the deal.

If you are expressing joy today for this change in America – do so with a kind spirit.  If this bill was not to your liking, educate yourself, protest peacefully and lovingly and work for change.  But either way, the thing we can point to today, is something that is bigger than this bill.  Something that I hope will keep you striving today to impact the world immediately around you and to make a impact in peoples lives.

³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”^{[a] 37}No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[b] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 (New International Version)

¹⁷The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:17 (New International Version))

Whether your team lost this weekend, or you think the country is going down the tubes, keep striving to impact your neighbor, and keeping doing the will of God – which is to love your neighbor!

Its sort of like my Facebook status lately – or lack of Facebook status.  Just living life, no cool trips, no out of the ordinary funny thought that will get someone to comment. Its a Blue Collar Status -  “Just Living Life”

So, to check this out this morning, I interrupted my beautiful wife’s morning routine and asked her for her favorite verse. After getting a brain dump on the unit she is going to teach and her lesson plan for the day – as she was deep in thought – deep in just doing it thought.  She said, I don’t have a favorite, but how about Phil 4:13, its something about being content!  How fitting.

¹⁰I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³I can do everything through him who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:10-13 (New International Version)

Get ‘er Dun