So anyway, that got me thinking.  What if the Christ had an annual performance review with us.  I wonder what he would say?  For some reason I think it might go something like this:

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8:11

What else do you think he might say?

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I mean what a great day – it’s ok to shop at work.   Weeks ago I marked my calendar with “No Meetings Here” from 8 through 1pm today.  What a great day.  Well, actually, I marked my calendar because the braces are coming off my oldest this morning!  (More about that later this week!)

So anyway, enjoy the day, find the deals that you need of whatever it is you need, stay focused on your work, and don’t be too greedy.

But ultimately, remember the best deal that is available each and every day.

After a surprisingly non eventful start to the day, Amy and the boys went off to work.  Following suit, I prepared my self for a day at the ol’ milestone, feed the cats, loading my bags for the post-work activities into my truck and reached in my pocket for my keys.

Except  they were not there.  Nor were they on the nightstand, of the kitchen counter, or my desk.  no, they were in Amy’s purse – that was in Amy’s classroom at Amy’s school.

Not only that, but remember last week when I had no power ( yes Ben, I had no POWER!!!, and it went out again last night!!!! – I think I have moved to a third world country).  Anyway,  remember last week, when I had no power, and no laptop.  You do!  great, because the laptop problem has returned.

So, here I sit, at home, with a laptop complaining about a hard drive it can’t read, and two , count them two cars in the garage which I cannot start, because I have no keys.

Well, actually, I do have one key – I have a key to the car Amy drove to work today.

Oh, it’s Monday!!!

So, what does this have to do about anything, apart from my complaining?  Well, I think it shows how important something foundational or something essential is to the whole works.  Without  a key those vehicles are just big hunks of steel.  Although they are completely functional, they are missing the one element that keeps them going.  It sort of reminds me of these words from John 15:5, which we will put in Red letters

Also I think this is gentle reminder about how to handle something we all deal with everyday – anxiety.  In the end, this whole deal this morning is actually a small thing.  I do have a 11ish appointment that I should be present in the office for, and I do need to get this laptop fixed, which again requires heading to the office, but in the end, being anxious and worrying will not help at all.

 ²² Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? ²⁶ Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Luke 12 NIV

So, Stay Calm and keep hold of the Key!

But as I wrote about last football season when the old Mountaineers had some new fancy suits to wear, lets make sure you are clothed with something else today as well.

You see the whole idea of this day is to get you to identify yourself with your team – whose colors are you wearing?  Who do you support?  It’s a fun day.  But look at this, these words from the Christ.

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:15-20 New International Version (NIV)

He says – “hey y’all,  you can tell who is on my team by what they do – how they act, by what legacy they leave”. And then later he says – “well boys, it’s like this, they will know you are my team because you love other people”.

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 New International Version (NIV)

So put on the old Gold and Blue, the Purple and Gold, the Orange, the Crimson, the Red and Black, and also put on the fruit of the spirit and the colors of the Christ!

Let us be known by our fruit!

For some reason, my first instantaneous reaction was one of outrage and frustration.  But then I quickly stopped myself.  Why should these things upset us so much?  Lets look at the facts, the project was still being completed, the direction and strategy for the work was still on track and heading in the same direction.  Why did it matter who, and how?

I started thinking about my post from Tuesday about Micah 6 and what we really are here for.  I started thinking about Matthew 5, which I has just spend 30 minutes in conversation about, and I very quickly realized – this did not really matter, and in acutallity was a great time to help shine the light of Christ. 

For some reason its such a struggle for us to see past the noise of this world, and to concentrate of the important things, and to deal with conflict in a way that still brings glory to the Creator and deflects from us.

So, because of these thoughts,  two verses have been flitttering around in my head, so I thought I would share those today:

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. John 15:10 NIV

 ⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹²My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:9-12  New International Version (NIV)

The words on the magnetic – Today: live, give, reach, do and solve are simple verbs to help remind me of how I should be spending my day , today.

1. Live the day to the fullest
2. Give to others
3. Reach out to others
4. Do what needs to be done
5. Solve problems with creativity

That’s a pretty good list.  Those simple verbs are just enough to give me a reminder with each email, instant message and choice throughout the day of my potential impact on others and they help focus me to make sure that I am getting the most out of each day.

Yes, yes, a little cheesy, but whatever it takes to keep the days moving in the right direction!

So with that a few simple short and powerful verses to get your going on Monday!

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.Psalm 90:12

Each man’s life is but a breath.
Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro:
He bustles about, but only in vain;
he heaps up wealth not knowing who will get it. Psalm 39:5-6

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.John 10:10 ESV

A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. Proverbs 22:9

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.Ephesians 4:32

Today !  Live, Give, Reach Do and Solve!

For instance, the one that I saw that really got me thinking about this was “Jacky Jones Ford”. Can you think of a better name for a car dealership.  That name works, it sounds goods and immediately make you think of a place you want to go.  Whereas ‘Jason Butcher Ford” just doesn’t have the same ring.  Somethings just go together, and some things just don’t.

It’s sort of like, peanut butter and chocolate, or maybe like a follow of Christ and righteous living!

Yeah, as I looked at the license plate for Jack Jones Ford, I was thinking, man that is so perfect, so expected, so right.  I don’t live near a Jacky Jones dealership, but I think I would go there if I did just because the name fits so well with a car dealership.  His name make me want what he is selling.  And that let me down the path of how our names are always associated with something.  And I think as a follow of the Christ, we need to make sure that our names ‘just fit’ with the direction he gave us – things like:

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. John 14:15 New International Version (NIV)

and

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

So, think about it today, if you had to put your name of a license plate, would it draw people to what you are trying to sell?

This thing has been bugging me for a few weeks and then earlier this week I ran across this little section of John 6.

 ²⁷“Don’t waste your energy striving for perishable food like that. Work for the food that sticks with you, food that nourishes your lasting life, food the Son of Man provides. He and what he does are guaranteed by God the Father to last.” (John 6:27, The Message)

Here the Christ says to us to not wast our energy for things that don’t last ( money) but to strive for food that lasts ( Him).

What a difficult statement, as we have to have money to eat and live, don’t we?  Our success in life is based on our stuff and our employment, isn’t it?

Well, in some ways yes.  Work is good, ( did I acutally type that) and should be very rewarded and part of that reward is money.  I think the big thing the Christ says to us here is what are we striving for.

So I guess today, go ahead, work for money, but make sure you know what you are striving for.  Is it perishable or will it last forever?

But there is an event that seems to define the evening activities of this Passover Thursday, as the Christ, the Lamb, gathers his men for one last meal, one last time to teach, one last time to give them the instruction they need before the show really starts. It’s a little like that last practice before the big game, as coaches struggle to find that one piece of information that his players should hold above all else they have learned. And look what Jesus tells them, after he washes their feet in an educational “hands-on” interactive instructional session:

^10-12Jesus said, “If you’ve had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you’re clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you’re clean. But not every one of you.” (He knew who was betraying him. That’s why he said, “Not every one of you.”) After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table.

^12-17Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life. (John 13:12-17, The Message)

He tells them, and through them he tells us – Be a servant, follow my example. Do what I have done, act like I have acted – give your life for the others.  So, speaking of following, here is a little short video clip about following him.

Hm, follow him, imitate him, act like him.  I wonder what would happen if we do?

So on this day when those most unholy negotiations took place, consider the negotiations on your docket today. Consider your motivation and your ability to be steadfast to the one who will set you free.

 ^31-32Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. “If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.” (John 8:31-32, The Message)