The first thing I tried to press home was how they really control their time, they have more of it than anyone and they can choose how to use it. I reminded them of this quote for which I don’t know who to attribute it.

For every minute you are angry or irritated, you lose 60 seconds of happiness.

I think they found the math there pretty impressive.

The second point was an attempt to show them that using your time to give to others has great returns, especially when you mind the measure that you use to give to others.

Oh course that’s all based on this verse – one that is just full of hope.

³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38  New International Version (NIV)

I did try to explain this to them with a crayon box and a large trash can.  I hope they understand measures!

Mind the measure you use today, and remember don’t waste those seconds of happiness on things you really can’t control. (or maybe I should say you can control….)

Even though the term has been around since the mid 90′s, I really don’t recall hearing it very much – or I really am out of touch with what is going on.  Anyway, for those of you in the same boat as me, a slacktivist is someone who does something in support of a cause that requires minimal personal effort.  For instance, give $5 dollars online, or post the topic to Facebook, but yet never take any other action.  As the article suggests, those people have been pretty powerful with messages such as SOPA, and even some of the Occupy stuff.

But, here is why I was so attuned to this.  This is how lots of us follow Christ.  We say yes, we post verses to Facebook, and we even give a few dollars – minimal personal effort.  Although, I like the concept ( a lot), I don’t think we are called to be that way when we follow the Way.

¹³ Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. Romans 6:13 New International Version (NIV)

and

²⁷He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Luke 10:27 New International Version (NIV)

God loved you so much that he gave his son. Do you think that slacktivism and following the Christ can go together?

³¹Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.  Luke 6:31 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

I hope I can make it past 9 o’clock with this still on my mind!

This weekend while on the bus, I was reading the Steve Jobs biography – which is a fascinating read, by the way.  Anyway, Jobs, as you may know was into the whole Zen thing, and simplicity.  The book was comparing some of his ways to the German philosopher Nietzsche, who evidently wrote in his book Thus Spoke Zarathustra, “The spirit now wills his own will and he who had been lost to the world now conquers the world.”.  I don’t claim expertise in all of the ways to enlightenment, but I do see that those thoughts sound oddly familiar to this

 ³⁴ Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. ³⁶ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? ³⁷Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Mark 8:34-37 New International Version (NIV)

and this

³³ Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. Luke 17:33 New International Version (NIV)

Of course the big difference being the guiding force – your own spirit or the spirit of the creator of the world?  Today, give up yourself, let the Spirit guide you, and the teaching of sacrifice and love light your way.

But the story behind this day is incredibly interesting.  Obviously, we all know the original story that Jesus told as he answered the question ‘Who is my neighbor?’.  This day, however, was created to remember a day, or a night, that occurred back in 1964.  I guess it’s really the anti-pattern of being a Good Samaritan.  You have probably heard about this event – a murder of a girl on the streets on New York that occurred while 38 people watched and didn’t help.  You can read the full story here.

So today, let’s be reminded of our duty to help others.

[Jesus said]  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.”

But, here’s a good outcome.  In 1999 a few doctors decided to proclaim the Monday after the time adjustment as Napping Day. Yeah, that’s right. a day where we can nap like a grade school student without any retribution.  I wonder if my management will comply?

It’s just another one of those things that make March mad!

So, let your body recover today, but let your spirit “Be always on the watch“.

One group could not stop talking about it

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.” Luke 2:20 ASV

and the second group decided they would leave a different way then the way they came:

¹¹ After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. Matthew 2:11-12 NASB

So after experience Christ this Christmas, will you keep him on your lips?  Is it time to go another way?

As you probably know, the players are rewarded quite well at this games.  The bowl gifts range from TV’s to watches, from iPods to rings. Tons o’ swag – well – of course swag that is under the $300 NCAA limit.  Yesterday however, a few Louisiana Tech players gave their packages to children from the Make-A-Wish foundation.  That’s probably even more incredible than the touchdowns and tackles.  Jump over and read about it here.

And be inspired by the heart of those players, and the magic of the Christmas season.

Keep Giving!

³⁸Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  Luke 6:38 New International Version (NIV)

Given this time of year, and some of the thoughts I have had this week, if I could go back in time today, I would head back to a pasture 2000 years ago.

 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. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 ¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 ¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

 ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2 NIV

I can’t imagine what those dudes were thinking. All of the sudden an angel appears and reveals the greatest message ever given.  Wow, I would love to see that!  Can you imagine?

So today, lets all find our inner Marty McFly or go find the Doctor and spend some time traveling, or at least pretending to travel, through time! 

And as you go, sing “Glory to God in the highest” just like those angels!

I had read this passage so many times in the past, but yesterday it seemed these words were a lot closer to home than before. No, I did not have an angel talk to me. And no, I am not pregnant!. But I do struggle with submitting myself to the commands and directives of the creator of the world. I do struggle hearing those commands and saying “sure if that is what you want!”

But, that’s exactly what that young girl, Mary did.

³⁸And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38 English Standard Version (ESV)

Could you imagine if we actually responded that way to the commands of our Lord? I believe we would see incredible things happening! Her response, is quite an example. Might be worth following that example today?

Let it be to me.