Vision Morgue

Today I cleaned out my office at the church.  Strange in so many ways.  I was glad that I was in such a time crunch.  It kept me from dwelling too much on the past.

Despite the rush, I could not help but be struck by stacks of Vision statements, Mission statements, 5-year plans, and new strategies.  The corpses of good intentions and even some good ideas were sprawled out before me as I opened one file draw after another.

I moved old dreams from file drawers to a waste basket, bits of my heart stuck to each one.

However, as much as I failed at making and keeping well-laid plans, the King's work was unquestionably accomplished.  Sometimes it was the fruit of those strategies and plans, sometimes not.

The point is not to abuse myself for failed plans, or to bag on 5-year plans and mission statements as valuable tools.    The point is... eluding me right now.

Given the chance to do it over again, I probably would both try to be more diligent in sticking to good plans AND remind myself in earnest that the prize is more in the people than the planning.

That's what I think, but what do I know?

Respect or sympathy

It was only a couple of years ago that it really started dawning on me that so often in life we are forced to decide whether we desire sympathy or respect.

This is not to say that you cannot get both.  What I mean is that if you desire sympathy, you will most likely miss out on respect.

Early in my marriage, I'd sometimes choose to desire sympathy.  I'd overplay my ignorance concerning the use of a washing machine, for instance.  The result was some sympathy.  She did the wash for me.  However, she also started viewing me as someone too dumb to work a washer.

You see the price of pursuing sympathy is not worth the sympathy.

I tried to explain this to my nephew recently when his whining would not relent.  When we whine so much we lose out on respect for sure, and often sympathy too.

But what do I know?

you ever notice?

Have you ever noticed Paul's use of the present tense in 1 Timothy 1:15?

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

I am the worst. He does not say he was the worst, simply referring to his days as a hunter of Christians.

I had not really noticed that until this morning. I'm not sure it makes a dramatic change to how I interpret that. But it emphasize all the more the attitude we ought to have about ourselves, especially those of us in church leadership.

Tozer and Accepting Christ

I've been listening through the audio version A. W. Tozer's "Pursuit of God." In it he mentions that the phrase "Accepting Jesus", which is such popular term in modern Christianity, is nowhere found in Scripture.

However, Colossians 2:6 speaks of receiving Christ.

Do you think Tozer is simply mincing words, or is there a significant difference between accepting Christ and receiving Christ?

Btw, Tozer's larger point, that there is so much more to the gospel than the simple, momentary act of accepting (or receiving) Christ, is well-supported by Colossians 2.

I really hope that you are paying close attention to this monumental campaign season. We are at a crossroads of history. And it is our vote that will elect the face of America.

He is the image of the invisible God,

We are talking about the President and the first lady of the biggest super-power of the industrialized world.

the firstborn over all creation.

We must not underestimate the importance the Executive Branch plays in the push and pull balance of our checks and balance system of Federal Government.

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,

He will probably appoint a judge, approved by the Senate of course. He will veto legislation composed by the House and Senate that could potentially make us less safe or less wealthy.

whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

His leadership will be the stabilizing force for our country.

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

He is the leader of the free world.

And he is the head of the body, the church;

He is the Commander In Chief of the most powerful military force on earth.

he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

He will speak to the world on our behalf.

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him

Our standard of living, the very peace we take for granted is at stake here.

to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

This is simply an attempt to humbly remind us that we are only voting for a President. He will not be, cannot be anything more or less than that. The King Lives! The King reigns! Forever and ever, Amen!

View the alluded Scripture.

Simpsons Contest

Ben Brown has pointed out that you can create Simpons' versions of ourselves here. The contest is to see who can create the most life-like version of themselves, or of anyone else that we all know. Mine is nbot very good. If you can create a Shannon that is better than this, there may be a prize in that too.

Just e-mail me your pictures. Contest ends when July ends. But keep sending in your creations as long as you like.

A bit of selfish activism

I'm a big fan of Pandora. Basically, the only way I'm going to listen to music at all is if I can get access to good music (not what's on the radio) for free (not sold in stores). Pandora has made that possible for me. Now the government is threatening to destroy that. An arbitration committee (heavily lobbied) has tripled the charges to Internet radio sites like Pandora, retroactive for the last year and a half. This would shut most of them down.

So, if you think it is valuable for me, Shannon Caroland, to listen to music, please visit this site and call your Senator/Congressperson to vote on the appropriate bills. Please, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Run DMC, Pedro the Lion, Johnny Cash, and Kirk Franklin, along with all my other favorite Internet Radio musician, beg you to think of ME!