Are You My Weird Friend?

One Pharisee, who was an expert on the law of Moses, asked Jesus this question to test him: “Teacher, which command in the law is the most important?” Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ All the law and the writings of the prophets depend on these two commands.”
Matthew 22:35-44

I have to admit it, I have a rather interesting group of friends.  Some might be called "straight laced" whilst others might be called "flamboyant"; then there are those who are introverts ("the quiet type") while some are gregarious.  And weird though they may be as a collection or individually (you know which you are), the thing we all have in common is a love for each other.

We can disagree, we can argue, we can laugh until we snort, we can sit quietly, we can talk about anything, we aren't afraid to be who God created us to be when we are around each other.  

How wonderful would it be if all of God's children had such freedom? Oh wait...we DO have that freedom!  Because we love God, we should be able to love all of His children as well!  Hmmmm.....

There's A Reason You're Weird

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2

 Yesterday we discussed getting rid of all the garbage that we accumulate in our lives and letting it go because Christ took it all to the Cross.  Yet we sometimes tend to miss how quickly and subtly we can slip right back into the old habits and our old ways of doing things.  We begin to act like we did before we became a Christian, and even though we TELL people we are Christians, no one would know it or believe it because we don't act like it.

Now......I'm not saying you need to adopt the attitude of piety whereby you walk about pompously saying "Bless you" to everyone you pass.  Follow the example of Christ, even though he hung out with prostitutes, tax collectors, and the rejects of society, He never became like them.  We can talk to *gasp* sinners, because we ARE one and because Christ has changed us.  

If you read closely what Paul writes, you will see that quite a bit of it deals with the focus of our thoughts.  Why?  Thought always precedes action!  Therefore, when you focus your thoughts on God, then your actions will follow.  When you focus on the love of Christ, your actions will reflect that.

We are called to be weird for a reason!  

I Am Unique....or Perhaps Just A Bit Odd.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, 

so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:10

Have you ever wondered what would happen if we were all exactly the same?
     *   Everyone would hate asparagas.
     *   Everyone would have already heard all the jokes, so no one would laugh.
     *   Everyone would dress in tiedye.
     *   There would be no need to have conversations because everyone already knows what everyone else would say.
     *   There would be no competitions because everyone was exactly the same.
     *   We would be SO bored (and boring).


Honestly, Science fascinates me, but I don't seem to understand it.  Math bores me to tears and I am convinced this is why we have computers.  I love people watching.  I love trying to observe details.  Large crowds make me uncomfortable, because I am an Introvert.  I have Sound Sensitivity (also known as Misophonia) and really want to punch people who, for example, cannot seem to chew gum with their mouth closed.


So what am I trying to say?  God made you weird for a reason (some weirder than others), in order that you can fulfill HIS purpose.  So what does all this mean?  STOP TRYING TO BE A CLONE just so you'll "fit in."  Be who God made you to be!

Odd Ducks!

Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

James 2:15-16

I am a FIRM advocate of St. Francis' approach to ministry: "Go out and PREACH the Gospel every day!  And if you must...use words."  As a Chaplain, I can tell you with quite the amount of certainty, we are called to be ODD DUCKS!  You see, it is not our job to show up on a scene, whip out our Bibles and begin preaching or conducting religious services.  We are expected to meet needs.  To be honest, there have been many times I have ridden with deputies or have been called to a scene and the first thing I am told is, "Don't God me!  I don't want to hear it!"  And I don't.  I will fetch some water, or some tissues, or hand out some Tootsie Rolls, of just sit there quietly.  

Think about the Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan.  What do you think would have been the wounded man's response had the Teacher of the Law or the Pharisee had arrived and started preaching to him?  Well, if I was the wounded man, I would be praying hard that I would bleed out or that the ambulance brakes might slip, just this once, and put those two chuckle heads out of my misery!  But it was the Samaritan who got the Chaplain's job right!  He didn't preach!  He didn't try to convert! He didn't try to deliver a message that would "rock your world."  Instead, he met them injured man's needs for aid and comfort.

When people are in crisis, they don't need or want a sermon!  When people are hurting they don't want to hear how God loves them!  When people are grieving, they don't want to hear the Gospel message (wonderful though that message is).  During the floods last October, people came together and brought food, water, clothing, and shelters were set up.  Many churches opened their doors to be places where people's need could be met.  But never once did I hear of a church that said, "You have to let us PREACH to you, PRAY with you, BAPTIZE you, and ADD YOU TO OUR MEMBERSHIP ROLLS, before we will help you!"

When people are hurting or in crisis, first we have to render aid.  THAT is our sermon!  We can pray silently for them while we are providing that bottle of water or that box of Kleenex.  Remember: "No one cares what you know (or what you have to say) until they know how much you care."

I have heard this over and over: "Not every preacher can be a Chaplain!"  And here's the part most of us don't get, being a Chaplain is everyone's job!  Not just mine.  We are called to meet people's needs, as best we can and let our actions be our sermon!

Sounds easy doesn't it?   Try it sometime.