Projects

I was just working on a logo for a group that I help with. We're trying to build a leadership team that can duplicated itself. The big picture goal is to help build men into better men. To help them know Jesus Christ in a real tangible life changing way... and to see Him change their lives. The idea is to build through relationship and purpose rather than regiment and program. Make disciples instead of workers. The goal is to give men a desire to grow instead of a command to change. At some levels this stuff has got to seem painfully obvious... I remember phrases like "you can't make a flower grow by pulling on it" well.. duh. However, its a challenge to rebuild a way of thinking. For many people (especially people that have grown up in christian culture) we have a knee-jerk reaction to events, phrases... almost anything. Our reactions are governed by christian culture... but not necessarily the Bible. Our attitudes are shaped by christian expectations... but not necessarily the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, many of us.. if not most of us.. have a hard time seeing the separation between our christian culture (the social heritage we've been given) and a walking relationship with God. Its understandable to live that way.. there is safety in following what others have done... but also danger. God is a living God. He has no special love for the "christian" way of doing things. He takes joy in a righteous heart. A humble heart. A heart that chases after the life that he is offering to anyone that is willing accept the challenge.
In my experience, God doesn't care about glitter, or glamour. He only cares about real value. We could never impress him with our cool clothes or sleek tan (a relief for those of us that don't have either). He's not impressed with our pride... because He knows the truth of who we are. Good... the bad... the really bad. Its pretty scary to trust someone.. anyone with our real selves. God has spoken to me at times throughout my life from my earliest memories. (and before that based on things my mom has said) But even now (maybe especially now), It is a greater joy... but also a much greater challenge to surrender the image I have of myself. To go back to square one. To admit that I've been selfish again. It hurts to be wrong. Somehow God is faithful to lift my head again.... true humility is not to think bad of yourself... its to see yourself as you trully are... both your strengths and weaknesses. Pride is what happens anytime we step away from a true image of who we are. Pride is simply a lie... It just happens that the nice lies are the easiest ones to embrace.
Abraham Lincoln once asked; "if you call a dog's tail a leg... how many legs does it have?" The answer is "Four. It doesn't matter what you call a tail... it is still a tail."
Okay I've wandered a lot... its time for bed.