Us and Them

I was checking my Twitter when I noticed that someone I don't know had tweeted a link to me saying "If you're interested in God or Christianity..." When I clicked on the link it was a video of a speaker at some sort of conference giving his argument against the existence of God.

I'll tell you the truth, my first reaction was to exit out of the video, but I didn't. Actually, I watched it through twice. I learned something that I probably wouldn't have learned if it was a link to a sermon or the Skit Guys. By opening ourselves to listen we create a space of vulnerably, a space that allows us to think, or dare I say it, be wrong.

When we assume our views right on just about everything, we shut out a will to learn. No matter what religion or beliefs, everyone is yearning to believe in something beyond ourselves.

So no matter who you are, I believe this holds true.

The Christian is a child of God.
The Jew is a Child of God.
The Buddhist is a child of God.
The atheist is a child of God.

Nothing can break that bond, we are all the same people. Thinking in terms of "us" without the "them" opens a dialogue for us to think and let think. We won't agree on everything-we don't have to, but as Christians we are called to love one another NO MATTER WHAT.

I guess what I'm trying to say here is don't be scared to get off your high-horse and look around a bit. You never know where you'll find God.

Woah, I didn't know something productive could come out of spammer tweets. That is, if blogs are considered productive.

Caught

Move me aside this week, Lord.
I've done this a few times before, and I think I've got it down.
But Lord, take all my expectations and put them away,
for greater things are yet to come.
I can't even fathom the ways You will appear to me in these new places with new people,
if I can move myself aside.
Replace my greed with passion for serving.
Take away my discomforts and help me find joy.
Take my pessimistic thoughts and comments and turn them into visions of hope.
And Lord when I fail, let me see the grace You bestow.
And let me return that grace to the best I can.
Make me a vessel for you, my God.

Make me a servant for You,
let me seek You in new ways,
let me show Your love in new ways in a way that's contagious.

And Lord, if I am "caught" doing these things, let me boast not for myself but for You.
For I know without faith, the wheelchair ramp is just more wood,
the nails get rusty,
and the grass simply turns back to dust.

But with faith they symbolize hope in a not seen before.

Keep me close to You this week, Lord.
Amen.

The Art of Telling People what they Already Know

When I'm speaking in front of a crowd, I almost always have the thought "they've probably already heard this." Especially in older generations, it's hard for me to figure out how to bring a unique perspective that a 70-year-old hasn't thought of before.

When I hear a good sermon, my thought process generally goes like this,
"Well yea."
"Oh, I've never thought of it that way!"
"Man, all this stuff makes perfect sense, I guess I somehow knew it all along!"
"Oh man, now I've got a new idea from the facts I think I already knew!"
Something like that.

I almost feel like it's a respect issue. I wouldn't want to be talking down to a congregation of people much wiser the myself. Even after going through a sermon/devotional/lesson/blog a time or two I think what I say is too obvious to even bother telling. Maybe I should just ask for more amens.

After pondering this I wondered if maybe it was God reassuring me not to be a pulpit-preacher. But I'm going to have to preach in just about anything I do in some form or another.

What's the best preachin/teaching/speaking advice you've heard?