However, in the first century a popular Rabbi on the “speakers circuit” traveling around the countryside would have been a little unusual and certainly not necessary.  A more conventional method would have been to establish a school in a city like Jerusalem where disciples could gather and study underneath him.  Or if that didn’t suit him he could have set up in the wilderness somewhere creating a community where people could stay with him, and sit under his leadership.  But the Gospels tell us he didn’t choose either of these conventional methods.

Sometimes we read the Bible without asking any questions. We quickly skim over the finer details to get to the more quotable scriptures we can underline.  The kind we can share on Facebook.  Most of us take for granted that Jesus traveled Palestine.  Maybe we assume this just must have been the way it had to be.  How else would he get his message out?

But Jesus didn’t have to travel to make disciples or deliver his message. Certainly a man of his authority and renown could have attracted enough people to anyplace he chose to stay. The Jews had been anxiously awaiting the coming Messiah to deliver them and to fulfill God’s promise for hundreds of years.  The rumors and stories that the Christ had come would have been enough to spread across the nation and draw people to him. He definitely had a ripe audience for a successful word-of-mouth marketing campaign.

But Jesus didn’t start a school or build a community in the desert. He didn’t rely on the masses to come and find him.  The Gospels tell us that he traveled from town to town with his message of the Kingdom and performed many miraculous signs.

Is there anything significant about this traveling Messiah?

All throughout history we find God is the first to initiate relationship and reconciliation with his people. In our traveling Messiah we see the same pattern. While he could have established a school and settled for those interested enough to seek him, we find Jesus traveling from village to village seeking the forgotten, the neglected and the invisible of Palestine.  He saw those who the community refused to see.  He touched those who the community refused to touch.  He gave value to those who the community said had no value.  He honored those who the community shamed.

While Jesus did spend time with people across the religious and socio-economic spectrum, we find in the traveling Messiah a God who seeks out those who were unable to seek him out.  These were the outcasts who never would be invited to a meal with a famous Rabbi.  These were the poor and uneducated who never could have studied in Jerusalem.  These were the sinners who never would be acknowledged.  But in Christ we find a different kind of Rabbi.  Instead of sitting in the comfort of their own wealth and prestige he hits the road looking for the lost.  Seeking the ones that no one else was seeking.  Giving honor to those who never had and maybe never deserved honor.

What does this tell us about God?

He Came to Seek and to Save:  In Luke 19:10 we read “For the Son of Man (Jesus) came to seek and to save the lost.”  We find Jesus encountering many people in Palestine that most ignored the poor, the lame, and the sinners.  Instead of leaving them on the fringe he invites them to his table.  He offers them hope and forgiveness.  He offers them acceptance.

It’s a remarkable thing that God would come looking for us any of us.  But he turned religion upside down when his attention was fixed on the “least of these.”

Why would he do this?

God Chose Us:  Ephesians 1:4 tell us that “he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.”  God initiated the relationship with us from the beginning and he isn’t passive in his pursuit.  Christ didn’t sit and wait for the sinner to find him.  He pursued the sinner with compassion.

Why does he choose us?

He Loved Us First:  John the Apostle writes, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”  (1 John 4:10)  God has removed every barrier for a relationship with himself.  He didn’t come to condemn, he came to restore.  Driven by His love for us he sent his Son to be the ultimate sacrifice so he could get his family back.

What an amazing God – the one who comes looking for us!  And what should our response be?  Thankfulness, joy and acceptance of his gracious invitation.

I’m thankful for many things.  But feeling thankful is different than being thankful.  True thankfulness, I think, requires a response.  With the holiday season in full swing consider how you can respond to being thankful.  Move beyond warm feelings.  Warm feelings are great but it’s less than the full expression of thanks.

Think about what you can do in the coming days and weeks to respond to those things you are thankful for.  How can you show your family, your friends, your community, or complete strangers?  What can you say or do to express those feelings?

Make these holidays different than ones in the past.  Don’t just feel thankful.  Be thankful.

(Photo Credit: World Vision)

The holidays are upon us.  In less than two weeks it will be Thanksgiving.  This is the time of year when we start to slow down a bit and reflect on our lives a little more than usual.  It’s a wonderful time to share with your friends and family.  A time to count your blessings. 

For many people Thanksgiving is a yearly reminder that there are others in the world less fortunate than you.  We all process this in different ways.  Some will buy a box of pre-packaged food at the grocery store check-out that goes to the local food bank.  Some may scrounge through the pantry and bring cans to the office can drive.  Others will pack up the family Thanksgiving Day and head to a shelter to serve dinner for the homeless.    

All of these acts of kindness are good.  But here is another idea my family is going to try this year.  In 2012, in addition to giving food locally, we’re going to give a goat.  Literally. 

Last week we received a Gift Catalog from World Vision.  World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.    They do outstanding work around the globe and 86% of funds donated go directly to humanitarian projects.  This is really good. 

Instead of just giving a can of soup or a box of pasta, you can give a chicken, a goat, a sheep, or a cow.  The catalog does a good job of describing the direct benefits to the child, family, or community who would receive the gift. 

By giving a goat you can provide the protein children need to grow.  It can be a source for cheese, yogurt, and milk year round.  The surplus can be sold to acquire other basic essentials.  By giving a chicken you can provide a family with fresh eggs which they can eat, and with the surplus, they can sell them for medicine, clothing, and household supplies. 

Thanksgiving Day comes and goes but for many around the world the basic fight for survival is a daily struggle.  By giving a goat (or chicken, or rabbit, etc.) you can make a lasting difference for those in the most desperate of situations. 

Let me encourage you to consider doing what you can to give.  While you’re giving thanks for the many blessings you enjoy, give a child something they can be thankful for too.

For more information on World Vision visit:  www.worldvision.org

To go directly to the online gift catalog:  http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwv2ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?lpos=top_drp_WaysToGive_Gift+Catalog&go=gift&&section=10389

It is a well known and documented fact that the beliefs and values of children are developed in the home. A mother and father carry the responsibility of teaching their children. There is much that kids will learn throughout their life but their core values are developed very early.

Teaching your faith isn’t a job to be outsourced to a Christian school. This isn’t a job the local church is fully responsible for.

These resources, and many others, can help, but if you are a parent it is your responsibility.

As flawed, defeated, or unqualified as you feel, you are the man or woman for the job.

I was challenged today by Paul’s declaration in 1 Corinthians 11:1. The same guy who admitted his faults and shortcomings still takes responsibility and says to his weaker brothers/sisters, “follow me as I follow Christ.”

In light of our responsibility to lead our families we should adopt the same attitude.

Although I am imperfect, follow my example, not just what I say, as I follow Christ’s example.

Talk is cheap. We have to walk it out, just like Christ did.

You are your kids example.

http://bible.us/1Cor11.1.NIV Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

As an adult you are always in a hurry to slow down (the weekend, vacation, retirement).

Who said the pace had to be so quick?  You could argue for all that we have gained from being in a hurry,  but consider all that we have lost. 

There is a lot in life that can be done in a hurry, but there is very little that can be enjoyed that way. 

Where can you slow down?

My friend Danny Hoyt (@dannyhoyt) reminded me today to finish the week strong. 

It really got me thinking.
 
If you work Monday through Friday each of those days equal 20% of your work week.

20% is a lot. Way too much to waste.

If you ordered a hamburger at full price but only received 80% there would be no bun and a couple bites taken out of it.

If you had $10,000 to invest today in an account that grew at 10% for 40 years but you took 20% of that ($2,000) and bought a moped instead of investing the full amount, you would lose over $90,000 in value by the time you could cash out.

If you were to live to the average age of 83 years but lost 20% of that you would forfeit more than 16 years of your life.

Most people love when Friday roles around.  So do I.  But don’t give in to the tendency to coast through the day, get to 5pm, and get on with your weekend.

Friday is probably not a matter of life or death but whatever you’re spending your time doing, don’t waste 20% of it.

Great reminder. Thanks Danny.

I felt trapped.  12 years of schooling was a waste.  I hadn’t tried.  I didn’t care.  And now suddenly I was facing my future. Like it popped out of nowhere and was now starring me down. What was I going to do now? I only had one year left.  I wasn’t great with math but I knew growing my GPA at this point would hardly make any difference.

I had two real choices.  The first choice was to treat this year like I did every other before it.  Show up for class.  Goof around.  Forget homework assignments.  Not study for tests.  Make fun of the kids who were trying. Act like it was cool because I wasnt. Somehow that didnt seem like such a good idea anymore. I knew where that had gotten me.

The other choice was to do something bold. Care.  Try.  Take a risk.

I wasnt really sure I had what it takes. I knew the consequences for failing in college were much greater than high school. Could I even survive?

My senior year instead of selecting easy classes to up my GPA I took the toughest classes I could get into. I figured it did no good if I wasnt taking college level courses. I would never know if I could make it on the other side of a diploma if I didnt challenge myself. I also knew this created a buffer for me in case I really fell on my face. Everyone knew how hard these classes were so no one would really be able to fault me for my miserable results.

I signed up for the classes but I had no plan. This I knew was a test of my intelligence. I was about to find out if my suspicions were true. Was I dumb? Was I destined for a second rate life? Could I ever make something of myself?

To say I was nervous about this year would be an understatement. I was terrified. I didnt tell anyone about my plan. How could I? My odds of success were very low but I had to do it.

During my first week I had my math class. I sat in the back corner of the room. My mind was swirling in a million directions.

On the white board written in red marker were words that would change the direction of my life. I dont think they were even read aloud. They were just there. It said: “if you always do what you’ve always done then you will always get what you have always got.”

I wrote it down in my notebook. At this point in my life I wasnt one for much reflective thought, but this day I couldnt stop thinking.

Year after year after year I did the same thing. Nothing. If I wanted to get a different result I had to do something new. Just wanting a different outcome wasnt going to cut it.

My senior year in high school I made some drastic changes and my results were equally drastic. I finished the year with a 4.2 GPA.

I went on to college that next year and made the deans list. In 2006 I graduated college with honors. In 2009 I received my MBA with honors as well.

In 2001 I would have believed it was impossible. My track record up to that point made it quite clear.

I realize this is a story about academics, but the impact went much further.

Every September I think back to Stu Sanders Consumers Math class. I remind myself of that quote. It changed my perspective. It actually changed my life. And it keeps changing my life.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Don’t be crazy. If you need a different result try something new.
The first change I made in 2001 has led to countless changes in all areas of my life. But that’s how it starts. It’s also how it continues. One choice at a time.

Mr. Sanders – I don’t know why you wrote that quote on your board, but I’ve never forgotten it, and I’m forever grateful that you did.

http://bible.us/Isa43.18.NIV “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

If you only read this without context it may sound like a threat. “If you are judgemental I will catch you and you will be punished. You won’t get away with it. In fact you will pay.”

Not to diminish the seriousness of the message (there are in fact consequences), but without context of who God is you miss the heart of the message. When you understand His mercy and grace there is more meaning. When you know his character, a good father who desperately wants to be reconciled to his children. A God who will stop at nothing to set every wrong right. Then you will hear the mercy in the message, “do not judge.” When you have received unfathomable grace when you deserved judgement, how much more should you extend that same measure of grace to others?

Don’t judge because you fear being judged. Don’t judge out of gratefulness, because God has made a way for all your wrongs to be forgiven, and not just forgiven but forgotten.

Courtesy of Alicia Fedell

It’s a relative term, but we all hope for something.  I hope we won’t get hit by the storm.  I hope our sales won’t drop too much further.  I hope the neighbors aren’t selling meth.  I hope I’ll have something to eat tomorrow.  I hope my Porsche doesn’t get scratched.  I hope they’ll make another pot of coffee.  I hope my kidneys won’t give out.  I hope my favorite team will win the championship.

Hope is powerful. It keeps the cancer patient fighting.  It brings communities together after disaster.  It keeps the single mom in night school.  It brings the estranged child home.

Hope is fleeting.  It’s like a delicate flower.  It can wither or it can bloom with the slightest of changes.  It is easily forgotten, trampled, or crushed.  It can last but only for a moment.

Hope is necessary.  It keeps us looking forward.  It fills our hearts with expectancy.  It challenges the reality of what is with what can be.  It’s a promise of something better.

When you have hope you have one of life’s greatest gifts.  The ability to give hope to others.

Hope is beautiful.

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This is a meaningless picture with some meaningless text meant to be shared in a meaningless way.