The big lie

"As a dad, I know the power of a voice. I can hear my children's cries over the din of hundreds of other competing noises. Parents are wired like this...and kids are too. Yes, they may choose to ignore our calls but they hear the voice.

Many, many years ago two children were deceived by a liar who said not to listen to their dad. The lie was simple. One little word caused a world of hurt, pain, isolation, and separation. 

It has led to all wars, rape, murder, and abuse.

It is the source of all evil, pride, and hate.

The word is found in a book used by many.

"did God really say...?"

That one little word really set those two up to doubt everything. 

It ushered in distrust, which leads to second-guessing, which leads to fear, which leads to...

Children, yes, God did say please don't not because he was withholding good,

but because he was restraining bad.

The good news is that we can turn to him and say sorry and he forgives us. 

I do this with my kids. When they misbehave I send them off to sit on the step and think for a bit then we talk. 

I call them over and we follow this line:

Come back please. I love you. Why were you on the step?

I didn't listen and I ......

Why do we tell you not to.....? What is my job?

To keep me safe because you love me. I'm sorry dad. 

I forgive you. I love you.

This, my friends, is what God does for us. 

God sent those two two kids he made and loved away for a bit. 

It broke his heart, but he couldn't let them continue doing what they did. 

He simply asked what did you do. 

They didn't fess up, so they were sent away again...but God made away to get them back and say I love you. His son Jesus would take the blame and punishment.

The terrible thing they did was not trust God. Simple. 

It's all I want from my kids. 

Trust. 

How about you?

While you come back and trust?

Procter & Gamble exposing minors to sexual innuendo

For the Record,
Dear Procter & Gambel,
Thank you for exposing my inquisitive, constantly reading six-year-old to sexual innuendo. 

I had not noticed that your new advertising campaign on your products was trying to tell me that if my armpits smell great thanks to your products women will have sex with me. 

My six year old daughter however.

Perhaps your ad team is that shallow and disrespectful of women.

Perhaps they were hoping your product is used in homes that cannot read.

 
Perhaps you are raising your daughters to chose "mates" by smelling armpits.

Perhaps you are raising your boys with an understanding that all girls will have sex with you if your armpits smell good.

Perhaps THIS is why to tell your consumers to keep your product our of reach of children.

I learned to be thirsty

I learned what thirst was in Fort Collins, CO, inside and out. Up until then I didn't know what real thirst was like.

I was house-sitting for the summer but thought I would use the opportunity as a spring board to launch out on a life of adventure. I was an obsessed rock-climber, surfer, and free-spirit who had know idea what to do with his college degree.

Within a week of landing in Fort Collins I found Grey Rock just off the road 20 miles from town. I was an easy six mile hike. I didn't take into account that I was new to altitude and it was summer. I had never hiked trails so steep you could see the switchbacks right next to you.

Wait, it gets better.

I didn't see the looks on seasoned peoples' faces as I started to RIDE my mountain bike up the trial, then walk it, then carry it.

I didn't think it odd I had only 12 ounces of water and no food.

So I made it to the summit, all dizzy from lack of food, water, the heat, altitude and excursion and started back...on the wrong side of the mountain.

Oh wait, it gets better.

I was trashed from trying to ride my bike down trials that are listed as "difficult" to hike so I began to literally THROW my bike down the mountain over the switch backs. By the time I got back to my car I was never the same, nor was my bike.

We think we know what we are doing, but in a new land we really never know what to expect.

Enter the life of following Jesus;

Jesus said, “You’re absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, 

it’s not possible to see what I’m pointing to—to God’s kingdom.”

“How can anyone,” said Nicodemus, “be born who has already been born and grown up? 

You can’t re-enter your mother’s womb and be born again. 

What are you saying with this ‘born-from-above’ talk?”

Jesus said, “You’re not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation—the ‘wind-hovering-over-the-water’ creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom. 

When you look at a baby, it’s just that: a body you can look at and touch. 

But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can’t see and touch—the Spirit—and becomes a living spirit.

“So don’t be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be ‘born from above’—

out of this world, so to speak. 

You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. 

You hear it rustling through the trees, 

but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next. 

That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born from above’ by the wind of God, the Spirit of God.”

John 3:4-8 (Message translation)

It was that summer in Colorado that God grabbed hold of me. It was uncharted territory for me, this new life of following a God I never knew. I had no one around me who had hiked this trial to ask, no one to tell me what to bring, where the trail led. Nothing. 

I just saw where the trial was and what was at the end and walked....

It has not been easy. 

I have at times gotten off trail. 

I have thrown my bike. 

I have been hungry.

I have been disoriented. 

I have thirsted. 

But God has not left my side. He promised he never would. 

Jesus once addressed a group of people and warned them it would be like this;

One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. 

Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my disciple.

“Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, 
doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? I
f you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’

“Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? 
And if he decides he can’t, won’t he send an emissary and work out a truce?

“Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple." 
Luke 14:26-33

Is it worth it? 
That is up to each one of us to decide. What exactly is "it" we are being asked to forsake everything else for? 

I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! 
They’re his people, he’s their God. 
He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. 
Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.” 
The Enthroned continued, “Look! I’m making everything new. 
Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate.”