"alright, you're all set... ready to go out?"
i nearly busted up laughing as i turned to see my reflection. there, staring back at me was, well, not exactly me. instead, there stood a large cow standing on two feet. it sported a red tshirt saying "eat mor chiken," and although it was hard to believe, i indeed was inside that suit.
i had made it known to my management staff that i really wanted to work the cow suit, and they quickly fulfilled my desire. you see, it was something that i put on my list of things to do in life. what is better than wearing a cow suit and dancing like crazy til the cows go home (no pun intended)? in my mind, not much could beat that. i even practiced dance moves and thought of things that would just be hilarious to see a cow do.
so, when i found out that i would be working the cow suit, i was so stoked--i told all of my friends that i would be dancing it up on gridley street in a cow suit on friday, and of course they told me that they would be there with cameras in hand.
well, my shift wasn't until later that day, so i decided to drive down gridley and see where the cow working the shift before me was stationed. i turned onto gridley street and went all the way down the street, and by the time i got to the next corner, i counted a total of three chick-fil-a cows out there. how in the world would my friends know which cow was me?
this posed a problem. i needed something distinct that would make my friends say, "that cow is SO stina." my solution: my super sweet (and completely ridiculous) dance moves should be enough to set me apart from the other cows.
i think we as christians deal with the same issue. i guess you could say that just by being human and living in today's society, we are all matching cows walking down the street. however, there is a problem with that. God calls us to be more than just any ordinary bovine. What good will it do His kingdom if we blend in with everybody else, failing to shine His light to others or be an example that makes people wonder why we are the way we are? If you live your life in a loud-for-God manner, people are going to notice, and people are going to ask why.
a teacher at my high school once said that if someone who really knows you, whether a friend or family member, doesn't believe in God, you should take that kind of personally. they should be able to see God in the way you live life, through the ways that set you apart and make you more than ordinary.
through displaying love, patience, kindness, forgivness, and all the other fruits described in galtians 5, we spread the love and light of God to others--galatians 5 tells us how to dance so that His light shines! go ahead, i challenge you, be that dancing cow that makes people wonder "why?" and stirs up a desire for them to know the God that makes you dance.
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same manner way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16
let your light shine, that they may see your sweet dance moves and praise God...
be that dancing cow that makes a difference, and live out loud for God.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
"bud momby, i'm dot sick."
what i think the little girl was trying to say was, "but mommy, i'm not sick," however only a nasal-ly jumble of words found their way out of this little girl's mouth.
i was at a store a few days ago (we'll just call this store "darget") when i witnessed this little event occur in the aisle with all the cheezits. i didn't know exactly what this girl wanted, but her mom had clearly said "no" due to the fact that her daughter was obviously sick (which the daughter did not believe to be valid).
"blease momby?" i kind of chuckled to myself and thought, 'dude, you are so obviously sick, give it up, your mom knows what she's talking about.' the girl put on a pouty face (as snot started to run, further supporting her mother's case), but then surprisingly, moments later she was happily wiping her nose on her sleeve and seemingly over it.
i moved along and took a stroll through "darget," and as usual, the thoughts began to flow.
i bet you God deals with this all the time. so often we ask God for things that we clearly shouldn't have or something that we think we should have. maybe we don't necesarily ask with a nasal-ly voice like the little girl, but we ask as if we really know what's best for us. what we don't realize sometimes is that God hears our "nasal" voice and sees our situation in a completely different way... in a way that He knows exactly what's best for us. you could say that God sees the panoramic view in comparison to the small particle of life we see under the narrow view of a microscope (sorry for going science on ya). i bet God chuckles sometimes when we believe that we can convince God that our way is better or that we know what's right.
"He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back." -Isaiah 50:4-5
i think this is something we have to learn and practice. listening isn't always my strength, and often i think that i hold the solution in my mind. however, God always has the solution, and sometimes it might agree with me, and sometimes it won't. either way, it is my job to listen, be obedient, and not be rebelious.
so you guys, if you find yourself fighting God's words and instructions, give it up. in fact, wipe your nose on your sleeve and grab hold of God's hand. i think it is safe to say that God knows what He's talking about.
i was at a store a few days ago (we'll just call this store "darget") when i witnessed this little event occur in the aisle with all the cheezits. i didn't know exactly what this girl wanted, but her mom had clearly said "no" due to the fact that her daughter was obviously sick (which the daughter did not believe to be valid).
"blease momby?" i kind of chuckled to myself and thought, 'dude, you are so obviously sick, give it up, your mom knows what she's talking about.' the girl put on a pouty face (as snot started to run, further supporting her mother's case), but then surprisingly, moments later she was happily wiping her nose on her sleeve and seemingly over it.
i moved along and took a stroll through "darget," and as usual, the thoughts began to flow.
i bet you God deals with this all the time. so often we ask God for things that we clearly shouldn't have or something that we think we should have. maybe we don't necesarily ask with a nasal-ly voice like the little girl, but we ask as if we really know what's best for us. what we don't realize sometimes is that God hears our "nasal" voice and sees our situation in a completely different way... in a way that He knows exactly what's best for us. you could say that God sees the panoramic view in comparison to the small particle of life we see under the narrow view of a microscope (sorry for going science on ya). i bet God chuckles sometimes when we believe that we can convince God that our way is better or that we know what's right.
"He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back." -Isaiah 50:4-5
i think this is something we have to learn and practice. listening isn't always my strength, and often i think that i hold the solution in my mind. however, God always has the solution, and sometimes it might agree with me, and sometimes it won't. either way, it is my job to listen, be obedient, and not be rebelious.
so you guys, if you find yourself fighting God's words and instructions, give it up. in fact, wipe your nose on your sleeve and grab hold of God's hand. i think it is safe to say that God knows what He's talking about.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Oh Captain, My Captain.
"Michigan?!? You better bundle up!"
Typical reaction of my friends and family who have been born and raised in sunny California after I inform them that Michigan is indeed where Calvin College is at. Sometimes looks of absolute schock and gaping mouths take the place of words, but it pretty much means the same thing. It is actually these reactions that made it so fun to talk to people about college plans. I'd get a kick out of it everytime. Conversations would then carry on to areas of interest that I might study, college athletics, carreers I might pursue, and so on, but I never tired of talking about it because I loved thinking about my future plans and how they seemed so nicely put together in my head. In a way, you could say that I was proud of how well I did with my planning and how ready I was for the days to come.
Now comes the point of humility. For some people in this situation, the point of humility comes when all their plans fall apart or when God decides to take their life a seperate path. Thankfully, God chose to humble me in a different manner. 3rd period Economics--great class. Every day before we begin class, my teacher opens with devotions based on a verse or two out of the book of James. One day, he begins to read James 4:13-15. Before I show you what the verse is, you should know that each of my friends and family have heard from me at least once or twice what my exact plans are for the next 5 years--college and all. I was set in my ways...and then I heard the words of James 4:13-15:
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
My teacher then proceeded to tell us a story of how God completely changed his plans and had to take a momentary detour from the life that he thought he had all figured out. I read the verse a few more times and heard loud and clear that God was telling me something.
No, I didn't stop right then and there and throw away all my plans I had, but what I did do was add a little phrase to the end: "Lord willing." We think we know it all when it comes to our life, but really, only God knows what tomorrow holds. James isn't saying that plans are bad, but he is saying that we have to humble ourselves and know that God is El Capitan. We can have plans, but keep in mind that we will only do this or that, Lord willing. Don't be surprised if there are detours here and there, or maybe a little traffic, or even a pit-stop.
If He wills it, we live it.
Typical reaction of my friends and family who have been born and raised in sunny California after I inform them that Michigan is indeed where Calvin College is at. Sometimes looks of absolute schock and gaping mouths take the place of words, but it pretty much means the same thing. It is actually these reactions that made it so fun to talk to people about college plans. I'd get a kick out of it everytime. Conversations would then carry on to areas of interest that I might study, college athletics, carreers I might pursue, and so on, but I never tired of talking about it because I loved thinking about my future plans and how they seemed so nicely put together in my head. In a way, you could say that I was proud of how well I did with my planning and how ready I was for the days to come.
Now comes the point of humility. For some people in this situation, the point of humility comes when all their plans fall apart or when God decides to take their life a seperate path. Thankfully, God chose to humble me in a different manner. 3rd period Economics--great class. Every day before we begin class, my teacher opens with devotions based on a verse or two out of the book of James. One day, he begins to read James 4:13-15. Before I show you what the verse is, you should know that each of my friends and family have heard from me at least once or twice what my exact plans are for the next 5 years--college and all. I was set in my ways...and then I heard the words of James 4:13-15:
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
My teacher then proceeded to tell us a story of how God completely changed his plans and had to take a momentary detour from the life that he thought he had all figured out. I read the verse a few more times and heard loud and clear that God was telling me something.
No, I didn't stop right then and there and throw away all my plans I had, but what I did do was add a little phrase to the end: "Lord willing." We think we know it all when it comes to our life, but really, only God knows what tomorrow holds. James isn't saying that plans are bad, but he is saying that we have to humble ourselves and know that God is El Capitan. We can have plans, but keep in mind that we will only do this or that, Lord willing. Don't be surprised if there are detours here and there, or maybe a little traffic, or even a pit-stop.
If He wills it, we live it.
Friday, December 22, 2006
"Are you looking for the pistachio, too?"
I had been reaching my hand towards the back of the shelf that held all the puddings of the world, trying to find a second small box of vanilla pudding. My hand hit the back of the shelf, which was about an arm's-length deep, and I pulled it out, looking back to see an older lady smiling. I realized she was talking to me and so I responded.
"Pistachio pudding? Oh no, just another box of vanilla..." I paused a second, and turned to her again. "I didn't know that there was pistachio pudding."
The lady nodded with a smile and started looking at another section of the pudding. I continued my search for vanilla--do you know how messy these pudding shelves get? They are so unorganized, and often times I find myself having the urge to sit there and organize it. As I shuffled boxes around (that's probably how they get so unorganized), I found myself keeping an eye out for a box of pistachio. I glanced at the labels on the shelf and, sure enough, there was a little sticker that said "pistachio" on it. Above the sticker was nothing but a jumbled mess of pudding boxes... mostly chocolate and cheesecake flavored. A little frustrated, I once again reached my arm in to the dark unkowns of shopping market shelves, searching for that little box of pistachio... oh, and my box of vanilla.
God calls us to love. Simple as that--love. Love your Lord, love your family, love your friends, love the guy who cut you off on the freeway, love the lady looking for pistachio pudding, and so on. Obviously from looking at this list we see that some are easier to love than others. However, love comes in many different forms, and I am not saying we should follow the guy who cut you off back to his house and proceed to give him a hug when he gets out of his car. Love can be meere forgiveness when dealing with loving the hard-to-love.
Love is kind...
Finding ways to love people around you, both friend and foreign, doesn't have to be some extravegant thing. It can be finding someone their box of pistachio pudding. Of course not literally (in most cases), but hear me out. I had no idea who this lady was, but I knew that I could use the opportunity to show love by helping find the pistachio pudding, by showing kindness to this lady. Kind of weird, but true. You can just as easily help others find their "pistachio pudding" by smiling when passing by someone you don't know, by giving a hug, by simply listening and showing interest...
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7
Get the point?
Now, I'd like to say that I found that sweet old lady's pistachio pudding, but unfortunately I didn't. Instead I found a few thoughts on love that God has been wanting me to see for a while.
"Pistachio pudding? Oh no, just another box of vanilla..." I paused a second, and turned to her again. "I didn't know that there was pistachio pudding."
The lady nodded with a smile and started looking at another section of the pudding. I continued my search for vanilla--do you know how messy these pudding shelves get? They are so unorganized, and often times I find myself having the urge to sit there and organize it. As I shuffled boxes around (that's probably how they get so unorganized), I found myself keeping an eye out for a box of pistachio. I glanced at the labels on the shelf and, sure enough, there was a little sticker that said "pistachio" on it. Above the sticker was nothing but a jumbled mess of pudding boxes... mostly chocolate and cheesecake flavored. A little frustrated, I once again reached my arm in to the dark unkowns of shopping market shelves, searching for that little box of pistachio... oh, and my box of vanilla.
God calls us to love. Simple as that--love. Love your Lord, love your family, love your friends, love the guy who cut you off on the freeway, love the lady looking for pistachio pudding, and so on. Obviously from looking at this list we see that some are easier to love than others. However, love comes in many different forms, and I am not saying we should follow the guy who cut you off back to his house and proceed to give him a hug when he gets out of his car. Love can be meere forgiveness when dealing with loving the hard-to-love.
Love is kind...
Finding ways to love people around you, both friend and foreign, doesn't have to be some extravegant thing. It can be finding someone their box of pistachio pudding. Of course not literally (in most cases), but hear me out. I had no idea who this lady was, but I knew that I could use the opportunity to show love by helping find the pistachio pudding, by showing kindness to this lady. Kind of weird, but true. You can just as easily help others find their "pistachio pudding" by smiling when passing by someone you don't know, by giving a hug, by simply listening and showing interest...
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7
Get the point?
Now, I'd like to say that I found that sweet old lady's pistachio pudding, but unfortunately I didn't. Instead I found a few thoughts on love that God has been wanting me to see for a while.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
peace
"Lord give her peace about what you want her to do right now."
Or something to that effect.
She said 'amen' and I went to sit and quickly try to figure out whether or not I was going to give a quick testimony in front of a bunch of girls at my school. That's wasn't the tough part... I love talking in front of people. However, when it's something personal, things get a little tougher. On top of that, I was in a fragile state of mind, and I wasn't sure composure was something I could keep if i tried to get up and speak. The words, "give her peace" rang through my mind.
I prayed those words to myself, and all that came to mind was, well, what does peace feel like? Am I feeling peace right now?
Lets see--crazy butterflies going on, minor headache, visuals of worst-case-scenario going on in my head... I looked up. Lord, is this what peace is, because I imagined that it would be a little more--how should I put it--oh yes, peaceful.
Something else started going on inside though. There was this prodding, telling me that it'll be okay. More like a little nudge saying, go on, it's your turn. Know that this is what I want you to do, I've got your back. Don't be scared.
Oh crap, this is what peace feels like. God wants me to do this.
I'm still kind of new to the whole "give everything over to God and just listen and trust" thing, and so instead of listening and trusting, I got so scared that when the teacher looked over to me, about to announce that I would come up and give a quick testimony, I shook my head to shamefully tell her, "I can't." I don't think anyone saw that exchange, it seemed to be pretty smooth. I took a deep breath, and I knew as soon as I shook my head that I should-of could-of.
I thought back to the other times I gave my testimony, two of which were in front of hundreds of kids at a summer camp I worked at, and I tried to see if I remembered feeling at peace about it. I recalled feeling those same "peaceful" feelings before going up to speak. There was no recollection of me thinking, "Gee, I feel at peace right now," before giving my testimony. What I did realize was that afterwards God gave me little pieces of peace assuring me that what I did was what He asked of me. Pieces like a pat on the back from a friend or someone telling me that they needed to hear what I said that night. Even a feeling of calmness and, well, peace.
Peace comes in many forms. It's that feeling you get when you know what God is asking of you, even if it's something you don't really want to be doing. When God nudges you, saying, go on... I'm right behind you--knowing and trusting that God is right behind you--that's peace. Sometimes peace won't come until after you step out, and at those times, your peace beforehand is knowing that the peace will come.
Now take a look above at what peace is, and everywhere the word "know" appears, replace it with the word "believe."
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith [belief], we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
That, my friends, is peace.
Or something to that effect.
She said 'amen' and I went to sit and quickly try to figure out whether or not I was going to give a quick testimony in front of a bunch of girls at my school. That's wasn't the tough part... I love talking in front of people. However, when it's something personal, things get a little tougher. On top of that, I was in a fragile state of mind, and I wasn't sure composure was something I could keep if i tried to get up and speak. The words, "give her peace" rang through my mind.
I prayed those words to myself, and all that came to mind was, well, what does peace feel like? Am I feeling peace right now?
Lets see--crazy butterflies going on, minor headache, visuals of worst-case-scenario going on in my head... I looked up. Lord, is this what peace is, because I imagined that it would be a little more--how should I put it--oh yes, peaceful.
Something else started going on inside though. There was this prodding, telling me that it'll be okay. More like a little nudge saying, go on, it's your turn. Know that this is what I want you to do, I've got your back. Don't be scared.
Oh crap, this is what peace feels like. God wants me to do this.
I'm still kind of new to the whole "give everything over to God and just listen and trust" thing, and so instead of listening and trusting, I got so scared that when the teacher looked over to me, about to announce that I would come up and give a quick testimony, I shook my head to shamefully tell her, "I can't." I don't think anyone saw that exchange, it seemed to be pretty smooth. I took a deep breath, and I knew as soon as I shook my head that I should-of could-of.
I thought back to the other times I gave my testimony, two of which were in front of hundreds of kids at a summer camp I worked at, and I tried to see if I remembered feeling at peace about it. I recalled feeling those same "peaceful" feelings before going up to speak. There was no recollection of me thinking, "Gee, I feel at peace right now," before giving my testimony. What I did realize was that afterwards God gave me little pieces of peace assuring me that what I did was what He asked of me. Pieces like a pat on the back from a friend or someone telling me that they needed to hear what I said that night. Even a feeling of calmness and, well, peace.
Peace comes in many forms. It's that feeling you get when you know what God is asking of you, even if it's something you don't really want to be doing. When God nudges you, saying, go on... I'm right behind you--knowing and trusting that God is right behind you--that's peace. Sometimes peace won't come until after you step out, and at those times, your peace beforehand is knowing that the peace will come.
Now take a look above at what peace is, and everywhere the word "know" appears, replace it with the word "believe."
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith [belief], we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
That, my friends, is peace.
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