Parkview Lockport Blog

Don't Hate The Game Because Of The Player

Can any of you relate to this?

When I'm presented with an idea from somebody I can't stand, I will do everything possible to not do that thing.  The thought could be as logical as "I think the room is on fire and filling with poisonous snakes.  We should run!" and I will think "It's not that hot.  I think the snakes are harmless.  I think I'm going to lay down and take a nap."

All because the person giving me the suggestion rubs me the wrong way or has been an absolute tool bag to me in the past.

The problem with that line of thinking is that I often find myself with 3rd degree burns and bloated with snake venom because of my stubbornness.  I dismiss the logic and truth of the idea for the sake of not giving in to the person.

So much of this is birthed out of that nasty word called pride.  Pride that says my ideas are the only logical ones.  Pride that tells me if I take his or her idea it will only make them more of a tool.  Pride that keeps me from learning through someone else and pride that causes me to be less of the person Christ wants me to be.  

I see so many Christians and Non-Christians alike fight the teachings of Jesus because deep down they like the Jesus that sits on their dashboard or the tattoo they have on their arm more than actually following what He taught.  I've said it before but I liken their relationship with Jesus to that of the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus.  Great to read about and do holidays with, but don't come near my wallet, my social life, or my sin because that just crosses the line.

There is a saying in athletics that goes, "Don't hate the player, hate the game."  In all honesty this phrase should not be said by white people, but all too often we are the only ones that say it.  When we pull this line out in conversation it just seems out of place like a World Series Trophy in a Cubs front office.  Yep...I went there.

However, if we apply this to our spiritual lives we should really follow that logic.  We shouldn't hate the player or in this case the one bringing the message, we should hate the game.  The game of this world filled with sin, lies, and destruction whose head coach is none other than Satan himself.  

But you and I like to hate the player and not the game.  We will dismiss the messenger so we don't have to stop doing what we are doing, being who we are, or pursuing what we are pursuing.  And this time the phrase sounds ridiculous said by all colors of the rainbow.  

The solution to this dilemma is found through only One means.  It is the solution of submission.  Submission to the reality that God is God, I am not, and I need to follow His ways of living not mine.  

I know that in my life when I submit to what Jesus has calls me to do, I always find out His way was best.  I also know that when I put my head down and dismiss the message because of the messenger I end up face down in a pile of my own mess that I created.  

So as I type this I have a huge messenger issue in my life that I need to deal with, but only by the Grace of God will I soften my heart.  I hope you too will take a step back from your life and see where you have hated the player instead of the game and start to submit to Christ's will for you life.  

It will never let you down.

I've Never Seen A Happy Smoker

Call me crazy but I don't know if I've ever seen a happy smoker.

Think about it. 

Most of the time you see them in them following places:

• 6 inches beyond the designated distance they can be to their office building in order to smoke huddled together for warmth...not smiling.
• Standing by themselves giving glares to people walking by...not smiling.
• Sitting on a bench outside the hospital where they work as they take a break from caring for the people inside that are suffering the effects of smoking their whole lives...not smiling.
• Lighting a new cigarette with the butt of the one they just finished watching reruns of the Red Green show...not smiling.

I'm sure you can guess by now that I'm not a huge fan of smoking.  It is one of the many mysteries of the culture phenomenon known as "cool" that I'll never understand. 

How igniting a piece of paper that encases a bundle of toxic chemicals designed to be inhaled into your lungs which has been proven to slowly kill you can be classified as "cool" is beyond me, but I digress.

Even more mind boggling is that if you ask most of those huddled masses of frowning faces they will tell you they hate doing it.  Most are not smiling because they are tough, but because they are frustrated, angry, and embarrassed.   They can't believe that this little stick of cancerous dynamite has such a strong hold on them and they can't seem to stop. 

We all have a vice(s) that we hate, but we still do it.  I chew my fingers and I hate that I do it.  My wife hates that I do it.  My dog hates that I do it.  However, I still chew away when I start to thinking about things I need to do. 

In our spiritual lives we also have things that don't bring a smile to our face yet we still do them.  We see and know all kinds of people that know what they are doing is wrong and yet seem to not be able to stop.  Unfortunately, as with smoking, sometimes we believe the lie that we cannot overcome them.  The grip is just "too tight" on us so we give in and keep puffing away as we slowly kill our souls. 

However some of us believe another kind of lie.  It is the lie that "God will never give us more than we can handle".  Wow that seems really encouraging.  It also is as healthy for your soul as eating off an ash tray at the end of the Sturgis Bike Rally. 

If that statement were true why do we need God?  I mean if we can handle everything that comes our way then why did Jesus go through all that drama?

The reality is that there is far more in our lives that we can't handle that we can.  We need God's help and strength and mercy and Grace in much more that we give Him access too.  But if we are ever going to overcome the vices and obstacles in our lives we need God involved.  We need Him to handle it the right way and not have us mess it all up like Aniston does her potatoes on her high chair. 

So if you made it through this whole thing and are a smoker I'll leave it up to you to decide what you need to do about your smoking.

But as far as our spiritual lives are concerned, I'm hoping you and I can stop trying to manage our vices and sin on our own and start to let God stop them out under the heal of His boot.

Even Drinking Juice Every Day Doesn't Stop It

I don't know if you caught it in the news recently but Jack LaLanne died at the age of 96.  Jack is known in our day as the dude that drank juice every day of his life.  However, before the juicers and the one piece jump suits, he had a fitness show on TV.  He was one of the first people to bring health and wellness to the forefront of people's mind and went so far as to even provide viewers with face exercises to hold back the wrinkles. 

If you have a couple of seconds and need a little giggle you can check out his face stretches here.

 

You have to hand it to Jack for making it to 96 don't you?  In our day and age there are more people watching shows like HEAVY or The Biggest Loser on TV (who ironically should be exercising instead of watching TV) that may not live to 69 let alone 96, but Jack stayed true to living healthy in spite of the culture around him.  

Yet despite exercise, proper nutrition, and drinking juice by the bucket full he still died.  If anyone had a chance of defying the odds he was the guy, but no such luck.

Now hold on...this isn't going to get depressing.

As Believers the fact that we can't defeat death should come as a great relief.  The reason is because as this life and body decay day by day our heavenly body is being perfected at the exact same pace.

"Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen  For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Now I'm not saying you should just sit around all day in you Zubas eating Nilla Wafers playing Halo in your mom's basement waiting for Jesus to take you home.  Heck no!

Eat healthy.  Exercise regularly.  Get a job.

Enjoy the life and body that God has given you for all it's worth, but don't fool yourself into thinking you can beat death by how much juice you cram in your body or what face exercises you do. 

Find peace knowing that you have an expiration date on this life and as a Christian the next one is imperishable and perfect. 

Pastor Tim's Christian Standard eNewsletter - 2/16/2011

Hey gang check out Pastor Tim's most recent article for the Christian Standard eNewsletter!

http://christianstandard.com/2011/02/don%e2%80%99t-make-me-lay-hands-on-you/

Hey My Friend Has A Question!

I wanted to take a moment from the wandering thoughts in my head to encourage you to follow the new series we are starting at Parkview this week called "Hey my friend has a question!"

We will be tackling some of the tough questions that get thrown our way as Christians and that we sometimes ask ourselves even if we think we have it all together.

Here are the questions and dates:

February 12th & 13th:
What’s the Difference Between Your Church and Catholicism?

February 19th & 20th:
Do You Think I’m Going to Hell Because I’m Not a Christian?

February 26th & 27th:
Would Jesus Have Gay Friends?

March 5th & 6th:
Why Do You Still Trust a Bible That Science Disproves?

March 12th & 13th:
Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen to Good People?

So if you follow me from the Chicago area swing by one of our two campuses at Orland Park or Lockport during the series.  If you are not from the area make a point to check out the media center to watch the sermons online.  Here is even a quick way to E-vite someone to a service!

I know each week will be challenging, but perhaps you may give yourself, I mean your friend, something to think about. 

Video Blog: Jesus Weather Man

Well I had to get something good out of the crazy snow story!  So here is a video blog at the base of Mt. Lockport in our parking lot. 

Have you have ever considered Jesus to be a Weather Man?

 

Truth Be Told #4: Don't Fast Like A Criminal

"Worshiping God involves more than observing an outward ritual;

there must be an inward obedience and submission to the Lord." -Warren Wiersbe

Do you know why most criminals get caught?  It is because they can't keep their mouths shut.  Sooner or later Bubba has to tell someone that he stole a pack of cigarettes from the gas station so he can feel tough and then...wammo...handcuffs baby.  Most detective work is just waiting around for Mr. or Mrs. Criminal to tell someone with one more brain cell than them about the crime and then the cops go pick up the perp after who they told rats them out. 

We may not all be criminals, but all of us on some level want people to know what we did. 

I mean sit around a table at dinner with more than 3 people for 10 minutes and you'll find that to be true.  One story leads to another story that leads to another better story that leads to an even better story that is only half true which leads to someone knowing someone which leads to your dad somehow having had dinner with Frank Sinatra. 

We all want to feel important and to have people notice us. 

That is the crux of what Jesus is talking about in this truth.

 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

– Matthew 6:16-18

Now fasting in its simplest sense is deprive yourself of something you want such as food or water for a period of time so in the moments of their desire you can refocus your attention to God.  Fasts can last hours or days but the reason for them stays the same.  It's about refocusing on God.

I've fasted in times of great stress or at a time when large decision was looming to truly seek God's direction and guidance.  In all honesty though, I am a light weight when it comes to fasting and in fact one day is very hard for me, but the challenge is always a draw to me.

The difficulty with a fast, in most cases, is not about the food it's about the heart.  When you are in the middle of fasting or even just starting out it is such a temptation to announce it to someone.  To maybe subtly let it slide that it's the reason you can't each lunch or it is the reason you are so irritable.  It would be such a great confidence boost if someone would say "wow, that's awesome!" or "I wish I was disciplined enough to do that."  Those little boosts seem harmless, but what it may do to your spirit could be crushing.  What Jesus wants us to do in our times of fasting is not seek the approval of others, but seek the face of God. 

Jesus tells us that if our desire is for the approval of those around us, we have received our reward.  However if we fast in worship to Christ and not reduce it to grimacing and moaning for sympathy we are told our reward is eternal.  It simply takes us keeping our mouth shut and our soul open.

So the next time you are considering fasting, try not to fast like a criminal, but rather fast as a Christ follower should.