Confessing what we already know.

Excuse me for a moment while I think out loud.
The past week I have re-realized something that I have known for quite some time.  It is no hidden secret...in fact it is often the focus of many jokes and subtle (or not so subtle) stabs at me from those I love the most.
Once again, it has been in the front of my mind that I struggle most with...get ready, here it comes...

PRIDE.

Here are the signs that have brought this to the front of my mind...

• I wait for compliments when I think I've done well.  Not with obvious obsession, but quietly anticipating to be patted on the back.
• If I don't get complements, I question myself.
• No amount of compliments satisfy me...like lays chips, "you can't eat just one."

Here is the reason I find myself concerned about the issue of being proud...

     "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."  Proverbs 16:18

The fall is always one step away.  One wrong move and all we work for can be gone.  This is why Moses and Joshua were constantly reminding the people, "do not turn to the left or the right!"  

There is the flip side to this whole story...the one where the overly humble do nothing in the name of "meekness."  The message of "do not turn" was not an excuse to not move!  

Here are the positive things I've noticed as I teeter between pride and faith...

• I do things I've never done...inexperience is not an excuse, but I often feel like anything is possible.
• I find myself over my head...this is good!  It's when I have exceeded my ability that I've gained first-hand knowledge of the power of God.
• There are no regrets...no I should haves or could haves.

Many godly men have fallen in the name of pride, "How the mighty have fallen!"  

On the flip side, no godly men have left a legacy by sitting on the couch.  

Final Thoughts Preceding 13.1

In only about forty-one and one half hours, I will be participating in my first half marathon.  These are my final thoughts following my last four mile run prior to race day...

1.  Brrr...  Advantage Aaron Johnson and the others who have trained in the Northeast.  It should not be this cold in March, race time is expected to be about 30 degrees.  But one thing I've learned about the cold and other elements is that focusing on the finish line disables distractions. 
"...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith."  Hebrews 12:1-2

2.  Glad the neighbor chained his dog...  Between doberman bites, shin splints and nausea, the past five months have offered sufficient deterrents.  No matter what we do, there are always plenty of reasons to quit but I am glad to say I chose to continue.
"I beat my body and make it my slave so that...I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."  1 Corinthians 9:27

3.  My legs feel strong...  I truly am surprised at how good my legs felt today.  This last four miles was my fastest four miles and not because I pushed hard...from being faithful to the process.
"...we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."  Romans 5:3-4

4.  I am slow...  My mom informed me a few months ago that according to her running days, she would easily keep up with me...I have not got much faster since then.  The good thing for me is this race is not against anyone else but against the finish line.  Sometimes victory is not determined by how many are behind you, but having nothing left before you.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."  2 Timothy 4:7-8

 

Focus on the finish...don't quit...stay faithful...recieve the reward. 

I hope we all stay in the race which Christ has placed us today.

The Original Starbucks

The original Starbucks in downtown Seattle doesn't have near the decor or appeal as does everyone which has come after it.  This Starbucks is full of brown cardboard boxes, they don't sell travel mugs or coffee cups off the shelf, and there are no bistro tables where one could take advantage of free wifi for hours on end.  Quite simply, this store just sells coffee.  There is a quiet confidence that comes from  saying, "We are a coffee shop, and we will sell coffee...not an image." 

During my recent travels to WA I spent many hours on a plane and just about as many in a car named Danica, she was a beaut!  During my time on the plane I had the honor to spend a significant amount of time getting to know Brett (on the way to WA) and Clint (on the way home), both of which were from the Seattle area.  These men are very different from one another, yet very similar at the same time.  Sometimes as we interact with people in our hometowns the relationships turn into productions...like extravagant local coffee shops.  But these two men carried a quiet confidence which I appreciated, much like the coffee shop that decides to "sell coffee" I found an honest realness that was not intimidated by the views we held that were different.

There was an amazing hope that swelled in my heart as I shared the depths of the gospel which I imagine these great men had never heard.  They listened with attentiveness, asked questions with inquisitiveness, and considered every word of the Scriptures.  For a moment, the gospel encountered a world which has not made room for the God of the Bible, and I will continue to pray for Clint and Brett, that they would trade in the fears of a self led life for the hope of a life in relationship with the Creator of the world. 

The gospel of Jesus is not is not in need of our fancy productions, free wifi and bistro tables.  What God has revealed to me is that the gospel of Jesus needs the homes of the Church to be less like the Starbucks chain closest to your neighborhood and more like the original...please consider how your home can become less dependant upon the gimmicks of decor and mass appeal and begin to carry a quiet confidence as you merely train your spouse and children to trust everything to the One who gave you everything.

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."  Ephesians 6:4

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:5-11