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| Things of God and Man...
What does it mean to understand the things of God...I know what it means to see from the eyes of Man.
God's perspective: Everyone is made in God's image. Each person's value is determined not by who we are but by God's love for us.
Man's perspective: We are valuable based on who we are. It sounds good doesn't it? However, what I know is true is that I am broken...I am broken.
God's perspective: We are broken. He is Holy. (Holy means "set apart")
There is the rub. How does one who is unworthy, broken come to be in relationship with one who is Holy?
It can't be by just being who we are...if we continue to just be who we are, then we continue to be without relationship with the one who created us. This is a matter for eternity.
I am broken and I am in need of being made new, to be holy. God you call me, you call us to confess our brokeness and our need for you...
I am broken and in need of you.
-Todd
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| greed and patience...
don't go well together.
I heard that quote on a TV show talking about the old USFL football league.
Not bad.
-Todd
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| America...
Land of free and home of the brave...unless you disagree with someone. Sometimes I just shake my head at things that happen. I do love one thing in America. Freedom. But freedom in America is changing. Let's take the example of Rush Limbaugh(a jack ass no doubt) trying to become part owner of the Rams. I didn't know the controversy was out there until a day ago. Apparently, he at some point joined a group of people that wanted to buy the St. Louis Rams. After that announcement some NFL players and media members and those with free speech said, "He should not be allowed to buy the Rams."
Apparently, Rush Limbaugh does not deserve the same freedom as others do. I don't mesh with his politics or the fact that he is merely an "entertainer" and is shrewd enough to know how to sell himself and his words to get attention. I don't value that kind of behavior in any form or fashion. However, I disagree with anyone that would say he does not deserve to purchase something with his own money because of my own disagreement with him.
The latest news report is that he has been dumped by the group making the bid. It is just sad commentary on freedom of this country at times. The funny thing to me is Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson(2 jack asses that are exactly the same as Rush Limbaugh--media whores) are leading the charge. So hypocritical.
The funny thing to me is if Rush Limbaugh became owner and was willing to shell out cash for free agents and improve that terrible team people wouldn't care because they were winning...
Freedom...it's limited to what people think of you...
-Todd
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| retreat season...
When October hits I get this longing in my heart to go to camp with kids on a fall retreat. Play a little football and just plain hang out for a weekend of incredible memory making focused on deepening a walk with Jesus.
I miss these times!
I miss running into the another guys room and freaking them out. Jumping on Scheibe while he is still in bed and hearing him just laugh. I miss late night talks with kids trying to figure out what it means to walk with Jesus in the midst of high school. That is complicated. I miss telling the boys to "cut back". Just some guy to guy advice. I miss the laughs and the tears and the momenrts of surrender and the moments of contemplation. I miss the deep questions and the silly ones too. I miss the Lennon boys tackling each other for no good reason. I miss it.
Why all this reminiscing is becuase I was thinking about a retreat in late 1990's maybe early 2000. I remember going for walk with a student named Tara. I remember her asking me how she could become a Christian. She had been surrounded by those kids in my youth group and what they had was what she wanted. It was a beautiful and unique work of God those kids were. A community. I remember turning to her and just saying you just need to pray to bring God in your heart and begin to walk with him. I don't remember much else but she accepted easily. That is the gift of grace. I do wonder if I cheapened it by just saying pray because really that whole dying to self is not a very easy part. But when it comes to faith I think I might be a bit of optimist, I think I trust God even if I don't have it exactly right that He is big enough to work it out. What other option is there anyway?
To those I ever spent a night on a retreat or up at camp I hold our memories very dear and I hope that you are open to God pursuing you like you did in those moments on those days we had together. He is just as Alive today as he was in those moments.
-Todd
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| Ghosts of Rwanda...
First, I recommend that you rent this documentary. It sheds a very interesting light on what happened and how the world did not intervene in the genocide that killed an estimated 800,000 people in about 6 weeks time.
What struck me is the political games that were played. Madeline Albreight(not worth getting her name right), Bill Clinton, A few other politicians and bureaucrats that they noted in the documentary. I don't want to ruin the documentary but the inability to take responsibility is remarkable. The politicians just pass the buck or protect themselves. Madeline Albreight gives you a glimpse into the mindset of a politician. She says in an interview, "I wish that I had pushed for a large humanitarian intervention. As I write in my book, people would have thought I was crazy. It would never have happened. But I would have felt better about my own role in this. But [I] don't think, in retrospect, it would have made a difference. It just would have made me feel better."
800,000 people were murdered...and your worried about what would make you feel better. This is what we value. This is our american political landscape. Liberal and Conservative...
A General by the name of "Dallaire" who was in charge of the peacekeeping mission speaks differently. A man who is haunted by those 6 weeks in April and early May. Does he pass the buck? No and he bares the scars of his place in Rwanda and those 6 weeks. You can see the weight that he bares as he tells about Rwanda. Nothing he tells himself will make him feel better and nothing should. The same should be said for all of us...We missed it and we must not let history repeat itself.
There is a significant spiritual side to this documentary that I am sure they never intended to have, but with evil this deep you can't pretend there isn't something more out there.
Ghosts of Rwanda - see it and then get involved. I suggest going to Compassion International and sponsoring a child. Making a difference for only $40 a month. Do something.
-Todd
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