AND THE WINNER FOR "ANNOYANCE OF THE WEEK" GOES TO...

I know I'm of the generation that believed it was a no-no to walk in church while the preacher is preaching. It was considered a MAJOR infraction punishable by a good talking to by ANYBODY'S mama--or a spanking. You knew better. Go to the restroom before the service began. There was no reason to be mobile while the service was going on--except for the customary offering march.

With that said, I do believe I have a new pet peeve. Photographers CONSTANTLY snapping pictures in church--professional AND amateur. Sometimes, it's just seems unbelievably rude. I know that people have a job to do, but when is enough ENOUGH? When is it time to just use the zoom feature? Sometimes, especially in a small facility, it is just too much. You wonder if you're there to watch the photographer. Unless people just like having their photograph taken, it is a little unnerving having someone shoving a camera in your face every 3 seconds. Exactly what is it that one is attempting to capture? I'm waiting to hear about a pastor who has banned the use of cameras.
*sigh*
Church paparazzi....all that incessant walking/roving/posturing/clicking...I imagine a band of gangster angels tripping them, then taking the batteries out of their cameras, camcorders, and cell phones and throwing them out on the parking lot and screaming with glee as a truck comes along and crushes them to smithereens. I want to find my inner old church mother, snatch the shutterbugs up, glue them to a pew and yell, "SIT YOUR BUSY SELF DOWN AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE MESSAGE!!!!!", but then that would be an even BIGGER, annoying distraction, now wouldn't it? 
Pray for me. 
That is all.

SHUT DOWN

There's an obsolete use of the word 'GOVERNMENT'. At one time it meant "moral conduct or behavior; discretion".
Based on that definition, sometimes it seems as if there already IS a shut down.

A lot of people are fearful today because the entity within which they put their trust is appearing to be unstable, uncaring, childish, and selfish. The news reports seem to be assisting in creating an atmosphere of anxiety. It is a wake up to reconsider just who gets top billing in one's mind and heart. 
Government is doing things that it was never established to do, and as a result, has become to go-to guy for everything. When it fails to function, people tend to lose it. It is a god to many, and many forget who's really in control--and who has always sustained them in the past.

People are suffering, worried, and facing what looks like the end of their world. Perhaps their identities lie in the positions they hold. Perhaps they have overextended themselves financially. Perhaps their plans have been indefinitely placed on hold. Perhaps something may have to be sacrificed.
Every misfortune, however, is not the result of an individual's wrongdoing or poor choices. Power in the hands of people who have forgotten that they are servants can be dangerous. It can also be a blessing in disguise. Oppression has a way of stirring up the survivor in a person. Lack of trust has a way of inspiring one to take precautions. Trouble can be a mighty motivator. It may even guide you to where you are supposed to be.

As I pray for leaders, I'd hate to think that people are delighting in making others squirm. You never want to think that people are deliberately causing hardship, or hoping that others suffer. Then it occurred to me that someone has used all of their leave. Someone needs a vacation. Someone needs more time with their family. Someone desperately needs rest. Someone has been putting off retirement. Someone has asked God for a change. Someone secretly desires to move. Someone has been going to work ill. Someone has had a toxic situation in the office. Someone has been spending a fortune on gasoline. What may seem like the political posturing of uncaring, spoiled, uncooperative leaders just MAY be divine intervention.

God is still sovereign. He says don't worry. He says trust him. Sounds like a plan.

Never be so arrogant as to think that another person's success or failure lies in your hands or depends upon your support. What looks like despair, rejection, sure failure and defeat to you--even if you orchestrated it-- may be a divine set up, and in the end, the only person you can depend on will be the person you put down, laughed at, cast out, ignored, oppressed, or tried to destroy. Read about Joseph in Genesis 37-50...and trust God.

TODAY I LEARNED: EXCERPTS FROM ZION

"He gets on my nerves...HGOMN...That's a new one...If you're going to love your neighbor, treat EVERYBODY right. Love and respect EVERYONE. God loves people downtrodden...broken...disadvantaged...God waited on all of us... He waited on you until you came to Him... How dare you act like you're better than anyone else?...Don't kiss up to important people and kick down poor people...We have got to be a people who are concerned with more than ourselves...
When a pastor needs to know the temperature of his congregation, he must put the thermometer in his own mouth. We can have the most inspiring, creative, engaging service in the world, and it is meaningless if we leave and don't care about people. You cannot connect with God and ignore the people that He's concerned about. Ask God to show you what your prejudices are...Consciously, intentionally try to love and respect everybody. Ask God to show you what your prejudices are...If you're going to love your neighbor, treat EVERYBODY right...You can't score points by just drawing up a play. Help us to run this play--not just think about it, but execute it..."Faith and favoritism don't mix..." ~Pastor Keith Battle

"Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all." Proverbs 22:2

"Flatter not thyself in thy faith in God if thou hast not charity for thy neighbor." ~Francis Quarles

"If you haven't got any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble." ~Bob Hope

SATURDAY THOUGHTS: TOOLS

"And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste. And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me." 

~1 Samuel 21:8-10

There is probably a tool for every job. There are, no doubt, countless gadgets lying around our homes in bags, drawers or tool boxes. 

Can we identify them by name? 

If challenged, would we know what to do with them, or just concoct a use for them based on what we think they are? 

"What is this for?", we ask before we decide whether or not we need to keep the mystery tool, or throw it away.

 
There’s always a tool that will allow us to perform a task with greater ease, in less time, and with better results. What works for others, however may not work for you. 

The scripture finds David in search of tools. It’s ironic that the same David, who had earlier rejected the weaponry of Saul as he prepared to fight Goliath, was later being offered, and accepted the sword of Goliath- as he was running from Saul! 

David had been given an assignment by his father prior to his entanglement with the giant. He was merely being obedient when he arrived with roasted grain and bread for his brothers, and cheese for the commander of their unit. 

Instead of being thanked and greeted warmly for bringing food, David’s brother chastised, criticized, accused and challenged him. 

David’s purpose for being there changed dramatically when he heard the words Goliath spoke against God. 

David’s brother was not only going to see him in the battle, but David would perform with the kind of bravery and skill that none of the soldiers had been willing, or able to demonstrate. 

He was going to defeat the enemy on his own terms, and using the tools with which he was accustomed. He had developed mastery with those tools. It was clear that he carefully selected stones. There were things he learned as a result of his prior experience that would serve him well in the most notable confrontation of his life.

Possessing the proper tools for a job, but choosing not using them is just foolish, and guarantees among other things, a big mess and wasted time. 

Having great tools and not knowing how to use them reduces them to decoration. Having available helpers who do know how to use the tools, and not bothering to enlist their expertise makes even less sense. Proper tools utilized in proper places, are a terrific idea and conserves energy.

When faced with a task, wisdom says "Prepare". 

Perhaps there will be big mess, but it doesn’t mean it’s not manageable.
You don’t see the task at hand, and then guess at what you need to complete it. No. Any task has to be assessed.

Consider the fish cleaner. Part of the task of cleaning an actual fish is removing the scales. What do you do? If you don’t know, your first inclination would be to grab a knife. Maybe you’ve tried it, and had to learn the sloppy way that scraping with the grain of a fish’s scales, using an ordinary knife, won’t get rid of a thing. 

There’s a proper way to do everything in order to obtain optimal results. Scraping against the grain of the scales with an actual fish scaler will help you achieve the objective- which is to remove the scales! 

Do we want to play with the fish or clean them? 

How a fish is treated soon after it is caught, has so much to do with whether it will be preserved or discarded. 

Fish, like people don’t fare well when they are mishandled! It doesn’t take much to badly bruise them, and they can’t be left out in the elements. A few days of improper treatment renders the caught fish unusable. Do you see a connection?

We have a tendency to make some things more complicated than they have to be. Sometimes a simple thing can be a big help. If you know a mess is imminent, make provision and use common sense. 

I thought about the process of cleaning actual fish, and remembered that the first thing most people do, if they’re inside, is to protect the surface on which they are going to work. 

The first thing most people reach for is old newspaper. When it comes to making mess, suddenly that old, cheap newspaper is like gold. The ever abundant newsprint paper seems perfect for holding all of the mess, and it’s wide enough, plentiful enough, and pliable enough to just ball up and throw away when the job is over. 

Every task does not require great expense. Can you imagine someone cleaning fish on a linen covered mahogany table? Who cares about being pretentious when they just want to be clean? 

How many valuable things and people have we thrown away because we used them improperly and unnecessarily? 

What far reaching choices have we made when we could have just selected something right under our noses? Cleaning fish? Get newsprint. It does the job and then is easily disposed of. That’s right. Throw it away. 

Cleaning people? Be careful that the wrong things don’t end up in the garbage.

When something has served its purpose, it’s time to move on to newness in thought and deed. 

When something has exhausted its capacity, or begins to stink, it’s time to toss it and replace it with something new. 

Something clean has to be separated from any and all sources of contamination. Past hurts, failures, mishaps and messes have to be tossed out, like the fish scales in the newspaper. 

When Jesus healed the woman of her issue, he said “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague". Mark 5:34. 

I’m sure she was not the least bit interested in carrying around, keeping or wearing the clothes of her infirmity! They’d served their purpose long enough.

If you’re cleaning, keeping the junk and trash around is counterproductive. Even when you think the residue has been removed, a little rinsing never hurt. 

The need for thorough washing has to be understood. 

The knife, the scaler, the newspaper and the rinsing takes care of the surface, but what about the insides? It’s sobering, but if a fish is being cleaned, it’s already dead, so the next necessary step won’t hurt in the least—and it means a lot more mess. If we’re going to serve, we have to finish the job.

If you want a good fillet, there are knives specially made to make sure no meat is lost. Fish have scales, and some genius actually manufactures fish scalers just to help that task along. 

I found out that a fish’s scales are a good place for bacteria to live. Getting rid of scales insures a cleaner, longer lasting, and better tasting piece of fish. In like manner, those things that are upon the people of God which causes them to be soiled, weak, sour, or threatens their longevity have to be removed. But there’s a right way and a wrong way to do everything, and time is not always on your side.

Why not invest in anything that will assist in getting a job done more efficiently and effectively? 

Why keep using the same old things just because they are convenient? 

Sure, you can always substitute one tool for another. A butter knife makes a great screwdriver, but every screw is not the same. A drawer full of faithful butter knives pale in comparison to one Phillips head screwdriver when the screw you’re trying to loosen has a Phillips head!

As there are varying types of screws, there are varying types of fish, with varying purposes but one goal in common- survival. 

Ephesians 4:11-15 reads, "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is, Christ." 

People are in fact resources. We cannot continue to make the mistakes of lumping everyone in the same category, leaving huge amounts of critical work in the hands of a few, and being so covetous or insecure that we take on tasks, and assume positions that our hands were never intended, nor assigned to handle. To do so threatens that our own true calling and gifts are never realized. We must believe in God’s willingness and ability to provide us with everything we need to flourish. 

1 Corinthians 12:28-30 reads, "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?" 

Obviously the answer is "No", and we must act accordingly. 

Helping to clean up people, like cleaning fish, and obtaining the best they have to offer is not for novices! 

 Carelessness in employing the tools of our service is unacceptable. 

There are those who are given to finding fault, and ever evaluating whether or not people are suitable for one task or another. It’s the kind of thinking that leads some people to believe they have to be an integral part of everything, and present everywhere whether their gifts, callings or talents are suitable for a job or not. There’s a level of insecurity and selfishness in those who are rigid and inflexible with regards to others. 

We have no choice but to see the good, and employ the proper tools to bring it to light! Further we must embrace the very real truth that the best man or woman for the job is always the one whom God designates. Whether we choose to agree or not, God’s purposes will always be fulfilled. 

We can’t mishandle the people of God- especially babes in Christ. 

We certainly can’t be serious when we scratch our heads and wonder why they don’t stick around, and choose to take their chances in the world’s muddy river instead.

FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS

"These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." Matthew 10:5-8

Enter lots of workplaces and, no matter what business is being conducted, you’ll find that someone has posted a list of do’s and don’ts. We spend our childhoods anticipating a time when there will be no one telling us what to do, only to find that rules and directions never go away. There’s always someone giving orders, restricting our behavior, and posting signs to make sure we don’t forget to behave ourselves.
There are lots of reasons that people make lists or signs and hang them for all to see. Perhaps there was an accident as a result of someone’s carelessness with a piece of equipment. Maybe something was damaged or contaminated because of improper handling. It might be that someone goofed, and instead of the offender being directly reprimanded, it just seems more diplomatic to post signs and indirectly address everyone. Sometimes the “to do” or “don’t do” lists are just reminders of what steps to follow in case something suddenly malfunctions. The hastily scribbled signs that are full of underlines and exclamation points are the best. They imply that someone is a bit upset, and whatever happened had better not happen again. “Please wash your hands” "Use this door" "No Smoking" "All Employees Must Sign In" "Authorized Personnel Only" "Don’t Even Think of Parking Here!" EVERYWHERE there are rules and directions to govern our actions.

When conditions are set, there are reasons. When Jesus addressed his disciples, he gave them very specific instructions. The Bible doesn’t say that they challenged Jesus, or asked why they couldn’t venture out of their immediate area or follow their own script. Jesus didn’t want them to just rush out in all directions. There was a plan of action that had to be followed. Most of all there was and is a God to represent. The disciples could not be anxious and take it upon themselves to go outside of the boundaries set by Christ, or perform duties outside of the ones he specified. The instructions Jesus gave didn’t imply that the disciples were a bunch of dummies who couldn’t think for themselves. Jesus wasn’t being condescending. It seems to me that he demonstrated great love for them by taking the time to be so specific. They were given an opportunity to prove themselves teachable, dependable and committed. They were demonstrating that they could be trusted, and could handle such an important task.

Every now and then, even the most competent among us need a little refresher that helps us to perform more efficiently. We get careless sometimes, cocky even- especially if we’ve been doing a particular job for a long time. We think we can do it in our deepest sleep. We don’t like the idea of someone evaluating us or looking over our shoulders. We’re anointed right? We’ll just instinctively know what to do, won’t we?
It’s easy to get ahead of ourselves as we serve. We hear instructions, rules, requirements and suggestions and sometimes think we don’t need them. We minimize their importance, are offended by how simple they seem, or decide they don’t apply to us. Then, we feel free to act independently, establish our own methods and plans, and wonder why things don’t work.
Sometimes we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed and decide that the instructions we are given are too hard, unfair, or deliberately designed so that we can’t possibly live up to them. This causes us to modify our behavior; sabotage our potential, or walk away from our assignments. Even when we’re called, anointed and appointed, do we really have to be told where to go, what to do, who to approach, what to say, and how to behave? Do we still need directions? Absolutely. 
As servants we have to listen. We have to pay attention. We have to be receptive to instructions, carry them out, and not embellish. Any bright ideas we have, no matter how wonderful, are shaky at best if they deviate from the instructions we are given.

JUST SAY "NO".

I heard, "Awww man! I was really hoping you could do it. Now I have to pay somebody." I remember when it wouldn't have been funny; when I would have been offended. The comment just made me make yet another mental note.

"SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND", a daily devotional by Marsha Burns, was SO on time today. It read, "Resist the temptation to take on more than you can effectively handle. Any over-extension could deplete your resources physically, emotionally, financially or spiritually. Exercise sound judgment when making choices, and you would do well to be conservative. The enemy would love to stretch you beyond your abilities. If you need wisdom ask Me and I will give you the guidance you need, says the Lord." The scripture referenced was James 1:5. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

It's funny how, in all of the details you are given about what you are being asked to do, one little detail is often and conveniently overlooked--your compensation. Some people don't care how you finance your participation in their affairs or if what they are asking creates a hardship. You can always tell when you decline, that you have put them in a position to examine their motives AND their budget.
Some people aren't disappointed that you can't make it, or can't do what they ask. They're disappointed that they now have to do the right thing and pay someone else for what they expected YOU to do for nothing. (It's amazing how funds can be found for everything except what people want YOU to do. All of a sudden you hear manipulative praises sung about "ministry" and "humility" and "volunteerism".) The first time you say "No" you just might:
1. Be on your way to paying your OWN bills in full and on time, have a little money in YOUR pocket, and more time for your own family and interests.
2. Find out just how much what you have done in the past was acknowledged and appreciated.
3. Cause someone to repent of their habit of shamelessly taking advantage of you and undervaluing your time, talent and effort.
4. Save someone from having to think up another outright lie or weak excuse.
5. Cure someone of their selfish, miserly ways and motivate them to see the rightness and fairness of paying a fair and timely wage for the work they want done.
6. Remind someone that they shouldn't treat your livelihood as if it is their hobby.
7. Inform someone that people who profited by expecting and demanding that others work for little or nothing, were called "SLAVE MASTERS" not "event planners", "project managers", "committee chairpersons", "talent coordinators"----and certainly not "friends".

It's not a new message, but treat people the way you would like to be treated. Respect the work that others do.

RELIGIOSITY

On facebook and other social networking sites, we have the opportunity to engage strangers as a result of common friendships. Yesterday, someone sent an inbox message (in all caps) to another friend about a thread on my wall in which they both commented, but disagreed. I deleted and blocked the sender who decided to take her argument off of the wall and negatively, and ignorantly engage someone she didn't even know. I've been very lax about accepting friend requests, but yesterday reminded me that I didn't like bullies when I was in grade school--and still don't. Religious bullies are even worse.

People are certainly entitled to their opinions, but how they convey them is key.
Some people have had their hands and feet bound by denominational ideals for so long that nothing in them is circulating except a desire for others to suffer in ignorance with them. So many people have been falsely converted; have joined organizations thinking it means that they are now perfect, superior to others, qualified to be judges, juries and executioners, and are God's official spokespeople. They are right-fighters, armed with the very useless rules and regulations that they have been led to believe are the Gospel. Sadly, it's easier for some people to perpetuate the lies and fairy tales have always been taught, and argue their validity, than to actually pick up a Bible, read it for themselves, recognize and admit they have been manipulated and misinformed, and begin to embrace THE truth, and enjoy abundant life.

There are occasions when you speak without thinking. When writing, you have an opportunity to read what you wrote to yourself, and decide whether it is appropriate to send. Before anyone else can understand what you meant to convey, you have to. When writing, all that a reader can go by are the words they see. When you don't take the time to weigh your own words, you'll always be offended the responses you get, blame others for misunderstanding, and find yourself forever putting out fires that YOU started.
Sure, some people are always trolling for something/anything that you say to pounce upon--sometimes for no other reason than that they don't like you, and seek to embarrass you. They're looking for a fight, and will try to take out of context anything you say or do. That's when you definitely have to be sure about your position, and be able to back it up with evidence, about which, no one would be willing to refute.

P.S. You really shouldn't run to debate people who actually read and study the Bible when your best argument is what your beloved denomination teaches. Even when your denomination teaches what's actually IN the Bible it's not a good idea to browbeat people. I don't care what church you belong to, or what you've always heard, it's best to read for yourself and find out if what you're spreading is helping people to come to Christ, driving them away, or keeping YOU bound and ignorant. 
Some people have foolishly mistaken religion and church affiliation with salvation. It's well known that Christians are a "peculiar people". Let's try not to add "misinformed, self-righteous, argumentative bullies" to the description.