Recently I stated in a staff meeting that we had never, ever required a piece of information as part of our paperwork, and that it would be an unnecessary bit of micro-managing paperwork.

It took about forty-eight hours before I needed to apologize as someone graciously pointed out the error of my ignorance.

I was certain what i believed was right, but I was truthfully wrong.

Note: I’ll be apologizing at the next meeting, tomorrow.

When I heard the song Believe by Josh Groban I loved the melody, but I didn’t know how to move past my thoughts of every time I, or someone else I know of wholeheartedly believed misguided “truths”.

For many of us, “No” is the first word that we spoke.

And, we heard it throughout our childhood:
“No, you can’t do that.”
“No, you’re not old enough.”
“No, you’re not big enough.”

As we got older people used “No” as a weapon:
“No, you’re not pretty enough.”
“No, you’re not smart enough.”
“No, you’re not good enough.”

“No” can protect.
“No” can push away.

Push-Away Politely

Scenarios: You are – asked out, flirted with, asked to dance, offered a drink, etc. – by someone you’re not interested in. What can you do?

Need a jump-start for your character?

Try forgiveness.

Forgive Yourself and Forgive Others.

There are three common possibilities after conflict occurs:
– Conflict escalates
– Conflict goes underground
– Conflict is resolved constructively

So often when we screw up we respond one of three ways:
– Defend
– Deflect or Deny
– Deal with it

Fortunately, our perspective does not limit God’s perspective.

I watched the debate between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney last night.

The two participants became contentious. 

Maybe they cared deeply about having the most accurate and helpful information.

Maybe they work hard at accuracy and — being right — they wanted to be quoted accurately.

But, I’m saddened to think that they might care more about being elected.

What Would They Sacrifice To Win?

Following the debate I read various perspectives about the debate.

Adam Clymer, writing for the New York Times, began:

Thomas, one of Jesus Christ friends, asked him about eternity “How can we know the way?” Jesus replied, “I am the way, the truth, and the life! Without me, no one can go to the Father. If you had known me, you would have known the Father. But from now on, you do know him, and you have seen him.”

Sweet invites his readers to consider the implications and benefits of living our Story as Christ’s Story.

Sweet captured the gospel and it’s implications accurately: “To be the humans God made us to be, we need grace.” We need that grace to effectively represent Christ for a dying world.

To recap, I had lost faith, given up hope and my solutions I chose left me feeling guilty, dirty and foolish.

Any one of my miserable days, lonely nights or stupid decisions could have been life-altering, but it was a conversation with an equally lost friend that changed my life.

My Journey

Fortunately, since I was seven, a guy named Steve Schesvold, cared about me.

Steve invited me to join him in church.

Paradoxes of Christ – Weird But True

Jesus hungered, yet he fed many people.  (Matthew 4:2; John 6)

Jesus hungered, yet he is called the Bread of Life that feeds the deepest needs of people.

Jesus thirsted, but he is called the Living Water that refreshes people.  (John 19:28; 4:14)

Jesus grew weary, yet he is called our source of rest.  (John 4:6; Matthew 11:29-30)

Jesus paid taxes to the ruler of the Roman World, yet he is the true Ruler of the universe (Matthew 17:27; Revelation 19:16)

Scandal used to be, scandalous. Bad news prompted bad publicity, which lead to bad consequences.

Someone once said any publicity is good publicity. I think Tiger Woods would disagree.

The scandal of bad choices damages self-worth.

Moses struggled with his self-worth.  He was a murderer; pursued by the civil authorities he fled for his life. He left his princely role, his family, friends, people and nation.  Followed by scandal he fled.

And along came God with an offer to be a hero if he faced his scandal.  Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”

Honesty is a culturally threatening virtue. So threatening that few people make it a constant choice. It’s counter-cultural to choose to be honest.

Cultural Corruption

People joked about cheating on their taxes – “it’s okay unless you get caught.” People make “little white lies.” They cover up the truth “to protect the other person.”

“Everyone lies” and “everyone lies some of the time” are routinely used to justify the choice to be dishonest. That’s if the choice to be dishonest is ever challenged.

“You love evil more than good and lies more than truth”, says the songwriter.

Our Pandemic

“While the H1N1 virus has sickened tens of thousands of people and closed summer camps in a season when there should be little flu activity, it has killed far fewer than the 36,000 Americans who die from seasonal influenza each year. ”

I had not idea — no idea — that the “flu” was so deadly. I was blind to the pain and suffering that people experience.

In order to protect themselves many people defensively protect themselves with masks.