Salty Spotlights

That's what a disciple of Jesus Christ is called to be. A salty spotlight. A true disciple of Christ will provide both of these things, in some form or another, in their daily lives. Sure, not exactly breaking news, but perhaps something worth re-evaluating if you find yourself to be in the position of interacting with non-disciples on a regular basis.

Be Salty-
Zes-tangy-icy! Would those around us describe us as such? Or would it be more of a depress-downer-angry? We're being watched and listened to far more than we realize. What we say and do is constantly making a case for who we truly are. And by the way, if we declare we're this or that, but then behave in complete contradiction to that declaration, well we ought to consider ourselves tasteless.
We read in Romans 1:29 - 32 the assessment, by Jesus Christ, that the world is rotten and rotting; therefore, His statement that Christians must function as the salt of the earth is more than just a cutesy illustration. "They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." Matthew 5:13 tells us our role in this dark mess. We're the salt. We're the preservative until Christ returns. Do we see more decay than preservation around us? Maybe we need to spice things up a little and be more salty. Really get in there and rub ourselves into society rather than just package ourselves away in our homes, careers, or earthly vices. It's not a request, it's a declaration: "You are the salt of the earth." And if we decide not to, or forget to, or ::insert ridiculous excuse here::? "...If the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Tasty or trampled? Which would we rather be?

We're spotlights as well. I think we read to much into the don't hide your lamp under a bushel idea from the Sermon on the Mount. Often we don't hide it. But we certainly don't proclaim it either, or show it to anyone but our church friends. We're to be spotlights, not to illuminate ourselves, but to shine and direct attention to the source of our hope and life, Jesus Christ. Matthew 5:16 says, "...Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." So they see our good deeds, but more importantly the see who is the recipient of the praise and honor from those deeds. Not to us, but to Him. Remember the Newsboys' Shine? "Shine, make them wonder what you've got, make them wish that they were not on the outside looking bored. Shine, let it shine before all men. Let them see good works and then let them glorify the Lord. Shine!"

So when we get up in the morning, when we're about to go off on someone that probably deserves it, when we don't feel like loving, or forgiving, or waiting.... we should remember that we're called to something higher and greater. Not to be a good person who controls their temperament and mouth. But to be a light in the darkness. To be salt in the wound, a preservative from the decay. The world doesn't need our clever words or biting sarcasm. Not our hate, fear, anger, or politics. What the world needs is the bright flavor Jesus gave us. The world needs some salty spotlights.

Money... It's A Fad

Wow, I never thought I would be quoting Pink Floyd. But truth is truth whether it comes from the mouth of a rocket scientist or a rock star.

It's interesting to consider just how much importance we can place on the words and thoughts of others, especially those esteemed as important or influential. Of course, sometimes that influence can be granted because of fame, or because of age, or even because of wealth (especially in the midst of the affluent English known as Americans). Think about how much weight is placed on the words of such individuals as Donald Trump, Dr. Phil, Rush Limbaugh, Hilary Clinton, Tom Cruise, Will Smith, President Bush, Sharon Stone, even Bono. Each of these people have clout in and of themselves because of one of the aforementioned reasons. In fact, many of those who consider themselves to be above the influence of worldly "wisdom" are generally still affected in someway. For example, how many times have you or I bought something for ourselves or gone to a certain restaurant or vacation spot because somewhere, in the back of our brains, we hear echoes of, "You deserve it", or "Have it your way", or "You gotta eat"? Seriously, think about how many times in a given day the words of someone else have had a measurable impact on one's actions. I recently did just that and let me tell you, it's scary. I was amazed because I like to think that I'm above such blatant manipulation, especially because I generally HATE it when celebrities or fast food joints think I'll care what they have to say, or even more that I'll act differently because of what they say (i.e. have my choices influenced). Well, it seems I'm just as susceptible as I thought I wasn't.

It shocks me to consider how influenced I am by the words and actions of puny people like myself, but more than that it breaks my heart to realize how much I count on that "wisdom" and all too often and easily, how much I discount the words and wisdom of the one person who offers truly valuable counsel: Jesus Christ. It's so easily accessible too! I have, at this moment, 6 Bibles and yet I, somehow, can't seem to pick one up when I have free time. But throw me into a life or death situation, and guess what I want to read? Throw me into those moments of "Oh god help me!" and I'm all about Jesus' advice and counsel. But funnily enough, when it's just a regular day, or when all is even keel. where's the Bible? Why, it's busy collecting dust (because I apparently really value dust and so I need somewhere to keep it)!

Why? Why do I waste time on totally temporal and unimportant things? Why do I seek solace from such things as music, friends, movies, my fiance', my family, my job? Yea, we're all imperfect, I get that. But isn't there supposed to be a change? Aren't we, the Called, supposed to be a glaring contrast to the rest of the world? Aren't we supposed to be different, sometimes painfully so? So why is it that alot of churches, pastors, lay-leaders, "Christians" (myself included) can't seem to stay on target? The way this is going I feel like I ought to be concluding with some well formed and excellently verbose answer. But I think the answer isn't a complicated series of steps. The reason is found in one place......the heart:

5 Thus says the LORD,
“Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind
And makes flesh his strength,
And whose heart turns away from the LORD.
6 “For he will be like a bush in the desert
And will not see when prosperity comes,
But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness,
A land of salt without inhabitant.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD
And whose trust is the LORD.
8 “For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.
9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else
And is desperately sick;
Who can understand it?
10 “I, the LORD, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give to each man according to his ways,
According to the results of his deeds.

(Jeremiah 17:5-10)

Well, there it is. no point in trying to come up with other reasons or explanations for our behavior because He said it perfectly. You and I, at our core, are "desperately sick" and that core is more deceitful than ALL ELSE. Why do we kid ourselves by thinking we can take our problems head on and succeed without Christ? Maybe we think we're on god's side now and because of that we are less susceptible to failure and grave sin? I know for me it's simply because I'm ride the spiritual short bus but God still drives me to the school of life every morning. He's not done with me. This pottery still needs some molding.

So what now? Will this be another long testimonial to the level of suck that is human depravity or will it be like a lit fire that pushes me closer into God? Or will next month look alot like last month and the month before it and so on? I can't say, but I can say I'm sick of repetition. Here's to true newness of life and real passion and drive to see His kingdom come, no matter where I am tomorrow.

Dios

And now a random and completely unplanned venture into self-evaluation via quasi-3rd-person travelogue....

Welcome to PResent. On your left you'll see Past and what's left of last year and on your right, what is currently known as Future. Admittedly, little is known about this vast unexplored place, but what we do know is that everything in life up until now has been, in some way, preparation for what lies ahead. Surely you're quite ready to move Forward with this, as few individuals (if any) have anything left to deal with regarding what's behind them in the Past, such as baggage, regrets, bitterness, etc. After all it would be quite impossible to survive the Future if one were endlessly dealing with the Past in the Present.

You'll notice that this entire time we've been moving steadily, slowly, Forward. Forward is a direction in which everyone wants to go, but few actually achieve, and one which fewer still know how to sustain..... Ah, and on your immediate left you'll notice what we lovingly refer to as-

Procrastination. Any and all who would rather talk about moving Forward without actually doing anything to get there, then this is the place for you! During your stay there, you'll encounter your gracious N. Ami, who will cater to your various weaknesses, preferences, and moral compasses (and for some, the lack thereof). He will tirelessly be prowling around looking for those whom He can.... Ah but I digress. Moving right along...

Now just appearing as a silhouette on the horizon is Next. Excuse me sir? What's Next you say? My Father knows much more about this than you do, but He has provided you with all you'll need to know to prepare yourself for this in the Guide. You do all still have your Guide, correct? What's that madam? You say it's sitting where? On a shelf? What? Dust, you say? All over it. Yes, well.... I suppose that unless you remedy that then Next will never arrive and you'll have to take up permanent residence in Procrastination or one of it's sister towns, namely the charming albeit completely pointless Pseudo-Christianity. Nice place to look at but believe you me I wouldn't want to be caught dead there. As for the rest of you, the Guide will provide all the information you need to know about Next. Now on your left you'll see......