Motivation

What motivates you? What gets you out of bed in the morning? What inspires you to action?

School of Fish had a line in their song, Three Strange Days, that went...."I think I lost myself when I lost my motivation."

Motivation is huge in determining who we are, where we go, what we do, why we do it.

On a good day, I am motivated by my love for God. On such days, the things I say and the things I do are responses to God's love. Motivated by love to love. I think that's may be Christianity in a nutshell. Of course, it's really not all that simple, is it? See Luke 18:18-23.

Still, sometimes I get it right and it feels good. So, what motivates you? Here are some of the things beside love which have motivated me...see if these are on you list:

power
praise
money
anger
fear
greed
lust

Here's the thing. These may motivate us, but they are dead ends. Literally. Love is the only motivator that leads to life. We just need to get better at accepting the love freely offered to us and let that love shape our responses to it.

Today I attended two children's holiday parties. I sandwiched in a community event meeting between the parties. Why? Because I recognized the opportunity to show my children and their friends what love looks like. Because I was able to show some community leaders love in action. Yes, through sugar and crafts and event debriefings I heard the birds sing. The chance to hear the song will get me out of bed in the morning even when it's been below freezing. What about you?

No Worries

The Message paraphrases Matthew 6:34 this way:

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked
up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with
whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been drawn to share this passage (actually the extended passage...check out the New International Version's translation here) several times.

There are a lot of folks out there worrying. Maybe you're one of them? This passage reminds us, God knows what we need and God is willing and able to provide for us. It's more than "don't worry, be happy". It's "don't worry, God's with you".

And there it is again...God with us....Emmanuel. Ironic that for so many the approach of Christmas doesn't relieve the worry, but compounds it. If you're in that boat, take a moment and read Matthew 6 again. God is with us!

Today I shared some scripture with a person full of worry and you know what? I heard the birds sing as hope began its work of pushing worry aside. I pray we all find hope rising in us as we move closer to Christmas. It makes a pretty song.

We Win!

Is it just me or is this a great time to be alive?

Sure the weather here is bitterly cold. Sure new outbreaks of disease "x" pop up every other week. Sure the Mayan calendar is quickly running out. But still, isn't it hard not to walk around with a permanent smile smeared across you face?

I mean, it's almost Christmas!

And if Christmas says anything to me, it says, "We win!"

All that is horrible and yucky and broken and screwy in the world is on the way out. It's grip loosens with every passing moment. If that doesn't make you smile, go back and read it again.

Hopelessness. Despair. Hatred. All fading.
Heartbreak. Anger. Destruction. All dissolving.
Jealousy. Betrayal. Doubt. All crumbling.

You want to argue with me, don't you? You want to show me all the examples of things getting worse, or things falling apart. You want to tell me to wake up and face reality.

Oh, friends, there is nothing more real than God sending a Son to live and die and rise from the dead for us. There is nothing more true than God's love for us. There is no "evidence" than can diminish, devalue, or otherwise, deny what God has started in Christ. And soon we will celebrate that great act of love again.

If you're not smiling yet, I pray you hear the birds singing. They've been warming up, practicing their Christmas carol. Listen and you'll hear them sing....We win! We win! We win!

Want an example of the difference Christ is making? check this out!

I Can Feel It Coming In The Air Tonight...

Last night LifeSpring held its first ever Children's Christmas Program. It was wonderful! Lots of folks came out in support of the children and our Children's Pastor. There were lots of good things to eat, the hot chocolate stayed hot, and the conversation flowed effortlessly.

The program itself was about as stereotypical as you get. Kids dressed up as shepherds and angels and Joseph and Mary. My boy got to be an angel. He looked good. There was even choreographed dancing which my daughter participated in. She looked good, as well. It was scripture and singing and good times. I was/am so proud of all their hard work and their ministry.

In many ways, the program had a very "traditional" feel to it. Right down to a folded church program, the whole experience suggested a connection to countless children's Christmas programs that have gone before ours.

Which has left me wondering....what role does "tradition" play in a new church start?

Will folks next year be looking again to see baby Jesus asleep on the hay? Will the shepherd's crooks come out of storage to make another appearance? Or will we do something completely different next year? Will our "tradition" become surprising folks with the Gospel? Will our celebrations find us seeking new ways to share the old, old story?

These questions are bigger than this one gathering, of course. The music we sing on a Sunday morning...the fact that we meet on Sunday mornings...my preaching...our ministries...how we share our faith.... All these and more can and do draw upon our "traditions".

We are about to celebrate our 2nd Community Christmas Candlelight Celebration. We will incorporate some traditional elements in the service, but I pray we will also be creative enough to surprise folks again with the miracle of Christmas. After all, almost every church will be sticking to what we've come to expect at Christmas. If that really connected with people, we'd have churches just as full as we do on Christmas Eve the rest of the year.

A bird has been singing to me through Advent (talk about tradition, what "unchurched" person has any idea what Advent is?). Its song isn't accompanied by a trumpet fanfare or twinkling chimes. No, this bird sings solo. "Rethink Christmas," it sings. As I have, I believe I am finding Jesus again as if for the first time. This child marks a change in the status quo. This babe in a manger isn't going to stay soft and cuddly, wrapped in swaddling clothes. This gift is going to change everything...including me. It's enough to make me want to shout, "Hallelujah!" And I will...but not quite yet. It's coming, this crazy miracle called Christmas, but it's not here yet. Soon.....soon.

The Price of a Free Lunch

They say there's no such thing as a free lunch. I think I even had an entire lecture in business school that could be summed up by that point. While it is true that even a "free" lunch will at least cost you time, I like to be invited out for a meal now and again that is at least billed as free.

Today I enjoyed a free lunch with a good friend who had an extra ticket to a fundraiser luncheon at Carrabba's...yum.

At lunch I sat with the guy who invited me and another of his guests. We talked, which for me meant I shared about LifeSpring. If there's ever any way for me to mention the church I'm on it. If you're looking there's almost always a way.

The other guest may never come to LifeSpring. I'm okay with that. My "job" is to offer the opportunity, it is up to the individual to respond. He's got my card.

Following lunch my benefactor and I dropped into ColdStone Creamery....yum.

Within a few minutes we were talking with the manager who recently served as a youth minister in a United Methodist church I know. He asked lots of good questions about what we're doing and we had a good conversation. He may never come to LifeSpring. (see above) He's got my card.

I share this with you because I want to make sure you know you don't have to be a church planter to share what God is doing in your life. Everyday conversations in everyday places provide the perfect opportunity. All you need is an awareness of God working in your life and the willingness to share that awareness with others.

Today I heard a bird singing about putting ourselves out there, engaging others by sharing who we are and what we are doing in Christ's name. I let the song lead my conversations with two strangers and it felt as good as it always does when I let the song have its way. As I got back into my car following these exchanges, I couldn't help but wonder what the world look like if we all listened and followed the song more often?

Listen Carefully

Today was spent driving to and attending the funeral services of my two-month-old cousin (spending a few hours and then driving back the 3 or so hours it takes to get from here to there). You might think it hard to hear the birds singing in such circumstances. I agree and yet I did hear them sing.

I heard the birds sing today through my family gathered to lift each other up by reminding ourselves that death is not the end.

I heard the birds sing today through conversation with my loving wife.

I heard the birds sing today through friends who didn't miss a beat in getting our kids to school and back.

I heard the birds sing today through a bitter wind that reminded me to be thankful for my thick coat and gloves and warm car and heated house and all the other blessings I so often take for granted.

I heard the birds sing today at a school fundraiser we just made it back for. The living need to keep on keeping on.

I heard the birds sing today through an old dog riddled with cancer who still loves to play and is excited to see you when you get home.

Friends, death is all around us. Let us not focus overly much on that. Instead, let us live. Let us fill up the days we have and dance and sing and play and laugh and run. Let us also find the quiet spaces where we can delight in a concert of birdsong.

Some days it will be harder to hear the song, but know this....the birds will always sing.

No More Death

About two months ago a baby cousin was added to my family. We knew before he was born that he was going to have a tough time. His heart was not fully developed and so a few days after birth he went into surgery. Yesterday, despite all the medical know-how, he died.

I don't know why some babies are born to us for such short periods of time. It doesn't make much sense to me.

What I do know is this...God loves us.

As I shared with the church a few weeks ago, these trials can draw us closer to God or drive us away from God. As always, the choice is ours.

I don't understand Kollin's short life, but I choose to believe God is with us. That's what I'm praying we all remember as we move closer to Christmas.

With the death of this child, may we be drawn closer to another child. A child born to die for us...Jesus...Emmanuel...God with us.

A bird sang to me today. "O come, O come Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel..." A day is coming and already has come when there will be no more crying or weeping or death. And in that I will rejoice.