WORTH

Worth is a funny and fickel thing. Kelley Blue Book values my 97 Cherokee at about $1000. Without a doubt that does not equate to a Lexus, Infinity or even Honda for that matter. But yesterday, when Knoxville got a dusting of snow, covering our already frozen roads and sticking quite nicely, my car proved to be worth more than its KBB value. You see it has 4WD and that meant I could get around while I passed many of the more valuable cars stranded on the side of the road. At that moment my car was worth more than those newer more luxurious models. What gives you worth and value? Here are some things that may help you see yourself in a positive light: You are made by God. He loves you and can use you to change the world. And HE DOESN'T MAKE JUNK!

FLOWER OR WEED

This time of year when I'm out in the yard and things a sprouting up, it is hard to tell whether they are flowers or weeds. Sometimes their both. For example:

Its, pretty, edible and fun to shoot the top off, but most people call it a weed rather than a flower. It's a matter of opinion I guess. It's unfortunate, but truth is that way in our day and time. It's relevant, meaning people can determine their own truth. Or is it Absolute, meaning their is one Truth that presides over everything. I'm imperfect and I'd rather trust in a TRUTH from a perfect source: God's Word. It is truth for every situation, crisis, struggle and test. The Word is True and the promises in it or true too. God Loves you. His Son died for you. He will never leave you or forsake you. Seems more like a flower to me and it sure is beautiful.

THE FORMULA

I think I'm on to something. It may be elementary or even just obvious, but here's the formula:

Participation + Persistence = Produce.

How do we get the most out of an experience? The Formula. How do we make friends? P+P=P How do I get to know God more? I'll give you one guess. If we keep on trusting God, He Proves Himself. If we persist in reading His Word, He reveals Himself. If I keep eating candy bars the produce will be a bigger belt. We reap what we sow. If you you want spiritual fruit in your life...use the formula. I think this could be a movement.....

PLAYING POSSUM

It must be possum season in the road kill hunting world. On the way to work I have seen several this week. But I saw one that was sitting up and looking over something. I didn't look dead, but more dazed or stunned. I got thinking that the possum is a nocturnal creature and normally aren't seen in the day much. I had a "twilight" vision of it getting caught at sunrise in that position and being stuck until nightfall. Or maybe is had car lights shine on it and it got that "possum caught in the headlights" look. When we are out of our comfort zone we get the same way. I'm a firm believer that Christianity in America is about comfort. Lord protect us, keep us safe, provide for us, heal us. Do you ever ask God to put you in a place where you will need Him more? I also believe that to many, Christianity is about control. Keep God in a box. (It's all cool unless someone unleashes the charismatic gifts.) Sadly too, we have made our faith an intellectual property. Something explainable and debatable that we can think on, but seldom act on. These kind of thoughts make a lot of pew dwellers nervous. Many of us get paralyzed, dazed or confused when we get uncomfortable. That might be good because when we are too scared to move; God can and does. When everything is right we don't feel like we need God. Let something go wrong and we are on the hot line to him. Back to the possum . Possums have the ability to make you think they are dead. It is called playing possum. When danger is near they kick into this mode. As children of light (God's kids), when we are in a place of darkness we should freeze. When were are in places where sin is the only option we should stop our steps and do what it takes to move back into the light. God, through Christ, has brought us from death to life. We shouldn't be playing possum when it come to living for Christ. We should be seeking God and his will constantly. We should be LIVING for God constantly. HAPPY HUNTING.

SIMPLE STUFF

We finished up our Sunday Night Youth Gatherings last night. Some of our awesome moms made sure we went out fat and sassy with burgers, dogs, ice cream and home-made cakes. Thanks ladies. We were waiting for a program the Israel Report to start so we played a little kickball out back on the pavement. No one tried to slide and that was good. It doesn't take to many supplies to play kickball. A ball is really all that is needed. You can make bases out of anything. It is simple. Roll the ball, kick it and run. Simple stuff. God has made it simple for us to have a relationship with Him. Accept Jesus and what he did for us. Simple. But we make it so hard. As humans we are complex creatures and for some reason we let that complexity enter in to most areas of life. Which makes it harder than it should be. Kickball got difficult last night. Can you steal or lead off? Can you throw to get someone out? Faith gets that way too. Can God forgive anything? What about murderers? Can God make a rock so big he can't lift it? We all do it. So maybe on this Monday we can start our week by resting in the fact that we are not God, but we accept his unmeasurable love and love Him and others in return.

UNCLAIMED LUGGAGE

Traci and I took a fun little day trip to Alabama yesterday to the Unclaimed Luggage Store. A fun little place with lots of deals. How it works is this. There is luggage, cargo and freight the goes unclaimed. For 38 years these people have been buying it and selling it. My big purchase. Sony noise canceling earbuds for $6 and some funky shirts. What is awesome is that we don't have to go through life unclaimed. God wants us. He paid huge price in Jesus to reclaim us. We don't have to sell ourselves out to bidders of power, worth, or purpose. He wants to give all of those if we will trust Him. He has claimed us as sons and daughters. He stands at the door and knocks. Let Him in.