Reckless Love

Mark 14: 3-9.  Read it. (here's a link if you are too lazy to pull out your Bible).

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2014:3-9&version=NIV

Its the story of the woman who anointed Jesus with expensive perfume. (Interesting note: Jesus was eating with Simon the leper, not Simon Peter). She came in and poured the perfume over Jesus' head. "Some" were bothered by this, because it was worth a lot of money... a year's wages. They're mad at her, because that money could be used for something else - like - helping the poor, a very good cause for the money to go to. (a year's wages! Holy moley! I think about how much money that'd mean in today's world and for me... I could do a lot with that money. Like... give it to the poor... or give some of it to the poor and buy a nice car! or some guitars... or invest it...)

But Jesus stops them. He says that she had done a beautiful thing to him. The greek word used in the original text is "kalos" - which means more than just morally good, but a "lovely" thing to do.  Jesus is feeling the love here!  Obviously, when we look at it that way, it makes more sense than giving it to the poor, which may have been the morally good thing to do. But Jesus' point here is that she is doing a serious act of love here! and for the Lord.

Some of my favorite commentaries are William Barclay's. I'm going to quote a paragraph that he wrote on the passage.

"There is a recklessness in love which refuses to count the cost. Love can see that there are things the chance to do which only comes once. It is one of the tragedies of life that often we are moved to do something fine, and we do not do it. It may be that we are too shy to do it and that we feel awkward about it. It may be that second thoughts suggest a more prudent and commonsense course. It comes in the simplest things - the impulse to send a letter to someone to thank them for something that they have done, the impulse to tell someone how much we love them and how grateful we are to them, the impulse to give some special gift or speak some special word. And the tragedy is that the impulse is  so often strangled at birth. This would be a so much lovelier world if there were more people like this woman, who acted on her impulse of love, because she knew in her heart of hearts that if she did not do it then she would never do it at all. How that last extravagant, impulsive kindness must have uplifted Jesus' heart." 

A recklessness in love which refuses to count the cost...  I can't imagine giving a whole year's wages on one act of love. That would be incredibly difficult. But why do we make it so difficult on ourselves to do the simple acts of love for people?  Is my love for Christ and people greater than my insecurities, fears, and worries? It needs to be.

That was done for us. Christ's love was reckless for me.

Trip of a Life-Change

A couple of weeks ago, we went on a life changing trip to the SF/OAK bay area. We were all very stretched and moved by God's heart for the people we came in contact with. I love these trips as a youth pastor because I get to see so much quick growth in students. Trips like these are full of "AHA" moments, and although they're uncomfortable, tiring, and usually pretty gross, they are well worth it.

I see so much potential in a lot of my students, and on this trip some of them started to realize that potential and step into it.  I saw some students grow in leadership. Some students' confidence shot out of the roof. And others had softened hearts and made life-changing decisions.  We had the chance to interview a few of our students this weekend at all 3 of our "adult" services. I'm so proud of the courage they had. I think they were inspiring and able to offer a lot of wisdom to our church.

One memory for me that I will never forget from this trip was at the Harbor House, which was like a day camp for the kids of a rough neighborhood. It is a Christian organization, and the do more than just play games with the kids (although there is a lot of that!). There were twin boys in 2nd grade that I met named Joseph and Godwin. (Joseph is the one on my back in my profile picture). As soon as we showed up, they clung to me immediately. They were constantly holding my hand, grabbing my arm, jumping on my back, sitting on my lap, leaning against me, asking me questions, making fun of me for having a "beard," talking to me and looking at me... to the point where it made me uncomfortable.

We were playing tag, and because I am so fast and quick... I made a juke to dodge some kids and my foot went straight through my shoe. It ripped from the toe to the place where I insert my foot. I fell, and it hurt. And people laughed. and I laughed. Then one of the boys came up to me and asked me if I was going to be in trouble since I ruined my shoe. I smiled and said no and that I'd just run to the store and buy a new pair. But then I stopped and thought, "What is happening at this boy's' home to make him think that I'd be in trouble for something so small happening?" And it hit me... there is a serious lack of love in this kid's life.

We were at the Harbor House for 2 days, and I spent about a total of 7 hours with these kids. When their mom came to pick them up the last day we were there, she asked to meet me. She thanked me and told me that the boys couldn't stop talking about me the previous night. She said that they've been going for 5 weeks and hadn't connected with anyone like they had with me. I definitely had made an impact in their lives.

But why? I didn't have anything to give to them. I didn't say anything really special to them. I didn't even know them that well or for very long.  But I held their hands, hugged them, and loved on them the best that I could. And those little things made them feel loved more than they had in a really long time.

I don't know where you live, but regardless of the status of the people in your area - whether rich or poor, healthy or sick, old or young - there are people around you that have a serious lack of love in their life. And I dont know what you have or your status, but we all have the love and hope of Jesus to share with people.

Mother Theresa once said, "No one can do great things... only small things with great love." It's not about the busyness of life or even changing the world. Its about making a difference in one person's life.

I dont know what you can do. Just do something for someone.

Song of the Day: "Beautiful Things" - by Gungor

Squirrels Gone Wild!

So, it has been quite a while since I last posted. A lot has happened. And I'll try to catch you up in some other posts... but first... this. There was a squirrel living in my fire place for 5 days. 

Now, our fire place isn't really a fire place... its the vent pipe thingy for a wood stove that comes out of our ceiling, but the wood stove was actually removed prior to when we bought the house. So, the clever person who lived there before us decided that the best way to seal off the open vent pipe was with layers of duct tape. No, it did not match the color of the vent pipe. No, it did not look good. Yes, it worked because it was duct tape.

Anyways, on a Tuesday evening while watching TV, my wife and step-cat suddenly heard a little squeal and they both immediately looked up at the vent pipe. (of course, I'm practically deaf, so I did not hear it at first.) But sure enough, there was some creature living in our chimney. We hoped it was a bird or bat, and that it would just leave after a couple days... but as the week progressed, we realized that this thing could not fly. I'll be honest, I thought maybe it would die and the problem would be no more... however, my wife did not like that idea. (and, I suppose, the risk of it smelling was not worth it). 

So Saturday night, I recruited my good friend TJ to help me remove this little critter. We had one 12 ft ladder (since we have vaulted ceilings), a clear plastic storage bin (so we could see it when we caught it), gloves (so that I wouldn't get rabies), and a flip video camera that had a battery that was about dead. It turns out, the video did not stay alive long enough to get the good parts. And let me clarify/emphasize one thing: we had ONE 12 ft ladder. So, since TJ is kind of tall, he stood on a wobbly bar-stool and held the box. I was on the ladder trying to remove the 6 layers of duct tape while holding the flaps of the box open so that this thing could fall in. 

It took awhile to get the duct tape off, and TJ's arms got tired as he played the part of Moses. It was intense. We were sweating, laughing, and... scared. or maybe I just was. Leslianne was in the garage peaking through the cracked open door. She had a plan as well: If that thing fell out and not into the box, she would slam the garage door and jump on top of her car. 

This is getting long. So I'll cut to the chase. Basically, it was like Squirrels Gone Wild up in this joint. After some wrestling with the squirrel, I finally got him (or her) to fall out and into the box. We went to the street, kicked over the box and ran. He/she ran too... straight back into my backyard. SMH...

If that things goes back into my chimney... he might just stay up there longer this time.