Value

These days there is not too much worth watching on television which makes me wonder why so many of us spend as much time as we do watching television. There is however two shows that I currently enjoy viewing each week. Both shows are on the History channel. One is American Pickers which is a show about two guys that travel around the country looking for old rusty items or unique items that they can buy for a fairly cheap price and then sell for an amazing price. I am always amazed at what some people are willing to pay for what I believe to be junk. The other show is Pawn Stars. Pawn Stars features a pawn shop in Las Vegas which is run by a family that is overweight, a little rough around the edges and just a little off center. Both of these shows have this in common; they seek to determine the value of items in order to make a profit. Their whole business is based on the number one rule in business: “buy low – sell high”.
It is interesting to see how they try to determine the value of something. At times they will know the value or at least have a good idea about what something has sold for in the past. At other times these men will call in an “expert” to help them determine the value or authenticity of a particular item. It really gets interesting to me when the item in question has been owned by someone famous and if the item happens to be signed by that famous person the value always goes way up. Most of the time the buyers are looking for paper work or something else that can prove who the owner or creator of the item is. In those businesses proof is essential to assigning value.
Value. It is interesting to me how the value of something changes just because someone famous owned it or created it. A painting can be beautiful and amazing in and of itself, but if it happens to be a Picasso it goes up in value. If it happens to be an original signed and numbered Picasso then watch out!
Value. Assigning value is an interesting concept. I have good news. Your personal value is amazing. Do you have any idea how much you are worth. I’m not talking about your income or your job or even your life insurance. I am talking about the value God has placed on you. Think about this, you were created by God, he gave you life, he purchased your life again by sending his Son to die on the cross so you might live with him forever, and he knows everything about you and most of all he claims you as one of his children. Wow! Need proof of value? The proof is in the blood which Christ shed on the cross. The proof is in the empty tomb that Jesus left on the third day. The proof is in the promise that Jesus is coming back to take you home to the Father.
I know, I know it’s hard to believe that someone like you with all your spiritual rust and decay is worth anything to God, but the fact is that God loves you more than anything. In His eyes there is no rust or wear and tear. You are perfect and in like new condition. You my friend are “collectible”. You my friend have been signed by the creator and your value is out of this world! Now live like it!
Love God. Go Love Others.

Your GPS is WRONG!

A few weeks ago when Mary and I were making our way to Florida for a week of RER (Rest, Eating & Relaxation) we decided to travel a different way to see if we could discover a quicker way to Destin. We had stopped at the Florida Welcome and Guest Center to get a complimentary glass of Florida Orange Juice and a map. One would think that a map from the state of Florida would be the most up to date map available. Well if one thought that, then one would be wrong. One might also think that the GPS system which is “updated” continually would be accurate. Well in this case one would also in wrong.
As we were getting close to our destination and about to make our final turn onto a toll road there was this huge electronic sign flashing the words, “Your GPS is WRONG! DO NOT TURN HERE!” and then it gave the correct travel information needed to arrive at the correct location.
That is the way life is some times. You learn to trust your life maps and your life GPS and then occasionally you get wrong information. Sometimes you can gather all the information available and still be led down the wrong path. Sometimes in life it is difficult to know what information to trust and who to follow. You and I are given information about life from all kinds of sources: the news, documentaries, advertisements, magazines, Oprah, How To books, friends, family and neighbors. It seems as if there is no shortage of people and/or organizations who are more than willing to tell you how to live your life and how to be successful in your marriage, your parenting, your relationships, your business, your physical fitness and even your spiritual well being.
If you live long enough you will learn that there is really only one source you can trust to be accurate 100 percent of the time. God has never been wrong about life. His plan is pretty straight forward. Love God and put him first in all things and love your fellow man and treat them the way you would like to be treated. Sounds simple, right? If it were just a matter of words it would be simple, but you and I are called to put those words into action.
Image if you and your business or company lived your life or ran your business with those two principles in mind at all times. What would your goals in life and business be? How good would your relationships or your customer service be? Really….. Think about that for a moment. What if everything you did in life was decided based on those two life concepts? I think you and I would be successful in all things.
I believe everything in life would be better – not just better, the very best it could be. So what do you say, let’s put away the worldly life maps and faulty life GPS and turn back to God and ask him for directions about how to live life successfully.
One more thing just for the men, it’s okay to stop and ask God for directions. Your wife will think that is cool.
Love God. Go Love Others.

Passport

This past weekend I was given the responsibility of taking my in-laws to the airport so they could catch a flight overseas in order to board a ship which will take them on another fantastic trip somewhere in Europe. As we were going to the airport my father in-law starting going down the list of things to remember of which one item on his list was a passport. I was reminded of a comment I made to one of my friends who travels quite a bit, I told him, “If you stay gone too long we may make your file for citizenship again”.
So, what is the deal with passports and citizenship? When you give your passport to a proper authority they can discover several things about you. First, they can see just how long it’s been since you took your passport picture. When they start questioning you if you are you – then it’s time to retake the picture. They can also discover all the places outside of your country of origin that you have traveled. Most importantly they can discover the country in which you claim citizenship.
Citizenship… the place you call home, the place that claims you. Think about that for a moment. If you are a citizen of the United States of America then two things are true. The U.S.A. is your country. It is your home. Secondly, when you are out of the country the United States still claims you as a citizen.
On a spiritual level the same thing is true for those who belong to the Father. You are a child of the King. Your citizenship is in the Kingdom of God. Wherever you go in this world you belong to God. You represent the Creator of the Universe. You belong to the one who spoke everything into existence. Your spiritual passport says two things about you. First, heaven is your home and God is your Father and you claim Him. Secondly, you belong to the Father and He claims you.
Think about that for a moment. Not only do you claim God, He claims you! Despite where you have been in your life and regardless of all the mistakes and stumbles you have made along the way. Even when you have acted as if you don’t claim Him – He still claims you. He is the Father who is standing on the front porch looking for all his prodigal sons and daughters to come home.
So, where are you going today? Do you have your spiritual passport? How about that spiritual passport picture… if it looks like you, change it! It is suppose to look like Jesus. Have a great day and enjoy the journey.

Love God. Go Love Others.

9-11

When you see the date 9 – 11 your mind immediately races back to that fateful morning. As the tenth anniversary approaches you have no doubt seen some of the reminders provided by the media. There have been news video clips played, interviews with survivors, wives, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters. We have heard from fire fighters and other first responders. We have heard from presidents and world leaders. The memory of this day is important to this nation. The lives of millions were changed that day. Some lost their spouse, some lost their child, some lost their parent, some lost their friend. We all lost something on that day.
I remember wondering about what kind of world my children would grow up in and wondering if we would ever be safe again. For awhile Americans entered buildings, stadiums, sports arenas, busses, trains, and airports with both eyes wide open. We looked carefully at each person we saw and wondered….
Over the years we lost some of that feeling and we have returned to a more normal state of life. I no longer wonder about safety and I am no longer concerned about every person in line at the airport. Life is different, but I am used to the changes.
This week as the images of airplanes crashing into the World Trade Center were played again on the television and all the memories and feelings returned. One of my sons commented that he remembered exactly what classroom he was in that morning and what they were doing when the news first hit and he remembered watching all of it unfold on television as he and the rest of the school witnessed our nation being under attack. I am sure that as this anniversary comes and goes each of us will have similar memories.
As much as that fateful day changed our world forever it was nothing like the day Jesus was crucified over 2000 years ago. You and I did not get to watch that first hand and there are no video tape images to replay. We rely on the written word passed down by eye witnesses to give us all the details. Ummm – details. Sometimes I wonder if communion has become an event that merely recalls the details of that moment in time.
I hope and pray that each time you pause to remember the cross that it is more than just a recounting of events. I hope you in your own way you find a way to make the death of Jesus Christ personal. I hope that your memory of that day is one of grace, mercy, love, compassion. I hope that the memory of that day motivates you to live your life in such a way that brings glory and honor to the Father who gave his only Son for you and me.
Love God. Go Love Others.