I know many people get an esteem boost when they say they are busy….but at this point in my life it is just a 4 letter word.  Busy, to me, is just noise.  Why is it that we are drawn to having so much to do in our lives?  Could it be that the more noise we have, the more distractions we create, the less time we have to look at the inevitable finish line in this race we call life?  Do we all crave this life so much that we want to cram as much of it in as possible before we can no longer experience it.

A common response to the greeting, “How are you doing?” is one proudly saying: “busy!”  Really, busy at what?  Why is that response so impressive?  Do we think, wow, they’re busy…that’s good?  Does simply being busy add significance to our life?  Why is it that we feel compelled to give a summary of our accomplishments to others?  For that matter, why do we ask?  What have you been doing?  Where do you work?  Is the one who has experienced the most, accomplished the most, been awarded the most …the most significant?  Hmmmmmmmmm……I wonder how God views our hurrying and scurrying around this blue marble?  I wonder how He feels about the things we really feel are so important?

As we all struggle over these allegedly important matters of this world, that keep us so busy, I’m reminded of an extremely wise man who said, “this too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”

What’s keeping you busy?

What a great week this is shaping up to be.  My brother will be here from California, I get to go hunting with one of my sons on Friday, I’m going to the Big House to watch our beloved 8-0 Wolverines monkey stomp Northwestern, and we are having a big time family dinner on Saturday evening at my favorite eating joint….Evans Street Station!

Getting the tickets to the game was a rush!  The Mudpuppy and I were on the telephone and together we did a bid on Ebay.  It was so cool.  We waited until there was only like 50 seconds left for bidding and then put in our highest bid.  Before the other bidders could figure out what was happening…it was too late!  I think they call that sniping.  Man, that was fun!  We got some pretty decent tickets for right around market value. 

If the Patriot and I are successful in the Friday hunt…we may be tailgating with some fried bushy tails!

“In and through community lies the salvation of the world.”   M. Scott Peck

The above statement is so true!  The statement is made by M. Scott Peck in his book “The Different Drum.” 

A teacher asked Jesus, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”  Jesus answered by reminding the man of what he should already know, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all you mind and with all your strength.  The second is this:  Love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these.”

 God exists in community.  God desires to live in community with us all.  In the above discussion Jesus outlines the basic characteristic of true community: Love.  Love for God and love for our fellow person.  People come to God through the community of faith as we express love and inclusion into the lives of those desiring true community.

Everyone needs community.   People are dying for the opportunity to live in real, true, committed sharing of lives blended together.  It is how God created us.  We yearn for it.  Everyone loves community.   People will search until they find community.

Everyone fails in community.  Yet, we strive on.  

There is life changing power in the community of faith.  In the apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth, a method of church discipline was to put one out of community for the sake of causing the person to change.  Once repentance had taken place the one put out of community was welcomed back in.  Of course this practice is meaningless, and really counter productive, unless one has experienced true community.

Small groups are the fertile field in which to grow the community of faith.  To be a healthy community, though, there must be a balance of upreach (worship), inreach (ministry) and outreach (evangelism).  Without this balance the community will become unhealty and will eventually die out.  The opposite is true of the healthy community.  A healthy community will grow and eventually birth a new group, thereby multiplying ministry.  This will enable even more people to come in and experience intimacy with God and other people….thus the community grows!

Do you really hunger and thirst for what is good?  How do you know?  Here are some questions to help you know whether or not you are hungry:

Are you dissatisfied with yourself?

Do the pursuits of the world satisfy you?

Do you have a great yearning for the Word of God?

Do you value what God values?

Meet The Master

I had walked life’s way with an easy tread, Had followed where comforts and pleasures led, Until one day in a quiet place, I met the Master face to face.

With station and rank and wealth for my goal, Much thought for my body, but none for my soul, I entered to win in life’s big race, When I met the Master face to face.

I built my castles and reared them high, With their towers had pierced the blue of the sky, I had sword to rule with an iron mace, When I met the Master face to face.

I met Him and knew Him and blushed to see, That His eyes full of sorrow were fixed on me.  I faltered and fell at His feet that day, While my castles melted and vanished away.

And I cried aloud, ‘Oh make me meet, To follow the steps of Thy wounded feet.  My thought is now for the souls of men, I have lost my life to find it again.  Ere since one day in a quiet place, I met the Master face to face.