Off the top of your head think of someone who really irritates you. Someone who you do not enjoy being around. Someone who just seems to suck the joy out of the room. Someone who makes you want to see what happens if you were to focus on happy memories and shout ‘Expecto Patronum!’ Or, if you prefer, someone who makes you regret not destroying all their Horcruxes when you had the chance.
I can think of two people like that.
Chances are you can, as well. Maybe you can name several. Frankly I am depressed that I could think of one regular, everyday person who makes me consider combating them with magic powers, much less two. Nonetheless, we all have people that challenge our patience. We all have people in our everyday lives that frustrate us, who through their words and actions, are hurtful.
And as much as I would like to throw down some witty remarks or maybe a shield charm (to those of you who may have issues with Harry Potter, I apologize and that was the last joke), what I really need to do is to show them grace. What those cranky Dementors need is grace (I guess there was one more reference in me; as you will see if you keep reading, I am in need of grace as well).
One of the most well known Bible verses is John 3:16: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ The problem with it being so well ingrained in my mind is that I completely forget that Jesus said ‘the world’, not ‘Karl’.
When I chose to accept what Jesus said that I needed, I said that I would obey him and allow him to change me and make me more like him. And while Jesus continues to work in my heart, I still forget that I am greatly in need. I am saved but not perfect; I need to remember that because of the grace that I have been shown and am shown on a daily, hourly, secondly basis, I need to give that grace in return, whether others people need to know it or not.
So tomorrow, when I want to say something snotty or throw a punch that could have come straight out of Street Fighter II, hopefully I will remember how I hurt or disappointed the people that I love this week, and how they didn’t dropkick me in the face. And hopefully, I will be able to live up to their example.
What’s so annoying about grace? (Full disclosure here, I totally forgot about coming back to that until now, or mentioning that Philip Yancey has a book entitled ‘What’s So Amazing About Grace?’ that I hear is super awesome). It’s that I am not supposed to keep it to myself, but to share it. That’s annoying because I fail at sharing grace in so many ways on a daily basis, but like I said in that previous paragraph/false ending that was caused by sloppy writing, tomorrow is a brand new day. (Unless it is somehow July 28th, 1985 tomorrow.)
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Grace Like Parking Lots
If you look out at any random parking lot, you will probably see the same thing: some cars that are really nicely and squarely parked, and some that are parked so badly it makes one question when Stevie Wonder became a parking attendant. The driver side is right up against the line and the door is just waiting to bash up against the car on the left as soon as it’s open an eighth of inch. The wheels are turned so far to the right that if left that way you will manage to rear end yourself as soon as you pull out. The kind of park job your ancestors would be ashamed of (I’m talking pre-automobile ancestors, who will quickly get over your magic rolling box and focus on how badly you suck).
The kind of parking that I usually do if I am in a hurry or just don’t care. I am very bad at parking, or anything that involves creating or following straight lines actually. I would say that, without frequent backing up and reparking, most of the time the only reason that I am in a parking spot has to do with how wide the spot is. Whether or not I am tucked away safely in a spot or hanging the butt end of the car out is not entirely dependant on me; sometimes it has to do with who painted the lines.
I think that the parking lot is quite a bit like God’s grace. If I’m not in the parking spot, I’m not in the parking spot; I could be parked nice and straight and not be in a parking spot. I can be parked at a 37 degree angle and on fire, but if I fit in that spot I’m in.
In a similar way, a right standing with God cannot be negotiated. In order to be square with God, we have to admit that we can’t do it on our own. We accept that we need the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and we let the Holy Spirit into our lives so he can change our hearts and minds. I do not set the standard, but I am not expected to me it on my own either.
I once wrote something similar, but it was shorter and better written than this, but as always I hope that what I write stimulates thought or can be beneficial in one way or another. Remember: Your park job will look crappy sometimes and other times it will be nice and neat. What matters is that you are in a parking spot. You will fail to live the way God wants, but not always. What matters is if you have trusted Jesus Christ to paint the lines of the parking lot.
The kind of parking that I usually do if I am in a hurry or just don’t care. I am very bad at parking, or anything that involves creating or following straight lines actually. I would say that, without frequent backing up and reparking, most of the time the only reason that I am in a parking spot has to do with how wide the spot is. Whether or not I am tucked away safely in a spot or hanging the butt end of the car out is not entirely dependant on me; sometimes it has to do with who painted the lines.
I think that the parking lot is quite a bit like God’s grace. If I’m not in the parking spot, I’m not in the parking spot; I could be parked nice and straight and not be in a parking spot. I can be parked at a 37 degree angle and on fire, but if I fit in that spot I’m in.
In a similar way, a right standing with God cannot be negotiated. In order to be square with God, we have to admit that we can’t do it on our own. We accept that we need the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and we let the Holy Spirit into our lives so he can change our hearts and minds. I do not set the standard, but I am not expected to me it on my own either.
I once wrote something similar, but it was shorter and better written than this, but as always I hope that what I write stimulates thought or can be beneficial in one way or another. Remember: Your park job will look crappy sometimes and other times it will be nice and neat. What matters is that you are in a parking spot. You will fail to live the way God wants, but not always. What matters is if you have trusted Jesus Christ to paint the lines of the parking lot.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Everybody in da Club Gotta Study for Their Math Test
Several months ago a friend of mine got an event invitation on Facebook from one of her ‘friends’ for this dance thing put on by a company that goes to different cities and sets up a nightclub experience in event centers/ballrooms/nursing room cafeterias. (Wow that sentence is long and horrible, but I’m not changing it). These events are geared toward high schoolers and the recently graduated, so that they can have crazy club fun without the risk of getting shot by 50 Cent or Puff Daddy or Poo Doody, or whatever his name is.
I am assuming that whoever sent this to my friend sent it to a lot of people. I make this assumption for two reasons: 1. This really isn’t Jackie’s kind of thing. 2. Jackie is 29 years old. Now Jackie works in enrollment at a Christian university and is a youth ministry volunteer, so she knows a lot of teenagers, and that would explain why some teenage girl would send her an invite to an Easy Bake rave.
Now maybe that sounds a little harsh to compare it to an illegal sweaty party held in an abandoned warehouse and fueled by drugs and repetitive music that hasn’t changed in over a decade. So that’s why I’m going to show you the flyer. Not all of it though; I will leave out the contact info and company name so as to let them maintain their privacy and not look like I am endorsing this.
Saturday, February 5 · 8:00pm - 11:00pm
Location
Kato Ballroom
200 Chestnut St. More Info
Mankato MN
+++++++++++++++++++
White T-Graffiti Night! Wear a White T-Shirt and bring a marker.
+++++++++++++++++++
*** Reminder that even during winter jackets / hats / gloves are not allowed inside. Please leave them in your car. Thanks ***
$10.00 cover charge, simply RSVP "Attending" on Facebook at least 3 days in advance. ID Required *** We just ask you click "Select Guests to Invite" (top left under photo) and invite your Friends!
- Didn't RSVP? Missed the cutoff date? Cover charge is $16.00 w/ID
Party is Open to High School Freshman through age 19!
Always playing today's Hottest Club Mix of hip-hop, pop, techno, slow jams, and of course a few old school favorites
* True Concert Sound!
* State-Of-The-Art Light System
* Multi-Level Dance Floor
* Snow Machines
* Bubble Machines
* Confetti Cannons
* Toilet Paper Gunz
* CO2 Phat Blasts
* Over 1,000 + Peeps
* Friendly Personnel
* Laser Light Show
See I really hope that this went off without a hitch and that this was a safe environment where nothing shady went down, but I think that when you try to copy something more adult (that isn’t necessarily a good idea in the first place) and try to make it for kids, I think that you are asking for things to go wrong. Even if nobody tries to sell drugs or spike the drinks, if you put ‘Over 1000+ Peeps’ who happen to be awkward and full of hormones into a dark room with pulsing lights and music and invite them to write on each other with Sharpies, I wonder if maybe you’ve been inhaling too many smoke machine fumes. With such a thin line between sexual assault and waving hello these days, I would think that there would be some more thought put into organizing an event where teenagers rub up against each other. I’m starting to wonder if they give you chloroform and a gagging bandana at the door.
Less important to point some of this stuff is really odd. I am really concerned as to why you must leave hats/gloves/coats in the car, even in the winter; do you surrender identification/telephones and cameras too? What the heck is a CO2 Phat Blast? Is this something will cause someone to rupture an eardrum or soil their pants?
This all makes me think of the Saturday Night Live character, Stefon. This Weekend Update City Correspondent and New York City club kid will occasionally show up and recommend that tourists visit night clubs that Update host Seth Meyers once referred to as ‘the nightmares of a crystal meth addict’. Things like Furkels (fat Urkels) and puppets in disguise (that thing where Alf put on a trench coat when he went out in public) are commonly found in Stefon’s favorite hot spots.
So let’s go even further than our friends in da club. Inspired by this event and also Stefon, here are some things they should have put on the docket.
-Flaming Robot Chainsaw Fights
-A Nancy Pelosi Frankenstein Monster
-Human Lawn Gnomes (It’s that thing where midgets dress up in blue sweaters and stocking caps and stand really still)
-Matadors playing Hungry Hungry Hippos
-The Dad from Even Stevens
-Free Pretzels
Okay, so there’s a lot of random stuff in this post, but I think there are really two points that I want to make: 1. Some things just aren’t good and you really can’t make them good. Often things will still be bad but for different and new reasons. 2. If you’re gonna be weird, then go big or go home.
As with my other posts, I hope this will be helpful in some way or another. God’s Peace be with you.
I am assuming that whoever sent this to my friend sent it to a lot of people. I make this assumption for two reasons: 1. This really isn’t Jackie’s kind of thing. 2. Jackie is 29 years old. Now Jackie works in enrollment at a Christian university and is a youth ministry volunteer, so she knows a lot of teenagers, and that would explain why some teenage girl would send her an invite to an Easy Bake rave.
Now maybe that sounds a little harsh to compare it to an illegal sweaty party held in an abandoned warehouse and fueled by drugs and repetitive music that hasn’t changed in over a decade. So that’s why I’m going to show you the flyer. Not all of it though; I will leave out the contact info and company name so as to let them maintain their privacy and not look like I am endorsing this.
Saturday, February 5 · 8:00pm - 11:00pm
Location
Kato Ballroom
200 Chestnut St. More Info
Mankato MN
+++++++++++++++++++
White T-Graffiti Night! Wear a White T-Shirt and bring a marker.
+++++++++++++++++++
*** Reminder that even during winter jackets / hats / gloves are not allowed inside. Please leave them in your car. Thanks ***
$10.00 cover charge, simply RSVP "Attending" on Facebook at least 3 days in advance. ID Required *** We just ask you click "Select Guests to Invite" (top left under photo) and invite your Friends!
- Didn't RSVP? Missed the cutoff date? Cover charge is $16.00 w/ID
Party is Open to High School Freshman through age 19!
Always playing today's Hottest Club Mix of hip-hop, pop, techno, slow jams, and of course a few old school favorites
* True Concert Sound!
* State-Of-The-Art Light System
* Multi-Level Dance Floor
* Snow Machines
* Bubble Machines
* Confetti Cannons
* Toilet Paper Gunz
* CO2 Phat Blasts
* Over 1,000 + Peeps
* Friendly Personnel
* Laser Light Show
See I really hope that this went off without a hitch and that this was a safe environment where nothing shady went down, but I think that when you try to copy something more adult (that isn’t necessarily a good idea in the first place) and try to make it for kids, I think that you are asking for things to go wrong. Even if nobody tries to sell drugs or spike the drinks, if you put ‘Over 1000+ Peeps’ who happen to be awkward and full of hormones into a dark room with pulsing lights and music and invite them to write on each other with Sharpies, I wonder if maybe you’ve been inhaling too many smoke machine fumes. With such a thin line between sexual assault and waving hello these days, I would think that there would be some more thought put into organizing an event where teenagers rub up against each other. I’m starting to wonder if they give you chloroform and a gagging bandana at the door.
Less important to point some of this stuff is really odd. I am really concerned as to why you must leave hats/gloves/coats in the car, even in the winter; do you surrender identification/telephones and cameras too? What the heck is a CO2 Phat Blast? Is this something will cause someone to rupture an eardrum or soil their pants?
This all makes me think of the Saturday Night Live character, Stefon. This Weekend Update City Correspondent and New York City club kid will occasionally show up and recommend that tourists visit night clubs that Update host Seth Meyers once referred to as ‘the nightmares of a crystal meth addict’. Things like Furkels (fat Urkels) and puppets in disguise (that thing where Alf put on a trench coat when he went out in public) are commonly found in Stefon’s favorite hot spots.
So let’s go even further than our friends in da club. Inspired by this event and also Stefon, here are some things they should have put on the docket.
-Flaming Robot Chainsaw Fights
-A Nancy Pelosi Frankenstein Monster
-Human Lawn Gnomes (It’s that thing where midgets dress up in blue sweaters and stocking caps and stand really still)
-Matadors playing Hungry Hungry Hippos
-The Dad from Even Stevens
-Free Pretzels
Okay, so there’s a lot of random stuff in this post, but I think there are really two points that I want to make: 1. Some things just aren’t good and you really can’t make them good. Often things will still be bad but for different and new reasons. 2. If you’re gonna be weird, then go big or go home.
As with my other posts, I hope this will be helpful in some way or another. God’s Peace be with you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)