This is one of the many reasons that I can’t stand to hear the claim that undocumented immigrants are a “drain” on our society….
I don’t have all the answers. I know, you’re shocked, right?
But as Christians we are supposed to be following the only one who does have them all. Why, then, do we allow our minds, hearts, people, churches, and doctrine to be infiltrated with things that are absolutely contradictory to what He says?
You probably know where I’m going. It’s just…..where I go….
Sometimes I just have to clarify some of it though and that’s what I’m wanting to do here. You see, I fight a battle. I’ve pretty much come to realize that no matter the cost, my life is about this battle. It’s the battle for absolute freedom from addictions.
Why a battle? Well, because the Church is accepting secular ideals about addictions that contradict Jesus. Christians are selling the notion that addictions never fully go away. And other Christians are buying it. More critical is the fact that most new Christians who are battling addiction are buying it by the truckload.
I’ve posted many posts on here that show the conflict between secular recovery ideals and the very teachings of Jesus. The two simply do not mesh. This post isn’t so detailed in showing the conflict. It’s just a post that says, “Hey! We need to re-examine this thing called recovery that we’re doing in our churches”. It scares me how much the Church and “trustworthy” well known pastors are taking this stuff in and dishing it out like candy corn at a church hayride on Halloween.
For one who is battling addictions, the point of beginning a recovery journey is probably the most critical of that journey and if people are not getting a solid foundation of Jesus and His teachings on these matters then we may as well just invite them over for some crack and vodka.
Screw “cool”. Screw PC. Screw addictions. If it takes being labeled a super hyper-charismatic radical freakshow to put people with addictions before the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, then that’s what it’s going to take. I won’t give up.
He set me free, and I’ll not shut up.
One of the greatest Christian cliche’s that I’ve ever heard is this:
It’s time we remember that.
This is probably the kind of blog post that has been written 11,672 times, in as many different ways. Oh well.
I’ve found myself, as I do about once a month, realizing that I am completely insufficient. I’m a lame dude, lame employee, lame friend, and I’m a lame husband. I totally suck at life.
Said it before, say it again…..the ONLY good thing in me is Jesus.
But half the time, I’m just stupid enough to think that I’m smart enough to take these things on without Him. Every time I’m stupid enough to think that I’m smart enough, I start the whole stupid cycle all over again!
Doesn’t seem to matter how “far” we get, or how good we think we’re doing. We all have to continually stop and acknowledge that He is the only thing good in us. He is the only thing good in me, I can assure you! You can quickly see it in my life when I start thinking I’m smarter than He is…..
What a foolish and arrogant man I am, to think that I can truly succeed at anything without Him.
That’s all.
Anyone else continually live in this cycle, no matter how many times you think you’ve learned your lesson?
Many of you have been amazing in your response to my plea for help for my 17 year old cousin, Mikey. Mikey had brain surgery two days ago. For more info on his situation, click HERE.
I wanted to update you on his condition. He is doing well! We got word yesterday that he had begun to get up and do a little walking. This is so exciting because well, as you know brain surgery is not something you really take lightly.
He seems to be feeling ok though. One of his other cousins texted him to ask how he felt, and his response? “I feel like I just had brain surgery!” Well, we know he’s ok because that sounds just like Mikey!!
They are scheduled to be home from Los Angeles on the 10th. I will post updates as I get them.
There is a benefit dinner this Sunday in Plainview, AR for them. They never expected this HUGE financial burden so if you would like to help them out please email me by clicking HERE. Thanks everyone!!
You may have caught some of these blog posts about my 17 year old cousin, Mikey, who found out that he has a mass in the center of his brain. Being the goofball that Mikey is, he has named the mass “Wilson” after the volleyball from Tom Hanks’ Castaway.
Well, after many bouts with seizures and being misdiagnosed several times, Mikey is in Los Angeles awaiting brain surgery tomorrow morning.
With a mass in the center of his brain, he has made his way to L.A. to see a Dr. Shahinian at the Skull Base Institute. ( <—click that link!!)
You can imagine the cost of both parents having to take off work for a few weeks, flying to L.A., the hotel cost, having to eat every meal out in Los Angeles….etc…
The financial burden this has brought on my aunt and uncle is tremendous! There will be a benefit dinner in Plainview, AR this Sunday to try and help them with this situation.
The response that you all gave when I initially asked for prayer for him was completely overwhelming! But now they are even more overwhelmed.
Will you please join in prayer for them, and please do anything you can to help this family meet all their financial commitments while also incurring tremendous costs for this whole process?
I’m asking all my friends, family, and internet homies to help. You can help a couple different ways.
1. Paypal: you may give through paypal to make it easy for yourself. The funds will go into my paypal account, and I will be putting it into their “relief funds” this Sunday. Please give here:
2. You may mail a check to my PO box and the same thing will happen. I will take the received help to their home this Sunday. Please send your check to:
Shon & Carla Reddin
C/O Aaron Reddin
PO Box 250061
Little Rock, AR 72225
I can’t tell you how much your help, love, prayer, and generosity are going to impact this family.
PLEASE help spread the word of this need by clicking the “share” button on Facebook, ReTweeting it on Twitter, and any other way that you have to share this need with others.
You all are amazing, and I will keep you posted on Mikey’s condition here on the blog. Thank you!!
Holy crap!! Can I start a book review about Jesus by saying that? I hope so, because holy crap!
If ever someone has effectively addressed what many of us see as the most crucial issues that are growing and spawning in the Church, these two men have.
Jesus made it clear exactly who He is. But when we look around Christianity, do you see the many things that we have turned Him into? We’ve coined Him as many, many things.
The writing style is very casual and flows easily. Though it comes with a smooth flow, the book packs heat. There is no fluff or BS about what the authors want to convey to their readers. That’s probably one of the things that I appreciate the most about their work. It’s very genuine, sincere, and authentic.
Written about truths of Christ that some may find to be very basic, and Sunday School-esqe, the writers explore these truths in the context of how we should approach our faith, the Church, our communities, etc. with their reality.
If you have questions about who Jesus is, or if you’re looking in the face of church burn-out, order this book! Do it, now!
(This review was written in exchange for a copy of the reviewed book, through Thomas Nelson’s Book Sneeze program)
This post is going to be somewhat of a finger-painting. Reason being that I’m going to give you a quick update/apology and then I’m going to get into the post. Contain your excitement.
Real quick….
I’ve been mad and bitter, and I’m sorry. I’m sorry to my friends and my family. I’ve been bitter with God and it quickly sucked the life out of me. Thanks to a swift kick in the spiritual groin from Charlie Loften last week, I’m stepping out of my pitty party and getting my crap together.
Bobby Hamilton at NLC once said that bitterness is like drinking poison, and then waiting for the other person to die. I finally understand how true that is.
So let’s move forward and not let this junk continue.
One of the things that Charlie really got in my face about was basic. He simply said, “Do you believe that Jesus is the answer that everyone needs? That He alone is the hope that people need?”
Pretty simple question, right? Either you do or you don’t.
In that simplicity I found something much more complex. We (me) spend entirely too much time dwelling on what Jesus was. We look at Jesus as if He existed at one point, and we want to know what He was like then.
We talk about Jesus as if He never got up from His death-bed. No wonder our faith is so weak at times. No wonder the Christian recovery community is buying into the BS that tells them they are going to have to deal with their addictions for the rest of their lives.
If Jesus was, then we have nothing. What is critical for us to figure out is what Jesus is.
The more we preach, teach, write, or view Jesus from the perspective of what He was, the further we are removing ourselves and others from actually understanding who He is and what He is doing, and can do in our very lives.
I feel like I’ve been taken back to Christian Kindergarten with this. But, what a revelation it’s been for me.
I don’t want to spend my time chasing what Jesus was, because if He was then He isn’t.
You wouldn’t go spend your money on Enron stock today would you?
I want to spend my time chasing what Jesus is, because that’s what He was and will be….
These two beauties are somewhere between Nashville and Little Rock. Well, I hope. Not sure what impact the flooding in Nashville has had on Thomas Nelson. Hopefully very little.
Either way, these two are on deck to be reviewed. They should generate some thought at the very least….
Two men. Both have a need. Both are searching for a way to meet that need.
One of the men has resources, but is looking to either increase or maintain those resources.
One of the men has nothing. He likely wouldn’t know where to start, if a “starting point” were even available, to begin to obtain his own resources. Maybe he’s crazy. Maybe he’s lazy. I don’t know. And neither do you.
Both men realize that the quickest and most beneficial method of obtaining said resources is to get help from others. Both men realize where to go to find the most “others”.
An intersection.
One man goes to each car with a rubber boot. That’s right, a rubber boot. People roll the windows down and fill that sucker up with cash! And they’re happy to do so. They smile big and hurry to get him some money before their light turns green. The world seems right. The man got what he wanted, and the people are happy that they got to be at that intersection to help. I mean, firefighters need more money don’t they? I mean, don’t all of their funds come from private donors and such? Oh….
The other man is lucky if he isn’t arrested. And when I say “lucky”, I mean he lives in paranoia and has to watch over his shoulder about once per second. No smiles for him. He doesn’t even have a rubber boot! Who does he think he is??
He doesn’t come to your window unless you tell him to. But most of the people at his intersection won’t even tell him to have a nice day. He is ignored. Made fun of. Dehumanized. And likely either arrested, or told by police to go away.
His need does not get met. And all those people leave that intersection never thinking twice about the fact that this man has nothing. Never mind the reasons why because only he and God know.
I’ve seen the police here in Little Rock run people off over and over and over. Even arrest them.
Because they panhandled. Because they asked for help. Because they’re homeless.
Nobody minds if a firefighter stands on the corners begging for change. They celebrate it!
But when it’s a homeless man, the standard is changed. Is that OK?
I’m not saying that I condone panhandling. That’s a post for another day. But I do have to ask why one can do it and be celebrated, and the other is treated like a piece of trash and forced to leave the area.
What are your thoughts? Even if I just pissed you off, leave me a comment and tell me what you think. You won’t hurt my feelings.
This is one of the greatest songs ever written, in my opinion. It is too often forgotten, just like those that the song is written about. I think Jesus would jam this song as He went looking for them. Gut check…..
It’s no secret that one of my very favorite blogs is Matthew Paul Turner’s “Jesus Needs New PR”.
MPT constantly keeps me cracking up. Dude is without question the funniest Christian the world has ever known. You may have caught my interview with him here on the blog but if not, catch it HERE!
Anyway, in the event that you missed it or you just don’t read his blog, I’m going to share with you the perfect example of how MPT is making sure that Jesus is getting that new PR.
While everyone else in this documentary’s trailer is passionate and firm on their stance regarding sex education, MPT is bringing a fresh perspective. See for yourself:
This has become a daily punchline in our home. You can count on hearing me or Lane throw this one at the other at least sometime during any given day.
It started a few weeks ago when Lane was talking about how often she has to make this statement to kids in her 1st grade class. She has to remind them, and redirect their attention off of the other kids and back on to their own business.
Being the smart-mouth that I am, I began throwing this line at her as a joke when she would ask me questions or whatever the case may be. Sometimes it doesn’t even make sense but I’ll throw it into a conversation just to make myself laugh….yeah I’m lame! :)
The more I’ve said it, the more I’ve thought about it on a serious note. The more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve realized what a vital punch those four words pack.
“You Worry About You”
I’ve thought about how those words relate to my faith, my personal responsibility, my integrity, my faith, my outreach, my selfishness, and on and on and on…..
Since I’ve been basically paralyzed by “bloggers block” for a few weeks now, I decided to do a little blog series about how those four words relate to these particular aspects of our lives.
Should be interesting….but who knows….it might just suck! Only one way to find out! Read them!! If you would like to contribute a guest post with your take on the line, let me know!
Check out this amazing guest post by Kathy Gilbert Taylor about the inability of men to experience emotions…..
You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle.You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8
Societal pressures cause us to rethink the validity of things that seem so natural. When things happen to us in our early years, they tend to seem normal. What we learn at an early age often becomes internalized.
Most people don’t scold a two-year old boy when he smashes his finger or breaks a bone, but can we say the same about a boy who is ten? As boys approach adolescence, they hear this message loud and clear: big boys don’t cry.
Pain brings tears, and the older we get the more pain we experience. If boys and men are taught not to cry, it’s difficult for them to know when they can allow themselves to be vulnerable. Whom can they trust with their insecurities and sorrows?
When it is deeply buried, sorrow can evolve into anger. Unexpressed pain foments, and it becomes apparent when it has the power of a man behind it. Angry men are often intimidating and frightening, and we don’t dare tell them to “buck up” the way we tell young boys to do so.
The problem, as I see it, is that we blame the man for his anger. All we see is the road rage or the domestic violence. If only we could have seen the boy who had to hold in his tears, the boy who felt as though he had no one to talk to when his parents divorced, the boy who wanted to be exonerated when someone at church made a false accusation against him, or who wanted to talk about how much it hurt when he was rejected by his first girlfriend.
Showing anger seems so much more appropriate. By the time a boy becomes a man, he’s learned that it’s acceptable to be angry about losing a football game, because of work-related stress, or at the person who didn’t give him the right-of-way.
Once others are intimidated by this grown man’s emotions, society offers plenty of solutions, everything from anger management to psychological counseling. I don’t understand how these remedies can truly be effective if we don’t allow the individual to express a full range of emotions, and that expression includes tears. Here’s the rub: the problem is that the grown man is out of practice. He doesn’t know whom he can trust, know who will hold him while he cries, or who will accept him and his pain without using his “weakness” against him.
Catharsis is good for the soul, and what is good for the soul is good for the man. Our society needs less aggression and more empathy. God has given us all permission to cry, regardless of our age or gender. He meets us with healing in His wings. Because he records each one of our sorrows for us, we can let them go as our tears begin to fall.
Kathy Gilbert Taylor, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, is the author of With Great Mercy, a devotional for people who experience pain. She advocates for individuals with disabilities, specializing in facial pain. Kathy also taught high school English, drama, and journalism and worked as an editor. Prior to teaching, Kathy spent several years in the Air Force, first at the Air Force Academy Chapel and then in special forces at Hurlburt Field. An ordained minister, Kathy volunteers for Prison Fellowship Ministries and has also been a Guardian ad Litem and a foster parent.
I strongly encourage you to check out her website at http://withgreatmercy.com, and you can find more great writings like this on her blog, HERE.
You can find her on Twitter at @so_tweet.
But most importantly, grab a copy of her book right here!!!
