Very Challenging

Philippians 4:5, “Show a gentle considerate attitude towards everyone”.

One word describes the application of this verse, “ARGGGGGG”.

That in itself is very “do-able” within the confines of your friends and family. 

However, it takes on a different look when you begin to apply it with people that are, shall we say, “less than agreeable”. 

“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? 

Even sinners love those who love them!” Luke 6:32

I bring this up for a reason.  I have found this principle challenging here lately and I have been praying for enlightenment on how God wants me to HONESTLY accomplish this. 

The answer, was not what I expected.

“So God created human beings in his own image.
In the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them”

Genesis 1:27

Here is what God was saying, “I made ALL human’s in My image”. 

WHO do you think you are to think you are better than someone else?

There are 2 types of people in this world:  FIXED and BROKEN

What is painful to accept is, if you are in the FIXED category, then tomorrow, you may be in the BROKEN category.

The spiritual application for this is simple, every single one of us DEMAND understanding and forgiveness when we mess up.  However, when someone offends us, we demand JUSTICE.  The exact opposite of “understanding and forgiveness”. 

I realize this is a heartbeat from preaching, so I will end this praying that GOD uses it to challenge you and change your heart. 

My final shot is:  “Does your heart need changing?” 

A Touch of Kindness

How long has it been since you were surprised by an unexpected random act of kindness -- and it is especially cool when it is done by a stranger?

This is the way I understand how kindness works so be patient with me.
#1. God puts LOVE in your heart.
#2. God puts someone in front of you with a NEED.
#3. God moves you with COMPASSION to express the LOVE in your heart.
#4. The expression of the LOVE in your heart is..... KINDNESS.
#5. True KINDNESS cannot be REPAID.... it is not motivated by selfishness.

On Sunday morning’s, I am preaching a series on 1 Corinthians 13. You probably recognize it by its nickname, “The Love Chapter”.

It is commonly read at weddings because it very clearly spells out the giving, selfless love of God, flowing into the new family. This Sunday's sermon is on KINDNESS.

Kindness is LOVE In action. It is like the VERB of love.

I know you have LOVE in your heart because you are KIND.

When the Bible uses the word kindness,
it means you look at other people in light of what God is doing in the world.

They are God's creation and He loves them.
The question is, "What is He doing in their lives?"
How can I encourage what God is doing in their lives?

One of my favorite stories is about a new pastor's ordination service.
In almost every church, in order to become a pastor,
you have to be tested on your theology.
You have to be examined to make sure that you're theologically sound.
Many churches put their pastoral candidates in front of seasoned ministers so they can ask as many theological questions as they want, until they're satisfied that the candidate is Biblically sound.
There's one old pastor who was famous for asking the same question for 35 years. He always says to the pastoral candidate, "Will you look out the window?"
The pastoral candidate does.
"Tell me when you see a person out the window."
"I see one."
"Do you know that person?"
"No, sir, I don't."
"Good. Describe that person's theology."
He has found that the answers tend to fall in one of two categories. Either they say (a) "That person is a sinner in need of the saving power of God in Jesus Christ," or they say, (b) "Whether that person knows it or not, that person is a child of God, embraced by the love of God, surrounded by the grace of God."

The old minister's conclusion is, "Technically both of those answers are correct, but it has been my experience that the ministers who give the second answer make the better ministers because they see people not just as they are, but as they will be in the future of God."
Kindness is the refusal to see people only in the present tense, but to see them in light of what God is doing to recreate their lives.

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another,
even as God in Christ forgave you."
Ephesians 4:32

"Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you."
Proverbs 11:17

An Unexpected Blessing

I usually listen to KMBI radio (107.9) except when their talk shows are accepting calls from the public. At that point, I flip over to "Positive Life Radio" at 104.9. PLR doesn't take annoying calls from people commenting on... well, nothing, because their cell phones frequently cut in and out. And I am convinced that many of the callers just like being contrary and take pleasure in trying to offend as many people as possible.
Sorry, I digress....

PLR has a huge listening audience that covers most of the Pacific Northwest. And they started promoting a "pay it backward" program for drive throughs. The idea is, when you go through a drive through, pay for the persons order behind you. Which, I thought was a nice gesture until it developed into something amazing and continued for weeks and weeks and hundreds of people are participating.

And yes, they accept calls from the public - about their experiences with the "pay it backward" program. And no, none of these callers seem annoying or offensive. In fact, it has turned out to have a remarkably positive impact on hundreds of people.

Who knew????

Tonight, a very interesting lady called in to report that when she went to the Jack in the Box drive through window and found the person in front of her had already paid for her dinner. This made her so excited that she insisted on paying for the people's order behind her - which turned out to be $43. She didn't have $43 on her so she called in to promise that next time she goes through a drive through and the car behind her has a reasonably priced bill, that she would cough up the cash. This made me laugh because she failed to comply with the program yet she felt the need to call in and confess to the American public. Why she felt the need to call in and make herself look like a miser, makes my head spin but it turned out to be an unexpected blessing.

So how is this an unexpected blessing?

Bear with me because I am going to take you on a rabbit trail for a minute.

One of my pet peeves is political TV campaign advertisements. I dislike them almost as much as I detest political debates. I will stop there before I offend both of my blog readers.

After spending two days of my life invaded by talking heads expressing opinions of the State of the Union address and the political debates, my faith in humanity was needing a serious injection of honesty and basic goodness.

Enter "Positive Life Radio".

Average American people showing random acts of kindness with pure motives was the simple breath of fresh air I needed today.

You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
Do Not Judge Others
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.
Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you.
Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.
Give, and you will receive.
Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down,
shaken together to make room for more, running over,
and poured into your lap.
The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke 6:36-38

"It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35