Getting Comfortable with Grace

Here's Molly (hi Molly). She's going to be here for a couple of weeks. She's the only one and gets along well with my dogs and cats.

Last night, I decided to let her stay in the house since she's the only dog in the kennel right now (she'll get company today). However, she was completely restless. She paced, panted, and didn't know what to do with herself.

People are like this with God's grace. They simply can not comprehend that following the rules isn't what pleases God. Being good doesn't do it either. Going to church and taking communion doesn't, even those are good things to do.

What pleases God? Giving up.

Yep. That's it. We all do wrong, whether big or small, we can never fully be perfect. When we admit to this, admit that Jesus paid the price for our sins, when we give up walking perfectly with our Lord, that's when God's grace floods us. No more burden of sin, or burden to follow the rules perfectly. We admit our flaws, and the Lord rebuilds us, if we let him.

It's liberating and we can relax in the home our great God offers us. Of course we don't deserve it, but it's offered to us nonetheless. It's up to us to accept it humbly an gratefully.

Is the Leash Good or Bad?

Some people believe a dog must always be on a leash. Others believe that they should never be on a leash.

Perhaps it is not the leash itself that is good or bad but the situation. Dog walking in the city on a leash, good. Dog in a fenced in dog park without a leash, good. Dog protecting its property from varmints, good. Dog attacking passersby, bad. Dog walking along a road loose, bad. Foster walking with a leash on my property so he doesn't crash into something due to blindness - good!

Sometimes we need to use our brains, step back, and look at the big picture. God extends grace for our lack of good judgement, encouraging us to move forward in forgivenss and balance.

That's something for which we can ALWAYS be thankful!

Hiding From Monday

I'm one of those weird people who look forward to Mondays. I love the fresh start feel of the day. Usually, it's my most productive day.

Today was a real Monday experience though. I bought a coffee while out doing errands. While I was loading my car with my purchases, my phone rang. Since I was distracted while unpacking the cart and answering this person's question, I completely forgot my coffee. I drove off with it on the roof of my car.

Now I know why people hide from Mondays.

Despite this set-back, I'm committed to liking the fresh-start of a new week.

Jesus brought us new life, along with forgiveness for our mistakes. I like the fresh-start feel of that too.

In fact, I love it.

Put This On To-Do List for THIS Weekend

How is this dog related? Well, the director has a dog. How's that?

A year and a half ago, I had the unique opportunity to be a small (very small) part of movie-making history. This film was financed mainly by a grass-roots effort of every day people. That's the short story. I was able to spend a day on the set of this movie when it was filming in Nashville, October of 2010.

For those of you who know me, I'm not one to gush. However, the people I met were all pretty fantastic. The Director and his wife were some of the best people I've met. They are compassionate and have a huge view of how to live life.

This will translate on film. Regardless of what you believe, this film will make you think and I'm sure it will be a feast for the eyes as well from what I've seen of the previews.

A film's success is determined by its success on its opening weekend. That's THIS weekend, Folks! Go see it! Make it a road trip if it's not opening near you (like it isn't around here).

You will be glad you did!

Can't Touch This

Captain loves to play with those little plastic bracelets that glow in the dark. Recently, he batted one around but had to stop when it was too close to Foster.

He wasn't willing to risk getting snapped at by Foster just to bat around his toy.

Yet I find myself too often risking danger in order to do what I want. It is sad and embarassing that I can't figure out that some things are simply not worth the risk.

Today, consider where you need to use some discretion in your life. What toys might you need to give up because they are not worth the danger?

Is It Really All About the Rules?

Maybe you've heard the saying, "it's not about rules it's about relationship." First, what is "it?" To me, "it" is faith in Jesus. Following Jesus' rules may lead to healthier happier living, but it's not what IT is about.

If you were to only be polite and follow all the etiquette rules while encountering other people, would you have an actual friendship?

Do we throw rules out the window?

For some reason, rules have a bad reputation. We think of them as restrictive and insulting. We often do not associate them with love. However, without structure, children would play in traffic unrestricted. Dogs could never be walked in an orderly fashion on a leash. Houses would be trashed.

What is needed is a balanced approach to look at the reason and intent behind rules. Perhaps we think that coveting is an old idea that has no bearing today. Yet what has "keeping up with the Jones'" done for your life? Do you appreciate what you've got or do you constantly crave more and "the latest."

God knows our nature is to seek more and believe that having the latest whatever will make us popular and enhance our lives. Most times, it leads us to try to fill a void that can only be filled with the contentment of a God-focused world.

That's where the course changes - a relationship with God is fulfilling, learning about the Father through Jesus the Son reveals love, sacrifice, forgiveness. Following Jesus allows us to change from the inside out in a way only the Lord can transform. Rules and adherence to them can not bring heart change to our lives.

What rules serve you well? Which ones do you follow blindly? What rule is hardest for your dog to keep? For you?

Off to a Promising Start

Yesterday was April 1st, also known as April Fool's day. It was also Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week.

During our pastor's children's message, he asked the children what the crowd did when Jesus rode by on the donkey. Most responded with the predictable answers of "yelled Hosanna" and "waved palm leaves." Then one boy yelled, "took off their clothes."

File this under "Awkward Pastoral Moments."

Fortunately, the congregation composed itself quickly as did the pastor, and even clarified that the crowd took off their coats or outter robes to lay before Jesus. Phew!

Palm Sunday used to be my favorite holiday because it was the big party before things went terribly wrong for Jesus. It seemed like things were off to a really great Jerusalem Debut.

Have you ever begun a new relationship, project, or joined a new group full of anticipation and excitement at the possibilites? Did it ever go south quickly?

Unfortunately, it's been a frequent experience for me. However, given the alternative between still trying, still having hope, and anticipating the best versus staying away in safety, I'll choose risking heartbreak.

The end of our pastor's sermon was poignant. He confessed how a lot of his own personal dreams had not materialized, that he'd been forced to be the "supporting role" for others to pursue their dreams, while his own went unfulfilled. And really, who can say that they can relate? Uh-huh. All of us.

A few days after this, the pastor was praying and still mulling over the disappointment. Then he felt God press upon him an interesting question (and this is from what I remember, so the exact quote is not correct). "Will you continue to let your own dreams die if it means fulfilling hope for others? After all, that's why I sent my Son."

Ouch. That's what life is about - laying down our own lives for others. Jesus laid his life down, paying a huge price, in order that we could seek God's forgiveness and be "made acceptable" through Jesus' perfect sacrifice.

Our society tells us over and over to "seek our bliss" and "do what makes you happy." Yet most of the people who pursue these dreams find they are empty and lack meaning. Loving oneself and pleasure seeking never end well. Loving others provides depth.

"The strongest evidence of love is sacrifice."

Today start your week off well, especially if you find the opportunity to give up your easier way for what is difficult and to the benefit of others.