My Paycheck

The other day as I was sitting at the table eating dinner with my family, I realized how incredibly blessed I am. I have the most lovely and dedicated wife. She loves me to a fault and works hard to support me any way that she can. My kids are just a delight. Whether I am getting caught up in just how beautiful they are or trying not to choke with laughter at something funny they just did or said, they never cease to bring me joy. I realize that, at the end of the day, my family is my paycheck. My treasure in life is the four people who sit around the table with me every night. The four people who I would give anything to be closer to. They are my reward.

How joyful are those who fear the Lord—
all who follow his ways!
You will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
How joyful and prosperous you will be!
Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine,
flourishing within your home.
Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees
as they sit around your table.
That is the Lord’s blessing
for those who fear him.
Psalm 128:1-4

All you need is...

Love. It is such a beautiful word. It contains within it the hope all of us have to experience a deep connection with someone in this life. Love is something that we reserve for those who are the closest to us, our family and friends. We keep the word to ourselves until we know that it is ready to be fully unleashed, because once that tiger is out of the cage there is no getting it back in. It's a strong word. Ever been in this conversation?

Jill: Jack, I want to tell you something.
Jack: What's that, Jill?
Jill: We have been seeing each other for a few months, and I wanted you to know that I love you.
Jack: (about 10 seconds of silence) Wow, that's really sweet. Thank you.

We all know that this very brief conversation led to at least three hours of Jack trying to console Jill who is alternately crying, screaming and slapping. Love is a very powerful thing. It's no wonder that we reserve it for those who we think we can trust with it. But is that enough?

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Matthew 5:44

In Jesus' own words, the Bible tells us that we are supposed to share this precious commodity with the people who hate us. The people who are rude, cruel, insensitive, unappreciative, hostile, selfish and careless towards us. The people who hurt us and keep hurting us. The people who use us and abuse us. That's a tall order, but it's not debatable. There's another side to it as well.

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:7-8

Loving others is not just a command, it comes with a promise. If you love others you will know God, because love comes from him. If you lack love for others, you cannot know God. Lovelessness will create a wall between you and God that keeps you from growing close to him because it is so contrary to his very nature. And yet, if you can love selflessly and unconditionally it will draw you closer to him.

If you want to know God more, who do you need to love more? Who do you need to forgive? Who do you need to release from your anger, bitterness and resentment? Love comes from God. What better way to get closer to him?

Something I'm reading

Admittedly, I didn't know a lot about the emergent church (or the emerging movement). It is in many ways a reaction to what they would describe as the bloated and shallow, seeker friendly megachurches and the politically charged conservative Christian movement. Whether you agree with the emergent church on this opinion or not, they are gaining followers among the young and disenfranchised all over the western world.

Set up as a biblically based, theological response to the published writings of emerging leaders and writers like Rob Bell, Tony Campolo and Erwin McManus, it is both an eye opening look at a new movement in the modern (or post-modern) church and a call to biblically correct belief. If you are interested in the emerging movement, whether you know very little about it or a lot, this book is definitely worth a read.