Searching for Meaning and Purpose...

This post is stolen from the book I'm reading (and blog that is great too!) Stuff Christians Like . I'll start with the part that isn't mine and then add some color commentary at the bottom, because this SO is what we've been talking about, just a lot funnier... Here's Jonathan Acuff: In Atlanta, my favorite radio station is V103, the “People’s Station.” It’s a hip hop station that plays mostly rap and R&B. The best part of V103 is their morning show. Everyday when I’m driving to work they do what they call an “Inspirational Vitamin.” They read a Bible verse and play a gospel song or a clip by a charismatic minister from Atlanta. I honestly find it to be an uplifting experience overall. The thing I find most interesting however is how they wedge the Inspirational Vitamin into their normal programming. What often happens is that right before they transition to the spiritual segment of the show they play some sort of booty song. Let’s say, “I’m in love wit ...

Most sports teams have years that get labeled "rebuilding." For some, it's an excuse for not playing well or having a bad coach, for others, it's true. It simply means they are growing their team, making players better, and preparing for the next season. It's not a total write off, but it amounts to essentially the same thing. Each game is seen as a "practice" meaning that it's not about winning or losing, but getting better. As I said, it can be a cover, but it can be real. I've seen it happen many ways, but an easy example is this years Kansas City Chiefs. The past several years were "rebuilding" and "reloading" so they could win (but they still canned Herman Edwards because he didn't rebuild soon enough!), and this year under their second year head coach, they are the lone unbeaten in the NFL. Pretty remarkable if you ask me... But, what does all that have to do with anything? A lot actually, just in a round ...

Every winter I find myself in the awkward situation of tripping and falling (blasted ice!). Every time I look around to make sure no one saw me, then get up and go on my way. If someone did see me, I try to play it off and go on about my life. Does that sound familiar? Most of us do that, if we're honest (unless of course there's an actual injury to ourselves in which case decorum and pride goes out the window!). But, more often than not, we do the same thing in our spiritual lives. We screw up, take a second to evaluate whether anyone will know/see, then play it off as if it didn't happen. That's why Hebrews 12 talks about " the sin that so easily trips us up !" I know I have sin issues that crop up and my first response is often what I do when I fall outside: I try to think about whether that sin is visible to anyone (or if anyone might know, like my accountability bros) and how I can best go about covering it up. Sad, huh? The truth is, that...

You know, being supported is a great feeling. Knowing that despite our failures, foibles, and general stupidity we're still loved and supported is a fantabulous thing. Jesus is there, but that is so nebulous it's hard to hang onto. Seeing someone else support and love you, that is life changing. The idea is to be Jesus to someone else. I think I have been, but have I really been supportive? Back in the Old Testament, we see an awesome story of support (Exodus 17.8-ff) The Israeli's were wandering through the wilderness when the Amalakites attacked. When ever Moses had his arms up, the Israeli's were winning. When Moses' arms got tired, they began to lose. This was a mammoth pitched battle, with tons of people running around bashing, smashing, and trying to beat each other to sweaty, bloody pulps of man meat. The thought of losing for the Israelites was unthinkable: they were God's own people, how could they lose? Yet at the same time, if they weren...