Halloween

I'm writing this on Halloween - October 31 - while I am sitting comfortably in my recliner. Thoughts are swirling through my head like the leaves in the breeze, so I am not so sure where this path will take me. But every once in a while an idea pops up that bears consideration, so perhaps these are the ones that will make their way onto the page.

They call it "Halloween," but there is nothing hallowed or sacred other than the fact that this day happened to land on a Sabbath (for those of you who believe in Genesis 2:3). I have watched the children and adults walk down the road in their costumes, and have yet to see one that might even hint of the "sacred." Ghosts and goblins and creatures that are gruesome, but nothing that remotely reminds me of God.

Some will quickly point out the history of the day, referring to its pagan background and even the adoption into the church by making it a celebration for the dead - a remembrance for those who are no longer walking with us. I've no desire to go there - it would only be rehashing what many already know, and by doing that I would be supporting the argument that always - and I mean always - ensues. That is not the intention of this blog....

I would rather just look at what it is today. It's a costume party where people dress up and collect (or give out, depending on which side of the door you reside) candy and treats. It's a chance to say the magic words - "Trick or Treat" - and be rewarded with sweetness. Oh, there might be some teenagers tossing rotten eggs and carrying out whatever mischief is in their hearts, but in most cases it is a fun time to dress up and visit friends.

It was actually those magic words that started me thinking. It started me thinking about life choices. As difficult as life might be, our choices are really quite simple. Satan offers us all sorts of treats - a chance for wealth and popularity and ease in a world that is focused on "things." He says he can make everything sweet for us, as long as we are willing to give our lives over to him. It is only after we have been sucked into his web that we realize we have been tricked. We have become slaves to him, and our lives - even if we do have the wealth and popularity he promised - are limited to earthly joys.

On the other side we have a bleeding Man hanging on the cross. When it comes to earthly things, He can't promise us much. He actually says, "In this world you will have tribulations." Things are going to get tough for us. It is not a life for sissies.

But He offers us so much more than anything this world could give us. Yes, it will be hard, but we will be standing for the right, we will have a cause to defend, and we will have an eternity to enjoy that will go far beyond anything we could imagine. It will be such a treat to spend forever with this Man.

So you have the choice. You can get your goodies now or enjoy eternal salvation with a God who loves you so much He died for you. It really is up to you.

Trick or treat...

God bless you abundantly!

Starting the Countdown

Recently I have been thinking of what it would be like to blast off into space. I've never been one to read all about the astronauts and dream of "being one" some day, although I've been told that someone that walked on the moon was a distant relative of mine (so I'm sure I have an inside chance of being chosen to work for NASA!). But yet flying off into space has been on my mind the past few weeks.

I was intrigued by the work of the Rutan brothers - sending a home made space craft up and back a couple times to win a 10 million dollar prize. It wasn't the money, but the challenge that drew me, although the money would be a nice bonus. Just the fact of leaving the earth behind me, watching it in the rear view mirror as I went farther and farther away from ... everything.

Perhaps my interest has to do with how tired I have become of what the world has to offer. I seek a new world that God has planned for me.

However, just like the preparation that the astronauts have to go through, I can't expect to be ready without my own preparations. Jesus has challenged us to go to all the world, making disciples of all nations, and sharing the good news of a loving Father. That doesn't happen if I spend all of my time sitting in front of the TV, or putting in extra hours at the office. If I am going to do the job that God has given me, I have to do something.

So I want to start the countdown. I want to do something every day that leads to finishing the work that is before me. I want to go home!

Are you ready to start the countdown with me?

God bless you abundantly!

Transactional or Transformational Christianity?

In the world of Human Resources there is a rumbling that has everyone wondering what is going to happen with their chosen profession. For years the job of the Human Resources department, or as it used to be called, "Personnel," was to make sure that the employees were hired correctly, that all of their paperwork was in place, that they had accurately signed up for their benefits, and that, should it come to it, the employee was terminated legally. For years that was the sum and total of the responsibilities of the H.R. Manager.

But as businesses evolved, upper management started asking if that was a necessary role for a person or a department. Couldn't a manager be trained to carry out most of those tasks? In fact, if the process was simplified, wouldn't it be more effective to make most of those tasks "self-service," and have the new hire take care of them himself? As businesses moved into the electronic and computer-based world, it became obvious that many of these things could be done without the help of a Human Resources leader.

This trend towards self sufficiency was a wake-up call for the profession. They realized that if they were going to continue, they needed to recreate themselves. They saw that they needed to be involved with the strategy of the organization - to bring their understanding of the human side of business to the table to help the organization succeed. And in the successful businesses in America, that is exactly what is happening.

It reminded me of the need I have in my life. I have often focused on the "doing" of Christianity - the tasks that I felt demonstrated that I was a Christian. You know, kind of like the rich young ruler that came to Jesus; "All of those things I have done from my youth." The things that in the Human Resources world are called "transactional activities."

But those things don't result in true change. It's like rotating old tires on a car - they might be in a different place than they were before, but that won't put more tread on the tires! While I see the value of rotating tires, sooner or later I will have to do something about those bald tires....

The true change happens when we focus not on the tasks but on the core. That is what HR calls "transformational activities." And in Christianity our part is submitting our wills to Christ so He can change us from the inside out.

Romans 12:2 says, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." That's transformational talk. And if you want to know how that happens, I encourage you to read the prayer that Paul prayed in Ephesians 3:14-19.

Matthew West describes my feelings exactly in the words of his song: "I don't want to go through the motions..." How about you?

God bless you abundantly!