A Penny For My Thoughts...

So, it's been several months since I've posted anything....

I've been really busy, and If you know me, you know I like to post things that really challenge me and encourage me to better myself and those around me. So, before the next post, if you're curious to see what I've been up to this past year, check out my better half's blog over at Rocket City Ramblings, as she has a great round up of Spring adventures!

So, now for the post this week.....

I've had many friends as of late putting their blogs to use with their thoughts and opinions concerning the recent social media storms and how it relates to us as followers of Christ: the health care debate, Same-sex marriage debate, immigration debate, among other things that are sometimes good to debate but actually lead no where in life! 

So, I thought I would put my blog to work with my thoughts concerning a couple of these debates...

My thoughts aren't that amazing... in fact, they might be boring compared to some of my friends views on the subjects. But here's my thoughts.... Are you ready?

Hold on......

At some point, we followers of Christ are going to wake up and realize our battle is not with the government concerning health care. It's not with the gay's in wanting to marry one another. Our battle is not with whether people should be deported or not. It's not even with those who give or have abortions. Our battle is not with the gamblers, or drunks, or druggies, or prostitutes. Our battle is not with the homeless population who are left to beg on street corners. And our battle is not with Occupy Movement.

If we look at God's word closely, we see Paul in Ephesians 6:12 telling us what we, the followers of Christ, are fighting against: 

           "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." (NLT)

Our battle is not with the things we deem unholy and unrighteous. Our battle is with things that are not of this world. Our purpose is to love those around us and realize that there's much more at work than meets the eye. And, by the way, here's the good news: Jesus Christ has taken care of it ALL!!! All the unholy and unrighteous things.... He's taken care of them. His power is far greater than the "evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world." 

Our job is not to tell people how unholy, unrighteous, and messed up they are. Our job is to love God and love those around us with the love of God, to the best of our ability. That doesn't mean shunning them for their sins or calling for their deportations, or alienating them because they have misguided intentions. We are to simply love. Now, I'm not saying there are not times we shouldn't open our mouths... but that is for another blog post. 

We are to simply show Christ.... and to be honest, that's a funny thing to me, because it's not in my nature to be like Christ. It is my nature to want to look down my nose at people and judge them for not being like me or not being better people. But just like all things that Christ makes new (2 Corinthians 5:17), I must work to see others the way Christ does.

My thought is we are all fallen people in need of Savior. And our battle is not with this or that. Our battle is with sin. Our battle is with seeing people the way Christ does and still loving them despite it and through it. And yes, I do realize this is easier typed than done...

but that's why this is called a blog.

'Til next thought.....

J.

I Knew A Man Bojangle's...

You know, sometimes, you just need to go to Bojangle’s

For those of you that aren’t familiar, I’ll explain. Bojangle’s is a Southern restaurant chain. I first came to know Bojangle’s when I was working for Lifeway’s Centrifuge camps in Greenville, South Carolina. Bojangle’s is probably best known for their Cajun chicken biscuits. They are simply delicious. You’re doctor may not approve, but those chicken biscuits are definitely worth the cholesterol that it adds to your body.

We occasionally swing by the Bojangle’s drive thru on the way to work to pick up a chicken biscuit or some Bo-Berry biscuits (assorted berry sweet roll biscuits) and a large sweet tea. Did I mention they have sweet tea? Some of the best in the South. In the words of Jeff Foxworthy, “If you put that on top of your head, your tongue will beat your brains out trying to get to it!” Yeah, it’s that kind of place.

Well, today, Kristin and I had some errands to run and decided to eat out. We’re driving around and decided to try out Bojangle’s for lunch, a bit of change from our regular routine. You might think this is a no big deal or you’re thinking, “So what?” Well, let me explain a bit more.

This particular Bojangle’s restaurant isn’t exactly in what we call “the best part of town.” In fact, it’s in a bit of a run down part of town. The old part, you might say. It’s the part of town that you quickly reach over on the car door and make sure your doors are locked. It’s the part of town where it’s not uncommon to see several police cars investigating a single car or a building. It’s the part of town where squatters and junkies are known to hangout.

In fact, the restaurant itself has a sign up front that reads, “Please keep your meal to 30 minutes or less.” I suppose this is to help with making sure people are in and out and not setting up house over in the corner.

Inside this particular Bojangle’s you’re not likely to see what we call “trendy” people. You more than likely won’t find any hipsters with skinny jeans and scarves around their necks and a fedora on their heads typing away on their new Apple MacBook or iPad while they casually sip on their skinny chai latte. You might see someone with a tattoo, but it won’t be of their favorite word in Hebrew or Chinese.

Instead, you’re probably going to see people who may look a little different. People who may look a little bit out shape. People who may not wear matching clothes. People who wouldn’t exactly be invited into certain “trendy” areas of our world. In fact, you might call some of these people misfits or socially awkward. Socially awkward not because they do anything peculiar, but socially awkward because we don’t know, or are not comfortable with having to converse or do life with them.

Not to be deterred from our chicken and tea (did I mention the tea?), we parked our car and braved the pouring down rain and entered Bojangle’s. As we entered, we were greeted by the guy at the front counter saying, “It’s pouring down rain outside and you’re wearing flip-flops?” I just grinned and said, “Sure. And what better day when it’s pouring down rain? And the best part is, no wet socks and shoes.” He smiled and replied chuckling, “I’ve never thought of it like that before. I’ll have to try it sometime. What can I get ya?”

We ordered, laughed with the folks behind the counter a bit, got our food and sat down. As we ate (trying to keep our meal to 30 minutes), there was a lady walking around who kept checking up on our food. “Would you care for a free Bo-Berry Biscuit?” Absolutely! “Can I get you some more tea?” Yes ma’am! Kristin and I chatted a bit about life as we ate. And some where in the course of our meal Kristin looked at me and said, “You know, this has been a very pleasant and enjoyable experience.” As I chewed my biscuit, I thought, “You know it really has been a pleasant and enjoyable experience. And all we had to do was break out of our normal routine for a minute to experience something that was unexpectantly extra-ordinary.”

Sometimes, breaking out of routine brings about some pleasant experiences. Now, don’t get me wrong, there were still some moments that caught me off guard. Kind of like the couple making out in front of the restaurant while I’m trying to eat. Or the man who came in wearing a dress shirt, sweat pants and yellow work boots. But in the end of the day, I realized that sometimes the most pleasant and enjoyable things happen when and where we least expect them. Especially, when we break out of our normal routine.

You know, sometimes, you just need to go to Bojangle’s.