Irresponsibility Epidemic - Part 2

I know that respecting an irresponsible person is the exact opposite of what we are familiar with, but Colossians 4:6 challenges us to let our conversation always be full of grace and seasoned with salt. Since grace is favor that we receive even though we don’t deserve it, this scripture implies that how we treat others is not to be based on what we feel they deserve; especially since all of us have come short of God’s glory. This means that the only thing any of us deserves is death, hell, and the grave.

Too often we feel comfortable devaluing others because of their irresponsible behavior. Just like a $100 bill does not decrease in value because it has been handled by people with dirty hands and then stepped on, likewise the value of irresponsible people before God is not lessened because of their irresponsibility. And since we know that salt contains properties that preserve, enhance, and melt we are challenged by this scriptural instruction to make certain that our conversation and behavior does all it can to preserve the relationship without the ungodly tools of manipulation and pacification, enhance the relationship by choosing to only speak those things that edify (see Ephesians 4:29), all the while warming their hearts by the consistent expression of the Fruit of the Spirit; especially gentleness and kindness. Doing these things will cause us to increase in maturity as we walk with God. But don't forget, asking our Heavenly Father to empower us to embrace these truths as we obey His Word - is a must.

Irresponsbility Epidemic

Irresponsibility has gotten ridiculous and grown to epidemic proportions. The latest news regarding Senator John Edwards and my own mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, who just keeps making one irresponsible choice after another, are testaments to this disheartening reality. Since I wrote How to Respect an Irresponsible Man,
I have had others ask me, "How in the world can anyone respect an irresponsible man? Why would anyone want to?"

Contrary to popular belief, respect does NOT have to be earned. Because of my faith as a Christian, I believe I (and my fellow Christians) must remember that mankind is created in the image of God. When we cannot find behavior worthy of respect in our politicians, mates, children, co-workers, employers, etc., we must be respectful based on the reality that of all the life forms God created, mankind is the only one in which God chose to imbed His image. This alone makes ALL humanity worthy of respect.

For the next four weeks, I'm going to talk about irresponsibility and how respecting irresponsible people is the best response we can have. Chime in and let me know your thoughts.

When Desire Rises Up

As we sat around the table, multiple conversations going at once, I couldn't help but hear a couple of the ladies talking about the decisions they made to eliminate red meat and pork from their diets. When the conversation came to me my personal truth came out.

"When it comes to that topic, I only know two things. 1) When I smell bacon fryin' desire rises up! 2) When I smell steak grillin' desire rises up!" The room bursted into laughter as various ones chimed in that they could identify with me. I must confess that at the time I was simply being honest.
But since then, the Holy Spirit has challenged me to examine how often I allow my desires to dictate my choices.

As I examine the implications of allowing desire to simply rise up, I am challenged to accept that there are times when unchecked desire is no laughing matter. How do you handle unchecked desire? Share your thoughts.

Return on God's Investment

Here we are approaching the second half of 2008 and many of us are desperately trying to maintain the excitement we began the year with. At the beginning of the year God spoke to our hearts and we walked away convinced that this is our year! But since that time, many are becoming discouraged as the headlines speak of major banks failing, gas prices continue to rise with no end in sight, all while home owners around the country go into foreclosure.

NEVERTHELESS, we must maintain our resolve. Our health, well being and prosperity are not determined by what the stock market or the government says. 2008 holds much return on the investments our Lord has made in us! Our God is still able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or even think. Join me as I continue to persevere in faith. This is not the time to have a crisis in confidence. This is the time to put our trust in our God, Who is More Than Enough!

Father,Thank You for allowing Your people the opportunity to shine even brighter during this season. We begin this year filled with anticipation about the things we see You doing on our behalf. You have made an investment in us and have given us a glimpse of the plans You want to work through us in the earth. Help us to recognize that You have also given us the responsibility of taking an active role in creating a return on Your investment. With the discouraging information in the news media regarding the stock market, it could be easy to lose sight of the truth that You have ordained Your people to walk in Your love, joy, peace, and abundance. Remind us that as a Wise Investor, You don't make foolish choices or uncalculated risks. In spite of what our eyes see, You have prepared a table before us, even in the presence of our enemies. Help us to keep this embedded in our hearts when we encounter struggles. Just because we experience difficulty does not mean You have not provided. As we set our hearts to do Your Will may the wisdom of Your Kingdom be revealed in greater measure before the kingdoms of this world as we bring You 30, 60, and 100 fold returns on Your investments in us this year. In Jesus' name, Amen!

Now, what investments has God made in you that you're expecting a return from this year?

Has It Happened to You?

Interruptions can be so irritating.
The other day I went to a website expecting to quickly obtain some information, and update my social networking page and without warning my computer screen froze. Not because my system was too slow or about to crash, nor was it because my computer has a virus. It is because some company decided that I'd still want to do business with them after they had held me hostage for 30 seconds to watch their commercial. I find it interesting that no matter how consumers try to escape commercials, ad agencies still insist on horning their way in on time we have no intention of giving them.

Although I've never used Netflix, I can tell you without reservation that I'm less inclined to ever consider it now. I was thoroughly upset that there wasn't a close button offering me the option to close the commercial before it ran completely. But then I got to thinking, life is that way at times.

Not long ago I had an unexpected health crisis. Before I knew it, I was in the hospital. After they discharged me it took several days before I felt like myself again. My life was on hold for over a week and I didn't like it at all. Have you ever had any life experiences that caused you to feel like you were being held hostage without an option?

There's no way around it. Unexpected crises, sudden occurrences, interruptions or any other unforeseen activities are simply a part of life. It's at those times when changing the circumstances is not an option, that we must decide what attitude we will have as we navigate through them. I must confess that my being anxious and annoyed about this interruption in my daily routine was a flashing caution light on the dashboard of my life. It pointed out that I live a more self-focused life than I had believed. I know that the world doesn't revolve around me, but sometimes my behavior implies that I think it does. I don't like that. I'm going to change it. What about you? How have you been navigating the interruptions in your life?

Broken Signal?

Have you ever been agitated by a driver who won't let you over into their lane only to have a passenger in your car mention that you don't have your signal on?

I know. Sometimes when you use your turn signal, self-centered people speed up because they just can't bear to see you get in front of them. As long as you weren't in their lane, they were content to let you drive ahead of them. But something about driving in front of them pushes their button so hard they find they can't help pushing the gas pedal with their foot. That's why some of us just don't bother to use our turn signal. It's easier to just change lanes without communicating; then it doesn't matter what the other driver thinks. We're already in the lane we want to get into, going where we want to go.

Have you ever noticed that sometimes communicating with others is just like driving? When we fail to use our turn signals while driving, we fail to give other drivers the information they need to make decisions. Likewise, when we don't communicate with others we hinder the flow of information that could make a difference in the choices they make. We have our own agenda and it doesn't include letting anyone in front of us.

Do you tell others what you need, only to have them speed up the negativity forcing you to stay in an unproductive place? Or have you simply done what you wanted to do to avoid any potential confrontation with others?

Paul challenges us to go beyond what we want and think (Philippians 2:3-5). As for me, I know the last place I think about "considering others better" than me is when I have somewhere to go AND I'm late getting there. L

It's obvious that being self-focused causes us to lose sight of the fact that others also have places they are trying to get to. Who knows, maybe where they are going is more important. If we truly want to think with the mind of Christ and we find ourselves consistently behaving selfishly, this is evidence that our signals are broken.

Have you ever driven a car with a broken turn signal? To communicate with other drivers you have to manually cause the signal to blink. It works similarly when our communication skills are broken. We have to work at it.

When we make the effort to communicate with the mind of Christ, whether others let us in or not, is not our main concern. We know our Father opens doors no one else can shut and He closes doors no one else can open. When we turn on our signal and others speed up to keep us from getting in front of them, it doesn't matter. We know that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. They can speed up all they want. If we humble ourselves, - and refrain from putting our foot on the gas and forcing our way in - we will reap in due season.