Nearly six months ago, I posted a very similar topic. We love to bless people with gifts. Our consumerism has taught us to buy gifts for people and that’s a sign of love. We go so far as to buy things we don’t really think about, yet we feel obliged to give. In fact, I have been guilty of this trend. For years, I thought that I could “save” people in my family by the buying of gifts, or I could introduce people to Jesus by giving them a nice-sized gift card for Christmas.

But I have been challenged, and will continue to be on this topic. It’s tough bc reorienting ourselves during Christmas seems easy, but it’s not due to our culture and lifestyles.

The last time I challenged you to rethink presents you give to people, and used our sons as examples since they enjoy the presence of their family & friends so deeply. Yet now, I sit challenged & convicted as I realize that I have hoped that by buying certain people certain things, that they would realize I love them — yet I rarely call these people on the phone or have dinner with them. Crazy isn’t it?

I’m not there yet – we’re not there yet, but we’re trying. We’re trying to balance our wants over others deep needs in this world. What we have realized that, refocusing ourselves during Christmas will take baby-steps, ones that I hope our family can join with us.

Let me again close this one like the previous, Jesus was the ultimate presence-giver. So find ways to give yourself, to begin and broaden relationships, to offer meaningful presence b/c it’s presence over presents that will bring true hope to our world.

I just read Tiger’s personal apology for “personal sins” he has made within his family. If you read my blog, you will know, I am a huge fan of Tiger Woods on & off the golf course. I have relented on weighing in on this issue to see what happens, even though I had my doubts. In part, I am disappointed as I had hoped this image he has mass-advertised would be legitimate. Now that more allegations are surfacing – to which I believe some to be true, some to be money-grabing lies, the reality is, his image has taken a hit.

Though should I be disappointed? Should I be hurt? I am hurt for him and his family but the reality is folks, he is human living a life way beyond the norm and just like all of us out there, he has made mistakes against his family, himself, and God.

Even though I hoped he was different, that’s a stretch. I can’t hope in people to not be perfect. I can hope they learn from grace and provide hope and to be inspired by people. But I can’t hope someone is perfect, because there is and will only be one perfect being – Jesus.

Tiger said his wife has shown him grace. I pray she continues. I pray he learns from it. I am rooting for him to overcome this; not so I can root for him at the Master’s, but so I can root for another human being, like me, to learn from our sins and to become better people.

It’s sad the amount of time we spend judging others and feeding off their mistakes, when we have our own. Let this be a reality check that we all make mistakes. We all screw it up. No matter how far we go to protect ourselves, we all make mistakes, self-included. Let’s learn from them. And better yet, let’s extend the grace we receive to others around us.

There are many things to be thankful for, and I’d like to list some of mine, in no particular order.

An amazing wife who has been loyal, loving, and genuine through 8+ years of marriage. She’s an amazing person, mother, and friend.

Two wonderful boys who each day give me a glimpse of what God the father is like. Two wonderful boys who love me for being a dad. And I love them more than words could ever express. Two wonderful boys who are no less than miracles.

Family who loves us w/out question. And better yet, family who loves our boys.

Friendships that go beyond the norm. We have close friends who are as close as family. They appreciate me and us, support us, pray for us, and w/out them, our life would be vastly different.

Centerpoint, a church with a vision; a church who accepts & loves everyone; a church that loves to reach & touch everyone in our community & the world.

All the above points to being thankful for a God who shows his love to us in many different ways.

Call me a copy-cat of Pastor Christopher in posting this video but it’s something that I am really looking forward to. Months ago I blogged about presence over presents and this will be a challenge but one worth encountering. Check out the video and join the movement; pray about how to change the world & love all.

Enough said

Last week we started 2 groups at Centerpoint to watch, read, and discuss our faith. We are using Donald Miller’s DVD The Open Table: An invitation to know God to facilitate this conversation. Through 2 weeks, it has been amazing to hear people share their stories, their backgrounds, and their different journeys in faith. And each time we share & interact, we shed some light into our frailness and vulnerability. And I am finding it’s in these moments of frailness that we truly open ourselves up to healing and to community. It’s in these sacred moments, we find ourselves bonded to one another on a different & unique level – one that I believe is directed by God to allow us the opportunity to experience more of his love.

This week while reading the material, and am still pondering it today, is the pursuit of God. Typically we tend to think we search for this God but in reality, it’s this God who searches for us. Afterall, if we believe the claims of Jesus, then we must realize he first came to us. He loves us so much, to be with us, to interact with us. And while his earthly presence is no more, if we believe it to be true of him then, then spiritually speaking, it’s true today. This divine presence cares for us & pursues us even now.

May you find that this God comes to you, and he likes you.

there are many, but today i will focus on one, briefly. and let me preface by saying that many people hate church, have been hurt by the church, don’t get it, and are disconnected. and here, i am talking about people who believe in God but don’t get the rules or schedules of church – not that i’m a rules kinda guy, but in many cases, like at Centerpoint for example that we have to be on a schedule due to the fact we use another person’s building… it limits certain aspects of church but it is what it is for now.

anyway, why i go there and full-heartedly believe in a corporate setting. Jesus himself, never condemned the pharisees for meeting at church and gathering together – in fact, he participated and worshipped with them. In Luke 4 Jesus brings to life his mission, and he does this at a scheduled time in the synagogue with those in the audience whom he would combat through his short years.. but he never ridiculed their decisions to join together to worship the Father.

this time of corporate gathering is a time to worship, a time to have the word of God brought to life, to hear the stories of God that provides hope..

that is only one aspect why i attend church, to come together to worship and to listen to the story of God that brings hope and life-transformation to everyone it encounters.

in small groups. This week we rolled out 2 groups discussing Donald Miller’s the Open Table, where people can and will discuss their journey of life and how that interacts with the convictions and questions of the Christian faith.

this will be a time where we can connect with one another, getting to know each more deeply, allowing us to demonstrate yet another expression of God’s love as we come together.

it’s in these moments of bonding that something special happens….when that happens, life happens… and when that happens, there is hope for transformation and life-change.

be a part of life… connect in a small group.

i had a challenging conversation with myself recently. It wasn’t one of those moments when someone thought i was talking to myself but either way, it challenged me. i started thinking about how i used to, and to some degree, get really aggravated by people who say they are certain sport team’s fans. for example, i have friends who bleed scarlet & grey but couldn’t even name one player on the team. or other friends who rarely watch the game..

so i think LIAR you are not a fan, you’re a fake, an imposter. in fact, if you don’t watch and study the team like i do, then you’re not even a fan, let alone, a fan to the degree of what i am.

i know, petty huh? it got me thinking, do i do this in other areas of my life? do i condemn people’s spirituality or faith when they don’t do the same things i do or don’t do? or if they believe a different way on something? i used to think when it comes to this area, that i was fairly open for people being or believing differently on issues and i am okay with that…..BUT i ask, if i treat ppl harshly over non-essential issues then how could i treat them differently on more serious issues?