Flimflam

I love how this word feels when it flows out of my mouth....flimflam.

I wish I would have discovered this word, but I didn't. I love saying it even though I don't use it very often. You can only use this word every so often. Overuse it and people begin to think that something is wrong with you.

The origin of this word is very interesting. It was the second half of the 16th century that saw its birth as a noun. The verb form appeared in the next century. Scandinavia was probably its country of origin and is taken from the Old Norse word flim meaning "deception" or "mockery."

There are several synonyms for "deception." Here are a couple of my favorites..."hornswoggle" and "bamboozle." I haven't used either of these recently, but the first chance I get, I will.

In a "flimflam age" truth often seems obscured by the wiles of culture.

We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God. II Corinthians 4:2 (The Message)

No '"flimflam" here....just transparency.

I am always a little suspicious when someone says, "let me be honest with you."

Flimflam.

What do you think? Be honest...

Enough

That is a strange word.

I have heard it used many different ways. "Enough already!" "I have had enough of that!" "Do you have enough?"

And then, "Enough is enough." What does that mean?

Just looking at that word on the page seems strange to me.

Here are some things that I have had "enough" of. I have had enough...

Speculation about who is going to get the nomination for the Democratic party.

What did Jeremiah Wright say and mean?

Who will "conservatives" support in the presidential election?

What other text messages did Kwame Kilpatrick send?

Emphases on "global warming" when I am standing in a driving snow storm on March 27

Who will win "American Idol?"

What "Book of the Month" will Oprah endorse?

How high gas prices will go?

When will the troops come home?

Why is there such a thing as a "sub-prime" crisis?

When will the potholes go away on the main road in my community?

I am concerned in a "sorta-kinda" way about all of these, but if I allow them they consume my time and my thoughts.

"I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory." I Peter 1:6-7 (The Message)

I love it. "...every kind of aggravation..." I don't love the aggravation, I love the fact that the scripture says, "when Jesus wraps this all up." Sounds like one day He will say, "Enough."

Until that day He is Enough!

What do you think?

Signs

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign

blocking out the scenery

breaking my mind.

Don't do this, don't do that...

Can't you read the sign?

5 Man Electric Band - 1970

This sign hangs in the local Border's bookstore.

I am not sure why it intrigues me, but there is something about this sign that hangs from the ceiling that grabs my attention. It may be because I am easily impressed and distracted by signs.

"All things local..."

John Wesley said, "the whole world is my parish."

There is a sign at the end of the parking lot at church that says, "the mission field begins here."

"All things local..."

Another sign I saw recently said, "think globally, act locally."

All of these signs have caused me to stop and think. Yes, I can be concerned about needs half way around the world, yes, I can think of pandemics that are raging in 3rd world countries, and yes, I can ponder the plight of millions of people in other places. But what about the people that I meet every day?

I am not suggesting that we ignore global needs. I am suggesting that our influence and ministry begins locally.

Do you have any friends outside of the church you attend? Do you have relationships with people who are not in some way associated with the church that you attend? Are you sharing your story of the difference that His Story has made in your life with someone?

Are you living in a world where, "all things" are "local?"

"May God, who puts all things together, makes all things whole..." Hebrews 13:18 (The Message)

What do you think?

Letitgo

Everyone has experienced a hurt or a disappointment during their life.

I am not talking about minor things along the way. I am not talking about moments of disappointment that come in the course of everyday living.

I am talking about those “life changing” moments when our expectations were dashed, moments when our hopes were unfulfilled. Those moments which hang in the air like smoke from a smoldering fire.

Talking with people, I have heard stories that trapped the storyteller in a quagmire of bitterness and anger. The toxicity of those moments made it seem like the events and disappointments were yesterday when they actually occurred years ago.

Yesterday I talked with a person who was trapped and angry. They were carrying the "weight of the world" on their shoulders. The glass was "half empty" and the "pity party" was in full swing.

I said it. I used a “made up” word.

Letitgo.

Let…it…go. Easier said than done, and I realize that.

But I also realize that past experiences, disappointments and hurts can hang like a “two ton boulder” around our neck.

I have had huge rocks sitting on my shoulders from time to time, who hasn't? When those moments come, we are faced with a choice.

My hurt? or His hand?

I choose His hand.

Letitgo….His hand? No! My disappointments, hurts and unfulfilled expectations? Yes.

'Because I, your God, have a firm grip on you and I'm not letting go. I'm telling you, 'Don't panic. I'm right here to help you.' Isaiah 41:13

What do you think?

Lists

My daughter bought an Easter gift for each member of our family.

Now before you get all excited, these are the kind of gifts that makes you smile. When I opened mine, I laughed.

It was an Office note pad. The popular television show starring Steve Carrel tells the story of Dunder-Mifflin, a firm in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. It is an inside view of what goes on in an office among a menagerie of co-workers.

Back to the gift.

It is a note pad. What makes it interesting is that it contains four categories with room for additional notes under each category.

Tasks...I know what that means.

Time Wasters...I am trying to avoid those.

Excuses...it is easy to spend more time developing these than it is actually working.

Complaints...this speaks for itself.

That they would develop a list like this and make it available for sale, speaks volumes about the work ethic in our culture. Well, you say, "hey it's a joke...don't take it so serious."

"Don't kid yourself." Today's work ethic seems to be suffering.

Something needs to be done. Then it hit me...a verse that I read a long time ago.

"Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way." Colossians 3:17 (The Message)

I am going to put that verse on the list that my daughter gave me on Easter.

I gotta get to work...and I am looking forward to it.

What do you think?

Costanza

Every opportunity I get, I watch one of my favorite television shows…Seinfeld. It is a show about “nothing.”

Yet, everything you can imagine happens in twenty two minutes of comedy.

One of the primary characters is George Costanza. He is the lifelong friend of Jerry Seinfeld and the show’s resident philosopher.

Elaine, his friend, describes George as a “short, stocky, slow witted bald man.”

His escapades and lying are legendary.

Jerry seems to admire George's ability to lie. Jerry says that George is duplicitous, deceitful and a pathological liar, yet he is quick to get his advice. In the episode entitled, “The Beard,” George seems enamored with his own ability to bend the truth.

He says, “Jerry, just remember, it’s not a lie if you believe it.”

Our culture seems to buy this “lie.”

Recently, I was watching and George was caught in a precarious spot. He was trying to come up with a solution to the problem he was facing. When he could not come up with a lie he blurted out, “I’ve got nothing, Jerry, I’ve got nothing…”

Our culture is not quick to make this admission.

Recently I was thinking…”I’ve got nothing…” That may seem like an admission of weakness, but I am beginning to think that it is an admission of strength.

Once upon a time I read a statement that has changed the direction of my life. It sounds something like this, “apart from me you can do nothing.”

“I’ve got nothing…”

Easter

Obama’s passport file.

He is Risen!

NCAA “bracketology”

He is Risen!

New Easter clothes.

He is Risen!

Easter baskets...

He is Risen...In a world of distractions, that is The Message. People came today to hear that message in song and from the Word.

There were all kinds of people in church this morning...

There were people without jobs...people who are in the process of losing their jobs...people with physical needs...people who just lost loved ones....people who need to be loved... people who are in the middle of marital problems...people with financial needs....people who are searching....people who have spiritual needs...

There were people with addictions and habits....people who were coerced or forced to be there...people who were looking for a word of hope and encouragement...

There were people wrestling with feelings of overwhelming guilt...people who are dealing with shame...lonely people...tired and weary people....

And there were people who were geeked, jazzed and excited about being there.

It was great to see all of the people....needs and all.

I stood in front of them and talked about "crossroads" from the book of Jeremiah.

This is what the Lord says, stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16

Then it hit me..."crossroads." Today I talked about "cross" roads, and the presence of the Risen Lord was among us....and it was good!

I am finding "rest for my soul" this afternoon...