We recently (3/30/09 - 4/1/09) took a trip south to visit family in Florida. It was just me and "my girls" (Barb, Court & Abby). We had a wonderful time, but at the same time it saddens me because the era of the entire Linnerud Clan making that trip is over. The guys (Ben & Blake) both being at Clemson University prevents them from enjoying this family time because spring breaks don't coincide. What is pretty cool is that both the guys went to Florida during their spring break and ended up at Mema & Papa's. Of course they didn't go together...its a brother thing you know.
Family is important to me and unfortunately along the way I have made way too many mistakes in the parenting department. I have tried to turn the corner in the last six years and only time will tell if I did it in time. One of my goals in life is to come to the end and be respected and loved by my family...I mean really respected and loved. I don't want my kids to feel this way because we are genetically connected; I want them to feel this way because they really do.
My kids are off the hook...what I would call the best on this ball of dirt we call earth. There is nothing in me to deserve the four and there is nothing I would not do for them. I just hope I communicate that to them in a loud and clear way. Again, time will tell.
Cat's In the Cradle,
Scott
Driving along the interstate at 75 mph, or so, for over 20 hours in 7 days allows my mind to wander. Dangerous activity I know, but the girls have outgrown License Plate Bingo. So, I am left to myself for hours and my mind has a tendency to focus on the surrounding countryside. What I kept noticing on our recent trek to Florida and Charlotte, NC was billboards. Now these are either a source of inspiration or irritation. You’ll have to wait for the inspiration, right now let me share my irritation.
I kept reading “Gospel Billboards.” Some of them are thought provoking, but some of them are just downright lame. For example, I read a billboard that announced, “Repent and Believe!” I would call this Head-On Collision Evangelism, and I just don’t get it. I mean, the average lost person is going to say, “Repent? What does that mean?” And, “Believe in what?” I find that a billboard like this falls short on a couple of accounts.
First, I don’t think God intends for His precious gospel to be a head-on collision. I do believe He intends for us to have meaningful interactions with people and this takes time. Without any interaction with people and without an explanation of who Jesus is, what He did, and what separates us from Him in the first place they won’t understand the gospel.
Second, throwing these messages at people in this way desensitizes them to the real meaning of repentance and belief. It robs believers of the opportunity to sow the gospel and water the seed. This will lead the unbeliever into thinking that if they can talk this way (i.e., “I believe” or “I’ve repented”) then they must be a Christian. But we all know that just talking the talk doesn’t make a person a genuine follower of Jesus Christ.
Now I would much rather see “Gospel Billboards” than billboard advertising sleaze, booze and drugs. However, I just don’t think the average Sally and Joe who are driving like maniacs with kids in the backseat screaming at illegal decibels because they are hungry and their diapers are full are going to look at these billboards and say, “Yeah, that’s what I need to do.”
Grace & Peace,
Scott
For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
Heaven is not just a destination, it is a motivation!
Yes, certainly heaven is where I am heading; it’s my true home; it’s where my heart is; it’s a place for which I am already beginning to pack. The destination of my King is my destination as well, so if Jesus is in heaven, then that is where I am headed!
But “…to die is gain” is only one side of what Paul was teaching in this verse. I also want to think about the other side of his teaching, “For me to live is Christ…” Heaven is more than the where of my future, it is the motivation for living today. I live today in light of eternity. What God has in store for me is beyond my imagination, but it is what motivates me to do what I do today.
Let’s be honest, some days just aren’t worth rolling over in bed and putting our feet on the floor. We’ve all faced “mountains” and “giants” that seem insurmountable and undefeatable. They loom over us like a modern-day doomsday. There are times when we look at life and would just as soon run to the mountains and hide. But for genuine Christ-followers this is not an option God holds open for us. He provides the courage and strength and perseverance through the Spirit to get us up and get us going. This is what it means “for me to live is Christ.”
I think we need the perspective of eternity in our souls to keep us motivated each day. We can determine to live today for Christ because we know what He will do for us in the future. Today we live for Christ. This makes all the difference in everything we do; it changes every relationship we have; it makes every encounter eternal; it molds every decision we make.
Living without this motivation makes us worthless for today. Living with this motivation makes everyday an opportunity.
Grace & Peace,
Scott
