Exploring the Unknown by Greg Creek

On February 26 I will find myself at the 54th running of the Daytona 500. That statement is shocking to type. I’m not a race fan. I have never even watched an entire race. And yet, I am just a few days away from attending what I’ve been told is the premier race event.

“Why?” is probably the question you have in your mind. Honestly, it’s in my mind a little bit as well. But the answer to the question of why I would go spend a big chunk of change to watch a bunch of cars make left turns for four hours rests in one person: Fidi.

Fidi is a great friend of mine. Over the years, Fidi’s interest in NASCAR has spilled over to me, albeit ever so slightly. Truth be told, I often mocked his passion for racing, but Fidi stood strong. Over time, I learned about how his passion started, his favorite driver, and a little about the world that seemed so foreign and so strange.

After a while, I found myself checking race results to see if his driver won or if anything interesting happened (which in my mind meant a crash or a delay). Occasionally, I even watched a few minutes of the race.

After moving within a short drive to Daytona and having a senior pastor that has access to tickets, Fidi decided that he would come for a visit and go to the race. I decided that I would go with him. I decided to go because, ultimately, I’m a great friend and wouldn’t want him to go by himself . . . or at least that’s the public answer I give. The private answer, and the answer that is actually true, is that I am somewhat interested to understand the world that means so much to Fidi.

As it gets closer, I wake every morning with the thought that I will be going, and it is shocking to me. It is also somewhat overwhelming. I have no idea what to expect, no idea what the culture is like, no idea what to wear, no idea what to bring, no idea about anything. And as I immerse myself deeper into the uncertainty of this culture that I am about to dive into, I am struck with a thought that, for me, this NASCAR event is probably similar to a lot of other people’s feelings about church.

I am immersed in the culture of “churchy” things. It’s so easy to fall into a routine and expect everyone else to understand what is going on and offer no explanation. My NASCAR experience reminded me that I, along with many others, am immersed in a culture that we know lots about but often fail to explain or push on people who aren’t ready.

I’m checking out NASCAR on February 26. I might like it; I might hate it. Either way, I am experiencing it because I had a friend willing to take the time to explain something he loves and gives me the space to make up my own mind. I’ll bet we all have a NASCAR experience like my own--a culture about which we know little, a culture about which we are hesitant to explore. As we engage with others about Christianity, lets remember that we might need to do a better job at explaining the culture, and that we might need to plan on it taking a while. I’m not a die-hard NASCAR fan. Really, I’m not even a fan, but I am, slowly but surely, becoming more open to it because of my relationship with Fidi.

Greg Creek

Snap Out of It! by Tami Cinquemani

In an episode of the sitcom series, Everyone Loves Raymond, the main character, Ray Romano, was traveling with his family to Italy. Unfortunately, when they arrived at their destination, Ray had a terrible head cold. As the rest of the family was enjoying the sights, sounds, and tastes of Italy, Ray was miserable and had no comprehension of the joy the rest of his clan was experiencing. As much as his wife, Debra, would try to explain the delight of culinary treats she was enjoying, Ray couldn’t comprehend.

Then the cold broke, Ray’s sinuses cleared, and he had his first taste of the delicacies he had only heard of up until that point. He about went ballistic. He couldn’t get enough. As he desperately shoveled as much food into his mouth as physically possible, he knew he would never get it all. Alas, it was the end of the trip, and he would have to console himself with the promise of some day returning to his country of origin.

“And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” Acts 1:8-11 (NLT)

The disciples lived with Jesus for three years. They rubbed shoulders with the Almighty. They ate with the Prince of peace. They lived life with the Savior of all mankind. He was right in front of them, and he tried to tell them about his purpose and his plan, but they didn’t get it. Traveling, teaching, and miracles followed by betrayals, the cross, and a resurrection. Then, just as their mind fog was starting to lift and the realization of what happened was beginning to make sense, he was leaving. I can just imagine what they must have been thinking as they stood watching his departure. “Wait! We’re just starting to get it! You can’t leave now!”

“Why are you standing here staring into heaven?” In so many words, I think the angel was telling the disciples, “Don’t just stand there! Snap out of it! Close your mouths, pull yourselves together, and get to work!”

I understand Ray’s frustration. I’ve been to Italy, and there’s never enough time. It’s hard to leave when there is still so much to see, do, and EAT! I also understand the disciples’ fear. I chose to follow Jesus over 30 years ago, but there’s so much about him that I don’t know. Seriously, it would take more than a lifetime to fully explore Italy, and never in a thousand lifetimes could I fully comprehend the magnitude of my Savior.

When I get a craving for the potato gnocchi of Florence or long to sit on the steps of Orvietto’s duomo while relishing a grapefruit gelato, I remind myself that I will return to Italy some day.

And when I begin to question my fitness for the calling God has put on my heart and foolishly believe it’s my knowledge or my effort that matters, I read encouragement in scripture:

“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)

“Behold, I am with you always.” Matthew 28:20 (ESV)

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

“Don’t just stand there! Snap out of it! Close your mouth, pull yourself together, and get to work!” Acts 1:11 (NTT – New Tami Translation)

Tami Cinquemani

The Ultimate Job Opportunity by Shae Beery

In trying to prepare for my last job interview, I sought to put out the best “product” of me, and it was maddening. I wanted the job very much and was determined to do everything in my power to impress my future employer. I got online and researched interview attire, power words, interview styles, poise, resume’ builders, questions to ask, topics to avoid, etc. I read about current news in the field I was applying in an effort to pump up my skills and knowledge base. If there was a trick or tool to “present” me in the best light, I was willing to do it.

I was trying to “package” myself in the most appealing way I could. A whole marketing team could have been hired to make me look good. My hair could have changed, my clothes could have been upgraded, and spin words could have been used to turn my little resume into a spectacular professional curriculum vita. And all those tricks could have got me in the door . . . actually, some of those tricks DID get me in the door.

Still, as much as the interview was a necessary step in obtaining the job, the real work was whether I could deliver on my claim of being a competent employee. Could I perform the tasks asked of me? Would I be a likable co-worker? Should my work reflect my current skill level, or should I push beyond what I really know? So many factors to consider and implement on my road to being an impressive employee. It’s lots of pressure. Where is my marketing team now????

1 John 2:4-6

“If someone claims, “I know him well!” but doesn’t keep his commandments, he’s obviously a liar. His life doesn’t match his words. But the one who keeps God’s word is the person in whom we see God’s mature love. This is the only way to be sure we’re in God. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.”

Why, if we put so much energy into obtaining a job of earthly gain, do we not put in the same amount of thought and energy into cultivating the love and grace of our heavenly Father? The truth is, some of us do. There are many devoted followers of Christ who are constantly researching, learning, and ready to share whenever someone “interviews” them on their beliefs and our God. But still, there are a lot of us who are spending far more time reading Time Magazine and checking our Facebook status instead of spending time in the Word.

There are so many amazing authors who can challenge, educate, and inspire us on our journey of “Christ follower,” but are we reading? Are we researching? Have we assembled our marketing team in anticipation of the interview and job? Whether you know more about Kim Kardashian than Kay Kuzma doesn’t really matter as long as you have equipped yourself for the thing that matters most – knowing Jesus. Our God deserves our loyalty, our energy, and our commitment to the position of his chosen one. We receive all the benefits of the appointment whether we aced the interview or not. So in this time of economic uncertainty, of political controversy, and personal strife, lets not forget the One who has granted us the ultimate job and promises to deliver on all the benefits!

Shae Beery

Love My Enemy? by John Monday

I grew up in the midst of the greatest endeavor that man has ever undertaken. In 1964, six weeks after my birth, my parents moved from Tennessee to the Space Coast of Florida. Although they didn’t have job’s or a place to live, they knew they wanted to participate in this great American adventure, and they weren't the only ones.

Brevard county was a boom town in those days, a legacy that’s easy to see still today. Houses and businesses were being built at astonishing rates; the population was exploding. All the schools were new and filled with the children of engineers, scientists, and skilled craftsman of every sort. Hope and ambition permeated everything.

The common purpose both drew and cultivated a common ethos. Everyone was dogmatically patriotic, socially and politically conservative, hard working, prosperous, and christian (at least in my perception). These things were, to me, not just my way, or our families way; they were the American way, and anyone that felt differently simply wasn’t American.

Vietnam war protests, hippies in San Francisco, marches and riots over racial inequality, were more alien than the moon. Seeing those things on TV never made sense to me. In large part I wrote them off as some sort of fantasy, no more real than Gilligan’s Island or Star Trek. And I firmly believed that those news stories represented a meaningless minority of miscreants and troublemakers.

From the summer of my 16th year, I began working construction at the Space Center, some of the proudest work of my life. I first worked in an old Air Force hanger that was being converted into a lab for the many science experiments that would fly on the new Space Shuttles. And later on launch pad 39B, converting it from a Saturn V facility to a Space Shuttle launch pad.

It was this young man who in 1986 had an opportunity to spend a semester in London, England. To say that I entered an utterly different world would be an understatement. I went to one of the most sophisticated, cosmopolitan cities in the world. I was alone and removed from everything I had ever known. It turned out to be one of the best and most formative times of my life.

The “student” hotel I lived in was filled with both collegeians and young travelers from around the world. There were only a few other Americans, and they were from places like Boston and New York. While I made friends quickly, I always felt different. Maybe everyone did.

On Jan 28th, 1986, one of my new friends from Boston knocked on my door and told me there was some news I might be interested in. I went downstairs to the common room where the only TV was located, and I learned that the Space Shuttle Challenger had exploded 73 seconds after lift-off from Kennedy Space Center. This was the first Shuttle to launch from the newly-refurbished launch pad 39B and the first manned space flight that I had not personally witnessed.

I was shocked and riveted. After two or three minutes, my Boston friend shrugged nonchalantly, said “Hmm, that’s to bad . . . We’re going out to get something to eat, you wanna go?” I couldn’t believe how little he and all the other Americans cared. Didn’t they understand how important and tragic this was?!

They left, and I sat in front of the TV, but not alone. The other person in the room was a student I hadn’t really made friends with. He was a young man with whom I had nothing in common. He spoke very little English, was Muslim, and from Libya. He turned to me and, in broken English, said, “I’m sorry.” The two of us sat there alone for more than an hour while I tried to process both the tragedy and the empathy from this “enemy of America,” and a genuine camaraderie developed.

Three months later we were watching the same TV. This time the room was full as American Fighter Bombers virtually destroyed Tripoli. I had no idea what to do, what to say, so I sat next to my Libyan friend, said, “I’m sorry,” and watched TV.

I wasn’t apologizing for my country or taking a moral or political stand on the rightness or wrongness of this military action. I was just sorry that my friend’s country, his home, was being bombed.

I learned a lot from my time in London, and from my Libyan friend I learned this. It’s much harder to judge people once you’ve become their friend.

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Jesus
Matthew 5: 43-45

Sometimes it takes the kindness of a Libyan Muslim for us to understand the words of Jesus.

John Monday