Be For Something by John Monday

For a child raised on Florida’s Space Coast during the Cold War era, superpower global tension colored everything. There was probably nothing on earth that better typified the Cold War than the space race, and everyone in East Central Florida was intimately involved. 

For us, the lines were very clear—you were either on one side or the other.  Being in the heart of a nation with a powerful enemy made every position easy, and the whole world seemed to understand.  If you were for America, you were against the Soviet Union.  Foreign relations were simple; every nation either lined up with the US or with the USSR.  There was no middle ground.  You couldn’t be for the USSR without being against America.  It was a cold war but a war nonetheless, and in war you either choose sides or risk being the enemy of both.

When the Berlin Wall came down, after a brief feeling of satisfaction at being on the winning team, I remember thinking, now what?  You see, the Cold War not only gave us something to be for, but it gave us something to be against.  For capitalism! Against communism;  For freedom! Against communism; For God! against communism.  You're probably detecting a pattern.  It seems that there is nothing quite so unifying as a good enemy. 

When our great enemy fell, it seemed to stagger us nearly as much as it did them.  Without a clear enemy to be against, it was suddenly much more difficult to understand what we were for.  Like a house of cards where every card is held up by another card leaning in the opposite direction, our enemy’s demise placed us in danger of losing our balance as well. 

That Cold War-thinking seems to work pretty well in other areas also: As Christians, we are too often defined by the things we’re against as much as by the things we’re for.  “God hates fags!”  ”God sent Katrina to New Orleans as punishment.” “ If you're going to take prayer out of schools, you can expect more Newtowns.”  And how quickly we put it into “us and them” language: For marriage, against homosexuality; For families, against abortion; For prayer, against secularism.  This kind of overly skewed thinking, no doubt puts us in a comfortable place, a place with a good enemy, a place where we assume we know what side we’re on.

While speaking to my pastor and friend Andy a few weeks ago, I asked him for some advice.  The question: How to be a better spiritual leader?  His grand advice? “Be for something!”  Really? Be for something? That's it?  The point, he explained, is to focus on the thing you’re for and just don’t engage in the against part.  When I began to understand, it felt a little like the Berlin Wall. How can we maintain our balance without being propped up by the things we’re against? Won’t we fall over? Won’t we lose our way? Won’t we be capitulating to the perceived enemy? Won’t we lose our identity?

As I read the stories of Jesus and the New Testament, this notion of focusing on what we’re for seems to have a lot of merit.  I also realized that most of the “being against” that we witness in our culture is, or at least looks like, being against people.  As it turns out, we’re not that good at “loving the sinner and hating the sin.”  While Jesus certainly understood right from wrong and was no pushover, he was always for people.  Jesus loved people completely, unconditionally and eternally, and he instructed all of us to do the same.

Luke 9:49

"Master," said John, "we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us."  "Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you.”

                                                                                                                       

John 13:34                                        

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.                                                                                                         

                                   

1 John 4:7                                                      

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.                                                                                                           

1 John 4:19

We love because he first loved us.                                                                            

                       

John 3:16                                           

“For God so loved the world...”

So what if we try being wholeheartedly for the things that are dearest to us without spending any energy being against?  It might feel a little unsteady, a little clumsy, like standing on one leg, but it might show the love and kindness and forbearance that we receive from Jesus to a world that desperately needs it.

John Monday

Like It? Just Do It? by Andy McDonald

I have to admit that I really, REALLY, like the Florida Hospital Church’s mission statement: “Loving people into a lifelong friendship with God.”  I might have liked it even more if it had just been “Loving people!”

David Benner makes this bold statement on page 11 of his book Surrender to Love:

There is nothing more important in life than learning to love and be loved.

Jesus elevated love as the goal of spiritual transformation. 
Giving and receiving love is at the heart of being human.

Jesus said the first and greatest commandment is to love God supremely, and the second (which is equal to it) is loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. I like the sound of the FHC mission.  It seems to match Jesus’ teaching and sounds like a word variation of the Great Commission.  I like it, but how do we just do it?  What does loving people look like in everyday life?

Those in church circles are excellent at making things harder than they should be.  Paul created a list that should be a decent place to start.  His list consists of things love is and things that love is not. I want to focus first on the negative—what love is not.  If we find ourselves behaving in ways listed in the “love is not” category, it is a great opportunity to self-check and make the shift to practicing the things love is.

Love is not jealous, proud, rude, demanding of its own way, irritable, a record keeper of wrongs, never celebrates injustice, never gives up, and never loses faith. 

A great start on loving people is to not be what love is not, to not treat people in ways love doesn’t. On a more positive note, here is the prescriptive for being loving—a description of love.

Love is patient, kind, happy when truth wins, always hopeful, endures through every circumstance, lasts forever, and is greater than all else.

Let’s just pick “kind.”  Love is kind. There are reasons to be upset in life.  Things can frustrate, and we can be overwhelmed.  But there is never a reason to be unkind. It may be waving someone into your lane in traffic, helping hold or open a door, making cookies for someone, or telling me when some of my lunch is on my face to keep me from embarrassment. Whether it is giving someone their much-needed job or having to terminate an employee, no matter how personally painful the task, there is no reason to be unkind.  Regardless of how poor the service and unpleasant the server, we can still be kind. Understand that our being kind may not always be received as kindness.  But even then, in all circumstances, forever we can choose to be kind.

How easy it is to rain on someone’s parade. It is so easy to tell people why their idea won’t work or that their suggestion is inferior.  It may be some new enterprise or relationship, the restaurant they want to visit, or the movie they pick.  Even when we disagree or when we are sure they are headed for disaster, our attempts at course correction must be hopeful of their dream even as we help redirect. And, let’s face it, most of the time we don’t know, and maybe we love best when we are simply hopeful with them—an encourager is acting in love.

When you are kind to your kids, spouse, friends, enemies, classmates, boss, employees, etc., in that moment of being kind you are “Loving people into a lifelong friendship with God.” And when you are the spark of hope for people, you are “Loving people into a lifelong friendship with God.”

Since God is love, I think Benner is right, “There is nothing more important in life than learning to love and be loved!” So just do it—be patient, kind, happy when truth wins, always hopeful, and endure through every circumstance.  Be a lover of people—just do it!

Andy McDonald

The ABC's of Cats and Dogs by Bill Crofton

If you Google the name Albert Ellis, you will see that he was a very popular and enlightened psychologist.  He is credited with developing the ABC’s of Emotional Life.  It’s kind of a model for understanding how people respond to circumstances in the way that they do. 

This is what Ellis said:

“A” stands for the word “Antecedent.”  These are things that happen to us - our circumstances or situation.  “C” stands for the word “Consequences.”  This is the outcome or the way I respond.

Ellis says that the great illusion in life is that the things that happen to me—my circumstances—control my outcome.  They dictate what it is that I feel.  So, if good things happen to me (I get a promotion, a raise, or it’s a nice day), then I feel good.  If something bad happens, then I go down.  I’m at the mercy of my circumstances. 

Ellis goes on to say: 

In between the “Antecedents” and the “Consequences,” is the letter “B,” which stands for my “Beliefs” about what happened to me.  It is my Beliefs about what happened to me that ultimately determine the outcome.  It is my “Beliefs” that determine the way I feel.

This is why two different people can be in precisely the same situation, can experience identical circumstances, and have polar opposite responses to it—because where they differ is in their “Beliefs.”

This, for example, is the difference between cats and dogs.  A dog looks at his circumstances and says, “You feed me.  You pet me.  You shelter me.  You care for me.  You must be God.”  And a cat says, “You feed me.  You pet me.  You shelter me.  You care for me.  I must be God.”  Same “Circumstances,” different “Beliefs.”  Completely different set of “Consequences.”

The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church of Philippi while in prison.  He had been arrested, beaten, and placed in chains.  Even in these desperate conditions, he admonishes the church to, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)

Paul’s response to his circumstances was a direct result of the belief he had in Jesus.  Regardless of the Antecedent, Paul’s Belief in Jesus resulted in the Consequence of unshakeable faith. 

Bill Crofton

Soft Cheeks & Face-Covering Kisses by Todd Chobotar

The trip from Florida to Michigan was miserable. Though the cheap tickets were nice, the two layovers and three plane changes weren’t.  Bitter union problems had caused many flight delays and cancellations.  Travelers were edgy, irritated, and exhausted.

Finally arriving at our destination, my wife and I deplaned and slowly trudged up the tunnel toward the terminal–pushed along from behind by our grumpy fellow passengers.  Apparently not even the prospect of soon seeing family or friends could cheer our bedraggled bunch.  Stepping into the open terminal, our footfalls echoed through the morgue-like hall.  A sea of silent, somber faces met our eyes.   Clearly our greeters had grown as tired of waiting for the delayed flight as we.

Suddenly, a squeal of delight punctured the silence.  Then a squeaky scream.  “Auntie Jeannine!  Uncle Toooooodd!!”  The crowd split, forming an alleyway as yet another squeal of delight emanated from the back of the crowd.  Then came the bubbling laughter as the squealer bounded across the concourse–blond curls bobbing, blue eyes dancing, stuffed animal flying.  My bags hit the floor as my arms were suddenly filled with an exuberant five year-old girl.  Small arms encircled my neck, small legs clung to my rib cage, soft cheeks pressed into mine, and wet lips covered my face with happy greetings.  I could feel a warm smile spreading all the way down to my toes.  As my wife, Jeannine, joined the hug there were more kisses and lots of “I love you’s” to go around.

With all the fuss we were making, I turned rather sheepishly toward the waiting crowd of watchers wondering if all the noise had ruffled any feathers.  But to my relief, every face turned my way wore a deep smile.  The unabashed joy of my little niece, Taryn, brightened the entire terminal.  My own fatigue of body and spirit seemed to melt away as I was drawn immediately into a world of talking stuffed animals, brand new dresses, and a detailed account of specially baked cookies for Auntie Jeannine and Uncle Todd.

Sometimes I wonder what it will be like to arrive in the Kingdom of God after our long earth-journey is over.  Oh, I know there will be many things specially prepared for God’s children to enjoy.  Magnificent mansions will replace our tiresome terminals.  Huggable real animals will replace our huggable stuffed ones.  White robes of glory will outshine even our newest dresses.  And a specially prepared banquet will out-taste even our tastiest cookies.  Nothing but the best will do for God’s children coming home to his kingdom.

But I wonder what it will be like to meet God himself.  When I see him, will the greeting be anything like the experience with my niece?  Will there be squeals of delight, running of feet, hugs of joy, peals of laughter, and faces covered with happy kisses?  It almost sounds too . . . well, too earthy for meeting God.  Won’t there be a greater display of dignity?  More respect shown?  More reverence felt?  A more gracious greeting?  Perhaps.  God is our Creator, after all.  He is the King of Kings and Judge of the entire universe.  Certainly good reasons for us to show respect and restraint.

But maybe, just maybe, God loves a good hug as much as I do.

Maybe, like me, he enjoys the noise of bubbling laughter and squeals of delight.  Maybe his feet will be faster than mine as we run to greet each other.  Maybe he adores nothing more than soft cheeks pressed to his.  And maybe, just maybe, our heavenly Father relishes happy, face-covering kisses from all his kids–be they 5, 55, or 105.  I can’t wait to find out . . .

“Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”  Mark 10:15  NRSV

Question: Have you ever wondered what it will be like to meet God someday? What do you imagine it will be like?  (Share your thoughts in the comments)

Guest Blogger and Member of FHC, Todd Chobotar

BLOG | http://www.ToddChobotar.com

TWITTER | http://www.twitter.com/ToddChobotar
FACEBOOK | http://www.facebook.com/ToddChobotar

Me and My MOOC by Richard Hickam

So I’m almost halfway through my first MOOC (Massive Open Online Class), and I have to say . . . Wow! I haven’t told anyone yet because the dropout rate is so high I wanted to see if I could actually finish it, but I decided to spill the beans anyway. One widely quoted dropout figure for students in massive open online courses is 90 percent. Some of the reasons people list as not completing are:

• Takes too much time
• Assumes too much knowledge
• Too basic, not at the level of top universities
• Lecture Fatigue
• Poor Course Design
• Bad Peer Review & Trolls (a person who sows discord on the internet)

I’m taking a music class from Coursera, specifically from Berklee School of Music, with an instructor I’ve heard about and now understand why he’s so good. The ability to transfer knowledge in an understandable, interesting, and engaging manner is a precious thing.

While there are a number of issues and hype about MOOCs and their ilk (like the fantastic Khan Academy), the power of distance learning and online communities is evident to me. So what does all of this have to do with this blog community? A few thoughts have come to mind...

• Harnessing the power of technology in new and creative ways to spread the gospel is going to be a more and more potent avenue for evangelism (vs. the 19th century style still advocated by many as the true way in our denomination).
• We still have an untapped area to teach through the internet.
• Churches with this new social media component of ministry can sow seeds of which were not previously thought.  (Those interested who attend Florida Hospital Church need to connect with our Social Media Ministry leader, Disney marketer Tony Mourino!)
• The improvement/addition of this media in worship (i.e., FHC worship cafe(s), improved streaming quality, improved website, etc.) are all indicators of a church moving forward to meet people where they are.

Do you ever have those conversations that you reflect back on and say, “If I had only said that”? I had one of those a decade ago at a large church that I was attending. While on the worship committee, I was advocating the addition of broadcasting the service on the internet. The cost in particular was an issue, and I was being opposed by a well-meaning English professor who said, “We don’t need technology for technology’s sake.” At the moment I had no retort, and the conversation soon ended. (On a side note they eventually added it.) What I wish I had said, what I am witnessing at FHC, and what I believe now is not technology for technology’s sake, but technology for Christ’s sake. It’s that spirit of sacrifice and adventure that will continue to sow seeds into unknown realms. Let’s keep moving ahead in our work for Christ!

Richard Hickam