How To Be A Christian Without Being A Jerk

Faith in real life

learning

June 4th, 2008

With a lot of high school grads I know, I thought I would do some observations for young people that I hope they will find helpful. Anyone else, too.


Please feel free to comment or share experience.

learning

I have learned a lot over the years. I have learned a lot recently. I am always learning. 

Be curious. Ask lots of questions. Don’t stop learning. Ask anyone. People love to talk about their experiences. You do.

Don’t be afraid to ask people who are well known in their field. There are ways to make this happen. 

For example, I am working on getting an interview with John Wooden. He is an amazing teacher. I’ll keep you posted.

Keep on learning

no manipulation

June 4th, 2008

1 Corinithians 5:8
 So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth.

Jesus calls himself the “bread of life.” His bread is truth. God doesn’t lie. Sincerity is his way. He never tries to be what he is not and he never tries to manipulate people. I like the way of Jesus better. What else is there, really? You know any other way isn’t going to work. It hasn’t so far, has it? 

Do you try to manipulate by being aggressive (in-your-face) or by withdrawing (moping)? Consider an alternative way to get your point across.

forward

June 4th, 2008

Had a good lunch yesterday (hot and spicy chicken) with a couple of friends Sam and Chuck. These guys are in the same tribe and we were thinking about the future together. Energy and forward thinking always make for good digestion. Thanks guys!

welcome

June 3rd, 2008

John 2:23-24 
“A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”

First impressions are critical in terms of lasting impact. Harry Beckwith calls this “Mastering the welcome.” 

God breaks into our earthly dimension with this first sign that Jesus is no ordinary guy. What does Jesus use as his master welcome? Make sure the party keeps going and let it flow. What kind of God do we worship?

Pray for someone you know who is marrying soon or newlyweds.

celebrate others

June 2nd, 2008

Luke 15:23-24
And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

The story of the prodigal son is well known. What gets missed is the party and what happens after the momentous meeting between father and wayward son. The older brother story. 

We all want to be appreciated in life. When this is based on insecurity, we can be a bit overbearing. With God there is always more than enough love to go around. It’s OK to celebrate someone else being blessed.

Who can you celebrate with this week?


an open confession

June 2nd, 2008

OK, so here is the story. I have always considered this a teaching blog. It was not meant to build a community. I have a large audience which gets this in e mail form, rather than having to check out the blog. 


I have always responded to everyone’s e mails when you write, but the gist is, I didn’t want to create a community where people who have way too much time on their hands comment in a pithy, sarcastic or crude way about what is dear to me. 

Jesus. 

I love him more than I do my mother. And I love her a lot. So if you are going after Jesus it is a bit like you going after my mother. 

More confession. 

I was already prejudiced against the blogger community because I read the anti-Christian blogs and blog comments. Believe me, I was not bothered by this because I didn’t consider myself up to the task of going Fight Club on you. Actually, I was always rather disappointed by the intellectual competition. So, now you have arrogance on my part, to add to the mix.

At least I was smart enough to stay out of the fray until I got a better attitude about bloggers. I do actually want to connect through comments. Lucky for you, right?

No more no comments. 

My webmaster Rob, has been bugging me to add the “comments” feature for a couple of years now and I finally agreed. 

He is right; I was wrong. 

So comment. Send this link to your friends. Go ahead. I will not disappoint.

And by the way, I am even on Facebook now.

“Ohh, he is really getting out there…”

And another by the way…Carlos, you closed the deal. 

folks check out www.ragamuffinsoul.com


this matters

June 1st, 2008


Yesterday, after having lunch, I stopped at a party for Lisa: birthday/ graduation/ college scholarship celebration. What a great time to be graduating from High School. “A whole life ahead of you” and such comes to mind. What an amazing young woman (Lisa is at the back left next to the one goofy guy/son sitting with the godchicks). 


How do I know it’s a great time for someone like Lisa? How can I be sure?

She gets it.

I really like the quote:

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

Then I remember another one: 

“If you want God to laugh, just tell him your plans.”

These are not mutually exclusive statements. 

The specifics can vary widely but you can become the kind of person who has a lot to do with what your future is going to hold. 

I am going to comment on this during the week. High school graduates, high school students, and those who love them, check it out. Who knows, I might come up with something.

Hey Lisa- you rock

brain-based afternoon

May 31st, 2008


Had lunch in Pasadena (seared Ahi sandwich) with my friends Steve Goodwin and Rich Melheim. We talked about Rich’s brain-based research performing arts preschool project and the possibilities of expanding from Southern California to India, China and Korea. If you know Melheim, it doesn’t surprise you. Could start a revolution in education and plant a few churches while we are at it. 


Our waiter’s name was “Dane.” I told him my name and he said, “That’s my name, too. But I go by ‘Dane,’ because it is just too confusing.” I told him I use my middle name “Ed” whenever I need to give my name in public. I call this, “Starbucks Ed.”

So, if your name is Terry, Robin, Sam, Pat, Ricky, Mel…Dane and Ed salute you!

visiting Kristina at school

May 31st, 2008


Drove down to UC Riverside yesterday to see our baby girl, Kristina, perform in her first play at the University Playworks. The plays are written by students, and I didn’t know what to expect. A Marxist interpretive dance of the life of Robin Yount, or something like that. I don’t know.


The small theatre was packed and it was great! Theatre people are so energized. There is a lot of talent in the playwrights. Again, I am amazed at how important it is to know that you are telling a story. The more you get that right, everything else begins to fall into place.

Good to meet her friend Zach, too. Dude did not want to be there, but he made the most of it and we had a chance to connect. Talked about minor league baseball and the strengths and waknesses of Intelligent Design, among other things. I love college. 

How To Be A Christian Without Being A Jerk

Faith in real life