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Apr 30

Experiencing God | What It Really Means

When it comes to experiencing God, we often think of miraculous things, spectacular signs. Yet the example we tend to forget is found in the old testament.

 “Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.” (1 Kings 19:11-13)

Yes, God parted the red sea, rescued Daniel from the lions den and saved the 3 hebrew boys from the fire. Yes God can do anything he chooses and his deliverance can be impressive beyond words. However, Elijah hid his face because he knew the Lord was in the gentle whisper. If we are wise, we also will listen for the gentle whispers in our lives, because this is when we will most likely experience God.

What fills your head? God will not interrupt your cell phone, television or ipod. He will not intrude or impose. If you constantly fill your head with noise, He will not compete with it. To hear from God, we must give him the reverential awe he deserves. He is not a genie, a butler or a customer service department. He is worthy of our laying down the distractions and giving him a quiet and receptive mind. He wants to speak to you!

Take a walk this week, or find another way to escape life’s pressures. Talk to him. Develop your friendship with him. Know him, for he loves and cares for you.

Bless your week!

Pastor J

Apr 30

Music and Passion | TED

I love TED Talks! This is one of my favorites. Enjoy!

Apr 22

2 Comments

Open Letter to Mazzios Pizza

RE: Mazzios Drink Station

To whom it may concern:

My name is Joe Cook. I serve as pastor at a church in Broken Arrow, OK. In fact I’ve been on staff or in church leadership in this community for close to 20 years. Through these years a common “after church ritual”, has been a stop at Mazzio’s Pizza. The locations have changed, new menu items have come and gone but the fun and friendship shared at your restaurants has remained a constant. We love Mazzio’s! 

Recently at the Broken Arrow location we visit most frequently, a change was made that has become a bit of a challenge. I would be dishonest if I did not acknowledge the fact that I now go less frequently than in the past, based solely upon this single change. What is this change you ask? It’s the dreadful drink station! It’s cute, trendy, and allows for a lot of options. I suspect it is more efficient to operate and even saves money over the long run (I have a theory actually). All of these may be great reasons. Unfortunately, as the photo attached illustrates, it is a single serve only station that allows for an almost constant line of patrons who would otherwise prefer to sit with their families and enjoy their meal (there are 9 standing in this line). One cannot even get a glass of tea or a refill without waiting through this entire line (which rarely disappears) in order to get some ice.

My personal theory is that this was a better way of reducing cost for expense associated with “free drinks on Sunday” and the accompanying refills. Personally, if this was part of the decision, I find it to be deceptive. I would prefer to pay $2 per drink (like I do at every other restaurant in town) than to be told it is “free” and then I simply choose to not get a refill due to the frustration it leads to. At least if I pay I am choosing and the expectation of a refill is included in that cost. This new drink station may in fact save money, but for me (and the people in my church) it is a reason to go elsewhere. It’s difficult to eat a meal with one small glass of liquid and then by the time you return from standing in line for a self-serve “free” refill, your meal is cold!

The theory I present may in fact be wrong altogether. I really hope that it is. However, a single serve drink station that limits consumption by leading to a frustrating dining experience isn’t a good way to control costs, or encourage return business, at least not in my opinion. We’re not giving up yet, but I do hope my message is read and heard by decision makers. This type of drink station will lead to a decrease in business, at least mine.

I regret the need to send a note like this. I’ve never written Mazzio’s before today. I have called several times to express appreciation or to commend local employees and delivery staff but this is my first written contact. I look forward to writing soon to express appreciation for a different solution to the drink station challenge.

Thank you for taking time to hear my concern and I look forward to your response. Feel free to contact me if you wish.

Sincerely,

Joe Cook

Dec 29

Draw Me Nearer | New Years Resolution

2012 is just a few short hours away. I expected it would come, just did not realize it would be here this soon. It seems each year goes more quickly. I suppose I can opine as to why it “seems” this way. I will spare you.

This year, rather than talking about a list of things, goals, plans, or other objectives I wish to accomplish, I have only one. If I can achieve this one, all others, important as they may be, will have to wait.

My prayer for myself, my family, my friends, my church, and my world, is to be “drawn nearer to my God”.

-j

 

Dec 29

Courage Is Not Absence of Fear

Someone told me once, “Courage is not absence of fear.” He then went on to explain “Courage is facing those fears”.

The video below is clearly one of the most selfless acts of courage that I have seen lately. I am thankful that there are still people in this world who make decisions that are beyond themselves and who have courage to face their own fears.

Watch this video and then check out the whole story here.

-j

Dec 29

Blessings In Disguise | Make Good

Anyone else remember THIS?

Do you know what happened AFTER this dreadful night?

Here’s the deal…she had never been on live television. She TOTALLY blew it! For sure! But the part that most are not aware of is what she did after.

The very next morning she was on Good Morning America and talking about it. She actually watched this clip for the first time while on LIVE TV. What did she do? She apologized for “making a mistake”. She owned the failure, took responsibilty for her bad answer. Then she asked people to forgive her.

Pretty cool…but that’s not all.

Because of her efforts to “make good” out of failure she was given:

  • A large college scholarship
  • An $80,000 modeling contract
  • A FREE apartment by Donald Trump in New York City
  • And has appeared in multiple ad campaigns and TV commercials.

So next time you blow it, own it. You never know when your failure may turn into your greatest success.

-J

Dec 28

Religion | Science | Politics

 

It is an all too common topic. Many claim that to be religious means to be anti-science. Throughout history this byline has been something that has created much tension among thoughtful people of faith.

In the 21st century there is but one difference; politics. Whereas in years past, the political sphere had some semblance of religious and scientific influence, politics was relegated to its own placement. However, the culture we are living in today is different than those of our past. There are no longer lines of division or boundaries. Today it seems all parts of culture are politicized.

Whether one believes in man made global warming, or in life at conception should not be a political issue, but rather one based on hard and verifiable science. Rather than religion or science influencing politics, politics has become a key influencer in each of these aforementioned disciplines.

So when it comes to science, who holds the political view that is most scientifically relevant? The liberal view accuses the conservative of being anti-science. The conservative viewpoint returns service by doing the same.

This article from Reason Magazine, shows some interesting commentary on the American political system. It seems that neither liberal nor conservative have cornered the market on scientific, or anti-scientific thought. In America at least, both common views can be accused of ignoring science, in spite of the evidence. What say you?

Dec 23

Christmas | Christ | Vulnerability

One of the most powerful concepts one can experience in this life is the concept of empathy. The ability to “feel” what another person feels. You know the story, someone you know suffers a loss or a challenge, in an effort to “empathize” you tell your story, and then say “I know how you feel”. In most cases we really don’t know how they feel, but we are looking for a way to connect, to share, to touch in a deep way. Empathy is a product of connection.

Christmas is date on the Christian calendar when we who are Christian seek to connect with each other. The connecting point for Christ followers is the person of Jesus. While we fill our lives with many things to try and express our “connection to Christ”, we are often made painfully aware of our “disconnection” from Him and from others we love.

One of the most challenging passages in scripture to me is in Hebrews 4:15:

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, for he faced all the same testings we do, yet without sin.

Jesus’ entrance into this world was not one of glitz and glam. His entrance was not that of a king. He was born in a humble surrounding and under the great stress of a harsh Roman government. His entrance was no doubt a part of God’s plan to help mankind, but it was so much more. God wants to connect! Man wants to reject. The only way man could connect with God was for God to come in the form of a man. 

Our culture lives with the need to perfect things. We try to make certain anything that seems uncertain. We hide behind masks, and costumes, and botox, and money and pain. We say things like, “life is messy” and then we look for ways to clean it up, organize it, and put it into a bento box. But, that’s not real!

One of the greatest benefits of finding hope in Jesus is the freedom to be real – really real! We live our lives with the excruciating awareness of our deficits. We live knowing, “I’m not good enough. I’m not blank enough – good, smart, pretty, rich, promoted, strong, or whatever.” What we really need is the ability to be vulnerable. For most of us, vulnerability is scary, and in most cases something we rarely do, even with those we trust.

Living with a sense of worthiness is something faith in Jesus has given me. People who have a strong sense of love and worthiness are no different in those who lack a sense of love and worthiness, except for one thing – one believes he is worthy, the other does not. For many years, I lived with a sense that I was not worthy of love and acceptance. My faith in Jesus Christ brought me this sense of worth than I had missed for so long.

Something I have discovered through learning to live worthy of love is this. I live with the courage to be imperfect. Everything in my life does not have to be perfect. My life, my marriage, my kids, my work. I’m okay with imperfection, not because I like it, but because it is part of this life. If I spend all my days trying to “perfect” myself and those I love, I live with a constant sense that I am not worth God’s love. But when I stop and realize, “God loves me so much, that he doesn’t just sit in heaven, waiting for me to blow it, rather he comes to earth, lives as a man, faces my struggles, and overcomes each one. Ultimately he dies in my place as a sacrifice for my imperfection and then he makes me worthy of his love.” THAT my friends is something I can celebrate.

Jesus came as a vulnerable, helpless child. Yet he did this so I might find worth in my humanity. He did this that I might experience hope. He did this so I can connect with him, and with others. Not that I might always be right, have all the answers, or be certain, but that the mystery of faith, might fill my heart with hope and joy. He came, lived, died, and rose again, so he might be able to say to each of us, “I know how you feel”.

This Christmas, try being like Jesus. Be the one who says, “I love you” first. Be the one who “does something nice with no guarantees for self.” Be the person who “invests in a person, or relationship, when there is no promise of the love being returned.” Be vulnerable. Be REALLY real.

Instead of apologizing, try living this weekend with an awareness that you really are worthy. You are worth God’s best. He loves you. To be grateful means, to be vulnerable. To be vulnerable means we stop screaming and start listening. We are kinder and gentler to the people around us, and we are kinder and gentler to ourselves.

God bless you this Christmas!

Dec 19

Virtual Choir

This video is an amazing presentation about the power of diversity. Individually, each part is nothing more than a squeaky voice that sounds less than ideal. However, when the master brings them all together and then presents them in harmonious beauty, it is hard to deny the power. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. I have watched this several times since April 2011.

Dec 17

1 Comment

The Power of Sharing

The power of sharingAs is the case most days, different people have passed along and shared things with me today. Sometimes they send pictures, a joke, inspiring story, political opinion, or comic strip. Today is not unlike many others. The value and the virtue of sharing is not to be discounted. The power of sharing is something of which each of us are capable. The power of this simple act is the opportunity to encourage, uplift, strengthen, or otherwise impart value to another.

This day has found me contemplating, just as many days before. Today’s ponderings have come in the form of questions. Questions about myself. Questions about my family. Questions about my God. All questions compel me to search, which generally never leads to a definitive conclusion, rather more questions. But alas, scripture encourages me to “keep on asking, keep on seeking and keep on knocking”. 

One personal deficit I have is the need to feel informed. I am offering you a glimpse inside my heart. My desire to be informed or to otherwise appear, “smart” is something I take very seriously. The subject really does not matter a lot. I want to feel informed. There are many motivations I suppose for this desire. Ultimately though it is an internal need I feel in my own life to compensate for what I believe is a possible emotional insecurity. Thus I spend many hours each week studying, praying, reflecting, writing, reading, questioning and inviting feedback. All this to meet an internal need.

A friend sent me a nice quote today that spoke to my “internal need”. This quote comes from a character played by James Stewart. He says:

“Years ago, my mother used to say to me, she’d say: ‘In this world, Elwood,’ she always used to call me Elwood. ‘In this world, Elwood, you must be oh, so smart or oh, so pleasant.’ Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. And you can quote me.” – Elwood P. Dowd (James Stewart)

The older I become, the more I consider the virtues Elwood talks about here. Perhaps being “oh so smart” are not the ones to be the first priority. It seems the “oh so pleasant” is often better received and more often invites forgiveness and acceptance from others.

Another friend shared a thought with me today that is written by Christian pastor and author, Max Lucado It also reminds me of this reality. Consider his words.

You don’t influence God’s love.  You can’t impact the treeness of a tree, the skyness of the sky, or the rockness of a rock.  Nor can you affect the love of God

Learning to accept God and his love, based upon his decision to love me rather than my “smartness or even my “pleasantness” is a terribly difficult task. Learning to value self, means accepting my many deficits, fears, challenges, weaknesses, regrets, and failures. It is easy to value self based on my success, wins, home runs, and smarts. Few struggle here.

Elwood (James ‘Jimmy’ Stewart) ultimately seems to conclude what I am coming to understand. “You cannot make yourself more acceptable to God. You cannot force others to like you or respect you or to even celebrate your wins. You can only be who you are and then seek to live in harmony with those with whom you are near.”

No matter how smart I become, or how un-informed I may remain, contentment leads me to much more peace and a greater sense of accomplishment. Perhaps this is due to finding my worth outside of my accomplishments. At least this seems to be my present path.

What say you?

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