Thursday, March 13, 2008

Filling in the hole


There was this guy who led a pretty normal life. He was successful in his career, he was very handsome, never had a difficult time finding a date, and he always had plenty of money. One morning his alarm clock went off, but he just couldn't seem to find the motivation to get out of bed. Again, pretty normal behavior. The next morning the same thing. He found himself getting up later and later. Each day he found it more and more difficult to get himself out the door. He thought it had to do with the incredibly long hours he had been putting in at work. It also could have been his late nights out at the clubs that had him dragging. He couldn't quite put his finger on it.


Finally, one morning as he was again struggling to get going, he noticed that there was a hole in his chest. A deep and depressing hole. He looked at the hole and it seemed as though he could see his life slowly floating out of the hole. He couldn't quite explain the hole, but he thought perhaps focusing his mind on a new project at work would help him to forget about the hole. If the project went well, the bonus money would definitely get his mind off of the hole.


The project came and went, he did great, made tons of money, 30% of his enormous salary. Life couldn't be better. A few weeks later, he found himself again struggling to get moving one morning. Again he noticed the hole. This time it seemed as though more of his life was floating out. Perhaps he needed to reward himself for the hard work he had put in over the past month. A new sports car would definitely do the trick. He took the day off and spent it searching for the perfect car. Maybe he needed to upscale his image. This time it had to be a Mercedes.


The car was great and he looked great in it. It did wonders for his image. People at other firms were beginning to notice him. He was surely on his way up. But again, the newness of the car wore off and it seemed as though several people in his building had the same car. The hole was becoming more and more obvious to him. He was troubled by how empty he felt as he saw his life floating out of the hole. The success at his job, the money, the women, the new car, none of it was enough to keep his mind off of the hole. He had to find something to fill the hole.


He sat at his computer and began searching for stores that carried things to fill holes. He found a store that was just around the corner from him. Hole Fillers'r'us. He was off in a flash. As he entered the store he was immediately greeted by a sales clerk. Sir, we have anything and everything you could dream of to fill your hole. You just have to find the right fit to plug it up. First, I suggest you try to the Soul for Sale room. He led the man into a room full of various shaped blocks. Some blocks were shaped like dollar signs, some shaped like cars, some like houses, some like gold bars. He tried every one of them, but none of them matched his hole.


The clerk then suggested he try the Soul for Hire room. The blocks in the room could not be purchased. You had to work in the room to earn your block. The more projects you completed the bigger the block you could earn. The man spent hours working in the room, but even the biggest block didn't fit his hole. The clerk was beginning to see that the man was not having any luck. Perhaps you should just give up trying to fill your hole. Just go out and make your self as happy as you can, spend as much as you can earn and do whatever feels right. When you die you will have led your life to the fullest. The man halfway believed that might work and headed back to his home. The hole seemed to be getting bigger and deeper and darker. He was starting to panic a bit. What could he do? His life was pointless if he had to go from day to day with this huge hole in his heart.


The man trudged his way home back to his "fabulous" penthouse. As he entered his building, he was greeted by the doorman. The doorman, despite his menial job and limited resources, actually seemed to be pretty content. The man asked the doorman, how do you stand out here from day to day, in the frigid cold in the winters or the miserable heat in the summers, opening doors for people who don't even care to know your name and be so content.


The doorman was obviously a little hurt by his comments, but he quickly leaned over to the man and asked, Do you wake up every morning with a deep dark hole in your chest? A hole that seems so endless and hopeless and lonely. A hole that is cold and empty beyond belief.

The man seemed surprised. Yes, I do. Does that happen to you too?


No, I have the Lord in my heart. I know that despite all of my bad habits or failures in life and disappointments, God loves me. He loves me so much that he gave me this block to fill my hole. The doorman pulled a block shaped like a cross out of his pocket. Yeah, he gave me a block just like this one. This block is a promise to me that if I believe in the Lord and believe that he sent his son, Jesus, to earth to die on the cross for my sins, that I will have everlasting life. This job is not great, but I'm focusing my time on earth on living my life like Jesus did. Loving my neighbors, even the snooty ones who don't tip me in the middle of February. Christ died for each and every one of us and if we believe that and accept him as our savior we live with him eternally in heaven. Would you like to try this block and see if it fills your hole?


Acts 2:25-28 (NLT) King David said this about Him: 'I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is filled with joy, and my mouth shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. You have shown me the way of life, and you will give me wonderful joy in your presence.'


Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Khaki shorts, a t-shirt and flip-flops




My wife and I have this running joke that we have to put on our uniforms when we are home in the evenings or on the weekend. My uniform typically consists of wearing one of about 3 different pairs of extremely comfortable (meaning not tight) khaki shorts, a dark blue t-shirt and if going out is required, my Addidas sliders. The flip flops with the thing in the middle of your toes doesn't work for me. I truly enjoy putting on my uniform. The shorts always feel great with big deep pockets and the t-shirts fit me just right. Occasionally I will wear short socks and running shoes, but even that is a bit much for me. Since moving to Florida about 10 years ago, I have discovered that this type of uniform can be worn year-round. Sometimes I am required to wear my long sleeve OU Sooner t-shirt, but only when its cool out.

Why on earth would I choose to tell you this. Well, I had the greatest opportunity last Friday night. I got to go with my wife to the House of Blues in Orlando and see a Third Day concert (Thanks Mimi and Papa!). Now, I listen to Third Day all of the time, but lately I have listened to the same CD over and over. But now, Third Day is giving their Chronology tour, which as you can imagine, is kind of like a greatest hits compilation. The concert was great. It was a praise and worship leader's dream worship service. Almost everyone in the house was standing up. Many were clapping their hands, swaying side to side and singing along with Mac (lead singer). It felt totally safe. No one was going to laugh at you or think you were hokey. No one was going to get into an argument or be rude to each other. Everyone was focused on hearing and experiencing the music. Everyone had love in their heart. Everyone was thinking in unison (at least I believe they were), "These guys are great, but even greater is their love for the Lord and their ability to move others to praise His name." It was, to say the least, very comfortable.

It was great to see my wife coming home and wanting to get out the older Third Day CD's that we have, so we could listen to the first songs that we loved so much. The songs that got us hooked on Third Day in the first place. You see there is no mistaking what Third Day is all about. Nearly every song is about either the life of Jesus, the message of love and eternal life that Jesus brought to us or the promise that the Holy Spirit will be with us for all of our days. Their songs are not politically correct or universal to all religions or easily masked as secular songs. There is no hiding with Third Day. They are in your face with God's love.

Psalm 145:14 (NLT) The Lord helps the fallen and lifts up those bent beneath their loads.

This is what my Bible commentary says "Sometimes our burdens seem more than we can bear, and we wonder how we can go on. David stands at this bleak intersection of life's road and meditates on the Lord, the great burden bearer. God is able to lift us up because (1) his greatness is beyond discovery;(2) he does mighty acts for each generation; (3) he is full of glorious splendor and majesty;(4)he does awe-inspiring deeds; (5) he is righteous;(6) he is kind, merciful, patient, loving and compassionate; (7) he rules over an everlasting Kingdom; (8) he is our source of all our daily needs; (9) he is righteous and kind in all his dealings; (10) he remains close to those who call on him; (11) he hears our cries and rescues us. If you are bending under a burden and feel that you are about to fall, turn to God for help. He is ready to lift you up and bear your burden. Praise takes our mind off our problems and shortcomings and helps us focus on God. Praise leads us from individual meditation to corporate worship. Praise causes us to consider and appreciate God's character. Praise lifts our perspective from the earthly to the heavenly."

Strange as it may seem, I think I could have only been made more comfortable at the concert if I had been wearing my khaki shorts and t-shirt. I truly experienced how wonderful it is to forget your worries, focus your thoughts and actions on praising God and share in the warmth of 2,200 people filled with the Holy Spirit. I kind of wondered if my face was glowing on the way home.


I caught a glimpse of Your splendor
In the corner of my eye
The most beautiful thing I've ever seen
And it was like a flash of lightning
Reflected off the sky
And I know I'll never be the same
*******
Show me Your glory
Send down Your presence
I want to see Your face
Show me Your glory
Majesty shines about You
I can't go on without You, Lord
*******
When I climb down the mountain
And get back to my life
I won't settle for ordinary things
I'm gonna follow You forever
And for all of my days
I won't rest 'til I see You again
*******
Show me Your glory
Show me Your glory
I can't live without You
Show me Your Glory - Third Day