*note* My Pastor recently shared this in an email to the church and I was quite moved by it and wanted to share it here.
John Ortberg says, "When you buy your kid a Happy Meal, you're not just buying fries, McNuggets, and a toy; you're buying happiness. Their advertisements have convinced my children they have a little McDonald-shaped vacuum in their souls: 'Our hearts are restless till they find their rest in a Happy Meal.'"
The problem with the Happy Meal is that the happy wears off, and they need a new fix. No child discovers lasting happiness in just one: "Remember that Happy Meal? What great joy I found there!"
Happy Meals bring happiness only to McDonalds. You ever wonder why Ronald McDonald wears that grin? Twenty billion Happy Meals, that's why.
[Taken from the article Happy Meal Spirituality, Christianity Today, May 1993]
Ortberg concludes by saying, "When you get older, you don't get any smarter; your happy meals just get more expensive."
What's the last Happy Meal you bought for yourself? A car? Some clothes? A house? A spouse? How long did it last? No matter how hard we try, or how much we spend, as long as we live with a happy meal mentality, happiness will elude us.
Ortberg paraphrased a familiar quote by St. Augustine:
"Our hearts are restless till they find rest in thee."
Or as David said it, "My soul finds rest in God alone..." (Psalm 62:1)
Take a moment today to think about your next Happy Meal. Instead of pursuing one more thing, one more possession, one more acquisition ... instead of striving for bigger numbers or better money or more praise directed your way ... spend a few minutes alone with the God who loves you, and let his presence in your life satisfy you.
"Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." (Isaiah 55:2)
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
PASSION
The other evening I 'caught' a movie which I absolutely love. I've seen it several times but no other time impressed me as it did the other night.
Wikipedia explains: Chariots of Fire is a 1981 British film. It tells the fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout ScottishChristian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice.
Wikipedia explains: Chariots of Fire is a 1981 British film. It tells the fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout ScottishChristian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice.
The film was written by Colin Welland and directed by Hugh Hudson. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won four, including Best Picture. It is ranked 19th in the British Film Institute's list of Top 100 British films.
The film's title was inspired by the line, "Bring me my chariot of fire," from the William Blake poem adapted into the popular British hymnJerusalem; the hymn is heard at the end of the film.[1] The original phrase "chariot(s) of fire" is from 2 Kings 2:11 and 2 Kings 6:17 in the Bible.
The film's title was inspired by the line, "Bring me my chariot of fire," from the William Blake poem adapted into the popular British hymnJerusalem; the hymn is heard at the end of the film.[1] The original phrase "chariot(s) of fire" is from 2 Kings 2:11 and 2 Kings 6:17 in the Bible.
I was familiar with the 2 Kings 6:17 reference about "chariots of fire" but didn't quite understand the correlation. However, that night, when I saw the other scripture reference for "chariots of fire" I checked it out and it all 'clicked' for me.
2 Kings 2:11 (New International Version) As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
The Old Testament story tells of Elijah & Elisha and their time together and how it ended, here in verse 11.
The movie Chariots of Fire is similar to the 2 Kings story. It is about two individual men, with the same talent for running whose lives only run parallel for a brief period in time. One is Harold Abrahams who is Jewish and feels he has something to prove with his speed. The other is Eric Liddell who is a Christian Scot who only runs for the pleasure of his Creator. It is a pure pleasure without inhibition or obligation.
It made me consider how I run this race called life. Do I run out of obligation? Do I run with pleasure? Do I run without inhibition? Do I run for the pleasure of My Creator?
I think at times, I run out of obligation. At other times I do run with pleasure.... mine and at other times, hopefully, My Creator's. However, I question if I ever run this race called life without inhibition.
This summer I've taken a real look in the proverbial mirror at myself, more emotionally than physically; although, I've done that too. I'm beginning to see things which I've never seen before. One of the realizations having to do with PASSION... Running without inhibition... A commitment to convictions.
I am impressed when I see someone display passion for something or someone. There is no doubt, no question about what motivates and drives their life. It has moved me to question my own life, my desires, my motivations. Is there passion there? Can someone else see ME running without inhibition, with a passion for one solitary thing?
It made me consider how I run this race called life. Do I run out of obligation? Do I run with pleasure? Do I run without inhibition? Do I run for the pleasure of My Creator?
I think at times, I run out of obligation. At other times I do run with pleasure.... mine and at other times, hopefully, My Creator's. However, I question if I ever run this race called life without inhibition.
This summer I've taken a real look in the proverbial mirror at myself, more emotionally than physically; although, I've done that too. I'm beginning to see things which I've never seen before. One of the realizations having to do with PASSION... Running without inhibition... A commitment to convictions.
I am impressed when I see someone display passion for something or someone. There is no doubt, no question about what motivates and drives their life. It has moved me to question my own life, my desires, my motivations. Is there passion there? Can someone else see ME running without inhibition, with a passion for one solitary thing?
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
HEAVEN
Last night I watched the movie "Five People You Meet in Heaven" based on Mitch Albom's book. Well..... it was interesting to say the least. I'm still not sure if I liked it even. Uh.... what????? But, it was Food for Thought and I like that.
It got broken down to this. In heaven, you will meet strangers, people who sacrificed for you, someone you need to forgive, people you love and someone who holds a strong connection to you. INTERESTING. It's not exactly my picture of heaven, nor is it the Bible's picture of heaven.
But, having said that, obviously there will be strangers in heaven and I don't expect to know everyone, just as I don't know everyone here. The Bible does say that we will be known as we are known I Corinthians 13:12.
I do believe that I will meet Someone who sacrificed for me, definitely, no doubt, JESUS.
Well, meeting people who I need to forgive for something done against me or something I have against them. I am unsure about. Heaven to me is a place where the resolution is behind you, not yet to be done. So, that one I'll leave for now.
Definitely, I expect to see people whom I love and have lost here in this world, not the least of being my mom. Can't wait to see my Auntie Margaret & Pap Pap too!!!!! Even time can't erase love.
Lastly, I am pretty sure I will see people there whom I have had a strong connection with. Considering that I usually have a strong connection with most anyone who is in my life for any certain amount of time, I'm sure I will be more than blessed in heaven!
The actual places pictured in heaven were interesting too. All five people were found in five different scenes or types of places. One was the man's favorite and most familiar place. Another was the battlefield where his life was changed. Another was where he met his 'true love'. The other 2 were less significant but ones of serenity: a snowy woodland and a peaceful pond.
Of course, my favorite place on earth is near water so I hope that heaven is filled with majestic waterfalls, languid lakes, roaring oceans and tranquil streams. I love the fluidity of water, how much it moves yet doesn't change its character or consistency.
Familiar places would be so comforting, like around the dinner table with family, or in a car with my mom, perhaps the foyer of my childhood church home, but definitely the narrow country roads I grew up on.
So much of who we are is where and how we grew up. I wouldn't trade my childhood for anyone's. I knew I was loved unconditionally and always felt safe. In today's world that statement says A LOT.
You know what, though, maybe heaven has more to do with a familiar place than we realize. Isn't heaven supposed to be your final home? Aren't you supposed to feel like you're finally home? And what is more familiar than home?
Heaven, my home. In the words of Carrie Underwood, this life here is just my Temporary Home.
It got broken down to this. In heaven, you will meet strangers, people who sacrificed for you, someone you need to forgive, people you love and someone who holds a strong connection to you. INTERESTING. It's not exactly my picture of heaven, nor is it the Bible's picture of heaven.
But, having said that, obviously there will be strangers in heaven and I don't expect to know everyone, just as I don't know everyone here. The Bible does say that we will be known as we are known I Corinthians 13:12.
I do believe that I will meet Someone who sacrificed for me, definitely, no doubt, JESUS.
Well, meeting people who I need to forgive for something done against me or something I have against them. I am unsure about. Heaven to me is a place where the resolution is behind you, not yet to be done. So, that one I'll leave for now.
Definitely, I expect to see people whom I love and have lost here in this world, not the least of being my mom. Can't wait to see my Auntie Margaret & Pap Pap too!!!!! Even time can't erase love.
Lastly, I am pretty sure I will see people there whom I have had a strong connection with. Considering that I usually have a strong connection with most anyone who is in my life for any certain amount of time, I'm sure I will be more than blessed in heaven!
The actual places pictured in heaven were interesting too. All five people were found in five different scenes or types of places. One was the man's favorite and most familiar place. Another was the battlefield where his life was changed. Another was where he met his 'true love'. The other 2 were less significant but ones of serenity: a snowy woodland and a peaceful pond.
Of course, my favorite place on earth is near water so I hope that heaven is filled with majestic waterfalls, languid lakes, roaring oceans and tranquil streams. I love the fluidity of water, how much it moves yet doesn't change its character or consistency.
Familiar places would be so comforting, like around the dinner table with family, or in a car with my mom, perhaps the foyer of my childhood church home, but definitely the narrow country roads I grew up on.
So much of who we are is where and how we grew up. I wouldn't trade my childhood for anyone's. I knew I was loved unconditionally and always felt safe. In today's world that statement says A LOT.
You know what, though, maybe heaven has more to do with a familiar place than we realize. Isn't heaven supposed to be your final home? Aren't you supposed to feel like you're finally home? And what is more familiar than home?
Heaven, my home. In the words of Carrie Underwood, this life here is just my Temporary Home.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
The Love of My Life
Yeh, at 46, still looking for "the love of my life".... or am I?
Over lunch the other day I was telling a story to my friend and she said, "could be the love of your life." "Yeh, right, of course." I thought. As I was driving home though I was listening to some of my music (i.e. Christian) and was listening to the words of a song. It was all about how he (the Lord) loves me. It was then that the two thoughts connected:
Jesus is really the love of my life!
Who else knows me better? Who else loves me more... faults, scars et al? Ultimately, who already died for me, not who would 'take a bullet' for me? JESUS. JESUS. JESUS.
Now that I realized the love of my life, I suppose the next question is am I in love with Him? Do I know Him better than anyone else? Do I love Him more than anyone else? Would I give anything to be with Him?
Can I say with the psalmist, "...my soul longs for you Oh God..." (Psalm 42:1) ? Hmmm.......
Over lunch the other day I was telling a story to my friend and she said, "could be the love of your life." "Yeh, right, of course." I thought. As I was driving home though I was listening to some of my music (i.e. Christian) and was listening to the words of a song. It was all about how he (the Lord) loves me. It was then that the two thoughts connected:
Jesus is really the love of my life!
Who else knows me better? Who else loves me more... faults, scars et al? Ultimately, who already died for me, not who would 'take a bullet' for me? JESUS. JESUS. JESUS.
Now that I realized the love of my life, I suppose the next question is am I in love with Him? Do I know Him better than anyone else? Do I love Him more than anyone else? Would I give anything to be with Him?
Can I say with the psalmist, "...my soul longs for you Oh God..." (Psalm 42:1) ? Hmmm.......
Saturday, August 7, 2010
SCARS
I was headed out this morning to work and was sitting at the first light and pulled my make-up bag out to start 'my face' for the day. YES... I'm one of those who puts her make-up on in the car but I've stopped doing it on the interstate at 70 MPH. (audible *sigh of relief* from my Dad and Stepmom)
Anyway, back to my story, I began with the concealer to cover those blemishes I wanted to smooth out and try to blend in. I was doing just that when the thought came to me about our 'blemishes' or our scars of life.
We all have them. We all try to cover them up and hide them hoping no one will notice.
And yet, the only one who really needs to 'come to grips' with them is the person looking in the mirror.
I remember looking at a picture of myself with my sister over Spring Break. I commented on how my bangs were messy and uneven and she nonchalantly replied, "Oh, but that's you! That's what you look like."
How true! I can never get perfect bangs because I hate things hanging in my eyes or touching my face. That is who I am and at this point in my life why try to change it or get frustrated with it? It is who I am, accept it. Everyone else in my life, who chooses to be in my life, has already accepted that.
Back to what I was saying about scars. We all have them why try to cover or hide them? Really, sometimes it is only ourselves who is the one consumed with the scar. The people in our lives have already accepted that that is who we are, scars and all.
Scars say that there was something in our past that hurt us, that we can't or don't want to forget.
Being the Christian I am, my mind went to Jesus and the scars which he had imprinted on his hands from the sacrifice on the cross. In the book of John, chapter 20 (John 20:19-31)
the story is told about Jesus appearing to his disciples after his resurrection and how he pointed out his scars as proof of His Act of Love. He wasn't trying to cover or hide his scars. He wasn't hoping that no one would notice. He showed them as evidence.
Maybe our scars are more evidence of life than they are mistakes. A scar isn't necessarily a negative thing, as in the case of Jesus' scars. They are part of us. They are there as a reminder. Why are we always trying to cover up who we are and who we have become?
Why hide the real me? Why wear an impostor's mask when I can be an authentic original? Why do we think noticing our scars is not a good thing?
I think more people appreciate and more readily accept someone who is real, with real-life experience, who isn't covering up or hiding anything, who is authentic. I know when I see a person's scar, or vulnerability, I more easily identify with them and more quickly appreciate who they have become.
And sometimes... our scars are there for the whole world to see and to learn from. They become a platform from which to share our experience.... like Vietnam Vet Dave Roever or motivational speaker Nick Vujicic.
Anyway, back to my story, I began with the concealer to cover those blemishes I wanted to smooth out and try to blend in. I was doing just that when the thought came to me about our 'blemishes' or our scars of life.
We all have them. We all try to cover them up and hide them hoping no one will notice.
And yet, the only one who really needs to 'come to grips' with them is the person looking in the mirror.
I remember looking at a picture of myself with my sister over Spring Break. I commented on how my bangs were messy and uneven and she nonchalantly replied, "Oh, but that's you! That's what you look like."
How true! I can never get perfect bangs because I hate things hanging in my eyes or touching my face. That is who I am and at this point in my life why try to change it or get frustrated with it? It is who I am, accept it. Everyone else in my life, who chooses to be in my life, has already accepted that.
Back to what I was saying about scars. We all have them why try to cover or hide them? Really, sometimes it is only ourselves who is the one consumed with the scar. The people in our lives have already accepted that that is who we are, scars and all.
Scars say that there was something in our past that hurt us, that we can't or don't want to forget.
Being the Christian I am, my mind went to Jesus and the scars which he had imprinted on his hands from the sacrifice on the cross. In the book of John, chapter 20 (John 20:19-31)
the story is told about Jesus appearing to his disciples after his resurrection and how he pointed out his scars as proof of His Act of Love. He wasn't trying to cover or hide his scars. He wasn't hoping that no one would notice. He showed them as evidence.
Maybe our scars are more evidence of life than they are mistakes. A scar isn't necessarily a negative thing, as in the case of Jesus' scars. They are part of us. They are there as a reminder. Why are we always trying to cover up who we are and who we have become?
Why hide the real me? Why wear an impostor's mask when I can be an authentic original? Why do we think noticing our scars is not a good thing?
I think more people appreciate and more readily accept someone who is real, with real-life experience, who isn't covering up or hiding anything, who is authentic. I know when I see a person's scar, or vulnerability, I more easily identify with them and more quickly appreciate who they have become.
And sometimes... our scars are there for the whole world to see and to learn from. They become a platform from which to share our experience.... like Vietnam Vet Dave Roever or motivational speaker Nick Vujicic.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Food for Thought
I was reading my email tonight and got an interesting one. Let me preface this by saying that I'm not disagreeing with the writer or defending anyone in the pictures. I just found it interesting how differently I read and viewed the pictures. So, I'm sharing it......
Our Christian nation cannot put up a Christmas scene of the baby Jesus in a public place, but the Muslims can stop normal traffic every Friday afternoon by worshiping in the streets. Something is happening in America that is reminiscent of what has already started happening in Europe. This is Political Correctness gone crazy...
This is in New York City on Madison Avenue, not in France, or the Middle East or Yemen.
This is an accurate picture of every Friday afternoon in several locations
throughout NYC where there are mosques with a large number of Muslims
that cannot fit into the mosque - They fill the surrounding streets, facing east
for a couple of hours between about 2 & 4 p.m. - Besides this one at 42nd St
& Madison Ave, there is another, even larger group, at 94th St & 3rd Ave, etc.,
etc. - Also, I presume, you are aware of the dispute over building another "high
rise" Mosque a few blocks from "ground zero" - With regard to that one, the
"Imam" refuses to disclose where the $110 million dollars to build it is coming
from and there is a lawsuit filed to force disclosure of that information - Just some
facts FYI
Funny.... I interpreted this totally differently than the commentator of the pictures. I looked at the pictures and thought to myself, what if Christians got together in a group like this and got on our knees in the middle of NYC and prayed to OUR GOD? What would people say and do? Would people be taking notice of us? Would people be snapping pictures of us? Would Muslims get upset with us? Probably not! The 'non-religious' would probably be more upset than anyone. In one of the pictures the people have heavier clothing, sweaters, jackets on. Would we be out there in the chilly air praying?
Hmmmm.... What if we were different?
Food for Thought
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
In Just a Moment
How many times have we said that? "Just a minute." or "I will, in a minute." or "Just a moment, please."
The other day I was thinking about how much our lives can change in an instant. Life is never the same with the words, "It's a Girl!" or "You have cancer." or "She's gone."
Psalm 103:14 reminds us that we are only dust. Dust... interesting.... here today and gone tomorrow.... not rock, that which is unmovable, but dust... such a fragile existence.
In an instant one's entire world can change.
Last Saturday I was happily driving home from my lunch and afternoon outing with Ibi, breezing along at 70 MPH south on I-95, with tons of other drivers, windows down and spirits up! Thinking about what I was going to do next: Go visit more friends? Take a nap on the beach? Grab the computer and blog?
When all of a sudden out of the corner of my eye, on the northbound lanes, just below the airport, I noticed a parking lot of cars six-lanes wide. Uh oh! That's never a good sign. No flashing lights. No rescue vehicles. Guess it just happened. What? Smoke? What's going on? Then in the farthest and fastest lane I could see a pile of metal turned upside down with 2 wheels spinning, exposed above the concrete median. UGH.
My heart sank.
In that moment my light mood crashed to one of sobriety at what just took place. I don't know exactly what happened. I didn't read, see or hear any news about it. I don't know of anybody having an accident. But in that instant I felt the gravity of that moment in time. I began to silently intercede for whomever was involved and the lives which would be effected, even as far as the ripple effect. Someone's life changed that hot, humid, July afternoon in South Florida. Someone lost a driving vehicle. Someone may have lost their mobility or their very life. Someone lost money. Someone lost a family member or friend. Someone lost that secure feeling of driving along in a car. IN JUST A MOMENT the world stood still and changed for someone.
I couldn't believe how much this random, unrelated event affected me.
Needless to say, I slowed down, held the wheel a little more responsibly, considered my lane-change choices more carefully, even missed the slower two-lane country roads of home more than usual.
What are we all in such a rush for? In just a moment this life is going to be gone. What of that dust will be left for someone else to consider?
Tim McGraw had a #1 song several years ago, Live Like You Are Dying, talks about all the things he did because he knew he was dying. Aren't we all dying? Why don't we all live like that every day? Why don't we LIVE on PURPOSE every day?
I'm struggling with a lot of things in my heart this summer. This is one of them. If I knew I had three and a half weeks to live what would I do? Why am I not doing those things now? What am I waiting for? Don't I already know that I'm dying? Does knowing about how long I have make that big a difference? Why not live every day as if I didn't have another? We don't know the time but we're not guaranteed the next breath.
The only thing I know is what Psalm 139:16 says, which is that the number of our days is written by the Eternal Author. He is the one who first formed this dust now called Maureen. He is the one who will be there when I've taken my last breath and am no more. What am I doing about those days in-between? What am I doing with those moments within those days?
In Just A Moment......
The other day I was thinking about how much our lives can change in an instant. Life is never the same with the words, "It's a Girl!" or "You have cancer." or "She's gone."
Psalm 103:14 reminds us that we are only dust. Dust... interesting.... here today and gone tomorrow.... not rock, that which is unmovable, but dust... such a fragile existence.
In an instant one's entire world can change.
Last Saturday I was happily driving home from my lunch and afternoon outing with Ibi, breezing along at 70 MPH south on I-95, with tons of other drivers, windows down and spirits up! Thinking about what I was going to do next: Go visit more friends? Take a nap on the beach? Grab the computer and blog?
When all of a sudden out of the corner of my eye, on the northbound lanes, just below the airport, I noticed a parking lot of cars six-lanes wide. Uh oh! That's never a good sign. No flashing lights. No rescue vehicles. Guess it just happened. What? Smoke? What's going on? Then in the farthest and fastest lane I could see a pile of metal turned upside down with 2 wheels spinning, exposed above the concrete median. UGH.
My heart sank.
In that moment my light mood crashed to one of sobriety at what just took place. I don't know exactly what happened. I didn't read, see or hear any news about it. I don't know of anybody having an accident. But in that instant I felt the gravity of that moment in time. I began to silently intercede for whomever was involved and the lives which would be effected, even as far as the ripple effect. Someone's life changed that hot, humid, July afternoon in South Florida. Someone lost a driving vehicle. Someone may have lost their mobility or their very life. Someone lost money. Someone lost a family member or friend. Someone lost that secure feeling of driving along in a car. IN JUST A MOMENT the world stood still and changed for someone.
I couldn't believe how much this random, unrelated event affected me.
Needless to say, I slowed down, held the wheel a little more responsibly, considered my lane-change choices more carefully, even missed the slower two-lane country roads of home more than usual.
What are we all in such a rush for? In just a moment this life is going to be gone. What of that dust will be left for someone else to consider?
Tim McGraw had a #1 song several years ago, Live Like You Are Dying, talks about all the things he did because he knew he was dying. Aren't we all dying? Why don't we all live like that every day? Why don't we LIVE on PURPOSE every day?
I'm struggling with a lot of things in my heart this summer. This is one of them. If I knew I had three and a half weeks to live what would I do? Why am I not doing those things now? What am I waiting for? Don't I already know that I'm dying? Does knowing about how long I have make that big a difference? Why not live every day as if I didn't have another? We don't know the time but we're not guaranteed the next breath.
The only thing I know is what Psalm 139:16 says, which is that the number of our days is written by the Eternal Author. He is the one who first formed this dust now called Maureen. He is the one who will be there when I've taken my last breath and am no more. What am I doing about those days in-between? What am I doing with those moments within those days?
In Just A Moment......
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