No - No Fault Society

Upon returning from Papua New Guinea, Meghan and I had quit the ordeal in Brisbane Australia. We arrived in Brisbane 10 minutes late. Then we had to go through Immigration to get our luggage. However, the conveyor belt didn't start for 12 minutes. My suitcase was of course the last one to come down the shoot. We had to wait in line for a short time in order to go through Customs because we needed to have some gifts checked (didn't want to bring anything through Austalia and into the United States illegally)
When we arrived at the Domestic exchange counter we were told that we had missed our connecting flight to Sydney and would we please wait off to the side. After all the other Quantas customers were taking care of, a Quantas representative came to us and asked us who booked our flight? I told them, "Travelocity." I was then told that Quantas could not help us because Travelocity had booked an illegal flight. Quantas would put Meghan and I on the next flight which was the next day directly to Los Angeles. I immediately called Travelocity only to be told that they did nothing wrong and it wasn't their fault. I was told that they could only book those flights that the airlines provided. Needless to say much was lost: Time - Meghan and I had to stay in the airport overnight; Money - I had to buy two one-way tickets back to Minnesota from Los Angeles because Quantas would not help make a connecting flight for us, it wasn't their fault.
Physically, emotionally and spiritually it was draining. All Meghan and I wanted to do was get home, but the powers in charge wouldn't help nor did it seem they cared. It wasn't their fault or problem according to them, so why think anymore about it?
When is it my problem? Try this on for size: If you're not part of the solution - you are the problem! How many people need to be homeless before I'll do something about it? How many children need to go unnoticed, abused and used before I'll do something about it? How many people will I pass by without even offering them the hope that only Jesus can give? It is my problem - and yours!
"Mea Culpa" was the Latin term for "My guilt/shame." The Apostle Paul admitted that when he said, "It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all." (1 Timothy 1:15) He also said, "For I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." (1 Corinthians 15:9) Paul recognized that when he wasn't part of the solution, he was the problem. There is no such thing as a "No Fault Society." And before we start looking to point our fingers at anyone else, we better take a look at ourselves.

What's a relationship worth?

What kind of price tag would you put on a relationship? With prices going up in every catagory of life (gas, milk, stamps, etc.), has the value in your relationships that you hold near and dear to gone up as well? Do you spend more time with the circumstances of life or in keeping, building, restoring, and nurturing the relationships that you have with family and friends? Let's face it, we live in a disposable society. Relationships are easily thrown away, never to be thought of again. Some relationships are more recyclable and have to be worked at. Some relationships are easy and natural, taking not much effort but none-the-less in need of attention.
I recall those people who were listed as my "best friends" as a kid. Jonathan Hoese was my fishing partner. We spent many a day biking to the water hole and spending the day casting lures. Joey Stifter was the one that I spent every day with in our neighborhood. We made adventure. Jeff Isenberg was my High School chum. Man, the things that Jeff and I did which only the Lord knows. Lonn Maly was my twin in college. He was smarter, but I was stronger. I couldn't have asked for a better friend. I just didn't have male friends though. Pat Paschka was the funniest girl I knew and the most adventuresome. Julie Okerstrom was athletic, smart and very pretty (I ended up marrying her!!!) She is still my best friend today after 25 years of marriage. Robin Nierode, Scot Poepping, Scott Manea were all men in my churches that proved to be wonderful support. Greg Steuart and Dave Pautz stand out amongst all of them. Dave is a prime example of a man of faith who is not afraid to work hard and Greg has the biggest heart I have every seen. He loves to help people. Both understand the definition of generosity.
I haven't seen or talked to many of those names I just listed. I wonder why? They meant so much to me. Those people were instrumental in forming my life. Is it because life has gone on and times have changed? Is it because there only seems to be so much time in a day and since it has to be divided in so many ways, there's not just enough time for everybody? What of those new people that I'm going to be meeting today and the tomorrow's of my life? Will I even start a relationship with them knowing that I might just end up walking away from them, never to be in touch with them again?
What's a relationship worth? If I want to know the answer to that, I only have to look at the value that my God places on our relationship. It was always His desire to be in relationship with His people. It wasn't about conquering nations and building cities. It wasn't about being right, stronger or better than anyone else. It was about Him having a relationship with His creation and letting them know how important they were to Him. The Bible says, "While we were still in sin, Christ died for us." God didn't wait for me to get my act all cleaned up before He wanted a relationship with me. He didn't wait for me to be nice before He would accept me. He went to the very end of the universe to have me (and you), not because He could get something out of you or because it was beneficial for Him to be in a relationship with you. He just wanted it. I think it's time I do the same.

Remember When...

As I live in a changing world, watching my father grow old and "not remembering" much anymore and seeing my son newly married with the world at his fingertips, I flash back to my childhood and remember. I don't want to forget! King Solomon said, "The glory of young men is their strength, and the honor of old men is their gray hair." (Proverbs 20:29)
Way before the days of Internet, IPods, Hybrid cars and cell phones...Do you remember when...
Hide and seek was played at night? Red light, Green light and Duck, Duck Gray Duck were favorites? Red Rover, Red Rover, Annie, Annie Over and Captain May I were played with your friends? Kickball and Dodgeball were real competition? Grabbing a bat and ball to play 500 was the neighborhood game? Building your own kite that actually flew? Running through the sprinkler on a hot summer day was the greatest and building snowforts in the winter took all day? Mosquito bites were common place and there were many of them? Summer seemed to last forever? Sledding down that huge hill was exhausting? Getting a terrible haircut for .25? Penny candy that was really good? Not wanting to go to bed at night because you weren't tired only to fall asleep before your head hit the pillow? Drinking ice cold water from the well?
Remember watching Saturday morning cartoons in black and white with only a couple of channels to choose from? When Roadrunner always won and Willie E. Coyote always bit the dust? When Popeye was your hero? When the Three Stooges, Laurel and Hardy, The Bowery Boys, and The Little Raschals were everyone's favorites? Watching Gunsmoke, Hawaii Five-O, Lawrence Welk, Mission Impossible, All-Star Wrestling and Manix? Playing Cowboys and Indians, Cops and Robbers, Army? Climbing every tree possible? Taking a bath in the tub with your sibling on Saturday night? Getting together with your cousins every now and then was the best?
Walking to school, no matter what the weather was like because there were no buses? Running till you could run no more? Laughing so hard that your stomach hurt? Pillow fights? Spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down? Jumping on your bed till your mom yelled at you to stop? Your mom baking fresh bread from scratch?
Remember playing games like Monopoly, Sorry, Chinese Checkers? Playing Crazy 8's, Slap Jack and War? Learning to ride a bike? Weeding the garden took all day because the garden was so big? Hanging wash on the clothes line?
Remember when gas only cost .29 and you got your windshield cleaned, oil checked, and air pressure in your tires checked all for free? When your mom saved the S & H Green stamps to buy kitchen items? When your mom was home everyday when you got home from school? When your mom was the prettiest lady in town and your dad was the toughest? When it was a special treat to have a can of pop? When going out to a restaurant was a big deal? When you were afraid of your teachers and even more afraid of your teachers telling your parents what you did? When you feared them more then drive-by shootings, drugs, gangs? When you couldn't wait to go fishing the next day with your best friend? When your older brother's and sister's tormented you, but also fought for you? When you dad could fix anything?
As I get older, these things I choose to remember!

What if...

What if...
This Christmas we really noticed that Jesus was the only reason for the season?
This Christmas we spent more time celebrating His birth than shopping?
This Christmas we were more consumed with what He thought was important than what others thought of our presents?
This Christmas we spent more money on helping the widows, orphans, the poor and homeless, than on gifts others don't need or want?
This Christmas we sang our Christmas songs as if singing with the angels themselves on that first night?
This Christmas we ran to worship the newborn Baby like the shepherds, abandoning all the other stuff?
This Christmas we didn't count the cost to only behold the beauty of the King of kings and Lord of lords like the Wisemen?
This Christmas it begins with me?