Big Brother Faith

Well, I don't know about any of you, but my wife and I are reality TV junkies. Survivor, Amazing Race, American Idol . . . you name it, we watch it. One of our favorites just came on last week--Big Brother.

For those of you who are not as "reality savvy" as some of us, Big Brother is a show where 16 or so contestants live in a house all summer long, and one person gets voted off each week until only one is left. This season has been deemed "A Summer of Secrets." Throughout the summer, the show will present the guests numerous secrets, along with the normal drama that occurs when 16 people live together . . . . . (ahh, takes me back to my college days). One of the major "secrets" they have already revealed three episodes into the season, is that each player is "secretly" playing the game with another friend in the house. Everyone has a partner, but nobody knows. They think they are the only ones with the advantage.

Anyway, on with my thought... One of the "pairs" in the house is secretly dating. They have decided to, of course, keep their relationship a secret and play the game as individuals. When they can, they shoot hidden signals across the room or whisper a quick "I love you." when no one else is in the room. However, for the most part, they are just ignoring each other, for sake of the game. They walk past each other with no more than a passing glance, or one of them may leave the room if the other one enters. The couple shared a little bit last night with the viewing audience (my wife and I included) concerning the struggle it has been keeping their relationship a secret. The expressed how unnatural it was. And I started thinking....that's right. I started thinking.

Am I playing Big Brother in my own life? Not necessarily with a just a friend or even with my wife, but with an even more important relationship--my relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ. How often do I go through my day and coldly pass Him by. Do I communicate my affection only in moments of convenience? Am I causing the decay of our relationship, just for the sake of this “game” called LIFE? What am I doing? What are we doing as a Christian culture? Here we are stuck in a “house” with billions of housemates, and we are scared to let on who our “Teammate” is because it may hurt our “game.” We may be “evicted” by society. Luckily, our God is above this. He permeates the “house.” He goes from housemate to housemate, “Want to know my ‘secret?’” As we overlook Him, He patiently waits and longs for some form of acknowledgement from us.

I wonder if after Big Brother is over, will the “secret” couple think it was worth it? Will the time of avoidance and neglect be worth it? What will the relationship be like after the game is over? How deep will scars go?

I wonder what it will be like after our “game” is over. Hmmm?

Just a Bump on a Blog

I was talking with a friend today about blogs. And in the back of my mind, I began to think about how funny the "word" blog actually is. It's not a particularly eloquent word that deserves respect or reverence. Nor is it a word that leaves us in scientific amazement. It's just...well....BLOG!!! Two years ago, if you had asked almost anyone on the street what a blog was, they probably would have looked at you funny and said, "A what?!?!?!" And now here we are in 2005, and there are blogs about anything and everything....from the lastest tech gadget to the weirdest hairstyle...and now they even have blogs about blogs. Isn't it amazing how the world changes. There--there's my epiphony of the day. Enjoy.

Silver Screen Debut

My wife and I made our cinematic debut this past weekend. It was in an independent film directed by up-and-coming Director, Shayne Pulley. The title is still undecided: however, it still looks to be a fall blockbuster hit.

It portrays an off-the-wall grounds-keeper named Luther, who is slightly off kilter when it comes to things of a social nature. Danielle and I play the role of Picnicer #1 and Picnicer #2, both of which, I hear, are "key" roles.

It tooks months of preparation (or at least a couple of days) for us to adust to such different roles than what we were used to playing. We had to reach deep down inside and tap into personal experiences of picnics in the past. It was a matter of placing ourselves in another time and place and allowing those emotions to dictate our words and our action. The pinnacle of our experience came as I responded to Luther's "nice day?" inquiry. As I pondered why this stranger would dare interupt our picnic, I delivered a powerful, and yet sensitive, "It sure is."

The rest of the plot you will just have to wait to find out.

The Appendix

Well, a funny thing happened to me over the weekend. It all started with what I thought was a stomach cramp and before I knew it, I was in the E.R. and getting prepped for surgery. A few "groggy" moments later, I was in a recovery room with three holes in my stomach. Now if that doesn't put life in perspective, I don't know what will...anyway, I'm about 2 ounces lighter these days. Well, there you have it.

And one more thing...ENJOY!!

Well, my wife and I attended yet another wedding this past weekend. We woke up Saturday morning at 4:45 in order to leave for Missouri at 5:30. Let me just add, there is NO legitimate reason for anything to ever be going on at 4:45 in the morning. It should become law that days CANNOT begin until 7:30....if that early. Anyway, once we arrived at the church, we were seated and awaited the beginning of the ceremony.

The wedding was eventful to say the least. It started off with the blessings from a neighborhood cat who decided to grace us with his presence about 3 minutes before the ceremony began. The awkward silences were filled with a rather annoying static coming from one of the stage mics. Not to mention, half way through the ceremony, my wife realizes that the best man is a guy that had had a crush on her a few years earlier after they had shared one dance. (Danielle had gone with her cousin to a school dance back when we were just dating....but I ended up with her. : ) )

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the priest proclaimed, "I now pronounce you husband and wife!". . . . . . [silence] . . . . . . . . . . [chirp chirp said the cricket] . . . . . . . . . . . . [what was that? a tumbleweed?] . . . . . . . And in the awkward seconds that followed, eyes widened, eyebrows lowered, heads turned, and the bride quietly whispered something to the priest. With a face the shade of sun burnt tomato, the priest back tracked and added, "Sarah, you may now kiss your.....wait, I mean, Chad, you may now kiss your bride." As the standing ovation erupted, we applauded the new couple as they left the church.

In my last post, I shared about how we each have our "wedding" and daily we are called into our "marriage" with Jesus Christ. And though, daily, we take up our cross, we are to love life...daily...for He has given it to us. "I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance" John 10:10 The couple had been united in marriage; but the most joyous moment of the ceremony had almost been left out . . . the first kiss!!

As we go through these days of seemingly endless work, worries, bills, and pressure, we must not forget the most important thing of all...ENJOY!!! Kiss your bride daily...or let your Groom kiss you daily...literally and figuratively. Allow God to lavish upon you the exquisite treasures of His love...and in return, love Him with your very being...daily.

And then we commenced the drive back home and arrived at 2:00am. Once again...should be illegal. By the way.....CONGRATS, Chad & Sarah!!!!

The Wedding & The Marriage

This past weekend I was in my college roommate's wedding. He's the last of our "group" to get hitched and it was truly an amazing event. As the big day arrived, we all gathered to celebrate these two wonderful people as they promised their lives to one another and to God. Everyone's excitement had peaked as we waited for the ceremony to begin. THIRTY minutes later...it was over. The ceremony had come to an end and everyone shuffled out of the church. I began to think..."What now?" "What will they do next?"

Participating in this wedding, made me look back at my own wedding. The memories and thoughts take me back to a wonderful day of joy, happiness, laughter, love, celebration, etc. It was the day we had dreamed of. We had planned, decorated, invited, and then planned some more. We planned every aspect of the ceremony; and though the planning took eight months, our wedding also took less than an hour. What now? Is that all there is? The vows only took four minutes to say...and yet they impact the rest of our lives...daily. Just because you have a ceremony doesn't mean you are truly married--legally...yes--truly...no.

I think you would agree there is a multitude of couples out there that are far from having a true marriage. Each day is filled with selfish ambition with little thought of the daily sacrifice needed for a marriage. For many, the ceremony was just an opportunity for a "get-together." In and of itself, it is just merely a symbol; but the marriage is found in the vows spoken, if you had blinked, you may have missed them during the ceremony. The marriage is the choice to fulfill those simple vows. If you find a couple who has been married for fifty years, chances are pretty good they would tell you it really is a daily choice.

Our Christian walk is much the same. Many believe that once we are baptized, the rest of life is a free-for-all. However Luke 9:23 says, "The he said to them all: 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.' " Once again, it's a choice. Every morning as we stir from our slumber (or maybe for some after your first cup of coffee...), we have a choice. Do we follow him or do we remain seated on the throne of our own lives. Luckily for us, His forgiveness never runs out and every morning we have that choice to make with a clean slate. "Through the LORD s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning." (Lamentations 3:22-23a).

We may all have "the wedding", but we are called daily into "the marriage." So after the ceremony is over, you may ask, "What now?" The answer is simple....EVERYTHING.

By the way....CONGRATULATIONS, Tom & Jackie. We had a BLAST!!!

Hope, Belief & Curling Iron

There was a lady I came to know back in Colorado, who shopped at my store every once in awhile. I never knew her name, but I knew her face. And I'll never forget the day I learned her story.

From the day I met her, she was alway wearing a do-rag, which was not uncommon in Vail. She would arrive, shop around, and maybe purchase a few items--she would always smile. A rare refreshment in my day. One day as she approached the counter, I realized the do-rag was not just a way to keep her hair out of her eyes as she exercised, nor was it a just a fashion statement. She wore it to feel normal. Under that do-rag were the frail remains of once flowing locks of hair. I assume she recognized the curiousness on my face, and my pause was probably something she was used to experiencing. She smiled and shared her story with me.

She had been diagnosed with cancer some time back and was now undergoing chemo-therapy treatments, and it truly had taken it's toll. Eight months prior, her hair had begun to thin, people had begun to stare, and she had begun wearing the do-rag in which I was so accustomed to seeing her. In addition to the pain of losing what many would consider her "outer beauty," her doctors shared that they were all skeptical of the cancer going into remission.

Despite what the "professionals" thought, she felt that sometime down the road, her health would return, as well as her hair. The hope and belief in her eventual recovery prompted her to do something many people would not have the strength or courage to do. As she finished her story, she placed a curling iron on the counter to purchase. And as she looked at me, she smiled once again and said, "Someday."

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13