What I Learned In and Out of Church

I had one of my better birthday weekends. I sorely missed my family but I also
enjoyed spending time with my Atlanta family. I got a ton of well wishers and
love for my birthday. And my party was off the CHAIN! L.A., you have a lot to
live up to when I get there.

I have been thinking this month building up to my birthday about all the new
things in my life I have to be grateful for. Even though it's been rough, my
life is great! All I have to do is look at it with different glasses. I have to
learn to see the good in ALL of the associations and relationships in my life.
The only way I can do that is to see the good in myself.

So let’s go to church…



Samuel 16:7 "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at
outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

John 9 - "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see
and those who see will become
blind."

You know I usually refer to entire chapters and you are encouraged to read the
entire chapters (Samuel 16, John 9, and Ephesians 5). Today, however, I’mma
just give you a sound bite and let you figure out the rest. After all, isn’t
that what we do all day every day? We only listen to parts of what each other
says. We only highlight certain parts of books. We watch music videos and
continuously flick channels on the TV. We don’t watch the game, we wait for the
highlights. I always hear that voice in my head while talking with someone
yelling – GET TO THE POINT.

And why?

So we can put our interpretation on the information we just received. And then we respond with our best judgment. And we keep finding shortcuts to rush to
judgments. Ten years after we were so idealistic, we are sitting wondering
(maybe), how we became so judgmental.....

What do we judge people on that doesn't really matter?

Too small, too short, too tall, too fat, too skinny, too young, too smart, too
stupid... For what? When did we become so judgmental? How have we limited
ourselves and our lives by prejudice? Who and what is missing from our lives
because we are afraid to step outside of the shells we've built for ourselves
over the years.

What really matters too you?

Some of the richest people dress and look and live like bums. The smartest man in the world is a cripple. Einstein couldn't remember where he lived. The bravest
of us have fears. A former Mr. Olympia turned out to be an excellent
politician. A fornicating NBA legend is becoming a legendary business man. I
feel the strongest connection with this little skinny white man who gave up sex
for life.

We live in such dark times. There are so many distractions from the good and
positive in the world. Many, many times it just seems hopeless. But then
someone makes it through. Someone succeeds and achieves everything they ever
dreamed. Then we have hope again. We wonder how they made it and what we need to do to make it too. It's simple. The light is in us. When we wake up and let
it shine and recognize the light in others, the world becomes a brighter place.


We pray - God give us faith to truly see.

Ephesians 5:14

"Wake up, O sleeper,
Rise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you."