Following Jesus is so not fair!

“But that’s not fair!”

As a dad, I think this may be one of the top three most annoying phrases in the world, and one of the most common.

Our two oldest children, Tobin (8) and Josiah (7), were miraculously endowed with some sort of internal notification system that instantly alerts them whenever the other one moves even slightly ahead on the fairness scale.

As soon that happens, we’ll hear an assortment of questions and statements that usually begin with:

“But why doesn’t he…”

“But how come I…”

“But why did he get to…”

“But why don’t I…”

And we in turn mix and match our parental response with a variety of phrases that go something like…

“Don’t worry about him…just make sure you do what you’re supposed to do…”

“Let’s working on being grateful for what we do have, not upset about what we don’t have.”

“Stop looking around…look at me…”

Typically, the fairness conversation takes a good chunk of time to wade through, and almost always revolves around something like one having six more LEGOs than the other…or got a little more soft drink in his cup…you know…earth shattering discrepancies.

The strangest part is, we don’t seem to outgrow the notification system. As we get older, it simply gets more sophisticated and continues to hinder and distract and lower our effectiveness.

And it goes much deeper than simply thinking the grass looks greener elsewhere.

In John 21, the resurrected Jesus has just finished giving the disciples a fishing lesson topped off with breakfast on the beach. (Coolest.morning.ever.)

Afterwards, He has an impromptu conversation about love that really puts Peter on the spot.

Jesus asks, “Peter, do you love me?”

Peter (on the third try) replies, “You know everything, you know that I love you.”

Jesus lowers the boom: “If you truly love me…you’re going to have to die.” [My paraphrase]

Stuff just got real.

Immediately Peter’s notification system kicks on, he starts looking around, sees another disciple named John and quips, “But what about him?” Peter knows it doesn’t seem fair, and if he has to die for loving Jesus, then John should too. Right?

Then, Jesus goes for the heart: “Don’t worry about him…you follow me.”

Reality: following Jesus isn’t fair. Fair isn’t the point…following is.

Sometimes grace looks like a manger and sometimes a cross. The journey to become who you were created begins with death and ends with life.

It seems backwards. Usually it’s the other way around. In our world, the race is on to live as much in as possible before you die. When you follow Jesus, the race is on to die as soon as possible so you can live.

When I’m faced with these things, it’s like I’m the same age as Tobin and Josiah again. Looking up at the Father and questioning, “But what about them? Why did I have to go through this? Why didn’t I get to do that?”

Again and again He responds, “Stop looking around. Stop worrying about everyone else. Eyes on me…follow me…”

I believe comparative Christianity is addictive, paralyzing and a huge time waster. Oddly enough, we rarely see those who may have things more difficult than we do, we always see the ones who seem to have it better.

You have important work to do today. Things to accomplish that no one else can.

But if you’re too busy looking around at how things are playing out for others, they won’t get done.

So…stop looking around. Fix your eyes on Jesus. He’s the Author…let Him write the story.

BEAUTY > SEXY // my review of UNTITLED, by Blaine Hogan

Ok, so full disclosure…

I’ve never once in my life written a review of anything.

So I told Blaine Hogan I’d write a review of his new book UNTITLED, because, it’s way easier to share opinions on someone else’s hard work…amiright?

Anywho, here are my thoughts…

Blaine has captured the creative journey more poignantly and honestly than anyone I have ever read before. It’s so easy to look at someone who has a larger audience, budget, platform, team, etc, and assume all the steps it took to get there. But Blaine doesn’t leave anything to assumption…if you really think you’re ready to pull back the curtain and see how the Wizard works, UNTITLED is for you.

However, if you’re looking for “how-to” manual, this really isn’t the book to read. Don’t get me wrong, these pages are filled with suggestions and wise advice that stretch all the way from the most basic to the existential, and everything in between.

But at the heart of everything, this book is about the awakening that must take place inside of us…before anything else can happen. The commitment WE must make…the work WE must do…the transformation WE must go through.

It’s about pursuing ART instead of a SALES-PITCH

STORY over SERMON…

BEAUTY rather than SEXY…

For the creatives, dreamers, designers, hopers, teachers and even if you just have a longing look or glimmer in your eye from time to time…this is for you.

One of Blaine’s points toward the beginning is to always make sure you have something more for people to see. And as my eyes scrolled past the final period of UNTITLED, I was really left with only one question…

Blaine…do you have anything else for us to see?

(Because whatever you spiked this book with…we need more of…stat.)

Ok, so what are you waiting for? You should probably go get a copy of UNTITLED right…now…and here’s the LINK.

Waiting for the rat to die

Numb.

I haven’t asked her personally, but I can’t imagine Susanne Geske felt any other way.

Events had unfolded quickly, questions and speculation were swirling, but one thing she and her three young children knew for sure: daddy wasn’t coming home.

An attack had taken place in a small office on the fourth floor of a Malatya, Turkey office building, and now Necati Aydin, Tilman Geske and Ugur Yuksel were dead.

Barbarically murdered for their faith.

They had arrived for their regular meeting with five young Turkish men who had claimed to be interested in learning more about Christianity several months before.

Instead, when police finally were able to break into the room, they found an incomprehensible scene: the three missionaries tied to chairs, throats cut, innumerable stab wounds and grotesque evidence of hours of excruciating torture simply too graphic to write here.

The families were stunned.

The city was plunged into an uproar.

Confusion.

Anger.

Heartbreak.

How? Why?

Then…millions of eyes and ears turned to the grieving families.

What will they say? How will they respond?

As the global spotlight shone brightly on her, Susanne must have known she was walking a public relations tight-rope between two powder kegs.

Dripping with transcendent peace, here are her words:

“I made a quick prayer and the word from the Lord came to my mind when Jesus was on the cross and said ‘Father forgive them for they don’t know what they’re doing.’ I thought ‘yes that’s it’…so I stood up and went to these people and said: ‘Okay I’ll do what Jesus did’”

There would be plenty of time for consequences…later.

There would be plenty of room for grappling with reality…later.

But, in order for Heaven to exhale the breath of grace, there was something that needed to happen immediately:

Forgiveness.

A Turkish journalist later remarked, “She said in one sentence what 1,000 missionaries in 1,000 years could never do.”

Honestly, this story, while amazing and true, still seems very far away from me. The picture of Christ-like forgiveness is unmistakable, but somehow we always find a reason to continue withholding forgiveness, don’t we?

And it’s completely subjective.

I can so easily say, “You just don’t understand what I’ve been through.”

But over time I have been learning something that is slowly changing everything:

Refusing to forgive is like locking myself in a prison cell and giving the key to the person who hurt me.

Why would I continue to give them that much power over me?

If I stay locked up…they win.

Anne Lamott says, “Not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and waiting for the rat to die.”

We live in grudge societies. Unforgiven hurt leads to anger leads to bitterness leads to regret. Sometimes there’s even a little revenge thrown in for good measure.

I’m convinced that family feuds, counseling offices, mobs and wars are fueled by people who are running on the addiction of refusing to let go.

I have friends who have been raped, abused, abandoned, or had their world completely wrecked by someone else. The stories of our lives include some unbelievably difficult chapters.

But it doesn’t change the fact that God’s heart for us is that we live in freedom.

Susanne and her children have decided to stay in Turkey and continue the amazing work they started. They know the story isn’t finished…there is still much work to be done.

Instead of cowering in the shadow of fear, they are choosing to stand in the power of the cross.

May the same be true of us, no matter what we face.

———————-

Have you ever extended forgiveness out of a difficult experience?

Are you still working on it?

What’s your story?

The Tilman family

Win a ticket to the Quitter conference with Jon Acuff!

So, my buddy Jon Acuff is hosting an incredible event, and I’m giving someone a chance to go FOR FREE!

First…click here to see what the conference is all about…

Like I said…pretty incredible.

Now…

Here’s how to have a chance to win:

1. Subscribe to my blog

2. Retweet / Share / Facebook / Google+ this post to your friends and followers

3. Write a comment under this post with your “I’m…but” story (you know, the one where you say something like, “I’m a teacher but I want to be a surgeon…”.) Tell me about your dream…tell me your story.

4. My team will go through the comments and choose the top 3 stories (who also completed the first 2 steps).

First place will get a free ticket to the event.

Second and third place will get a free signed copy of Jon’s book, Quitter.

I will announce the winners Sunday night.

So, there we go! It’s going to be an amazing day, and besides Jon, you’ll also get to hear from Jon’s wife, Jenny,  Ben Arment of Dream Year and Bryan Allain! (I will also be there helping out and would love to meet you!)

Don’t miss this!

Ok people…tell your story…can’t wait to read them!