Will Davis Jr.'s Blog, page 83

Are You Teachable?

And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” Luke 7:40

I have to give Simon credit. He must have known that a zinger was coming. Simon had invited Jesus to a public dinner at his house. When Jesus arrived, Simon was unprepared to give him the usual welcome of a kiss and foot-washing. It was a major social blunder on Simon’s part, if not a deliberate dig at Jesus. So when a well-known prostitute took advantage of the public setting to worship and honor Jesus, Simon’s thoughts on the matter must have been pretty apparent. His disdain, not only for the woman, but also of Jesus’ tolerance of her, was obvious. So Jesus took the opportunity to provide a teaching moment for Simon.

Now let’s not be mistaken here. Jesus’ reputation for straight-shooting had clearly preceded him to this party. That’s probably part of why Simon had invited Jesus: he wanted to see what Jesus might say. So when Jesus leveled his holy gaze at Simon and said, “Simon, I have something to say to you,” Simon must have known what was coming. It surely wasn’t going to be pretty. Jesus was loaded for bear; and in this case, the target was Simon.

Which makes his response all the more amazing. Say it, Teacher. Rather than dodging Jesus’ looming rebuke, Simon welcomed it. Rather than making excuses, Simon sat quietly and listened. When Jesus basically asked permission to speak his holy mind to Simon, Simon had the courage to grant it. It makes you wonder if Simon may have had much more respect for Jesus than he had indicated.

So what about you? Do you welcome the instruction of Jesus? Are you open to the loving rebukes that are bound to come from a holy Savior? What is your response to Jesus when he wants to instruct you? Do you have the courage to welcome it? Are you a “Say it, Teacher,” Christian?

Let’s be humble enough to let God’s Spirit train us. He will use the Bible, prayer, teaching and community with other believers to instruct you. Don’t fight them off. Be hungry enough for growth and spiritual truth to hear Jesus’ speak, even if you know it’s going to be rough.

Want to learn more? Click Here.

When was the Last Time You Prayed for Daily Bread?

Back to the million-dollar question—what do I need?  I need food. I need air. I need water. But I also need clothes. I need a place to live. I need income. I need transportation. So what do I really need? And, when does need move over into the much more exciting world of want. I need food, but I want pizza. I need water, but I want it to be from the Rockies, or at least from an Arkansas spring. I need clothes, but I want Levi’s and Ariat boots. On and on it goes. That’s why we have such a difficult time defining enough. In the ever-graying world between wants and needs, finding enough can prove to be very elusive.

Enter Jesus. The man we worship as King of Kings and Lord of Lords never struggled with the concept of enough. The God who left heaven to live as slave, the King of the universe who had no earthly place to lay his head, the creator of all things who died with absolutely nothing, never once struggled to figure out what enough meant. And he didn’t hesitate to make it clear to his disciples.

When his disciples asked him to teach them to pray, Jesus gave them the brief yet profound model of the Lord’s Prayer. In it, he included a line about seeking God’s provision. I’m sure you can quote it: Give us this day our daily bread, (Matthew 6:11). In one sweeping statement, Jesus presented his followers with a clear picture of what he considered to be enough. Jesus’ daily bread reference no doubt harkens back to the account of Israel’s wanderings in the wilderness, where God gave them daily provision of manna and quail for forty years.

In Jesus’ mind, that’s all God promises. He promises to give us what we need today. He doesn’t promise to provide for tomorrow, next week, next month or next year. He doesn’t promise to provide in advance for our retirement. All he offers is today. According to God, today is enough. And you know what’s really interesting? If we lived on what Jesus called enough, if we lived with just enough to meet our immediate needs, most of us would think we were poor. But we wouldn’t be. We’d simply have enough.

Want to read more? Click Here

Perspective

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Psalm 63:4

Thoughts on Muslim Athletes, Ramadan, Fasting During the Olympics and Christians

The month of Ramadan began July 20th and is observed by Muslims around the world. As part of keeping the five pillars of Islam, Muslims are required to fast during daylight hours–that means no food or drink at all–every day during the month. The fast is strictly observed in Muslim countries and is seen as an important step in humbling oneself and honoring Allah.

The fasting requirement has created quite a quandary for many Muslim athletes competing in London’s Olympic games. London has 17 hours of daylight currently and that means that many Muslim competitors would have to compete in their respective events without being able to eat or drink anything before or after. Obviously, such fasting could set them at a serious disadvantage, depending on their event.

Those athletes seeking to get around the fasting requirement aren’t getting much support from religion leaders. One Muslim leader commented: “Playing sports is not a requirement in Islam. Players become athletes by choice. This optional activity, therefore, does not allow athletes to break their fast. They must be ambassadors of their faith. Meaning that Islam must be present in their actions, and they do not fall into anything that Islam forbids.” Read more here.

One alternative being considered is that each Muslim athlete feed 1,800 poor people as part of keeping the Muslim pillar of charity and thus be able to postpone his or her Ramadan fast until later in the year.

The commitment of these athletes inspires me. Much like the Jews in my neighborhood who walk to their synagogue on Saturday, these Muslim young men and women who observe the fast show an amazing level of commitment to their faith and personal discipline; a level in fact, that far exceeds that of many Christ-followers.

In a day where many Christians put worship, discipleship and serving after vacation, select sports, cheer camp, their weekly golf game or lake outing, and even schedule their small group around their favorite TV shows, the commitment of these Muslims is both inspiring and humbling. I cannot help but respect them for their tenacity and willingness to sacrifice for their faith. I can also only pray that I will be as humble and committed to Christ as they are to Allah.

I need to acknowledge here that there are theological differences in our respective faiths that make participation in disciplines more compulsory for a Muslim than for a Christian, but that’s another blog for another time.

The point of this entry is to simply applaud these amazing athletes for their commitment to both their faith and their athletics, even when such mutual commitment is very difficult.

Christians, nowhere in Islam is there a claim that the innocent and holy died for the guilty and unholy. Shouldn’t we, who believe we have received the greatest gift a person can receive–grace–be even more sold out and radical in our obedience than those who know no such gift? Think about it.

 Are you ready to discover what it means to have enough? Click here.

 

 

 

Breathtaking Post from a Survivor of the Aurora Shooting

Click here to read

A Miniature Clay Pot

We have this treasure in earthen vessels 2 Corinthians 4:7

Click here to read. Well worth it.

Does God have a Definition of Enough?

How do I know when I have enough? Can enough even really be quantified? Shouldn’t the real definition of enough be left up to each person to figure out? Don’t we in the U.S. have a constitutional right to determine our own enough as we pursue life, liberty and happiness?  For some, enough might be living in a mobile home park; for others, it might require a house in the Hamptons. Who’s to say, and how can we really know?

If you’re a Christian, you don’t have to wonder. God knew that we would have a difficult time defining enough. We do well with recipes and car payments, when we know exactly how much sugar or money we need. But when it’s up to us, when it comes to establishing a standard of living with enough, we have a hard time drawing the line.

So God gave us a standard. His Word offers us several clear and, I might add, simple definitions of enough. The bad news is that God’s definition of enough and mine don’t typically line up. I’m afraid that God’s enough is much less than my enough.

Curious and want to read more? Click Here

Celebrities, Cookies and Jesus

On a recent flight back from Haiti, two talkative men sat down next to me in my exit row seats. They were followed by an eager male flight attendant who immediately told the guy seated next to me that he recognized him. He turned out to be , the star of the TV show Supernatural (he played the angel Castiel) as well as numerous other appearances on multiple shows including 24 and ER.The other guy currently starred on some show on the Discovery Channel.

Misha Collins

I immediately apologized for not recognizing either of them, as they had a small entourage traveling with them and I could tell they were “somebodies.” They were very gracious about it. (The guys had spent a week in Haiti with some friends and fans working in an orphanage. Good for them!)

But the steward made up for my lack of excitement. He was literally giddy over meeting the two actors and proceeded to dote on them for the entire flight. He basically turned our coach, three-seat exit row into a first class row. Well, at least two of the seats became first class–Misha’s and the other guy’s. The steward brought them warms cookies, free drinks, extra meals from first class, even the little warm towels so they could wipe their hands. And with every trip back to our row, with every set of goodies he brought to them, he had to hand them over me to his two newest friends. It was like I didn’t even exist. Not once in the three-hour flight did the steward even acknowledge me. After a while, it got to be kind of funny.

Now please understand, I don’t fault the steward for giving them special treatment and I don’t fault the two movie stars for excepting it; and again, they were gracious the entire time. That flight attendant is probably used to seeing celebrities on his flights and giving them special treatment. In fact, he’s probably encouraged to. No big deal. I certainly wasn’t offended.

But the dichotomy between how I was treated and their treatment got me thinking about Christians and the Church and how we’re often just as guilty of giving “important people” special treatment:

We cater to people who can help us get ahead
We clamor to be seen in the right circles and known by the right people
We name bricks or buildings after folks who can give enough money to be noticed
We grant some pastors, authors, and Christian musicians celebrity status, as if they’re somehow better and more important that the rest of us
And we do so, quite often, while ignoring the very folks Jesus called us to serve

And so, I’d like to offer a few statements to all of us who follow Jesus by way of reminder that there are no classes, levels or special status for anyone in the faith:

There is only one celebrity in Christianity, and he died on a cross
There are no “important” Christians, only slaves to Jesus
There is no such thing as a powerful church member, only servants
Rich people and well-known people shouldn’t be treated any differently by Christians than the homeless, the orphans and the poor
Jesus elevated the “least of these” and warned to rich to learn how to grieve, as their respective places would ultimately be switched.

My experience on the flight reminded me that as a Christian and as a leader I can’t cater to the cool or serve the celebrities any more that I pursue the poor. To do so violates the very heart of the Gospel we proclaim.

My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? James 2:1-4

 

 

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

This is Jovanus. Jovanus lives in Rwanda.

The picture on the left is Jovanus before help, before someone stepped in. The photo on the right is Jovanus after someone stepped in, after someone decided to make a difference in his life. (To read more of Jovanus’ story, check out Esther Havens’ blog.)

Question: Do you see the difference?

Question: Do you think Jovanus not only appreciates the difference, but is worth the investment? Do you think Jovanus deserves the investment?

Question: Would you be willing to cancel you country club membership or fire your personal trainer or drive your clunker for a few more years or kick your Starbucks habit so that a Jovanus can get the care he needs? Because that’s really all it comes down to. If those of us with more than enough don’t share our vast extra with people like Jovanus with less than enough, then the Jovanuses of the world will never have a chance. But if we’re willing to let go of those extras, those things we don’t need, then kids like Jovanus all over the world can get the education or health care or homes and families that God wants them to have.

Question: There is a Jovanus somewhere across town or across the world waiting for you. Are you willing to be the difference for him?

Want to know more? Check out Enough: Finding More by Living with Less.

How Would You Respond?

On Friday, Aug. 20, 1999, Dave Bowers’ world erupted in a terrifying ball of fire. He was overseeing a process at the chemical plant where he worked when there was a explosion and flash fire that, while it only lasted a few seconds, burned at 3000 degrees. Dave was instantly engulfed in the fireball. He had 3rd degree burns over 96% of his body and was given a 125% chance of not surviving his wounds. He was told in the ambulance and the ER that he would die.

And yet survive he did. Not only did Dave survive the initial trauma, but he also found the courage to push through the countless skin graphs and operations that would come in the years that followed his accident. His really is an amazing story of survival.

Dave and Carly Bowers with Susie and me at a recent camp in Colorado.

But actually, it’s more than that. Dave’s isn’t just a story of survival; it’s a story of prevailing. I had the pleasure of meeting Dave and his wife Carly recently. Let me tell you, Dave is no victim. This is a man with a sharp wit and sense of humor, a man highly engaged in life, a man with two of the most piercing blue eyes I’ve ever seen. And, this is a man deeply in love with Jesus Christ.

Dave was a believer at the time of his accident in 1999. I asked him how the fire effected his faith. He didn’t even hesitate, “It’s made it more profound.” Dave told me that before his accident he was somewhat of a casual Christian. But after the fire his gratitude to and love for Jesus took off. Instead of letting the tragedy define him, Dave chose to lean into God’s grace even in the face of unbelievable suffering. The result is a man full of God’s Spirit and eager to brag on God.

Dave and Carly even go so far as to hold a party each year on the anniversary of the fire. They simply refuse to let this thing beat them.

I’m a better man for meeting Dave. He inspires me.

So, if your life went up in flames–literally or figuratively–how would you respond?

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2

 

To read more of Dave’s Story, click here.

According to Recent Studies, Spending on Yourself is Overrated

A compelling NY Times article recently cited studies that show:

1. That people who make twice as much money as others are not twice as happy

2. That there is a point where earning more money is no longer beneficial (it’s much lower than you think)

3. That spending on others is more enjoyable than spending on ourselves.

(Read the full NYT article here)

The article states: Imagine walking down the street to work and being approached by our student Lara Aknin, who hands you an envelope. You open the envelope and find $20 and a slip of paper, which tells you to spend the cash on something for yourself by the end of the day. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal. Now imagine instead that the slip of paper told you to spend the cash on someone else. Being generous is nice, sure, but would using the money to benefit someone else actually make you happier than buying yourself the belt, DVD or apps you’ve been dying to get? Yes, and it’s not even close.

Surprised? Don’t be. These are not new conclusions; they may just be new to some of us.

Over 3000 years ago King Solomon wrote: A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed, (Proverbs 11:25).

Welcome to the reality that less is more. I’m not promoting poverty as a means to happiness. Hunger and poverty are two things the Bible clearly speaks against and two things God hates. That same Bible calls for simplicity in living and warns against the pursuit of more. Those who pursue things over God only end up frustrated. Those who trust in their wealth instead of God only come to ruin.

Want to be refreshed today? Go shopping . . . . for someone else!

Read more here.