God's Kryptonite

Have you ever seen the way a person that seems to be perfect can (because of their perfection) seem very distant or even unreal.

Now, I know
that none of us believe there is actually such thing as a perfect person, but many times we naturally, and yet wrongfully attribute higher levels of perfection to certain people. Like...

• religious people
  
• religious leaders
• bankers and politicians (oh wait, blaaa haaa haaa haaa -- if you're a banker or a politician, sorry, but thanks for the laugh)
• Police
  
• you get the idea

Now, this isn't to say that these people aren't decent people, but I think they serve as examples of my point. They are usually the type of people we think are "better behaved" than most, BUT along with this label of "better than most", these people also become somewhat removed from the rest of us. It's the pedestal effect; when we look up to someone so much that we raise them up above most others then they become kind of distant from the rest of us, kind of, "unreal".

As a Pastor I get this all the time, "dude, you're like a REAL guy". Simply meaning that they somehow realized that I'm not some stoic, perfect, super human.

This often leads me to wonder about how we relate to God, truly, the only perfect being that exists. But, did you know that the God who is sinless, perfect, and above us, is not impervious to hurt and pain??

God has a kryptonite

What could possibly hurt God", you ask!?!?

Jeremiah 8:21

"since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me".

We are His kryptonite, or maybe a better way to say it is, our pain is. Where do you think great story tellers have gotten the idea that the only thing that can hurt a superhero, is the hurting of the people he loves.

This was a human story line LONG BEFORE superman put on his tighties.

In the following verses God actually goes on to say if his eyes were springs of water, He would cry with flowing tears all day and night, feeling pain over our pain.

Have you ever thought of Jesus (the God who formed you, and all that is) as one who hurts when you hurt, who cries when you cry, who is crushed when you are crushed?

Maybe God seems close to you when life is good, but distant when life is painful or difficult, but anyone can celebrate with those that are celebrating. Only one who CARES DEEPLY can cry with those who are hurting.

So, may you know today that our God is a God who DEEPLY CARES and to whom you deeply matter.

P.S.
Serve First Sunday was AWESOME! I will write more about the impact we had latter this week.

Serve First Sunday

That's what we're calling it now.

Calling what?

Calling the belief that we need to keep serving our city as a first priority of our church. A belief that serving our city is what it means to BE the church. This Sunday we will replace the "typical" service with an opportunity to put our faith into deeds. If you have somehow missed all the times we've talked about it lately then below are the details.

DO NOT MISS THIS WEEK

Yes, it will be different (if you're not used to Paradox yet) but I promise it will be awesome, and I promise that in a very real way, you will be offering a cup of cold water (Matthew 25:31-46) in the name of Jesus to people desperately thirsty.

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This Sunday, August 29, Paradox will be serving our community. There will not be a typical Sunday service. Instead, we'll work on several projects to support Compassion Pregnancy Center. First, we'll have a team at the Center painting and moving supplies to help them prepare for their upcoming renovation. This team is currently full of wonderful volunteers who have already signed up. Second, we'll have three teams working at the Warren Community Center that morning: one team will pack boxes with supplies for new moms, one team will write letters of hope to the new moms, and the third team will work with Paradox children to count donated coins and draw pictures.

Finally, we'll need donations to put together layette packages for new moms. Below is a complete list of items that each package needs to include. Choose any item(s) from the list you are able to donate and bring them with you to church on Sunday morning, where they will be sorted and packed. (Items should be new or very gently used.)

· jacket (0-3 mths)

· small package of disposable diapers-size 1

· baby bathtub

· 1 baby wash

· 1 baby shampoo

· 1 baby lotion

· 2 regular bottles

· baby blanket or afghan

· fitted crib sheet

· 2 receiving blankets

· 1 baby towel

· 3 washcloths

· 2 bibs (0-3 mths)

· 2 hats (0-3 mths)

· 2 pair of socks (0-3 mths)

· 1 pair of shoes (0-3 mths)

· 3 onesies (0-3 mths)

· 1 gown (0-3 mths)

· 2 sleepers (0-3 mths)

· 1 sleeper (3-6 mths)

· 2 outfits (0-3 mths)

· 2 outfits (3-6 mths)

The Center is also looking for NEW convertible car seats.

With everyone's help, Paradox can make a huge impact on the lives of many women and children!

Sometimes It Only Works Good Once

I borrowed this post from another blogger, a guy named Seth Godin. Seth is a business and marketing consultant that writes with a unique emphasis on the people of business more than the business of business.

I found the article interesting because it applies to so many places in life, not just business. Have you ever felt like in your marriage, or a friendship, or in your ministry at church, like what once brought so much fruit and, "bang for the buck", doesn't work with as much effect a second or third time around?

It's something I both love and hate about ministry. LOVE: We are able to constantly be creative and always experiment with new ways to spread the Gospel. HATE: Sometimes it can be frustrating when something that worked so well once (a Sunday service, a event, an encouragement, an idea, etc...) stops being as effective as it once was, and you have to go back to the drawing board again.

Maybe some of the things around us, a friendship, a marriage, a life group, etc.., are overdue for a new & fresh change.

Hope you enjoy Seth's article below, I hope it provokes thought that provokes change.
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Senior management

A newly-retired executive takes a job as an adjunct professor and really shakes things up. Both the school and the students are blown away by her fresh thinking and new approaches.

A forty-year old internet executive who has been running his company for decades misses one new trend after another, because he's still living in 1998.

One thing that happens to management when they get senior is that they get stuck. (As we saw with the new professor, senior isn't about old, it's about how long you've been there).

If you've been doing it forever, you discover (but may not realize) that the things that got you this power are no longer dependable.

Reliance on the tried and true can backfire (Rupert keeps missing one opportunity after another, and keeps misunderstanding the medium he works in) or it can (rarely) pay off (Steve Jobs keeps repeating the same business model again and again--it's not an accident that Apple has no real online or social media footprint. Steve believes in beautifully designed objects, closed systems and evangelizing to developers and creatives).

Worth quoting--one of Arthur C. Clarke's lesser known three laws: "When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is probably wrong."

The paradox is that by the time you get to be senior, the decisions that matter the most are the ones that would be best made made by people who are junior...

Deadliest Catch

This just in...

Our quickly approaching, new series just finalized the titles last night.

The series will be called Deadliest Catch

The series will run for three weeks...

9/12 - Red sky in the morning

9/19 - Seeking the catch

9/26 - Man overboard

Wanna know more? Then make sure to join us, this is going to be a fun one -- but you may get wet if you sit in the front row ;)

The Whole World Is Getting Married

I'm willing to admit that that might be a slight exaggeration, but it feels like it!

This week 4 of my days will be filled with preparation for three coming weddings, and over the next month I have 4 ceremonies that I will be performing. Soooo, this is going to be a bit of a crazy week for my schedule (actually a crazy month).

Then tonight is practice # 1 for the soccer team that I am helping coach. It's my first time coaching an organized sport and my son's first time playing an organized sport, we're both pretty dang excited. The only problem is that, the other guy that is helping coach the team has never done it before either so, this might turn out to be the bad news bears of soccer, but we're going to have fun!

This Sunday at Paradox is a serve Sunday which means that our "service" will be serving, so make sure NOT to miss this week.

So, there ya go, not that you asked about my week but now you know.

By the way, if you missed this last Sunday at Paradox -- WOW!! Tom did an incredible job and who knew Drew-P could sing like Christ Martin (Coldplay), and then there was the ninja performance with the glowing balls - you should have been there. Paradox is is so lucky to have the creative team and peeps that we do; they are all amazing.

I'm Freaking Out!

Last week while I was finishing up my vacation with my family, my kids decided to turn jumping off the sea wall at the house into a competition.

It was about an 8-10 foot drop to the water and all but one of my kids were running and plunging in with no hesitation. The funny thing is, it was my daughter Corinne who was the cautious one, and usually she's the daredevil of the family.

You could see she wanted to join in but for some reason she just kept truing back while in mid run.

Once I asked her if she wanted me to help her & she said "no" so I started pushing a little harder, "come on sweet heart, daddy will be right here with you & will help you, how about if I catch you from in the water, or what if..."

I knew she would be disappointed if she never tried but as I encouraged her to try she just got more upset until finally she looked at me and said,

"dad, you're freaking me out!!"

Where does a three year old learn such ways of speaking you ask?...

...It's totally from her mom.

This Sunday we will be continuing on in our series through the book of Philippians, and the Apostle Paul is going to talk to us, and confront us, about our our tendencies to freak out.

I'll never disagree that there are always plenty of reasons to freak out and be anxious, but there are always more reasons to rejoice and celebrate -- it's all about what we CHOOSE. And what we choose will effect us, our connection with Jesus, our families, our church, and ultimately our mission as Christians. Freaking out always makes us turn back while in mid run.

Wanna know how to deal with anxiety?... ...see ya Sunday.

Run Forest Run!!

Probably the most recognized, cinematic, retreat of all time is Forest Gump retreating from his pickup, pursuing, bullies. By the way, why do movie bullies so often drive pick up trucks!?!?

If you're reading this and you drive a pick up truck there is a good chance you're a bully. I know that may be hard to hear but, better that you hear it from someone who cares.

Well, this weekend (Friday and Saturday) the staff and several key leaders of Paradox are going to retreat too. We're going on a retreat to find & pummel pickup bullies -- beware bullies, beware!!

Actually, we're not running away from anything, we'll be running TOWARDS Jesus.

We're going away for a day and a half to pray & seek God together. We haven't done anything like this since we launched and I think it's not only overdue, but will be a crucial event for our church. Please pray that God will be very present with us. Pray also that He will create a unity among the team, a passion for for our mission, and clarity of what we need to focus on as leaders this next year.

We want to see our church grow in it's impact in our community by reaching more people for Jesus, and I really believe this time away with our leaders will be a crucial part of that happening.

Some of us will be fasting Friday and Saturday and asking God to do what I just asked you to pray for. We will also be fasting in an effort to create better clarity in our own hearts and heads so we can be more receptive to the voice and presence of Jesus. We will also be fasting with prayers asking God to respond to the many needs both in our church and in our community around us.

Even if you're not joining us on the retreat I'd love to have you fast with us. So, please consider being a part of the weekend by being a part of the prayer and fasting with us.

Love you all, see ya on Sunday.

Your Actions Or Your Heart

In our pursuit of Jesus I wonder what we are really pursuing most of the time. All through the scriptures there are warnings to guard our heart, WHY? Because, it's from our heart that we are to live for Christ but, truthfully it's easier to give Him our actions than our heart. I often see people that are pursuing what LOOKS like Christianity but, is merely, religious behavior and the problem with religious behaviors is that it can be done really well but have nothing do do with love & passion for Jesus.

Think about it this way, when you and your spouse are in an argument that seems to stretch on for a few days, is it easier when you see each other to do the "right thing" or is it easier to feel love for each other? Is it easier to...

• Say hello, good bye and see ya latter
  
• Stop and pick up the groceries they text you to bring home
• Not yell in front of the kids
  
• Even say "love ya" at night before you role over (even though you say it with a bit of attitude)
  

or is it easier to...

• Feel passion for them
  
• Put their needs ahead of your own
  
• Kiss them tenderly when you see each other
  
• Surprise each other with a gift
• Cuddle and talk about the day before falling asleep
  

The second list is all about the behaviors that extend from the heart where as the first list is all about behaviors that extend from perhaps a sense of duty, or image (don't want to look bad in front of others) or even twisted competition (I'm going to be a better person then they are, I'll show them) but they do not extend from the heart, they do not extend form love.

So often it seems like many Christians relate to Jesus and and the Christian life out of behavior that is more like the couple fighting (doing the right things but with no true love or passion) than the couple truly in love.

It's from our heart that we are to live for Christ but, truthfully it's easier to give Him our actions than our heart

In the Old Testament book of Jeremiah God confronts the people of Israel on this very way of relating to Him when He says to them, "They have turned their backs to me and not their faces."

When your back is facing a person but you're looking at them it still means your entire body is facing another way. It means that you are moving AWAY from the person even if you're looking at them.

See, Israel had gotten good at looking religious and turning to God when it seemed convenient but they had lost their

LOVE for Him

It's about our hearts changing not our actions. LOVE the Lord your God not OBEY your God. The former WILL produce the latter but switch the order and you have either a dead or arrogant faith. A faith that might not even look, bad but a faith in which the passion and love of your heart for Jesus, is not what you're living from.

I wonder what would be different if each day we asked God to increase our love and passion for Him. Are you more attentive to your actions as a Christians or your heart? What would it look like for you to begin to pay more attention to, and give more energy to developing your passion and love for Jesus?

Farewell Pixy

This morning my son came into my office to tell me something was wrong with his hamster named Pixy. We knew she had a stroke about a month ago but she had seemed to pull through ok. Well, this morning she died.

Now I know it's just a hamster but sitting with my son while he cried, and hugged his mom was maybe one of the saddest moments I've experienced in a long time.

We had a chance to sit with Tobin and pray and thank Jesus for Pixy and for the gift and joy she was to him, and later today we will have a little burial service for her in the backyard.

I know it's a simple thing, but my little boy's heart is broken and my family is all sad with him & for him. So, if you would, please pray a prayer for my Tobin.

Guerrilla Lovers

Possibly one of the funniest books Ive read in a while was written by a friend of mine, it's called "Guerrilla Lovers'.

The books is about being so committed to Jesus that we love the people around us, in simple but life changing ways; ways that ultimately spark a revolution of love.
I've been enjoying reading this on my time off and am getting more & more excited about the series, based on this book, that we'll be starting this fall.

If you want to get a head start on the series, then you can get a copy of the book -- HERE
and start gettin your guerrilla love on.

Tip For The Day

If you go to sterlingfest (a 3 day art & music fair at dodge park in Sterling Heights) they are giving out a free Slurpee, to every person, right near the entrance!

The fair ends tonight so don't think you can take advantage of this life enhancing offer tomorrow.

Hey, I love you guys so, I'm always on the lookout for how I can help make your life just a little better. There's your tip for a better Saturday, maybe my Slurpee LOVIN clan will see you up there latter today.

All You Need Is A Craig And A Dream

Thanks to my friend Vince Antonucci, I discovered one of the funnest websites I've been to in a while.

It's a slogan generator, you enter a word or a phrase and it spits out a slogan. For example I entered my name, Craig, and it spit out, "all you need is a Craig and a dream", I agree.

Then I entered, Paradox, & it spit out, "Men just can't help but to act on Paradox". I have no idea what that means but I think I agree.

Check it out here -- SLOGAN GENERATOR

So, whatever horrors your day may include, take solace in the fact that I just made your life a little better than it was just moments ago -- your welcome!

High Quality H2O

If you saw the movie the water boy then you probably remember that line or you just remembered that you still want those two hours of your life back.

Either way, I'm out in a kayak right now trying to think, pray, read, and relax. My time off has been good and somehow being on the water and in the woods (I was hiking earlier) has a way of relaxing me like few things can.

Makes me think it must be some pretty high quality H2O I'm on right now, wonder what my momma would say :)

14 Years

This morning the kids are at grandmas, the house is quiet and my girl and I celebrate 14 years of living out our vows together.

I realy do love her more each year, and love having grown up with her this last decade and a half. She is all that comforts me about growing old.

Happy anniversary baby.