The 2010 Year-Ender

DEC 26 2010 - Jan 1 2011 — THE 2010 YEAR-ENDER — ISSUE 186

In five days 2011 begins. That means you have less than 120 hours to accomplish all those goals you set for yourself back at the end of 2009. Or I guess you could leave the country so no one can hold you accountable for not accomplishing them. Either way your week is looking mighty busy, so you should probably get cracking.

As usual, at the end of this issue are the Top 10 Middle names of the year. No Peeking! It took me a while to knock down 51 to 10, so if you're gonna' peek, at least scroll slowly and make a fake drum roll while you do it.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."- Solomon

Sometimes I think we don't get much out of life because we don't take moments as they come, but instead focus on those to come. I can't enjoy a meal if I'm only focused on the dishes I'll be doing later. I can't enjoy my time with a person if I'm thinking about what I have to do to be ready for work tomorrow. I can't embrace my time with God if I'm dwelling on everything I have to do before company comes over later.

Rather than letting yourself get caught up in all the schedule-obsessed, deadline restricted calender making for the year to come as we set new goals (or reset old ones), take a different approach. Pray and focus on daily activities, that you'll recognize opportunities as they come, so you'll use time appropriately and reduce that burden we feel when we look past what we're doing right then and become defeated by all the things still in waiting.

Find satisfaction in your current tasks. Make small goals that will add up to your larger plans, but not leave you feeling overwhelmed individually. Enjoy life. Enjoy each moment. Enjoy time as it comes.

Brett "I'm not even gonna' try on this middle name since it can't make it in the Top 10 anyway" Hibbler

THE TOP 10 "MIDDLE NAMES" OF 2010:

10 Brett "Miracle Gro + Me = a free trip to the hospital for poison treatment" Hibbler
9 Brett "When sin says 'Merry Christmas' to me, I say 'Bah, humbug!' to it, wrap my man-shawl tighter, slam the door, and then stomp upstairs to have some crazy, time-traveling, ghost-filled dreams" Hibbler
8 Brett "If I put on my schedule to do something spontaneous, is it still spontaneous?" Hibbler
7 Brett "The last time I tried to dance, someone threw me a life preserver thinking I was drowning on dry land" Hibbler
6 Brett "If spellchecker has dropped the word you're using out of its nearly unlimited index of words because it's so old, it's time to let it go" Hibbler
5 Brett "If only a mother's kiss could give me a goatee like Robert Downey Jr.'s in Iron Man ll" Hibbler
4 Brett "You call it Day Light Savings, I call it a super power" Hibbler
3 Brett "I'm writing a self help book: How To Be Short In A Tall Man's World'" Hibbler
2 Brett "If I were a chocolate bunny, I'd probably nibble off my own ears" Hibbler
1 Brett "Your ego thinks my ego is magnificent and mine agrees" Hibbler

Be A Scrooge

DEC 19 - DEC 25 2010 — BE A SCROOGE — ISSUE 185

Tis the season for the return of some familiar holiday characters. Santa (obviously) and his army of elves and reindeer, the Grinch and those energetic Whos, Frosty and his hat, Charlie Brown and gang, and good 'ol Ebeneezer Scrooge. Of all the characters that come out during Christmas, there's one I feel we can really embrace and even emulate with our own lives. And as much fun as it would be to wear giant black hats and pretend to be melting in public places, or to wrap ourselves in a green carpet and steal small children's toys, the character I'm talking about is Ebeneezer himself.

Scrooge, as we all know, was a rich miser who had no heart, even refusing to help poor Tiny Tim who would soon die if Scrooge didn't intervene. Not exactly the kind of guy you want to emulate. That is, until now. Before I explain, let's change topics for a moment, and then tie it all together like some perfectly constructed sugar-cookie knot that's both edible and functional.

JOHN 12:3-6

Interesting story, right? Mary uses a perfume worth a year's wages (let that sink in a moment) on Jesus' feet, and Judas offers a very, very legitimate counter argument. A year's wages could definitely have been used more effectively from a logic standpoint, and her actions hardly seem like those fitting of a good steward, something we're told to be as Christians. As scripture indicated here and elsewhere, though, Judas' real beef wasn't that he wanted to help the poor, but instead himself. He just covered his heart with a noble, even righteous, argument.

When sin comes, it often appears in all sorts of ways; it begs us, teases us, makes promises to us, entices us, lies to us, challenges our pride, dares us, and sometimes it even appeals to us in the form of righteousness; like an orphan on the street wanting our help and one which appears innocent, but upon closer inspection is just a front for a con. It's this form of sin that can be the hardest to identify at times, and the one that tripped up the Jewish leaders of Christ's era. So much of their sin was covered under the guise of righteousness, but remained sin because of their true hearts, not their actions.

Judas said the right thing in that situation, acting on behalf of a very noble, Christ-like cause, yet he was simply justifying and covering up his twisted, selfish intentions. Don't we do this at times? Don't we try to justify an action, a statement, a thought, an impulse, by using a logic-based, noble-intentioned cover story? Don't we also justify not doing something radical for God by other seemingly-noble reasons? "If I stay up late or get up early for God, I'll be short on sleep which means I'll be less coherent and functional at work, which isn't being a good example to my coworkers of a Christian work-ethic. If I drive to that event, it'll cost me gas, and I'd be better using those funds to pay down that debt I have." That list goes on for miles.

Wasn't this woman wasting money?! Blowing it?! Absolutely. Yet Jesus was honored by this act and defended her, even saying that wherever the Gospel is preached, her story will be told, something we've all witnessed to be true.

Maybe we need to get out of that box of rules that so often defines our walks and realize sincerity is far more important to God than blind obedience. Sometimes we need to be honest with ourselves, and own up to our true hearts instead of pretending to be righteous. Sometimes we need to do radical things for God, where our motive is purely to give Him honor and glory, where He'll be honored even if it's a bit "reckless" from a "being responsible" standpoint. Won't the fire and excitement from that truth, that sincerity, that radical thing carry us through the next day? Won't it override any amount of sacrifice we make? Won't the feeling of being alive in our faith fill us up, much like Christ felt when He fed on spiritual food over actual food? (John 4)

When sin comes begging at that door, acting all pure and innocent and in need, seeking to cover your bad heart with a veil of righteousness, be a Scrooge! Bah humbug that orphan back to the gutter. Be stingy. Be angry. Be the big fat meany you've all wanted to be at times when something or someone is frustrating you. Unleash it all on that sin.

This holiday season, bah humbug your way into Heaven.

Brett "When sin says 'Merry Christmas' to me, I say 'Bah, humbug!' to it, wrap my man-shawl tighter, slam the door, and then stomp upstairs to have some crazy, time-traveling, ghost-filled dreams" Hibbler

That Sinking Feeling...

DEC 12 - DEC 18 2010 — THAT SINKING FEELING... — ISSUE 184
Guest Author Randall Laraway

As I stated not-so-long ago — which, as fast as times moves anymore, could have been three years, two weeks, and four days ago and it would still seem as fresh as our first look in the mirror after having our braces removed where we saw our teeth for the first time in years only to realize they're ginormous and thus never smiling again for fear of being called "Buck Tooth" by all of our oh-so-forgiving teenage classmates (Or was that just me?) — I'll be slipping in some guest authors here and there to keep the 'C fresh. I apparently will also be slipping in my old habit of writing an entire paragraph in the form of one long run-on sentence.

But back to the point. This week's guest author is a man you'll count yourself lucky to meet if you haven't already made his acquaintance, a Mr. Randall Laraway from the Cleveland Church. His story of God's hand in his life is one that will move your heart, and his life and demeanor since then breeds inspiration. He too sends out a weekly letter, and I really wanted to share this one with you. Enjoy.

––––––––––––

"SHREVEPORT, La. — Christopher Patlan was hanging out with friends on the Red River when he heard the desperate screams coming from seven teenagers.  One minute they were wading in shallow water, the next they plunged into a drop-off 25 feet deep."

"Patlan bolted the 10 yards to the river and jumped in, saving 15-year-old DeKendrix Warner.  By the time he had dragged the boy to safety, the six others from two families — all non-swimmers — had drowned.  Family members, who also can't swim, watched helplessly."  Unquote...

What do you do when your children are literally drowning right before your eyes?  The screams, the frantic running back and forth, the tears of total brokenness, helplessness, their hearts crying out for someone to HELP---unable to help their OWN children who only minutes before were playing, and enjoying a nice day with parents & friends at a cook out on the edge of a river.

OH, that DANGEROUS river!!!  The current was swift, the sandy shore was soft and loose...UNSTABLE.  IF ONLY THEY'D HEEDED THE OBVIOUS ? ! ? !   Is this not how the river of life in the world takes us by surprise?   That river of "life" we think is so cool and "right."   But SUDDENLY, that river of life becomes the sinister river of death that will steal our very soul---suck us DOWN into the depths of everlasting hell!!!

Not a pleasant thought you say?  Rather shocking?  But it actually did happen to real families.  So do matters of the heart become treacherous if we---as God's family---persist in our sin and give in to temptations.  As God's children HE IS DOING EVERYTHING TO GET OUR ATTENTION!!!  Like Sonny said this evening, God even gave HIS ONLY SON to buy us back out of the hands of Satan---yes, even from out of the consequences of our own sins!   HOW can I get away from any temptation coming at me?   Then cry out,... "O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, the worst of sinners!"   So, dear brother, can you swim?  Have you or are you teaching your children to swim.....that is, swim in the Godly ways of Jesus and the Bible?  OR what kind of example do you display to your kids?   Plus, let's be sure to stay away from those things that allure us away from God and into darkness and uncertainty.

It was encouraging to sing that closing song: "Love Lifted Me."  I was sinking deep in sin, Far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, Sinking to rise no more; But the Master of the sea Heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me, NOW---safe, am I.   L-o-v-e lifted me, YES, love lifted me...when NOTHING else would help.....LOVE lifted me.

With sincere love and respect, ybiC, Randall

The Wonderful World Of Now

DEC 5 - DEC 11 2010 — THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF NOW — ISSUE 183

At the risk of sacrificing every last ounce of my manhood, can I just say how much I wish life was like a Disney Cartoon? Think about it. At any given moment you could bust into a random song which perfectly articulates everything you're feeling in a such an emotional and melodic way, that every person in your town will join in, creating a rambunctious song and dance sure to make it's way straight to the top of the soundtrack charts, and at just the right moment, the dream of your life will break into a duet with you, even though neither of you have ever heard the song before and couldn't possibly know what words or notes come next. Plus, you'd get a super cool animal companion that always cheers you up and somehow communicates well enough with humans to scrounge up your friends when you've fallen in trouble. In fact, about the only downer to being in a Disney film is that you'd have some crazy aunt or uncle or step mom that wants to make your life miserable until ultimately deciding one day to just bump you off. A bummer for sure, but eventually you'll defeat them thanks to the help of your fairy-god-whatever, so it's all good because that's exactly what "Happily Ever After" means; at the end of all those struggles and trials, all ends well for the rest of your life. (Or until a rash of non-hits by the studio forces them to make a sequel and thus add drama to your life one more time.)

Though it would be an interesting social experiment to see how many people would join you in a spontaneous song and dance in the middle of the mall, for those of us not blessed with a Disney voice, that's not a real viable option. The optimism, genuine nature, kindness, and dedication always carried by the lead characters, who often find themselves in very unenviable positions (picked on, disrespected, treated lowly, given all the worst chores, locked up, and denied even some of the most basic privileges), and even loyalty to those who are causing their woes, is one to be admired and is far more obtainable. And though that joy seems almost unreal in light of where they're at, it's not if you realize that it stems from one very simple thing, a dream. They always have an unquenchable hope of one day attaining some bigger purpose, of living a life where they've left their current trials behind and are living happily ever after.

As Christians, we're past the part of our troubled pasts; we buried that part of our life in the waters of baptism. Our dreams of living Happily Ever After have begun, having been given the gift eternal life with only the housing part of that promise still to come. Yes, our "crazy uncle", played so demonically by Satan, still envies our position and wants to get his kicks in where he can. Unfortunately for him, the part of the movie where the hero, epically filled by Jesus, seems to have been defeated, only be raised from the dead, slay the villain, and conquer death and sin once and for all, ushering in new life and eternal promises, has already happened. And with the help of our "magic ferry-whatever", which the Holy Spirit wonderfully fills, we can continue to live in service of the Great King, our Awesome God, in the epilogue of the film.

The climax is over. Satan has lost. Our woes of being trapped by an unappreciative and suppressive world are through. So sing those songs because you're not just dreaming the dream, you're living a part of it. I guess life's more like a Disney cartoon than I thought.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18

Brett "Now that I'm grown I eat 5 dozen eggs, and I'm roughly the size of a baaaarrge!" Hibbler

That Son Is Lost Again

NOV 28 - DEC 4 2010 — THAT SON IS LOST AGAIN — ISSUE 182

One of the primary purposes of the 'C is to get you a reminder (or first notification in some cases) of all things Kingdom related that are happening here in Toledo each week. This week I have no calendars yet, nor was I upstairs to hear announcements, so I cannot be held responsible for anything you read below. In fact, I can guarantee some of the listed events are not gonna' happen. Can you figure out which ones?

There are lows in life, and then there are lows. Sick-to-your-stomach, don't-even-look-at-me, why-do-I-exist, I'm-a-disgrace-to-humankind lows. Those moments when you feel so alone, so separate from any form of acceptance and love, and so upset over something you've just done that hope has been replaced by impending judgment and self worth is only measurable in loathing. Typically they result from a continued failure in your life, something you're aware needs correcting but seem to mess up in time and time again, but sometimes it's just one of those actions without forethought. Regardless, many of us have had to stare at ourselves in the mirror after such a moment and it's in those moments that all our accomplishments, our success, our victories, our faithful acts of love seem completely useless, replaced by a feeling of disgust.

I remember at one of these particular moments in my life, Dave asked me if I felt so low that even God couldn't help. Obviously the answer to that is that it's impossible to be that low, to have messed up that bad (minus that whole blasphemy of the Spirit thing of course), to be beyond God's assistance and helping hand. But even though I knew that to be true, it certainly felt like I was indeed beyond repair, like that had been the last in a long line of straws to break the camel's back and now there were no more fixes.

LUKE 15:17-19

In the parable of the Lost Son, we read about a man who comes to this very conclusion, who believes he is, "no longer worthy to be called a son." He's hit the bottom. He's realized his choices and the absurdity of what he's done and it has struck him hard. But then he realizes something, something we should all remember and something Nick (thankfully) pointed out to me — where else can we go? What else is there but God? Like Peter's realization about Christ, the Words of life only come from one place and once you've tasted that truth, no other paths seem right in life.

And that's the conundrum. We know the truth, we've embraced the truth, we've loved the truth, we've served the truth, but we suddenly find ourselves a hypocrite and a willing rebel of the truth. What are we to do? It's simple really. We do what that son did, we go home. We go to God. We acknowledge what we've done, we comprehend our weakness and need of Him, and then we stand in awe of His boundless love. We accept His gift of a ring, a calf, a party.

Do you think that lost son was perfect from that day forward? Do you think he never messed up again? Do you think he never dreamed or had brief moments of fondness while thinking back to his days of recklessness that may have caused slips in his behavior? More importantly, when he did mess up again, do you think his dad's response was any less loving?

We are never beyond God's grace. We are never beyond His help. The parable of the Lost Son is as applicable to your life now as it was when you were outside the Kingdom. Remember, Christ died for us when were still enemies of God (Romans 5), why wouldn't His death cover you if you're now a son or daughter?

COLOSSIANS 1:21-23a

Brett "Sometimes I wonder if I've ever repeated a middle name" Hibbler

The Taste Buds Of Sin

NOV 21 - NOV 27 2010  — THE TASTE BUDS OF SIN — ISSUE 181

This week we'll be gathering around tables, more-than-likely ones filled with family and friends, eating out of an over-abundance of food, sharing stories, and hopefully giving thanks for the massive quantities of blessings found in our lives when we just take a moment to get a bit of perspective. But since food tends to be the reason for the season until next week when that red and green monster known as Christmas devours every ounce of our sanity, I thought we could discuss those ever important taste buds. (Without which our Thanksgivings would be about as much fun as peeling potatoes while listening to a nine hour lecture on different forms of sediment found in common lakes and streams. — No thanks.)

"The reason we eat so much food that is clogging rather than cleansing is that we're prisoners. Prisoners! That's right. We're prisoners of our taste buds. We will do anything for our taste buds. If there is a food that can't outrun us, and is not nailed down, and it will fit into our mouths, and it tastes good, we'll eat it! We don't think twice about it. The only requirement we have about food is 'How does it taste?' But what about the rest of the body? When you look at the tiny area of the body that your taste buds occupy, and then you look at the rest of your body (which is what has to deal with the foods that pass over your taste buds) you have to wonder why people place so much attention on one small part of the body and ignore such a large part." — Harvey and Marilyn Diamond

That's just one of many nuggets of gold from their book, Fit For Life. And though it's a great springboard into a new look at your eating habits, I'd like to draw a very easy, but scarily real, parallel from it to our spiritual lives.

JAMES 1:14-15

We've all spent time paying for food we shouldn't have eaten, and likewise, how often we find ourselves living through the turmoil created by our sin. Taste buds tell us, "This is sooooo good, are you feeling this?" In the moment it seems so right. Fast forward a couple hours and as we're feeling the effects of what we ate we wonder, "What did I just do to myself?" Temptation is the same. It tells us how great it will be, how amazing, how satisfying, how fulfilling. And unfortunately clarity often comes only when it's too late.

Sin, which stems from those moments of temptation and unrestrained action, is such a small part of our total thought process. Think about all the things you think about during a day. (Kind of a weird statement, but follow me here for a second) If you broke it down thought by thought, how much of it would actually be temptations? I'm sure they wouldn't even come close to how much time you focus on activities at hand, things yet to do that day, things to do at a later point in time, analyzing conversations you're in, entertainment you've just experienced, etc., etc., etc. But much like our taste buds dictate most of what we eat, our temptations (to do good or wrong) often decide what we do, regardless of how few of them we have when compared to our total thought process.

So what then, shall we continue to allow such a small enemy win out? Shall we allow temptations, the taste buds of sin, to continue to control, direct, influence, and dictate what we do with our lives? Or will we finally wake up and look at the big picture, learning from our mistakes, the ones we see others make around us, and those that have come before us, and decide those fleeting moments aren't worth the often long-term ramifications? Will we finally learn to control them, putting them in their rightful place and only using our taste buds for lives worthy of our calling?

We've all had food that both tasted amazing and was still nutritious. The reason we tend to still load up on the not-so-good things is because they're quick, easy, and accessible; that's our sinful nature to a tee. The deepest satisfactions you'll ever known can only come from accomplishment, which is never handed to you and always requires work. It's time for us to stop taking the easy way out in our lives, and work for what God's shown us to be the better way, the ways that leave no regrets, no second thoughts, no hesitation, and no doubts.

Take every thought captive for Christ (2 Cor 10:5), and remember that we will never be tempted beyond what we can handle (1 Cor 10:13).  With these lessons in place, we'll be well on our way to a spiritually fit lifestyle where we listen to our entire body, and not just the part that screams the loudest.

Brett "Just because taste buds are small and I'm small, that doesn't mean I'm a bad influence" Hibbler

Flexible

NOV 14 - NOV 20 2010 — FLEXIBLE — ISSUE 180

Kids, here's a very important lesson about life; READ THE WHOLE SIGN. Don't just glance at the details on a sign for something you're attending or planning to attend, or some sign posted on a door you're about to enter. Read it all. Had I done that today, the amazing spaghetti dinner (and I'm not usually a big spagghetti fan) would have gone from a filling, one plate helping, into a massive, stuffed-for-three days, multi-plate-covering heaping of delectable Italian fantasticalness. Somehow, the words "all-you-can-eat" alluded me when I entered. But perhaps it was for the better. Had I been left unchecked there may have been a world-wide meatball shortage.

Something I either heard, read, or somehow concluded in the past week is what I'd like to discuss today. So thanks to whoever inspired the thought, and I apologize for not remembering where I picked it up, but as we just discovered, apparently some details escape me at times.

One thing we can definitely say about Jesus is he was disciplined and focused in completing the work God laid before Him. There seems to be no indication He ever wandered aimlessly or did anything without a bigger purpose. Even the glimpse we get of His childhood is one of a young Jesus preparing for His ministry some 18+ years off. I don't even prepare for work some 18 minutes off, let alone years, so for me, that's pretty dedicated.

In the current American lifestyle, time is a very valuable asset, and a commodity rarer than some precious metals. We have our days scheduled and booked, right down to times to when we'll stop to eat, sleep, and I'm sure if we could schedule it, we'd even regulate some unavoidable body functions for better convenience. (Porta-Johns in the car?) Our spiritual lives are no different and we lay out plans while emulating Christ, setting times for gatherings, evangelism, study, serving, and the like.

While this is all well and good, sometimes we book ourselves so heavy, even with spiritual things, we have no flexibility for those spontaneous moments where our services would be better utilized and where God's glory could shine brighter than any pre-set activity. Our heart to be like Christ and to be responsible with the time God's given us is amazing, but one thing I'm learning about Jesus is this:

Jesus had a plan, a goal, a purpose, but He never seemed to have a definitive schedule.

Even though everything we read Him doing in the Gospels was in God's glory, and all was the will of the Father, we never read of a daily itinerary. In fact, we often see Him deviate from His plan just to assist those spontaneous moments of need. When He's going to heal Jairus' daughter, He stops to address the bleeding woman. (Mark 5) When He takes the disciples away to a secluded place after they had returned from Him sending them out, the crowds find them and He never turns them away, instead teaching and healing and even feeding them. (Luke 9) Would any have blamed Him for continuing with His original plan without deviating to assist these other needs? I don't think so, but that's not His way. He always welcomed unexpected events, occurrences, and never seemed stressed by "inconveniences" when they delayed His plan.

Schedules aren't bad and being a good steward with time is vital to being productive, especially in the land of distraction that we currently reside in. But look at your schedule and reflect on your past few months. Are you so busy you've missed those spontaneous moments? Have you passed chances to serve because you were on your way to some event and couldn't be late? Remember Mary and Martha. Martha's serving was noble, but Jesus said Mary chose the better. She chose Jesus. Shouldn't we?

LUKE 10:41-42

Brett "If I put on my schedule to do something spontaneous, is it still spontaneous?" Hibbler

Generations

NOV 7 - NOV 13 2010 —  GENERATIONS — ISSUE 179

It's been a while since I've sent a 'C this late (cheers self quietly and pats self on back), but hopefully you'll allow me some grace since I've spent over thirty of the last 72 hours in a van. I spent today teaching my legs how to move again and have a new appreciation for sleeping horizontally as apposed to sitting straight up.

The theme of this year's ACR conference was "Generations." While there we heard lesson and message after lesson and message about people throughout the scriptures who had passed, or failed to pass, the teachings of God from generation to generation. We also witnessed first hand modern day men and women who have taught their children the ways of Christ, who then have taught their children and so on. We heard the power of following those teachings and the dangers of not, along with how quickly God's influence can become non-existent after merely one generation's negligence and slack.

The question I find myself pondering today is one I didn't hear addressed much this weekend, (perhaps that's because it was self evident or implied through the family focus) but is one a lot of us should make sure not to overlook with all this talk of generations.

Realizing I do not have children of my own, the idea of passing God's teachings about life in line with His will to the next generation takes on a bit different shape than it did for Abraham, David, Joseph, Noah, and the like. The good news is that I don't have to look far for a great example to follow: Jesus. He didn't have kids, yet is responsible for every generation between His death and our current existence for knowing the will of God. He simply made sure to teach and lead by example to any and all He interacted with, and especially to those twelve He invested His life into. A lack of offspring does not make any of us less responsible for the future of Christianity.

It's never a joyous thought to contemplate one's own death, but it can often provide much needed perspective. With that in mind, if you were to pass on this week, how would you have affected, directed, or helped create the next generation of disciples? Will God's will pass from you successfully onto others, or will you be part of the cause for a generation that lives Godless and void of the hope the salvation His Son gives?

EZEKIEL 11:18-21

A Christian's legacy has less to do with their individual accomplishments and everything to do with how they lived out God's own heart. It is through that lifestyle that normal men and women like you and I have gone on to affect the hearts and minds of countless lost souls. Let's pray for hearts of flesh for those we wish to pass along God's will to. Let's help raise up the next generation of Christians.

Brett "Whose head has ever gotten rest using a car's head rest?" Hibbler

WLJ Finale: Zombies

OCT 31 - NOV 6 2010  — WLJ Finale: ZOMBIES — ISSUE 178

WARNING: This issue is not for the squeamish. (Hence the title) So readers beware. <insert eerie Halloween music and maniacal laughter here>

Normally two disciples discussing ministries and their relationship with God is pretty standard at gatherings of the body. Have the female wearing a fake beard, cornrows, baggy clothes and a matching thug walk while impersonating a male, and then have the other dressed head to toe in an authentic FedEx uniform while wearing a glow-in-the-dark biker skull and suddenly this conversation seems a bit off. But such is the way at a church Halloween party. Vampire nurses talk to walking cue-tips, creepy hooded, glowing-eyed monsters get deep with war heroes, and Wonder Woman shares a spiritual victory with two chain-gain workers. Man, I love this Kingdom.

Now onto that squeamish stuff I was blabbering about.

Zombies. Most of us are at lease vaguely familiar with them. Traditionally (ignoring current trends of tampering with their behavior) zombies are the walking dead. Lifeless beings who drag legs, limbs, and whatever else that's hanging, slowly along as they search for a still living victim to devour. They're slow enough a small child could outrun them on a tricycle, and their communication skills are about as good as a newborn lama's. Only a well placed head shot can bring these creatures to a halt permanently, and they can often be found traveling in packs along roads while moaning loudly, or hiding quietly in closets waiting to spring to life (so-to-speak) in the moment you least expect it. They're not that smart, but they can recall certain motor skills at the worst possible moment, allowing to them open doors or windows when you least want them to. They're kind of a terrible party guest, but they are a surefire way to get the military to blow up half your town in case you're looking for a lively Friday night. (So I guess that's a positive?)

As Christians, we understand we have to die to live. Our old selves must be buried in the waters of baptism so we can be raised anew with Christ. (John 3, Romans 6, etc.) For all intents and purposes, we become the living dead. This is where the similarities should stop in our comparisons to those often called the undead, though.

JOHN 10:10 -

Having life to the full doesn't sound a lot like a boring, ho-hum existence. In fact, everything we've been reading through the Gospels about Christ and the way He lived and how His followers are to live should make it abundantly clear that Christians are to be a vibrant color in a world of dull gray. Being "salt" and "light" cannot translate into dull, boring, or indifferent. So why then are Christians often so much like the fictional undead? Him-hawing about, traveling in exclusive packs, aimlessly wandering in search of someone they can try to save, communicating poorly do to underdeveloped faith and a lack of knowledge, attained through study, of how Jesus, or lead example, shared salvation, or lying in wait in some closet hoping someone will wander into their direct path so they can spring out and try to share their faith. Why are Christians often dull, depressed, and seen walking and behaving with no emotional triumph, no eternal security, no real purpose?

We are not zombies. We are to reach out to a lost world who are dying, not act more dead than them. We're to be that light, that salt, that bright spot of positivity on a dark day of worldly stress, that motivated, purpose driven and swift-moving hero in a crowd of helpless, lost and wondering zombies, that poignant and deep conversation in a world filled with useless, meaningless moans and grunts, that glowing skin tone among a sea of pasty, nutrient-deprived faces.

We are Christians, and we want to walk like Jesus. We died to live and live to die. Isn't it time we showed it?

Brett "If you prefer silence over conversation, and don't ever want to hug, hold hands, or slow dance,  you should date a zombie" Hibbler

WLJ wk4: Be Like Jesus

OCT 24 - OCT 30 2010  — WLJ week 4: BE LIKE JESUS — ISSUE 177

This month we've been rolling through the Gospels, dissecting the life of Christ, and gaining insights regarding His character from an author who had clearly delved deep into who Jesus was, during his ministry back in the early parts of the 1900s. The purpose of the month being for us to not only understand more about our Savior, but to be more like Him in every way. So, after four weeks of study I've created a small list of ways we can be like Him, and I'll let you guys decide which of you wants to take which task.

We need someone who wants to be responsible for healing the sick and diseased, someone to cast out demons, to raise the dead, feed thousands with but a few loaves and fish, preach all over the countryside to countless people needing to hear the truth before dealing with tough emotions gained from the loss of a cousin and a close friend, get money out of a fish's mouth, walk on water, control the weather, withstand direct temptation from Satan himself, turn water into wine, answer tricky questions under intense pressure without misspeaking, sneak through angry mobs who want to throw you off a cliff, wither a fig tree, and a few other "light" tasks.

Any volunteers?

Obviously, His shoes are pretty big. Even the things that should be easy are difficult to emulate. Like, say, napping in a boat. Napping seems easy. I think I could handle that. But what's that you say? It has to be during a storm violent enough to scare experienced fishermen while in a not-so-large wooden boat? Guess that just leaves eating with sinners and praying a lot.

LUKE 4:16-21

This is Jesus. This was His purpose. Maybe we won't be able to work all the miracles He did, maybe we won't ever have an audience as large as His, maybe our lives won't look exactly like His did from a "total body of work" standpoint. But His mission statement should not seem out of reach. The Spirit of the Lord is upon us too, we can preach the gospel to the poor, we can proclaim the truth, His truth, to release those held captive in a world of sin, we can open the eyes of the morally and ethically blind to the reality of their situation, we can pass along the same instructions we have received to gain freedom from the oppression of sin and death, and we can proclaim how great it is that we live in a time where the promises of the Savior have been fulfilled, where the price has been paid and the gift of eternal life is ready and waiting.

We can never be Christ. But we can absolutely be like Him.

Brett "I can't even nap like Jesus" Hibbler

WLJ wk3: A Little Help Please

OCT 17 - OCT 23 2010 —  WLJ week 3: A LITTLE HELP, PLEASE — ISSUE 176

I don't know about you, but I'm knee deep in these Gospels, and it is better than laetificants. Or perhaps something more normal sounding for those of you living in Normalville USA. Me? I like living in a land where an author can use words like humbuggery and pettifogger without getting weird looks, head scratching, or causing Google searches for those words to increase 18000%. If you've been reading the campaign book, Jesus The Same, you know what I'm talking about. I can't wait to see what crazy words he slips in next chapter. Abligurition? Balbutiate? Gadzookery?

This week we've been in Mark, and I thought I'd share one particular passage that struck me. You really need to read the passage first, though, and it's a lot of text, so read at your own risk of clocking in late from your lunch break.

MARK 9:14-27

Here we have this man who clearly loves his child, saving him from death on occasions when the demon within acted up and who, with tears in his eyes, begs for healing. There's passion in his request and his heart clearly yearns for his son to be cured. He obviously believed Jesus could heal him, hence the whole reason he came, but notice how he petitions Jesus for help; "But if you can do anything..." We all know He can, and He almost seems to be like "Really? If I can do anything?" in response. (Check the NIV and NASB translations for more of that vibe.) He then challenges the man and reiterates the power of belief, to which the man makes a simple request that hits so close to home at times: "Help my unbelief!"

Whether this man had doubts do to a hard life of challenges and near-death experiences which had worn him down, or doubts from Jesus' Disciples who probably had a reputation for doing extraordinary things but had failed to cast out the demon, or just do to typical human skepticism of miracles, I don't know. What we do know, however, is that his heart was genuine in its desire for his son to be healed, and he knew Jesus held the best odds of helping him. And isn't that so much like us at times?

Don't we sometimes doubt a situation can be helped, cured, taken away, lessened or changed because we've had so many failed attempts throughout our life? Or perhaps because other Christians, Jesus' Disciples, have let us down or been unsuccessful in helping us and now we wonder if God still can? Yet, when we find our belief lacking, doesn't our heart still know deep down that God can solve the problem and take away that burden? Let's take hope from this scripture.

Let's follow this man's lead. With sincerity in our petition, not bitterness from the situation, with humility realizing God can resolve it no matter how large it is and even if we and others have failed, and while acknowledging our need for assistance with our unbelief, let's present our request before God. Take comfort knowing that those who ask, seek, and knock will receive, find, and have it opened; that if we can give good gifts, how much greater God's will be, and if we are persistent, knocking and knocking and knocking, our needs will be taken care of. (Luke 11)

Belief is powerful and unbelief is detrimental. But thankfully with God all things are possible, and a sincere heart can trump a lacking faith.

Brett "If spellchecker has dropped the word you're using out of its nearly unlimited index of words because it's so old, it's time to let it go" Hibbler

WLJ wk2: 10-10-10

OCT 10 - OCT 16 2010 —  WLJ week 2: 10-10-10  — ISSUE 175

I've done 'C's in honor and response to a lot of things over the last few years, but this may be the first I've done simply because I couldn't waste the date. Not the significance of the day, but the numerical alignment itself. Yes, today is October tenth, 2010. Or, as I prefer to write it, 10/10/10. Cool, right?

Well, at least I think it's cool. 'Course, I also laughed uncontrollably when I heard a political commercial for one representative responding to a mudslinging ad by another not by slinging back, but by simply clarifying their record and then ending the ad by saying, I kid you not, "Shame on you [accusing candidates name], shame on you."  Makes me wonder if their next ad will end with "Now go to your room and think about what you've done." That sort of commercial makes me want to declare residency in another state just to vote for them.

This is the second week of our campaign month, and we're now moving into Mark. But, in reference to the date, I'd like to present ten (out of pages and pages of notes) snippets that gut checked me this week from the book of Matthew. Feel free to check out the entire context, and I hope your reading has yielded fantastically deep quiet times as well. In order of appearance:

1) Matthew 6:8 "...your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."

2) Matthew 6:22-23 "...If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"

3) Matthew 6:25 "...Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?"

4) Matthew 6:27 "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

5) Matthew 7:1-5 "...in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

6) Matthew 9:10-13 "...go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’"

7) Matthew 9:36-38 "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd."

8) Mathew 10:5-10 "...a worker is worthy of his food."

9) Matthew 10:16 "...be wise as serpents and harmless as doves."

10) Matthew 12:39-42 "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign..."

Brett "I wish someone would send me to my room to think about what I've done so I could take a nap" Hibbler

WLJ wk 1: Own It

OCT 3 - OCT 9 2010  — WALK LIKE JESUS week 1: OWN IT  — ISSUE 174

Well, ladies and gents, it's October again, and we all know what that means. No, not baseball playoffs. And it's not that once-a-year opportunity to justify some hideous outfit you purchased 10 years ago by now calling it a Halloween costume, either. No, October is campaign month in the Church, and this one's all about Jesus, so you know it's gonna' be a good one. The challenges are modest in quantity, but hefty in commitment and filled with the promise of a large spiritual payout.

These campaigns will only affect us if we take them on with a personal conviction, though. If we don't embrace these challenges and goals and make them our own, but instead just "follow suit" or do them to "be a part of the 'team'", we'll undoubtedly fall short of achieving some, if not all of them — excuses come a lot easier when you don't really care about something — and we won't see much personal growth or success. It is only through personal conviction that our faith will stand the test of time, and likewise, challenges such as these will fall victim to our moods, emotions, and physical states if won't don't internalize them. Just ask Ecuador's president, Rafael Correa, if you don't believe me. His beliefs didn't translate to everyone, and when his and the government's goals weren't held by all in the country, pure chaos ensued; the objective fell apart.

This month we focus on Christ, the greatest example ever given for personalizing a goal not of our own brewing. Time and time again He stated this was His Father's will, and that what He spoke was given to Him by God. He struggled with it at times, (you don't sweat drops of blood over a minor inconvenience) but ultimately He made it His own. So it was only by believing in God's cause, in what God was fighting so hard to convey and accomplish for us, that He was able to endure so much ridicule, persecution, and ultimately a violent and terrible death. He took God's goal as far as anyone could, and it was only by making it His that such a feat was possible.

PHILIPPIANS 3:10-15

This month, let's seek to be more like Christ. Let's take every challenge tossed our way, realizing their intention is to bring us closer to our Savior and to shape us ever more in God's image, and make them our own. Let's leave this month knowing we did everything we could to be like Him, not regretting opportunities missed and chances lost.

Brett "I have a goal of cleaning my bathroom, you should really make it your own so I can finally get it done" Hibbler

Dirty Dishes

SEP 26 - OCT 2 2010 —  DIRTY DISHES  — ISSUE 173

Let's talk for a moment about perhaps one of the most well known feuds in the history of cohabitation: dirty dishes. Whether you're the dish dirtier or the clean freak, you've all been on one side of the argument at some point.

We know the scenario, one person leaves the dishes in the sink, rarely if ever cleaning them, and the other person turns red and blows smoke out of their ears every time they see the food-caked, spaghetti stained dishes still in the sink after days of waiting. Having discussed it time and time again, they eventually decide to not "remind" the guilty party, deciding instead to wait and see how long it takes before they wash them on their own. The next thing they know, there's mold on the dishes and the dish leaver is oblivious to the issue, laughing and having a good time. Meanwhile, the person struggling is lying on the floor in the kitchen, twitching and holding their stomach from the ulcer they've now birthed, and praying that they don't have fit of rage in the form of penicillin throwing. (Penicillin comes from mold in case I lost you on that description.)

Aren't you glad God isn't us? What if He stopped "doing dishes" because we kept leaving them in sink and He was tired of cleaning up after us? He wants us to help those in need, to feed the sick and the poor, to care for widows and orphans, to encourage one another daily, to be kind, loving, and caring to enemies and friends alike, to not gossip, hate, have fits of rage, or even to grumble. When we don't do those things, when we leave them unfinished or neglected entirely, we leave dirty dishes in the sink: worldly grime in desperate need of a spiritual cleaning. So again, what if He stopped doing those things for us when we stopped doing it for others? It could be a lengthy time before you ever felt the hand of encouragement or had a loving act done for you if His actions stopped when we do.

ISAIAH 48:9-11

If you've ever been debilitated by sin, feeling totally unworthy doing God's work and hesitant to serve again because of the hypocrisy you see in your own life, only to watch God work powerfully around you or even through you in that very moment, then you know what I'm talking about. Praise Him for it because His cause is so good, His love is so strong, He won't let our sin or neglect hurt others or leave "dishes" unwashed for long.

Yes, there are times of testing and periods where He'll pull back, allowing our "dirty dishes" to lead to hurt, damaged relationships, and to blossom into other issues, and we need to be aware of the repercussions of leaving them in the sink, and especially of constantly procrastinating before doing them.  But if God were us, with all the dirty dishes He puts up with, He'd never come back. Our stubbornness and finite patience would eventually wear out and possibly keep us away indefinitely, having had our fill of lazy, procrastinators with no respect for themselves, for others' property, and for the well being of everyone who uses those dishes.

Like I said, He's not us. His belief in His cause and in Himself surpasses ours, and praise Him for it. Praise Him for continuing to work even though we've given Him every reason not to.

Brett "If you leave dishes in the sink, I'll leave socks on the couch" Hibbler

Self-Seeking Missile

SEP 19 - SEP 25 2010 — SELF-SEEKING MISSILE  — ISSUE 172

"YARGH!" I half muttered as I hung up the phone after a quick conversation with my mother. Why "Yargh?" as my outburst and not something more, well, normal? It's simple. I was deliberately expressing anguish in a very stereotypical fashion given the day's significance. See, today is September 19th, National Talk Like A Pirate Day. Most of you know the odd ways this particularly obscure holiday has popped up in my life, so I'll spare you the re-caps. All you need to know is that even though subconsciously I knew what today was, it never dawned on me until my mother called to remind me. That means I wasted the one day a year when it's cool to talk like an extra on the next Pirates of The Caribbean movie. (I think this is what, the 9th installment of that franchise?) To add to my frustration, I was surrounded by knee nibblers all afternoon who would have totally taken the idea and embraced it, making us the coolest group of kids at the fossil dig.

AAAAAAAAAARGH!

Okay. I think I'm good. For some of you what's coming next will sound familiar, I shared it at Midweek. I haven't expressed the meat God gave me from Luke 14 in written form yet, though, so please indulge me as I get it out in a format I can reference later. It's lengthy, so no hard feelings if you bail and head to this week's agenda for time's sake.

LUKE 14:7-11

After reading this, most of us probably can't think of a time we went some place and deliberately took a seat of honor. We'd never have the guts to head to the wedding party's table at the reception and grab a seat next to the best man just because we wanted food first. (The thought, yes, but the courage to carry it out, no.) But ask yourself about times when you do try to gain honor on your own, trying to get others to take notice of it rather than waiting for someone else to bestow it on you.

So often we do try to get recognition for something we've done by bringing it up or perhaps subtly manipulation conversations, dropping "seeds" through words, statements, or answers, that will prompt a desired reaction from those we're talking to. Maybe it's as simple as just looking giddy or deliberately excited, knowing someone will ask you why you look that way. We do it because most of us have learned that gloating and bragging aren't typically thought of as desirable or likable traits, (think professional athletes) and so we we know we have to get others to talk about us without being so obvious. And maybe it's something small, or perhaps it's some great act of service or deed done for God that we know He's proud of, not anything at all qualifiable as an ego inflating deed.

The problem here isn't the desire for recognition itself. It is, after all, not always an ego thing but simply one way many of us seek to feel love; through verbal affirmation. Being lifted up by someone else feels great and can change our entire demeanor. Solomon knew this (Prov 16:24). And often times we desire to learn people's reactions to what we've said or done, seeing it as an insight into how God hopefully feels about us.

The issue is one a bit more complicated. We know the obvious problem, seeking self glory is not at all humble and an easy way to derail God's importance in our lives; how it was through His gifts of talents, abilities, and experiences we were even able to do whatever it was we did. But it could also be said that our desire to sit at that seat of honor, to force that recognition, is a testament to how God's grace isn't always sufficient for us, that His knowing what we've done doesn't give us the contentment it should. After all, isn't only when people have felt more secure in what God thinks about them than what those around them do, that we see incredibly inspirational acts of faith being performed?

If you remember Jesus' more direct advice on this subject in Matthew 6, He said it's good if our right hand doesn't even know what our left is doing, otherwise the praise of men is all we'll get. But if we put it in God's hands, He will reward us.

Something I've found very helpful and powerful in my life is the lessons He's taught me on this subject. His answering of those small prayers, ones that seem so insignificant compared to larger issues we plead and petition Him for, is but one of the many aspects of God I love so much, and this is an area I've witnessed this time and time again. When feeling that desire for reconnection, I just put it in His hands. I pray that if He finds it fit to gives some praise or adoration, then please help my heart by doing so. But if just the knowledge that He knows what I've done is to be enough, then I pray that He helps ease my heart and, perhaps more importantly, that He will bind my tongue and prevent me from indulging that inner desire. So many times He's sent me emails, phone calls, and even praise in public, and often it comes at totally unexpected times.

Seeking it for ourselves will always cheapen the experience. When it comes when we simply let our deeds stand for themselves and trust God to take care of the reward part, it will feel all the more warming, encouraging, and very much undeserving. Our humility remains in check, our hearts are uplifted, and we see direct, undeniable ways that God pays attention to the little details in our lives, not just the major issues.

Don't sit at the place of honor and gain only shame. Wait for God, and He will move you to the seat far higher than you'd ever feel comfortable asking for yourself.

Brett "Does this mean I can't talk about how I was in the paper last week? " Hibbler

Our Day To Remember

SEP 12 - SEP 18 2010 — OUR DAY TO REMEMBER — ISSUE 171

It's interesting. I remember growing up hearing my parents recollect exactly where they were when certain events in history happened. JFK's assassination was the main one, but moon landings, the Berlin Wall coming down, and other events were well engraved into their memories as well. Folks older than them could remember equally historic events, Pearl Harbor leading the way. All through my life I remember time and time again hearing such stories about life-scarring events so sensational, those alive when it happened had never forgotten the moment. And all through my life I could not recollect any such moment, other than a few fleeting thoughts of the Gulf War and an even less prominent memory of the Wall falling.

That all changed 9 years ago.

As I sit here, one day and nearly a decade removed from that event, I can honestly say I do remember pretty vividly the events of that day. Unlike many of those told me by parents and friends, though, my memories don't have many visuals of the attacks themselves. Being so close to Ground Zero, we didn't have anything but radios and phone calls to give us descriptions, which only added to that feeling deep in my gut that this was something significant, something larger than a footnote in history, something I'd never get out of my mind.

MATTHEW 27:45-54

The centurion's response to the death of Christ is a very subtle, yet significant response. Speculations have been made about how much of Jesus' final days he may have experienced first hand, and we do not know if it was the entire ordeal collectively, what transpired as soon as it was over, or just the manner in which Jesus finally gave up His Spirit, but there is one thing we know for certain: He knew this was something beyond him, beyond those there, beyond Caesar, and even beyond Rome itself. Jesus' death was timeless.

Unlike the events we've gone through, though, this particular one was not restricted to the confines of one single moment. It's not hindered by the separation of generations or dulled by the retelling of its events. The experience he had, where he stood at the foot of the Cross and came to understand who the Son of God was, is one shared time and time again; since that moment and till well past our days here on earth. It is one each of us has personally come in contact with, and one that has left another day still vivid in our minds, the one of our immersion into the Kingdom of God where our sins were washed away for ever.

Praise God for that day. Thank Him for those who were responsible in getting you to the foot of the Cross. Pray for those who still need to stand in awe of His glory, character, honor, and sacrifice. And Start acting in the lives of those around you, so they can witness the day their life forever changed.

Brett "The last time I tried to dance, someone threw me a life preserver thinking I was drowning on dry land" Hibbler

The Roots Of Faith

SEP 5 - SEP 11 2010 — THE ROOTS OF FAITH  — ISSUE 170

EXPLANATION ABOUT LAST WEEK:
As most of you noticed, I wasn't really around last week. Well, I was, just not as the writer of the 'C. Why not you ask?(or at least I pretend you're asking) With last Monday starting a new chapter in my life, I figured I may as well shake things up a bit. For 164 straight weeks (roughly 3 years and 7 weeks) I've been dropping by your in-boxes with whatever God's put on my heart and attempting to bring a chuckle or two while hopefully giving you some spiritual thought to chew on. The response has been unbelievably encouraging over the years, something I am continually grateful for. This also means if you have 1000 emails in your in-box ('cuz someday you may need one of those, right?) and you haven't deleted any 'Cs, I account for nearly 20% of your total emails. That's a lot of vitamins. Your doctor would be proud.

Anyways, the streak is something I am grateful for and very proud of as it is one of the few things in my sporadic life I've started and continued with; fueled by my love for God, His continual placement of ideas on my heart, and by many of you taking time to respond with personal reflections on what I've written. But in an attempt to spice things up a bit, get some outside influence, give you some fresh perspective, and to end that weird hold pride can sometimes have, I've asked some close friends to take a shot at writing a C. Expect to see guest authors poke their heads in to administer a little Vitamin of their own every now and then.

The first man to step to the plate was Robert Segovia. He handled his approach and my request with the utmost respect, making me feel much more honored than I deserve, and I'm not even sure he realizes how much I look to him for spiritual guidance. Hopefully through his writings last week you got a glimpse into why. I also hope I don't get dethroned by allowing others to write, leading to a revolt from you, the readers, wanting me to hand the reigns over indefinitely. Then I'd have to start some rival email newsletter called "the Email Formerly Known As The Vitamin C". (And it's outdated Prince jokes like that, that made you miss me, right?)

THE MEAT:
Just like the last time I spoke on a Sunday, there were a few things I didn't include in the sermon. As any director, author, musician will tell you, there's a part of you that wants to get some of the things left on the cutting room floor out there, so hopefully these few remnants will be of benefit to you.

Can you believe someone is telling the truth, that they will come through with their promise if you don't trust them? I think most of us would agree under most circumstances, if we don't trust a person, their word holds no weight. Maybe this gives us a clue as to why our prayer life, relationship with God, and the way He works in our life can be almost non existent at times.

Faith is believing God will overlook all your sin, all your mess-ups, all the mean, wicked, and ugly things we've done in our lives, and grant you eternal life. It's believing that He will still use you, despite your shortcomings; that He'll grant you things you don't see, no matter how many things you can see which you think stand in your way. This is a testament to how deeply grace and faith are intertwined. If you can't accept grace, then you don't trust God. And if you don't trust Him, you can't have faith in His promise.

If the demon possessed man (Legion from Mark 5) had lacked faith and did not understand grace, he'd never of wanted to follow Christ. The things he did had terrified the towns so much that they'd put him on the outskirts and had tried to chain him up. Those things could have haunted his mind, plagued his conscience, and never let him sleep at night. But he was able to accept God's grace, and Jesus' offer to go and promote what the Son of Man had done and could do for everyone. Similar stories can be found throughout the entire Bible. David's rise from his adultery, Abraham's rise from his lying about his wife (twice), Peter's comeback after his denial of Christ, and the countless people Jesus healed and forgave sins for during His ministry.

If you want faith, you must start with understanding grace. Only by trusting God's word and His promises to us, that He can overlook anything we've done, can we begin to trust Him to do amazing and powerful things in our lives. Otherwise our uncertainty and doubt will forever paralyze our walk, leaving it lacking and noneffective. Let's be a Church of believers. Let's be a Church of trusters. Let's be a Church built on faith.

DEUTERONOMY 7:9

Brett "If writing the 'C were like playing baseball, people would accuse me of Juicing to get a streak like that" Hibbler

Valiant Deeds

AUG 29 - SEP 4 2010 — VALIANT DEEDS — ISSUE 169
Guest Author Rob Segovia

Surprise Inside This Issue! (It's pretty obvious, so read on and we'll talk about it later)

It’s an honor to be asked to write a Vitamin C, so thank you, Brett, for entrusting one week to me.  Honestly, I was a little afraid to write a Vitamin C when I got an email from Brett asking for people to fill in for him because he always has such insightful things to write every week, but I figured that if Nnamdi Asomugha can fill in for Peter King one week writing Monday Morning Quarterback then I can fill in for Brett one week writing a Vitamin C.  Hopefully you’ll get the daily amount recommended by the USFDA out of this.

I was at my cousin’s wedding this weekend and the DJ put on “The Electric Slide” to kick off the dancing for the reception.  Typically, this is when the people who love dancing immediately jump up and start dancing and then everyone else who was too afraid to start the dance see the very simple dance, remember that they’ve done it before, and join in.  At this reception, however, no one had the nerves to get up to start the dance.  Halfway through the song, after much lamenting by the DJ, two people did the Electric Slide.  Just to prove this was no fluke, when the Dollar Dance started most people sat in their chairs – too afraid or self-involved to give up a few dollars for the new bride and groom (while I chickened out with the crowd during the Electric Slide, I did repent and jump at the chance to pony up the $5 I had to dance with my cousin, only to have my dance with her cut short by some punk kid, who probably got the $1 he paid from his parents).  Everyone loves a good party with lots of fun and dancing, but most are too afraid of looking like a fool to start dancing.  But this is just one small fear in life.

I Samuel 31:11-12

Picture the situation: the Philistines had just routed Israel’s army, and killed the king and his sons.  Now, they were brazenly displaying his dismembered body in their country.  No one in Israel was doing anything about it.  City after city heard the news of what the Philistines did to Saul, and city after city were too afraid to do anything.  That is, until a few valiant men saw the situation, marched all night into enemy territory, and did the honorable thing for their fallen king.

What things are you afraid of doing?  Maybe it’s something as little as denying yourself at a party to dance and help others to have a good time, or maybe it’s something as big as reaching out to that person in the cereal aisle with you.  When do you have an idea of something you could do, but you hold back out of fear or selfishness?  What times have you held back when you had an opportunity to inspire, encourage, love, or serve somebody?  Don’t follow the crowd; be valiant and dance.

Robert “if I see that kid again I’m going to steal his lunch money” Segovia

Artificial

AUG 22 - AUG 28 2010 — ARTIFICIAL — ISSUE 168

As August wraps up, so too does our fun in the sun. The days are growing shorter and our opportunities to get outside and enjoy warmer weather provided by the sun is slipping away like a sock sneaking out of the laundry. Oh, that wonderful sun, which provides many benefits such as Vitamin D for fighting off cancers and other health issues, causing photosynthesis in plants so we can breath and not be left sucking wind every time we chase the Ice Cream truck down the street on one of those hotter summer days, allowing autotrophs to produce crops, giving us food (directly or for us meat lovers — and I don't mean pizza —  from animals that consume those plants) and warming the entire earth so we're not stuck wearing ugly Xmas sweaters every day in a bizarre, never-ending winter.

This means we'll be spending more time inside, under those good 'ol 60watt (or 13watt for you energy savers) light bulbs. Their benefits include being able to see at any time of day in any room of the house, helping you to not stub your toe during late-night raids on the fridge, and giving you ample light to look presentable before someone tells you those are navy pants, not black, and you're now a fashion disaster. Obviously artificial lights are helpful, but they can never do what the sun can. So, even though a long day in the sun can be rough, staying exclusively under artificial lights will only lead to dire results and that happiness brought will be short-lived.

JOHN 3:19

If you've ever taken a good, long look at yourself, or spent time with the human race, you know how true this scripture can ring. Many times in life we are drawn to do wrong, and we feel so bad about it we try to hide it, pretend it didn't happen, brush it off, or just never talk it about again once it's been exposed.

Sometimes I wonder if our lives aren't a lot like the differences between daylight and lamplight. We like to do bad things, but we don't like the guilt and shame that comes with them, so we convince ourselves in our minds we didn't do anything that bad through justifying our actions, seek to surround ourselves with others who do similar things so we're not alone in our deeds, or compare ourselves to others we view as worse, all so we can still feel like we're in the light, even though we know deep down we are not. No matter how much time we spend under even the highest watt light bulbs, and no matter how earth-friendly they are, they will never provide the life-sustaining energy we need from the sun.

But some would protest this, saying that too much sunlight is bad. It gives us yucky wrinkles (juvenile word used on purpose) and can even lead to skin cancer. If you've ever looked into that argument you'll see it's not nearly as straight forward as you would think, and usually it results from, amongst many other things, misuse of sunlight, not over exposure. Under exposure on the other hand, leads directly to far more issues, and the complete absence of sun has obvious and usually tragic effects, facts no one can deny and all too many real-life scenarios confirm.

In our walks with God, we cannot let ourselves be lured into artificial forms of Christianity, into weak, diluted relationships with our Creator, or into lives so numb to the reality of sin we can't even see or feel its tragic effects. We can't let the sometimes tough process of learning how to handle God's Word appropriately, the battles it takes to have real, honest and deep relationships, the endurance we must have to be humble in all circumstances no matter the injustice, and the effort it takes to stay positive in a negative world prevent us from spending time in the real Light.

So go ahead, spend some time in the Son today. I promise you'll feel better.

JOHN 3:20-21

Brett "Before rising in the morning, the sun has to put on Chuck Norris Screen" Hibbler

Restricted

AUG 15 - AUG 21 2010  — RESTRICTED — ISSUE 167

Totally saw Expendables today. I'm not a fan of people talking about movies in case others haven't seen them, so I won't say anymore. However, if you'd like to know my thoughts on it, head over to Review N Chew Category.  You can also head over to Random Web-tacularness if you want to see some really funny Help Wanted signs and two genius commercials from Dodge. Then you can leave comments to prove you went there, and contact everyone you know about how great the posts were. Then you can wash my car, bake me some home-made cookies, and give me an iTunes gift card so I can spoil myself with new music by House Of Heroes. Or you could just ignore this part of the 'C and skip to the meat. I personally think you should at least consider my demands, but I suppose if you want to move ahead, then that's fine too.

We've talked before (well, I've written and you've read would be more accurate) about how Christianity should be joyous; that our souls should be a thing of happiness, not heavy. Jesus said His yolk is "easy" and His burden is "light." (Matt 11:30) And we know Jesus and God are one, and God cannot lie, so that would mean Christ can't either, and thus His words are true. Yet we all know our walk doesn't always seem easy or light. If anything, at times it feels like concrete blocks are shackled to our feet, holding us in place and inhibiting our every move. And it's those moments, and the reasons for those moments, that I feel like we sometimes don't always address in our lives.

There are times when Christianity can become a restrictive armor. It's great at protecting us but limiting our functionality, gracefulness, and depriving us from the joys that unrestricted movement can bring. If you remember David and his preparation for Goliath, he experienced this.

1 SAMUEL 17:38-40

When he wanted to do something for God, others around him gave their best advice and assistance because their hearts were to help him. Unfortunately, they inadvertently tried to make him fight the way they would do it, not allowing David the option of serving God in his own unique way. Ultimately we know that David took off Saul's armor and faced Goliath with the only thing he believed he really needed, God. He'd been successful before (not-to-mention how those ways make Bear Grylls look like Pee-wee Herman) and knew to return to the lessons God had already taught him.

Advice from spiritual people is an amazing asset to life, and remember that David did try Saul's way before concluding that it would be better to challenge Goliath his way. We too need to be humble to advice and to implement good advice into our lives before doing things our way and assuming the advice won't work. But also don't believe you have to always do everything exactly how others are advising. Sometimes God's already shown you how to approach certain challenges, and you need to trust in Him to grant you victory as He has in the past.

Likewise, when dispensing advice, we need to realize not everyone is the same and not everyone can have success using the same method. We need to be like Saul who did not seem to stop David, argue with him, or assume he would fail, even though David chose not to take his armor.

Don't let your faith be hampered because you're trying to fit into a mold that isn't designed for you. But never forget God is always reshaping us, and advice will often help get you there.

Brett "Advice is great, unless it's coming from Tom Noe" Hibbler

Expendable

"Who sent you?!" barks an angry, and still intimidating despite his age, Steve Austin. Stallone, grasping at the rope being used to cut off circulation to his brain, manages to let out some muffled comment about Austin's Mother. Steve, being the gracious villain that he is, lays into Stallone's rib cage as any good thug should in response to such defiance.

"WHO. SENT. YOU." he repeats as the generic lines drip from his lips. This time, Stallone can't reply and points to his throat. "Breath" he chokes out, his face growing weird shades of red.

"Give him air," Austin commands the goon holding Stallone. He complies and Stallone bends over, sucking in precious oxygen once more.

"Tell me who sent you," tries Steve again. And what does Stallone utter in reply? Why an oh-so-clever "Your Hairdresser!"

And that pretty much marks why I consider the movie itself to be sadly self prophesying. Is it possible for a movie that you went into with very low, very achievable hopes for, to let you down? Apparently so. The Expendables, for me, was supposed to be a trip back to the 80s with over-the-top action stars pulling off impossible, but imaginative, action moves while taking out hordes of bad guys without getting so much as a nick. The dialogue was to be sparse, but witty and conveying a true sense of comradery amongst the cast of former and current movie leads. Just watching these guys together was supposed to be a blast in and of itself. The plot only needed to be thick enough to give us a motive and a villain, and the rest of the movie was to be non-stop guns and explosions.

Not-so-much. It was a tad sluggish, the majority of the dialogue was somewhere between genuinely funny and not quite corny enough to be Arnold one-liner funny, leaving you either confused or feeling like you needed to be 13 to appreciate it, and the side stories never gave the characters enough depth to justify taking time away from more crazy, mercenary action. The movie did have some bright moments and the climax was amazingly satisfying. There were spurts of humor, a great scene with Micky Rorke, and some action that was all a fan of this genre could ever want. And in retrospect, recapping some of the movie with fellow watchers made it more satisfying (like Napoleon Dynamite), but still not enough to make it recommendable as a "must see" or even a "get it as soon as it comes out." I'd mark it down as more of a "if it's on, check it out, it's worth watching", but not much more. Stallone's last two efforts, Balboa and Rambo are much better movies despite missing the amazing supporting cast if you're looking for a better trip down nostalgia lane.

Over all, I'll give this movie @@ out of @@@@. It has some great moments and some spot-on rediculousness, but not enough to overcome the dead weight shackling too much of the movie.

Brett "What's a guy got to do get Commando 2 made?" Hibbler