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