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Facebook, Sin, & Your Opportunity

March 14, 2012 in Spiritual Growth with 18 Comments

Yesterday I jumped on Time’s online news site to see the top 10 viewed news stories of the day. It usually gives me a quick snap shot of what’s being discussed nationally. Sometimes it leads to a blog post or message illustration, but more than anything I look at it for a quick pulse of what’s going on.

What really stood out to me was that three of the top ten stories included a reference to Facebook. Here’s the stories and a brief description.

Nephew Sues Uncle Over Awkward Facebook Photos

As reported on the Above the Law blog, Aaron Olson sued his uncle in Minnesota district court for harassment based on the fact that his uncle posted childhood photos of Olson on Facebook along with some snarky captions. While Olson’s uncle untagged Olson in the apparently offensive Christmas photos and recommended the seemingly thin-skinned Olson to stay off Facebook, Olson was determined to settle his claim in court.

Woman Reportedly Burns Down House After Facebook Un-Friending

The friendship of Nikki Rasmussen and Harris apparently hit a rough patch while the former friends were planning a party via Facebook. When the big event went bust with many declined e-vites, Harris allegedly held Rasmussen accountable, and according to news reports, posted some unsavory items on her Facebook wall. In this modern age, Rasmussen exacted her revenge with a few clicks of the mouse and de-friended Harris. This affront was too much for Harris who took her anger offline and allegedly torched the family’s garage, melting the siding clean off the home.

Woman Discovers Her Husband’s Other Wife on Facebook

She was perusing the popular social networking site when she says she saw the other woman, who we will call Wife 2, suggested by Facebook as a person she may know. She clicked on the woman’s profile and saw photos of the woman standing next to a wedding cake — along with Wife’s 1 estranged husband.

At first I thought, What the heck? People on Facebook have gone crazy. People need to get off the social network and get a life. But Facebook isn’t the problem. Facebook is now where we see the brokenness of humanity being played out everyday.

Facebook didn’t cause a divorce, a lawsuit, or an arsonist.

Sin did.

Facebook’s just a reminder that everyone needs healing. Everyone.

Matt 5 has really been heavy on my heart lately. Jesus said,

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

So be present today. Allow your light to shine bright.

Listen.

Learn.

Love.

Live.

Why?

Because everyone you bump into today at the grocery, at school, at work, and yes, even on Facebook, needs healing, needs Jesus.

Transform It or Transfer It

January 5, 2012 in Leadership, Spiritual Growth with 30 Comments

I’ve always heard that hurt people, hurt people. I agree with this sentiment and would take it a step further and say that if hurt people, hurt people then hurt leaders, hurt LOTS of people.

Going into this new year one of the things I’m really trying to focus on is my own personal spiritual health. I realize that in my position of leadership my hurt, my patterns of sin, and my unadressed issues can bring a tremendous amount of pain to the people entrusted to my leadership.

I think somewhere along the way, we leaders, (especially Christian leaders) have bought into this idea that we should be “beyond” or “above” being hurt. We think, if I were a stronger Christian I wouldn’t hurt so much.

This misconception has created a lot of habits for us. It’s why we keep secrets. It’s why we can put on facades and pretend we’re someone we’re not. We’ve learned how to say one thing and mean another, how to hide fear, and deceit behind a fake smile.

We learned how to respond to the question, “How are you?” with “I’m fine.” But deep down we know this isn’t true. We’re not fine. We’re not fine at all.

We are…

Hurting,
Lonely,
Confused,
Frightened.

And in the midst of these whirling emotions I’m often tempted to want to exchange friends for fans, relationships for respect, and intimacy for influence.

Can I offer you a bit of advice going into 2012? Don’t be seduced by life on the pedestal.

We are leaders but first we are human. We hurt, bleed, suffer, doubt, and stumble just like anyone else. We must learn to allow Christ to transform our pain or we’ll just transfer it to the people we lead.

So here’s to a 2012 where we get real with each other and the people God’s allowed us to lead!!

One Thing

April 22, 2010 in Relationships with 57 Comments

As most of you know, I’m fond of saying…

“Everyone needs healing. Everyone.”

I’m constantly trying to grow in my interactions with people. I want to make sure I put myself in a position to be used by God to bring about healing in the people He allows me to come in contact with. This could be…

A neighbor

Lady behind the counter

A friend

Stranger sitting next to me on the plane

Church member

Today I’m striving to simply look people in the eye when they’re asking me a question, sharing their story, or we’re just chatting. I want to try to communicate to them that they matter and what they say or ask is important to me.

How about you? What’s one thing you can do today to “pay attention” to the people God puts in your path?

One thing. Go.

QUICK UPDATE – 9:35 a.m

I’m at the airport right now waiting for a plane to Chicago and then Louisville later tonight.

There was a lady checking in behind me who wanted to use the Kiosk (She was running late). She asked me if I thought she would be able to do it and when I LOOKED HER IN THE EYES I saw a scared, nervous, older woman who was afraid she would miss her flight. I said, “I think you can do this and I’ll stand here and help you.”

It took about 45 seconds and she had her boarding passing and was on her way with a real sense of relief.

I don’t share the update to toot my own horn. I just think it’s cool that God will give you great opportunities to show His grace if you’ll just look for them. Just a few hours after I wrote the post He gave me the perfect opportunity to put it into practice. Everyone needs healing.

Everyone Needs Healing

June 4, 2009 in Friends, God with 48 Comments

Everyone needs healing.

Everyone.

I was reminded of this a couple of weeks ago when I was in the Dominican Republic. I was on the beach with Ryan Bult (our Director of Mission at CP) when we met a lady named Alice from Canada. She was reading a book called “The Shack” (you might have heard of it) so we used the book to engage in a conversation with her.

It was apparent very early in our conversations that Alice was hurting and searching for healing. While she was attempting to heal from several difficult situations, the catalyst to her pain was being sexually abused by a pastor for 5 years as a child. For decades she’s struggled with how God could allow something like this to happen to her. Her bitterness toward this pastor and her anger toward God has kept her running and running to all kinds of unhealthy extremes. It’s impacted her marriage…her parenting… her entire life.

For two days God used our conversations and prayers on the beach to bring healing into her life. I’ve never seen anything like it. We talked about forgiveness, love, healing, grace and God’s plan for her life even in the midst of the hurt. It’s almost like God sent her to the Dominican Republic, put that book in her hands, and placed Ryan and myself there in the perfect moment so He could bring redemption to her life of pain.

I’ll never forget those two days worth of conversations and having a front row seat to watch God’s healing power at work. The highlight moment for me was sitting on the beach and listening to Alice pray and ask God to help her forgive the man that had sexually abused her as a child. Through a quivering voice she prayed and asked God to use her painful experiences to help others who have been impacted through sexual abuse.

I’m wondering how God wants to use you today in someones life. Maybe someone needs…

a hug

a listening ear

a act of kindness

a prayer