I've always heard that fame, fortune or females can cause a guy problems. Not sure it's a fair thing to say, but I've often heard that.
I do know that my main female (Chris) has not only NOT brought me down, but continually lifts me up....but hey, that's not the thought I was going to share.
The first time I spoke publicly (and someone listened) was in our little church in Colorado Springs in 1992 the week before we left as a family to Beirut. I had never been asked to speak anywhere before. I was 30 at the time.
The most famous person I knew was my dad.
I had never seen more than a couple of thousand dollars and didn't know anyone who would be called a "Millionaire."
Not only was I not famous, I didn't know anyone who was or anyone who knew anyone who was famous.
I can remember sitting in churches thinking "I wonder what it's like to be able to stand up there and talk to all of these people out here and actually make sense?" I wasn't asking the question of myself - just a general thought. I never knew an author - well the first was probably Ted Dekker (and I tried to talk him out of it when he suggested that he wanted to write).
So it feels funny when people "know me." They've heard me speak. They listened to a CD or read my book - or seen some articles. And they know my name. I don't always know theirs, but they know mine. They say nice things like "I like listening to you." Or "I bought several copies of your books and passed them around."
But, strangely, I've found the loneliest place to be when I travel. More and more, I can't wait to be home. I've never been accused of being a home-body. Hardly. But I really have a handful of friends, and my family, who know me. Really know me. And it feels good to be known.
Fame (being "known" by a large number of people) is not bad - it just is. But it tries to fill the void of being "known" and doesn't succeed. It's fun having accolades and fans - I think I have a whopping 25 people who now follow this blog - but I need to know and be known.
And I love that it's Jesus himself who knows me best. It's not always comfortable knowing that, but it's good. And may I never trade the false "known-ness" of a large speaking deal for the realness of my closest friends and family....and Jesus!
Blind
I feel like I'm blind at least half the time. I can't see tomorrow or even the next minute. I haven't been to most the places I go - metaphorically speaking.
Faith is being sure of what you don't see...
That's the problem with faith. If you can see it, it's not faith. It's the reward of faith possibly, but not faith itself.
I'm realizing more and more that my problem really is a lack of faith. Here's how I "see" it:
We're working really hard and helping the people of Gaza, but so far haven't done anything but collect some money. Faith?
We're at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC for the 11th year in a row, but have we changed the world? Faith?
I first went to the Middle East to bring some hope and life from Christ in 1983. Is there now hope and life? Faith?
What if a good word-picture for faith is this... I'm blind. I can only see with and through the eyes of Jesus. I can't move without him. I can only see what he sees. Like a blind man being led by his master.
What if I was okay with that? And I didn't know all the results. I never knew the results. I walked blindly with Jesus. Would that be okay? Is that enough? Is there more?
Maybe that kind of "blind" is what it means to really see!
Faith is being sure of what you don't see...
That's the problem with faith. If you can see it, it's not faith. It's the reward of faith possibly, but not faith itself.
I'm realizing more and more that my problem really is a lack of faith. Here's how I "see" it:
We're working really hard and helping the people of Gaza, but so far haven't done anything but collect some money. Faith?
We're at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC for the 11th year in a row, but have we changed the world? Faith?
I first went to the Middle East to bring some hope and life from Christ in 1983. Is there now hope and life? Faith?
What if a good word-picture for faith is this... I'm blind. I can only see with and through the eyes of Jesus. I can't move without him. I can only see what he sees. Like a blind man being led by his master.
What if I was okay with that? And I didn't know all the results. I never knew the results. I walked blindly with Jesus. Would that be okay? Is that enough? Is there more?
Maybe that kind of "blind" is what it means to really see!
Fasting
According to Isaiah in the 58th Chapter....
Fasting and other spiritual disciplines (prayer, studying the scriptures) are good and bear much fruit in our lives and work.
But there is another kind of "fast" that the Prophets talk about as well as Jesus (Matthew 25): that's the fast of taking action. It's to "loose the chains of injustice and set the oppressed free....to share your food with the hungry."
I wonder if we, as the hands and feet of Jesus on earth should retreat less and advance more? More action, less thinking? Not so many strategy and prayer meetings, but a prayer on the go that God would speak! And he has. Go!
Remember Keith Green? He used to say "what part of the word 'go' don't you understand?" He was crazy eh? Or not...?
That's what I'm thinking about today for Gaza. What does it mean to "go?" What would be the True Fast for the people of God in response to Gaza?
I think I know what it means for me. Do you?
carl
Fasting and other spiritual disciplines (prayer, studying the scriptures) are good and bear much fruit in our lives and work.
But there is another kind of "fast" that the Prophets talk about as well as Jesus (Matthew 25): that's the fast of taking action. It's to "loose the chains of injustice and set the oppressed free....to share your food with the hungry."
I wonder if we, as the hands and feet of Jesus on earth should retreat less and advance more? More action, less thinking? Not so many strategy and prayer meetings, but a prayer on the go that God would speak! And he has. Go!
Remember Keith Green? He used to say "what part of the word 'go' don't you understand?" He was crazy eh? Or not...?
That's what I'm thinking about today for Gaza. What does it mean to "go?" What would be the True Fast for the people of God in response to Gaza?
I think I know what it means for me. Do you?
carl
Gaza
I'm reading three books at the same time (as usual). Two by Shane Claiborne and one by Rob Bell. They're not for the faint of heart. Not sure I'd even recommend them they're so radical. If you feel adventurous, they're called "The Irresistible Revolution," "Jesus for President"and "Jesus wants to Save Christians." All pretty wild.
The point of these books - and the Bible in many ways - is that Jesus came to bring a new kingdom. A totally different way of life. That religious business as usual was over and there was a new way, a new king, a new life. And it was pretty much upside down/backwards from all they had known. It still is today.
I am constantly asked what I think the "answer" is in the Middle East. I always say "Jesus" and then people laugh and say "No, but seriously." Hmmmm? How about "The way of Jesus." That's an even better answer. So...what's his "way" in a time like now?
Would Jesus kill the terrorists or root out the insurgents? Would he ask us to do that? Or is there another way?
What did he model? How did he live? How did he treat actual bad guys? What about Occupiers? How were the ones with the power to treat the ones without power?
These are real questions that he actually answered in both his teaching and his life.
So how do we answer those questions? There are answers we just don't like them. But they will bring life! Live or die? The choice is ours for our own lives and for the lives of others. Which do we choose?
The point of these books - and the Bible in many ways - is that Jesus came to bring a new kingdom. A totally different way of life. That religious business as usual was over and there was a new way, a new king, a new life. And it was pretty much upside down/backwards from all they had known. It still is today.
I am constantly asked what I think the "answer" is in the Middle East. I always say "Jesus" and then people laugh and say "No, but seriously." Hmmmm? How about "The way of Jesus." That's an even better answer. So...what's his "way" in a time like now?
Would Jesus kill the terrorists or root out the insurgents? Would he ask us to do that? Or is there another way?
What did he model? How did he live? How did he treat actual bad guys? What about Occupiers? How were the ones with the power to treat the ones without power?
These are real questions that he actually answered in both his teaching and his life.
So how do we answer those questions? There are answers we just don't like them. But they will bring life! Live or die? The choice is ours for our own lives and for the lives of others. Which do we choose?
Improved
We don't always get a second chance. Thankfully, this website is. It's going to be all new in about two weeks. Really exciting stuff. A bunch of cool videos. Podcasts. Totally new look. A site dedicated to the book and to Muslims. And the main site built around the parable of the Good Samaritan. A lot of work is currently going into this. I'm very excited.
So...after you devour these little blogs and see what we have here - come back in about two weeks and check out the new www.carlmedearis.com I'm almost sure you'll LOVE it.
carl
So...after you devour these little blogs and see what we have here - come back in about two weeks and check out the new www.carlmedearis.com I'm almost sure you'll LOVE it.
carl
Answers
I wrote a few weeks ago about why we sometimes avoid talking about God. I listed several things that I thought hinder us. I want to focus much of my attention over the next weeks on how we CAN talk about Jesus with anyone in a way that makes sense.
Here's my first set of thoughts on that:
1. Learn to retell the stories Jesus told. We call them "parables." They're simply stories that encourage the heart. Learn 4 or 5 of them well and learn how to retell them naturally and in the context of your present life. I'm going to be doing a series of videos on this to show you what I mean.
2. Tell stories about the life of Jesus. Not what he said, but what he did. I will sometimes start with "...that reminds me of the time Jesus saw a blind man on the side of the road and...."
3. Know the teachings of Jesus and learn how to relate them to everyday life. For instance - "Have you ever been tired? Well, of course you have. I'm worn out right now from my recent trip. You know...it's so interesting how Jesus said that he came to give tired people rest. Not sure how that works, but I know I could use some of that now..."
4. Tell the stories of Jesus touching someone else's life that you know. Don't always tell your own story - that feels too personal. Tell someone else's. Like this: "I was just with a friend of mine the other day - and he told me the most incredible thing that happened. I can hardly believe it...."
A great tool of teaching is not to TELL someone the thing you want them to know, but explain how that thing happened to someone else or was told by another person to someone else. In other words, give people the space to agree or disagree without feeling cornered. This by itself will change how you share your faith and how people respond.
carl
Here's my first set of thoughts on that:
1. Learn to retell the stories Jesus told. We call them "parables." They're simply stories that encourage the heart. Learn 4 or 5 of them well and learn how to retell them naturally and in the context of your present life. I'm going to be doing a series of videos on this to show you what I mean.
2. Tell stories about the life of Jesus. Not what he said, but what he did. I will sometimes start with "...that reminds me of the time Jesus saw a blind man on the side of the road and...."
3. Know the teachings of Jesus and learn how to relate them to everyday life. For instance - "Have you ever been tired? Well, of course you have. I'm worn out right now from my recent trip. You know...it's so interesting how Jesus said that he came to give tired people rest. Not sure how that works, but I know I could use some of that now..."
4. Tell the stories of Jesus touching someone else's life that you know. Don't always tell your own story - that feels too personal. Tell someone else's. Like this: "I was just with a friend of mine the other day - and he told me the most incredible thing that happened. I can hardly believe it...."
A great tool of teaching is not to TELL someone the thing you want them to know, but explain how that thing happened to someone else or was told by another person to someone else. In other words, give people the space to agree or disagree without feeling cornered. This by itself will change how you share your faith and how people respond.
carl
Fear
I've been surprised over the last weeks how much fear has been expressed by numerous friends about the possibility of Obama getting elected. Now he has been. What to do with all that lingering fear floating around?
I've been dealing with this for years - after I speak - nearly every time...a few people come up to me and say something like "nice talk about Jesus and Muslims, but..." The "but" they insert is typically followed by something about Muslims being scary and that we need to fight the terrrorists.
Fear is a powerful motivator. There's been plenty of that in this election. Of course, no one says "be afraid." Wouldn't sound godly. It's called "Wisdom." "Responsibility." Or just "be aware."
I just finished reading Romans 12. It says "don't repay evil with evil." "Don't take revenge." "Love your enemies."
It's pretty clear that only God is to be feared. If we're afraid of someone, it becomes impossible to love them.
Regardless of who you voted for, now is the time to drive out any remaining fear with love. Three thoughts on how we might do this:
1. Only say positive things about Obama and where this nation might be headed. Don't say anything negative. Nothing. Not to anyone. Sounds simple, but it's not easy.
2. Do not read any emails that breed fear. If you find yourself angry or fearful after reading an email, know that that email is not of God. Delete and do not forward.
3. Learn something positive about whoever or whatever it is that you're afraid of. It might take a bit of work, but find out all the good things about that person or thing.
Do this and you will live in freedom. We need to be people of hope, faith and love. And the greatest of these is love.
carl
I've been dealing with this for years - after I speak - nearly every time...a few people come up to me and say something like "nice talk about Jesus and Muslims, but..." The "but" they insert is typically followed by something about Muslims being scary and that we need to fight the terrrorists.
Fear is a powerful motivator. There's been plenty of that in this election. Of course, no one says "be afraid." Wouldn't sound godly. It's called "Wisdom." "Responsibility." Or just "be aware."
I just finished reading Romans 12. It says "don't repay evil with evil." "Don't take revenge." "Love your enemies."
It's pretty clear that only God is to be feared. If we're afraid of someone, it becomes impossible to love them.
Regardless of who you voted for, now is the time to drive out any remaining fear with love. Three thoughts on how we might do this:
1. Only say positive things about Obama and where this nation might be headed. Don't say anything negative. Nothing. Not to anyone. Sounds simple, but it's not easy.
2. Do not read any emails that breed fear. If you find yourself angry or fearful after reading an email, know that that email is not of God. Delete and do not forward.
3. Learn something positive about whoever or whatever it is that you're afraid of. It might take a bit of work, but find out all the good things about that person or thing.
Do this and you will live in freedom. We need to be people of hope, faith and love. And the greatest of these is love.
carl
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