Enemy of Average

Have you ever thought you are just average? I am sure we can say that about many things in our own personal lives. Perhaps I am an average golfer, or an average housekeeper, or an average driver, or average weight, or... The list could go on and on.



Here is a quote from John Mason's book "An Enemy Called Average"

"Mediocrity is a region bounded on the North by compromise, on the South by indecision, on the East by past thinking, and on the West by a lack of vision"



There are some things in life I am okay to be "average" in. Honestly, to be an average golfer would be a step up for me, but there are some areas of my life that I can not be satisfied with average. There are areas that are just too important in this life to be average.



One area is my professional life. I have been given the opportunity to lead a group of folks at a local Church here in Austin, Texas in the technical arena. One way to look at the technical side of things is that you are there to only support the "artist" whether that be the musician, the producer, etc. I have found that is certainly part of the occupation but even more than that I believe God has placed within each of these "techies" gifts that He desires to use. There are stories to be told that can only be told through them. With our video team, our mission is to find what Jesus is up to and capture it to tell of His greatness. We could settle to only do the tasks that are handed down like an average team but no, we will not settle for average.



A.W. Tozer is quoted: "Refuse to be average, let your heart soar as high as it will"



Another area that finally hit me was in marriage. I know many would look at my marriage and say "your marriage is not average", but when you know it could be better, are you settling? So Lynn and I decided to dive in again and do some more hard work and have a marriage that will soar.



I'll close with one last quote from Henry Louis Mencken: "The average man doesn't want to be free. He wants to be safe"

Church, Nation, Injustice...

I know, it's been a while...

So I have been thinking about the talk that seems to have accelerated about our Country not being a Cristian nation any longer, has it concerned you at all? Really, my thinking is that we have not been a Christian nation for a long, long time if ever we were one. I do believe that our nation was founded on Biblical principles but as a nation, a people, have we been doing the works of Jesus? Clearly the answer is "no". If we had been, there is no way we would be where we are today. We didn't get here over night. This is making more ill the more I think of it. We are the most prosperous people in the world. When the least wealthy in our land would be considered rich in other parts of the world we know we have an issue.

It appears to me that the church has become part of the problem though. We have become the consumer, part of the indulgent society. We use our faith for bigger houses, nicer cars, more clothes... You know, more stuff for me. Of course while being sure to donate our 10% to our local church. Though we have become part of the problem, I believe we ARE the solution, NOT the government.

The good news is, we as Christ followers have an amazing opportunity to make wrongs right. There truly is so much injustice in the world and even in our own back yards that we can make a difference. With such huge problems going on in the world today you think, "I am just one person, how can I make a difference?" I am reminded of Zach Bonner from Tampa, Florida. Zach, at age 7 pulled his little red wagon around his neighborhood collecting water for victims of Hurricane Charlie, he ended up collecting 27 pick up truck loads. Once he began making wrongs right, he couldn't stop. Zach started his own non-profit charity called the Little Red Wagon Foundation and has gone on to push for awareness of homeless children in America. This started with one 7 year old boy and a wagon. 

What is your little red wagon? What does your heart cry for?

There honestly should be no need at all for government programs for the homeless, handicapped, child care, disaster relief, food stamps, housing, etc. if the church was doing it's part. So rather than rail on the fact that I don't believe we are a Christian nation and think that it is up to our government to determine that it is, I think we as the church should do our part in our own sphere of influence.

One of our Pastor's the other day was about to enter a store when she saw a homeless person out front. She stopped to talk to her and asked her what she needed. She said she needed some shoes. The Pastor took her inside the store and bought her a pair of shoes right then and gave her money for lunch. I am praying that I can live this way.

I want to live in the moment, not be in such a hurry that I can't stop for a moment and talk to a stranger that might need some help and then offer it. Sure, maybe it is an inconvenience, but think of what has been given for you, but not only you, for this stranger too. Christ, for the joy set before Him endured the cross, not terribly convenient.

Let me hear your thoughts... I'm just rambling...