Love Wins

It really does!  Love will always be more powerful than hate.  Love will always win in the end, because of the ultimate love Jesus  showed us from the cross.  He could have given up, but he didn’t.  He remained on the cross and died for us, so that we might live.

I’ve wanted to get a tattoo for over a year now and I actually went twice to get it and was stood up both times by the tattoo artist.  I’m actually happy that I ended up waiting, because what you see in the picture is my new tattoo and yes it says Love Wins.  I love it, I’m happy with it, and I think the artist I finally chose, did a great job.

So why?  Why “Love Wins?”  Because I often find myself impatient and frustrated with people.  I don’t show them the kind of love that God expects his people to show towards each other.  I even struggle with showing enough love to my family.  You would think love would come naturally, but because of the broken, sinful, and selfish nature we are born with, love is something that takes work and practice and effort.

I really want my scribbled life to be a reflection of Christ’s love to others.  Will a tattoo that says “Love Wins” on my wrist mean that loving others will be easier?  No!  But maybe, just maybe, it will be a small opportunity to testify about my need for Christ’s redeeming love in my life.  Maybe it will pave the way for a future conversation with someone about how I struggle with loving others and the only way I can successfully love people is through the grace of God and because of his love for all of his creation.

Do you wrestle with the ability to love others more than you love yourself?

Caption Please…(Just a little Friday Fun)

I’ve been putting off going to the zoo with my family for years, because it’s just not one of my favorite things to do.  I grew up on a farm so I got to see plenty of animals and smell plenty of crap, so why would I want to go to the zoo?  Last Friday during spring break I finally gave in and took off work to take my wife and son along with my brother and his family to the Fort Worth zoo.  It was a really great time and I walked away with a clasic picture.  Definitely worth the day!

Today you get to help me have a little fun.

Caption Please….

Taken Friday, March 20, at Fort Worth Zoo Copywrite by Kyle Stickens/Urban Eye Studio

 

Come on now it’s only fun if you leave a comment!

Organic House

A few Sunday’s ago my wife and I went through our normal routine.  We slept in, got up and fixed breakfast, relaxed for a few minutes, then headed to our friends house where we would enjoy a nice Sabbath day.  We call it Organic Church, but we like to think of it as being the church.

The day started out fairly normal and was going pretty smooth until I went to put something in the car and came back making a statement about how filthy it was on the inside.  Apparently this was the wrong thing for me to say, because what followed was a very heated fight between me and my wife.  All of this happening while we were walking out the door and headed to church.  It wasn’t pretty!

Has this ever happened to you?  Ever feel like just staying home, because you’re way too pissed to go and “fellowship” with a bunch of people who don’t fight with their spouse.

If you do find yourself relating to this scenario, the big question would be, what did you do?  Did the following circumstances include a big smile once you got to your church gathering place, even though you were burning and pissed on the inside?  Did you give the appearance to everyone that things were just fine in your life?

One of the things we agreed to when we started the Organic Church with our friends was agreeing to be real.  No more fake and no more putting on a show for the sake of making ourselves look good.  We agreed that we have to be honest and transparent with each other, otherwise the people we are trying to reach will quickly see that we are no different than any other church.

So, when I walked in and sat down in my usual spot at the table for our morning conversation, I didn’t say a whole lot.  In fact I was so pissed and so angry by what had just happened between me and my wife, I’m sure others could sense the tense situation.  One of my friends even asked if I was awake yet and I think I said “yes, I’m just really pissed off right now.”  So, he asked if I wanted to go talk.

What followed was a “real” opportunity for me to express what was going on and how I really felt inside.  I could have easily put on my “fake” smile when I walked in the door and made everyone feel like things were just fine, but where would the lesson have been in that?  The true lesson came by being honest, talking about and sharing it with my friend, and then praying that God would help and see me through this tense moment.

I honestly felt so much better after we talked and had the opportunity to enjoy the rest of my Sabbath day, instead of stewing and steaming the whole time I was there, missing out on the opportunity to experience God.

Church can be real, and honest, and transparent.  I’ve experienced it and would encourage more people to give it a shot.  If you try it and the person on the receiving end doesn’t respond in a way that would help you work through your problem, then maybe you should seek a church that is real and willing to stop the fake pretending and self indulging all for the sake of making ourselves look good.  It’s time to show we aren’t perfect and we’re all carrying around a little garbage we’re ready to unload.  And trust me, you may not smell any better when you get rid of the garbage, but you’ll definitely feel better from getting rid of that heavy load!

Bye, Bye, Twitter

Tonight I was talking a little with my wife about Lent.  I’ve really been thinking a lot about it and what I’ll give up this year.  I totally missed out on the beauty of Lent last year, because of my depression.  I was struggling so bad, I just couldn’t wrap my mind around giving something up.  I needed to be saved from what I was dealing with.

This year is a totally different story.  God is good and working in my life.  Our Organic Church is growing and amazing things are happening.  I’m totally excited and looking towards Lent with enthusiasm.  I can’t wait to see what God has in store for all of us as we journey through 40 days of sacrifice only to arrive at resurrection Sunday celebrating Him.

I know it’s not kosher to tell people what you are giving up for Lent, so if you read my blog and we see each other on a regular basis, just accept this as notice, and we don’t need to talk about it beyond this post.  My closest friends know how much I love Twitter and my wife will tell you I’m addicted.  Tonight she joked that I should give up my iPhone for Lent and I quickly squashed the thought.  But, for the past week or so, giving up Twitter for Lent has been heavily on my heart.  I can’t think of anything else I’m more attached to at this point in my life, so it’s perfect for creating a little reminder in my soul to help me constantly think over the next 40 days of the beautiful gift God gave to me in the form of his son.

Deletion of the application for Twitterfon and Twitterrific will be removed from my iPhone tomorrow when I sync my phone one last time before going out-of-town on business.  And, while I’m at it, I might as well say goodbye to Facebook.  It’s equally as addictive for me as Twitter and could serve as a mild replacement for giving up Twitter.  The reality of all of this could mean I have to rebuild my Tribe of followers on Twitter, but if that means more to me that a growth opportunity with my creator, then Twitter really is pretty pathetic.  I need this to be a time of reflection and drawing near to God.  I’m ready to grow, to be stretched, challenged and I can’t wait for resurrection Sunday!

I’ll see all of you on the back end of 40 days and I can’t to celebrate with a Tweet!