MAD AT THE WORLD!!

I went to the bank today to get some quarters for the parking meter (yes, I have to "pay" to be at this one particular Starbucks... sheesh), and while I was standing in line, I heard a loud, male voice behind me say, "Hey, mutha f$&!*$!!" (sorry... I know I just messed some of y'all up!)

Thinking this dude was talking to me, but not knowing why... I turned around calmly, saying to myself, "Ok, D-Plum... the dude has lost his mind... LET IT GO!!!" But when I turned to face the man, what I saw was both shocking and sad: he was an older gentleman, and looked totally confused. He seemed to be MAD AT EVERYBODY... and yet, mad at NOBODY IN PARTICULAR. It was clear he wasn't playing with a full deck... he just kept walking around, cussin', lookin' all angry... at no one in particular!! Just talking to himself...

And I couldn't help but think: That's just how the unchurched views us! Mad at everybody, but nobody in particular... just MAD! (see how BOB FRANQUIZ worded it in this post) Why are we sometimes so angry? And why do we always have to be "right?"

And somebody please tell me... why does it always seem like THE CHURCH IS TALKING TO ITSELF?!?!

The Dream's Alive!

Well, whaddya know...

The dream's alive! Funny how, even when things look dim, God has a way of blowing our minds! After working through some miscommunication, I'll be headed up to South Haven next week after all!

SIDEBAR: Important Leadership Lesson - "Some dudes" have your back, even when it seems like they don't. ;-)

But... South Haven, here I come!

When I look back at the past 12 hours, I see that I had a choice of "life and death" before me. "Death" was getting bent out of shape, and losing my temper - because I couldn't for the LIFE of me (no pun intended) see why this had to be a closed door. "Life" was choosing God's way of humility and submission, and accepting - although I didn't understand - His answer. Had I chosen the anger route, which I really wanted to choose (I kept trying to fit this under "righteous indignation", but God wouldn't let me get away with it), I might have unnecesarily caused irreparable damage to some relationships. By choosing submission, when it came time for the issue to be pressed - for the envelope to be pushed - there was no tension to wade through and dialogue could take place in a God-honoring way.

Yes... there was a time when I would've ranted and raved, because of being treated "unfairly." But I'm learning that it always pays to remember this ... and this.

Somebody out there needs to take heed: "Chill... and be still."