Being Nice to Your N—uh—Me

You have to be phonetical with the last word…it is “enemy.” I just needed it to start with “n.”

A few days ago I had a friend who was having a difficult time due to some “negative nellys” where he works. It isn’t the most fun to be in a leadership position. It seems that some times people are only in your life to torment you. They may not even realize that they are doing that. It may just be in their nature. 

Things have since calmed down, for now. However, there is always a possibility that things may flare up again…something leadership never looks forward to!

One of the things he did, which they didn’t like, was to be kind to them. This brings us to this week’s quote, dedicated to one of my best friends…

Love your enemies, they hate it.  ~ Unknown quote, reference is from Matthew 5:44

I have been the one who did this. It is almost fun to do. People do not like you in one area or another, or you’ve just made them upset for something. Either way, your kindness just aggravates them to the point that they just hate your “love” and “kindness.

As one similar philosophy that I’ve lived by for years says, “Kill ‘em with kindness.” When someone is doing things to you which is causing friction, just be overly nice to them and set them go down with good news!
May we all be nice to our enemies! If they’re going to go down, make sure it is with good news, not with put downs!

Bowing Before Battle (1) - Joshua 5:10-15

In America we are not accustomed to bowing; especially to any authority figure. Our American attitude of "supremacy" (for lack of a better word) causes us to be self-righteous when it comes to thinking about bowing. Even in the religious context, in America, we'd probably think it was a bit odd to see someone getting down on one's knees to pay homage to someone of royalty or deity.

Regardless, bowing is showing respect toward a person/being. Sometimes that person/being may have authority over you or, simply, that you are showing respect to them.

As we journey through Joshua, it is interesting here that as soon as this 'man' told Joshua who he was, that Joshua went to the ground to bow and worship. There wasn't any sense of delayed time, it was immediate.

As we reflect back, here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

1. Posture - When you are trying to really talk to someone, seeking an engaged communication, the posture of the person will determine their degree of interest. Slouching and/or agitation shows their attention is probably not with you. When you are approaching God, think about your posture and how engaged you are as you talk to Him and listen to Him.
   
2. Limitations - BUSY BUSY BUSY! Life pulls us so many different directions. Add on responsibilities and kids, and that just puts a few more tugs in there. In order to get away for even a minute, you have to consciously make that decision, taking time, in prayer, to get ready for a situation that lies ahead. Limit what is going on so that you can be more free in your approach toward Him.
   
3. Attitude - As you are reclining toward God, make sure your attitude is where it should be. Not on the time, not on self, but on Him. On taking your praises and requests toward Him. Maybe even taking your general thoughts and adoration to Him. You are not getting down on your knees or bowing your head, even, for His sake, but because you've humbled yourself toward Him.
   
4. Considerations - It is a humbling experience to consider all the things that God has done. All your life experiences that He has allowed you to experience, both high and low. Even the decisions He's allowed you to make. To me it is astounding to reflect on these experiences. Even in the "valley" days, to me, God is STILL good, all the time!
   
5. Environment - With some similarities to limitations, where we situate ourselves when we are approaching God has a lot to do with our ability to draw near to Him. For you, it could be in the country on a dirt road, in your car, away from 'noise'. It could be in the shower as you start or end your day. It could be at a park during your lunch hour. It could be in your classroom/office when no one else is around. As you seek to approach Him, seek out a good place to allow your mind to be as focused as possible.
   

As you recline toward God, think about the "P.L.A.C.E." you are at and how it affects your ability to get close to Him.

If you are getting ready for a situation in the future, approach Him before that situation comes about. Even if you don't know about a situation, maybe you need to approach Him to get ready for an "unknown" situation.

When God approaches you...will you do as Joshua did and "fall down in awe" or pass up the opportunity? Get ready, He's going to be approaching you sooner than you may realize!

Looking forward to that interaction...

Going Green: Wind Power

When we lived in Illinois, we shared our experiences of the wind from growing up in western Kansas. The interesting thing was, that part of Illinois was not accustomed to receive much wind (except on an occasional storm), so many didn't believe that a 25-30 mph wind, wasn't a gust, it was much of a norm for a day (maybe a couple of days). Gusts could get into the 60's and just start to be on the brink of worry. Some days the wind would get even higher than that.

For you golfers, try playing east-west with a southern wind of 20-30 mph! What isn't fun is when then wind decides to die down a bit just when you hit it toward a side of a fairway and it doesn't come back to the fairway - like you thought it would!

God has created wind for various reasons. It is one 'fuel' which we can/have utilized so that other fuels aren't used up. It is almost unlimited! Especially, if you use it correctly.

As Christians, we have a fuel that is probably not utilized in most people, like it should, and this fuel is basically unlimited (we are the only ones that can limit this fuel). The 'wind' that drives our sails is the Holy Spirit. As we are "filled" with Him, we should take advantage of His guidance. As we looked at this "wind power" yesterday, here are some applications to choose to use this week...

1. Cooling Off - Ever worked physically hard away from a breeze, say inside a building? It is miserable! That is what it is like to work all your life's situations out without tapping in to the wind power of the Holy Spirit...it is miserable. Open yourself up to His power!
2. Sailing Away - Being a father of a young child, I am now watching cartoons. My son likes basically one cartoon. One episode has the group sailing, until they hit the 'doldrums'. There, the wind stops and they must row their big boat. A sailboat was created to utilize the wind. You were created to allow the "wind" in the Holy Spirit to fill your sails to take you through life...don't row, let Him take you places! Maybe some you never thought possible!
3. Transporting Seeds - We've all probably blown on a dandelion, causing the seeds to be blown all over. The wind of the Holy Spirit can act like that. What I'm getting at is that through you and the seeds you plant, the Holy Spirit starts to work in other places. We don't know where that seed will take root or after it grows, another seed will be spread. We may never see what comes of it...that is an awesome mystery of the working of Him...tap into it...relish in it...God is awesome!
4. Fuel Your Fire - Oxygen is an important ingredient in keeping a flame going. Air is fed into a fire to keep it going stronger. A quenched fire will go out. Don't quench the Holy Spirit as that will cause your fire to go out...open up the vent and allow the air to come in to your life to keep the fire going or build it up! Utilize the power of wind!

When people are using wind turbines to capture the energy of the wind, they are utilizing an energy that is natural and good for the environment.

When you allow yourself to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit, you, too, are utilizing an energy that is natural and good for your environment.

Capturing this 'energy' will cause your environment to be better. It will cause your outlook to be different. Your attitude to be different. Your faith to be different. Make someone else's environment cleaner by utilizing this 'wind power' yourself and make a difference in others' lives!

Enjoying the breeze...

Going Green: Altering Yourself to Help Your Environment

"Going Green" has been a hot topic for the last few years. With more and more people becoming aware and concerned with the environment, the craze continues to gain ground. Though I am not an environmentalist, I do get concerned with throwing so much trash away and thinking about the earth and generations to come.

When I was investigating the concept of "going green" I found out something interesting, at its essence. One simple explanation was "altering your activities to help your environment". When you enter a room/environment, we are going to affect that environment. What effect will you have when you enter your workplace, your home, a store/check out line, a restaurant, etc.?

This "Going Green" is not so much the global environment, but more the unseen environment/atmosphere. We looked at five of the seven churches in Revelation, chapters 2 & 3, to get an idea about how a bad environment is not very appealing to God. Here are some applications to choose from this week...

1. Reflect back over the past few hours or days of work. How did your actions pollute or improve the environment?
2. Reflect back over the past few hours or days at home. How did your actions pollute or improve the environment?
3. Be conscious of trying to improve an environment which you enter in to. So, the next time you go shopping, try to improve the environment by helping someone, saying something nice to someone, calling your cashier by name, buying a cashier a candy bar - to say thanks, or some other way that may help the "environment".
4. Pray that God would help you as you aspire to help the various environments that you are in.
5. Self-reflect different areas that you need to clean up your body/mind "environment". Is there negativity toward someone? What do you need to do to "go green" and positively alter that environment?
6. Pray for your church family so that we can have a positive environment for which God to work and that He will be pleased to "digest" our service and worship to Him.
   

Recycling, planting trees, reducing hazardous materials, and many other things will help the earth to not be polluted. It will also save many natural areas and habitats.

With these same concepts, we can "go green" and create an environment that is reduced from pollution and allow our environment to not be "polluted".

Remember the catch phrase from Woodsy the Owl..."Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute!" Click here to recall one of those commercials.