(1,867)
Ability means “I can”
“Can” requires some practice
Practice makes perfect workers
Workers multiply their abilities.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
(1,866)
“The kingdom of God is within you.”
It’s too bad that statement is so doggone religious. It contains all the language that we associate with church, godliness and piety.
Actually, if you separate off its true meaning, it is so explanatory of life on earth that it puts a chill down my spine. Here’s the truth of the matter: as long as I believe that my destiny, my circumstances and my fruitfulness are determined by factors beyond myself–be they traffic, failure, weather, man, demons, angels or even God–I will become incapacitated from time to time by the perspective of what seems to be pending doom. If I’m reaching out to the world around me to explain who I am, where I am and why I am, I find myself at the mercy of the system, instead of taking control of my life and making a difference, as God intended.
If I could rework that phrase–“the kingdom of God is within you”–to update it to our time, I would probably construct it to say the following: You are a factory. Work on your wheels and keep turning.
For after all, the choices we are given in this day and age in considering a philosophy of life are frustrating and meaningless.
Choice 1: I stink, you stink, we stink, God is good.
Choice 2: I’m ok, you’re ok, we’re ok, who needs God?
Choice 3: Life is tough, I’ll be tough, you be tough, because the tough survive.
As you can see, Choice 1 leads you to believe that you are worthless–that no good can come out of yourself. Choice 2 causes you to think that you’re fine the way you are; it’s just that you’re waiting for the correct opportunity to cash in your chips. Choice 3 puts you on the defensive, around defensive people, constantly defending your defenses. These are the reasons that human interaction comes to a stalemate in our society.
Here’s what I think the correct philosophy of life should be: I’m human, you’re human, we’re human, God became human.
Nowadays we use the phrase “I’m only human” as an excuse for everything from being late for a dinner party to being the justification for a serial killer. Here’s the truth about being a human:
1. We are given talent, and if we use it, multiply it and balance our lives between critique and praise, we will have room to establish ourselves in prosperity.
2. NoOne is better than anyones else, so as long as you’re not trying to be superior, you are not a threat to your fellow-humans, and therefore, can get some breathing room to do what you want to do.
3. If I believe that both the solution and the problem lie within me, I have the control and authority to promote the good parts and to gradually address the weaker ones.
4. The key to being appreciated is to learn to be a person who appreciates.
There you go.
When I finished up with the beautiful people yesterday at St. Andrew‘s, I viewed absolutely delightful human beings who just need to understand that the kingdom of God is within them.
Each one of them is a factory. If they will stop waiting for their “gospel ship” to come in, cease blaming other people for their problems, and simply and quietly address their own vision and circumstances, they can be productive human beings filled with joy.
Praise God, I’m a factory. I am not an abandoned building. I am not living in the penthouse of a high-rise apartment.I am not a church with a steeple. God made me to be fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth.
Blow the whistle, start your shift, and let’s begin.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
(1,865)
Those are three solid statements of fact that must land somewhere between my brain and my heart in order for me to finally understand the concept of maturity and how to be a truly decent and productive human being.
I can’t judge you. God does not give me the right. And when I try to become the “decider” for everybody else’s life, I shine a great big spotlight on all of MY scars and blemishes. No one can survive that kind of scrutiny.
I can’t change you. My job is to let my light shine before men, so they can see any good works that might follow, give God the glory, and maybe in the process, adopt some ideas different from their own. Every time I try to change another human being, I push him away and pull him apart.
I can’t ignore you. I can’t pretend that you don’t have just as much right to your ideas and space as I do. I can’t look the other way when you’re in need because that type of deprivation is not limited to one family, but soon will visit us all if we become too shortsighted.
All that’s left to me is to love you. How should I do that?
It is only in allowing you to determine your own path that I give you your righteous position of finding the way, the truth and the life.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
(1,864)
As I get older I realize it more and more.
The game is not fame. The game is not acclaim. It’s about leaving behind a plain path of understanding concerning your life so that others can study it, follow it and progress the idea.
Imagine how excited I was when I discovered that my Sunday would be spent at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in San Antonio, Texas. Andrew is one of my favorite Bible dudes. He is one of a quartet of fishermen from the little town of Capernaum who Jesus welcomes into his “kingdom dozen.”
Andrew was among the first to discover the message of Jesus. Here’s an interesting fact: even though he was one of four fishermen, three of them–Peter James and John–became what we refer to as the “inner circle.”
Andrew was not included.
We do not know why. We don’t even know if there is a “why” to it. But there is no incident listed in which Andrew pitched a fit or ended up betraying Jesus because he felt cheated. What we have is a man who found his place, occupied his space, made his case and finished the race.
Andrew did three really notable things.–and as I said, as the years pass, I realize that I want to have more of the spirit of Andrew in me, and not insist on being a Peter, James or John.
1. He came early. Dear God, may I learn that in the matters of spirit, justice and equality, to arrive first and jump on the bandwagon of freedom instead of dragging my feet because my culture and prejudice have taught me to be reluctant. Andrew met Jesus and went with it. How amazing. Come early, folks. It’s not as crowded, and you get to share beautiful moments with something beginning instead of later on just being part of the maintenance crew.
2. He brought a friend. Yes, the Bible tells us that Andrew brought his brother, Peter. Every night when I walk onstage and share my thoughts, I realize that they may never gain international attention, but there is always the possibility that I will inspire the mind and spirit of someone in the gathering who has the capability of doing things much greater than me. Sometimes the best thing you can do for the world is to stimulate somebody else who has the power to change it.
3. Andrew encouraged young humans. When it was discovered that five thousand men needed to be fed, Andrew was the one who found a young lad with five loaves and two fishes and brought him to Jesus. He gave this fledgling kid a chance to be the hero of the day. He gave him a lifelong memory. He gave him a place in the Bible.
There are two ways to become old: you can become old and grouchy or you can become old and hip. If you’re old and grouchy, you think everything young people do is stupid. If you’re old and hip, you look at what young people do, remember what you did, laugh and encourage them in their better choices.
I want to be Andrew. I want to ignore the inner circles of life. I want to show up early, bring a friend and encourage young humans.
If that’s what’s going on at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, they are on the verge of revealing the Kingdom of God.
Andrew: enjoying your portion without needing the whole platter.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
(1,863)
Long before we abandon our faith, we lose our perspective. Our passion “peters out” because we forget how to use what we are.
It reminds me of a story of a guy named Peter. He was a fisherman–at least, that’s how the story goes. But considering he was a fisherman, this dude had more trouble with boats and water than any “landlubber” ever dreamed. Somewhere along the line he had convinced himself that his particular occupation, pursuit of life, and dreamscape was difficult.
Matter of fact, the first time he met Jesus, he was casting his net into the sea from the shore. Now, this is not exactly the most effective way to catch fish. Everyone knows that only the little guppies exist near the shoreline. But apparently, the previous night’s escapades in the boat were not successful, so in desperation, he just started throwing in a net from the sand. Or who knows? Maybe his ship was full of holes.
He was in a boat one night in the middle of a storm and his friend, Jesus, came walking on the water to join him and his buddies. For some unexplained reason, Peter decided he needed to walk on the water, too. It wasn’t necessary. Jesus didn’t come strolling to their aid to get everybody in the pool. But Peter was so insecure that he wanted to be better than everybody else around him in the storm, so he ended up nearly drowning in the process.
And after Jesus was killed and Peter felt great guilt over denying him to the officials, he stomped off in a huff to go back to fishing–even though his life had been permanently altered by the experience of being with his Nazarene friend.
He is an excellent example for us because at one moment, he’s being heralded as “a rock” and in the next moment he goes back to his former behavior and is dubbed “satan.”
What causes all of us to “peter out?” We make one of two mistakes, which actually end up being the same error:
1. “I’m so bad that no one could ever love me, so I will pretend that I am not worthy of being blessed.”
2. “I’m so good that everybody should love me, so what the hell is wrong with the world?”
What’s missing in both cases? An honest assessment of who we are.
Let me be the first: I am a fat, bald, aging man with bad knees who has been blessed with talent, which I have multiplied, and in the process of doing so, I have learned to be more tolerant of others and generous in my spirit with the world around me.
There you go. As long as I keep that in mind, I am balanced, humorous and useful.
Tonight I head to St. Peter Lutheran Church in Elgin, Texas. They named their church after that fisherman, who thought he could get a good catch by standing on the shore instead of getting in the boat.
Are we much different? No. But remember–God doesn’t love us because we’re going to be saved and escape humanity. God loves us because we’re humans and we can escape the fear of being so, and end up saved.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
(1,862)
Because I had seven sons come through my household, I ended up becoming a regular watcher of the cartoon show, GI Joe. Although the program had the drawback of presenting testosterone-driven solutions via muscling your way to often-violent conclusions, in the commercial breaks, they offered practical little scenarios, where children could learn the value of good manners, eating vegetables or helping little old ladies across the street. At the end of the lesson, one of the steroid-juiced characters would intone in a deep voice, “And now you know. And knowing is half the battle.”
So if knowing is half the battle, what’s the other half? If we go ahead and concede the notion that knowledge takes us halfway towards maturity, success and progress, what is needed to complete the journey?
Truthfully, I was unable to ascertain the answer by watching any additional episodes of GI Joe, but I offer to you that the other half of the battle, after we have admitted the power of knowing and learning, is allowing ourselves the opportunity for trying.
Yes, I will say it aloud: most people fail because they discuss and acquire information, but then freeze up, frightened to attempt a new idea because they are greatly terrified by the prospects of failure.
Failure is our friend. Failure confirms two wonderful facts: (1) we are trying; and (2) our latest attempt did not work.
As long as something exists in theory or is stuck in committee or is being overly debated, we never have the satisfaction of sensing that we are trying and we are never given the reassurance in our souls of discovering that something does or does not work.
Our government, our churches, our corporations and our entertainment in this country are presently frozen–in a state of limbo–because we continue to accumulate knowledge without ever trying anything.
Trying is the other half of the equation, which is initiated by knowing.
When we pursue spirituality or even intelligence without adding the dimension of experimenting–trying the principles we believe in–we end up with a form of Godliness that denies the power that is available. And what is the power?
“Try it–you’ll like it.”
That is when we all learn. That is how we grow.
I know there is a God because when I apply who He is, what He is, and what I’ve learned about Him, and try … it works.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
(1,861)
Travis, Bowie and Crockett–three men who found themselves arriving at an old mission in San Antonio in late February, 1836. They had one thing in common. Each one of them had experienced illustrious careers which had now ebbed, leaving them in a bit of disarray and even some disgrace.
All three had gone off looking for adventure, to reestablish some sense of purpose in their lives. Simultaneously, a large army from Mexico, led by Santa Ana, was invading Texas to conquer the state once again for the empire. The three men, along with about two hundred other individuals, made a decision to take a stand at the Alamo, to ward off the attackers.
No one can question their bravery. No one would ever cast aspersions on their decisions and motives. But truthfully, it was not necessary.
Sam Houston had a plan to lure Santa Ana deeper and deeper into Texas while he continued to train an army and avoid conflict by strategically retreating. The Alamo was a symbol of courage–but in a strange sense, also a surrender by three men who yearned for one last patch of glory.
It’s a lesson for all of us.
As I head off tonight to Alamo United Methodist Church, I arrive as one human being who wants to see things improve but am in no hurry to terminate my own existence to achieve those results. I am not so sure that we do a great work for God when we try to make our lives seem meaningless, as if we’re only here to prepare for heaven. I am not positive that teaching people to be vulnerable to despair and leery of conflict with the intent of surviving, is the best profile to share a gospel that was birthed to bring newness of life.
Even though I greatly admire the courage and bravery of Travis, Bowie and Crockett, I would prefer to stay alive to fight yet another day, when circumstances are favorable to victory. Here’s what I’ll tell them tonight at the Alamo:
I have coined a new word today–Alamore: reaching the point when you think it’s time to go to heaven, but instead, you bring your life back down to earth.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | ||||
 | Jonathan on 1 Thing You Can Do When Your F… |
| Anonymous on 1 Thing You Can Do When Your F… |
| Anonymous on 1 Thing You Can Do When Your F… |
| Anonymous on 1 Thing You Can Do When Your F… |
 | Nolan on 1 Memory About Jonathan Richar… |
 | Maxine Mantooth on Drawing Attention … Dece… |
| Steve on From the Stacks … Octobe… |
| Maxine Mantooth on Scrambles … October 20th… |
| Maxine Mantooth on From the Stacks … Octobe… |
| Maxine Mantooth on Scrambles … October 13th… |
A voice writing in the wilderness
Jonathots Daily Blog 