HOW TO PICK UP A STRIPPER AND OTHER ACTS OF KINDNESS ..a book review

 HOW TO PICK UP A STRIPPER AND OTHER ACTS OF KINDNESS
By: TODD & Erin Stevens

This is a tricky book as is obvious by the title. That's designed by the authors to raise eyebrows, but it makes a point. In serving Christ, would you teach a stripper about the Lord? Not condemn - teach. Jesus did. Would, you go to the street or even the jail if an opportunity to teach a drug user came available?  That is what this book is about, teaching people where they are and as they are, not just when or if they come to your meeting. I laud the authors for their challenge and concept with this. That said, don't expect a lot of specific in depth collegiate level teaching. That's not what this book is about. This book is about what it says it is,reaching people where they are. How to reach out to people in need, how to speak to them about faith, and show them Christ in you.

This is a good book for modern outreach, small groups, discussion groups. It will challenge you to think practically and definitely out of the box. My advice - get it!  But not if you're not going take its challenge seriously. With the lauds, I would like to suggest to the authors to write a sequel that goes a little more in depth. My rating for this book is a 5, with a potential to be a 10. I enjoyed it's challenge, and I hope you do too!

Feeelwings

Wise People Consider Other People’s Feelings when they speak. James says, “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” (Jas 3:17)   We often react to what people say and not how they feel — or when we invalidate someone else’s feelings because we don’t feel that way ourselves.

We pay too much attention to someone’s words and not enough attention to the emotions behind the words. An example of this is when people say stuff when they’re angry that they don’t even mean. Even to the point of using words they don’t even intend to use.  We exaggerate things. This is where it gets tricky, because you need to look behind the words at the emotion. People don’t always say what they mean, but they always feel what they feel. Thus the tragedy of communication, and being closer to someone doesn't help.  Wisdom in a relationship, often demands that you stop focusing on what just ticks you off, and you start being considerate of what is being said and how. Then we have to learn to be mindful of the feelings and emotions swirling around both of those.  Unfortunately, it is the unkind person are those who need your kindness the most. When people are rude and unkind, they are screaming to the world, “I’m in pain!” whether they realize it or not.

We have a tendency to invalidate any feelings that we don’t feel ourselves as irrevelent.  This is when you believe something is dumb or irrational or illogical because it’s not what you would feel or say and you dismiss it. Can one person be cold and another be warm at the same time? Yes. So why try to argue people out of what they feel? It’s real to them, even if it isn't to you. It is simply rude and inconsiderate on our part to invalidate someone else’s feelings because we don’t feel it. We minimize the other person and are no longer their friend, but their judge.  If someone says “I feel ugly,” don’t dismiss it and say, “You’re not ugly!” That doesn’t help. What you need to do ask is, “Why would you feel that? What would make you say that?” because you need to look beyond the words and get to the real issue.

Feelings are neither right nor wrong. They’re just what they are. We shouldn’t have to defend our feelings but at the same time that doesn't give us the right to feel that I can infringe on or invalidate another because of my own feelings. That is why James states, “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (Jas 3:17). It is with God' eyes, feelings, and voice that we can stop minimizing other people’s feelings. You will let them feel tired when they say they're tired and not try to talk them out of it. You will let a person feel depressed when they say they're  depressed and not try to talk them out of it. Wise people are considerate of other people’s feelings.

What habits do you need to change or adopt to become more considerate of others feelings and not just their words?

Jim

Pain and Pandora

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

 (Col. 3:12, 13)

Many of us have that has done some hurtful thing to us or to somebody that we love.  We hold on to hurt like badges at times, often making them vendettas, grudges or even worse things. Resentments like these tear you up from the inside out. They rob us of joy and appreciation of life. It is also a sad thing when believers tell themselves, “I know the Christian thing to do is to forgive, so I will. I will forgive him as soon as he gives me an apology.”  The problem with this is that we are clouding the issue with a lie. The truth is, that person may never ask you for forgiveness or say they are sorry, because they may not even realize what they have done. So we end up stewing over something that the other person has either long ago forgotten, or doesn't even realize. And we are the one that suffers, and if we aren't careful that suffering can be eternal.

Jesus, even dying on the cross shows us that things like this can be let go. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Paul echoes this in Col.3:12,13 "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. These verses are not a bad one to memorize and carry with you throughout the day, because we will have plenty of chances to use them. It is also interesting that Paul's choice of words here with regard to "bearing with" means “to bear with, to endure, to be tolerant.” Basically it means to cut people some slack. Jesus reiterated this, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” Matthew 5:7. One of the ways you receive mercy, is by being merciful.

What hurt are you still holding onto? Be aware that hurts like these open a plethora of Pandora boxes with regard to things we will justify because of them.  Drug abuse, marriage troubles, job issues, family troubles and more. Things like this don't cause just me to suffer, everyone I'm connected to will hurt because of me to some degree or another.

What do you need to do today so that your hurt does not turn into resentment? Are you letting God have your life and heart, or just telling yourself this wile secretly worshipping pain and resentments?

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Jim

THRIVE - by Casting Crowns

Here in this worn and weary land

Where many a dream has died

Like a tree planted by the water

We never will run dry

So living water flowing through

God, we thirst for more of You

Fill our hearts and flood our souls with one desire

Just to know You and to make You known

We lift Your name on high

Shine like the sun, make darkness run and hide

We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives

Its time for us to more than just survive

We were made to thrive

Into Your word, were digging deep

To know our Fathers heart

Into the world, were reaching out

To show them who You are

Joy unspeakable, faith unsinkable

Love unstoppable, anything is possible

We Were Made To Thrive

by Casting Crowns

'We’ve kind of had this Celtic feel with a couple of songs in the past like ‘Praise You with the Dance’ and ‘Spirit Wind’ so it’s always been a little part of us and we just thought with this big, fun worship song, that we’d just make it a big camp song. It’s kind of natural, but the idea of ‘Thrive’ came out of our student ministry. For years I’ve been using the idea of Psalm One in showing them what a believer looks like... If you’re not getting into the word for God to define Himself to you, you will define God with what makes sense to you and what makes sense to us is, ‘I better do good or I’m in big trouble’ and ‘He’s going to stick with me for so long, but I’m going to blow it.’ That’s not the picture that the Bible has. God didn’t put you here just so you could survive through hard times. He put you here to thrive, to dig in and to reach out and this record is an effort to draw a picture of what a believer, a follower of Jesus, would look like if they dug into their roots and understood God and themselves more.” ~Mark Hall

© 2013 Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI) All rights on behalf of Sony/ATV Tree Publishing administered by Sony/ATV. / My Refuge Music (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) / Songs for Emily Music Publishing (ASCAP)

Hand In Hand With Jesus

"Once from my poor sin sick soul, Christ did every burden roll.."  "Hand in Hand with Jesus" was composed by Leonard D. Huffstutler. Born in 1887, at Liberty, Alabama, he was raised on a farm in Texas where as a boy he learned to sing gospel songs from his mother.  What is unique about this particular song, is that it uses a phrase that we do not often hear today, "sin sick."  Good people, especially people who have faith don't often think of ourselves like this. We are struggling, needy, addicted, whatever phraseology we can find that will do anything in its power to try to convince someone that everything is somehow ok.  We don't like to think of ourselves as wretched, miserable, spiritually naked, blind like a person covered in sores, or on the doorstep of death. Because when we realize that this is indeed our condition, there is only one source from which the healing will come - God! But we say "YES! That's the point!" If it is, then why don't we speak truthfully about the fact that our souls are like the poor beggar on the street hoping someone will have pity? Why don't we speak about ourselves as "sin sick," a state of one who has a terminal disease who may die at any moment?

We...and we alone are responsible for the condition of our souls. When we are physically as sick as we have described above we spend so much time in doctors offices that we know them on a first name basis. We know their staff and nurses. Yet, how intimately do we know God? How intimately do we know the people of HIS House? Why isn't it a priority to try,  not just to save myself, but all those around me that are in the same sad state that I am? It is because the evil one has deceived me into thinking I'm "ok." I don't have to talk to God or get to know God deeply because I've obeyed the gospel and I'm forgiven. I don't have to be around God's people or God's house as much because in the words of the Pharisee, "I'm not like that publican."  What he didn't understand, was that he was in a more wretched condition than even the publican.

Rom.12 - Paul reminds us that the main thing that we give God is ourselves.  The person as we are, and what we allow God to guide us to become. In the same vein, what we offer God's house is not the "duties" we can perform, it is the person we become through God.  God's house is the gathering of His people and His kingdom is not a building - it is our hearts! Do you want to "spread the borders of God's Kingdom?" Then quit thinking geographically and start opening your heart. When you do, you will find a lot of sin sick souls just like yourself, trying to get to know their doctor by His name and who want to help the ones in the waiting room hurt a little less.

Jim

Habits Eat Willpower for Breakfast

“When [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’” (Luke 5:4-5)

"Habits eat willpower for breakfast," is a quote by John Ortberg in his book "Soul Keeping: Caring for the Best Part Of You." We often think that we can do it ourselves. I have enough willpower to overcome this (whatever it is). Sometimes though, our best is not  enough and situations arise that are out of our control. This is especially true with those sinful habits that plague us. Even the apostle Paul fought with this (Rom.7:23), and admitted that he was not strong enough.  Yet, he did not resign himself to his sin or his habits.  He understood and taught that it is only when we surrender ourselves to Christ that we can find freedom from the compulsion and habits that plague us.  

It is a humbling and embarrassing thing to admit that I can't do something.The Bible calls it confession, and it can be tough. In the quote at the beginning of the article, think about how hard it must have been for Simon Peter to admit failure to Jesus. He was a professional fisherman, and good at it. It was how he made his living, yet, his way wasn't working. It wasn't until he gave up and admitted that the Lord was right (even though it didn't make sense to him) that he caught the fish. What causes us to be like this?

• PRIDE gets in the way. We don’t want anybody to think that we  can’t handle something. You’re in charge. You've got it all together. 
• Stubbornness. You’re unwilling to change the way you’re doing things because you're right and everyone else is wrong. You'll prove it...or die trying!
• Fear.  You think that people will think less of you. You’re afraid to get Jesus into your boat because he’ll steer it in a direction YOU don’t want to go or aren't ready to give up.

How have you let pride, stubbornness, or fear keep you from admitting  that you NEED  God to be at the center of your life?  Do you have a war going on inside yourself like Paul? To quote the modern music artist Big Daddy Weave, "Stop fighting a fight that has already been won!" God will show you the way if YOU will LET HIM! 

Jim

FRACTURED

Jas.1:7,8 A person who has doubts shouldn't expect to receive anything from the Lord. A person who has doubts is double minded and unstable in all of his ways

Word studies are interesting, especially when we often take things for granted. Words convey pictures and sometimes we paint the pictures too softly. Such is the case with Jas.1:8 where it talks about the "double minded man" which we often take as a hypocrite. Yet, there is more to this picture that James paints with this word.  The English rendition of this has multiple meanings whereas the original Greek is more precise. The word for "double minded" is "dispsuche (pronounced dis-soo-keh)" and literally translated is "dis-spirited" or "double spirited or double souled." James is describing a person possessed of two souls - one that says it follows God and the other following after something or someone else. They shouldn't expect anything from God because they do not love God with all of their heart. Their heart or soul is split, or to be more blunt - FRACTURED.  We use this term to describe the state of bones, while not broken all the way through they have a line or fracture that prevents the bone from being whole. As such, it cannot stand the rigors and use of a fully intact bone in the skeletal structure and as a result render a person lame. This is the way that James is describing the soul or spirit that is of two minds. Jesus stated it this way, "the eye is the lamp of the body. Therefore, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how terrible that darkness will be! No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to the one and have contempt for the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. (Mt.6:22-24)"

The point of the above is that you cannot serve God with a fractured soul. Either God has to mend the soul by taking away the fracture to make the person whole, or the fracture makes us useless for God.  This said, if I am fractured, the only way to be made whole is, "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Mk.2:17)"  If I am whole, I dJimo not need mending so consider what Paul states in Gal.6:1 "Brothers and sisters, if a person gets trapped by wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should help that person turn away from doing wrong. Do it in a gentle way. At the same time watch yourself so that you also are not tempted."  Have you ever stopped to consider that those who are in need of Christ, those who trapped in wrongdoing, hypocrisy, etc. are FRACTURED souls? Broken and in need of mending?   This is an interesting thing because it also tells us not only their condition, but also how they may react. Just as in life, you have those that understand that something is broken, it hurts, so you get it repaired or fixed before it causes you even more problems.  Then, there are those who have fractures but never go to the physician to have it looked at because they are in denial. They don't need a doctor because "ain't nothin' wrong."  Then you have those that have fractures, that know that they have a fracture but believe they can tough it out and survive with a broken limb until they realize that it is too late. These do not realize that infection, deformity and further damage can be caused by leaving it untreated. 

When I see a person with a fracture or break, my own body reacts with a twinge of pain because I know how it feels. I was glad when someone took me to the doctor so that I could get treatment, mending, and be made whole again. Do you react with pain when you see a FRACTURED soul? Do we try to or offer help?  When you see yourself (Jas.1:25) is your own soul whole? Or do you find yourself fractured - saying you are serving God but in actuality giving yourself to something else?

Maybe it's time to look into the mirror? Maybe it is time to see the world for what it is. Fractured!

Jim