I like to think of myself as an equalizer. When people, especially young people, think they're too good for everything and everyone I like to set them in their place. However, when people need encouragement I try to build them up. That means when I give a complement, it isn't given lightly. It also means I'm not afraid to speak truth when others won't.
I lovingly say silly things like, "You're stinky" or "Slacker." It means no harm. People that know me, know that I will say something similar as a greeting for only the ones I care about. That being said, I was finishing some things up at church when a friend's daughter came up and said hello. Naturally I responded with, "What's up, Slacker?" "Slacker? How am I a slacker?" Oy. Little did she know that I had been thinking about her. The worship leader is a teacher at a local high school. He teaches piano. This girl had been one of her students. I know that he had been her teacher for keyboard. I also know that she does art, like painting. I couldn't help but think, "Why isn't she doing something?" I wondered what might happen if she started playing the keyboard for church. So when she came past me, it was just poor timing. She didn't know what volcano was waiting for her. "How are you a slacker??" I may have then dropped on this girl the potential she has and how she wasn't using it. That's the big lesson of life these days. We are like batteries. I remember in 8th grade learning that batteries hold their charge for a certain amount of time. Once the two sides of the current are connected, the energy is being used - whether the item is turned on or not. That's why when we put those AAA's in a remote and never use the remote, but go searching a year later for it and try to use it we are disappointed to find out the remote is rendered useless. It needs new batteries. Same goes for cars. A new battery in the car that isn't driven doesn't do much good. The battery will die without the life of the car engine roaring to life. Many of us are sitting on potential for something great. Yet, we refuse to drive the car. We refuse to turn on the item. I know my calling has been to write. Since I have started this blog alone, my craft has been honed, and my writing career has taken off. However, for a long time I wrote here and there and kept it to myself. I was a set of AA's left in an old Walkman. I was useless. Not only that, but what happens to batteries that are left for too long? They become corroded. The acid reacts and we're left with rusted out springs and corrosion that gets everywhere. Wait. So a battery not being used will not just be useless, but will become corroded (like a part of our hearts is dying) and then it spreads and creates a mess around it? That's a little deep for me. I think I'm going to rest on that for a moment. I don't know much. You've figured that out by now. All I know is this: We have one life. We have a calling on that life. When we do not move in that calling, acidic corrosion will occur. May I use my life to the best of my abilities, but more so through the abilities, calling, and strength of God.
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This morning I read a good word out of Ruth that just went *ping* in my mind. You know me, the thought is then, "I need to share this." You may have gotten this far and said, "Oh, man. What does this have to do with needing a shower?" Yeah, it's just that good.
So before I get into the *ping* from Ruth, let me take you back. Let's head back into the days of when these people lived. Grab a map and check out some latitudinal lines. So Ruth is moving back with her mother in law to live in Bethlehem. In case you're wondering that would be the same latitude as somewhere between Charleston and Jacksonville, south of Savannah. We can understand the climate better when we look at it that way. Ok, so now we're heading back well over 2,000 years because we know Jesus is year 0. Ruth has genealogy that leads to King David. So we factor in those years, and well, we're quite some time now. Alright, you have your mindset on the time frame and climate. You know, heat, sweat, humidity, and no indoor plumbing or air conditioning happening. I recently finished the quintet series from Madeleine L'Engle that begins with "A Wrinkle in Time." One of their stories has twin brothers stepping back into the time of Noah. Madeleine (remember, we're bffs) does an amazing job in using smell as a descriptor for the boys to recognize certain people around them. One particular girl stinks. Obviously she isn't in a good crowd, but Madeleine states how the girl stinks from her B.O. (it's hot and humid just like here in SC) and then all the added perfumes and oils that the girl puts on to lure the menfolk. Okay, plain and simple, if you do not know what this smell is, enter a boys locker room in your local high school in between classes. Yes, the P.E. class ends, and the boys have sweated to high heaven. They don't shower. They change their clothes. The douse themselves in Axe body spray. My throat hurts just remembering it. My eyes are burning. Ugh, I can't. Now factor in that those boys took a shower before going to school!!! Oh MYLANTA! Today, we don't need all the perfumes and sprays. They're nice. In moderation they can really make a difference in the atmosphere. But it's extra for those of us that shower regularly. Thousands of years ago the need for oils and scents were necessary to cleanse one of the stench that came from living in heat and humidity, walking everywhere. Pouring oil onto one's head was dubbed "anointing." There were two ways to anoint, either by pouring oil or fat onto someone's head, or by rubbing it in. It was viewed as a gesture of cleanliness. Most often, people were anointed by others. We see prophets anointing the heads of kings. We see the prostitute anointing Jesus's feet. Today, you'll hear people speaking about the anointing of the Holy Spirit. This is Christianese for us being called to go do something, the Lord is in it, and the Holy Spirit is with us, filling us, and keeping us going into whatever it is we have been called. So often we, as believers, are waiting for that "anointing." We are waiting for someone - pastor, friend, parent, spouse - to tell us that we were meant for *whatever it is we're doing* and that they see the anointing of the Holy Spirit on us and the circumstances. There are many times people are called to action- be it a job, ministry, etc.- and they wait. They are waiting, though it is time! People today are so caught up in waiting for approval, they have confused it with anointing. Huh? Okay, time for Ruth. Ruth 3:3 Naomi is sending Ruth to Boaz in hopes of having her redeemed since he is her kinsman. Naomi tells Ruth to wash and anoint herself before going over to Boaz. WOO! Y'all, I was amped up when I read that. ANOINT YOURSELF. Those two words had me just about doing back flips in my bedroom. Why are we waiting? We have the anointing of the Holy Spirit already. If you are being called, anoint yourself! Then go! She does it. Ruth washes, anoints herself - pours oil over her head - and then goes to Boaz in the night. So many times have I heard the words, "I feel called to ... but I don't know how to start." Okay, here it is. Get up. Get yourself ready. Prepare yourself for whatever the ... is. And go. Do it. People, we need to shower up and go. It's an excuse. We are waiting for the approval of men rather than walking in the anointing of God. You don't know how to start? Take a Holy Spirit shower, read the Word, pray, seek God, and let Him lead you. If this were to happen on even a small scale, our churches would no longer stink. We'd all be so fresh and clean. What kind of change would it bring, if we all took a shower, let it pour over us? I think it's time to find out. |
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May 2023
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