Pausing on Equality

There's obviously a lot of buzz going on this week about the Supreme Court hearings being done regarding marriage equality & same sex marriage.  With so many different opinions, view points, articles, arguments, & conversations going on, it's challenging to know how to handle things delicately and with grace & truth.  I'm not typically about drawing lines in the sand or demanding that someone accept my beliefs (which is not what this is about) - but with all the debate & confusion, I will stand up for what I believe & not be ashamed of it. 

It's not about hate, it's not about equality, it's not about even about love - it's about truth. I'm not AGAINST any one person or any group of people, but I am FOR an institution that was set as a standard for family & our culture. There's a reason that traditional marriage has been around forever, and there's a reason why it's supposed to be important.  Other people have done a better job at explaining the intent & core reasons for it, so there's no reason for me to reiterate them myself.  (but I'm not opposed to posting the links: thegospelcoalition.org)

This isn't about creating division or forcing an "us vs. them" scenario. I'm not trying to be louder, stronger, or more clever - I just believe that a + b = c, and that's the only equation that works. If you know me, then you know that I'm not a bigot, a hater, or intolerant. If you don't know me, then you can't judge my opinion anymore than I can judge yours. I'm not claiming that my color choice or symbolism is any more important than yours, but in a culture where it's so easy to just jump on a 'band wagon' just because it's cool - I think we need to pause, and think about what we're communicating.

A lot of people are seeing the issue just through the lens of love & hate, equal & unequal, right & wrong, fair & unfair.  Unfortunately, some arguments have only muddied the waters & have made it hard to be clear about the issue.  Standing up for marriage as one man and one woman, doesn't make me ignorant & it doesn't make me filled with hate.   Showing love to any group of people or lifestyle choice, isn't about compromising truth for the sake of compassion.  I can love & accept a person for who they are, without accepting their lifestyle or choices.  It doesn't make me argumentative or narrow minded just because I don't agree with someone. It is possible to stand for something without sacrificing love, and to voice an opposing view point without condemning the rest of the world.

The bottom line is, popular opinion doesn't make something truth, and what's true isn't always popular.  I'm not screaming, yelling, or demanding my voice to be heard over anyone else's - but this is my voice, and it's allowed to be spoken just as much as anyone else.

New Year's Resolutions

So, since it's been almost 7 months since i've posted on this blog, I thought tonight was a good time to pick it up again.  And why not start with a list of my resolutions for 2012....

1. Read all three of the Lord of the Rings books (i've already bought the Fellowship of the Ring).
2. Blog at least once a week.
3. Actually exercise this year and take advantage of my gym membership.... & elliptical.
4. Stick to the Devotional Bible that I got for 2012.
5. Make a budget & start a savings account....again.
6. Solve world thirst....or at least make it smaller.  :)

So there ya go - my list for 2012. Feel free to check up on me and ask how it's going!


What's on your list?

Logo redo

Same logo as the post below, but with a few face-lifts.  Share some thoughts, idea, etc.  Thanks!

Logo feedback

So a friend of mine asked me to play around with some logo ideas for his middle school ministry, "submerge".  This is the first one that I've really settled on, but I wanted some feedback on what others thought.

 

In case it's not completely obvious, the art above the text is actually the letter "s" in a different font.  I liked the way the "s" looked, but not the font in itself.   Anyway, that's what I have for right now - so bring on the feedback. :)

A quick thought about Foot Washing

Foot Washing tends to be one of those things we do around Easter to remember the servant's heart that Jesus carried into everything He did.  When He took the time to wash the disciple's feet before that last supper, I think He was doing more than just serving them.  


People didn't wear shoes back in those days that covered your whole foot - it was more like sandals.  I don't know about you, but I've walked down some dusty / muddy roads in just flip-flops or sandals, and it didn't take very long for my feet to be covered in whatever I was walking through.  I was definitely an act of servanthood for Jesus to wash off all of that dirt and mud from their feet.  But what if He was also saying something else through that act?  Perhaps He was also telling them (and us), that He would be able to wash us clean from anything we could ever walk through.  


You see, sometimes we go through some pretty nasty stuff: sin, heartache, confrontation, misunderstandings, relational tension, stress, etc.  More often than not, when we go through those things, we normally don't come out completely clean.  Sometimes we allow the small seeds of bitterness, unforgiveness, doubt, or hardheartedness to stay in out hearts.  Jesus is telling us that He can get all the mud and dirt off of our feet after we walk through something nasty, because (thankfully) He's not afraid to get His hands dirty.  


The same applies in our relationships with others.  When we go through conflict or tension or seemingly unforgivable circumstances, we need to be ready and willing to kneel down and wash the dirt off.  That is sometimes the only way to real healing & restoration.


That is what it means to be a servant.

Some Random Leadership Thoughts

This makes 2 days in a row. I may be on a roll....but don't hold your breath.

So, leadership...is a fun word...and can be even more fun (or rather interesting) to live out. I guess most people would say that there are only two kinds of people when it comes to leadership - those that lead and those that follow. If only it were that simple. If you've paid attention to any job or task-centered scenario, you should be able to see that not all leaders are equal. Some are great at leading, and well, some are just not so great.

I think there is more to leading than just not being designated as a "follower". Sometimes the best way to lead in a given situation is to do the best job at following. There are times when we should lead by position, and there are times when we should lead by example or influence. The truth is: the better you are at leading as a follower, the better you will be at leading as a leader. Just think about that for a few minutes.

Another thing that occurred to me earlier today, is that I sometimes (probably more often than not) tend to wait for a "cue" from someone else to let me know when I should do something or what I should do in a certain situation. I'm not just "following" when I do this, I'm also "not leading". That doesn't mean that I should take charge in every situation, but it does mean that I should stop waiting for someone else to set the pace or dictate my actions in a given scenario.

God has given me certain abilities and skills, not just as a leader, but as a person. If I want to be the best Mark that I can be, then I can't always wait for someone else to "set the pace". I wonder how much of the world (or even history) would be different if just one person had not waited to see what someone else was going to do, and instead just stepped out to do what they were going to do.

Just some food for thought.

I'm such a slacker!

I believe it's time to start updating this thing again. Instead of feeling like I have to post this enormously long blog, maybe I should just share those random, short thoughts that I get every now and then. At least it would be more often then it has been. :)