Mr. Niceguy

Several years ago, while attending Cornerstone Music Festival, I heard about a book I thought I'd be intersted in. I searched out and purchased the book "Rock Stars on God" by Doug Van Pelt. A collection of interviews with 20 rock stars about their views on faith, the book was a big eye opener for me. Not all of them held Christian beliefs, not all were interesting, but many were surprising. The most surprising to me was Alice Cooper.

Most of us know who Alice Cooper is. Popular songs like "School's Out" and "No More Mr. Niceguy" have been broadcast over radios and movies since the band started in the late 60's. He's known as a pioneer in heavy metal, and still today is releasing albums and performing his typical shows, complete with costumes, fake blood, and dolls. But beyond the stage Alice Cooper what do we know about him? You'd be surprised if you knew more. Alice Cooper, first off, was born Vincent Furnier. Much less intimidating, huh? He was very smart, accepted into several big universities, all of which he turned down to pursue music. He is an avid golfer, with a 2 handicap (very good). He owns a restaurant. He's a sports fan. Oh, and he's a Christian. Yes, the Alice Cooper pictured above, full of makeup and fake blood, gave his life to Christ in the mid 80's, during his battle with alcohol and drugs, and never turned back.

It was astonishing to me that someone like Alice Cooper could be a Christian. I mean, look at him!! How could he stand on stage, perform and then praise the same God I do? In that interview though, and several others I've read since, he's done a pretty great job of clearing it up for me. First off, he's made mention multiple times that the Alice Cooper we see is his job. On stage, he's the Alice Cooper we know, but that's not the "real" him. Unless you are a pastor, or missionary, aren't many of us like this? I repair weld cables for a living, and I would guess that not a single customer who comes up to me at work would know I'm a Christian. Not because of the way I act, or what I say, but because they don't know me beyond my job. I don't wear a sign that says I'm a Christian.

The other thing I've noticed about Alice Cooper is that he's real. When he say's "I'm a Christian", I believe him. Things he says in interviews are the same things I say to people I talk to about my faith. In an interview I read, he had some great things he says.

"Being a Christian is something you just progress in. You learn. You go to your Bible studies. You pray."

"I was one thing at one time, and I'm something new. I'm a new creature now. Don't judge Alice by what he used to be. Praise God for what I am now."

If you want to read the entire interview, you can find it here.

As much as I'd love for this whole post to be about Alice Cooper, and other big rock stars that share my faith, it isn't. There are plenty of them, shocking, encouraging, but all are only one side of a double standard in Christianity that interests me. As crazy as it is to see Alice Cooper say those things, it's even crazier and disheartening to see Christians that choose secular music, and then deny their faith as if it's something that will strain any credibility they have among their fan base.

I read an interview this week by a girl born and raised as Christian. When she was in her late teens, she signed a contract with a Christian label, released several albums, was nominated for many Dove awards, was successful in the Christian music industy, and then decided to pursue a different angle when her contract was up. Over the past year, she's boomed as part of a duo in the music scene. I don't fault her for her choices. I think it's respectable to be a Christian in secular music. What I find astonishing is why then, in a recent interview, she danced around a question asking her if she was a Christian. Honestly, I believe she is, but for some reason it seemed fear was holding her from answering a simple question. Are you a Christian? The answer should be as simple as yes or no. If you want to ramble on for 7 minutes after that explaining your interpretation of the word "faith", by all means feel free, but don't skip the most important part. I don't think anything is more frustrating in music than someone who professes to be Christian, but tries to add a gray area for the benefit of reaching an audience. The answer is black and white. Yes I am, or no I'm not.

To me, it happens too often with this group of musicians. It's become a bit of a cliche for bands to say things like "we're not a christian band, but we're a band full of christians." That's great, but what will your answer be when you are asked specifically if you are a Christian? If it isn't yes or no, then reevaluate your stance. If you would rather talk about how faith means something different to you, and you don't committ to a yes or no, then why not step back and see where you fit? I have a hard time decifering what's most important in those answers. Is it a fanbase, money, fame, or is it God? I would love to know why yes or no wouldn't be a sufficient answer if anyone can tell me. Amy pointed a verse out when I was talking to her about this that is a clear message to everyone, whether you're a musician or a weld cable repair person.

But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 10:33

Change...Something

"The greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."
                                                                                               - Brennan Manning

The weekend before last, I was in a Valentine's Dinner Theater at my church. This year was probably the most fun I've had doing it, but with two small children, it was probably also the most exhausting. Amy and I didn't really have many relaxing nights at home with the kids, so I'm finally catching up on some rest, spending time with the kids and also getting back to the blog.

Speaking of the Valentine's Dinner Theater, my post today was inspired by the play; my character specifically. In it, I played Grizz, a grizzly bear who isn't a big fan of humans. Grizz, in an attempt to scare an approaching family of bear enthusiasts, got himself into trouble. Now, he blames humans for messing everything up. Interestingly...I am Grizz, in real life.

One of my opening lines in the play was this. "I don't like humans all that much." Sad thing is, sometimes I feel like I really don't. I'm not overly patient or friendly with the human race. I'm annoyed at so many things we do. I get on Facebook and my wall is cluttered with complaints and negativity. I turn on the TV, and have a hard time finding something appropriate that a toddler can watch, and I can enjoy. Even after her bedtime, most of what's on is trash. Music seems to be just as bad as television and movies. The amount of complaining I hear at work is staggering. The things I hear come from the mouths of people in public is horrible. The things my Jr High small group kids say and ask for during prayer are shocking. The list goes on and on. The truth is, it seems almost impossible sometimes to have a loving attitude towards a world that treasures hate and trash. But that's not what I WANT. That's not the attitude I want to have.

So what message am I sending when I walk out the door? If it isn't a message of love, compassion, and hope, then I'm actually contributing to the destruction of a broken world. The world isn't grasping hate and trash, it's searching for answers. Looking for that very message of love. Looking for some hope. Looking for some compassion. It will be difficult sometimes to be patient with everyone from a slow driver to the foul mouthed drunk at the table behind me in the restaurant. But today, or 15 years from now, I could be delivering the most important message that person will ever hear. A message that changes their lives forever. I don't want to be part of a cause, I want to be a source to the solution.

I want to share a song I came across recently. I've had the cd for a couple of years, but just recently really listened to the album "Remedy" by David Crowder Band. There is a song on there called "Surely We Can Change" that I was reminded of when trying to think of a way to end this post. I couldn't do any better than using the idea that was shared in that song. It's a song about living in a world that God loves so much, but is also so full of hate. It asks how we, as Christians, should respond. What do we choose to do in that world? Here is the chorus:

Where there is pain
Let us bring grace
Where there is suffering
Bring serenity
For those afraid
Let us be brave
Where there is misery
Let us bring them relief
And surely we can change
Surely we can change
Something

Change will come when we show the world love. It may change the lives of hundreds or thousands. It may change the lives of one or two. And in my case, it may start with a change only from within. Starting today, I'm choosing to make a change. Choosing to make a difference. Choosing to show love, when I would normally have a hard time doing so. And by doing that, I'm hoping for change in something.

Jr High Prayer, And The Weather

Growing up, I always figured I'd learn my life lessons by listening to stories from people who have been alive long enough to learn lessons themselves, and generous enough to pass them on. I guess I always just thought of wise as synonymous with old. From the time I began thinking about starting a blog, I've come to realize that putting such expectations on things could cause me to pass up an opportunity to learn something. Over the past couple of years, I've gained wisdom from unexpected places; from people my age, to Jr High kids, to observing my own two young children. It's amazing to step back and see how much I've learned by just being open to the idea that anyone can teach me something. Recently, I was taught a lesson by a group of Jr High boys.

I am an adult leader at The Edge, the youth group at my church. One of my responsibilities at The Edge is to co-lead a small group of Jr High boys. I don't know why, but even after a few years of helping at The Edge, I'm still shocked by Jr High boys...especially when you mix in Jr High girls. I wonder, often times out loud, what in the world these kids are thinking. A couple of weeks ago, at the end of small group, I was taking prayer requests. Prayer requests from a group of about 15 Jr High boys is always interesting. I usually get some serious ones, but I always get the silly ones. "Pray that my gum keeps it's flavor forever." "Pray that so and so stops talking all the time." "Pray that it snows a lot tonight." It was that last one that got me. It nearly started a riot, right there in the middle of the small group time. Half of them wanting me to pray for snow, the other half wanting me to pray for no snow. During the yelling, I was trying to ponder how I was going to handle this request. Should I just say no, that both requests were dumb? But what if one of the kids that wants or doesn't want snow wants that for a reason more than for a selfish, school related reason? I did what I thought best, and prayed for the weather, that everyone would be content with whatever it does, and that everyone would stay safe. I was ok with the prayer, proud that I had an idea, but I guess a little nervous because I felt like I had dodged a bullet.

I don't know why I continued to think about the request and prayer past that moment, but for some reason I did. I was kind of taken aback, and reminded that I was them once. I remember being their age, immature, and praying for things as silly as snow. I actually remembered the time I prayed for snow. I could take you to the place that I prayed for it. At my grandma's house, looking out the window with my brother. Thinking about those days, and then thinking about my small group prayer, I was surprised to realize that the prayer for contentment and safety was probably one of the best prayers I've ever said.

Starting young, and over my life, I've prayed the snow prayer thousands of times, but substituted the word "snow" for other things. A new job, more money, love, a house, better grades, to feel better, etc...the list goes on and on and on and on. I was 14 and praying about love. What did I know about love??? Why would God give me that, when I know nothing about it? Even though I wanted those things, there were times that God knew I wasn't ready for them. Looking back, I realize that I often try to limit God. I pray for something, and any alternative doesn't seem to be enough. A "no" from God isn't just part of a plan, it's a "no, you don't need that." There are times that what God has planned for us, might not be what we want. In fact, there are times that what God has for us is what we don't want.

I'm not trying to say that praying for specific things is wrong. I will still pray for specific things, because I think it's ok to ask. What I have changed though is my expectations. Over the past few weeks, I've tried to be more aware of what I expect from God when I pray. There have been a few very specific things that Amy and I have been praying about lately, and while these things are things I want, the most I expect is what God has already promised.

Romans 8: 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

What else do we need? If you love God, know that He works in all things. That situation you're praying about? He's working in it. That desire you have? He's working on it. Whatever it is, know that God is working in it. It might not turn out like you expect or hope, but it's comforting to know that He's already there...working.

Please Use Other Door

When I was 16, my church youth group went to Youth America, a church camp, in Oklahoma City. It worked out that the rooms at the camp weren't finished and we somehow got a hotel and shuttle provided.  One night, after we got back from camp, several of us went downstairs for something. When we were going back up to our rooms, the competitive nature of one of my roommates and myself took over, and we began to race. I honestly couldn't tell you who won the race, but I remember bursting through the door, only to find ourselves standing in the middle of the room, looking at four strangers. It didn't take us long to realize our mistake. Our room was on the third floor, and we were currently standing in the room directly below ours, on the second floor. I'm sure the race to get out of that room was probably way more exciting than the race to get in.

This wasn't the first time, or last time I ever walked through the wrong door. Right around that same time, my best friend let me walk into and use a women's restroom. He thought it would be funny not to tell me. I must have really had to go, because I didn't pay any attention to the sign (or the fact that there weren't any urinals in the bathroom). Isn't that life though? It happens all the time that people walk through the wrong doors. I've walked through wrong hotel doors, wrong bathroom doors, wrong classroom doors, and even walked through a closed screen door once. Typically, those aren't the doors that hurt. In my life though, I have walked through doors that did. A door that lead to rebelion, a door that lead to hate, a door that lead to sexual sin, a door that lead to bad relationships, a door that lead to divorce, a door that lead to a feeling of failure, etc...all of those doors that lead to nowhere good.

When my friend and I ran through that door in the hotel, we made a mistake. We shifted our focus, lost sight of where we were going, and chose the wrong door. We shouldn't have. There are things outside of a hotel room that help you identify if you have the right room or not. They're called room numbers. We made a mistake and chose the wrong door, but the good news was, there was a way out.

I've heard the saying, when God closes one door, he opens another. I do believe that God opens doors, but at the same time, those aren't the ONLY doors available. Remember the old game show Let's Make A Deal? The host would bring out a couple of boxes, and one could be really big, and the other really small. The contestant would have to choose a box, and would get whatever was inside. Instinctually, we would probably want to choose the box the size of say...a NEW CAR, and leave the box the size of a rock. Sometimes it worked out, but I remember seeing an episode once where the contestant chose the big box, the one the size of the car, and it contained a farm animal, while the small box contained something of value. In the same way, while God is opening doors, Satan will try to fool us with doors of his own. We might think that whatever is through that door is fun or gratifying, but it might come at a cost. (Remember the door he presented to Eve?) The cost might be your marriage, your body, or your relationship with God. The good news though is, there is a way out!!

Whatever wrong door you've gone through, understand you are not stuck inside. You can get out. We've all walked through wrong doors, but God is there to help. 1 Corintians 10:13 msg "No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it." If you're stuck, get out. You can do it. Get on the right track, and talk to God before walking through the next open door.

I Want You To Want Me

This is a picture of me and my daughter Ella. It was taken about 7 months ago, and in it I can see the transition beginning to take place. What transition? It’s the transition from baby to toddler, from cuddly to discoverer, from loving to a girl playing “the game” better than any girl I ever dated or pursued. Over the past several months, Ella has become mobile, talkative, independent, and has changed her priorities. Today, her world is full of things that take up her time, and I rank last after mommy, food, toys, and Yo Gabba Gabba. During any time of the day, at any moment, in any place, this does not change. Getting her out of her carseat has even become a difficult task, because if it isn’t mommy doing it, she doesn’t want out. There are two things every day though, that help me keep my sanity (and faith that it’s just a phase). The first is when I come home from work. Her cheeky smile, big blue eyes, and pigtails come running in from another room yelling “Hi Dadda! Hi Dadda! Hi Dadda!” and it makes me smile. I do however know not to press my luck. I say “Hi Ella” back, but no hugging, kissing or picking her up. She’s happy I’m home, but I’m still lowest on the totem pole. The other is at bedtime. Amy and I sing her a song, pray with her and we each get a goodnight kiss. It’s the highlight of my night.

I know she’s young, and doesn’t understand yet, but I want her to grow up knowing just how much I love her. I am devoted to doing anything I can to give her love, peace, health, healing, wisdom, joy and happiness. She will need these things throughout her life, as life can be cruel. She’ll need extra love when she’s feeling alone, or after a broken heart. There will be times when she will need me to help her feel better if she’s sick. She’ll need me at times to bring happiness and joy in her life when she’s feeling down or sad. There will be times when she needs advice or wisdom about a tough decision. She’s still young, but someday she’ll realize that those are the things I do for her, because I’m her daddy, because she spends time with me, because she talks to me, and because I love her. Her age is a fine excuse as to why spending time with me is low on her current priorities. But what’s mine?

Right now, I have a God who loves me more than I could ever love Ella. A God who wants to give me more love, wisdom, peace, health, healing, joy, happiness, and blessings than I could ever give Ella. A God who is right there, waiting for me to put down the phone, computer, tv, or toys, and spend some time with Him. The thought of spending time with such a loving God should be enough, but if I desire to give my daughter all that I can, imagining a God wanting to do the same for me is overwhelming. God wants to pour into your life, (“more than you can imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams”-Eph 3:20 msg) but are you willing to take the time to invest in the relationship?

Last night I was thinking about the image created when I get home from work. I walk in the door and usually before I get a few steps in, Ella is there greeting me. Where is God right now in your life? Is he waiting patiently inside the door for you to spend time with him?  Are you already receiving the benefits of spending time with him? Or is he still outside the door, waiting for the invitation to come in?