The Presidential Election has commenced. Watching the Election results was like being a child and watching your parents duke it out in custody court. Mom or Dad? Who was going to get you? Today, we all have different emotions. This is normal, okay, and human. However, we cannot stay where we are.

Regardless of how you voted, many of us were reaching out for a savior that we will never get in a politician. Your faith should be bigger than your politics. Politicians are people too and they have self-interests and people (and companies) whispering in their air. They have and will always fail us.

The hope that you have been reaching for can only be found in Jesus. Not stain-glassed Jesus. Not flannel graph Jesus. Not political Jesus. Not diamond-encrusted and blinged-out Jesus. Jesus who has always loved you. Jesus who died for you on a Cross—not just so you can get an all expenses paid trip to Heaven—but so you can have the peace, hope, and joy in His Kingdom NOW on EARTH as it is in HEAVEN.

Here is the deal. Jesus accepts you where you are. Yes, right where you are. However, he does not want to leave you there. He wants a transformed life for you that leads to helping others experiencing the healing and wholeness of His Kingdom too. I pray that you find the true Savior today.

In Jesus.

With the Presidential Election in two months, I feel that it is imperative to write about this topic. This series of posts will not endorse a candidate or political party. I just want to challenge you to use your heart and brain in the days ahead.

We are a tribal people. We gather in groups based on common interests, likes, and even dislikes. This is how products, services, and movements gain momentum. Religious and political groups are not immune to this way of thinking. And this is where Jesus-followers need to seek Jesus.

The political machine produces alliances and enemies. Alliances are verbal or nonverbal commitments to a political party. Enemies are not those we disagree with; they are people we want to destroy with our words. The problem with alliances and enemies is we are fighting battles based on the past. This is where people vote for someone solely because of their political party. Or the opposite, we vote for the other candidate because we don’t “just don’t like the other candidate”. Unwise!

To find Jesus instead of being quick to form alliances and make enemies, try this…..

• Remember that these are just human beings running for public office. They aren’t gods. They sin just like you and I. Don’t worship them.
• Loosen up a little. If you are that stressed about the Election, take a break from social media.
• Stop debating people online. It gets nowhere and it makes everyone involved look like village idiots.
• Recall your identity. You were created by God. Your identity won’t be found in what is cool or popular. The cool kids in high school aren’t always cool later on in life. Check yourself.

In a prior post, I wrote about the things that transpire into us being “jerks for Jesus”. This post was meant to show us that how we treat one another is imperative to Kingdom living. In the faith world, we often like to separate SACRED and SECULAR. The problem with this is that we become more concerned about where we are instead of who we are. This week’s post takes a different turn as we will focus on the main thing.

What is the main thing? A relationship with Jesus. Period. If you take a look around the Church today, you will see a lot of distracted people. We are distracted and we are indeed LOUD. Social media has given us all the platform to campaign for our causes. Our platforms are a beautiful and yet dangerous place because we fight the tension of speaking to hearts for transformation and creating content for attention. Name the cause and it has a following online. The cause also has people that will fight you for that particular cause if you disagree.

If you want to know what is important to you, take a look at what you post online. Cat videos? Political ads? Sports? Funny memes? Speaking for myself, I love creating silly memes of Jesus and church “stuff”. I believe sometimes we need to loosen up a little bit. I also believe that we are each given areas of influence in our lives, including our influence while engaging others online. I have had many faith conversations with people online or offline because of things that I have posted.

People are spiritually starving these days. What will you feed them? What are you feasting on? Don’t be so tied up in all these causes that you miss out on what God is doing right here, right now. This is an Election year and that brings with it a whole hot mess of feelings, agendas, and false promises. Don’t miss out on Jesus. Nothing can be more and everyone else is much less.

Yesterday was Easter Sunday! However, I believe that now is the perfect time to address “Attitudes That Kill the Kingdom”. It is imperative that we often examine our inner life and how we connect to God and others. After all, the inner life is what often bubbles to the surface in our outer life (witness).

Have you ever been on the receiving end of a rant from a JFJ (Jerk for Jesus)? Even worse, have YOU been the one acting like a Jerk for Jesus? Before we can address how to handle them, we must be able to identify what makes someone a Jerk for Jesus.

Argumentative Spirit – You know this person. They are in your church. They are in your family. They HAVE to be right. They know they are right. We often let these people run amuck in our churches, families, and workplaces for decades because no one wants to deal with their behavior. “They have always been like this”. Yes, and it is unhealthy, unChristian, and undermining of anything good and healthy.

How to Test for an Argumentative Spirit – Look for the fruit. Are they about helping other people or helping themselves? Do they control others or complement their life?

The Bible As a Weapon – The Bible is indeed a weapon. It is God’s Word and it is full of truths in your dealings with the Enemy. You know, the Enemy = Satan. However, it is often used to fight each other. Until we realize that we will not agree on everything in the Bible, we will continue to fight battles that are often centered on misinterpretations.

How to Test for The Bible-Packing Believer – Do they believe that one translation of the Bible is superior to others? Are they more concerned about using the Bible for information instead of transformation?

Look for the Dead Bodies – No, I am not referring to LITERAL dead bodies. Look at the evidence surrounding someone–especially in the church world. If that person has been in their position (paid or volunteer) and nothing has changed for years (or decades) and they continue to fail, they need to change or move on. So often, we allow people to be in positions of influence because of nepotism, lack of wanting to ask others to step up, or not wanting to offend anyone. These folks who fearfully hold positions of power and influence end up doing more harm in ministry than good. This attitude if left unchecked can turn your teams and church into a toxic culture.

How to Spot a Joy Killer – How willing are they to try new things/ideas? What is their attitude when you collaborate with them? Do they serve with enthusiasm or obligation?

I hope this blog post helps you in caring for your own soul and those around you.

In the prior two posts, I wrote on some struggles of both men and women. Today, I will once again write on a struggle that men face: work. As you read that last sentence, you are wondering about work. “Yeah, just shut up and work!” “Today’s young people don’t work like we used to.” You may have said or heard these statements. Let’s unpack the struggle of work that man are ACTUALLY facing—a balancing act.

Work is a different beast for all men. Some men go to jobs that they enjoy and some men go to jobs that they hate. Some men make a great salary and some do not. The idea of work has changed drastically over the years, especially since I started working as a teenager. Technology has changed how we work, how much we work, and where we work. While we can celebrate all that technology has done for our jobs, we need to look at what it has done to the working man: erosion of the heart.

Look around your homes, churches, and workplaces. Most men are bored, over-stressed, ticked off, or falling asleep. Men are twice as likely as women to have a heart attack. Why? We are out of alignment. We struggle between providing for the family and answering to The Man. Technology has now made us always available. There is no longer a clear line between work and non-work hours in many jobs. If you are in management or work non-traditional hours (cough-cough, umm…pastors) then you know the struggle.

Here are some ideas to help men and (those that want to support men) in the balancing act of work and life.

1. Don’t be like everyone else. This is boring and unrealistic. As a pastor, I work with many colleagues. What works for one pastor may not work for another. There are all types of variables: budget, staff, support from local church, stage in life, etc. I know some pastors who rarely take off work and some that are structured with their PTO. Find what works for you.
2. Please stop comparing generations of workers in their work ethic. This is an invalid argument. We all know people who were slackers in their jobs–regardless of their generation. We also know hard-workers! When we puff up our chest like “our generation” was the best and hardest-working, then we look nothing more than the village idiot.
3. Get a life! Find a hobby that you enjoy that is not work-related. If your only life is work than you have no life. Get outside and take a walk. Spend time with your loved ones. And spend less time trolling online.
4. Wholeheartedly support a guy. Men suffer more heart attacks than women because we are not as likely to process with others what is stressing us out. We bottle everything up until we explode or become passive. If you want to support a man, listen to him. Don’t try to fix him. You aren’t Jesus. Be present and be consistent.

This Sunday marks the beginning of Advent. Some churches and Christians celebrate Advent and some do not. For some people, it may seem weird to devote four weeks to Christmas. And yet, we already prepare for Christmas by decorating, planning parties, and buying gifts. Why not prepare your heart this Season?

Advent typically begins the Sunday after Thanksgiving; however, this year it begins on December 3. During the four weeks of Advent, we prepare for two things: the birth of Christ and the second coming of Christ. There is this tension between the Now and the Later. I will leave you with some ideas on preparing for Advent…

1. Check your traditions at the door. I am not saying abandon routines and habits that you and your loved ones hold dear; however, we do need to ask God about them. Do they bring life or drain you? Parents and grandparents, do your kids and grand-kids actually enjoy these traditions, or are they about appeasing you?
2. Slow down this holiday season. Enjoy some quiet evenings at home. Cook dinner with your family more often. Be intentional. It is okay to say “no” to the chaos that we often make the holidays.
3. Seek out joy. I know this sounds so silly and yet this is so imperative during the next 4 weeks of Advent/Christmas. Look for ways to experience and spread joy. Joy is what will sustain you during the long days of winter.
4. Don’t be a Grinch. If you don’t want to give gifts or participate in family events this season, then don’t. You may struggle during the holidays but don’t be a Grinch about it. Nothing kills the “reason for the Season” like a miserable Christian.

Stay tuned for more blog posts throughout this beautifully disruptive season of Advent.