Treading Water

It is an odd time of year to be observing things that occur in and around swimming pools, but I have had a rather aquatic week. It all started when, as I was sitting in the dry sauna after a hard work-out, I noticed a lady doing laps in the pool. She was flying! From where I was sitting, only the last 5 yards of one end of the lap pool were in view. I didn't notice her at first, but then as my 20 minutes was winding down, I suddenly became interested.

It was her speed and her transitions that captured my attention. She had to be moving pretty fast... she was more than lapping everyone else in the pool. And on the turns she would do that flip that swimmers do... and she did it with such grace and precision. I stayed longer to see if this lady would slow down or maybe rest... she didn't!

Some would say that I am easily impressed. Maybe I am. Perhaps she was only an average swimmer and I have just never paid too much attention to those water dogs that do all those laps. Maybe she is training for the Olympics! I don't know. And I will admit that there is a possibility that my interest was peaked because I could train with the best water instructors in the world for 12 straight months and I would still not be able to do what that lady was doing.

The reason... partly because I realize that some people are born with more athleticism and some are born with less (me!)... BUT mostly I couldn't do it because I am lazy! I see the side of the pool and I don't want to do that tricky flip and go move... No, I want to reach out grab the wall and stop (after one lap!!!)

Last week, I saw a movie that showed these men and women attending advanced training for the U.S. Coast Guard... they had to tread water for an insane amount of time. The #1 recruit was a muscle-bound man who cramped up and became the first recruit to wash out on the first day of training when he couldn't stay afloat in the pool.

Today, I heard a guy say that he was growing weary of treading water... figuratively speaking. I encouraged this man to swim over to the side of the pool and just hold on for a while. He said, "I didn't realize that was an option!"

Sometimes in the pool of life we try to maintain an unrealistic pace. We seem to be swimming faster and faster or else we are attempting to tread longer and longer. Just like the man I spoke with today, so many of us do not realize that stopping for a little bit to catch our breath is permitted. Maybe you have been going and going and going... give yourself a break and reach out for the side of the pool. No one wants to admit they are weak, but the truth that is revealed in God's Word is that "when we are weak, God is strong." The hard part is letting go of our medals and achievements long enough to realize that apart from these things their is joy and life in the pool.

May you be a fast swimmer with exceptional endurance in the pool of life... and may you find hope and peace and grace while grasping for the walls when your strength fails you!

Off Your Sleeve and Out of Your Mouth

Have you ever heard someone say, “I don’t wear my faith on my sleeve”?

The issue is not what’s on your sleeve. The issue is what’s in your mouth! Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). Is Christ in your conversations, in your emails, on your myspace or web blogs? Do you find yourself thinking and speaking to others about Jesus? Do you ever share what God has done in your life with your family members and co-workers?

“But Chris, you don’t understand… that is not my personality.”

“If you knew how I was raised, you would understand that our family doesn’t operate that way.”

“It’s easy for you. You are a pastor!”

I want to suggest that it is not an issue of personality or family
up-bringing or even calling… it’s very simply a heart issue. The Bible says, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:21) A few chapters later, as we have already read… the mouth speaks about what is bubbling up inside our heart, that which we treasure!

Let me give you a few illustrations… What do sports fanatics talk about? What do young lovers write about? When a passionate activist goes to the nation’s capital to participate in a million-man march, is there even a slight chance that the people who know her will not know why she is going?
The truth is, we are created to worship. Since the beginning of time, people have never ceased to worship. The world is not lacking great worshippers. Everyone, everywhere has something that takes the highest place of value in his heart. We all treasure something!

Some people live for their wealth or health. Some place most of their time and energies into a significant relationship. Others value a cause above all else. Riches, people, ideas… we all place the most value on something or
someone. And that is the object of our worship… our treasure! The mouth speaks and we worship!!!

Is Jesus important to you? Do you value God’s Word? Are you interested in being used of God to build His Kingdom?

Don’t tell me what you believe… live what you believe and you will find yourself sharing your life with others!

We cannot be silent concerning who Christ is… the Son of the living God! The gospel message is that Jesus is God and there are no others! We have to stop making excuses for our inactivity, shyness, and lack of boldness in proclaiming the works, claims, and character of Jesus Christ. If Jesus is your treasure, proclaim Him with your mouth!

All-in-One

Last year, I was introduced to a new drink while having dinner with a friend. It is called vitaminwater. There are a number of different flavors, but the one that I prefer is the multi-v lemonade. I don't get it often because it is too expensive, but I always make it a point to check and see if it is on-sale when I visit the grocery store.

I think the reason I like this mystical beverage so much is because it is water with a subtle lemonade flavor... and it is designed to be good for me! It supposedly has it all! In fact, the label says that this all-in-one product contains more of the nutrients I need... from a to zinc... "think of it as a drinkable swiss army knife". That last line actually disturbs me a little bit! Who wants to drink a swiss army knife?

The boldest claim made about this refreshing beverage is "vitamins + water = all you need". Maybe I am over-thinking this, but as much as I like multi-v lemonade, it most definitely is not all I need! I am a man of many needs!

Still this concept has me wondering... if I could ever truly get "all I need" from one drink or pill or double-chocolate brownie fudge sundae (much closer to the dream)... would I want to sacrifice variety for convenience sake?

Our society pays good money for convenience. Just the other day, my wife said if we ever lived in New York City she would want to be wealthy enough to be able to take taxi cabs and get door to door service instead of having to take the subway (forget about walking 5-10 miles in a day like the average New Yorker).

Consider how technological advances have eliminated the need to open doors and gates or turn on lights. We have all-in-one remote controls that allow us to change channels, volume, switch back and forth between dvd player and cable programming. The latest cell phones are also cameras, camcorders, calculators, personal gaming devices, hand-held computers capable of accessing the internet, and mp3 players. Hopefully, it won't be too long before the cell phone and the TV remote are merged together as an all-in-one device.

If I have given you the wrong idea, I am not anti-convenience. Even if I was against the all-in-one approach, who am I to stand in the way of "progress"?

As technology continues to get more and more advanced, we will see crazy, creative, and even healthy all-in-one products... from a to z! Just one observation... the latest, fastest, most convenient does NOT always translate to the best solution. Sometimes we are supposed to take the less traveled road. Occasionally the longest and most difficult path is the one that is the most rewarding.