Yesterday Jeff and I drove down to see Don Graham at the Virginia Veterans Care Center, in Salem. It was good to see Don, and he was looking pretty good and was happy to see us. We had some general talk, Jeff read some verses, I played some music, then we prayed with him. Nothing to fancy or anything, just a good visit. On my way out I was struck with a thought, I think that a lot of times, in America, compassion is looked on as a weakness. Seriously, it seems that if we truly act as Jesus did in His day, by overlooking everything terrible in someones life, whether it be sickness, their money situation or even social bracket, and look at that person as a person, a living, breathing equal, we are somehow weaker individuals. Somehow having compassion has turned into a bad thing.
Please don't mistake this either. I am not saying pitying someone, because pitying someone is completely different then having compassion for someone. Pitying is staying where you are, whether that be your social status, or whatever. Pitying someone can even lead you to do something good, maybe give 30 bucks to a kid in Africa every month, because you saw a suffering kid on tv. But compassion, is not staying where you are. Compassion is a risk. The word compassion comes from the latin word "compati" which literally means "to suffer with." You not only risk your wealth or your status, you sometimes will risk your health.
I think a lot of us are stuck in the pitying stage. Where we feel sorry for people less fortunate and want to do something, but ultimately we are scared of the risk. We are scared of becoming a softy. We are scared people will see us crying for a lost, dying, starving, thirsty and broken world. I want to be person that loves people not only for who they are but for who they can become, and overlook their faults to just love them, where they are at in this very point in time. Why? Because God did it for me. In Romans 5:8 it says that God showed his love to us, by the way that he set his Son to die for us while we were still sinners. Which means God loved us before we loved Him. He loved us first, and He continues to love us in spite of all the junk we do. So how come sometimes I can't overlook the fact that someone dresses bad, or are not up to my standard of cool to hang out with?
God give me a passion for compassion. Let me be continually loving people, even if I don't think they deserve it.
Sorry this blog is going to be a slap in the face, so stop here if you don't want to be slapped...
So our church, Northstar Church in Blacksburg, Virginia, has a new pastor. Jeff Noble came from Arkansas and has been stepping up in a big way since he has gotten here. But all the gushing and brown nosing aside... when he got here, we promptly made our motto at Northstar Church "don't go to church, BE the church." I love it. I think its great. And I hear that a lot. People come and tell me "I love that new slogan!" all the time. And I love that it will catch non-church goers off guard.
But, yes this is a big butt...after mulling it over I hate this slogan. (please continue to read, I promise I'm not bagging on Jeff) I hate it because its convicting in my life. Yes, I am employed by a church, so it should be easier for me to BE the church, and yet I still focus almost all of my energy on Sunday and not talking to my neighbors, the gas station guy or the female/male that works at the post office. I hear the slogan, see the slogan and say the slogan and do nothing about it.
I mean I can honestly say, that I am trying a little at least! I don't want to ever think that being at church Sunday morning is a check mark and I have fulfilled my "quota" for my Christianity.
And for everyone that keeps saying "ooo I love this phrase," do you? Do you like it because it is kind of a shock to see a church saying don't go to church? Or do you like it because it challenges you to be Christ like?
Thank you Jeff Noble for kicking my spiritual life in the gut and getting out of the same old same old.
I have been eyeing this concert for quite some time. I am a huge Muse fan, and I guess it would be cool to say I went to a U2 show when I am 50 or something. But bottom line was I wanted to go. After back and forth and back and forth, I decided to live without it, because it was 2 and a half hours away and I didn't want to cancel worship practice for that selfish reason! So monday came and I had an email from one of the guys in the worship team telling me he could not make practice, three hours later 3 more said they couldn't. I was disappointed because I love practice, but then I remembered that this concert was this night. So things worked out amazingly well. And here is my time line of events leading up to the MUSE/u2 concert.
5ish meet up with my ticket bearer Mark Brewer at harris teeter grocery.
5:30ish Tag along with them go a cookout where even they don't know everyone. Oh well, I eat a hotdog and burger and get a little ancy that we will miss Muse.
6:35 really starting to get nervous that we will miss em. Check iPhone to see how long the walk is from the house to the stadium... 2 miles. Eee.
6:48 we leave, walking and sweating. Quickly realizing how much I hate food and how much I need to use my gym membership.
7:10 still walking, glance down at phone to see what time it is. But I can see the stadium and I don't hear anything, that is a good sign.
7:23 get in, immediatly walk past first security and get to the 100 dollar seats, Muse immediatly begin to play, like they were just waiting for me, Mark and Rachel follow me to our stolen seats. Stay there for just 1 song.
7:35 watch the rest of muse standing where are seats are. Flat out best band of musicians in the world. I'm totally serious. Better then the album. Awesome.
8:07 muse ends I shed a tear.
8:20 Looking for ways to sneak down to the stage. Not because I am a die hard U2 fan, but because I love doing that. Don't ask me why. I put a plan together in my head that involves crawling under the temporary aluminum stairs when it gets dark so that the security don't see. but I my luck was much better then that because.....
8:36 I find a blue wrist band, so I just walk down to floor seats. Absolutely hilarious. I feel like i am awesome right now. (compare previous picture to this one, i moved 100 yards closer. proud.)
9pm Bono and the rest of u2 appear on stage, Bono appears to be doing some sort of air wheelbarrow move. Ladies beside me keep yelling the F-word followed by, one was followed by..."I would so lick his toes" they are both in their late 40's
9:03 weed is lit up to the right of me.
9:15 now lit up to the left
9: 20 convinced that if I was to undergo a routine drug test I would probably fail.
9:25 Beautiful Day comes on and people freak out like they just saw Jesus in the clouds. Me, excited? Yes, but I already peed my pants for Muse.
9:45 Because U2 has already played my favorite song, and I know "where the streets have no name" will be late in the concert if not an encore. I begin to direct my attention to the drunk/crazy fans. the next 2 videos will depict them...
I leave early because I want to sleep in my own bed, and be functional at work in the morning. Yes, I left U2 early, probably 40 minutes early and would do it again, Because Hysteria and Knights of Cydonia were the high point in my night. I heart you Muse.
Thank you LaRae for making it possible for me to go! I love you
