"To be the hands and feet of Jesus."

It's a phrase commonly spoken in the church community.  It's a desire to carry out the work of Christ.  In mission.  In service.  In love.

Too often I hear questions from within that community as to why some may be doing more than others.

It's important to know that as the Church, we are the Body of Christ.  Within that body, there are many, many functions, just as in the human body.  Take a look at 1 Corinthians 12:12-26. The question one must truly ask themselves is, "Am I serving as I was designed to serve?  Am I utilizing the gifts God has given me?"

I note the importance of our limbs.  They are important, but they are not vital.  We can live without them.  It was Christ in his Sermon on the Mount who said, if your eyes and your hands offend you... get rid of them.  In His words, pluck it out and cut if off!

These are parts of the body of which we have a level of control.  When we look at something, we can choose to look away.  When the urge to touch that which is prohibited arises, sometimes our overwhelming desires get the best of us, and we budge.  Only by our choice.  It was a figurative charge by Jesus, but one that would require serious measures to see real change in life!

Vital organs, on the other hand, function on automatic.  No only do they do what they were designed to do, they are something we cannot live without.  The heart, kidneys, lungs, or liver.  Remove these and that's it!  They are essential for life.

So what part of the body is more important?  The answer is none.  We cannot place one part of the body above the other.  What good are hands and feet without a beating heart?  Together, these separate physical functions form one physical body.

Just the same, we the Church are joined in unity to create the Body of Christ.  Our understanding of what we are called to do within that body help make it function with great effectiveness.  When we attempt to function as something we're not, we hinder what others are meant to do.  Not only do we get in the way, but we might even make a mess of things!

So don't fret if the big toe is walking, while you're doing all the talking.  That toe just might get stubbed.

Ouch... Bet you'll know how important they are then!

At the end of a Wednesday night kids service a few weeks ago, I was handed an envelope and told someone contributed an offering towards the church bus ministry.  I asked the deliverer who gave the offering?  They were unsure.  In the busyness of the evening I took the envelope, placed it in my shirt pocket, and went on with the evening.

I placed the envelope in my desk at the end of that event filled night, with the plan to get to it the next morning.  When I arrived the next day, it was the first thing I handled.  I noticed the envelope felt empty.  My initial thought was perhaps they wrote a check.  I looked on the front of the offering envelope to see the words 'big green bus' written, designating it to that particular vehicle.

Every week our church fills an old school bus, painted candy apple green, full with kids from our community.  Someone wanted to give towards that ministry to keep it going.

I looked at the name written on the envelope, only to realize it was one of the kids themselves who gave this offering.  When I opened the envelope, two pennies fell out.

I couldn't help but smile.

My mind immediately went to the widow at the end of Mark 12.  As Jesus observed the giving of those in the temple that day, he used the opportunity as a teaching moment to show the true intent of a person's heart.

The very wealthy came in that day, giving quite well, in fact.  I can imagine the great pride they must have had as they entered in their fine linens and upright stature.  I can almost see them lift their eyes and look around, hoping to see that they were being watched.  Surely people would take notice as they gave extravagantly?  Surely people would say, "look what they have done?"  They came, gave, and left without any worry or concern with what life might bring next.  What if they knew Jesus had been watching that day?

A small widow then came.  She had two coins left to her name.  She dropped them in.  No pomp or circumstance.  Her fear may have been that she might be noticed.  The judgment she might receive for such a small offering.  It was all she had.  No business expense account.   No savings to fall back on. Nothing.  What if she knew Jesus had been watching that day?

I'm certain their was no concern with how much either party gave, but rather where their heart was in giving.  Both gave out of obedience.  Both did what was necessary.  The difference lie in their expectations once they released any treasure they might have.

Those with abundance could give only out out their excess, because what they desired was notoriety. And that's what they got... noticed!

The poor widow woman gave everything she had.  What she had was not impressive by our set human standards.  What she truly had was a heart of worship.  I am quite sure she left that day without any concern that all would be okay.   There was no concern in her life, except one... to worship God!

A young child gave two pennies that night.  A small token showing they believe in what we do, because what we do has a direct effect on their life.  True worship, to say, "thank you God for the 90 minutes of hope, peace, and the chance to learn more about You every week.  I don't want to be noticed for this, but thank you God for a group of people who notice me!"

Two cents can go a long way.

The story of Jonah is one about repentance.  It's about a man who refused to fulfill the call of God on his life.  A few days in the gut of a whale made him change his mind real quick.  It would me! Repentance is all about doing a complete 180º.

I'd like to back up a few lines, before he got swallowed up.  You'd think if Jonah knew he was about to be dinner he'd a changed his mind about going overboard?  Not sure about that... just a thought.

What's interesting about this point in the story is that Jonah "asked" to be thrown overboard.  Why didn't he just jump?

To refresh your memory a bit, Jonah was on this ship trying to get as far away from what God was telling him to do as he could.  Because of his "stubbornness" a great storm was brought his way.  He did, by the way, pay for the trip on this choppy cruise.  Jonah's problems brought this storm onto people he didn't even know!  When the ship's crew realized he was the reason this storm was upon them, they kindly asked him to do something about it.

So, he opted to be thrown overboard.  In his mind, that would fix the problem.  So I'll ask again... why didn't Jonah just jump? Why did he think it was necessary to be thrown overboard?

Sadly, Jonah wasn't finished with his cowardly acts for the day.  I believe, first of all, he knew if he could be thrown out to sea, it would mean death for sure.  That would be a definite way out of God ever buggin' him again about doing anything again.  Secondly, if someone else threw him overboard, then it wouldn't be his fault.  After all, he could say, they threw me over God, I didn't jump!

Eventually in the story, Jonah came to his senses.  He finally began to fulfill the calling that God had on his life.

There's a great lesson to be learned from Jonah.  Number one, why do we work so hard to avoid what God has called us to do?  Really, it's harder not do it, than it is to do it.  Then there's that storm.  If Jonah would have just listened, he never would have been in that position.  It's just like us really.  Sometimes we've got to be honest with ourselves, and realize we bring a lot of our own troubles on ourselves.  And finally, the whole jumping or being thrown overboard part.  That's all about taking responsibility in your life.  Don't expect someone else to fix your problems for you.  You made this mess, so you need to own up to it, and fix it... not by bailing out, but by doing what you know is right, and being obedient when God tells you to do something.

The moral of this story?  Stop running from God's call on your life.  Recognize that what you do has a direct effect on everyone around you.  And finally, take responsibility in your life.

It's tiring running from God.  It's tiring running to Him.

Either way, ask yourself... which has a better reward?

Just recently, I spent time with my church team who worked with relief and aid organizations in Henryville, Indiana. The town recently experienced a devastating blast from a tornado.

Unless you've seen such devastation, your mind cannot adequately prepare you for the experience.  You try to make sense of where a home once stood, when all you see is a foundation.  Mixed in with piles of shattered wood, glass, and insulation you find an odd blend of family portraits, clothing, Christmas decoration, and toys.  The recipe was never the same at each location, though eerily similar.

By this point a full week had passed.  People have not had adequate time to process what has happened, but I was struck by the upbeat nature of those within this community.

When you're stripped down to nothing, all you really have left is the people around you.  That was most definitely the display.  More became of just acquaintances, neighbors, and friends.   Suddenly a common experience brought these people together.  Now, they were family.

In Matthew 12:46-50, a group of unrelated individuals stood, sat, leaned, and listened as Christ poured into them.  Jesus has just challenged the establishment, gave an amazing display of his miraculous power, and then warned of the consequence of speaking against the power that enabled him to do such works!

It probably wasn't the gentle-sweet-loving-Jesus moment some might had imagined.  His speech that day was somewhat radical; but radical events were about to take place.  It was a preparation.   It was an induction.   It was consecration.

Jesus was interrupted in that moment.  His mom and brothers were outside waiting on him.  The messenger demanded he come outside.  I can almost sense a pause in this moment.  Jesus looking at the messenger.  The messenger looking back.

Jesus responded with a new definition of what it means to be family.  His mother stood just outside the door.  His own flesh and blood.  The one who gave birth to him.  And yet he says to this man, "Who is my mother, who are my brothers?  You see these people here.  This is my mother. These are my brothers."

Christ came on a mission.  While biological connections are important to us as earthly beings, he was stressing the importance of something even greater.  Eternity.

Our human minds have a difficult time grasping that.

Yes, we often have an obligation to our earthly family.  More importantly our focus should be on eternity, and increasing our family in that capacity.  This life is but a moment, a mist as scripture says in the book of James.  Our commonality as Christians is what make up this beautiful mix of acquaintances, neighbors, and friends, then turns them quite simply into family.

It was a turn of terrible events that brought a community together and created a family last week in that small Indiana town.  It was a small family of Christian strangers who came to their aid.  Christ came to unify that which was not meant to be together.  Our existence on this earth is not in part to separate ourselves from this world, but rather to go out into this world, and with truth, make them a part of our family.

As family, we are eternally linked.

Every morning I drop my kids off at school.  Every morning my six year old daughter looks at me as she exits the car and says, "I love you." She then blows me a kiss.

I'm not sure if she looks forward to going to school each day, as much as I look forward to catching that blown kiss every morning.  It's a sweet gesture on her part.  Innocent and genuine.  It's one of those parent/child moments that warms your heart.

It's unconditional.

My daughter loves me... just because.  Now, if you ask her, "why do you love your daddy," her response might be, "because he buys me food, clothes, and plays with me."  At her young age, deep down, she doesn't really know why.  She just knows she does.  Because she wants to.  Because she feels a great need to.

Only when our minds start to mature and begin to understand the rules to living do we begin to apply rules to how we love.

True, there are rules to life and living.  Boundaries are necessary.  But applying rules to loving someone is completely unnecessary.

Christ simplified the great commandments of old for us to understand and be able to fulfill what might have seemed rigid and legalistic.  He did so with a word that seems to be a cure all.  Love.

Love God.  Love others.

Yes, there are rules that apply when it comes to God and to others.  God has great expectation of his greatest creation.  There are principles we must abide by as people of God.  And yes, there are rules that apply to living with and amongst His greatest creation (i.e., your neighbors).

We should never, however, let those rules get in the way of how we love someone.  In fact, when that becomes our first priority, it seems principle falls right into place.

I love my little girl.  And someday she may break my heart.  I know I've been a disappointment at times in my life to those who have loved me greatly.  I could never stop loving my little girl.  Even if she does break my heart.  My love for her is unconditional.  I will always let her know that.

God loves us just as much and more.  We can and will disappoint Him.  And yes, consequence is necessary when principle is broken.  But He will always love us.  Our love for Him should be unwavering.  We should love him just as a child loves their parent.  Perhaps with a general understanding of why... because He feeds us, clothes us, and walks beside us.  Perhaps because we simply want to, and have a great need to.

That moment each day between my daughter and me is a great example of the love between God and man.  With no condition on love.  When nothing gets in the way of simply wanting to express how one feels, but deeply wanting to express that I'll be thinking of you all day, and I'll be here if you need me and when you get home, and no matter what you must know... I Love You.

Steve Jobs, who in recent months stepped down as CEO of Apple, Inc., died just two days ago. He had been battling cancer for several years now.

It's always a bit surprising to hear when someone well known dies, but I must admit, I was truly shocked and saddened to hear this news.

Probably because I'm a die hard and loyal Apple fan and user. iPod, iPhone, iPad, MacBook Pro, iMac... Yep, I got 'em all and I love me some Apple!

When the king of a kingdom dies that you so adamantly support... and I am adamant... it is a bit surprising! You can't help but wonder what's next for the kingdom, especially when times have been so good.

It seems so superficial to worry about my gadgets when the loss of a great man and mind, a husband, father, and friend to people has passed from this life.

I awoke this morning to learn that the mother of a childhood friend had passed away just a few days ago. Now that hit me hard.

She wasn't anyone particularly glamorous. No fame or fortune. Never really fancy or foo foo about much. She wasn't someone who set out to be known or change this world in some dynamic way.

What she was... was good to me. She was joy and peace to me at a time in my young life when my world had completely crumbled. Twenty-six years ago I had been uprooted from my home and school outside of Los Angeles, separated from the security of parenthood by two bickering adults that parted ways, and transplanted 1800 miles away with my mother and sister to a small town in Arkansas in the middle of a rice field.

That's where Ms. Donna came in.

She was quirky. She had a big laugh. She had well water!

Yep. I spent 'many a day and night' with her family 'way out in the country!' That was truly the experience for a twelve year old kid who had just left the concrete jungle of L.A.! She convinced me well water was okay to drink. I just couldn't believe people did this. I thought all water came from the waterworks, not from a hole in the ground! She made me biscuits and gave me butter to drown them in. Yum! She yelled at her kids! I felt right at home.

I'm sad to learn of her passing.

I started off the week preparing a luncheon for a group of senior citizens. We celebrated the birthday of one sweet gal who had turned ninety-six years old. Wow!!! She was born in 1915. She drove herself to the lunch, and drove herself home. Amazing. I spent time listening to the advice of some well aged people that day. Lots of advice about living this life to it's fullest. Spending time with seniors will do you well. They never seem frustrated about the fact that their life is almost over. They in fact talk about it with great excitement! I guess almost a hundred years of living will do that to you!

I realize at this stage, my life is near half over. As each year turns, you seem to realize how quickly it passes. People you love and care for die. You bury your parents. You're forced to let dear friends slip away from this life. Did people die this often when you were a kid, cause I don't recall?

James 4:14 reminds us that "life is but a vapor." One translation calls it a "wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing."

The context of that scripture may actually seem harsh for many. We go about living life as we want, when in reality we should be focused on following the will of God in our lives. And life truly is short!

One day I will die. I don't want to, but I will. We all will. It's one of those events in life that no human being can avoid.

Rest Ms. Donna. I miss you mom, grandma, Wayne, Roger, Martin, and so many others that have left this life. The separation is difficult and seems so definite, but the burden of the blessed hope is one I carry. It enables me and the believers in this life to know that separation is also "but a vapor."

I was given the greatest advice by that 96 year old birthday girl... "Stay close to the Lord."

Thank you ma'am... I believe I'lI just do that.