EVERY Day is a Gift

This past Wednesday, on 12.12.12, we experienced something pretty unique in the fact that the digits in the date matched in a way that won't happen again for like 989 years . . . until January 1, 3001 or "01.01.01."  If I'm going to be around for that, I think I'm going to need a good nap.  While it was kind of cool to think about the uniqueness of the calendar date assigned to this past Wednesday, at some point that afternoon I found myself wondering why such a big deal was being made of those simple digits . . . when, the truth is, EVERY day is unique because there will NEVER be another day with that exact date.  After all, there will NEVER again be a 4.23.1956, right?

That evening, I thought, "hey, that might make a profound and thought-provoking blog" . . . but I didn't get around to it.

And then less than 48 hours later came the unthinkable, tragic news out of Connecticut that has reminded us in such a sorrowful way that . . . EVERY day is a gift that should not be taken for granted.

We may never understand what kind of darkness could possibly cause someone to do what was done in Newtown, or at an Oregon mall, or at a movie theater or high school in Colorado.  We also may never know why accidents happen or illnesses take loved ones so suddenly . . . and too early.

We cannot always control what will happen around us . . . but we can determine to appreciate and make the most of each and every day that has been "gifted" to us.  Hug your kids, tell your parents how much you appreciate them, tell your spouse how much you love them . . . not just because "you never know" but because we DO know that the people in our lives are special blessings, and EVERY day is a unique gift . . . that's why it's called "the present."

As we approach Christmas and we find ourselves trying to give awesome presents to the ones we love, let's be reminded that God has given us, the ones He so loves, His presence . . . which is our hope, even when it seems that darkness surrounds us.

The following is a portion of a prayer offered in response to the Connecticut tragedy by one of my favorite authors . . . he is a pastor and his name is Max Lucado and I hope his words are a blessing:

"Dear Jesus . . . Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were night-shift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod's jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence. Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene. Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won't you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger. This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us."

When Things Don't Go As Planned...

"That's not how it was supposed to be!!!!" "That's not how we thought it would turn out!!!" How are you at handling that sometimes unsettling feeling when things don't go as planned?  Some free-wheeling, fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants people may read this and think, "Planned? What is this strange word he uses...'planned?"  Others on the other end of the spectrum may have started to tremble with an uneasy feeling in their stomach and cold sweats after simply reading the title of this post.  Wherever you may find your personality falling in relation to these descriptions, we have to admit that life is like this sometimes.  Planned or not, things tend to sometimes happen in ways unexpected . . . like 4th of July fireworks in San Diego ( by the way - the greatest city in the world...discovered by the Germans in 1904 ).  The "Big Bay Boom" as it is now called can be seen in all of it's ( brief ) glory by clicking the play button below - WARNING: it's really loud - turn down your volume first.

One would assume that the company that was in charge of the celebratory pyrotechnic show had carefully planned things out . . . dotting "i's" and crossing "t's" . . . but things went in a seriously different direction when a signal that was supposed to simply set the timing of the fireworks caused the entire show to be launched in about 15 seconds - rather than 25 - 30 minutes.  Thankfully, no one was injured . . . and what seemed to be a "not-how-we-planned-it" disaster, ended up turning into a "spectacular" phenomenon that has been talked about more than any other fireworks show in the country.  You may have noticed an onlooker calling it "insane" ( in a good way ) and another calling it "the best fireworks show ever!"
In life and in ministry, we like to have things planned - and we tend to be most comfortable when we don't deviate from those plans or traditions.  But time and again, I have seen God do some "spectacular" things . . . in ways I wouldn't have anticipated . . . especially when things unfolded in a different fashion.  God works in the lives of people in His way and in His timing . . . sometimes THROUGH what we have planned, and sometimes OUTSIDE of what we have planned.  The lesson learned here is: God's wisdom, power and perspective are so much greater than my own, and He is always able to come up with "the best ever."  As tough as it may be to loosen our grip on the controls, He can be trusted to come through . . . even when things don't go as planned.

LOVE Never Fails!

When I came across an article on Yahoo! about a "proofreading fail" in the advertising of new Packer jerseys, I couldn't help but chuckle - see picture.  I fully admit, that for the most part, my enjoyment of this error surfaces based on my current jealousy of the fact that the Green Bean Pickers are a much better football team than my Purple are right now.  However, you have to admit it is kind of ironic, that of all the letters in their great quarterback's name to omit . . . it's the 'D' that is missing - it, of course, should be "RODGERS."  It's funny because that's kind of the reason that the Giants marched in and out of Lambeau in the playoffs last January on their way to the Lombardi Trophy . . . but I digress . . . .
While the little red cartoon dude that sometimes camps out on my left shoulder with his horns, tail and pitchfork would like for me to keep reveling in the mistakes of others . . . the one on my right shoulder with the white wings and harp seems to be reminding me of Matthew 7 and 1 Corinthians 13.
Now, this may seem like a jump to apply this spiritually here, but I believe this scenario is revealing an inner struggle that plays itself out in a very practical way.  Being the type of person who enjoys the misfortune of others is not what God has is mind for any of us . . . and that's not who He has called me to be.
In Matthew 7:1-5, Jesus sets the standard He expects from us when He tells us to not judge others for the speck of sawdust in their eye, when we have a whole flippin' board in our own.  He warns us to not have a hypocritical, judgmental attitude toward others that enjoys their failure and tears them down in order to build ourselves up.  Why am I amused by the mistakes of others when my next one is right around the coner korner cormer corner?
1 Corinthians 13 paints a beautiful picture . . . and defines what love really is.  Check it out . . . and be challenged with me to live a life that is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil, rejoices with the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres . . . ( and guess what ) . . . LOVE never fails!

P.S. - please let me know if you discover any typos in what you just read . . .

Wisdom from the Washroom

Look . . . I know this will probably have you on edge when I say that I learned something while I was in the bathroom the other day.  I think we can all agree that sometimes the bathroom is a great place to do some reading . . . and even some serious thinking ( tell me you haven't wondered if the statue known as "The Thinker" was based on someone who had his privacy invaded ).
Anyway, while I was washing my hands in the restroom of one of our fine Jersey diners, a dad and his probably 3 year old son came in while they were in the middle of an in-depth, interesting conversation.  The little boy was trying to make sure he had the facts straight by asking "which one is #1, and which one is #2?"  I couldn't help but chuckle inside just like you are doing right now.
The dad then gave a very simple answer to his boy as they were making their way into a stall as he said "pee-pee is #1 and poo-poo is #2."  Knowing that I was at the sink and grinning in the mirror, the dad closed the stall door in a way that showed that he was hoping to close this conversation.  But . . . the boy wasn't finished yet ( sorry about the image there ) because he then asked his dad "why is pee-pee #1 and poo-poo #2?"  There was silence for what seemed like forever . . . and now I became interested in what kind of answer this dad was going to come up with out of thin air that would make all parents proud of him and ensure his enshrinement in the Parental Hall of Fame.  After gathering his thoughts, the dad said . . . ( drumroll please ) . . . "I don't know, buddy."  And at that point, the source of my grin in the mirror went from humor to wisdom as I was reminded of a very important truth.
Over the years of being a parent and pastor ( particularly one who works with teenagers ) I have learned that often times the best ( and most honorable ) way to answer tough questions is by simply admitting "I don't know."  In life, there are some questions that we just can't easily answer . . . if at all.  Whether tragedy strikes or they are just confused by random trivia, the kids in our lives don't always need what we think are brilliant answers to their challenging questions . . . but they DO always deserve our love, care, honesty and authenticity.
When we try to explain things away with hollow answers, kids have the uncanny ability to see right through them like cheap 1-ply toilet paper in public restrooms.  If you can't give them a quality answer, at least give them the quality assurance that you will walk alongside them as they continue to learn and grow.  Hopefully, the fact that you don't have to be an awesome automatic answer machine leaves you relieved ( sorry, I couldn't help it, that was the last one ).
Faithful love & authenticity are key things that help us develop trust in relationships.  Our faith is strengthened as we go along, learning that we can continue to TRUST GOD in the midst of all of our questions . . . thankful that HE is the one with all of the answers.

Give It a Try . . .

A little while back my sister-in-law posted a saying on facebook that caught my attention . . . something to the effect of "I'd rather live life with a bunch of 'oh wells' instead of 'what ifs?"
What a great challenge to those of us who are not usually big risk-takers.  It can be easy to play things close to the vest and not step out there and give things a try.
I want to take a minute and brag on my family for some cool, recent instances of initiative on their part.  They may not seem like really big deals . . . but they are great reminders to give things a try because if you don't, you may miss out on something good.
A family from our church parted ways with a trampoline not too long ago, and when I picked it up I was pretty sure that it was missing some pieces, or at least some hardware . . . and instructions.  I had been dreading the inevitable task of spreading the puzzle out on the back yard to find out what might be missing.  But, with this week being spring break, our 8th grade son Jonah showed awesome initiative to basically figure it out himself with the help of one of his buddies.  We got a few bolts & nuts from the hardware store . . . and poof, it's good to go.  It wouldn't have happened if he hadn't stepped out and given it a try.  We are so proud of his determination . . . when he sets out to do something, he finds a way to make it happen.
Our 11th grader daughter Makenna has been quietly and selectively looking at potential colleges with a pretty small list in mind.  The opportunity to visit a few more in Virginia with some friends came up and she and Tracy thought "why not?" even though most of them hadn't been on the short list.  Now she has a new favorite at the top of her list because she decided to step out and give it a try.  We are excited for her and proud of the way she is taking ownership of this important process in her life.
And, just last night as dinner time approached, I mentioned that we had been hungry for garlic knots from one of our pizza places . . . and TA-DA! . . . Tracy figured out a way to make THE MOST AMAZING garlic knots that we have ever tasted.  I am always proud of the initiative that my better half displays . . . and her ability to go for it and make things happen.  She may once in a while have some "oh wells" but she rarely looks back and has "what ifs?"
( if you're wondering how Emily, Jared and I fit in to this post . . . we don't feel left out - we helped inhale the garlic knots ).

What opportunities are before YOU that you have been putting off . . ?  It may be very simple, practical, complicated, relational, professional, recreational or spiritual . . .
Here's what I'm learning - why not give it a try?

Waitin' for the Weekend!!!!

A lot of the things that are happening right now make this one of the best times of the year.  It's feeling a lot like spring with sunshine & temps in the 70s, March Madness begins tomorrow, spring training means that baseball is sneaking up on us, and NFL free agency is in a frenzy.
But this weekend is one that I look forward to all year because it is our time to hang out with around 60 amazing high school students and adult leaders on our annual retreat in the Poconos.
We get away from our routines and enjoy some time having fun, relaxing, decompressing and connecting with God and bonding with each other.  The opportunity to escape from the usual "noises" in our lives and hear God's voice is priceless for students to be able to take the next steps in their relationship with Him.
Eternal commitments will be made, memories will be forged and relationships will be strengthened forever . . . and I am so thankful for a great group of friends who work so hard to help make it all possible.
Sure, the weekend may involve balloon launchers, flying snack foods, buckets, tennis balls, bandannas, blindfolds, night games with glow sticks, very little quality sleep, and an 85 yr old man sharing Justin Bieber song lyrics . . . but that's all a part of student ministry . . . investing in the lives of teenagers . . . living life and having a blast with them . . . helping them to understand God's unconditional love for them . . . showing them what it means to take ownership of their faith . . . and watching His STORYLINE for their lives continue to unfold.  THIS is why we do what we do!!!

Unthinkable . . .

There are some things that happen that just seem to leave you thinking . . . "no way" . . . "impossible" . . . "inconceivable" . . . or "unthinkable."  One of those things actually happened today when Peyton Manning was released and allowed to walk away from the Indianapolis Colts - the team that he resurrected and started every game for in his 14 year career.  The Colts are receiving nothing in return for the 4-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion . . . they have just said "thanks" and are moving forward with the production of new #12 jerseys with "Luck" on the back in anticipation of April's draft when they will select their next QB from Stanford.  While the possibility of this move has been talked about for a while, it still seems really weird now that it has actually happened - and ESPN is melodramatically milking it for every last drop.
Today's events have started me thinking about some other things that have happened that have left me thinking "no way" . . . "impossible" . . . "inconceivable" . . . or "unthinkable" . . . like:
- Brett Favre with a team other than the Cheeseheads - especially when he ended up in Purple ( and then with a purple ankle because the Saints were dirty - #bountygate )
- 41 years ago, a couple of 16 year old teenagers made a commitment, with the love & support of their families, to get married, and to raise their baby who was on the way . . . bet you can't guess who that bundle of joy was.  Against the odds, to this day, they have a blessed family to show for it
- Tracy said "yes" to me 21 years ago
- God has entrusted us with the 4 most amazing kids on earth
- our wonderful church allows me the privilege of ministering to the students & families of our community
- I get to work as part of a great church staff, and with a faithful team of studentLIFE leaders who are dear friends

The list could continue for quite a while . . . but I'll just skip to the biggest head-scratcher of all - and this is it . . . the fact that God humbled and sacrificed Himself for me (us), to "demonstrate His love" ( Romans 5:8 ) for me (us) so I (we) wouldn't have to remain separated from Him.

So, even though the "unthinkable" separation of Manning from Indy today is pretty big news . . . the biggest news of all time - God's unfailing, merciful and open-armed love is available for everyone - deserves the headline every day . . . and I'm so thankful that the "unthinkable" actually does happen.

An Extra Day . . .

Happy 29th birthday . . . to my Great-Grandpa . . . who was born in 1896!  He was a leap day baby who only had a REAL birthday when February 29 came around once every 4 years.  I remember him sitting on his couch while being interviewed by a local news station in 1980 on his 84th birthday as he was turning 21 and was finally of legal age.  He explained with frustration that since there is no leap day on the turn of each century, in 1900 when he should have had his first REAL one, "they skipped it" and his first Feb 29 birthday wasn't until 1904 when he was 8.
While it may seem unfair that people get ripped off and short-changed when it comes to their birthdays being skipped regularly, it's really no big deal to celebrate on Feb 28 or March 1.  On the other hand, I've heard people talk about days like today that come around once every 4 years like it's more special than others . . . some type of bonus or "extra day" . . . like what are you going to do . . . how are you going to spend your "extra day"?  I can't help but be reminded that each and every day we get to wake up to is a blessing and an extra day that God has given us by His grace.  Yes, February 29 might be a unique day on the calendar . . . but what if we consciously viewed each and every day as an "extra day" and lived it to the full?  Let's make the most of this gift of life that God has given us by using it to love Him and love others.
Grandpa Borg would have been 116 today . . . and with the type of wisdom that great-grandparents can give - like "don't drag race with your Chevette" - I think he would suggest that we don't take any of our days for granted.

Tuna & Other Sacrifices . . .

It's Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent . . . a time of fasting,  prayer and reflection leading up to Easter.  It's a time in which many people will give up certain things as a sign of repentance or sacrifice in honor to God.   A lot of people use it as a time to work on their relationship with God as they follow the example of Jesus' 40 days of fasting and prayer in the desert before He began his public ministry.
Around this time, it's always interesting when people start talking about what they're "giving up."  Some of the more common items that you hear being sacrificed are: sweets, junk food, smoking, drinking, or maybe swearing.  This is no news flash - I know I'm about the one bazillionth person to point out that these are things that really aren't good for us, and we should do without them anyway.  It's not just the "don't need them" category, either . . . what about the "don't want them" column?  For me, I could be making a bold declaration to give up tuna ( which about makes me gag just typing it ) but it would be meaningless, since it looks & smells like cat food, I can't stand it and it would be of no cost to me.
So what should we be doing to show our devotion to God?  Here's how I am being challenged: in 2 Samuel 24, King David said he would not sacrifice to the Lord that which cost him nothing.  Sure, my list of "off limit" items could include luxuries like caviar, and things I really don't care for like . . . caviar, but that would be a sacrifice that cost me nothing.  When we read Psalm 22:1-18 and Isaiah 53 we are reminded of the incredible sacrifice of Himself that Jesus made for us, and how they clearly show the extent of His full commitment to us.  If I am trying to show my commitment to God, it seems only fitting that my sacrifices for Him are meaningful, ongoing, and show that He is my top priority.  That seems to be what Jesus is teaching us in Matthew 6:33, when He tells us to put Him first and allow everything else to fall into its place.  This is what I'm being challenged to do: to show my commitment by my priorities - not just today as we begin Lent, but every other day as well.

Have To or Want To?

Whew . . . we made it!  Another February 14th has passed by and along with it, in one way or another, the romance and/or angst experienced by just about everyone - whether spoken for or single.  I couldn't help but once again notice the wide-ranging expressions of gushing jubilation and sad frustration that Valentine's Day ( or Single Awareness Day ) brought with it.  But even if you weren't acknowledging S.A.D. and you are in a relationship, there was the full spectrum of status updates on Facebook - from the squeals describing the semi-truck load of roses & chocolates delivered . . . to the "gee, thanks for the generic card" reactions.  It has almost become like a 2-month early precursor to Tax Day on April 15 because your perspective on it depends on if you owe the IRS . . . or if you will be getting a big fat refund ( or a measly generic one ).
Some people have a wonderful time celebrating with the love of their life - Tracy and I got to spend the afternoon in NYC going to the "free" David Letterman Show ( and briefly getting on camera in the audience ).  Some people would have rather just skipped ahead from Feb 13th to Feb 15th.
The debate over whether this holiday is a conspiracy perpetuated by companies like Hallmark & Russell Stover will continue to rage throughout time, but celebrating love ( which 1 Corinthians 13 says...is patient, kind...does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered...keeps no record of wrongs...does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth...always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres...and never fails ) should not carry with it the unnecessary pressure of "I HAVE to do something" instead it should be "I WANT to do something" to show it.

P.S. - I am probably going against some kind of "Dad-of-teenage-daughters-code" here, but I have to give props to the boyfriends of our 2 daughters.  They did pretty well on Valentine's Day - Struan took Makenna out to see a movie . . . and even though Chris had to work until late at night, he still brought over a dozen roses for Emily.  So, to Struan and Chris I say . . . well done, and you've earned yourself at least another week of hanging out with our girls.

Do They Really Go Together . . ?

I just heard about the new addition to the menus at Jack In the Box restaurants . . . the Bacon Milkshake.  I'm not sure if I should feel deprived that there isn't a location close to us, because to be quite honest, even though this is a combination of two of my FAVORITE things . . . I'm not sure I would be a fan.  Setting aside the obvious "blocked artery" considerations, let's just get flavor-conscious for a second - do they really go together . . ?
Reese's blending of chocolate & peanut butter is brilliant . . . Dr. Pepper's symphony of 23 flavors is a masterpiece . . . and Colonel Sanders' blend of 11 herbs and spices is heavenly.  And even though I would RARELY turn down a yummy chocolate malted milkshake or crispy bacon with . . . just about anything, I don't think that blending them together works . . . except for a tame round of Fear Factor.  Much like Packer fans and rational objectivity . . . there are some things that just don't seem to go together - but that's just my humble ( burp ) observation.

Life is a Precious Gift

Over the past couple of weeks we have had the opportunity to share special monumental times of life with dear friends & church members here in Jersey and back in Minnesota.  We have grieved with two of our current students as they lost their Mom after a long, brave battle with cancer.  We have celebrated new life with dear friends & leaders here as their beautiful baby girl was born.  We have proudly congratulated new Moms, who were special parts of our lives & ministry years ago in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.  It's so cool to see them hold new babies of their own in their arms like they used to, as teenagers, babysit our kids back in the day.  Tracy and I are SO thankful for the opportunity that we have had, and continue to have, to LIVE LIFE TOGETHER with so many precious people.  Being able to walk alongside friends through the lows & highs makes life richer . . . and it allows each of us to be a blessing to one another.  I have again been reminded that life is a precious gift which should never be taken for granted . . . but rather celebrated and lived to the fullest with the ones you love.

Definitely Worth It . . .

After today's trip to the mailbox I came back into the house and said, "Woo-hoo, let's go shopping!"  Who doesn't enjoy opening mail and finding money???  This time it's going to be tough to figure out what to spend it on . . . it's going to be a real challenge, even with Tracy's coupon-savvy expertise.  What exactly can we do with $.06?  What will the bank teller think when I ask to cash this check?
We had an old Health Savings Account that we thought was closed years ago.  Evidently it wasn't, according to the statement we received a few days back.  So, after I called the company and officially closed it, they spent WAY more on man-power, paper and postage to send it to us than the actual check was worth.  I know . . . it needed to be done to reconcile things and clear the deck, but I couldn't help but wonder if it was worth it?
As outrageous as this whole thing seems, it really does help illustrate a vitally important spiritual truth.  Because you and I are not perfect ( we sin, make selfish mistakes, etc ), we do not measure up to God's standard of holiness.  Since God is true to his holy nature, He cannot associate with sin.  In our sinfulness, we had been separated from God . . . of little or no worth in that state.  But, in His amazing love, God showed how much He values us by sending His Son to pay for our sins and die in our place to reconcile us to Him - giving WAY more than we were worth.  The grace & mercy He has offered to us shows us that we who may seem worthless really have infinite value, and the amount paid was definitely worth it to Him ( see John 3:16 & Romans 5:8 ).
I know you're probably dying to know about our big plans for the check . . .right?  Actually, this is what we plan to do now that we have received it: hold onto it and tell others about it.  My hope is that you will do the same with the truth of God's love in the Gospel . . . receive it, take hold of it for yourself and tell others about it.

the Courage to Do the Right Thing

In the midst of rescue, recovery and clean up efforts following the tragic Italian cruise ship accident, it seems like people are intrigued by this "tale of two captains" saga.  On one hand, we have the ship's captain who is under house arrest after acting recklessly by steering too close to an island, tearing a whole in the side of the ship causing it to take on water and tip over, and then abandoning ship in a lifeboat before making sure that all passengers and crew were safely off the ship and accounted for.  On the other hand, we have the Coast Guard officer who has become the instant hero for demanding that the ship's captain do the right thing by going back on board to fulfill his responsibilities.
I don't know where the Coast Guard officer was barking out his demands from, but I'm pretty sure that he wasn't in danger himself when he was giving his "courageous" instructions to get back to the sinking ship.  It can be too easy to call one a brave hero and another a cowardly villain without having walked in their shoes or tread in that water.
While it is pretty easy to play Monday morning quarterback and even jump on the pile with everyone who is attacking the ship's captain for being a coward, I see this as a good time to take a look in the mirror . . . and ask God to give me the courage to always do the right thing ( not just the easy thing ) in every situation, no matter how difficult it may be.

It's Like a Sea Without a Shore . . .

Please don't mistake this for some type of music review . . . I'm not attempting to critique an album here.  However, over the past 24 hrs as I have been absorbing and thoroughly enjoying the newest ( and sadly final ) effort from the David Crowder Band called "Give Us Rest," a variety of tracks have been jumping out at me, kicking my tail and bringing me to my knees ( including the similarly named #7) in worship.
There is a TON of great music here, but one track in particular that just got my attention a few minutes ago is named "Sometimes" and here are some of the lyrics that have grabbed me and blown me away: "sometimes every one of us feels / like we'll never be healed // sometimes every one of us aches / like we'll never be saved . . . it's Your love that we adore, it's like a sea without a shore . . . don't be afraid, just set your sail and risk the ocean, there's only grace."

When I finally really "heard" it after listening to it a few times, it automatically made me think of the way that God's IMMEASURABLE and UNENDING love for us is described in Romans 8:38-39 . . . "for I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Here's a great reminder for all of us when we feel beaten up, beaten down, discouraged or unlovable:  God's love for us is real and it never changes . . . it's offered to us to be accepted & treasured . . . it's pure . . . it's faithful . . . and it's like a sea without a shore.

Lessons From a Food Fight

In some tabloid-type news, a birthday party was planned for LeBron James recently and a Miami area baker was going to receive some publicity for preparing a fancy cake for the event.  Apparently it wasn't fit for a king or the Cake Boss and the person handling the party ended up rejecting it and using a different one and the cake baker is ticked and wants someone to pay.  After reading about the little "food fight" it got me thinking (which can be a little scary).

1. why should any cake supposedly cost $3,500?
2. was there real gold in that frosting?
3. why can't someone like James cover the costs anyway - it's like $5 to him.
4. it doesn't sound like the baker knows what it means to "give a gift."
5. it doesn't sound like James or his "people" know what it means to "accept a gift."
It just seems like another example of selfishness, entitlement and an overall lack of grasp on reality that we see around us far too often.
Remembering that we are just a few days removed from celebrating Christmas and the greatest gift ever given to humanity in Jesus, I hope that overall, we have learned to be a little more appreciative of a generous gift when it comes our way.  Jesus is the perfect gift . . . the perfect gift giver . . . and the perfect example of how to relate to others with kindness, unselfishness and love.  He has taught us to give and to receive without strings attached.  When I think about my sinfulness, mistakes and failures - and the grace and mercy that God faithfully shows me - I am so thankful that I don't receive what I'm truly entitled to.
By the way . . . call me boring, but I'm completely happy with a simple white cake with chocolate frosting.