FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (April 22) - Police are looking for a pregnant woman they say tried to rob a North Carolina bank at gunpoint but left empty-handed after answering her cell phone. Fayetteville police spokeswoman Teresa Chance said Wednesday the woman had a handgun and demanded money when she entered a Carter Bank & Trust branch at 9:43 a.m. Tuesday. But she got distracted when her cell phone rang. Police said she began talking to the caller and left the bank without taking any money. No one was hurt."
Hmmmm...talk about getting distracted! Talk about losing focus! Good grief. I can't help but wonder what the conversation on the phone was about? Was it a friend calling to talk her out of the robbery?Did she receive some bad news or good news that caused her to reevaluate what she was doing? Did she turn to go out to the car to look for something that was brought up in the phone call and "wake up," so to speak, when she got outside? Did she just get caught up in a conversation and forget what she had been doing? Whatever caused it...the phone call distracted her and a robbery was prevented. That was good.
But what about when we get distracted and it's not good? What about when we are in the process of raising our kids, or pursuing an education to better address what God has called us to do, or tenaciously engaged in a task for the betterment of God's Kingdom...and we get distracted? Oh...it could be that we become enamored with a hobby, or get caught up in gossip, or maybe we mire ourselves in complaints about something we don't like, or maybe we just stop doing what God wants in order to do what we want for awhile. Whatever the cause...we become distracted, unfocused and – tragically – ineffective. When that happens...there is a loss. Not only for us, but also for those we are failing to adequately engage in the gospel.
Jesus needs you...He needs me...by choice. He has chosen to use us to be couriers of the gospel. He has purposely left the challenge of reaching our neighborhood, our city, and our world to us...and He needs us to be focused.
Oh...count on it...Satan will be "calling" you in one form or another. But it won't be to avert a theft...it will be to create one. He wants to steal you...to steal me...to steal as many as he can from being and doing what God desires. On what are you focused? Is Christ in that picture? Are you in a position to be used effectively for Christ?
"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13, 14
I can't believe it!! Read this..."Most kids complain bitterly when they are grounded. Some will sneak out, while others will settle for slamming doors and announcing that they hate the person making the rules. But sometimes, kids get creative when they're punished: A 6th grader in Quebec sued her dad because she felt that his punishment was too harsh. The 12-year-old girl's parents are divorced; in the spring of 2008, the girl's mom gave her permission to go on a class trip to Quebec City in June. But the middle-schooler lived with her father, and after she disobeyed daddy's orders to stay off the Internet, he told her she couldn't go. So what did she do? She took him to court. Of course. A lower court ruled in favor of the girl, who went on the embattled class trip. Her father appealed -- on principle -- and, amazingly, the girl won again. The father's attorney, Kim Beaudoin, says that her client is "flabbergasted" and they are considering another appeal, this time to Canada's Supreme Court. But, the attorney adds, the father has no regrets about the court proceedings. "Either way, he doesn't have authority over this child anymore. She sued him because she doesn't respect his rules," Beaudoin said. "It's very hard to raise a child who is the boss."
I hardly know what to say. Unfortunately, precedent rules in our nation's courts, so we may begin to see the United States follow suit, with kids taking their parents to court because they don't like how they are being disciplined. Really...people should not put all of their efforts into addressing climate control, education and political correctness, and instead start to think about how to ratchet up their common sense. That seems to be evaporating faster than water in a tin cup on a hot beach.
But...should we be surprised that any court system would be undiscerning about issues of discipline and right and wrong when moral standards are as certain in today's society as a GM employee's future retirement fund? People are stumbling through life, flopping from one decision to another based on their desires and emotions, rather than on truth and principles of right and wrong. We have seen fundamental family values usurped by a "justice" system and many have surrendered our society's foundation to "political correctness" (talk about an oxymoron). I don't know whether to be stunned, angry, disillusioned or heartbroken. Perhaps all of those.
It should be noted that none of this is news to God. The ineptness of humanity has been gaining steam since Adam and Eve ate that fruit dish served up by Satan. Sin will never develop wisdom. Disobedience to Christ will never foster understanding. Human arrogance will never make the lens of day-to-day living any clearer. If you doubt that...just listen to the news and be prepared to scrap the disbelief from your brain as it collects like barnacles on a ship.
But...the good news is that God has addressed this and offers help and hope. That's what Easter is all about. Jesus Christ came to address sin, conquer sin, and offer life, peace, forgiveness and wisdom to all who desire it. Christ rose up from the grave, He rose above those who thought they could "discipline" the Messiah. He rose above the systems of humanity and demonstrated the power of God. The resurrection is the doorway to eternity. It is the opening to a holy reality. It is the pardon the world has waited for...and still stands as a valid gift from God.
He is risen! He is risen indeed! Are you experiencing the resurrection of Christ in your own life?
"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26
Read this..."PROVIDENCE, R.I. (March 18) - A Rhode Island woman faces charges after allegedly punching and biting her 11-year-old son's school principal after being told the boy was being suspended. Police said 30-year-old Aleyda Uceta also bit an officer trying to arrest her after Friday's incident at Roger Williams Middle School in Providence. She was charged with assault on school officials, assault on police officers and resisting arrest. Principal Rudolph Moseley Jr. was allegedly assaulted after he told Uceta that her son would be suspended for three days for refusing to go to a room for misbehaving students. Police said Uceta punched Moseley in the face and bit his left arm. Attempts to reach Uceta by phone for comment were unsuccessful."
I wonder where this misbehaving boy learned his behavioral standards? Hmmmm. When reports such as this surface, few are surprised at the child's poor conduct when the parent seems to practice such abhorrent behavior. It makes us hurt for the anger that must hang like a cloud in this home.
This story reminds all of us that we are examples and models to those around us...even when we don't want to be cast in that role. How we respond to tough situations, crises, injustices, harsh words, and challenges reflects who we are inside. If foul language and anger erupt from us...then that is what lives in us. When that sort of behavior is evidenced it says that the person reacting in such a poor manner has little or no respect for those impacted by their behavior. The expression of that kind of behavior has...at the point in time it is evidenced...become more important to the person doing it than the emotions or well-being of those around them. It is essentially selfish, insensitive behavior. And...let's face it...not the kind of example that any of us want to leave.
What kind of example are you leaving? How would those who work with you describe your actions and reactions? Do you respond with wisdom or react with emotion to the challenges before you? Is your behavior reflective of the person of Christ? Is your behavior centered more on yourself or more on others? We need to make sure that the model we live points positively to Christ. Others are watching...and so is Jesus.
"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:5,6
"FORT PIERCE, Fla. (March 3) - Authorities say a Florida woman called 911 three times after McDonald's employees told her they were out of McNuggets. A police report said 27-year-old Fort Pierce resident Latreasa L. Goodman told authorities she paid for a 10-piece last week but was later informed the restaurant had run out. She says she was refused a refund and told all sales were final. A cashier told police she offered Goodman a larger portion of different food for the same price, but Goodman became irate. Police say Goodman was cited on a misuse of 911 charge. A current phone listing for Goodman couldn't be found. A McDonald's spokesman says Goodman should have been given a refund, and she's being sent a gift card for a free meal."
This is for real! No kidding. Now...let's face it...we've all been yanked around for one reason or another at fast food restaurants. Many are the times I've pulled away from the drive-up window only to discover that what was in my bag didn't' match the order I placed. Based on the above news article, I apparently should have called 911. Sheesh.
Ok, so let's ask ourselves...about what do we complain? What happens in our lives that validates our making a big stink? I have noted through the years that seldom do people complain about issues that really matter. Let's take this lady who called 911 over a shortage of Chicken McNuggets to fill her order...I wonder if she has ever been upset by the number of people starving around the world. If she saw a homeless person...would she call 911? Would she have deemed it a critical need requiring emergency response if she were asked to buy products produced by slave labor (and she probably has). What really constitutes an emergency?
The same can be asked about our spiritual understanding and journey. What do we complain about? What constitutes an emergency? Are we more upset about the fact we didn't know something that happened at church or that there are those who don't know Christ? Are we more rankled about feeling that we didn't receive the attention we thought we deserved at church or that countless millions receive little to no attention when it comes to their nutritional and spiritual needs? Do we call 911 (our prayers to God) more readily about our needs than the needs of others? What upsets us? Is it of eternal value? It can be very disconcerting when we realize that a great deal of humanity's bellyaching is self-serving and that we are not often enough stirred up about what really matters.
Let me say "thank you" to all of you. Honestly...I have encountered very little complaining at BreakPointe. That is very unusual and is one of the characteristics that adds to the strong unity and community we enjoy. It's why people can walk in to BreakPointe off the street and feel welcome. There are no undercurrents...no complaining that would undermine our mission, which is to make disciples of Christ. Let's make sure we always keep our focus, keeping our eyes and hearts on what matters to the Lord.
"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life-in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." Philippians 2:14-16
Ever wonder if there is a healthier seat than others on an airplane? MSNBC reports the following. "If you're worried about blood clots, sit on the aisle. A recent study from Lahey Clinic Medical Center confirmed that getting bumped by the beverage cart can help keep deep-vein thrombosis away. The research team found that 75 percent of these cases occurred among non-aisle passengers, because they were not moving enough. Flights lasting between four and eight hours were worst. It's not just a matter of leg room. Window seats in business class led to the same results. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to keep yourself healthy. Put on compression stockings, and you'll reduce the blood clot risk. If this is too cumbersome for you, try drinking plenty of water ... and avoiding alcohol and caffeine (well, that might actually be harder). Before you loosen your seatbelt and move freely throughout the cabin, just make sure the "fasten seatbelt" light is off and that you're not blocking the meal service. Hungry, thirsty passengers can put your health at risk, too."
How about that?! Where we sit makes a difference! That is especially true in how we live our lives. Where we position ourselves affects our health...our emotional and spiritual health. Unfortunately, in much of life, it's not that people sit by the window...some sit by the wrong window. They look and focus on the underside of life. Some position themselves next to the bottom feeders in society and adopt those individuals' description of life as reality. There are still others who "look out the window" and let what they see (bad experiences, hurt, rejection, etc.) color their views of the world so much that they disengage and miss all God has for them and all the opportunities for which God might have used them.
There is another dynamic. Whenever we look out a window, it not only reveals to us what is beyond the window, it is an invitation to explore that beyond. Unfortunately for some, they never move. Looking is as far as they want to go. They are the "window shoppers" of life. They never expect to invest, spend, engage or in any way merge with what they see, good or bad. No...they shouldn't engage the "bad," but the reality is...their apathy won't allow them to engage with anything. As a result, they remain stagnant in their fears or comfort zones, all the while staring into their dreams and within touching distance of a greater reality.
Because we fail to move beyond and because we sit by the wrong windows, we experience what Jeremiah said in Jeremiah 9:21, "Death has climbed in through our windows and has entered our fortresses..." What's happening at your windows? Where are you positioning yourself today? Are you near a window? If you are...are you willing to go beyond that window? What do you see? Is it only what others tell you, or are you asking the Lord to open your eyes to what He sees? When you explore God's Word, do you ask Jesus to turn on the lights of understanding in your mind? When you see problems and crises, do you ask the Lord to reveal wisdom?
What's happening at your windows? Are you seeing Christ? Are you seeing what can happen when you are in Christ? Are you excited about exploring what you see? What's happening at your windows? Are you getting sick or are you getting challenged?
"Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf!" Psalm 66:5
From AOL news we read: "John Kevin Hines had been pacing on the Golden Gate Bridge for 40 minutes in anguish, crying. 'If one person asks me what's wrong, I won't go through with this,' he thought, over and over. Eventually, a woman wearing giant sunglasses approached him. "Would you take my picture?" she asked. The 19-year-old accepted the camera from her and clicked it five times. Then he snapped. The moment Hines released his hold on the 4-foot-high railing, he regained his grip on reality. During the 4 seconds between jump and splashdown, he could think clearly. All the problems that had made him want to die moments earlier? Those seemed less overwhelming than a 220-foot plunge into San Francisco Bay. 'Oh, my God, I don't want to die,' he thought. 'What have I done? God, please, save me.' It's a prayer seldom answered. Since the bridge opened in 1937, someone has jumped from it every 2 weeks on average. Out of roughly 2,000 attempts, only 28 "failed." For a man who tried to kill himself, John Kevin Hines is pretty lucky. On his descent from the Golden Gate Bridge, he threw his head back during free fall, which allowed him to hit the water in a seated position — albeit at 75 mph. He opened his eyes as he plunged 50 feet, and as it became darker, he thought, 'I didn't die. What am I going to do now?' A man who moments ago tried to kill himself was desperately fighting for his life now. He broke through the surface just before passing out. At the moment he jumped, a woman who had a Coast Guard friend on speed dial just happened to be driving over the bridge — which is the only reason two Coast Guard members fished Hines out of the water.
"Do you know what you just did?" one of them asked.
"Yeah, I just jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge."
"Why?"
"I don't know," said Hines. "I guess I wanted to die."
"Do you know how many people we pull out of this water who are dead already?"
We read here about a man who reached the end of his rope and threw himself overboard. And...we read about a man who was literally pulled out of the deep...a Jonah who was given a second chance in life. What initially grabs my attention in this story is the fact that, although this man was preparing to die, all he needed to keep him from jumping was an encouraging word...someone who would express some interest and concern about him.
I can't help but wonder...who have I passed today that was desperate and needed some positive attention? Did I miss an opportunity to literally "speak life" to someone? Was I so focused on myself that I asked them to put the spotlight on me instead of throwing a life-preserver to them?
Would you like to give a Christmas gift to everyone you see? Give them a word of encouragement. Tell them they matter. Look for specific ways to compliment those around you. Greet the people you pass in the store. Talk to strangers...and if you can see that they are hurting...let them know you care. You may save a life with a few loving words from your heart.
"See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." Hebrews 3:12, 13
"For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory." I Thessalonians 2:11, 12
Well...I've heard of meter maids...how about meter fairies? Really. Read this news clip.
"Business owners in Miami's trendy Coconut Grove neighborhood needed a superhero to come rescue them from a deluge of parking tickets, and a superhero is precisely what they got. Meet Xavier Cortes, Miami's first "parking meter fairy." Donning a pink wig, mask, tutu, wings and skates, Cortes travels up and down the block feeding quarters into parking meters that are about to expire. Cortes is employed by Coconut Grove's local retailers, who claim they were losing business because customers were getting too many parking fines. The Venezuelan got the job by responding to an ad in the local newspaper. Cortes is also an artist with a theater background, and he doesn't seem to mind his unique costume. The idea has been a big hit with the area's visitors and law enforcement alike. "No problem exists between the Miami Parking Authority and the Meter Fairy," said the Parking Authority's Art Noriega. "It's a peaceful coexistence."
Wow...every shopper's dream who has ever had to feed the meter. I've been the recipient of more than one "citation" for having my car occupy a space longer than the alloted time for which I had paid. To think that someone would have a job walking the streets and pop quarters into the machine so that shoppers could avoid parking tickets? Wow indeed! Why would someone do that? We all wonder what the catch to such nice behavior would be. Right? Oh...well obviously...it's the merchants who provide such kindness... and why? They prefer that our money be spent in their stores rather than city hall.
I wonder how often people do nice things...just because. How about you? When was the last time you sweetened someone's life for no reason...just because. Maybe you fixed breakfast for your spouse or family...or gave a nice card...or sent flowers to someone special...or called someone just to tell them you appreciate them. If you haven't...do it. Maybe even drop a quarter in a strangers meter. :-) Now...that would be a mind blower wouldn't it?
"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Galatians 6:10
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