Why I am Not Laughing about May 21st

If you know me, you know how freakishly hard I try not to be "that guy." That ought to tell you something -- maybe I am! Do you know what I mean by "that guy?" That guy you don't like who always shakes his finger at fun and says, "Hold on a minute, funny is not allowed, life is way too serious for that."

Pastor Harold Camping has gone viral because of his prediction of Christ's return tomorrow at 6 p.m. The words of Jesus imply that an accurate prediction about when He will return is impossible. But there is no reason to go there for now.

All the jokes that even Christians are making about this prediction may reveal more about us than we think. Predictions about "doomsday" go as far back as AD 70. Because it has yet to happen each prediction serves as a reminder to how ridiculous the whole Christian thing is.  Wild doomsday claims, heaven, hell, and people raising from the dead is so unbelievable people are become increasing comfortable with their unbelief.

So, as you chuckle your way through the weekend, keep a few things in mind:

1. Leno and Letterman are not laughing with us they are laughing at us. I am not mad about this - trust me. But jokes about the prediction of the Christ's return is a symptom of our culture, not the problem. Christianity is not taken seriously. Okay, some of that is our fault, but I'm just sayin' . . .

2. You will have opportunities to have spiritual conversations with people about a relationship with Jesus. Don't act angry, be kind, and do all you can to continue the conversation. Tell your faith story. Be prepared and expectant. I think Harold Camping has done us a favor, whether we like it or not. He is forcing us out of the closet!

3. Live as if the prediction is accurate. Not just tomorrow but, how about every day for the rest of your life? For the sake of the argument, if Camping has negated the possibility that tomorrow is the day (I am not sure he has that power) what if were midnight tomorrow night. Oh, wait, now it can't be that because I just predicted it could happen then. So, what if it were Monday? Opps! Never mind. With 7 billion people on the planet few days pass without someone predicting it is the last - so don't let it cause you to ignore the possibility! Expect Him!

Thinking Out Loud: Prepare for February - Don't Start Yet

Thinking Out Loud: Prepare for February - Don't Start Yet

Enjoying the Failure of Others - Tiger Woods

Feels funny doesn't it? To admit we enjoy it when the lives of other people, like Tiger, blow up is a needed confession. We need to be more self-aware. And notice how much more we enjoy it when people not like us are exposed. Rich people, other races and cultures, talented people . . . As we enjoy the failure of others in a strange way we feel superior.

We feel superior because we need to . . . that is the bottom line. We have to get self-worth from somewhere, right? We have to get some reassurance that in spite of our hollowness there is something right about us. Please, dear God, there is something right about us . . . right, please?

People do crazy things. I am not talking about skydiving here either. People make stupid choices. If you really tried to find out what they (we) were thinking you would discover the problem. They probably were not thinking. Tiger lived a double life for who knows how many years. There are a lot of people hoping he fails this weekend in Augusta. Others hope he fails at life. I don't.

Is Tiger on the road to recovery? Who knows? Am I? That is the most responsible question that I can consider today. Maybe you too. Go Tiger.

Prepare for February - Don't Start Yet

If you think you are ready to plant, don't start yet . . . Rob Blackaby, President of the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary and church planter from Cochran said this in the U.S. a couple of years ago. The principle of preparation applies to any goal or project you are facing including church planting. Half the people who make new year resolutions do not have a plan in place to "get 'r done."

So below is a check list of steps to prepare. Feel free to add some of your own. The best idea will probably be yours . . .

1. Invest - Our goals are often doomed before we start. We hope to get great results from minimal effort or investment. On a scale of 1-10, How committed are you at reaching your goal?If you are less than a "5" maybe you picked the wrong goal. If your commitment is exercise related you may need to buy comfortable walking or running shoes. If it is personal organization you may need a new filing cabinet. If it is to organize your garage you may need to rent a truck and so on . . .

2. Focus - If you are serious about change, focus on one thing only. My pastor and one of my best coaches, Bill Howard, fought me four years ago to focus on one big goal. I reluctantly followed his advice. The difference was profound. If you have more than one resolution, part of your preparation process is to decide where to start. Place all your energy there. How do you decide? Pray and talk to people who love you. Here is another radical idea . . . if you decide all of them are important start with the easiest one first. Momentum is great in football and in life.

3. Support - Find someone who has succeeded at a similar goal. That may take some work, but remember, you are serious enough about this goal to invest and prepare. Don't look for a someone as skinny as a bean pole to help you with weight loss, unless they were not always skinny. Find an organized person to help you with organization. Find a praying person to help you with prayer.

4. Audit - We have created ways of doing things over the years. The way we do things is commonly known as "systems." Systems are powerful. Look closely at the way you do things. What obstacles are created by your systems for your new goal? For example, you may have spent years going to bed late and operating on minimal sleep. If your new goal requires a commitment in the morning then address it. The first step is not a morning commitment. The first step is an evening commitment to get in bed earlier. This may include sleep research. This may also include a trip to your doctor or the local mattress store.

If you want to experience a different 2010 don't start yet. Prepare to start. I will have more preparation tips Monday. Happy New Year!