How to Shine: Lessons from the Sun
“There on the sun
So bright and young
There on the sun
So bright …you could be anyone
Above the clouds there is a canvas ocean blue
And all the lost balloons and rainbow ends swim there
Higher still the stars are shining out the truth
That here is there and there is everywhere
Up there on the sun
So bright and young
There on the sun
So bright you could be anyone
Here in this place
There is evidence enough that I can change
Here in this place
I’m a shadow of what I could be.”
~Smalltown Poets from There on the Sun
I love when I am listening to music at the gym and I hear an obscure song that probably no one has ever heard. It’s called “There on the Sun” by Smalltown Poets and some of the lyrics are above. I know that are many strange references in the song, especially the line about “rainbows and lost balloons”. However, my favorite line is “There on the sun..you could be anyone.” I know it is partly a reference to heaven and the fact that eternity affords us the luxury of being anything we want to be. We have forever to get it right and enjoy it.
I think the song also speaks to human potential. I have been thinking about the dreams we reach for and the promises we make to ourselves. “I will be happy and successful…” “I will always work out…” “I will read my Bible every day…” “I am going to be a better person that I was 3 years ago….” I got to wondering why we make the promises in the first place, and also why we break them. Sorry, but I don’t have the answer. Maybe you do. We could blame it on sin, the human condition, the fickleness of our brains, or a number of other factors. The fact is that our potential to do amazing things exists and it is as clear and limitless as the Sun.
Scientists say the sun will burn out in about 3 or 4 billion years. Obviously, there is no reason to worry about something that far away. It runs on the process of nuclear fusion, which creates a natural, sustainable, and undying source of energy. It burns continually and gives light to everything around it. The sun is the source of life for all living things. When I think of a role model for meeting my potential, I look to the Sun. Alright, so I know you are thinking I am crazy because it is not a living object. But bear with me. When I think of a goal, be it losing weight, training for a run, finishing my degree, or reading my Bible, it has to burn within me for me to be successful. I have to have a passion for it. It needs to be bright enough for all to see. Finally it needs to be lofty and unquenchable. If it’s not, it will burn out.
I see people all the time that have burned out. Given up. The fire is out. How sad and how true that is about the reality of the human spirit. As we look to these Olympic games and also reflect on our goals and dreams, may we be inspired to burn with passion for the goals we wish to accomplish and for what is truly important in our lives. May I reflect on the blinding, burning, and unquenchable fire of my goals and passions as I see them come to pass. If not, my life is a burned out torch. Any empty and cold moon.
If you have a goal or dream for yourself, let it shine. That’s the only way it will ever happen.
I’ll end with another song. This one may be more familiar: “My future’s so bright…I gotta wear shades!!”
Shine on!!
If you have any thoughts about this blog, feel free to post your comments below:
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
Finding the Perfect Church
"If you find a perfect church, then don't join it...cause then it won't be perfect anymore."~Unknown Preacher
Recently I have begun the search for a new church. Before I talk more about that, I'll explain my long and confusing Christian heritage.
I grew up a Catholic, going through all the sacraments: communion, confession, Cathecism, and confirmation. My mother went through Catholic school all her life. I also grew up with a godly grandmother who took me to Mass and Bible study almost every week. Her name was Grace Cowan, and she showed me what a Christian should look like. After high school, circumstances, discovery, and emptiness lead me to be saved and place my trust in Christ at the age of 20. I was then Baptized in the Baptist church and began my life as a Baptist. I have remained a Baptist for the last 24 years. I have been a member of 5 different Baptist churches and also served one year as a youth minister and a year as an interim music minister.
I love my diverse story of faith, and I have enjoyed serving God through mission trips, music ministry, fall festivals, vacation Bible schools, children's camp, Sunday school teaching, and youth camp. However, within the last few months I had reason to leave my current church and start visiting a few churches. My girlfriend and I have visited 7 different churches in the last 7 weeks, none of them Baptist. We visited a Bible church, a non-denominational church, a Lutheran church, and a few Methodist churches. Who knows? I may end up back in the Baptist church, but for right now I am keeping an open mind. I am trying to be patient and seek God's direction, but I have a few requirements for my future church. So here they are in no particular order:
*Loving, genuine and non-judgmental members and staff
*Not so rigid as to exclude sinners and persons of other races
*A service that is not too structured but not too informal
*Music service that is is contemporary (but not afraid of some hymns) and open to choirs, groups, and special music and where I can use my talents in singing and leading (and no choir robes please)
*Preaching that is not too firey but not too weak; firm but flexible and instructive; applicable to everyday life and centered on love
*A church that wants you involved but knows church is only one part of your life and will not try to work you to death
*Non-political but definitely pro-Jesus
*Has an active youth and college minstry
*Not so large in membership as to get lost in the crowd but not so small as to not be effective in outreach
*Has an open-membership policy (no special classes or requirements to join)
Alright so I have laid out all these requirements out and I know what you are thinking. Good luck!! This church does not exist. Which brings me to the point I guess I was trying to make all along. A church is created by Jesus to serve Him and lead others to faith in Him. I guess I want a church that, when it looks in the mirror, sees Jesus. Not a fancy building and not a social club. But a reflection of Him and His love. The church is not perfect and it never will be because it is filled with imperfect humans. But our leader IS perfect.
So the search continues. I know eventually we will settle on a church and I know I will have to compromise some of the things on my list. Pray for God's guidance as I continue visiting a new church each week. I guess I need to make a T-shirt that says "Official 2012 Texarkana Tour of Churches."
If you know of a church that fits that description in the Texarkana area, email me at mcdsparks@gmail.com. I might just show up there Sunday with a smile on my face and clipboard in my hand. Just kidding. (sort of:-)
If you have any thoughts about this, feel free to post your comments below:
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Change: Evolution or Revolution?
“No one likes change but babies in diapers”~Barbara Johnson
I was recently contemplating life, as I always do while
taking a long walk outside. The question that came to mind was this: “Does
everyone change in the course of their lives, and is it always a bad thing.” To start with the obvious, I am not talking
about changing from a confused, slobbering lump of flesh called a baby into a
young adult. The changes described there incorporate physical, mental, and
spiritual development too broad and amazing to be discussed in a simple blog.
What I am referring to is the change from a young adult, say 18 or so, until
the time of adulthood. There is a lot of debate about what that magic number
is, but for the sake of argument let’s say 40.
If you took an informal poll and asked one hundred 40-year
olds the simple question: “Have you changed from the time you were 18?”, I
believe the majority would say yes. And I agree. I have changed in my views about life, right
and wrong, about love, forgiveness, and grace. I have matured in some ways and
in some ways I still remain a child. The age of 40 is a hard time for many
people. They realize half of their life (if they are lucky) is over and they
start to wonder if they have made any kind of difference in this world. It is a
sobering birthday. So if most people agree that they have changed, why do people
say that is a bad thing? Maybe because they don’t like the changes they see.
Now just for the sake of argument, I propose that we don’t
really change as much as we think. I have said a few times in the last few
years, “I am not the same person that I was.” I jokingly refer to myself before
losing weight as “that other guy.” But am I really so different. Physically I
am different. My body is aging. Wrinkles are beginning to appear on my face.
But I have the same heart. I have the same personality. (Again, many people
debate whether or not our personality changes throughout our lives but I tend
to fall on the side that says our personality is pretty much the same after
about 16…but that’s for another blog)
Even those that believe a conversion to Christianity changes you, and I
believe that is true, you still deal with the same issues after your conversion.
For example, an alcoholic that becomes a Christian is now a Christian alcoholic.
The temptation is still there, but God helps them control the urge to drink.
Maybe the best analogy for our lives as we grow from a young
adult to a mature adult is that of a sculpture being made out of a lump of
clay. When we are born, we are basically a big lump. The forces around us,
including our parenting and the influences we encounter, start to mold us into
the adult we are to become. But we also must deal with what is within us (our
personality). Clay has certain innate properties that determine how it will be
molded and changed from the inside. By the time we are 18, our general
sculpture is set, but subtle changes occur. As we age, natural forces mold us
from the outside. The master sculpture (life) makes subtle changes to us that
can cause us to look better or worse, but change is inevitable. These changes
can be for good or bad, but in the end, they make us what we are. After middle
age, the clay hardens and then we are at the mercy of nature to finish out our
lives.
So one person says they have changed. One person says they
haven’t. The reality is this: they are both right, and they are both wrong. Change happens. Whether
we believe it or not…and whether we see it or not.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Undeserved Upgrade
"Marvelous grace
of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds
our sin and our guilt!" from Grace Greater Than Our Sin
In 1994, around a
year from the time my son was born, I had the opportunity to attend the Global
Summit on Science Education in San Francisco. Needless to say, I was nervous
about leaving my son, and his birthday was December 30, only one day after my
return from the convention. I stayed with a professor from Texas A&M who
introduced me to my idol at the time. His name was Bob Yager and he was, and
still is, a leader in science education. The next day my professor friend
rented a car and drove us around the town, which included crossing the massive
Golden Gate Bridge. I was able to take the trip without any personal expense
and saw the sights in that beautiful city, so it was well worth the experience.
However, what happened on the trip home was what I truly remember (sounds
familiar).
If you have ever been
to San Francisco, you know that the weather is fairly cool and breezy and
storms blow in from the ocean at numerous times throughout the year. A rather
large storm was coming so I decided to try and take an earlier flight. I got to
the airport and managed to get to the terminal a few hours early. I wanted to
try and move up to the flight before mine. I was sincerely worried about
getting back a day late for my son's first birthday. I walked to the counter and
asked about the earlier flight and also told the lady at the counter that my
son's birthday was the next day, hoping to get a little sympathy. She smiled
and handed me a pass and said "Merry Christmas". I thought she was
just being polite until I noticed the pass said "Row 3". I had been
bumped to first class.
It was an experience
I will probably never have again. Wide seats that leaned back. A full
three-course meal. Enough leg room to prop up my feet. They even gave me little
warm towels to wipe off my hands after the meal. I almost felt bad for those in
coach. I had not paid for first class and I didn't deserve it. Yet there I was.
The flight desk lady will never know what a gift it was for me. And the best
part was that I made it back in plenty of time for my son's birthday.
I was reminded about
this event while visiting my mom's church. The preacher talked about grace and
relayed a similar story. He said a wealthy couple would buy first class tickets
and always give up their seats to needy couples or soldiers. They loved the
fact that they could give to people without asking for anything back. What a
picture of grace. God gives us so much and asks for so little in return. He
showers us with blessings and dreams and sits back and smiles when we are
successful. I know we are taught about God's wrath and his punishment for sin,
but I always enjoy the side of God that we hear about every so often (but not often
enough). The God that loves us unconditionally and gives us what we don't
deserve.
If God took away all
my possessions and I lost everything this earth could offer, His grace would
stand. Every minute of every day and every breath is a testimony to His grace.
All we have to do is reach out our hand, and our heart, and take it. I leave
you with the chorus from the song I mentioned at the start: Grace Greater Than Our Sin. Be thankful
for His grace, and pass it on to someone else. That is the greatest present and
the greatest testimony we have to give.
Grace, grace, God’s
grace,
Grace that will
pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s
grace,
Grace that is greater
than all our sin.
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