Lessons I learned from Dad Pt.1

So of course like so many people I learned a ton of things from my dad. Fashion, music, and the use of a computer were not among them. Any one who knows my father will tell you that his favorite fashion statement was his Velcro tennis shoes, Perry Como, and "Cilla, can you help me with this PowerPoint?" But his quirkiness isn't what keeps me thinking about him lately. Rather it was a simple lesson that I will never forget.

One day when I had reluctantly done a favor for my sister dad asked me a simple question. "Do you know why I'm so quick to do little favors and acts of service for any and every body that I can" He asked. I didn't know I just thought he had a ton of energy and nothing better to do. I was wrong. "You never know what memories are going to stick with people for the rest of their life, so I'm always trying to make a good and pleasant memory for you kids and your mom."

What a beautiful living picture of the attitude of Christ. I bet that there were a lot of people whose only memory of meeting Jesus wasn't a healing or a miracle but rather the offering of getting them some more to drink or clearing a table, making something unique with just the right person in mind. I know that I'm using a little divine imagination here and don't hold my theology to all of this. I wasn't there to watch it happen but it just seems like Jesus doesn't it? If there's anything of an underlying theme throughout Jesus' teachings of how to do life together it's that showing His love is all about the small things. Yes, the blind will see, the deaf will hear, and the sick will be healed, miracles WILL happen. But miracles will only do so much for people. Sharing without holding back, forgiving without limitations, loving as though you have nothing to lose, being faithful despite betrayal, serving just because you have the opportunity, those are the daily moments that we should be living for.

Let's take advantage of all the little moments and then we won't constantly be living from spiritual high to spiritual high. It's the little moments of service and the memories that we implant in the minds of everyone (especially those who don't yet know Christ) that will bring consistency to our lives that World is waiting to see and that will please God!

What would he tell me now?

As many of you know my dad passed away back in June and as you can imagine it has been a rough couple of months. When it all happened I had a good grip on reality however I think the initial blow of it all hit the rest of my family harder than me. The part of my dad that they equated to his love was his touch and smile and most of all his servant's heart. Though I can relate to that in some ways the thing that I equated most to his love for me was the wisdom that he poured (or at least tried) into my life.

The last few weeks have been exceptionally difficult for me as I have needed that wisdom once again and yet he was not there for me to talk to. I wish I'd listened the first time now. I'm certain that others who knew him have at some point or another drawn on something that he shared with them; maybe you're one of those people. If you are then this blog entry is for you.

As I needed his wisdom once again I began thinking "since he's now in Heaven outside of time and in eternity and if he can see the end from the beginning, then what would he tell us now?"

So here we are. The grand stands of Heaven are filled and the "great cloud of witnesses" are cheering us on. I can hear my dad's voice above all the other's and this is what he says..."

"Cheer up my friends death was nothing compared to the glory of this place. When I got here I was greeted by the Author and Finisher of our Faith. I expected him to close the book of my life and say "The End", but he didn't . It was then that I knew this was the moment that HE had lived for, to hold me in His arms and to know that the story NEVER ENDS."
This thought was a great comfort to me knowing that he was never gone.

"Be kind to your families. Don't ignore your issues. Set your siblings and parents as a higher priority than yourself. Take care of your spouses because they are the greatest treasure God will ever give you. Rodger Magnusson was right, when he told us to "give up our small ambitions." I'm telling you from this side of eternity money means nothing. Houses mean nothing. Jobs mean nothing. They are a mere tool in the hands of your Creator who is still creating you and the tool you want him to use is not the tool you need him to use right now. I can see the plans that He has for you (Jer. 29:11) and I'm telling you now that all of the crap you think you need and want means NOTHING. He's not concerned with your happiness and ease but rather he is concerned with you holiness and making sure that you will not be ashamed when you stand before him one day. If you will seek to live a holy (wholly devoted) life then you will come to see just how insignificant all the junk of this world is and you will live a life of true worship to God.

"All that this world has to offer and says is necessary for a good life is totally and utterly meaningless." But I'll tell you what does have meaning in this life. Sharing the love and the Gospel of Christ. I can hear the screams of those who are being sent away and trust me you don't want to hear the screams of your friends and family members as they are burning in hell saying, "why didn't you pursue me harder that I may have come to believe." You will reach them by your sacrifice not to God but to them. Sacrificing all that you have so that they can be reached. That's being a living sacrifice. Love them to the end and stop for nothing till you have reached them for Christ. I can see that God has great things in store for them to but you're letting your anger, bitterness, pride, self-hatred, and greed get in the way. Put it aside so that all may come to this place.

Your economic hard times are not just the workings of man. They are the judgement of God for putting money and worldly pleasures before Him. He will always rise up against ANYTHING the rivals Him for first place in your heart and life. Forsake your love of these things and turn back to your First Love.

Lastly, live like there is no tomorrow. Life changes in and instant and is gone in a moment. The time to live is now. Really live don't just take up space. Serve others and seek out the unlovely, the broken and those who are down in life. ONLY there will you find the fulfillment in life that you are so earnestly and desperately seeking."

These are the things that I believe my dad would tell me now. You see the other side of eternity is awaiting us and the question begs to be asked, "In light of eternity does _____ really matter?" You fill in the blank. Does money really matter? Does sex really matter? Does that trip really matter? Does that car or boat really matter? Does how something makes me feel really matter? Does my anger at this person really matter? Does this meal really matter?

I'm certain that my dad doesn't have any regrets about not owning a home, or driving a new car or playing more golf with the guys or spending more time at work, or with me for that matter. But I guarantee you He has thought about a few friends and family members that he didn't share the Gospel with as fervently as he could have. There are some things that God had given him the grace to do yet he didn't.

Which would you rather have my friends and loved ones. There is only two ways to go. There is no balance. Are your things and pleasures keeping you from God and His house and from doing all that you COULD DO for him? Or are you going to "live like no one else now so that you can live like no one else later"? (Dave Ramsey) He asks that as a financial question but I believe it represents the call to Christianity. Let's live for Eternity!