Climate Control

Climate [klahy - mit]

-noun

The composite or generally prevailing weather conditions of a region, as temperature, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness, and winds...

I'm pretty sure our thermostat is broken.  We can set the A/C at 76 degrees before going to bed and then wake up to a frigid house with it reading an indoor temperature of 80 degrees...  LIES!  I'm calling your bluff, thermostat!  Sure, you're pretty neat with your "indiglo" display that reminds me of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles watch I used to wear in the 90's but you're still not fooling me.  The tip of my nose feels like an ice cube... 80 degrees my hindquarters!

Temperature, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness, and wind are all components of weather that combine to make up something called climate.  Every region of the world has a climate.  Some areas are particularly rainy, some are hot, some windy, and any permutation of all of the above.

Well, consider that everywhere you go there is another form of climate.  A sort of invisible and intangible climate, yet one we all perceive on some level.

Have you ever walked into a room and suddenly felt uneasy?  Or perhaps there are certain people that you feel relaxed and happy around? How about an environment that always seems to drag you down and suck the life out of any good day you were having?

That's the climate I'm talking about.  The "feel" we all generate everywhere we go.  This climate is composed of elements like emotion, attitude, mood, and disposition. And any given combination of people will create a different overall atmosphere.

So, let me cut to the chase.  What kind of climate do you create?  Do you bring rays of sunshine everywhere you go (pardon the cliche) or are you a black hole for happiness?  Maybe somewhere in between?

A number of years ago I was listening to a good friend of mine, Joe Quernemoen, preach about how we can influence people around us and something he said struck me.

"We need to be atmosphere shifters."

What does an atmosphere shifter do?  Well, it's kind of like a human thermostat.  Joe was saying wherever we go, whether it is our workplace, our school, the grocery store, or your own home, you have the power to quite literally shift the emotional and spiritual atmosphere.

See, your mood is more contagious than the flu.  People around you pick up on your mood and start to show the same symptoms.  Whether thats a good thing or bad thing is up to you.

The apostle Paul talks about this concept in terms of a fragrance...

For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. (2 Corinthians 2:15 NKJV)

Are you filling rooms with a sweet smelling aroma or are you THAT guy on the elevator?  Oftentimes it's not even in what you say but how you act.  Body language, facial expressions, eye contact, etc. can speak volumes about what's going on under the skin.

As a man of God, representing Jesus, I want things to change for the better when I walk into the room.  My joy should be contagious, my peace undeniable, my hope unfaltering, my love tangible, my countenance a blessing, my speech full of life.  Wherever I go, I want the very atmosphere of heaven to be released and a life-giving climate established that will last long after I leave.

I think as Christians we sometime embrace the verse where Jesus says "We are not of this world." (John 15:19 NLT) and use that as a crutch to justify our introvertedness, or even worse, have an "us versus them" mentality.  Maybe we even have pity on people who are "stuck in their problems" saying to yourself "If they only knew the error of their ways". 

But let this be a challenge to you.  Yes, we are not of this world but we are commissioned to establish the culture of our "home" here on earth.  "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." (Matthew 6:10)  Let's get out of our comfort zone and start changing the world around us.  

Go forth and conquer, fellow Atmosphere Shifters!

Birth: The Sequel

My wife and I recently had our third child.  And by recently I mean Asher is just about two weeks old.  I wanted to get some of my thoughts down still in the freshness of the experience because I know it is often in the thick of a the most draining seasons of life when the best ideas are born.  So, without further ado, thoughts from sleepy father, thrice over.

Wait, before I get started, some recognition for my amazing wife.  Upon witnessing the birth of my first son, Ben, 5 years ago I instantly realized how eternally in debt I am to her.  Tack on two more children since then and I have an infinitesimally small chance of ever enduring anything remotely comparable to what she went through.  She might as well be a Spartan.  Of the 7 years we've been married, she's been pregnant nearly 3.  I must say she is the most graceful child-bearer I have ever seen.  I am more than abundantly blessed in the wife area. 

Advice for bachelors: pray, wait, and save yourself for the person God has for you; it is so worth it.

[Fast forward to a week ago] 

My wife and I are in the hospital waiting through some mild contractions and my wife turns to me with a revelatory look on her face and says...

"Everyone is born."

It took me a minute to track with her but the revelation was simple and profound at the same time.  Here she is, undergoing a somewhat outrageous ordeal just to bring a life into the world and has the thought... everyone has to go through this to exist!  Everyone DID go through this or they wouldn't be here!  Whoa.  My wife then followed the comment up with "Moms should get celebrated more than one day per year."  I tend to agree.

In order to experience life in it's fullest, you must be born, right?  Sure, you are alive in the womb and absolutely a human being, but can you even compare that quality of life to what is waiting for you after your birth day?  No, of course not.  There is a whole land of sights, smells, sounds, colors, and Jelly Belly flavors to partake of.  It would be a shame to live our entire lives in utero.

Well, some of us are doing just that.

[SCENE]

[ENTER NICODEMUS]

Now here's a guy that's got it going on.  He's kind of a big deal among the Pharisees.  In fact, he's a ruler, so he really measures up :)  He's been keeping an eye on this Jesus fellow and likes what he sees. He decides he needs to give Jesus some kudos, what with all of the miracles he's been pulling off and all.  Compliments coming from the Nico-meister are a big deal.

Nicodemus: "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” (John 3:2) 

Jesus: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

Leave it to Jesus to turn a compliment into a teachable moment.  Really, Jesus was setting himself up to answer the question Nico's heart was asking, no doubt sparked by the awe of seeing Jesus flawlessly LIVE and put ACTION to what God laid out in the scriptures he's been studying his whole life as a Pharisee. 

Right about now Nicodemus is thinking "He can't just say something like that and not explain it.  Whatever, I'll bite..."

Nicodemus: "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born?"  (John 3:4)

Jesus: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."  (John 3:5-6)

[INTERMISSION]

So what does that mean?  It means you've got your natural birth and, well, another one. 

Birth: The Sequel. 

The problem is, like Nicodemus, many of us don't know about the second one and are therefore, stuck in the "womb of life", so-to-speak; experiencing a very pale comparison to what life was designed to be like. 

In utero, a fetus has a very rudimentary existence.  They don't have to chew their own food or get up to go to the bathroom or worry about what sleep number to set their mattress at.  When they are little more developed, they can start to detect sound, voices, and even perceive light (which I find ironic considering the metaphor at hand). 

Just the same, some of us walk this big blueberry with no clue there is more purpose to everything around us.  We are essentially in cruise control, existing, getting by, idle, lukewarm... comfortable.  Although there is the perception of freedom, we are still slave to our carnal desires.  Freedom is not doing whatever you want but having the choice to do whatever you want.  In fact, God is the inventor of freedom and worked it in to the design from the get-go (See Genesis 2:16-17, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil).  Internal freedom, that deep down longing everyone is looking for, comes when you learn to make the right choices, and effectively manage your freedom.

[CURTAIN UP]

[ENTER A BEFUDDLED NICODEMUS]

Nicodemus: "How can these things be?" (John 3:9)

[PAUSE]

This very question prompted the most famous and widely quoted statement in the entirety of the Bible.

[RESUME]

Jesus: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

[CURTAIN DOWN]

Nicodemus wanted to know how a man could be born a second time and Jesus gave him the answer: through Him.  Jesus was about to endure the "labor" pain for all of us to be born again, an act of perfect love that I'm sure mothers are closer to understanding.  All it takes to become a son or daughter is to believe in him and you're part of the family, forevermore.

That said though, being born isn't always easy.  Ask any newborn baby.  They'll probably be sleeping.  It just takes that much out of you.  But unlike newborns, being re-born is a choice.  You have to choose to put behind things you may have been comfortable with and don't want to give up.  You have to address those areas of your heart you've been putting off forever.  You have fully and utterly put your life in the hands of someone else.  But let me tell you, those nail-wounded hands are more than capable of working with whatever mess you bring to the table.

...

If you're feeling a tug on your heart, you should do something about it.  You can literally make the best decision you have ever made right now and it is just as valid as making it in a church.  God can hear you no matter where you're at.  Simply pray out loud and from your heart in all sincerity to God.  There are no "magic words" to recite because God sees through to your heart no matter what you're saying but use this as a guide...

"God, I realize that life is not all about me.  I am far from perfect and I've messed up a lot.  I am sorry for those things I've done wrong and I ask for Your forgiveness.  I recognize now that I need a Savior.  Jesus, I give my life to you and I decide from today forward to dedicate my actions, words, and thoughts to honoring You. I turn away from my past and invite you to come rule and reign in my heart.  In Jesus name, Amen."

If you just prayed that or something like it, welcome to the fam!  Here are a few things to get you started on some baby steps:

• Track down someone you know who believes and lives this out and tell them about your decision so they can share in your excitement and celebrate with you.
• Look for a church community to become a part of. It might take some time but you'll know when you find the right place. A good church can help answer your questions, help you find direction in life, have people you can connect with, and good friends to share your core values.
• Start reading the Bible as regularly as you can.  God has revealed so many things about His heart to me just through reading His Word.  I recommend starting in John and continuing through the books after that.

Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life!

---

@KyleHopson1

http://muzikhop.tumblr.com/

Pennies for Weeds

No, this article isn't about drugs.  Yes, I know the title is suggestive.  No, it wasn't initially intentional; it is just a by-product of my innocent childhood (I naturally associate the word "weed" with an invasive plant pest rather than slang for cannabis, imagine that).  Yes, the fact that I am writing this disclaimer means I have now thought about it but am deliberately choosing to leave it as it might get me more readers. :)

In my earlier years my parents would send my brother and I off to stay with my grandpa in Seward, Nebraska for a week or so. My grandpa was a smart, strong-willed man and as stubborn as a printer (trying to use relevant analogies - mule and ox are a bit dated).  He was also simple and deep at the same time and taught me things about how to love that I am still trying to figure out (more on that in a future blog article).  I learned more in those weeks at grandpa's than I think it did in entire years growing up.

One of the ways he accomplished this was by giving us projects.  Projects designed to chisel us into men.

Behind my grandpa's house was an alley, and the gravel driveway attaching to that alley looked as if it had been neglected for quite some time; it was riddled with weeds of all sizes and varieties. My job, as you might imagine, was to remove them at a penny per weed, which might not seem like much but if you factor in a comic book store within walking distance and subtract 15 years of inflation, that was plenty of motivation for a young aspiring nerd.

If you are at all familiar with weeds, you know that not all of them are cooperative in their removal. In fact, some are quite opposed to the idea of being ripped from the earth and have taken precautionary measures to ensure such a thing never happens. I was quickly introduced to the intricacy and extensiveness of root systems. Some of those weeds kicked my butt.

I found that the younger the weed, the easier it was to pull.  In their infancy it just took a gentle tug and you'd get the entire plant, roots and all.  Nice, I liked those.

On the other end of the spectrum, we had the butt-kicking variety.  These were weeds that had been growing for years possibly and had entrenched themselves in a million directions; nearly impossible to extract.  Some of these weeds that had spread to infinity and beyond couldn't even be removed in one back-breaking session; they required treatment that gradually got down to the roots and destroyed them from the inside out.  With these, if you just removed the visible portion, they would come back again and again and again.

All kinds of weeds, all needing to be removed. I became a weed specialist.

---

Believe it or not, this blog isn't a DIY on weed removal, at least not entirely - I guess it's kind of late for that. There is actually an allegory here that I've been building up to.  Consider the story prior and the description of the different kinds of weeds.  Ok, now...

Replace the word "weed" with "sin".

[pause for effect]

I know that word: sin, is one of those religious trigger words that shut people down in conversations but bear with me here.

Like me learning how to tackle all kinds of weeds, we all have to learn how to tackle different kinds of sin that are perhaps infesting our neglected internal back alley-ways.

---

First off, lets talk about the neglected back alley.  Some people can't slow down enough in life to even know there is something being neglected there.  (I may be pointing the finger but have 3 pointing back at me).  This is what you need to do: get alone with God, and say something like...

"Alright God, here I am. This is God-time. I'm not thinking about what's for supper, or what I have to do before bed, or where I left my keys - none of that mental checklist stuff. You, of all beings, deserve my undivided attention for as much as I can give it, so that is now."

And then just listen. Don't strain to hear something audibly but listen with your heart. Close your eyes if you have to shut things out.  Or open them if closing your eyes is distracting to you.  TIP: It is easier to hear God's voice when you are at peace. What I've found when I do this is it is almost as if God directs my thoughts and He reveals things about me that I never knew where there.

This is so crucial to do because there are things about us that need to change that only God can point out.  And when God points out your flaws, He has a way of doing it that doesn't make you feel like crawling under a rock for the rest of your life. It always comes from a place of love. He made you and knows exactly what you need even before you ask it.  He wants you to see what He sees in you.  He's the best father in existence.


Psalm 103:10-13
He does not punish us for all our sins;
   he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
   is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
   as the east is from the west
The  Lord is like a father to his children
   tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

---

Now let's talk about the weeds.

Some of our gardens are in different states.  Maybe you just need little maintenance to get rid of any new sprouts that may have crept in in your current season of life.  Maybe you need an overhaul.  Just like the plants, if sin is left un-addressed for long periods of time, it sinks its ugly teeth in and is that much harder to remove.

Be warned of the quick fix though. It's easy to go through your subconscious garden and weed out the new saplings with a virtually painless tug but this is just a surface solution, designed to make things look good at first glance.

Sometimes it just takes a bit of work and diligence on your part.  Sometimes it takes having someone to hold you accountable.  Sometimes it takes becoming part of a family of other strong believers to get you back on your feet. Sometimes you can't do it on your own and you need a miracle.  

Regardless of where you are personally at, know that you are not the only person dealing with this. You are never too far lost to find your way back.  You are not giving up "having fun" by doing this.  God is not mad at you.  God has not forgotten about you.  You are worth saving.

Romans 8:38-39 

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

---

Here's the deal though, no matter how big the weed, my grandpa still paid me the same: one .  The same goes for God with sin.  No matter how big or small of an issue you feel you have, sin is sin.  Just one sin disqualifies us from "earning" our way into heaven and that's why there's only one way to get there: through the blood of someone who never committed sin and sacrificed his life that we might be free, Jesus.

At the same time, although no amount of good works can get us into heaven, He does keep track of them...

Revelations 22:12 

“Look, I [Jesus] am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds."

I honestly don't know what that reward is - the bible says we can't even fathom what is in store for us in heaven - but I do know what having the favor of God is like now, and I can't live without it. I also know that, whatever the reward is, it is coming from the best gift giver this universe has ever seen and that, to me, is worth the weeding.

---

@KyleHopson1

http://muzikhop.tumblr.com/

The Pirate Christian

For whatever reason, pirates are cool. I blame Johnny Depp. Something about searching for lost treasure, walking planks, sword battles, and ships with skull flags appeals to our inner Goonie.  Who hasn't dressed up as a swashbuckling scallywag at some point in their life?  You've got the do-rag, gaudy earrings, scraggly hair, peg leg, parrot on the shoulder and, of course, the eye patch.

Contrary to popular belief, pirate eye patches weren't used to cover up some hideous wound or a missing eyeball, although I'm sure that was the purpose in some cases. They were actually an ingenious invention that gave pirates a tactical advantage in ship-to-ship combat.

See, it takes the human eye 20-30 minutes to fully adjust to the dark. In a bright light, our pupils constrict to a small dot to compensate for the abundance of photons entering our retina.  In darkness, our pupils dilate in order to take in more light information and allow us to process what little see.  Put simply, when you wake up in the morning and can't open your eyes because the sun is, well, doing its thing, you're waiting on your pupils to shrink so you can stop fumbling around blindly for your toothbrush.

To bring this back around, pirates wearing an eye patch would therefore keep one eye adjusted to the light and one eye adjusted to the dark.  If they needed to go below deck, where it was darker, they could just switch the patch to the other eye and move about with ease instead of having to wait 20-30 minutes before they can load a cannonball.

"What does this have to do with Christianity?"

Ahh yes. So, light and dark is used often in scripture as a metaphor for good and bad. John loved this one, and I do too because it serves as an outstanding illustration for otherwise hard to grasp concepts.

Like pirates wearing eye patches, some of us keep our lives adjusted to light and dark at the same time.  We attend church, hold ourselves to a moral code, and try to be general do-gooders. But then the night rolls around and we switch that eye patch over to the other eye and its as if we'd never been in the light all day - we're out getting drunk, sleeping around, selling drugs, indulging our fleshly desires.

The problem is, our eyes - our lifestyle - should not be adjusted to the dark.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 (NKJV)

You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

"How do you avoid getting to that point?"

If it takes 20-30 minutes for your eyes to fully adjust to the dark, then maybe it takes 20-30 bad decisions for your life to fully adjust to the gutter life.  In reality, that number is probably more like 2-3 bad decisions. Nevertheless, it starts with one. Just one decision, one temptation. Doesn't seem like much at the time, but when it comes back the next time, it's that much easier to give in, until one day, it becomes your new normal. You're eyes are fully adjusted to the dark.

John 8:12 (NKJV)

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

We need to take the eye patch off altogether and let the light of God permeate every part of our lives. Leave no rock unturned. A life fully surrendered to the scrutiny of the cross. Set our eyes on Jesus and let them fully adjust to His light so that any step into darkness feels, as it should, wrong.

And when you are immersed in that kind of light, you can't help but carry it with you. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after seeing literal glimpse of God, his face glowed.  People thought something was wrong with him.  Something was right with him. I so want to encounter God like that.

Set both eyes on Jesus, don't look to the right or to the left, and watch miracles happen to you and through you.

Proverbs 4:25-27 (MSG)

Keep your eyes straight ahead;

   ignore all sideshow distractions.

Watch your step,

   and the road will stretch out smooth before you.

Look neither right nor left;

   leave evil in the dust.