DANIS LINUS

today’s visual inspiration

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:41:06 -0600

today’s visual inspiration

I Am Right and You Are Wrong I came across this photo a couple...

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 21:45:00 -0600

I Am Right and You Are Wrong

I came across this photo a couple weeks ago as part of The 45 Most Powerful Images of 2011. The caption reads:

Christians protect Muslims during prayer in Cairo, Egypt.

As I paused to reflect on the image and all it means, I was reminded of something else. Sadly, there are those in my own faith and a certain brand of Christianity that would take issue with the thought of protecting Muslims. Because, after all, we are “right” and they are “wrong”.

It seems some people can’t move beyond this lowest level of thinking. It consumes them. They are always out to prove their “rightness.”

Our political party is right and yours is wrong, on all accounts. And, because of our self-convinced and overwhelming “rightness” we certainly won’t budge on any issue.
Our method of “doing church” is right and yours is wrong. Our tradition, song, worship style, discipleship model… all of the above.
Our theological position on (insert just about any issue here) is right and therefore yours is wrong. We have Scripture on our side to prove it.

We throw down the gauntlet with a chip on our shoulder, daring anyone to challenge us. Well, maybe it’s not that bad but all of us are guilty of this unloving attitude on some level.

How many times has a mere disagreement between spouses escalated to full-blown argument as it moves beyond the issue at hand into the territory of who is right and who is wrong? All my childish efforts to prove I’m right usually require someone else to be wrong. But at what expense? A deep cost in relationship and much much more.

It’s ironic that the overarching narrative of the Bible is that God wants relationship with his people and they with each other. In light of this truth, “being right” is of relative little importance. It’s easy to miss the heart of God as we trumpet our position on the various issues.

Are we so insecure in our beliefs that we must clamor (most of the time very loudly) for validation? That is usually what is at the core. The need for someone else to affirm us. When we’ve been affirmed by Christ and have truly embraced it, there’s no need to go about attacking or defending.

The older I get, the less concerned I am with being right. I don’t have to defend anything. It just is what it is. I don’t feel the need to correct all the time. I can disagree with others and still be in relationship.

Of course, I’ve not arrived. I just have a growing disdain for this attitude in the political arena and especially amongst my own brothers and sisters. I hate it most of all in me. With love, temperance, and grace I hope to grow out of it completely. If that’s not possible (I’m not sure it is), at least I want to recognize it way in the distance so I can abandon it before too much harm is done.

Best Christmas Movies What am I missing? (use gray arrows to...

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:12:00 -0600

Best Christmas Movies

What am I missing?

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visual inspiration (scroll left or right using gray arrows)

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:16:06 -0600

visual inspiration

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"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it..."

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:00:54 -0600

““When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.””

- Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Road to Daybreak: A Spiritual Journey

When “Like” Becomes the New Thank You Admit it....

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:55:29 -0600

When “Like” Becomes the New Thank You

Admit it. You’ve done it too. Someone has responded to your post on Facebook and said something nice. They contributed to the “conversation” in some thoughtful way or maybe they themselves initiated with a heartfelt “Happy Birthday!”

Your response… simply click the “Like” button. In that one little action, all that needs to be said has been said.

“I’m acknowledging that I have seen and read your response. It was nice. Thank you. I’m clicking this button to let you know that I appreciate what you’ve said but I’m too lazy to actually respond in kind. What you’ve said warms my heart but not enough to elicit the effort required to give more than a digital thumbs up.”

All of that said in one little depression of my right index finger. It’s amazing! The brilliance of Mark Zuckerberg astounds me.

I’m sure there’s a time and place for the one-click “head-nod” but I wonder if we’re losing real “community” with all this. We’re simply clicking. Or maybe, we’re actually engaging more because we’re “connecting” with people we haven’t heard from in years. We’re “meeting” people we don’t really know but who have enough mutual “friends” they must be “safe.” I also wonder sometimes if I should use more, not less, quotation marks in one paragraph but that’s for another day.

For real though, I wish “Happy Birthday” to people all the time now and I love it. It makes me feel good. I mean, that’s what it’s all about, right. If not for Facebook, I wouldn’t have even known it was their special day. It’s not a card but hey, it’s something.

And, if I’m in a particularly spiritual mood on that day, I may even toss up a prayer on their behalf. Listen, I’m not talking about some cheap blanket prayer that covers them all either. I’m talking about the real deal. I’m actually mentioning their name. That’s gotta count for something, right?

Seriously though, there’s nothing wrong with “Like” becoming the new thank you. That’s part of the new social dance this technology is bringing. Most people get that. But I encourage you to do more than simply click. Send something a little deeper and a little more heart-felt. Something that takes a little more thought and a little more care. Take a leap and move it beyond the digital. Invite them to coffee or lunch and connect the good old fashioned way.

And, if you wandered here through Facebook, I expect you to “Like” this. It’s the very least you can do.

today’s visual inspiration (scroll left and right using...

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:16:00 -0600

today’s visual inspiration

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"As long as we continue to live as if we are what we do, what we have, and what other people think..."

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 10:12:05 -0500

““As long as we continue to live as if we are what we do, what we have, and what other people think about us, we will remain filled with judgments, opinions, evaluations, and condemnations. We will remain addicted to putting people and things in their “right” place.””

- ― Henri J.M. Nouwen

Your Failure IS What Qualifies You

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:43:00 -0500

“In spirituality we learn far more from getting it wrong than we do by getting it right.” - Richard Rohr

The Story

Last week, I heard some unsettling news. News, that if I’m honest, is really none of my business. But, since I genuinely care about those involved, my first response was one of concern. Some old friends, who I haven’t talked with in a while, are on the verge of making a huge life decision. They’re getting married. Under normal circumstances, I’d be happy for them. But in this case, I’m not. I’m troubled.

One of them has just recently gone through (and I’d say, still in the middle of) a pretty painful experience. It’s still very fresh. And so, there I am all alone at the breakfast table having this internal conversation… pleading.

“It’s too soon! You really need to heal. You’ve gotta talk this out with someone. Give it some time. You need to make sure you’ve recovered from all this stuff. Can’t either of you (or anyone close to you) see that this can’t possibly have a healthy foundation? Come on bro, this isn’t wise at this time.”

All the things I want to say but can’t.

The Voice

Then… the voice. I suspect you know this voice as well. The response in your internal dialogue that is supposed to be theirs but in reality, is your own.

“Who are you to say anything or even have an opinion? Your failures were big. Epic even. Your failures were public. You let people down. You’ve got nothing to say to them or this situation.”

And with that, my train of thought came to a screeching and deafening halt as my mental engineer threw the switch to full reverse.

I don’t know if what came next was God speaking or just my increasing resistance to this negative self-talk but it was loud and certain.

“My failures don’t disqualify me from speaking into these kinds of situations but instead they actually make me more qualified to speak.”

Let me say it this way…

Your failures don’t disqualify you from speaking into people’s lives. Instead, they actually have the potential to become the most powerful ingredients of your qualifications. It may take time, but you begin to speak with more, not less, authority. You begin to draw from something deeper.

Again, I’ll quote from Richard Rohr in Falling Upward: ”In spirituality we learn far more from getting it wrong than we do by getting it right.”

After all, what is more common to humanity than gross sin and epic failure? What’s more universal than deep pain and struggle?

Grace to Speak

When we allow grace from God and grace from others to heal us deeply, we actually become more equipped to speak to those walking through similar situations. Don’t run from your ability and responsibility to help others simply because you are insecure. People know your junk or maybe it’s just that you do. Either way, get over it.

If (and that’s a big “if”) you’ve healed, grown, and recovered from your darkest moments, then allow God to use you as opportunity comes your way.

today’s visual inspiration

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:00:05 -0500

today’s visual inspiration

Fruitcarving?: a quick rose This week’s installment of...

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:13:27 -0500

Fruitcarving?: a quick rose

This week’s installment of “I could do that but just don’t want to.”

reblog: I don't want to do anything big for God...

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:33:14 -0500

Originally posted July 1, 2009

I know my blogging is sporadic at best and I still sometime wonder if it’s worth it or why even bother. But, here I am… unfiltered, uncensored and certainly unpolished.

The statement above (the title not the one about sporadic blogging) is so in contrast from the way I lived my life for years. Most of my life, I was told to “dream a big dream.” Dream a big dream of doing something great… something big… something awesome for God. And, make sure your dream is bigger than anything you can accomplish on your own or else it’s probably not God which is code for you are doing it all in the flesh and without faith and… you get the point. You’ve probably heard it too. Heck… I even preached a couple of these in my day.

And, like most things in life, I’m evaluating everything. It’s just where I am these days and at this point in my journey. So, I’ve been thinking about these statements and more importantly these concepts that we throw off on people in the Western church. And, I’ve been looking to the Word (there’s a novel idea) and comparing this line of thinking to the examples we find in there.

By and large, I don’t see this as the line of thinking in the examples the Holy Spirit, in His limitless wisdom, decided to hand down for all generation to benefit. Most of the men of faith had a measure of contentment rarely seen in church leaders in America. You don’t see the pressured “build it as big as you can, as fast as you can” stressed out, “why isn’t this working, so let’s try the next thing” frenzy that a lot of church leaders exist in.

I don’t see the “big dreams” beginning with man at all. It’s always been initiated by God.

God comes and taps Noah on the shoulder and somehow this drunkard of a man saves the planet and repopulates the earth.
God comes to Gideon and his response is, “Certainly, not me.”
God comes and hits Moses up and Moses argues for three chapters why God got it wrong and he’s not the guy.
God chooses mere fisherman who are content at working the family business to launch a global movement.

The only figure I can identify with a lot of ambition and “big dreams” to do “great things” for God is Saul… before God knocked him off his horse and he became Paul. He was killing Christians in the name of God and in the name of doing “great things” for God.

So, somewhere along the line, we have to stop the madness of it all and stop the frenzy of it all and just walk. Struggle if need be. And focus on what’s most important. And if somehow God taps us on the shoulder for something extraordinary then fine. And if not, that’s fine too.

We all have our part to do in raising our families. Doing the simple work of caring for others. Loving… truly loving our neighbors. Being generous and humble. Expressing devotion to God in simple service. And, I think in those things, God may just be more pleased than us getting all worked up about fulfilling the “big dreams” and building it as big as we can, as fast as we can.

Some may say, “that’s a cop out” but honestly I pity those that still live in that completely unbiblical, stressed out, fear-filled world of Amercian church leadership.

I for one, am living the dream and it may not be big to others but it is big to those closest to me. And I’ve never been more content.

Incredible Spiral Illustrations by Chan Hwee Chong for Faber...

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:20:10 -0500

Incredible Spiral Illustrations by Chan Hwee Chong for Faber Castell

This week’s installment of “I could do that but just don’t want to.”

The amazing thing to note is that his pen never leaves the paper until he’s finished.

A lesson from the younger Steve Jobs I just recently finished a...

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:05:00 -0500

A lesson from the younger Steve Jobs

I just recently finished a wonderful book by David A. Price called The Pixar Touch. In it, the author chronicles the rise of the computer-animation pioneer and follows the founders’ unrelenting quest to produce the first full-length feature animated movie. For years, Pixar sold computer hardware as it’s core business before getting the opportunity to do what they dreamed of and loved. What a lesson in patience and “keeping your eye on the ball.”

Every story is interesting and compelling if you look hard enough. I believe multiple lessons can be learned from every book. This one is no exception. Many business and life lessons can be gained from the Pixar story but one encounter stands out. I’d like to recount that here.

Of course, the book wouldn’t be complete without spending considerable time on the role of CEO, Steve Jobs. In the past week, there’s been a lot of reflection on the life of Steve Jobs and his impact on culture. His commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005 reveals a man who matured and learned a great deal about what is truly important. This story isn’t about that man. It’s about the much younger Steve Jobs.

The Story

Let me set the stage. It’s 1986. Steve Jobs has been fired from Apple, the company he founded. Pixar (not their name at the time) is owned by Lucasfilms. All Pixar wants to do is make computer-animated films. This means they aren’t focused on developing the digital sound and video editing systems Lucasfilms wants. Not to mention the boring electronic accounting programs. That’s why George Lucas bought them in the first place.

Lucas wants to sell. Steve Jobs wants to buy. And, after a year of rejecting Jobs’ offer of $5 Million, Lucas finally caves. It’s deal time. Let’s do this.

I’m paraphrasing, but this is what happened next:

Lucas: “Come on up and we’ll sign the papers.”

Jobs: “No, you guys come down here to sign.”

Lucas: “We’re not going anywhere. You come to us.”

Jobs: “No. We’ll sign down here.”

Lucas: “That’s not going to happen.”

Jobs: “The deal is off then.”

Lucas: “Fine.”

They ended up… and here’s the word… compromising. They met in the middle at a lawyer’s office and ended up signing the papers there.

The Lesson

I can hear you now. ”It’s a lesson about compromise. I get it.” Not really. Here’s what you need to understand. We’re talking about sixty miles. It’s a pretty substantial business deal. I’m reading this and I want to scream, “Someone… for the love of Pete… drive the 60 miles.”

Sometimes, we don’t need to compromise. Sometimes, one person just needs to cave and give in for the benefit of the bigger picture.

How many times has the argument over something insignificant escalated to atomic proportions? You and your spouse are at odds, all because one of you isn’t willing to go the relatively short distance to bridge the gap.

You win but really lose.

What has been lost in relationship simply because you don’t know how to “pick your battles”? You win. But you really lose. And, you don’t just lose. Those around you lose too.

Imagine if the deal hadn’t happened. All because of a measly 60 miles. No Woody. No Buzz Lightyear. No Sulley. No Mr. Incredible. No Nemo.

Some could even argue… No rescuing of Disney at a time when it lost the plot and was creatively anemic.

So, the next time you’re tempted to throw the “compromise card,” evaluate whether compromise is really what’s needed. Try and look objectively at the bigger picture. Then you make the effort to close the distance. You drive the 60 miles to make the deal work. You go farther than the other person with a deep understanding that there’s always more at stake than who is “right” and who is “wrong”.

Extreme Dodgeball I would love a piece of this action!

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:52:46 -0500

Extreme Dodgeball

I would love a piece of this action!

today’s visual inspiration

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:23:05 -0500

today’s visual inspiration

"The problem is I’m older now, I’m 40 years old, and this stuff doesn’t change the..."

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:00:07 -0500

“

The problem is I’m older now, I’m 40 years old, and this stuff doesn’t change the world. It really doesn’t…

I’m sorry, it’s true. Having children really changes your view on these things. We’re born, we live for a brief instant, and we die. It’s been happening for a long time. Technology is not changing it much - if at all.

These technologies can make life easier, can let us touch people we might not otherwise. You may have a child with a birth defect and be able to get in touch with other parents and support groups, get medical information, the latest experimental drugs. These things can profoundly influence life. I’m not downplaying that. But it’s a disservice to constantly put things in this radical new light - that it’s going to change everything. Things don’t have to change the world to be important.

”

- Steve Jobs, 1955-2011

"We tend to think, ‘Life should be fair because God is fair.’ But God is not life. And if..."

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:26:00 -0500

““We tend to think, ‘Life should be fair because God is fair.’ But God is not life. And if I confuse God with the physical reality of life- by expecting constant good health for example- then I set myself up for crashing disappointment.””

- - Philip Yancey, Disappointment with God

today’s visual inspiration

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:06:05 -0500

today’s visual inspiration

Contentment I came across this image a few weeks back and...

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:02:05 -0500

Contentment

I came across this image a few weeks back and included it my daily visual inspiration. I haven’t been able to get away from it. If it’s true that “a picture says a thousand words” then this definitely qualifies.

To me, there’s so much going on here. Two friends who love what they do. Proud of what they contribute to their community. Men of meager means. No fame. But, their faces say it all.

What you value

The quality I see most is contentment. You can see it in their eyes… in their smiles. Others might look on them with pity or even disdain, but not me. In some sense, I envy their simplicity. In another, I’ve experience a measure of contentment the past few years as never before.

It all has to do with what you value and what’s truly important. In ministry, it’s easy to fall into the trap of discontentment because you’re working for a “higher calling”. It’s our justification for always wanting more.

Take Inventory

Are you truly at rest?
Are you really at peace?
Is there a nagging sense that you’re not paying enough attention to the most important things like family and friendships?
Do you feel guilty when you take time for yourself?
Do you feel as though you’re never doing enough?
Are you able to stop and smile at the work of your hands?

If it’s good enough for an apostle

Take a look at the image above. Soak it in. Slow down. Take a tip from one of the most driven figures in the Bible, Paul, when he said:

Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.
- Philippians 4:11-13 -