The End of the Office (TOP 10 EPISODES)

It all ends tonight!  Its the last Office episode, and as a fan of all 9 seasons I must say its bittersweet!  I will admit, Seasons 1-3 were the best by far.  In fact, I believe the first 3 seasons rivaled on the Seinfeld playing level.  However, while the last several seasons have been funny and entertaining, the magic and awkwardness that made the show near perfect in its beginning weren't quite matched.  With that thought in mind, I share with you my TOP 10 favorite episodes of ALL-TIME. (in no particular order)

1. Diversity Day (SEASON 1)-Michael Scott trying to promote workplace diversity is a picture-perfect episode of what made this series great!

2.  Basketball (SEASON 1)-I love basketball and Michael Scott's blissful ignorance and overconfidence.

3.  The Dundies (SEASON 2)-Dinner at Chili's will never be the same.

4.  The Fire (SEASON 2)- Ryan started the fire!!!!

5.  Christmas Party (SEASON 2)-The gift exchange was classic Office awkwardness and fodder!

6.  Women's Appreciation (SEASON 3)- Dwight trying to hunt down a predator!  Jim and Pam playing hi jinks.  Michael making an awkward moment even more awkwarder.  Perfection!

7.  Ben Franklin (SEASON 3)-One of the many episodes where Jim proved that he is the man!  Dwight arguing with the "real" Ben Franklin....priceless.

8.  Initiation (SEASON 3)-We begin to get a better peak into the bizarro life that Dwight leads outside the office.  Moes makes an appearance!

9.  Fun Run (SEASON 4)-Michael running Meredith over in his car.  She gets "rabies".  They organize a 5K for a rabies cure.  Michael barfs after carbaloading on Fettuccine Alfredo 5 minutes before the race.  Greatness!

10.  Scott's Tots (SEASON 6)-What's better than a college scholarship?  How about a laptop battery!? Whatcha gonna do when your dreams come true!?

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YES, Soldiers Can Share Their Faith and Not Get in Trouble

Don't believe the hype!  News has surfaced over the past couple of weeks that a Soldier can get in trouble for sharing their faith, even court-martialed.  This notion is ridiculous for several reasons.  First of all, this is not true.  Secondly, the hype over the proposed regulation being enforced should clue one in to know that the regulation being blow up has been a regulation in the Army for quite some time.  This isn't anything new.

 

The regulation says that SMs cannot "proselytize".  I know many people argue over what proselytizing is and isn't, but basically the way the Army sees it is that its forcefully trying to make converts.  An example from another part of the world would be a Muslim forcing a Christian in their country to renounce their faith and follow the ways of Islam.  The Army doesn't play that.  And they shouldn't.  As a Christ-follower, I would never want to force someone to follow Christ.  First of all, that's not a "real conversion".  Secondly, Christ said "go and make disciples", not "go and force people to convert at gunpoint".

 

Sharing your faith and evangelizing is perfectly okay.  We can tell people about Jesus freely, and share His love constantly!  Nobody is regulating that!  What you can't do is use your rank to force someone to convert to Christianity or give them extra jobs to do when they refuse or disregard their attempts to get promotion points.  What you can't do is harass, taunt, or make fun of someone in the workplace for not being a Christian.  That's a great thing!  As a Christ-follower, I do NOT want other Christians or so-called Christians doing those things.  That misrepresents Christ and everything I stand for!

 

I'm blessed to serve as an Army Chaplain.  In my line of work, I get opportunities to freely share the Gospel with the lost constantly.  I've never harassed anyone.  I've never played favorites with just the Christians.  I've never forced anyone to convert.  I simply share the truth of Christ as I go, and I believe many more people are hearing the Gospel through my ministry now than ever did in my ministry in the civilian sector.

 

Encourage the Soldiers you know to continue living strong, not in fear of  "potential" threats to their faith freedoms, but as the Lord's Army, living as light in a very dark place.

 

 



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Being a Christian When No One is Looking

 

As much as we might try to kid ourselves, there's no turning off the "Christian" switch.  If that's a practice in your life, there's something wrong.  However, the temptation to walk in the flesh rather than according to the Spirit is always a battle we have to face.  Its important to remember that there are always opportunities to promote the gospel.  There are constantly moments to be the light and declare the love of Christ.

 

I choose not to put a Christian Fish on my car, not because I don't love Jesus.  Personally, my goal is to be more intentional about sharing my faith and showing His love.  If I chose to outfit myself with a lot of Christian "gear", I feel I'd wrongly find sufficiency in that to be my testimony.  I'm not knocking anyone who does sport the Christian t-shirts, hats, and bracelets.  That's just me. 

 

I've heard people say that they don't want the "fish" on their car because they get too mad when they're driving.  They're afraid of being a poor witness.  I'm not so hip on that philosophy either.  That sounds like you're enabling yourself to flip the switch on and off (and probably enabling yourself to flip the bird too!).  Regardless of what we wear or put on our cars its important to be consistent and authentic.  That authenticity only comes from a genuine passion for following Christ.

 

As a Chaplain, I constantly wear a badge of my faith....the cross.  The cross sits above my nametape and serves as a constant reminder to me of who I ultimately report to and serve.  It also serves as a reminder to others who I follow.  This past week an opportunity for me to be the gospel and shine the light presented itself in an unusual way.

 

This week was busy and hectic!  One day, my schedule was especially brutal.  It seemed like I had one thing after another.  Just about all the minutes of my day were accounted for, with the exception of about 30 minutes in the late morning.  I finished up doing a brief and decided to use my 30 minutes wisely and go get a quick haircut.  After all, it was still morning.  I'd beat the lunch rush.  I'd be in and out.  I'd get my hair squared away and not miss a beat on my busy day. 

 

I walked into the barber shop and it was not too busy.  My number was almost immediately called, and I sat in the chair.  However, there was something unusual about the lady cutting my hair.  She didn't speak good English and she seemed very insecure about getting started.  She draped the black cloth over my uniform (incidentally covering up the cross).  When you're getting your haircut on post, for that brief moment, people don't know your name, rank, or any other affiliation.  Its all covered up by the black cloth.  So basically, the other people getting their hair cut had no idea I was a Chaplain or that I was serious about following Jesus.  It would be easy for me to think of that as a moment in which I could "turn off the switch".

 

Very soon into the haircut it was evident to me that the lady cutting my hair was a trainee.  She had no idea what she was doing.  Usually a haircut on post takes less than 10 minutes.  10 minutes into this cut, this lady was still fooling around with getting the clippers to work.  This was not good!  I had a busy day ahead of me!  I didn't have time to wait for something like this!

 

I remained calm and kept my cool, but as the time ticked away and the haircut took even longer I started to boil.  I wanted to tell the lady to forget it and demand someone else cut my hair, but I knew I couldn't act that way.  And besides that, I kinda felt sorry for her.  I remained patient and kind on the outside, but again, as the time ticked I grew more restless.  Inside I was bubbling!  I was ready to dropkick a bunny into a fiery dumpster!

 

This could not be happening and such a busy day! Long story short, my haircut lasted 48 minutes complete with other barbers telling my barber that she had screwed up my hair and them having to come over and correct her mistakes.  After my cut, she removed the black robe from me.  I got up and proceeded to the register.  Another man who was getting a haircut next to me was in line ahead of me.  He turned around and smiled.  "Sir," he said.  "I was getting worried for you!"  He obviously noticed how long and arduous it was for this lady to finish my haircut.  However, he continued to say something that really struck a chord with me.  "I kept thinking as I was watching you get your haircut, that this man must have the patience of a Saint.  And then when she removed the cloth and I saw that you were a Chaplain, I thought no wonder he was so patient with her!"

 

I smiled and told the man, "I guess she's lucky she got a Chaplain today".  However, after that encounter I started to think.  What if I would have decided to "turn off the switch"?  What if I would have dwelt too much in the flesh and "lost my religion" for a moment, thinking that it wasn't a big deal because I don't know these people and no one knows that I'm a Chaplain under that cloth?  How much benefit would I have been to the message of the Gospel? 

 

It reminded me that people are always looking.  People are always making assumptions in their mind.  People are always processing.  Its so imperative that we be authentic Christ-followers, which means that we're Christians all the time, even when people aren't looking.  Because even when we think people aren't looking, they still are.  One regression could hinder an opportunity to proclaim the love of Christ. 

 

I'm glad for that moment in time, even though it might have been painful.  It was an opportunity to declare His love.  Not necessarily with my mouth, but through my actions.  I pray that I can keep that kind of control always, even though I've had my share of messups. 

 



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Jason Collins is Gay. If You Don't Agree, You're a Hater?

Listen to what people have to say, before you take small sound bits and blast them for what you think they're saying.  Real hate is spreading false truth about someone else or about what they've said.  I think that's what has happened to Chris Broussard today of ESPN.  He shared some comments about Jason Collins (NBA player who "came out" as gay today), and has since gotten blasted for them.  Its interesting that someone can share an opinion and then be labelled as "hateful". There is not one thing hateful about what Chris Broussard said.  In fact, he eloquently spoke truth in a way that not many media-types do.  Take a look at the video and get your facts straight.  Be slow to speak and quick to listen!

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April Fools is Just as Important as Easter!

No, this isn't a sad attempt at an April Fool's joke.  And it is NO JOKE that what Christians around the world celebrated yesterday is VERY REAL!  Jesus is alive!  It really did happen!

There's no significance that April Fool's Day follows Easter this year, other than the fact that it truly is just as important a day as Easter was yesterday.  And no, its not important because Mr. T needs help throwing a pity party.  Its important because the celebration of Jesus is not over.  Just as we celebrated yesterday with our worship services, dressy clothes, family dinners, and letting the truth of Christ's resurrection dominate our Facebook statuses, there's no call from God to let it stop.  No where in scripture are we commanded to be so intentional about the mission and declaration of His truths on just one specific day.  In fact, our celebration of Jesus' resurrection was traditionally tagged in with the pagan celebration of Easter.

The Holy Week, Maunday Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter services are nice.  However, as Christ followers our daily walk should involve understanding the consequence of sin, appreciating the sacrifice of Christ, knowing the wonderful truth of His victory over death, and joyously declaring that to the world!  As believers, we do Christ and the lost world a disservice with our Easter celebrations.  We make a huge deal on Easter Sunday, and make a lesser deal the other Sundays (with the exception of Christmas services).  Not only that, we make a huge deal on Sunday, and make a lesser deal on Monday morning at work.  If the story of Christ is real, then its a big freakin' DEAL....EVERY DAY!!!  We enable the Chreasters (people who only show up on Christmas and Easter) with the way we worship, because we often wrap our worship of Jesus into an event or a moment rather than into a lifestyle.  We train these "Chreasters" that its only necessary to be a part of the event.  Why would they want to come to the lesser celebrations on the other Sundays?  Why should they make Christ more than an event, when they see our frowning faces on Monday morning?  It appears that we don't make Christ more than that either.

I have to admit, I was impressed with the History Channel's "The Bible" mini-series.  It was great seeing the pages of scripture thoughtfully expressed in the creative art form of filmmaking.  I was reminded as I watched the conclusion last night, of the passion of the disciples.  They carried the message of Jesus into some of the darkest places, and they did so with such joy and boldness.  Not only that, it was a daily celebration.  It was clear and evident by their testimony that worshipping Jesus was not an event, it was their life.  

Is it your life?  Is it truly the greatest story you've ever heard or told?  If it is, then how are celebrating it today as compared to yesterday?  Today is just as important.  The story still needs to be told.  Happy Resurrection!

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Viernes Santo

 

I stink at this thing called life.  The older I get the more I realize how much I get wrong and how little I know.  I'm nothing apart from the grace of God, the love of Christ, and the power of the Spirit.  Every single earthly accomplishment I have, I owe it all to God.  What's funny is that those earthly accomplishments mean nothing outside of their Kingdom purpose.

 

This week helps Christ followers focus on what He did and the hope we have.  And honestly, we should focus on it every day of the year.  Put this in perspective, we all get it wrong.  We all know very little.  Even though we fill our minds with research, data, and facts, we are still just scratching the cosmic surface.  We are nothing without our Creator.  Our Creator made us to be in harmony with Him as His worshippers.  Sin keeps us from that purpose. 

 

That's why it is so amazing that Jesus took our punishment for sin on a cross, died, rose again, and made a pathway to the Creator!  I want nothing more than to focus on that as I breathe each breath.  How can I continually tell that wonderful story?  How can I point my children and wife to Him?  He is everything!  Even though I can't get it right, He can. 

 

Praise God for His Son, Jesus!  Whatever your Good Friday/Easter Weekend traditions hold, I pray His resurrection and love are what you encounter!  May this weekend propel you to declare His love!

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The Real Last Laugh When We Boycott Starbucks

 

It's Holy Week!  This is a week of vast emotion and intimate reflection for Christ followers.  We celebrate the good news!  Jesus Christ, the Son of God, made Himself nothing.  He took on the form of a servant, and was obedient to the point of death on a cross!  Through His death, He made payment for sin.  He provides a way to salvation for all mankind.  Why?  Because He defeated death and ROSE AGAIN....a miraculous feat that has never been accomplished by anyone else!  Our God reigns and He is mighty to save!!  The thought of His death and sacrifice brings heartache and remorse for my sin.  The thought of His resurrection brings joy and celebration!  Truly, this is the greatest story ever told!  Its Holy Week!  So why would we waste a moment of breath, talking about boycotting Starbucks?

 

Last night when I asked my daughter if this Sunday was special because an Easter Bunny hides eggs and brings baskets full of goodies she replied with an immediate, "Yes".  I was shocked!  We talk about Jesus all the time in our house!  We pray together every day.  We do family devotionals!  We attend church.  She attends AWANA!  She has the resurrection eggs that tell the story of Jesus!!  Have we not communicated His resurrection and the importance of Easter enough to her?

 

I think its more of a commentary of how quickly we lose focus.  As soon as I rebutted, "What about Jesus?!", she immediately recalled all she knew about the wonderful story and how it is truly the focus of this week, holiday, and our lives as believers.  But for a moment in time, she lost focus like so many of us do.

 

This week I've read more tweets, blog posts, and Facebook statuses about boycotting Starbucks because their CEO hates traditional marriage.  I've read others about boycotting Victoria Secret because they are releasing a line of new lingerie targeted at Middle School girls.  The truth is, neither statement about these companies is entirely accurate.  Words have been taken out of context.  People have jumped to conclusions.  Anger has flared quickly.

 

Now, I'm not endorsing Starbucks or Victoria Secret.  There are many reasons why I would NOT personally walk into a Victoria Secret or buy their undergarments for my daughter.  However, I wouldn't call it an outright boycott.  As for Starbucks...I like their coffee.  That doesn't mean I endorse all the opinions of their CEO.  Just like I'm certain I don't endorse all the opinions of the CEO of Wal-Mart, Taco Bell, Chuck E. Cheese, Reeces Peanut Butter Cups, ESPN, Walt Disney, Apple, etc. 

 

 I'm personally convicted that I need to tell the story, rather than try to send a message to people who don't embrace the story.  Many times, "that message", comes across hateful. Boycotting can SUCK....the life straight out of the gospel!   That's why I don't always think boycotting is the best response.  Maybe it is the best response in some cases.  However, make sure you know why and what you are boycotting.  Don't get caught up in an nternet-fabricated story!  I encourage you to read Russell Moore's post on the Starbucks issue.  Its good stuff.

 

Now, back to the bigger issue.  Its Holy Week!  What are we about?  Are we about boycotting Starbucks to get back at those who boycotted Chick fil A?  Or are we about worshipping a God who so loved the world that He sent His only Son to earth to take our place on a cross, and through His Son we can have eternal life!?

 

There's a time to take a stand.  There's a time to speak for truth.  When we do so, do it out of love for God and others.  In the meantime, stay focused!  I was doing a bible study with new believers today.  We were studying Ephesians.  In Ephesians 1, Paul uses that highly controversial word, "predestined".  As the questions started to fly, I answered them as patiently and lovingly as I could.  However, I made sure to tell this group that if they focus too much on the controversy of that word (predestined) that they would miss out on Paul's central theme in that particular section of scripture.  That theme is centered around encouragement in knowing of the spiritual blessings we have in Christ.  I'm certain our enemy loves when Christians argue about predestination, because they lose focus of the great story and truths of Christ.

 

Don't let our enemy get the last laugh.  Our God reigns!  Jesus is alive!  That's what I want my heart to focus on! 

 

 



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