Talking about Recess

As a kid growing up in Abbeville, SC playing outside was the ultimate release. Especially when you think about playing on a playground and that legendary time of recess at school. If you're like me some of the greatest experiences in elementary school were during the recess times. I remember going to the old Langley-Milliken Elementray School from Kindergarten until 3rd Grade. Their were two different playgrounds which had some significant differences and they were on opposite sides of the school. Plus there was an advantage for Kindergarten-2nd grade because those classes were held in the portables outside that surrounded the school. So when the three recess times were held, brother we hit the doors hard.

That easy access made it like green flag racing at Bristol as you tried to get to something quickly. You see the swings were like big time priority and if you could get to them first buddy then you were the stuff. The big playground held the big swing sets and part of the coolness was when you were done swinging you could take off out of the swings with some monster jumps. It was like you were flying. Occasionally you could time it out and actually use someone as a safety cushion as you tackled them from high above. We would have long distance challenges and man it was some good stuff.

And then there was the sliding boards that looked like they came off the side of a mountain. There was a big daddy slide and a junior slide. Of course you slide down both but if you got your sneakers slick enough with dirt you could ski down those bad boys which put you into legend status. I also remember we would run up the boards only to come back down. Of course we would have a race to see who could get to the top before the other would slide down. So you would have a dog pile coming down the board. And when it was hot man you would squeak down that thing with shorts and leave most of your legs behind. It was brutal.

Of course you had the monkey bars and the old Jungle Gym. So the monkey bars were not much unless you got up top and walked across the bars. Then you had to avoid falling and that was really funny when people would miss a step and find the open space between the bars. Lots of agony. The Jungle Gym at Langley-Milliken was like a small building that ran almost a story and a half. You could climb up through the cubes and then there were like 3 cubes up top where you could just chill out. Great view of all the swing jumpers as they would fly out of the swings. And plus it was concrete underneath you so if you slipped and fell it would be known to those around it.

Remember the See-Saws. I heard a guy talk about how that developed a serious trust factor between you and someone else. Especially if you saw a pretty girl and wanted to go talk to her. Man that other end would hit the ground fast and tear up someone's posterior. But they were like the little honorable mention things that you would sit on if you just wanted to talk to people.

We use to have pick em up bust em football games that were epic. I mean it was rugby without limits and nothing would be cooler than answering a question in class with a busted lip or black eye. Of course now it would be considered rough housing. But it separated the men from the boys so to speak. You could earn some respect if you got dirty during those times.

Of course you would have those times at recess where guys and girls were messing with each other. Guys would go around and push the girls they liked and then the girls would chase them around the playground. You also could have some games of tag going that would wear you out. And then there were rain days which absolutely stunk. But if it was your day to do PE then you could take your frustration out during some games of Murder Ball. No not Dodgeball. We didn't have all that political correctness stuff in the 80's. It was Murder Ball and buddy we would light each other up. And the girls would bring it to. Loved it.

But as we transitioned to Westwood Elementary during my 4th grade year it was like the blackest year of my elementary experience. We went almost 75% of the year with NO PLAYGROUND. It was the pits. Great for football and tag games. When you got a girl to chase you shoot you could run for days. But I mean it would be boring on most days. So that was tough but it developed character in us and made us run harder to the swings in the 5th Grade.

I don't know if that great feeling is still there in recesses these days but it was something that definitely highlighted my days as a kid. We had three or four at times during a day and now if kids have one they are doing good. I think it's a sad problem across the board in a technically overrun society. Now someone would say it was not that big of a deal, but when you sit cooped up in class and are not having a good day you needed to release that energy. So for my personal development it kept me healthy and inspired me to not get into trouble because missing recess was the worst experience ever.

If you have any great memories from your recess experiences pass it along to me. I enjoy the feedback. Plus I know some of you Greenville Street Elemnetary alumni in SC could chime in. Enjoy some outdoor fun even if you're an adult.

Reflect The Light

“Be imitators of God” (Ephesians 5:1).

Those words are startling, upsetting, impossible. It is “the ultimate ideal.” “Be imitators of God.” There can be no higher standard than that. The apostle Paul boldly tells us if we are to be like God we must imitate Him.

How is it possible for us depraved sinners to possibly imitate the sovereign LORD of the universe?
Once we get over the initial shock we realize that as children we are to imitate our parents. We should behave like them assuming they are godly role models.

Since we were born into God's family as His legitimate children when we repented and placed our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior, we therefore should be an imitation of God (John 1:12-13).
Let it be clearly stated that “imitating God” has nothing to do with trying to merit eternal life. It has to do with our sanctification. We are to grow in godliness. The supreme example of this idea of imitating God is in the life of Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul used the word mimetic from which we get our English word to “mimic.” The idea is to copy closely, to repeat another person's speech, actions, behavior and mannerisms. Paul is saying get to know your heavenly Father so you can echo His speech and behave the way He behaves.
How do we “imitate” our Father? We know that the apostle is not telling us to try to imitate God's sovereignty. He alone is and ever will be self-existent and self-efficient. That is absolutely beyond our means. He alone is eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, etc. Those are non-communicable attributes of God. He alone is God.

We are “to be imitators of God, as beloved children” (Eph. 5:1). Not childish attitudes and behavior, but as His children.

Ephesians 5:2 explains how the believer is to imitate God. We are to “walk in love.”
Jesus sacrificed His life for us. As the Good Shepherd He gave His life for the sheep (John 10:11, 15). Jesus “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God, and our Father” (Galatians 1:4).

God took our sin seriously and He dealt with it fully in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. On the basis of that death God chose to forgive you and me (1 John 4:10; Rom. 5:8; Gal. 2:20; John 15:13; 3:16).
Christ “gave Himself up” for you and me. He surrendered Himself to death by execution for our crimes against God. He died in our stead, i.e. in our place. That is how great His love is for us.
Christians can imitate God by loving others, even to the point of death if necessary (1 John 3:16).
“We are to walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Ephesians 5:2).

“Walk in love” is a constant ordering your behavior within the sphere of love. The child of God is to order his behavior within the sphere of this divine, supernatural love produced in his heart by the Holy Spirit. After a while it becomes a good habit, and we be become more and more like our heavenly Father.
Let's be careful to note the context of the admonition. A couple of verses earlier he wrote, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (4:30). How do you grieve Him? The next verse says by bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice (v. 31). Let's put it away from us because it causes pain, grief, and distress to the Holy Spirit of God.

We can please Him by being “kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you . . .” (4:32-5:2).
How do you please Him, rather than causing Him grief? Act the way He acts; behave the way your Father in heaven behaves; “be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Therefore, be imitators of God . . .”

How did our heavenly Father treat us? He dealt with us in kindness, compassion, forgiving. Praise God that He has not dealt with us with what we deserved. In grace He has chosen to love us and forgive us of every sin. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us of all our sins. That is love. That is how God treats us.
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children . . .”
Act like the Father. Love like the Father. Forgive like the Father. Be kind to one another like the Father. “Just as God in Christ has forgiven you.” “Walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us."

When DC Talk Ruled The World And My Walkman

I love music. And during these blogs I would love to share some great music stories starting with this one. The year was 1995. I had just recently started work at a local Christian bookstore in Greenwood, SC. I wanted to work in the music section since I had a great love all kinds of music especially Gospel music. I had been slowly introduced to Contemporary Christian music at the time via a local FM radio station WLFJ in Greenville, SC. At that time most of the music was still rather dated and not relative to the styles of music that were exploding on mainstream radio. You gotta remember too that this was before Itunes and even the infamous Napster initiation so there were no early outlets to get music until singles were released if they were available or the actual street date of release. So while working at the store we were getting the buzz of a new DC Talk album releasing in August. And this was a big deal. A very big deal.

First of all DC talk had released an album in 1992 called Free At Last which was a landmark album in itself featuring an infusion of hip hop to the Christian music scene with a underground mainstream push. To this day I know all the raps from member Toby Mac and can remember the infusion of Kevin Max and Michael Tait killing some vocals. It was a must have as a teenager who attended church and needed an alternative to the standard hymns and worship collection. They even made an appearance on the popular Arsenio Hall Show during his late night run. There was a documentary/concert video released as well that showed some of the reality and celebrations during that time of the group's success. So DC Talk having the momentum as a group with that album had many waiting the next chapter. Little did we know the chapter would have some different feel to it. That was briefly revealed at the end of the Free At Last movie with a preview of the next step.

If you didn't know who Nirvana was in the early 90s when the Seattle based grunge sound hit you were under a rock somewhere. They were huge and they ushered a new darker and even harder sound at that time. Again most Christian music rock bands at that time were still stuck in the late 80s with the hair band stylings that gained a lot of rep. The last thing the CCM industry was expecting and the followers of DC Talk were expecting was a new direction of sound for the popular ground that may have been a roll of the dice. But obviously with the talent and artistic vibe they shared in their live shows especially something was gonna be magical.  As I was working at the store we kept getting local college students in asking when is the new album coming from DC Talk. The first single off the album was the self titled track Jesus Freak. The name itself yelled of curiosity and some controversy. The song was amazing. It was different than anything CCM had seen at the time and for me it was like YES somebody has figured it out. The sounds of current day now had a Christian alternative ironically. Not to mention that before Fred Durst was a public figure there was rap infused into a rock song which later would be labeled rapcore. Credit Toby Mac for pushing that envelope. The buzz was at a fever pitch and I told my manager you better have plenty ordered cause this thing is gonna be big. Also at this time we still had cassettes as CDs had established themselves as the main purchase. So you were talking a lot of units combined to get in. And in November of 95 the album dropped to a crazy response of purchases. It flew off the shelf. We sold out in less than a week after getting an initial order of 60 copies which was tapes and CDs combined. We would go on to sell over a thousand copies by the start of 1996 which was not the norm for regular releases. It debuted at number 16 on the Billboard 200 selling over 85,000 copies in the first week. That was the highest debut at that time for any Christian music album. It also went gold selling over 500,000 units in the first month. Again not the normal standard. It was a phenomenon. Truly a historic and cultural revolution. DC Talk would gain mainstream access to radio as well as the Virgin record label which expanded the buzz. The success and introduction of the Jesus Freak album would open the door for Christian music to take a massive makeover into all genres of music to counter culture the world's message. His message would now have the platform to reach so many new believers thanks to new groups like Jars Of Clay, Audio Adrenaline, Big Tent Revival, Third Day, and others. 

The album was truly one of those that you had to listen to every song and there was literally nothing that you wanted to skip. That's hard to pull off. The songs are still relevant for today and it is on a regular shuffle mix that I have to listen to during the week. From struggles to grace to witness to celebration.

So on behalf of my generation of Christian music lovers as well as music fans in general I want to say thank you to Toby Mac, Kevin Max, and Michael Tait. Thank you for investing yourselves in a project that still speaks life and challenge to this guy and so many others. They may not read this but here's hoping it gets to their eyes. We don't know for sure if the guys will ever do a reunion tour or project but we do know that they created and left a musical masterpiece for us to share in. 

Sincerely,
Jesus Freak For Life.

Jesus And Popcorn

This past weekend saw the release of the Son Of God movie to various theaters around the country. I took my youth group to see it this past Sunday during our fellowship time. I was thankful of the various conversations that came afterwards which was why I wanted to take them.  Famous TV producer Mark Burnett (Survivor) and his wife, actress Roma Downey (Touched By An Angel) bring to the big screen their adaptation of certain events displayed in the life of Jesus. They produced a TV mini series, The Bible, for the History Channel last year to rave reviews and big ratings as it covered many significant stories from the Bible. While much of the footage for the movie aired on TV there were some additional scenes added as well as some scenes removed. The mini series had an amazing soundtrack and a true big movie scope to it unlike anything before. It also showed a grit to it that made you feel like you were right in the stories as they happened. This movie branched out of the mini series to go along with the Easter season and has seen a great response at the box office. "Son of God opened in second place with an estimated $26.5 million, exceeding more than the $15-$20 million many claimed it would have. Even the distributor 20th Century Fox predicted $12-$15 million. There will always be a target audience to reach when doing these movies but most experts claim that it will always be a roll of the dice.

Now let me be very clear that if you are going to this movie to see all of the context as recorded as it happened word for word via the Holy Bible I regret to inform you that you will not see a lot of what was recorded. The movie itself runs at 150 minutes and is more or less a capsule summary of events in Jesus life. And you are not getting all of the Gospels in chronological order either so take note of that. So many times we hear and read about what all is left out of these movies, misinterpreted, or how they may be too contemporary, too traditional, too intense, too exaggerated, too Baptist, too Methodist, too Catholic, too religious etc. As a believer and a struggling at times but growing disciple of Jesus Christ let me just say to you don't be caught up in what the movie doesn't say or do. The very purpose of why Christ came to this world being born to die for our transgressions is indeed a part of this movie. The price was paid in His sacrifice so that we may have eternal life with Him. The fact that He was and is the I AM is stated. He shows his compassion and quiet confidence at times on the screen. And yes if you are not moved by the scenes at the cross then you probably don't get it and more or less this blog will not speak to you. Now sure we can go and pull out all of our complaints and point out whats missing from this film as most are doing. But in a way it's ironic how much like being in a church in today's culture, we only pull out what we want to hear and see done. We tend to take what benefits us and maybe tears down others and mix it into some kind of legalistic mojo we wear on our sleeves. A sad analogy is the fact that we as men struggle to listen in life especially if we are married. I hear my wife alot and many times very clear but I don't listen to what she is saying when in fact she is sharing something way awesome to hear. I challenge you to watch the movie and then come away wanting to dig deeper for yourself. The fact that there are some specifics that are indeed left out should make you want to do this. Go in all the Gospels and read with your own eyes the beautiful masterpiece that is painted. All answers are there. If you're not careful you may come away with more than you started with as far as your faith goes. I'm glad that we get this movie however in some ways a short version to view as an offering and testimony to what He, Jesus, himself did for us. And to celebrate not only what He has done in the past but what He is doing now  in our every day lives. Or even what He can do for us. For you.

Yes I know there may never be a perfect film or series documenting the Gospels. But see if I'm depending solely on what I see to believe or what somebody else tells me then my faith is weak. Faith is shared in the bible being defined in Hebrews chapter 11 by not only a definition but examples spread throughout God's Word. Faith is love in action as well. My faith is challenged to go deeper and hold tighter even if I can't see whats ahead of me. I trust in His will and His Word alone. I am thankful that I am not dependent on a movie or another book to show me the whole story. From an early age until now I am holding on to the truth that I as you can be or you have been saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. So go see the movie and then go back as I did and rediscover the whole story. His story. What He said and What He did. 

So maybe as you go to watch the movie for whatever reason that may be, while eating that bucket of popcorn there may be a moment that causes you to reflect or even celebrate who Jesus is to you.