Dream Awakener

Monday Morning Medicine

  The Boy at the Temple 
  Originally uploaded by Stuck in Customs

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

So I was with a few new friends from India last night and one of the guys was just a fountain of humor.  I am going to have to email him for some of the different jokes he told me.  Here is one humorous story he mentioned, though I may not remember all the details exactly.

The story goes that when a boy gets to walking age or a bit older, the parents set three objects across the room.  A bottle of wine, some cash and a holy book.  The idea is this.  The boy is to walk over and pick up an item and that determines their future.

If the boy goes over and picks up a bottle of wine, that means that he will have a life of pleasure.  If he goes over and picks up the cash, then he will be a great business man.  If he picks up the holy book, then he will be a priest or holy man.

So this one boy walked across the room and he put a wine bottle under his left arm, the holy book under his right and carried the cash in his hands.  So I said, "What does that make him?"  He replied, "A politician."

Monday Morning Medicine

  man with flowers 
  Originally uploaded by sharpeworld

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

Gary Smalley in one of his books talks about a husband who had not done a loving thing for his wife in a real long time.  So he is finally convicted, and decides to do something nice for his wife.  He comes home.  She sees him step inside the door of their house and he’s got a box of candy in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other.

Well she just starts to sob, to cry.  He says, “What’s wrong Honey?”  She said, “I had a terrible day.  The school bus didn’t come.   I had to take the kids to school.  The washing machine broke down.  Billy twisted his ankle.  I had to take him to the emergency room.  And now, YOU come home drunk.”

So how are you doing in regard to serving and loving the people in your life?

Monday Morning Medicine

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

Here is one of the most watched, if not the most watched video on YouTube.  Which means that you probably have already watched it.  Oh well.  Enjoy!

Monday Morning Medicine

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

"Don't we look great, Honey?"

Monday Morning Medicine

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

Monday Morning Medicine

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

A favorite Peanuts cartoon of mine starts with Lucy at her five-cent psychology booth, where Charlie Brown has stopped for advice about his life.

Lucy says, “Charlie, life is like a deck chair. On the cruise ship of life, some people place their deck chair at the rear of the ship so they can see where they’ve been.  Others place their deck chair at the front of the ship so they can see where they’re going.”

So Lucy, the good “doctor” looks at her puzzled client and asks, “Which way is your deck chair facing?”

Without hesitating, Charlie replies gloomily, “I can’t even get my deck chair unfolded.”

Monday Morning Medicine

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

Monday Morning Medicine

  The Fool on the Hill - The Beatles 
  Originally uploaded by Gunnsi

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

How do you respond to people who attack you?

I remember the story about the famous evangelist D.L. Moody.  He is the founder of Moody Bible Institute up in Chicago and was the Billy Graham of his day.  One night when he was about to start the final service in one of his campaigns an usher ran up to him and handed him an envelope.  Moody assumed it was some sort of notice and held up his hand for silence.  He opened the envelope and took out a sheet of paper.  The word “fool” was written on it. 

Moody looked at his attentive audience and said, “This is the most unusual thing I have seen.  I have just been handed a message which consists of but one word – the word is “fool.”  I repeat this is most unusual.  I have often heard of those who have written letters and forgotten to sign their names, but this is the first time I have ever heard of anyone who signed his name and forgot to write the letter.”  Moody understood how to deal with people who tried to attack him.  Proverbs 26:5 says, "Answer fools according to their folly, or they will be wise in their own eyes."  Of course Proverbs 26:4 reminds us that there are also times that we shouldn't answer a fool according to their folly, lest we be like them. 

Monday Morning Medicine

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

Cartoon by Dan Reynolds

Monday Morning Medicine

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

KARATE BABY

Monday Morning Medicine

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

"If you tell anyone else about this, I'll pee in your shoe."

Monday Morning Medicine

  Grounded In The Basement 
  Originally uploaded by Nicolas Alary

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

In our lives there are balcony people and basement people.  Balcony people are those who stand to cheer you on in life, they breathe live into you.  We all need balcony people in our life.

But there are also basement people.  People who pull us down to where area the ugly appliances are kept. Who suck the energy and life out of us.

John Ortberg tells this story.  A guy has a basement person, and it’s his barber.  Every time he goes to his barber, his barber complains – he’s always negative, always deflates him.  He goes in one time, and he’s every excited ‘cause he’s going to go to Italy.  And he says, “It’s going to be very exciting for me.  I’ve always wanted to go there.”  And the barber, is just his typical negative self, “Oh the hotels are overrated, the food’s overpriced, it’s not very good; Italians are very rude to Americans, and it’s going to be a lousy time.

The guy says, “No, it’s going to be wonderful – I’m gonna stay at great hotels, eat at great restaurants, and I’m even gonna get to see the Pope.”  The Barber says, “No, it’s not going to happen.  He’s too busy.  You’ll never see him.”  Well the guy goes to Italy, comes back all fired up:  “It was wonderful.  Stayed at great hotels, ate tremendous food, had marvelous times with Italian people.  The sights were beautiful – and I got to see the Pope.  I was going through a line, and he called me over, and I had a private audience with him.”

And the barber, for the first time in his life, is actually impressed.  And the guy says, “I knelt down.  He stuck out his hand.  I kissed the ring.  And the barber says, “What did the Pope say?”  The guy says, “Where’d you get that lousy haircut?” 

Of course I doubt the Pope every really said that.

Monday Morning Medicine

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

Today you get two Monday Morning Medicines.  If you didn't get a chance to see the superbowl ads, here is the Bud Light "Breath Fire" ad.

Monday Morning Medicine

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

Monday Morning Medicine

  Mario 
  Originally uploaded by chiral_c

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

A lady was walking past a pet store when a parrot said,

"Hey, lady! You're really ugly!"

The lady was angry but continued on her way. On the way home, she passed by the pet store again, and the parrot once more said,

"Hey, lady! You're really ugly!"

Now she was enraged, so she went into the store and said that she wanted the bird disposed of. The store manager apologized profusely and promised he would make sure the parrot didn't say it again.

The next day, she deliberately passed by the store to test the parrot.

"Hey, lady!" the bird said.

"Yes?" she replied.

"You know."

Monday Morning Medicine

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

Monday Morning Medicine

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

Monday Morning Medicine

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

Fruitcake

My friend Simon Kingsly send me some great little one piece comics.  Since they are seasonal I thought I could post one for the next couple of days.  Here is the first taste, a little fruitcake. 

Tomorrow will be another installment, as well as some other words.  I guess within the next week or so I should be doing some of my top 10 of the year posts.  Look for that as well.

Monday Morning Medicine

  american cities 
  Originally uploaded by dream awakener

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

A GHETTO CHRISTMAS
'Twas da night befo' Christmas and all in the hood,
Not a homie was stirrin cuz it was all good.
The tube socks was hung on the window sill,
And we all had smiles up on our grill.

Mookie and BeBe was snug in the crib,
In the back bedroom, cuz that's how we live.
And Moms in her do-rag and me with my nine,
Had just gotten busy cuz my girlfriend is fine.

All of a sudden a lowrider rolled by,
Bumpin' phat beats cuz the system be fly.
I bounced to the window at a quarter pas',
'Bout ready to pop a cap in somebody's .......!

I yelled to my lady, Yo peep this!
She said, Stop frontin' and just mind yo' bidness.
I said, for real doe, come check dis out.
We weren't even buggin', no worries, no doubt.

Cuz bumpin' an thumpin' from around da way,
Was Santa, eight reindeer and a sleigh.
Da beats was kickin', da ride was phat,
I said, "Yo red Dawg, you all that!"

He threw up a sign and yelled to his boyz,
"Ay yo, give it up, let's make some noise!"
To the top of the projects & across the strip mall,
We gots ta go, I got a booty call!"

He pulled up his ride on the top a da roof,
And sippin' on a 40, he busted a move.
I yelled up to Santa, "Yo ain't got no stack!"
He said, "Damn homie, deese projects is wack!

But don't worry black, cuz I gots da skillz,
I learnt back when I hadda pay da billz."
Out from his bag he pulled 3 small tings,
A credit card, a knife, and a bobby pin.

He slid down the fire exscape smoove as a cat,
And busted the window wit' a b-ball bat.
I said, "Whassup, Santa? Whydya bust my place?"
He said, "You best get on up out my face!"

His threads was all leatha, his chains was all gold,
His sneaks was Puma and they was 5 years old.
He dropped down the duffle, Clippers logo on the side.
Santa broke out da loot and my mouf popped open wide.

A wink of his eye and a shine off his gold toof,
He cabbage patched his way back onto the roof.
He jumped in his hooptie wit' rims made of chrome,
To tap that booty waitin' at home.

And all I heard as he cruised outta sight,
Was a loud and hearty.....
"WEEESST SIIIIDE!!!!!!"

Monday Morning Medicine

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

BIG BOY

LITTLE MAN

Monday Morning Medicine

  going south 
  Originally uploaded by Soffia Gisladóttir

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

A little medicine
A young man really wanted to have his own car, and his parents agreed to consider his request for help with funding provided he agreed to do away with his long hair.

The young man decided to try his father's technique...

'Well,' he said, `long hair is Biblical! Abraham had long hair, Moses had long hair, even Jesus had long hair!'

'Yes', replied his father, 'and they walked everywhere!'

Monday Morning Medicine

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

Gotta love Mondays!

Monday Morning Medicine

 
 

A cheerful heart is good medicine."  Proverbs 17:22 NLT

My good mate from down under ,Chris Garner, e-mailed me a link to Roger Von Oech's site entitled Creative Think.  While you can look at the link to see how he talked about this text, I just call it the Over-Intellectualized Bible. It's great for seminary students and readers alike.  It makes you glad that Jesus spoke so simply, yet deeply. I think it will be some good Monday morning medicine for you.

THE OVER-INTELLECTUALIZED BIBLE
And Jesus said unto them, "And whom do you say that I am?"

They replied,

"You are the totaliter aliter, the vestigious trinitatum who speaks to us in the modality of Christo-monism.”

You are he who heals our ambiguities and overcomes the split of angst and existential estrangement; you are he who speaks of the theonomous viewpoint of the analogia entis, the analogy of our being and the ground of all possibilities.”

"You are the impossible possibility who brings to us, your children of light and children of darkness, the overwhelming roughness’ in the midst of our fraught condition of estrangement and brokenness in the contiguity and existential anxieties of our ontological relationships.”

“You are my Oppressed One, my soul's shalom, the One who was, who is, and who shall be, who has never left us alone in the struggle, the event of liberation in the lives of the oppressed struggling for freedom, and whose blackness is both literal and symbolic.”

And Jesus replied, "Huh?"

Monday Morning Medicine

  Los Angeles - Marathon 
  Originally uploaded by Chris&Steve

“A cheerful heart is good medicine.” Proverbs 17:22 NLT

LASTING IN MINISTRY
John Ortberg tells about the time that he was watching a friend of his run in the Los Angeles Marathon.  Have you ever run in a marathon before?  Even if you haven’t run in a marathon, I think you’ll enjoy this.  This humorous story also gives you a little glimpse into the crazy city in which I currently serve.

There were 18,000 runners – 18,000 brave, motivated, skinny, overachieving, masochistic people.  With the event being held in California, some of the runners were a little out of the ordinary.  One guy ran in full circus makeup and called himself “T-bone the Clown.”  Another contestant ran as “Flower Man.”  Thirteen people draped themselves in a specially designed costume and competed as a human centipede.

The starting line was a sight to behold.  T-bone was shaking hands with the crowd and laughing and waving.  The centipede looked friskier than a centipede has a right to be.

Then the race began.  The first phase of such a race might be called the pleasure stage.  At this point running is fun.  Your body is loose, your heart is pumping, you are “one with the cosmos”:  The blood is flowing, the head is clear, the lungs are breathing deeply, the birds are singing, the sun is shining, the fish are jumping, the cotton is high, Daddy’s rich, and Momma’s good-looking.  You are functioning like a well-oiled machine. 

Now how long this stage lasts depends on the runner’s conditioning.  If I were running a marathon, this stage would last about twelve or thirteen feet.  Not too long.

After the initial rush of pleasure, running becomes drudgery.  After drudgery it becomes effortful and laborious.  And if you keep going long enough, you reach the point when the temptation to stop is overwhelming.  Your feet are protesting vigorously, knives of pain are stabbing your calves; your lungs have burning coals at the bottom of them.  Runners speak of this experience as “hitting the wall.”

At this stage, the LA marathon really became interesting.  John describes it:  T-bone wasn’t laughing with the crowd anymore.  The human centipede was hanging over the fence, and it didn’t look good – all thirteen centipedal stomachs united in collective revolt.  At the finish line, people came dribbling in one at a time.  Some didn’t make it at all.

The start of a race is enjoyable.  It is easy.  Finishing is hard work.  To finish well – that’s glory.  Finishing well is what counts.

Your life is like a marathon, more than a sprint.  And that is why we are encouraged to run the race with endurance. Heb. 12:1  NIV says, “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”   Once you discover your life purpose and begin to live it out, you will experience all kinds of difficulties and you will be tempted to quit.  You will have times in your life where you will just want to throw in the towel. We need to be people who learn the art of perseverance.

Monday Morning Medicine

"A cheerful heart is good medicine." Proverbs 17:22a

Here is a video entitled funny animals.  It's 1:14 minutes long.

Monday Morning Medicine

  Dr. Ramona 
  Originally uploaded by WisDoc

"A cheerful heart is good medicine." Proverbs 17:22a

Confession is good for the soul.  James tells us that if we confess our sins to one another we can experience healing and wholeness in our lives.  But confession is something we should do with people that we believe are out for our good, people we have developed trust with.  Trust is hard to built and easy to destroy.  How can we rebuild trust with people?  The same way that porky pines make love ... very carefully.

Speaking of people that it’s hard to trust, it reminds me of the story of the three preachers who went out on a fishing trip together.  One of them said, let’s share our biggest personal struggles.  One of the guys said, “My problem is greed.  I have a love and lust for money.”  The next guy said, “My problem is lust.  I can’t keep my eyes off of other women.  The third pastor who brought this whole topic up said, “My problem is gossip, and I can’t wait to get back to tell everybody!  Probably not the person you want to confess to.

Monday Morning Medicine

"A cheerful heart is good medicine." Proverbs 17:22a

Here is a video that will bring a smile to your face.

Monday Morning Medicine

  Typical Street 
  Originally uploaded by ranmachen

"A cheerful heart is good medicine." Proverbs 17:22a

IMPATIENCE
A young woman's car stalled at a stoplight.  She tried to get it started, but nothing would work.  The light turned green and she wasn't able to move, so there she sat, holding up traffic.  The car behind could have gone around, but instead the driver in the car behind just honked their horn.

After another desperate attempt to get the car started, the young woman got out of her car and walked back to the car behind her.

The man who was honking rolled down his window and the young woman said, "I tell you what.  You go start my car and I'll sit back here and honk your horn for you."

Monday Morning Medicine

"A cheerful heart is good medicine." Proverbs 17:22a 

Here is a picture of a dog that we met in San Francisco.  Some lady was walking the dog around and I had to take a picture of the dog, and she kind of put the dog in my hands.

Motivational Posters For The Emerging Church - Humor

My friend Kevin Lui sent me to this site where they have come up with some humorous posters for the Emerging Church or what the sites calls the Emerging Chaos.  Some of them are quite funny. I have included a few of them here.  As a person who identifies with the Emerging Church (depending on how you define it) and the Missional Church, I think it is always good to have a good sense of humor.  John Powell once said, "He who learns to laugh at himself, never runs out of material."  Someone else has said that we need to take ourselves less serious and God more seriously. If you enjoy these posters, then you can go to the Emergent-see sight.  The posters are sponsored by Pyromaniacs.  By going to the site you get a sense of where they are coming from.

Here is another one.
 

Another one.
 

Another one.

Another one.

One more.

A Holistic Gospel Part X

  My Friends in Kenya 
  Originally uploaded by dream awakener

In part nine, I shared a short summary and then started to look at some missional applications and the dangers of being an unfaithful witness.  Today let's look at what it means to be a faithful witness.

A Faithful Messenger
I contend that when we understand the nature of salvation, we will have less spiritual monads running around North America, waiting for the rapture to take place so that they can escape reality instead of following Jesus and transforming the places to which he leads us.  When we understand that reality contains both a king and a kingdom, we will also recognize the need to live with integrity when it comes to our “private” lives.  Those who show great concern for the kingdom, sometimes live as though the King is blind to what occurs in the dark.  Some have been convinced that God does not care about their thought lives or sex lives, that He is only concerned with social justice.  They may be surprised on judgment day.  There is the King and His kingdom, and we cannot afford to do away with either.  There are personal and social dimensions to salvation, and we cannot afford to do away with either.  We need to experience the full liberation that the good news brings in order to be faithful to our missional God.

A proper understanding of the gospel lends itself to a better understanding of the nature of election.  It is clear from the scriptures that we have been blessed in order to be a blessing, but if election is only about privilege, we may need to ask if we are part of the elect.  Montgomery makes a crucial point when she asserts, "The central sin of Israel was its failure to discern the meaning of God’s election of his Servant Nation.  What God meant for man, Israel monopolized…the election to service was transmuted into a charter for privilege.  Pride in their distinctive calling became the ground of the narrowest exclusiveness (Montgomery 2000:21)."

Separating the personal from the social dimension of salvation can certainly lend itself to some who think they are part of the elect being surprised on judgment day.  The world does not exist for the sake of the elect, but rather, the elect are chosen for the sake of the world.&nb