Anything that gives us satisfaction above Christ is an idol.
There is something just plain horrifying about that truth.
For me, I have crafted idols out of virtually everything.
We are living in a day and age where creating idols out of those who simply want to show us the face of Christ is almost impossible to stop.
And I don’t point the finger at the messenger.
Well, not most of the messengers.
Most “celebrity” pastors I know are simply and effectively delivering the Good News of Jesus Christ. Humbly I may add.

Listen to the Word of God from Isaiah 44…
“The carpenter measures with a line
and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in human form,
human form in all its glory,
that it may dwell in a shrine.”

WE do this.
WE craft idols into human form.
WE are the carpenters.
And I think it pains the heart of God.
We love to blame others for this idolatry.
We blame magazines, conferences, blogs, twitter, ect.
“Well if they would just stop creating such a celebrity Christian culture” we say.

What a bunch of crap.
WE, US, ME, YOU.
WE do this.
Not any of the above listed tools.
The mirror reveals all we need to know about idol building.

I think there is a solution.
Ready?
Start reading the Bible.
Read it more than you listen to his or her podcast.
Read it more than you read his or her book on biblical leadership.

Let’s continue to the end of Isaiah 44…
verse 22…
“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,
for I have redeemed you.”

Just like that.
That easy.
God will allow us to drop our idols and return to Him.
The more we spend reading the Word of God the more it will be obvious that to idolize man may be the stupidest form of idolatry ever.
So my recommendation on how to stop this form of idolatry is simple.
Look in the mirror and read the Word of God.
Paraphrase for those of you who didn’t get it…
Stop blaming others and sit in the ocean of God’s love for you.
I promise you will stop idolizing man at that point.

You will slowly stop being impressed by man and begin to be overwhelmed by the love, mercy, and grace of God.
Thoughts?
Los

Where do you sit?

Los

Time Magazine has an article on breast feeding in their new issue.
You can’t tell by the cover.
I just want to say 3 things.
1. This kid. He’s gonna be 13 one day. Just sayin you may want to start practicing your parenting for that season when this is plastered all over his locker.
2. You are no more a mother because you produce breast milk than you are a father because you had a good time that night.
3. To all the mothers out there who didn’t breastfeed for medical reasons or personal choice, I’m a product of the powder…The kid will be ok.
4. We breastfed 1 out of 3 of our kids. I’ll let you know the stats in about 10 years.

What do you guys think?
Does “mothering” have to do with feeding?
Los

Where was your prom, who was your date, and where are they now?
Los

So what are the chances you can unite these idiots?
Me and them?
To form a creative army of idiots who care as much about each others art as we do about our own.
Especially those of us who claim to “Love your neighbor as yourself” Mark 12:31
I have a feeling that the second those of us who say we love Jesus and who call ourselves creatives unite instead of compete…
Revival will come back to Your church.
And the world will start ripping us off again as opposed to us ripping them off.
Yes.
Thanks for this revelation…
Sincerely…
The guy who hit you up a few days ago on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Oh.  And thanks again for that spiritual dose of Paxil.  That retweet from Donald Miller is just what my soul needed.

“Daddy, can we play tickle monster?”
This question has been presented to me on a daily basis for the past 5 years.
I don’t even remember how the “Tickle Monster” game found it’s way into my life.
As do most things in my world it sort of developed.
I’m assuming it’s from the fact that I place the 3 kids on the bed, roar like a monster, and tickle them until they can’t breathe.
Then they ask me to do it again.
Somewhere along the line it turned into a game with rules.
These get made up on a quarterly basis.
The latest development is Tickle Monster 5.34.
I now pretend to be asleep holding the “Magic Coin” (a penny) and when they sneak up and take it I awaken with a roar and tickle them until the Magic Coin is released and I gain possession and once again fall into a peaceful slumber.
Sohaila, the 10 year old, she LOVES this game with a passion.
She creates all the rules and begs me daily to play.
I’m serious.
5 years.
Everyday.
She must LOVE to be tickled.
I hate being tickled.
But she loves it.

Then about a month ago, I had an awakening moment.
The kind that moves mountains.
When we finished playing I walked out of the room.
Seanna, the 8 year old, said she wanted to keep playing and be the Tickle Monster.
Sohaila said only Daddy could be the Tickle Monster.
Seanna tried desperately to tickle her big sister but Sohaila just laid there.
Not even laughing.
I was peeking from around the corner.
Seanna said…”Why aren’t you laughing?”
Sohaila…”Because I’m not ticklish”

My eyes grew wide.
Like I had just discovered I was adopted or something.
She’s Not Ticklish?!

I ALMOST walked in the room and said…”WHAT?!”

“Don’t tell daddy.  Please Seanna? I don’t want him to stop playing Tickle Monster with us.”

In that moment I knew all I needed to know.
She plays tickle monster so her daddy can hold her, hug her, wrestle her, laugh with her, roar at her, and simply…
Be with her.
She.  Is.  Not.  Dying.  Laughing.  Because.  She.  Is.  Being.  Tickled.
She.  Is.  Dying.  Laughing.  Because.  She.  Is.  Being.  Loved.

Here’s to monsters that tickle, read, hold, chase, or dance.
Sincerely,
The Tickle Monster

Are you an introvert or an extravert?
Los

You are wading in the safety of the shore.
What God has for you is a mile out into the ocean.
But on the shore you can touch the ground.
you can dodge the waves.
You can run out of the water.

Peter could have never seen the miracle of God and walked on water if he was ankle deep on the shore.
That takes zero faith.
The truth is scary.
In order to experience true trust in Christ alone, you have to leave the shore.
you have to get out to where you can drown if Christ isn’t true.
And you have to step out and walk.

Peter walked and then sank.
It’s ok.
But he would never have walked NOR sank on the shore.

Get in the boat.
Sail out to where miracles take place.
And then step out.
Los