And the Oscar goes to…

Last night the Oscars aired. I couldn’t watch it because I was traveling. But of course with Twitter, FaceBook and Airport Cable I was able to read the tickers and keep up with the winners. The one part I love about the Oscars is the acceptance speeches, some are good while others… well are not. I just watched some of the better ones and got to thinking… if I received an award for a life achievement who would I thank? Of course God, my mother, my wife, my family and my close friends --- but the more I began to think the more names and faces flushing my memory. So I made a list and began calling these people who I have not spoken to in years and thanked them for the role God had them play in my life.

So if you received a life achievement award who would you call and thank?

“Betting on God in Sin City” Mar 8, 2010

As I pen this, my second blog entry, I sit in a hotel room in “Sin City”. Yes, Las Vegas, the city where you can “do anything that you want and no one has to know." Where the night life is fast and the lights are bright. To be honest; I was a bit naïve concerning the things that I have seen while just walking in public or the conversations that I have overheard.

At the airport in Phoenix, I caught wind of a man talking about his gambling experience. He described how he was headed to a “VIP - Invite only” Poker Tournament. If he did well this tournament would get him a seat in the World Series Poker Tournament. He shared about his last time in Vegas. How he was doing well at his last tournament and then he got one “bad hand” after another which eventually led to him not making it to the next round. He then made this statement, “Poker is all about the hand that you are dealt and knowing what to do with it.” The same could be said for life. We all know that there are valley experiences in life, aka bad hands. Knowing how to play those hands can determine how well we finish.

One individual in the Bible who was dealt a bad hand was Joseph.

Joseph’s childhood was far from ideal. His mother died while he was young. He was despised by his brothers because he was his father’s favorite. His brother threw him in a pit, betrayed him and sold him into slavery. He was double-crossed in Potipher’s house and accused of sexual assault despite honoring Potipher and being a man of integrity. He was then falsely imprisoned and then forsaken by those he helped. If anyone had a reason to be bitter, resentful and angry it was Joseph. Instead what do we find? When the time came for his brothers to come bow before him begging for mercy Joseph says; "Do not be afraid, for I am in God's place? "And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. "So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them Genesis 50:19-21.

Through the midst of difficult times and many bad hands, Joseph entrusted himself to God. I wonder how we would play our hands if we just entrust ourselves to God and bet on him.

How does your faith in God affect how you see your life when circumstances are not ideal?

To Serve or Not to Serve?

Oswald Chambers, My Upmost for his Highest (http://www.myutmostforhishighest.org/); has been very instrumental in my Christian journey especially in my formative Christian years. Honestly, as a young Christian, much of what he wrote went way over my head. I remember reading the quote below and thinking what is he talking about.

“If you are devoted to the cause of humanity you will soon be exhausted, and have your heart broken by ingratitude, but if the main spring of your service is love for Jesus, you can serve men although they treat you as a doormat, never look for justice in this world but never cease to give it.”

Despite being “new to the game”, as we use to say back in the day on the streets of New York City; the game in this context being public ministry and serving, I see how being devoted to man rather than Jesus in serving man can leave one exhausted, even bitter and resentful. I have met my share of Pastors and Church Leaders who just don’t seem to “enjoy” people anymore for the most part because people have let them down and have been ungracious.

I too have felt the tension of continuing to serve man with a heart that displays a genuine attitude despite feeling unappreciated, unwanted and inadequate.

It is not on my own strength that I can lean or trust but on Jesus my Rock must I put all my weight on… I must serve because He served mankind until His death... Easier Said then Done!!

How do YOU stay faithful to serving when those you serve hurt you or let you down?

Chap Brito