Archive - April, 2009

A Thought About Stereotypes

April 30, 2009 in Introduction, Poems, Uncategorized with 0 Comments

Several days ago, I read a review of Kevin Roose’s book The Unlikely Disciple by John Dobbs that so intrigued me that I had to go to Barnes & Noble the next day and get a copy. It’s an amazingly well-written book that captivates the reader in a number of different ways. What’s most intrigued me has been his concessions about stereotypes.

I am not going to go into the nature of Roose’s experiment. You can read John’s review to get the jist of it. Or you can watch the YouTube video below to get an idea about what the book’s about. But I will say that, insofar as I’ve read, Roose reveals an inherent danger in buying into certain traditional stereotypes. Sometimes things aren’t as we might expect, nor as they might seem. That’s the danger in making irrational judgments about people without considering the authenticity of a person. Formulating opinions of people based upon ethnic, gender, socio-economic and religious stereotypes is shallow, lazy and inconsiderate.

Jesus crushed the complex ethnic and religious stereotypes of both Jews and Samaritans by engaging a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well (John 4) and telling a parable of a Samaritan who helped man, presumably a Jew, left for dead (Luke 10:25-37). He sought to change conceptions of how Kingdom people looked at others. Stereotyping disrespects others and leaves us in the dark about the reality of people.

If you are a person who gets no further with people than a silly stereotype, think about what you might be missing! You may miss out on the opportunity of affording one the “good news.” You may miss out on your own personal elucidation concerning people about whom you are misguided. Get to know people deeply. Try to understand where they’re coming from. If we do, we’ll be more effective as salt and light to the world (Matthew 5:13-16).

The Unlikely Disciple

As They Really Are

April 29, 2009 in Christian Life with 0 Comments

Life is fast-paced, full of turns, and loaded with obstacles that we’ve got to be able to maneuver around.

Look around. The world is a mess. How are we supposed to navigate through life?

Some of us have our heads held too low. We’re depressed and discouraged. Let’s be honest, you just can’t see like that. As Jesus said, “Lift up your eyes…”

Some have their noses up in the air, suffocating themselves with self-glorification. People can’t see like that either. We must not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think (Rom. 12:3).

Some of us exist with blinders on. We do not want to see things as they really are. We live in a state of denial. It’s time for some of us to accept the truth, so we see things here, as well as witness the unseen.

God calls us to see things as the really are!

Spiritual Sickness

April 28, 2009 in Church with 0 Comments

Last week I became ill, not terribly by any means, but enough to not want to go anywhere or do anything. For so many reasons, being ill carries with it such terrible feelings.

I hate the sense of feeling like a bum. I hate lying in bed, not getting dressed, and not wanting to do anything for myself. Moreover, I hate the sense in which I feel like a burden to both my wife and kids. Being sick stinks.

The thing about stomach bugs though is that a person knows they’ve got one. It’s impossible to miss that awful feeling in your gut. What’s going on inside is often externalized through appearances. It’s hard for sicknesses to go undetected, even by those around us.

The same is true of spiritual illnesses. They are generally very detectable, and yet people will often try to deny that anything is even wrong. This is so terrible. It’s hard to be sick and not know it, but it’s unfathomable to be sick and know it, have others know it too, and yet deny it!

A Letter to Robert & Theda Landry (In-Laws)

April 27, 2009 in Letters with 2 Comments

I know I’m not the only one whose made a joke or two about “in-laws” in my lifetime. The “in-law” relationship has its own unique dynamic to it. Even when its good, you feel compelled to joke about it just because its normal.

BooBoo & LaLa with their grandkids at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

BooBoo & LaLa with their grandkids at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

It works both ways by the way. I’ve heard numerous parents, in apparent “moments of weakness,” be forthcoming about their son-in-law or daughter-in-law. Fortunately, my my in-laws are above that kind of thing and they’ve got little to nothing negative that they could possibly say about their son-in-laws. ;>}

Today, I write to Robert & Theda Landry of Mont Belvieu, TX. They are the proud parents of Tisha Young and Tara Matson. Chris Matson and myself have the privilege of being their son-in-laws. They are widely known as BooBoo and LaLa.

Doug

BooBoo and LaLa,

I owe you both an awful lot. You’ve introduced to some of the finer things in life, things that truly are life-transfiguring.  A lot of it, but not all, is food oriented. So the “life-transfiguring” aspect of it carries with it a significant downside if not careful. HaHa! My affinity for duck gumbo is from you. How else would I have ever been introduced to Nick’s boudin? I am a sucker for boiled crawfish thanks to you both! I don’t even need to get started on Sartens’s BBQ crabs! An ahnvee! Indeed, those are some of the finer things in life!

Seriously though, I was talking to a friend the other day about how having kids changes how you look at so many things. If I knew then, what I know now, I am certain that I would have acted in a much different fashion in my high school and college years. It’s amazing what parenting brings to the table in formulating perspectives on life.

So, I look at the futures of Haylee and Aby, in particular, with a certain sense of reluctance. How can I be at ease with the decisions that, Lord willing, they will one day face? While, theoretically, I know the answer, its the execution element on my part that most concerns me.

To my knowledge I’ve never told you this, but I believe you both did an amazing job of raising your girls. Especially, the Landry girl I married. I’ll let Chris speak for Tay. Tisha’s been a wonderful wife, much better than I deserve, and an excellent mother. She brings to our family a measure of intimacy that I am certain was handed down to her from her upbringing. I see it. I embrace it.

That you’ve been amazingly patient with a rather cantankerous son-in-law, I cannot deny. I am embarrassed about a number of my past trivialities. The tension that I brought with me must have made it difficult to ascertain how family gatherings would turn out. You both were incredibly graceful in the midst of it all. If you railed on me after us having left or you guys having headed home, its OK, you probably needed to for the sheer therapeutic value of it! Looking back, I think you understood more that I’d ever imagined.

You guys are great parents, wonderful grandparents (Crispy Creme’s notwithstanding), and loyal friends to many. You guys are loved across the board. That says a lot about you!

Boo, your work ethic is second to none. You would do anything to help anyone. Those are characteristics that I hope Reese grows up to recognize about you on his own, without having to have anyone point it out. They are qualities that I hope I am able to instill in him as well.

LaLa, that I couldn’t embarrass you at All About You earlier this month tells me that we are more alike than we might want to admit. We both do more to embarrass ourselves than others can do to embarrass us. All kidding aside, I think now we no longer use humor towards each other to try and soften situations anymore. Now, I think its a sign of an incredible “in-law” love and I love it. By the way, I forgive you for not having duck gumbo over Easter weekend!

Finally, thank you for the story you shared with me after lunch on Easter Sunday. I know the girls bolted as they saw it coming, but it was a story that I needed to hear. I’ve tried to keep you guys sheltered from my ministry disappointments for a number of reasons, but I’m glad that you listened when Tisha needed you. Moreover, I am appreciative of the fact that you both responded with encouragement when you knew I needed it! Thank you to you both for everything you do. I love you both!

Your Cantankerous Son-in-Law

Guest Post

April 24, 2009 in Poems with 1 Comment

Tisha and I have two special friends who’ve been through a lot the last couple of years. Both are finding God as their sources of strength and are finding hope for their futures. Isaul and Angelica Verdin are two incredible people with an equally incredible son, Noah.

I’ve told them both, Isaul on more than one occasion, that I attribute to them significant credit for my continuing in ministry. They have restored in me a confidence in people that I’d all but lost. I believe God worked through them to help me better understand his purposes for me.

I didn’t know this until yesterday, but Angelica is a writer. She sent a poem to Tisha and Tisha forwarded it to me. With Angelica’s permission, I am posting it here.

Doug

Finding my way back home

As I began my journey alone
The chill cut through my bone.

It’s been such a long time on this same path.
Lord when will you ease this wrath?

My body feels so cold
And my soul seems old.

How did I lose my way?
I don’t even know where my head should lay.

I stand on this road in the rain.
My heart is stained with pain.

As I stare at the crossroads that are near,
My destination seems unclear.

In this moment I pray for grace
So I can find a better place.

My choices led me here.
I can no longer fear.

I want to find my way back home
And no longer roam.

My soul craves to feel
Something that is real.

My heart is ready to be repaired
I was childish to not have ever before dared.

I am ready to surrender
To the Lord’s splendor.

Please take me back home.

Angelica Verdin
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