EXCELLENCE

Today I read about the Statue of Liberty. The entire story of how it was built, transported and assembled is amazing. One thing stood out to me in the pictures and was commented on by others - the top of the head of the statue. The writer of one article noted that the sculptor, Frederic Bartholdi, sculpted the head at a time when there was no such thing as airplanes or helicopters. The height of the statue would ensure that no mortal eye would ever see the top of the head of Lady Liberty. And yet, he completed the top of her head with painstaking detail, just like the rest of the statue that would be seen by all. Little did Bartholdi realize that years later there would be helicopters flying over the head of the statue to give paying tourists a birds-eye-view of the statue. In his mind, he must have thought that only pigeons and seagulls would see atop the monument. Why, then, go through all the hard work of detailing the top of the Lady's head, hair strands and all? The answer from the sculptor would be this: "Because God is watching. Man may not be able to see the top, but God can."

This is the very message of excellence that the Apostle Paul was striving to communicate in Colossians:
"Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as working for
the Lord, not for men." (Col. 3:23)
We must remember that we are working for God, not for man. Whatever we do, we must do it with excellence because God is watching. He is the one who will reward us, not man.

In addition to this, we must also remember that when we call ourselves "Christians" (followers of Christ) we represent Him in everything we do. This means that we represent Jesus in our work and our play, at church and at home. So lets all strive for excellence and do our best at whatever we put our hands to because God is watching, and because what we do brings glory (or reproach) to Him in every area of our lives.

INAUGURATION

Many of us watched this week as Barak Obamma took the oath of office to become the President of the United States of America. In fact, more people watched this inauguration than any other presidential event in history. I was amazed most by the scenes of the crowds. A sea of people as far as the eyes could see dotted the mall on Washington like kudzu covering the trees of southern roadsides. Flags waved. Shouts of joy rang high. Tears rolled down frozen checks. All of this for a man who two-yers-ago was unknown to nearly everyone standing on the mall. As I watched in wonder I asked myself this quesion:"What does this mean?" In response, I have come to several conclusions.



First, I recognize that before me was unfolding the desperate position of our people. America is starving for hope. People are looking for answers. They are looking for someone - anyone - who will stand up and say "There is hope. I can bring change. Follow me." This message of change and hope won Mr. Obama the presidency. He felt the aching heartbeat of a desperate people and spoke to that need. If only my candidate would have done the same! John Maxwell said it best in one of his book: "People don't care what you know until they know that you care." Obama does not have an impressive resume for the office of president. In fact, he hardly has a resume at all. But people, like sheep, are not led by reason or fact, but by emotion and selfish desires. Clinton won his election the same way Obama did. He spoke to peoples needs - "It's the economy, stupid!" Remember? And so we see how a man can rise from political obscurity to the top office in the country by projectng the right message to the masses.



The second thing I see in this inauguration is the fraility of desperate humanity. Jesus spoke to this issue when He viewed the large crowds that came to follow Him. He said that they were like "sheep without a shepherd." Desperate people are vulnerble people. It seems that the masses will follow a pied piper to hell if they thought he was going to solve their problems. You see it in the crowds of people at the services of healing evangelists, or in food lines in poverty-stricken countries, or in the millions of poor who play the lottery or send in their stickers to the Publishers Clearing House Sweepsteaks. It scares me to think of the implications of a leader with such support taking us to the wrong places. President Obama has a big oportunity but also a big responsibility. I pay that he will do wat is right and what is good.

Finally, I must admit that my spirit man has awakened at the sight of sudden global acceptance of a man of obscurity. Obviously this overflow of support and man worship is not simply the result of good campaigning. Something is taking place in the spirit realm here, and I'm not sure that all this good will is summoned by God, but perhaps by His adversary. I se the spirit of antichrist at work blatantly! Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that Obama is the antichrist (don't get me started here!), but it is the spirit of antichrist that is spreading and preparing these lost masses to acept a man who will have all the answers. What's next?

McDonalds

I love McDonalds. Actually, I don't like their food (with the exception of the worlds greatest french fries and their fish sandwich). I like McDonalds because they are an American icon. Truthfully, at my age (forty-something) I probably wouldn't frequent McDonalds as often as I do, but most people my age don't have a three-year-old son. Three-year-old boys need two things to grow adequately: food and fun. McDonalds provides both at a reasonable price.



Have you ever considered how McDonalds continues to thrive even when other burger chains have fallen through the cracks? What makes them so successful? The answer is that McDonalds stays relevant. It stays up with the times. Whatever is popular McDonalds is on it - the latest entertainment craze (from Barney to Batman), to the latest food craze (from burgers to bagels to latte's). And McDonalds are not only relevant, they are regal. They allow for constant change in their menu while maintaining their classic iconistic giants like the Big Mack and the Big Breakfast. Go into any McDonalds on a weekday morning and you will find it packed with pepper-haired pancake poppers. And of all the Starbucks and coffee-house craze going around I still think McDonalds has the best coffee in town (except, of course, for the Fills Coffee Shop at Union Road). McDonalds has something for everyone.



Chances are that I will still be going to McDonalds well into my eighties. That is, as long as McD's is still relevant, still filling me up, still making me feel wanted, and still serving french fries. Now isn't there something the church can learn from that?