Two Changes from Aging

 I’ve noticed that as I get older, two things have changed about me that seem like a paradox: I care less about what people think, but I also care more about how they feel.

As I get older, I care less about what people think. By this I mean that I am less self conscious. I like who I am, but I realize that not everyone else will. It’s part of being human that not everyone gels perfectly. I know that I may rub others the wrong way, or that I’m not going to be liked by everyone. This frees me to just be myself and not worry about making everyone like me.

At the same time, I care more about how others feel. As I get go through this life I think that my level of empathy and compassion grows. I want to live for others, make them feel valuable and encourage them to be the best they can be.

These two things seem like a paradox, but I think they can coexist inside of me, but there has to be a tension. If I truly live in a way that I disregard other’s thoughts about me, I have no way of affecting their lives. I also run the risk of isolating others if I am self serving. Not caring about what others think is not about selfishness, it’s about being free to be myself. And I hope that who I am is a compassionate and selfless person.  

A Phrase You Should Reconsider

A few weeks ago, Jon Acuff in his blog Stuff Christians Like had a post about the veiled snarkiness in the phrase “Just saying.” He proposed that using this phrase is what some people consider a “Get Out of Jail Free Card” that people use to say mean things. Recently, I’ve noticed another phrase that is older, that is used to convey both bitterness and condescension. It’s not really the complete phrase, but an introduction to a phrase. I hear it all the time, but whenever I hear “Some of us …” I dread what follows.

Why is this common phrase, so bad? Let’s go to an example to see. While it is used in many different forms the most common one that I have seen is the phrase “Some of us have to work.” Imagine making plans with a group of friends to go somewhere, but one friend has to cancel because they get called into work. Afterward, when the group is talking about how much fun the outing you hear, “I wish I could’ve gone, but some of us have to work.”

First, this shows bitterness because it shows that the person is not happy with their situation. Not that voicing displeasure is wrong, but the second characteristic of this phrase makes this method of vocal disapproval wrong. It implies condescension to the others hearing this. It implies, “I wish I had it as good as you,” It’s as if you are saying, “It must be nice.” Because he was called into work, does that mean that his job is more important than the others? Is he implying that the others' jobs are all easy and stress-free?

Next time you want to express your displeasure in your situation, consider how you talk about it. Think of ways to say things that don’t talk down to others. Instead of saying, “Some of us have to work.” Say, “I hate that I had to go to work.” Instead of saying, “Some of us can’t sleep till noon.” Say, “I wish my job had more flexible hours.” 

Try to be more intentional it what you say. Didn’t Jesus warn us, “On the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Matt. 12:36).

Storming the Gates

"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

~Matthew 16:18 NKJV




In his sermon Sunday, our pastor made a profound insight about Matthew 16:18. He said that many times when we read Jesus’ statement to Peter that “the gates of Hades shall not prevail” when it goes up against the Gospel (and the Church), we interpret it as saying that we will be able to withstand difficulties.

While that is a theme throughout the Bible, this passage isn’t really saying this. A gate is a defensive structure (it’s also immovable). Whereas looking at it defensively would say that the forces of evil (Hades) is coming for us and bombarding us, the opposite is actually true. According to Jesus’ wording here, we are supposed to be on the offensive.

I thought about this for a while. We often look to passages such as the sixth chapter of Ephesians, and take note that the sword (word of God) is the only offensive weapon, but we fail to notice something about this armor: it is mobile. Even when an army storms the gates it makes sure it is thoroughly protected.

We should be on the move. In a way we should be looking for trouble, trying to fight battles with 

the forces of evil all of the time. This doesn’t mean we start going around as a super-saintly exorcist for hire, but it does mean we should radically live for God and do His will no matter what.

Christ didn’t call us to fortify the kingdom, but to advance the kingdom.