Think you've had a bad day...

I found this story online today. It serves as a great reminder that whenever you are having a bad day...someone else is having a day like this man.

Man crashes at driveway, sees home catch fire, gets ticket
The Associated Press

Rock Island, Tenn. — A Rock Island man whose car was hit as he tried to make a left turn into his driveway saw his home going up in flames as he was airlifted to the hospital. Tennessee Highway Patrol officer Monte Terry said Justin Hill, 42, was hit by an oncoming car when he pulled into its path on Tuesday evening.

Hill's wife heard the crash and ran outside, leaving the kitchen stove, where she had been cooking, unattended.

Within minutes, the trailer was on fire, and firefighters who had responded to the accident found themselves fighting the blaze.

The home had extensive damage. Hill was treated and released from the hospital, but he was cited in the accident for failure to yield.

No Complaing Rule!!

I love this video. My friend Daniel Dekker is working with the author...Jon Gordan...on this new book. Here is a promo video. Make sure you watch it to the end!

Loving Father or Older Brother?

“Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!” Luke 15:1-2 (NLT)

So, what did Jesus do?

He told three great stories.

The first one was about a lost sheep that the shepherd went out to find, leaving the 99 he had behind to find the one that was lost.

The second was about a lady losing one of her ten silver coins and doing an all out search to find it.

And then there was this story.

Here are the basics of the story of the prodigal son. A son wants his inheritance so he can go out on his own. His father gives it to him and he goes and blows all of it and ends up eating with a bunch of pigs…literally. He decides to go back to his father and beg for a place on his father’s staff as a servant. As his father sees him coming, he runs out to meet the son and gives him shoes, a ring, and a robe. Dad kills the big calf that was being saved for a special occasion and throws a crazy party for his son that had returned. The older brother gets upset and complains that he has never had a party thrown for him.

OK…make sure you read the story to get all the details. It is Luke 15:11-32

This week I heard a message about this story that challenged me. It was from Reggie Joiner in the opening session of the Orange Conference I was at in Atlanta.

Looking at this story in context of the chapter, there is a definite parallel between the Pharisees in verses 1-2 and the older brother in this story. There is also a connection between the way Jesus engaged with sinners and the way the loving father treated his prodigal son.

Think about these comparisons.
A loving father mentality is preoccupied with whose missing.
An older brother mentality is preoccupied with self.

A loving father mentality operates from a context of forgiveness.
An older brother mentality operates from a context of shame.

A loving father throws a party – is about building relationships.
An older brother throws a fit – is about tearing down.

A loving father confronts older brother thinking…then takes him to the party.
An older brother criticizes the loving father from a distance.

A loving father keeps the lights on as long as it takes.
An older brother closes the doors and turns off the lights.

So, where are you? Loving father or older brother? Now, don’t do what I first did and start to think through people in your head who you think would fit into one of these categories. Honestly deal with yourself. Who are YOU?

“Don’t just think about who is sitting around the table, but who is not there.” Reggie Joiner