Monday, July 14, 2008

How to Look Good Naked

There's a show on cable called, "How to Look Good Naked". It's a show that I have never watched but from the commercials advertising it have surmised that it is a show all about self-esteem and seeing beauty from outside the usual and acceptable bounds that we modern Americans put on beauty - attractive, slender, tanned and assertive.

I read today in the Bible that the prophet Isaiah went around for three years naked. He was attempting to make a visual of the impending attack of Assyria on the nations of Egypt and Cush. I can imagine how people must've though old Izzy was off his rocker. I can just hear it, "C'mon man, put some clothes on!" Isaiah I think was the first one to show his fellow countrymen how to look good naked.

By the way, the best way to look good naked? Do what God says to do. Careful now, there's a lot of folks running around these days trying to do just that. The difference may be that Isaiah did something for God that was totally, socially unacceptable. The difference was what Isaiah did was personally embarrassing. The difference was, Isaiah obeyed God and kept at it until the mission was accomplished. That's how we can look good naked - we'll do whatever it takes to please - not ourselves, not out family and friends, not the boss, not the government - but God... and we'll walk around naked for three years to prove it.

I'm glad it was him and not me. I don't know if I could've done it. But here's the deal, if He (God, that is) says to do it, I will at least try. I may lose my job, I may embarrass my relatives and friends, but I will please Him because He's in the business of reaching people with His love and His goodness. Being naked for God means a lot if it results in others coming to know Him as their Friend.

I don't know that I'll watch the show, but I do know there is one good way to look good naked...in obedience to God.

Paul

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Be There

When you go on vacation this summer or simply take a few days off to rest and recuperate, be there. Wherever it is, whatever you are doing, be there. Don't be back at the office. Don't be in a meeting. Don't be thinking about your reentry into the work place - it will be there when you return.

Be there in rest and reflection. Your life needs those two things. Be there in place and re-creation. Build again the joy of being a child, a student, a neophyte. Be there in relationships and in pleasure. Be there in fun. Be there in the games... but above all else don't be "back there" in your mind.

Take a vacation from your problems wrote Dr. Marvin to Bob. Be there, just try not to be 'back there...' at least until it's time to be.

Paul