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On Sunday, I showed a clip of Billy the Exterminator. He was on the job—dealing with an infestation of cockroaches.

People were squirming and laughing.

Billy began explaining how the younger cockroaches feed on the older cockroaches’ droppings.

The audience really started laughing when Billy said, “The older/bigger ones go crap in the corner, and the younger ones eat it.”

Yuck.

I couldn’t stop thinking about that all day.

It made me wonder: what are we leaving behind for the next generation?

Is that bumper sticker that says, “I’m spending my kid’s inheritance” true in the church?

Are we feasting, only to leave our droppings behind for the young?

The people of Israel had a saying: “Sour grapes eaten by parents leave a sour taste in the mouths of their children.” (Ezekiel 18.2)

This old saying speaks of what we pass on to the next generation.

Let’s not leave sour grapes (funky attitudes) as an inheritance.

Let’s not leave our droppings as food for our kids.

Instead, let’s think generationally and invest in the young!

When Jesus told Peter, “Feed my lambs” – he wasn’t talking about feeding them sour grapes or crap.

It’s our privilege to bless, provide for, invest in, encourage, believe in, support and set up for success—the next generation.

He picks up the poor from out of the dirt,

rescues those who’ve been thrown out with the trash…

seats them among the honored guests,

a place of honor among the brightest and best.

Psalm 113.7,8 MSG

I’m thankful for a God who sees beyond my dirt—giving me value and worth.

Here are some books I’ve been reading (enjoyed & would recommend)…

If Grace Is So Amazing, Why Don’t We Like It? by Donald McCullough

http://www.amazon.com/Grace-Amazing-Why-Dont-Like/dp/0470491604/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1285968938&sr=1-1

The Upside of Irrationality by Dan Ariely

http://www.amazon.com/Upside-Irrationality-Unexpected-Benefits-Defying/dp/0061995037/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1285968919&sr=1-1

Prodigal God by Timothy Keller

http://www.amazon.com/Prodigal-God-Recovering-Heart-Christian/dp/0525950796/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285968902&sr=1-1

The 15 Revolution by Paul Scanlon

http://www.alm.org.uk/shop/product_details.php?id=9780955580444

Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick

http://www.amazon.com/Sun-Stand-Still-Happens-Impossible/dp/1601423225/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1285968866&sr=1-1

Surprised by Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels by Tullian Tchividjian

http://www.amazon.com/Surprised-Grace-Relentless-Pursuit-Rebels/dp/1433507757/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1285968493&sr=1-1

How about you?

What (good) books have you read recently?

My daughter and I watched a couple episodes of Billy The Exterminator last night.

That show always makes us laugh… and squirm.

Bugs.

Rodents.

Snakes.

Reptiles.

Infestations.

Mullets.

Braided, beaded chin hair.

Fingerless black leather gloves with spikes.

It’s like Dog the Bounty Hunter for insects and animals.

This is Billy’s business – and you can tell he’s pretty excited about it…

He squeezes into crawlspaces, climbs into attics, wades in swamps – invading the territory of creatures.

Concerning creatures: I like to keep a safe distance (like the distance between Baton Rouge and Seattle).

When it comes to contagious/infectious things: I’m running like Usain Bolt.

Jesus is more like Billy than me.

He gets right in there among all the creepy-crawlies and contagious diseases.

The Gospels tell the story of Jesus encountering a man with an advanced case of leprosy.

The man begged Jesus for healing.

How did Jesus respond?

He didn’t get out his travel-size Purell and start sanitizing.

He didn’t run.

Instead, he did the unthinkable…

He reached out and touched the leprous, infectious skin of that man.

He touched him and said, “Be healed”.

And the man was instantly healed!

When Jesus touched the leper, he didn’t catch leprosy – the leper caught what Jesus had: healing/wholeness.

Here’s what I’m driving at: God won’t keep a safe distance from you.

He’s not moving away from you – he’s coming to you.

He’s not intimidated by all your sin, funk and junk.

You’re not too messed up for Him.

He’s not gonna come down with a case of whatever you have.

You aren’t going to infect Him.

But He will infect you – with healing, wholeness, forgiveness… life!

Jesus won’t keep a safe distance from your _______________(marriage, family, finances, life).

If you were creating a masterpiece, what kind of raw materials would you seek out?

Maybe something unique, of high-quality, refined, rare, valuable…

For some reason, God chose dirty dusty dirt.

Yup.

Dirty. Dusty. Dirt.

His signature masterpiece, the crowning jewel of his creation – was formed from the raw material of dirty dusty dirt.

“Then the Lord formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.” (Genesis 2.7)

This is how God works.

He takes darkness and makes light.

He chooses chaos and brings order.

God takes the expired and renews ‘em.

He picks up the broken and makes ‘em whole.

God takes common dirty dusty dirt and creates a masterpiece.

Maybe you feel like you’re not all that special, unique, refined or valuable.

Perhaps your family situation is messy, chaotic – or even downright dirty.

Well, I have some really Good News for you…

God takes common dirty dusty dirt and makes a masterpiece.

“For we are God’s masterpiece…” (Ephesians 2.10)

That’s right!

We are the raw material God is drawn to.

We’re exactly what He’s looking for.

And He sees through the dirt…

He sees a masterpiece in the making.

I think we should all be praying something like this:

“God, take the dirty dusty dirt of my _________________ (life, marriage, family) and create a masterpiece.”

The term “Golden Age” comes from Greek mythology.

It refers the first of several ages of man…

The Golden Age, the Silver Age, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age – and then the present, which is a period of decline.

During the Golden Age (according to the myth) there was peace, harmony, stability and prosperity.

And now things aren’t so golden.

Now, we’re in an age of decline.

Depressing, really.

Various religious and political groups love this myth…

They are harsh critics of today.

They are angry.

They want to turn back the clock.

If they could, they would put their family and friends in a time machine and get back to the “good old days”.

They want to take things back to the Golden Age – that “better” time in history.

But there’s just one little problem…

The Golden Age is a myth.

The past wasn’t actually any better.

And the “good old days” weren’t really all that good.

This overwhelming desire to go back isn’t life-giving at all.

Don’t believe me? Just ask Lot’s wife about it (Genesis 19.26).

I don’t ever want to go back.

There’s no life in the past.

There’s nothing there.

Instead, I will live with a sense of wonder for today – and faith for an even better tomorrow.

“So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever!” (2 Corinthians 3.11 NLT)

Which would you choose to work with…

Something old and broken?

Or something new and functional?

For some reason, God’s favorite raw materials are chaotic and dark, old and broken.

When the earth was without form and darkness covered everything, the Spirit of God hovered over it and said, “Let there be light.”

God takes darkness and makes light.

He chooses chaos and brings order.

God selects the broken and makes them whole.

He takes the old and makes them new.

Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” (Luke 4.18, 19 NLT)

God is drawn to the poor, the captive, the blind and the oppressed.

This is Good News for those of us who aren’t perfect.

This is Good News for our marriages, for our families and for our church.

God chooses raw materials that are chaotic and dark, old and broken.

And He makes all things new (Revelation 21.5).

We really are different, aren’t we?

Unique.

Special.

Deserving of the expression, “Well, bless her heart.”

It was God’s crazy idea to gather all different kinds of people and assemble them together as the church – the family of God.

Wouldn’t it have just been simpler to have us all go our own way and do our own thing?

We’re all soooooo different.

Yet, God chose to save us and join us – not only to Himself, but also to each other as one big family… the church.

Yikes!

It’s hard enough trying to get along with our natural families – let alone this new spiritual family!

I have a theory about this…

I think the ark was God’s test.

The ark was God’s trial run for the church.

God said, “I’m gonna get a big boat and put loads of animals in it. After 40 days, if the crocodile hasn’t eaten the monkey, I think I might be able to make this happen with human beings.”

Fast forward to today: every Sunday, creatures come in two by two out of the parking lot and into the church.

You see families of crocodiles snapping at each other as they come into church.

You see the peacocks strutting around.

You see the mice and the elephants and the giraffes and the walruses and the cats and the dogs and the wildebeests…

We all come in to the church… and if we make it through the day without devouring each other – victory!

Perhaps the ark was a test.

Maybe God said, “Well, if the monkey survived this thing, my people can gather together as the church.”

HERE’S WHAT I DO KNOW: GOD GATHERS. THE ENEMY SCATTERS.

God gathers families. The enemy’s tactic is to scatter families.

God gathers his church. The enemy works to scatter the church.

Yeah, we are unique and special.

We’re very different.

But God has brought us together.

And together we’re better.

Together we’re stronger.

Gathered is God’s idea… and His grace makes it work.

I enjoyed classes where I could depend more on my talent, charm and good looks than on paying attention…

So, I loved speaking and writing classes.

Math… not so much.

Math class required homework every day.

You have to pay attention.

You have to master every lesson.

You have to “show your work.”

And if you get behind, you could easily fail.

There’s just no winging it or putting on a good show in math.

Parenting is kinda like math class…

Your talent, charm and good looks don’t come into play.

Parenting requires you to pay attention every day.

It’s super important that you don’t get behind (don’t slack-off on your parenting responsibilities).

Here’s what the Bible says:

“A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them.” (Proverbs 13.24 MSG)

It almost sounds a little counter-intuitive.

Discipline = love.

No discipline = no love.

Here’s the deal: not disciplining your kid for a week is like not doing your math homework for a week.

A test will come… and crisis is inevitable.

Parenting requires constant involvement, attention and adjustment.

“Don’t exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.” (Ephesians 1.4 MSG)

Your child needs you to take them by the hand and lead them.

Your child needs you to be…

Steady.

Consistent.

Reliable.

Here’s my least favorite parenting method…

Let things get out of control for a long time. Snap. Then go Nazi on your kids.

Ugh.

This never works.

Why do parents give their children ridiculously harmful amounts of freedom and think they can successfully take it all back when they finally decide to put their foot down?

It’s like a formula for getting your family invited to be on the Jerry Springer show…

The goal isn’t to wait until the breaking point and then put your foot down.

The goal is to take their hand and guide them.

“Don’t exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.” (Ephesians 1.4 MSG)

Taking them by the hand means constant, active involvement in shaping their lives.

Not sporadic.

Not apathetic.

Not ignorant.

Not waiting until things get so bad that you have to put your foot down.

Take their hand!

Be constantly, actively involved in the shaping of their lives.

Scripture paints a picture of what “taking them by the hand” parenting looks like:

“Commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” (Deuteronomy 11.18, 19 NLT)

That’s some constant, active involvement – shaping and training them at home, on the road, while tucking them into bed and getting them up in the morning.

Don’t wait for a crisis.

Don’t wait until it’s too late.

Don’t put your foot down.

Be their parent.

Take their hand.