tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813956978349268752023-07-17T22:05:44.370-07:00The Random Acts ProjectJoe Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344483709435090182noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481395697834926875.post-17155164711147785712012-09-22T05:27:00.000-07:002012-09-22T05:27:40.977-07:00Ordinary PeopleEveryone loves a hero. We watch the evening news, patiently waiting for a story about an ordinary person who did an extraordinary act. It gives us hope. It makes us feel good. We hold these people up on our shoulders, have parades in their honor, and give them the credit that they deserve for what they have done.<br />
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In the midst of all of the well deserved hype, we often forget that our new-found hero is really just an ordinary person - no different than you and I. <br />
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There are everyday heroes, such as our military personnel and all of the first responders, who's job description is to perform extraordinary acts everyday. These people are heroes by nature, and deserve all of our praise and honor.<br />
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But what about the average Joe that finds himself in a situation that requires action? And, he takes action. And, to someone, he is a hero.<br />
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We all have that potential in us.<br />
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When Christ began His earthly ministry, He surrounded Himself with a group of guys that would be His disciples - His students - His friends.<br />
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He could have chosen the elite of society. There were Lawyers, and Doctors in the first century. There were Politicians, Religious Leaders and Military Commanders. There was Royalty that He could have chosen from. But He didn't. He chose a bunch of ordinary guys, that would ultimately do extraordinary things.<br />
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We know that Peter, James, John, Andrew, and Philip were all fishermen. We know that Matthew was a Tax Collector - a despised Jew that worked for the Roman Government. The others, we don't know for sure, so we have to assume that their occupation wasn't worth mentioning. In the first century, a Shepherd was the lowest job title that one could have. But, in all fairness to our sheep herding friends, God chose the Shepherds to be the first to hear the angelic announcement that the Messiah - the Savior of the world - was born in the small town of Bethlehem, some thirty years earlier.<br />
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Throughout biblical history, God seemed to always choose ordinary people to do His extraordinary work. God chose Abraham to be the father of a great nation that would be the family of God. Abraham, for all practical purposes, was a nomad - a man without a nation - a nobody. Yet God blessed him and made him into one of the few nations in the history of the world that has managed to keep its national identity for over 4000 years, the nation of Israel.<br />
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God could have chosen Egypt to be the nation that would bring the Savior into the world. Egypt, at that time was a growing, powerful nation. Their engineering skills were legendary throughout the known world. But, it wasn't God's plan. If there is one thing that God knows about us humans, it is our propensity to worship idols. It wouldn't have taken long for the blessings of God to be taken for granted, and for us to start looking at Egypt with glazed eyes saying, "Look how awesome Egypt is! Look how they have become such a great and powerful nation. They always were one step ahead of everyone else. They did it all on their own. They are a self made nation." And God would have been forgotten as the reason that they became great in the first place.<br />
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No, God chose an ordinary man so that all the world would know that it was God that was behind it. And, He chose a group of twelve social outcasts to bring His message of Salvation to the world, so that all the world would know that it is the truth of God.<br />
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If God could use these ordinary men to bring His plan to the world, just think of what awesome things He can do with you and I. All that is needed is faith, and a willingness to trust in God's leading. But, as we know, that is where it starts to become difficult.<br />
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Dr. Charles Stanley wrote, "The call of faith is often a call to step out into the unknown." <br />
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Abraham was a very wealthy man, in his day. He owned livestock. He had servants in his household, and he had a large extended family. Yet God asked him to leave his family behind and "go to a land that God would show him." It would have been one thing if God would have laid out Abraham's travel itinerary - first you'll go here, then you'll go there, and finally you will settle here. But, He didn't. He asked Abraham to simply pack his bags and go. God would show him the way.<br />
<br />I can't even begin to imagine how much faith it took to do something like that. Is God calling you to do something extraordinary? He could. Would you be ready? Would you go?<br />
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Abraham's call was huge. But, what if God put on your heart to help care for the elderly lady that lives across the street? Or, babysit for the single mom that lives two doors down? Would you do that? Could you step out of your comfort zone, to the realm of the unknown? Could you go, and then wait for God to lead you?<br />
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The bible is filled with stories of ordinary people, that with God's power, did extraordinary things. Most of the time, they never knew just how extraordinary their act would become. Theirs was one small part of God's great plan.<br />
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Are you ready to do your part?Joe Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344483709435090182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481395697834926875.post-253703859466269032012-08-26T06:20:00.003-07:002012-08-26T06:22:42.861-07:00Who is my Neighbor?From my dining room window, I heard the sirens and saw the emergency vehicles race to the intersection near my house. This was about two weeks ago.<br />
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I was running late that morning. Typically, I would have been at the intersection at that exact time. And, on a typical morning, so would one of my neighbor, "Cliff", who walks his dog every morning.<br />
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There is no crosswalk at this intersection. When the timing is perfect, as it is most mornings, I would trip the light so that Cliff can cross on a green. But, I wasn't there that morning.<br />
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The police officers were racing to gain control of the traffic. The paramedics were working feverishly to save the person lying in the middle of the intersection, while the firefighters were darting back and forth to the ambulance, bringing the tools and equipment.<br />
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I was in my truck and around the corner in a matter of seconds. To my relief, Cliff and Smoky were standing off to the side. They had witnessed the accident.<br />
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It was a young man who was riding a motorcycle that, somehow, struck a semi-trailer. Unfortunately, the young man was pronounced dead at the scene.<br />
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I felt guilty. I was overjoyed that it wasn't my neighbor, but I began to feel terrible knowing that this was someones son, or brother, or husband, or father. He didn't live on my street, but he lived on someones street.<br />
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In Luke chapter 10, an expert in Jewish religious law came to test Jesus by asking Him, "What must I do to receive eternal life?" Jesus asked, "What does the Law & Moses say?" The lawyer responded, "You must love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength - and love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus said, "You are right - do this and you will live." But, the lawyer needed clarification (as they always do), so he asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" <br />
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Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan. A Jewish man was traveling when he was attacked by bandits. He was stripped of his clothes and money, beaten and left for dead. First a Jewish priest came by, but because of his social status, and rules of ceremonial law, he refused to help. The text says that he crossed to the opposite side of the street to pass by. Next came a Jewish temple assistant. He stopped and looked at the guy, but offered no assistance. Maybe he didn't want to get involved. Maybe he didn't know what to do, or where to start. He sounds a lot like us. Last came a Samaritan. <br />
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Now, you need to understand that there was a multi-century old hatred between the Jews and the Samaritans. A Jew would be ceremonially "unclean" if he even rubbed the garment of a Samaritan. But, in Jesus story, the Samaritan was the one who helped the Jewish guy. <br />
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In the end, Jesus asked the lawyer, "Which one of the three was this man's neighbor?" Obviously it was the Samaritan, but the lawyer couldn't even get himself to say it. He answered Jesus, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said, "Now you go and do the same."<br />
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Are we prepared to "go and do the same"? Are we prepared to help someone that we would normally, never even acknowledge? That's what Jesus has asked us to do. And, actually, in the original Greek text, the word "go" is in the imperative sense, meaning it is a command - not a suggestion.<br />
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More and more flowers keep showing up at the intersection. This man was loved. I pray for his family as they go through this time of grief. We don't know them, but they are also our neighbors.Joe Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344483709435090182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481395697834926875.post-8106776343671988222012-08-12T05:13:00.000-07:002012-08-12T05:17:53.556-07:00Creative GivingMy wife and I were enjoying a beautiful Saturday morning, on the outside patio of Graham's 318 coffee shop, in Geneva, IL. Kathie was sipping her drink. I had gotten up to go inside when a man showed up with dozens of bouquets of flowers, which he started handing out to all of the ladies.<br />
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He explained that they were "day-old" flowers and where to be thrown away. So, he gathered them up, placed them in the trunk of his car and went around handing them out to anyone who would accept them. He felt that nothing brightens up a woman's day like a bouquet of flowers.<br />
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When he was asked why he was doing it, he simply said that it was a random act of kindness.<br />
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He had already gone when I came out of the store. I wish I could have met him. Maybe we will see him again. What an awesome idea. <br />
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By the way, the bunches of flowers had Trader Joe's stickers on them. I understand that Trader Joe's is very generous this way... Just in case you might want to do this yourself.<br />
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God bless you.Joe Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344483709435090182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481395697834926875.post-68248213553305065802012-08-10T20:42:00.001-07:002012-08-12T04:49:43.534-07:00Back again...I decided to restart the blog that I had set aside... I can't believe it has been two-and-a-half years now. Though I haven't written in a while, I have still continued to help those in need, in any way that I can. <br />
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The purpose of the blog is to encourage and challenge all of you to step out of your comfort zone and do something for another person. We are so conditioned to mind our own business and avoid any kind of involvement, that people in need are often ignored.<br />
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What is it that makes us look the other way and ignore a person in need? The most popular answer that I've received is that the person in need wouldn't accept our help anyway, thus creating an awkward situation. It would be embarrassing - both for the person in need as well as the person offering help. <br />
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Sometimes, we feel like there is nothing that we can do. We're not mechanics, or rescue professionals, or policemen. What help can we possibly be?<br />
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But, it's not about all of that. One thing that I have discovered in the past few years of consciously being aware of other people in need, is that most of the time, you don't need to do anything - you just need to be there. <br />
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Years ago, I came across a woman and her daughter that were broken down on a stretch of road that wasn't very well traveled. They had called AAA, and were promised a tow truck within the hour. There wasn't anything that I could do for the vehicle, but still, I was concerned about the two of them being stranded alone. It was late afternoon and the sun was starting to set. It didn't seem right for me to just drive away, leaving them behind.<br />
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I asked if they would like me to stay with them until the tow truck arrived. Putting myself in their position, I was the proverbial "creepy guy" that comes along when you break down on a deserted road. They had no idea who I was, and I'm sure they felt very uncomfortable. Talk about an awkward moment. <br />
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The woman didn't know what to say. Later, she told me that she didn't want to be out there alone, and was happy that I suggested that I stay, but in my own vehicle, until the tow truck arrives. <br />
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When I first arrived, I had told her that I was a mechanic. When the tow truck was ready to leave, she handed me her husband's business card. Her husband owned a machine shop. On the back, she had written, "This is the guy that stopped to help Nan and me." She said that if I ever needed any machine work, I should call him. Her husband and I became good friends.<br />
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It was terribly awkward. She rejected my offer to help. But still, I did what I thought was the right thing to do. It wasn't a big deal. All I did was sit there for about forty-five minutes. If it was my wife and daughter, I would hope a guy like me would come along.<br />
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Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and offer some help. It might be awkward, and you might be rejected. But then, you might just have the chance to show Christ's love through a simple, random act of kindness.<br />
<br />Joe Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344483709435090182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481395697834926875.post-25092811583555114822010-01-24T13:00:00.000-08:002010-01-24T12:20:37.698-08:00The Generous Mr. LovewellThe Contemporary Christian Rock Band, Mercy Me, chose to name there latest album release, "The Generous Mr. Lovewell". A tribute to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who above all, knows how to love - well. What a great title.<br /><br />The Apostle John was an old man, maybe in his nineties, when he wrote his first letter. And, in this first letter, he felt that it was necessary to remind his children in the faith that it was all about love. He reminded them of what Christ said, "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should love one another. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (John 13:34-35 NLT)<br /><br />The Apostle Paul wrote, "Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other." (Romans 12:9-10 NLT)<br /><br />We need to be "doers" of love. Sincere love requires concentration and work. Sincere love can help others become better people. It shouldn't be applied sparingly, it should be poured out generously.<br /><br />As a body of believers, we should have a positive effect on the people around us. We should let the world see that we have Christ's love inside us by generously showing that love, just as Christ poured it out for us. Love should come easy for us. The God of all creation is living inside of us.<br /><br />He is the author of love, and after all, He is "The Generous Mr. Lovewell."Joe Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344483709435090182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481395697834926875.post-45000744225154577722010-01-24T11:34:00.000-08:002010-01-24T11:36:06.036-08:00SmileIsaac is a man that is full of wisdom... a wise soul, as some might say. Although his delivery may be, at times, "rough around the edges", his advice is always right on. I work with Isaac a couple of days a week, and always look forward to our conversations.<br /><br />I overheard him say to a young woman, as she was passing by, "Smile!" She mumbled her reply. He kindly explained to her, in a way that a favorite uncle would, that if she continues to walk around like a "mope", soon enough it would become her nature. "There goes that mopey girl!"<br /><br />He continued, "No one wants to hang out with people that look like they are about to bite your head off." "Why don't you smile, and let the world know that you are a good person, you know, someone that they would want to be with?" This time, her reply came in the form of a single-digit, hand gesture.<br /><br />There had to be something about Christ that made him appealing to the masses. There had to be something about the way He presented Himself that made these rough, tough fishermen, and tax collectors, drop everything and follow Him. They trusted Him before they even knew Him.<br /><br />Maybe Isaac was right, maybe it was His smile. We should all smile more. Could it be that simple? That, one of the ways that we would let Christ's light shine through, would be a smile? Afterall, it is a trademark of a kind person. And, if our new nature is to include; tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love (Colossians 3:12-14 NLT) than maybe a smile is a good place to start.<br /><br />It is probably the easiest thing to give to someone else.Joe Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344483709435090182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481395697834926875.post-54360651000186224652010-01-24T10:49:00.000-08:002010-01-24T10:54:08.336-08:00He loved, so He gave.Jesus said, speaking of Himself, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)<br /><br />He loved, so He gave. We think of love as an emotion. And, emotion is one of the definitions. But love, true love, is an action. It is something that we do, not just something that we feel. Love is something that must be shared. Love reaches out and draws others in. Love is self-sacrificing, not self-centered. Love is given freely, with no expectations. Love is giving.<br /><br />Jesus showed us how to give by showing us how to love. He is the author of love, and He “does” love extremely well.<br /><br />So, in the spirit of love, today I gave. I chose a Christian relief organization that is working with the earthquake victims in Haiti. I made a small donation, knowing that God will put it to good use according to His will.<br /><br />Have you given anything today?Joe Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344483709435090182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481395697834926875.post-63781681316567154912010-01-18T16:24:00.000-08:002010-01-18T17:01:44.576-08:00New DirectionI took a couple of weeks off to really think, and pray about the direction of this blog. During this time off, I have been listening to, and observing everything around me. <br /><br />As bits and pieces began to come together in my mind, I began to see a clearer picture. I began to realize that it is not so much the act that is the point, but the nature that produced the act. <br /><br />Christ, being God in the flesh, had the ability to love in its perfection. It is His nature. And, He displayed this perfect love in actions that all the world could see. The bible intentionally refrains from giving any type of physical description of Christ. Why? Because it is not important. What is important is His embodiment of both His perfect human nature, and His perfect divine nature.<br /><br />So where does this leave us? We don't have the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">luxury</span> of a perfect nature, but, we do have the next best thing. As believers, we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. God promises that, through His Spirit, we will be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We will take on a new nature, as we become one with Christ.<br /><br />So, can we develop a nature of love as Christ loved? We'll have to see.Joe Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344483709435090182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481395697834926875.post-82861548204177131672010-01-01T05:56:00.000-08:002010-01-01T06:57:27.623-08:00Week FourYou would never realize how many people have flat tires in the Chicago area, until you start looking for them.<br /><br />One morning, this past week, I came across a woman with a flat tire. But, this time, a guy had already stopped to help her. He was tightening the lugs on the newly installed spare, so there was no point in me stopping. I sat at the light and observed.<br /><br />The man was dressed in a suit, and wearing a wool overcoat. He wore black leather dress shoes and matching gloves. He was dressed for the office, not for changing a tire. But, he stopped anyway.<br /><br />Maybe he was the woman's husband, or brother, or a close friend. It would make perfect sense. Or maybe he was someone, like me, who saw a person in need and wanted to help. I suppose we'll never know.<br /><br />As I observed, I looked at the faces of the people in the cars around me. We were all looking at this man. Judging by their facial expressions, I could see that they were amazed that a man so sharply dressed would stop to change a tire. The women in the cars were smiling, as if they saw the man as a modern day knight in shining armour. The men in the cars reacted differently. Some were pointing and laughing, while some were just staring. Some were shaking their heads as if to say, "Not me", and others were trying not to look at all. Everyone was moved in some way.<br /><br />I don't know what motivated the man to stop, but his action left an impression on a number of people. <br /><br />Jesus told His followers to let their good deeds shine for all the world to see, so that everyone will praise our Heavenly Father. The woman with the flat was the one that received the immediate benefit of the man's act of kindness, but we see that it still effected a number of people.<br /><br />The Holy Spirit works constantly in the lives of believers, as well as non-believers, to draw us back to Himself. Even the men who were laughing were moved. And, just maybe, a seed was planted in their hard hearts that will begin to grow. This could very well be, the first of a thousand steps that they need to take, on their road to faith in Christ.<br /><br />I would have to think that the man who stopped had no idea of the broad-reaching impact of his action. He stopped to help a woman with a flat. <br /><br />We never know who is watching us, as we go through life. We could effect people without even knowing it. So, let the effect we have be positive, and let the Holy Spirit do His work through it.Joe Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344483709435090182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481395697834926875.post-90362897589134222552009-12-27T04:52:00.000-08:002009-12-31T06:52:16.919-08:00Week ThreeMy youngest daughter, Jess, decided to join me on a road trip to Ohio this morning. I had won the bid for a cast iron <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">woodburning</span> fireplace insert on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">ebay</span>. It would have cost more to ship it, than what I paid for it, due to its approximate 450 lbs. weight. So, we hopped in the truck and set out on a six hour drive.<br /><br />We left West Chicago at 7am. It was beginning to snow heavily, but the forecast appeared clear to the East.<br /><br />Visibility was bad, and it didn't help that I never changed the wiper blades that I should have changed when it was warm out. We stopped at a Target store along the way and purchased new blades. Soon enough, we were on our way.<br /><br />It was a good time to talk with Jess about all of the things that are happening in our lives. We talked about her life at college, and all that pressures that go along with it. We talked about this Random Acts Project. She thinks its pretty cool.<br /><br />As we spoke, it started to become more clear that the essence of this project is to reflect Christ's light constantly, in all situations, big and small. It should never stop shining. I realized that I was using it only when the need arose. Helping someone change a flat tire was easy. They had an obvious need, and I was there to help. Now, don't get me wrong, those situations are real and my act of kindness went a long way, but what about the majority of the people that don't have an obvious need, but simply need to connect with someone briefly?<br /><br />We stopped for a quick bite at a McDonald's near the Indiana/Ohio border. It was noon, and we were almost to our destination. The place was packed, and chaotic. One of the four cashiers was a gal named Amanda. Amanda was obviously feeling the pressure of the prep staff not being able to keep up with the flow. Customers were complaining.<br /><br />It was a complete gridlock. No one was moving. Amanda was desperately trying to avoid eye contact with anyone, knowing that she would be asked a question that she couldn't answer. But, she looked at me.<br /><br />I smiled and asked about her Christmas. She cautiously said it was good. I asked a couple of other general questions like, "Were you with family?" "Did you get what you wanted?" Luckily for me, she did have a good Christmas, and it put a smile on her face. Then, I asked if she could go in the back and show them how to make a burger, so we could get the line moving. She laughed and took a couple of steps towards the back, as if she was going to do just that. She turned back and smiled, and said, "Nah, they can handle it."<br /><br />Isn't that what this project is all about? Just simply connecting with another person as Christ did? He went out of His way to connect with the woman at the well. She had gotten herself into a bad situation with marrying and divorcing several guys, and living with a guy that wasn't her husband at all. She was ashamed. But, Christ came to her and offered forgiveness. The Judge of all creation chose not to judge her. Isn't that amazing? The one person in all history that is qualified to judge us, chose not to judge her. Instead, He offered forgiveness.<br /><br />People hurt us in a variety of ways. Some intentional, and some not. The woman at the well knew she had made mistakes, and she was ashamed. So much so, that she went to draw water at the hottest part of the day, to avoid any contact with other people. But, Christ met her where she was - at the lowest part of her life. Instead of making her feel worse, He offered her relief. He gave her hope. He gave her direction. And, He simply said, "Go and sin no more."Joe Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344483709435090182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481395697834926875.post-74744884773801619962009-12-25T07:06:00.000-08:002009-12-31T06:25:32.760-08:00Days Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, and ElevenI apologize for not blogging over the past few days. With today being Christmas day, I would like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, and remind everyone that, as they open their gifts, it was our Lord that gave us the ultimate gift 2000 years ago, by giving Himself.<br /><br />We celebrate His birth, and we can't help but ponder the unusual circumstances by which He was born. To the sceptic, they seem so, far-fetched. Even, unbelievable. From our human perspective, it seems almost ridiculous.<br /><br />It was no different in first century Jerusalem. Even the most devout Jews had a hard time believing that the Messiah would arrive in such a humble way. But, their own Prophets had predicted it, hundreds of years before, and God's plan was carried out to the tee.<br /><br />Why would God choose to reveal Himself in a such an obscure manner? The simple answer is; so that we would know it was all His plan.<br /><br /><p>If we would have wrote the story, it would have been completely different. We would have had God come down from heaven with thunder and lightning, accompanied by an army of angels. He would have saved the good people, and destroyed the rest. But, God had a different plan.</p><p>We look at the world and we see people of different cultures, and beliefs. Sometimes, these cultures and beliefs clash with ours (or visa versa), and we become enemies. The first century Jews saw their enemy as the Roman Empire, but God knew that their only true enemy was sin. </p><p>Sin had to be defeated in order for us sinful humans to be able to stand in the presence of a Holy, Just, and Righteous God. The truth is that we could never be good enough on our own, for all have sinned, and all have fallen short of God's glorious standard. </p><p>Before the world was created, God knew that He Himself would have to save His people. Before we were created, He knew that we would reject Him, and that we would be eternally separated from Him. Yet He created us anyway, why? Love. </p><p>We know that as parents, the odds are pretty good that 15 -16 years after the birth of our child, they will be screaming in our faces, "I hate you! I wish you never had me!" But, we have kids anyway, why? Love. In the same way, God knew that we would turn on Him, but He loved us so much that He did it anyway. Even knowing that He would have to pay the price for our sins.</p><p>He could have just appeared as an adult, but He wouldn't have been truly human. He could have been born of an earthly mother and father, but He wouldn't be divine. So, He had to be born of a virgin, and His father was God. That is the only way to be 100% human, and 100% divine. That was the only way that He could be the perfect sacrifice for our sins.</p><p>But there was more to it than that. He knew that we would continue to be born, and to live our lives on this earth, and to die as people do. So, He showed us to live.</p><p>The Gospel message is not just about being eternally saved, its also about learning how to live as Christ did. </p><p>That's what this blog is about. Trying to live as Christ lived so that people might see Christ in our actions.</p><p>God Bless you, and have a Merry Christmas!</p><p><br /></p>Joe Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344483709435090182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481395697834926875.post-84774368555815430952009-12-20T16:24:00.000-08:002009-12-20T16:42:52.040-08:00Day SixI went to church this morning, and my daughter Jess came with me. It was a great time of worship. I was blessed to have Jess come along. We were able to talk about the message on the way home. Like I said in the last blog, I need to start living in such a way that those closest to me will see Christ in me. I never realized until now that they really didn't.<br /><br />This is quite an eye opening experience. It's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">guaranteed</span> to be a life changing experience.Joe Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344483709435090182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481395697834926875.post-6795190069665329072009-12-20T05:31:00.000-08:002009-12-20T06:05:54.448-08:00Day FiveMy wife had gone to Southern Illinois yesterday. The truth is, our youngest daughter had gotten into trouble while at college, and Kathie had to go get her. We would appreciate your prayers in helping us through this.<br /><br />I started this project, only a few days ago, and I have already learned so much. I've learned that living in a way that reflects Christ light is not an easy thing in this world. This is a full time job. This is something that needs our constant focus. And, I've also learned that it is impossible without the help of the Holy Spirit.<br /><br />To be honest, I approached this project with a "Boy Scout <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Moto</span>" focus. That is, "Do a good turn daily." I felt that if I helped someone that I normally would have passed by, I was reflecting Christ's light. And, although these random acts of kindness are good, they are still nothing more than random acts. To live in Christ is to become a new creation. He promised that when we come to faith, we will be renewed. Our old life is gone, and a new life has begun.<br /><br />My eyes have been opened to this new life. And, its about time that I start living it.<br /><br />Knowing that emotions would be high when she arrived at home, I bought Kathie a present. Attached was a card that told her how much I love her. She needs to be the first to see Christ's light reflected in me. If I can do that, everything else will follow.Joe Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344483709435090182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481395697834926875.post-27070398433694617922009-12-18T19:09:00.000-08:002009-12-31T06:27:46.645-08:00Day FourDay four was a day of missed <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">opportunities</span>. It was a hectic day at work, and I did a lot of driving from one job to the next. Several broken down cars, and I blew past every one. I always seemed to be in the wrong lane or going too fast to stop. I really was joking when I said that this was going to be the first roadside <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">assistance</span> ministry, but now I'm beginning to think it might be true.<br /><br />As I was driving, I was listening to a teaching by Dr. R.C. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sproul</span></span></span></span>. Dr. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sproul</span></span></span></span>, in my opinion, is the coolest Theologian I have ever heard. (I just realized that I might be the first writer to ever use the words "cool" and "Theologian" in the same descriptive term.) Dr. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sproul's</span></span></span></span> knowledge of the scriptures, as well as his knowledge of church history, along with his practical understanding of how God works in our lives, makes him one of my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">favorites</span>.<br /><br />Dr. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sproul</span></span></span></span> was teaching on Luke 10:25, the "Good Samaritan" parable that Jesus told His followers. You know the story... A guy is beaten, robbed, and left for dead. He is lying in a ditch to the side of the road. The first person to come along was the Jewish Priest. He walked to the other side of the road and passed without stopping. Likewise, a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Levite</span></span></span> did the same. At last the Samaritan stopped and cared for the injured man. He went above and beyond what would be expected, especially since the Samaritans were the enemies of the Jews.<br /><br />In listening to Dr. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sproul</span></span></span></span>, I realized that these three characters are no different than people today. The first two just, flat, didn't want to help. They didn't want to get involved. They used their religious laws, and their positions, as their excuse for not helping. And, Jesus <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">audience</span> was undoubtedly nodding in agreement. They held these two men in such high regard that they would have thought it absurd if Jesus would have said that they did stop to help.<br /><br />I told a guy I know about the young lady that I helped with her flat tire. His first question was, "Did you get her phone number?" I said, "Of course not." So he asked, "Then why did you stop to help her?" I said, "Because she needed help." He said, "You're nuts!"<br /><br />I can only imagine that the Samaritan in Jesus' parable got the same response from the innkeeper. I'm sure the innkeeper said, "You're nuts!" when the Samaritan told him that not only would he pay the man's stay up front, but make up any extra charges when he passed through again.<br /><br />Maybe we are nuts. This parable was told in response to a Jewish lawyer asking Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" Christ finished the parable by asking the question, "Which one of these three was the man's neighbor?" "The one who showed <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">compassion</span></span></span>", the lawyer said. Jesus said, "Then go and do the same."Joe Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344483709435090182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481395697834926875.post-80367763515988849502009-12-18T18:38:00.000-08:002009-12-18T20:15:56.022-08:00Day ThreeDay three was uneventful. No one crossed my path. I hope this is not the norm. Although, I was talking to my daughter, Jamie, and she was telling me of her experience in offering kindness.<br /><br />Jamie is a naturally caring and giving soul. Helping others comes second nature to her.<br /><br />While at work at the college bookstore, Jamie was given the opportunity to show her kindness in an extraordinary way. A <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">foreign</span> student approached Jamie, and in his broken English, asked to have his homework faxed to his instructor. He paid for the fax while Jamie went to the back room to send it. After a couple of attempts, she realized that the number the student had given her was not a fax number at all.<br /><br />She returned to the counter to find that the student had left. Without hesitating, Jamie looked up the instructor in the directory, and called her. The instructor was amazed that Jamie would go through that much effort, and told her that had she not done this, the student would have lost an entire letter grade. She gave Jamie the correct fax number and the homework was sent.<br /><br />The amazing part of this story came when she mentioned it to one of her coworkers. They too, were shocked that she went through that much trouble. One of her coworkers said that he would have thrown it in the trash, if it was up to him. They saw first hand what kindness looks like.<br /><br />Jamie let Christ's light shine through, and made an impression on several people. The ironic part is that the person she helped is the only one that didn't see it. He will probably never know what Jamie did for him, but the instructor and her coworkers do.<br /><br />Christ's light shines for all the world to see.Joe Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344483709435090182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481395697834926875.post-80273763117290829042009-12-16T19:37:00.000-08:002009-12-18T20:17:12.814-08:00Day TwoI'm starting to think that I might be the world's first Roadside Assistance Ministry. You guessed it, another flat tire.<br /><br />I had gone through the entire workday without really coming in contact with anyone. I was beginning to wonder if I would when, on my way home from my last job, I came across a guy in a Dodge minivan. His left front tire was flat, and he was stuck in the middle of an intersection.<br /><br />I swung around and pulled in behind him. I turned on my flashers.<br /><br />Now, this guy was a big, construction worker, type of guy. As I approached, I saw him throwing his leather tool bags from the back cargo area, to the back seat. He was cranking down the spare tire when I asked him if I could help. He turned to look at me and said, "I got it."<br /><br />Lesson #2 - Some people don't want my help, or at least, don't want to admit that they need my help. For this guy, it was his male pride - no guy likes to admit that they need help. I realize that he was fully capable of changing a tire, but my help could get him on his way a little faster.<br />Afterall, he was blocking a major intersection.<br /><br />I grabbed his jack and tire iron, and began loosening his lugs. He rolled his spare up and said under his breath, "This is perfect, the spare is flat." I told him that I have a compressor in my truck. I would fill his spare while he continued removing the flat.<br /><br />In a matter of minutes, we had his spare on and he was on his way. He grunted out a, "Thanks, man." before he left.<br /><br />I started laughing to myself as I was driving home. I thanked God that He gave me this situation, and I saw Him work through it. Yah, the guy was fully capable of changing his own tire, but if I wouldn't have stopped, he would have been in a bad situation with a flat spare. I wonder if the guy has put any thought into it. The best that I can hope for is that he went home to his wife, told her the story, and said, "Thank God this guy came along." It was a miracle. And God deserves the thanks for it.Joe Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344483709435090182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481395697834926875.post-33037273893753460672009-12-15T17:40:00.000-08:002009-12-18T20:17:55.531-08:00Day oneDay one was met with a few obsticles. What will I do if I can't find anyone to help? I can't always count on young ladies with flat tires, being there on the side of the expressway. The problem I had, that is truly the escense of this project, is not the lack of situations, but my ability to recognize them in time. The only act of kindness that I showed anyone was to let the Salvation Army bell ringer cut in front of me in the check-out line at Walmart.<br /><br />As I look back over this first day, I see so many situations that I could have helped. The Salvation Army Volunteer was buying a bag of M&M's for his lunch. He was concerned about the amount of money left on his Walmart gift card. I could have offered to buy him lunch. Maybe he would have turned me down, but I still should have offered.<br /><br />I can tell already, that this project is not so much about helping people in need. It will be more about me recognizing their need, and allowing Christ's light to shine through.Joe Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344483709435090182noreply@blogger.com0