Listen! Do you smell something?

Smell is one of our chemical senses, the other being taste. They are so called because they sense chemicals, and smells are, of course, chemicals. Our sense of smell is also responsible for about 80% of what we taste. Without our sense of smell, our sense of taste is limited to only five distinct sensations. Conclusively, our sense of smell is arguably one of our most important. Whether for finding food, avoiding predators or choosing a mate, the sense of smell is critical for the existence of almost all creatures. We humans, able to distinguish over 10,000 different odor molecules, utilize our sense of smell for a multitude of activities from enjoying the aroma of freshly brewed coffee to deciding when Junior needs to his diaper changed. In the last 15 years scientists have made great advances to our understanding of how our nose detects odor molecules and our brain processes the resulting information that gives rise to the sensation of smell.

I’m sure you’re wondering by now why a guy who slacked and struggled to earn a C- in his sophomore biology class is giving you a lesson on the workings of the olfactory system… Well, that’s a mighty fine question indeed!

The apostle Paul tells the Church that through us, God brings knowledge of Christ. “Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life” (2Cor.2:14,15). Have you ever really thought about smelling of Jesus? As the Church, our very lives emit an aroma that can be smelled from miles around which reveals far more about us than the exterior facades we build up. James tells us that a robust community living in step with God can only happen when we do the submissive work of treating each other in the Church with dignity and honor. “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness” (Ja.3:18).

The fragrance we give off correlates directly with how we love one another in the Church. Remember that old gospel hymn “…and they’ll know we are Christians by our love…” When the world catches wind of us, do they smell peace, love, mercy, and compassion or the foul aroma of bitter envy, selfish ambition, and pride? It’s a question we need to take seriously. When we find ourselves in disagreement with one another, do we respond with complaining and gossip? If we are to be the aroma of Christ to those who don’t know Him then we must find ourselves, in humility, on our knees for and coming alongside one another. Only then will we be, to a hopeless world, the sweet smell of salvation.

An open letter to Ward

Dear Mr. Beaumont,

This was a grand weekend indeed! My how I enjoyed spending my Friday partaking in deep-fried sea creatures and fowl. My very good friends Kyle and Josh assisted me in aquiring some paving gravel for our new patio! Work is hard, but often quite rewarding.

Saturday was sure a busy day. With the help of my Mother, Father, and my wife's parents, we laid down many patio stones and built a quadruple-decker garden in the backyard. Things are finally starting to take shape! The times spent with the folks was very lovely indeed. However, my hind-quarters and feet were aching the very next day due to all of the hard work stomping down patio stones and such. Me and my lady friend got ourselves all tidied up to celebrate with a meal at the Texas Roadhouse. Did you know that the Texas Roadhouse originated in Indiana? Can you believe it? I hardly can.

Sunday was a day to remember as well. In the evening times, our Sr High youth group worshiped together and heard a message about identity and being healed by Christ. Following the time of worship, we enjoyed some bad sci-fi B-movies purchased for a quarter each by Randy. That Randy! Always full of surprises! We also got to enjoy the new patio as several of us did some impromptu sing-songing with the help of some neighbors. We capped off an enjoyable evening together with some late dining at the Fazoli's. Do you have Fazoli's where you live?

Well, I must be going. I came to say, 'I cannot stay,' I must be going. That's an inside joke just for you and I. I hope all is well with you and the family. I'll be seeing you!

With warmest regards,

joel

A proverb

"Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track."

Moments in butt-kicking

Good ______________ (Fill in the blank) !

This last week and a half has been mad full of some high octane butt-kicking moments that have really inspired and fired me up. Quite frankly, some things have been said and handled in a way that I personally feel have been done so in a less-than-godly manner. For whatever reason though (perhaps the encouragement and affirming moments which have edified the work I'm involved in) I have been filled with a confidence not in myself, but in the God who I seek to serve with my life. It has forced me to deal head on with the people and the politics which call into question my job--something I have found quite hard to bring myself to do in the past. Why? Because its uncomfortable and its messy... The truth is most people don't want to deal with the uncomfortable and the messy stuff that cannot be seperated from life in this broken, salvation-starved world.

One such moment this week was a conversation I had with someone who I consider a close friend. Someone who I have had the joy of seeing grow into spiritual maturity marked by honest transparency about struggles with their faith and with their life... at least with me. As the two of us had a hard discussion concerning decisions and obedience towards Christ and the Grace of God which covers every unrighteous corner of our lives, our hearts, and our minds, I came to the realization that most of the time the answers to our tough questions and hard decisions are not easy. I don't think they're easily answered and often they are not easy to discern.

Unfortunately, many people (and probably more unfortunately, many Christians) too often want to reduce the complexity of life and the mystery of the Gospel to a pain-numbing bumper sticker answer packaged in pretty paper and shiny bows. The bottom line is that life is hard! Life is hard and we are broken creatures in need of the very rescuing which Jesus offers us through his work on the Cross and through the continuing work of His Holy Spirit in us.

Honestly, sometimes, even as a follower of Jesus Christ, I don't have an answer. My wife and I have been struggling with decisions in our family life for the past two years. We still don't know what God's will for us is or what the "godly decision" is in our longing to start a family. All we have is Christ. All we can do is cling to Him, grow in our knowledge of Him and His love for us, pray, pray, pray, and pray some more. Sometimes we are convicted by the Holy Spirit and we know what to do... sometimes we don't feel anything.

The question we must continually ask ourselves is this: Jesus, what do YOU want me to do? Where do YOU want me to go? The answer is sometimes unclear... other times its as clear a day. But its certainly not always pretty and its definitely not always easy. Yet Jesus holds us through the pain and suffers with us.

Who digs Who

I highly enjoyed Center Grove High School's PRODUCTION (in caps for obvious reasons if you've seen it) of "42nd Street". Mostly I enjoyed cheering on brother Brad Brickley as he lept like a ninja around and atop a 2 foot thick, 5 foot high quarter during the performance of "We're in the Money". It was such a great production for a high school musical that it was almost seemed wrong in some way! Great work kids!

I dig The Who... you oughta too.

"I dig every second / I can laugh in the snow and rain / I get a buzz from being cold and wet / The pleasure seems to balance out the pain...

...but I like every minute of the day"

-Mr. Pete Townshend (blue red and grey)

1 John 4:7-8

"My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love--so you can't know him if you don't love."