Oopps I did it again.

Judge not, that ye not be judged.

I’ve heard this verse from the Bible thrown here and there, usually by non-followers of Christ and usually used as a weapon against someone. Now, I’m not going to let Followers of Christ off the hook either. We use it to save ourselves in an argument when we have nothing else to say.

But have you ever really sat down and thought about what it means? Oswald Chambers did in his book “My Utmost for His Highest.”

He says it is impossible to enter into communion with God when you are in a critical temper: it makes you hard and vindictive and cruel, and leaves you with the flattering unction that you are a superior person.

Now, for those of you who don’t use the word “unction” very often, I looked it up for us. It means “the act of anointing as a rite of consecration. “

Oswald goes on to hit us over the head, right between the eyes with this parting shot. “Beware of anything that puts you in the superior person’s place.”

I wonder how often in a day I judge someone? I could throw the term “unfairly” in that sentence to get me off the hook but I’m not looking to be de-hooked. (I know that’s not a word get over it)

I wonder what my life would or could be like if I truly just stopped the judgment, lest I be judged.

2 Comments / Jun 17.09 / Blog / by Rick Dancer

What Pictures Show Me.

Pictures are so powerful. The other day I was kidding around with some of my Facebook Friends, yes you are real to me, and started pulling up old pictures of myself. I started thinking of what I was like when those pictures were taken. I began imagining where I am today and where I thought I would be back then.

Perhaps the reason my mind wanders this way is that my 50^th birthday is just around the corner. There’s nothing sad about all of this, not at all. I just think it’s healthy to look back, laugh at what you thought was true and be willing to cast aside some of the things that have been proven wrong.

When the long hair picture was taken I thought little of my future. I never dreamed I’d end up on television for 23 years. I failed a speech class (Got an “F”). I was too afraid to get up in front of 30 people and give a speech. That young man in the picture would never dream of running for public office, speaking to eight-thousand-people at Mac Court or emceeing hundreds of events over the years.

The guy with the mullet had just shaved off his mustache that he’d toted around on his upper lip for 15 years. He’d just been through some major discovery, some changes and was all set for a new life. If you’d asked him about the future he would have told you he was destine to be a news anchor for the rest of his life.

The guy in the last picture is by far my favorite. Sure, I’d like to be 17 again in some ways or I wouldn’t mind living in denial thinking I was pretty sure of my future. There’s something beautiful about not knowing too much. The more you know the more that’s required of you.

The guy in the last picture couldn’t really tell you where he’s going next. He has no idea of the future and he’s okay with that (most of the time). He doesn’t want to go broke, or hungry or lose everything, but living on the edge, with freedom as your constant companion is pretty tempting, peaceful and powerful.

Here’s the most interesting part of this little blog we’re reading together. All three of these guys have always been there. Each had his place and each lived out his purpose. The guy in the last picture was simply in process. Yep, way back at 17, he was being created it just took a while.

So, wonder what my next picture will look like. I can’t wait to meet that guy or at least uncover him.

2 Comments / Jun 11.09 / Blog / by Rick Dancer

Win A Restaurant-Check out this story.

Win a Restaurant from Rick Dancer on Vimeo.

Soon the owners of Tolly’s Restaurant in Oakland, Oregon will announce a contest where you have a chance to win this Million dollar business. Details are still in the works. Recently owners hired me to shoot a video of the town to let folks know where this place is and what Tolly’s is all about. Take a look and stay tuned for more information on how you can win a new life.

Link to Tolly’s Web Site

Sponsered by: Boutique Culinary LLC

PO Box 51, 115 Locust, Historic Oakland, Oregon  97462

4 Comments / Jun 11.09 / Blog / by Rick Dancer

Stop Trying to Correct Scoffers

Sometimes you have one of those moments where God just says: “Do you get it?” I had one this morning. A friend came into my private cycle class at the gym and spoke this Proverb to me.

I know sometimes we see scripture in a blog and pass it over. I know because I do that too. But please take a second to read it. When you finish I have a question for you.

“Proverbs 9:7

He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,

And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.

8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,

Reprove a wise man and he will love you.

9 Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser,

Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.

10 The fear of YHWH is the beginning of wisdom,

And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

So why do we as Followers of Christ try to correct scoffers? It tells us right here in Proverbs not to do that. In fact it warns if you do they will hate you. So again, why do we try to shove our beliefs on others?

I passed a church the other day and saw a reader board outside (I have trouble with reader boards in front of churches but that’s another blog) and on it was written, “you are loved.”

I thought to myself, I bet anyone outside the church would look at that and laugh. A lot of non-followers look at followers of Christ and say we are against more than we are in favor of. They think of us as haters. I wonder if our failure to read, listen and do what Proverbs 9:7-10 says to do, might be some of the reason why.

12 Comments / Jun 10.09 / Blog / by Rick Dancer

Busy Still Haunts Me

There are days when we must fight to keep our minds on those things that are eternal. I find the battle surfaces most often when my day planner has little or no appointments marked off. We tend to find value in what we do or how often we do it. On those days when each hour of the day is unaccounted for our peace is at risk as our minds wander to the land of What-if’s.

As I crack open Oswald Chambers I read the words “Seek and ye shall find.” I must ask myself “Rick, what is it you seek?” Are looking for self-assurance, self-realization, or self-fulfillment? Yes.

What I need to “Seek first is the Kingdom of God.” My temptation is to wrestle with the what-if’s and why-not’s and neither will bring me peace. So, as I look at my Google Calendar for the day it’s nearly blank screen will try to tempt me to find things to do. Not to prove to others that I’m working but to give a false sense of security to my soul that I have purpose and value.

I must not slip into my productive phase and lose track of what God is doing.

I click to my Google Calendar and my day planner still isn’t filling up. But instead of doing what I do best which is try to fill the day with trivia I will simply start by taking life as it happens.

First thing I need to do is change the dogs’ water.

2 Comments / Jun 10.09 / Blog / by Rick Dancer