Pleasing, Power and Passion...

The soccer game was over, I'm guessing his team won, as he drove around the neighborhood honking his horn in celebration. Five minutes, that...would be understandable, 15 to 20 minutes...maybe. But for over an hour? Early on he had the neighbors joining in his passion, but they too showed exhaustion, as eventually they ignored his celebration.

The night before it was a loud and extremely obnoxious party. A brief note, I am in Puerta Vallarta Mexico, where noise is seldom lacking. Saturday nights the dosimeter climbs to painful proportions. But this Saturday...ouch! Somehow I was able to get to sleep around 11pm, but then as the volume of the music, and of the screaming arose I found myself awakened at 1am. By 3:30 I determined that this has to be a holiday. Turning on my new tablet and googling 'May 25th holidays' I found that it is a day of celebration for the 1810 Argentinean revolution. That must be it! Have you ever prayed for a power outage? Me Neither...but I did that morning.

What does this have to do with the title? Both, the individual and the party goers were all about pleasing themselves...and they had the power to do so. The one with his car and his obnoxious horn, the other with their alcohol, electricity and their screaming. And both found themselves wanting all to join in their passion.

Before going further let me say that this is not about horns...I've found mine handy on numerous occasions, such as the time when the skinny pre-teen decided that the stop sign wasn't meant for him as he enjoyed the 8 degree hill...and almost the bumper of my 8 cylinder pickup truck. And it's surely not about parties...I have loved many celebrations, such as the 1993 Oregon State championship of my Silverton Red Sox. Wow twenty years ago, dude I'm old! And no it's not even about screaming, three kids and six grandkids...yeah, I know screaming! And yes, not even about alcohol, nor about Mexico. So what is this about?

Paul in the letter to the Romans, in chapter 15, says that we the strong, the 'ones of power' are NOT to please ourselves, but are obligated to please those without power. The ultimate purpose that both groups, those with power and without power is that they might have the same passion and with one one voice to glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So I ask, are you one of power? Is it in your faith (most likely Paul's main thought), or are you more powerful economically, socially or intellectually? Are you about pleasing yourself or do recognize your obligation to bear the burden of those without strength. No, Paul wasn't looking to enable. And yes, sometimes the roles are switched when we, when I'm the one without power.

Oh, and let us not miss verse three..."Even Christ did not please Himself". He, one of immense power, who could have called 12 legions of angels (that is 60 to 70,000 angels), but He was not in it to please Himself. No, He took on our reproaches, our insults, bearing our sin in such a horrific manner. The purpose...that our passion might be...with one voice to glorify God. And notice verse five as well, that when both those of power and those without power work in such harmony that we enjoy the endurance and the encouragement of our Creator God.

So, let's give up the power of pleasing ourselves. I know the world would be better place. Don't you think?

With A View Into Their Playground…

The poles are used to release the mango's above

A backyard, whether a manicured lawn; a dirt hill with debris; or a rooftop that makes for storage, laundry, and a game of jump rope…they all have one thing in common…a playground for children.

Their playground

In this town which sports few parks of which we have grown accustomed to in the States, does not lack opportunity to act child-like…to enjoy the simple things of life of which we, adults, can make oh so complex. From late afternoon, when the heat of the day begins to cool and sometimes nearly toward midnight, or beyond, they find themselves enjoying life with such vitality. To hear their laughter, their shrieks of joy (translated by some as noise), and their imagination of how to play demonstrates nothing of their assumed poverty, only the thrill of life and of living. 

Their playground...

Our time here on Calle Jacarandas with a magnificent view of the Banderas Bay and the city life below, has not been short of assorted sounds. The dogs and the roosters; the motors of cars and trucks giving their every bit of power to top this great hill; bells of the churches and…more bells of more churches; fireworks, firecrackers and perhaps even a stick of dynamite or two; a donkey, geckos and the screech of a large bird that makes that of a baby seem slight; street conversations that continue into the late hours of the night; music from cars, radios, the band at the restaurant, sometimes pleasant, but often…not; oh…and did I mention dogs?

Our view...spectacular

Yet, with all their sounds, it is that of children playing which reminds me of the importance of a playground and the ever need to enjoy life with the same vitality of which children everywhere under all circumstances so amazingly display. Let’s join them in the playground!