Identity Crisis - Part 1

In my three years as an assistant principal and six additional years as a coach and classroom teacher I've arrived at the conclusion that every child acts out for one reason:  To protect or portray a desired image.

This image that we so desperately crave is what we think will be the vehicle for the acceptance and approval of a certain social group.  We want to be noticed, we want to be liked, we want to be worshipped; and we are willing to do whatever it takes to receive such adoration.

One minor problem, however - we are not worthy of receiving worship.  "Underlying idolatry is the lie. . . The lie in its various forms says that you are god, you can become a god, you are part of god, you are worthy of worship as god, you can be the source of your life's identity and meaning, you can transform yourself, and you can transform the world and its sin problem as a sort of hero/savior.  The answer, therefore, is not to look outward to God for identity, meaning, insight, and salvation.  Rather, the answer is to look inward to self for identity, meaning, insight, and personal liberation.  The answer, the lie says, is to be found in self rather than in a creator God who is separate from me and rules over me." (Driscoll & Breshears, 2010, p. 341).

So here are the questions that we all need to ask ourselves:
1.) Is this me?  Is my identity in Christ, or do I place more importance in what others think of me?
2.) What are the motives behind my own behavior?  Why do I behave the way I do?  Is it to please man and receive worship from others, or is it to please the one true God?

If we continue to campaign for worship with attention seeking behavior or any other behavior for that matter, we must ask ourselves, "What god are we serving?"

More specifically, "What god do you serve?"



Driscoll, M. & Breshears, G. (2010).  Doctrine:  What Christians Should Believe.  Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway.

Casserole: My life in a dish

I hate casseroles. The joke around my house is that I won't eat anything with more than four ingredients, and if you know me personally, you are laughing right now, because that is 100% truth.  Funny that I would name a blog, not to mention my very first blog post, after something I intensely despise. Nevertheless, after NUMEROUS attempts to compartmentalize my life (much like I do my evening meals), I have come to the conclusion that all of life is a giant casserole.

Each ingredient, in one way or another, adds flavor to the casserole, those of which by themselves are insignificant, and sometimes flat-out nasty.  Take lasagna for instance (one might consider lasagna to be a casserole of sorts); I've never seen anyone eat a spoon-full of ground beef by itself.  What about a little cottage cheese - again, by itself, GROSS!  Noodles, sauce, shredded cheeses. . . alone they are incomplete, they must be complimented.

My point:  following Christ, being a Husband, leading my Family, and Education (my job), in isolation are insufficient.  Each of them, however, combined in one big dish (which is my life) enhances and provides insight into every situation I encounter.

The posts to follow will be a collection of thoughts and reflections that bounce around in my head from time to time.  There will be occasions, more times than not, that the above mentioned "ingredients" in my life will seem to be out-of-sorts, out of order, or even in direct contradiction with one another.  I certainly have more questions than I do answers, which is why I would like to highlight these ideas, and more importantly, would love to open them up for discussion and/or reflection by you.

So welcome friends to my table; sit back, relax, and enjoy a nice plate of delicious casserole.