Do I want to be comfortable or cool? That is the question.
If you asked me this question fifteen years ago, I would have definitively answered “cool”. Today, if I had to choose between the two, I would unapologetically pick comfort. Actually, I would prefer a good balance of coolness and comfort.
Over the last month, I have engaged in two conversations with younger members of my staff about my dress attire throughout the week.
The first conversation was about the suits I wear on Sunday. My younger and cooler staff member was trying to convince me that my suits are a hindrance to reaching the next generation. Does my suit really deter people from coming to church or coming back once they have attended? I refuse to believe the younger generation is this shallow.
In the second conversation, my other younger and more socially adept staff member was rebuking me for wearing crocs with socks. Evidently, this is a huge fashion faux pas. Who makes these rules anyway?
Since I am an un-cool, but wiser older guy, I just listened as they educated me on reaching out to the younger generation, relevance and coolness. I was slow to speak and quick to listen. However, I cannot contain my thoughts any longer. So, you have the privilege of being the first ones to read my response.
1 Timothy 1:5 says, “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
What does it mean to be sincere? It means a person is genuine and free of deceit, hypocrisy or falseness
.
I am a firm believer in the attractiveness of authenticity. It is more important to be authentic than cool or relevant. If possible, I think people should strive to be both. However, at the end of the day, people are more drawn to those who are sincere.
Why do I wear a suit on Sunday and crocs with socks? I am just being me. These are external expressions of the sincere, genuine and authentic Ronald Rudolph Miller, Jr.
For those who are not satisfied with my response up to this point stay tuned for part two of Suit on Sunday and Crocs with Socks.
Tell me what you think while you are waiting.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Promoting Self by Putting Others Down
And the men who hold high places must be the ones to start
To mould a new reality…closer to the heart (Rush)
You might wonder, “Why is Ron Miller, Jr. a Christ follower?” My simple answer is that no one has ever compelled me to good deeds more than Jesus Christ. His life was one of sacrifice and service. Jesus is worthy to be worshipped, celebrated and followed because He died for the sins of humanity. I pledge my allegiance to Jesus because He gave his life to give me a better life. I will forever feel a sense of indebtedness to live a life worthy of this sacrifice.
In John 15:13, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down hid life for his friends.” Jesus used his high place as the King of kings and Lord of lords to mold a new reality by sacrificing His life for others.
This morning, on 9/11/08, I woke up and turned on my favorite early morning news show—Morning Joe. This week has been so busy I forgot that today is the seventh year after the most destructive and horrific terrorist attack on American soil. As I watched the tributes to our fallen heroes and gazed upon the memorials, my heart was stirred by the sacrifice and service of the brave men and women who lost their lives on that tragic day.
In today’s world, as we are bombarded with negative stories on news channels, I am constantly longing for a story that inspires me. Once again, as I watched the tributes to our 9/11 heroes, I found such a moment.
It was refreshing to witness John McCain and Barack Obama visit the tribute at the site of the World Trade Center and shake hands of people who had lost loved ones on 9/11. It was good to see our governmental leaders standing together in unity.
I had another moment of inspiration this year and it was during the Olympics. I know most Americans were elated to watch athletes like Michael Phlelps set Olympic records for Gold medals and witness many Olympians break world records. I concur that these were awesome moments.
However, there were Olympic moments that touched me deeper than the world record events. It was the sportsmanship that I saw during the contests. I was blessed to witness Olympians compete against one another and then hug and congratulate their opponent while saying, “good job” after the event or race. Their complement was a great sign of respect and an acknowledgement that competition makes all of us better. It was as if they were saying, “Thank you for motivating me to train harder by giving me your best.”
Why I am writing this blog? I am writing this blog because I am disappointed at the lack of civility and sportsmanship I witness in our society today. I don’t like to see an athlete scoffing another athlete during competition. They should be gracious in victory. I am tired of listening to speeches by our politicians that contain more negative content about their opponent than solutions to the problems we face today as a nation. I want leaders who don’t have to put others down to promote themselves. I have no problem when they raise awareness about the differences in policies. I just wish they would do it with tact and humility. It agitates me when commentators like Bill O’Reilly and Keith Olbermann make demeaning statements about one another. Why can’t they report and comment on the news without deriding each other?
When I was a young athlete, my father taught me to always let the scoreboard do the talking. In other words, don’t put others down to promote yourself.
It is the epitome of insecurity and smallness when people say something derogatory about someone else or taunt them to promote themselves and their agendas. I will not fall for or tolerate such tactics.
On this 9/11 day of remembrance, I salute and thank all those people who lost their lives to help others. Their stories are great reminders to us all that living your life to lift people up is always better than living it to pull them down.
Let’s forge a new reality by holding our leaders of this nation accountable to use their influence and talents to lift people up. And, let’s do our part to honor the sacrifice of Jesus and the fallen heroes of 9/11 by committing to live a life of service with a good attitude and gratitude of heart.
To mould a new reality…closer to the heart (Rush)
You might wonder, “Why is Ron Miller, Jr. a Christ follower?” My simple answer is that no one has ever compelled me to good deeds more than Jesus Christ. His life was one of sacrifice and service. Jesus is worthy to be worshipped, celebrated and followed because He died for the sins of humanity. I pledge my allegiance to Jesus because He gave his life to give me a better life. I will forever feel a sense of indebtedness to live a life worthy of this sacrifice.
In John 15:13, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down hid life for his friends.” Jesus used his high place as the King of kings and Lord of lords to mold a new reality by sacrificing His life for others.
This morning, on 9/11/08, I woke up and turned on my favorite early morning news show—Morning Joe. This week has been so busy I forgot that today is the seventh year after the most destructive and horrific terrorist attack on American soil. As I watched the tributes to our fallen heroes and gazed upon the memorials, my heart was stirred by the sacrifice and service of the brave men and women who lost their lives on that tragic day.
In today’s world, as we are bombarded with negative stories on news channels, I am constantly longing for a story that inspires me. Once again, as I watched the tributes to our 9/11 heroes, I found such a moment.
It was refreshing to witness John McCain and Barack Obama visit the tribute at the site of the World Trade Center and shake hands of people who had lost loved ones on 9/11. It was good to see our governmental leaders standing together in unity.
I had another moment of inspiration this year and it was during the Olympics. I know most Americans were elated to watch athletes like Michael Phlelps set Olympic records for Gold medals and witness many Olympians break world records. I concur that these were awesome moments.
However, there were Olympic moments that touched me deeper than the world record events. It was the sportsmanship that I saw during the contests. I was blessed to witness Olympians compete against one another and then hug and congratulate their opponent while saying, “good job” after the event or race. Their complement was a great sign of respect and an acknowledgement that competition makes all of us better. It was as if they were saying, “Thank you for motivating me to train harder by giving me your best.”
Why I am writing this blog? I am writing this blog because I am disappointed at the lack of civility and sportsmanship I witness in our society today. I don’t like to see an athlete scoffing another athlete during competition. They should be gracious in victory. I am tired of listening to speeches by our politicians that contain more negative content about their opponent than solutions to the problems we face today as a nation. I want leaders who don’t have to put others down to promote themselves. I have no problem when they raise awareness about the differences in policies. I just wish they would do it with tact and humility. It agitates me when commentators like Bill O’Reilly and Keith Olbermann make demeaning statements about one another. Why can’t they report and comment on the news without deriding each other?
When I was a young athlete, my father taught me to always let the scoreboard do the talking. In other words, don’t put others down to promote yourself.
It is the epitome of insecurity and smallness when people say something derogatory about someone else or taunt them to promote themselves and their agendas. I will not fall for or tolerate such tactics.
On this 9/11 day of remembrance, I salute and thank all those people who lost their lives to help others. Their stories are great reminders to us all that living your life to lift people up is always better than living it to pull them down.
Let’s forge a new reality by holding our leaders of this nation accountable to use their influence and talents to lift people up. And, let’s do our part to honor the sacrifice of Jesus and the fallen heroes of 9/11 by committing to live a life of service with a good attitude and gratitude of heart.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
A Cosmic As Well As Historic Truth
In Mark 10:35 Jesus said, “45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
After their small-minded request, Jesus reminded James and John what their mindsets and attitudes should be like as they followed Him. In Matthew 16:24, Jesus taught his disciples that the key to good service was self denial. He said, “"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Apostle Paul identified the number one sign of terrible times in the last days is people being lovers of themselves (2 Timothy 3:1-2).
Jesus would model to perfection a life of sacrifice and service, and consummate His mission on earth by dying on a cross for the sins of humanity. Reinhold Niebuhr said, “The cross symbolizes a cosmic as well as historic truth. Love conquers the world, but its victory is not an easy one.”
We are to not only deny ourselves, but take up the cross as well as we follow Jesus. As we carry the cross it reminds us of the responsibility we now have to serve others and lead them to Christ. It is on the cross that Jesus said He would draw all men to Himself (John 12:32).
Remember, sacrifice and service always attracts people. As we embrace suffering by stepping out of our world of comfort, we develop the character of Christ and His capacity to care for others.
In Galatians 6:14, Apostle Paul wrote about the cross and divulged the revelation he had received from Christ about his responsibility to serve the world by preaching the mystery of the gospel. He said, “14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
The cross is “I” crossed out. Author unknown
Apostle Paul became great because: The greatest are the ones who live to impact the lives of others.
After their small-minded request, Jesus reminded James and John what their mindsets and attitudes should be like as they followed Him. In Matthew 16:24, Jesus taught his disciples that the key to good service was self denial. He said, “"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Apostle Paul identified the number one sign of terrible times in the last days is people being lovers of themselves (2 Timothy 3:1-2).
Jesus would model to perfection a life of sacrifice and service, and consummate His mission on earth by dying on a cross for the sins of humanity. Reinhold Niebuhr said, “The cross symbolizes a cosmic as well as historic truth. Love conquers the world, but its victory is not an easy one.”
We are to not only deny ourselves, but take up the cross as well as we follow Jesus. As we carry the cross it reminds us of the responsibility we now have to serve others and lead them to Christ. It is on the cross that Jesus said He would draw all men to Himself (John 12:32).
Remember, sacrifice and service always attracts people. As we embrace suffering by stepping out of our world of comfort, we develop the character of Christ and His capacity to care for others.
In Galatians 6:14, Apostle Paul wrote about the cross and divulged the revelation he had received from Christ about his responsibility to serve the world by preaching the mystery of the gospel. He said, “14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
The cross is “I” crossed out. Author unknown
Apostle Paul became great because: The greatest are the ones who live to impact the lives of others.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)