Pastor Pusch

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
Chapter 8: Profile of the Obsessed

Obsessed: “To have the mind excessively preoccupied with a single emotion or topic.” (Crazy Love, pg. 129)

Obsessed: It’s true. You will always find time for the things that you love. If your love is playing sports, you probably have no problem finding the time to play. If it’s simply hanging out with your friends or watching all 6 episodes of Reba every afternoon and evening, you will make time. You will always make time for the things that matter most. Although you may never confess those things to be the most important priorities in your life, your time spent involved speaks otherwise. There is nothing wrong with loving to play sports or watch some of your favorite sitcoms or vegging out in front of the tube for 3 hours only to see your team lose yet another one. However, when those items begin to interfere with what really matters and that is our relationship with Christ and what He values as important, we must take note.  Believe me when I say that I often times struggle here too. It’s never my goal to intentionally ignore those things that God deems worthy (i.e. serving God/serving or ministering to others), it’s just that I don’t always care to look for those opportunities or in many cases, I am just to complacent too look for those opportunities. My goal is not to beat us up or preach from a soapbox, but rather to help us become more aware. We talked last night in our group discussion that we must make a conscience effort to be about the things of God. Our default thinking mode is not to think on the things above, but rather to think on those things which are temporal.

Zeal: In Revelation chapter 3, Jesus draws some harsh conclusions concerning the church of Laodicea. Jesus said that he was rather them be hot or cold, but because they were lukewarm, he would spit them out of His mouth. The Laodiceans knew all to well what Jesus was talking about as the water they received into the city was lukewarm and not very good tasting at all. Jesus takes it a bit further when He begins to tell them the truth about their spiritual condition; that they were indeed poor, wretched, naked, and blind. This comes to the Laodiceans who apparently fell into a very casual, complacent state as they believed that all was well and that they were in need of nothing. One could easily understand the process behind their thinking as Laodicea was a city marked by a wonderful economy. They were mostly known for their banking industry, wool manufacturing, and  its “world renown” eye clinic (providing the very best in eye salve). Though they were all these things, Jesus, looking into the heart of the people and knew they were missing out on what really mattered. He exhorted them to buy gold (bank) from Him refined by fire that they may be rich, to buy white garments (wool) from Him that they would be clothed and no longer ashamed, and for Christ to anoint their eyes (eye salve) that they might truly see. Worldly speaking, the Laodiceans were rich, yet spiritually speaking, they were far from true riches.

What does this have to do with Zeal? In verse 19 of chapter 3, scriptures tell us that Jesus rebukes those He loves and that we should be zealous and repent. The rebuke that comes from Christ is one that ought to compel man to see the error of his ways and turn away from it. Jesus also says to be zealous. “Zealous” is such a great word. In the original Greek, the word means to have a “feeling of warmth for or against something” and/or ”to have great desire”. Other words for zealous would be words like passionate, fervent, enthusiastic, or fanatical. I think we get the point. Are we passionate concerning the things of God? Do we possess a fervent, enthusiastic, or fanatical spirit? Is there a feeling of warmth or a strong desire to pursue God? Jesus said, “be zealous and repent.”

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above. where Christ is, sitting on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things of earth.”
Colossians 3:1-2

It seems that the last week or so has been the week of celebrity deaths. Ed McMahon, Billy Mays, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, and Steve McNair all left this world and made their way into eternity. That’s a sobering thought. Even more sobering is the fact that hundreds, if not thousands of people die every day. It kind of gives you a different perspective on just how short life is. The book of James describes our lives as a vapor; here for a moment and then vanishes away. What if the vapor of your life vanished today?

Last Saturday, the football world and others were shocked when they heard the news about the death of one of it’s good guy quarterbacks, Steve McNair. McNair was found shot to death on July 4, 2009 in a Nashville apartment. It was tragic news to those who loved the Tennessee Titans and quarterback Steve McNair. McNair’s death was the result of a murder/suicide as his girlfriend, Sehel Kazemi, shot McNair 4 times before turning the gun on herself.

Perhaps even more tragic than the actual death of Steve McNair were the circumstances surrounding his death. Steve McNair was husband and a father to 4 children, yet he was killed by his 20 year old girlfriend, Kazemi, who may have shot him out of the suspicion of yet another girlfriend. It’s possible that McNair was cheating on the girlfriend that he was cheating on his wife and children with. This is the more tragic story.

It seems that friends, coaches, and confidants have a different way of defining what “greatness” is about a person. While it is true that McNair may have been a leader on the football field and the different charity organizations he was committed to, the fact the Mr. McNair failed at the one responsibility that matters most makes me reconsider His greatness. As a husband and father myself , the responsibility that matters most in my life is the responsibility I have to my wife, Rena and daughter, Jovie Madelyn. That’s it. With that being said, there are other responsibilities I have in life that are important because it affects my family, my greatest responsibility.

Below is a portion of an article I read on Yahoo.com concerning the life and death of Steve McNair…

Publicly, McNair was a happily married man and proud father of four sons who split his time between his Mississippi farm and a home in Music City, where celebrities are cherished, not hassled.

His death, however, thrust a darker side of his private life into the spotlight.

“People have certain things that they do in life,” said McNair’s longtime friend Robert Gaddy, who called 911. “We don’t need to look on the situation at this time (but) on the fact we just lost a great member of society.”

After reading this small portion, my heart sank at the fact that one can be considered such a “great member of society” when that person is not a champion in his own family. Perhaps I’m a little old-fashioned in my thinking, but what was happening in the “darker side of his private life” truly determines the kind of man he indeed was. A man who cheats on his wife and by doing so neglects his children may have been good football player and giver to charities, but by no means does that make him a “great member of society.” It’s one thing had McNair slipped up and got caught in a sticky situation, it’s a completely different and more defining thing when family neglect becomes a lifestyle. While I am not here to judge the eternity of Mr. Steve McNair, I do think there are lessons we can learn about family and the society in which we live.

The question is floating out there concerning the legacy Steve McNair leaves behind. Will his personal life play a role in the history, or has our society simply turned to utter and complete apathy. I am sad today that McNair will never have a chance to make things right with his family. I am sad about the loss of a football giant and one who worked hard for people around the country. I am sadder still for his family who now has to piece together the tragic lifestyle their husband and father left behind.

Today is Tuesday. Tuesday has now become “weigh in” day at Randall House. A couple weeks ago I shared with you about my struggle in life called obesity and about my newest adventure with the Randall House Reduction Plan (weight loss program). We at Randall House are making it our goal to layoff the equivalent of one person by July 14 and two persons by September 24 (“weightfully” speaking). I am determined to pull my weight (no pun intended)!

For most of my life I have been fearful of the scale. I have avoided doctor’s appointments and all things related. Why? I was ashamed. I, like most people, did not want to face the dreaded reality the weight scaled brought with it. My heart would tremble as I would watch the doctor slide all of the measurement bars to the right side only to add a secondary weight because the standard was not good enough. My stomach turned as I prayed that no one would walk by and see. Never have I been excited to step on any scale. NEVER.

Today is Tuesday; a day that I look forward to and excited to step on the scale. Two weeks ago we all did the initial weigh in to begin the program. I dreaded it. That day, however, I determined that I would never dread the scale again. I want to be a loser! So the journey began. Last week I stepped on the scale and it read that I lost 8 pounds. It was exciting. My wife wrote me and reminded me that Jovie, our 13 month old daughter, weigh 8 lbs at birth. It was a great feeling.

(Pause: Going to today’s weigh in!) The verdict:

Today I am down 8.5 pounds. That is 16.5lbs total for the two weeks. I must admit; last week was hard. I know I am making good choices when I eat, but sometimes the ole sweet tooth wants to get the best of me!

I did some more thinking about this weight loss program over the weekend. Here are a couple things I look forward to:

1. Smaller Clothes (buying clothes from stores other than Casual Male)
2. Greater Mobility
3. More stuff with Friends
4. Jogging
5. Who knows… maybe the half marathon at next year’s Music City!

Many of you have encouraged me and loved on me since I started this program and all I can say is thank you. I love you all very much for your love and support.

Keep Praying,
PastorPusch