Brian Dolleman's Blog

In Jesus’ day, lepers were separated from the rest of society. They were outcasts and labeled “unclean.”

People were more afraid of getting what lepers had and less concerned about the needs of the lepers.

Jesus reached across the boundary.

In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy.

When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”

Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. (Luke 5.12, 13)

Jesus reached out and touched the man even though he was unclean. That’s what grace does… it reaches across boundaries.

When grace and the “unclean” collide, grace always wins.

We need to be less afraid of people and more full of grace for people!

Enlarge your circle of influence. Reach across boundaries. Love. Bless. Include.

Reach out with grace towards others and live the adventure today!

If you want safe, boring, routine and mundane, don’t ever invest in “unexpected friendships” (people outside your usual circle of interest, comfort and preference).

Want an interesting, adventure filled life? Get outside the circle! Reach for unexpected friendships.

Jesus did this with Zacchaeus. When Jesus went to Zach’s house, it shocked the religious crowd – “they all grumbled: he has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” (Luke 19.7).

Here’s what Jesus had to say about it:

“If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that.”

“If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that.”

“Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us: generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is Kind; you be kind.”

“Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier.”

(Luke 6 selected verses MSG)

Do you want to be remembered, appreciated, valued, loved?

Of course you do.

So be memorable. Invest in your relationships. Give value. Be generous, kind, uplifting and encouraging.

On a practical level: pay the bill for lunch, give surprise presents, write an encouraging note and send it…

“Giving a gift can open doors…” – Proverbs 18:6

“Everyone is the friend of a person who gives gifts!” – Proverbs 19:6

Jesus said, “Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends.” – Luke 16:9.

There is a real power in giving.

Think of someone else today.
Buy someone a cup of coffee or send them a gift card with a little note.
Gifts don’t always have to be big or expensive. Even the smallest gift sends the message: “I’m thinking of you”.

Live the adventure today. Invest in friendship.
Give. Love. Enrich. Bless.

When it comes to friendships, don’t be the passive observer.

Take initiative. Risk something. Relationships are adventure!

I love the story of Jesus going to Zacchaeus’ home for dinner because Jesus invited himself over. Yup, that’s right… He invited himself over to Zach’s house.

Here’s how it reads in Luke 19:5 & 6…

When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.

The cool thing about this story is how excited Zacchaeus was that Jesus wanted to hang out with him.

Here’s a little secret: most people are lonely and bored. Americans today have fewer close friends than ever before. People want friendships but often lack the courage to initiate.

Be the initiator.

Invite people into your world… and invite yourself into theirs!

You ever have tense, argument-filled rides to church with your family? Yeah, me neither…

The truth is, we easily get distracted from the main course. Tension, stress, anger and frustration often cloud our view of Jesus.

The Apostle Paul said, “what I want mostly is for men to pray – not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God.” (1 Timothy 2:8).

Remember the story of Jesus having dinner at Mary and Martha’s house – Martha was shaking an angry fist, but Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus.

Re: Worship… less drama and more Jesus!

Hear No Evil by Matthew Paul Turner (reviewed by Brian Dolleman)

Review
I love the honesty and humor Matthew Paul Turner uses to talk about growing in a Fundamentalist home.

One of my favorite excerpts:

“For as long as I could remember, I had lived a separate existence from normal people. I don’t believe I comprehended to what extent my life was different from the lives of other people my age, but I wasn’t naive to how odd and detached we were. Sure, my parents installed a chastity belt around my brain to keep out unwanted predators like Pee-wee Herman and the anti-God propagandist who wrote 1984, but I wasn’t ignorant. I knew my family was different. We liked being different.

Why wouldn’t God find pleasure in my holy brown-nosing? Most of the people at my church did. As far as I knew, the faith I lived was built on nothing less than the state of my own righteousness.

I wanted to go to the theater, But I did fear that when the movie was over, I’d struggle to envision God looking at me with the same delight as he did before.

At my church my sins weren’t so much saved by grace. They were taunted by it.”

If you enjoy music, stories, satire, honesty and humor, this book is for you.

Summary of Hear No Evil:
If you’ve ever had the opening bars of a song transport you back in time or remind you of a pivotal spiritual moment, Matthew Paul Turner’s honest—and frequently hilarious—musings will strike a chord. Straightforward and amusing, Hear No Evil is Turner’s “life soundtrack,” a compilation of engaging personal stories about how music—and music’s ability to transform—has played a key role in his spiritual life. Groove along on his journey as young evangelical Turner attends forbidden contemporary Christian concerts, moves to “Music City” Nashville, and dreams of becoming the Michael Jackson of Christian music. Cosmic and compelling, keen and funny, every page is a new encounter with the people, places, and experiences that have taught the music-editor-turned-author

Worship – giving Jesus the attention, honor and glory he deserves – isn’t a warm-up exercise or a time-filler… it is the main course.

The Gospel of Luke tells the story of Jesus visiting the home of Mary and Martha:

A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said.

But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.”

The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it – it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.” (Luke 10:38-42 Message).

Martha was distracted, upset, stressed-out, caught up in the details and “pulled away by all she had to do”. Unfortunately, she missed the main course.

Don’t miss the main course!

Take time to focus on Jesus. Listen.

Give Him the attention, honor and glory He deserves.

Have a “worship adventure” with Jesus today.

Growth is more than just not going the wrong direction.

It’s possible to stop going the wrong direction and yet still be headed nowhere.

You can stop going the wrong direction and still not grow.

Growth requires movement, change, adjustment and going the right direction.

The Apostle Paul said, “But you… are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11).

Notice the two verbs in that verse: Run / Pursue.

Run from the bad. Pursue the good.

Don’t just stop your bad habits… start new (good) ones!

Today is a great day to begin some new disciplines.

Growth demands constant motion. Pursue the good. Go after the best.

Yesterday’s motions don’t provide enough momentum to keep you going in the right direction today or tomorrow – just like yesterday’s meal won’t continue to sustain you.

Take some new steps toward growth today!

Book Review:
Living Rich For Less

Author:
Ellie Kay

Review (by guest blogger Shari Dolleman):
Living Rich for Less is the practical tips book of ways to give, save and spend smart even on a modest salary. Kay describes how their family was able to eliminate $40,000 of debt in just two years on one income. Their family (over a fifteen–year span) paid cash for eleven different cars, gave three of those cars away, bought two five-bedroom homes (one after the other), took regular family vacations, nicely furnished their home, clothed their kids in style, and supported more than thirty nonprofit organizations in a dozen different countries by giving away more than $100,000. How cool! Kay’s synopsis excited me about giving and actually tabulating what our family has given over the years. What a gratifying feeling to see what has been given to the cause you truly believe in. For us, it’s kingdom causes!

Ellie Kay shares the 10/10/80 rule – giving 10 percent, saving 10 percent and spending smart the remaining 80 percent of your income. “The sweetest dollar you ever make is the one you give away. The safest dollar you ever make is the one you put away and the smartest dollar you ever make is the one you spend well.”

Living Rich for Less takes a look at what the rich and famous give in proportion to their earnings. Using an online celebrity calculator she makes the point that money earned and donated by the average American is far more valuable than a lot of the donations by celebrities. For example “if I gave $100 to support a third-world child, Julia Roberts would have to give $83,000 to be as proportionally generous as I am!” I’ve always loved the idea of equal sacrifice in giving. To whom much is given much is required. I’m motivated to give and see it’s importance even if it’s not millions like the “celebrity giving” we hear about. It all makes a difference!

Throughout the book are ideas and tips on how to save on everyday expenses from vacations to groceries to paying for college. I found myself circling, tabbing and making notes throughout the book with suggestions to myself: “Do this! This is great! We do this!”

What a great reminder of what’s important. Give, Save and Spend. Living Rich for Less is definitely worth the read and will help you do as the title suggests.

Summary:
You really can be rich in every way, every day…

So you want to own the home you love, make memories on wonderful vacations with family or friends, finance college educations, and help others too?

You can—starting here and now.

With lively humor, proven know-how, and practical principles for financial health, Living Rich for Less helps you stretch your dollars to realize the lifestyle of your dreams. Ellie Kay’s entertaining and enlightening examples show you simple steps to save, spend, and give smart, and her three main principles are undergirded by dozens of effective rules and hundreds of Cha-Ching Factor™ tips that keep or put money in your pocket.

Living Rich for Less helps anyone get there in our taxed-out, maxed-out times. Because financial security doesn’t mean just genuine prosperity, but being able to live luxuriously, give generously, and care for yourself as well as the others around you.

Where to get the book:
Amazon (www.amazon.com)

Win a free book:
Be the first one to email me (include your name and address) and you will receive your very own copy of “Living Rich For Less” – FREE!

briandolleman@mac.com

for more information, visit my website: www.briandolleman.com