It all seemed so innocent, two sweet little angelic siblings celebrating the day they hatched onto the big blue ball. The tiki-torches burned brightly in the cool spring air. Smoke wafted from the grill as burger grease created a sizzling ambient backdrop to a chorus of conversations all flowing at once. The proud Papa flipped the cow meat while the guys told fish stories on the screened-in porch. An army of children cackled and called as they chased one another round the yard for a chance to hold the prized pet turtle. What a beautiful picture of American tradition. Then it happened...I didn’t have to take it. After all, I do have free will. But he shoved the bag right in my face. “Wait a minute,” I thought, “This is supposed to be a Christian party!” Before my mind could speak to my hand, my fingers were plunging deep into the sack for a pinch. Then, through the haze of my surrender, I took one last glance at that sinister smile and ingested my fix. Billy “the Bean” Simmons had not only found me in a moment of weakness, he’d managed to exploit my habit in front of all those I shepherd. What a dastardly deed!
What can I say? Espresso beans are my downfall. What’s a few extra heartbeats per minute anyway? I like to think of it as a chocolate covered cardio-workout.
Crunch, crunch, buzz, buzz. Grab a shower.
In the end, the thing that bothers me most isn’t the espresso; it’s that Billy the Bean got me to go his way.
It must be the goatee.
When I look back on the worst decisions of my life there was always a goatee...I mean...a Billy the Bean there causing me to go his way instead of the way I knew was right.
“Listen to right voices, make right choices,” is a slogan I often repeat.
It’s true. So, true.
When I was a teenager, a wrong voice told me it was cool to smoke dried leaves until your head felt funny. I believed them and chose to smoke myself stupid. The same voices convinced me that fermented weeds in carbonated water actually tasted good. It took a while, but eventually I acquired a taste for horse urine...I mean Budweiser. Before long, I was pretty well convinced that smoking dried leaves and drinking bladder juice were the only ways to have a good time whilst we waste away on this ball of dirt.
They even had me singing songs about my dried shrubbery and rotten hops. Songs like, “Have a Drink on Me” by ACDC and “Up in Smoke” by Cheech and Chong became anthems for a generation who’s motto was “Sex, Drugs & Rock n Roll.”
Oh yeah, I forgot about the sex part.
The same Billy the Beaners taught me that sex was a great sport. So, as you can imagine, after sucking on a water pipe packed with dried foliage and drinking down a few dozen ounces of liquid bravery, I became quite the ladies man, so I thought. Years later, after much unnecessary pain, the right voices convinced me that what I was doing didn’t even resemble manhood.
Right voices.
Ah! The key to right choices!
It’s been awesome to see so many coming out of destructive lifestyles and discovering life on the verge at our church. When we launched The Verge Life young adult service we set our sites on two targets... the un-churched and the de-churched. I’d say we’ve had pretty good aim.
We’ve seen many begin to live “life on the verge”. That is to say:
Victorious over sin- we’ve seen the chains break!
Equipped to serve- we’ve seen exponential growth in leadership!
Radical in worship- what can I say about worship!!!!
Godly in lifestyle- the righteousness of Christ has been exalted above that of our own!
Evangelistic in purpose- new people pour in every week! And STAY!
Our success is directly linked to your voice! Two scriptures come to mind, one for the ears that need to hear:
2 Tim. 2:22 says...
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Surround yourself with right voices!!!
And, the other is for the lips that need to speak:
1 Peter 4:11 says...
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God....
As “Billy the Beans” of the world continue to push their potential-crushing lies, we must continue to speak life, hope and wisdom to those who come to The Verge. By doing so we not only impact the moment, we influence the destiny of those who listen. So, let's preach it with our lips, preach it with our lives and if necessary....preach it with our goatees.
DISCLAIMER: The use of Billy Wayne Simmons as a perpetrator in no way reflects my personal opinion of said character. Espresso beans have always been welcome from Billy in the past and will continue to be welcomed in the future. Free Espresso beans as well as free coffee, lattes, brownies and other caffienated treats are in fact a means by which to gain great merit and pastorly favor from the author.
