Recently, I spoke to a friend who is going through a tough time. I should explain what I mean by friend. This guy, I would have to say, is my oldest friend. He is the first legitimate friend I can ever remember having. One day during preschool I had him believing that my tennis shoes would turn into baseball cleats just by pressing a button on them. When he told me to prove it, I simply replied, "I don't have batteries in them right now."
Whether he ever truly believed they would become cleats or not doesn't matter, but that was the start of my first true friendship. Don't get me wrong he isn't the closest friend that I have. As a matter of a fact he hasn't been a close friend for well over a decade but we recently ran into each other in Walmart (of all places).
Growing up, I stayed over at his house (or he at mine) at every given opportunity. He always had the latest gaming console and the most awesome games to go with it. We were inseparable. Others would join our little awesome duo from time to time but at the end of the day, but at the end of the day we would remain.
Moving into Jr High, which is obviously a difficult time for everyone, we began to drift apart. I was more into the sports scene and he was more into screamo music. This continued on into high school, where we were separated by the classes that we took. Our lives began to drift apart. nobody told me when it was going to be the last time we spent the night with each other, played our last video game together, or talked about girls together.
Our Senior year of high school, I'm not sure we even said 10 sentences to each other. This wasn't because we were mad at each other or anything bad at all. We had simply gone down our separate paths. In my yearbook that year, I will never forget what he wrote to me.
"Jacob, You'll always be my first friend and I'm sorry we've drifted apart over the years... I would normally say something funny at this point, but I love you man."
If you knew who I was talking about you would be in tears. And now, present day, he is struggling. We had a chance to reconnect with that encounter in Walmart. Quite frankly, I dropped the ball. I let down my first friend, again. Do you know how bad that can make someone feel?
When I ran into him (in Walmart again) months later my heart sank to the floor. I felt terrible for letting him down. At this encounter I informed him that my wife, Sarah, and I were moving across the country to California. He wished me luck and told me to stay in touch. While I haven't been doing the best job at staying in touch we have chatted a bit, but he called me the other day with some crushing news. And although I'm not there close to help him through it, I am a phone call away and he knows that. He told me during our last conversations that he can't even get friends that live right down the street to slow down long enough to talk to him. Yet, he can call me across the country.
That'll really pick you up when you've been a terrible friend the last 15 years. And while I hate with every fiber in me that he is having to endure what he is, I'm glad that he still has the confidence too confide in me and let me try to encourage him and hear him out.
I'm not sure if he will ever read this or not, most likely not, but if you do, you know who you are and I love you man!
Also, for the rest of you, sometimes it's a good thing to run in to people you know in Walmart!
Sunday, July 8, 2018
Saturday, July 2, 2016
More than Fish Stories and Tall tales
I'm not an avid fisherman; as a matter of fact, I'm not sure if I've ever caught a bass. Oh but I've heard fish stories, and even been a part of a few of those stories. My favorites are those that the mammoth of a 6 inch fish stretched to a foot long by the end of the day. By next week, somehow, the fish is 1 yard long, and pulled the boat all around the lake before we got it reeled in.
It's funny how we stretch our own accomplishments. We build them up far beyond what they ever were. We have a way of making the insignificant extremely important. Let's compare our works (fish) to the works of God.
The Bible says (Isaiah 64:6) that our works (righteous deeds) are as filthy rags. Now I've seen some filthy rags in my short 26 years on earth, and that is our best deeds. Our best work is as disgusting, muddy, greasy, dusty, musty rags. That is leaving out of the picture our "not so great" deeds. Our best is (to steal a South African term) rubbish, and really unusable.
There is no stretching our filthy rags out so far to make them appear as useful, but when we allow God to be God, his works are useful, uplifting, and full of mercy and grace.
I've only heard of one fish story where the fish was so big that it caught the man, and that is the story of Jonah. While our fish (works) seem good, they are minimal compared to the grace that God sent in the form of a fish that caught Jonah.
Why is this fish a sign of God's grace? In Jonah's reality, the fish of grace saved his life. He would've drowned in the storm in the sea. Grace swallowed him, and grace spit him out in the will of God on the shores of where he should've been. One might say grace saved him and grace led him home!
It's funny how we stretch our own accomplishments. We build them up far beyond what they ever were. We have a way of making the insignificant extremely important. Let's compare our works (fish) to the works of God.
The Bible says (Isaiah 64:6) that our works (righteous deeds) are as filthy rags. Now I've seen some filthy rags in my short 26 years on earth, and that is our best deeds. Our best work is as disgusting, muddy, greasy, dusty, musty rags. That is leaving out of the picture our "not so great" deeds. Our best is (to steal a South African term) rubbish, and really unusable.
There is no stretching our filthy rags out so far to make them appear as useful, but when we allow God to be God, his works are useful, uplifting, and full of mercy and grace.
I've only heard of one fish story where the fish was so big that it caught the man, and that is the story of Jonah. While our fish (works) seem good, they are minimal compared to the grace that God sent in the form of a fish that caught Jonah.
Why is this fish a sign of God's grace? In Jonah's reality, the fish of grace saved his life. He would've drowned in the storm in the sea. Grace swallowed him, and grace spit him out in the will of God on the shores of where he should've been. One might say grace saved him and grace led him home!
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Dry Things Burn the Best
Have you ever felt like you were in a slump, a spell so dry that all of the water in the ocean couldn't quench the thirst? I think if we were all honest (and very rarely is that the case) we would say, "Yep, I've been there." Yet others may say, "I am currently there."
For those currently there, the symptoms didn't seem so extravagant at first (fires don't typically die all at once), but they have since exacerbated into something that seems eternal. The joy found in the Lord seems like a distant memory that is a bit hazy to our remembrance. The mercy and grace that we experienced (many times) in our distant past seem like they were just a good dream, but we question their reality, their very existence in this moment. Forgiveness for our own shortcomings seems impossible, and we struggle through the internal aspects of forgiving others; while on the outside, it seems like we are (to steal a southern phrase) "fine and dandy."
In reality, our emotions are either out of control or we feel nothing at all. There seems to be no middle ground in our state of mind. And really it comes down to a head issue. Our hearts can still be on the right track, but our head gets in the way. We fill our time with everything but what we should. The solution is simple, but by no means is it easy.
We must let our brains remember what our hearts never forgot.
Force ourselves to spend time in prayer, personal time of worship, and time in the word. In these times, we never feel like doing these things, and at first it feels like we are going through the motions. Then we reach the point where it feels like out prayers are not able to get through the ceiling of our prayer closet, the worship is just music and the music is just noise, and the Word seems like hieroglyphics. It is as this point that Romans 5:4 can be an encouragement to us because it can define our circumstance.
3Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character;and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.…
When we push through, our heads begin to look forward to our quiet times, and the hope and joy is renewed within us. Our faith is revived. Our lives are renewed! Our fire is burning brighter than ever!
There is no set time of how long this process takes, but don't give up. Sorrows may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning!
For those currently there, the symptoms didn't seem so extravagant at first (fires don't typically die all at once), but they have since exacerbated into something that seems eternal. The joy found in the Lord seems like a distant memory that is a bit hazy to our remembrance. The mercy and grace that we experienced (many times) in our distant past seem like they were just a good dream, but we question their reality, their very existence in this moment. Forgiveness for our own shortcomings seems impossible, and we struggle through the internal aspects of forgiving others; while on the outside, it seems like we are (to steal a southern phrase) "fine and dandy."
In reality, our emotions are either out of control or we feel nothing at all. There seems to be no middle ground in our state of mind. And really it comes down to a head issue. Our hearts can still be on the right track, but our head gets in the way. We fill our time with everything but what we should. The solution is simple, but by no means is it easy.
We must let our brains remember what our hearts never forgot.
Force ourselves to spend time in prayer, personal time of worship, and time in the word. In these times, we never feel like doing these things, and at first it feels like we are going through the motions. Then we reach the point where it feels like out prayers are not able to get through the ceiling of our prayer closet, the worship is just music and the music is just noise, and the Word seems like hieroglyphics. It is as this point that Romans 5:4 can be an encouragement to us because it can define our circumstance.
3Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character;and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.…
When we push through, our heads begin to look forward to our quiet times, and the hope and joy is renewed within us. Our faith is revived. Our lives are renewed! Our fire is burning brighter than ever!
There is no set time of how long this process takes, but don't give up. Sorrows may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning!
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Why are Male Humans Disgusting: A Rant by a Male Human
As I was driving around my current city of residence, I realized that men are disgusting creatures. I can speak with only slight certainty that women are also disgusting, but coming from a single guy who was the youngest of 3 boys, having no sisters, I cannot be 100% on the issue of women hygiene. I am an American living currently in South Africa, and I realized that the country of origin doesn’t matter. I am a lover of all modes of gross humor, but men are nasty. The following are a few things that I have realized and would like to share with you. I'll use a copout here and say all men are not guilty of all 3 of these things, but these are things I've noticed that "some" men do.
Starting off with what I saw yesterday.
1) Men pick their nose… even in public (sometimes).
Why do men do this? Heck if I know, but the truth is, men do it. Maybe the reason is to breathe easier, maybe it is a nervous twitch, but one thing is for certain; it is a disgusting habit that must be broken! For the love of all things sanitary, guys if you are going to pick your nose, do not even think about eating it. Somebody was grossed out by just reading that last sentence, but honestly, I was grossed out watching a guy at a red light (robot) today do just that.
2) Men do not have great aim at all times.
Yes this is referring to urination practices. Anyone who has set foot into a public men’s bathroom knows this to be 100% truth. I can say as a Christian man, having bad aim is not a sin. Failing to clean up after your mishap is one of the most repulsive things you can do! I understand there has been a great debate among men and women since at least 1927 (which is the year the toilet seat was invented by Tom Bradney). Should the toilet seat be put down or remain up after a man does his business is not a concern of mine in this article. Frankly I have trained myself to put the toilet seat down because I know a (future) happy wife means a happy life. This one self training technique could save many days/nights of arguments, and in my opinion is worth investing in. But again in the name of sanitation, whether the toilet seat is up (which it should be) or down when a guy expels liquid, make sure there are no “sprinkle drops” on the toilet when you finish, or clean it up!
*As a bonus or side note to number 2, I would like to add that if one wants to truly understand the difference between men and women one must not look further than how men and women differ in cleaning the inside of a toilet bowl. Women use a brush. Men try to spray it off in a trip to the bathroom; if unsuccessful, men will try again on the next trip.
3) Hand washing techniques leave a bit to be desired.
By a bit, i may be under shooting… a bit. I do not know how many times I’ve seen a guy walk out of the bathroom after doing his business, whichever of the two businesses that a man can do in a bathroom, and not wash his hands. What makes someone think this is an all right thing to do? It’s not only in the bathroom hand washing, but just hand washing in general that I have found lacking. Pet the dog and eat some chips. Scratch your hind-end and eat some fruit. Pick your nose and eat… we won’t get back into that. In the words of my old respiratory therapy teacher. Wash your nasty hands!
Since all good sermons are 3 points, I shall bring this rant to a close. Brush your teeth, wash your hair (if you still have some), use deodorant and wear clean socks! I am not asking you to not be gross, but just be a little less gross!
Friday, August 8, 2014
Pray in KJV
For those of you who are friends with me on Facebook, you understand just how random of a person I am or can be. I can post a "deep" theological thought one day, and a totally random fact the next. Or more recently, I was in a smack talking mood over the card game, hearts. My good friends have handled my trash talking with much grace, especially on account of the large scale beat down that they have taken... Countless large scale beat downs to be correct.
I posted something the other day, that I had been in thought about for a while. I even had a discussion with the care taker at a Private Children's home that I help manage about the subject. I do not remember my exact post, but I will elaborate on it a bit now.
As a christian, I know I have been guilty (many times) of stating a certain phrase. That phrase: We serve a good God.
Not until more recently did I realize the error in my statement. It is true God is good. Regardless of the 'if God is good then why is there so much bad in the world' question. In a completely personal opinion, my answer to that question is that God has given us free will. If there is no bad in the world, but only good, then we don't really have a choice between good and bad, thus there is no free will. That is the short answer. Many more details could and should be entered for my complete thought on the matter, but we need to get back to the matter at hand.
My error in stating 'We serve a good God.'
I was never an English major, as the 3 or 4 of you who actually take the time to read this blog knew very quickly, but this thought has everything to do with grammar in the English language. The word 'a' is my problem. Saying, 'We serve a good God." might leave a person to think that there is another good God out there some where. Kind of like asking the question, "Do you have a good #2 pencil?" (If you said hashtag 2 pencil, please reread the previous sentence). It's not to say that your #2 pencil is the only good #2 pencil, but simply asking do you have one of the many #2 pencils in the world.
What could change this question? Replace the word 'a' with the word 'the'. Do you have 'the' #2 pencil? For some reason the word 'the' makes it seem like there are no other #2 pencils in the world.
Do you want a Reese's Peanut Butter cup? (the answer is always YES!!!!) Or do you want the Reese's Peanut Butter cup? (again the answer is always YES!!!!). A makes me think one of many; whereas, the makes me think the only one. Have I made this point clear? And also the point that you should always say yes to Reese's?!
When we say we serve a good God, we should actually be saying, "We serve the good God!"
That statement leads one to believe that there are no other good gods except our God. It takes away the thought that God is one of the good gods, and sets God apart as the only good god!
I also believe you can substitute the word 'good' with: faithful, merciful, healing, and the list could go on and on. Use your imagination on this one!
Moral of the story: Pray only in KJV, God understands what you mean better in old English! (I'm joking, and hope you knew)
Monday, April 21, 2014
Learn it, Live it, Love it!
You know just because something is in the Bible and you believe it, doesn't mean you really know what it means or have necessarily learned it. Sometimes it takes experience; sometimes it simply takes time to sink in.
Take love for example:
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love isn't envious of what others have (in a relationship, business, etc...).
Love doesn't boast (before others or in a room all by itself) of what it has, and it definitely doesn't boast of what it may one day have
Love is not proud. There's nothing wrong with being proud of something, but love isn't proud to the point of thinking that what it has could never be lost.
Love isn't rude. It's honest without the rudeness. It gets the point across without being rude.
Love isn't self-seeking. It's not about what you can get out of it. Love isn't about you.
Love isn't easily angered. That doesn't mean that it never gets angry. it just takes a lot to anger it. It maybe disappointed, but there is a thick line between disappointment and anger.
Love doesn't keep a record of wrongs. So even if love does get angry (and according to the previous statement, it took a lot), it forgives and forgets. It doesn't keep a tally of how many times it has been wronged.
Love doesn't delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. Evil brings pain to love while truth rejuvenates it.
Love always protects. it always has protection on the forefront of it's mind, in every circumstance, like an instinct. It makes sure to provide and meet needs.
Love always trusts. Trust is the foundation of love. If there is no trust, there is no relationship (in any form).
Love perseveres. No matter the circumstance, situation, huge life change, or small life change, love out lasts them all.
Love never fails, period.
No where does it say love is easy, or comfortable, and it surely doesn't say that love is easy to find (especially in this day and age).
Regardless, love never fails.
Take love for example:
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
Love is patient: it doesn't force something that isn't there. It develops at the correct moment to be the driving force it waits, even in tough times or difficult situations that are outside of our scope of understanding.
Love is kind. It doesn't mean it won't poke fun, but it'll never cross the line.
Love is patient: it doesn't force something that isn't there. It develops at the correct moment to be the driving force it waits, even in tough times or difficult situations that are outside of our scope of understanding.
Love is kind. It doesn't mean it won't poke fun, but it'll never cross the line.
Love isn't envious of what others have (in a relationship, business, etc...).
Love doesn't boast (before others or in a room all by itself) of what it has, and it definitely doesn't boast of what it may one day have
Love is not proud. There's nothing wrong with being proud of something, but love isn't proud to the point of thinking that what it has could never be lost.
Love isn't rude. It's honest without the rudeness. It gets the point across without being rude.
Love isn't self-seeking. It's not about what you can get out of it. Love isn't about you.
Love isn't easily angered. That doesn't mean that it never gets angry. it just takes a lot to anger it. It maybe disappointed, but there is a thick line between disappointment and anger.
Love doesn't keep a record of wrongs. So even if love does get angry (and according to the previous statement, it took a lot), it forgives and forgets. It doesn't keep a tally of how many times it has been wronged.
Love doesn't delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. Evil brings pain to love while truth rejuvenates it.
Love always protects. it always has protection on the forefront of it's mind, in every circumstance, like an instinct. It makes sure to provide and meet needs.
Love always trusts. Trust is the foundation of love. If there is no trust, there is no relationship (in any form).
Love perseveres. No matter the circumstance, situation, huge life change, or small life change, love out lasts them all.
Love never fails, period.
No where does it say love is easy, or comfortable, and it surely doesn't say that love is easy to find (especially in this day and age).
Regardless, love never fails.
Some may say, "Oh you must have really loved them/that."
But I would say no. that isn't the case at all because love (to me) isn't past tense. Love is present: love is the decision that I will make in the future. I love now, and I will love.
But I would say no. that isn't the case at all because love (to me) isn't past tense. Love is present: love is the decision that I will make in the future. I love now, and I will love.
"United in Love"
What You Need
Have you ever heard that Jesus is the answer to every question? I've heard it, and obviously one could ask a question that has nothing to do with Jesus, but in reality, Jesus is the answer to every question. He's everything we need; he's simply, the answer. Before I get too deep on myself let me explain.
Woman at the well needed water; she received living water straight from the Source. but he's not just water. Sometimes people are hungry and not thirsty. For those, He is the Bread of Life.
We all walk in a world full of darkness, but some indulge in that darkness and fall into the traps of the dark; Jesus is the Light of the World and can put those traps into the light so that they can be avoided.
People travel but don't get anywhere because they are lost and don't even know it, living a lie that they believe is truth, living a life that's leading them only to death. For those (and all of us) He is the way, the truth, and the life.
People are different. Some react to more of a dictator quality in a person better than a gentle command. Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, He is the Lamb of God.
He doesn't have a split personality. He's not bread for someone who needs water. He's not a Lion for someone who needs a Lamb.
This isn't a "Jesus is only what you need and nothing else" gospel.
This is a "Jesus is exactly what you need" gospel.
Woman at the well needed water; she received living water straight from the Source. but he's not just water. Sometimes people are hungry and not thirsty. For those, He is the Bread of Life.
We all walk in a world full of darkness, but some indulge in that darkness and fall into the traps of the dark; Jesus is the Light of the World and can put those traps into the light so that they can be avoided.
People travel but don't get anywhere because they are lost and don't even know it, living a lie that they believe is truth, living a life that's leading them only to death. For those (and all of us) He is the way, the truth, and the life.
People are different. Some react to more of a dictator quality in a person better than a gentle command. Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, He is the Lamb of God.
He doesn't have a split personality. He's not bread for someone who needs water. He's not a Lion for someone who needs a Lamb.
This isn't a "Jesus is only what you need and nothing else" gospel.
This is a "Jesus is exactly what you need" gospel.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Build Faith
If you are a friend of mine on facebook, you've probably noticed that I have been reading a book by the pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, Steven Furtick. The book is called Greater, and it has really helped me to broaden some horizons, to check myself in some areas.
Have you ever had something that you have poured tons and tons of prayer into, but it seems as if that situation not only hasn't gotten any better, but in fact, it has gotten worse than it was before you even started praying? How does this happen? I haven't worked that part out yet, but one thing that I have learned is to not give up praying. How unintelligent (chose that one because stupid is a mean word...) would it be to give up on a situation after months or even years of praying for it; even after one setback, no matter how major that setback may have been, it would be ridiculous to 'fold the tent.'
One of the things Pastor Furtick says in this book is "The journey toward greater things is marked with setbacks and real suffering. Sometimes as your faith is getting greater, your situation is getting worser." Now I don't condone the usage of the word worser (even though it once was considered appropriate to use... look it up), but that statement made me realize, by stopping prayer for the situation, I could stop the growth of my faith in that situation.
Do I believe that sometimes God says "Let it go." Yes, I do believe that. Somethings aren't in his plan for our lives, but I also believe that when that point comes, He will give you an answer, a clear answer. Even if that answer is one word, (to steal another phrase from this book) "When God is the one talking to you, one word is more than enough."
If that word is "Stop," then that is more than enough for you to focus your praying energies into another situation. But if that word is "Continue," is that enough for us to really... continue on? If you think about it like this, Peter jumped out of the boat to walk on water at one word from Jesus, "Come." But the question is, are we willing to jump at one word from our God?"
I know, in my life, I look for some details. While God doesn't do the details, he has already done them. We aren't asked to worry with them because they are already taken care of. We are asked simply to 'come' or 'continue' or even sometimes to 'stop.'
So instead of throwing countless hours of faith building prayer down the drain, continue on. After a month or so of... (enter throat clear here)... taking a break, I think it's time to get the tent stakes back in the ground and build some more faith!
Have you ever had something that you have poured tons and tons of prayer into, but it seems as if that situation not only hasn't gotten any better, but in fact, it has gotten worse than it was before you even started praying? How does this happen? I haven't worked that part out yet, but one thing that I have learned is to not give up praying. How unintelligent (chose that one because stupid is a mean word...) would it be to give up on a situation after months or even years of praying for it; even after one setback, no matter how major that setback may have been, it would be ridiculous to 'fold the tent.'
One of the things Pastor Furtick says in this book is "The journey toward greater things is marked with setbacks and real suffering. Sometimes as your faith is getting greater, your situation is getting worser." Now I don't condone the usage of the word worser (even though it once was considered appropriate to use... look it up), but that statement made me realize, by stopping prayer for the situation, I could stop the growth of my faith in that situation.
Do I believe that sometimes God says "Let it go." Yes, I do believe that. Somethings aren't in his plan for our lives, but I also believe that when that point comes, He will give you an answer, a clear answer. Even if that answer is one word, (to steal another phrase from this book) "When God is the one talking to you, one word is more than enough."
If that word is "Stop," then that is more than enough for you to focus your praying energies into another situation. But if that word is "Continue," is that enough for us to really... continue on? If you think about it like this, Peter jumped out of the boat to walk on water at one word from Jesus, "Come." But the question is, are we willing to jump at one word from our God?"
I know, in my life, I look for some details. While God doesn't do the details, he has already done them. We aren't asked to worry with them because they are already taken care of. We are asked simply to 'come' or 'continue' or even sometimes to 'stop.'
So instead of throwing countless hours of faith building prayer down the drain, continue on. After a month or so of... (enter throat clear here)... taking a break, I think it's time to get the tent stakes back in the ground and build some more faith!
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Promises
Promises, one of the things that humans put so much value on, yet oftentimes, so little stock in. As kids, we grow up learning never to break a promise, especially pinky promises! It is amazing how something so sacred as a promise can be magnified even more by simply locking pinkies with another. It's also amazing how we can go from 'cross my heart and hope to die' to breaking that promise like a toothpick. As adults however, when someone promises us something, we typically take it with a proverbial 'grain of salt.'
Pressure is something that has ruined many good promises, broken many good friendships, shattered many extravagant dreams. If we could do an accurate study of how people handle pressure, I believe we would find that most people perform more poorly under pressure than they would undertaking the same task with no pressure. I don't personally know of anyone for certain, who hasn't broken a promise. The promise might have been made, as most are, with every good intention, but do to outside circumstances (pressure), the promise was broken. Why is it so hard to keep a promise? Why are we so easily influenced, or so timid of enduring moments of pressure in order to be true to our word?
Nobody likes to be uncomfortable, and pressure is uncomfortable. This is one reason why I am so glad that Isaiah 55 shows us that God's ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts. If God succumbed to pressure the same way that we do, he would be the (literally) biggest liar of all, but His ways aren't our ways. He cannot lie; therefore, He cannot break a promise. His promises fill His Word from cover to cover, but the one that has stuck out to me the most recently is Matthew 19:29.
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. (Matthew 19:29 NIV)
As a missionary, this verse is an amazing promise! We leave everything: family, jobs, and friends are just the tip of the iceberg that we leave behind. Some people wonder, "For what? Why do you leave when there are people here who need help?"
While we don't leave to receive the hundred fold, this promise has enabled many to endure the hardship of leaving those we care about, to reach others that we may never know.
The proverb is true that you reap what you sew, but when you sew where the Master tells you to sew, the reward is much greater.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
United In Love (What's LOVE got to do, got to do with it?)
"United In Love" has become (for lack of a better term) my ministry slogan . The Bible is so clear that, as Christians, we must love in everything we do. Love must be who we are.
1 Corinthians 13:1 says- If I could speak all of the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
Love is the universal language, and surpasses many barriers. Though the world has made gray the line between love and lust, true genuine love is understood worldwide. Love can soften the hardest and warm the coldest of hearts.
Sometimes, the correct words are no where to be found. Even the most articulate person with the greatest knowledge of vocabulary cannot adequately express his or her feelings from time to time. With all the big words and extravagant gestures, the message sometimes gets lost. Love doesn't have to be flamboyant to be recognized. When it develops a 'look at me' attitude, then it is no longer love.
1 Corinthians 13:4- Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy it does not boast, it is not proud.
Love doesn't look for the spotlight, it only needs a spot. From that spot, it grows and becomes who we are. It envelopes and changes us; as we interact with others, they no longer see us for who we were, they see us for who we are. We are the children of God and (1John 4:8) God is Love; this makes us children of Love.
So to answer the question, 'What's love got to do with it?' The answer is simply: Everything!
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Monday, July 9, 2012
Prayer journaling
Wow it has been ten forevers since I last blogged. I don't really have a whole lot to blog about this time, but I do feel that it could be beneficial to let you in on something that I have been doing as of late. Prayer Journaling is something that I really never saw myself doing, but it is so beneficial to really see what your prayers are, to be able to go back and read them is really awesome. At Ozark First Assembly we have something simply called Monday night prayer. It is a time between 5 and 7 for church members or even people from the community to come in and spend some time in prayer. I have been doing this as many monday nights as possible, and at the end of my prayer time I have been journaling. As I have indulged into the world of worship music I have come upon the awesome "revelation" that worship songs are simply prayers put to music.
My journaling is mostly in poem style and I would like to share just a few of them with you. I have written a few poems in my day, but when they are a God inspired prayer poem, it just has a much deeper meaning.
June 4, 2012
Let us not complicate Your Word
Let us not complicate Your Presence
When You have spoken and we have heard
When You have come and are our Essence
Be the Lord over all, be our every answer
Catch us when we fall, as we seek to be Your pleasure
You are the Solution to every problem
The comfort over all our fears
You have overcome our situation
You have overcome it for years
Let our worship, let our love
Fill this place, and the Heavens above
Flood our hearts as we flood Your altars
With our broken dreams and confidence faltered
July 2, 2012
Tears on the altar and tears on the floor
A simple prayer of faith to change us forevermore
With our fingers imprinted in Your altar
A sincere sign that we are your sons and daughters
We ask for favor as we seek your face
To be a light shining in a dark and dreary place
A City on a Hill a place of healing and refuge
A kind word, a bright smile, however you choose to use
You are truly the Potter and us the clay
Never let us forget that as we go from day to day
Let Your thoughts be mine
Pure, heavenly, and Divine
Let Your ways be my ways
To see the path and give You all praise
Don't hide Your face and speak clearly your Word
Fill this place and lead me my Shepard
You are my hope, my joy, my song
Let me praise you with every thought, word and breath all the day long
July 9, 2012
I want to live a life that is whole and holy
In both my soul and my body
I want to walk with my head held high
Knowing that you Oh Lord are right by my side
You will never leave or forsake me
You are the same forever, never changing
You are the Master, I am the servant
You give eternal life, I could never earn it
Your mercy is so great, Only your ways are Divine
Open the eyes of the spiritually blind
You are so strong yet ever so meek
Strengthen the knees of the spiritually weak
Your Grace is sufficient, Your Word is so clear
Open ears so the spiritually deaf can hear
You are the Potter I am mere clay
Use me dear Lord in Your Highest of Ways
My journaling is mostly in poem style and I would like to share just a few of them with you. I have written a few poems in my day, but when they are a God inspired prayer poem, it just has a much deeper meaning.
June 4, 2012
Let us not complicate Your Word
Let us not complicate Your Presence
When You have spoken and we have heard
When You have come and are our Essence
Be the Lord over all, be our every answer
Catch us when we fall, as we seek to be Your pleasure
You are the Solution to every problem
The comfort over all our fears
You have overcome our situation
You have overcome it for years
Let our worship, let our love
Fill this place, and the Heavens above
Flood our hearts as we flood Your altars
With our broken dreams and confidence faltered
July 2, 2012
Tears on the altar and tears on the floor
A simple prayer of faith to change us forevermore
With our fingers imprinted in Your altar
A sincere sign that we are your sons and daughters
We ask for favor as we seek your face
To be a light shining in a dark and dreary place
A City on a Hill a place of healing and refuge
A kind word, a bright smile, however you choose to use
You are truly the Potter and us the clay
Never let us forget that as we go from day to day
Let Your thoughts be mine
Pure, heavenly, and Divine
Let Your ways be my ways
To see the path and give You all praise
Don't hide Your face and speak clearly your Word
Fill this place and lead me my Shepard
You are my hope, my joy, my song
Let me praise you with every thought, word and breath all the day long
July 9, 2012
I want to live a life that is whole and holy
In both my soul and my body
I want to walk with my head held high
Knowing that you Oh Lord are right by my side
You will never leave or forsake me
You are the same forever, never changing
You are the Master, I am the servant
You give eternal life, I could never earn it
Your mercy is so great, Only your ways are Divine
Open the eyes of the spiritually blind
You are so strong yet ever so meek
Strengthen the knees of the spiritually weak
Your Grace is sufficient, Your Word is so clear
Open ears so the spiritually deaf can hear
You are the Potter I am mere clay
Use me dear Lord in Your Highest of Ways
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Open Book!
I just read the story of Jesus's disciples promising to stay with him no matter what, and when the guards came to seize Jesus the disciples fled. A random thought came to mind...
If someone was writing our life down and making it a story, how would we do? I mean there are so many stories in the Bible that we have read and been like that is awesome, and others that we have read and wondered why this Bible character acted in this way when he/she knew what they needed to do. That is just where we get it wrong. So many times we forget that these "characters" in the bible are not characters at all. They are real people. Their stories, their life stories have been jotted down for all the world to see. We know how they ended so it's easy for us to judge them or celebrate them. So that's my question to you. If your story, your life story, was written down for all the world to see, would those reading celebrate with the choices you've made or would they judge you for the decisions you have/are made/making. Whoever wants to save their life will lose it (Mark 8:35). I also take this to mean whoever wants to save their reputation will lose it. Let us live giving God our lives, our reputations, and let's remember our promises we have made to Him.
Moral of the story: Your life is an open book, what part does your "character" play in the story?
If someone was writing our life down and making it a story, how would we do? I mean there are so many stories in the Bible that we have read and been like that is awesome, and others that we have read and wondered why this Bible character acted in this way when he/she knew what they needed to do. That is just where we get it wrong. So many times we forget that these "characters" in the bible are not characters at all. They are real people. Their stories, their life stories have been jotted down for all the world to see. We know how they ended so it's easy for us to judge them or celebrate them. So that's my question to you. If your story, your life story, was written down for all the world to see, would those reading celebrate with the choices you've made or would they judge you for the decisions you have/are made/making. Whoever wants to save their life will lose it (Mark 8:35). I also take this to mean whoever wants to save their reputation will lose it. Let us live giving God our lives, our reputations, and let's remember our promises we have made to Him.
Moral of the story: Your life is an open book, what part does your "character" play in the story?
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Paying Bills...
Just paid my monthly balance for my American Express Delta Sky Miles Credit Card... ouch... You all know what I mean. Bills are never fun to pay. But as I was clicking the submit button for the payment a thought came to mind...
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. That's what the Bible says in Romans 6:23, but sometimes our reality of that scripture is not the same reality that it depicts. You see a gift is of no cost to the recipient. All one must do to receive a gift is to accept it. Many of us like receiving gifts especially one given from the heart of the giver; a gift given in love or from the heart of the giver is always the best gift. The giver knows the sacrifice that they have to take to give such gifts, but very rarely does the recipient understand to what depth of sacrifice the gift is given. Thus the dilemma.
Imagine getting (as a giver) a one of a kind gift that is nonrefundable and nonexchangeable. It's the perfect gift, one that you know for a fact that this person needs; as you go to deliver your gift, you arrive at the soon to be recipient's home to find no one there. You leave the gift on the doorstep with a note telling them who the gift is from. Maybe not everyone would expect a phone call or letter in the mail within the week, but let's say we are this time, and let's pretend like that phone call/ letter never happens. We get to wondering what became of our special gift. We return to the house to find it opened and sitting outside in the elements which will ruin it. We return home hurt because of the way our gift was received (rejected could be a better word). We try the subtle way of calling the recipient to see if they received our gift, which they kind of dance around the question with a "yeah I saw it" answer.
Think of how God feels. He gave His very best gift. Parent's you can relate to this, He gave His one and only Son. He did this knowing that people would reject his gift. A sacrificial gift, one given from the very heart of the Creator of all the universe. He did this for one reason, His love for us. His love has no boundaries because He has already crossed them all, laying down His very deity and flesh for us. All we have to do is except His gift.
How many will still say, "Yeah I saw it. I know about it" and still not except it? It's hard to believe the best Gift ever given was gift wrapped in rags, but would it have been more acceptable if the Gift would have been wrapped with silk? Regardless we all have a debt to pay it's our choice if we want to accept that our debt has been paid, keep living like there is no debt to pay, or keep putting it off to pay later. One day the Collector will come, will you be able to show Him your debt has been paid and enjoy eternal life or will you have to take the punishment for your debt which is death. Do you love your family and friends enough to tell them about this Gift?
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. That's what the Bible says in Romans 6:23, but sometimes our reality of that scripture is not the same reality that it depicts. You see a gift is of no cost to the recipient. All one must do to receive a gift is to accept it. Many of us like receiving gifts especially one given from the heart of the giver; a gift given in love or from the heart of the giver is always the best gift. The giver knows the sacrifice that they have to take to give such gifts, but very rarely does the recipient understand to what depth of sacrifice the gift is given. Thus the dilemma.
Imagine getting (as a giver) a one of a kind gift that is nonrefundable and nonexchangeable. It's the perfect gift, one that you know for a fact that this person needs; as you go to deliver your gift, you arrive at the soon to be recipient's home to find no one there. You leave the gift on the doorstep with a note telling them who the gift is from. Maybe not everyone would expect a phone call or letter in the mail within the week, but let's say we are this time, and let's pretend like that phone call/ letter never happens. We get to wondering what became of our special gift. We return to the house to find it opened and sitting outside in the elements which will ruin it. We return home hurt because of the way our gift was received (rejected could be a better word). We try the subtle way of calling the recipient to see if they received our gift, which they kind of dance around the question with a "yeah I saw it" answer.
Think of how God feels. He gave His very best gift. Parent's you can relate to this, He gave His one and only Son. He did this knowing that people would reject his gift. A sacrificial gift, one given from the very heart of the Creator of all the universe. He did this for one reason, His love for us. His love has no boundaries because He has already crossed them all, laying down His very deity and flesh for us. All we have to do is except His gift.
How many will still say, "Yeah I saw it. I know about it" and still not except it? It's hard to believe the best Gift ever given was gift wrapped in rags, but would it have been more acceptable if the Gift would have been wrapped with silk? Regardless we all have a debt to pay it's our choice if we want to accept that our debt has been paid, keep living like there is no debt to pay, or keep putting it off to pay later. One day the Collector will come, will you be able to show Him your debt has been paid and enjoy eternal life or will you have to take the punishment for your debt which is death. Do you love your family and friends enough to tell them about this Gift?
Friday, June 3, 2011
This is a time...
Well tonight we had a night of Worship at our pavilion at my home church, Ozark First Assembly. There were 4 guitars many youth and young adults, and a few not as young adults. The night went pretty well I thought. We had a fire, the temperature was perfect for a fire tonight… at 90+. It was by a creek, mosquitoes were out. But we were all together, a group of believers joined together to sing praises to our God, Father, and King. The night started around 7, it’s not dark at 7, but that’s the time we decided to start. The 4 guitars were tuned, and finally playing the same song. People started singing. I wouldn’t really call what we did at this point worshiping; no it was more or less just playing the guitar and singing. So after we played about 7 or so songs, we stopped for a while. I spoke a few words concerning the heart of what the night was about. The guitars spread out a little amongst the crowd to better spread the tune, and we started again. This went on for another hour or so, but there were brief moments when no music was played and no one was talking. All we could hear were the sounds of nature, but shortly a guitar would pick up with another song and off we would go again. Though more worship occurred at this point of the night, we soon stopped, picked up around the area and went our separate ways. This is when a question was asked to me. How do you think tonight went? And it struck a random thought…
Overall, I thought the night went pretty well, but with events like these we always wish that it would’ve gone better than it did. My philosophy on worship has become such, and that is what I would like to share with you. This is a time when TRUE worshipers will worship Him. That is a statement most of us have heard and believe. My question is, if this is true, why do we not see more people truly pour their heart out to God during our times of worship together? First off, you shouldn’t be worried about those around you, but I do know we’re all guilty of this, or I am anyway… But my thought is that no where in the ‘true worshipers will worship Him’ statement does it say how the true worshipers will worship. It only says that they will. So just because we do not see somebody pouring their heart out to God, doesn’t mean that they aren’t. Some people worship God just as silently as the Spirit moves through a service. Others go as extreme as singing as loud as we all do in the shower or car, or as loud as I do in the shower and car, and in the shower and car I sound like Joel Houston or Chris Tomlin or something. I mean you wouldn’t believe how awesome.. how amazing… sorry…
People worship differently. If we try to make everybody worship the same, we will waste our time. As long as everyone is worshiping the same God, is that not enough? On the flip side of ‘true worshipers worshiping’, what does that mean of those who are not true worshipers…? Simply they will not worship Him. Yes, they may sing lift their hands and cry, but if they are not true worshipers, what they are doing is just making noise, motions, and forcing emotions. If this is you I almost apologize for stepping on your toes. I almost apologize because you needed to hear the truth. Now you need to accept the truth and do something about it. This statement also never states that those who are not true worshipers will never become true worshipers. There is hope! Seek God, become someone who worships God for who He is, and what he’s done for you. Give Him the glory, it’s not about how well you carry a tune, or how many buckets you’ve tried and failed to carry a tune in.
Worship Leader or Pastor don’t become frustrated when you don’t see visibly the fruits of your labor. God is working, and you never know what He is accomplishing in your congregation. Just do your job, follow the leadership of the Spirit, and let Him do his.
Moral of the Story: What time is it you asked? Time when true worshipers will worship? Yes, and time for you to get a watch!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
I love being handy!
I am a respiratory therapist in Ozark, and I recently had a patient who needed my help in buttoning up the shoulders of his hospital gown, after I ran a test on him. There is nothing significant about that, but the part that was significant, or thought provoking, came in the way he asked. He didn't say," Hey you unbuttoned me, will you please button me back." He instead said, " Please help me... I have almost lost all use of my hands."
Think about for just a moment how many times a day you use your hands... My typical day consists of waking up, (1) pulling the covers off of me, (2) unplugging my cell phone, (3) turning my phone off of vibrate and into some sound (if I remember) (4,5,6)opening my shirt drawer grabbing a shirt and putting it on, (7,8,9) Doing the same with my shorts/pants, (10,11,12,13)Doing the same with my socks-12 and 13 is my right sock then left or vice versa. That's 13 different times on a day that I decided not to set an alarm the night before, or make my bed, and this is only 5-10 minutes into my day. Oh yeah, and I forgot to shut the three drawers...
In any case, we use our hands a lot, but my real thought is much deeper than how blessed we are to still have use of our hands, no matter how arthritic they may be.
What if this patient of mine were God? We, as the Church, are the body of Christ, but sometimes I do feel as if Christ's body has almost lost all use. How often do we reach out to the lost, to the broken, even to the different. You see the awesome thing that I've come to realize about hands is that they are attached to arms. Seriously, think about the potential of hands attached to arms as compared to hands popped out where your current arm pits are. How would we put on deodorant... would we even need too... would hair still grow there... (back to the matter at hand, pun intended) Hands attached to arms can reach. They can reach out, up, down, or back. They can reach out to the different, up to the Father, down to the sick, and back to those who may have fallen behind.
How productive or useful is a hand that only serves itself? Should a hand bathe and dry only itself? You say that's pretty crazy, but how many churches do we have even in our own city, county, or state that the only reach they do is an in reach? There are times when in reaches are needed, but let's get real. There's a world in need of somebody to reach out to them, and God saw it fit to give us the hands attached to arms to do it with.
So I ask, Christian are you reaching out? Church are you? If not, God's saying, "I have almost lost all use of my hands."
Moral of the story: Arm pits are much cooler than hand pits. Reach out!
Think about for just a moment how many times a day you use your hands... My typical day consists of waking up, (1) pulling the covers off of me, (2) unplugging my cell phone, (3) turning my phone off of vibrate and into some sound (if I remember) (4,5,6)opening my shirt drawer grabbing a shirt and putting it on, (7,8,9) Doing the same with my shorts/pants, (10,11,12,13)Doing the same with my socks-12 and 13 is my right sock then left or vice versa. That's 13 different times on a day that I decided not to set an alarm the night before, or make my bed, and this is only 5-10 minutes into my day. Oh yeah, and I forgot to shut the three drawers...
In any case, we use our hands a lot, but my real thought is much deeper than how blessed we are to still have use of our hands, no matter how arthritic they may be.
What if this patient of mine were God? We, as the Church, are the body of Christ, but sometimes I do feel as if Christ's body has almost lost all use. How often do we reach out to the lost, to the broken, even to the different. You see the awesome thing that I've come to realize about hands is that they are attached to arms. Seriously, think about the potential of hands attached to arms as compared to hands popped out where your current arm pits are. How would we put on deodorant... would we even need too... would hair still grow there... (back to the matter at hand, pun intended) Hands attached to arms can reach. They can reach out, up, down, or back. They can reach out to the different, up to the Father, down to the sick, and back to those who may have fallen behind.
How productive or useful is a hand that only serves itself? Should a hand bathe and dry only itself? You say that's pretty crazy, but how many churches do we have even in our own city, county, or state that the only reach they do is an in reach? There are times when in reaches are needed, but let's get real. There's a world in need of somebody to reach out to them, and God saw it fit to give us the hands attached to arms to do it with.
So I ask, Christian are you reaching out? Church are you? If not, God's saying, "I have almost lost all use of my hands."
Moral of the story: Arm pits are much cooler than hand pits. Reach out!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Writer's Block
When I finished this I came back up to the top to apologize, it's kind of crazy, but so is Charlie Sheen...(That was low, and I do apologize for this blog, and that Charlie Sheen remark.)
As I sat down to write, a thought suddenly occurred to me, "I have writer's block." This random thought sparked another thought, and thus answered the thought that I thought up once my first thought was thought. Now that you are confused, let me try to explain.
Writers block won't be found in Webster's dictionary, but our friend, Google, always has an answer. Writer's block can be defined as, The inability to begin or continue work on a piece of writing; normally temporary.
How does a writer have writer's block? Can a singer have singer's block? Which I would define as, the inability to begin or continue singing on a song; normally temporary.
Can a Christian have Christian's block, the inability to continue living a Christlike life; normally temporary?
You see I figured out once I sat down that a writer alway's has something to write about and a singer always has something to sing about. It may not necessarily be what the writer or singer is expecting to write/sing about, but there is always something there. Normally it isn't even very deep. I mean really how deep is it to write about writer's block? But then again how deep is it to write about Christian's block?
Could be really deep, like up to your elbow pits deep, but we won't go that deep in this blog, partly because we never do. Here at Random Thought For the Day Institute we just try to let a thought spark a thought. But just as the writer always has something to write about, and a singer always has something to sing about. A Christian always has a reason to live a Christlike life. You never know who's watching or who's waiting. You never know which seed is being sown, which seed is about ready to be harvested, and which seed we just plucked out of the ground due to our Christian's block. I'm just glad God doesn't have blocks, and I'm certainly glad that in the garden, Jesus didn't have Savior's block.
Moral of the Story: Blocks happen, but when one comes in front of you, you must swim move it, and go sack the quarterback!
As I sat down to write, a thought suddenly occurred to me, "I have writer's block." This random thought sparked another thought, and thus answered the thought that I thought up once my first thought was thought. Now that you are confused, let me try to explain.
Writers block won't be found in Webster's dictionary, but our friend, Google, always has an answer. Writer's block can be defined as, The inability to begin or continue work on a piece of writing; normally temporary.
How does a writer have writer's block? Can a singer have singer's block? Which I would define as, the inability to begin or continue singing on a song; normally temporary.
Can a Christian have Christian's block, the inability to continue living a Christlike life; normally temporary?
You see I figured out once I sat down that a writer alway's has something to write about and a singer always has something to sing about. It may not necessarily be what the writer or singer is expecting to write/sing about, but there is always something there. Normally it isn't even very deep. I mean really how deep is it to write about writer's block? But then again how deep is it to write about Christian's block?
Could be really deep, like up to your elbow pits deep, but we won't go that deep in this blog, partly because we never do. Here at Random Thought For the Day Institute we just try to let a thought spark a thought. But just as the writer always has something to write about, and a singer always has something to sing about. A Christian always has a reason to live a Christlike life. You never know who's watching or who's waiting. You never know which seed is being sown, which seed is about ready to be harvested, and which seed we just plucked out of the ground due to our Christian's block. I'm just glad God doesn't have blocks, and I'm certainly glad that in the garden, Jesus didn't have Savior's block.
Moral of the Story: Blocks happen, but when one comes in front of you, you must swim move it, and go sack the quarterback!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
This Is Missions
A young girl and her even younger brother are in the streets again today. As strangers pass them by, they are looking for any sign of hope, and any sign of food for the day, checking the ground for fallen money, and the garbage for an uneaten fruit. After all, this is Africa, and their parents are dead…
A man ducks behind a tree, the border patrol has just driven by the fence dividing Mexico and The United States of America. He is a husband, and father of three kids whom he can’t feed. He has gone without food for the past 2 days so that his wife would have the nutrition to feed their 2 month old daughter. He needs a job, and nobody will hire him in Mexico. He’s tried coming across legally, but was declined, and out of desperation, this is his last option…
Here comes Mr. Popular, quarterback of the football team, and voted Most Likely to Succeed by his Sr. Class. He has a nice smile, big laugh, and an even bigger drinking problem. Most people don’t see the stress that he carries every day. He’s living the dream of his father, also an alcoholic, and a high school dropout, and doesn’t even like football, but only plays because it’s expected of him. For the past week, he’s watched his dad beat his mom every night. He wanted so much to be loved, but now he’s beginning to believe there is no such thing…
The quiet, teen girl passes by, hair lips and fingernails are jet black, skin is pale, and wrists are bleeding underneath her black jacket. Nobody understands, and nobody tries too. She passes by them every day, and instead of speaking to her, they wait for her to pass and talk about her. She feels invisible, and she only wants somebody to talk to, somebody to listen, believe it or not, and somebody to laugh with. She hasn’t seen her own smile in years, but for years she’s just been walking by…
A woman comes out of the farmer’s market with seeds for her garden, and as she bumps into a little boy, she looks down and smiles. He looks at her for just a moment with a look of hope in his eyes, but as she starts to walk off, his eyes start scanning the ground. She hears a young girl’s voice scolding the little boy, and telling him to be mindful of the passersby. The woman stops as she realizes what’s happening. She asks the children “Are you hungry.” They reply with a nod. She tells them to come with her, for today they will learn how to grow their own food and about the One who made it… This is Missions.
A man sits on the curb with his face buried in his hands; tears are streaming from his face. As the border control vehicle drives back off, leaving him alone on the dusty streets, the deepest feeling of failure has overwhelmed him. His last hint of hope has been destroyed. His family will starve, and he has nobody to blame except himself. About this time, a stranger pulls beside him. As the driver lets down his window, the man looks up with tears washing the dust from his cheeks. The driver is new to the area, and needs help learning his way around. As they ride and talk, the driver finds a restaurant and as they sit for a meal, the man confesses that he has no money to pay for his food. The stranger begins to share with the man that if a brother is hungry, you should give him something to eat, but he wanted to do more than that, he wanted to give him a job… This is Missions
You see Mr. Quarterback and Mrs. Invisible attend your school, and they need you, to show them love, to listen, to bring them hope and joy. The same goes to you adult. You work with people every day, you pass them on the streets, and in the stores; they’re silently crying out, and they need you to show them the Way. You don’t have to be labeled missionary in order to do this kind of work. Your school is your mission field, your work is your mission field, and This is Missions!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Speckled Comfort
In my house, there is something my family knows as “The Speckledy Blanket.” It’s simply a comforter that is made out of the most amazing, feel good year round, material that is white with the design of different colors of paint dripped on it, giving a speckled look.
Many Sunday afternoon naps have been taken, many sicknesses have been cured, and fevers broken while underneath this blanket. When my two sisters-in-law joined the family, there was many a “loving debate” over exactly whose blanket this was, is, and ever will be… Joking aside, it is, without a doubt, the most comfortable, comforting, and anything else dealing with comfort comforter/blanket that I have ever encountered. It has to be sent down from God Himself. The Bible says that God is the God of all comfort. (2 Corinthians 1)
A statement I’ve heard and believed to be true is, “If you become comfortable in a place (ministry, ect…), God will move you.” That is totally contradicted by this scripture, which made my computer of a brain (I don’t joke about it and neither should you), head spin. The random thought that came to mind is… There has to be a difference in being comfortable where you are, and being complacent where you are. I at one point believed them to be one in the same, but according to Webster, being comfortable means enjoying physical comfort or encouragement, while being complacent (or complacency)self-satisfaction accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers of deficiencies.
Everyone loves comfort, being encouraged, and 70 degrees Fahrenheit with a slight but cool breeze, and there are times in our lives when we need to be comforted and comfortable, especially in our walks of faith. When we find ourselves feeling comfortable we must also be on guard, for complacency lurks around the corner. It’s so easy to say, “I’ve worked hard, figured it out, I’ve finally got it made. I’m comfortable here.” That’s not comfort, it is complacency.
Comfort and complacency are laying in the recliner under the speckledy blanket after a long 12 hour shift. The phone rings, caller ID indicates it’s the mother-in-law, and you suddenly remember that she wanted your help today. Comfort answers and goes, complacent stays and sleeps. The Complacent are selfish the comfortable are selfless. Someone who is comfortable is willing to leave their place of comfort to help. The complacent simply are not willing to leave their self comfort.
Check yourself. Are you not answering a call, be it from a friend, family member, or even God due to complacency dressed in comfort’s clothing (or a wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing if you will)?
Moral of the Story: Don’t have your daily prayer time, while in the recliner under the speckledy blanket at night… it’s just not a good idea.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Another Day in SA
I spent time with a little boy today that I’d only seen one time before. As we pulled up to the house, he and his older cousins were going to draw some water for their family of 6. As the truck came to a stop, and we stepped out, he ran to greet me with a hug. His little arms not even wrapping around my legs, I realize I could stand to start working out more. You see this little boy is only three years old. His family of six consists of his older sister who is 6, his 4 older cousins who are 18, 13, and twins of 7 years and him. These 6, “the six pack” as we’ve come to know them, are orphaned. The four oldest kid’s mother died not long after the twin girls were born, and the little boy and his sister’s mother is still living, but chooses not to be with them. She left them with the granny, who did not feed them, take them to the clinic when they were sick, or do anything beneficial for these kid’s lives. So now the “six pack” live together and alone in a house built just for them by a missionary family who loves them very much.
Recently 3 “priests” from a cult entered their home. They stayed in the house and ate the food that was there for the kids. These priests believe in and probably practice witchcraft, and other things that I do not care to think about at this particular time. So today, we’ve come to talk to the 18 year old boy, the leader of the household, the one who let the 3 priests in. As a well trusted friend and area pastor talks to the oldest, the little boy sits right beside me, with his little arm using my leg as an armrest. He then starts running his little index finger over my hand, as I lay my palm out flat before him he sticks his little hand in mine makes his way to my thumb and latches on. I then close my hand around his and begin a simple but fervent prayer. I pray that God would touch this little boy, that he would come to know Him, and that these little hands that were grasping mine would one day soon turn into the hands of God. About that time he scratches his head that is obviously unhealthy do to a lack of upkeep and good nutrition, and my prayer turns to his health physically (you see he’s been sick recently) and mentally (who knows what witchcraft he’s been exposed too). About this time, while still holding my hand, he gazes up at me with those big brown eyes, and I pray that these eyes would see the world and people the same way that God sees them, and as he starts to smile, I pray that he would bring the joy of Christ to all that he comes into contact with. About this time, he stands up to push himself further on the couch, and as I look at his feet which are dirty and spotted with sores, I pray that his feet soon start walking the path that God has set out for him, that he doesn’t veer off to the left or to the right. He yawns, and leans his little head against my arm, which I then put around his shoulder. My prayer then asks that he would have the strength to carry the weight that is going to be put upon his shoulders. That he would be a God fearing boy, and would have great faith that his (or mine…or your) generation is yet to see.
So I ask, parents, do you pray for your children? Highschooler, do you pray for that little kid that looks so passionately up to you? Sisters do you pray for your brothers? Brothers do you pray for your sisters? Husbands do you pray for your wives? Wives do you pray for your husbands? Pastor, do you pray for your congregation? Congregation, do you pray for your pastor? Employee, do you pray for your employer? Employer, do you pray for your employee? You see the power of prayer is, strong if you exercise it, but unused it’s as useful as that gym membership that you don’t use.
Moral of the Story: There’s always something to pray for, so exercise!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Toenails of Love (dated 1-27-2011 from SA)
Today while riding in the Hasselbring’s Speed the Light vehicle, (Thank you Assembly of God Youth in Alabama. You’re awesome!) the news came on the morning radio show. One of the headlines was that a man proposed to his girlfriend through text message…. He sent the message to the wrong number. Didn’t hear the Paul Harvey rest of the story, but I did read this tonight.
1 Corinthians 16:14 says, ‘Do everything in love.’ My first question is, how? My second question is, why? How could you send a proposal text to the wrong number, and why in the world would you do that via text message, but back to Corinthians. How is it possible to do everything in love? I can see doing some things in love, but everything we ever do; we are to do in love? Go to church because you love God. Got it. Go visit with grandma because you love grandma. Yep. Take your dog to the vet because you love your dog. He/She is family. Sure enough. Clip your toenails because you love to wear flip flops…?
Which leads to my next question, Why? Why in the world would I clip my toenails in love? Personally I know my why (I prefer to be clean, and long toenails look nasty), but for your average joe with above average length toenails, why clip toenails in love? Truthfully, I have no clue why we are to do everything in love. If I had to guess, seeing as we are creatures of habit, and God has promised us if we are faithful with the small things then we will be blessed, I would say it’s just habit building. If we take everyday normal things, like greeting a stranger or even a “friend” (you all know that person) early in the morning before that second cup of coffee, and do them in love, then those moments, those times that God has ordained for us to be with somebody who needs the very love of God, and we, yes you or me, are the only one around, in those moments, we will know how to love because love is the story of our lives. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son. He did everything in love so why should we be any different.
Moral: Live a real life love story, and cut your nasty toenails! You so nasty…!
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