My right or not

Why do I feel the right to tell you what to do? Why do I feel the right to be offended when you don't pursue me for direction? Why do I feel hurt when you make that decision? Why do I desire to be close yet hold my arms out to keep my distance?

People are so interesting... We define contraditions on a daily basis. I have started to feel compasion for people that I used to judge (either in a good way or bad).

Making Disciples

I watch those same people walk and talk... So... empty so alone. Searching for the next neat item that will assist in filling the gap. I hurt for them. I hurt that it seems so complicated to tell them of a simple way. Is it me that complicates it? How do I embrace the idea that is shared in Gal 5:14 or in Mark 16:16? It seems that one leads to the other. If I have an understanding or a truth that is life altering (in a good way ultimately) then the loving your neighbor as yourself leads to the making disciples doesn't it? So, I guess that means that I am failing at both.... How come it reads so basic yet feels so complicated? I am so glad that the examples of many of the people used by God in a big way in the Bible were such losers. I can't wait to be used in a big way... Perhaps I am discounting the role that is set before me... I am a father and husband perhaps I should attempt to conquer those a little better before I go and conquer the world. :)

Finding Truth

Why do I spend more time reading insights of people who have studied the Bible rather then studying the Bible myself? Why are they capable of finding practical truth in the Bible but I have to find it through them? Why do I spend more time trading names of good authors and good book titles with friends rather then scripture references? If truth is... well the Bible then why go elsewhere so often for it?

Because it is easier. Because I know how to read a book but the Bible??? Because that is what is normal and what I have always done. Because everyone tells me of great books and yet few tell me of great insights in their study time in the Bible. Because I want to be spoon fed, it goes down easier. Because I think that others are more spiritual then I am. Because I want to obey the Bible and find many wise counselors Prov 15:22. Because I am insecure and want truth handed to me. Because I can't stay awake reading the Bible but some authors are really good at keeping my attention. Because books are so much more practical for today. Because I don't want to have to work at seeing what God is wanting to show me.

I think that perhaps I will try to spend a little more time reading the source and a little less time letting people tell what it says.

What is a Disciple/Christian.....

A Christian loves his neighbor as himself Gal 5:14
A Christian contends for the "Faith" Jude 1:3
A Christian endures suffering 1 Peter 4:12-16
A Christian follows Jesus first and foremost Matt 8:21
A Christian hates his mother, father, siblings, and even his own life Luke 14:25
A Christian give up everything Luke 14:33
A Christian loves Christ more then even his own children Matt 10:37
A Christian is bold in truth even when it is not convenient Acts 24:13
A Christian no longer lives for himself 2 Cor 5:14-21
A Christian moves to the end of the line, lets others go first and volunteers to move to the kiddy table Matt 20:24-28
A Christian disciples Matt 28:16-20
A Christian sacrifices his own body Rom 12:1
A Christian does not conform Rom 12:2
A Christian obeys the above things and many others (the Bible) John 14:23-24, 1 John 2:3-7




Wow! I think that I will stop for a while I am feeling challenged already and want to stop before it turns to defeat. Perhaps when I have some of these things more evident in my life I will pursue other areas that reflect Christ active in my life.

Sneaky Slippery Sinners

The concept of a sneaky person slipping into a church with the intention of diluting or polluting is a hard pill to swallow for me. I understand that there are evil people out there (perhaps that is a little weak) but the idea that someone would actually purpose to sneak into a body of believers and destroy them seems a little far fetched. But I realized that I am one of those Sneaky Slippery Sinners who sneak into the church and attempt to destroy it. I am the one that Jude is talking about in 1:4. He is talking about the people in the church (not an outsider) that allow themselves to loose track of the message of Christ and the purpose we hold and begin trading convenience and ease for what is true and right. May it never be! I pray that I will not allow myself to be one of those that is used to infiltrate the kingdom and dilute the message.

If I totally lost you read Jude (it is short).

Perspective

It is interesting to see how different the same thing can appear depending on perspective. I have been trying to see things fresh...to see things the way they really are rather then the way I think they are. It is hard because I think that my tendency is to see them from two skewed vantage points rather then one correct one. Recently I have started to see some things from, what appears to be, the correct angle and it has been so fresh and exciting (although that doesn't really express it correctly).... I am of course doing what I am best at which is rambling with no apparent direction.

Love your neighbor

So, this whole business of loving your neighbor as yourself. Why do we make it so hard? This morning in that interim state of being between awake and asleep I started thinking through what "loving your neighbor as yourself" looks like. It was so enlightening yet so basic. I remembered seeing a neighbor across the way spreading grass seed and putting up ropes to protect his seeds a couple days ago and that image raced (more like crawled because I was in that groggy place) into my mind and I thought if I was working in the yard and was feeling warn out what would I want others to do? I should have walked over and offered help rather then make a friendly comment across the street about hard work. The next image that entered my head was my neighbor to the side cutting his grass yesterday morning (yes Sunday morning and I was home). At the time my first thought was judgement, it's Sunday man what are you doing. The next thought was poor guy doesn't have Christ. But it never entered my mind to go over and say hey you want some help or where is the weed eater let me get the edges as you finish with the mower. This morning it seemed so basic so instinctual so clear yet it never does at the time. Why? Why do we make it so complicated?

I think I may make a bracelet "What would I want you to do for me?" the WWIWYTDFM bracelet. That way every time I look down at my easy to remember acronym "WWIWYTDFM" I will be reminded to love me neighbor as myself.

Galatians 5:14

Work...what's that?

Good morning big bright world. I am alive and well.


Why am I so jolly this crisp cold morning? Because I am not working. I stayed home and snuggled a little longer, sat and sipped my morning warmth a little slower and am relaxed enjoying my family a little fuller.

Why is it that we think that we have to do things the way they have been done (not always but since we have known about it). I mean who says that a work week should be 9-5 M-F or 7-3 or whatever. Why can't it be a means to the end? Why do we think that we have to love it? I mean if ultimately everything I do I should do unto the Lord and trials develop good things in us (Jam 1:2-3) then wouldn't it make more sense to work at something you hate so that you can face the trial of giving it your all even though you don't like it? Perhaps I am just twisted.

I wish that I had a clear map that allowed me to see exactly where and why and how I should be but I don't so I am bumping my shins and twisting my ankles and scraping my knees along the way. It seems like such a fight to not feel guilty that I am not working the normal American schedule. That I do not work in a field that epitomizes my desires and longings (my soul mate of jobs).

I am trying to figure out instead how to love what I do love and am called to love more fully rather then my job. I mean Gal 5:14 doesn't say love your job but love your neighbor. So, if I learn to use my job to make money that allows me time to love my family and neighbor more fully then doesn't that make sense? My motivation to make more money should be to give more away not buy more stuff right?

I don't know... There just seems to be a lot of backward ideas and ways we have always done it. If we have always done it and it doesn't work then why keep doing it?

Freedom!!!

I think that I may be getting addicted to the idea that you (the empty space that makes up the Internet) are listening and care to hear what I think.  

Or maybe the freedom to write whatever comes to mind and not have it lost in the back of an old note book makes this more appealing.  Although all of that was true when I first started trying to "blog" and was unsuccessful do to lack of interest.  So, what has compelled me to go on?  I think that it is a....healthy understanding that it is OK to be confused or ignorant or lost.  The idea that I don't have to have it all together is a fairly recent understanding that I have achieved.  I like it here because it is not my responsibility to know all or be "good" it is my job to let things happen and respond as my playbook shows me to.  I like leaving it up to the coach (that really dumbs down His role but you get the idea).  I am free.

Focus

I don't know what is compelling me to write here... I have never fully understood the idea of a "blog". So, what is this about?

I guess it is because I am weak and everyone else is "doing it". :)

I have recently attained some goals that were set years back and were anticipating a different feeling. I was expecting to feel as if I had "made it" or something and was disappointed to get "there" and realize that it was not really a place but a pit stop (not even) on the way. Why do we (as people) do that? Why do we think that some meaningless (perhaps that is a bit strong) milestones will have some great significance because we set them? I think that the only thing that this has taught me is that if I make sure that my eyes are set on something visible but far enough off in the distance to keep my head up that I will continue on but that if I allow my focus to be reached or attained as an end then I find myself arriving to find that I haven't arrived at all and felling as though I must fumble around until I refocus on that not so distant blip on the map that I can start trekking once again. Perhaps that is part of the idea with 1 Cor 9:24 when Paul states that lots run but only one wins (or gets the prize)... Perhaps the idea is to figure out how to find that blip to refocus on and then the next blip before you reach the first until we finish the race (whatever and whenever that may be). Or perhaps that is bologna and I am just rambling. Isn't that the idea of a blog though?

I think that we are our worst enemy's. I mean we compartmentalize areas of our lives and then focus on the good areas and ignore the bad to an extreme that causes neglect or we ignore the good and focus on the bad to the point were are defeated and desperate. I guess that is why it is called balance. If you have a car you can afford then you focus on the nicer car you wish you could have and if you have the nicer car you focus on the payment you cannot afford and envy (perhaps secretly:) the person with the more affordable car. If you have a job you love then you complain about the hours. If you have a job that affords you hours then you complain about how much you don't like it.... It seems that "the grass is always greener". I wonder why that is... Why don't we devote as much attention to focusing on fertilizing our grass and caring for our grass to the point that we don't even notice the grass on the other side of the fence. I will attempt that and if you figure out the secrets or tricks before I do then let me know. I am afraid that I already know the answer and it is the answer to most significant ?'s: It is a journey of continual effort. You can be successful but you can never loose sight of the goal. The effort must never end.