I have lived with "a glass half-empty" approach most of my life. In the last two years, things have started to change. I am shifting from looking for excuses and acting like a victim to realizing that I am responsible for my actions. I have an obligation to God to look at life as a gift and live it out accordingly. Most of my destructive patterns have taken a backseat to healthier ones, although I am aware that I will never be completely immune. Andraea (my fiance) has had a huge part to play in this Copernican Revolution (You know, Copernicus, the sun is the center of the universe, not the earth, guy). I am thankful to her for that.
Right now, life is pretty darn good. Andraea and I look forward to our wedding day more and more as it approaches. Her best friends and family will be there and my best friends and family will be there. Even my buddies from Mozambique are going to be able to make it!! (Daniel and Kristy Byrd - http://luvbyrds.blogspot.com/) Her friends from Poland are going to be there (John and Zaba Crozier - www.proem.pl). Ministry is going well. It's just challenging enough to keep me from getting stale or burned out. I am seeking what it means to preach for life change, not just information transfer. I love what I do, I am in love with my future wife, and I have some pretty cool people around me.
I am learning to love the Lord more and more as well. I still don't give Him all He deserves, though. I guess I never will, but I really don't give Him the time, energy, affection, and devotion that He is so worthy of. Dependency on Jesus for Daily Bread seems to be a bit easier in the down times for me. Call it classical conditioning, but I have learned to swim in the deep waters of desperation throughout my life.
I was listening to a Bible study on Philippians 4 about 2 months ago. My buddy, Nick Jackson, actually said that Philippians 4:13 has become so cliche (and possibly misused) because it's been taken out of context. His opinion was that Paul never meant for it to be separated from the previous verses:
"...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." - Philippians 4:11-13
Nick went on to explain that it's not always the ones who are desperate that need to remember they "can do all things through Christ who gives me strength". Sometimes, the ones who have everything going for them need that reminder just as much. In fact, it is inevitable that our seasons will change. Learning to get through the good times as well as the hard times seems to be the Apostle Paul's "secret of being content".
He probably learned it from spending large quantities of time with Jesus. Jesus doesn't change - good times or bad. The world is filled with people who allow external circumstances to jack their emotions up. I know, I'm one of 'em. But, I am learning. One of the greatest things that Andraea has ever said to me in relation to how to get through the good times and the bad ones is this, "We shouldn't change - God doesn't".
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Turning Evil into Good...
I love the story of Joseph in the Old Testament. I remember Mom reading to me out of one of those picture Bible Books when I was little. I was always fascinated by Joseph's life. He gets thrown into a big hole for no good reason, sold away from home and family, then elevated to a prestigious position in Egypt. His boss's wife lies to her husband and Joseph gets thrown in jail. Somewhere along the line, he interprets dreams - even Pharaoh's dream, and eventually becomes the number 2 man in all of Egypt - the most powerful nation in the world at that time. I'm sure Joseph looked back and had absolutely no explanation as to why or how the events of his life unfolded, but he was thankful for the experiences - even the painful ones.
I was watching the Simpson's yesterday and Marge gets in trouble and has to go to anger management classes for her newfound disease: Road Rage. Chief Wiggum is directing the class and starts out by saying this, "So, we're going to break you down to the level of infants, then build you back up to respectable members of society. Then, after lunch, we'll break you down again and if we have time we'll build you back up."
Life feels like this sometimes, whether by our decisions, or by what seems to be God's design for our lives. Up, then back down; great stuff happening, with evil hot on our heels.
I was on my way to work out one day about a month ago. I had every intention as I set out on my journey to go to Cardinal Fitness, but at the last moment, I decided that it was such a beautiful day and that it would be tragic to waste it. I turned into a park about 200 yards from my house. I parked in the parking lot, left the keys in the car, and started out on a run. The track is right next to the cars as you start out but circles away. It's not a very big park and it wasn't a very long track - probably 1/4 mile.
About 5 minutes into my run a Dodge Ram pulled in right beside my car. I was a little annoyed because there was a big parking lot - no need to park right beside me. About 5 minutes later a Green Jeep Cherokee parked right next to the Dodge Ram. A man and woman met in the Dodge Ram and were looking at something in the back of the truck. I started feeling a little funny, but thought that I needed to finish my run. On my last lap, as I turned the corner, I saw my car driving away. I ran as fast as I could with my arms in the air, but they were gone. They left the Dodge Ram, but that truck was stolen as well. They got my car, my cell phone, my wallet, and my new watch. OUCH!!
I told some people in my church and the Body of Christ began to show how beautiful she can be when she does what she's supposed to do. My church provided money and a new car. Well, not exactly new, but new to me. She is actually a '91 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser Station Wagon and I am happier than I ever was with the Hyundai Elantra. I mean that.
Evil turned to good in a matter of two weeks. God does it all the time. In fact, it's been my experience that this is the consistent pattern of God's work in His children's lives. Through death, troubles, bad decisions on the part of family members, spouses, or friends, whatever - God takes ashes and makes them beautiful. He takes evil and turns it into good. He takes dry bones and clothes them with flesh and skin and tells them to walk again for His good purposes and plans. Job, Joseph, David, Peter, Clint Reed, you. It happens all the time and it's all part of the beautiful picture that God is painting and will continue to paint for eternity. I believe we will look back on our lives one day and have gratitude in our hearts for the things that have happened, are happening, and will happen - even the painful ones. Without the painful ones, we might not be the people God wants us to be.
"Safe, who said anything about being safe. Of course He's not safe...but He's good."
- Mr. Beaver about Aslan in C.S. Lewis's The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe
I was watching the Simpson's yesterday and Marge gets in trouble and has to go to anger management classes for her newfound disease: Road Rage. Chief Wiggum is directing the class and starts out by saying this, "So, we're going to break you down to the level of infants, then build you back up to respectable members of society. Then, after lunch, we'll break you down again and if we have time we'll build you back up."
Life feels like this sometimes, whether by our decisions, or by what seems to be God's design for our lives. Up, then back down; great stuff happening, with evil hot on our heels.
I was on my way to work out one day about a month ago. I had every intention as I set out on my journey to go to Cardinal Fitness, but at the last moment, I decided that it was such a beautiful day and that it would be tragic to waste it. I turned into a park about 200 yards from my house. I parked in the parking lot, left the keys in the car, and started out on a run. The track is right next to the cars as you start out but circles away. It's not a very big park and it wasn't a very long track - probably 1/4 mile.
About 5 minutes into my run a Dodge Ram pulled in right beside my car. I was a little annoyed because there was a big parking lot - no need to park right beside me. About 5 minutes later a Green Jeep Cherokee parked right next to the Dodge Ram. A man and woman met in the Dodge Ram and were looking at something in the back of the truck. I started feeling a little funny, but thought that I needed to finish my run. On my last lap, as I turned the corner, I saw my car driving away. I ran as fast as I could with my arms in the air, but they were gone. They left the Dodge Ram, but that truck was stolen as well. They got my car, my cell phone, my wallet, and my new watch. OUCH!!
I told some people in my church and the Body of Christ began to show how beautiful she can be when she does what she's supposed to do. My church provided money and a new car. Well, not exactly new, but new to me. She is actually a '91 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser Station Wagon and I am happier than I ever was with the Hyundai Elantra. I mean that.
Evil turned to good in a matter of two weeks. God does it all the time. In fact, it's been my experience that this is the consistent pattern of God's work in His children's lives. Through death, troubles, bad decisions on the part of family members, spouses, or friends, whatever - God takes ashes and makes them beautiful. He takes evil and turns it into good. He takes dry bones and clothes them with flesh and skin and tells them to walk again for His good purposes and plans. Job, Joseph, David, Peter, Clint Reed, you. It happens all the time and it's all part of the beautiful picture that God is painting and will continue to paint for eternity. I believe we will look back on our lives one day and have gratitude in our hearts for the things that have happened, are happening, and will happen - even the painful ones. Without the painful ones, we might not be the people God wants us to be.
"Safe, who said anything about being safe. Of course He's not safe...but He's good."
- Mr. Beaver about Aslan in C.S. Lewis's The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe
Monday, September 17, 2007
What A Difference 2 Months Makes...
Two months gone by and life is completely different. I have a new car because the old one was stolen. I have a new job because people have left. I am engaged and will be married in less than two months.
I feel completely different than I did two months ago. It's hard to believe that such a short time has elapsed. The title of this post is loosely based on that ole' cliche, "What a difference a day makes." Well, not loosely based at all. I have found this is true when I really slow down and approach each day with the respect it deserves.
Lamentations 3:22-23 says,
"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness."
This is just another reason for me to be thankful that I am a child of God. I am so different than I was a year ago. I'd like to say that I worked really hard to improve my emotional stability and physical fitness, but the truth of the matter is that I could have worked harder. I don't know that it would have mattered. The God that lives inside of me has changed me and continues to change me in spite of myself. I am seeing things differently more and more. The things I once loved pale in comparison to what I have now and will even more as time goes on. The person I was is repulsive to me and will eventually fade into a distant memory.
The only condition as far as I see it is that I continue to wake up and remember that it's "because of the Lord's great love that I am not consumed". What a difference 2 months makes!! Who knows what will happen next. I think that I am simply responsible for remembering who is behind it all.
I feel completely different than I did two months ago. It's hard to believe that such a short time has elapsed. The title of this post is loosely based on that ole' cliche, "What a difference a day makes." Well, not loosely based at all. I have found this is true when I really slow down and approach each day with the respect it deserves.
Lamentations 3:22-23 says,
"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness."
This is just another reason for me to be thankful that I am a child of God. I am so different than I was a year ago. I'd like to say that I worked really hard to improve my emotional stability and physical fitness, but the truth of the matter is that I could have worked harder. I don't know that it would have mattered. The God that lives inside of me has changed me and continues to change me in spite of myself. I am seeing things differently more and more. The things I once loved pale in comparison to what I have now and will even more as time goes on. The person I was is repulsive to me and will eventually fade into a distant memory.
The only condition as far as I see it is that I continue to wake up and remember that it's "because of the Lord's great love that I am not consumed". What a difference 2 months makes!! Who knows what will happen next. I think that I am simply responsible for remembering who is behind it all.
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