For there is no one so great or mighty that he can avoid the misery that will rise up against him when he resists and strives against God. – John Calvin
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Month: August 2011
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Back from Family Camp – Day 213
Yay! We’re back from family camp. The best camp ever. Except now I’m sick. :-/ Anyways…
I used to wish events like family camp would never end. I just hated the saying goodbye. The fellowship of fellow believers is always a blessing. But eventually you have to say goodbye. That’s what this world is going to be like. We live in a fallen world. Our bodies break down. We have to say goodbye to loved ones. But as Christians we have hope. This isn’t the end. There is going to be a point where we don’t have to say goodbye. And that’s what I look forward to.
And I need sleep…
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Thankful Thursday – Day 212
Today I’m thankful for people. I love people!! Most of the time.. 😛
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Kindness? – Day 211
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. ~ Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama
I just got back from Mexico! It was a good trip. We were able to go to Ciudad Meir. (Don’t google it. ;-P It’s a fairly dangerous city..) We were able to attend a homeschool conference. And we were able to fellowship with other believers. I also learned many good things. I figured I could talk about a couple of them here..
One thing that I learned is that you can really love those who don’t believe all of the other three hundred and eighty-five points that you believe. We talked to many different people. I was kind of amazed at how even though people disagreed on many issues, and they were even foundational issues, yet they could spend time with each other. We’re talking extended time with one another. And they still loved each other. o.0
It was a breath of fresh air. It seems like there are always 2-3 squabbles going on in my Facebook. Typically they’re small issues. This person disses this person. This person gets mad at this person. There’s a lot of straining at gnats and swallowing camels that tends to go on.
And yet these people who don’t even necessarily agree on large issues can get along. There are disagreements, but the way that I saw them handled seemed to be in a loving manner. Part of it may be due to the fact that in America we have about 76% of people who call themselves Christians. While in Mexico, there are 5-7% of the population who would probably call themselves Christians. You just have less people who are Christians and if you’re constantly get mad at those who disagree with you, you won’t have any friends. While in America you have the ability to just move onto a different group. Or it could be that they just love each other like 1 Corinthians 13 says.
Another thing I learned is that I really enjoy spicy food.
Something else I learned is how materialistic America is. And how much we love ourselves. It kind of relates to the above thought. But sometimes it seems that Americans are so full of themselves that everything becomes about them. If someone questions them on their beliefs they just get angry and flustered whenever someone says they could be wrong. (I’ve done this a couple times…. <_<) Yes, somebody is wrong. But it’s not about you. It should be about Christ. The reputation of Christ is what should be on the line. It shouldn’t be you and your pride about to be hurt..
I also learned that I need to make sure my room stays clean. ;-P In Mexico, it seems nobody has learned how to clean their room. Everything is covered with trash.
I have to say that I’m thankful for all the moms who spend the time instructing their children in cleaning their room. It may even involve discipline. But it’s so important. That character seems to be a very important part of life.
I learned many things. I was down there five years ago and things have changed. I’ve grown up. And I’m thankful God gave me the opportunity to go down there this year.
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Murky Monday – Day 209
Today I got back from an 8 day trip to Mexico and I had an enjoyable and edifying time. I’m going to bed now…. 😀
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Sunday Verse – Day 208
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ~ 1 Timothy 6:11-12
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Worried Weekend – Day 207
It’s easy to worry. It’s easy to worry about your future. It’s easy to worry about your relationships. It’s easy to worry about the little bumps on your face. But what will worry do for you? You become nervous, stressed, unproductive… and you literally waste time worrying about a problem that needs to be fixed, and then you make the problem worse by worrying about it. And then you can worry about worrying about it.
Psychiatrists call it a vicious cycle. Another word for it is “sin.”
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” ~ Matthew 6:25-34
It seems like the root of worry comes down to the fact that you’re focused on you and your own circumstances. You’re looking the wrong way.
“Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” ~ 1 Peter 5:7
Look unto Christ, and He will give you rest.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” ~ Matthew 11:28
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So stop worrying. Look up. And walk in faith.
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It’s easy for me to get emotional and then not do anything about it. Emotions don’t seem to ever take me very far. I sometimes feel like I just want that emotional high. Almost like a drug, I want some emotional song about Christ to make me feel closer to Christ. Get a little drums going. Get that adrenaline pumping and then I’m all set to go. But it’s a little like running. You can play that music and get your adrenaline pumping. But then 5 miles later I feel exhausted. I’ve exhausted all that adrenaline in the first 5 miles, and then with 10 miles to go… I collapse. Adrenaline and emotion is only going to take you so far. At some point you’re going to have to train those muscles to go the distance. You’re going to have to get beyond the milk of the Word and dig into some meat, at least once in awhile. ^_^
The charismatic seems to be a little too much about the feel. It’s all about the emotion. You’re passionate, but you’re driven by the emotion rather than the actual Word. A little bit of a flash in the pan because there’s not a whole lot of substance.
Reformed people tend to be the opposite. It’s all very analytical and there isn’t really much joy and love expressed for Christ… or each other, for that matter. Everything has been reduced to the five hundred points and which ones you disagree on.
I think there needs to be a balance of both the emotions and the mind. Passionate love for Christ is of course going to be expressed differently by different people. Some people are going to act with more charisma. Just because someone isn’t as naturally loud and expressive doesn’t necessarily mean they’re loving God less. Generally those who plod along in quiet, and with a firm step, will be those who make it to the end. It seems like the people who come in and flash themselves around as extremely passionate about Christ, usually end up just being a flash in the pan… and then they go on to the next religion. But on the other hand, the quiet and reserved person could be dead and you never really know if they’re dead or alive because when you check for life on them, you can’t hear anything.
It’s not our place to say who’s saved and who’s not. Our job is to hope all things. However, exhortation is important if you see someone going a way you don’t think they should go. But you can’t give a good exhortation without a strong relationship.
Ugh! it’s so complicated.
I think we can conclude that the answer lies in Luke 10:27 – “And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
Oh, and by the way…. did you notice it said your? Your heart, your soul, your strength, your mind… not mine, not my dad or my mom’s, not some emotional charismatic or genius theologian.
You.
P.S. I know I’m overgeneralizing and exaggerating in some of this post. Never forget I’m always trying to make a point. Always.
Balance. The Christian life needs balance. Anybody need a tight-rope?
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Thankful for My Dad – Day 205
Today I’m thankful for my dad. He’s wonderful. I– not being the most honoring son, of course– don’t always appreciate him enough. I’m thankful for his leadership. I’m thankful for his wise words. I’m thankful for his analytical mind. I’m thankful that he’s willing to talk to me about the hard issues. I know it would be easier to ignore things. I know that it would be easier not to pastor a church. I know it would be easier not to do a daily radio program. I know it would be easier to not shepherd young guys.
But he still does.
As I sit here thinking of the love he has shown towards me by investing in my life by countless hours of conversation, by mentoring me and loving me, tears begin to roll down my cheeks. I don’t treat him as I should. I don’t honor him enough.
At one point in my life, I looked up at my daddy and saw him to be a perfect man. I saw him as a giant with no flaws. As I’ve grown older, I have begun to see his imperfections more clearly. But while his imperfections grow to be more clear, the strong love and faith in God that he has becomes even more clear as well.
I see that he could have made way more money in engineering than he will ever make in ministry. But his heart is drawn to ministering to others. I know he has those around him who hate him and what he has to say. But when I have spent thousands of waking hours with him, I’ve come to know that he loves God and His kingdom. And I’m thankful that God has blessed me with such a dad.
Many children don’t grow up with their father in their lives. I’m blessed beyond what I deserve.
Thank you Dad. I love you.
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