Looking Beyond Where You Are

Rarely have I been so moved or inspired by a daily devotional book. I want to thank my friend (again) for giving it to me. Here is what I gleaned from today's readings:

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Does that sound at all familiar? Let me remind you:

Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.

Too often we become accustomed to the status quo. We refuse to make room in our own (?) thinking for the new things God wants to do in our lives. I questioned "own" thinking because I know how easily we are influenced by the thoughts and teachings of others. It is far too easy to just accept what we hear from the pulpit or read in a book. I believe this is the status quo Osteen is talking about.

What are we doing when we accept the status quo? We are limiting God. And we need to stop. People feel safe when they have boundaries; a set of rules to follow and lines they daren't cross. People like living in a box. That is okay for people, but how can it possibly be okay for God? We have limits. He doesn't!

Osteen says God can give us a fresh dream. In order to see it, we have to be daring. We have to let go of our limited thinking. We need to dare to venture out. In Osteen's words: "God can show you more but you have to get out of your little box."

Being enclosed in our usual comfortable environment is all we've ever known. It has provided us with a certain level or way of thinking. AND it makes us complacent, which keeps us living in mediocrity. We keep ourselves there by doing things we've always done: Reading the Bible and other materials with the same mindset we always have, accepting the doctrine of our parents and our parent's parents without researching for ourselves, and keeping ourselves bound up in the 'rules' of the day.

I want to encourage you as I encourage myself. God wants us to go further. He wants us to break out of the mold. He doesn't want us to settle for what our parents or other spiritual leaders had. Christ was all about freedom. Let's go out and find it.

(by the way, I got the job.)

Not a "Dumb Jock"

Actually, this is really smart thinking:

Interested

I really wasn't going to say anything. Honest, I wasn't! I'm about to bust, though. Trying to not be hopeful is against my nature. It is just that the last time I got hopeful about something I suffered a huge disappointment.

What on earth is she talking about???

Early this morning I received an email from a principal at a high school in Pitt County.This is all it said:

I have an opening for a bookkeeper. Call me if you are interested.

I have a job interview tomorrow evening after work.

The Other German Named Becker

There were only a couple of upsets today at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. This unseeded gentleman defeated his unseeded opponent. I can see you squinting at his picture thinking, "Who is he?" For me, it went a little differently. I saw his name first. "B. Becker," the online live scoreboard said. Becker? BORIS BECKER?? No way!

Yep. No way. This is Benjamin Becker. He does hail from Germany, but that seems to be the only other similarity. Granted, I have not seen him play. Perhaps he has the same serve/volley style that Boris sported.

Benjamin has won a whopping $40,000 in prize money this year. I guess when it comes to sports I have the "overpaid athlete" mindset. The $40k showed me this young man has had a rather unremarkable career thus far. I found myself thinking, "Only forty thousand?" ONLY? What did I mean by only? I have never made that amount of money in one year. Chances are good that I never will. The overpaid athlete soap box is one upon which I climb regularly. So what happened? I really need to get ahold of myself. It is okay to be a coffee snob. I do not mind having that label. But tennis snob?

Monday Morning's Musings

Missing the intended point is becoming a habit. It seems I cannot get past Osteen's daily Scripture reading without stopping to consider what the Scripture is saying to me. After furiously scribbling down my thoughts, I turn back to the book. Sometimes my ideas do align with the author's. Today was kinda-sorta one of those days. Check out the last half of today's reading:

Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved. Matthew 9:17

How many times have we heard people teach about or ask for "new wine?" Guess what? That is the wrong idea! What we need is for our wineskins to be renewed so that we can handle the new wine God wants to pour into our lives. Our hearts and minds need to remain in a state of readiness. Otherwise we become old, dried out, and unable to stretch. We become obsolete and unusable. Ouch.

The passage also made me think about generations. The Christian generation before mine seemed overly stiff. There were rules and expectations that I thought were overly drastic and led to bondage. The same is now true about my generation. The current generation moves more freely. They've fought hard (not always intelligently, but hard) to shake off bondage my generation tried to place upon them.

The thing about new wineskins is that they are pliable and have elasticity. This concept provokes me to more thought. Unfortunately, the thoughts are not yet complete. Osteen put it this way:

God will not pour fresh creative ideas and blessings into old attitudes.

Osteen's premise is that now is the time to experience the best God has to offer our lives. He is big on positive thought process and faith. I can deal with that. If Osteen is on the money and God wants this to be the best time of our lives, then we need to be on the lookout for possibilities. We need to perceive, discern, downright see what is out there for us. I like the way The Message translation quotes Isaiah 43:16-21:

This is what God says, the God who builds a road right through the ocean, who carves a path through pounding waves, The God who summons horses and chariots and armies—they lie down and then can't get up; they're snuffed out like so many candles: "Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. (emphasis mine)

What positive things have you been seeing lately? Just yesterday I had something happen that made me pause and consider some of the blessings in my life rather than the 'down side.' I mentioned to a member of my church's band that I'd played guitar in order help Andy with something but that I couldn't play for very long before the old aches and pains showed up. I also said I miss playing guitar and that I really want to be able to play again. He said, "Yeah, but you have this!" And he indicated my throat - meaning a (passable) singing voice.

When I didn't say anything, he continued: "so use the voice for God's glory now, and believe Him for your hands for later!" Well, as a member of the choir that is what I am doing. I never really put it that way. Heck, I never really thought of it that way. But it sure is the more positive outlook, isn't it? This person's encouragement meant a lot to me.

This is the prayer Osteen wrote for the end of today's devotion:

...Help me get rid of those old attitudes that would limit my vision and cause Your work to be stifled in me.

My beliefs run just a little differently, but the sentiment is the same:

I am choosing to let go of the old attitudes that would limit my vision....

After all, I don't want to be stale. Or brittle. Or stifled. Do you?

Wimbledon!

If you follow my blog closely then you know I am a tennis fan. Today, after a typical rain delay, Wimbledon '06 began! My predictions are usually saved for the second week of action so stay tuned. And play is suspended right now because of rain. *happy sigh* There is comfort and security in predictability.

Smallness is Okay

I am not much

But I am

All I have to give.

I am not much

But You can make me

So much more....

No-Fund Frills

Everyone understands the concept of living on a budget. Whether or not everyone actually sticks to their budget is another story! Because there is a theory about keeping oneself answerable to others in order to live successfully, I have decided to post my dilemma for all to see.

In July, every penny of my "extra" money will have to be used to pay taxes on my car. (Did you get the emphasis on the word 'every?') Therefore, any social activities in which I choose to engage during the month of July will have to be free of charge.

Who will join me on this quest for no-cost fun???

The Unexpected

Thanking God for a primo parking space or looking for a demon under every rock are not activities in which I engage. Am I saying it is wrong or foolish to do so? Absolutely not. I just don't have that habit. However, sometimes things happen that make me pause and consider possibilities. Today is one of those days.

This week I have had the arduous task of going through catalogs and online stores in order to find the best deals for the big supply order I have to make for my workplace. Money is nearly non-existent and the thought of having a lower allotment this year as opposed to last year is nothing short of scary. How on earth can we afford everything we are going to need?

At home, I have been working on a rather difficult jigsaw puzzle. It is a grandfather clock that came complete with clockworks & glue so that when the puzzle is completed, we can hang it on the wall and have yet another time piece gracing our house. The problem is the puzzle is larger than the table on which I am working so I have to put it together in sections. What to do with the completed sections? Just this morning I was thinking, "I need a board for these finished pieces so I can just slide them under the couch." Of course, I have no such thing in my possession.

Until today. A salesman came into the office and offered us a couple of free samples. A person doesn't normally get all excited about a large desk calendar but I sure did. The calendar is backed with a nice piece of posterboard. Well, it was. A few moments ago I removed it and will take it home for my completed puzzle sections. And now I will order two fewer desk calendars! The refills are not expensive, but the money can certainly be used elsewhere.

Sometimes, I stop and thank God for the unexpected things.

Wednesday's Reading

I was a turtle this morning.
Time was my enemy.
I read the Scripture passage for today's devotion,
But did not read the devotion itself.
It did not seem to matter.

"You have eyes--can't you see? You have ears--can't you hear? Don't you remember anything at all? What about the five thousand men I fed with five loaves of bread? How many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?"
"Twelve," they said.
"And when I fed the four thousand with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?"
"Seven," they said.
"Don't you understand even yet?" He asked them. (Mark 8:18-21)

My eyes saw Jesus' words.
And my ears heard.
And my heart finally understood:
He really can take nothing and make something.

From Tuesday's Reading...

...the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:
"Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,
your very great reward. " (Genesis 15:1b)

The first time I read that little passage, an old praise and worship song popped into my head. It is taken directly from Psalms:

The Lord God is a sun and shield
He gives grace and glory.
No good thing will He withhold
From them who walk uprightly.

It is a really great song! I sat and "couch danced" for a few moments while singing the song in my head & heart. Then, for whatever reason, I went back and read the verse again and had this thought:

He is my exceedingly great reward.

That made me start thinking about rewards. What are we after, really? We really aren't in pursuit of a crown because that will be given to the One who ultimately deserves all crowns. Hm. I guess He is waiting for His reward, too! He has partially entered into it, but He is still waiting for His kingdom. I don't know about anyone else, but at this point I just want rest. For me, the reward will be finally arriving at my ultimate destination - His eternal presence - with no other distractions or hinderances. A couple of days ago I wondered what my goal is. I think that's it. Check out this passage about Moses:

He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. (Heb 11:25-27)

Moses was looking for his reward, too. The thing is, I can't think of anyone who wants to spend their lives sighing and twiddling their thumbs waiting for "apple pie in the sky in the sweet by and by when they die." Abundant life is available to us NOW. We need to live while we are on this earth. Do you really think "be fruitful and multiply" refers only to procreation? I don't. Too much is written about fruit in other contexts. Part of being fruitful is helping others find the abundant life. How to go about that is a bone of contention amongst believers, so I'll avoid the subject here!

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Heb 10:23-25)

We can encourage each other and assemble outside our church buildings. That is something I highly recommend! Live and enjoy your life. You know what is good for you and what isn't. You know the options available to you, so do not be afraid to seize the day and make the most of your time on earth. We are strangers in a strange land, but God gave the land to us, His children. Personally, I think we can live a full life here and in due time receive our reward, eternal life with Him. The pivot point is...MOTIVE. If we keep our eyes fixed on our prize (reward), our motives will be pure.

Your Best Life Now

A close friend of mine gave me Joel Osteen's Daily Readings from Your Best Life Now. It is a 90-day devotional book. Today I read the first entry. It never ceases to amaze me how we can hear something over and over - or read something just as often - and it never really hits home until we are ready to understand. Or how about this: You read or hear something and it strikes a chord with you. Time passes and you hear or read it again only to have a different chord struck! God is so cool. That is why He stays interesting and we remain intrigued. If we had all of the answers to life's persistent questions we wouldn't continue to seek Him, would we?

The Scripture passage that goes along with the first devotion in the book is Hebrews 11:8-40. To be honest, I do not know if I got out of it what Mr. Osteen intended. It is more important that I got something tailor-made for me.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Hm. Well we know Abram's father, Terah, set out for Canaan when he brought his family out of Ur, but he never made it that far. So perhaps Abraham knew at least in which direction to strike out. Somehow, I think that is a minor detail. The fact is, Abraham heard and went. I spend entirely too much time whining about not knowing where to go next in my walk with God. The problem with whining is it makes me stand still rather than move!

When we keep reading we find that Abraham & his ongoing family dwelt in tents in this land of promise.

...for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

So, Abraham never truly saw it, that place of promise. He got there, but didn't really see it in all its glory. Still, he didn't give up like his father Terah did. Abraham believed exactly what God said. To me, this indicates Abraham was a big thinker with a broad perspective. This is almost painfully evident during the time Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac. At the end of the passage we read:

And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

Therefore, the "heroes of faith" worked...built for the culmination of all things. They fully understood what it meant to be part of a body, each one having its own role to play in the grand scheme of things.

I've been talking about it a lot lately; being self-absorbed. I believe there is a balance between "Me, me, me" and "Everyone & everything else." Of course we need time to ourselves - time to do what we like and want to do. Jesus did that, too. But to spend our entire lives focused only on ourselves seems to be such a waste of time and talent.

Recently, people have been telling me things they see in me. I laugh or deny, waving them off or even begging them not to say what they are saying, as many times I have been hearing the same things from totally different sources in completely different locations. Because I am my own worst enemy and an even harder self-critic, I cannot see what people see. Does this mean I am blinded to my own giftings and talents? Should I be listening a little more seriously to those God puts in my path? *sigh* I just don't know. Too many times I have thought I was moving ahead only to be blindsided or stopped in my tracks. It is discouraging, isn't it? I know I am not the only person to have experienced such things.

Osteen writes that often people are reluctant to continue a hard journey because they are satisfied with where they are. They lose their drive to excel, to explore new horizons, to experience vistas they'd never previously imagined possible. They have tasted a bit of success and they think, "This is good enough."

Why do we stop? I know we get tired and we get discouraged, but aren't those earthly, human stumbling blocks? I'm sure Abraham and the other heroes got tired and discouraged, but they didn't stop. What's the difference? I believe it is their broad perspective - the ability to see the bigger picture and the greater good. Osteen continues:

Often we have a goal, but over time we get lazy. Maybe we see a little improvement, but then we get comfortable right where we are. Where we are may not be a bad place, but we know it is not where we're supposed to be....We are not pursuing the excellence that God has placed in our hearts. God has so much more in store!

It is no secret that I have been pretty miserable at work. Yet, there I stay. Why? Because the known, bad as it may be, is easier than the unknown. In my case, staying in my present position is the path of least resistance. It isn't fun, and it isn't easy, but at least I know what to expect...to include a steady paycheck. Osteen encourages us to "Dare to step out of our comfort zone." He goes on to say, "It doesn't take anymore effort to believe and stay filled with faith than it does to develop a negative and defeated attitude." (I may have to disagree with that one....being negative and defeated comes mighty easily to me. But then, that isn't God's best for me, is it?)

The encouragment continues:

You are made for more than good enough. Enlarge your vision! ...You simply need to focus on your goal, set your course, and have the attitude, I'm not going to settle for a little..a bit...a small helping...No, I am going to reach my full potential in God. I am going to start living my best life now!

Hm . . . just what is my goal, anyway?

In his closing prayer, Osteen asks us to pray about trusting God to do more in and through our lives. Yeah, that stuck on me. Trusting God is something that does not come naturally or easily for me. And then I had this thought:

What requires more trust than blind faith in God? Especially when we feel we have been let down by Him. This let-down may have occured indirectly-in the instances where someone might say, "God didn't let you down, people did." Still, we ask the question, "Why did God let people fail me?" The truth of the matter is this: God is Who He says He is. Sovereign. He is active in our lives, whether we see, hear, or feel Him. We really need to get past our "feelings" and move on with what we know is true - that He loves us and has great things in store for our lives. We must give Him control! If nothing else, we need to remember that life is so much better with Him - to include the unknowns and the hurts - than without Him.

Who Are We Trying to Kid?

Have you ever heard this song?

Draw me, Lord.
Oh draw me, Lord.
Oh draw me, Lord.
And I'll run after You.

We sang that song in church this morning. It is a lovely song, really it is. But the thought that is now the title of this blog entry came to my mind. I find it ironic and maybe even hypocritical that we sing to the Father about longing to be in His presence.

If we look at these lyrics from a logical standpoint - and we all know how logical I can be - (/me dodges lightning strike) they don't make sense. First, God is omnipresent. We cry out to Him because we are hungry for His presence. The truth is He is there, wherever we are. Therefore, if we do not experience His touch we have missed Him. It is that simple.

Secondly, God is constantly drawing us to Himself. For what purpose did He create us? If we already know Him, we can be in His presence. We do not have to whip ourselves into a frenzy to experience God. I distinctly heard Him tell me today that if we are not aware of His presence, we are not listening. God should not have to scream & wave flags to get our attention. He is with us, inside us, around us. He wants our time and attention. Again, if we miss Him, it is our fault. We just aren't listening.

That begged the question: Why are we not listening? Too many times our heads and our hearts work independently of each other. We may think we are seeking Him and listening for Him, but the truth is maybe we are not. As people, we have so many issues that cloud the truth. Stubbornness: God should meet me, I've come this far..He can travel the rest of the distance. Pride: I do not need God's presence in my life in order to be successful. I know Him, He knows me. It is enough. Besides, other people are around and if I truly express myself, they'll start to talk. (Take it from me, friends - people are far too self-absorbed to worry about what you may or may not be doing) Fear: God may reveal something about me or ask me to do something. And the list goes on.

Then there is the part of the lyric that says, "And I'll run after You." That is not necessarily true, either. We want to bask in the warm and loving glow of our heavenly Father, but when it comes to running after Him - doing as He desires and following His lead, too often we fall short. We think we cannot do what He asks. We are afraid. We doubt ourselves and Him.

Sad, isn't it?

Am I saying this song isn't Biblical? Not really. I am simply posing a question: What will it take for us to truly listen?

(to be continued....)

Smile!

Spoiled Rotten

During a two hour conversation with Ben last night I was again reminded how spoiled Americans are. Ben has recently returned from a missions trip to Guyana. He shared pictures, audio clips, and memories with me. I wish I could convey what happened to my heart as he did. I would love to post some of his pictures but they are his and I am hoping Ben will post his own blog entry soon.

A long long time ago in a galaxy far far away I had a 'colorful thing' take place in my head. In those days I would often start my mornings on the deck. Coffee, birds, breezes, and prayer. What a way to start the day! One time I was doing that very thing when a sea of faces appeared before my eyes. They seemed Asian to me but what was more important was the hope in their expressions. Their eyes spoke volumes to me. And I loved them. Later, Asmo came to Pitt County and I had the opportunity to teach and tutor 4 Japanese children. And I loved them. I thought that was the fulfillment of the colorful thing. Now I am not so sure.

Before I go further I feel the need to post a disclaimer: My eyes are not blind to the plight of people right here in the United States. And yes, I believe we need to take care of our own first. However, this post is not necessarily about reaching out to the citizens of other countries. Hopefully you will see my purpose as you read.

From the pictures Ben shared, I think anyone would agree with me that the people of Guyana live in what we would consider squalor. The water is dirty, the streets are dirty, and the majority of the buildings are pieced together. But their faces! There is depth in their eyes and much that can be seen in their expressions. And I loved them.

The pictures of their church sanctuaries & of people engaged in worship coupled with audio clips reminded me of what I have often heard: the citizens of countries like Guyana have nothing but their faith. Because of that, their worship is honest, raw, and truly from the heart. As spoiled Americans, we often fall into the realm of the "bless me club." We go to church and give God ... what? Lip service? We read our Bibles and do Him a favor by spending a few minutes in prayer every day? We follow a formula and feel good about ourselves and God. We whine and complain about temporary things - things that the people in poorer countries would jump at the chance to possess for only a moment in time - when there are people who praise Him for their salvation. They really have nothing else for which to praise Him, but should they need any other reasons? Should we?

I considered ending this post with those words: "Should we?" Should we need any other reason to worship Him other than the fact that He is our sovereign God? I do not think I need to answer that question.

When true worship takes place, so does an exchange. We give our worship to Him, and He gives us strength and the tools we need to walk on this earth effectively. If the exchanges happened more often than on a Sunday morning, we would find ourselves infused with things like love, compassion, mercy, honesty, and the desire to serve Him by serving others. Now, sit back and consider what the world.. and what America...would be like if more of us were empowered with those things on a daily basis. Then, share your thoughts with me.

If I am spoiled rotten, I am of no use to anyone. There is nothing nutritional or life giving in what I have to offer. No wonder I keep going through hard time after hard time. I need the constant reminder that without Him, I am nothing. I do not wish to be spoiled anymore.

Twenty Five

Yesterday one of our fourth grade mothers came in to pick up her daughter early. We had pleasant converation while we waited for the child to come to the office. She told me that they are moving to another city over the summer so the child will go to a different school for the fifth grade. After all of the negative publicity my school has endured lately, it was nice to hear this parent say her daughter had been happy while with us. She had a wonderful teacher and the mother was very impressed wtih the rest of the staff as well.

Then another nice thing happened: The mother could not believe I have two grown children. She shook her head saying no, I looked only 25 myself and there was no way my children were in their twenties. This came from a very young looking woman! She has a perfectly smooth, unlined and unblotched complexion. Her hair is perfect and I never see any stress on her face. Still, it was nice to hear during a difficult day.

It is Friday, people!! <3

Funny but With a Hint of Truth...

King Arthur and the Witch:

Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, if after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death.

The question was, “What do women really want?” Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end.

He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: the princess, the priests, the wise men and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer. Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer. But the price would be high; as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged.

The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first.The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend! Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, and more.

Arthur had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life.He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden; but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur. He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and the preservation of the Round Table. Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered Arthur's question thusly:

What a woman really wants, she answered, is to be in charge of her own life.

Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth and that Arthur's life would be spared. And so it was, the neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom and Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding.

The honeymoon hour approached and Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But, what a sight awaited him! The most beautiful woman he had ever seen lay before him on the bed.

The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened. The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth, be her horrible deformed self only half the time and the beautiful maiden the other half. Which would he prefer? Beautiful during the day...or at night?

Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day she would be a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch? Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day, but by night a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous intimate moments?


What would YOU do? Think about it and answer the question before you scroll down.




Wise & noble Lancelot said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself. Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life. Now, what is the moral to this story?

The moral is:

If you don't let a woman have her own way, things are going to get ugly!

Okay, have your laugh. Afterwards, think about what this little story is really saying!

Sunday Sermon Notes

June 4th marked the 26th anniversary of my church. We had some special music and saw faces we had not seen in awhile. The afternoon was spent at a local park where there was a gigantic picnic and many types of games for children of all ages.

Sunday's sermon was one I had been waiting to hear for quite some time. It seems to me that most churches fall into a routine of one type or another. Either they focus too much on outreach at the expense of time spent truly seeking God's presence & discipling those who are within the church, or too much emphasis is placed on the internal workings of the church and it becomes a 'bless me club.' In essence, the church is missing out on a "whole life" approach. (Pastor used a pie to illustrate) He quoted someone...I wish I could remember who. The quote was lengthy but the point was this: a real loss of vision & perspective has occured in many churches and "rather than what we can do for the church, we are thinking in terms of what the church can do for us."

I have seen our church swing in these wide arcs. Sometimes it has been at the expense of people very close to me. Sometimes it has been at my own expense. Yet, Andy and I chose to stay because we believe in the overall mission & vision of our church. We've done a little visiting around and nowhere else seemed to fit. Besides, by church hoping people often become part of the problem rather than being part of the solution.

Pastor mentioned the possibility of us not fully grasping the love of Christ and what it means. He said when we can understand His love for us (individually), we become capable of truly loving others. Further, if we try to love God without a revelation of His love for us, our love for Him can become legalistic and full of bondage. It is the true love of Christ that makes us want to serve. (My personal thought is that we cannot fathom unconditional love. Therefore, we love conditionally. That is what makes our approach to God and His love legalistic - there are rules and formulas we must follow in order to be loved and love in return.)

While Pastor was talking, I had some things strike me:

His faithfulness to me,
My unfaithfulness to Him.
His acceptance of me,
My rejection of Him.
And still He loves wretched me.

About that time Pastor said this:

We never run the risk of knowing God loves us and then finding out He doesn't. We do run the risk of feeling like we love Him, but later find out we don't love Him as much as we thought we did.

Here is a neat tie-in for the whole-pie approach:

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:19-25

Verses 19-23 talk about the "me and God" aspect, or the "my church and God" - the internal workings. Take note the concept doesn't stop there. Because we can draw near, have assurance, remain hopeful, we should spend time working on the "outside," whether on an individual or community basis. God has been talking to me at great length about this lately. It started about a week ago and I guess this sermon confirmed that I need to become more active in the lives of those He has placed in my path. I admit I have become complacent and/or apathetic when it comes to discipling others. Pastor had an answer for that too, lucky me! "Apathy equals not a compelling enough vision." If we lose vision, it is our own doing (those are my words).

And so the question is this: Are we focused on God's hand (and what He can give us) or His face? To use Pastor's paraphrase of John 21:15-17: "If you love Me, then you will love what I love."

Here's a cool thing:

The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction." Ex 12:24.

God's priority was NOT to give the commandments, but to have Moses as a person. To see Moses and let Moses 'see' Him. That is what He wants from us, too. He doesn't necessarily want us for what we can give. He wants us for us!

This brings us back to understanding His love for us and gaining the ability to share that same love with others. Pastor ended up with three points that he said he presented to the pastors and elders meeting.

1. It is not right to birth children and then not care for them. (Internal discipling of newer believers & members)

2. It is not right to not care for the people we already have. (Availability to meet needs of more established members who are going through life changes & day-to-day issues.)

3. Those who are able to provide spiritual care need to realize it is time to step up.

I know this is really long. I hope you stuck with me through the whole thing. It was a good & true word with a broad perspective. That is what we all need: a broader perspective that is sprinkled with the knowledge and love of Christ.

Oh. And expect a follow-up of this. One of my friends had something to add that I want to share with you! (tomorrow?)

Honorable Mentionables

Sometimes I spend more time coming up with a title for my entries than I do on the entries themselves! There are just two little snippets to post right now. A much more serious entry will post later. Today, I hope!

Gas prices have been an oft-mentioned subject here in my little blogdom. Andy noticed last week that the Greenville-Pitt County price war seems to have reversed itself. He told me the prices on the north side of town are now lower than those on the southern end. That is indeed a switch. My latest fill up was managed just as prices dipped to $2.73. And this morning I wake up to...$2.78. Funny, I used to get really upset if I missed a 2 or 3 cent dip. Then I put it into perspective: If I fill up with 13 gallons of gas, which is about normal, I save a total of .39 on the fill up at $2.73 as opposed to say $2.76. Yes, Yes, I know we should be incensed about prices in the "2's" at all - but then again, we could move to europe. Or if you're very brave, venture to the middle east where fuel can be purchased at ridiculously low prices. Of course you would lose your freedoms and perhaps your life. So take your pick! Europe, where fuel is sold by the litre at roughly $3.50-$5.00/gal, the Middle East, or the good ole USA. Betcha I don't have to reveal my choice!



*Moves on to next subject waving an American flag while whistling 'Stars and Stripes Forever'*




Today we took a huge leap of faith. As you can see, Luke and Aslan are bestest buddies now. We are very pleased about that. However, the cost of cat litter and the amount of upkeep it takes to maintain two litterboxes in the manner that I prefer (scooping twice a day, sweeping at least that often, changing litter weekly) is getting a bit ridiculous. So.... *takes deep breath* ... we have decided to see if the boys will share a box. We know both cats use both boxes, so why wouldn't they use one? More specifically, the same one? Well folks, the world is about to find out! Stay tuned for more wacky feline adventures!

Tons O'Tidbits (finally!)

Hm. Where to begin?

Well, I never went into detail about my last round of medical appointments. The doctor had a great time freaking me out by saying, "Hm. That's interesting." *Looks at LC's mortified face* "But I'm not worried!" Then he patted me on the shoulder and sent me on my merry (?) way to wait a week for biopsy results.

Forgive me when I say *whew!* Very few people knew the circumstances surrounding these appointments, but the day before I was to go in for the test results I reached out to a couple of co-workers. I asked them to pray for me. I was feeling very shaky and was in need of peace and strength. One person went home and shared with their mother. The mother said, "You tell her she will walk in there smiling and walk out laughing."

When I woke up last Thursday morning, the day I was to get the results, I felt so full of peace. I knew, no matter what, I wouldn't be going through anything alone. Not only would God walk with me, but so would my family & close circle of friends, for whom I am extremely grateful. And I did indeed walk in smiling and out laughing. That was cool.

A friend of mine has been looking for a new job. She had an interview west of here Tuesday. It is a fine line for me - I want her to be happy and move into whatever life has to offer her, but I don't want her to move away, either! I was ecstatic when she called me and said she did not want the job, even if the powers that be offer it to her. Ultimately I hope she finds what she is looking for . . . just not so soon! *wink*
Let's see...Ah yes! My friend Ben left in the wee hours of Thursday for Guyana. This will be the first of two missions trips he will be taking this summer. One day I'd like to go on one. Please pray for him and the group with whom he is traveling. Guyana is a little on the unstable side right now so...

I had a good time Tuesday. I met up with someone and had the opportunity to talk with his children. They are both younger than 10. I had forgotten how amusing and surprising conversations with kids that age can be. Here are a few highlights:

Asking one of them why he thought Baskin Robbins had a "31" in the middle of their logo. The first thought - the ice cream establishment has been around 31 years. The second thought - the man who started the company went to a Chinese restaurant and discovered his lucky number is 31, (I'm assuming this came from the fortune cookie) and decided to go with it.

The other child talking about going ice skating and falling down...a lot. Going further in the ice skating vein, I mentioned I hadn't been in several years but that maybe it isn't a good idea since older people break bones more easily. The other child mentioned the need for more calcium in my diet and suggested milk - 10 containers a day. He qualified his statement by saying the containers would be gallon sized. A laughing conversation ensued whereby we mentioned my growing udders and spraying milk onto plastic surgeons who might have to make an incision somewhere near my stomach.

There is much more I could share. It was just an all-around good time. If I forgot to thank the parent of these children for sharing them with me for an hour, let me rectify that situation right now: Thanks!

Choir practice was fun Wednesday night. Our church has redesigned the stage which required splitting the choir in half in order to flank the band. It has started a friendly rivalry. Which side is "better?" That made last night's very long practice much more bearable and dare I say entertaining!? Yes, my friends. Not only can church and church related things be fun, it should be!

Went to an autocross event a couple of weekends ago with some people we have known for what seems like forever, in a good way. She has been active in kiddo's life off and on for about twelve years - a definite positive influence! They both race autocross and in this event they drove the same car. I have a great time watching (and getting sunburnt even with sunscreen) and snapping pictures.

The little green civic was funny. You can't see it in this picture, hard as I tried, but he had one of those little caution signs on the back window. It said, "Baby on Board!" I thought that hilarious - and found out later that while the baby did not join her daddy in the car while he raced, she was indeed in attendance at the event.

The Volkswagons that were entered were so cool! There was an '88 Scirocco, a 2000 (or '01, 02) Golf, and an '06 GTI. I don't know what it is about Volkswagons, but they just love to get up on three wheels! The Scirocco was the most impressive when it came to three-wheeling. Try as I might (and believe me, I tried!) I couldn't time a photograph just right. So, here's a snap of the GTI. I saw this car get up much higher than the picture shows, but at least I got something!

I drove past Chili's Thursday morning on my way to work. I had to laugh. Someone has stolen the pepper...again! There was a box of caution/police tape surrounding the empty spot where the chili once made its home. How many missing peppers does that make? 3? 4?



*EDIT*

Having waited for Blogger to resolve their picture uploading issues, I now have more catching up to do. I hope I can remember everything! Oh - and I must thank you, Chet. I took a small piece of your advice and here I am! (No, I did not go out and purchase a Mac!)