Wed, Mar 29th - 9:43AM

Why Worry?

Hey,

Two thoughts on worry. First is the fact that worship is the opposite of worry.
I have put this into practice and it works. When I get uptight about something I will usually try to get away for an hour or so and pray some praise and thanksgiving. It can't help but remind you of what God has done in the past, He's proven himself, how much He's done, He loves you, and what great things He's done, He's powerful. I always come away comforted, and confident in Him

The other is to look at the challenge and, instead of asking
What will I do?         ask yourself
What will God do?  

What is God trying to do for us through this. It means that we look for actions to take, even if its the minimum thing - trying to learn some lesson, instead of just waiting for it to end. How can I show His love here? Its pro-active.

Oh and one other thing. You know those times when things are going so badly that we just finally stop and fall down and give it all to God? "I can't fix this God. Help" That's probablt the only time that we really elevate Him to God in our minds. He always is, of course. But that's when we stop trying to do things without Him and recognize His power.

Sun, Mar 26th - 5:36PM

Hey,

    An update. If you read the post below you know that I am on a mission to try to receive everything that happens as something planned by God and full of opportunity for me to respond in a way that furthers His kingdom. So far it has been amazing. I have newfound optimism and joy. And I believe God has blessed my attitude change by finally giving us some breakthroughs in things that have been problems at church.

A note on God's will. I read somewhere that we should be thinking about God's will as a field of options. We usually talk about God's will as a right path, indicating that its one choice and that if we miss it we are stuck for a while until another crossroads comes along. Instead think of it as an open field, where there are several options open to us that could all be OK with Him (in His will) and that we have some freedom to wander within.

For instance, if I wanted my son to be a teacher, I would still be pleased if he teaches teens or elementary school, this town or that one, math or science. Of course God knows which I'll choose and of course saalvation doesn't have several possible ways, but I like the idea that we're not limited to one very narrow path to please God.

Thu, Mar 23rd - 10:24PM

A few weeks ago I had a rare moment of courage and prayed that God would "grow me". I was tired of the level I was at, the lack of growth. Almost immediately things started going badly. I was insulted, asked to resign, and surrounded by bad news and frustration. Since then I have been in a bad mood and very discouraged. I guess I should have seen the connection between this and my prayer but, in honesty, my paryer was more casual that it should have been. Sincere, but more a passing thought than a passion.

Today I went for a walk on my lunch as I often do, and got ready to ask God to fix things as I often do. I was surprised to find myself praising Him for how well things were going. Next I felt Him say "What if all these things are My will?" I often ask God to resolve problems according to His will but now I saw that the problems themselves were His will. (There my be exceptions to this. I don't mean that there are no other possibilities)

If I asked someone to help me get in shape he might give me a workout routine. If I didn't understand his words he might say simply , "Pick this up. Put it back down. Pick it up again," If I didn't know about lifting weights I would be confused and frustrated. "Do you want it up or down?"  If he asked me to run, I might ask "Why am I going around in circles?"  I might very well ask for a end to this frustration, not realizing that the frustration was the answer to the prayer that I made to get in shape.

I am going to try to start receiving everything as if it is God's will. He is King after all. Do things happen outside of his will? It won't all be good but it might have a purpose that God can use. I will try not to whine, get discouraged, offended, or look for an escape. Instead I'll look for how God can use it. Is there someone that I can show forgiveness to? Is there a chance to give comfort? I have gotten into the habit of fighting  through what comes along instead of looking for how I can serve God through it.

Mon, Mar 20th - 10:38PM

Hey,

I find myself once again feeling a little depressed. WAIT !!! Don't go! I will go easy.

I have succeeded in getting to know our college group better and am amazed at how hard some of their lives are. I have had a very easy time in life. I grew up in a great, if somewhat old family. My father was 48 years old when I was born, so things were very well established and very calm. I found someone who loved God and me while I was young and we did pretty well. I never had much money but we haven't starved.

The point is These guys lives are filled with drama. Disowned, taken to court by long lost fathers, etc. I have a question for them. I didn't get to do what I planned this week because my worship leader was helping with a custody battle. I'll ask next week.

What is Christian life supposed to look like. If we keep our act together, is life supposed to go easy for us? Is God's plan for our life a fairly smooth walk that ony has problems when we cause them? Are we all to be devoted to Bible study and helping the poor?

I guess I want to ask, What does god's plan for life look like? Because mine is going pretty well and it still doesn't seem to be like what I think God would design. I either need to dramatically change my approach to life or my idea of what God has in mind for me. Did He really want me to be frustrated daily with church politics? Is there more or should I find meaning in my daily struggles?

Thu, Mar 9th - 7:29PM

Murderer's Blog

Hey

Matthew 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

I don't swear. To put it simply, I was raised better than that. It will generally lower my opinion of someone if I hear them swear. Not a lot, but without exception. It is interesting how cultural that opinion is. A bitch is a dog. A son of a bitch would be a dog also, or an insult of someone's mother. A bastard is someone who doesn't have a father. God might very well damn someone, I suppose. In all, these aren't the most horrible things that you could say. But we have decided as a culture that these particular words are not polite. We sometimes even stretch the commandment not to "take the Lord's name in vain" to mean "don't swear."

Jesus doesn't seem particularly interested in keeping us from calling people dogs. In fact, it was a common word for gentiles in His day. He did however tell us not to call someone a fool. The language seems to refer particularly to saying it intentionally, with purpose. I doubt that it was the word "fool" that He was really concerned about. I think He was telling us not to insult. Not to devaule someone. To verbally rob them of their worth as a person. To push them further away from the God that you are always representing.

The problem with having our set of "swear words" that aren't acceptable is that it makes all the other words acceptable. We think we can say many insulting things as long as went don't use the bad words. It reminds me of the phrase in Romans 14:15 "... your brother, for whom Christ died." Picture someone distanced from belief in God because we had a bad day and, wearing our Christian tee-shirt, called him a fool.

So how about it? Are their any murders out there? Multiple murderers? I am for sure. Yet He still loves us. And, I like to think, finds a way to undo the damage my temper has done. What an awesome God!

Thu, Mar 2nd - 2:16PM

What Kind of Bride are We?

Hey,

    The college group is wrapping up a brieft study of Revelations. We are at the marriage supper

Rev. 19:6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
   "Hallelujah!
      For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
 7 Let us rejoice and be glad
      and give him glory!
   For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
      and his bride has made herself ready.
 8 Fine linen, bright and clean,
      was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

 9 Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' " And he added, "These are the true words of God."

    It is interesting that God uses a bride as an illustration for us believers. Its risky because He would know that it would turn men off (being a female reference). It is hard to us to relate to being a bride. It also has some other possible complications. Obviously, that doesn't mean He was wrong, or that only men 's opinion matter, but I think it shows how important the illustration is to Him.
    He refers to his people as a bride throughout the Bible. Particularly, in Hosea he shows how unfaithful people are like a cheating wife to Him. Here, at the climax of the history of this world, He uses it again. This time to show the joy of the union.
    When He comes we will be the perfect bride for Him. He will make us that way. But until then, what kind of bride are we? Are we like the brides in so many movies, so busy thinking about themselves that they are misery for the groom. Do we worry about how we look (or appear to others) or how He will take care of us?
    Or are we so focused on the Groom that we don't really care about the things of this world? Do we spend enough time thinking about Him, His plans, His goals and how we can serve him. Brides are famous for repeatedly writing out what their new names will be. Are we spending time thinking about what the changes should be in us?