A couple of weeks ago, during the Broncos/Patriots game, the following commercial was aired:
When this commercial came on, the group we were with were immediately silenced, our actions were stilled, and our eyes were glued on the television. That expression-filled statement by that little girl is so powerful, "Wow!"
We discussed this commercial a little bit in chapel this morning, but it got me thinking later about the "Wow Factor" of Jesus. If you think about what He did, is doing, and will do, "Wow!" is a very apt response. But how often is our response more like, "Meh?"
In Revelations, Jesus reveals that the Church at Ephesus has 'lost their first love,' and I think another way one could phrase that message is, "You've lost the Wow Factor."
Whenever I experience God in a new way, I am incredibly wow'ed, but after the newness of that experience wears off, it just doesn't seem like that big of a deal anymore. It should still be a big deal, but it isn't. There has to be a way to stay Wow'd.
I am sure it requires consciously:
1) Remembering what He has done
2) Recognizing what He is doing
3) Anticipating what He is going to do
I find doing these three things on a regular basis incredibly difficult. What are some ways you have found that work for you? Please leave a comment below.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Sexual Purity
Last night in our small group we discussed the topic of Sexual Purity. Among other things, we were asked how we would define that.
My definition drew the picture of me working to build up walls around me and Rachel, and often times the 'battle for sexual purity' feels like I am constantly running from one 'wall' to the next shoring them up against the attack raging on the other side. For some reason after I explained this, I felt like that the definition I gave just wasn't enough. Like it somehow only answered half the question.
One of the other guys present gave a definition of, "Sexual Purity is anything that fosters my and my wife's sexual relationship. Sexual Impurity is anything that hinders our sexual relationship." This sounded to me to be a much better definition.
My problem is that I might be tempted to use this definition as a way to rationalize my improper behavior. While on the surface this doesn't seem like it makes any sense, our minds will often accept a number of irrational ideas as rational to suit its needs or desires. So I started thinking more about the definition I gave, and trying to understand how I might be able to expand on it to better answer the question.
I think I do need to be building walls to protect my relationship with Rachel, but my tendency is to become legalistic about these and forget that there's a battle raging on the inside as well. I think Sexual (Im)purity is more of an internal heart issue than it is an external behavioral issue. While I run from wall to wall fixing the little cracks that form, it's very easy to get tired. And when I get tired, I can't keep fixing those cracks, and they have a greater chance of falling.
It's very easy for me to forget that I'm not fighting this battle alone. God is in there with me. He has set me free from sin, and He is fighting that battle alongside me. Rachel is in there with me. And while she may get hurt if those walls fall, it is much easier to fix those cracks with her help. It also helps a lot to relate to others who are fighting this same battle - other Godly men who are also battered and bruised from this vicious fight. But this starts with me being open enough to ask for help (see prev blogpost). In the end, I need to constantly remind myself of what Solomon, in his wisdom, knew, "And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken"
My definition drew the picture of me working to build up walls around me and Rachel, and often times the 'battle for sexual purity' feels like I am constantly running from one 'wall' to the next shoring them up against the attack raging on the other side. For some reason after I explained this, I felt like that the definition I gave just wasn't enough. Like it somehow only answered half the question.
One of the other guys present gave a definition of, "Sexual Purity is anything that fosters my and my wife's sexual relationship. Sexual Impurity is anything that hinders our sexual relationship." This sounded to me to be a much better definition.
My problem is that I might be tempted to use this definition as a way to rationalize my improper behavior. While on the surface this doesn't seem like it makes any sense, our minds will often accept a number of irrational ideas as rational to suit its needs or desires. So I started thinking more about the definition I gave, and trying to understand how I might be able to expand on it to better answer the question.
I think I do need to be building walls to protect my relationship with Rachel, but my tendency is to become legalistic about these and forget that there's a battle raging on the inside as well. I think Sexual (Im)purity is more of an internal heart issue than it is an external behavioral issue. While I run from wall to wall fixing the little cracks that form, it's very easy to get tired. And when I get tired, I can't keep fixing those cracks, and they have a greater chance of falling.
It's very easy for me to forget that I'm not fighting this battle alone. God is in there with me. He has set me free from sin, and He is fighting that battle alongside me. Rachel is in there with me. And while she may get hurt if those walls fall, it is much easier to fix those cracks with her help. It also helps a lot to relate to others who are fighting this same battle - other Godly men who are also battered and bruised from this vicious fight. But this starts with me being open enough to ask for help (see prev blogpost). In the end, I need to constantly remind myself of what Solomon, in his wisdom, knew, "And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken"
Monday, January 23, 2012
Help? Anyone?
How quickly are you willing to ask for help?
Last Saturday, Rachel and I went out geocaching. We had found a trail near our house which wasn't too long (about 1.3 miles one way) which had twelve geocaches along it. We gathered our gear, leashed up the dog, and set out. The first cache we looked for wasn't very far from where we parked. We got to Ground Zero (GZ) and started looking for the cache. We spent about ten minutes looking then decided to try again on the way back. The next cache we decided to do the same thing because there were a lot of other people around when we got near it. The third cache seemed like it was going to be a repeat of the first, but Rachel spotted it after a minute or so. (If she hadn't been there, I would probably still be looking!) The rest of them were much easier and we didn't have too much difficulty finding them.
I spotted the second cache we had initially skipped fairly quickly on our return trek, but it took a while to actually get to it. When we arrived back at the first cache, we started looking again. We had a better idea of what we were looking for since we now knew what the container looked like (it was just like two of the other caches we had found). I also had deduced from the name of the cache where it was to be located, so I didn't think it would take us very long. We spent another twenty minutes looking at every inch of the five trees at GZ, but still could not find it! I really wanted to keep looking on our own, but Rachel and Sonny were ready to go home, so I pulled out my cell phone, called the guy who had placed the cache there and asked him where it was. Even with him telling me right where it was, finding it was still a bit challenging.
This adventure really got me thinking about how often I hesitate asking for help. In geocaching, sometimes I feel like I'm cheating when I ask someone where the cache is, but in life, I am confronted with my own inadequacies every time help is needed. I want to be self-sufficient, not needing anyone's help, and this mindset is largely encouraged by our American society. Spiritually speaking, acknowledging a struggle, failure, or need to someone reveals our imperfection. Because I am aiming for perfection, I don't want people to see me miss!
It was pointed out to me this morning that Integrity isn't so much about being perfect, but it's about acknowledging my imperfections in a way that glorifies God. Integrity is more about admitting when I miss perfection and ask for help than it is actually hitting the mark.With this in mind, my goal is to be more willing to admit to myself and others when I fail. Only then can I get the help that I need.
Last Saturday, Rachel and I went out geocaching. We had found a trail near our house which wasn't too long (about 1.3 miles one way) which had twelve geocaches along it. We gathered our gear, leashed up the dog, and set out. The first cache we looked for wasn't very far from where we parked. We got to Ground Zero (GZ) and started looking for the cache. We spent about ten minutes looking then decided to try again on the way back. The next cache we decided to do the same thing because there were a lot of other people around when we got near it. The third cache seemed like it was going to be a repeat of the first, but Rachel spotted it after a minute or so. (If she hadn't been there, I would probably still be looking!) The rest of them were much easier and we didn't have too much difficulty finding them.
I spotted the second cache we had initially skipped fairly quickly on our return trek, but it took a while to actually get to it. When we arrived back at the first cache, we started looking again. We had a better idea of what we were looking for since we now knew what the container looked like (it was just like two of the other caches we had found). I also had deduced from the name of the cache where it was to be located, so I didn't think it would take us very long. We spent another twenty minutes looking at every inch of the five trees at GZ, but still could not find it! I really wanted to keep looking on our own, but Rachel and Sonny were ready to go home, so I pulled out my cell phone, called the guy who had placed the cache there and asked him where it was. Even with him telling me right where it was, finding it was still a bit challenging.
This adventure really got me thinking about how often I hesitate asking for help. In geocaching, sometimes I feel like I'm cheating when I ask someone where the cache is, but in life, I am confronted with my own inadequacies every time help is needed. I want to be self-sufficient, not needing anyone's help, and this mindset is largely encouraged by our American society. Spiritually speaking, acknowledging a struggle, failure, or need to someone reveals our imperfection. Because I am aiming for perfection, I don't want people to see me miss!
It was pointed out to me this morning that Integrity isn't so much about being perfect, but it's about acknowledging my imperfections in a way that glorifies God. Integrity is more about admitting when I miss perfection and ask for help than it is actually hitting the mark.With this in mind, my goal is to be more willing to admit to myself and others when I fail. Only then can I get the help that I need.
Friday, January 20, 2012
To plan, or not to plan....that is the question!
Over the past few days, I have repeatedly heard something about planning ahead, worrying about the future, reacting to the present, and our overall responsibility to trust God. This has always been something of a sticky subject with me, especially when it comes to finances, but more to that in a minute.
We as humans, and especially Believers, have a delicate balance between anticipating the future, recognizing the present, and appreciating the past. At times, the Bible seems to send mixed signals about how to handle the future. In some places it talks about people perishing for lack of plans, and at others it tells us to only focus on today, since tomorrow has enough worries of its own. My tendency (thank you, Boy Scouts of America) is to 'plan for the worst, and hope for the best.'
I naturally and instinctively think through a lot of contingency plans when it comes to the future. Even if it is a highly unlikely event, I just want to be mentally prepared to handle the given situation. Sometimes I even come up with CRAZY situations, just to think about what I would have to do. (I mean come on, when is anyone going to be attacked by a dinosaur!?) I don't worry about those situations, I just try to figure out what would be the best course of action. (and in the case of the dino-attack, I think I'd just give up! lol)
So when I read verses about not focusing on tomorrow, I wonder, "am I doing wrong by planning ahead?" I haven't done a whole lot of Bible research on this, but it seems foolish not to think about the future. I also think there's a thin line between making a 5-year plan and worrying about what's going to happen in 5 years. When you worry about the future, that's where your focus is. I think God wants us to be focused on the here and now, remembering the past, and trusting Him for the future.
The obvious balance to 'worry' is 'trust,' and that trust is built upon remembering how God has met your past needs. Even looking in the Scriptures and seeing how God has met the needs of those people.
Where this has often tripped my up in regards to finances is in the "Saving for Retirement" category. Is setting money aside for what may happen 50 years from now foolish? Would it be better to invest that money now into building God's kingdom? Should I try to deal with my bills-50-years-in-the-future right now or 50-years-in-the-future? I wonder if I would feel a lot of regret if I met Christ tomorrow and he asked about how I used his money, and I just said that I stashed it away (aka invested), just in case I didn't have a job in 50 years. Am I trusting in God for my future provision, or am I trusting in the American Economy?
I don't know what the answer is, and I am saving for retirement (and I'm not sure I even want to retire - but that's a different subject). If you have any thoughts on this or have figured out where that 'fine line' is, please drop a note into the comments below. Thanks!
We as humans, and especially Believers, have a delicate balance between anticipating the future, recognizing the present, and appreciating the past. At times, the Bible seems to send mixed signals about how to handle the future. In some places it talks about people perishing for lack of plans, and at others it tells us to only focus on today, since tomorrow has enough worries of its own. My tendency (thank you, Boy Scouts of America) is to 'plan for the worst, and hope for the best.'
I naturally and instinctively think through a lot of contingency plans when it comes to the future. Even if it is a highly unlikely event, I just want to be mentally prepared to handle the given situation. Sometimes I even come up with CRAZY situations, just to think about what I would have to do. (I mean come on, when is anyone going to be attacked by a dinosaur!?) I don't worry about those situations, I just try to figure out what would be the best course of action. (and in the case of the dino-attack, I think I'd just give up! lol)
So when I read verses about not focusing on tomorrow, I wonder, "am I doing wrong by planning ahead?" I haven't done a whole lot of Bible research on this, but it seems foolish not to think about the future. I also think there's a thin line between making a 5-year plan and worrying about what's going to happen in 5 years. When you worry about the future, that's where your focus is. I think God wants us to be focused on the here and now, remembering the past, and trusting Him for the future.
The obvious balance to 'worry' is 'trust,' and that trust is built upon remembering how God has met your past needs. Even looking in the Scriptures and seeing how God has met the needs of those people.
Where this has often tripped my up in regards to finances is in the "Saving for Retirement" category. Is setting money aside for what may happen 50 years from now foolish? Would it be better to invest that money now into building God's kingdom? Should I try to deal with my bills-50-years-in-the-future right now or 50-years-in-the-future? I wonder if I would feel a lot of regret if I met Christ tomorrow and he asked about how I used his money, and I just said that I stashed it away (aka invested), just in case I didn't have a job in 50 years. Am I trusting in God for my future provision, or am I trusting in the American Economy?
I don't know what the answer is, and I am saving for retirement (and I'm not sure I even want to retire - but that's a different subject). If you have any thoughts on this or have figured out where that 'fine line' is, please drop a note into the comments below. Thanks!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Is it an 'essential?'
Our small group is going through the book "The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism" by Timothy Keller. The chapter we discussed last night was on the topic of Science vs Religion, and the idea that 'Science has disproved Christianity.' The two main topics in this chapter were on the Origins of Life and Miracles. Keller proposes that whatever one believes in the Origins of Life isn't one of the 'core essentials' of Christian belief. Therefore, if someone is considering Christianity, they shouldn't get hung up on the differences of opinion on this topic. On the surface, this makes a whole lot of sense, and I initially agreed with it. But after giving it more thought, I'm not so sure. I woke up this morning with the question, "If we Evolved, why did Jesus have to come and die?" and it has been bothering me all day.
Here's the disconnect I see:
The reason that Jesus had to come and die was because humanity is Fallen. The common understanding/belief about this is that humanity at one point experienced perfection, and chose to disobey God, thus ending that perfect life. Christ came to pay the penalty for that disobedience and restore humanity to that perfection.
If we Evolved from some primordial lifeform, at what point did we attain a soul, and at which point did we become Fallen, thus requiring Christ's sacrifice? Also, who was Adam? If he was the first 'homo sapien,' what differentiated him from his predecessor, and why has humanity suffered because of him? And if, hypothetically speaking, he had a brother, were his children free from that Fallen condition? Romans chapter 5 talks about Death/Sin entering the world through Adam and makes a comparison to the Salvation that entered the world through Jesus, "For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ."
I am trying to rectify the Evolutionary process with verses like this which refer back to a single point of failure. If 'Adam' was just another step in the Evolutionary process, what made him so special that the rest of Humanity would suffer because of his action?
Maybe belief in our Origins is one of the 'core essentials' of Christianity....I'm still not entirely sure, but it is definitely something that is giving me much thought. I would appreciate any input you might have.
(For the record, I have spent a LOT of time over the years studying the topic of Creationism/Evolution, and I have concluded that the literal interpretation of the Bible (aka God spoke everything into existence in just six 24-hr periods) makes the most sense.)
Here's the disconnect I see:
The reason that Jesus had to come and die was because humanity is Fallen. The common understanding/belief about this is that humanity at one point experienced perfection, and chose to disobey God, thus ending that perfect life. Christ came to pay the penalty for that disobedience and restore humanity to that perfection.
If we Evolved from some primordial lifeform, at what point did we attain a soul, and at which point did we become Fallen, thus requiring Christ's sacrifice? Also, who was Adam? If he was the first 'homo sapien,' what differentiated him from his predecessor, and why has humanity suffered because of him? And if, hypothetically speaking, he had a brother, were his children free from that Fallen condition? Romans chapter 5 talks about Death/Sin entering the world through Adam and makes a comparison to the Salvation that entered the world through Jesus, "For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ."
I am trying to rectify the Evolutionary process with verses like this which refer back to a single point of failure. If 'Adam' was just another step in the Evolutionary process, what made him so special that the rest of Humanity would suffer because of his action?
Maybe belief in our Origins is one of the 'core essentials' of Christianity....I'm still not entirely sure, but it is definitely something that is giving me much thought. I would appreciate any input you might have.
(For the record, I have spent a LOT of time over the years studying the topic of Creationism/Evolution, and I have concluded that the literal interpretation of the Bible (aka God spoke everything into existence in just six 24-hr periods) makes the most sense.)
Monday, January 16, 2012
Caching in the dark
Last night Rachel and I went down to Rocky Ford, CO to celebrate my sister-in-law's birthday. On the way back home, we stopped to find a geocache which can only be found in the dark. We weren't quite sure what we were getting ourselves into as we stepped from the vehicle and started following our gps, but we were excited. That excitement lasted until we realized the GPS was leading us to an outhouse...
Once we got there, we shone the flashlight around the area, and saw a reflector on a tree down the trail a ways. Knowing that was our clue we set off in that direction. As we got to that tree, we shone the flashlight around again and saw another reflector. We walked to that tree, then saw yet another reflector. Slowly we were led through the park by tree after tree reflecting light back at us to where the cache was actually stored.
On the way back to our car, we turned the flashlight off because the stars overhead were so bright. It was incredible seeing that many stars, and our only disappointment was that half the sky was covered by clouds. But we kept getting distracted by that glory by rustling sounds in the fields around us. Critters were on the move! I kept telling Rachel that it was only field mice, but she didn't care! Every time we heard something, she only grabbed my arm tighter.
Needless to say, we made it safely back to our car, and on the rest of the way home, I pondered through what we had experienced. In doing so, I noticed an analogy to life. Sometimes as we go through life, we really don't have a clue where we're going. We have an idea of where we'd like to end up, but the actual path there isn't clear at all. So we're left with a couple of options. One is that we could just stop moving forward, another is to go back, and yet a third is to move forward, following the light and trusting the One who created the path.
Without that flashlight, we couldn't have seen the path we needed to take. And without those markers on the trees, we wouldn't have known what direction to walk. As we were led further and further into the park, we had to trust that the cache owner was leading us in the right direction and that we would end up at the final location. There was one time where we couldn't see the next marker ahead of us, so we had to step out in faith trusting that we would see one, and sure enough, right around the next bend it was plainly visible!
Trust God - our heavenly pathmaker
Use your flashlight - the Word of God is a 'light to your feet'
When in doubt, take a step of faith in the direction you think you should go
Once we got there, we shone the flashlight around the area, and saw a reflector on a tree down the trail a ways. Knowing that was our clue we set off in that direction. As we got to that tree, we shone the flashlight around again and saw another reflector. We walked to that tree, then saw yet another reflector. Slowly we were led through the park by tree after tree reflecting light back at us to where the cache was actually stored.
On the way back to our car, we turned the flashlight off because the stars overhead were so bright. It was incredible seeing that many stars, and our only disappointment was that half the sky was covered by clouds. But we kept getting distracted by that glory by rustling sounds in the fields around us. Critters were on the move! I kept telling Rachel that it was only field mice, but she didn't care! Every time we heard something, she only grabbed my arm tighter.
Needless to say, we made it safely back to our car, and on the rest of the way home, I pondered through what we had experienced. In doing so, I noticed an analogy to life. Sometimes as we go through life, we really don't have a clue where we're going. We have an idea of where we'd like to end up, but the actual path there isn't clear at all. So we're left with a couple of options. One is that we could just stop moving forward, another is to go back, and yet a third is to move forward, following the light and trusting the One who created the path.
Without that flashlight, we couldn't have seen the path we needed to take. And without those markers on the trees, we wouldn't have known what direction to walk. As we were led further and further into the park, we had to trust that the cache owner was leading us in the right direction and that we would end up at the final location. There was one time where we couldn't see the next marker ahead of us, so we had to step out in faith trusting that we would see one, and sure enough, right around the next bend it was plainly visible!
Trust God - our heavenly pathmaker
Use your flashlight - the Word of God is a 'light to your feet'
When in doubt, take a step of faith in the direction you think you should go
Sunday, January 15, 2012
The Patriot/Bronco Game
So last night one of the most watched NFL games of the 2011 season was played. It was between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos. While the game was between two teams, it was also a face-off between Tom Brady (QB for the Patriots) and Tim Tebow (QB for the Broncos)....two very different men.
It was interesting listening to the commentators leading up to the game. The main focus of their conversation was Tim Tebow. They did a spiel on his interaction and impact on others' lives. They talked about his football career, and they talked about what he stood for. And they mentioned the fact that Brady was annoyed that all he had heard about in the week prior to this game was Tebow, Tebow, Tebow.
As a Broncos fan, it was a very hard game to watch. Brady was on fire, and Tebow had been doused. The final score was 45-10. The game reminded me of high-school games I have watched where the two teams are incredibly outmatched. The Patriots stomped all over the Broncos, and there wasn't much they could do about it. After the four quarters were over, the Patriots moved one step closer to the Superbowl, and the Broncos were done for the season.
It was very interesting to watch what took place after the game. Tom Brady walked off the field alone, with only one camera guy chasing after him. Tim Tebow could hardly move because he was surrounded several layers deep by people with cameras, microphones, and notepads. This was so backwards from what I had expected. You would think that the winner would be more popular than the loser, but it was the exact opposite!
I have been pondering why this is, and I think it comes down to this. Tebow has taken a stand and has been outspoken about two things:
1) Football is just a game
2) There is something far more important than football, and that is Jesus
It is easy to speak these things when one has won, but it can be very difficult to also speak these when one has lost. I think the media (and the rest of America) are looking to Tim Tebow for inspiration. I think a lot of people want to believe that the general suppositions about Christianity are wrong. So when Tebow steps forward and is open, honest, humble, and firm in his beliefs, people want to rally toward him. I am sure some are watching him, waiting for him to fall. But others are watching him, hoping he doesn't!
Tebow is known for his integrity. Brady is known for the opposite. I was talking to some of the other people who had watched the game with us, and one of them spoke about how Brady had gotten a girl pregnant, then left her to be with some model. While I really don't know the accuracy of that, the point was made that Brady is NOT known for his integrity, but instead, he's known for the opposite. Everyone I've talked to acknowledges he's a great quarterback, but no one has really liked Brady.
Anyway, it's an interesting comparison between two men. If I had to look at the two of them and choose who to model my life after, it would definitely be Tebow. My prayer is that he goes into the 2012 season just as vocal and just as firm in his beliefs as he left this season. Go Tebow!
It was interesting listening to the commentators leading up to the game. The main focus of their conversation was Tim Tebow. They did a spiel on his interaction and impact on others' lives. They talked about his football career, and they talked about what he stood for. And they mentioned the fact that Brady was annoyed that all he had heard about in the week prior to this game was Tebow, Tebow, Tebow.
As a Broncos fan, it was a very hard game to watch. Brady was on fire, and Tebow had been doused. The final score was 45-10. The game reminded me of high-school games I have watched where the two teams are incredibly outmatched. The Patriots stomped all over the Broncos, and there wasn't much they could do about it. After the four quarters were over, the Patriots moved one step closer to the Superbowl, and the Broncos were done for the season.
It was very interesting to watch what took place after the game. Tom Brady walked off the field alone, with only one camera guy chasing after him. Tim Tebow could hardly move because he was surrounded several layers deep by people with cameras, microphones, and notepads. This was so backwards from what I had expected. You would think that the winner would be more popular than the loser, but it was the exact opposite!
I have been pondering why this is, and I think it comes down to this. Tebow has taken a stand and has been outspoken about two things:
1) Football is just a game
2) There is something far more important than football, and that is Jesus
It is easy to speak these things when one has won, but it can be very difficult to also speak these when one has lost. I think the media (and the rest of America) are looking to Tim Tebow for inspiration. I think a lot of people want to believe that the general suppositions about Christianity are wrong. So when Tebow steps forward and is open, honest, humble, and firm in his beliefs, people want to rally toward him. I am sure some are watching him, waiting for him to fall. But others are watching him, hoping he doesn't!
Tebow is known for his integrity. Brady is known for the opposite. I was talking to some of the other people who had watched the game with us, and one of them spoke about how Brady had gotten a girl pregnant, then left her to be with some model. While I really don't know the accuracy of that, the point was made that Brady is NOT known for his integrity, but instead, he's known for the opposite. Everyone I've talked to acknowledges he's a great quarterback, but no one has really liked Brady.
Anyway, it's an interesting comparison between two men. If I had to look at the two of them and choose who to model my life after, it would definitely be Tebow. My prayer is that he goes into the 2012 season just as vocal and just as firm in his beliefs as he left this season. Go Tebow!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Manufacturer recommendation
So I took my car in today for an oil change with a coupon, but after gathering my vehicle information, they told me that the type of oil that came with the coupon deal didn't match what the manufacturer recommended for my vehicle, so it was going to be a little bit more. (The info they gave me matched what I knew of my vehicle from reading the owner's manual)
Anyway, that got me thinking about the benefit of sticking to what is recommended by the manufacturer versus using a cheaper alternative. In the long run, it would be better for the vehicle to abide what it was designed to handle. It might be cheaper (aka easier) to use an alternative, and the strain on the vehicle wouldn't be seen right away, but it would damage the vehicle from the inside out.
There are a lot of similarities when it comes to us! The 'owner's manual' (the Bible) has important information in it that tells us what is best for us. It may not be the easiest thing to do in the moment, but the long term benefits are worth the extra cost! For instance, saving one's self sexually until marriage may seem very costly at the moment of temptation, but the long term benefits are real! Giving yourself to service to Jesus does carry a very high cost, especially when compared to the cheaper, easier thrills the world offers. But in the long run, that extra cost will give you life eternal.
Anyway, those are some thoughts I've had while sitting in the waiting room at Meineke. :)
Friday, January 13, 2012
Years wasted?
Last night I watched a very fascinating PBS documentary on Netflix called "NOVA: Battle of the X-Planes." It chronicled the competition between Boeing and Lockheed-Martin over the government contract to supply the military with the next generation fighter jet. There were many other contenders initially, but these were the final contestants. Whatever plane they build had to satisfy the requirements of the Navy (primarily take off and land with only 500ft of runway), the Air Force (mainly be able to fly at supersonic speeds and have stealth capabilities), and the Marines (mainly being able to take off and land vertically). AND it had to be relatively cheap - about 1/3 of the cost of the current fighters. Tall orders by anyone's point of view!
Both companies spent about 5 years researching, designing, programming, manufacturing, and testing their planes. Both companies were using very innovative designs. Both companies had unexpected delays. Both companies' futures were closely tied to this contract (in fact, if Lockheed-Martin lost, they would likely close up shop!). But only one company was going to walk away with the prize.
Lockheed-Martin was said to be the 'favorite horse,' since they have had lots more experience building fighter jets than Boeing did, but when it came down to the final decision, nobody knew which way it was going to go. Both companies had been able to meet all the requirements, and it was a very close race. I won't spoil it by telling you who the winner was, but once they announced the winner and showed the loser's reactions, it really got my mind rolling.
The losing company had invested just as much time, energy, resources, and investments into this project as the winning company, but they didn't have anything to show for it. The guy in charge of the project for the losing team heard the news over the phone with the VP standing next to him. He replied through the phone, "So this is an all-or-nothing deal, right? Ok - I understand. Thank you." Then he turned to the VP and said, "I'm sorry." It looked like he was on the verge of tears, but the VP shook his hand, gave him a hug, and told him he had done an excellent job.
I know that one day, I'm going to stand before Jesus, and He's going to evaluate everything I've done. How I've spent my time, resources, energy, and passion. There is a fear deep down inside me that He's going to look at it, and say that it wasn't good enough. On a balance sheet, because they lost the contract, that company essentially wasted the past five years. Am I wasting the years I have? The truth is, I cannot judge myself about this. Only Jesus is the One who can, and I really won't know what His answer is until I stand before Him. I know my identity in Christ is solid, and I know where I will be for eternity, but is He really going to tell me, "Well done, good and faithful servant?"
I really don't know where to go from this, other than being diligent to do what I believe He wants me to do, and hope that in the end, it's going to meet His approval.
Both companies spent about 5 years researching, designing, programming, manufacturing, and testing their planes. Both companies were using very innovative designs. Both companies had unexpected delays. Both companies' futures were closely tied to this contract (in fact, if Lockheed-Martin lost, they would likely close up shop!). But only one company was going to walk away with the prize.
Lockheed-Martin was said to be the 'favorite horse,' since they have had lots more experience building fighter jets than Boeing did, but when it came down to the final decision, nobody knew which way it was going to go. Both companies had been able to meet all the requirements, and it was a very close race. I won't spoil it by telling you who the winner was, but once they announced the winner and showed the loser's reactions, it really got my mind rolling.
The losing company had invested just as much time, energy, resources, and investments into this project as the winning company, but they didn't have anything to show for it. The guy in charge of the project for the losing team heard the news over the phone with the VP standing next to him. He replied through the phone, "So this is an all-or-nothing deal, right? Ok - I understand. Thank you." Then he turned to the VP and said, "I'm sorry." It looked like he was on the verge of tears, but the VP shook his hand, gave him a hug, and told him he had done an excellent job.
I know that one day, I'm going to stand before Jesus, and He's going to evaluate everything I've done. How I've spent my time, resources, energy, and passion. There is a fear deep down inside me that He's going to look at it, and say that it wasn't good enough. On a balance sheet, because they lost the contract, that company essentially wasted the past five years. Am I wasting the years I have? The truth is, I cannot judge myself about this. Only Jesus is the One who can, and I really won't know what His answer is until I stand before Him. I know my identity in Christ is solid, and I know where I will be for eternity, but is He really going to tell me, "Well done, good and faithful servant?"
I really don't know where to go from this, other than being diligent to do what I believe He wants me to do, and hope that in the end, it's going to meet His approval.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
You never marry the right person?
I read an article this past week by Timothy Keller entitled, "You Never Marry the Right Person." In it he proposes that our culture has focused so much on spousal compatibility and the assumption that if you hit a rough patch in your marriage, you must be not compatible, so forget about your current spouse and instead go search for the 'Right' one.
I agree with what he has to say, but I disagree with how he said it. I would propose that when you marry someone, you DID marry the Right person. I think that in our Western Culture, we have become so accustomed to things being easy, that when we face something hard, we conclude that SOMETHING must not be right! And in a marriage situation, it is so very easy to conclude it is the OTHER person that must be wrong, and not me! Marriage was never meant to be easy, so why expect it to be? Accept the reality that you are going to face hard times in your life. Wouldn't it be better to go through those hard times knowing that the one you committed yourself to isn't going to abandon you?
One of the other issues I think that has led to our Culture's problem with abandonment of our spouses is our oversaturation with media input. Every commercial you see, every tv show you watch, every movie you sit through is trying to sell an idea to you. The more you watch, the more you naturally accept as truth, or at the very least, the more you stop seeing the lies. Our media outlets have created the paradigm that there is a 'perfect' person out there. If the laws of probability have created us from slime, surely they can also find us that person that I can love without having to give any effort. We find ourselves looking at our spouse or our situation and comparing it to what we see portrayed in the media. That very act of comparison starts driving a wedge in a relationship that is perfectly healthy. And the more we allow that wedge to be driven in, the further we grow from our spouse, and the more we find things 'wrong' with them, and the further that wedge goes. It's a horrible downward spiral. (On a side note, I propose that every commercial causes a comparison between what you have and what the commercial is about.)
It would be much easier to be content without commercials.
The solution to this wedge of Comparison is the glue of Contentment. If you stop comparing your spouse to someone else's, or to what you see on TV, but are content with whom God blessed you with, you will come to the realization that you are already married to the Right person. That realization will lead to further contentment, which will strengthen that realization. It's a wonderful upward spiral!
One last thought, and I'll let you go. Every action has consequences, so think very carefully how you act toward your spouse.
I agree with what he has to say, but I disagree with how he said it. I would propose that when you marry someone, you DID marry the Right person. I think that in our Western Culture, we have become so accustomed to things being easy, that when we face something hard, we conclude that SOMETHING must not be right! And in a marriage situation, it is so very easy to conclude it is the OTHER person that must be wrong, and not me! Marriage was never meant to be easy, so why expect it to be? Accept the reality that you are going to face hard times in your life. Wouldn't it be better to go through those hard times knowing that the one you committed yourself to isn't going to abandon you?
One of the other issues I think that has led to our Culture's problem with abandonment of our spouses is our oversaturation with media input. Every commercial you see, every tv show you watch, every movie you sit through is trying to sell an idea to you. The more you watch, the more you naturally accept as truth, or at the very least, the more you stop seeing the lies. Our media outlets have created the paradigm that there is a 'perfect' person out there. If the laws of probability have created us from slime, surely they can also find us that person that I can love without having to give any effort. We find ourselves looking at our spouse or our situation and comparing it to what we see portrayed in the media. That very act of comparison starts driving a wedge in a relationship that is perfectly healthy. And the more we allow that wedge to be driven in, the further we grow from our spouse, and the more we find things 'wrong' with them, and the further that wedge goes. It's a horrible downward spiral. (On a side note, I propose that every commercial causes a comparison between what you have and what the commercial is about.)
It would be much easier to be content without commercials.
The solution to this wedge of Comparison is the glue of Contentment. If you stop comparing your spouse to someone else's, or to what you see on TV, but are content with whom God blessed you with, you will come to the realization that you are already married to the Right person. That realization will lead to further contentment, which will strengthen that realization. It's a wonderful upward spiral!
One last thought, and I'll let you go. Every action has consequences, so think very carefully how you act toward your spouse.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Changes to this Blog
As with every new year, there's an evaluation that takes place of what we're doing and how that compares with what we'd like to be doing. As I evaluate this blog, I realize that I haven't done with it what I had intended to do with it. As such, I'm going to be making some changes, to better align it with what I want to do with it.
I'm going to expand the scope of this blog to include everything that's going on, and not just ministry stuff. I'm also planning on posting stuff more regularly. As is indicated by the new blog address, it's going to be more about the stuff that we all experience - the stuff we can all relate to, including the stuff we all struggle with.
Wisdom is gained through life experiences, and the smart people will gain wisdom through others' experiences. I'm hoping to provide you with some of those experiences and the wisdom I have gained. I also won't shy away from the stuff that I struggle with, in the hopes of learning wisdom from you (hopefully I'll get some comments)
I hope you stay tuned, and if you like what you read, share it with others. Thanks!
I'm going to expand the scope of this blog to include everything that's going on, and not just ministry stuff. I'm also planning on posting stuff more regularly. As is indicated by the new blog address, it's going to be more about the stuff that we all experience - the stuff we can all relate to, including the stuff we all struggle with.
Wisdom is gained through life experiences, and the smart people will gain wisdom through others' experiences. I'm hoping to provide you with some of those experiences and the wisdom I have gained. I also won't shy away from the stuff that I struggle with, in the hopes of learning wisdom from you (hopefully I'll get some comments)
I hope you stay tuned, and if you like what you read, share it with others. Thanks!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)