I was talking to my better half the other day. The typical husband/wife conversation about anything and nothing. The conversation fell on the economy and the current state of decay that it is in. We spoke, as I am sure many others do, of how greedy some of the big corporations seem to be and how, as a country, we have fallen into the debt/credit trap. It was during the course of our verbal interlude that I realized something...I really didn't care. Hmm...did I just think that? Yep, I really don't care about the economy. Oh, my family feels the pinch at the pump and at the grocery store just like everyone else. And, yes we have had to change our spending habits somewhat in order to ensure that what money we have stretches as far as possible. But, it is not out of fear that we do these things but out of a sense of responsibility. We feel that we need to be good stewards of what God has given us...not that we have to sit and wring our hands every time we hear the words "stimulus" and "bailout". Is the economy bad? Yes. Is this country in dire economic straits? Seems so. But, in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 6, verses 19-31 talks about laying up treasure here on earth and about worrying about having enough to live on. And while I do agree that we have to be cognizant of current events (can't stick your head in the sand) those of us who are followers of Christ must also remember that Jesus promised us that He "will supply all of our needs" and that His grace is sufficient for us. Now, I don't know about you but, if Christ promised it...well then..."as for me and my house..."(Joshua 24:14-15).
Bottom line? Maybe there isn't one really. But, when it comes to a stimulus...why not try letting the Spirit of God stimulate your spirit. As for a bailout...well, Christ bailed us out at Calvary on the cross. Now that's something we all can bank on!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
And they don't even know it...
There is a particular question that I have been asking myself more and more lately...where in the world has civility gone? Now, I remember a time that when you went into an establishment...be it a restaurant, convenience store or grocery store, the cashier made it a point to be pleasant. She or he may not have been overjoyed to be at work but at least they made you feel as if you coming into their place of business was a good thing...for you because you needed the services that they provided and for them because they depended on your hard earned dollars for their livelihood.
Apparently, those days are long gone.
These days it seems like every time I go into a store, or customer service based business of some sort, I run into the snottiest, rudest, most obnoxious customer service rep. on the face of the planet! Now, those of you who know me, know that I tend to be a very upbeat person...I enjoy interacting with others and love to laugh. So, it absolutely KILLS me when I go out of my way to be nice to someone while spending my money at their business and they seem to go out of their way to be as nasty as possible...as if I am inconveniencing them by coming into their store!
So I decided to strike back! That's right, I have taken it upon myself to exact vengeance upon all of the rude people out there that make it their life mission to be mean to regular folks like you and me...I decided to pray for them.
When I say pray for them, I don't mean making a big scene and calling fire down upon them...(although the way some of them act)...No, I mean I take a moment and consider the a couple of facts. First, I don't know them and have no idea what kind of life they lead outside of their place of employment. Maybe they are battered spouses, or the husband/wife of an alcoholic. Perhaps they live with an abusive parent or they are dealing with a past decision that they made that has turned terribly wrong. Second...it's what Christ would do. He would not condemn them for their bad attitude...He would do something about it. So, I try to be as pleasant as I can in those situations where the clerk helping me is not...but, more than ever now I try to imagine what may have happened in their lives to make them so unpleasant...then I say a silent prayer and let...it...go. I don't know about you but, making a big deal out of a little rudeness from a person that may already be dealing with something and therefore making their life worse...well, for me it just ain't worth it...BUT, praying that Jesus will step in and make their lives better...well...to see that happen is worth any amount of bad attitude that I may have to take.
Oh, yeah...I hear you askin',"But what about those people that have great lives but are STILL nasty to customers?" Well...they're just jerks! (Yeah, gotta pray for them too!)
Apparently, those days are long gone.
These days it seems like every time I go into a store, or customer service based business of some sort, I run into the snottiest, rudest, most obnoxious customer service rep. on the face of the planet! Now, those of you who know me, know that I tend to be a very upbeat person...I enjoy interacting with others and love to laugh. So, it absolutely KILLS me when I go out of my way to be nice to someone while spending my money at their business and they seem to go out of their way to be as nasty as possible...as if I am inconveniencing them by coming into their store!
So I decided to strike back! That's right, I have taken it upon myself to exact vengeance upon all of the rude people out there that make it their life mission to be mean to regular folks like you and me...I decided to pray for them.
When I say pray for them, I don't mean making a big scene and calling fire down upon them...(although the way some of them act)...No, I mean I take a moment and consider the a couple of facts. First, I don't know them and have no idea what kind of life they lead outside of their place of employment. Maybe they are battered spouses, or the husband/wife of an alcoholic. Perhaps they live with an abusive parent or they are dealing with a past decision that they made that has turned terribly wrong. Second...it's what Christ would do. He would not condemn them for their bad attitude...He would do something about it. So, I try to be as pleasant as I can in those situations where the clerk helping me is not...but, more than ever now I try to imagine what may have happened in their lives to make them so unpleasant...then I say a silent prayer and let...it...go. I don't know about you but, making a big deal out of a little rudeness from a person that may already be dealing with something and therefore making their life worse...well, for me it just ain't worth it...BUT, praying that Jesus will step in and make their lives better...well...to see that happen is worth any amount of bad attitude that I may have to take.
Oh, yeah...I hear you askin',"But what about those people that have great lives but are STILL nasty to customers?" Well...they're just jerks! (Yeah, gotta pray for them too!)
Friday, March 13, 2009
Pruning time
Had an AWESOME night at ASCEND last night. I absolutely love where God has me right now and what He is doing in my life. The young people that come to each Thursday night meeting are so in love with Jesus and their spirit blesses my own! The thing is...I don't think that they even realize how much of a blessing they are to me!
Here's the rub though...
God never leaves us to one thing for too long. God's word never changes but his method for reaching people always does. We often lose sight of that fact...so much so that when God shows up and wants us to change with Him we often fight it.
We don't recognize that it's pruning time.
You see, in order to allow trees to grow healthy, they must be pruned; that is some of the branches have to be lopped off, removed...so that new growth will occur. If pruning doesn't occur, then the tree doesn't grow as healthy as it might otherwise...and in some cases it could become overgrown or die.
We are God's trees...He is the vine, we are the branches...and we have to recognize that He will have to prune things out of our lives from time to time in order to produce new growth in us as well; lest we too become overgrown or unhealthy to the point of spiritual death.
I do love where God has me at right now...but, I know that He will eventually prune me...what will happen, what things will be pruned...that I don't know...but, I am excited, as we all should be when we think about the Master Gardener shaping us, forming us to grow strong, healthy and whole under His gentle care.
C'mon God...prune me!
Here's the rub though...
God never leaves us to one thing for too long. God's word never changes but his method for reaching people always does. We often lose sight of that fact...so much so that when God shows up and wants us to change with Him we often fight it.
We don't recognize that it's pruning time.
You see, in order to allow trees to grow healthy, they must be pruned; that is some of the branches have to be lopped off, removed...so that new growth will occur. If pruning doesn't occur, then the tree doesn't grow as healthy as it might otherwise...and in some cases it could become overgrown or die.
We are God's trees...He is the vine, we are the branches...and we have to recognize that He will have to prune things out of our lives from time to time in order to produce new growth in us as well; lest we too become overgrown or unhealthy to the point of spiritual death.
I do love where God has me at right now...but, I know that He will eventually prune me...what will happen, what things will be pruned...that I don't know...but, I am excited, as we all should be when we think about the Master Gardener shaping us, forming us to grow strong, healthy and whole under His gentle care.
C'mon God...prune me!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Shhhh....
CLICK!! Did you hear that? It was the sound of my tv remote turning off the television at my house. I don't know about you but I love to watch tv. I have my favorite shows like you do. I enjoy most sports and can take in CNN for hours at a time. We have three tvs here. Probably would have more if I had my way (thank goodness my wife is saner than I). But, the problem with all of those tvs is that it is so very loud at our house. I mean, I am not the most quiet person...add a very active and talkative 6 year old...a nineteen year old who is just like me...a grandson that gives new meaning to the term "energetic threes" AND my wife...and you have all the ingredients for a home that registers double digits on the noise scale! So, I made an executive dad type decision...but only for myself...I clicked off the tv. Now my family is free to watch all they want...but I felt an urgent need to turn a deaf ear to one of my biggest distractions.
It's not like I'm doing some type of experiment or anything like that. I am not making some social statement about the evils of television...it's just that God needed for me to hear Him. I have felt this tugging at my spirit by the Holy Spirit for a little while now...it just seems that there was so much noise that I couldn't focus on what God was trying to tell me. So, CLICK...off went the tv...in fact, I have switched off most of my electronical gadgets in the hope of hearing the "sound of a gentle whisper"(1 Kings 19:11-13).
You know, most of the time we lose sight of the fact that God is ALWAYS with us...we become so caught up in our daily lives that we fail to simply stop and listen to our Master's voice. Oh, we may listen to a song or two...or read for a couple of minutes in the morning...maybe we pray as we rise up or at night before we lay our heads down. But, really, how often do we just stop everything we are doing, switch everything that can be a distraction off and LISTEN? If you are like me I would venture to guess that the answer is, "not often enough".
I can't speak for you, but I feel that God has something special for me. I mean, he did create me and all...why wouldn't He have something just for me? So, if it's ok with you...I think I'll pass on the NCAA finals this year, and CSI and CNN...I'll even have to switch off SpongeBob for a minute....the bible says,"“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation.I will be honored throughout the world.” (Psalm 46:10) In order for me to be still, I have to shut off my external distractions and focus on my internal compass...Off with the tv...on with the voice of God....
It's not like I'm doing some type of experiment or anything like that. I am not making some social statement about the evils of television...it's just that God needed for me to hear Him. I have felt this tugging at my spirit by the Holy Spirit for a little while now...it just seems that there was so much noise that I couldn't focus on what God was trying to tell me. So, CLICK...off went the tv...in fact, I have switched off most of my electronical gadgets in the hope of hearing the "sound of a gentle whisper"(1 Kings 19:11-13).
You know, most of the time we lose sight of the fact that God is ALWAYS with us...we become so caught up in our daily lives that we fail to simply stop and listen to our Master's voice. Oh, we may listen to a song or two...or read for a couple of minutes in the morning...maybe we pray as we rise up or at night before we lay our heads down. But, really, how often do we just stop everything we are doing, switch everything that can be a distraction off and LISTEN? If you are like me I would venture to guess that the answer is, "not often enough".
I can't speak for you, but I feel that God has something special for me. I mean, he did create me and all...why wouldn't He have something just for me? So, if it's ok with you...I think I'll pass on the NCAA finals this year, and CSI and CNN...I'll even have to switch off SpongeBob for a minute....the bible says,"“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation.I will be honored throughout the world.” (Psalm 46:10) In order for me to be still, I have to shut off my external distractions and focus on my internal compass...Off with the tv...on with the voice of God....
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