Could it be that people do not pursue God more aggressively because they have no reference of how great being in his presence really is?
Can you imagine what it would be like to walk with Jesus? Literally walk down your street with him? Can you imagine having him stay in your home? Eat at your table? Talk with him in the flesh face to face, see him heal a life long paraplegic or raise your child from the cold grip of death?
I can’t.
I think I have a very good imagination but that is all beyond me.
To stand face to face with God……what would I do? I know what I would like to think I’d do but probably I would stand there frozen with my jaw on the ground. And I think I’d probably be afraid. What should I read into that?
I have no idea how fabulous being in the presence of God will be and so I do not pursue it to my fullest extent.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
The Spirit
I continue to wonder about the spirit of God and receiving the Spirit and being Spirit filled. I really don’t know that that means. I have assumed that that meant that I had not, was not, and would be at some point. I also believe that it does not preclude me from being a Christian. But perhaps there is another answer.
Often we own great expectations of how something is going to be. Then when the event happens we are disappointed. Remember the old ketchup commercial, “Anticipation is making me wait.” The anticipation, the build-up to an event, often is greater than the anticipated item. In the case of receiving the Spirit of God I expect bright light, fanfare, and an Earth shaking experience.
Could the Spirit come more as a whisper than a shout? I think ABSOLUTELY. So in looking for a tornado a breeze can be overlooked.
I have never said that I was not or had not received I only said that I was unsure of what it meant. As of yet no one has been able to give me an explanation that I can works. Then I came to 1 Corinthians 1:11-12.
For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no
one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit
who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
I certainly don’t understand the whole of what God has given me but I realize more each day. Isn’t that the growth we’re expected to go through? I certainly hope so.
Often we own great expectations of how something is going to be. Then when the event happens we are disappointed. Remember the old ketchup commercial, “Anticipation is making me wait.” The anticipation, the build-up to an event, often is greater than the anticipated item. In the case of receiving the Spirit of God I expect bright light, fanfare, and an Earth shaking experience.
Could the Spirit come more as a whisper than a shout? I think ABSOLUTELY. So in looking for a tornado a breeze can be overlooked.
I have never said that I was not or had not received I only said that I was unsure of what it meant. As of yet no one has been able to give me an explanation that I can works. Then I came to 1 Corinthians 1:11-12.
For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no
one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit
who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
I certainly don’t understand the whole of what God has given me but I realize more each day. Isn’t that the growth we’re expected to go through? I certainly hope so.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Life Sucks and You Want To Die
There's $52.84 in the bank account and $873.26 in bills that are due in a few days. Payday is over a week away.
Ah, the wire.
…but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Well I must have a lot of character, or perhaps I don’t and that’s why all this crap that is heaped on my life.
There are times when the wire is a bit less stable than others and it’s difficult to stay afoot. I appreciate what Paul, Peter and the twelve went through but do I really want to be imprisoned? For any reason, including my faith? Not really. I prey I’ll never be put to that test.
Right now I’m not faced with a sword, a beating, death by any means because of being a Christian. I am faced by the turmoil brought on by too many bills and not enough in the bank. How I got here is for another time, what is important is how I deal with the situation now. It’s time to persevere and build some character. It’s time to thank God for my suffering and for the person who I will become because of it.
Father thank you for the trials in my life. Thank you for the obstacles and suffering that I learn from, it opens my eyes to see the sufferings of others and brings me closer to them. I have faith in your promise that you will not give me more than I can handle with you and hope in the knowledge that these times of hardship are short lived and that I will be a better person and son when they have passed. In Jesus name, Amen.
I feel better.
Ah, the wire.
…but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Well I must have a lot of character, or perhaps I don’t and that’s why all this crap that is heaped on my life.
There are times when the wire is a bit less stable than others and it’s difficult to stay afoot. I appreciate what Paul, Peter and the twelve went through but do I really want to be imprisoned? For any reason, including my faith? Not really. I prey I’ll never be put to that test.
Right now I’m not faced with a sword, a beating, death by any means because of being a Christian. I am faced by the turmoil brought on by too many bills and not enough in the bank. How I got here is for another time, what is important is how I deal with the situation now. It’s time to persevere and build some character. It’s time to thank God for my suffering and for the person who I will become because of it.
Father thank you for the trials in my life. Thank you for the obstacles and suffering that I learn from, it opens my eyes to see the sufferings of others and brings me closer to them. I have faith in your promise that you will not give me more than I can handle with you and hope in the knowledge that these times of hardship are short lived and that I will be a better person and son when they have passed. In Jesus name, Amen.
I feel better.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
The Big Storm
The waves are now lapping over the sides of the boat. The wind has shredded the sail and tying the rudder is of no use in keeping us on course. I think it’s time to tap Him on the shoulder.
“Have you no faith?”
“Uh, hey, I think I’ve shown that I do.”
The mast just collapsed into the water. Did I mention it was RAGING WATER!!? And it’s dark and I can’t see to steer even if I could in this storm.
Tap, tap, tap. “There’s an awful lot of water in the boat. Hello?”
My life is to the point where I am frantically searching for the life preservers. The waves are 12 feet and I’m in a 10 foot. There’s no land in sight but there is a couple feet of water in the boat and I’m pretty sure I saw a dorsal fin glide by in the darkness.
What should I do:
a) Panic.
b) Panic a lot.
c) Panic and cry like a baby.
I’m serious. This is the way I feel right now in my life. There are times when panic is the only option and is nearly debilitating. What in the hell is going on and what did I do to deserve this!!?
Maybe nothing.
I can look back at my life and see times of stress and turmoil and see now how they made me stronger (“That which does not kill me makes me stronger.” Right?) I can see where they have allowed me to deal with life that came later. But this is another thing. This is different than all of those other trials. It’s much, much harder. MUCH harder.
When I start asking the self pity questions, Why me? How can I ever survive this? Why can’t I have that?, I have to remind myself, Faith. I was never promised a mansion, an easy life, a nice car, no money problems….. I was promised some other things though and I have to remember that.
I was never promised my boat wouldn’t sink. I was promised that I could handle anything that was thrown at me, with God’s help.
The course I’m trying to steer may not be the correct one for me. I have to remind myself that and release the rudder.
“Have you no faith?”
“Uh, hey, I think I’ve shown that I do.”
The mast just collapsed into the water. Did I mention it was RAGING WATER!!? And it’s dark and I can’t see to steer even if I could in this storm.
Tap, tap, tap. “There’s an awful lot of water in the boat. Hello?”
My life is to the point where I am frantically searching for the life preservers. The waves are 12 feet and I’m in a 10 foot. There’s no land in sight but there is a couple feet of water in the boat and I’m pretty sure I saw a dorsal fin glide by in the darkness.
What should I do:
a) Panic.
b) Panic a lot.
c) Panic and cry like a baby.
I’m serious. This is the way I feel right now in my life. There are times when panic is the only option and is nearly debilitating. What in the hell is going on and what did I do to deserve this!!?
Maybe nothing.
I can look back at my life and see times of stress and turmoil and see now how they made me stronger (“That which does not kill me makes me stronger.” Right?) I can see where they have allowed me to deal with life that came later. But this is another thing. This is different than all of those other trials. It’s much, much harder. MUCH harder.
When I start asking the self pity questions, Why me? How can I ever survive this? Why can’t I have that?, I have to remind myself, Faith. I was never promised a mansion, an easy life, a nice car, no money problems….. I was promised some other things though and I have to remember that.
I was never promised my boat wouldn’t sink. I was promised that I could handle anything that was thrown at me, with God’s help.
The course I’m trying to steer may not be the correct one for me. I have to remind myself that and release the rudder.
The Q Part 2
“So, when did you become a Christian?”
I think that’s a generational question. I have surveyed a few friends and their response was similar to mine, a puzzled look. Or perhaps the crowed I run with is just part of that fringe Christian group that really hasn’t been saved.
No, I think it’s generational, or perhaps associated with societal differences. Where you were raised, how you were raised has as great an influence on the way you approach things as when you were raised.
I admit that I’m not the stereotypical Christian. I enjoy a good beer. I have some very questionable friends. The words that I speak are at times not for all audiences and are occasionally critical and I can get full of myself. But what is a stereotypical Christian?
I think the image of Christians today has been formed by those who really don’t know the whole story. That’s usually how it goes isn’t it?
Think about it, Jesus was a carpenter in the Middle East a couple thousand years ago. There were no cordless drills, no air compressors and nail guns, no fork lifts or cranes. They used large heavy hammers to drive hand made nails/spikes into hand made timbers that they lifted into place themselves.
Many of the apostles were fishermen, most were of the working class I’d bet pretty tough. I wouldn’t want to get into a fight with any of them. These were guys who walked everywhere in the sun and were used to coping with hardships. They were tough even before they left everything to follow Jesus and life only got harder didn’t it? Look at how most of them lived and died after they joined Him.
Even today it’s tough being a Christian. While our life has many conveniences we have many more types of obstacles. Our toughness is perhaps less physical and more mental but the result is similar. We don’t have Jesus at out site healing people or raising people from the dead. We have His spirit guiding us. But we are human and out of sight out of mind, right.
I think that’s a generational question. I have surveyed a few friends and their response was similar to mine, a puzzled look. Or perhaps the crowed I run with is just part of that fringe Christian group that really hasn’t been saved.
No, I think it’s generational, or perhaps associated with societal differences. Where you were raised, how you were raised has as great an influence on the way you approach things as when you were raised.
I admit that I’m not the stereotypical Christian. I enjoy a good beer. I have some very questionable friends. The words that I speak are at times not for all audiences and are occasionally critical and I can get full of myself. But what is a stereotypical Christian?
I think the image of Christians today has been formed by those who really don’t know the whole story. That’s usually how it goes isn’t it?
Think about it, Jesus was a carpenter in the Middle East a couple thousand years ago. There were no cordless drills, no air compressors and nail guns, no fork lifts or cranes. They used large heavy hammers to drive hand made nails/spikes into hand made timbers that they lifted into place themselves.
Many of the apostles were fishermen, most were of the working class I’d bet pretty tough. I wouldn’t want to get into a fight with any of them. These were guys who walked everywhere in the sun and were used to coping with hardships. They were tough even before they left everything to follow Jesus and life only got harder didn’t it? Look at how most of them lived and died after they joined Him.
Even today it’s tough being a Christian. While our life has many conveniences we have many more types of obstacles. Our toughness is perhaps less physical and more mental but the result is similar. We don’t have Jesus at out site healing people or raising people from the dead. We have His spirit guiding us. But we are human and out of sight out of mind, right.
The Big Question
“So, when did you become a Christian?”
Wow, how do I answer that? “I don’t know. Some people can tell you the day and time they became one. Some had a miraculous experience, some heard God, saw the light, were touched… Not me. I’m not sure when IT happened.”
That’s the best answer I can give.
I am occasionally asked “Are you sure you’re a Christian?” OK, that’s a question my wife asks half jokingly, and I think half not, after I make a comment about someone or something. I’m sure there are others who would ask that same question. But then there have been times when during a conversation the person I’m talking to says “You’re a Christian aren’t you?” I’m not sure what that means, perhaps nothing.
The truth is I really don’t know what being Filled With The Holy Spirit means. I have not Seen The Light, literally speaking, as some have. I have not had any spectacular soul opening experience that showed me the Way. All I have is Faith.
I have faith that the promises in the Bible are true. I have faith that I am more precious to God than the flowers and the birds. I have faith that through the storm I will be kept safe and that I will not be given a load greater than I can handle with the help of God. I don’t always remember He is keeping me upright and so I stumble, but when I get up it’s His hand that steadies me.
What more do you want?
Wow, how do I answer that? “I don’t know. Some people can tell you the day and time they became one. Some had a miraculous experience, some heard God, saw the light, were touched… Not me. I’m not sure when IT happened.”
That’s the best answer I can give.
I am occasionally asked “Are you sure you’re a Christian?” OK, that’s a question my wife asks half jokingly, and I think half not, after I make a comment about someone or something. I’m sure there are others who would ask that same question. But then there have been times when during a conversation the person I’m talking to says “You’re a Christian aren’t you?” I’m not sure what that means, perhaps nothing.
The truth is I really don’t know what being Filled With The Holy Spirit means. I have not Seen The Light, literally speaking, as some have. I have not had any spectacular soul opening experience that showed me the Way. All I have is Faith.
I have faith that the promises in the Bible are true. I have faith that I am more precious to God than the flowers and the birds. I have faith that through the storm I will be kept safe and that I will not be given a load greater than I can handle with the help of God. I don’t always remember He is keeping me upright and so I stumble, but when I get up it’s His hand that steadies me.
What more do you want?
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