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.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
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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