Romans: 13
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
Man, that is a scary verse to me. Me, the Anti-Obama guy.
Apparently God wants Obama in the White House so who am I to disagree. But I do know that some leaders throughout history have been installed as a punishment against a nation and of course some as a reward.
So only history knows if Obama will have been a blessing or a curse.
Well, welcome Mr. President. I will support you and the office that you hold because that's what I have been commanded to do. I wish you success in all that you do because it equates to success for these United States of America.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
What are you pursuing?
Since I have not lived for God for a long time, then I have obviously been living for something else. If a man is not living life for the pursuit of God then I believe all other pursuits can be categorized as pursuit of wealth, pursuit of fame or pursuit of pleasure.
The first two are pretty self explanatory. The workaholic defined by what he does instead of who he is. The cut-throat executive stepping on anyone in the way to gain status and wealth. Both will ultimately result in a swelling bank account all the while leaving one morally and spiritually bankrupt.The third category is broad, however, and not so easy to recognize.
I seek pleasure. I pursue pleasure. I scheme and plot and manipulate to get it. I, as a christian have been commanded to crucify myself daily and follow Christ. I have been instructed to deny myself of my own selfish desires and focus on the desires of Christ.
But my pleasures....Oh man. I love to sit in a smoky bar and drink and smoke and cuss and lie and fight and on and on and on. I love all the sins of the flesh. The gluttony, envy, sloth, desire and the sex. Gotta love the sex!
I like me. I like my desires. Nobody knows what I want better then me. Those are three false statements and evidence of flawed logic. Just as I know what is better for my small children because of their limited understanding, my heavenly father knows what is better for me.
I cannot escape the image of the liberated Iraqi people toppling the huge statue of Saddam Hussein and then beating his image with their shoes and spitting on it. I have turned my pursuit of pleasure into that type of idol. I need help knocking it down.
God's word also says to seek first the kindom of God and His righteousness then all these other things will be added to me. So, if I put God first then I can have all of the other things my heart desires because my heart will desire what God desires for me.
I truthfully offer my flaws. I admit where I fail and what needs work. I also offer the question, "What are you pursuing?"
The first two are pretty self explanatory. The workaholic defined by what he does instead of who he is. The cut-throat executive stepping on anyone in the way to gain status and wealth. Both will ultimately result in a swelling bank account all the while leaving one morally and spiritually bankrupt.The third category is broad, however, and not so easy to recognize.
I seek pleasure. I pursue pleasure. I scheme and plot and manipulate to get it. I, as a christian have been commanded to crucify myself daily and follow Christ. I have been instructed to deny myself of my own selfish desires and focus on the desires of Christ.
But my pleasures....Oh man. I love to sit in a smoky bar and drink and smoke and cuss and lie and fight and on and on and on. I love all the sins of the flesh. The gluttony, envy, sloth, desire and the sex. Gotta love the sex!
I like me. I like my desires. Nobody knows what I want better then me. Those are three false statements and evidence of flawed logic. Just as I know what is better for my small children because of their limited understanding, my heavenly father knows what is better for me.
I cannot escape the image of the liberated Iraqi people toppling the huge statue of Saddam Hussein and then beating his image with their shoes and spitting on it. I have turned my pursuit of pleasure into that type of idol. I need help knocking it down.
God's word also says to seek first the kindom of God and His righteousness then all these other things will be added to me. So, if I put God first then I can have all of the other things my heart desires because my heart will desire what God desires for me.
I truthfully offer my flaws. I admit where I fail and what needs work. I also offer the question, "What are you pursuing?"
I'm Unique...just like everyone else
I'm unique...just like everyone else
I often allow myself to fall into the trap of thinking that there is nobody else on Earth that has ever gone through the trials and tribulations that I have endured in the past and continue to endure today. Surely no one has ever shouldered such burdens.
Not only do I NOT believe that there is anything particularly unique about my problems, I also don't believe that there is anything unique about my combination of problems.The Bible says, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun" Ecclesiastes 1:9.What does this passage mean to me? It means that there isn't a single hardship, fear, insecurity, pain or conflict that I have experienced that hasn't been experienced by countless individuals before me.
I have been known to throw myself some grand pity parties because I have felt alone in a particular emotional experience. The reality of the situation is that there isn't anything unique about my upbringing, my life or my vocation so why should I expect my thorns in the flesh to be so? I think this verse also tells me to man up, cowboy up, suck it up (insert your cliché of choice) and trudge on.
I believe that one of the most dangerous things that an individual can have is a justifiable resentment. It can be poisonous when you wield that sword and are fully expected to be bitter and jaded and ugly just because you are justified in it. I, however, nurture my own resentment when I should smother it. I cradle it when I should kill it. I am aware of its intoxicating effects but I welcome it with open arms nonetheless.
I am also perplexed today about my inability to let certain things go. At a time in my life when I should be marching full steam ahead, chest out, chin up, I find myself clinging to things that hinder my stride. I voluntary place a tack in my own shoe. I allow myself to be tethered to the past just enough to cause me to stumble into the future.
I often allow myself to fall into the trap of thinking that there is nobody else on Earth that has ever gone through the trials and tribulations that I have endured in the past and continue to endure today. Surely no one has ever shouldered such burdens.
Not only do I NOT believe that there is anything particularly unique about my problems, I also don't believe that there is anything unique about my combination of problems.The Bible says, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun" Ecclesiastes 1:9.What does this passage mean to me? It means that there isn't a single hardship, fear, insecurity, pain or conflict that I have experienced that hasn't been experienced by countless individuals before me.
I have been known to throw myself some grand pity parties because I have felt alone in a particular emotional experience. The reality of the situation is that there isn't anything unique about my upbringing, my life or my vocation so why should I expect my thorns in the flesh to be so? I think this verse also tells me to man up, cowboy up, suck it up (insert your cliché of choice) and trudge on.
I believe that one of the most dangerous things that an individual can have is a justifiable resentment. It can be poisonous when you wield that sword and are fully expected to be bitter and jaded and ugly just because you are justified in it. I, however, nurture my own resentment when I should smother it. I cradle it when I should kill it. I am aware of its intoxicating effects but I welcome it with open arms nonetheless.
I am also perplexed today about my inability to let certain things go. At a time in my life when I should be marching full steam ahead, chest out, chin up, I find myself clinging to things that hinder my stride. I voluntary place a tack in my own shoe. I allow myself to be tethered to the past just enough to cause me to stumble into the future.
Sympathy?
Sympathy?
"Sympathy is a social affinity in which one person stands with another person, closely understanding his or her feelings." At least that's what Wikipedia says.
"Sympathy is a social affinity in which one person stands with another person, closely understanding his or her feelings." At least that's what Wikipedia says.
I really suck at Sympathy. I mean really, really suck at standing with another person and sharing in their emotional experience and being genuine about it. I just cannot sympathise with a bad day and that sucks for my family and friends. It's like somewhere along the way I slipped and fell into a social anesthetic.
I wasn't always like this. My heart used to be very soft. It seems that the only thing at all that really, truly stirs me anymore is the conviction I feel while sitting in church.
I'm pretty sure that's a good sign. Something still moves me. The word of God moves me. Testimonies of God's goodness move me. Jesus was a great at sympathy. The New Testament is full of examples.
I'm not sure how to improve this. I don't know of any exercises I can do to build my sympathy muscles. I don't recall sympathy being listed in the Bible as a spiritual gift (I have to research that.)
So my promise to everyone around me is that I will work on this. I am officially aware of my lack of sympathy.
How will I work on this you ask?
Prayer = spiritual push-ups ...
Monday, January 12, 2009
100 Life Goals
Visit Ireland
Get a tattoo from Kat Von D
Own a house again
Get Married
Visit Colonial Williamsburg
Take a cooking class
Read my Bible everyday
Write a book
Grow my own hot peppers
10. Make home-made salsa
Get serious about photography
Get Psalm 23 tattoo
Spoil my grand children
Lead a close friend to Christ
Hit the strip in Las Vegas
Get back down to 200 lbs.
Volunteer more
Join a men's minisrty
Collect more Garbage Pail Kids trading cards
20. Pray more
Get an English Mastiff
Learn conversational spanish
Quit smoking
Play keyboard/guitar/sing in church
Create in-depth photo guide to Cincinnati
Start tithing again
Complete a 3 day fast with no food
Get at least 3 more piercings
Visit the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris
30. Go fishing more
Really, really learn how to grill
Start drawing/sketching again
Get published in a magazine
Visit Boston
Boost my vocabulary - learn a new word everday
Look at Saturn through a really powerful telescope
Drive a Lamborghini
Build a '69 Camaro SS - my dream car
Conquer fear of death - that's just silly for a christian
40. Save 6 months expenses
Visit the Great wall of China
Learn to ride a motorcycle
Show God's love in a practical way
Own another piano
Frame and hang at least 100 pictures at home
Keep in touch with old friends
Take mom out to lunch/dinner more often
Finally make those stuffed peppers for Sarah
Let go of old hurts
50. Get a job that I actually enjoy doing
Develop meaningful relationships with at least 3 other men
Spend an entire summer with a mohawk
Kiss Sarah in the pouring rain
Read at least six books a year
Practice random acts of kindness - daily
Listen much more than I talk
Build a potato gun
Give more people the benefit of doubt
See a Broadway show in Manhattan
60. Learn how to hit a golf ball
Be the kind of friend I would like to have
Get my teeth fixed
Smile more often
Quit drinking alcohol
Learn all about brewing gourmet coffee
Get over fear of high bridges - silly, I know
Put more intentions into action
Tell my loved ones that I love them everyday
Call my children everyday
70. Pitch a tent in the livingroom and make smores on the stove (for baby Olivia)
Help someone out financially that I barely know
Get a big fat flascreen TV - I'm a junkie
Compose more music
Read Shakespeare
Pay my car off - and keep driving it!
Eliminate all old debt - ouch!
Start a support group for dads paying too much child support
Take a wilderness survival course
Continue construction education
80. Speak to a group of 1000 or more
Be more sympathetic
Grow a beard
Get health and life insurance
Attend a service at a predominantly black church
Eliminate cursing from my conversations
Get a pet tortoise - a big one
Get a bike and ride it
Txt message and email less - call more
Invite friends over for no reason
90. Get a Nintendo Wii
Finish this list
Make Sarah proud of me
Lay off of the porn
Learn the classic old Irish folk songs my dad used to sing to me
Rescue a dog from the shelter
Live on 70% of my income
Get an iPod
Shop more at thrift stores
Start an Old Skool Nintendo fan club
100. Live, laugh, love
Get a tattoo from Kat Von D
Own a house again
Get Married
Visit Colonial Williamsburg
Take a cooking class
Read my Bible everyday
Write a book
Grow my own hot peppers
10. Make home-made salsa
Get serious about photography
Get Psalm 23 tattoo
Spoil my grand children
Lead a close friend to Christ
Hit the strip in Las Vegas
Get back down to 200 lbs.
Volunteer more
Join a men's minisrty
Collect more Garbage Pail Kids trading cards
20. Pray more
Get an English Mastiff
Learn conversational spanish
Quit smoking
Play keyboard/guitar/sing in church
Create in-depth photo guide to Cincinnati
Start tithing again
Complete a 3 day fast with no food
Get at least 3 more piercings
Visit the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris
30. Go fishing more
Really, really learn how to grill
Start drawing/sketching again
Get published in a magazine
Visit Boston
Boost my vocabulary - learn a new word everday
Look at Saturn through a really powerful telescope
Drive a Lamborghini
Build a '69 Camaro SS - my dream car
Conquer fear of death - that's just silly for a christian
40. Save 6 months expenses
Visit the Great wall of China
Learn to ride a motorcycle
Show God's love in a practical way
Own another piano
Frame and hang at least 100 pictures at home
Keep in touch with old friends
Take mom out to lunch/dinner more often
Finally make those stuffed peppers for Sarah
Let go of old hurts
50. Get a job that I actually enjoy doing
Develop meaningful relationships with at least 3 other men
Spend an entire summer with a mohawk
Kiss Sarah in the pouring rain
Read at least six books a year
Practice random acts of kindness - daily
Listen much more than I talk
Build a potato gun
Give more people the benefit of doubt
See a Broadway show in Manhattan
60. Learn how to hit a golf ball
Be the kind of friend I would like to have
Get my teeth fixed
Smile more often
Quit drinking alcohol
Learn all about brewing gourmet coffee
Get over fear of high bridges - silly, I know
Put more intentions into action
Tell my loved ones that I love them everyday
Call my children everyday
70. Pitch a tent in the livingroom and make smores on the stove (for baby Olivia)
Help someone out financially that I barely know
Get a big fat flascreen TV - I'm a junkie
Compose more music
Read Shakespeare
Pay my car off - and keep driving it!
Eliminate all old debt - ouch!
Start a support group for dads paying too much child support
Take a wilderness survival course
Continue construction education
80. Speak to a group of 1000 or more
Be more sympathetic
Grow a beard
Get health and life insurance
Attend a service at a predominantly black church
Eliminate cursing from my conversations
Get a pet tortoise - a big one
Get a bike and ride it
Txt message and email less - call more
Invite friends over for no reason
90. Get a Nintendo Wii
Finish this list
Make Sarah proud of me
Lay off of the porn
Learn the classic old Irish folk songs my dad used to sing to me
Rescue a dog from the shelter
Live on 70% of my income
Get an iPod
Shop more at thrift stores
Start an Old Skool Nintendo fan club
100. Live, laugh, love
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