When I first gave my life to Christ there were many things that took place that I really wasn't prepared for. I knew in a way they were coming but really wasn't ready for any of them. Honestly a lot of them were negative. Most of my friends, I found out weren't really friends at all. They were more like party pals and once the party stopped they stopped being pals. My family didn't quite understand or know what to do with me. My whole nature changed. The way I talked, what I watched, listened to, etc. all changed. Not only that I was very naively zealous, which also attributed to the fact that my former circle didn't want to be around me. For me there was no middle ground, no simple conversation, it was all about winning them to Jesus. Ironically in that very desire I regretably alienated people. Another negative for me was that I now had to be honest, loving, kind, joyful, etc. and those things do not come natural (even ten years later). Being honest is okay when it suits you, but when you mess up and then have to tell the truth on yourself, the outcome can be very undesirable. Gaining the desire to do the right thing and the conviction of the Holy Spirit and yet now always doing it. These are negative from only my natural or fleshly perspective.
On the other hand I have to look back and say that there have been tremendous positive events that have taken place in my life since Jesus saved me. Outside of the obvious testimony of the assurance that has been granted me concerning my acceptance into the Kingdom of God and thus gaining eternal life there have been some other develops that I would like to focus on. Let me just say that the idea of being at peace and reconciled with God is amazing, and I don't mean to downplay that relationship because out of that flows what I am sharing.
One of the most positive events in my life has been meeting and then marrying my wife Lynette. We met at Messenger College. God led me to that place to learn more about the Bible and ministry and while in that process I met the person who would experience this life with me. I never would have met her had I not come to Christ. Then we began to have children. We have five beautiful children that mean everything to me. Again only possible because of Christ. I learn lessons about a father's love through my relationship with my children. I learn about hope and future through them. It is only because of Jesus. Through my wife I have learned unconditional commitment and love. I have learned to only a small degree the relationship between Christ and His bride. Through Christ I have also become a minister, feeling called to teach others and lead others to Christ. In this role I have been able to learn about healing, the depth and pain of sin and bad choices, about redemption and restoration, and I have seen the best and worst of humanity. Being a follower of Jesus has been far more than "getting saved." It has been an awesome journey that I have only been on for a short time. I expect the negatives to come, but I can also expect to make it through, to learn, and see God turn them to a positive. If someone were to ask me why should I become a Christian, what makes Jesus so special? The answer would be endless and yet at the same time simple. He gave me life and life more abundantly.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Late night thought
Was reading some statistics about the state of the church in America and how Christianity is losing numbers by the thousands. This little thing came to my mind. Not sure if it's a poem or whatever but wanted to share. Tell me what you think.
We have an obligation today, the church has a responsibility that has been neglected for many years now.
We have watched the walls crumble, the door posts rot, fire has ravaged the temple, and we have watched.
You might ask me why am I so gloomy and harsh, I tell you that I am tired of watching the city burn
My heart aches for the dying and the broken, while my church, my body watches says the LORD.
We argue and we fight over who is right and yet we have all missed it, we are all wrong.
So it is time for the church to repent, it is time to put on sack clothe and ashes and mourn for the dead.
The dead we could have offered life.
Yet we are too busy fighting, too busy determining who is the most important.
Too busy building monuments to ourselves, attempting to impress the umimpressable.
So our Master calls out, “who will rebuild my walls? Who will repair the doorposts? Who will reestablish my temple?
Just as Nehemiah was commissioned and called to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls we are called to rebuild the church in America.
I say America because in other parts of the world there is revival, there is outpouring, there is renewal, and there is life,
It is not too late, the job is daunting and dangerous. We will be rejected by even those who call themselves the church.
The ones who play the fiddle while the city is burning.
Yet there is a work to be done, there is a job to do. Will you answer the call?
Do you hear the LORD commissioning you? To speak peace to those in constant conflict, to speak hope to the desperate, to speak love to the hated, to speak blessing to the poor, and to speak life to the walking dead?
He is calling, now what will you do?
We have an obligation today, the church has a responsibility that has been neglected for many years now.
We have watched the walls crumble, the door posts rot, fire has ravaged the temple, and we have watched.
You might ask me why am I so gloomy and harsh, I tell you that I am tired of watching the city burn
My heart aches for the dying and the broken, while my church, my body watches says the LORD.
We argue and we fight over who is right and yet we have all missed it, we are all wrong.
So it is time for the church to repent, it is time to put on sack clothe and ashes and mourn for the dead.
The dead we could have offered life.
Yet we are too busy fighting, too busy determining who is the most important.
Too busy building monuments to ourselves, attempting to impress the umimpressable.
So our Master calls out, “who will rebuild my walls? Who will repair the doorposts? Who will reestablish my temple?
Just as Nehemiah was commissioned and called to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls we are called to rebuild the church in America.
I say America because in other parts of the world there is revival, there is outpouring, there is renewal, and there is life,
It is not too late, the job is daunting and dangerous. We will be rejected by even those who call themselves the church.
The ones who play the fiddle while the city is burning.
Yet there is a work to be done, there is a job to do. Will you answer the call?
Do you hear the LORD commissioning you? To speak peace to those in constant conflict, to speak hope to the desperate, to speak love to the hated, to speak blessing to the poor, and to speak life to the walking dead?
He is calling, now what will you do?
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The Final Summit Review
This was the first book that I have read by Andy Andrews and I have to be honest that I didn't find it as insightful or inspirational as those that were in the praise introduction. There were some shining points in a book that overall was boring and bland.
The shining points were the answers to the question that the travelers came up with. They were right on point and could most definitely be applied to our society today. The other interesting aspect of the book was the introduction of Eric Erickson and his role in WWII. I also like the fact that the author took the time to explain more about him at the end of the book.
I had a really hard time staying interested in the dialogue, the answers that they came up with were very applicable but seemed to have been reached too easily. The weight of their answers and the risk of being wrong wasn't brought out strong enough for me.
The premise of the book itself struck me as odd also. The idea that the Creator would call an assembly of all the greatest minds together to "solve" the worlds problem seems incongruent with the identity of the Creator being used in the book. The Creator has already solved the problem and clearly reveals that all of human wisdom, actions, etc cannot resolve or solve this problem. The answer that the time travelers come up with is also very general. To simply do something is not only wrong but also can be dangerous. Many people have done things that they thought were right but lead to devastating results.
The answer to the question leaves us needing more, we need to seek God for the answer because God is not seeking an answer from us. He desires a response from us to the answer that He has already given us.
I realize that this book is a work of fiction and not intended to be a work of theology. At the same time it should represent the true nature of the problem and the only answer that will restore humanity.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
The shining points were the answers to the question that the travelers came up with. They were right on point and could most definitely be applied to our society today. The other interesting aspect of the book was the introduction of Eric Erickson and his role in WWII. I also like the fact that the author took the time to explain more about him at the end of the book.
I had a really hard time staying interested in the dialogue, the answers that they came up with were very applicable but seemed to have been reached too easily. The weight of their answers and the risk of being wrong wasn't brought out strong enough for me.
The premise of the book itself struck me as odd also. The idea that the Creator would call an assembly of all the greatest minds together to "solve" the worlds problem seems incongruent with the identity of the Creator being used in the book. The Creator has already solved the problem and clearly reveals that all of human wisdom, actions, etc cannot resolve or solve this problem. The answer that the time travelers come up with is also very general. To simply do something is not only wrong but also can be dangerous. Many people have done things that they thought were right but lead to devastating results.
The answer to the question leaves us needing more, we need to seek God for the answer because God is not seeking an answer from us. He desires a response from us to the answer that He has already given us.
I realize that this book is a work of fiction and not intended to be a work of theology. At the same time it should represent the true nature of the problem and the only answer that will restore humanity.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Thursday, January 13, 2011
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