This is my first post since being home from Virginia. The last five to six months have been very educational and from where I'm sitting now I can see that an ultimatum in life has been reached for me.
I'm the type of person that can put up with "getting by" at least for a bit. Then I go into this "busting out" type of feeling where I know for myself there's absolutely no way I can live a certain way. But then looking back on it, is it really me just "getting by"? Or is it I've decided to ignore a calling I fear?
I have been forced to take a whole week of work off, at first it was only three days, and that was bad enough. Then over labor day weekend I was involved in an accident on a moped which nearly took my life. By the grace of God I walked away from it on my own two feet with only a torqued neck and a really bad road rash...both of which I can live through. So here I am on another day off trying to recuperate. It's not a fun day...soon after I make this post I will be going to my second job that I've been trying to make happen and see if they will give me some hours. But if that doesn't work, I've decided to do as best as I can and go around my neighborhood selling my services as a window washer. Not glamorous by any means...but I'm tired of feeling as if I'm "getting by."
In my experience in VA I found out something very important. There's a lot of people "getting by." Ever since I was 13 I was determined to NOT be that type of person...strangely, I'm discouraged to find myself at 19 exactly that. And I think this morning was that kind of morning where I just decided, "I don't care how bad I feel" I'm going to make this life work. But it's not like I say this to have you all give me a pat on the back. That's the last thing I really want. I want to go DO it.
I'm not encouraging any of you to go out and DO anything at this point. Anyone can say, "You can do it!" But you can still ask yourself, "Do what?" I asked myself that a lot when people said that to me. Most of the time I felt like saying, "shut up" because I didn't know how to direct that encouragement...most of the time, the people that said it didn't either. I was really frustrated with that.
What I WILL encourage though is that when a time like I'm having now comes, don't run away from change simply because it might be crazy and uncomfortable. I did so many times. I've been very scared of what might happen to me if I actually step up and do something crazy that isn't just something that can be done in an afternoon. I mean, climbing up a stadium by the supports, driving 40 mph on a moped without any experience...those are crazy things that don't scare me too much, even with the possibility of getting hurt so in my face. But talk about being crazy as a lifestyle...like majorly changing your lifestyle to where you don't recognize the person you used to be...that can make me almost as scared as a nerd standing up in a fight against a football player. Not like I don't want to knock the kids block off...but I have a doubt that I actually can. That's where I can bring it back in my mind to God though, where the real power in real life actually is.
I have the opportunity to within this year make six figures and above. It involves taking the reigns of my own business, and it involves stepping out and selling my product. Am I afraid to talk to people? Am I afraid to sell? You can fill in the blank as to your own question to an ultimatum. But I think the biggest thing I'm afraid of is not failure...but success.
Failure is a comfortable thing in a way. It's predictable. You can always point to something that could have been...pointing back doesn't change anything. Pointing ahead to the future and making $100,000+ is a possibility but I have to change. I have to take the life I have now and radically make a change. I have to step into places of extreme discomfort, and I have to make risks. Scary stuff. Personally, I'd rather take on the football player...I know exactly what I can do with him. But I've spent the last few months trying to convince myself that I can also fight my way through this business deal.
Right now...I'm dead set on succeeding. I'm not really caring at this point if I'm stood up on a pedestal and laughed at. I'm dead tired of living the way I do. I'm sick of being sick and tired. I'm ready to do something hard. I'm ready for a change.
At this point, I would only encourage you to reach that ultimatum in your own life. Set yourself up against that own "calling" to be something greater and better, and don't back down. Or else you'll be looking for other things your whole life to become good in, and to force into that title of "calling"...but it won't be it and it'll feel like you missed it. I've spend about a year and a half now feeling as if I missed it. I know people who go their whole life feeling that with one justification or another. I think I'm done feeling that way...a year and a half was enough for me.
Getting to this point sometimes takes trauma...so in that way, I'm glad I'm in pieces right now. God has made me stronger for it, and through these pieces of trauma...I've found I'm dead set on a different type of life. Don't run from change.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Honestly...c'mon, be honest
Okay...so I'm in a mood today. :-) And I think this post is going to be a little more upbeat than my former ones. Don't know what that says but whatever, here goes.
Honesty to me is very important, and I definitely would say it is a huge part of lasting relationships. "Best friends" only last so long because of how honest the two can be between each other. I think this is a point of a relationship that has been much abandoned in recent years. I mean think about it, in the movies, even in something that is supposed to be family friendly and in a "religious setting." In Evan Almighty even the man guy lies to his wife point blank about buying properties that he didn't. Although, people may think that that is necessary, I don't think so. If he had been honest right at that point with his wife, yes, things might have gone downhill, but it would have had the chance of going right even right there. Why do people not think that honesty is so crucial?
Another thing that has really killed honesty is etiquette. We need to be careful in how we say things. This is very true. But that doesn't mean not saying things. In my current relationship, my girlfriend and I have been very honest with each other, to the point of it hurting. I have not regretted one thing that I've told her, because she knows the real me. I've done my best to say things in the right way, which has not always come out the right way, but I've not kept things from her where she will have to wonder what I'm really thinking. Believe me, I have the tendency to shut things up inside and not let anyone in at all, and she'll testify to that. :-)
On the other hand, I'm not honest with most anyone else. My girlfriend has been able to see me in ways pretty much all of my other acquaintances have not seen me. Why do I do that? Maybe I fear rejection of who I really am. If I put on a fake face and people reject that, what do I care? But if I truly expose myself to others' critique than I would have the possibility for rejection, and perhaps even scarring. I don't know...it's just possible.
What's my point? hmmm...yeah point. Honesty is crucial for lasting relationships. It just is. Because those relationships need to be founded on trust. I didn't start off wanting to make this another blog about relationships. But I guess that's pretty much a lot of what is on my mind.
I would encourage others to not stay inside their-selves so much. I do that enough to know that looking at the world from inside oneself is pretty bleak. It's not a pro-active thing, it's a stifling thing, and it's more of a pity-party thing. Keep me safe type of deal. And if you would like to compare this to one particular thing. Think about it in the way of a turtle. He doesn't make any progress until he actually sticks his neck out.
Honesty to me is very important, and I definitely would say it is a huge part of lasting relationships. "Best friends" only last so long because of how honest the two can be between each other. I think this is a point of a relationship that has been much abandoned in recent years. I mean think about it, in the movies, even in something that is supposed to be family friendly and in a "religious setting." In Evan Almighty even the man guy lies to his wife point blank about buying properties that he didn't. Although, people may think that that is necessary, I don't think so. If he had been honest right at that point with his wife, yes, things might have gone downhill, but it would have had the chance of going right even right there. Why do people not think that honesty is so crucial?
Another thing that has really killed honesty is etiquette. We need to be careful in how we say things. This is very true. But that doesn't mean not saying things. In my current relationship, my girlfriend and I have been very honest with each other, to the point of it hurting. I have not regretted one thing that I've told her, because she knows the real me. I've done my best to say things in the right way, which has not always come out the right way, but I've not kept things from her where she will have to wonder what I'm really thinking. Believe me, I have the tendency to shut things up inside and not let anyone in at all, and she'll testify to that. :-)
On the other hand, I'm not honest with most anyone else. My girlfriend has been able to see me in ways pretty much all of my other acquaintances have not seen me. Why do I do that? Maybe I fear rejection of who I really am. If I put on a fake face and people reject that, what do I care? But if I truly expose myself to others' critique than I would have the possibility for rejection, and perhaps even scarring. I don't know...it's just possible.
What's my point? hmmm...yeah point. Honesty is crucial for lasting relationships. It just is. Because those relationships need to be founded on trust. I didn't start off wanting to make this another blog about relationships. But I guess that's pretty much a lot of what is on my mind.
I would encourage others to not stay inside their-selves so much. I do that enough to know that looking at the world from inside oneself is pretty bleak. It's not a pro-active thing, it's a stifling thing, and it's more of a pity-party thing. Keep me safe type of deal. And if you would like to compare this to one particular thing. Think about it in the way of a turtle. He doesn't make any progress until he actually sticks his neck out.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
True Love
I've heard about it...but how do you know if you have it yourself? It's something the Hollywood producers monopolize, but what really is it? All I've seen it as is really just a feeling when you see the person for the first time and you're like, "Ahhh...she's the one," or he, whatever. If that's what it really is, then I don't have it. But even now I think I can see what it really is, possibly, and any feedback on this would be well taken because I am by no means a great bastion of truth.
Some say that, "Love is blind." I have a friend that truly believes it is blind, and I have to disagree with it, though for his sake I backed out of the argument. I do think that a love based on feelings is blind, because the two of you are only in it for one thing: to be physical and to have physical needs met. But I don't think true love is blind. I think true love is fulfilling to your soul and that it in many ways helps you see more than you would without it.
First off, what is love? I mean "love," what is it? Dictionary defines it as, "a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person." Though it does have quite a few more definitions, I think I'd rather sum it all up with this one (for the sake of not distracting people with lewd definitions). So it's just a feeling. Love by all outside appearance is just a feeling. So based on that definition I would say yes, love is blind.
True love...that's something else entirely. My definition of true love is viewing my love through the eyes of God and what His will is for "our" lives. I say "our" lives because when you are in a "relationship" the idea (all kidding aside) is really only for one end. It's to answer the question of, "Am I compatible with this person for a lifelong relationship." True love is viewing your love through eyes of glory to God. I'm still looking at God first, something I've sometimes let slip because I let my view get blocked. :) But God is always supposed to be first in life, and this can also be applied to love.
My relationship with my girlfriend started one month before I left for VA. That doesn't sound like a lot of time to be a couple. I'm going to be gone for one year, possibly more, visiting only about three to four weeks out of all that time. That's sounding not that much fun. I don't particularly relish the idea of going through it, but I know it is God that wants us to, so I follow Him and press on. For my next step in life, after I've lived in VA for a year, will be from God, and I don't know yet if I'll move back to MI yet or not. I have to follow God.
True Love is about following God, and putting Him before a relationship. Some people don't realize how passionate and romantic God is to us, I can think of some passages in Isaiah that can communicate passion. Song of Solomon some people could say is a love letter to the church...I think that's stretching it for why the author wrote it, but it is still a good representation of how God views His church. Following God does not ultimately mean that you have to abandon passion in your life. It's embracing a pure kind of passion, one that you don't have to be ashamed of and that you know will be blessed.
A true relationship with God will help with a true relationship with a person. True love for God, is a good place to start with true love for that special someone. I know that sacrifice and a long time of being away from my girlfriend is right up in front of me. I'm going to have to do it, perhaps even again and again in my future. But so long as I follow God, I have no doubt that our love will be the truest seen in a whole generation.
In summary: Love can be blind, if it is based on emotion. If you base your love on a true relationship with God and a seeking after Him, it just follows that your love will be founded in strength and it will be a true love.
Some say that, "Love is blind." I have a friend that truly believes it is blind, and I have to disagree with it, though for his sake I backed out of the argument. I do think that a love based on feelings is blind, because the two of you are only in it for one thing: to be physical and to have physical needs met. But I don't think true love is blind. I think true love is fulfilling to your soul and that it in many ways helps you see more than you would without it.
First off, what is love? I mean "love," what is it? Dictionary defines it as, "a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person." Though it does have quite a few more definitions, I think I'd rather sum it all up with this one (for the sake of not distracting people with lewd definitions). So it's just a feeling. Love by all outside appearance is just a feeling. So based on that definition I would say yes, love is blind.
True love...that's something else entirely. My definition of true love is viewing my love through the eyes of God and what His will is for "our" lives. I say "our" lives because when you are in a "relationship" the idea (all kidding aside) is really only for one end. It's to answer the question of, "Am I compatible with this person for a lifelong relationship." True love is viewing your love through eyes of glory to God. I'm still looking at God first, something I've sometimes let slip because I let my view get blocked. :) But God is always supposed to be first in life, and this can also be applied to love.
My relationship with my girlfriend started one month before I left for VA. That doesn't sound like a lot of time to be a couple. I'm going to be gone for one year, possibly more, visiting only about three to four weeks out of all that time. That's sounding not that much fun. I don't particularly relish the idea of going through it, but I know it is God that wants us to, so I follow Him and press on. For my next step in life, after I've lived in VA for a year, will be from God, and I don't know yet if I'll move back to MI yet or not. I have to follow God.
True Love is about following God, and putting Him before a relationship. Some people don't realize how passionate and romantic God is to us, I can think of some passages in Isaiah that can communicate passion. Song of Solomon some people could say is a love letter to the church...I think that's stretching it for why the author wrote it, but it is still a good representation of how God views His church. Following God does not ultimately mean that you have to abandon passion in your life. It's embracing a pure kind of passion, one that you don't have to be ashamed of and that you know will be blessed.
A true relationship with God will help with a true relationship with a person. True love for God, is a good place to start with true love for that special someone. I know that sacrifice and a long time of being away from my girlfriend is right up in front of me. I'm going to have to do it, perhaps even again and again in my future. But so long as I follow God, I have no doubt that our love will be the truest seen in a whole generation.
In summary: Love can be blind, if it is based on emotion. If you base your love on a true relationship with God and a seeking after Him, it just follows that your love will be founded in strength and it will be a true love.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
The Faithfulness of God
I’ve been in VA now for about four days, and my greatest feeling over the whole thing is how much I’ve been missing home. But I’ve also had a great deal of peace from God as to the wisdom of my decision. And I guess that’s what I want to talk about this time is about God’s faithfulness to us. Though it may be quite an old subject I doubt very much that we know how faithful God is to us even when we think He’s abandoned us.
I’ve told some people where I’ll be working over here, but perhaps not everyone knows what exactly will be my job description. Starting hopefully this Monday I will be driving an Ice Cream truck, complete with six annoying songs to attract little kids ready to pay $3 for a Popsicle. I actually think it’s a pretty crazy idea that a business like that even works, but it does and that is what God has provided as work for me right now. But…because of who I am, I’ve already been looking for a fallback and I know that out on the coast (aka Virginia Beach) their season is just starting to get warmed up and they’ll be looking for summer help here very soon. So…both ways, I know I’m covered.
But I think I’ll stick with the former thing for now just in this conversation, and perhaps even a job. I think it is a very good example of how God is like to us. I called over here with the intentions of working at a place similar to what I’d worked before only perhaps finding something that would tip. So after calling and finding out that there were in fact a couple options I thought it was amazing that God had provided. But the options that were before was: a sushi bar, a landscape business, and a construction business. Out of the three the former two were what I was goin’ for. I’m not much at construction though I’ve done it with my dad for about three to four years. So long story short they came down to this one job with the ice cream guy. Not exactly, or at all, what I was thinking of doing. But I’d asked God to provide and He did.
I hadn’t asked Him to provide a job that would fit my ego, or would make me feel big and tough or even that would strain me physically. I asked that He would work it out for me to come here if it was His will. Thus far He has done just that. I have all the options that I need to survive. But what is the most profitable happens to also be a job I’d have never thought of doing had I stayed in MI. But does that matter? What did I ask for from God? And where did He direct me?
I honestly came here with visions of grandeur, of some great life that I was about to embark on. But coming here thus far it seems to be more along the lines of how I lived at home, except my back pocket is way more empty. I actually had wanted to start working today or yesterday, but God made it so I wouldn’t start until Monday. Now I could ask God why He did that and say that He doesn’t really care about me because I’d like to see a little more inflow. But instead I decided not to worry about it and instead let Him worry about the details. As soon as I did that I found my worries go away.
A strange result has come about since then, I’ve had probably about three free meals jump up out of nowhere just because I was willing to relax about stuff and go along with other people for the ride. I also got to go see 10,000 BC on someone else’s dime (who would have it no other way no matter what we said) and I had a great time. I played checkers with my full mind on the game (which was a wild game with this guy from Africa who played like each King moved like a Bishop that jumped) and I wasn’t worried at all. I’m still not. God has gone before me here and I know it.
It’s because I’m convinced He is faithful to us. I know that even though things on the surface may look bad, and though the storm looks really nasty, you forget what the rain can do. Without rain nothing would grow, and without the darkness the light wouldn’t look so good. Without testing we would all be weak. Without heavy burdens from time to time we would all be flabby. God is faithful…but it’s only in ways that He knows is perfect for us. All we see is the surface, but indeed what He does for us cannot be anything but the best even though we may disagree.
God is like the ultimate love to us. He wants was is best for us. For some reason we can hear that, but as soon as something bad happens we blame it on God. If anything bad happens it was because we decided something against God, or whoever did something bad to you decided something against God. Say someone dies. A good friend of yours. Would you blame God, or ask him why He did this? You may, but in the end you’ll find that glory came to Him through the death all the same. Life is about glory to God. Death is not something to fear when all you live for is glory to God.
Anyway…my story here is just beginning and already I’ve seen a great deal of God working for me. I hope that throughout my time here I might be able to shed as much light into other people’s lives as much as He’s shed into mine.
He is faithful to us, if anything we are not being faithful to Him.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Waiting for the One
A knight in shining armor. What is that a picture of? I keep a picture in my room of a knight going out to battle with the other men, but just as he's passing the gate a maiden ties on a red scarf to the knight's left arm. Underneath the picture it reads, "A battle to fight...An adventure to live...A beauty to rescue..." It's always inspired me. Unfortunately I think more of the beauty to rescue than the other two. Maybe it's because the picture depicts the beauty and only hints at the other two.
Regardless, this knight in shining armor is going out to risk his life in battle, potentially to never come back, and all he goes out with is the symbol of this woman's love. Only a promise that when he returns she will be waiting.
Sure, that was back then. The rules have changed a little bit since 500 years ago, I know. But we still us that old phrase, "knight in shining armor." Yet these so called "knights" have become scarce, and the definition of "shining" has become so gray that a lot more worthless men now fit it. I count myself as shining only because of how I view the road to marriage. It's not about getting all you can and then see if the girl likes you enough to live life together. It's about waiting even after the woman has tied her symbol to you before you appear in battle.
I really look down on men who are just in a relationship for the take. Sure it's fun, but when it's all over you leave a path of destruction maybe not as much in your life, but the woman has lost her symbol and now stands in shame. I've been in a position before where it hasn't worked out and I didn't get physical. I was still crushed and didn't want to do anything for about six months. I was devastated. I felt like I had fallen off my horse and that no maiden would ever wish to tie herself to me again.
I thank God that it wasn't to be. I began getting to know another maiden, and she's turned out to be who I am with now. But we went through a period where we didn't think that we could make it together. In that time I began to be the knight that didn't care. I would spend time with others and simply be friends with as many as I could, because of the hurt and void that was left in me. But at this point where I am back with this beautiful maid again, standing before that adventure to live, all I wish that could've been different is that I had stuck to that "beauty" even though she was undefined.
The word "wait" is more or less taboo in this society. Patience is frowned upon more than uplifted. But if you want God's best for the rest of your life, wait for the right one. God has the two of you set apart right now, but in His infinite wisdom and good timing He will bring you together when it is the right time. But if you don't wait, and I don't say this without God, that knight will pass you by and continue onward without you. I know because I would have done the same to mine if she had backslid a great way. God has made each person for one person, the face doesn't matter as much as who this person is inside.
The word "beautiful" to me means "pretty on the inside as well as the outside." When you say something is pretty it's more like "yeah it looks good." When you say it's "beautiful" you mean it has a radiance from the inside that magnifies the beauty of the outside. That's what I have. I've waited for her, I didn't get physical with anyone until I met her. For those who already have been physical I would encourage you to just step away from anybody of the opposite sex and get closer to God. He never had anything but the best in mind for you, and doing a lifelong thing without God is something that will hurt. God isn't against you, He isn't even for waiting. He is about each thing in its time. He created man and woman not to wait but to go all the way. That's why He cautions us to keep things for its time.
In summary I guess all I can say is, by seeking God you will find the perfect one He has set for you. By choosing Him He will give to you the perfect life. My mom always used to tell me that the way to look for the "one" God has for me is to "run as hard as you can after God, then when you get to that place where you feel as if it's time to start looking, look around and see who's running just as hard towards God with you."
I hope my relationship with Caitlin can become something inspirational to other people. I've come a long way, some times I went along without God. But I can readily tell you, that when I decided to go my own way those were the times that I've found coming back to me. They've not held any good thing for me. But each time that I've gone after God and His will, I can never regret the things done or said, and I count myself as the most blessed man to be given this relationship with Caitlin. I followed God and He's given me the best, all I can say is do what I've done, it really isn't all that bad once you get to the end. :-)
Regardless, this knight in shining armor is going out to risk his life in battle, potentially to never come back, and all he goes out with is the symbol of this woman's love. Only a promise that when he returns she will be waiting.
Sure, that was back then. The rules have changed a little bit since 500 years ago, I know. But we still us that old phrase, "knight in shining armor." Yet these so called "knights" have become scarce, and the definition of "shining" has become so gray that a lot more worthless men now fit it. I count myself as shining only because of how I view the road to marriage. It's not about getting all you can and then see if the girl likes you enough to live life together. It's about waiting even after the woman has tied her symbol to you before you appear in battle.
I really look down on men who are just in a relationship for the take. Sure it's fun, but when it's all over you leave a path of destruction maybe not as much in your life, but the woman has lost her symbol and now stands in shame. I've been in a position before where it hasn't worked out and I didn't get physical. I was still crushed and didn't want to do anything for about six months. I was devastated. I felt like I had fallen off my horse and that no maiden would ever wish to tie herself to me again.
I thank God that it wasn't to be. I began getting to know another maiden, and she's turned out to be who I am with now. But we went through a period where we didn't think that we could make it together. In that time I began to be the knight that didn't care. I would spend time with others and simply be friends with as many as I could, because of the hurt and void that was left in me. But at this point where I am back with this beautiful maid again, standing before that adventure to live, all I wish that could've been different is that I had stuck to that "beauty" even though she was undefined.
The word "wait" is more or less taboo in this society. Patience is frowned upon more than uplifted. But if you want God's best for the rest of your life, wait for the right one. God has the two of you set apart right now, but in His infinite wisdom and good timing He will bring you together when it is the right time. But if you don't wait, and I don't say this without God, that knight will pass you by and continue onward without you. I know because I would have done the same to mine if she had backslid a great way. God has made each person for one person, the face doesn't matter as much as who this person is inside.
The word "beautiful" to me means "pretty on the inside as well as the outside." When you say something is pretty it's more like "yeah it looks good." When you say it's "beautiful" you mean it has a radiance from the inside that magnifies the beauty of the outside. That's what I have. I've waited for her, I didn't get physical with anyone until I met her. For those who already have been physical I would encourage you to just step away from anybody of the opposite sex and get closer to God. He never had anything but the best in mind for you, and doing a lifelong thing without God is something that will hurt. God isn't against you, He isn't even for waiting. He is about each thing in its time. He created man and woman not to wait but to go all the way. That's why He cautions us to keep things for its time.
In summary I guess all I can say is, by seeking God you will find the perfect one He has set for you. By choosing Him He will give to you the perfect life. My mom always used to tell me that the way to look for the "one" God has for me is to "run as hard as you can after God, then when you get to that place where you feel as if it's time to start looking, look around and see who's running just as hard towards God with you."
I hope my relationship with Caitlin can become something inspirational to other people. I've come a long way, some times I went along without God. But I can readily tell you, that when I decided to go my own way those were the times that I've found coming back to me. They've not held any good thing for me. But each time that I've gone after God and His will, I can never regret the things done or said, and I count myself as the most blessed man to be given this relationship with Caitlin. I followed God and He's given me the best, all I can say is do what I've done, it really isn't all that bad once you get to the end. :-)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Why are 80% of teenagers leaving the church? Well, I have...
Many of you may be familiar with this statistic. I don't know where it comes from, nor do I know the exact validity of it, but if only half of it is true, 40% is bad enough. I have to be completely honest and say I don't mind being numbered with that 80%. I have probably not been to a good church service ever since Camp, and before that it was probably up to 6 months. Y'know I've not missed it at all. I miss the kind of spiritual quality up at Camp Barakel because I can feel God, but at church I hardly feel more than a mockery of what the true message of the gospel is.
Religion...this was going to be my first title really, "The pitfalls of 'religion'" but I felt that was kind of boring. So instead of saying that I guess it might be more shocking to just say I don't go to church. I used to go to a church where the people thought it was a sin to miss church on Sunday...I don't know when it began but I'm to the point now where that doesn't even phase me. These people will preach Christianity to people who've never been to church in their life and turn around and chastise me for missing one day. As if God is going to put that between you and salvation.
For my part I am sick of religion, and I don't miss going to church because of that very reason. It's like I'm sick of seeing weak fathers on movies and TV shows. These leaders who are supposed to be "shepherds" ordained by God to bring the message down from the mountain every Sunday, but yet they don't ever say much more than what people want to hear. I've not heard the Spiritual realm preached about in church ever. I've never heard about the biggest things we have in our lives ever spoken of in church. Because these pastors are no longer afraid of what God is going to ask for in an accounting of their time on earth, and even what they did as shepherds of Christ's flock, they are instead worried about losing members because they won't get as much tithe money.
Now I do have to check myself here, there are some cases where people just don't want to be challenged anymore. The average churches do minister and are useful in Christianity to many kinds of people. For that I do give leeway. But when the vast majority of churches are still stuck on this one model of preaching and giving people the message it's not healthy for Christianity as a whole. It is the very reason why so many people are leaving the church, people like me know there's more to Christianity than what I've been hearing all my life but no one will say anything different.
It reminds me of the colonial days when war used to be two lines of men shooting at each other in open fields. This warfare was thought up in France and taught to many of the generals of the time, and for the longest time it was considered the only way to fight, was to be "gentlemen." No rough stuff. Well, guess where it started to change. Some smart people who were a lot smaller in number and decided that was just plain stupid (I know you're thinking of The Patriot but that's a story and this tactic of unconventional warfare didn't come up until well after the revolutionary warfare, and when used before that time it was reserved only for the "savage indians" who were widely known as "ungentlemanly"). It's the same deal with "religion."
Religion is a belief with rules. You have to do XYZ to be good enough to enter heaven. And if you don't believe that Christianity hasn't sunk to that low then I'll help you with a few examples: "go to church every Sunday" "Do not kill" "You have to be straight" "Don't get drunk"
I know these aren't necessarily good things, nor does God encourage these things. The only point in any of these examples where there is a problem is with the "Do not kill" the translation is "Do not murder" there is certainly times to kill, but with Christ dieing for our sins the need for it exists only in very minute circles of life. Still, it is harped on by the majority of "religious people."
Any of these points are just rules that you have to fulfill to be "good in the sight of God." Umm...last time I checked my Bible God said there was only one way to get to heaven, and that was through our Lord Jesus Christ. The rest is rules.
I wish I could go into more detail in this but unfortunately I don't have the time. For now I want to make sure that everyone knows that Christianity is about believing that Jesus Christ died for our sins and that He has risen again in the defeat of death's sting. Salvation is through Jesus Christ, it is not through the fulfillment of so many rules. That is an Old Testament model and Jesus came to make that moot.
I will discourage people from these sins, for sins they are. But if they believe that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior, they are saved and no church or "religion" is going to make them much better in the eyes of our Lord. Christianity is about believing in Jesus Christ, religion is about stuff like going to church on Sunday.
Let me out of religion please...
Religion...this was going to be my first title really, "The pitfalls of 'religion'" but I felt that was kind of boring. So instead of saying that I guess it might be more shocking to just say I don't go to church. I used to go to a church where the people thought it was a sin to miss church on Sunday...I don't know when it began but I'm to the point now where that doesn't even phase me. These people will preach Christianity to people who've never been to church in their life and turn around and chastise me for missing one day. As if God is going to put that between you and salvation.
For my part I am sick of religion, and I don't miss going to church because of that very reason. It's like I'm sick of seeing weak fathers on movies and TV shows. These leaders who are supposed to be "shepherds" ordained by God to bring the message down from the mountain every Sunday, but yet they don't ever say much more than what people want to hear. I've not heard the Spiritual realm preached about in church ever. I've never heard about the biggest things we have in our lives ever spoken of in church. Because these pastors are no longer afraid of what God is going to ask for in an accounting of their time on earth, and even what they did as shepherds of Christ's flock, they are instead worried about losing members because they won't get as much tithe money.
Now I do have to check myself here, there are some cases where people just don't want to be challenged anymore. The average churches do minister and are useful in Christianity to many kinds of people. For that I do give leeway. But when the vast majority of churches are still stuck on this one model of preaching and giving people the message it's not healthy for Christianity as a whole. It is the very reason why so many people are leaving the church, people like me know there's more to Christianity than what I've been hearing all my life but no one will say anything different.
It reminds me of the colonial days when war used to be two lines of men shooting at each other in open fields. This warfare was thought up in France and taught to many of the generals of the time, and for the longest time it was considered the only way to fight, was to be "gentlemen." No rough stuff. Well, guess where it started to change. Some smart people who were a lot smaller in number and decided that was just plain stupid (I know you're thinking of The Patriot but that's a story and this tactic of unconventional warfare didn't come up until well after the revolutionary warfare, and when used before that time it was reserved only for the "savage indians" who were widely known as "ungentlemanly"). It's the same deal with "religion."
Religion is a belief with rules. You have to do XYZ to be good enough to enter heaven. And if you don't believe that Christianity hasn't sunk to that low then I'll help you with a few examples: "go to church every Sunday" "Do not kill" "You have to be straight" "Don't get drunk"
I know these aren't necessarily good things, nor does God encourage these things. The only point in any of these examples where there is a problem is with the "Do not kill" the translation is "Do not murder" there is certainly times to kill, but with Christ dieing for our sins the need for it exists only in very minute circles of life. Still, it is harped on by the majority of "religious people."
Any of these points are just rules that you have to fulfill to be "good in the sight of God." Umm...last time I checked my Bible God said there was only one way to get to heaven, and that was through our Lord Jesus Christ. The rest is rules.
I wish I could go into more detail in this but unfortunately I don't have the time. For now I want to make sure that everyone knows that Christianity is about believing that Jesus Christ died for our sins and that He has risen again in the defeat of death's sting. Salvation is through Jesus Christ, it is not through the fulfillment of so many rules. That is an Old Testament model and Jesus came to make that moot.
I will discourage people from these sins, for sins they are. But if they believe that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior, they are saved and no church or "religion" is going to make them much better in the eyes of our Lord. Christianity is about believing in Jesus Christ, religion is about stuff like going to church on Sunday.
Let me out of religion please...
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
"To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain..."
Do you ever wonder what the meaning is of that phrase that Paul speaks? "To live is Christ, but to die is gain..."? I've never really thought about that phrase much, mostly I just ignored it because the implications of such a phrase are so large I didn't want to deal with it. But now that I've been coming to spots where my faith and actions really take root and define who I am I've found myself looking at these hard questions. How do you translate this to your life?
For one, society in general places so much emphasis on someones death, but in the same sentence can denounce it. Abortion is one thing where life doesn't even enter the argument, people just don't care about it. But when someone dies in life who is just another guy he'll at least get a mention in the paper. Movies depict death of notables in a huge dramatic way, where as the average soldier on the battlefield just gets cut down. Society is saturated with the idea of death just like we're saturated with sensuality. How do you deal with death when life itself holds very little meaning?
As a Christian life should be just as important if not even more than death. We always look at death as this painful and hurtful ending that will impact everyone around us negatively. Look at Paul, how important was he during the times he was in? How many people would be effected when he kicked it? But at the point that he was thinking about it he was almost regretting the fact that he was still alive! But at that point it wasn't out of depression, it was because he wanted to be close to God, he wanted the real thing.
I have never been that passionate about being close to God. I knew I could be close to God if I wanted to, but my heart being human was always about doing what I wanted as opposed to going with God. I looked at being close to God as spending countless hours in the Bible, praying for so long you forgot to eat, decided to fast for weeks anyway, and then come out to work just to keep the bills current. That didn't sound too fun to me. I don't think that that is what it means, but the visualization was enough to scare me for awhile.
Why live though? What is life for but to glorify God? The life we have for certain is a gift, it's not just a given that we have this life and that it is now our right to do whatever we feel like. We can, but it isn't our right. The point of our existence is to give glory to God, but because of our fallen nature we have the ability to chose not to live to His glory. Thus my question comes, what truly is life? Paul found a way to live between life and death seemingly. Basically he was alive because God wanted him to continue to minister, but for Paul, anytime a Roman soldier walked past he was thinking about how in half a second he could be with God.
"To live is Christ..." this part of the verse I just don't get at all. I know that in life we are supposed to emulate Christ and His sacrifice, but life is Christ? I just can't seem to get my mind around that. But the "to die is gain..." makes absolute sense to me. We think "the suffering is over," but those who understand the verse say, "I am with God."
What is the purpose of life? How do we deal with life and death? It seems to me that when you have a passion for God above all things all questions to that tune don't exist anymore. On the one hand you have the opportunity to bring glory to God, and on the other you have the opportunity to be with God. When your heart is at this place you'll have the same problem as Paul, I just wish I could be with you God, let the world go its own way, I just want to be with you.
"To live is Christ, to die is gain..." I still don't think I fully understand this...
For one, society in general places so much emphasis on someones death, but in the same sentence can denounce it. Abortion is one thing where life doesn't even enter the argument, people just don't care about it. But when someone dies in life who is just another guy he'll at least get a mention in the paper. Movies depict death of notables in a huge dramatic way, where as the average soldier on the battlefield just gets cut down. Society is saturated with the idea of death just like we're saturated with sensuality. How do you deal with death when life itself holds very little meaning?
As a Christian life should be just as important if not even more than death. We always look at death as this painful and hurtful ending that will impact everyone around us negatively. Look at Paul, how important was he during the times he was in? How many people would be effected when he kicked it? But at the point that he was thinking about it he was almost regretting the fact that he was still alive! But at that point it wasn't out of depression, it was because he wanted to be close to God, he wanted the real thing.
I have never been that passionate about being close to God. I knew I could be close to God if I wanted to, but my heart being human was always about doing what I wanted as opposed to going with God. I looked at being close to God as spending countless hours in the Bible, praying for so long you forgot to eat, decided to fast for weeks anyway, and then come out to work just to keep the bills current. That didn't sound too fun to me. I don't think that that is what it means, but the visualization was enough to scare me for awhile.
Why live though? What is life for but to glorify God? The life we have for certain is a gift, it's not just a given that we have this life and that it is now our right to do whatever we feel like. We can, but it isn't our right. The point of our existence is to give glory to God, but because of our fallen nature we have the ability to chose not to live to His glory. Thus my question comes, what truly is life? Paul found a way to live between life and death seemingly. Basically he was alive because God wanted him to continue to minister, but for Paul, anytime a Roman soldier walked past he was thinking about how in half a second he could be with God.
"To live is Christ..." this part of the verse I just don't get at all. I know that in life we are supposed to emulate Christ and His sacrifice, but life is Christ? I just can't seem to get my mind around that. But the "to die is gain..." makes absolute sense to me. We think "the suffering is over," but those who understand the verse say, "I am with God."
What is the purpose of life? How do we deal with life and death? It seems to me that when you have a passion for God above all things all questions to that tune don't exist anymore. On the one hand you have the opportunity to bring glory to God, and on the other you have the opportunity to be with God. When your heart is at this place you'll have the same problem as Paul, I just wish I could be with you God, let the world go its own way, I just want to be with you.
"To live is Christ, to die is gain..." I still don't think I fully understand this...
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