My job requires long hours and frequent travel; that is when I'm working. I'm an independent contractor and do not have constant employment.
My last trip was scheduled to be 13 days. I flew out of Louisville to Chicago to join the team. The next morning we flew to Houston for a week-long project. On Saturday one of the guys and I drove to Dallas where we would join the team we'd work with during our second week.
Fast forward to Thursday, week two. Around 4 pm one of the corporate guys who is onsite asks me when I'm scheduled to fly home. I tell him Saturday at 1:30. Two hours later he asks me if I'd be OK if they flew me to Las Vegas to work Friday and Saturday and I'd fly home on Sunday, one day later. I quickly called my wife (I don't make decisions like that without consulting her, it's her life too!) and we both agreed the extra day of pay was good at this time in our life and one extra day away wouldn't be too strenuous on our lives.
So at 6:15 am the next morning I'm on a flight out of Austin, Texas headed to Phoenix, Arizona and then on to Las Vegas. Once onsite, it became apparent two days was not sufficient to complete the work necessary for this project. Late Saturday night I get a text asking if I would be willing to take Sunday off and stay over into the following week to help finish the project. The company would fly in additional resources to help. Once again, I called my wife and we quickly discussed the situation. We decided that as long as I could come home on Thursday (my 18th day out), it would be acceptable.
I took Sunday off, spending time with my brother-in-law, niece and nephews in Las Vegas, doing some laundry, and trying to simply relax. The "new recruits" arrived Monday morning and we worked hard through the week, finishing around 3 am Thursday morning.
I caught my flight from Las Vegas to Detroit and then on to Louisville where my lovely bride and youngest son picked me up. We stopped for Dairy Queen (my wife wanted some) on the drive home to Lexington and pretty much all went to bed once home.
Today is the fifth day since my return and I'm still struggling to find a "home rhythm" ... our work schedule is simple: 12 - 15 hour days, some food, phone calls home, maybe some email time, and sleep. Home is more complicated. Home is dishes, laundry, taking our youngest to the bus stop, being emotionally available to my family even when I'm still tired from my trip.
I'm reminded of the line from the journey song, Faithfully, that says, "Two strangers learn to fall in love again." That is what it seems like each time I'm out for long periods of time; I have to re-enter my family. I have to learn their schedules, their rhythms, their needs.
Please don't hear me complaining. I love my family and I love my job. I truly enjoy the time I'm on the jobsite and continue to hope and pray for more work. I also enjoy the time I'm home with family. Today was simply a day to reflect, a day to process this re-entry phenomenon.
My next job is a local job. I'm working on a project here in Lexington next week. It will still be the same 12 - 15 hour days, only this time I'm sleeping in my own bed. It has been a year since I did a local job, and I honestly don't remember if working locally was easier or harder on the family. In some ways I'm here, even though I'm not at dinner, not available to run that errand, not available to say goodnight to my son or my lovely bride.
I love my family and I love my job. I just hope and pray that as more work comes my way, we find a better way to face re-entry ... it is by far the hardest part of this life.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Miracles All Around
I've been on the jobsite this past week. We usually work 12 hour days while doing system integrations, so blogging is difficult. I have been able to maintain my daily Bible reading, making sure I'm up enough before call time to spend my 1/2 hour with God each morning.
Despite the long hours, I love what I do, working with different churches across the country. Last week I was in Katy, Texas, just outside Houston and this week I'm in Temple, Texas, south of Dallas.
This trip has been tough, however, because it has been several months since I've had an income. My business credit cards are maxed and the bank account is empty. I've managed, but Friday night there was a crisis. I was to rent a car at Hobby Airport in Houston to drive on Saturday to Love Field in Dallas. I was provided the confirmation from my employer for the rental car, and since the reservation came via Hotwire, I didn't think twice about the payment.
Unfortunately, when I arrived at the rental counter, I was required to pay the rental fee. It had not been prepaid with the reservation. Now, a normal one day rental is only a few dollars, but because this was a one-way rental, the charge was $145. I didn't have that much on a credit card nor did I have that much in my business checking. I ended up using my personal debit card, pulling from money my wife would need for the week.
The miracle happened when I arrived in Dallas. My employer had reserved a full-size car for us, but they only had mid-size cars in Houston. Because the Houston Hobby rental agent was so difficult to work with, I chose to address the issue when I returned the car in Dallas. After checking in with the lot attendant at Love Field, I went into the rental office. The agent there was more than willing to help and after talking to the manager started a $25.00 refund to the account.
After a few minutes of typing on the computer, the agent in Dallas called for her manager to come check her work before completing the ticket. The Dallas manager came, made a few changes to the process, and as he walked away told me it had come out even better.
When the very helpful rental agent printed out my receipt, they had deducted $55.00, not the original $25! My first cash-flow miracle of the week.
As I was talking to my wife on the phone (she had graciously listened to my diatribe Friday night as I vented having to pay personally for the vehicle plus having a smaller car for the drive the following morning), sharing with her the blessing of the $55 savings, she also told me about a second miracle.
Again, because I've not been working consistently for a few months, we had fallen behind in our mortgage. We had been working with the mortgage company for a loan modification, and late this week received a letter saying they had deferred our back payments!
It appears that with the work I've completed last week, the work I am about to begin in a few short hours, and the upcoming project I have at the beginning of September, we will not only be able to get our bills caught up, we will possibly have a little extra to be able to rebuild our "rainy day fund."
And building that fund is good, because as many of you can attest, it is currently raining. Fortunately, in the midst of the rain, God provided my family a rainbow! I hope you are able to find rainbows in the midst of your storms as well!
Despite the long hours, I love what I do, working with different churches across the country. Last week I was in Katy, Texas, just outside Houston and this week I'm in Temple, Texas, south of Dallas.
This trip has been tough, however, because it has been several months since I've had an income. My business credit cards are maxed and the bank account is empty. I've managed, but Friday night there was a crisis. I was to rent a car at Hobby Airport in Houston to drive on Saturday to Love Field in Dallas. I was provided the confirmation from my employer for the rental car, and since the reservation came via Hotwire, I didn't think twice about the payment.
Unfortunately, when I arrived at the rental counter, I was required to pay the rental fee. It had not been prepaid with the reservation. Now, a normal one day rental is only a few dollars, but because this was a one-way rental, the charge was $145. I didn't have that much on a credit card nor did I have that much in my business checking. I ended up using my personal debit card, pulling from money my wife would need for the week.
The miracle happened when I arrived in Dallas. My employer had reserved a full-size car for us, but they only had mid-size cars in Houston. Because the Houston Hobby rental agent was so difficult to work with, I chose to address the issue when I returned the car in Dallas. After checking in with the lot attendant at Love Field, I went into the rental office. The agent there was more than willing to help and after talking to the manager started a $25.00 refund to the account.
After a few minutes of typing on the computer, the agent in Dallas called for her manager to come check her work before completing the ticket. The Dallas manager came, made a few changes to the process, and as he walked away told me it had come out even better.
When the very helpful rental agent printed out my receipt, they had deducted $55.00, not the original $25! My first cash-flow miracle of the week.
As I was talking to my wife on the phone (she had graciously listened to my diatribe Friday night as I vented having to pay personally for the vehicle plus having a smaller car for the drive the following morning), sharing with her the blessing of the $55 savings, she also told me about a second miracle.
Again, because I've not been working consistently for a few months, we had fallen behind in our mortgage. We had been working with the mortgage company for a loan modification, and late this week received a letter saying they had deferred our back payments!
It appears that with the work I've completed last week, the work I am about to begin in a few short hours, and the upcoming project I have at the beginning of September, we will not only be able to get our bills caught up, we will possibly have a little extra to be able to rebuild our "rainy day fund."
And building that fund is good, because as many of you can attest, it is currently raining. Fortunately, in the midst of the rain, God provided my family a rainbow! I hope you are able to find rainbows in the midst of your storms as well!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Silver Was Worthless
I'm reading I Kings currently, and today I read about Solomon's wealth. I Kings 10:21 struck me, "All of King Solomon’s drinking cups were solid gold, as were all the utensils in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. They were not made of silver, for silver was considered worthless in Solomon’s day!" (New Living Translation)
Earlier in the chapter, in verse 10 we learn why silver was worthless, "The gold that came to Solomon in one year weighed 49,950 pounds." (God's Word Translation) If you had your abundance of gold, why would you need silver?
Curiosity got the best of me and I went to www.GoldPrice.org to find the current price for gold. It was $1,205.00 per ounce. Multiply that by 16 ounces in a pound, and Solomon's annual gold income, in today's values, would have been $963,036,000. Nearly a billion dollars a year came to Solomon in gold! (Author's Note: other translations say: "each year" as opposed to the God's Word translation of one year, hence my converting this to an annual income.)
I guess if I was making a billion dollars a year, I too would consider silver to be worthless.
Unfortunately, as I was closing my Bible this morning, I noticed the heading for chapter 11: Solomon's Idolatry. I guess that explains the words of Agur, son of Jakeh, in Proverbs 30:7-9 (New Century Version):
Oh had Solomon used his wisdom in his youth to understand that in riches there are many traps. Unfortunately, he didn't learn that lesson until the end of his life. Thirty-two times he uses the word meaningless in the New International Version's translation of the book of Ecclesiastes. "Like chasing after the wind" is used nine times in that same translation. Solomon learned, through much pain, true wisdom comes from God; wealth and things usually lead us away from Him.
Today my prayer was that of Agur from Proverbs. I hope that is your prayer as well!
Earlier in the chapter, in verse 10 we learn why silver was worthless, "The gold that came to Solomon in one year weighed 49,950 pounds." (God's Word Translation) If you had your abundance of gold, why would you need silver?
Curiosity got the best of me and I went to www.GoldPrice.org to find the current price for gold. It was $1,205.00 per ounce. Multiply that by 16 ounces in a pound, and Solomon's annual gold income, in today's values, would have been $963,036,000. Nearly a billion dollars a year came to Solomon in gold! (Author's Note: other translations say: "each year" as opposed to the God's Word translation of one year, hence my converting this to an annual income.)
I guess if I was making a billion dollars a year, I too would consider silver to be worthless.
Unfortunately, as I was closing my Bible this morning, I noticed the heading for chapter 11: Solomon's Idolatry. I guess that explains the words of Agur, son of Jakeh, in Proverbs 30:7-9 (New Century Version):
"I ask two things from you, Lord.
Don't refuse me before I die.
Keep me from lying and being dishonest.
And don't make me either rich or poor;
just give me enough food for each day.
If I have too much, I might reject you
and say, 'I don't know the Lord.'
If I am poor, I might steal
and disgrace the name of my God."
Oh had Solomon used his wisdom in his youth to understand that in riches there are many traps. Unfortunately, he didn't learn that lesson until the end of his life. Thirty-two times he uses the word meaningless in the New International Version's translation of the book of Ecclesiastes. "Like chasing after the wind" is used nine times in that same translation. Solomon learned, through much pain, true wisdom comes from God; wealth and things usually lead us away from Him.
Today my prayer was that of Agur from Proverbs. I hope that is your prayer as well!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Free Samples
I was listening to the radio the other day in the car when the DJ started talking about free samples. She said many sales in America are a direct result of free samples. I'm not sure if her premise was based on a study or simply personal observation.
However, if free samples didn't work, weekends at Sam's Club and Costco would be very different. I have friends who go to the "Costco buffet" on a regular basis. Last weekend my wife and I were not shy at our local Kroger, taking several of the samples offered. If the cost of these displays was not profitable, you wouldn't see them.
Because I was listening to a Christian station, the DJ then made the spiritual application. If we want people to know God, we need to make sure they get free samples too. She quoted Psalm 34:8: "Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!" (New Living Translation)
Think about it, what is the reputation of Christianity in the world today? Not very good. In fact, a very famous convert from atheism to Christianity, Anne Rice, recently made a very public departure. Let me be clear, Anne didn't quit Jesus, she simply quit organized religion. In her statement on her Facebook page, Anne wrote:
I doubt Anne's feelings are hers alone. Far too many people have publicly said they would follow Jesus if it were not for the "Christians" they knew. It seems to me the biggest deterrent to modern people following Jesus is his church.
This is such a departure from the early days of the church. In Acts 2:46-47 we read: "The believers met together in the Temple every day. They ate together in their homes, happy to share their food with joyful hearts. They praised God and were liked by all the people. Every day the Lord added those who were being saved to the group of believers." (New Century Version)
What has moved us from "were liked by all the people" to "I'd gladly follow Christ except for all the Christians I've met in my life"? I think we've forgotten about free samples.
Jesus told us how to change the world. He didn't call us to assemble in big, beautiful buildings with great sound systems. He didn't call us to give money so the "professionals" can handle the ministry. Jesus very simply said, "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." (Matthew 10:42, NIV).
In James we read, "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." (James 1:27, New Living Translation)
If we get back to offering free samples: giving drinks of water in Jesus' name; caring for the widows (and single moms) and orphans (and children of single moms); and helping the last, the least, and the lost among us, I believe people like Anne Rice will applaud our efforts, quite possibly even stepping up to help.
I know my lovely bride and I are making the decision to do more. Will you help us?
However, if free samples didn't work, weekends at Sam's Club and Costco would be very different. I have friends who go to the "Costco buffet" on a regular basis. Last weekend my wife and I were not shy at our local Kroger, taking several of the samples offered. If the cost of these displays was not profitable, you wouldn't see them.
Because I was listening to a Christian station, the DJ then made the spiritual application. If we want people to know God, we need to make sure they get free samples too. She quoted Psalm 34:8: "Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!" (New Living Translation)
Think about it, what is the reputation of Christianity in the world today? Not very good. In fact, a very famous convert from atheism to Christianity, Anne Rice, recently made a very public departure. Let me be clear, Anne didn't quit Jesus, she simply quit organized religion. In her statement on her Facebook page, Anne wrote:
"For those who care, and I understand if you don’t: Today I quit being a Christian. I’m out. I remain committed to Christ as always but not to being “Christian” or to being part of Christianity. It’s simply impossible for me to “belong” to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group. For ten years, I’ve tried. I’ve failed. I’m an outsider. My conscience will allow nothing else."
Anne continued the dialog on Facebook, placing the following post:
"As I said below, I quit being a Christian. I’m out. In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life. In the name of Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen.”
Anne reaffirmed her faith in Christ despite a lack of faith in Christianity with another Facebook post:
"My faith in Christ is central to my life. My conversion from a pessimistic atheist lost in a world I didn't understand, to an optimistic believer in a universe created and sustained by a loving God is crucial to me. But following Christ does not mean following His followers. Christ is infinitely more important than Christianity and always will be, no matter what Christianity is, has been, or might become."
I doubt Anne's feelings are hers alone. Far too many people have publicly said they would follow Jesus if it were not for the "Christians" they knew. It seems to me the biggest deterrent to modern people following Jesus is his church.
This is such a departure from the early days of the church. In Acts 2:46-47 we read: "The believers met together in the Temple every day. They ate together in their homes, happy to share their food with joyful hearts. They praised God and were liked by all the people. Every day the Lord added those who were being saved to the group of believers." (New Century Version)
What has moved us from "were liked by all the people" to "I'd gladly follow Christ except for all the Christians I've met in my life"? I think we've forgotten about free samples.
Jesus told us how to change the world. He didn't call us to assemble in big, beautiful buildings with great sound systems. He didn't call us to give money so the "professionals" can handle the ministry. Jesus very simply said, "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." (Matthew 10:42, NIV).
In James we read, "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." (James 1:27, New Living Translation)
If we get back to offering free samples: giving drinks of water in Jesus' name; caring for the widows (and single moms) and orphans (and children of single moms); and helping the last, the least, and the lost among us, I believe people like Anne Rice will applaud our efforts, quite possibly even stepping up to help.
I know my lovely bride and I are making the decision to do more. Will you help us?
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Living A Better Story
Please bear with me as I'm going to deviate slightly from my usual blog posts today. If you follow this blog regularly, you know I generally write about my daily struggles as I strive to live into the abundance Jesus promised in John 10:10. My slight deviation will be that in addition to speaking to how I want to view my life, I will also be telling about how attending a conference in Portland, OR this September could help me better achieve a better life "story."
I recently read Don Miller's book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years and was impressed by his understanding of how life is a story we have the ability to control, rather than simply letting life control us. I posted about this on June 30, 2010 in the post Where I Am Right Now. I discussed how so often my life is simply flying by and I'm going to wake up one day and wonder where it all went.
I then ran across a post by Don Miller on his blog (see Don's blog here) about a contest to win a trip to Portland, OR for his upcoming Living a Better Story Seminar (see conference details here). So today I enter that contest with this blog. But before you read my post, please watch the video from Don.
Living a Better Story
My life has changed significantly in the past 8 years. I used to be consumed with the American dream, building a stable "nest egg" for myself and my family. By age 24 I had a house, a truck, a car, and a boat. My good friend and I would spend weekends at the lake, having loaded his two jet skis in the bed of my truck that also towed my 17-1/2 foot jet boat with a 455 Oldsmobile engine. Our lives consisted of fun, sun, and beautiful beaches!
It seemed like I had it all back then, but in reality, I had nothing! Fortunately, I have since learned that true life isn't in seeking personal pleasure, it is in helping others find their path.
Eight years ago I lost my job, it was the second job I'd lost in four months. My new bride and I were now strangers in a new state, with a new home, no friends locally, and a "million miles" from family.
Yes, I'd doubled my income in a matter of three years; but simply having a great paycheck wasn't enough. In doubling my income, we'd also doubled our debt. We were drowning in the American dream!
It was then we truly began to look at our lives and realize something was significantly wrong. We had been striving towards incorrect goals. We both sat down, confessed our sins to our Heavenly Father, and decided on that day we would begin to pursue His goals for our lives.
We decided to "cap" our income, committing to donate everything we earned over and above that level directly to God-related programs. We began the painful process of paying off our mountain of debt, including cutting up our credit cards. We felt lead to open a small business in order to secure our financial future plus ensure we had the ability to fulfill our donations commitment.
God's response to our actions? He spent the next five years cutting our income in half. We didn't grow our income, realize financial independence, and gain the ability to give generously from our excess. Rather, we have almost hit rock bottom, daily struggle to meet our obligations, and often wonder how it all "went wrong."
However, if you follow me, you know that in the midst of the financial fall, we committed to give from what we had, and continue to support three important projects today, despite the significant cuts to our revenue streams.
This brings us to my better story and how the Better Story Seminar can help. I desire to continue to learn how to strive to achieve my goals, despite outside setbacks. I believe that despite the circumstances, my bride and I are on the right path. I believe our lives need to be devoted to helping the less fortunate; finding new ways to share with others; and spread the word that a life devoted to helping the last, least, and lost is the only life worth living.
I believe the insights and new tools I would be introduced to at the Better Story Seminar can be the impetus to help me achieve the next level on my journey. As you see from my June posting, I've kind of hit a rut this year. If you continue to read my daily struggles through July, however, you will also notice that despite continued setbacks I continue to hold on to the promise that better things can be achieved.
If I were to win this contest and be at the seminar in Portland, I hope to find tools that help me remain "on story" even in the midst of life's assaults. I also hope to be able to connect with others and learn their story and how they continue to remain focused in the midst of day-to-day issues. Most importantly, I believe the "high" I would expect from being at a conference with great speakers and others from around the world who also want to live a better story would catapult me further into my story.
It's hard to limit the story and the benefits of a seminar into a blog post; I feel I could type on for an eternity. However, I also realize that simply typing isn't all I'm called to do. I have to also get off the couch, go outside, and interact with those I'm called to help. I hope to see you in Portland so we can share about our successes, our trials, and encourage each other in our stories!
I recently read Don Miller's book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years and was impressed by his understanding of how life is a story we have the ability to control, rather than simply letting life control us. I posted about this on June 30, 2010 in the post Where I Am Right Now. I discussed how so often my life is simply flying by and I'm going to wake up one day and wonder where it all went.
I then ran across a post by Don Miller on his blog (see Don's blog here) about a contest to win a trip to Portland, OR for his upcoming Living a Better Story Seminar (see conference details here). So today I enter that contest with this blog. But before you read my post, please watch the video from Don.
Living a Better Story
My life has changed significantly in the past 8 years. I used to be consumed with the American dream, building a stable "nest egg" for myself and my family. By age 24 I had a house, a truck, a car, and a boat. My good friend and I would spend weekends at the lake, having loaded his two jet skis in the bed of my truck that also towed my 17-1/2 foot jet boat with a 455 Oldsmobile engine. Our lives consisted of fun, sun, and beautiful beaches!
It seemed like I had it all back then, but in reality, I had nothing! Fortunately, I have since learned that true life isn't in seeking personal pleasure, it is in helping others find their path.
Eight years ago I lost my job, it was the second job I'd lost in four months. My new bride and I were now strangers in a new state, with a new home, no friends locally, and a "million miles" from family.
Yes, I'd doubled my income in a matter of three years; but simply having a great paycheck wasn't enough. In doubling my income, we'd also doubled our debt. We were drowning in the American dream!
It was then we truly began to look at our lives and realize something was significantly wrong. We had been striving towards incorrect goals. We both sat down, confessed our sins to our Heavenly Father, and decided on that day we would begin to pursue His goals for our lives.
We decided to "cap" our income, committing to donate everything we earned over and above that level directly to God-related programs. We began the painful process of paying off our mountain of debt, including cutting up our credit cards. We felt lead to open a small business in order to secure our financial future plus ensure we had the ability to fulfill our donations commitment.
God's response to our actions? He spent the next five years cutting our income in half. We didn't grow our income, realize financial independence, and gain the ability to give generously from our excess. Rather, we have almost hit rock bottom, daily struggle to meet our obligations, and often wonder how it all "went wrong."
However, if you follow me, you know that in the midst of the financial fall, we committed to give from what we had, and continue to support three important projects today, despite the significant cuts to our revenue streams.
This brings us to my better story and how the Better Story Seminar can help. I desire to continue to learn how to strive to achieve my goals, despite outside setbacks. I believe that despite the circumstances, my bride and I are on the right path. I believe our lives need to be devoted to helping the less fortunate; finding new ways to share with others; and spread the word that a life devoted to helping the last, least, and lost is the only life worth living.
I believe the insights and new tools I would be introduced to at the Better Story Seminar can be the impetus to help me achieve the next level on my journey. As you see from my June posting, I've kind of hit a rut this year. If you continue to read my daily struggles through July, however, you will also notice that despite continued setbacks I continue to hold on to the promise that better things can be achieved.
If I were to win this contest and be at the seminar in Portland, I hope to find tools that help me remain "on story" even in the midst of life's assaults. I also hope to be able to connect with others and learn their story and how they continue to remain focused in the midst of day-to-day issues. Most importantly, I believe the "high" I would expect from being at a conference with great speakers and others from around the world who also want to live a better story would catapult me further into my story.
It's hard to limit the story and the benefits of a seminar into a blog post; I feel I could type on for an eternity. However, I also realize that simply typing isn't all I'm called to do. I have to also get off the couch, go outside, and interact with those I'm called to help. I hope to see you in Portland so we can share about our successes, our trials, and encourage each other in our stories!
When Did We Forget How to Share?
From our earliest days on earth, we are taught to share. Little children on play dates are always being instructed by their parents to share their toys. In kindergarten, teachers continue the instruction to their charges; share the crayons, share your glue, share.
Even as we grow older, we continue to share. In part, due to the fact there are not enough books for every student, we share text books throughout our education. Some friends share clothes, passing them around their small circle. In college, several of us shared our cars with other students who didn't have a car on campus.
Somewhere in our life, however, this training that was so instilled in us as children is lost. As an adult, I don't remember the last time I shared something of mine, whether it was with a friend or family member.
Yet we are taught by Jesus that everything we have is from our Father in Heaven. The Bible says: "Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live." (I Corinthians 8:6, NIV) So if everything is from the Father, why do we hoard things for ourselves once we become adults?
Shouldn't we follow the teachings from our youth and share? If a friend has need of transportation, shouldn't we let them use our car? If we learn someone needs a place to sleep, shouldn't we offer our "guest bedroom" to them? If we see someone on the street who is hungry, shouldn't we get them some food?
I know you cynics out there will offer many excuses as to why you shouldn't help strangers, especially those who live on the street. And yes, in today's world there are many dangerous people, so I agree care should be taken. But in Hebrews 13:1-3 we read: "Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. Be ready with a meal or a bed when it's needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it! Regard prisoners as if you were in prison with them. Look on victims of abuse as if what happened to them had happened to you." (The Message)
How many times have we missed an opportunity with an angel because we forgot what we learned as children? Find someone with whom to share your riches today, I have a feeling you might just get more out of it than they do!
Even as we grow older, we continue to share. In part, due to the fact there are not enough books for every student, we share text books throughout our education. Some friends share clothes, passing them around their small circle. In college, several of us shared our cars with other students who didn't have a car on campus.
Somewhere in our life, however, this training that was so instilled in us as children is lost. As an adult, I don't remember the last time I shared something of mine, whether it was with a friend or family member.
Yet we are taught by Jesus that everything we have is from our Father in Heaven. The Bible says: "Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live." (I Corinthians 8:6, NIV) So if everything is from the Father, why do we hoard things for ourselves once we become adults?
Shouldn't we follow the teachings from our youth and share? If a friend has need of transportation, shouldn't we let them use our car? If we learn someone needs a place to sleep, shouldn't we offer our "guest bedroom" to them? If we see someone on the street who is hungry, shouldn't we get them some food?
I know you cynics out there will offer many excuses as to why you shouldn't help strangers, especially those who live on the street. And yes, in today's world there are many dangerous people, so I agree care should be taken. But in Hebrews 13:1-3 we read: "Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. Be ready with a meal or a bed when it's needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it! Regard prisoners as if you were in prison with them. Look on victims of abuse as if what happened to them had happened to you." (The Message)
How many times have we missed an opportunity with an angel because we forgot what we learned as children? Find someone with whom to share your riches today, I have a feeling you might just get more out of it than they do!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Sometimes Trouble Comes Our Way
I mentioned in a recent post I've been reading the book of Judges each morning for my daily time with God. Judges is a hard book to understand sometimes. There are stories that make you sit back and ask, "How am I supposed to glean some spiritual insights from this? How does this story of death, mayhem, and debauchery help me become a better Christian?
Judges 19 - 20 is just one such passage. A Levite takes a concubine. She then leaves him and returns to her father's house. The Levite pursues her and after several days at her father's house (which in and of itself is a confusing tale), begins the long journey home. Not having enough daylight to make the entire journey, the traveling group spends the night in Gibeah (a city of the tribe of Benjamin).
During the night, the men of Gibeah come to the house where the Levite and his group are staying and demand the owner of the house send the Levite out so they may "have sex with him," Judges 19:22 (God's Word Translation). The owner of the house tells the men they should not do this wicked thing to his guest and offers his virgin daughter to them instead. The men refuse, and only after the concubine has been sent out do the men leave.
The following morning the Levite gets up to prepare to leave and finds his concubine laying dead at the door. He takes her home, cuts her into twelve pieces, and distributes the pieces to the twelve tribes of Israel; (it's in the bible people, check it out for yourself).
The tribes of Israel assemble and ask, "Tell us how such an evil thing could happen," Judges 20:3 (God's Word Translation). The Levite tells the story and the people say they will attack Benjamin.
Prior to making the final preparations for war, the tribes pray to God and ask, "'Who will go first to fight Benjamin?' The Lord answered, 'Judah will go first.'" (Judges 20:18, God's Word Translation)
Israel attacks with Judah in the front and the much smaller force from Benjamin routes them, killing 22,000 men the first day. Israel cries out to God, "'Should we continue to wage war against our close relatives, the men of Benjamin?' The Lord answered, 'Go fight them!'" (Judges 20:23, God's Word Translation)
On the second day, Israel (remember, they are following God's directions here) attacks Benjamin. Once again, the much smaller force of Benjamin (Israel brought 400,000 soldiers, Benjamin had 26,700 men) routed their Israelite brothers, killing another 18,000 men.
That evening, the men of Israel retreated and came to the Ark of the Lord where they "fasted that day until evening then they sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord." (Judges 20:26, God's Word Translation) After a day of fasting and sacrifice, the Israelites asked God if they should continue the battle and He responded, "'Go! Tomorrow I will hand them over to you.'" (Judges 20:28, God's Word Translation)
The men of Israel had assembled to "right a wrong" done in their country. Prior to marching, they had sought God's council and followed His directions. Despite taking the appropriate steps, 40,000 men lost their lives in battle as a much smaller force routed them. If anyone had a right to cry, "God, why do the godless prosper when the Godly perish?" it was this group of Israelite soldiers.
As I prayed to ask God why this story exists this morning, I heard "sometimes trouble comes our way." There are Christians out there who preach that once you become a Christian, with enough faith, only blessings will come. Follow God and you will receive untold riches, blessings, and be healthy.
To them I say, read Judges 19 - 20. These men followed God, offered sacrifices, they even fasted. And yet they were routed by a smaller, evil force. Or read the books of Paul. Did ever a more zealous, Godly man live? Yet he was beaten, shipwrecked, hungry, and endured a "thorn in the flesh" that God refused to remove. If the Apostle Paul cannot get God's healing, how much faith does it take?
Yes, God is in control. But despite that, sometimes bad things come our way. They may simply be to show us that God is in control. Imagine if the Israelite army had won on the first day. The victory would not have been God's it would have been theirs. However, because they took three days, there was no question who brought the victory.
My wife and I have spent five years praying and asking God to bless us so we can in turn bless those around us. I finally came to the conclusion that I needed to bless those around us with the means God had given us right now, and not wait until I had more. Has God responded by growing our wealth, giving us more with which to bless others? No, He has actually continued to shrink our income, shrink our assets, and I think shrink our influence. Yet we remain faithful, continuing to fund the initiatives we started a few years ago despite the smaller income.
Times are tough, funds are tight, we are behind on some important bills. But each month we give our first fruits to God, add the offerings we committed to the causes we feel are appropriate based on God's teaching, and then pray the rest is sufficient to meet our needs.
Sometimes trouble comes our way. The true test of our Christianity is how we react in those times. Are you facing trouble victoriously or have you caved in to humanistic fears? Turn back to Jesus, call to him for forgiveness and follow his teachings. Then you have the opportunity to achieve victory!
Judges 19 - 20 is just one such passage. A Levite takes a concubine. She then leaves him and returns to her father's house. The Levite pursues her and after several days at her father's house (which in and of itself is a confusing tale), begins the long journey home. Not having enough daylight to make the entire journey, the traveling group spends the night in Gibeah (a city of the tribe of Benjamin).
During the night, the men of Gibeah come to the house where the Levite and his group are staying and demand the owner of the house send the Levite out so they may "have sex with him," Judges 19:22 (God's Word Translation). The owner of the house tells the men they should not do this wicked thing to his guest and offers his virgin daughter to them instead. The men refuse, and only after the concubine has been sent out do the men leave.
The following morning the Levite gets up to prepare to leave and finds his concubine laying dead at the door. He takes her home, cuts her into twelve pieces, and distributes the pieces to the twelve tribes of Israel; (it's in the bible people, check it out for yourself).
The tribes of Israel assemble and ask, "Tell us how such an evil thing could happen," Judges 20:3 (God's Word Translation). The Levite tells the story and the people say they will attack Benjamin.
Prior to making the final preparations for war, the tribes pray to God and ask, "'Who will go first to fight Benjamin?' The Lord answered, 'Judah will go first.'" (Judges 20:18, God's Word Translation)
Israel attacks with Judah in the front and the much smaller force from Benjamin routes them, killing 22,000 men the first day. Israel cries out to God, "'Should we continue to wage war against our close relatives, the men of Benjamin?' The Lord answered, 'Go fight them!'" (Judges 20:23, God's Word Translation)
On the second day, Israel (remember, they are following God's directions here) attacks Benjamin. Once again, the much smaller force of Benjamin (Israel brought 400,000 soldiers, Benjamin had 26,700 men) routed their Israelite brothers, killing another 18,000 men.
That evening, the men of Israel retreated and came to the Ark of the Lord where they "fasted that day until evening then they sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord." (Judges 20:26, God's Word Translation) After a day of fasting and sacrifice, the Israelites asked God if they should continue the battle and He responded, "'Go! Tomorrow I will hand them over to you.'" (Judges 20:28, God's Word Translation)
The men of Israel had assembled to "right a wrong" done in their country. Prior to marching, they had sought God's council and followed His directions. Despite taking the appropriate steps, 40,000 men lost their lives in battle as a much smaller force routed them. If anyone had a right to cry, "God, why do the godless prosper when the Godly perish?" it was this group of Israelite soldiers.
As I prayed to ask God why this story exists this morning, I heard "sometimes trouble comes our way." There are Christians out there who preach that once you become a Christian, with enough faith, only blessings will come. Follow God and you will receive untold riches, blessings, and be healthy.
To them I say, read Judges 19 - 20. These men followed God, offered sacrifices, they even fasted. And yet they were routed by a smaller, evil force. Or read the books of Paul. Did ever a more zealous, Godly man live? Yet he was beaten, shipwrecked, hungry, and endured a "thorn in the flesh" that God refused to remove. If the Apostle Paul cannot get God's healing, how much faith does it take?
Yes, God is in control. But despite that, sometimes bad things come our way. They may simply be to show us that God is in control. Imagine if the Israelite army had won on the first day. The victory would not have been God's it would have been theirs. However, because they took three days, there was no question who brought the victory.
My wife and I have spent five years praying and asking God to bless us so we can in turn bless those around us. I finally came to the conclusion that I needed to bless those around us with the means God had given us right now, and not wait until I had more. Has God responded by growing our wealth, giving us more with which to bless others? No, He has actually continued to shrink our income, shrink our assets, and I think shrink our influence. Yet we remain faithful, continuing to fund the initiatives we started a few years ago despite the smaller income.
Times are tough, funds are tight, we are behind on some important bills. But each month we give our first fruits to God, add the offerings we committed to the causes we feel are appropriate based on God's teaching, and then pray the rest is sufficient to meet our needs.
Sometimes trouble comes our way. The true test of our Christianity is how we react in those times. Are you facing trouble victoriously or have you caved in to humanistic fears? Turn back to Jesus, call to him for forgiveness and follow his teachings. Then you have the opportunity to achieve victory!
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