I have spent most of the afternoon doing Internet maintenance things.
Such as setting up a Facebook page and account so that I could join the Christian Bloggers Network.
Joining the Christian Bloggers Network.
Working on Loralie's Indieheaven page.
Finding old friends and family to link to in the these various accounts.
In some ways, this all seems like a black hole, a big time waster. But I am taking precautions and setting up boundaries so that they can't suck me too dry. I used an e-mail account that I can only access after work and on weekends. And I am keeping in mind that the goal of all this is to put me in contact with others so that relationships can develop.
So i don't feel like I am wasting my time. But I was reminded that I need to have boundaries in other areas of my life so that I don't get sucked in to things that are not furthering the kingdom of God. Limiting what I watch on TV and in movies and what books and magazines I read.
Where I go and when and who I spend time with.
Do I still follow the policy of not being alone with another woman other than my wife, daughter or mother?
Boundaries are not confining. When set early, they free us for if we know where the boundaries are we can stay well away from them and enjoy all that God has to offer us.
It's when we flirt with and test the boundaries that we seem to find a way to climb over, under or through and then we get into trouble.
Wasted of time? No.
I think I was reminded of something important today.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Corporate Repentance
Corporate repentance.
I am not sure that is the correct term for it but it is the best I can come up with right now.
What I mean by "Corporate Repentance" is the idea of a group repenting of sins.
The Old Testament is full of examples of this. The Israelites turned often from God and He called them back. They had to humble themselves and turn again to God to find His favor. The Ninevites also repented as a nation (Book of Jonah).
As individuals we are told to repent. I think that it is also important that when a church or other body sins and doesn't follow God the body as a whole needs to repent. I need to repent of my sin as a part of the body, but the body also needs to acknowledge that they have fallen short of God's will.
This is a tough thing to do especially if the group or its leaders think that they are operating in God's will. But I think all too often we confuse what we can do in our humanness and own abilities with God's provision and plan.
And when we do that we have sinned.
And when we sin we need to acknowledge that sin and ask for forgiveness.
Whether it is as an individual, a small group, a church, a denomination, a city or a nation.
I am not sure that is the correct term for it but it is the best I can come up with right now.
What I mean by "Corporate Repentance" is the idea of a group repenting of sins.
The Old Testament is full of examples of this. The Israelites turned often from God and He called them back. They had to humble themselves and turn again to God to find His favor. The Ninevites also repented as a nation (Book of Jonah).
As individuals we are told to repent. I think that it is also important that when a church or other body sins and doesn't follow God the body as a whole needs to repent. I need to repent of my sin as a part of the body, but the body also needs to acknowledge that they have fallen short of God's will.
This is a tough thing to do especially if the group or its leaders think that they are operating in God's will. But I think all too often we confuse what we can do in our humanness and own abilities with God's provision and plan.
And when we do that we have sinned.
And when we sin we need to acknowledge that sin and ask for forgiveness.
Whether it is as an individual, a small group, a church, a denomination, a city or a nation.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Halo
OK, I confess: I like to play video games.
Kind of different for a guy of my advancing age, but I do enjoy them.
I get a real sense of accomplishment when I finish one.
I finished Halo 3 (Christmas gift from my son) tonight.
Great game. Looking forward to Halo Wars in March and Halo 3: Orbital Drop Shock Trooper in November (hopefully).
But that's not my point.
As I played through Halo 3, there were several points that for me were pretty tough to get past. One was where the two Scarab tanks drop in and have to be destroyed while flying in the Hornet (if you don't know what I am talking about that is OK, just bear with me). It took me over 50 times to get past it. Pretty frustrating.
I was reminded of this process of God's work in out lives. We are going along and we make a mistake. I can not progress until the problem is fixed. It might take me failing 50 or 100 or more times until I learn the lesson. If I keep doing the same thing I will keep getting the same results. But if I turn to the Lord for help and rely on Him I can get through the tough spots.
And just like a video game, there are usually more tough spots ahead.
I can quit and put the game aside. But it gnaws at me. I want to finish and I want to finish as strong as I can.
I can give up the Christian life and try to live the way the world wants me to, but the Holy Spirit will keep gnawing at me until I pay attention. And I want to finish as strong as I can.
Most of the popular video games have strategy guides to help find the way. Even with a strategy guide, I still make lots of mistakes and lose my way and run into road blocks. Sometimes I have to call my son for help in getting past the real tough spots.
God has also given us a strategy guide: The Bible. But even more than the Bible he has given us a strategy guide interpreter: the Holy Spirit.
And if I pay attention to both, I have a much better chance of getting past those trouble spots and getting to the end.
Kind of different for a guy of my advancing age, but I do enjoy them.
I get a real sense of accomplishment when I finish one.
I finished Halo 3 (Christmas gift from my son) tonight.
Great game. Looking forward to Halo Wars in March and Halo 3: Orbital Drop Shock Trooper in November (hopefully).
But that's not my point.
As I played through Halo 3, there were several points that for me were pretty tough to get past. One was where the two Scarab tanks drop in and have to be destroyed while flying in the Hornet (if you don't know what I am talking about that is OK, just bear with me). It took me over 50 times to get past it. Pretty frustrating.
I was reminded of this process of God's work in out lives. We are going along and we make a mistake. I can not progress until the problem is fixed. It might take me failing 50 or 100 or more times until I learn the lesson. If I keep doing the same thing I will keep getting the same results. But if I turn to the Lord for help and rely on Him I can get through the tough spots.
And just like a video game, there are usually more tough spots ahead.
I can quit and put the game aside. But it gnaws at me. I want to finish and I want to finish as strong as I can.
I can give up the Christian life and try to live the way the world wants me to, but the Holy Spirit will keep gnawing at me until I pay attention. And I want to finish as strong as I can.
Most of the popular video games have strategy guides to help find the way. Even with a strategy guide, I still make lots of mistakes and lose my way and run into road blocks. Sometimes I have to call my son for help in getting past the real tough spots.
God has also given us a strategy guide: The Bible. But even more than the Bible he has given us a strategy guide interpreter: the Holy Spirit.
And if I pay attention to both, I have a much better chance of getting past those trouble spots and getting to the end.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Living Water: Lessons from Esau 2
One of my goals for the years is to read three chapters a day of the Bible.
One of the chapters for today is Hebrews 2.
I was struck by how closely it relates to the Lessons from Esau from Living Water.
The chapter starts: We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
And it ends: Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
In between is the case for Christ as a man and as God, but those two verses struck me as being directly related to Living Water.
See, I don't think we pay careful attention to what we have heard. All too often we take it for granted. We don't chew on it and mull it over and ponder. The sermons and Bible studies and radio and TV shows and conferences are all really nice but we don't let them impact our lives,(And to be honest some of them we shouldn't let impact our lives). We just slowly fade away from our faith.
We forget too that Christ was a man, tempted as we are tempted. He was sinless and he overcame that temptation. We try to overcome the temptations in our lives through our own strength and we turn to the Lord as a last resort...if we remember to turn to Him at all.
How sad it is to forget what we have heard and not use the tools that God has given us and slowly fade away to a dirty shade of beige...
One of the chapters for today is Hebrews 2.
I was struck by how closely it relates to the Lessons from Esau from Living Water.
The chapter starts: We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
And it ends: Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
In between is the case for Christ as a man and as God, but those two verses struck me as being directly related to Living Water.
See, I don't think we pay careful attention to what we have heard. All too often we take it for granted. We don't chew on it and mull it over and ponder. The sermons and Bible studies and radio and TV shows and conferences are all really nice but we don't let them impact our lives,(And to be honest some of them we shouldn't let impact our lives). We just slowly fade away from our faith.
We forget too that Christ was a man, tempted as we are tempted. He was sinless and he overcame that temptation. We try to overcome the temptations in our lives through our own strength and we turn to the Lord as a last resort...if we remember to turn to Him at all.
How sad it is to forget what we have heard and not use the tools that God has given us and slowly fade away to a dirty shade of beige...
Monday, January 26, 2009
Living Water: Lessons from Esau
The next chapter of Living Water by Brother Yun is Lessons from Esau.
I hadn't thought too much of Esau as having lessons for me before now.
I always thought that Esau was one of those Old Testament stories that is nice to read about how Jacob stole Esau's inheritance.
Brother Yun points out that there are lessons to be learned.
The Bible says that Esau: "despised his birthright" (Genesis 25:34).
This relates to us today. God has given us a tremendous gift of eternal life. And yet all too often I despise it for a "bowl of stew."
Esau wanted that bowl of stew to satisfy his own desires, his immediate needs of the flesh. When I satisfy the immediate needs of my flesh at the expense of my walk with God, I am doing the same thing as Esau.
There are so many stories in the news of Christian leaders who have given into the immediate needs of the flesh and been caught at it. Their testimony is damaged and the world's view of the church suffers for it. In fact, many times it seems as if the world takes glee at the downfall of the Christian.
And while we often think of the needs of the flesh as being sexual, it is not always true. Our "bowl of stew" may be prestige, food, money, toys, sleep, golf, career or any other thing that we put between us and God's call for our lives.
Brother Yun points out that "it is only the grace of God that can help and train us to overcome temptation." This is so easy to forget. I too often try to do things in my own strength and ability because after all, I am an American Man. I have an image to uphold.
And the other thing I take away from this is not only can I lose my way but churches and nations can lose their way. Churches trade their birthright to be Politically Correct instead of being Christ Correct. Or making people be comfortable instead of confronting them with the truth of the Gospel. Or of being the biggest or the most popular.
I must remember I have to let go and let God be God. For no matter what structures and rules I put in place they will fail me unless I am relying on God's grace to get me through the trials and temptations that I don't have to look very far to see.
And I must always take heed lest I fall.
I hadn't thought too much of Esau as having lessons for me before now.
I always thought that Esau was one of those Old Testament stories that is nice to read about how Jacob stole Esau's inheritance.
Brother Yun points out that there are lessons to be learned.
The Bible says that Esau: "despised his birthright" (Genesis 25:34).
This relates to us today. God has given us a tremendous gift of eternal life. And yet all too often I despise it for a "bowl of stew."
Esau wanted that bowl of stew to satisfy his own desires, his immediate needs of the flesh. When I satisfy the immediate needs of my flesh at the expense of my walk with God, I am doing the same thing as Esau.
There are so many stories in the news of Christian leaders who have given into the immediate needs of the flesh and been caught at it. Their testimony is damaged and the world's view of the church suffers for it. In fact, many times it seems as if the world takes glee at the downfall of the Christian.
And while we often think of the needs of the flesh as being sexual, it is not always true. Our "bowl of stew" may be prestige, food, money, toys, sleep, golf, career or any other thing that we put between us and God's call for our lives.
Brother Yun points out that "it is only the grace of God that can help and train us to overcome temptation." This is so easy to forget. I too often try to do things in my own strength and ability because after all, I am an American Man. I have an image to uphold.
And the other thing I take away from this is not only can I lose my way but churches and nations can lose their way. Churches trade their birthright to be Politically Correct instead of being Christ Correct. Or making people be comfortable instead of confronting them with the truth of the Gospel. Or of being the biggest or the most popular.
I must remember I have to let go and let God be God. For no matter what structures and rules I put in place they will fail me unless I am relying on God's grace to get me through the trials and temptations that I don't have to look very far to see.
And I must always take heed lest I fall.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Bad to Better
I was talking with a friend after church today.
He made an interesting comment: "I can conjure up a worst case scenario in my head that is twisted and convoluted and almost impossible to happen and imagine that it is the only possible outcome."
How true! I am just like him. I often find myself fixating on the one least likely outcome of the stituation rather than what is most likely to happen. I lose sleep and worry over what I can not control.
And you are probably just like me and my friend Dave.
Chances are, in the middle of a dark situation, things will get better. Don't get me wrong: sometimes they get worse. But sometimes they get better in ways that we don't expect and weren't looking for.
And my worrying about them and losing sleep hasn't helped one bit.
He made an interesting comment: "I can conjure up a worst case scenario in my head that is twisted and convoluted and almost impossible to happen and imagine that it is the only possible outcome."
How true! I am just like him. I often find myself fixating on the one least likely outcome of the stituation rather than what is most likely to happen. I lose sleep and worry over what I can not control.
And you are probably just like me and my friend Dave.
Chances are, in the middle of a dark situation, things will get better. Don't get me wrong: sometimes they get worse. But sometimes they get better in ways that we don't expect and weren't looking for.
And my worrying about them and losing sleep hasn't helped one bit.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Calm Assertiveness
We've occasionally been catching The Dog Whisperer on National Geographic Channel on cable lately.
Very interesting to see Ceasar Milan get a dog to respond to him as "pack leader" in just a few minutes and change all types of bad behavior in a short period.
The dog owners often are nervous dealing with their own pets. The dog is able to pick up on the owner's insecurity and acts insecure in turn. Ceasar sometimes spends as much time training the owners as the he does training the dogs.
One of the key things that he preaches is "Calm Assertiveness." This is being calm and assertive around the animal in order to keep the animal calm and submissive.
We've been working with our dog to implement some of these strategies and get her to behave better especially on walks. Nikki has a tough time dealing with meeting other dogs.
I am finding that as I try and stay calm and assertive, she does a much better on the walks. Nikki doesn't pull as hard or try to go running of as much as she did in the past. It is much easier for me to keep her at my side. We're still working on meeting other dogs, but I am much more comfortable taking her out on walks.
But I am also finding that I can think of using the idea of calm assertiveness in others areas of my life. When I am in a tense situation , I find myself reminding myself to stay calm and assertive where appropriate. I am not getting so worked up about things and letting them rattle me. And I am trying to keep things in perspective.
Interesting how a pet show can influence our human behavior.
Very interesting to see Ceasar Milan get a dog to respond to him as "pack leader" in just a few minutes and change all types of bad behavior in a short period.
The dog owners often are nervous dealing with their own pets. The dog is able to pick up on the owner's insecurity and acts insecure in turn. Ceasar sometimes spends as much time training the owners as the he does training the dogs.
One of the key things that he preaches is "Calm Assertiveness." This is being calm and assertive around the animal in order to keep the animal calm and submissive.
We've been working with our dog to implement some of these strategies and get her to behave better especially on walks. Nikki has a tough time dealing with meeting other dogs.
I am finding that as I try and stay calm and assertive, she does a much better on the walks. Nikki doesn't pull as hard or try to go running of as much as she did in the past. It is much easier for me to keep her at my side. We're still working on meeting other dogs, but I am much more comfortable taking her out on walks.
But I am also finding that I can think of using the idea of calm assertiveness in others areas of my life. When I am in a tense situation , I find myself reminding myself to stay calm and assertive where appropriate. I am not getting so worked up about things and letting them rattle me. And I am trying to keep things in perspective.
Interesting how a pet show can influence our human behavior.
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