I am what you would call, an "emotional guy". The bottom line is that I wear my emotions on my sleeve for all the world to see. It took me many years to come to terms with this, and realize that it truly is how the Lord created me. When I accepted that I was not the type to hold in everything, my life became much easier, and I had much more peace in my view of myself and the world around me.
One thing I am learning is that each person is unique. God created them in the exact way He wanted, and gave them the specific characteristics that make them who they are. I think that many times, one of the largest barriers we have with others is that we try to figure others out, based on the perspective of life that we have. When we view a response from another person that we can't understand, most of the time we view that action as being in some way incorrect. (Even if we don't outwardly say it). As I walk through life, I am trying more and more to try to acquire the understanding of the perspective of the people around me. How do I do this? Well, as I mentioned when I first started writing, I am what you would call a tad bit emotional, from that I must realize that the majority of those I am around will not have as much emotion coming into play when they deal with a decision. Therefore, the rational, and thought process that they face when coming to decision will be different than mine. While I can probably relate to the having to make a certain decision, there is probably not much of a common ground when it comes to the way the mind works while forming the final conclusion. What does all this mean in simple language?
Honestly, I don't really know, but in the end one thing I am sure of is that the Lord created everyone unique. There has never been anyone He created, or that He will create that will take your place in His eyes. His relationship with you, is His relationship with you, it is special to Him, unique to Him, and the way in which he relates to you is different and unique from the way He relates to anyone else ever made! How Awesome is that. As the old saying goes, "He meets us where we are at", but he also walks with us to the place where he wants us to go.
With all that being said, the thought of how important each person is to God, makes me respect them, and their uniqueness all the more. They were created to serve a special purpose for the Lord that only they can serve, and He loves them so much that He died for them. Shouldn't I have a similar attitude for anyone and everyone on this Earth? Shouldn't I try to respect them for how God created them, even if it doesn't make much sense to me? After all, the Lord loves them perfectly, just how they were created, and He finds a tremendous amount of beauty in the way they think, act, and make decisions.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Distractions, Distractions, Distractions
Could it be that we supplement our lives with constant distractions, in order to ignore the pain that pulses through our veins every hour of every day? Could it be that we have been born into a society and culture that has brain washed us into believing that there is no such thing as "peace"? Could it be that we actually believe that in the end the only hope we have of making it is by finding something with which we can drown out the constant barrage of painful thoughts, emotions, and hurts that have been built up over a quarter century of life? Could it be that our hearts, souls and minds are filled to overflowing with hollow promises of materialism, prosperity, and the self-made man/woman mentality?
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2
Everywhere you turn there is something to distract you from facing your pain. Television, Internet, movies, shopping, radio, and on and on and on. Why on Earth would would we ever want to SIT STILL and WAIT and LISTEN to that "still small voice", when there are so many other so called "interesting and fun things" to get our mind off of our own pitiful existence? We don't feel the need to be saved, when in the end we have the ability to convince ourselves that we are really not that bad off......I mean we have all the advantages in the World! We are the "me" generation. We have seen technology advance beyond our parents wildest imagination. Space has been explored, the Cold War has ended, we have the strongest, richest, and most prosperous nation under the sun, and we are in line to be the next generation of leaders. Why on Earth would we want to take time to stop, be still, and listen to something that may actually point out to us that we are not that which we have convinced ourselves that we are? We might find that in reality all that we have is not from us, by us, or for us,...we might find out that we in the end our not the one's in control, we might find out that everything does not revolve around what we "feel" is right, and that there is no such thing as relativism!
The ironic thing about all of this is that our souls have been crying out to us to find PEACE, and through all of the distractions with which we have searched to find it, we have in the end only found more chaos. In all the running, and searching, we have become convinced that there is only a partial glimpse of peace that can be found on this Earth, and that the best we can do is distract ourselves from facing the reality of our finite existence.
There is a place where peace can be found.
There is hope.
The only thing you need to overcome is yourself.
Start over, learning the truth about the one thing you have always fooled yourself into thinking would not be the answer.
Begin in the beginning...John 1:1
Jesus is the word.
The word made flesh.
He is just as much alive today as he was prior to his crucifixion.
Do you know who he is?
Or do you just convince yourself you do?
He is the way, the truth, and the life.
He is the Prince of Peace.
He can't be found in the television, movies, shopping, Internet, or any other place that you may turn to for peace from your hurt.
He is found in His Word.
The simple book that has been around much longer than you, and which will abide forever. The little book that for so many years you have ignored, and said you would read someday.
Where is the peace? Where is true freedom? Where is God's will for your life? The same place it has always been...in his word.
The Simple, but Perfect Word of God.
"The Heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"
Jeremiah 17:9
Are you going to trust your own heart? It will deceive you. Truth is from God, and is eternal and perfect. The only way to know it, is to seek it. It does not change. It changes what it touches.
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2
Everywhere you turn there is something to distract you from facing your pain. Television, Internet, movies, shopping, radio, and on and on and on. Why on Earth would would we ever want to SIT STILL and WAIT and LISTEN to that "still small voice", when there are so many other so called "interesting and fun things" to get our mind off of our own pitiful existence? We don't feel the need to be saved, when in the end we have the ability to convince ourselves that we are really not that bad off......I mean we have all the advantages in the World! We are the "me" generation. We have seen technology advance beyond our parents wildest imagination. Space has been explored, the Cold War has ended, we have the strongest, richest, and most prosperous nation under the sun, and we are in line to be the next generation of leaders. Why on Earth would we want to take time to stop, be still, and listen to something that may actually point out to us that we are not that which we have convinced ourselves that we are? We might find that in reality all that we have is not from us, by us, or for us,...we might find out that we in the end our not the one's in control, we might find out that everything does not revolve around what we "feel" is right, and that there is no such thing as relativism!
The ironic thing about all of this is that our souls have been crying out to us to find PEACE, and through all of the distractions with which we have searched to find it, we have in the end only found more chaos. In all the running, and searching, we have become convinced that there is only a partial glimpse of peace that can be found on this Earth, and that the best we can do is distract ourselves from facing the reality of our finite existence.
There is a place where peace can be found.
There is hope.
The only thing you need to overcome is yourself.
Start over, learning the truth about the one thing you have always fooled yourself into thinking would not be the answer.
Begin in the beginning...John 1:1
Jesus is the word.
The word made flesh.
He is just as much alive today as he was prior to his crucifixion.
Do you know who he is?
Or do you just convince yourself you do?
He is the way, the truth, and the life.
He is the Prince of Peace.
He can't be found in the television, movies, shopping, Internet, or any other place that you may turn to for peace from your hurt.
He is found in His Word.
The simple book that has been around much longer than you, and which will abide forever. The little book that for so many years you have ignored, and said you would read someday.
Where is the peace? Where is true freedom? Where is God's will for your life? The same place it has always been...in his word.
The Simple, but Perfect Word of God.
"The Heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"
Jeremiah 17:9
Are you going to trust your own heart? It will deceive you. Truth is from God, and is eternal and perfect. The only way to know it, is to seek it. It does not change. It changes what it touches.
Monday, December 11, 2006
One Awesome Weekend
After two months of planning, coordinating, and praying, Dallas One has arrived and left. Saturday was an incredible day of service, fellowship, and worship with over 500 young singles from the DFW metroplex participating.(Over 60 churches were represented).
My day began at 8:00 am, when I stopped in to get Krispy Kremes for my team mates. I then proceeded down to meet my team for a few hours of work, before I had to head off to manage the other teams I was responsible for. At about 12:00, the other teams started on their projects, and from that moment on, I was in trouble shooting mode. The one thing I strongly remember about the many details that needed to be addressed, was the amazing way that the Lord seemed to work them out right in front of my eyes. I probably received 25 phone calls within about a 20 minute span, and they all seemed to be addressed within an hour or two.
While I could go into detail after detail, I feel the best thing to write about is the amazing take aways from the day.
1. It was a very powerful day of worship through service, there were many who were blessed through the tremendous efforts of young singles from all over DFW.
2. The Body of Christ was reaching out and showing love to hundreds of people in hundreds of ways.
3. The stereotypical "slacker generation" label was proven 100% inappropriate for the labeling of this group of generation x'ers.
4. It was one of those days in your life you know you will never forget.
Thank you for all the prayers and support. Life has suddenly slowed down quite drastically, and I should be able to post with more frequency now.
My day began at 8:00 am, when I stopped in to get Krispy Kremes for my team mates. I then proceeded down to meet my team for a few hours of work, before I had to head off to manage the other teams I was responsible for. At about 12:00, the other teams started on their projects, and from that moment on, I was in trouble shooting mode. The one thing I strongly remember about the many details that needed to be addressed, was the amazing way that the Lord seemed to work them out right in front of my eyes. I probably received 25 phone calls within about a 20 minute span, and they all seemed to be addressed within an hour or two.
While I could go into detail after detail, I feel the best thing to write about is the amazing take aways from the day.
1. It was a very powerful day of worship through service, there were many who were blessed through the tremendous efforts of young singles from all over DFW.
2. The Body of Christ was reaching out and showing love to hundreds of people in hundreds of ways.
3. The stereotypical "slacker generation" label was proven 100% inappropriate for the labeling of this group of generation x'ers.
4. It was one of those days in your life you know you will never forget.
Thank you for all the prayers and support. Life has suddenly slowed down quite drastically, and I should be able to post with more frequency now.
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