This is the second night this week I have worked on this post. I started it this last Sunday night. Warning that it is a little long and rambles some. Sometimes it helps my mind to just get thoughts out of my head.
I went to church today at the church I have visited the past few times I have been up there in Arkansas. Honestly I did not want to go. Once I get into my sleep schedule up here, it is often hard when something messes it up. I work 6 PM to 6 AM, get to sleep about 6:30, and wake up between 11:30 and 12:00. I stay up for a couple of hours, reading, checking email, whatever, then go back to sleep about 2:00 to wake up at 5:30.
Well on Sundays I have to get up at 9:00 and that is hard in the first place, after being up all night with only 2 hours of sleep. What got me going is the fact that I need to be a witness to the guys out here. I have gone to church before, and they know that I am a Christian, so it would be inconsistent of me to not go.
Even when I got to church, during worship, I was thinking I would really like to be back at Living Hope. I miss church at home.
During the preaching though a couple of things happened. First off the pastor started what felt like was an addendum to the sermon. It did not seem to fit with the sermon at all. He mentioned money and that you cannot out give God. He told how at a PK conference a speaker spoke about the amount of debt 60000 men represented, and how that should not be the case. So he determined to get out of debt. He was able to on an unexpected gift, even after God told him to contribute to the church’s building fund from his retirement account. He mentioned the word “hope”, which has been on my mind lately. In fact I read just last night in I Timothy to not put your hope in deceitful riches, but to put it in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
I have been struggling a little bit lately with what is next in my life. I am in a position I have never been in before. I know without a doubt the money I can make in the oilfield, and have a good idea that I could make plenty with further investments whether I stay in the oilfield or not. So I have been trying to decide how much energy and focus I should give to that, or even if I should.
My thinking has changed over the past few years. First was the no debt thing, gotten directly to me from the Bible. And for me that includes my house, so that is what I am working for. But I have been asking and just started looking at what the Bible says about accumulating money and financial independence. I have seen that true wealth or financial independence is having more in passive income than what you spend. But is that what we as Christians are supposed to strive for even if it is possible? I have gotten the idea lately that no it is not. And the idea of “Well, I could do so much with that money, time, etc!” comes to mind. But our trust, our hope must be in God, so while I believe that financial independence is not wrong, I do think that it is wrong to strive for that, to put our hope in that.
Side note: Speaking of hope – I was talking to mom about the hurricane and evacuees. (And seeing it again now with the government “bailout of Wall Street”) And I could not get over how some people put their hope in FEMA or the government. Their hope for a better life is found in the only thing they know, the government.
That just should not be the case. Our hope should be in Jesus, and the Church especially should be demonstrating that. And I just do not think we are doing that very effectively. I know for myself, I am making very good money with what I am doing, and I am scared to think of how I am going to live, if I were to quit and pursue what I know I am supposed to be doing – teaching. Lack of trust in myself.
So to get back to the second thing that happened in church that affected me… I was sitting next to a man and his 3 year old son. During the sermon I glanced over at his son next to me, back to the pastor, leaning on the seat of the chair, just closing his Bible and I heard the phrase “… and I treasure it.” What 3 year old uses the word treasure? What adult uses it? It just totally caught me off guard. Did I actually hear him say that? And then to compound the point, at the invitation he looks up at his dad and says that he is going to go and pray. So he does, as his dad follows behind to pray beside him.
It just seems strange to me that God would take the time to orchestrate two or three little things to encourage me in something as small as not wanting to go to church or even in just having the wrong attitude towards it. Honestly it blows my mind. I do believe that He does work in our lives daily, but that can be easily said or believed, and not seen.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Book Review: Desire by John Eldredge
Background: I just finished this one this week. I have not been on a good reading schedule, and am trying to clean that up. I have started and am in the middle of about 5 books. Not a good habit. So I have been reading Desire for the past 5+ weeks. I liked Eldredge’s Wild at Heart (and am reading that for the second time), so got this one as well.
Overall I liked the book, but was not captured by it. The main idea is that we cannot ignore or kill or give in to substitutes of our desires. Our desires must be protected for what they really are: the real, the eternal. He also had a very good description of heaven. Explaining how the American notion of heaven (and mine) is dominated by a very vague, not all that exciting place, but that it is better than the alternative. And yet it is so much more.
Eldredge asks us to examine our desires to see what they really are. Are we just giving in to easy substitutes the world provides? Or have we just killed any and all desires to be “spiritual”? Or are we truly seeking the desires God has instilled in us, which are for Him?
I probably should have read it more consistently to have gotten the most out of it. And therefore I would recommend it, but not highly.
Overall I liked the book, but was not captured by it. The main idea is that we cannot ignore or kill or give in to substitutes of our desires. Our desires must be protected for what they really are: the real, the eternal. He also had a very good description of heaven. Explaining how the American notion of heaven (and mine) is dominated by a very vague, not all that exciting place, but that it is better than the alternative. And yet it is so much more.
Eldredge asks us to examine our desires to see what they really are. Are we just giving in to easy substitutes the world provides? Or have we just killed any and all desires to be “spiritual”? Or are we truly seeking the desires God has instilled in us, which are for Him?
I probably should have read it more consistently to have gotten the most out of it. And therefore I would recommend it, but not highly.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
First of Book Reviews - Do Hard Things
I decided to add book reviews to my blog. I have started reading a lot more in the past few months and have enjoyed it. So to futher cement the book in my mind as well as share with family & friends what I am learning/studying/enjoying, I decided to write reviews. So here is the first:
Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris
Background: I heard about this book first from Mark Henry as he was teaching on Sunday night, or perhaps leading prayer at church. I then ran across their website off a news story by Yahoo. I went to the website, and liked what I saw, so I ordered the book, just in time to pass time with the hurricane as I got back from work.
First reading I read quickly, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Very challenging. At first there was some “teenage” language that I was bothered by, but it is a book by teens for teens. And that language changed as the book progressed. The message however transcends age, which I really like.
I am currently reading it for a second time. A little more slowly. It basically challenges teens to not settle for the low expectations our culture has for them. The challenge is to do the hard things that are necessary to achieve big things, everything from the small, seemingly insignificant, to the first steps, to the huge potential that they all have. There were several ideas and stories that struck a chord with me. The story of kids (teenagers) in school able to be “above average” with little to no effort at all. Good grades, recognition in sports or other achievements, all achieved KNOWING they could do better and that they didn’t deserve the attention they got and KNOWING that they could do better, but nobody expected it of them. Also the idea of getting attention and praise for what was not done, instead of what was done. Kids are often praised for not getting into trouble, not doing drugs or alcohol, etc, instead of being praised for what they do. It is nice to know that throughout my growing up I was not the only one, and that in fact there are many different people who have had these feelings. I only wish I had this revelation when I was a teen.
But the book challenges all ages to not settle for low expectations. I tend to have high aspirations, but settle for good intentions with little to no real results. That has been my personal challenge.
Overall I would highly recommend this book to anyone of any age. It will challenge adults and their expectations of themselves as well as their expectations of teenagers. I think it will also impact the lives of teens who might read it as well. May get them to reach for the potential they have.
Authors website: The Rebelution – http://www.therebelution.com/
Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris
Background: I heard about this book first from Mark Henry as he was teaching on Sunday night, or perhaps leading prayer at church. I then ran across their website off a news story by Yahoo. I went to the website, and liked what I saw, so I ordered the book, just in time to pass time with the hurricane as I got back from work.
First reading I read quickly, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Very challenging. At first there was some “teenage” language that I was bothered by, but it is a book by teens for teens. And that language changed as the book progressed. The message however transcends age, which I really like.
I am currently reading it for a second time. A little more slowly. It basically challenges teens to not settle for the low expectations our culture has for them. The challenge is to do the hard things that are necessary to achieve big things, everything from the small, seemingly insignificant, to the first steps, to the huge potential that they all have. There were several ideas and stories that struck a chord with me. The story of kids (teenagers) in school able to be “above average” with little to no effort at all. Good grades, recognition in sports or other achievements, all achieved KNOWING they could do better and that they didn’t deserve the attention they got and KNOWING that they could do better, but nobody expected it of them. Also the idea of getting attention and praise for what was not done, instead of what was done. Kids are often praised for not getting into trouble, not doing drugs or alcohol, etc, instead of being praised for what they do. It is nice to know that throughout my growing up I was not the only one, and that in fact there are many different people who have had these feelings. I only wish I had this revelation when I was a teen.
But the book challenges all ages to not settle for low expectations. I tend to have high aspirations, but settle for good intentions with little to no real results. That has been my personal challenge.
Overall I would highly recommend this book to anyone of any age. It will challenge adults and their expectations of themselves as well as their expectations of teenagers. I think it will also impact the lives of teens who might read it as well. May get them to reach for the potential they have.
Authors website: The Rebelution – http://www.therebelution.com/
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
M.I.A.
I have been out of touch for a little while now. I have used the excuse of my computer crashing, and thus not being able to use my internet at the house, but I do have a backup work computer, and have access to the internet at friend’s house, library, coffee shop, and plenty at work. So like usual, there really is no excuse, just lack of priority.
(I have learned however that I do not NEED internet at the house. I have been getting a lot more reading in, which is a good thing.)
I have been thinking and praying a lot lately. To be honest I am a little scared. I am nervous about the coming months. Part of me is very excited, but part is very scared. I am conflicted when it comes to change. I like change, but I like to know what is coming. If I have a good idea of what is coming, then I am OK. Right now I have no idea what is coming. There are so many options.
A couple of things I would like to cover in future (not too distant future) posts:
Education
Reading list review
Natural disasters
The Church
Time, priorities, and goals
I am back at work at the moment after a very good weekend at home. I was able to come back just before Ike hit, and was able to help out with the shelter that was set up at our church. We are very blessed.
(I have learned however that I do not NEED internet at the house. I have been getting a lot more reading in, which is a good thing.)
I have been thinking and praying a lot lately. To be honest I am a little scared. I am nervous about the coming months. Part of me is very excited, but part is very scared. I am conflicted when it comes to change. I like change, but I like to know what is coming. If I have a good idea of what is coming, then I am OK. Right now I have no idea what is coming. There are so many options.
A couple of things I would like to cover in future (not too distant future) posts:
Education
Reading list review
Natural disasters
The Church
Time, priorities, and goals
I am back at work at the moment after a very good weekend at home. I was able to come back just before Ike hit, and was able to help out with the shelter that was set up at our church. We are very blessed.
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