A Day Off 'x's 2

I just have taken two days off for the Fourth of July. I seldom take two days off in a row.  I do know that by the second day I was really anxious to find something worthwhile to do. Often I am told I don't really take time off. When I was told that recently I looked at the jobs I have had that supported my family and sometimes my ministries and here is what I found:

Railroad about 15 hours a day times six if the work was there. 3 years as a newly wed.

Low Pressure Boiler operator for building that encompassed a city block nearly w/o any backup except for vacations. That usually was with a weekend minimum of 1.5 hours a day,  5 days a week  a minimum of 8 hours except for one week off for vacation. Did that for 4 years.

Truck Driver while serving as pastor on weekends. Minimum of Sixty hours in Five days and 72 in Six days.

Full-Time College student as well as Full-Time school janitor and serving as lead pastor in a church with three services a week and a growing congregation.

Full-Time Lead pastor of growing church and 20 hours a week minimum counseling in an addiction center.

Single Chaplain in a  120 bed hospital who took call 7/24 most days of the year. Surprisingly I had vacation time left every year. My working hours did not include the times for finishing my training and for special workshops within my specialty field required by my training. The clinical part was 1600 hours supervised training in a separate institution. It took me three years to accomplish that on the side while preaching on the weekends as a supply person.

Sometimes I wonder why I have trouble with time-off and finding some hobbies. Then I get asked the question, When you gonna retire? Good question I think I will address that next day off.

Wasted Time

I was reminded the other day about how I had wasted my time a few years earlier.

 In my role as a friend of the local christian outreach to the addicted I had agreed to assist a person with their struggle to come clean from drugs. Of course it really was drugs and other addicted behaviors. I spent a lot of time with this individual but their self-concept was so low they could not see themselves as a success story at anything but failure. All my time and effort meant nothing in the face of his refusal to see what God was trying to do in his life.

As happens with what is called, "stinking thinking" one time he got down on himself and while down relapsed into the old life and behaviors he had struggled so valiantly to leave behind.

Now it is some years later and guess what? I was contacted and he is clean. That. is great news! Wonderful for me but even more wonderful for him and his loving family. I am so glad.

Was it truly a waste of time or was it just what I was doing seemed to be wasted? I would like to use this as a reminder of what we both know. Wasting our time on others is often the best possible investment of our time.

Exhausted by choice.

I was really tired last night. I couldn't hardly lift myself off the couch to go to bed. I had a good Easter with my church and my KY family. I had good food friends and a beautiful place to crash. I had watched the Louisville Game and saw the horrible injury to the player as it happened. It is the kind of injury you see from car accidents or industrial mishaps but not from basketball. It was a day filled with the planned, the unexpected and the enjoyable. All in all I should have been just plain renewed in spirit and body.

I was not though as I had a severe failure in technology that affected all my plans for the Easter Worship Service. The network did not network.. The printer was not printing due to the network failure. The copier all of a sudden quit copying. Sunday both tech guys were absent as they were with family or out of town on Easter of both. The trust I placed in technology and its availability destroyed my confidence.I struggled because I had placed my confidence in the wrong ingredient of the service. I am so glad that God made up for the lacking I felt and gave us a good Resurrection service.

When I got up this morning the God I worshiped and praised yesterday had given me rest just as he promised. I'm glad he knows what he is doing and his system never breaks down. It is even big enough to deal with my fretting over small stuff. Thank God for a great nights sleep and renewal.

Not a Complaint

I was not so gently reminded that I am not a very up to date BLOGGER. One does not need the brain of a Genius to make that observation. One of the reasons I have found I do not blog is I am to busy doing other things. Things that others said they would do is often more appropriate.
As a person in Recovery from Alcoholism and the concurrent personality disorders that goes with it I know what would happen if a person from and accountability group was honest with me.They would tell me to quit my lifestyle and stop my people pleasing ways. They would remind me of the huge difference between people pleasing and Christian Service.
I purposely and decidedly choose to live an example of Christian Service. I do this understanding  this group will take advantage of you as quickly as any other group.
What is equally amazing is the very people that would hold me accountable for people pleasing are the very same people I am guilty of serving in the wrong way. How could this be possible except that it is OK when I am doing their work. Go Figure.

Tolerance

I am joining some friends as they mourn the loss of their mother. She was a very strong lady who had suffered much pain in her life. She was a person of stamina and also one that defended her children with great passion. She herself could be in disagreement with them and  still she would defend their right to have a different viewpoint if you were to question their decision. It always led to interesting discussions when this becomes part of the conversation.
I believe in the world we are living in with all its talk of tolerance that her art of practicing tolerance is sorely missing. Most of the people I know that talk about tolerance are defining tolerance as a one way street. They require you to be tolerant of them while they by action if not word demonstrate a perfect definition of intolerance towards those who disagree with them. While this is practiced openly and loudly it is seldom challenged.
People that practice this style of tolerance need to read what the meaning of the term "bully" is so they can determine which name they want to apply to themselves.
Read Acts 15:22-41 to see how beautiful tolerance can be and how difficult it is to practice even in the church.

Just Too Simple

With all the talk of sin we hear when Christians get together it appears the church will go out of business soon. The sin in our present world appears to be concentrated in our churches. You may think that is a foolish statement so  please hear me out, (or rather read me out).

When last did you have a conversation with a non-believer and their main theme was how righteous they were? How often do those who are Believers talk about all the sin in their life? Maybe I spend time with the wrong people but here is their favorite saying, "Well, none of us are perfect!", next is " We're  just sinners saved by grace".  The last is so spiritual, "I'm struggling with ____________ , but you know none of us are perfect."

What if the church practiced the same forgiveness towards non-believers sins they practice towards their own. They contend OTHERS need to quit their sins and become BELIEVERS. All the while excusing their SIN and not giving their best for the Christ.

What if every time a believer had a choice they agreed with God that Satan was a deceiver and a liar? (His two best traits.) What if every time a believer agreed with Satan that God was wrong and a liar, (He never is.) they found it totally unacceptable?

Do you think that kind of reasoning could change a persons actions?  I do, but that is too simple.

Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? Amos 3:3

Listen K

A few years ago there was a saying that made me light up inside and nearly lose my cool. It was a hand to your face gesture accompanied by the words, "TALK TO THE HAND". Parents actually said their children used that and lived to tell the story. I don't know if my child would have survived. It was not profane or obscene but I found it very objectionable.

I sometimes feel the same way about people and their personal electronic devices. When you interrupt their tiny little world event they look up at you blankly and say, "huh" or "what" before they blankly go back to their device without waiting for a living response.

If you ever catch me doing that call me on it. I mean do not text, twitter, or email me or even call me on the voice line. What I mean is tell me about it then and there. You are too important to me and to God for me to treat you as a second class citizen. You are more important than some inane game or message written to occupy oneself so they don't feel alone. Make an issue of it.

Psalm 116:2   Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

By actually learning to listen like God we may become a missionary in the hand of the Lord.

Struggles

I hear this word a lot. It is interesting what it gets associated with. Weight is a struggle. Time management is a struggle. Technology creates a struggle to keep up to date in its world. I struggle with........ starts many conversations.And that is immediately followed by the many things others struggle with also.

 I want to keep my struggles in perspective so I try to think of:...................

The struggle of an adolescent girl in a third world area struggling to carry enough water for the families daily use five kilometers home from the water truck.

The mother struggling with HIV is some world areas that has no one to care for her children as she lays dying when in my world helpful hands and medicine would strengthen her for years.

 A single mother who struggles from being laid off after believing the lie that easy pay plans and credit cards would safely answer her longing for nicer material things.

The honest hard working family member who struggles to cover for the addicted person who is making everyone's life miserable with their irresponsible lifestyle.

These things create a terrible struggle within me. A struggle which says, "how I can best be involved to alleviate some of the suffering My answer seems to simple for many who struggle with the problems of life. I turn to God with my struggles and struggling. He then directs my responses and resource and I find peace in the midst of the struggles of this life.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

A Friend

It is amazing how you can make a new friend. There is that "AHAA" moment when you are aware that there is more here than just the common activities we share. I have become aware that most modern "friendships" are not made of a shared deep relationship but just by sharing common activities. The Bible talks about a friend that sticks closer than a brother. I certainly hope so, many brothers hardly ever see each other. I often hear people talk about their friends but when I listen more closely they never see each other outside of a common interest they share. I have friends because we share common pasts. I have friends because we shared life at some point along our journey. I have friends that share a common interest. An interest which has given us a chance to share our real persons. God has given me different kinds of friends and I want to honor Him and them. If you consider me your friend I am blessed and privileged that you honor me with that distinction. My prayer is that today I may indeed live worthy of that trust as we share life together.

My Bad

Have you ever done something stupid and then done something stupid to try and make it go away?
Have you ever done something stupid and wish it would go away?...... but there is another person involved who doesn't want it to go away.
Have you ever done something stupid and when you explained it, it just got worse?........ and the person you explain it too enjoys the problem but you don't.

I have done stupid. I have tried to fix stupid. I've explained stupid.

Now I wait for stupid to be seen by everyone. Will they really notice or is stupid really all about me and my persona.

Saying Goodbye

It is hard to say goodbye when you know someone is entering into less than ideal conditions for a specified period of time. The difficulties from placing a life on hold are more than enormous.
We often start the list with the children who are affected. They will do without frequent relationship with very important individuals that are not there for them. There is also the community of friends and extended family that continues on and learns to live without the individual except in reference or casually asking how they are doing.
The lives lived in two separate worlds only connect at the point of deliberate maintenance of the relationship. The inconvenient phone calls interrupt schedules which both sides may feel the other should have known and honored. If those events are forgotten it may be viewed as a lack of concern for this individuals world.
How do you say goodby?
You just put your hand on their shoulder and you pray for them to go with God and for them to see His hand at work in their new situation. This matter of blessing someone with the presence of God and blessing of prayer is the greatest and most loving act you can do. Then you continue to pray for them and their family as you prove that the reason it was hard is that you are a true friend that truly sticks closer than a brother.

You are more>>>>>>

I am glad for many of the modern tunes that I get to hear on the radio daily. I love the theme of You Are More. When we are remade by faith in Christ we are definitely made into more than the sum of the past would dictate.

In the Celebrate Recovery Meeting we hear the great stories of each others past lifes. Each person shares with an honesty and directness that would make church people on Sunday uncomfortable. The reason they can be honest and direct is that they have been directed by God to share the past. When the past is properly shared we get to see God at work even in the most hardened heart and desperate life. Then we also have hope that God is at work within the happenings of our life.

No matter where we are and what we have done God can take us and remake us into something beautiful when we have been living in the junkyard of life. Then and only then do we realize what a miracle salvation is as we become more than we ever thought possible by the grace of God at work in us.

Sharing the Mission

I am reviewing in my mind the good Missions meeting last night. It is good to see beyond the boundaries of our everyday church community into the world at large. When Brian said his field had recently become the whole world I was reminded of John Wesley who said, "the world is my parish." The work of the media world and the way God has opened doors and audiences is a miracle. I am sure God is blessing others the same way but it is exciting to hear he is doing it for your group also.
My church family represented itself well and the food and fellowship complimented the desire for a successful night together. My desire is to gather around the throne together with more joining us because we have been faithful in the mission God has given us.

I Am a Wuss

Being home sick has confirmed something I never wanted to admit in all my years. I AM A WUSS!!!

When I tell my body to stop expelling air in copious amounts at various times it only accelerates the action and amounts (coughing).When I say I will be better tomorrow and I don't need to go to the doctor I wake up feeling the same (headache, stuffy nose,coughing my head off).

I definitely will attest that I can only make my body listen just so far. I feel like the words of Paul to Timothy in the age of gladiators and events at the Colosseum. Events which emulated the physical prowess and discipline of the mortal flesh. Accentuating pleasure over the eternal issues concerning the spirit.

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 1 Timothy 4:8 out of the KJ version of Christian Scriptures as modern writers are prone to say.

Well I will win as I am saying to my body get well or I will discard you for a better model. Sure hope it listens for today. That will help me get prepared for Sunday. I am there in spirit but not yet in body

Mattheew 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” This NIV rendering is where I am today.
It is not where I want to be on Sunday. I want to worship and lead worship with my worshiping family.

If I don't win just call me a wuss. Where I will be it won't matter anymore.

God Bless you and give abundant grace and peace is my prayer and blessing for you.

Really!!

Starting a journey through a scripture or subject study is easy. Saying that you will incorporate part of a study into your schedule is easy. Being excited the first few days is easy. It is all pretty easy when we talk about it and start doing it . Why then does it get so difficult as we enter the later stages?

One of the most wise saying may be, "Familiarity breeds contempt."

When a person isn't well known it is easy to admire and respect them. The better known they are the more we see their faults. They also see ours and don't always respond the way we would like them to. It is then that we began to struggle with them as a person.

The better known a truth is and the more it relates to our lives the more we get disinterested. The truth is still true but the impact on our life is not what we hoped it would be. All truths end up changing us or leaving us disappointed that it didn't provide more excitement and be more rewarding like it was at the start. Familiarity makes old friends seem like old shoes and truths like a familiar chair. They are great to have around but not when they begin to wear in unfamiliar places.

This year I want to bless my old friends more and to allow new truths to become old friends.

That will mean I must take another look and see the good in them and not look only for what I may gian from them. I must first invest myself before the interest can be collected on either a friendship, investment or new truth to experience and incorporate.