Vrmmmm

I spend so much time on the roads of this great state. I really like to pull of the side of the interstate and hit the grooves in the road. The big tires on my Jeep make it sound like an airplane about to take off. I don't really know why that makes me happy, but this is my blog and I can write whatever I want, even about stupid stuff that nobody cares about.

It's easy to get bogged down in the things we can't understand about God, the Bible, and church. You could sit around all day and think of questions that you won't know the answer to. I battle in my mind/heart/soul to find answers to some of these things and it really just gets me. I just wish sometimes that God would have said a few more things. Well that's just crazy. There are so many things in the Bible that I do understand and struggle to do. I live in Romans 7 quite often. I trust that He is going to finish what He started in me.

I don't like filling out guest registration cards at church. I'm not sure why I don't like it. I like the song "Indescribable" by Chris Tomlin. I found out that Laura Story actually wrote that song. I like to sing it out loud. Real loud

One of my boyz is doing an OB/GYN rotation. No comment.

Know

On the way into the office this morning, well I had time to think. I know there are 1.5 hours everyday that I can just relax and think. 45 minutes each way gives you a chance to do that. I should learn Hebrew or Greek on the way in. Today I sat in silence and just thought about all the things that can happen in this life. There are so many wonderful things here. Even as I got close to my office, I could see the mountains in the distance. They are just awesome to look at, especially on a clear day when you can actually see the rocks on top. There are fun things to do. Talking to a friend yesterday, she and her now fiance were looking for a new house. That's exciting. Another friend was excited because her niece always stands at the door and waits for her to come over for a visit. Anytime she hears the knob turn on the door, she thinks it's her. I fit in a pair of jeans that I only got to wear once, again. That's exciting. Salvation and being saved from Hell is a great thing and really can't be put into words, well other than the Bible. The thought that we can spend eternity in heaven is a great truth we can hold here on earth.

With all these great things, there are also many sad things we will deal with in this life. I always write and talk about this, but, it is a lie from the devil himself to think that, "because I'm a Christian and have Jesus, I'm exempt from trials, sadness, and death." It's a lie. There were probably many Christians the tsunami hit. God-fearing people. Possibly even some missionaries. People that devoted their life to telling people about Him.

In the good times, we must resolve in our hearts that the LORD IS GOOD. The trials of this life will never take that away from me. My entire family could be taken from me, I must give a resounding, "HE IS GOOD!" The problems and tears of this life cannot strip me of that. Waves of trouble, sadness, and grief are going to hit your beaches. Jesus is my refuge and I can retreat to Him for high ground when I'm heavily burdened. There is so much hope in that.

Tom Conlon is a man who lives most of his life on the road. He just sings music. He used to be heating and AC man like my dad. He taught me about worship when I was a freshman in college. He also talked to me about girls and my heart. He has a song titled "water." How it flows, how it moves. He compares the Body of Christ to water. He likes to pick up people on the side of the road like me. I haven't picked anyone up in a while, I miss them.

"Children of light, sons and daughters
Sitting in buildings, standing water
Maybe some day soon our hearts will open
Maybe one of these silent nights
We'll just rush like a river flowing"

I really like Tom Conlon. I also like humor. Humor is good for the soul. I had syrup in the back of my car for a long time. Gnomes managed to pour it out on my floor, now my feet stick to random things.

There is still a big life to live and there are many people to serve. I will Go.

Just Like Me

I woke up really early this morning. 3 AM. This is very unusual for me but let me tell you how good it felt. I was so ready to go and face the world. I read for a while, prayed, and just asked the Lord to prepare me for the day. It was quite a good time. What if I did that everyday?

So I decided to leave for work while it was still dark, it's crazy how different the world looks in the morning when it's still dark. On the way in, I passed two guys in a white work truck. It had mud all over it with ladders and tools loaded on the back. As I passed by, the guy in the passenger seat looked to be about my age. It reminded me of the days when I worked with my dad. We were in the same type of truck, mud on the tires, and tools loaded on the back. I desired 3 times during the day. 10 AM, 12PM, and 3 PM. These were break times and they were usually very desired. The guy in the passenger seat just sorta glanced over at me. It was a funny look he gave me. I wondered what he was thinking. Then I thought about it. I was wearing a dress shirt, freshly ironed. I just had the feeling that this guy probably thought, "I bet that guy thinks he's better than me" or "I bet that guy has never really worked a day in his life, just run along to your office job." There is no telling what he really thought about me. I wish I could have just held up a sign and said, "I'm just like you, there is no difference, my dad owns that same truck, I used to crawl under houses, I used to sweat insulation particles that would make me itch all day, I used to get dirt down my boxers from trying to duck really low under houses." There is nothing like having dirt in your behind or in any other spot on your body. (In Case you didn't know) This may sound silly, but I just really wanted that guy to know that I'm no different than him despite what my clothes look like. Most days, like today, I would love to be outside feeling the sun on my neck and seeing beads of sweat popping out my arms. I miss having a tan. I wanted to tell that guy that I'm no better than him, I'm the same.

We deal with the same thing in faith. I'm sure someone has gone to the grocery store after church. You are still wearing your church clothes and a thought crosses your mind when you see someone in jeans and a tshirt. "Well I know they didn't go to church today." Then you feel good about yourself for going. Sad to say, there are probably many people in jeans and a tshirt with a clearer understanding of who Jesus is than those with suits and slacks. The Lord has just pressed my heart lately to tell people about Him and to tell my friends that I love them. I never want to come across like I'm better than anyone. The Lord looks deeper than our clothes, salary, and house. If we are not humble people, we are going to do a poor job representing a man who was in very nature God but did not consider Himself equal with God. Now that's a lot to handle. Remember where you came from and what you came out of. Remember to wear overalls when crawling under a house to prevent dirt from well, u know.

Pictures of Eternity

I was reminded of the importance of soil. Without proper preparation, it's tough for things to really grow. It's neat to know that the Lord actually desires to plant in our lives. He wants His word to be alive and spill over into others. He only requires that we be ready in season and out of season.

This life is so tough to figure out and the reasons are beyond my ability to understand. I'm glad I know the Lord. I'm glad I know He wants the fruit of my life to fall into others. I'm glad to know that He has prepared works for me to walk into. I'm glad to know that He will never leave me or forsake me.

It's tough to wrap your mind around the humility of Christ. Why would He really want to become one of us? Can you imagine leaving the warmth of your home to go hang out in the cold streets of this world? Can you imagine Him leaving His father? There is greater purpose to all the things in this life. Capture them. Eternal snapshots are ready to be taken daily. I love to think that the Lord has a scrapbook of all the things that happen in our lives and the kingdom work that is done. I'm just rambling so I'll go.

Just Like the Rest

I'm not really sure what in me causes people to think that I have things together. Whenever we eat in a big group, I'm asked to pray. People call me for advice on about everything. I tend to go along with it and pretend like I have it all together. Like there is nothing "wrong" in my life and I know the answers to all issues.

Well the Lord has been teaching me that I am no different. I have issues just like the rest. Different issues, but I still have them. I'm still a beggar. I still need the same bread the rest of the world needs. I need Jesus as much as the hooker, murderer, and rapist. My heart can hurt just like the rest.

There is nothing easy to this life. I cannot imagine going through this life w/o Jesus. The thought of being on my own scares me. It's good to know that when I am hurting, I have someone bigger than this world to talk to. Someone who walked in the same skin I have, a man familar with every type of sorrow, great and small.

I like when I'm driving down the interstate and you can see the horizon so clearly. Especially in the morning when the sun hasn't quite made its way up. You can see the brightness of it and can tell something great is going to happen. I'm so glad I know the creator of that sun and Son. There is something beautiful awaiting on the other side of this life if we know Him. Know Him.

Builders

What exactly are we building? Our daily lives are building something for eternity. Do we really care about people? Are people more than clothes, hair color, car, house, and social status? Do we believe people have souls that will only have two options at departure from these earthly tents? Are we intentional in our conversations? Are they empty? Are people encouraged after we speak with them? Do we really care about the lost? Do we really care to love and serve the people that aren't on the same page of life?

Lord have mercy on us and make us a people that can be used to build Your Kingdom. Help us to care more about Kingdom houses than earthly ones. Convict us in our selfishness, pride, greed, and self-pity. Make us Kingdom Builders.

I really enjoy the story of the good samaritan. But even before that parable Jesus was talking to the seventy-two he had sent out. They were so excited because demons were submitting to them and they had power. Jesus brought the truth back home to them. He was so excited and full of joy. He made sure that the disciples and people knew that He had seen Satan "fall like lightning from heaven". He wanted them not to rejoice because they got to see the great things and have demons submit to them. "However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” How just amazing is that. We are written about in heaven. We have so many blessings. These are not the focus. Are they great blessings? Yes. But are they what our eyes should be on. A resounding "NO!"

Jesus also "privately" talked to his disciples about what they had seen. ^"23Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. ²⁴For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” We are on the other side of what the whole entire world had been waiting for. The Hope of Glory visited with skin on. Skin just like ours. Skin that probably got zits. Skin that probably was oily and greasy like ours at times. Skin that got dry. Skin that itched.

God came to visit us and He will be back. Jesus will be back.

Can You Feel those Shoes

Shaquille O'neal wears a size 22 shoe. Have you ever seen it? I went into footlocker one day and they had one of his shoes in there. Amazing. It's like Noah's Ark with rubber on the bottom.

I just got back from a Disciple Now weekend up in Fort Mill, SC. It's amazing what thoes weekends can teach you. The goal of the weekend is for students to know the Lord in a deeper way. Some come to know the Lord there. The reason people like me go there is to lead, teach, and help these students know Him more. It's amazing that through that, I always leave changed and feel like I've learned more than they have. I love how the Lord can use a weekend designed for young people to impact anyone. After one of the talks, a little guy came forward to talk. He told me that he had just become a Christian but wanted to confess some sin that he had done. I was able to explain to him that because he did sin that it didn't make him a lost person again. This guy was solid and only in the 6th grade. He was so small. I picked my size 12 shoe up and then looked at his small feet. We talked about how the Christian life is trying to make our feet go where Jesus' feet went. We talked about how big my feet were and that if we were walking on the beach, his shoes could never fill the place where my shoe went. He could try his best but his shoe would never fill the print mine had left. We talked about the prints that Christ left and how we are to seek those out and try to make our footprints of life come close to Christ. I'm so thank-ful for mercy and a God who still loves us even though our prints will never line up on this earth.

There are so many hurting people in this world. What an opportunity we have to do something that will last for eternity. I am learning to be a man of intention. Grace is good, mercy is sweet, and Jesus is forever, it's neat that we can get to know Him now.

Out of my League

I have often wrote about situations involving "that" guy. In certain situations "that" guy can be very negative. In others, it can be very positive. After 5 years of being a bachelor and patient, I now have a girlfriend and I'm going to be "that guy" and post a picture and just say that I think she is amazing and great! Look at her! ;) Find more great pictures here.

Beaches of Eternity

I read about the effects the Tsunami has had on southern Asia, it's so sad. All the people that were once alive are now gone. They are predicting that as many as a few hundred thousand could be dead. People that thought they would have so many more years are gone. Most of the missing and dead are women and children.

We read about this and it seems like it couldn't have really happened. All those people dead, how can that be. There were probably many Christians that died. Death doesn't discriminate who it will take. It certainly took so many over there.

I heard about a man laying out on the beach right after this catastrophe. He wasn't laying out there dead. He was laying out there to get a suntan. I was disgusted by this. How could he even think about laying out there and think about getting a tan with dead bodies floating up on the beach around him. The thought that he could see a body floating up near him and not care. How can he do this? Well I do it all the time. Christians seem to do the same thing. Bodies float up beside us at work, school, in the mall, and even in church. Deadless souls that are lost without the Savior, all around us. Where are we? What are we doing?

The tide of eternity will come in for us all one day at His appointed time. Are the beaches ready?

Through all of this, I have seen how selfish I am. I am so selfish, help me Lord to think about other people above myself!