Celebration. Why not? Its saturday, and I burnt my arm to a crisp today at work. Yay! Spilled a boat load of coffee on it, and now the skin's all sensitive. Thank God for burn cream, I won't have to deal with any scarring.
Today's Lent readig was chapter 3 of Exodus. God called Moses to return to Egypt and free the Israelites. He told Moses that He would go with him, and when Moses asked for His name, God provided Moses with the famous, "I AM who I AM" statement.
Then there was the reading I did in Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest. I didn't really get much out of today, but yesterday's was quite impactful. It spooke of how we limit God's ability to work in and through our lives because we continually deny Him and His almightiness. We come to God, seeking a sympathizer, seeking someone to carry us, but when we cannot see past our own brokenness, we deny God entrance into our problems, and try to fix them ourselves. I myself am guilty of this hundreds of times over. Looking back, I see times when I would turn to myself and my own strength to fix something because it seemed too much for me to ask of God. How silly I am.
After 4 days of Lent, I'm learning to find joy in where God has me right now. Its not easy doing the whole Visalia thing when I desire to be elsewhere, but He is providing for me, and He is showing me a great many things in the world around me. Sadly, though, that isn't going to be enough to live off of for the rest of my days. I'm looking forward to the time when He chooses to instigate change in my situation. Soon, please.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Discipline as a Matter of Practice
Just like in every good action movie you've ever seen, the hero doesn't walk in during the first half hour, identify the villians, and shoot 'em down right away. You've got to build it up some, create tension, and get the viewer invested in the storyline.
Its kinda the same with discipline. I lacked it as a kid, and its something that I still am working on to this day. The thing ab out it that lets me sleep well at night is the knowledge that I'm getting much, much better about it.
Today is day 3 of Lent. In my mind, things are beginning to become routine. Not only that, but I'm directly seeing the benefits of certain disciplines. One in particular has always been a challenge for me: tithing. So often, the complaint has been that you barely have enough money to get yourself from paycheck to paycheck, let alone giving an additional 10% of everything you get to the church. Can I really get by with only 9/10ths of what I earn?
Reading through Donald Miller's "Blue Like Jazz" changed my perspective. Donald had a friend whose life was filled with drinking, smoking, and all sorts of lascivious behavior. Through all of it, his friend adamantly refused to keep all that he earned. He gave 10% of every paycheck to the church. (Really, he kept it in a jar and would give it to the church whenever he happened to stop in.) The key concept was that he refused to steal from God. Stealing from God. No, God doesn't need the few dollars we give as tithe, but He has asked it of us. If everything that I claim to own and have is God's, then why should I have reservations about not giving this small portion of it back?
Over the last few weeks that I've been actively tithing, I've been able to see the benefits that are written about it. Since I began tithing, I've been much more aware - and much more responsible with my finances. By taking the tithe out of my income first, by putting God first in this area of my life, I have been much more active in monitoring that which God has granted to me.
Despite how much I make - I'm now actually able to save money from each paycheck - something I considered impossible granted my circumstances. God works in ways that are beyond my comprehension. Amen!
The more I practice discipline in (many, many) areas of my life, the more comfortable I become with controlling myself, my actions, and my interactions.
Day 3: Discipline
Its kinda the same with discipline. I lacked it as a kid, and its something that I still am working on to this day. The thing ab out it that lets me sleep well at night is the knowledge that I'm getting much, much better about it.
Today is day 3 of Lent. In my mind, things are beginning to become routine. Not only that, but I'm directly seeing the benefits of certain disciplines. One in particular has always been a challenge for me: tithing. So often, the complaint has been that you barely have enough money to get yourself from paycheck to paycheck, let alone giving an additional 10% of everything you get to the church. Can I really get by with only 9/10ths of what I earn?
Reading through Donald Miller's "Blue Like Jazz" changed my perspective. Donald had a friend whose life was filled with drinking, smoking, and all sorts of lascivious behavior. Through all of it, his friend adamantly refused to keep all that he earned. He gave 10% of every paycheck to the church. (Really, he kept it in a jar and would give it to the church whenever he happened to stop in.) The key concept was that he refused to steal from God. Stealing from God. No, God doesn't need the few dollars we give as tithe, but He has asked it of us. If everything that I claim to own and have is God's, then why should I have reservations about not giving this small portion of it back?
Over the last few weeks that I've been actively tithing, I've been able to see the benefits that are written about it. Since I began tithing, I've been much more aware - and much more responsible with my finances. By taking the tithe out of my income first, by putting God first in this area of my life, I have been much more active in monitoring that which God has granted to me.
Despite how much I make - I'm now actually able to save money from each paycheck - something I considered impossible granted my circumstances. God works in ways that are beyond my comprehension. Amen!
The more I practice discipline in (many, many) areas of my life, the more comfortable I become with controlling myself, my actions, and my interactions.
Day 3: Discipline
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Day 2
Harder than Day 1, that's for sure. I don't think I'm really going to hit a stride with this whole Lent thing until somewhere around day 10 or so (PLEASE, God!). Until it starts to become more natural, its going to be constant struggle.
Tonight was Satellite, and Jason Neese started into a series on Lent. As Beau was talking during one of the table conversations, something dawned on me - Jesus only did the 40 days in the desert ONCE. And He was perfect! Lent is something people do year after year! Lent is far from being a reasonable observance.
Regardless, Jason did bring to light an excellent point. Because Easter does not fall on the same day each year, it often times ends up sneaking up on us. This year is different, though. With me actively giving up things in my life for Lent, I'm going to be VERY aware of when Easter is coming, and exactly how far away it is. In fact, this entire season is going to be more vivid because I'm observing Lent.
This morning's scripture reading was in Exodus 1:1-22 (basically, the whole first chapter). In Exodus 1, it speaks of the transition from the Israelites in Egypt who were known because of Joseph to a much larger collection of Israelites who were living in Egypt under a pharoh who did not know of who Joseph had been, and the special relationship that had existed. Several generations had passed, and the 70 people who were Israel upon entering Egypt (v.5) had multiplied and grown so "exceedingly strong" in number that they filled the land (v.7, ESV). So after several generations, the relationship between the Phaoroh and Israel had degenerated, and Pharoh was afraid that the people of Israel would rise up against him. Filled with fear, he enslaved the people of Israel. He also commanded that their sons be killed, and that only the daughters would be allowed to survive childbirth.
Thanks to some crafty and God-fearing midwives, the sons were allowed to live, and Israel continuted to multiply. Thats when the Pharoh commanded that the newborn sons be cast into the Nile (start thinking Moses).
The slavery that we read about today is meant to symbolize sin. Just as Israel was enslaved physically by an opressor known as the Pharoh, we as humans living broken lives on this earth, separated from God, are enslaved by our sin.
This is an interesting metaphor for our times, and from it we can extract the timeless truth from within the historical narrative. By turning the physical slavery to a metaphor for God's people, we find present-day meaning in this text.
Going back to Satellite, it was a good evening, and it had a very different feel to it this evening. The decorations were different, with the cross illuminated in the center of the room. Nathan did a great job of leaing worship, and we had an amazing turnout. Jason only began to breach the topic of Lent, but he did cover some bases as to what we are going to be looking at, as well as giving some perspective on what the observance is all about. My prayers go out to all of the Satellite leadership team, Jason included, that as we continue to study Lent each Thursday night, that it will be treated with the proper reverence and respect that this holy observance deserves.
2 days down. 44 to go.
Tonight was Satellite, and Jason Neese started into a series on Lent. As Beau was talking during one of the table conversations, something dawned on me - Jesus only did the 40 days in the desert ONCE. And He was perfect! Lent is something people do year after year! Lent is far from being a reasonable observance.
Regardless, Jason did bring to light an excellent point. Because Easter does not fall on the same day each year, it often times ends up sneaking up on us. This year is different, though. With me actively giving up things in my life for Lent, I'm going to be VERY aware of when Easter is coming, and exactly how far away it is. In fact, this entire season is going to be more vivid because I'm observing Lent.
This morning's scripture reading was in Exodus 1:1-22 (basically, the whole first chapter). In Exodus 1, it speaks of the transition from the Israelites in Egypt who were known because of Joseph to a much larger collection of Israelites who were living in Egypt under a pharoh who did not know of who Joseph had been, and the special relationship that had existed. Several generations had passed, and the 70 people who were Israel upon entering Egypt (v.5) had multiplied and grown so "exceedingly strong" in number that they filled the land (v.7, ESV). So after several generations, the relationship between the Phaoroh and Israel had degenerated, and Pharoh was afraid that the people of Israel would rise up against him. Filled with fear, he enslaved the people of Israel. He also commanded that their sons be killed, and that only the daughters would be allowed to survive childbirth.
Thanks to some crafty and God-fearing midwives, the sons were allowed to live, and Israel continuted to multiply. Thats when the Pharoh commanded that the newborn sons be cast into the Nile (start thinking Moses).
The slavery that we read about today is meant to symbolize sin. Just as Israel was enslaved physically by an opressor known as the Pharoh, we as humans living broken lives on this earth, separated from God, are enslaved by our sin.
This is an interesting metaphor for our times, and from it we can extract the timeless truth from within the historical narrative. By turning the physical slavery to a metaphor for God's people, we find present-day meaning in this text.
Going back to Satellite, it was a good evening, and it had a very different feel to it this evening. The decorations were different, with the cross illuminated in the center of the room. Nathan did a great job of leaing worship, and we had an amazing turnout. Jason only began to breach the topic of Lent, but he did cover some bases as to what we are going to be looking at, as well as giving some perspective on what the observance is all about. My prayers go out to all of the Satellite leadership team, Jason included, that as we continue to study Lent each Thursday night, that it will be treated with the proper reverence and respect that this holy observance deserves.
2 days down. 44 to go.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
So let's talk about fasting.
Today happens to be Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. No, I'm not Catholic, but there's no harm in trying to understand and make the most of the sacrifice. From what I've read, Lent is a time for us to give up things in our life which detract from our walk with Christ. Considering all the transition that I'm working through, and the VAST amounts of time that I've got while searching for meaningful, society-contributing employment, I'm in an opportune position to make some changes on the inside.
Baseball. Preseason started today. Just my luck, wouldn't you know it? So I'm giving up on baseball for the next 46 days (don't even get me started on how unfair it is that Lent actually lasts 46 days instead of the advertised 40). I have a tendency to spend too much time reading about games, how pitchers performed, studying stats and matchups. Especially with the Yankees newest pitching lineup, I'm going to have to focus to push this out of my life.
Beyond that, Lent is just FULL of fun. I'm giving up multiple things, to clear my life of obstacles. God has me here in Visalia, now. I want to make the most of everything that He has to offer me. But we have to sacrifice with purpose. Today I read Isaiah 58:1-12. In the passage it speaks of sacrifice beign consistent with the rest of your life. You cannot just fast and continue on living your life without the social commitment. I'm not going to assume myself to be any more pious or special than any other man, simply because I choose to sacrifice parts of who I am so that I can be less of me, and more of Him.
Day 1. Check. 45 more to go.
Baseball. Preseason started today. Just my luck, wouldn't you know it? So I'm giving up on baseball for the next 46 days (don't even get me started on how unfair it is that Lent actually lasts 46 days instead of the advertised 40). I have a tendency to spend too much time reading about games, how pitchers performed, studying stats and matchups. Especially with the Yankees newest pitching lineup, I'm going to have to focus to push this out of my life.
Beyond that, Lent is just FULL of fun. I'm giving up multiple things, to clear my life of obstacles. God has me here in Visalia, now. I want to make the most of everything that He has to offer me. But we have to sacrifice with purpose. Today I read Isaiah 58:1-12. In the passage it speaks of sacrifice beign consistent with the rest of your life. You cannot just fast and continue on living your life without the social commitment. I'm not going to assume myself to be any more pious or special than any other man, simply because I choose to sacrifice parts of who I am so that I can be less of me, and more of Him.
Day 1. Check. 45 more to go.
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