About a year ago I had a great awakening. You see...for the previous three to four years I had realized that I was living my life completely for my family. Now you may think this quite a noble deed. And in and of itself it is. But as a Christian, it is sin if we are putting this before God. I was very much caught up in providing financially for my family, working on my next promotion, increasing our security. Also I was very good about giving my family much if not all of my free time. From the outside it seemed like I was doing my family duties.
However, it was through going to a conference with my friend, Myron, that flipped my thinking around. It was not something that happened all in that one moment, but it surely got the hard stuck ball rolling. Myron received a call from a friend from the men's group that he led. The friend was reaching out to Myron over a serious issue in his marriage. As I listened to his story of how involved he was in other guy's lives, it really convicted me of a few things. These are the things I want to share with you.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Understanding Israel's Troubles
I have been studying the book of Romans over the last couple months. I came to a few verses today in Romans 10 that have struck me to write about.
Romans 10:3," For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law."
Usually when I have read this, I just gloss over it. Sometimes I think to myself, what's wrong with these Jews that they have incredible trouble believing in Christ Jesus. But when I think of all the thousands of years of tradition these people had to give up, I could understand their plight. Through many generations of ancestors, they have been taught the way of the law. Their fathers and grandfathers have exhibited their zeal for God by being steadfast to Moses' law. How now are they supposed to turn their backs on that now? You see, it's not the same of some Gentile that is not enriched in such a beautiful tradition. People that had no faith, no God, were much easily swayed to this new found faith in Christ after his resurrection. Being steeped in rules and regulations, I'm sure did not come easily. Their had to be a lot of sacrifice and discipline to be able to follow "the letter of the law."
Romans 10:3," For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law."
Usually when I have read this, I just gloss over it. Sometimes I think to myself, what's wrong with these Jews that they have incredible trouble believing in Christ Jesus. But when I think of all the thousands of years of tradition these people had to give up, I could understand their plight. Through many generations of ancestors, they have been taught the way of the law. Their fathers and grandfathers have exhibited their zeal for God by being steadfast to Moses' law. How now are they supposed to turn their backs on that now? You see, it's not the same of some Gentile that is not enriched in such a beautiful tradition. People that had no faith, no God, were much easily swayed to this new found faith in Christ after his resurrection. Being steeped in rules and regulations, I'm sure did not come easily. Their had to be a lot of sacrifice and discipline to be able to follow "the letter of the law."
Friday, August 6, 2010
Life Lately
The last 18 months have been some of the hardest and most rewarding. But I also think those two attributes go hand in hand. Nothing is worth something unless you have to work for it. There have been numerous times in my life when my parents were trying to implant that in my head. Well...point accomplished.
Life is tough and when problems rise you have two options: run or face it head on. I've tried both, whether it has been in relationships, work problems, or finances. Sometimes it just seems easier to turn the other way and pretend that the problems are not there. In fact, I think that is what most people do. We live in an alternate reality, where we get to pick was is real and what is not. Over the last 18 months, Stephanie and I have decided to take the bull by the horns.
Life is tough and when problems rise you have two options: run or face it head on. I've tried both, whether it has been in relationships, work problems, or finances. Sometimes it just seems easier to turn the other way and pretend that the problems are not there. In fact, I think that is what most people do. We live in an alternate reality, where we get to pick was is real and what is not. Over the last 18 months, Stephanie and I have decided to take the bull by the horns.
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