Straining

Read an article about people who were told they couldn't do something, and it was something they really wanted. So they fought for what they wanted. Never gave up. Some of them for years, decades. In the end they were successful, and their stories were really inspirational. Honestly. They pressed in, straining and fighting, grunting, groaning. And the things they got were good things. Medical breakthroughs. Lofty careers. Honors. (Now don't get religious on me here) Piles of crap - if compared to the things that are REALLY important.

Like what?

Like knowing Jesus. Really. All the other stuff, which is good, fine, wonderful stuff. I'm not trying to say things in life are worthless. I'm only trying to say that in comparison to Jesus, they're like a pile of crap. That only shows how great Jesus really is. As a matter of fact, he said that pursuing his kingdom (read: a relationship with him that is so meaningful that it consumes you to the point that you continually adjust your life so that you will know him, his wishes, his dreams and goals - his kingdom) . . . where was I? Oh yeah, pursuing his kingdom is like a guy who really knows his pearls, and he finds one so wonderful that he sells EVERYTHING HE HAS so he can obtain that pearl. It's that good. Do we have any idea how awesome he is?

If we did, we would pursue the kingdom. Now I'd suggest you forget a lot of what you've learned about law, because we've gotten the idea that we aren't allowed to do anything or it will be law. True enough if you're talking about earning something. But when it comes to reaching a goal, winning a prize, getting first place, earning a big paycheck, winning a girl, we know that the more we want something, the more we're willing to put in to it to obtain it. The better the prize, the more we're willing to pay.

So what are you going to do?? How hard are you willing to press in to win Jesus? How much time will you spend getting to know him? What kind of goals will you set?

What do you think it will take?

I'll tell you this. I know it takes effort. That's my whole point. And it will take discipline, and goalsetting, and time management, and self control, and butt kicking, and risk taking, and faith.

bielb adn paryre

You know, I pastor a church. I do contract work as an engineer, too. But a lot of people probably assume that because I'm a pastor, I pretty much have my spiritual life in order. Scarey enough is the thought that sure enough that is why people follow my lead. But I discover all the time how much I need regular spiritual disciplines like set times for scripture reading and prayer. I've found that I need to write my prayers (not all of them of course) but that writing my prayers helps me focus, and it helps me remember the things I have asked for and what things I have laid before him and where I was needing his strength. Then I can see his faithfulness when I look back and see where I've been. And the bible. If I don't set aside time, and I mean block it out in advance, then I kind of dry up.

Recently I've kicked myself off the chair and started exercising regularly (AGAIN). I pulled out my old 'fanny pack' (don't be offended if you're a Kiwi) threw my journal and my palm pilot (read bible) into it, jumped onto my bike and down the road I go. After about 25 minutes, I end up at a bench by the Appalachee river. Then I stop and pray and read and pray. It's helping me climb out of a bit of a crisis time for me emotionally.

But my point is that I dry up without bible and prayer. And so will you. I get regular bible study preparing for messages. I pray with people a lot because I pastor them. But if I don't have those personal times, I'd dry up.

It's worth it.

We're Back

It appears that we survived the camping trip. Or did we?

First of all, it did rain. Of course it did. But we bought 2.5 square miles of tarps so that we couldn't get rained on no matter what. Yeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaa, we win! . . . Have you ever heard rain drops hitting those blue plastic tarps in the middle of the night? Again and again? Oh well, a lack of sleep will build relationships too. But God did give us some nice sunshine after we got home so we could put everything out to dry.

And,

76% of the foliage there was poison ivy. I've never reacted to poison ivy, and after this trip, I'll know if I'm truly resistant to the oil that most people are allergic to. It was everywhere. My dog ran through it and everyone petted him. Do you have a sick sense of humor? Come to church next week and see how many people are reacting.

This may give me an opportunity to preach to itching ears.

My friend Jim sent me these:

Have fun camping tonight, sorry we can't join you. Camping is intense. Think about that statement for a minute...

A guy went to a psychiatrist. "Doc," he said, "I keep having these alternating recurring dreams. First I'm a teepee, then I'm a wigwam, then I'm a teepee, and then I'm a wigwam. It's driving me crazy. What's wrong with me?" The doctor replied, "It's very simple. You're two tents."

You go Jim.

Being Casual

I'm going to get more casual here. Maybe trivial is more accurate. More day to day stuff.

Tomorrow a million of us from the Athens Vineyard are going camping. We have this whole campsite area reserved for only us. It's where people endure hardship together and therefore build community. Somebody did a study once and discovered that every single successful married couple that they interviewed had at least one thing in common. They camped together. The scientists decided what was going on was that people who go through hard stuff together get close. You know, like soldiers who serve together in war, they become connected on a plane so deep that they probably don't understand it themselves. So, anyway, that's what we're going to do tomorrow. Go through a hard time together. So, you think I'm a pessimist? Read this:

Friday: A chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after noon. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming southwest between 6 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming southwest between 7 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

We're going to be a really close group.