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Friday, June 20, 2008

Perseverance

Have you ever felt like you’re riding down a steep mountain, on a treacherous path, on a bicycle at 100 m.p.h.? Or can you relate to Indiana Jones (Indy reference again?... but he’s so reference worthy…) in his first movie where he is in a cave running for his life away from a giant boulder. Life comes hard and fast sometimes and we can lie down in the road or we can keep moving forward.

Life has been pretty good for me lately. Busy, busy, but good. I will be out for awhile on a mission trip near Mexico with a group of youth and adults from my church and another church in our area. I’m excited about that and focused on getting all the preparations complete and the details taken care of. I’ve also had a large list of things to prepare and delegate for the month that I’m away this summer. I’m enjoying working with the new senior pastor at our church as well as dealing with the daily business of the church. Then there are all the personal and family things I need to take care of. Busy, just like the next person.

Most of what I have described is a normal part of a day in the life of me. I remain 99% calm and enjoy all that my vocation has me doing day to day. But you know when, in the middle of doing the things that you do, one, then two, then three more things begin to land in your plate. As the days have clicked by, bringing me nearer deadlines and a departure date, I have felt moments of “What NOW?” It is especially during times like those that I must lean on the power of Christ to get me through the day (or the hour). Perseverance is vital to this walk of faith we’re on. We must hang onto Christ and keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (Jam 1:2-4)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Heb 12:1 )

So even when that giant Indiana boulder is at your heels, keep moving. Indy kept moving through his struggle to eventual safety. As Christians, we are not promised a smooth journey, but we are promised that Christ will never leave us to travel it alone. It’s truly an adventure. I hope you enjoy yours.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Gymanny Crickets!

For many of my adult years, I have conducted experiment after experiment of what it takes to lose and gain weight. In other words, I have gone on a number of diets and taken up various exercise programs. At times I’ve been successful, at least for a short while, and at other times exasperation sets in. (My dad’s expression is “Jimmany Crickets!”). A few weeks ago I took a stand and purchased a membership at a nearby gym, however I have not lost a single pound. I guess I’m going to have to actually get in the car and go there to get any good out of my purchase.

I think this same mentality shows itself in other areas of our lives. If you are like most Christians, you have at least one Bible in your house. You may even have several Bibles, a few Bible study books or Sunday school lessons as well. So then the question becomes “How much time during the week do you spend reading the Bible?” According to a Barna poll, 67% of born again Christians read their bible during the week. That’s not a bad percentage I guess, but it brings another question to the forefront: “What does read mean?”

Do you get points for opening it up during worship and reading along with the scripture reader? (This is certainly a good idea, but how common is that in your church?) If you read it during worship, do you check “read Bible” off of your list until the next service and put your Bible back on the shelf? Do you read for pleasure? Do you dive into its pages to discover what God would reveal to you? Do you study the lives of the saints and find examples of Godly living? Do you read and re-read about the life of Christ and listen to his call to follow him?

If I’m going to get physically healthier, I need to darken the door of my gym. If I’m going to grow in faith, I have to be in the Word daily and consume what the Bread of Life offers. At least in this growth I pray that the church of Jesus Christ will increase their desire to know God’s Word which sends us out to share his good news and expand the family of believers.