I'm so busy...

Busy, Busy, Busy.  We're all busy...call 10 of your friends up and ask them what they've been up to and chances are a big percentage of them will say something like, "Oh you know, the usual...just real busy".  Ugh...please, the next time you ask me what's up and I say I've just been busy, just punch me in the jugular.  The truth?  Yes, we're all busy...most of the time with good things but that doesn't necessarily mean they are God things. 

I like what Craig Groeschel said in his latest book titled, 'Weird'.  In the first chapter he talks about this very subject of being busy.  He says that busy is "normal" for so many of us.  We're trying to be normal and sometimes feel like that means we've got to cram in everything that we can so as to call ourselves worthy.  Check out this quote from the book: "We're always rushed, always on the move, never having enough time.  Almost everyone I know has little room for error in their schedule.  Tragically, most people have little time for the things in life that they would say are the most important to them.  When we overschedule ourselves in the belief that we can do everything, we stop being human and try to become godlike-not only impossible but also incredibly arrogant.  Most of us are living at a pace that is not only unsustainable; it's also unbiblical." ('Weird', Craig Groeschel)

We're also so busy sometimes trying to "keep up with the Jones' ", but I'll have to put those thoughts in another blog because that's another hot button, punch me in the jugular, let me get on my soapbox kind of topic.  

So here's the deal.  Take an assessment of your busyness and do it soon.  Remember, you're in control of your schedule.  Cut out things that are taking a physical and spiritual toll on you and your family.  Free up some time on your calendar and then sit back and watch God start using that time to reveal Himself more to you.  Remember those dreams that you have?  Those things that you feel God wants you to do as soon as you get time?  Get un-busy and watch God make those dreams a reality.  Let's kick "normal" to the curb and start living the life that God intended for us.

I'd like Jesus to say the last word on my blog today...kind of sums everything up:

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)

Passion

Yesterday morning I was reading about the time that Jesus went into the Temple area and saw the merchants selling the cattle and sheep and the dealers exchanging money at the table, etc.  He makes a whip from some ropes (Chuck Norris aint got nothing on Jesus), then proceeds to chase them all out of the Temple, all while scattering coins and turning over the tables.  You can read all about it in the 2nd chapter of John.

When the disciples saw Jesus going Walker Texas Ranger on their tails, they remembered a prophecy that was foretold from scripture..."Passion for God's house will consume me".

Now let's bring things to present day.  What is the hot topic that's got everyone worked up right now?  The U.S. economy and the debt ceiling saga (insert evil laughter here).  Believe me, I'm ticked about it just as much as anyone else because I can see the neglect and greed and whatever other word you want to throw in there to describe some of our leaders viewpoints.  BUT are we getting so worked up and passionate about it that we are taking our eyes off of Jesus and the church and looking to Washington for answers?  Let me make one thing clear...God does not work under a debt ceiling or economy, nor does he have any sort of limitations that will stop his will from being done.  The answer to this current saga and any other future saga is the church.  One person and one family at a time making a difference by being passionate about God, being passionate about the church, doing the things that we can do in our own family and finances to make a difference, and by praying for our leaders to get their head out of...you get the picture.

So what consumes us?  Passion for ________will consume me.  If God's house is not in that blank, then we need to look at our lives and priorities to figure out how to get it back in that blank.  I said earlier that God doesn't have any limitations that will stop his will from being done.  The things we have in those blanks could be a limitation...Read those last 2 sentences again.  Bring your passions back home to where they should be, then watch as things somehow miraculously begin to fall into place.

Use it or lose it

I was reading in Matthew 25 this morning about the parable of the 3 servants (Matt. 25:14-30).  Jesus illustrates what the Kingdom of Heaven is like by telling the story of a master going on a long trip and entrusting 3 of his servants with his silver.  The first servant he entrusted with five bags of silver, the second with two bags and the third with one bag.  The first two homies invested the money and doubled what their master had.  The third dude buried his in his backyard or somewhere and only gave his master back the same amount upon his return.  The master praises the first two servants, then celebrates with them and entrusts them with even more responsibilities.  The third servant is called lazy and wicked and all of his money was taken away and given to the first servant.

What was interesting in my reading was that it talked about how money back then was referred to as 'talents'.  So although the passage is talking about money, the same principals of the parable can still be applied to the things you do well...the things God put in you to further his kingdom...the things you might call TALENTS.  Don't be ashamed of your talents or think you are not good enough to use them for God.  Invest those talents and watch God give you even more responsibilities.  Don't be like the third servant and let your talents be buried one day with your body.  What step do we need to take today to use our talents and further his kingdom?

Chew on this

The aroma of spicy tilapia, corn on the cob and hushpuppies filled my nostrils as soon as I walked in the door from work yesterday.  Mel had fixed another masterpiece for dinner and I was immediately ready to eat.  I kept talking about how good it smelled and how I couldn't wait to dig in (I even managed to sneak away with 1 hushpuppy before dinner was served).  Finally, it was time to sit down at the table and eat.  I remember the first bite I took of the tilapia...my eyes closed as I chewed and savored the goodness that was now in my mouth.  I had finally went from talking about it to actually fulfilling my hunger as I swallowed and it flowed to my belly.  After 3 helpings, I was ready to push away from the table and see what else I needed to conquer before bedtime.

I'm sure you feel like you can conquer the day after that story, right?  Like you now know that there is truly meaning to life as long as you have tilapia every now and then?  Ok, so here's what was going on in my head after I got home yesterday and how my mind compared tilapia with God's word:

I was so hungry when I walked in the door yesterday and as I snuck that first hushpuppy, of 5 total, in my mouth and started chewing on it I thought how good it tasted.  But I was still hungry.  No matter how many times I chewed on it, or the fish, or the corn, etc., it wasn't going to satisfy my hunger until I actually swallowed it.  Such is the case with God's word.  We can talk to God all day (chew), but unless we are listening for God and reading His word (swallow), we will never be full.  The Bible says in Matthew 11:28-30 to get away with God and he'll show you how to take a real rest (listening, swallowing).  He wants to take your burdens (hunger) upon himself.  Sometimes we do so much talking and complaining and wondering why certain things are happening the way they are, etc., etc., that we forget to swallow.  Just as we need food and water everyday for physical survival, we need to listen to God everyday for spiritual survival.  Now go and eat!  

God gave me the bird today.

My favorite place to go at lunch time is a little shaded park close to my office.  I will sit in my car with the windows down and either pray, take a nap, read the bible or a book, take a nap, write, take a nap, or just simply take a nap.  Today was one of those typical days.  As I was reading, and dozing, toward the end of my time there, I noticed a couple of birds right outside my window.  They were hopping around the grass just looking for some food and it appeared that they were having some success.  Then one of the birds walked over to a small puddle on the pavement that was left from the rains last night...he proceeded to hop in the water and refresh himself (or herself...I'm not a bird expert) a bit.  The whole scene reminded me of the following passage in the Bible, "Look at the birds.  They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them.  And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?"  Matthew 6:26-27 ...BOOM, SLAM, IN YOUR FACE BRYAN.  Yep, that was God giving me the bird today because he knows I've been worrying about things out of my control lately.  What are you worried about today?  May God give you the bird today.

Worried Christians~OxyMORONS

Yep...that's the title of my book that I'm in the process of writing.  I've wanted to do this for a long time and I actually started working on it a little bit last year but for whatever reason, I put it off.  I'm attempting to continue the process again and have actually made some pretty big steps in that direction as of late.  I've even met with a couple of people of whom I value their opinions to tell them what I'm doing and "interview" them to get their thoughts and input on the topic of the book.  Speaking of the topic of the book, here it is:

For most of my life, I've been a worrier...a worrier over things within my control and a worrier over things completely out of my control.  I'm also a Christian.  That's where the OxyMORON (emphasis on Moron) comes in.  Worry...Christian...The two are not supposed to go together.  We get nowhere from worrying over things...God tells us to give everything over to him but sometimes, for whatever reason, there's a few of us knuckleheads that will worry over the stupidest of things instead of trusting that God is in control and will take care of us.

I've gotten a lot better over the years but I'm still not where I need to be on the subject and I know there's people out there that struggle with the same thing.  So I'm writing this book to not only categorize and talk about different things that we worry about (i.e. doubting salvation, health, finances, marriage, etc.) but to also spend an equal amount of time in the book showing you what God says about the subject and giving you some practical help so that you can start to leave that old way of life behind and begin to develop a God given peace about things.

That's it in a nutshell...thanks for reading...I would love to hear any comments you have.  Also, feel free to list anything that you think might be a good topic for the book.  You can comment on my blog or message me on facebook or twitter.  I'll keep you posted with the process!

Let's Do This

Dreams.  We all have them.  I'm not talking necessarily about the dreams you have when you're asleep at night but more so about the visions we have of our life and the things we wish we were doing.  Think for a moment about your dreams.  Maybe it's something you've been dreaming about doing for a long time or  maybe it's a new dream that you have recently started thinking about.  Most of the time we think our dreams will never come true because of one or more of the following:  money, education, lack of support, scared of what people will say/think, lack of resources, etc., etc.  The list goes on and on.  The truth is, unfortunately, most of us will never act on our dreams.  We'll keep doing the same routine day in and day out not wanting to change anything for fear of it not working.  Well, here's my tip of the day.  First, you need to seek out God and make sure that this dream of yours is a God idea and not just a good idea.  Second, DO IT.  Here's the deal...if you determine that it is indeed a God idea, that doesn't mean that it's going to be easy.  That's where you put your faith into overdrive and say Ok, God...I'm giving it over to you, show me what I need to do to make this a reality.  God doesn't put dreams in our minds to make us crazy with disappointment knowing that they are never going to come true.  He puts them in there because he made you for a purpose and that purpose includes expanding his kingdom using your talents and gifts that he has given you.  So if you've been putting something off because you can't "see" it really happening, then I suggest you go outside and look up into the sky...I'm pretty sure that the one who created all of that can see it happening and is just waiting on you to say, "Let's Do This!"