Thoughts on poverty…

As Jesus ministered to people, he fought poverty. He did this in two ways. First, he healed people of sicknesses and debilitating physical situations. This would allow the person to no longer be secluded socially, meaning they could legitimately pursue employment or servanthood. They would be ceremonially clean. Also, Jesus took care of the heart issue. A lot of people are unable to work because of something internal, like intense bitterness or hatred that clogs a person’s heart and head from being able to focus clearly. The deep emotional problems could impede a person’s ability to work consistently or productively. When Jesus forgave them, a heart transformation took place and they had the ability to rid themselves of the guilt, emotions or depraving effects of sin. If we take this model to a modern era, we could be effective in fighting poverty just as Jesus did. Take care of people’s physical and spiritual needs. If you get rid of the excuses to work, then they will have to own up to who they are inside. At that point, they will either choose to move on in God’s forgiveness and make something significant of themselves, or they will go back to self-pity and self-deprecation; rendering themselves beggars of pity, and “helpless” aside from others’ charity.

This may come across as a little harsh or hard, but it also comes from not knowing every circumstance of every person who is living in a poverty situation. I am only writing out of a general sense from the stories I have encountered in life, not an all-encompassing knowlegde.

Responsible for love

Yesterday, while I was participating in worshiping God at NewSpring, I was praying whatever came to mind and the phrase “make me responsible for the love you have given me,” came out of my lips.  It hit me as soon as I said it.  That was not just some easy, no big deal sentence.  That was a conviction and a call to reality.  Unlike what we are taught about money, God’s love is to be spent in a very “irresponsible” way.  We are to invest in people that can in no way compensate us for our time or effort.  We are to chose to love people who haven’t earned it already.  We are to lavish the love like a gift instead of finding a place to hide it away with interest so that it will be bigger when we need it on a rainy day.  If we hold onto the love of God like a savings account, it dies.  If we spend it freely, without a plan or budget, it increases its effect.

Who have I shown love to today that did nothing to deserve it?

In what ways am I holding back God’s love so that I can feel good later?

Who have I invested in recently with no intention to collect?

How can I be more “careless” with God’s love?

How is being stingy with love adversely affecting my ministry?

Who is my next investment going to be?

I cannot sit and let this love deteriorate, waste away inside of me.  I am going to be held responsible for what I have done with it when my Master returns.

It means so much more when you are in the moment

Last night I was able to attend the championship game of the 15 & Under guys basketball game in the ACAA.  It was a great game.  Fantastic by some standards.  There were so many ridiculous plays and steals and bad calls going both directions.  It is so easy as a spectator to not be that emotionally involved in the game.  Sure, you can feel like part of the action by being there, but you aren’t leaving anything out on the court.  Your reputation, your heart, your talent, your best is not being examined by strangers and friends.  The game ended and the team that I was cheering for lost by 2 points in the last second of regulation.  The reactions of the players on both teams was really quite interesting.  Some of the guys that I have known for a while and some that I have just met recently displayed a sort of anguish that I thought would only appear when a loved one dies.

I thought about how the loss won’t matter in a year, it won’t keep them out of college, it won’t keep them from being gainfully employed in the future, it won’t even matter in a week.  There is no call for that sort of reaction.  Then, I remembered when I played Y-ball in high school for two years.  When we lost everyone took it really personally.  Everyone except me.  It wasn’t fun, but it also wasn’t gonna keep me from enjoying Subway from across the street after every game.  When you are in the moment, your current emotions are the only thing that matters.  That is part of being a child.  When you can separate yourself from the emotions during the loss, that is being a robot.  When you experience the emotions without suppressing them, but not allowing them to rule your entire day, then you are becoming a mature human.

One of the things that I find highly admirable about David from his writings in the Psalms is that he was not afraid to experience humanity.  We are made to emote.  Even though David was one of the manliest men in history, and he is the standard by which all giant stories are told, he cried.  He wept.  He loved and lost.  He was truly an earthy (not earthly) human.

Stuff to think about when going into dating

I was talking with a friend on Monday night about the possibility of getting into a relationship in the future. We talked about what the circumstances were and how to finish a conversation that was left hanging when they left. So, here is some of the stuff we talked about:

The number 1 priority of a man in a dating relationship is to love and serve God. This is absolutely essential. If this part of your life is out of control, the relationship will be out of control as well.

Treat your girlfriend like your sister. This is not only a spiritual thing, but also a respect thing. I have a sister who is about to finish high school and who has already dated a guy. I love and care for her a lot. (I would probably go to jail if someone did anything to hurt her.) When I hang out with a girl/woman, am I treating her like I would want someone to treat my sister? Would I punch a guy in the throat for touching my sister like I am touching my girlfriend? That is a really good gut check/intentions check for me. Of course, this is based on a desire to be pure, not a desire to stifle all fun. There still needs to be fun and flirting and relational warmth displayed, just be careful that it doesn’t lead to any sort of sinful action or thought process.

Know your boundaries before you have to institute them. If you have thought through, prayed about and are confident in your convictions, then there are no questions when the situation arises to think about what you are doing. This is not to say that once you think about a boundary, whether physical, emotional, mental, spiritual or relational, that you cannot change them once in the relationship. I think it is good to talk about boundaries and expectations of any kind at the very beginning of the dating experience. This keeps you both in a place where you don’t wonder what is acceptable behavior and what is a potential stumbling block. I would say that a good policy is to go with whoever has a stronger conviction, take the tougher route. Don’t make your boy/girlfriend compromise because you feel a greater freedom in Christ. It is your job to guard their heart, especially if you are the male in the relationship. That is one of the most important things that you can do.

On that note, it is the duty and privilege of any man to be intentional and God-fearing in everything that we say and do to our girlfriend/wife. When you leave room for doubt about your intentions in your actions and attitudes, you allow them to doubt your interest in them and the relationship. WE MUST NOT PLAY GAMES WITH GOD’S DAUGHTERS! It takes a man to stand up, regardless of reciprocation and tell a female that he intends to pursue her. Let me clarify this by saying that it should not be a creepy thing where you stalk a girl. I only aim to say that it takes guts to be the leader and put the ball in her court after you have declared your intention. Also, don’t force a guilt trip or awkward situation on a lady hoping that you can get an “I like you, too” right on the spot. Women often need time to think about appropriate responses because everything in their life effects everything.

That is enough for now.

Home Building

This is a little story from 4/6/06.

There is a piece  of land that an owner promises to allow the person who builds the planned home to live in it.  The foundations are laid and the owner is waiting for a builder to come and finish the house.  A certain builder comes along and works on building the house without consulting the owner for the plans.  The person frames the house and does just enough work to move in for a while.  When this no longer satisfies him, he starts to tear it down and vandalize the building.  This frustrates and saddens the owner, who loves the land and the potential for the home.  Another builder comes along and tries to make the house to his own specifications.  This does not work also and the owner kicks him out very quickly.  The land is so beautiful and the potential so great that many builders desire to work on the house to lay claim to it.  Eventually, a patient builder comes by and is taken aback by the beauty of the land.  He talks to the owner and asks for permission to work on the house.  The owner agrees and shows him around the property.  When the patient builder sees the condition of the house, he immediately grieves at the mistreatment of such beauty and potential.  Then he tells the owner that if he will provide the materials and approve the work as he goes, he will dedicate his life to helping the owner finish the house.  The patient builder sees the adventure before him as both challenging and rewarding.  The patient builder notices something that none of the other builders saw:  the plans call for it not only to be a house, but also a monument to the greatness of the owner.  The only thing left to do was to get the land to accept his efforts.

This story was written for broken and low feeling young women of God.  I know that there are young ladies who have been mistreated and who have not been appreciated for their beauty and potential, but don’t lose hope.  God has someone for you who will more than gladly invest their life in helping develop God’s potential for you.  You are worth so much more than how you may have been treated.

Guys, do not see the person you are pursuing as a temporary shelter to get what you need out of until a newer and more beautiful house becomes available.  You must be responsible builders.  If you are not going to or do not feel called to commit your entire life to building the house you are working on, then get out and honor the Owner in doing so.   I know that I cannot allow myself to design the plans for the house that I will live in one day.  I must seek God for the plans and allow him to direct my work.  The daughters of God are worth the wait.  No questions asked.

Emissions

Today a warning light came on in my car.  It said:  EMISSIONS WORKSHOP!  Quite possibly the best warning indicator I have ever seen.  I have a warranty on my car for another year and nine months, so hopefully this will be covered.  I am running dangerously low on funds, and I don’t know how I will pay for any repairs if they are not covered.  I am learning to trust God.  I know that he has all of the money in the universe, because he created it.  I also know that he is a great father and would not want his child to needlessly go without.  It is times like these when I wonder what God is doing in my life.  There are some circumstances that you have absolutely no control over, like a roommate walking out on you without paying rent, right when you need the money so you can buy your family Christmas presents, or pay the bills next month.  This is my current situation.  It would be really easy to get mad at God and blame him for what is going wrong in my life.  Just in the nick of time, I start reading this book, which I have already mentioned, and I read a part today about reframing my mind.  I need to stop looking at how big my problem is, but instead awe at how enormous God is.  I should not focus on what is wrong, complaining, but focus on and worship him for what is right.  If I can make a habit out of that kind of thinking, I will not only be a more joyful person, but I will be more fun to be around no matter what is going on.  If I can encourage people by going through hard times, then I am and have been more than happy to go through them.  I have very limited experience in life, and even less experience with true tribulations.  I know that my life will bring them eventually, I can only hope that I conduct myself in a manner worthy of my calling and to both glorify and enjoy God in the process.

I guess all of that ties into the stresses of looking for a job and not feeling like the search is going anywhere.  I have applied to several places and have not heard back from them.  I have been to several meetings recently that seemed promising at the beginning and have ended up being discouraging in the end.  No one has work for a guy like me right now.  My skill set and talents don’t easily lend themselves to very many jobs.  To top that off, I have no idea what jobs to look into.  I have been begging God to show me something, anything.  I just need some direction.  I need a hint or a first step.  And to beat all that, I am still having a hard time shaking off the feelings that I had for my ex-fiance.   Four and a half months later, and I still don’t know what to do.  I pray for her regularly, that God would heal and love her.  That he would give her direction.  I just want what is best for both of us in the most selfless way possible.  I want us both to fall even more in love with Jesus than we already are and rely on him alone for completeness and satisfaction.  I have no idea who I will end up marrying (hopefully marrying), but I know that based on how amazing parts of my old relationship were, that I will probably go out of my mind with how awesome that person’s love will be.