Trials

Steve Johnson blames God for his overtime drop:

This headline was in referance to a dropped pass last sunday (for full story: Yahoo sports)

Lets dissect this story. Overtime game. The Buffalo Bills, one of the worst teams in the league this year, are playing the Pittsburgh Steelers. This isn't the Superbowl, not even a playoff game. Though the Steelers were favored in this game the Bills have kept it close and sent it to overtime. With 10 min left to play in the OT half, the Bills have the ball at the Steelers 40 yard line. The WR Steve Johnson beats the coverage and is wide open, it's a beautiful throw right into his hands as he reaches the endzone....... then he drops the ball. The Steeler go on to win the game with a FG a few min later.

There isn't anything much worse for a WR in the NFL then to drop a ball thrown right at you when your wide open. Even worse is if you're wide open for a TD. And if that TD would win you the game. 

What happens when we don't get what we want? Or something we pray for doesn't happen the way we expect it to happen? Do we sometime react like Steve Johnson? 

I think it's interesting the 1st thing he writes in his tweet: "I praise you 24/7! And this is how you do me?" hmm thats interesting. 

2 Timothy 1:8
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,

Here Paul isn't talking about the embarrassment of dropping a football pass. He's talking about being in jail. Being whipped, beaten, stoned, ect, ect, ect. Here is a fellow who could write the book on suffering. And what does he say? 

Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 

Suffering was a way of life for Paul. Did he "like" it? Probably not, it was probably extremely painful at times. But Paul was able to look past that to the prize awaiting us when we have finished the race.  

I think I often get caught up in the here and now. What will make me happy and what will satisfy ME, NOW! And if that's not happening then God must not be doing his job. 

But we have it ALL wrong. It's during those times that we are supposed to run to God even more and embrace what he wants us to learn from that trial. I want to close with one of my favorite stories:

One Night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonged to him and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you you'd walk with me all the way, but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me." The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." 

Remember, Jesus IS with you

The Hard life

Today I'm going to try to talk you out of following Jesus.

Reasons for not following Jesus:
1. There is no guarantee of shelter or the basic necessities of life. This means that you might be stuck living under the bridge eating dry bread crust for the rest of your life.
2. Jesus said "let the dead bury their own dead" So family ties... Not important enough to go to the funeral. oh well
3. No goodbyes to your family. "Any man who has put his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for service in the kingdom of heaven." This following of Jesus requires total, superior and complete devotion

So bottom line: Be homeless, No funerals for family, and no saying goodbye to mom. Plus Jesus also says,
"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple."
Whew. That's rough

Radical Abandonment.

How often in today's American culture is this fact missed? How often is "being a Christian" just a label? The other day i saw a quote "Blonde: It's not just a hair color; it a lifestyle!"
What if we live like "Christian: Its not just a bible, church on Sunday and a fish sticker on my car; it a lifestyle!

Would that change the way you live your life? The way you interact with people? The way you see other people?

So I'm reading this book called Radical by David Platt (This is where the motivation for the post came from) and I would highly recommend it for any and all.
 

A Man's Man

What is the 1st thing you think of when you see "A Man's Man"? Maybe you think of Mr. Universe with his steroid induced biceps (ok im jealous...) Or maybe you think of a Knight from the middle ages in full armor battling evil throughout his dominion. Or maybe you think of a big brawny construction worker who can carry sheets of drywall like paper. The phrase "A Man's Man" will usually conjure up images of a tough fellow who doesn't take anything from anyone, has a shotgun in his truck and drinks his coffee black.
It's true. All of these would be considered Manly in today's culture. But I don't think that it quite right.

Maybe instead of trying to be a Man's Man, we should be a God's Man.
Here are some ideas:
1. Take Responsibly. (Boys make excuses, Men take responsibly)
2. Be a leader
3. Be an example of God at all times: "Rom 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship."
4. Honor Women- This means ALL women. Doesn't matter age, looks, whatever. Honor them. Period.

These are just a few idea that I have mulled over the past few day. I would love to hear other thoughts, opinions, and ideas so please comment!