God Hears, God Cares, and God Provides

I need to brag on Jesus! If you're praying about something and waiting on God is wearing you out, read this! 

As some of you know, we had to deal with mold issues in our upstairs bathroom just as our wonderful summer got started. Long story short, after having the mold removed, the bathroom gutted, and then restored, we were down for a little over $3,000. That might not seem like much to some folks, but to us it might as well  have been $30,000.

Needless to say, the summer has been "less than exciting". Most teachers lust after the blessed "summer break". Honestly, you look forward to it all year! I am no different. I had big plans and was REALLY looking forward to enjoying some adventures with my family. Of course, adventures take money and that little plan of mine changed with the mold. So how have we spent the summer? Well we have pretty much sat in our home, prayed, sat some more, and prayed some more...all summer long. Have I whined? Yes! Have I complained? Yes! Has God been teaching me incredible things? Without a doubt!

Yesterday, my heart was really broken and I was praying ever so fervently (that means hard…I think) about life, and just stuff. I have been really down about being so financially "twisted" with no clue how to "untwist", but yesterday was more about the reality of where I am currently with Jesus. I wasn't really praying about finances so much, just my heart in relation to His. It was during this time of prayer that the Lord reminded me of a scripture found in Joel 2. Here's what I read (it's kind of long…but you need to read it all):

Joel Chapter 2

A Call to Repentance
¹² That is why the Lord says,
"Turn to me now, while there is time.
Give me your hearts.
Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
¹³ Don't tear your clothing in your grief,
but tear your hearts instead."
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He is eager to relent and not punish.
¹⁴ Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve,
sending you a blessing instead of this curse.
Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine
to the Lord your God as before.
¹⁵ Blow the ram's horn in Jerusalem!
Announce a time of fasting;
call the people together
for a solemn meeting.
¹⁶ Gather all the people—
the elders, the children, and even the babies.
Call the bridegroom from his quarters
and the bride from her private room.
¹⁷ Let the priests, who minister in the Lord's presence,
stand and weep between the entry room to the Temple and the altar.
Let them pray, "Spare your people, Lord!
Don't let your special possession become an object of mockery.
Don't let them become a joke for unbelieving foreigners who say,
'Has the God of Israel left them?'"

The Lord's Promise of Restoration

¹⁸ Then the Lord will pity his people
and jealously guard the honor of his land.
¹⁹ The Lord will reply,
"Look! I am sending you grain and new wine and olive oil,
enough to satisfy your needs.
You will no longer be an object of mockery
among the surrounding nations.
²⁰ I will drive away these armies from the north.
I will send them into the parched wastelands.
Those in the front will be driven into the Dead Sea,
and those at the rear into the Mediterranean.^[c]
The stench of their rotting bodies will rise over the land."
Surely the Lord has done great things!
²¹ Don't be afraid, my people.
Be glad now and rejoice,
for the Lord has done great things.
²² Don't be afraid, you animals of the field,
for the wilderness pastures will soon be green.
The trees will again be filled with fruit;
fig trees and grapevines will be loaded down once more.
²³ Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem!
Rejoice in the Lord your God!
For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness.
Once more the autumn rains will come,
as well as the rains of spring.
²⁴ The threshing floors will again be piled high with grain,
and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil.
²⁵ The Lord says, "I will give you back what you lost
to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts,
the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts.^[d]
It was I who sent this great destroying army against you.
²⁶ Once again you will have all the food you want,
and you will praise the Lord your God,
who does these miracles for you.
Never again will my people be disgraced.
²⁷ Then you will know that I am among my people Israel,
that I am the Lord your God, and there is no other.
Never again will my people be disgraced.



The words in these verses were so encouraging. Even when we think it is too late for us, the Lord continues to offer hope and restoration. We are NEVER too far gone or beyond redemption. Our Father is a God of restoration, mercy, and kindness.

Now for some big time bragging!

I woke up this morning and noticed I had a text from a friend with whom I work. It said, "Check your email. What a blessing!"

Now normally this particular person is brimming with sarcasm. So, I was figuring I would experience something "unpleasant"! What I read almost knocked me off my feet!

I opened my email, and found that I had received message from Whitfield County Schools…my employer. I'll spare you all that was shared, but somehow, someway, my employer made the decision to go ahead and pay us an "extra" check that would normally be issued after we retire. This was apparently done to benefit new employees. When I started my job, I was told I would have to go without a check for a couple of months due to this provision. Now out of nowhere, they reverse it. Regardless of the "why", this was HUGE news for my family, especially considering that my wife is also an employee of the county. Essentially, we will have double our normal income in the month of August which is almost exactly double what this whole mold mess costs us! Not only did God restore that lost income, He doubled it! Can you say, HUGE blessing? Yes sir I can!

This is so incredible to me! Yes, the money will be amazing and will certainly get us back on track, but honestly that's not the main reason I'm rejoicing. I'm rejoicing because somehow, someway, the Lord of the entire universe moved on the hearts and minds of the folks that employee me to change a policy that's been in place for years…just to bless and care for my family! The God who I continually doubt, whine to, get angry at, sin against, and in general fail miserably, still adores me so much He was willing to step into an impossible situation, despite all my garbage, and help!

Now you may say, "Ken you're crazy!" "That's just a coincidence! God didn't do that just for little old you!"

Maybe, maybe not. In the end, all I know or care about is He is there… and He cares about me. That's worth more than every penny in every bank!

So, why in the world would God move Heaven and Earth for just one family? I'll answer that with a another question: Why would God ever think to send His only son to die for a planet full of rebellious, sin-rotten people who didn't give a rip about Him?

Love. It's all about love! The overwhelming love of a Father who cares desperately for His own creation and will do anything to show Himself strong on their behalf.

It was love that caused Him to send His child to live, die, and rise again to redeem us, and it is that same immeasurable love that ushers each and every blessing into our lives. God is first and foremost a Father, and like any good father, there are no limits to what He will do to take care of His own!

So there you have it!

I once heard a guy say, "Hard situations create the perfect conditions for miracles. Impossible situations create the perfect conditions for mighty miracles".

Friends, I put this one together quick, but I hope it has encouraged you. I do not know what you are praying, hoping, and waiting on God for, but know this; He knows…and He cares!

Peace and blessings to you my friends!

 

I Was Wrong

As always, if you find typos or grammar problems, be kind! I like to write, but my fingers don't always pick up what my brain is laying down!

I'm going to try to keep this short and sweet. I would like to revisit it and go into greater detail in the future, but for now I'm going to try to keep it simple.

A few days ago, I was spending some time reading ahead in preparation for my family's weekly devotional/hanging out/eating food/praying…and other stuff "time". We've been in the book of Mark for several months and it has been a great "time" for us. As I was reading chapter 9, verses 39 and 40 did that "jump out at you" thing. If you're one of God's kids, you know what I'm talking about. The basic story here finds the disciples specifically John tattling on some unknown fellow who was using Jesus' name to cast out demons. The kicker is this: According to John, this guy was not part of "their" group….and he didn't like that. But Jesus, in true Jesus fashion, shakes things up for these dear guys and for us. He replies, "Don't stop him….anyone who is not against us, is for us".

Before I discuss what the Lord showed me here, I would like to say that if the guy's actually able to cast out demons, I'm figuring he's most likely legit.

Anyway, what God showed me here was powerful and humbling; especially considering my stance on the particular subject to which I felt the spirit was applying these scriptures. When I left "church", I was hurt, very hurt. I had pretty much decided that everything about "church" was evil and most believers were blind to that fact or just didn't care…which made me even angrier. "Church" was broken, and I wanted to see change, big change. So, I took it upon myself to explain to the world why this thing we call "church", was really nothing more than a shallow, twisted remnant of what God had once called "His body". The "church" no longer smelled or looked anything like Jesus and had little to offer a lost and dying world. It was all about committees, hoop jumping, and control. I was indignant. I was frustrated…..

And I was wrong. Of course, I didn't really see that at the time.

Yes, there are problems and abuse galore that goes on in churches everywhere. Some are worse than others, but all are broken in some way. Why? Well, get a group of people together, large or small, and there's bound to be trouble. Again, why? Because we all have some brokenness within our lives, which means whatever we're a part of is going to be flawed. Still, Jesus said that even a cup of water given in His name counts. So, if even the smallest acts of love and kindness count, who am I to throw stones at anyone who is at least trying to serve God? Answer: I have no right.

If God loves His children and holds their smallest acts of service in His name dear, even if it's inundated with messed up junk, how can I say it has no worth. Again, I have no right and there is no justification for it. God loved me when I was at my worst, how can I refuse love or discount the efforts of anyone due to differing opinions?

At the end of the day, anyone, regardless of how they worship, where they worship, or with whom they choose to worship, anyone that is not against us...is for us. If you name Jesus as your Savior, you and I are family in the deepest sense. When I think of Jesus' command to "love one another", I am reminded that there are no prerequisites to that command. It is simple, and quite clear. Love each other…that's it. That means I cannot judge you, nor can you me. I don't think we have to agree on everything for I know we never will, but we must love each other.

Friends it has been over three years since my family and I left "church". We have endured, but I can assure you there have been many rough times for us. When you attend a church, it is honestly fairly easy. You basically know how things work and what to do. Once you leave those four walls, things can get really confusing. No one is there to say, "Here's how this works" and at times, there seems to be far more questions than there could ever be answers to. Still, God is faithful and we remain in His hands.

As I write this, there is a deep longing within me to repent before the Lord. I cannot tell you how long it has been since I really felt in step with Him. It's not that I didn't want to be, but it's easy to get lost. I deeply want to love and serve Him however He chooses, but it is as I said "confusing". My heart has really been challenged lately and I feel a longing for Jesus like I haven't felt in a long time.

Also, we need people in our lives and that's something we (Terri and I) agree on. How that happens or what it is supposed to look like is beyond me. I don't think we are being led to any church, but we know we must be more intentional about developing and maintaining relationships. Honestly, I don't know what to do but to just seek my Father's face and pray He lead this family.

In closing, please know that I still have a lot more questions than answers, but I do know one thing, I am called to love. Past that…who knows?

If you are reading this, PLEASE, PLEASE pray for us and know that you are loved and appreciated regardless of where you are.

 

The Rich Become Poor, and the Poor Become..."Poorer"

The following little gem was posted by my good friend Scott on Facebook.  I snagged it quick and decided it was something every American should consider.  No it has nothing to do with religion, but it does focus on an important concept that apparently our president and most Americans willfully ignore. 

Leveling the playing field for the benefit of a few extinguishes the passion to play the game for all.

I'm not really sure who wrote the article.  The picture mentioned Steve Forbes.  Regardless, enjoy this nugget of wisdom and if you have a thought, feel free to share it!

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class... had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.


The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama's plan".. All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A.... (substituting grades for dollars - something closer to home and more readily understood by all).

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.

The second test average was a D! No one was happy.

When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

To their great surprise, ALL FAILED and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed. Could not be any simpler than that. (Please pass this on) These are possibly the 5 best sentences you'll ever read and all applicable to this experiment:

1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.

2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!

5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.

Top Ten Reasons to Discipline Your Kid

 

1. They deserve it. Every kid does junk every day, all the time. Therefore, they always deserve it.
   
2. They need it. A child's brain will not develop properly without discipline. There is a connection between their rear and their brain. The rear needs pain to stimulate the brain. This is a fact!
   
3. They want it. This fact is proven each and every day. Children know that doing dumb things will bring punishment, yet they continually do dumb things. Therefore, one must reason that children want to be punished.
   
4. You need it. This one is a no brainer. Want some peace? Discipline your kid. By the way, saying, "If you do that one more time…." is worthless. Kids know better. If you're dumb enough to make that statement once, they know you'll most likely make it again. Lower the boom and be done with it! Peace is not overrated.
   
5. Prophecy must be fulfilled. Your parents told you you'd pay for your own stupidity one day. You had children and soon found that the unspeakable torment your parents spoke of was indeed a reality. Your stupidity was rewarded with suffering and now you too must deal out swift justice coupled with words of doom spoken over your own child's future as a parent.
   
6. Teachers will thank you. You do not want your child to be "that kid" in their class at school. You know, the kid who the teacher prays will move each and every day, but never does. Punish your kid and their teacher will sing your praises.
   
7. Grandparents won't, so you must. Everyone knows grandparents love their grandkids more than their own children. When kids visit the grandparents, they are allowed to act like complete idiots. Only a rousing round of sweet discipline can ever hope to restore balance to your child's foolish heart.
   
8. Your house will thank you. Your house longs to be clean. Unfortunately, your children work overtime to subvert that longing. Whacking your kid with the belt is effective, but cleaning toilets and scrubbing floors can also be effective forms of discipline. Your house works hard to keep you warm, safe, and dry. Your kids dirty up the joint. Make them clean it!
   
9. Your wallet will thank you. The great thing about grounding a child is that they are banned from all activities including those that burn up your hard earned cash. A stationary kid is cheaper to maintain. So, ground that little sucker. A fat wallet is a happy wallet.
   
10. The world will thank you. The world has more than enough delinquents running loose out there. Every kid has the potential to be a force for good or evil. Failing to discipline your kid conveys the idea that it's okay to act like a fool. I don't know about you, but I think I could live the rest of my life without another run-in with some idiot at Wal-Mart, the ball field, or driving down the interstate. Do the world a favor. Drive the stupidity out of your kid before they drive the rest of us insane.
    

Caught Between the Elephants and the Jackasses: “The Common Man’s Guide to Surviving the Fiscal Cliff”

Put your head between your legs and kiss your rear goodbye! It's the end of everything! The Mayans you say? Ha! Don't you wish? No dear friends, it's the "Fiscal Cliff" and everyone is wondering just how it will affect them.

Well, being the kindhearted, encouraging soul that I am, I thought I would take some time and share some of my vast wisdom regarding this glorious journey we are all about to embark upon.

First of all let's be clear, this whole situation is really just a fancy austerity plan (look it up)…in disguise! Don't fall for the whole, "We're trying, but can't come to an agreement" load of bull! Both the jackasses and the elephants know what's happening and both are seeking the same outcome! The bottom line is this; you're going to have less money and that's "the plan". Why? Well, someone has to pay for the mess this country is in and it looks like the American people have drawn the short straw…yet again. So, who is getting stuck? Well, if you pay payroll taxes, your tax bill will go up (that includes just about everyone who works), and your income tax bill will also rise.

Not only will your taxes increase, but many products and services will likely go up which means even less change in your pocket. Again, tax hikes affect almost everyone and everything. For example, if the dairy farmer pays more taxes, you can be sure that will be passed on to all the calcium conscious milk drinkers out there. Bottom line: Everything is going to cost more.

This isn't going to be a "tax the rich" situation; it will be a "tax everyone" situation. Eighty-eight percent of all Americans will pay higher taxes next year, about $3,500 per household on average. The average will be about $2,000 for families earning between $50,000 and $100,000, more for those earning more.

Again, that means you and I will have less to spend. Unfortunately, that also translates to continued woe for businesses especially small businesses. The result: Fewer jobs! In fact, if all this takes place, economists predict the US will face a huge recession and increased unemployment – a more than 1 percent hike in official unemployment figures, to 9.1 percent. You can only imagine how that will affect towns like Dalton already plagued by high unemployment.

Now that we've discussed the reality of what we face, let's think through some strategies we might employ to survive the coming storm.

1. Spend less! I realize that's not very American of me, but the fact is you only have so much money coming in and soon that amount will decrease. If that is the case, your family needs to be proactive in finding doable ways to adjust for that decrease in income. I could list many practical ways you could do that such as less eating out and buying fewer toys, but in the end those decisions are family specific. Regardless of what you decide to do, spend less!
   

   
    

2. Save more! The average American household does not have enough funds on hand to purchase even one household appliance that suddenly needs replacing. I've heard a lot of numbers thrown around, but most experts agree on having $1,000 minimum in the bank to cover unforeseen expenses. Without that buffer fund, you are surely doomed to rely on some form of credit and that is a sure way to sink your ship. So, start saving now!
   

   
    

3. Pay off debt! Even if it's just a small amount each month, start whacking away at debt. Most financial gurus I've listened to suggest starting with your smallest debt. Pay it off and then apply that monthly amount plus your current payment to the next smallest area of debt. Keep that up until it all goes bye-bye! Every dollar you pay off brings you closer to financial security. Along with that, DO NOT add to your current debt load! Paying off current debt is pointless if you continue to add to it, so QUIT USING CREDIT TO BUY STUFF! If you're not convinced this is a sound strategy, just look at the government. Remember, spending more than we have is what got us in this mess to start with! So, pay off debt!
   

   
    

4. Along with those obvious strategies, may I suggest a few ideas that might help add up to big savings for your household? First, talk to someone about your current tax deductions. It may be you need to adjust your federal and state tax withholdings. If you are currently getting back thousands on your tax return, you might want to rethink that. Most folks insist it is better to have more usable funds now than to get a whooping tax refund once a year. Still, you don't want to slash that too much, especially now that taxes are increasing. Healthy balance…that's the key.
   

   Next, if you haven't checked around for savings on auto and home insurance, now might be a good time. "A 15 minute call might save you hundreds", or so they say.
   

   And last but not least, consider saying goodbye to goodies you now enjoy. I know it's tough, but tough times demand tough choices! TV? Do you really "need" cable or satellite TV service? I say no! We haven't had it for a couple of years and it has saved us a bundle. You can purchase a good quality outdoor antenna for around $100. The signal is digital and IT"S FREE! Yeah, you may miss out on a few shows, but most content can be watched online for free if you have internet service. I use "Hulu" quite a bit and I have to say I am completely satisfied. Also, consider saying adios to your land line phone service, especially if you have a cell phone. Small changes here and there can add up to big savings!
   

Yes, most likely we will soon be taking the plunge over "the cliff", but that doesn't mean we have to perish on the rocks below. It will be difficult, but such is life. The truth is this anyone that didn't see this coming must have had their head stuck in the sand. It's been happening across "the pond" for some time now and you know what they say, what goes down in Europe eventually goes down in America.

So feel free to kick, scream, and protest if you like, in the end none of it really matters. We're still heading over the cliff!

PS – If you're not too crazy about the way Washington is spending your money, vote the Jackasses…and the elephants out in the next election! Allowing the same do nothing idiots to stay in office year after year makes zero sense!

From the Desk of a Guy Turning 44

Tomorrow's my birthday! Yep, I'll go from the ripe young age of 43 to the slightly overly ripe age of 44. It doesn't really bother me though. I figure that most 60+ folks out there wish they were still 44 and consider that age to be "tender" at best. So, I guess it's all about having a proper perspective.
Speaking of "perspective", I thought I would take a moment to share a few tidbits about life from a "well-seasoned" (older than 40) point of view.
By the way, if you're reading this and do happen to be older than me, PLEASE do not leave comments telling me things will get worse! I just don't think I could take it!


The following is a list of 11 truly great revelations I have come to embrace my 43^rd year of life on planet earth. They are in no particular order.

1. Briefs are far more comfortable than boxers. Women seem to like boxers better, but women do not need "support" in that area, so who cares what they think!
   
    
2. Losing weight after 40 is almost impossible. You have to do twice the amount of work for half the results. If you are fat at 43, you will most likely die fat. So eat, and die happy.
   
    
3. Younger women do not think guys over 40 are sexy (not that I care, I have a honey) unless they have money. If you do not have money, you are out of luck.
   
    
4. Coloring your hair will not fool anyone about your age. Your sagging man boobs tell the tale, so save your money boys and go gray gracefully.
   
    
5. Going without water all day will not keep you from having to get up to pee in the middle of the night. At 43, your body conserves a certain amount of water that it will only release after midnight regardless of your best efforts to avoid getting up.
   
    
6. The health of your "love life" will eventually be in the hands of a pharmaceutical company. If you want to keep your wife "happy", just suck it up and buy the pills!
   
    
7. Those pains you feel when you get up in morning are your body's way of encouraging you that you are not wasting money on that life insurance policy you took out when you were young.
   
    
8. Book companies are not making books with smaller print. This is a lie. You are 43. Buy the glasses you pretend you don't need before you end up accidentally taking your wife's hormone pills, thus making your man boobs much worse.
   
    
9. At 43, you should never pick anything up off the floor. The Chiropractor has enough patients…and money.
   
    
10. Buying that cool sports car is now pointless. At 43, the ladies only want to know if you can afford those pills discussed in revelation # 6. If you can, you're good to go with the chicks!
    
     

And finally….

1. At 43, I'm just now beginning to understand…that I do not understand anything.

And I'm guessing that's a good thing.

 

Happy Birthday to me!

Got Questions? Do Not Ask a “Lemming”!

I would like to preface this posting of mine by stating that most of what I'm sharing here is for me. I use "we" and "our" language because I feel it is applicable to all "our" lives. Still this post, as with most of my other ramblings, originated from musings about my own struggles.

I would also like to say that every pastor/preacher dude out there ought to be shouting amen after reading this. I have to believe that they are weary of people's unrealistic expectations of them and would love to see some folks trading in their bottles of milk for solid food.

Bottom line: If you don't feel "fed" by your pastor/preacher, maybe you should get up off your spiritual rear and begin to assume some responsibility for your own withered soul.

 

And so, it begins.

 

Have you ever heard the saying "It's like the blind leading the blind"? I have many times. It reminds me a lot of an old video game I used to enjoy playing called "Lemmings".

The basic premise of the game is to guide a horde of mindless little creatures through a variety of obstacles to reach a certain destination. Unfortunately, the "lemmings" are moving constantly and will not stop regardless of what lies before them. If one walks off a cliff, they all walk off the cliff. So in essence, your job is to constantly micromanage their every move lest they kill themselves…and you lose.

A lemming is actually a semi-cute little rodent found near the Artic, but the term is often used in the following derogatory way:

"A person who seemingly does not possess any form of individual thought, and instead, mindlessly follows the behaviors and actions of the masses."

Now I honestly do not want to sound mean, but it really reminds me quite a bit of the modern day American Christian.

I know, that probably makes you angry, but stay with me here. You might just find there's more to this line of thought than you'd care to believe.

If you ask most Christians, what it means to be "Christian", they can usually come up with an answer. It may be weird and completely unbiblical, but you'll likely get an answer. Probe deeper and you'll most likely hear some form of programmed answer they picked up in church.

My question is this: Is our faith really ours if it is only based on the words and opinions of others? In other words, what is our faith really built on? What is it made of and can we biblically defend it? By the way, that word "biblically" is important.

The truth is most of us (believers) are in trouble when it comes to answering the world's questions about life, death, and faith. Why? Because, most "Christians" have no clue why they believe what they believe. They just know the guy in front of them said it was true and that's all that matters.

Lemmings may be cute, but that approach doesn't work so well when it comes to issues of faith, nor does it stand up to the scrutiny of the world.

Question: If someone asks you a difficult question about your faith, do you feel confident you could handle it? You may respond, "That depends on the question." Indeed, it does.

Just for fun, let's look at a few questions I've been confronted with over the years. Look them over and think about how you would answer a struggling unbeliever.

By the way, telling them you'll introduce them to your "pastor", or inviting them to "church" are not acceptable responses.

For the sake of time and sanity, I'll only list five:

1. If God is good and loves the world, why does He allow people to go to Hell?
   
2. What is sin and how do I avoid it?
   
3. Why do we tell others they should pray to "receive Jesus in their hearts" when it's not in the bible?
   
4. How do you know Jesus the only way to Heaven?
   
5. How can I know God's will for my life?
   

Scary questions, huh?

So what about it? Would you feel comfortable trying to answer these questions…right now? The truth is, most of us would likely shoot from the hip and pray we're not screwing up too bad. I know I've struggled with each of these at one time or another. Many times I've replied, "Let me get back to you", but is that acceptable? Shouldn't we know our way around our own faith better than that? If we don't, is it really our faith we're living, or are we just another "lemming" following the guy directly in front of us (that "guy" could be anyone…not necessarily your preacher dude…don't blame him)?

I generally don't like to quote a bunch of scripture. Too many people sling scripture with reckless abandon trying to convince the world they're right. God knows I know, because I've done it for years. Still, I would like to present the following for consideration:

2 Timothy 2:15 – "Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth."

In other words, don't just blindly follow other people and embrace their opinions. Get in the game and start seeking God for yourself. So much of American Christianity is based on the whole "he said/she said" game? Sometimes that is fine, but what happens when he/she is wrong? I'll tell you what happens. We pass that bad information on to our fellow lemmings (and the world) and before you know it, we're all walking off a cliff. Not good.

Let's go back to the scripture I cited above. Notice it says, "work hard so you". Who is he challenging to work hard? The turkey looking at you in the mirror, that's who. Why? So you and I can present "ourselves" to God unashamed. It's personal. There are many other scriptures to back this up, and each challenges us to be responsible for our own faith.

That's not to say that we can't receive insight from others. We certainly can and probably should, but in the end we must follow God, and check out what "man" is babbling about…very carefully!

As I stated at the beginning, I still struggle with this process today. Just because I haven't been under the teaching of a preacher dude for 3 years doesn't mean I am outside of other's influence on my life. I still listen to "others" and read "others" books. There's more than enough opportunity to join the lemming parade passing by. In fact, it's mighty hard not to.

For me the greatest tragedy of being a lemming is not the fact that we're following clueless people, but rather we are leading clueless people…"cluelessly" (not a word…I know).

The world is hungry for answers. It longs for something real, something true. Today's pseudo-intellectual brand of "heathen" tend to be overwhelmingly cynical. Few trust Christians and fewer still care what we have to say. They've heard all our big talk and watched our small walk. They're tired of our trite, programmed responses to their questions and view us as rigid, judgmental hypocrites. I get that.

I was having a conversation with a homeless man not long ago. This man has been homeless for over 30 years. I asked him how many times "Christians" had tried to sell on religion in the last 30 years. He just laughed and replied, "He couldn't begin to count that high". As we continued to talk, he shared that the problem was not that they had tried to share Jesus with him, but that he knew they didn't really care about him, nor was he convinced they really bought into what they were pushing. "Just a bunch of fakers".

Well, I'm sure these folks all meant well, but there's something to be said about his perception of these folks.

If we are indeed perceived as nothing more than just a bunch of confused "fakers", what in the world should we do to rectify the problem? How can we truly become the "salt" and "light" Jesus said we are supposed to be? How can we effectively be salt and light when we do not understand what that means or how it is supposed to work? Well, I'm not sure I'm qualified to "fix" anyone (even myself), but I'm quite sure it won't happen by playing follow the leader in the lemming line.

As I stated before, we must begin to take responsibility for our own faith. If you don't know the answer, pray, study, and pray some more until the Holy Spirit leads you "into all truth". It is possible, or He would not have said so. Feel free to listen to "others", just make sure you check those suckers out! Your faith is and should always be "your faith".

I pray you have not taken this to be a slam against Christians, but rather a challenge to rise up and begin to shine. None of us have "arrived" in the faith, especially this guy. Still, we must be intentional about learning our way around our own faith if we really want to move forward with Christ…and take a few folks with us.

So with that, I'll hush. By the way, if you are planning on playing "Lemmings", just make sure the guy in front of you…is Jesus.