I’m going to pause for a moment in my current flow of blog posts, and offer you a look into the heart and life of a real man. I’ve discussed many things that are relevant and important for men to know, but haven’t offered up any examples. The first and foremost example, which this man kept his eyes upon his whole life, is Jesus Christ. Don’t let media and culture fool you into thinking that Jesus was a wuss – He was God and man, perfect in both. Jesus Christ was meek and mild, but the Bible paints a picture of the Warrior King who will come again to subdue the earth – Jesus was everything that we should seek to be as men.
That being said, the man I am going to tell you about is a man I knew well; he was my grandfather. Born in 1927, shortly before the Great Depression, he learned how to be a good steward of what he had. I never knew him to be wasteful, and never once saw him take what he had for granted. He grew up on a farm, knowing the value of hard work.
At the seemingly young age of 18, he married my grandmother. Hearing them talk about life, even after WWII had ended, they were never rich in material possessions, but knew that their treasure would be stored up in heaven. As they settled down and began a family, my grandfather filled the role of “Man of the house”. My grandfather never stopped showing his wife love as long as he was able; he helped show me what it meant to love your wife as Christ loved the church.
My grandfather was the father of five children; four girls and a boy. One of the greatest gifts he and my grandmother gave was the heritage of their faith; all five of their children, and the majority of their grandchildren, and even their great-grandchildren trust in Jesus Christ as their savior. Men, as you begin to build your family, meditate upon the blessings of a family that trusts in Christ. If you were raised in a Covenant household and were taught Christ from a young age, you know what a blessing it is. If you weren’t, listen to others talk about that blessing, and seek that blessing for your children. A man not only leads his family practically, he leads them spiritually towards Christ. If you do nothing else; do that- show your children Christ in your actions, in your words, and in your life.
My grandfather made his living as a builder. Many of the homes in our community were built by him, and many more were renovated or worked on by him. His handiwork, although without a signature, was established by God (Ps. 90:17). He loved to help people, and always took time to love them; to speak with them, to relate to them, and to show that he valued them. Many times, as a young boy, I would help him on his farm, and whenever someone came by, he would pause whatever he was doing and chat with them. I always found it fascinating that a man who did so much work would make so much time for other people in his life. He took joy in his work, and although he had retired from building by the time I was spending time with him, he and I (along with many of his other grandsons) did many projects around his farm.
Although primarily a builder, my grandfather had the heart of a farmer. For those of you who know farmers, you know they are a special type of person. My grandfather had a great and vivid love for God’s creation around him – from the trees in his orchard, to the sheep he lovingly cared for, he always found joy in God’s creation.
My grandfather was a man of faith, but was never a scholar. I never had deep theological conversations with him, and saw him working more than I saw him reading. Yet his faith was simple and profound; from his life I never once questioned that he was a child of God. Again, looking at the legacy he left – 5 God-fearing children, fifteen grandchildren (one of whom helped to build a global missions organization), and 15 great-grandchildren whose lives are beginning to unfold – there is no doubt that my grandfather knew Christ.
In the past several years, after my grandmother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, my grandfather spent more and more time caring for her, giving of himself for her, until he could no longer physically care for her on his own. Even after help was hired, he continued to concern himself with her comfort and care day and night.
Nine months ago, my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and congestive heart failure. After much consideration, it was decided that he should be moved into the local nursing home. This wasn’t an easy decision for anyone, but my grandfather especially felt the distance between him and his wife, and felt the difference in not being out and about in the midst of God’s creation. As the disease progressed, he became less and less of the man I knew and more and more of a shell of that man – a terribly hard thing to see. Even then, though – he would often want to pray with a retired pastor that ministered often to him.
Last week my grandfather passed away, survived by his wife and children. He now stands at the feet of his Father in heaven, perfected and living in glory. Today we celebrated his life, laid his body in the ground, and remembered the Savior, Jesus Christ, in whom he trusted.
I could go on for pages and pages about my grandfather – memories, thoughts, and questions – but instead, I’ll ask you: who are the pillars of strength who have shown you what it means to me a man for God? Please, take time to get to know them – learn from them, encourage them. Above all, though, spend much time getting to know Christ- the only perfect role model. Spending time with Christ will make you more of a man than Rambo, John Wayne, or Clint Eastwood. It will do more to make you a man than lifting weights, hunting, or any other activity that the world would have you believe “Real Men” focus on. Keep your eyes on the prize, for He will NEVER cease to love you. He will not leave the work He has begun in you unfinished – He will continue to sanctify and shape you into the man He wants you to be.
Showing posts with label Deep(er) thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Deep(er) thoughts. Show all posts
Friday, March 4, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
What to Look for in a Wife
In the past two posts, I covered what marriage is, biblically speaking, and some of what it means to be ready for marriage. Now, what to look for in a wife.
Movies, books, and even friends tell us many different things about what to look for in a wife. Some people say to find someone who you have fun with. Others tell you to find that "spark" that will start a flame. The advice is varied, and, often as not, unhelpful.
What does Scripture have to say about the qualities of a wife? The default passage here is Proverbs 31; most of you have probably read or studied this passage before, and so I will summarize some of the qualities: Trustworthy (v. 11), Helpful (v. 12), Diligent (v. 13-15), Strong (v. 17-18), Compassionate (v. 20), Wise (v. 26), Kind (v. 26), Fears God (v. 30). This is a partial list; but finding a woman with even just these qualities may seem a tall order. I would encourage you in two ways. First, if you look, you'd be surprised at how many Godly young women like this there are. Second, many young women won't exemplify all these qualities perfectly before they are married. That is because, as we men are, they are affected by sin. Marriage is also a sanctifying process, that helps to grow these qualities.
Another thing to meditate on is Ephesians 5:22-33, the passage that relates the husband and wife to Christ and the Church. Many men focus on how to be more Christ-like, and that is all they get out of the passage. Although tremendously important, I would encourage you to also think about how the Church is supposed to act, and look for a wife with that in mind.
Also in that passage, Paul says that wives should submit to their husbands. That should not be interpreted by the current culture's definition of submission - that to submit means to acknowledge superiority. To submit means to respect and to allow the husband to take the lead. Men, hear me when I say this - don't expect your wife to do what you say because you say so. Expect your wife to submit to you because you submit to Christ, and follow Him. Look for a wife that wants to submit to Christ more than you.
Now, there are many general qualities and things we've covered so far. If we were to stop here, one might go away thinking that as long as the woman has these things, they should be pursued in marriage. Not so; there are other things to be covered.
Personality matters, too. Do you have the same sense of humor? Do you enjoy the same music, movies, and books? Do you share passions and interests? If marriage is a unifying relationship, than you ought to consider all the ways you will be unified in marriage. It doesn't just mean you'll be married while at church, or while you're with the in-laws; you're married (read "unified") all the time. You can't create boundaries in music, discussion topics, or any other arena that will divide you and your wife. So, when looking for a wife, look for a young woman who, after getting to know her better (we'll cover that in "the process"- next post) you both believe that you have a basis for unity. She doesn't have to be (and won't be) perfect, and you won't be either. The question remains, is there enough in common for unity? For more on this, read Chapter 11 of Gary Chapman's, "The Five Love Languages: Singles Edition".
The one area you've probably already considered is whether or not you find her attractive, physically. Society uses many terms for this, the most common among young men being "Hot". Some Christians, however, feel that because the World wants it, they must reject it - completely. They disregard all physically attraction (or lack thereof), and focus on everything else. The fact of the matter is, in marriage, you are marrying the whole person - from emotions to personality, to their body. True, the Bible reminds us that beauty is fleeting, but it is nevertheless part of your wife. The whole book of Song of Solomon is a bridegroom telling his bride how beautiful she is. Physical attraction is important - not the most important, but you will be waking up to her face for the rest of your life; keep that in mind.
To sum up what to look for in a wife: Find a woman who fears God above all else, who you truly enjoy, who you find beautiful, and then seek God's will. If you're interested in such a woman, you might be ready for the next step.
Movies, books, and even friends tell us many different things about what to look for in a wife. Some people say to find someone who you have fun with. Others tell you to find that "spark" that will start a flame. The advice is varied, and, often as not, unhelpful.
What does Scripture have to say about the qualities of a wife? The default passage here is Proverbs 31; most of you have probably read or studied this passage before, and so I will summarize some of the qualities: Trustworthy (v. 11), Helpful (v. 12), Diligent (v. 13-15), Strong (v. 17-18), Compassionate (v. 20), Wise (v. 26), Kind (v. 26), Fears God (v. 30). This is a partial list; but finding a woman with even just these qualities may seem a tall order. I would encourage you in two ways. First, if you look, you'd be surprised at how many Godly young women like this there are. Second, many young women won't exemplify all these qualities perfectly before they are married. That is because, as we men are, they are affected by sin. Marriage is also a sanctifying process, that helps to grow these qualities.
Another thing to meditate on is Ephesians 5:22-33, the passage that relates the husband and wife to Christ and the Church. Many men focus on how to be more Christ-like, and that is all they get out of the passage. Although tremendously important, I would encourage you to also think about how the Church is supposed to act, and look for a wife with that in mind.
Also in that passage, Paul says that wives should submit to their husbands. That should not be interpreted by the current culture's definition of submission - that to submit means to acknowledge superiority. To submit means to respect and to allow the husband to take the lead. Men, hear me when I say this - don't expect your wife to do what you say because you say so. Expect your wife to submit to you because you submit to Christ, and follow Him. Look for a wife that wants to submit to Christ more than you.
Now, there are many general qualities and things we've covered so far. If we were to stop here, one might go away thinking that as long as the woman has these things, they should be pursued in marriage. Not so; there are other things to be covered.
Personality matters, too. Do you have the same sense of humor? Do you enjoy the same music, movies, and books? Do you share passions and interests? If marriage is a unifying relationship, than you ought to consider all the ways you will be unified in marriage. It doesn't just mean you'll be married while at church, or while you're with the in-laws; you're married (read "unified") all the time. You can't create boundaries in music, discussion topics, or any other arena that will divide you and your wife. So, when looking for a wife, look for a young woman who, after getting to know her better (we'll cover that in "the process"- next post) you both believe that you have a basis for unity. She doesn't have to be (and won't be) perfect, and you won't be either. The question remains, is there enough in common for unity? For more on this, read Chapter 11 of Gary Chapman's, "The Five Love Languages: Singles Edition".
The one area you've probably already considered is whether or not you find her attractive, physically. Society uses many terms for this, the most common among young men being "Hot". Some Christians, however, feel that because the World wants it, they must reject it - completely. They disregard all physically attraction (or lack thereof), and focus on everything else. The fact of the matter is, in marriage, you are marrying the whole person - from emotions to personality, to their body. True, the Bible reminds us that beauty is fleeting, but it is nevertheless part of your wife. The whole book of Song of Solomon is a bridegroom telling his bride how beautiful she is. Physical attraction is important - not the most important, but you will be waking up to her face for the rest of your life; keep that in mind.
To sum up what to look for in a wife: Find a woman who fears God above all else, who you truly enjoy, who you find beautiful, and then seek God's will. If you're interested in such a woman, you might be ready for the next step.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Get Ready for This...
In my last post, I discussed what marriage was, and a bit of why it was a good thing to seek. I promised readers that my next post would be on what to look for in a wife. Although I’m not one to consciously break promises, this one I will postpone. Instead, this post I’m going to focus on what comes even before deciding what to look for in a wife. This time, we’ll talk about being ready for a relationship, and eventually marriage.
There are many schools of thought regarding readiness, so keep that in mind. I will set forth my ideas on readiness, which are an amalgamation of others. There are a few basics, and some options, so take with a grain of salt.
The first, foremost, and required part of being ready for a relationship that leads towards marriage is a complete and total dedication to Christ and His will. Marriage is wonderful, and is to be desired, but as soon as that becomes our life’s goal, it becomes an idol, and sinful. As a very wise woman once told me, “Run straight to Christ. Then, look around, and see who is running next to you.” If you are dedicated to Christ, you’ll already be gaining many of the other parts of readiness, while still glorifying Christ. This is essential, and I cannot stress it enough – as soon as you take your eyes off the prize (Christ), you will start sinking like Peter did on the water. A complete and total dedication to HIS will, and not YOURS will lead you to a beautiful marriage.
Some of the other things that seeking Christ will bring are wisdom, patience, and Christlikeness – all essentials! The Bible says that husbands should love their wives as Christ loves the Church – so, become like Christ!
Now, the rest of this post will be primarily the practical side of things. This is, to some degree, tougher, in that it is different for each person. There is no checklist to see if you are ready. What I prescribe is the following contemplations and practices, though.
When could you get married? Will it be five years? Ten? Realize the difficulty of long-term relationships. They are not impossible, as I have known several Godly couples who dated for years and years before getting married, and did fine. The issue is, can you do fine? If you were to enter into a relationship today, could you stay pure and focused on Christ until you were married? If not, then you aren’t ready. Be honest with yourself. Many people skip this part – “I want to be in a relationship, therefore I am ready” is a fallacy in logic. Most people aren’t ready for more than a year or two of serious dating before marriage. And that’s okay – dating is a means to an end (marriage), not the end itself!
Do the wise and Godly counsel that God has put around you (parents, elders, mature friends) think you are ready? Many of these people will have insight into what it takes to make a relationship work, and will know you well enough to see whether or not you are ready. They can, on occasion, be wrong, but make sure you listen to them and prayerfully consider their advice.
Many people, especially fathers, will place great importance on whether or not the guy can provide for his daughter. This is important, as money places a lot of stress on a marriage, and if you dismiss it now, you will face the music later. You don’t have to be rich – just think about whether you could provide for you AND a wife in the near future. Remember that God will provide all you need, from day to day – so if you are seeking His will, and making His desires your desires, then He will provide.
One last question, gents – are you ready to seek a relationship intentionally? Are you going to be mindful of what you say and do, as to guard your heart, and more importantly, hers? Are you going to treat her with as much care and propriety as you would your wife? As the wife of your best friend? You may not ending marrying the first, second, or third young woman you date, but realize that someone else might – and you ought to treat her with SUCH great care! Some of the best advice I can give is to protect her from yourself; don’t ask her to let her guard down for you, or put her in compromising situations. If you aren’t able to do that – then you aren’t ready.
There is MUCH more to cover, but I’ll end it here for now. If you have other sub-topics you’d like to discuss – comment!
-The GentleDoofus
There are many schools of thought regarding readiness, so keep that in mind. I will set forth my ideas on readiness, which are an amalgamation of others. There are a few basics, and some options, so take with a grain of salt.
The first, foremost, and required part of being ready for a relationship that leads towards marriage is a complete and total dedication to Christ and His will. Marriage is wonderful, and is to be desired, but as soon as that becomes our life’s goal, it becomes an idol, and sinful. As a very wise woman once told me, “Run straight to Christ. Then, look around, and see who is running next to you.” If you are dedicated to Christ, you’ll already be gaining many of the other parts of readiness, while still glorifying Christ. This is essential, and I cannot stress it enough – as soon as you take your eyes off the prize (Christ), you will start sinking like Peter did on the water. A complete and total dedication to HIS will, and not YOURS will lead you to a beautiful marriage.
Some of the other things that seeking Christ will bring are wisdom, patience, and Christlikeness – all essentials! The Bible says that husbands should love their wives as Christ loves the Church – so, become like Christ!
Now, the rest of this post will be primarily the practical side of things. This is, to some degree, tougher, in that it is different for each person. There is no checklist to see if you are ready. What I prescribe is the following contemplations and practices, though.
When could you get married? Will it be five years? Ten? Realize the difficulty of long-term relationships. They are not impossible, as I have known several Godly couples who dated for years and years before getting married, and did fine. The issue is, can you do fine? If you were to enter into a relationship today, could you stay pure and focused on Christ until you were married? If not, then you aren’t ready. Be honest with yourself. Many people skip this part – “I want to be in a relationship, therefore I am ready” is a fallacy in logic. Most people aren’t ready for more than a year or two of serious dating before marriage. And that’s okay – dating is a means to an end (marriage), not the end itself!
Do the wise and Godly counsel that God has put around you (parents, elders, mature friends) think you are ready? Many of these people will have insight into what it takes to make a relationship work, and will know you well enough to see whether or not you are ready. They can, on occasion, be wrong, but make sure you listen to them and prayerfully consider their advice.
Many people, especially fathers, will place great importance on whether or not the guy can provide for his daughter. This is important, as money places a lot of stress on a marriage, and if you dismiss it now, you will face the music later. You don’t have to be rich – just think about whether you could provide for you AND a wife in the near future. Remember that God will provide all you need, from day to day – so if you are seeking His will, and making His desires your desires, then He will provide.
One last question, gents – are you ready to seek a relationship intentionally? Are you going to be mindful of what you say and do, as to guard your heart, and more importantly, hers? Are you going to treat her with as much care and propriety as you would your wife? As the wife of your best friend? You may not ending marrying the first, second, or third young woman you date, but realize that someone else might – and you ought to treat her with SUCH great care! Some of the best advice I can give is to protect her from yourself; don’t ask her to let her guard down for you, or put her in compromising situations. If you aren’t able to do that – then you aren’t ready.
There is MUCH more to cover, but I’ll end it here for now. If you have other sub-topics you’d like to discuss – comment!
-The GentleDoofus
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Finding a Wife…For Life
As regular readers and friends will realize, much of the content of this blog, although meant to be thought-provoking and instructional, is based off of what God is currently teaching and convicting me of. To write any other way would probably lead to unwise, questionable posts. This post is not exactly like my others, in that this is something that I do not fully know, but desire to. With that in mind, please consider the following.
“He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.” – Proverbs 18:22 (ESV)
In this passage, we are told in the simplest way that a wife is a good thing. God favors those who find a wife because He pleasures to see man not be alone (Gen. 2:18). God created man and woman so that they complement each other; in personality and in body. He could have not created woman, and simply provided that help and companionship that man need through Himself. He didn’t, though, in His good pleasure, and we must understand that before we search for a wife.
So, now we know that a wife is a good thing; and God is pleased when a man finds a wife. Next, we must understand, at least in a basic sense, what marriage is. Marriage, as many would define it, is simply a relationship between a man and a woman (though even that is called into question in our day and age) that has social and legal ramifications. That definition is too basic. Marriage is a covenantal relationship between a man and a woman that God ordained from Creation for our benefit and His glory. Let’s pick that apart:
Covenantal relationship: More than just social and legal, or even emotional and physical, marriage brings two people together in a special way that unites their beings. Marriage is not between JUST a man and a woman, but is a covenant with God. Understanding this is essential to a healthy and Godly marriage.
God ordained: Marriage is NOT a social construct that man came up with; it is God’s way of providing man with what he needs (woman) and a woman with she needs (man). He ordained it (see Genesis 2:24) and therefore we must accept His definition and idea of marriage, not ours.
We benefit: Scripture paints a picture of how much a wife blesses a husband, and visa-versa. To touch the tip of the iceberg, ask a married couple how they have been blessed and benefited through marriage.
He is glorified: God is glorified through marriage in many ways, but one is the way that our marriages paint a picture of Christ and His bride, the Church. Marriage is a sanctifying process in many ways, but one way is that it helps us to understand the relationship between Christ and the Church.
For more on marriage itself, talk to your pastor, your parents, and the married couples of your church. For reading, I suggest starting with “I, Isaac, Take Thee, Rebekah” by Ravi Zacharias and “What the Bible Teaches About Marriage” by Anthony Salvaggio.
So, to review thus far, we know that a wife is a good thing, and what marriage is. The next part is much trickier and cannot be covered in one blog post, so I will try to break it up over several posts: How to Find a Wife. There is no step-by-step guide to finding a wife, so don’t expect one, but there are principles evident in the Bible to guide us, and there are basic steps to get us started. A good place to start is to know what to look for in a wife. That will be the next post, though.
Until next time(which will be sooner than 3 months…),
-The Gentle Doofus
“He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.” – Proverbs 18:22 (ESV)
In this passage, we are told in the simplest way that a wife is a good thing. God favors those who find a wife because He pleasures to see man not be alone (Gen. 2:18). God created man and woman so that they complement each other; in personality and in body. He could have not created woman, and simply provided that help and companionship that man need through Himself. He didn’t, though, in His good pleasure, and we must understand that before we search for a wife.
So, now we know that a wife is a good thing; and God is pleased when a man finds a wife. Next, we must understand, at least in a basic sense, what marriage is. Marriage, as many would define it, is simply a relationship between a man and a woman (though even that is called into question in our day and age) that has social and legal ramifications. That definition is too basic. Marriage is a covenantal relationship between a man and a woman that God ordained from Creation for our benefit and His glory. Let’s pick that apart:
Covenantal relationship: More than just social and legal, or even emotional and physical, marriage brings two people together in a special way that unites their beings. Marriage is not between JUST a man and a woman, but is a covenant with God. Understanding this is essential to a healthy and Godly marriage.
God ordained: Marriage is NOT a social construct that man came up with; it is God’s way of providing man with what he needs (woman) and a woman with she needs (man). He ordained it (see Genesis 2:24) and therefore we must accept His definition and idea of marriage, not ours.
We benefit: Scripture paints a picture of how much a wife blesses a husband, and visa-versa. To touch the tip of the iceberg, ask a married couple how they have been blessed and benefited through marriage.
He is glorified: God is glorified through marriage in many ways, but one is the way that our marriages paint a picture of Christ and His bride, the Church. Marriage is a sanctifying process in many ways, but one way is that it helps us to understand the relationship between Christ and the Church.
For more on marriage itself, talk to your pastor, your parents, and the married couples of your church. For reading, I suggest starting with “I, Isaac, Take Thee, Rebekah” by Ravi Zacharias and “What the Bible Teaches About Marriage” by Anthony Salvaggio.
So, to review thus far, we know that a wife is a good thing, and what marriage is. The next part is much trickier and cannot be covered in one blog post, so I will try to break it up over several posts: How to Find a Wife. There is no step-by-step guide to finding a wife, so don’t expect one, but there are principles evident in the Bible to guide us, and there are basic steps to get us started. A good place to start is to know what to look for in a wife. That will be the next post, though.
Until next time(which will be sooner than 3 months…),
-The Gentle Doofus
Friday, September 24, 2010
Being Content in Singleness
Ah, to be content. When you think about it, it doesn't matter what problems or deficiencies there are in your life if you're content. No food? Not a problem if you're content (and not hungry). No money? No sweat- you didn't feel the desire to buy anything anyways. The list can go on, but contentment with our current situation is a very good thing.
***Below is one of my usual notes of caution...so, caution!***
Contentment is a good thing, as stated above, but we shouldn't be content with mediocrity. If we have sin in our lives, we ought to seek to erase it by the power of the Holy Spirit within us. Saying that we're content to keep sinning is like saying that the knife in our heart doesn't bother us much - it's ridiculous! So, again, the pursuit of holiness (as in the book by John Piper) shouldn't be something we decide to be content in.
***End of note of caution***
What about relationships, though? Can you honestly say that you're content being single, or that you were content being single? Not many people can. Society and culture surround us with romance novels, movies, celebrity romance- romance is everywhere! Since our culture DOES have an effect on us, whether we want it to or not, we tend to each be romantic. Now, this is expressed in different ways for different people; i.e., most guys don't draw hearts and cupids in diaries. The point is, it's not easy to be happily single amidst our culture.
Contentment in our singleness stems from three things; trust in God's plan, seizing the opportunity to grow in Christ, and a realization that once our singleness ends, it ain't coming back.
Trusting in God's plan is something seen throughout the Bible. Jeremiah 29:11 gives it to us straight from God: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." What a promise! A future and a hope is something I can't promise myself, but God can promise AND deliver! What a relief to know that the God of the Universe has our best interest at his heart! David says in Psalm 56:3, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." When you're afraid of never-ending singleness, or of a broken heart, place your trust in God alone, and the dividends will never cease.
Seizing the opportunity to grow in Christ is something many people miss while in a state of singleness- I know I did. Paul, in I Corinthians 7, tells us that, " I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided... I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord." (v. 32-34a, 35) While we are single, we have the chance to be undivided in our devotion to the Lord - something we won't have once we are married. Paul goes on later to say that to marry is good, but to stay single is better. That's another debate, but it's easy to see the freedom that comes with singleness.
Also in the seventh chapter of First Corinthians, Paul speaks of divorce, and how it should be avoided. A verse that you'll hear at almost every Christian wedding is, "What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."(Mathew 19:6b) Unless the most extreme circumstances occur, we are to stay married for LIFE. Not until we "don't love him/her anymore" but until "death do us part". Once you're not single (aka MARRIED), you'll not be single again, God willing. Appreciate your singleness while you've got it.
Be content in your singleness! Trust in God's plan, use this time without distractions to seek God and prepare for his calling for you, and enjoy it!
-The GentleDoofus
***Below is one of my usual notes of caution...so, caution!***
Contentment is a good thing, as stated above, but we shouldn't be content with mediocrity. If we have sin in our lives, we ought to seek to erase it by the power of the Holy Spirit within us. Saying that we're content to keep sinning is like saying that the knife in our heart doesn't bother us much - it's ridiculous! So, again, the pursuit of holiness (as in the book by John Piper) shouldn't be something we decide to be content in.
***End of note of caution***
What about relationships, though? Can you honestly say that you're content being single, or that you were content being single? Not many people can. Society and culture surround us with romance novels, movies, celebrity romance- romance is everywhere! Since our culture DOES have an effect on us, whether we want it to or not, we tend to each be romantic. Now, this is expressed in different ways for different people; i.e., most guys don't draw hearts and cupids in diaries. The point is, it's not easy to be happily single amidst our culture.
Contentment in our singleness stems from three things; trust in God's plan, seizing the opportunity to grow in Christ, and a realization that once our singleness ends, it ain't coming back.
Trusting in God's plan is something seen throughout the Bible. Jeremiah 29:11 gives it to us straight from God: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." What a promise! A future and a hope is something I can't promise myself, but God can promise AND deliver! What a relief to know that the God of the Universe has our best interest at his heart! David says in Psalm 56:3, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." When you're afraid of never-ending singleness, or of a broken heart, place your trust in God alone, and the dividends will never cease.
Seizing the opportunity to grow in Christ is something many people miss while in a state of singleness- I know I did. Paul, in I Corinthians 7, tells us that, " I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided... I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord." (v. 32-34a, 35) While we are single, we have the chance to be undivided in our devotion to the Lord - something we won't have once we are married. Paul goes on later to say that to marry is good, but to stay single is better. That's another debate, but it's easy to see the freedom that comes with singleness.
Also in the seventh chapter of First Corinthians, Paul speaks of divorce, and how it should be avoided. A verse that you'll hear at almost every Christian wedding is, "What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."(Mathew 19:6b) Unless the most extreme circumstances occur, we are to stay married for LIFE. Not until we "don't love him/her anymore" but until "death do us part". Once you're not single (aka MARRIED), you'll not be single again, God willing. Appreciate your singleness while you've got it.
Be content in your singleness! Trust in God's plan, use this time without distractions to seek God and prepare for his calling for you, and enjoy it!
-The GentleDoofus
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Fellowship and Fella’ship
As technology and culture has changed, so has the way we relate to others. Gone are days where people will sit around a porch and just chat – just because they wanted to know about each other. Now facebook, MySpace, and twitter have reduced time with people to “social networking.” By viewing someone’s profile, you can find out in 20 seconds what used to take 20 minutes. Great, right? Now you “know” them, so it’s much easier to enjoy your “friendship”! Wrong. You don’t know someone until you spend time with them. I don’t care who you are, spending time with someone is the only way to really get to know who they are.
Before I dive in, a disclosure: I’m not against social networking – in the global age that we are in, it’s very useful to be able to connect with people halfway around the world via facebook. I have facebook, but it’s not the perfect means to an end. Rather, it’s a tool – nothing more. I’ll mention facebook more than anything from here on out, since that’s what I’m familiar with.
How many of your friends on facebook have profile pictures that aren’t even of them? That just goes to show that a profile can be created to show who they are, or who they want you to see. People can be as real or as fake as they want to be on facebook, and there isn’t anything you can do about it. If you meet someone face to face, it’s much harder to give a false impression of who you are. Possible yes, but they’ll at least know what you look like (unless you wear masks all day…).
So, there is a need, I think, for real fellowship: spending time with other people and enjoying each other as God created you – which isn’t as a page on the internet. Fellowship can be defined as spending time within or without a worship context enjoying other people as a group of believers. In Acts 2:42, fellowship is listed along with prayer, teaching, and breaking of bread (eating). Sounds a lot like church, right? Well, fellowship can and should be a part of church, but it is not necessarily always within the service.
I encourage you to think about the amount of time you spend alone; by alone, I mean the times when you are awake yet not interacting with other people (and facebook chat doesn’t really count). Most people would be surprised at the amount of time they spend around others, but still alone. Instead of spending time alone, spend time fellowshipping with others! You’ll grow, be encouraged, and have lifelong friends.
Now I’m going to focus in one group that is hopefully reading this blog: guys. You may have noticed the second half of the title: “Fella’ship”. Guys, no matter your age, marital status, or occupation, you need guy time. In Genesis, God said that it wasn’t good for man to be alone, so he created woman. Great! Still, there are some things – trials, joys, hobbies, etc., that women just don’t understand.
The best example of what we need as guys is a Jonathan to our David. David and Jonathan were as close as two guys can get in a biblical way. Fiercely loyal, encouraging, and honest with each other, these two guys knew what it means to have a friend. And it wasn’t any simplistic facebook friendship, either. After Jonathan died at the hands of the Philistines, David wrote a lament (2 Samuel 1:25-27). “…your live to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.” What a bold statement! Two guys who loved each other as God intended – a deep brotherly love that even marriage cannot fill! Is there a friend in your life who you could write that of? If you answered no, why not? What’s keeping you from creating deep lasting friendships that surpass (in some ways) the relationship of your girlfriend or wife?
Whether it’s coffee every week, a men’s breakfast, bible study, or just eating lunch a couple of days a week, take the opportunities provided to enjoy fella’ship – the deep, real fellowship that can only be found within the context of men.
Before I dive in, a disclosure: I’m not against social networking – in the global age that we are in, it’s very useful to be able to connect with people halfway around the world via facebook. I have facebook, but it’s not the perfect means to an end. Rather, it’s a tool – nothing more. I’ll mention facebook more than anything from here on out, since that’s what I’m familiar with.
How many of your friends on facebook have profile pictures that aren’t even of them? That just goes to show that a profile can be created to show who they are, or who they want you to see. People can be as real or as fake as they want to be on facebook, and there isn’t anything you can do about it. If you meet someone face to face, it’s much harder to give a false impression of who you are. Possible yes, but they’ll at least know what you look like (unless you wear masks all day…).
So, there is a need, I think, for real fellowship: spending time with other people and enjoying each other as God created you – which isn’t as a page on the internet. Fellowship can be defined as spending time within or without a worship context enjoying other people as a group of believers. In Acts 2:42, fellowship is listed along with prayer, teaching, and breaking of bread (eating). Sounds a lot like church, right? Well, fellowship can and should be a part of church, but it is not necessarily always within the service.
I encourage you to think about the amount of time you spend alone; by alone, I mean the times when you are awake yet not interacting with other people (and facebook chat doesn’t really count). Most people would be surprised at the amount of time they spend around others, but still alone. Instead of spending time alone, spend time fellowshipping with others! You’ll grow, be encouraged, and have lifelong friends.
Now I’m going to focus in one group that is hopefully reading this blog: guys. You may have noticed the second half of the title: “Fella’ship”. Guys, no matter your age, marital status, or occupation, you need guy time. In Genesis, God said that it wasn’t good for man to be alone, so he created woman. Great! Still, there are some things – trials, joys, hobbies, etc., that women just don’t understand.
The best example of what we need as guys is a Jonathan to our David. David and Jonathan were as close as two guys can get in a biblical way. Fiercely loyal, encouraging, and honest with each other, these two guys knew what it means to have a friend. And it wasn’t any simplistic facebook friendship, either. After Jonathan died at the hands of the Philistines, David wrote a lament (2 Samuel 1:25-27). “…your live to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.” What a bold statement! Two guys who loved each other as God intended – a deep brotherly love that even marriage cannot fill! Is there a friend in your life who you could write that of? If you answered no, why not? What’s keeping you from creating deep lasting friendships that surpass (in some ways) the relationship of your girlfriend or wife?
Whether it’s coffee every week, a men’s breakfast, bible study, or just eating lunch a couple of days a week, take the opportunities provided to enjoy fella’ship – the deep, real fellowship that can only be found within the context of men.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
One-Mindedness
"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." - Philippians 2:1,2
What is being "being of the same mind" or "being ... of one mind"? Is it multiple bodies running off of the same brain? Obviously not. Rather, the Bible teaches that to be one-minded is to have the same focus, the same goal, and to work as one to achieve that goal. The adage "Two heads are better than one" is only true in coming up with ideas - to enact one of those ideas, the two heads must act as one.
Being of one mind is something that has many applications to our lives - from our daily walk to our relationship. It's easy to pick one area and focus on that area, but every area in our lives impacts another area - just as in a house there are many room, those rooms share walls and a roof, and are together in one house. In the same way our lives have different areas, but are all connected.
That being said, let us take a look at some of the ways we ought to be one-minded, and how that affects us.
The first and foremost one-mindedness that the Bible teaches us is to be focus solely on God. The first commandment is "You shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3). God wants us to be of one mind in who we choose to worship - HIM. Any dividing of our mind, our focus, takes away from God what is rightfully his. So, to place anything before God is NOT being one-minded.
God also calls us to be of one mind with each other. In the passage from Philippians, that is what Paul is calling us to. He asks that the believers in Philippi not act as though they are separate from each other, but have the same goal (glorifying God), and act as such. This is one area where the church has gone very much by the wayside. Today you can be separate from a church, from other believers, and many people think that's fine. It's not. God didn't create man to be a island, like Simon and Garfunkel sang. He created us to exist with others, and to fellowship with them.
In terms of a relationship between a man and a woman, we are also called to be one minded. This follows from the other calls to be one-minded. As a couple, as two different people, the focus ought not to be on different things, but on God. Any relationship that doesn't have Christ at it's head is broken, and only our sinful nature will be brought out without Him. A couple is also not exempt from being of one-mind with a body of believers. Community is a very important part of courting/dating and marriage. Without other people, then the support structure for marriage would be a lot less helpful.
But each couple is called in other ways to be of one mind, that we take for granted. The couple must be of the same mind to see the relationship succeed, otherwise it's bound to failure. They must both have a singular mind of purity, otherwise that won't work either. Almost every area of the relationship must be done with one mind, or there will many cracks in the wall.
A useful analogy that famous author and speaker Ravi Zacharias uses in his book "I, Isaac, take Thee, Rebekah" is one of two walls.
"A few days ago, while writing this chapter is a small Asian city, I took an early morning walk and saw two workmen who were dismantling a cement block wall, taking great care to keep the blocks intact for another structure they were building. What a metaphor that is for the home! When two lives (minds) meet, they are like two distinct walls. Each has to start by dismantling his or her wall one brick at a time, and then those bricks are taken intact and with other materials used to build a structure with a roof that brings them together at the top. That is the new home. Two wills are as two walls. Rightly dismantled and rebuild they proved the strength for a new union of two lives."
So, I urge you, whether you are single, dating, courting, engaged, or married, to carefully look at your life and see where you have multiple minds running amok. It's something that will benefit you immensely in both the short and long run.
What is being "being of the same mind" or "being ... of one mind"? Is it multiple bodies running off of the same brain? Obviously not. Rather, the Bible teaches that to be one-minded is to have the same focus, the same goal, and to work as one to achieve that goal. The adage "Two heads are better than one" is only true in coming up with ideas - to enact one of those ideas, the two heads must act as one.
Being of one mind is something that has many applications to our lives - from our daily walk to our relationship. It's easy to pick one area and focus on that area, but every area in our lives impacts another area - just as in a house there are many room, those rooms share walls and a roof, and are together in one house. In the same way our lives have different areas, but are all connected.
That being said, let us take a look at some of the ways we ought to be one-minded, and how that affects us.
The first and foremost one-mindedness that the Bible teaches us is to be focus solely on God. The first commandment is "You shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3). God wants us to be of one mind in who we choose to worship - HIM. Any dividing of our mind, our focus, takes away from God what is rightfully his. So, to place anything before God is NOT being one-minded.
God also calls us to be of one mind with each other. In the passage from Philippians, that is what Paul is calling us to. He asks that the believers in Philippi not act as though they are separate from each other, but have the same goal (glorifying God), and act as such. This is one area where the church has gone very much by the wayside. Today you can be separate from a church, from other believers, and many people think that's fine. It's not. God didn't create man to be a island, like Simon and Garfunkel sang. He created us to exist with others, and to fellowship with them.
In terms of a relationship between a man and a woman, we are also called to be one minded. This follows from the other calls to be one-minded. As a couple, as two different people, the focus ought not to be on different things, but on God. Any relationship that doesn't have Christ at it's head is broken, and only our sinful nature will be brought out without Him. A couple is also not exempt from being of one-mind with a body of believers. Community is a very important part of courting/dating and marriage. Without other people, then the support structure for marriage would be a lot less helpful.
But each couple is called in other ways to be of one mind, that we take for granted. The couple must be of the same mind to see the relationship succeed, otherwise it's bound to failure. They must both have a singular mind of purity, otherwise that won't work either. Almost every area of the relationship must be done with one mind, or there will many cracks in the wall.
A useful analogy that famous author and speaker Ravi Zacharias uses in his book "I, Isaac, take Thee, Rebekah" is one of two walls.
"A few days ago, while writing this chapter is a small Asian city, I took an early morning walk and saw two workmen who were dismantling a cement block wall, taking great care to keep the blocks intact for another structure they were building. What a metaphor that is for the home! When two lives (minds) meet, they are like two distinct walls. Each has to start by dismantling his or her wall one brick at a time, and then those bricks are taken intact and with other materials used to build a structure with a roof that brings them together at the top. That is the new home. Two wills are as two walls. Rightly dismantled and rebuild they proved the strength for a new union of two lives."
So, I urge you, whether you are single, dating, courting, engaged, or married, to carefully look at your life and see where you have multiple minds running amok. It's something that will benefit you immensely in both the short and long run.
Monday, October 5, 2009
A New Direction
Ahh, how long it's been. Months! What a horrible blogger I am. Yes, I know what you are thinking; "It's about time! I've ben waiting for him to update his blog forever, just so I can know what he's up to!" Well, you'll have to wait a bit longer - this blog is no longer devoted to me and my life, but to my thoughts and convictions regarding chivalry - being a true gentleman. I hope that you, guy or gal, will enjoy this, but more than that - take it to heart. These aren't just the musings of a college student - the are the thoughts and wisdom of a student of chivalry - of a young man who strives to be the gentleman every man should be.
What is Chivalry? Dictionary.com defines it as " the sum of the ideal qualifications of a knight, including courtesy, generosity, valor, and dexterity in arms." I define it as the practice of being a gentleman. So what's a gentleman? A gentleman is not what the world considers a "manly-man". He doesn't do things to impress girls - he does things to respect girls. It's simple - split the word "gentleman" into its two parts:
Okay, ladies, I know that this doesn't seem like it has much application for you. Yes, you are correct in thinking that you do not need to know how to be a gentleman. BUT- you do need to know what to expect from any and every guy you meet. Part of the reason that the species "homosapiens -gentlemanus" has died out is because most girls don't expect every guy to be a gentleman, and so guys don't feel the need to meet an expectation that isn't there. So ladies, expect, no, DEMAND that any guy pursuing your heart (or any guy hanging around you, for that matter) be a gentleman. If he realizes that you are worth it, (which I know each and every one of you are) than he will learn quickly and gladly.
Guys, dudes, boys, and men - whatever category you think you fall into, odds are that gentleman is not one of them. Harsh, I know, but true. There just are very few males willing to act as a gentleman should anymore. If you are a gentleman (hold yourself to high standard to call yourself that), then I applaud you, and ask that you add your thoughts and wisdom through comments and emails to this blog. But the rest of you, take heart! Men were designed by God to be gentlemen - but sin has weakened us. If you have Christ as the center in your life, being a gentleman is SO MUCH EASIER. If you don't, you won't understand half the reasoning behind what I say.
If you read this regularly, you will read both abstract and practical, both physical and emotional, and both funny and serious advice. But it isn't advice for you to tuck away for a rainy day - it's advice to apply to your life IMMEDIATELY. It's also a good idea to pass this on. Girls, if you know of a guy (brother, friend, classmate) who could use a lesson or two, let him know about this blog. Guys, be man enough to tell your friends that they need to know this, too.
One last thing before I end - I don't claim to know everything, or be the perfect gentleman. As I said before, I'm a STUDENT of chivalry. But, someone needs to step up and say what needs to be heard, and that what I plan to do. I'll reference other sites, books, authors, bloggers, and people as I strive to drive home the points. Don't look at me as a Pharisee, but rather a disciple of Christ - humble, but speaking with His power and authority. If you have any questions, I may not know the answer, but I WILL do all I can to find the answer for you.
Signing off,
The Gentlemanly Doofus
What is Chivalry? Dictionary.com defines it as " the sum of the ideal qualifications of a knight, including courtesy, generosity, valor, and dexterity in arms." I define it as the practice of being a gentleman. So what's a gentleman? A gentleman is not what the world considers a "manly-man". He doesn't do things to impress girls - he does things to respect girls. It's simple - split the word "gentleman" into its two parts:
- Gentle - not rough, uncouth, but kind, tenderhearted, gracious, and thoughtful.
- Man - not simply a male, but a guy who has devoted his life to seeking Christ, all the while seeking to build a home and career on his faith.
Okay, ladies, I know that this doesn't seem like it has much application for you. Yes, you are correct in thinking that you do not need to know how to be a gentleman. BUT- you do need to know what to expect from any and every guy you meet. Part of the reason that the species "homosapiens -gentlemanus" has died out is because most girls don't expect every guy to be a gentleman, and so guys don't feel the need to meet an expectation that isn't there. So ladies, expect, no, DEMAND that any guy pursuing your heart (or any guy hanging around you, for that matter) be a gentleman. If he realizes that you are worth it, (which I know each and every one of you are) than he will learn quickly and gladly.
Guys, dudes, boys, and men - whatever category you think you fall into, odds are that gentleman is not one of them. Harsh, I know, but true. There just are very few males willing to act as a gentleman should anymore. If you are a gentleman (hold yourself to high standard to call yourself that), then I applaud you, and ask that you add your thoughts and wisdom through comments and emails to this blog. But the rest of you, take heart! Men were designed by God to be gentlemen - but sin has weakened us. If you have Christ as the center in your life, being a gentleman is SO MUCH EASIER. If you don't, you won't understand half the reasoning behind what I say.
If you read this regularly, you will read both abstract and practical, both physical and emotional, and both funny and serious advice. But it isn't advice for you to tuck away for a rainy day - it's advice to apply to your life IMMEDIATELY. It's also a good idea to pass this on. Girls, if you know of a guy (brother, friend, classmate) who could use a lesson or two, let him know about this blog. Guys, be man enough to tell your friends that they need to know this, too.
One last thing before I end - I don't claim to know everything, or be the perfect gentleman. As I said before, I'm a STUDENT of chivalry. But, someone needs to step up and say what needs to be heard, and that what I plan to do. I'll reference other sites, books, authors, bloggers, and people as I strive to drive home the points. Don't look at me as a Pharisee, but rather a disciple of Christ - humble, but speaking with His power and authority. If you have any questions, I may not know the answer, but I WILL do all I can to find the answer for you.
Signing off,
The Gentlemanly Doofus
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
A Guy Who Has No Clue
I'm a guy who has no clue-
No clue about what to do.
I don't know how to convey it,
I don't know how to portray it,
I just know how to pray it.
This start of a poem explains how I have felt the past couple of months. Yes, it's been a while since I posted, and I kept meaning to post something, but didn't. Right now, my life (spiritually, emotionally, academically) is crazy. I don't want to be a whiner (too late, right?) but I really don't know what to do in each of these categories. I will ask you (the reader) for some advice - you're probably smarter than I am. I will try to be vague in some ways, like not naming names, because I try to respect peoples privacy. Okay, here goes.
Spiritually, I am being constantly molded and perfected by God. This is not a bad thing - we all go through it, but it usually isn't easy. I am trying to constantly live a life worthy of Christ (and fail often), but have a hard time dealing with a specific sin. I have talked to people about it, prayed about it, asked God to give me the strength to resist it, and I keep falling into it. Any ideas as to what I should do?
Academically, I am doing okay in most of my classes, except for Calculus I. I took it in High School, but didn't learn anything, really (anything I learned was incorrect - the teacher was somewhat to blame, but it was my fault, too). So, I am taking it again in College, and it is owning me. I am aiming to just pass it, now. I really am having trouble - I signed up for a free tutor, but that hasn't gone through yet. Any recommendations?
Emotionally, I can explain it best this way:
"I" doesn't know what to do. "Me" and "myself" are arguing, and "I" is confused. "I" is still dealing with some emotional pain (yes, female-related) and is trying to work through that. "Me" is interested in another girl, who goes to KSU. This other girl is extremely nice, etc., but "Me" is not being very considerate of "I". "Myself" is growing more and more interested in a different girl than "Me", who is not nearby at all. "I" just wants the other two to shut up until further notice, but "Me" and "Myself" start arguing loudly and "I" can't help but get involved. Recently, "I" agreed to let "Me" have a chance, in hopes that "I" can overcome "Me" and when presented with an opportunity to continue down "Me"'s path, that "I" can stay "just friends". "Myself" seems to be biding his time, waiting for the right moment to take advantage of both "I" and "Me".
Now, that might not make much sense, and if it doesn't, ask me about it. Anyways, what should I do to help all three, "I", "Me", and "Myself", get along?
No clue about what to do.
I don't know how to convey it,
I don't know how to portray it,
I just know how to pray it.
This start of a poem explains how I have felt the past couple of months. Yes, it's been a while since I posted, and I kept meaning to post something, but didn't. Right now, my life (spiritually, emotionally, academically) is crazy. I don't want to be a whiner (too late, right?) but I really don't know what to do in each of these categories. I will ask you (the reader) for some advice - you're probably smarter than I am. I will try to be vague in some ways, like not naming names, because I try to respect peoples privacy. Okay, here goes.
Spiritually, I am being constantly molded and perfected by God. This is not a bad thing - we all go through it, but it usually isn't easy. I am trying to constantly live a life worthy of Christ (and fail often), but have a hard time dealing with a specific sin. I have talked to people about it, prayed about it, asked God to give me the strength to resist it, and I keep falling into it. Any ideas as to what I should do?
Academically, I am doing okay in most of my classes, except for Calculus I. I took it in High School, but didn't learn anything, really (anything I learned was incorrect - the teacher was somewhat to blame, but it was my fault, too). So, I am taking it again in College, and it is owning me. I am aiming to just pass it, now. I really am having trouble - I signed up for a free tutor, but that hasn't gone through yet. Any recommendations?
Emotionally, I can explain it best this way:
"I" doesn't know what to do. "Me" and "myself" are arguing, and "I" is confused. "I" is still dealing with some emotional pain (yes, female-related) and is trying to work through that. "Me" is interested in another girl, who goes to KSU. This other girl is extremely nice, etc., but "Me" is not being very considerate of "I". "Myself" is growing more and more interested in a different girl than "Me", who is not nearby at all. "I" just wants the other two to shut up until further notice, but "Me" and "Myself" start arguing loudly and "I" can't help but get involved. Recently, "I" agreed to let "Me" have a chance, in hopes that "I" can overcome "Me" and when presented with an opportunity to continue down "Me"'s path, that "I" can stay "just friends". "Myself" seems to be biding his time, waiting for the right moment to take advantage of both "I" and "Me".
Now, that might not make much sense, and if it doesn't, ask me about it. Anyways, what should I do to help all three, "I", "Me", and "Myself", get along?
Friday, January 23, 2009
Those Murky Infested Waters
First of all, let me apologize for not posting for so long. Between other distractions, there was also the fact that I didn't know what to write. But, I'm back now (for better or for worse). Here's a short story to describe how I felt in my Biology class today.
As I slowly placed my foot into the river, I felt the warmth of the water flow in between my toes. This isn't so bad, I thought. True, you couldn't see through the water because it was so murky, but maybe there weren't water-people in the river. Just to make sure, I stood with one foot in the water to make sure that the water-people that some people said were in there wouldn't come and drag me under.
Once I gained more confidence, I tried to figure out exactly where the stones were. The same people who said there were water-people in the river said that there were stones underwater that you could stand on to be safe from the water-people. I had faith that there were stones in there, I just couldn't see them. As I searched for the stones, I thought I saw something move in the water. Uh-oh. Maybe there are water-people in here.
As I continued wading deeper and deeper into the water to try and find the stones that I knew were there, I started to enjoy the warm, swirling water around me. Maybe I don't need to cross the river. Ah, it would be so nice to be in this water all of the time. I could just drift with the current, instead of having to fight it.
Then I saw her. A glowing lady, shining blue radiance in all directions, swam up to me. "Are you one of them?" I asked. She nodded, and beckoned me to follow her. "No, I don't think so. I need to find the stepping stones to get across." She looked quizzically at me, and I could tell she didn't believe the stepping stones were there. I went on to explain, "Well, you see, I need to get to the other side of the river, but don't want to drown. So, I know there are stepping stones to help me get across safely. I just have to find them."
At this point, the water-woman started to look angry. Then I heard her inside my head, "Joel, there are NO stepping stones. The water is warm, and if you follow me, I shall take you to a far better place than the other side of the river. Come, Joel, and feel the power of the water."
"NO!" I shouted, and started to dash through the water. I could feel the stones beneath my feet, but as the water-woman's cold hand grasped my ankle, I slipped. As soon as I fell off the stone, more of the water-people appeared and started to grab at me. As I struggled to rid myself of their grasp, I tried to climb back up on a stepping stone.
Upon making it back onto the stepping stone, I started to jump from stone to stone. Careful not to stumble, I kept going even as the water-people chased me. Once I made it to the other side, I stood gasping, and I realized that if I hadn't believed the stones were there, I never would have made it across. The water-people were there because they tried to cross the river without the help of the stepping stones. After living in the water for so long, they refused to acknowledge that there were stepping stones. It was by faith that the stones were there that I made it, and the lack of faith that the stones were there that the water-people didn't.
(If you can't figure out how this would apply to biology class - think evolution - then ask.)
As I slowly placed my foot into the river, I felt the warmth of the water flow in between my toes. This isn't so bad, I thought. True, you couldn't see through the water because it was so murky, but maybe there weren't water-people in the river. Just to make sure, I stood with one foot in the water to make sure that the water-people that some people said were in there wouldn't come and drag me under.
Once I gained more confidence, I tried to figure out exactly where the stones were. The same people who said there were water-people in the river said that there were stones underwater that you could stand on to be safe from the water-people. I had faith that there were stones in there, I just couldn't see them. As I searched for the stones, I thought I saw something move in the water. Uh-oh. Maybe there are water-people in here.
As I continued wading deeper and deeper into the water to try and find the stones that I knew were there, I started to enjoy the warm, swirling water around me. Maybe I don't need to cross the river. Ah, it would be so nice to be in this water all of the time. I could just drift with the current, instead of having to fight it.
Then I saw her. A glowing lady, shining blue radiance in all directions, swam up to me. "Are you one of them?" I asked. She nodded, and beckoned me to follow her. "No, I don't think so. I need to find the stepping stones to get across." She looked quizzically at me, and I could tell she didn't believe the stepping stones were there. I went on to explain, "Well, you see, I need to get to the other side of the river, but don't want to drown. So, I know there are stepping stones to help me get across safely. I just have to find them."
At this point, the water-woman started to look angry. Then I heard her inside my head, "Joel, there are NO stepping stones. The water is warm, and if you follow me, I shall take you to a far better place than the other side of the river. Come, Joel, and feel the power of the water."
"NO!" I shouted, and started to dash through the water. I could feel the stones beneath my feet, but as the water-woman's cold hand grasped my ankle, I slipped. As soon as I fell off the stone, more of the water-people appeared and started to grab at me. As I struggled to rid myself of their grasp, I tried to climb back up on a stepping stone.
Upon making it back onto the stepping stone, I started to jump from stone to stone. Careful not to stumble, I kept going even as the water-people chased me. Once I made it to the other side, I stood gasping, and I realized that if I hadn't believed the stones were there, I never would have made it across. The water-people were there because they tried to cross the river without the help of the stepping stones. After living in the water for so long, they refused to acknowledge that there were stepping stones. It was by faith that the stones were there that I made it, and the lack of faith that the stones were there that the water-people didn't.
(If you can't figure out how this would apply to biology class - think evolution - then ask.)
Monday, November 24, 2008
I'm a Convict
Yup, it's true. I am now a convict. I have been convicted, and that makes me a convict, right? Though, I won't go to jail for it.
Hehe...sorry my corny sense of humor. I have recently been convicted about many things in my life, and would like to share some of those convictions. These convictions all stem from things that were said or took place in my Navigator's bible study, InterVarsity, or at church.
If you are interested in hearing more about WHY I was convicted about these things, just ask. And if you see me failing in one of those things, make sure you help me by reminding me.
Hehe...sorry my corny sense of humor. I have recently been convicted about many things in my life, and would like to share some of those convictions. These convictions all stem from things that were said or took place in my Navigator's bible study, InterVarsity, or at church.
- I won't listen to people cursing or taking God's name in vain without voicing my opinion ("Please watch your language around me...")
- I won't read books that strongly advocate immoral acts
- I won't stay quiet when others try to hurt people (physically or verbally)
- I won't agree with Darwinian evolution, even if my grades hurt because of it
- I won't watch a movie with ANY nudity in it, or anti-Christian themes
- I won't listen to music that encourages or talks about immoral acts
- I won't stand for racism, sexism, or hate (unless it is hating a sin)
- I WILL set aside part of each paycheck (different from tithing) to use to "Bless" other people
- Voice my thoughts (“Hey dude, could you watch your language around me? Thanks!”)
- Offer an alternative (“What about watching this movie? It doesn’t have any nudity in it.”)
- Leave the area (“Guys, I can’t stay and watch this. I will see you guys later.”)
If you are interested in hearing more about WHY I was convicted about these things, just ask. And if you see me failing in one of those things, make sure you help me by reminding me.
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