On Being Too Busy

So, I have 30 minutes left to post this before my deadline for today. It's late, I'm tired, and this will be pretty short. Sorry for the tardiness.

Today was non-stop for me, from 7:30 this morning until now, and it's almost midnight. I put in a 14 hour workday at the college. No kidding. It wasn't too bad. I did statistician stuff, painted an office, and worked a basketball tournament. It wasn't bad, but it was busy, so much so that I never got a chance to sit down and blog for today until now.

I'm really glad God doesn't get like this. He's busy controlling the universe, making sure the days turn into night, controlling the ebb and flow of the ocean's tides, and instructing the beating rythyms of our hearts. He is the Creator and Sustainer of ALL life--everything, and he oversees all of these things to perfection.

Yet, in the midst of all the things that God does, he finds a place for us. He never gets too busy to sit and hear our prayers or speak sweet words of refreshment to our hearts. There is always a place in front of the throne of God for us as people, because God loves us.

Thank you, God, for loving us and being faithful even though you are far busier than we could ever be.

May we always make time to worship and adore you.

On Photographs of Ourselves

Have you ever looked at a picture of yourself and thought, "Wow, that completely does not look like me." Well, I had one of those moments today.

I was getting ready this morning, fumbling around with some clothes on top of my dresser, when I knocked over some pictures. As I picked up the fallen portraits and put them back on the dresser, I began to look at some of them. One of the pictures was of me standing there with a friend of mine at IMPACT, a summer camp I work at every year. As I looked at the photo, I was repulsed by the image of myself. I looked weird, my smile was bad, I looked ugly--it was totally unrealistic. OK, so I fit all of those descriptions, but the picture still didn't really look like me at all.

It was kind of irritating, looking at a portrait of myself and realizing that I hated it. I didn't feel that it was an adequate representation of me. It made me look completely different. It was not a true depiction of who I really am.

I think that God feels the same way sometimes. We sit here on earth and paint our little pictures of God, making him look how we want. I'm not talking about the painting of Jesus that's in your Sunday School classroom or a mural on a church wall in Europe. I'm talking about how we as people take God's characteristics and narrow them down or twist them around until we make God look nothing like he really is.

How do we do that? We make God into a God of prosperity, seeking blessings and wealth. We make him into a God of war, asking for protection and victory on the battlefield (and on the football field). We make him into a God of the comfort, wanting encouragement and a sugar-coated Gospel. We make him into a God of popularity, trying to make our faith something "cool" or "modern." God is not any of these, or at least he's not just one of these.

In Exodus 20, God gave Moses the second Commandment, saying, "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God." Now, you might be sitting there thinking that you've never carved a wooden statue or made a golden calf, so you're OK. However, when we make God into what we think he is or what want from him, we are making a god (little "g") that is false. It is not a true representation of what God is, and we begin falling into the sin of idolatry.

God is so much bigger than we can ever fathom. Why do we try to fit him into a box that we create? We can't do it! It's time that we begin to see God for all he is, for all of his characteristics, even the ones that we don't particularly like.

I'm tired of little gods. God is, too. So let's stop making them.

On Running Over Bambi

I was driving back from Columbus late this morning and saw a dead deer on the side of the road. This, unfortunately, is an all-too-common sight in Georgia. After driving the entire distance home, I counted a total of 6 deer that had been hit by cars in a span of 45 miles. Talk about controlling the deer population. Forget hunting season. Just hop in your car!

I hit a deer once. It was not fun. I was actually on my way to church when this happened (yes, church. I'm convinced the deer was satanic). I passed a field on my left, and the next thing I know, here comes Bambi bounding across the highway right into my car. That's right, the deer kind of hit me. It happened so quickly, but the deer came across and hit the front left side of my car. The timing was so perfect that she stuck her head out right in front of my face. She was kind of cute. Then her head hit the windshield, and she wasn't so pretty anymore. My windshield exploded into millions of tiny pieces of glass, she ripped my side mirror off, and the deer went careening across the highway before being run over by 2 more cars. Now that's a bad day for Bambi.

I was pretty shaken up by the ordeal. I wasn't really hurt, just a little scratched from some glass. My car looked horrible, though, so I just walked the 1/2 mile distance to the church to call someone (I didn't have a cell phone yet. I was 17. Now elementary school kids have them...). The car got stuck in the shop for a couple of weeks before it was fixed, all thanks to a stupid deer.

When you compare the size of a deer to a car, they don't look that big. However, when you see the aftermath of a vehicle that hits one, you start realizing just how much impact the beast can have.

As people, we have the same potential. We may think that we're only one person and that we can't do very much, but we can make an impact larger than we realize. Acts 17:6 describes the members of the early church as having "turned the world upside down." They were only a few people, and this was their impact! They made a huge difference just by living out the commands that God had given them.

I'm pretty sure that deer wasn't looking to run into a car that day. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. For us as Christians, we don't have to go around searching for opportunities to make an impact, either. Instead, if we are following the Lord closely and living out a life of faith, these opportunities will come, just like a car going 50 mph down the highway.

So be careful on the roads these days. Watch out for deer. But even more, watch the Lord and be ready to make an impact when he gives you the chance. You have more potential than you could ever imagine.

If you don't believe me, just ask Bambi.

On Off-Duty Cops

This morning I got up early and went to eat breakfast with a couple of my youth at Chick-Fil-A. We had a good time hanging out, talking about various things and looking at God’s Word together. The food was also really good. You can’t really go wrong with Chick-Fil-A. For some reason, one of my guys (I won’t say your name, Travis) ordered a peppermint chocolate chip milkshake at 7:00 a.m., not to mention the fact that it was about 30 degrees outside. About 15 minutes later, he started wishing he’d had a warm chicken biscuit…

As we were sitting there, we noticed a policeman over in the corner, enjoying a meal after he had obviously worked a night shift. Travis proceeded to make the statement that he could pull out a gun and do a lot of damage before the cop could do anything, since the policeman was sitting there eating (Let me clarify that Travis did not have a gun, nor would he ever do anything of the sort. He often makes quite outlandish statements for some strange reason, such as the time he told me he would put me in I.C.U., kidnap me, put me in his basement, and make me preach to him. Precisely. But back to the cop…).

I replied to Travis' initial statement/terroristic-threat that the cop was off-duty and that he might not even have his gun with him. Travis then pointed out that a cop is never really off-duty because he can still be harmed and is still responsible for the safety of the people around him. Thankfully the cop didn’t hear any of this conversation. Otherwise, he might have jumped up and tasered us all due to this talk of shooting guns at a policeman in the middle of Chick-Fil-A. Nevertheless, Travis made a good point.

Just because a police officer isn’t carrying a weapon doesn’t mean he’s not a police officer. If he changes clothes, he’s still a police officer. If he drives in a vehicle other than his patrol car, he is still a police officer. It is not the vehicle, the weapon, or the uniform that make an individual an officer of the law. Instead, it is the oath to protect citizens and uphold the law that denotes the position of a cop, and as a result, they are never really off-duty.

As Christians, we are the same way. Just because we’re not wearing our church clothes doesn’t mean we’re not a Christian anymore. If we aren’t using God’s Word, which is sharper than a double-edged sword, it doesn’t take away our responsibility to evangelize or live a righteous life. As Christians, we can never really be off duty because it is not a job—it is a covenant. We can’t just walk out of church on Sunday morning and clock out until next week. We still have the responsibility to perform the commands that God has given to us, regardless of where we go or what we’re doing.

1 Peter 3:15 says, “in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” We can never drop our guard. We must always be ready at school, at home, at work, or at the store.

And you’ve got to be ready at Chick-Fil-A at 7:00 a.m. when you’re eating a peppermint chocolate chip milkshake.

Thanks, Travis.

On Fixing the Toilet

My toilet has been messed up as of late. I actually discovered that it was not working correctly on Saturday when my friend came over and had a more-than-slightly embarrassing bathroom visit (but that is another story in itself.....). It turns out that my toilet fills itself up with hot water after every flush. Yep, hot water. Only the best for me and Spider-Man (please see On Peter Parker and the Bathroom).

So, you ask, why worry about the toilet in the first place? Well, running hot water to a toilet isn't exactly a very efficient use of energy (although it does keep the toilet seat nice and warm....). Since it costs money to heat the water, we're in fact literally flushing money down the toilet.

So, we called the plumber to come and take a look at it. He was your typical plumber, in all aspects of the word (let's just say that he did not even have to bend over for the familiar plumber-related phrase to be realized...). He took a look at the toilet and said we had a bad valve, so he replaced it. But, that didn't fix the problem. In fact, he said, the problem did not lie with the toilet itself. The water lines had somehow gotten crossed, and the hot water line was running to the toilet instead of the cold one. Not a good thing.

You see, for all you non-plumbers out there, you can't just fix the problem right then and there. There are two options. We either have to 1. crawl under the house to see if we can get to the lines or 2. bust open the wall to get to the lines. Let's hope option 1 works, but we'll have to wait and see.

Through this ordeal, I was reminded of a couple of things. First of all, I like my bathroom a lot (again I refer you to On Peter Parker and the Bathroom). Secondly, and more importantly, God works a lot like a plumber does.

I have no clue when it comes to plumbing. I can flush a toilet. I can clean a toilet. I can even fix a chain on a toilet, but that's about it. When my toilet fills up with hot water and there's a broken valve in the mix, I have no clue what in the world to do. I'm in above my head, and that's when the plumber comes in.

Sometimes in life, we get into some "hot water," so to speak. We can't fix the problems that we get ourselves into. We may think we know what's going on, but when our lives start to fall apart, we realize how helpless we really are. We are in above our heads, and that's when God comes in...or at least that's when we let him in.

You see, in fact, God has been standing there all along, always present and always in control. We just try to take care of our own situations too much and never give him the chance to work. And more times than not, we end up in as big of a mess as if we'd tried to fix our own toilet (pun intended).

I'm thankful that God is always there for me. I'm thankful that he wants to be involved in our lives and takes care of us in our times of need.

I'm also thankful for the plumber who took care of my bathroom problem today.

I just wish he'd worn a belt....

Day of Thanks, 11.16.08

Yesterday was nonstop for me from the moment I woke up until late last night, so yesterday's "Day of Thanks" post got pushed back until today, when I could finish it. Later today, I will also publish Monday's post.

Today, I am thankful for:

1. Friends. I got to see a couple of friends of mine over the weekend whom I hadn't really hung out with for awhile. Also, I went to a house party for some other friends of mine and had a great evening meeting some new people and enjoying good company. Overall, it was the most social weekend I've had in a very long time. I thoroughly enjoyed making new friends and rekindling old friendships. Thank you, God, for friends. Thanks for giving the human heart a desire for companionship, and thanks for meeting that need. And thank you, that above all, you are also my friend, the one who sticks closer than a brother.

2. Church music. I led some musical worship on Sunday night at my church. I always enjoy getting to lead people to God's throne, through song, and our church is starting to use some contemporary music in our services. Thank you, God, for giving me musical abilities and for allowing me to lead people in worship through song. Thank you for making music and for calling us to sing.

3. A place to stay. I live with some good friends of mine here in town, and to be honest, I feel like I'm ripping them off because my rent is so cheap. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have been able to stay in LaGrange and continue my ministry at the church and in the community. Money was tight, and I had no place to stay, but these guys came through for me. And, to top it all off, I really enjoy hanging out with them as well (and Katie is quite the cook, too....). Thank you, God, for Nate and Katie. Thanks for providing me a place to live while I am in LaGrange. Thank you for their friendship and generosity. May you bless them and their home.

4. My jobs. I work two part time jobs, one as an assistant sports information director at my college alma mater, and the other as a youth minister at my church. Both jobs demand a lot of time. I work 7 days a week most weeks, and my schedule is often quite hectic. Nevertheless, I have jobs and a source of income, however small it may be. There are many people right now who have no job or means of sustenance. Thank you, God, for providing employment for me. Thanks for giving me jobs that I enjoy. May I never complain about how much I work, how hard it is, or how bad the days might be. You have created mankind to work. Thank you for providing for me.

5. A short commute. Every day I can walk to my job at the college and bike to class in the evenings. It saves me money, it's more relaxing than driving, it's healthier for me, and it's more sustainable for the environment. Thank you, God, for allowing me to live close enough to my school where I can walk or bike to work and class. Thank you for helping me to save a little money. Thank you also for the time I am able to spend with you while I travel. It is truly enjoyable.

Thank you, God, for these blessings, both significant and trivial. You are God, and you are good.

Psalm Saturday: Psalm 2

Psalm 2

Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
“As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”

I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
__________________________


We live in a crazy world. The first verse of this Psalm describes earth’s current condition perfectly: a collection of nations that rage against each other. Leaders of nations plan and plot for their own gains and personal ambitions. Countries and peoples vie over territory, oil, or other resources. Warfare is everywhere. Strife and discord are the headlines of news sources all over the world. What do we do?

We submit to a higher power. Just as I mentioned last week in regards to the U.S. Presidential election, we must understand that God is the ultimate authority, and he is in control. The fourth verse of this Psalm describes how God sits and laughs at the futility of mankind’s governmental plans and aims. Why? Because they do not matter. In the grand scheme of eternity, they are trivial. There is only one king and one kingdom which are truly significant—Christ and his kingdom.

The earth is God’s property. He made it. He spoke words into the darkness and created everything. No man did that. No king could ever make that happen. We fight over what God already controls. It is ultimately futile when nations war against each other and ultimately rebel against God, because he is the true authority.

Psalm 2 ends with a dire warning to those in power and for people in general—bow or perish. We can stand against the authority of God, or we can submit to it. He does not force us to bow. Not yet, anyway. We are reminded by Scripture that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). But at this moment in time, we are given the choice.

Personally, I choose to submit. I will bow before Christ and kiss his feet. I will serve him in humility, reverence, fear, and love. He is the King of Glory. He is worthy. And I will take my refuge in Him.

I pray that your decision is the same.