Take a breath

There has been a series of commercials that have aired in recent years regarding taking a pause to think before speaking or acting. I am not sure who it was that put these out, but I wanted to thank that person from the bottom of my heart. Many times in life, by speaking before taking a second to think through what was passing my lips, I have caused frustration, anger, hurt feelings and distrust in others. It sounds like a simple thing and it really is to simply take a deep breath before responding to whatever situation is in front of you.

Does it really cost you anything to take one good second to let what is about to pass your lips run through the filter of your mind? That one second delay may help save a relationship or keep open a door that otherwise might close for good. 

Why is that important? Well, if you are a Christian and trying to follow the teachings of Jesus, we are advised to speak the truth in love. Yes we can be truthful with people, but by controlling the tone and choice of words, we can get across a point without making the other person so angry that any chance of them hearing from you about the good news of who Jesus is and what He has done for them goes right out of  the window.

Truth is truth, but can be delivered with a hammer blow or with a handshake. Before you speak, breathe, and maybe even utter a short prayer regarding what you are about to say. You may be thankful for that extra second someday.

Reasons or excuses?

As I dragged my tired self into the gym at 1:30 am this morning, I was thinking of all the reasons I could use for not going. I was tired and a little sleepy. I had been awake for nearly sixteen hours. I still had to drive for about thirty minutes to get to my house and a workout would mean getting home after 3am. I shouldn't even have spent the money for this challenge because I am unemployed and $50 a month with a $100 down payment is kinda huge. Healthy food is more expensive than filler foods. All of these sound like good reasons for either skipping this session at the gym or not getting started at all.
WRONG!!
These are excuses. These are the enemy of progress. They all make sense and can be used as a crutch to lean upon as just cause for not making a start to do something different physically in my life. So, how do we get past these 'reasons'?
1. Bull through it. Keep your eyes on what your goal is and refuse to let anything stop you from going for it.
2. Reward yourself. As an example, if I make all 3 scheduled sessions at the gym, after the third session, I get to splurge on a smoothie.
3. Get accountable. Find a friend that knows what you are trying to do and let that person be your conscience regarding this goal. Knowing you have to face those who are standing with you on your goals makes it difficult to quit.
4. Think farther ahead than the moment you are in. Realize that if I fail to exercise now or eat healthier foods in better portions, later, I will have huge medical bills and it's going to be very difficult to attract a wife when I am grossly overweight and unhealthy. Not to mention that employers are not impressed with potential employees that don't take care of their health.

There are probably more ideas out there for breaking excuses and the hold they have on our lives. I am far from knowledgeable about them all, because I still find myself yielding to some. Basically, you just have to realize that you CAN do what you are trying to do. Remember what God's word tells us: I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

Note* This principle of breaking excuses can be applied to other parts of life than healthy living.

The Temple

In reading God's word, there are many passages that at first glance don't have much relevance to how we live our lives today - or so it seems. I was reminded today of how relevant His word is for us while reading from 2 Chronicles about the building and dedication of God's temple by King Solomon. While reading, I asked of God to please show me what message I can get from my reading today that relates to how I walk with Him. This is what I got from the reading.

First of all, in the New Testament, the human body is referred to as the temple for God's Holy Spirit to dwell within us. Reading the description of how carefully and painstakingly decorated the temple was, I was convicted once again about how well am I caring for this fleshly temple that I call my body? Months and months will slip past without exercise and I am prone to partake of junk food at the drop of debit card. Physically, I am just now starting to try to prepare the temple to be a reflection of the One who dwells within.

It goes further though. Gold overlay was put up inside the temple of Solomon reflecting the pureness and holiness of the Lord. What images and literature am I overlaying in my mind? The bible plainly tells us to think on things that are pure, good, just.. How can God be honored and dwell within me if I foul His temple with garbage?

Finally, after the temple was completed, Solomon prayed to God and asked a blessing upon the temple and in essence, invited God to take residence. I find that I need to spend time in prayer. I need to communicate to my Lord that this is His temple and that I want Him to dwell within it and to be a blessing through it. If anyone reading this has not taken this step to accept Jesus' sacrifice and invite Him to be Lord of your life, there is no time like the present. Let His holy presence dwell within you.

When Solomon finished his prayer, the glory of the Lord filled the temple and was so overpowering that event he priests who were praising Him were overwhelmed and could not continue. Imagine the lives we could lead if we truly got ourselves out of the way and let God completely dwell in us! I want that! Even more so, I want that for you too.

The shopping cart

It can't be just me, right? You go to the grocery store and park your car and discover that you have to dodge grocery carts just to get into a parking space. Upon leaving your car, you pass several carts just sitting among the cars, an accident waiting to happen. Why?
The question has bugged me for some time and I am torn between either simply laziness, apathy, or a gross disregard for others. I have seen carts less than ten feet from the cart corral, parked between parked vehicles, abandoned. Seriously? We can't take the few extra steps to put a cart back? Sad.
I don't know if there is really a lesson to be learned from the cart abandoned in the parking lot. People often only care about what affects them immediately. Once the cart is used, why bother putting it away? You are leaving, so what does it matter if someone else's car gets a nasty scratch in the paint job?

Now that my tongue-in-cheek moment is over, I would have to say that the biblical principal of doing unto others should apply here. Before we opt to flee the parking lot leaving an abandoned cart sitting in the lot waiting for a nice paint job to come along, how about thinking of that next person. If you don't want to run up into a maze of carts creating an obstacle course, try not leaving one for someone else to have to avoid.

Make sense?

Pop Culture versus Jesus Christ

I know this is a silly title for a posting, because nothing can stand against Jesus, but that certainly doesn't seem to stop them from trying. I was watching a movie the other night and I was struck by the way in which the Christian characters were portrayed. To say they were depicted as stupid would be an understatement. Dogmatic and legalistic, they seemed uneducated, unenlightened, and powerless before the witty and comical evolutionists.
This is not an isolated incident nor is the sentiment limited to the movie screen. During the last election cycle a representative or senator from Pennsylvania was caught on the record stating that his constituents were a bunch of folks clinging to their guns and their religion. They reelected him.
I guess I bring this up to alert my fellow believers that in the minds of many that we encounter, we are already marginalized due to our faith in Jesus Christ. If we are so illogical as to believe in God, we must not have anything of value to say or contribute. They are so wrong.
Take heart fellow believer! We know the Truth. He told us that if we seek Him we will find Him. Some will listen because they are seeking the Truth. We don't have to worry about the naysayers and know-it-alls of the world. Just keep sowing the seeds of Truth out there and the Holy Spirit will quicken it in the hearts and minds of those who are given ears to hear and eyes to see. Fight the good fight and run the race to the end. May the Lord richly bless you.

Not Your Fairy Tale!! (a revised personal ad)

Please allow me to apologize for this fact that I must state right up front; I am not your fairy tale. That's right. I am not your Prince Charming, riding in on a white stallion to take you away to my mystical castle where your every need will be attended to. I am the wrong height, weight, skin color, and in the wrong income bracket to meet your paint-by-numbers ideal of Mr. Perfect. I live at the wrong address, move in the wrong social circles and I am probably affiliated with the wrong political party to meet your needs. You have my sincerest apologies.

Now, here is what you will find with me. I am a real person. I make mistakes and am willing to acknowledge them. I try to honor God with my life, my work, my thoughts and even the games I choose to play. I fail, but willingly seek forgiveness when I do. I laugh a lot and sometimes am moved to tears as well. I was born a product of this fallen world and I live as a freed and forgiven son of the King. I won't always be what you want, but no one ever will be except Jesus. With His help, I may be able to be what you need when you need it. This is who I am.

A Southern Conversation

The teenager sits on his front porch, having just finished cleaning and reloading his 20 gauge shotgun. The sun beats down giving life to the field of corn nearby and he breathes a sigh of contentment. Moments later, his ears pick up the sound of an engine and the crackle and crunch of gravel under tires. The sound of the engine is not loud enough to be the family truck and this fact is proven shortly as a sedan pulls clear of the corn on the gravel driveway to pull to a stop in front of the house.
The salesman looks from the vehicle to see a young man on the porch. Noting the shotgun in his hands, he hesitates. The boy gives a small, silent shake of his head that says this will not be a profitable stop. Steeling himself, the salesman calls upon his training and the sheer weight of his personality. No salesman worth his salt takes the first "no" as a final answer. Besides, the yea or nay should come from an adult. Shutting off the engine, the salesman opens the door of the vehicle and steps out to stand and wave a cheery greeting to the young man on the porch.
Without a word, the young man pumps the action on the shotgun, putting a shell into the chamber. His eyes lock with those of the salesman.
The salesman stops advancing. Choosing retreat as the better course of action, he returns to his vehicle and rapidly departs, leaving the young man to enjoy the peace of his porch on this summer day. Some conversations require no words at all.

This scenario brought to you courtesy of my friends Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson.