Material things

I have come to realize that are some things that I love in life. Clothes, hats, DVD's, cool electronic toys, books, etc. Yet, I have also come to realize two important facts about these thigns. 1) there is such a thing as too much of these things; 2) others can use your access for their lack. this is not a one man's junk ... sort of thing, but rather a truth. and i am not calling for people to get rid of all their worldly possessions. i ask for an honest estimation of what you NEED.

in the spirit of this, i plan to start reviewing all the material things that i have in excess. my goal is to find out what i need and what i use. from that i want to start to "trim the fat" as finance experts would say. get rid of the excess and give it to those that need those things. This will be a long, hard process to undertake, but i know that it is necessary to free me of material desires and because God has not called any of us to lives of rampant materialism. take what you need, give away what is left.

to do

Stop. Breathe.
Not mine, His.
Worry about nothing. Pray about Everything.
In His time.

dream big

I don't know why, but God has put this in front of me twice this morning. Dream BIG Dreams!!!! Don't let anyone stop you, even yourself. It doesn't matter how outrageous, unrealistic, or fanciful they are, dream big.

Everyday life

The mystery of the common and everyday occurances really astonishes me sometimes. The perfectness and perciseness that it takes for the sun to come up, water to come out the tap, or the tempurature drop at night to keep me cool with windows open and no A/C, all of that amazes me.

Look at the world around, ponder what all it takes to get exactly what you see and then tell me that God doesn't exist and that He didn't create this thing we call life. ... Me say you are wrong.

(And living in Atlanta now makes me appreciate the Rockies a lot more than when I lived there)

Simplicity

Reading a book by Chuck Swindoll last night and I was hit with some honesty truth; when did simplicity become a bad thing? Christ himself said, "whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Mt. 18:4).

Sometimes our lives are too complicated, too cluttered, too wired, and too task oriented. We don't just be anymore. We don't sit in silence and simplicity, marveling at the wonders of God's creation. So that is my challenge, take time to just be. I'm going to start tonight with a little along time on my porch: just me, God, and the world out my back door.

July 4, 1776

This weekend we remember the day that a small group of men, fed up with the poor governing of an empire on the other side of an ocean, got together and declared to that government that we no longer will stay submitted to their improper, authoritarian rule. No matter your political view, please remember this day; remember the freedoms they declared for us all; remember the freedoms we all share today; and most of all, remember the men and women who have died to uphold those freedoms.

Happy Independence Day everyone!!!!!

Discussion

So it became obvious to me that some people are just completely out of touch with society. I saw a boycott of a song sponsored by a Christian recently. And though I agree that the song is bad and does not deserve to be played, I would never call for its boycott. All that does is put a bad name on Christians. It makes all of us sound like fundamentalist wackos.

Instead, I say we talk about it. Christ did not call for people to boycott the rule of the Sadducees because they were corrupt. And these are people who were from their own background. Like Jesus we should talk with the makers of this song and those that like and support it. Lovingly sharing our opinions and ACTUALLY listening to theirs does a lot more for the Truth of the Gospel then seperating "us" from "them". Please people it is a song, not a complete abominiation of humanity (somethings are and those are the things that deserve action, ie. genecide). Stop, talk, and listen to these people with love.