I Am A Published Author...(sort of)

Today I received my first blog book in the mail; I guess that makes me an author of sorts...sort of. The book has no ISBN number nor was it inducted into the Library of Congress; hence the "sort of" disclaimer in my title. The book contains all of my blog entries for the year 2010.

So far I have had over 6,300 page views from almost 60 countries including nations like: Nigeria, Isle of Mann, Latvia, Slovenia, Australia, Sweden, India, Thailand, Chile, Iran, China, Saudi Arabia, Japan, South Korea, and Tasmania to name only some. When I was a kid I fell in love with shortwave radio because I could hear radio stations from other countries. Blogging is a very cool way for me, to be read by people in other countries.I just want to have something meaningful to say. The internet certainly has changed our world.

The book is nice. I like it. In reading it, I was encouraged, by what I wrote to encourage others.

A Few Thoughts On Envy (part2)

I have recently finished reading the book of Job; what an amazing book from the Bible. I will confess that for a number of years I just could not "get into" the real meaning and purpose of the book, and the depth of it's meaning. I am not going to try to expound on the details of the conversation between Job and his close enemies. The part that strikes me whenever I read Job is what God had to say to Job after all of man's wisdom has expired. God asked Job a few questions: "tell me if you can"; and Job couldn't

I am perfectly satisfied with the notion that I do not always understand God's ways. I do not have all of the answers and any attempts on my part to speak for God only ever sounds trite and hyper-Christian. I do not speak hype, I am somewhat fluent in faith; very big difference. God is God and He can do what He wants; I do not need to understand, so I may not have a lot comfort; but we can pray and seek God in our difficulties. Hype always tries to tie a pretty little bow on our trials, and hype always simplistically attempts to make a lists of what God does in certain situations. Word of Faith people used to say "you are sick because you are weak in your faith, or there is sin in your life", much like Job's friends did; God was not pleased with them.

My second thought on envy is based in the realization that I do not always understand. Why others are blessed and it seems like I have been looked over...again. Remember King David had a similar dilemma; why do the wicked prosper?

"If I truly believe that every good and perfect gift comes from above; gifts to me, and gifts from God to others. I refuse to compare myself to others; my gifts are from God, to me, so I will work with what I have been given".

I am a minister and an assistant pastor I see other men my age and many younger with seemingly less gifting who seem to be blessed with big churches, successful ministries and Biblical titles; why not me? Envy might try to raise it's hands and slow me down with questions about why always others. Honestly I am blessed beyond what I could have imagined. I do not need to be part of a big church I only need to walk in the confidence and gifting that God has given me. I am not a great anything but God has given me me gifts. Comparing myself to others is a trap and a pit; I will not be envious of others. God has generously blessed my life.

A Few Thoughts On Envy (part1)

Let me say before I begin that I am a middle child, I am also a phlegmatic personality type (I love peace and unity...and naps...it is true), I grew up in a very modest home, and I never knew I was poor until after I wanted "things". But I also want to say that I do not feel like envy has ever been a problem for me. I am glad when others succeed; having said that...

Envy is a very sinister desire, we suspect it in others, but we seldom identify it in ourselves. It often displays it's ugly little disposition in trivial ways, but the root of it seems to be, that we do not have what we want our what we think we deserve. So, envy should be foreigner in the Christian community, but sadly it is not. We want to impress other people, or at least have what others have. We want to be on a level field with other believers and things should never be unfair; I want what you have.

It seems like envy, jealousy, and covetousness are like brothers, and they are very close. Often discontentment with things like possessions, status, and a perceived level of success, contribute to our feelings of entitlement and self-centeredness. When these feelings rise up we often think unkind thoughts, say unkind words, and we do stupid things to gratify our ego. Then we sink into the darkness of self-pity, bitterness, and depression. What a sad state of affairs. Is anything really worth all of that.

My number one thought concerning envy in my life is this:
"I will not envy because I know that God is generous and gracious. If a man or a woman is blessed in ways that I am not...I know that all of my (and their) spiritual blessings come from heaven".

We serve a very generous God. Much more generous that we deserve, our problem is (I think) that we do not always trust God's wisdom, or understand His economy.

So Why Am I Afraid?

A little scary

Not everyone loves Ronald

There are a million reasons for a person to be afraid. Without the proper perspective and frame of mind a person can find a reason to fear in almost any arena of life. Some people fear clowns (coulrophobia); they are afraid of the unknown. Why do they have such big pockets, and what is inside? Why do they wear so much make-up; why is their nose so big? Why are they so happy?

Fear can grip us to the point that we become paralyzed; afraid to move ahead, afraid to stand still and afraid to go back to what we have always done. Fear is irrational. Fear is never your friend. Fear will keep us locked up in a house of loneliness. I read a book at a time in my life when fear had a strangle hold on my daily thoughts; I know a little of fear.

The following is from a book by Jenetzen Franklin;
40% of the things we worry about never happen.
30% of the things we worry about are in the past and can't be helped.
12% of our worries concern the troubles of others, and we have no part in them.
10% of our worries concern illness, real or imagined that may or may not have happened.
8% (Only 8%) of the things that we worry about are things that might really happen.

The words fear not, or be not afraid, occur over 360 times in the Bible, that is enough don't be afraid's for each day of the year. When we frame plan and view our lives through the lens of God's word and His promises for and to us we find far fewer things to fear. Trust God with your concerns and don't allow them to become fears that paralyze you.

Behold God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid. Isaiah 12:2

Why Oh Why Cant It Be Like That Here?

Almost four years ago now I took a trip to Martinique to see my brother in the French Caribbean and I enjoyed it immensely; I was able to totally forget about it being winter here. Now I am not typically an unhappy sort of guy, but I am sick of cold weather already and it is only the middle of December.

"Help me Jesus I am fading (freezing) fast"

This last year we have become Home Missionaries by helping out in a growing Home Missions church pastored by my very good friend Jeff Peckham. I am wondering if the Lord sent me someone else's mail; maybe I was supposed to go to Fiji or Barbados; at least that is what my cold fingers tell me when I go outside. (Please understand this is all in jest, I know I am in the middle of God's will for my life). Why can't it just be in the 60s I would love to mow the yard again.

The Bible says that godliness with contentment is great gain. I have been so blessed, especially in the last year with the birth of a brand new granddaughter Coralie; she is such a sweetie pie. I am content in spite of the cold. Let winter come and stay if it wants I am blessed.

Wow, I Thought I Was The Only One

I wonder how many friendships have been formed and forged because of a common experience or a familiar mindset. I remember sitting in a middle school class and feeling very much out of my element; I had just arrived from a summer of fun and a small elementary school to a much larger social landscape. D. C. Everest Middle School had students from all over the place and we are all placed together in a really big school.

I was sitting in a classroom back in the...along time ago, and I did not know anyone. I looked around the room to see if there was anyone else who looked terrified and a little insecure; (because I was) and I found one. Seated in the row of seats right next to me was this guy who looked a little nervous and shy. What did I have to lose? I asked "so, where do you live?' It was that simple and a conversation began, he liked to go hunting and fishing, and confessed to being a little intimidated at the new school thing. His name was Nathan. We had an encouraging sort of friendship for awhile back when I needed it.

I wonder how many friendships we miss out on because we never speak up? If we would only brave up a little we just might be surprised at what others could add to our lives. I find it a little too easy to mind my own business; I could be in a room full of people and not say a word. Our cell phones and Ipads have made seclusion in a crowd easy to do. Don't look up or around, it is easy as pie...(I have made many pies and honestly it is not as easy as it sounds). But really, who knows how many good things I have missed out on.