Crazy Stuff Happens!

The crazy started Sunday morning at 7am as I received word that an extended family member had died. She had been ill and although not unexpected still a shock. Monday morning I got notice that a friend had died unexpectedly from a sudden medical issue. Monday afternoon I broke a belt on my lawn mower that I had replaced a month ago. Tuesday morning I went to walk the dog 5:40ish. It is still dark and I do not take a flashlight with me. We rounded the corner by the road and there was a black pick-up parked in the tree line. It had skidded across the driveway missing the water spigot and culvert and stopping inches from the trees. After a return with a flashlight and some help from my neighbor the truck was empty and had a broken front axle. Following my morning school bus route immediately as I parked and shut the bus off the phone rang and it was my son’s Dr. in Charleston. We had been trying to get an appointment for a week and a half. The voice said, “The doctor can see you this afternoon at 4:30.” I said, “Ok we will be there.” Plans for that day changed and we left for Charleston at 2:15 and returned at 8:30pm. Wednesday evening a wake, Thursday a visitation and wake and Friday morning while walking the dog in the middle of the driveway (the closest tree was 10feet overhead)  I walked into the biggest spider web(in the dark). It was like a hair net on my head. I could not believe it. I had a flashlight in my pocket but I was not expecting a spider web in the open.

That is just stuff, not remarkable per item but piled together in a few days seems incomprehensible. For many it would raise some questions. How could all of that be happening in one week? Why is that happening to me? Maybe even “why would God allow this to happen?” Does he even know this is happening? Valid questions all but consider this possibility that God knows and has purposed these events for His glory and my good?

These are random events or so they seem but what if they are not random at all, I am unable to see the connection to each other or the linear connection to some point in the future? I suggest that connection/endpoint is Jesus. He alone ties all. The purpose of life events is to transform us into the character and quality of Jesus. How we respond to the “crazy” of life shapes and molds our character. The crazy events highlight where work needs to be done and where work has already been completed. Crazy challenges us to stop trying to understand life and live it. It requires us to allow God to plan and direct our lives and the loves of our family in this transformation process. That brings about a new perspective. The perspective that “crazy” is an opportunity to experience God at work; Crazy is not random but purposeful; Crazy has a conclusion for His Glory and my good! That perspective requires me to depend on God the very thing he wanted from the creation of time.

By the way, as of Friday morning the truck is still in the front yard, I never did find the spider that made the massive web and reaching for the keypad to open the door for my office I stuck my hand in another spider web. Crazy!                            

In HIS Service and Yours,

BroG

 

Intentional

Just as a warning, this is the second day this week that I have not taken the day well. You are now warned. I just came from the doctor’s office. I paid $35 for the doctor to tell me what I already know. I’m overweight and I need a diet and exercise thirty-five dollars to hear that. I told you I’m not taking today well. That is not the only reason. This did not happen overnight. Each year a few more pounds at the annual exam and each year a few less steps in activity adds up to overweight. It’s slow and gradual but cumulative. That’s what scales are for. They reveal the accumulation.

Yes, I have tried to diet and lose weight. My trying is really more thinking about it. I have the information. If I don’t there is always Google. You can find anything and nothing on Google. I know what I need to do. I just need to do it. I need to be intentional about my food choices and activities. A plan that yields less cumulative results as counted on the scales. My weight gain “just happened.” However, the weight loss will no longer just happen.

Our spiritual journey of transformation into grace bearing fruit beings of Jesus Christ doesn’t just happen either. It is intentional. God is intentional in transforming us over a life time into the image of his beloved son Jesus. Since it is his intention it will get done. I want you to consider your intentions in participating in that transformation.

Participating in our own transformation must be intentional. Last New Year you decided you would read your Bible, pray and meditate more. How is that going? I ask, were you intentional in setting aside time and a place to do that or did you think it would just happen? Life just happens most days and without intention it will squeeze out our reading, praying and meditating of God. It just happens.  It happens to me too.

How about an evaluation of your intentions and a renewal to be an intentional participant in your transformation? Make a plan that fits in your schedule. Set aside a small amount on time that you normally do noting or nothing of significant value. You know facebook, sitting around, gaming etc. You can carve 15 minutes off goof-off time to be intentional in your transformation. Then do it. It might require getting up a little earlier or going to bed a little later. Is it worth it to spend time with God? Time will tell. It’s cumulative this transformation. But it does not “just happen.”

That is how I left the conversation with the doctor. I committed to be intentional in my weight loss by making better eating and activity choices. I did think of a Big Mac for lunch as I was driving away. That was not intentional. I must be my own advocate. It all adds up.                            

 

In HIS Service and Yours,

BroG

Perspective

 

I found this the other day in a Google search of the word perspective.

 

Is the glass half empty or half full?  It really does matter how we look at things. It all depends on your perspective. One individual speaking of their spouse who tends to be pessimistic said of his view, “The glass is half empty and filled with poison.” Some of us look at life from very different perspectives by nature. I don’t know why that is but I do know it is true. I by nature am a “half full” guy. Just in case you did not know.

 

Opposites do attract though. An optimist is often married to a pessimist (they call themselves realists but WE know the truth (that of course is from my point of view)).  Opposing points of view, opposing world views, opposing local views depend upon the perspective of the individual. Children often view life from self interest. A view of what do they want now and how can they get it. Those who study children say that it is almost impossible for a child to consider the consequences of their actions into the future. We see this most clearly in teenagers and their behavior. Their view is all about themselves and their super human (in their minds) abilities in everything. They seem unable to consider consequences of their actions. It is only with maturity that their views broaden.

 

Yes, you just read that and someone, don’t point, just came to mind that missed the maturity plane. Adults have the capability to view actions and consequences in the here and now and the future. That does not mean we use those capabilities or even dust them on occasion (remember I said no pointing, I mean it). Maturity brings into focus our perspective, our view of life and death, family, meaning, purpose and our own position in the world. Daily decisions are based on our perspective. With maturity adults view the present with the future legacy their children in mind.

The beauty of the Gospel is it changes our perspective. We add to our view, eternity. We evaluate from a view of eternity tasks and opportunities or at least we should. That’s the hang-up. Most days the most difficult problem I have is me. All I can see is what I see on this horizontal plane of me. The Gospel is there to change that so that I see a horizontal plane impacted by the vertical plane of the Cross of Jesus.  My perspective is changed because of the Gospel.

 

What once was the end of me death is now the beginning of me.

 

What once was inconceivable is now possible, eternity.

 

That is a NEW perspective!            

 

What’s yours perspective?

 

 

In HIS Service and Yours,

BroG

Promises Broken

Yesterday we bit the bullet and got Barbara a "smartphone." The bullet is the additional cost of the data plan on the wireless bill. Ouch that can really hurt. But we assumed the expense anyway. I ordered the phone online with pick-up at the local store.

With in store pick-up they set it up and activate it or make it ready for activation at a later time. So, you can back-up your contacts, music, pictures etc. I went to the store. It took longer that I thought and there seemed to be some confusion as to what and who should do what to complete my sale. After a bit I was on the way home. Let's fast forward to many hours later...

We could not activate the phone after repeated attempts, reboots, resets, visits to the web site and phone calls to the automated technical support. It just would not make a call. So we made contact with Candice in Arizona @ Technical Support. Turns out the most important information for activation had not been entered into the system. At the store they said it was ready to go. Turns out it was not. 

We have all been in situations where someone dropped the ball and failed to do something they said they would. Maybe the right document was not sent or not sent at all. Maybe a call was not made or an order placed.  It has happened probably more times than we care to remember. It makes us weary to believe anyone will deliver on any promise.

Let's be careful there. That weariness of belief can creep into our spiritual life. Jesus said he IS coming back. It's just not happened yet. (If it has and your reading this...oh never mind.) Do you believe it or maintain a "healthy dose of skepticism," towards his "promise?' He has given his word. But because so many others have given their word and we found their promise lacking it may be hard for us to believe Jesus.

Candice in Arizona entered the 20 digit number and in minutes the phone in Guyton, Georgia was connected and coming to life. It is a miracle to me THAT it happens at all. Jesus coming back is a greater miracle to believe. You might ask, "How can we possibly know that Jesus will keep His word?"

He has done it before!      

²⁰ But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at His coming, those who belong to Christ.  1 Corinthians 15:20-23 HCSB      

In HIS Service and Yours,

BroG