Sunday, August 26, 2012

Irredeemable

I recently read a comic book series by that title written by an insightful and creative man named Mark Wade.

In his series he delves into a superman type character who was conceived in dysfunction and who never was able to overcome his origin of dysfunction.

Have you ever felt like you were set on a path of destruction or at least dysfunction and you cannot see how you will ever be fully clear of habits or temperaments?

I have, anger has a way of springing up in my life in a way that makes me feel like I will never be free of it.

I was raised in an anger driven home and as such my course was set with anger fueling my actions and passions.

It sub consciously became a stronghold in my life that anger was something I would "just have to deal with" I don't think that is biblical and as its not biblical it's not true.

Culture tells us some things can't be fixed so don't try.

The Bible tells us that God is all about redemption.

A famous story is that of Ruth the story is one whole book in the Bible.

Ruth as we read was a Moabite, a decendent of Moab who was conceived as a result of a insestual relationship between a father and daughter.

So the whole lineage of Ruth is dysfunctional to start. But God it seems does not believe in irredeemable situations because he uses Ruth to be in the lineage of Jesus.

To get back to myself for a moment I get into a bad place when I think that something God is working on is a disqualifier of me being used by him and worst when I forget that I have been redeemed from so much already.

Lord Jesus I pray for those who are trapped in the cultural lie that they are irredeemable.
That the path they were set upon is the only path that they have to walk.
Show them the grace you have shown me and let your love wash the dirt of the past away so they may see the plans you have for them and the way you would take them.
Amen.

This week read Ruth and insert yourself into the story and see how God your loving father wants to show you that he is even now redeeming your story.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Is Community?

Is Community proximity?

I have been thinking a lot about community.

Acts 4:32 says "the whole congregation of believers was united as one-one heart, one mind! They didn't even claim ownership of their own possessions. (The Message)

We live in a cul-de-sac we moved there to be more in proximity of our church so we could have more opportunity to build into the community which we have put our spiritual roots.

We had no idea what God had in store for us in this move.

Upon moving in we found that the neighborhood was friendly in a way that we were unfamiliar with.

We had a neighbor who upon seeing I didn't yet possess a lawn mower offered his whenever I had need of it.

We have had opportunity by proximity to bless those who we live near in our church, such as seeing one of our youth walking near our house and picking them up and having them for dinner and taking them to their event later.

Also by living where we do we have had the opportunity to expand who watches our children, and we have been blessed by some of the teens in our church and there caring for our children.

Acts 2:46 says that the believers met daily in the temple, that they broke bread in there homes.

I believe community is strengthened by proximity, because it allows us different opportunity and the lack of proximity can be a deterrent for building stronger relationships.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Driveway Date

If your married this one is for you if your not them read this and remember.

A driveway date is not a new concept I have read about it and heard about it previously.

Now that I have two kids it has become a marriage saver.

Every Monday night Nicole and I block out time after the kids are alsleep and make time for each other to be with Jesus and we have it in the driveway.

We have modified the idea to meet our needs, at first I thought it was only okay I was thinking about what I could be doing instead.

But having time when all the "things" in life get put on hold has become invaluable.

For Nicole and I this is a time we now look forward to and value because it gives us quality time with each other and spend time praying and listening to a podcast sermon.

Every married person knows that a good marriage needs time put into it to make it successful.

Hence the driveway date night.

We also need to take time to be in communication with our heavenly father so this night fills in both of those needs.

If you have never tried to have one night a week where you and your spouse spent time away from it all getting closer to God then I challenge you to try it make it what you need it to be but make it purposeful and I believe that you will see fruit in your marriage and spiritual life.



Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Batman VS Superman.

I just recently saw the latest batman movie and it was awesome.

It got me thinking about the differences between two of my favorite comic heroes, and the change that needs to happen in me in how I look at where I am.

Bruce Wayne is a man needing his role as Batman to fulfill his purpose.

In every incarnation of batman his is a tortured soul seeking value and acceptance in what he does.

I have lived there I have seen my job as role I must play (Bruce Wayne) while my true value and my real purpose is what happened when my kids go to bed (Batman) I have struggled to balance my need for things like a house and food for my family with the almost overwhelming desire to do something of real value.

If like Bruce I give into my need for purpose and make my identity that of my role, in his case Batman then I loose all the value that comes with small things like relationships and such, only small things mind you.

This almost happened to Bruce it almost happened to me but my Alfred my segregate father pulled me from that way of thinking by helping me connect the dots.

Now for Superman.
My most favorate of comic characters. He is a man who is not defined by his role as he defines what his role is by who he is.

That's how I need to live that's how I am going to live.

I know who I am and what God created me for and as such I can create a role that is an outward expression of an inward reality.

To further the parallel.

I may have a job that does not draw on the best I can give but as a wise mentor told me it allows me the opportunity to be ready to move into action when the time comes.

I want to throw down the gauntlet this week, for myself and any who read this.

I want us to live like who we are in Christ is what makes what we do valuable.

I want us to stop living like what we do makes us valuable.

See you all next week.