I had planned on planting a garden this weekend to help us save on the food costs. Yes, I am the same guy who as a teenager swore I would never have a garden once I grew up after toiling many a hot summer's day in "my father's" garden. Yet here I am planning on purpose to plant a garden of my own. Sad thing is, the more I think about it, the bigger it gets in my mind.
Anyhow that was the plan. Reality is that on Thursday I guess the pollen got the best of me and I ended up sick Friday on throughout the weekend. I still don't have much of a voice but am able to return to work.
As a young man I planned on getting married around 26-30, starting a family, having lots of money and no worries. Reality is that I was over 40 when I married, have two wonderful children, not so much money and worry more than I should.
In my plans my kids would get to spend lots of time with their grandparents, get spoiled by them, etc. Reality is that my father died 13 years before I married. Only one of his grandchildren (my brother's oldest daughter) got to spend any time with him and by that time his body was robbed of it vitality by both chemo and the effects of a brain tumor.
I can plan for the future, my retirement, kid's college, etc. but that does not mean that any of it will come to pass (but is wise to prepare as if it will). I can live for today and be a good husband, father, example and enjoy all that God has blessed me with and choose to be happy.
In Him,
David
Monday, April 21, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
All things to all men
A few blogs back I discussed fellowship and this kind of follows that line of thinking but in a different tact. Paul wrote the following to the church in Corinth "19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21T o those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." - I Cor. 9
Paul did whatever he could to bring others to Christ yet in so many churches across our country we are seeing the opposite. There are members everywhere who want everyone to become Pauls in the sense that they want everyone to transform into what they want or expect them to be. If the minister does not preach the right kind of sermons, if they sing the wrong kind of songs, these people take their Bibles and head somewhere else or even worse they cause so much discord that they split the church into two warring factions. It is their "right" to have their opinions and they want everyone to conform to them. Total opposite of what Paul said.
Stick with me here, one of the problems that we may have in America is that we have too many choices in religion. Instead of learning to get along and become more Christ like in our attitudes towards fellow believers, if we don't like what they are doing where we attend we move on to someplace else. And heaven forbid that a brother is caught in error, they are not confronted in love, they are just confronted. I have expressed similar thoughts in other blogs but will rephrase it this way, our rights as Americans does not extend to the church. We are part of a kingdom and are to submit our will to God's will, something I need to constantly remind myself of....especially when I get upset and want to take my toys and play somewhere else.
In Him,
David
Paul did whatever he could to bring others to Christ yet in so many churches across our country we are seeing the opposite. There are members everywhere who want everyone to become Pauls in the sense that they want everyone to transform into what they want or expect them to be. If the minister does not preach the right kind of sermons, if they sing the wrong kind of songs, these people take their Bibles and head somewhere else or even worse they cause so much discord that they split the church into two warring factions. It is their "right" to have their opinions and they want everyone to conform to them. Total opposite of what Paul said.
Stick with me here, one of the problems that we may have in America is that we have too many choices in religion. Instead of learning to get along and become more Christ like in our attitudes towards fellow believers, if we don't like what they are doing where we attend we move on to someplace else. And heaven forbid that a brother is caught in error, they are not confronted in love, they are just confronted. I have expressed similar thoughts in other blogs but will rephrase it this way, our rights as Americans does not extend to the church. We are part of a kingdom and are to submit our will to God's will, something I need to constantly remind myself of....especially when I get upset and want to take my toys and play somewhere else.
In Him,
David
Monday, April 14, 2008
Fear and Fun
This past weekend we had camping reservations with three other families and rains of biblical proportion. After the storms passed through Friday, we loaded up and headed off for the campground. I had smartly chosen to take the 4 man tent rather than the 10 man tent. My reasoning was it would be easier to keep the smaller tent warm; what I did not know was that it was also going to be easier to keep the smaller tent upright and on the ground.
With the wind whipping so hard, Janelle had to help me get our tent up (I usually can accomplish this on my own. When it came time to put the rain fly on, I tied it off to stakes outside of the tent pad which proved to be the right decision as the ground was firmer there and there was no problem of these stakes pulling out.
Our friends Mark and Heather had the large 10 person tent. This tent wanted to fly. We ended up tying off the tent poles on the windward side to two trees to keep the poles from collapsing and tying two of the stake loops to rope and staking the ropedown outside of the tent pad. Once we loaded their tent with two air mattresses, a pack n play and 4 sleeping bags, it was grounded.
Now the fear part. We are camped along the Cumberland river which is roaring with all the heavy rain that fell during the latter half of the work week. On two different occasions Christopher disappeared from sight and my mind immediately went to the river. PURE PANIC! Both times he had headed off for the play ground on his own. So many emotions upon finding him safe.
The wind was relentless all weekend and then the weather forecast changed on Saturday for a 60% chance of showers after midnight, so discretion being the better part of valor....we all packed up, went out for dinner and headed home. It was fun, trying, windy and a weekend of building memories.
If you need rain, invite our family and friends to come camping. It is guaranteed to raise the water table of any location!
David
With the wind whipping so hard, Janelle had to help me get our tent up (I usually can accomplish this on my own. When it came time to put the rain fly on, I tied it off to stakes outside of the tent pad which proved to be the right decision as the ground was firmer there and there was no problem of these stakes pulling out.
Our friends Mark and Heather had the large 10 person tent. This tent wanted to fly. We ended up tying off the tent poles on the windward side to two trees to keep the poles from collapsing and tying two of the stake loops to rope and staking the ropedown outside of the tent pad. Once we loaded their tent with two air mattresses, a pack n play and 4 sleeping bags, it was grounded.
Now the fear part. We are camped along the Cumberland river which is roaring with all the heavy rain that fell during the latter half of the work week. On two different occasions Christopher disappeared from sight and my mind immediately went to the river. PURE PANIC! Both times he had headed off for the play ground on his own. So many emotions upon finding him safe.
The wind was relentless all weekend and then the weather forecast changed on Saturday for a 60% chance of showers after midnight, so discretion being the better part of valor....we all packed up, went out for dinner and headed home. It was fun, trying, windy and a weekend of building memories.
If you need rain, invite our family and friends to come camping. It is guaranteed to raise the water table of any location!
David
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Most Important
It's weird to know before 7 A.M. that you have already accomplished the most important thing you will do all day. Early this morning our 3 year old woke up and I could hear him crying "I want daddy, I want daddy". Janelle carried him to our bed and he snuggled close to me with one arm around my neck and one hand holding onto my arm. Laying there listening to his breathing relax, feeling him relax as he pulled himself closer to daddy, I knew I had already done the most important thing that I would do all day. Laying there listening to him breath and sleep, that was contentment for me.
I think I now have a better understanding of what Jesus meant as he wept over Jerusalem. Like a parent, he longed to pull them close and feel them relax and rest in his arms. He still feels that way about us. Pretty cool.
In Him,
David
I think I now have a better understanding of what Jesus meant as he wept over Jerusalem. Like a parent, he longed to pull them close and feel them relax and rest in his arms. He still feels that way about us. Pretty cool.
In Him,
David
Monday, April 7, 2008
Fellowship
In class yesterday we were discussing the topic of fellowship and our responsibility to one another. For so long in our tribe fellowship has been deemed as eating together or hanging out together and sadly we have lost the true meaning of fellowship. Part of what was discussed under the "Brother in Need" blog topic is incorporated into this fellowship. The term we call fellowship comes from the Greek word Koinonia. (NOTE: I am not a Greek scholar)
It was in the study notes that koinonia comes from a word meaning spouse or business partner. Quoting from Wikipedia ""Koinonos" in classical Greek means a companion, a partner or a joint-owner." This companion can be the same as a spouse. This got me thinking that I need to reshape how I approach fellowship. From that vantage, I need to treat my brothers and sisters as I would my own spouse. They are my partners, not a part of some loosely associated fraternal organization. If I would begin to look at them as a partner rather than an acquaintance then maybe I can finally get to what the church is supposed to be.
Again from Wikipedia: "To create a bond between comrades is the meaning of koinonia when people are recognized, share their joy and pains together, and are united because of their common experiences, interests and goals. Fellowship creates a mutual bond which overrides each individual’s pride, vanity, and individualism, fulfilling the human yearning with fraternity, belonging, and companionship. This meaning of koinonia accounts for the ease by which sharing and generosity flow. When combined with the spiritual implications of koinonia, fellowship provides a joint participation in God’s graces and denotes that common possession of spiritual values."
I wonder how much more has been lost in translation. It makes me ashamed of how little I truly know and how much I am missing out on in what the church should be. Is it possible to have the Church as Christ intended in the 21st Century?
In Him,
David
It was in the study notes that koinonia comes from a word meaning spouse or business partner. Quoting from Wikipedia ""Koinonos" in classical Greek means a companion, a partner or a joint-owner." This companion can be the same as a spouse. This got me thinking that I need to reshape how I approach fellowship. From that vantage, I need to treat my brothers and sisters as I would my own spouse. They are my partners, not a part of some loosely associated fraternal organization. If I would begin to look at them as a partner rather than an acquaintance then maybe I can finally get to what the church is supposed to be.
Again from Wikipedia: "To create a bond between comrades is the meaning of koinonia when people are recognized, share their joy and pains together, and are united because of their common experiences, interests and goals. Fellowship creates a mutual bond which overrides each individual’s pride, vanity, and individualism, fulfilling the human yearning with fraternity, belonging, and companionship. This meaning of koinonia accounts for the ease by which sharing and generosity flow. When combined with the spiritual implications of koinonia, fellowship provides a joint participation in God’s graces and denotes that common possession of spiritual values."
I wonder how much more has been lost in translation. It makes me ashamed of how little I truly know and how much I am missing out on in what the church should be. Is it possible to have the Church as Christ intended in the 21st Century?
In Him,
David
Whirlwind
It has been a week since the last post and life has been a whirlwind for us. I met Janelle last Monday after I got off to take the boys to the park to play while she went to the tax office to work. Just after we had traded vehicles she received a call that her grandmother had just passed away which start the whirlwind of activity. There were phone calls to be made to family spread out across the U.S. plus her parents in China; her uncle had to make arrangements to have the funeral here while coordinating with his brothers and sister. We had to cancel Christopher's birthday party as with family traveling from overseas, the funeral would have to be at the end of the week. As it ended up, the funeral was on Friday on a very rainy day.
With all the family in town, we had a family birthday for Christopher on Saturday. His grandparents from China were there, his grandmother from East Tennessee, 2 great aunts, 2 great uncles and all his aunts, uncles and cousins on his mother's side. It was quite a party and an uplifting way to end what had been a sad week. Janelle made him a Thomas the Tank Engine cake that was excellent and he was quite happy to be the center of attention.
Sunday as always was a day of worship and time spent with family. Not once since Thursday have the boys gotten to bed on time since we were always down in Murfreesboro at bedtime. The good news was there were many games of Settlers of Cataan that week. Oh well, maybe more of a routine this week. Have a great week!
In Him,
David
With all the family in town, we had a family birthday for Christopher on Saturday. His grandparents from China were there, his grandmother from East Tennessee, 2 great aunts, 2 great uncles and all his aunts, uncles and cousins on his mother's side. It was quite a party and an uplifting way to end what had been a sad week. Janelle made him a Thomas the Tank Engine cake that was excellent and he was quite happy to be the center of attention.
Sunday as always was a day of worship and time spent with family. Not once since Thursday have the boys gotten to bed on time since we were always down in Murfreesboro at bedtime. The good news was there were many games of Settlers of Cataan that week. Oh well, maybe more of a routine this week. Have a great week!
In Him,
David
Monday, March 31, 2008
Brother In Need
For those of you who grew up in the same religious tradition (aka tribe) as I, you know that we were taught that the Bible has different ways of teaching. Two of those ways are inference and example. I am still trying to figure out where I stand on the following and what it means if I end up where I think I am heading. Let's look at the following scriptures starting with Acts 4:
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
Followed by Acts 2:
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
If this is the example set forth in Acts, then why do we still have poor and needy in our fellowship? What is my responsibility to them? What about the believers in Central America, Africa or China? I have never heard a sermon based on the inference of these two passages but I wonder if someone dared would we have an auditorium full of rich young rulers who went away sorrowful because we have much possessions?
I'm not saying that we sell everything we have, move into a commune and sing Kumbaya. What I am suggesting is that we examine to see if we are more American than Christian when in comes to the value we put in our possessions.
I would love your comment.
In Him,
David
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
Followed by Acts 2:
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
If this is the example set forth in Acts, then why do we still have poor and needy in our fellowship? What is my responsibility to them? What about the believers in Central America, Africa or China? I have never heard a sermon based on the inference of these two passages but I wonder if someone dared would we have an auditorium full of rich young rulers who went away sorrowful because we have much possessions?
I'm not saying that we sell everything we have, move into a commune and sing Kumbaya. What I am suggesting is that we examine to see if we are more American than Christian when in comes to the value we put in our possessions.
I would love your comment.
In Him,
David
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)