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MONDAY 9/29/08

Not My Problem
 
Sometimes I get so frustrated I want to spit … or worse.  I get tired of what feels like a stupid game of struggle, endure, pay your dues, accept that the tough times are actually good because they teach us strength or patience, or God knows what.  Then there are days — more like  moments or glimpses — when I understand, when it all makes sense. 
 
So, I try not to worry about it anymore.  Sure I work hard and love a freebie day when everything goes right.  But the rest of it’s just not my concern.  So, I try to keep my nose clean, understand sometimes — though not as often as perhaps I should — that God’s not here to serve as my personal valet, but it’s my job to tend to His acreage on this earth (and that there’s a fair day’s wage in it somewhere), and — sure, why not? — savor the many opportunities and blessings with which I am showered each day. 
 
My point:  God’s in charge.  Let go and enjoy.  — jri
 
“Freely you have received, freely give.”
        –    Jesus Christ
               (Matthew 10:8)

THURSDAY THOUGHT 9/25/08

In Spiritual Training
 
My brother — a tough old goat in his 60s — not only does medical mission work in impoverished places like Mongolia, Bolivia, Africa, Afghanistan (he was ticked off because his trip to Darfur was canceled because it was too dangerous), but he also runs marathons.  So, when he’s not fishing, working or sipping on tequila, he’s training — running miles a day, swimming in the frigid Maine lakes, or biking like Pee Wee Herman around Mt. Desert Island.  Very self-disciplined.
 
Then, lo and behold, I read of Jesus, also training for His mission.  Forty days fasting in the desert (seriously, imagine 40 days without food!)  dealing with the temptations of that unctuous and persistent devil, and coming out of it all steeled, hardened, and “in the power of the spirit.”
 
My point:  It seems to me that faith is not a matter of falling down in rapture and hoping God doesn’t step on us.  It’s about being tough, knowing what God wants from us (the rules are in His Book; read it!), and being disciplined enough to follow The Way He’s laid out for us.  God bless, and enjoy the spirit-strengthening challenges of this day. — jri
 
“When the devil had finished all this
tempting, he left him until an opportune
time.  Jesus returned to Galilee in the
power of the spirit, and news about him
spread throughout the whole countryside.
He taught in their synagogues, and
everyone praised him.”
        –    Luke 4:13-15

WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 9/24/08

The Chosen Ones
 
No, I’m not talking about Obama here.  It seems to me that we are all chosen ones — all who acknowledge God and wrestle with faith and our roles as God’s followers — in a grand, biblical epic between good and evil.  (That’s a great and universal theme, one for which I believe we are hard wired to love, repeated endlessly in such stories as The Bible, Star Wars, The Chronicles of Narnia, pretty much every classical western,  and many video games.)
 
It’s a story of good versus evil, of spiritual warfare and, most of all, of choices — free choices and free will.  Some stand firm, sword in hand; others go over to the dark side; and many, it seems to me, wander around trying to avoid the battle lines altogether and hope for the best. 
 
My point:  Do you accept your commission as one of God’s chosen ones?  It’s a simple choice, one we have the opportunity to make — yea or nay — every day.  Choose wisely, Chosen One.  — jri
 
“I will give you all their authority and splendor, for
it has been given to me, and I can give it to
anyone I want to.  So, if you worship me, it will
all be yours.”
        –    Satan
               (Luke 4:6-7)

MONDAY THOUGHT 9/22/08

Transform Your Life One Day at a Time

Here’s a secret:  If you think your life is tough — that you have troubles or weaknesses or frustrations enough to make a saint pull out his hair — join the crowd.  We all fight demons and weaknesses each and every day. Here’s the good news:  If you are not happy with your position and your place (emotionally, spiritually or financially, you pick), you can change it.  Got that?  You CAN change it.  You can start today to become who you want to be and take your life where you want it to go. 

Want to lose 50 pounds of weight?  Start TODAY and lose 4 ounces.  Keep it up and in seven months, you have met your goal.  Want to quit a bad habit, start TODAY.  Give it up for just one day, and then again the next day.  Then if you fail, start again tomorrow and tomorrow again.

My point:  Start today!  Forget yesterday, and don’t worry a whole bunch about tomorrow.  Do it now.  — jri

“[T]o change your life, you don’t have to
make a massive shift.  Just a few little
things every day…can transform you
into the person you want to be.”
        –    Mark Victor Hanson & Robert G. Allen
               (The One Minute Millionaire)

FRIDAY THOUGHT 9/19/08

It’s Not Supposed to be Easy
 
Perhaps my biggest, most persistent failing (oh, and the list is long) is that I am hard-wired to believe that life is supposed to be easy, and that comfort and joy are supposed to be the goals.  So, I become frustrated and resentful (have to blame God, couldn’t possibly be my fault) when setbacks strike and adversities occur.
 
But Jesus Christ never had it easy, so why do we think I’m supposed to?  Jesus was belittled, chased out of town, spit on, mocked, not believed when he revealed His true nature, and eventually murdered. 
 
My point:  For this day, I will attempt to enjoy any setbacks and thank God for all that He sends my way — from woes to wonders.  God bless and enjoy this beautiful day. — jri
 
“Even after Jesus had done all these
miraculous signs in their presence,
they would not believe in him.”
        –    John 12:37

WEDNESDAY 9/17/08

Blessings Everywhere
 
I have found that every day is an amazing gift, full of wonder, opportunity and joy. 
 
Some days I open my eyes wide and take them in.  Some days I choose to ignore them, step right over them, miss them.  My choice.
 
My point:  God’s blessings are everywhere.  Just for today, focus on them, enjoy them, savor them.  Refuse to complain or offer a single “yeah but.”  Just enjoy. — jri
 
“Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever
is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good
repute, if there is any excellence and anything
worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these
things.”
        –    St. Paul
                (Philippians 4:8)

MONDAY 9/15/08

Blaming God & Others
 
I don’t know about you, but I sometimes get pretty angry at God.  But then I realize that it’s not God who trips me up and then holds me down in the mud.  I do that just fine myself. 
 
Sure it’s easier to blame others.  We can blame our parents.  We can blame our spouses or ex-spouses.  We can blame God.  We can blame friends who did us wrong.  We can even blame Nixon or Bush.  However, one of the things I’ve learned over the years is that we are the authors of most of our own troubles.    
 
My point?  If you’re face down in the mud, get up, start fixing what’s wrong in your life, and stop blaming others, especially God.  — jri
 
“The Lord is faithful to all his promises
    and loving toward all he has made.
The Lord upholds all those who fall
    and lifts up all who are bowed down.”
            –    Psalm 145:13-14

THURSDAY 9/11/08

On a Path With God
 
I was walking on a trail the other day and expressing my frustration to God about the tough road I was on (not the trail; my life).  I am not saying God talked to me directly, but here is how my imagined conversation went:
 
Me:  God, I’m not all that big on this submission stuff.
 
God:  Fine.
 
Me:  I mean, if I give up all that drives and thrills me, there’s nothing left, right?  I gotta be me, right?
 
God:  No argument.  Agreed.  Sammy Davis, Jr. couldn’t have put it better.  I want you to be you.
 
Me:  So, you agree with me?! 
 
God: Absolutely.  So, what do you want to do?
 
Me:  A bit  more of my stuff my way.
 
God:  A bit more of your own stuff?  How eloquent.  And you I blessed with the gift of words.  A writer.
 
Me:  (CHUCKLING)  Yeah, well…. 
 
God:  So, go for it.  Do what you want.  (PAUSE)  And what do you want?
 
Me:  (PAUSE.  MY MOUTH KEPT OPENING TO SPEAK AND THEN CLOSING, LIKE A GULPING FISH)  Well….  Well….
 
God: You want to get wildly rich?
 
Me:  (FEELING OUTMANEUVERED AND PANICKY AT THE THOUGHT)  Nah, been there, loved it ….
 
God:  And?
 
Me:  (SULKING)  Came up empty in the end.  (PAUSE)  It was fun, but something was missing. (SMILING TO MYSELF, SEEING A FEW FEET AHEAD ON THIS CONVERSATION)  Hey, are you laughing at me?
 
God:  Me?  Would Your God laugh at you?  (CHUCKLING)  Well, a little.  What else?  Wild sexual pleasures?  Booze?  Power? 
 
Me:  No.  No.  No.  Well, maybe a little.  (LAUGHING)  I’ve done all that and more.  Great fun.  But you know that none of it made any real sense until you came back into my life.  I guess what I want is just a sense of being more in control?  You know, doing what I want.  Not being your pawn.
 
God:  You are in control.  You are not my pawn.  I wouldn’t have you that way.  Do what you want.  Go for it.  I will grant you your heart’s desire.  Haven’t I always?  Anything you want earnestly enough I will grant you. 
 
Me:  (JOKING)  Well, there’s the Mercedes, the yacht, oh, and don’t forger the million dollars, no make it two million.  (LONG SILENCE. NOT JOKING)  Thanks, God.  What I really want, when I’m done whining and clowning around (PAUSE) is what YOU want.  The opportunity to take care of my family, be there for loved ones … and, yes, strangers, too.
 
God:  What about your concerns about submission?  Still gotta be you.  You will always have the will to choose.
 
Me:  (PENSIVELY)  I guess you’re right.
 
God:  Thank you.  A lot of folks don’t feel that way.
 
Me:  (GETTING IT)  I guess it’s a matter of wanting to do it your way, but freely, of my own choice and desire, not submissively.  As I believe Saint Peter said, “Where will I go Lord?” when given the choice of leaving Jesus.
 
God: No need to quote the Bible to me, John.  Besides, you mangled it a bit.  But I see that you do see.  Oh, and our friend Peter thinks pretty highly of you, too.  He loves it when you tell those screw-up stories about him. 
 
Me:  He’s my inspiration, because of all  his mistakes.  So, back on topic. ( PAUSE)  Lord, I choose to serve you, to do it your way.  As for other stuff, my heart’s desire?  (PAUSE)  Maybe that is it … for now.  In the meantime, I’ll just put it all in your hands. The record shows that you’re much better at choosing than I am.  So, I’m trusting you here, you hear? 
 
God:  I hear.  I will not abandon you. 
 
Me:  (SLOWLY)  I know.  Thanks, Lord.  Amen.
 
God:  You’re welcome.  Nice day for a walk.  Go and enjoy it.  Nice chatting with you.   
 
* * *
“In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He shall direct your paths.”
        –    Proverbs 3:6

MONDAY THOUGHT 9/8/08

The Sweetest Words!
 
Come!  Celebrate with me!  So often I write of doom and gloom and the importance of strength and patience. 
 
Today, I celebrate a wondrous, soul-soaring event!  Made my day.  Made my week.  May well make the top five when I review the year!  It was a single phrase from my daughter, Angie, returning a call on Sunday.  “Sorry I  missed your call.  We just got back from Church.”  This from my nearly 29-year-old child who had set foot in church previously only when dragged or threatened or as a favor to me.  She, her husband and two daughters went … and may well go again.  Lord, I owe you big time!
 
My point:  Pure celebration and unbridled joy.  A gift from the Lord dropped gratefully into my lap and joyfully accepted.  I could ask for nothing more.  Come!  Share in my celebration!  — jri
 
“I will instruct you and teach you
in the way that you should go.”
        –    God
               (Psalm 32:9)

FRIDAY THOUGHT 9/5/08

Faked, Forced Faith Fails (Phew!)
 
“All I know is what I read in the newspapers,” Will Rogers used to say.  Well, I have friends who have serious doubts about this faith stuff I’m prone to profess.  Good for them.
 
It seems to me that all we know is what we know.  We can’t close our eyes real tight and squeeze out an ounce or two of belief.  To me, the ultimate positive expression by non-believers is something like, “Gee, what’s he all fired up about?  I’d better keep an eye on him.” 
 
My point:  Ask no one — including yourself — to go honestly beyond what you can honestly believe.  Study the information.  Do your homework and be honest.  Check out the facts.  Open your eyes and your heart, but remain skeptical.  Doubt is good.  And enjoy the trip:  It’s a roller coaster ride of fantastic fun, faith and  — ultimately — fulfillment. — jri
 
“He replied, ‘Whether he is a sinner or not,
I don’t know.  One thing I do know. I was
blind but now I see.’”
        –    Unnamed blind man given sight by Jesus
               (John 9:25)

THURSDAY 9/4/08

Dads, Sons, Husbands: Recommended Reading

As a boy, all I (and all my guy friends) ever wanted to do was find noisy, risky, roll-in-the-mud adventures (though in the winter we did play chess, a form of stylized warfare). We fantasized about battles — about being Bat Man or Super Man or John Wayne. Every stick was a rifle, every rock a hand grenade, every empty lot a new land to discover. We loved coming home for dinner tired and torn up.

Actually, the older I get, the more I realize men are just big boys, and nothing has changed. I have learned that men need challenges, actually live for them — not just a pick-up basketball game, but the kinds of things that offer high risk and high reward, with high value — whether they be spiritual, physical or intellectual.

I think that’s why I have been so taken with a book by John Eldredge, The Way of the Wild Heart, which talks about the good, positive, masculine side of what makes men what we are — not as threatening, dangerous or inane, high-fiving bozos, but as strong, decisive, self-disciplined leaders of themselves and their families, all with a strong Christian undertone. I recommend it highly.

My point: Gentlemen (and women, too, but I cannot speak for what motivates you), find something bigger than yourself, something worth fighting for (not just an extreme-adventure trip, but something with a purpose), and then throw yourself into it with all the roll-in-the-mud energy and enthusiasm you can summon. And have a ball. — jri

“Until a man learns to deal with the fact
that life is hard, he will spend his days
chasing the wrong things, using all his
energies trying to make life comfortable,
soft, nice, and that is no way for any man
to spend his life.”
– John Eldredge
(The Way of the Wild Heart)

WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 9/3/08

Jesus Had Bad Days, Too
 
As a public speaker, Jesus had good days and He had bad days.  Sermon on the mount:  Wow!  Dead on.  Held the attention of thousands with His eloquence. 
 
And then there were days when all He managed to do was tick people off — not just a drift-away-he’s-a-nut response, but let’s-find-stones-and-get-him fury.  Boy, He could really stir a crowd!
 
My point:  Just because we’re Christians, we should not expect everything we do (yes, even those things in the name of Jesus) to turn out blissfully, joyfully, lovingly perfect. (Fold hands, steeple-style, look heavenward, smile beatifically.)  Yes, we should do the right thing, but sometimes we will need to do it and then run for cover.  God bless and enjoy the blessings God lays before us this day, even if those blessings are in the form of pebbles hurled at us, rather than big rocks. — jri
 
“‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘before
Abraham was born, I am!’  At that, they picked
up stones to stone him, but Jesus himself,
slipping away from the temple grounds.”
        –    John 8:58-59

TUESDAY 9/2/08

True to Yourself
 
I have a minor problem.  My demeanor sometimes exudes arrogance.  It’s something of a family trait.  Plus, when we do something we’re pleased about, we’re proud of it.  No humility here. 
 
The problem?  It really ticks some people off.  Not that I am trying, but it just happens.  But I figured out a long time ago that competent people who respect competence (I have a modicum of this trait, enough to get by and get me in trouble), are the ones who heap praise and offer “atta boys” when I do something right.  For many others?  Well, they either ignore or denigrate.
 
My point:  Ignore the naysayers.  Do what you think is right and do it to the best of your ability.  (Crow a little if you like; that’s up to you.)  But then forget about those who snarl and find fault.  In many respects, the more people complain about you, that’s a good sign you’re doing something right.  — jri
 
“I care not what others think of what
I do, but I care very much about what
I think of what I do:  That is character.”
        –    Teddy Roosevelt