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So, I have this friend that is going through a really hard time. Lots of stuff in her life that is just not good. It doesn't make sense. One thing after another. She is sweet and kind, and extremely patient. We wonder why this stuff keeps happening. It has been going on for over a year, and it has been very very hard on her.
Sometimes I catch myself wondering, just wondering, if maybe she isn't doing right. But then I remember. . .
There is nothing in her life to make me think she is in sin. She has a good testimony, and continually seeks Godly counsel. She is patient, and very prayerful.
So, who am I to say that she is lying to me when she says, that she is right with God? Who is anyone to tell another Christian that they are lying about their relationship with Christ without any known and habitual, unrepentant sin?
Any persons relationship with Christ, is between them and the Saviour. So why do we have so much gossip/tale-bearing/assuming about people? I have had talks for a couple hours and gotten back and thought "wow. . .was that talk just gossip? How much of that was really necessary to talk about?"
Especially in my family and extended family. . . .it just seems its so easy to make everyones business our business. Is it really my business what is going on with cousin X?? Now if he/she calls and tells me and spills the beans . . . but then, what right do I have to tell the rest of you? Is it really your business?
My conclusion, is that we lack charity. I think many of us could have come to that conclusion anyway, through different channels of thought, but for me, today, and for the last several weeks/months, it has been because of all the evil we think/say regarding people. Maybe it isn't "murder and blaspheme" evil, but we don't think good about them. We assign them bad motives, and attitudes for things we make excuses for.
We used to have this saying around the house when I was younger. It was always something to the effect that each person needs to ensure they are doing right and not wrong, because that is too big a job for them, and they don't have time to worry about each other. . . .it is still true.
I don't have the time to worry about any of you. . .My fault list is too long. . . . . .
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
So there have been comments (literally here on the blog, and others) about my last blog being published out of guilt....uh, no.
It is not a contradiction to say what has previously been said, and to say that sometimes it is fine, and right to miss church. Yes, right.
Everyone that might read this knows this. If you are puking with the flu then don't go to church. Agreed? ok, so there is my point.
Now on to other things.
Speed of service. It is the little things that matter. I know everyone rushes around like crazy when we get a $15 order to ensure it goes out in 2:00 or less. But seriously, what about that 1 medium drink order? or that 1 Jr.? The rush isn't there, because we all know that that order will go out in well under 2:00, and without work will probably be around 1:30-1:40. But that is the mistake many make. If you work even on the orders you don't think you have to, then you end up with no a 1:40, but rather a 1:10.
The 6-7 minute orders are sometimes (rarely, but sometimes) unavoidable. This means that no matter what you do, the car is going to take as long as they please. But, if you work hard on those 1:10 orders, then your 5-7 7 minute orders will average out to under 2 minutes. If you don't work hard then your average is not dropping. And you end up with a 3:00 and you show up poorly in the daily/weekly SOS numbers.
My crew works hard, and so we are coming in 2-3 in the entire market. . .the other managers don't like me too much.
Do any of you care about this? probably not....but hey, I blogged.
It is not a contradiction to say what has previously been said, and to say that sometimes it is fine, and right to miss church. Yes, right.
Everyone that might read this knows this. If you are puking with the flu then don't go to church. Agreed? ok, so there is my point.
Now on to other things.
Speed of service. It is the little things that matter. I know everyone rushes around like crazy when we get a $15 order to ensure it goes out in 2:00 or less. But seriously, what about that 1 medium drink order? or that 1 Jr.? The rush isn't there, because we all know that that order will go out in well under 2:00, and without work will probably be around 1:30-1:40. But that is the mistake many make. If you work even on the orders you don't think you have to, then you end up with no a 1:40, but rather a 1:10.
The 6-7 minute orders are sometimes (rarely, but sometimes) unavoidable. This means that no matter what you do, the car is going to take as long as they please. But, if you work hard on those 1:10 orders, then your 5-7 7 minute orders will average out to under 2 minutes. If you don't work hard then your average is not dropping. And you end up with a 3:00 and you show up poorly in the daily/weekly SOS numbers.
My crew works hard, and so we are coming in 2-3 in the entire market. . .the other managers don't like me too much.
Do any of you care about this? probably not....but hey, I blogged.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
taking church for granted
So, how many different churches have we all been to? How often do we sit and hear a message and think, "I've heard that before." How easy is it for us to say "I'll just skip this week/service." Do we forget that there are people who walk miles to get to church? I think we do. I think we take it for granted that we can always go to church. Church will always be there. If I miss a service, that isn't a big deal.
(There are the people who only go once, twice, or three times a week. And they are happy with that. They feel no need to go to that fourth service. Church isn't that important to them. (Even as I type my thought process is interrupted thinking "Christ died for the church!!! Of course it is important.") So, where is the level of church importance?)
But there is the other group...today's group, the group I fall into on too many occasions -- those who go to church and are willing to skip, don't get anything from the sermon, and hope the power goes out, and that half the people say they are sick, take the overtime, etc etc etc.
What is church? If it is the building, and the social club, then, yeah, miss church. If it is the nice songs, and the proper place to be, then yeah, missing one out of four isn't a big deal. But let's just say for a minute something else. Let's pretend that church is where we go to worship almighty God. This is the Christ that when he said "I am he," His would-be captors stepped back and fell down. If Christ died for this, where should we be when the doors are open? Are churches full of hypocrites and wolves? Yes. Does that change the fact that Christ died for it, and we are there to worship Him, as commanded and taught? no.
What else is church? Preaching. So the pastor has a style you don't like. . .is it God's Word being preached? So the pastor does dumb things (and yes, some pastors do dumb things), is that a reasonable excuse? Let me ask, if the church never sings your favorite songs, and the pastor always makes stupid jokes, is it then ok to skip?
When I was at MBBC, sometime within the first or second month of my first year, I read this morning/evening by Spurgeon where he spoke of always being ready to attend God's house. That no matter what the preacher spoke on, the believer should ALWAYS come away with something, because it was the Words of God. But I think Christians are lazy.
We leave it up to the pastor to try to come up with something that applies to us. So, take a very small church...like ours. With 13 people (give or take some kids) who will 99% of the time be at every service. Now tell Pastor he has to come up with something that will speak to all of them. And for any other church that task becomes exponentially harder. So, we are lazy. We don't come into the house of God ready to worship, and glean, and think. We come in to be spoon fed. And then we say, I had that last week.
Every message where the Word of God is opened and faithfully (key word here) proclaimed
has truth for EVERY believer. It might not be that special word of encouragement that you needed in your dire hour, but there IS something there for you. The question is, do you get something every time? And if not, who's fault is it? The preachers? Not if God's Word was opened. Is it the Holy Spirits? He just didn't apply it to you this week. Obviously not. If you get nothing out of a message it is because you were not prepared to be in God's house.
Unfortunately for us it is that simple. We can't blame the pastor. We can't blame God. So, yeah. . .yeah, it is a struggle sometimes. Yes, it can be for weeks in a row, but that doesn't ever give anyone the right to be lazy. That's all it is. . .everything takes work. You can be the hardest worker at your job and still be lazy. Hard work applies to everything, not just a job.
Lesson number 2.
Look not every man on his own things, but everyman also on the things of others.
The things of others. How different life would be if we practiced this! Would it not? Not on our own things. . . . . . .Tomorrow at lunch sit back and think about what has absorbed your day thus far. What have you thought about? What have you done? Has it been on your things? Or the things of others? That is a convicting verse.
(There are the people who only go once, twice, or three times a week. And they are happy with that. They feel no need to go to that fourth service. Church isn't that important to them. (Even as I type my thought process is interrupted thinking "Christ died for the church!!! Of course it is important.") So, where is the level of church importance?)
But there is the other group...today's group, the group I fall into on too many occasions -- those who go to church and are willing to skip, don't get anything from the sermon, and hope the power goes out, and that half the people say they are sick, take the overtime, etc etc etc.
What is church? If it is the building, and the social club, then, yeah, miss church. If it is the nice songs, and the proper place to be, then yeah, missing one out of four isn't a big deal. But let's just say for a minute something else. Let's pretend that church is where we go to worship almighty God. This is the Christ that when he said "I am he," His would-be captors stepped back and fell down. If Christ died for this, where should we be when the doors are open? Are churches full of hypocrites and wolves? Yes. Does that change the fact that Christ died for it, and we are there to worship Him, as commanded and taught? no.
What else is church? Preaching. So the pastor has a style you don't like. . .is it God's Word being preached? So the pastor does dumb things (and yes, some pastors do dumb things), is that a reasonable excuse? Let me ask, if the church never sings your favorite songs, and the pastor always makes stupid jokes, is it then ok to skip?
When I was at MBBC, sometime within the first or second month of my first year, I read this morning/evening by Spurgeon where he spoke of always being ready to attend God's house. That no matter what the preacher spoke on, the believer should ALWAYS come away with something, because it was the Words of God. But I think Christians are lazy.
We leave it up to the pastor to try to come up with something that applies to us. So, take a very small church...like ours. With 13 people (give or take some kids) who will 99% of the time be at every service. Now tell Pastor he has to come up with something that will speak to all of them. And for any other church that task becomes exponentially harder. So, we are lazy. We don't come into the house of God ready to worship, and glean, and think. We come in to be spoon fed. And then we say, I had that last week.
Every message where the Word of God is opened and faithfully (key word here) proclaimed
has truth for EVERY believer. It might not be that special word of encouragement that you needed in your dire hour, but there IS something there for you. The question is, do you get something every time? And if not, who's fault is it? The preachers? Not if God's Word was opened. Is it the Holy Spirits? He just didn't apply it to you this week. Obviously not. If you get nothing out of a message it is because you were not prepared to be in God's house.
Unfortunately for us it is that simple. We can't blame the pastor. We can't blame God. So, yeah. . .yeah, it is a struggle sometimes. Yes, it can be for weeks in a row, but that doesn't ever give anyone the right to be lazy. That's all it is. . .everything takes work. You can be the hardest worker at your job and still be lazy. Hard work applies to everything, not just a job.
Lesson number 2.
Look not every man on his own things, but everyman also on the things of others.
The things of others. How different life would be if we practiced this! Would it not? Not on our own things. . . . . . .Tomorrow at lunch sit back and think about what has absorbed your day thus far. What have you thought about? What have you done? Has it been on your things? Or the things of others? That is a convicting verse.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
theology, politics, computers
It has been about two months since I last blogged. Two months. A lot has happened since then...sorta.
Anyway. I like theology more than politics, and politics, more than computers.
Theology. I love theology. I would love to teach at some Bible College. I could do it. I can teach all sorts of classes. I just don't have a PhD. Which, do I need it? maybe. BJU? bleah. But maybe. I was asked the other day if I was interested in pastoring a church that was without a pastor. I was kinda surprised. I had to say no, because honestly, at this point I am not called to do that. But, could I? Am I capable? I think so. Yes, there are lots and lots of things I don't know, but my doctrine is pretty solid. My logic is generally good. I am doing better with my people skills. One of my biggest weaknesses would be ignorance. I can't pastor now, and don't have the desire to, atm. I would like to teach though. Even when I was at MBBC I talked about reserving a room, passing out fliers, and holding a Bible preservation seminar. It wouldn't be near as informative, nor detailed as my Uncle's, but I'm not just repeating empty dogma either. I lack info, not the reasoning behind what I do have. I don't know. Life goes on.
Politics. I enjoy reading the old American political geniuses. I could study their stuff and learn waaay more than I know now. But that takes time, and effort. Then end result would be running for public office of some kind. Governor, Senate, President. . .who knows.
Computers. Not what I want to do the rest of my life. It is cool stuff. I can enjoy it. It isn't bad. I need it right now though. I'm stuck without a place, and without a job. I'm grateful for my parents generosity, but who wants to spend their married years living in their parents house. What parent wants their married kids to live in their house? I need my Computer degree now. . .and I need it to get me a job.
The problem is, what do I, in my limited time read? Do I read Hamilton because I want to learn about politics? Or do I finish Whitaker? Maybe I just finish Shakespeare because that is reading I enjoy? Since I STILL do not knnow what I am supposed to do when I grow up, how am I supposed to plan? Well, right now, I should be getting certified. So, my reading should be for that (which it is.) But then what?
Maybe that will be the rest of my life. Trying to do right one day at a time, because I don't know what is next. I have always liked to plan waaaaay ahead. Maybe this is a trust exercise for me. Maybe I won't know what I'm supposed to do until it comes up. God has given me a understanding mind in many areas. I understand and like math, physics, chemistry, English, etc. With a little work I can pick things up. . .I just wish I knew what I was supposed to pick up.
Maybe I'm too lazy right now. Maybe if I knew what it was I wouldn't be so careful to try to study. Maybe I have no discipline.
Well, the fourth was this weekend. It was fun as usual. I'm sore. We played VB a few times. I didn't do to hot. I hate that I'm outta practice. I did really well out at school, and here I got schooled. Oh well. Football was fun too. Missed my brother though. Magic was good. Seemed like we played less than normal. It was ok though; wouldn't have hurt to play more either, but it worked out.
Matt's story looks good. Although I would really like an ending to the first one. Even if it is just one paragraph. The kid ends up being bad and dying, and there is a war and no1 ever sits on the throne. Something like that. . .maybe?
I should go. Want to sit by the pool or play more cards. . .we'll see.
It was good to see everyone. really good.
Anyway. I like theology more than politics, and politics, more than computers.
Theology. I love theology. I would love to teach at some Bible College. I could do it. I can teach all sorts of classes. I just don't have a PhD. Which, do I need it? maybe. BJU? bleah. But maybe. I was asked the other day if I was interested in pastoring a church that was without a pastor. I was kinda surprised. I had to say no, because honestly, at this point I am not called to do that. But, could I? Am I capable? I think so. Yes, there are lots and lots of things I don't know, but my doctrine is pretty solid. My logic is generally good. I am doing better with my people skills. One of my biggest weaknesses would be ignorance. I can't pastor now, and don't have the desire to, atm. I would like to teach though. Even when I was at MBBC I talked about reserving a room, passing out fliers, and holding a Bible preservation seminar. It wouldn't be near as informative, nor detailed as my Uncle's, but I'm not just repeating empty dogma either. I lack info, not the reasoning behind what I do have. I don't know. Life goes on.
Politics. I enjoy reading the old American political geniuses. I could study their stuff and learn waaay more than I know now. But that takes time, and effort. Then end result would be running for public office of some kind. Governor, Senate, President. . .who knows.
Computers. Not what I want to do the rest of my life. It is cool stuff. I can enjoy it. It isn't bad. I need it right now though. I'm stuck without a place, and without a job. I'm grateful for my parents generosity, but who wants to spend their married years living in their parents house. What parent wants their married kids to live in their house? I need my Computer degree now. . .and I need it to get me a job.
The problem is, what do I, in my limited time read? Do I read Hamilton because I want to learn about politics? Or do I finish Whitaker? Maybe I just finish Shakespeare because that is reading I enjoy? Since I STILL do not knnow what I am supposed to do when I grow up, how am I supposed to plan? Well, right now, I should be getting certified. So, my reading should be for that (which it is.) But then what?
Maybe that will be the rest of my life. Trying to do right one day at a time, because I don't know what is next. I have always liked to plan waaaaay ahead. Maybe this is a trust exercise for me. Maybe I won't know what I'm supposed to do until it comes up. God has given me a understanding mind in many areas. I understand and like math, physics, chemistry, English, etc. With a little work I can pick things up. . .I just wish I knew what I was supposed to pick up.
Maybe I'm too lazy right now. Maybe if I knew what it was I wouldn't be so careful to try to study. Maybe I have no discipline.
Well, the fourth was this weekend. It was fun as usual. I'm sore. We played VB a few times. I didn't do to hot. I hate that I'm outta practice. I did really well out at school, and here I got schooled. Oh well. Football was fun too. Missed my brother though. Magic was good. Seemed like we played less than normal. It was ok though; wouldn't have hurt to play more either, but it worked out.
Matt's story looks good. Although I would really like an ending to the first one. Even if it is just one paragraph. The kid ends up being bad and dying, and there is a war and no1 ever sits on the throne. Something like that. . .maybe?
I should go. Want to sit by the pool or play more cards. . .we'll see.
It was good to see everyone. really good.
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