Priorities

Currently Listening: My Sundown - Jimmy Eat World; To Me, This Is Heaven - Jimmy Eat World

So, I had this conversation with my wife the other day. It's a conversation I've had with many people I know on multiple occasions. It's the typical "oh great, Cary's talking about life's purpose again" conversation.

If you know me at all, then this is probably something you and I have discussed at some point. For a long time, I have struggled with the idea of wanting to have some artistic skill or ability I was super-good at. I would use this ability to stir others' hearts and draw them to God, as I had been in my adolescent years.

But, no matter what I tried, I never could do anything as well as I wanted. I practiced guitar and remained mediocre. I painted and still couldn't get past stick figures. My sketches never took off either.

The result of this mentality resulted in a wall being built around my heart. When Candace, my wife, would compliment me on my guitar playing, I would acknowledge it but not receive it.

Thanks to Candace, I was recently made very aware of this problem and we worked through it together (by praying together in a parking lot--it's funny how God times things). But I still sometimes find myself frustrated by my inability to really invest myself in some type of art that could reach others.

However.

I think I'm beginning to realize something. I can't really put into words what I'm beginning to realize. I know that makes little sense. If I had to put this realization into words, it would be that I'm beginning to understand that every little thing I do is a part of a bigger whole.

There is no larger role for me other than the one I have been given.

I would say, for me, it's easier to see God in the extremes of life--pain, death, frustration, joy, happiness, laughter, fun. It's extremely difficult for me to see God in those inbetween moments that occur many times a day. Drinking coffee in the morning. Reading the news. Showering. The carpool drive to work and back home. Making my students laugh in class. Talking with co-workers during our plan periods. Hanging out at home. Making dinner. Cleaning up after dinner. Watching TV. Playing video games. Sleeping.

I am often frustrated because I feel like I do very little to--I'm not even sure how to put it--live as Christ would have. I don't heal people. I don't feed the hungry very often or clothe the poor. I don't stop and pick up every hitchhiker by the side of the road that I see. These are things that I feel are the milestones of the follower of Christ, yet I also feel I do very little to help others.

However.

The other day, I was talking with a fellow co-worker that I hadn't talked to in long time.

She said: "Hey Cary, we were just talking about you!"
I reply, "Really? What were you saying?"

Her reply really made my day.

She said: "Oh, about how you make the world a better place."

As my life as a follower of Christ has progressed, I've always wanted to give a voice to that inner feeling/yearning to complete some purpose God placed within me. I think I finally found it.

I want to make the world a better place.

The Bible Podcast

If you are like me, when it comes to reading non-fiction, you prefer audio. It is nice to have books in digital format to listen to while driving in the car. 

Most people have heard the Bible on CD by James Earl Jones. 

I struggle with seeing Darth Vader's face while listening. 

Anyway, my sister-in-law recommended The Bible Podcast. I listened to a few podcasts and I really like it. There is enough voice talent to make it easy to stay interested, but not so much that you feel like you are listening to a kids story.

Just go to the Itunes Store and search for "The Bible Podcast"

Or you can go to their website and download entire books at one time:  http://thebiblepodcast.org/podcast/

Hope you enjoy!

Snow

You ever have those moments where you feel like you are drowning in your own junk?

I do. 

I have them often. 

Today, I was talking to a new friend. He is drowning. He thinks that his sin has put up a wall between him and God.

It just doesn't work that way.

The Bible uses some cool terms to describe those of us that love Jesus. We are called "holy", "blameless", "saints" , "white as snow"...

"White as snow" is my favorite. 

If you ever find yourself doubting your worth, think of Paul. Unless you make a habit out of killing Christians, I don't think you can really put yourself on his level. Paul could not have started at a lower point. Look what he became!

Do you think that Paul's past sin ever haunted him? I don't see how it couldn't. Paul was a regular guy. He was just like you and me. If I am haunted by my mistakes, how could he not be?

My friend is white as snow. Just like Paul. Just like me. He just doesn't see it yet. 

We have been made completely spotless by Jesus. 

Think of it this way... 

Before Jesus came, what incentive did we give God to bail us out? 

NONE! We did nothing to deserve it. We were all guilty of sin and deserving of death. Without Jesus, sin drives us away from God. So, if during that time in history, God chose to send us Jesus, how much more forgiving must He be now that we are blameless?  

I can't stress that word enough. BLAMELESS. There is nothing that can be used against us. Once we take the gift of Jesus, we are saints. 

So, when you stumble or feel your junk start to pile up, remember that you are holy. At that moment you are presentable to God as a spotless being. You are white as snow! 

That is not a free pass to sin. If you love Jesus, you already know that.  

Love Jesus and He will help you work through your junk. Love Jesus and you will find yourself obsessed with trying to walk beside Him... white as snow.

Modern Temple

I'm currently listening to Travis. Their Invisible Band album is great for writing.

There is a reason that no posts have been made for several days. Cary and I have sort of been taking turns since this thing got started. Its been my turn...

So why haven't I posted? 

I've been feeling kinda down. I can blame stress, a crazy workload, a newborn son... 

There is a real reason. 

I haven't spent time with Jesus. My boss said it best, "You are starving yourself."

He is right. I have been spiritually starving myself. Prayer, praise, studying the word... these are ways to feed my soul. I haven't been doing any of these because I have been "too busy."

- - - - - - - - - - - 

Sarah and I have always had a place that was ours. In our first house, we had a huge front porch with a swing. We would go sit on the swing, have a glass of wine and talk for hours. We read the Chronicles of Narnia to each other out there. We read devotionals huddled under a blanket in the fall.

When we moved to Venice, FL we made our living room into our special place. We got rid of the television. We bought a huge bookshelf to replace it. We opened the windows and read books while the ocean air blew in. We smiled and talked about how amazed we were that God had chosen to love us despite all of our junk.

Now we are in Santo Domingo. Our bedroom balcony looks out at the city lights downtown. Palm trees sway when the wind blows. A couple of plastic chairs and a metal table did the trick. I'm sitting on the balcony as I write this. 

We have agreed to come out here every night. Even if it is just for ten minutes. We promised each other that we would spend this time together. 

You see, this balcony, our living room, our front porch... these are all places where we get to relax. We get to talk. We listen to music. We talk about everything God is doing in and around us. This balcony is a place to read my bible without distractions. 

I can sit here typing this blog post and feel happy. 

This balcony represents something more than just a place to sit. I can sit in my bedroom. We even have a rather nice rocking chair in there. This plastic chair hurts my butt. I choose to sit here because this is where I told myself that I will always make time for my family. More importantly, I have told myself that I will always make time for Jesus. This is my temple. 

Isn't that what a temple was intended to be? In the Old Testament the temple was a place to go to God. Sacrifices, tithes, offerings... were made at the temple. God never limited Himself to a small tent in the desert. That was just a place where the people could go to Him. God did this for them, not the other way around. 

Think about it. Does God need your money? Does god need you to kill a goat? Nope! God gave us a way to feel forgiven. God gave us a way to be a part of the cool things He is doing.

The temple changed with the New Testament. The temple became a place to take communion. The temple was a place to remember Jesus and to praise God for His awesome gift.

The temple exists because we do not fully understand that God is everywhere. I'm admitting that I can't wrap my mind around it either. I built a humble temple on my balcony. When those moments come and I feel isolated from God, I can walk out on my balcony and sit with Jesus. The reality is that He never left my side. 

I think we all need a temple. 

Most Christians would claim that the church is their temple. If you are one of those people, then let me ask you this: Do you feel relaxed, at peace, loved... when you are in church? If you don't, then where do you feel this way. That place is your temple.

My dad once told me that he felt closer to God on a golf course than anywhere else. I can finally relate.

When you realize that you have a place like this, invite Jesus in. If you don't have a place like this, go make one. Don't starve your soul. Take the time to pray, sing, paint, read, play golf... whatever you need to do to feel loved and in Christ's presence. Acknowledge that it is only because of Jesus that you get to feel this way. 

That is real worship.