So, I’m fasting today. I’ve been struggling with a lot of anxiety this week, and I really felt led to spend more time with God and to fast as well, so that’s what I’m doing. I’m not sure just how long I can hold out, but I know that after day 3 I will at the least start adding juices or something — they say doing more than 3 days on a water fast is dangerous without doctor supervision.
Update: Made it three days, broke fast after church Saturday night — well, not counting a tiny communion wafer and cup of grape juice at church. It was a really great experience, and I ended up not even really struggling with being hungry.
“I’m going to hell, but I’m okay with it. There’s a special place reserved just for me.”
These were the words of a cashier at the grocery store I went to last night after church, spoken to the bagger just as I walked up to the register. Initially, I wrote them off as a joke, as nobody who believes there’s a hell to go to would really be okay with going there… would they? I got my grocery bags, loaded them in the car, and sat there with my keys in the ignition.
I grew up in a Christian family, and as long ago as I can remember, I was attending a small Baptist church with them. I accepted Christ and was baptized when I was still in grade school. While that’s certainly something to be thankful for, at times I think that those of us who grow up in the church don’t really appreciate what we’ve got, and I think it can easily make us lukewarm in our faith.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. –Romans 8:28 (NASB)
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! –Romans 11:33 (NASB)
We’ve all been there. “Why is this happening to me?” “Why now?” “Why do bad things happen to good people?”
God doesn’t always let us in on the “whys” — and He doesn’t really owe us the answers (see Job 38-42 for more on this). Still, every so often, I believe He enjoys letting us in on His ways. Yesterday was one of those days for my family.
It’s been a rough year, but I was just thinking to myself how nice it is to know that I’m loved, by God and by family and friends. If you’re reading this, tell someone you love how you feel. Maybe it’s a friend or a family member who you just don’t say it to — maybe they know already. Say it anyway. There’s no better feeling in the world than to know you’re loved.
I wrote this on a message board today, because of someone’s response to my comment about how I thought I Am Second wasn’t religious, but was definitely Christian. I thought I’d put it here as well.
Well, I think people confuse Christian with “religious” too often. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t really their fault — a lot of Christians don’t do a whole lot to differentiate themselves.
When most people think about someone who is “religious,” they think of someone who subscribes to a certain set of rules. Christianity is foremost about relationship. That relationship, if diligently pursued, leads to changes over time — but somehow they don’t feel like rule-following anymore. They feel like loving someone back.
I could share some personal stories here about how that has worked in my life, but I’m not really so sure they’d be well received by all parties. If you’re interested in hearing more, get in touch.
Back to my point. You can be a religious Buddhist, Hindu, Jew, or Satanist, or yeah, Christian. But just because many Christians get bogged down in legalism doesn’t mean there isn’t a difference between being religious and being a Christian.
I can’t get over this site I heard about on WAY-FM this morning. It’s called “I am second” and is at http://iamsecond.com. It’s got video testimonies from people from all walks of life, including some celebrities like Stephen Baldwin, Jason Castro (former contestant on American Idol), and Brian Welch (former member of the band, Korn).
From what I can tell, it looks like it was done by a church or churches in Texas, and it was executed with a level of excellence I’ve never seen when it comes to a web-based ministry. This is something I honestly wish I’d thought of. It starts with a list of video testimonies you can scroll through, or you can just click on the random one that is displayed front and center when you visit, and once the testimony is over, you can see other testimonies with a similar theme, or proceed to a basic Q&A about the Christian life, with such questions as “Does God care about me?”, “Aren’t there many ways to Heaven?”, “Why does God allow bad stuff to happen?” — it provides answers to some of the tough questions someone contemplating a Christian faith might ask.
Then, to top it all off, and this is what sort of blew my mind, it provides a link to contact someone, then and there, via e-mail, phone, or live chat. According to the site it is staffed 24/7. This is the sort of thing companies do to provide tech support after you buy a computer (though even that usually isn’t 24/7), not the sort of thing we Christians do to advance the kingdom. But why don’t we? This is just awesome. Like I said, I wish I’d thought of it, but I’m honestly just thankful someone did.
This song has really been an inspiration to me lately. It helps remind me just how big God is, and how He doesn’t need my help to accomplish His will. He’s fully capable of doing that on His own. All he requires of me is a willing heart to obey and follow where He leads me. Not because He needs me, but because I need Him. Continue reading ‘You are God Alone’ »
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
[. . .]
And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.