How to Move Through a Line Faster

We hate waiting in line.

Waiting brings out the worst in us. 

Partly what makes us hate waiting in line is that the rules are clear. It's black and white. There's no room for grey. 

The rules are ingrained in us before we even start our formal schooling.

I teach nine year olds. Do you know what the number one grievance I hear on a daily basis? So-and-so cut me. After nine years of teaching, the tattle makes my right eye twitch.

We teach our kids the rules of the line long before nine though. 

In traffic, we become irate if someone cuts in front of us. Or if someone runs a stop light or goes too early at a four way stop. 

If we are waiting for a parking spot, we threaten anyone who even looks at our parking spot with a gaze that can kill. 

At the grocery, we become better than any analyst employed by ESPN. Our brains are capable of pulling off things computers can't. We can look at the lines and the cashier and make an informed decision about which one we will spend the less time in. 

And we won't even consider what the 20 items or less check out lane does to our soul. 

If one could lose their salvation, it would be in the drive-thru at McDonald's. Pretty sure the devil camps out there. 

The thought of someone breaking the rules raises our heart rate. And if someone is actually brave enough to do it...well that will ruin our day and we know where those people are headed. 

However, how you wait in lines are a mirror into your heart. Those feelings reflect what is going on in your heart. They reveal how you are maturing as a Christian.

Talk about a gut check?

Any time God wants to spiritually humble me, He places my feet in a line. Lines make your heart do a lot of talking.

In a line, you don't hear Jesus saying the first shall be last and the last shall be first. Even though He wasn't talking about waiting in a Starbucks. 

Lines bring about feelings of entitlement. Like I was here first and so I will assert my will over yours. I belong here and you don't.

We ignore what Paul taught us that we should consider others better than ourselves. But in a line the rules are clear, so this is okay, right?

We boldly ignore Jesus' command to love others. To lay down our lives for our friends. We won't even allow someone to have a better parking spot. 

We roll our eyes and get irritated with the people around us. This doesn't sound like love. 

It feels as if all the fruit the Spirit has been carefully tending to grow into something special becomes spoiled by a worm. Even though that's not true. 

What are you to do? 

Anytime you are somewhere where you are clearly first and right, you need to keep the entirety of the gospel in your mind and heart. (That's easy enough, huh?) Don't let things as trivial and temporary as your place in line or a parking space steal the joy and peace in your life. Be mindful of those feelings and thoughts and take them captive as the Apostle Paul taught.

You won't physically move through the line quicker, but you'll be able to see tangible evidence of the Spirit's work in your life.

Confession: I actually wrote this on my phone while waiting in line. I didn't like what I saw in myself. 

How do you do waiting in line?

"Being a Christian is Too Hard..."

We like to complicate things. The more complicated something is the better it has to be, right?

Unfortunately, we take this mindset into our faith.

We complicate things.

Why? Because that's what we do. Perhaps you aren't growing in your relationship with Jesus because you find it too difficult. Being a Christian is too hard. The requirements are too much. You're embarrassed of your past. You don't have enough time. You don't know where to start and the finish is too far away. There's just too much to do that it can be daunting.

If you want to grow in your relationship with Jesus, start by doing this one thing.

Sit down and open up your Bible and read. It's simple. Read a Psalm. Begin in one of the gospels. Read a verse. Read a chapter. It really doesn't matter how much you read.

Wait one second before you click on your next link. You might think this is oversimplifying things. You already know you should read your Bible.

But answer this question: how many times did you read the Bible last week? In the last month?

If your answer is zero (and don't feel too badly if it is), then this is the one thing you need to do.

If you didn't read the Bible a single time, then the first time you do that is a 100% increase. Do it seven days in a row and that's 700% growth! Don't worry about how much you read at first. Don't think because you only read a verse or a chapter that it's not enough. We also need to get over our "all or none" mindset. Three minutes reading the Word is better than none.

Tonight place your Bible by your coffee pot. When you wake up, pour yourself a cup of coffee. Instead of turning on the Today Show with Matt Lauer (which will be difficult because he's one cool cat), read a couple verses or a chapter.

Don't use an app to read the Bible. Nothing is wrong with it, but using your phone or tablet is distracting and you'll want to check on other things. Also, there's something about paper on your fingertips.

Are you still skeptical that this will improve your relationship with Jesus?

Jesus' earthly brother James said that if we will come near to God then God will come near to us (James 4:8). Creating a habit of reading the Word every day is an act of drawing near to Him. Not only that but you are reading what God says. While you don't always hear God when you pray, you can always hear him when you read His Word.

Give this one thing a try. Don't worry about how simple it is. God likes to keep some things simple for us. If you haven't been reading your Bible, do it. You can do it. This one thing can help grow your relationship with Jesus.

McDonald's All Day Breakfast

Have you heard that McDonald's is now serving all day breakfast?

My father-in-law will be tickled. For years he's been saying that a fast food joint should do this. And I quote, "How hard would it be to keep a little biscuit, sausage, and egg warm all day?" Such wisdom.

I hate to brag, but we were one of the first to enjoy this opportunity. It was by happenstance. We were out late and hadn't had supper, so we pulled into a McDonald's, ordered our food, and pulled up to the window. We saw a sign "All Day Breakfast beginning October 6th." It was just past the stroke of midnight on the sixth. My father-in-law's words went from wisdom to prophetic. 

I have to say I'm pretty pumped. No more getting to McDonald's at 10:20 on Saturday only to order at 10:31 and miss breakfast. You've been there.

The next day we saw this little plane flying around with the banner. Yes, there is something exciting about a plane flying around with a banner. Everybody points. But, I looked at Lacey and said two words, "Wasted advertisement." 

Why was it wasted advertisement? 

We found out about all day breakfast on accident. 

Chances are relatively few people saw this plane flying. We were in a major metropolitan area, but to see the banner you had to be in the right place at the right time looking in the right direction. The vast majority of people are going to find out about McDonald's all day breakfast by doing what they naturally do--show up at a restaurant and look at the menu. 

Our Christian lives should be no different. 

You shouldn't waste advertisement.

Top to Bottom Voices

Doesn't it stink how quickly things can change?

You can go from the top of the mountain to the deep valley in a matter of weeks, days, hours...or even a few seconds.

Most of the time it's because of the voices we listen to.

You listen to voices that you shouldn't. 

Often it's a whisper from the enemy. It doesn't take much. He's that good at what he does (stealing, killing, and destroying). Or it comes from a friend or a foe. Maybe that voice is an echo from your past. A one liner that a parent, teacher, a boyfriend, wife, bully, or coach put into your head and now it creeps back in and wrecks you still.

You refuse to listen to the voices that you should. 

You don't cling to what God say you are in His word. You ignore your value based on Jesus' sacrifice. You easily forget the kind compliments people have made about you. The encouragement of the past is just that...the past. You forget that people do really love and care about you for who you are.

It doesn't take much to go from the top to the bottom.

Let me give you a real life sample.

Christian Gravy saw more traffic last month than ever in the four years I've been blogging.

You would think that would bring about excitement, feelings of accomplishment, and thankfulness. One might think I was on top of the mountain.

And I was.

And then I wasn't.

My last two posts weren't as successful as I thought they should be.

I went from feeling on top to wondering if I was wasting my time. I listened to the wrong voice.

Wow! Isn't it amazing how quickly everything can change even when you have tangible proof in front of you?

So how do you combat the changes?

If the voice is trying to steal joy in your life, then shut it up.

If the voice tries to kill something you feel called to, whether it is a task or a relationship, you don't listen.

If the voice tries to destroy the good things you are doing, tune it out.

Listen to the voice that speaks life, light, and truth into your heart. Read your Bible and cling to promises that God has proclaimed about you. You will always battle going from the top to the bottom, but there are things you can do to stay grounded.

Whose voice will you listen to?

What Kind of Christian Are You?

Fall is my favorite time of year.

So I hit the trails at Mammoth Cave National Park yesterday.

Autumn was all around. Fall flowers were in full blossom. The foliage was changing. Squirrels were busy preparing for winter. Birds were singing about how much they love this time of year. The temperature and weather were just so right. It reminded me of why I love living in Kentucky.

The middle of the path was decorated by different species of gorgeous fall flowers. Like the one seen above. The flowers were out of place, but I thought it only highlighted their splendor.

And then it hit me.

Jesus' words fell into my heart.

My favorite parable.

"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear." (Matthew 13:3-9, NIV. Emphasis mine.)

Within yards of the first flowers, I saw this one.

Not nearly as pretty.

I knew that all the flowers on the path would share the same fate. They didn't have long to live. It didn't matter how beautiful they were. All of them would be scorched and would whither because they had no root.

Jesus went on to explain the parable to his slow-witted disciples.

I began wondering what kind of soil I am.

Do you ever wonder what kind of Christian you are?

My fear is that I'll become like the seed that fell on the rocky places. Although, I'm probably more likely to become like the soil where the seed fell among the thorns. Worries and pleasures of life can be attractive to the believer.

My prayer and desire is to be the good soil that produces a crop. That is probably your prayer, too.

Do a quick check to see what kind of soil you are. Spend some time reading Matthew 13:1-23 or Luke 8:1-15 for yourself.

Does it even matter? Can you change the type of soil you are?

Ironically, I was in a prairie restoration site where the land had been changed back to its original likeness. Why? The National Parks Service says, "The goal of ecosystem restoration is not to replace a static picture of the past. Instead, the National Park Service works to remove the barriers to ecosystem recovery."

Perhaps you can't change the type of soil you are, but the Holy Spirit can.

After you reflect, if you don't like what you see, pray that the Holy Spirit guides you into the necessary changes you need to make. These changes aren't so that you can reclaim a static picture of the past or that of being a "good" Christian. Rather the changes are so that barriers can be removed and recovery can take place in your heart and soul.

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes Release Today

Fall is coming.

That means Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks.

Don't you just love that hot, creamy, pumpkiny goodness from Starbucks?

Yes, yes you do!

It's delightful this time of year. The PSL has risen to the top of the Fall Drink Food Chain. (If that is even a thing, which I'm pretty sure it is. Second place is hot carmel apple cider.)

Starbucks is releasing the coffee drinking today. So you can go and drink up that goodness.

Of course, I've already had mine...two days ago.

My wife has an unwritten rule in our marriage. If we pass a Starbucks, we stop and get something to drink. This is driven by the unfortunate reality that our town doesn't have a Starbucks.

On Sunday we were going through the drive-thru. We had just eaten supper and I was stuffed from crunching tacos, so nothing sounded good. I ordered her drink and drove to the window. That's when she informed me that I could have a PSL before anyone else.

That's right.

I could be one of the first.

When she pulled up her Starbucks app to pay, she noticed she had received a code for a special "Fan Pass." She entered it and then a fancy schmancy ticket appeared on her screen to show our barista "for early access." (Of course, I realize a million other people probably did the same thing.)

The pure fact that I could have a PSL before the majority of the PSL loving community did something inside of me. Although, I was too stuffed a mere 20 seconds before, now I couldn't live without one.

So I broke my unwritten rule of adding on to my order at the drive-thru window. Those people who add on to orders at the window get on my nerves, but I couldn't resist.

I took a sip. I'm pretty sure that one swallow sent Earth into its Autumnal equinox and moved its axis 23.5°.

Do you know what made it taste even better?

Knowing that you couldn't order one yet.

That is something ugly inside of me.

Now, I realize it is small and in this event not a huge deal.

But it revealed something in my heart.

That same ugliness is probably living inside of you.

It shows up a lot more than I realize.

It's when I delight in being the first to know something, have something, or experience something.

That ugly thing has a brother that shows up quite often too. And he is just as ugly. He shows up anytime I am not the first to know something, have something, or experience something. He shows up and I start comparing myself to others.

The two uglies are pride and jealousy.

Paul wrote to the Galatians, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other" (Galatians 5:25-26).

So what do you do to overcome becoming conceited or trying to provoke others?

Stop and think before you speak.

On most occasions, we realize when we are provoking someone to envy. There is a feeling that comes with it. So the next time, just don't tell what you have to tell. God has been working on me in this area and often times before I speak I look for the motive behind what I'm saying.

Why is that important?

Paul a few verses later says, "If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load."

Jesus taught us that when we humble ourselves we will be exalted and when we exalt ourselves we will be humbled. So if you feel conceit bubbling up inside, stop and have a conversation with yourself.

Did you get your PSL today? Or are you going to?

Running in Community

This summer I discovered the need to prioritize my time (see 8 Things I Learned Fasting From Social Media).

One of the things I wanted to do was start jogging. (Don't worry, this isn't going to morph into a running blog where you continuously see the numbers 13.1 and 26.2.)

Once I was a dedicated runner. But then life happened: kids, career, blogging, volunteering, being a Christian, spending time on social media, turning 30, Big Bang Theory, a love for stationary, Shark Week, and Amish love novels. You get the picture.

But at the beginning of August, I decided to start jogging again.

Thirty minutes a day, every other day.

Distance and speed wasn't a concern (like I needed to worry about fartleks), but rather stacking days of thirty minute segments.

Progress was slow.

At times I felt like vomiting. Other times I thought death was around the corner.

But every other day for the month, I laced up my running shoes, started a 30 minute timer, and took off.

Something you should know is that I hate jogging with other people.

I like running by myself.

I don't like to be pushed when jogging. Nor do I like to push others.

My running mantra is "Be the tortoise." Men don't like to be the tortoise and typically it turns into an unofficial race.

My Wife's Deep, Dark Secret

My wife has a deep, dark secret.

When I was a kid, if I did what she does now, I would've been smacked upside the head and taken to the preacher. (Who just so happened to be my dad.)

Once when I was a kid, I accidentally ripped a page out of a Bible. I thought I was going to hell. It was torture. So I don't know how she plans to get away with this.

I still love my wife, despite what she has been hiding.

What is it?

No, it has nothing to do with Ashley Madison.

She "Bible Journals."

Do you know what Bible Journaling is?

At the beginning of the summer, she asked if I had ever heard of Bible Journaling. (Which I hadn't, because I'm a dude.) Then she asked if I knew what a Journaling Bible was. She said they're so popular that they were selling out. Not only had I heard of them, but I had one. Back in my youth ministry days, I bought one to write notes in the margin. That way I looked professional and legit. The kids would think I had things memorized.

I didn't use it anymore, so I told her she could have it. Heck, I love a Proverbs 31 gal, so it had me a little excited thinking she was "Bible Journaling."

Little did I know that "Bible Journaling" is nothing more than drawing in a Bible.

Wouldn't your grandmother's Southern Baptist preacher be rolling over in his grave?

Like, she draws pictures and words and stuff. She even paints in it and every now and then, she places a sticker, a sequin, or glue in it. Is that even allowed? And what the heck is washi tape?

To make matters worse, she let my two little girls draw in her Bible along with her!

These women call it "Bible Journaling" and there is a growing community of women doing it. But there is no journaling at all. Journaling is writing. This is Bible Crafting or Bible Doodling...

Seriously, I love it that my wife Bible Journals. Would I ever do it? No, because I'm not artsy (and like I said, I'm a dude). But there are women (and I suppose some men) who are making connections to God's word like never before.

Here are seven things to love about Bible Journaling:

1) Quality Over Quantity. It's really easy to say this isn't studying the Bible. Only small portions of the Bible are read at a time. However, I've seen my wife spend hours on a verse. Mediating on it. Listening to worship music and spending time with God. Sure you might read three chapters a day, but do you retain it all by the end of the day? She can tell me days after.

2) A Free Flowing Pen. When I mark in my Bible, for the most part, I make straight lines under words. Every now and again I'll write a note in the margin. However, it's amazing to watch her pen move in all different motions over the page. It's like watching worship. It reminds me that God doesn't work in straight lines. He bends the rules and works outside of our expectations. Look at the next gorgeous sunset.

3) Created in a Creative God's Image. God is creative and we were created in His image. Shouldn't we be able to approach studying and reading His word in a creative way?

4) Child-Like Faith. Do you ever read the Bible out of "duty and responsibility" instead of approaching it out of joy? I know I do. My wife does it to spend time in the Word and with God, because she finds joy in Bible Journaling. Think of a child drawing a picture for her father.

5) A Narrowed View. Start drawing in a Bible and I bet you'll find that there isn't enough room. That reminds me of how little I actually know of the Bible.

6) Coloring Outside the Lines Sure, at times some words in the Bible are colored over. Some people say it is "desecrating" the Word. But it reminds me of a lyric out of Rend Collective's new song The Artist. It says that God makes "All things bright and beautiful, wild and colorful." Moses broke the Ten Commandments...so relax, it's not a big deal if a little Crayola gets on a word or two.

7) It's Personal. Out of the heart the pencil flows. Anyone who Bible Journals is connecting to the text. God's word never comes back void. I trust that. But I also know that at times I've read an entire chapter and stopped only to realize I was thinking about something I had to do that day. Bible Journaling doesn't seem to allow for that as much. Someone is taking a verse and drawing what it means or says to them. It becomes personal. Too often, we approach the Word one-dimensionally, but this is engaging actively with it.

Maybe Bible Journaling isn't your thing. It's not mine. But you have to give it to these ladies (and maybe a few dudes) for finding creative ways to connect with God.

What do you think of Bible Journaling? If you do it, would you show us a picture?

8 Things I Learned Fasting From Social Media

Are you addicted to social media?

Let's take a test to see.

1) Do you take your phone to the bathroom with you?
2) Can you check the time on your phone without checking social media sites?
3) Is the first thing you do before you wake up is check your phone?
4) Is the last thing you do before you go to bed is check them?
5) Do you ever click on a social media site without thinking?
6) Do you carry your smart device with you from room to room?
7) At stop lights, do you check your phone?

If you said yes to any of these, you might be addicted to social media and/or your phone.

It was an ugly reality I discovered this summer. I felt led to take 40 days off of social media. Hey, Jesus fasted for 40 days from food, surely I could handle staying away from Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

I logged back on yesterday.

It felt good.

This addict got his fix.

But I learned a lot over the forty days. Here is some of what I learned:

1) I'm not that important. How many dire messages did I receive which needed my help? Zero. I'm just not important.

Two Purchases that Elevated My Faith

I purchased these two items at the first of summer.

The journal is a Midori Traveler's Notebook. It is a customizable notebook system. Meaning you can choose the inserts to taylor to your needs.

The pen is Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen with a medium nib.

These two purchases are tools that are elevating my faith.

Summer Read: Stronger

Looking for a summer read?

Check out Clayton King's new book Stronger: How Hard Times Reveal God's Greatest Power.

Before the book was released, Clayton kept dropping tweets from the pages. So, I did something I never do and I pre-ordered a copy. My family was vacationing when I received an email from Amazon saying it came early. I could hardly wait to get my fingertips on it.

All I have to say is it didn't disappoint!

I have never sit down and read a book in an afternoon, but I did this one. I laughed, I cried, and multiple times I felt the Holy Spirit's presence engulfing me. It's a powerful book about how God uses our weakness, which Clayton reveals through the experience of losing his own father. Afterwards, I was so compelled that I walked next door to see my father-in-law and I called my own daddy.

This book is for everyone. That's right it's for you. No matter if you are currently going through hard times or not. God will speak to you wherever you are through Clayton's words.

What are you reading this summer?

Television, Gas, & a Shower

Have you ever watched television while pumping gas?

I have and it was great!

How long does it take to pump your tank full of gas?

Maybe five minutes.

During that five minutes, I watched four clips: a clip about hockey, a news clip, a weather forecast, and a comedy clip. I stood and I watched. This is a rather nice alternative, since they say playing with your phone can end up with you spontaneously catching on fire.

However, at about the comedy clip, I noticed something.

I noticed how distracted we are.

We can't even pump gas for five minutes without a distraction. The radio stations that fill the air at many gas stations aren't cutting it anymore. We need something visual also. I stood and watched a one minute hockey clip! For heaven's sake, I'm from the South, all I know about hockey is from Mighty Ducks (Flying V and Duck's stay together and stuff).

It's alarming how distracted we are. Not just while pumping gas, but in every aspect of our lives.

Christians Don't Do This Enough...

My wife gave this journal nearly two years ago. The pages sat blank on my desk for the longest time. Well, almost blank...she had actually written a sweet and encouraging note in the front. The rest of the empty journal mocked at me.

Two reasons it sat on the desk blank:

1) I didn't know what to write in it.

2) I was too afraid to write in it.

I'm writing in it now.

Walt Disney knew the importance of dreams. You should know their importance, too. Dreams help to guide us and for the person pursuing God, they can mean life or death.

"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he." Proverbs 29:18. 

Christian, Jesus came so that we could live life to the fullest. Too many of us aren't living that way-- that is partly why our faith speaks nothing to a hopeless world. God has put you here for a reason. He intentionally gifted you. Your dreams should center around that giftedness.

What dream has God led you to that you are still searching for the courage to pursue?

Frozen Fever & Faith

Are you excited about Frozen Fever?

Or are you to the point of throwing up at the next Frozen reference? Like, you think it's time to...let it go?

It's berserk to think how excited Frozen fans are about this movie coming out on March 13th. Of course, I have two girls who love Frozen and I love Disney so numerous people have stopped and asked me about it. 

Many people don't realize that it is a short playing before the new live action Cinderella. (Which by the way I am stoked about!)

Frozen Fever is super short at only seven minutes long (forty seconds of which have already been shown on the sneak peak). What will be interesting is how many families go and watch the 112 minute feature film because they wanted to see the seven minute Frozen Fever.

I love Disney shorts; I've blogged about one before (It All Started with a Mouse). But there is something we can learn from Disney here.

Snow Days & Lent Disruptions

Both pictures were snapped from my kitchen about thirty minutes apart this morning.

The church sits on the hilltop behind our house. Mount Tabor Baptist Church is the oldest church in our county (established in 1798).

This isn't where I attend church, but I do love watching it. I've never stepped foot in the doorway, but seeing it makes me feel at home.

Watching the weather conditions change so drastically made me think about the start of Lent.

Lent is a lot like a snow day.

Take Your Christmas Tree Down!

It's time to take down the Christmas tree.

Maybe not like this.

The look on this seven year old's face says it all.

No, she didn't do it.

The guilt is all her mother's.

The very woman who is supposed to protect the innocence of Christmas for our girls tried to murder our tree right in front of their eyes! (Although, she claims she only tried to "plug it in." But seriously, look at that crime scene! That never happened to me.)

If you haven't taken down your tree yet, it is okay.

You're most likely in good company.

The feeling of needing to have all our Christmas decorations put away hit me on Saturday. That feeling dissipated with each step I took in church on Sunday. In the entrance, sweet baby Jesus still lay in his manger comforting my soul. I began feeling more confident as I strolled past not one but two Christmas trees.

Painted on the Pines

Does God ever give you signs that you are on the right path?

Jesus said that the road is narrow, so it can't be as easy to follow as I-65 going from Nashville to Louisville.

I think it's more like a hiking trail.

Like those old hiking trails where someone painted arrows on trees to mark the path. The painted arrows were never on every tree. Sometimes the length between signs on the trees would be so great that you would begin to question your direction. But then...finally...right before you turned around or went all call of the wild, you saw the white arrow showing the way. And then you were good for another quarter of a mile or so until the process repeated itself.

God gives us all signs along the way. Sometimes the guidance is plainly painted on the pines. Other times, we have to walk in faith before He shows us the way or we discover we've strayed from the path. 

God gave me one of these moments recently.

I'm about 10 years late reading anything by John Eldredge. He wrote the book Wild at Heart. That book was great, but then he wrote Waking the Dead (not The Walking Dead). You should do your heart some good and read it. It felt as if Eldredge wrote that book with a picture of me on his desk. The book was just what my heart needed to hear from cover to cover.

This was one of those books that I didn't want to end. But then the strangest thing happened on the last page.

He finished the book by writing these words, "Read Lewis's last installment in The Chronicles of Narnia, titled The Last Battle."

Now that probably doesn't mean much to you. It's not printed on a tee shirt. You'll never hear your pastor reference that quote. However, it was trail marking for me. 

You see, I took two books on Fall Break with me this year. One was Waking the Dead. The other was The Last Battle. I'm only about 20 years late reading the Chronicles of Narnia; but over the last year, I have been reading through the whole series and planned on finishing the last enstallment after finishing Eldredge's book.

Out of every possible book that I could read next, Eldredge recommended that exact book. My book on deck.

I don't want over-spiritualize this, but the chances of that happening are next to none. God was trying to show me something. And there's something astonishing that happens in your soul when the Creator of the heavens and the earth, stops and does something solely and uniquely for you. 

You might not have noticed this but I haven't made a post since July 26th. That's nearly three months.

Why?

• I've been frustrated with a lack of progress (as I see and define success).

• I've been fearful and listened to lies from Satan. (That's right, he's real and he comes to steal, kill, and destroy.)

• I've been unfaithful in my calling. Writing is something I feel God has called me to do. 

• Lastly, I've been forgetful. I've neglected writing because it's the easy way out. 

God spoke to me throughout Waking the Dead. In the closing, he solidified that work by showing me that I was heading back on the right path. He carefully placed the signs along the path in two books that I have neglected for decades. The trail has been clearly marked for me. The Holy Spirit is inside of us acting like a guide. If we learn to listen to Him, then we will find ourselves right where God wants us.

When has God shown you that you were on the right path?

Christians and Comparing

Christians can be all about comparing. (Not all, but more than should.)

We love to compare things because it let's us know how we are doing. Sizing others up let's us know where we stand.

We compare... 

the size of our church to others

how busy our schedules

how much we do for God
who we know and associate with

whether we've been on a mission trip or help out with the children ministry

how often we read the Bible and pray

how our children behave

bank accounts

material possession

whether or not we've had a divorce

how much we give

how much we've sacrificed or how little

our sins to the people around us.

The list of things we compare is endless.

A great Christian slogan would be: "We care, so we compare."

It Made Me Cuss

I’m going to restate what I wrote yesterday, “Grief sucks!”

They say there are different stages to grief and that’s probably correct. The emotional roller coaster has left me emotionally exhausted. As you well know if you’ve ever experienced the death of a loved one.

Last Thursday was a bad day for me.

When I went to brew some coffee, we were totally out. This alone nearly sent me into a tizzy.  

My grandfather always ate a large breakfast and I woke up really missing him, so breakfast sounded good. A breakfast of coffee, crispy bacon, toast with honey, and eggs fried over easy is what my grief ordered. But there was nothing in the fridge, so I had to go to the store, but I couldn't.

My debit card expired while we were out of town.

The bank had sent me a new card a few weeks earlier, but for some reason I didn’t activate it and put it in a pile of mail.

What a stupid mistake!

So I started going through the junk pile, but it wasn’t there. I looked again and still couldn’t find it. Anger ensued because I knew where I had put it. No matter how many times I looked I couldn’t find it. I started looking everywhere for it.

Lacey helped with no success.

Needless to say, I was so angry that I was ready to break something.

Lacey calmed me down and wisely suggested that we go to the bank and have them print me one there. It wasn't a big deal. After getting the new debit card, I decided some greasy Mexican food and a nap was in order to get me out of my funk.

The girls were staying over at my in-laws house, which was probably good since they had been dealing with an emotionally charged father for quite a few days. After my nap, we decided to go to Sonic for a drink. But I couldn’t find my wallet. Yes, my wallet with my new debit card was MIA! It was more than I could handle.

Now, I was really angry.

I was storming through the house, the garage, the cars, everywhere looking for the wallet. Lacey looked everywhere too and at one point she went outside with a flashlight looking in the driveway for it. (However, I think she was trying to get away from me.)

I sat down in the floor and cursed. I just let it out! I rarely cuss and I like to save them for the rare occasion…an occasion such as this! And in my opinion when it comes to cussing you should go big or go home. It felt rather good for a moment.

But then I felt a nudge to look up by the television-a nudge that was Spirit-led. I don’t get nudges all of the time, but I know what they feel like when I do.

My wallet was lying next to the television.

A rush of guilt flooded me over my actions as I walked to get it. I felt sure God would teach me a painful lesson, because that’s what we expect when we sin. We expect God to strike us down with correction. 

But that isn’t what I received. I didn’t receive what I deserved.

Instead, I felt the Holy Spirit say, “Joel, it’s going to be okay.”

In a moment that I expected condemnation, I received comfort. I was corrected, but not with a spanking. I literally felt like God wrapped his arms around me. Tears flooded my eyes as I walked to the car.

The prodigal son's father sounds terrific, but we really don't expect that kind of reaction from God. I'm not sure why we don't.

We too often think of God as a disciplinary. But he disciplined his son through the cross, so we wouldn’t have to experience it. This isn’t to say that God doesn’t discipline us, because we know that he disciplines those he loves. But it is to say that God knows what you need and when you need it. 

His love for us is bigger and more unpredictable than we could ever imagine.

Have you ever expected condemnation from God, but received grace?

Hurting Christians

I have a lot of friends hurting right now.

Some are in a battle with a life threatening disease.
Some are going through or have recently gone through a divorce.
Some have experienced the death of a close relative.
Some are stressed out and tired.
Some are struggling with self-confidence.
Some just never seem to be able to win...at anything...like ever.
Some are fighting with people they care about (or should care about).
Some are unappreciated and it's killing them.

When people's lives are like this it can be a struggle at what to tell them. Heck, I sometimes struggle at what to tell myself when my life isn't going according to plan. We always give them the Christian obligatory statement: "I'll be praying for you" or "God has a plan."