A secret to contentment?

I once heard C.J. Mahaney say that "disappointment occurs when expectations exceed our experience". Basically saying that when we expect something to happen - for whatever reason - and it does not happen the way we expect it to, we become disappointed. Bear with me as my points will probably be a little scatter brained. :) My beloved and I have some friends who are raving about this video that, I believe, they ordered from Pastor Joel Orsteen's church about - and I am paraphrasing here - that in order to find contentment and hapiness we essentially need to think positive. That when we live in self doubt or downing out abilities, lot in life, etc. we handicap ourselves and we are not able to achieve all that God has for us. I have listened to Pastor Orsteen and enjoy his teaching very much. It is obvious that he is being used by God to reach people, not just in his local community, but throughout the U.S. and probably the world. But I think if this message is carried too far it can lead to a misunderstanding of who God is and our relationship with Him. Now I in no way think that is what Pastor Orsteen intends. Anytime we equate our actions to a cause and effect in regards to what God is doing we are in danger of equating our works to our justification. When our works are seen in the light of our ongoing sanctification then I can get on board with it. I am going slightly off track... ok, back on-topic. :) But, in a sense this is true. In order to achieve and get ahead we need to first conquer ourlseves. "The longest journey begins with a single step", but if we are afraid or say we cannot make it we will either never take that first step, or we will stop somewhere along the journey before we reach the finish line. And are we not told to run the race as if to gain the prize? (1 Cor 9:24) We are also to run the race as if we are running a marathon and not a wind sprint. (Hebrews 12:1-2) My father-in-law got me hooked on "The Unit" on CBS, which in turn led me to pick up the book Inside Delta Force by Eric Haney. I have not finished the book yet, but the first part is about Selection process from the author's point of view. Many of those who did not make it simply gave up. (And I am in now way diminishing what they did accomplish because those men were, and probably still are, better soldiers than I ever was.) The thing that has stuck with me, well two things, from the book is this:

"All day long, I crossed that mountain from one side to the other.... I would arrive exhausted and breathless at one RV (check point) only to be sent to the next back on the other side I had just come from. The mountain was too big to contour around, and the lay of the was such that I could never anything approximating a direct approach or maintain the hard-earned high ground for any length of time. Never getting anywhere, back and forth across the same mountain. It was a masterful torture. But then I had a revelation. What difference could it possibly make if I crossed back and forth over this mountain until doomsday? A mountain is a mountian, time was time, and route selection was route selection. The only that that mattered was speed and ground made good.... The frustration and mental torture I had been suffering were completely of my own making - and completely within my power to disregard." (1)

The other quote is;

"I was physically spent and sore in every part of my body, But as I reflected on what I had undergone, I felt a calm sense of satisfaction and contentment. I had not just survived an ordeal, because survival in a sense if passive. No, I had conquered. But conquered what? I had to think about that a while, and then I realized: myself." (2)

In a sense we can never take credit for what we accomplish because the initiative always begins with God (Romans 5:8). And yet there are things we must perform in order to continue along the process of being conformed into the likeness of our Savior. (Romans 8:29) And we can not do that in a passive mode. Sorry for the long winded post today. :) It is something God put on my heart and in many ways I believe He has driven it. I pray that it may be used by the Holy Spirit to bless any who He brings. May the Lord bless each and everyone of you. Verse for today: Romans 8:26-30, ESV Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because [6] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, [7] for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 1. Eric Haney, Inside Delta Force, Delacorte Press, 2006, pg 79 2. pg 100-101

Proficency with the tools on hand

Sort of an add-on to yesterday's post. It is important to be proficient with the tools that God has given you. Wether you are a supervisor or just a "cog in the machine". If you are a supervisor of 2 or 20,000 you need how to best position those under you to do their jobes effectively. You should known their strengths and weaknesses. Know what they are capable of and what they may fear to tread. If you work solo you still have tools at hand. If it's a hammer or a word processor. You should take the time to learn the tool. Learn how to use it, what it is capable of. And always be open to new ways of doing things. To learn how to do whatever we do effeciently and effectively not only builds self confidence it is good stewardship. Verse for today: Colossians 3:12-17, ESV Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Learning and application in all things

In the contruction of houses, choice of woods is made. Straight un-knotted timber of good appearance is used for the revealed pillars, straight timber with small defects is used for the innter pillars. Timber of the finest appearance, even if a little weak, is used for the thresholds, lintels, doors, and sliding doors, and so on. Good strong timber, though it be gnarled and knotted, can always be used discreetly in construction. Timber which is weak or knotted throughout should be used as scaffolding, and later for firewood. The foreman carpenter allots his men work according to their ability. Floor layers, makers of sliding doors, thresholds and lintels, ceilings and so on. Those of poor ability lay the floor joist, and those of lesser ability carve wedges and do such miscellaneous work. If the foreman knows and deploys his men well the finished work will be good. The foreman should take into account the abilities and limitations of his men, circulating among them and asking nothing unreasonable. He should know their morale and spirit, and encourage them when necessary. This is the same as the principle of strategy. ---quoted from The Book of Five Rings

I love to study strategy and military history. I remember when I was still in grade school just beginning to learn about the battle of Gettysburg and wondering why the Confederates just didn't move around to the right. I like to read books on ancient battles (mostly about the American Civil War) as well as play table top war games. And I really enjoyed my time as a 'straight leg' infantryman. As I was writting this I was beginning to divert into my thoughts on war, etc. but that was not my original intent on today's entry. What I wanted to talk about is how we can learn from anything. Often battlefield tours (well, at least ones the military sponsors :) ) speak to what was done right, what was done wrong. That sort of thing. In The Book of Five Rings Miyamoto Musashi explains how the warrior can learn from the other professions (the example above demonstrates a correlation between a carpenter foreman and a leader of men in battle). Yesterday I received the book, Guide to the Battle of Antietam from Amazon.com. While reading the introduction it dawned on me. It is not just the soldier that can learn from the study of such things, but the "civilian" can learn from such things too. As a matter of fact it would benefit us all to study things outside of our sphere of interest. Not to try and master another trade or hobby, but to draw parallels and thereby learn how to apply lessons learned to our own daily lives. Verse for today: Job 33:29-33, ESV “Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man, to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life. Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you. If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

Modesty and mutual accountability

Last night, as I was sitting in my car watching DS1 soccer practice, I was listening to some Christian radio. Around 6:30 Family Life Today came on. I immediately recognized the voice of my old senior Pastor CJ Mahanney. The topic was on modesty. Specifically in regards to how women dress. Now before anyone brings up how men sometimes need to dress more modestly at times too, or how men need to guard their eyes, minds, and hearts - I would like to say this. If you tell someone to not think of a blue elephant what is the first thing that is going to come to mind. Even if you are trying to not think of it. I would also like to say that those statements are also true. My actual point of my blog today is not to proclaim that it is women and how they dress, or how men need to do certain things. It is about corporate accountability. I hear this all the time, "Judge not, lest you be judged". I would like to put forth that there is a difference between judging someone, and coming alongside someone to talk about something they may (or may not) be seeing. Now an observation may be totally off base, or mistaken (perhaps an assumption is being made) - but what if the observation is correct? Wouldn't it help them to show them an area that can be improved? What about the person bringing the observation? If the person is humble enough a self examination should also take place. Or what if the observation is wrong? Then the 'observer' can also learn from the experience. I guess what I am trying to say that corporate (or mutual) accountability can, and should, be a growth in personal humililty and humbleness. We should enver approach a brother or sister in order to bring them low or exault ourselvs. But it should be a time of growth for both people involved. I know that when I stand before the Throne of God there are a great number of things that I am convinced of that I will be shown wrong. My life is to be a time of sanctification and there is no possible way I can see it all. I need my brother to come alongside me. To gently remove the blinders of my own sin, so that I may continue to grow. I need to also be humble enough to appraoch a brother to try and encourage and help him. Even if I am wrong I need to be humble enough to be open to such a possibility. After all - none of us are perfect. Not even in our walks with the Savior. We should not try and limit God in how He might bring correction into our lives. Better even a firm hand of a brother, then the full weight of God allowing the consequences to fall if a sin is left to run its course. Verse for today: Luke 6:39-42, ESV He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.

Same problem - different day

Well, I am at a loss as to what to talk about today. I've had three pretty good ideas (I think) and I can't remember any of them. :( Looks like I need to break out the old notebook again. May the Lord richly bless anyone who happens to stumble across this little blog... I hope to improve the posts...SOON! Verse for today: Job 24:13-17, ESV “There are those who rebel against the light,who are not acquainted with its ways,and do not stay in its paths. The murderer rises before it is light,that he may kill the poor and needy,and in the night he is like a thief. The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight,saying, ‘No eye will see me’;and he veils his face. In the dark they dig through houses;by day they shut themselves up;they do not know the light. For deep darkness is morning to all of them;for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness.

Working on Sundays

I once had a boss who reminded me that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. To my shame I do not believe I truly hold the Sabbath as sacred as I should. I will revisit this... Yesterday I had to come into work to cover some 'routine' maintenance. This is the life of being support for wide area network. Unfortunately this maintenance ended up being anything but routine. It lasted all day. I know that God's Word talks about getting your donkey out of a pit and all. But I will need to see about how my family observes the "Lord's Day". I am behind the eight ball on today's load so I need to cut this short today. May the Lord bless each of you. Verse for today: Mark 2:23-28, ESV One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

A Tale of Two Dreams

This morning I was reminded of two dreams that I had just after I was born again back in 1989. I don't think they are anywhere on par with the story in regards to literary quality - it's just the title that came to mind. The first dream I had went something like this. I am in a long line that goes into a mountain cave like opening. Picture a line like any for an amusement park ride. I was in-line with another person that I could not identify but we were like twins. The line led to a very tall ladder that I could not see the top of. While climbing the ladder there were diving boards at periodic points where people would go out and dive off into an abyss. Every once in a while people from above would smack onto a nearby board and bounce off continuing on down into... nothing. An obvious impression of dread and darkness was everywhere. At some point there was a "man of light". He urged me to follow him and leave the cave. Although I hesitated I did eventually follow him, along with my 'twin'. The second dream was a continuation of an then recurring dream. In my dreams back then I would often find myself running through an appocolyptic city. Running from one bombed out building to another. Crashing through walls, climbing over debris, just running and running. Not really sure from what. Until I had this dream. At some point I realized that "I don' have to run anymore." I stopped, turned around, and saw a snake that was chasing me. I reached down, picked the snake up and said, "I don't have to run from you anymore". I was saved in August of '89 and I had these dreams in October. I still remember them vivedly even after all this time. After I was married I realized that my 'twin' in the first dream was my wife - even though I did not meet her until September of 1991. She was born again in October of 1989. Recently I have begin remembering my dreams again. For a very long time I thought I just did not dream any more, but they seem to be coming back to me. I think I cam going to keep a log of them... just to see. Verse for today: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, ESV Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.