This and That

I have had every intent on putting more into this of late, but it just has not happened. I will just give some brief bits on my thinking.

• I have been very thankful for the wonderful wife that God has given me. At work I have been around 2 people whose marriages have dissolved or are close to it. Our marriage has its moments like all others, but at the end of the day we know that we are both committed and in it for life.
  
• Our ministry has been really effective of late, at least from our perspective. We have been given great opportunities to mentor and disciple the young people we have come to love and have really enjoyed the process.
  
• A couple of doors for full-time ministry seem to be creaking open a bit. One appears at first glance to be a great opportunity while both are out of our initial comfort zone (So what else is new!). We are prayerfully taking steps forward and would appreciate your prayers as well.
  
• As I look to fill out the questionnaire that I received from one of these opportunities, I kind of began approaching it like a test and wondering what the teacher was really looking for. I then remembered that it is not a test and all worry needs to be left at His feet. It is up to Him where we serve, not our answers.

Still Here

So I have not disappeared, or run out of thoughts, just not gotten around to posting much. I will write some of my own thoughts, but heard this read on a podcast yesterday and thought it was pretty pointed. Understand, I don't know anything about the author, Craig R. Smith, but liked what he had to say. This was written just before Thanksgiving and the full quote can be read here.

 

The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

… I starting thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?''

Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all involved. Whether you are rich or poor they treat your wounds and even, if necessary, send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home, you may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of having a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes; an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

I suggest this Thanksgiving we sit back and count our blessings for all we have. If we don't, what we have will be taken away. Then we will have to explain to future generations why we squandered such blessing and abundance. If we are not careful this generation will be known as the ''greediest and most ungrateful generation.

Hanging Around

So, the ministry search has seemingly come to a grinding halt. We really heard nothing for about 2 weeks, maybe more. Granted, I'm sure a lot of the processes slow down for the holidays. Thankfully, I am not discouraged by this, though it seems odd to me that it would be true. Thank you to all of you who are praying for us in this process and for God's will to be accomplished. The only thing that has crossed my mind is that you always hear of the need for people to be in full time ministry. Here we are willing and ready (at least in our minds) and God has chosen to keep the doors closed. As I said, I am not discouraged, just find it funny.

Heat Wave

As much as I hated shoveling the 2 feet of snow we had last week, I love the fact that it has been 40 out for the past 4 days. Not bad for January.

So, I decided that I have done really bad lately in memorizing Scripture. I don't remember doing it regularly since High School. It is something that I think we find it easy to take for granted. While it is a great idea for young people to do, it is just as great for us to do as well. So, if you are thinking of me in your prayer time, pray that I will follow through and retain the verses. I have also challenged a couple of others to do the program with me.

I have also been thinking about forgiveness and how often we need it. The word of a song the other day really hit me. It was talking about the Israelites and how they had followed the cloud and fire, seen the Red Sea part, and still grumbled and disobeyed. The line said, "Have we forgotten who we are? Did we forget whose trip we are on?" We fall into the same problem. We have not seen the same things that they did, but still have seen amazing and wonderful things, and yet get our eyes of Him and end up wandering around in the "desert" of life.

Lord, teach us to remember that this is all about you and the journey is Your's.

Random Thoughts

Well, it is a new year, so I am going to get back at this. Holidays and responsibility have taken a ton of time, but here we go.

I love how that God works. At our last Detour, John and I each did our own lessons. Normally, we each teach the same thing. The amazing thing was that we both ended up speaking about Joseph. We hadn't even spoken about what we were going to speak about.

Christmas was good. I was able to have 2 consecutive 4-day weekends which went by way to fast. Tomorrow is Friday already and it will be different having only 2 days off.