The "Bubble"

Three Rivers is one of those shows that are on the "Bubble" ready to "pop", headed for the chopping block.  Once again, it's consistent with my general track record - most shows that I would watch typically get canceled.   Yes, this show had the disadvantage of having to compete with baseball playoffs and already popular shows.   And having a weekend timeslot meant that I would miss it because of something else I had to do.  Granted, it's not a fascinatingly amazing show; but, it has a lot of positive elements in it.  It also has a good cast, especially with Alex O'Loughlin as the lead.   And it's neat that the show raises awareness of organ donation.

In thinking about the competition for viewership these days, it reminds me that we do live in an entertainment media culture with a highly selective palate and a generally short attention span.  "Here today and gone tomorrow" seems to be an appropriate phrase to describe most shows.   Even some shows that were popular last season now find themselves caught in the "Bubble". 

Is this just a reflection of where we are in our fast-paced, fast-food, faddish culture?  When we look around, "loyalty", "long-term commitment", and "nice & relaxing" have become a rarity; for the culture seems to be always ready to move onto the next best thing when the current best thing no longer excites.

This gives an interesting perspective on the "Messages to the Suffering" Bible Study series.  In our culture, there tends to be a focus on pursuing enjoyment and pleasure, and avoiding suffering and difficulties.   This leads to that short-term mentality, where we just "escape" when the going gets tough.   And, it is true that this would prevent the development of proven character through the endurance and perseverance in trials.

Evangelism and Apologetics

I went to the opening lecture last night for the Thoughtful Evangelism conference, with Lee Strobel speaking and panel discussion with Mark Mittelberg, Carmen Mayell, and Erik Thoennes, hosted by Craig Hazen.  What I gained most from going, was that I was reminded that I need to be more purposeful in my evangelism; and not just hope that it somehow happens as I wander through life obliviously.   The other perspective that was made clear was that, in this skeptical age, we find that we often need apologetics, in order to remove the barriers before we can get to the point where we can present the gospel message.   And it was interesting that in tying back to 1 Peter 3, Peter felt the need to encourage believers to be prepared to give a defense of the hope that they have in them, because they were facing a time of intense opposition as well.

Lee Strobel described evangelism as the "Unexpected Adventure", since we never know what will happen when we engage with others in opportunities to be salt and light.   He told his story of misinterpreting "Buenos Dias" for "What is a deist?"; and of "ricochet evangelism" at his business office in Chicago.   He then gave 4 things from the life of Christ that we could apply to evangelism, reminding us that God loves our lost friends even more than we do:

1. Before talking to His neighbor about the Father, He would've talked to the Father about His neighbor (And His prayers continued until His final gasp on the cross) => Keep praying and don't give up
2. He made it clear that His door was always open for any questions (e.g. John the Baptist's doubts surfaced, when the tough times in prison came, and Jesus answered his questions with assurances) => Don't be afraid to put our faith to the test b/c we have a faith that is defensible and TRUE
3. He didn't just share His faith, He showed it, mainly by serving => When we serve, sacrifice, and love others as Jesus did, it opens doors in a winsome attractive way (i.e. How's your "compassion radar"?)
4. He would be authentic in the way He related to His message, embodying it => remember that we represent Jesus to the world, and they are looking for gentleness, caring, integrity, and authenticity

It is clear that both words and actions go hand-in-hand.  There's got to be a clear proclamation of Christ in the midst of social action.  And there needs to be a balance between the "negative" (e.g. dismantling an errant worldview) and "positive" (e.g. sharing the blessings of the gospel message).   Evangelism is both a process and the "moment", so we should not see faith as a pass/fail thing, but we also need to bring them to the moment of decision.

Also, just as Peter kept reminding his readers the importance of holiness, a person needs to be aware of their sin and their need for a Savior in order to come to Christ.  However, our society today does not seem to have as strong an awareness of their sin; and the best way to reveal it is for them to behold Christ and recognize the contrast between His Holiness and their sinfulness.

There was an interesting quote about DL Moody mentioned, that he may have botched the King's English, but he knew the King.   In the same way, we don't need to have all the academic credentials to be effective, but, we do need a real genuine faith based on sound reason.

What Now?

I finally finished reading The Hole in Our Gospel.  So, "What now?"   That's exactly what Richard Stearns was saying at the end of the the book:  "He is calling you right now to do that which He created only you to do.  Can you hear Him?"

For the past year, God has really shown me that my heart does need to be "broken by the things that break the heart of God".  I still feel like I'm being prepared for the next step in my life; it's just not clear to me yet what that is.   Meanwhile, I've been trying to serve where I can:  my class now has an appointed person in the role of "outreach", and we have plans to help at COA where we did some painting for Serve Day; I have been giving to World Vision, and had a chance to volunteer to help with signing up sponsors for children; and,  I've been looking into volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and Samaritan's Purse.

As I am praying for where God would lead me next, I am so glad that I've been able to read The Hole in Our Gospel.  It is a book that I would highly recommend; in fact, I already obtained another copy to give as a gift.  There is so much in the book that awakens awareness of the needs around the world, inspires compassion and action, and touches the heart. 

A few of the thoughts in the book that really stood out to me are:

• It is so true that the "whole gospel" means that in addition to sharing the message of salvation,  we do need to be Christ's hands and feet
• When God calls, He really can work through so many ways; and we need to be listening, prepared, and willing
• As good stewards of all that God has given to us, it truly is important to be purposeful with our Time, Talent, and Treasure  (and our perspective on being "entrusted" rather than "entitled" can really make a difference)
• The statement that not all parts of the American Dream are consistent with Christian values really helps to clarify why we shouldn't be overly focused on seeking material comfort and success.  Instead, we should be focusing on God's Will and what His goals and plans are for our lives.

There were a couple of quotes from the book that also really stood out to me:

• "Vision without action is merely a dream.  Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world."  -- Joel Barker
• "The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just."  -- Abraham Lincoln

What a great book.  And may God truly use me for His purposes.  Amen.

Fitness

Replacing my office chair with a fitness ball has been working out well for me.  At times when I need a break, I am easily able to stretch, do some crunches, and even have some fun bouncing.   And, if it helps me burn a few extra calories a day with all the balance adjustments, all the better.

My snack fast has also been going well.   I've been able to spend time in prayer, not only for those in need, but also for wisdom for the leaders to make decisions to help those in need, and for the Church to be effective in ministering to those in need.  I am still praying for how I can be more effective, in addition to praying, giving, and occasional volunteering.  The Holidays offer many opportunities for short-term serving and giving; but, I would also like to find something that I would be able to get involved with long-term.

Meanwhile, it's been good to stay on track.  I'm making progress dropping from my "equilibrium weight" to my "threshold weight".   I would love to reach my "good weight" and maybe even my "ideal weight".

This week, I also decided to cook mainly vegetarian.   I made Dal (Indian Lentils), asparagus, squash, and yams.   Hopefully, by keeping my calorie intake low, I can still lose weight with moderate exercise, not having to strain my body too much physically.

Productivity and Organization

There are times when I feel like I'm caught in Dilbert's cynical representation of productivity and organization; but, fortunately, this weekend wasn't one of those times.  I truly feel like I had a productive weekend.  I was able to tie up many of the loose ends (e.g. property tax, car registration, AAA, bank, post office, etc) and take care of normal responsibilities (e.g. groceries, cooking, lawn, laundry, Bible Study final prep and review, etc).   In addition, I even exercised and got a fitness ball.   It's a good feeling to feel somewhat caught up and back on track.

I had heard the benefits of using a fitness ball instead of an office chair while working, and I'm excited to start doing that.   Also, this week, I'm going to commit to a fast on snacking.  Each time I get the snack cravings, I'm going to, instead, offer a prayer for those who truly are suffering hunger pangs throughout the world.   I am praying that the Church will be effective in reaching out; and that I will find how I can most effectively help as well.

It's also neat that besides being productive and getting back on track healthwise; I also had a chance to enjoy watching the Gymnastics World Championships (in London) and the start of the Figure Skating Grand Prix (in Paris).  Those are probably two of my favorite sports to watch; and it always motivates me to see the dedication and excellence of the athletes.  This year, two particular athletes stood out.  For both of them, this was their first senior event, and because of their abilities and hard work, they were actually able to excel and win medals:  Kayla Williams the gold medal in women's vault at the Individual gymnastics events, and Adam Rippon the bronze medal in men's singles at Trophee Eric Bompard.  It was great to see how excited they each were when they realized they had won.  Their joy just reflected the culmination of their hard work and anticipation and hope.

This inspires me to continue to seek meaningful areas in which I can commit to.   I am goal-oriented; and I want to be able to work at something I could be effective at; and would contribute to God's Work.

Tying Loose Ends

It's gotten to the point where I feel like things may start to unravel from having too many loose ends.  Each unfinished responsibility, by itself, would be manageable; but, to have so many makes me feel uncomfortably at risk.  So, I will do all I can to complete as many open items on my "To Do" list as possible.   Granted, there are some things that for whatever reasons, I will be unable to close or resolve; and they will still need to be left open; but, there are other things that I have been putting off due to lack of time and energy.  These, I am resolved to tackle this weekend. 

This reminds of the phrase, "When it rains, it pours".   At my Community Group last night continuing through the PeaceMaker study, I realized that because of the conflicts that I am facing, such as those at work, I've actually been needing ways to "escape" or "unstress", like watching movies or reading stories, taking me to situations remote from the stress and difficulty of daily life.  It's kind of like the article I read before, about why the movie industry is still thriving in our current economic times - people need something to help them, albeit temporarily, escape from the harsh realities of life.   As long as they do not hinder our ability to face our responsibilities and deal with our challenges, I think that temporary "escapes" are good for unstressing and unwinding, like vacations, retreats, music, etc.

Also, last night, we read the passage with Philippians 4:8, which again reminded me of my goal to keep my mind on things of the above.  I have been evaluating areas of my life to see where I could do better.  As my Father is holy, I do seek to be holy, to be set apart.  It is interesting that in 1 Peter, we've seen that holiness is actually an important part of being able to endure through suffering; for, it enables us to have a good conscience, to trust that God will judge justly, and reminds us that we are "strangers and aliens" for this world is not our home.

Through the PeaceMaker study, I am seeing that thus far, I've been more of a peacekeeper, than a peacemaker.   Peacekeeping is not as effective, and sometimes, it just means that it is a temporary peace, and battle breaks out again at a later time and all past unresolved conflict can resurface.   I tend to employ escape responses; and "silence" or "avoidance" is actually a form of "punishment" and "judgment" against the other person.  I do need to work better at communication and peacemaking.  Fortunately, though, as a phlegmatic personality type, I do fairly well in avoiding conflict; and I do generally "let things go".   I just need to ensure that I do truly "let things go"; and not merely put them on the back burner for a later time.

Of course, when I consider conflicts, I inevitably think back on my past experience in probably one of my most challenging conflicts.  I feel that through that experience, I did follow Biblical principles of still loving the person and trying to exhibit Christ-like character.   I feel that I could have communicated more clearly; and I will be wiser in the future in how I choose to invest in the lives of others.   However, as I try to understand the situation better, I think that what I can say is that what she was guilty of was deceit, hypocrisy, and slander.  It is interesting that most of these are referenced in 1 Peter 2:1.   In looking back, my heart was right and I am at peace that I did what was right.  I feel that full closure comes from being able to "tie up" all loose ends; and over time, I find that I'm able to do just that.

Christ's Example

"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."  From Christ's example of suffering, in the 1 Peter 2 study, I learned that to endure, I just need to ensure that I am doing what is right, to trust that God will judge justly, and to look for the good the could come out of the suffering (vs 22-25).  And from the beginning of the passage, I learn that Christian growth and maturity comes from getting rid of all that hinders in our old nature; and craving God's Word.   It was a good study; and I praise God for the encouragement of seeing Him at work in my class.  It was neat that before class, I was just talking to one person who mentioned that 1 Peter 2:9 was her saving verse:  "declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light".  Also, during worship service, they announced that we have a new worship director at church.

Saturday, I had a chance to spend much of the day in fellowship with a good friend of mine.  I find that we share similar perspectives in so many areas.  For example, we both recognize that morning is probably the best time to have devotions, and I've truly learned to appreciate that on Saturday mornings when I've had great times of reviewing for my Sunday class.  However, because of our work and schedules, we're not able to focus and take the time that we would like; so, evenings turn out to be the best times for us.  Also, as she was telling me how she used times like doing dishes to review memory verses, and when I could see that in her regular conversations she is able to incorporate the truths of Scripture, I am challenged to work harder on keeping my mind on things of the above.  As Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

Rejection or Regret

This Steven Warburton oil "Rejection Through Indifference" caught my eye; and in some ways expresses how I am feeling.  Not that I am indifferent, nor that I feel rejected through indifference; but, there is an underlying sadness depicted, that I can relate to....

But, what I really wanted to blog about was that in one of the books I was reading there was a quote that made me stop and wonder whether or not it was true.  The book said "It is easier to live with rejection than to live with regret."   I suppose it would be true if a person was hiding their true self, for fear of rejection; since, they may eventually regret that they lived their lives according to what others expected of them or what they thought would allow them to be accepted.  What about a person who is true to themselves; but, plays it safe and avoids situations that may result in rejection?  Is it really better to take the risk?   I would say that would depend on the outcome.  

I find that the problem with that statement is that it implies an either/or; whereas it is a very possible scenario that a person could feel both rejected AND regret taking the risk.  And that is what happened to me.   I took the risk and felt rejected; so, I regret taking the risk.   Does that indicate that the outcome was not worth the risk?   Possibly.....

Security

I do not wantto lose that sense of security that has taken so long to build up.  For years, slowly by slowly, one hurdle overcome after another, I finally developed some measure of self-confidence and security in my abilities and experience.   Yet, ever since Thursday, my feelings of security have been shaken.  This shows me, that even though I know that it is God who has helped me to build up my confidence, that He is the One Who guided me and helped me to learn and to grow and to become the person that I am; my confidence may not be as wholly in the LORD as I'd like to think.   If my confidence was truly in the LORD, then nothing in this world should be able to shake it.  But, as I analyze what I am going through, I am actually regaining the lost ground by focusing on the TRUTHs, rather than the doubts that have infiltrated.

The TRUTHs are that God knows my heart, He knows Who I am, He knows my abilities, and He is the One who has been with me through my growth and experience.  I need to take my eyes off of my own insecurities I have had since I was a child; and not allow those to cause fear and doubt in my life.  When an incident occurs that triggers my insecurities, and opens the floodgates that previously kept all the associated emotions at bay, it's not so much the incident itself, but more so all the unresolved feelings that the incident brought back.

However, God loves me and I fear Him.  I also know Him, through my personal walk with Him, through my studies of His Word, through all that He has taught me.   He "is able to do immeasurably more than [I could] ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within [me].  (Eph 3:20)   After all, isn't His strength made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinth 12:9)?  So, my weaknesses remind me to trust in Him, and they keep me humble.   May He be glorified in my life.

Brainstorm

Last night was the Brainstorm fundraising concert for B.R.A.I.N. featuring David Klinkenberg.  It is such a worthy cause, being able to provide a community and residential housing care for the brain injured.   It is neat also that this brings awareness of the needs of those who have sufferred brain injuries while in the military.  

Sue Reub and the organization did such a great job organizing the event.   I do pray God's blessings for this organization, that it will be a ministry to those who have suffered brain injury, as well as to their families.   I do see God's working in the Reub family to bring them to this point in which they are able to help others through what they have suffered through their own experience with Kristin.

As always, I also enjoyed hearing David play the fiddle.  He mentioned that he is planning to have another album out, with patriotic songs.  His rendition of the Star Spangled Banner during the concert was stirring.   But, the piece I enjoyed the most was when he played "As the Deer".   It is, of course, one of my favorite worship songs; and it made me wonder if he is drawn to the song for the same reasons that I am - that besides the beautiful melody and words, the story behind it is meaningful to me and one that I could relate to.

Refined by Fire

We will be starting our new Bible Study series "Peter - Messages for the Suffering" in the books of  I & II Peter.  The image from I Peter 1:7 of gold refined by fire is a great illustration of our faith being made more pure and genuine as we are tested through trials.  As the "dross" in our lives burn away, we become more and more like Christ.   In this first chapter, we learn how important it is that in the midst of our sufferings, we turn our eyes away from ourselves and our circumstances, and onto God and the hope that is to come.  The sufferings of this world will end, for our eternal home is in heaven.  We are not alone in our sufferings - the passage encourages believers to love and support one another and reminds us that Christ also suffered and is with us.  So, in the midst of suffering, we can cling to our hope and we can still rejoice; for we are assured that everything that God has said in His Word is living and enduring, and stands forever.