Ok, I finally updated...

Haven’t updated in 3 months…guess it’s a quarterly update…heh heh…

At the beginning of July, I attended a wedding in Nashville- my friend Jeff got married to girl named Karen.  I was one of 11 groomsmen.  The bridal party was even larger- 13!  Anyways, the best part of the whole wedding was the entire irony of it all. 

About 4 years ago, Jeff followed through on a pledge to dedicate one year of his life to missions.  He walked away from a great-paying job and from the comforts of home, family, and friends.  He also decided he was going to live life as a happy single, taking to heart this teaching:

 “The disciples said to him, "If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry." Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.” (Matt 19:9-11)

He accepted this “word” from God as his own.  However, not too long after Jeff had figured out the plans for his life, God turned the tables on him.   Jeff goes to California for missions training, and then meets a sweet wonderful girl named Karen.  They start dating at the end of training, and 4 years later- boom- they get married. 

Its was so cool to see God bring both of them together…to see how Jeff invested his life in seeking God’s kingdom first and then everything else was given to him as well. 

 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.” (Mark 10:29)

Almost two weeks ago, I returned from missions trip to Mexico.  I expected some challenges, and for better or worse, I was right.  There were struggles and inconveniences.  The ministry wasn’t quite what we expected.   But, time and time again, I’m reminded that we weren’t in this for ourselves or what we would get out of it.  We were there to serve. There was test after test in living out this verse:

“I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. The life I live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me” (Gal 2:19-20)

The mission trip was life-changing.  I realized that you could be in the midst of a trip whose sole purpose is to do God’s work but forget God.  I realized that God wants moment-by-moment surrender to Him and what He wants.  I realized the importance of praying continually and seeking God’s will in everything (especially responding with love, grace, and patience in all situations)

Exactly one year ago today, I posted my very first Xanga entry.  On a 10-scale, I’d probably give it a 5 or 6: not bad, but not a Pulitzer prize piece either.  I did get 1-eprop, so at least one person thought it was decent.  Here’s the post that started my foray into the xanga world:

Wednesday, April 27, 2005 

 "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me"

      - God

 

There is a constant struggle in me to define myself like everyone else does.  I'm surrounded by people with really nice cars, homes, relationships, careers, and stuff .  I'm surrounded by people who seem to define themselves by what they have, who they know, or what they've accomplished. One of the favorite topics at work (even for me) is how the stock market is doing (and in particular how OUR stock is doing...). 

[4/27/06 – not too well these days…lol]

 

And though I remember that 100 years from now it doesn't matter how rich or how poor I am, its easy to get distracted by how the world defines "success"- achieving personal and financial goals.

 

If I'm having a great day at work (completed tasks X, Y, and Z), I feel really good.  If I had a terrible day or just felt like I wasted a bunch of time putting out fires, then I feel pretty worthless.

 

I'm reading this great book which gives some insight into the rat-race mentality:

 

"God does not need us for anything, yet it is the amazing fact of our existence that He chooses to delight in us and to allow us to bring joy to His heart.  This is the basis for personal significance in the lives of all God's people: to be significant to God is to be significant in the most ultimate sense.  No greater personal significance can be imagined." (Wayne Grudem, from Bible Doctrine)

 

I guess that's what it means to "know God"...and to be defined as "God's children".  No matter where I am on the ladder, no matter what my status is, no matter what I have (or don't have), I have significance in God's eyes and that's what counts (especially for all eternity)

I chuckle at the reason I first began a xanga.  I remember being intrigued that people would actually take the time to write entries and share personal stuff.  I thought, “I can’t believe people would share such personal stuff”, and lo and behold, I’ve been sucked in to do the same =P

Looking forward to what the next year will bring (assuming I keep up on the xanga treadmill)

Some people are under the impression that I’m really competitive.  Well, the funny thing is that they try to use that to push my buttons sometimes.  If you’re one of those people (especially people who like to rub-in their lead on me), then I have this to say:

“Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all."

Basically, you might be ahead because you just so happen to have some “time and chance” right now, but the race isn’t over yet.  I plan to wait for you at the finish line

I spent the last 2 nights eating/fellowshipping/hanging out with folks till pretty late at night.  Thanks for the good times, especially the hanging out part- wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. 

Its good to enjoy every moment since life is short:

“As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.” (Psalm 103:15-16)

Thankfully, God doesn’t just leave us with “you guys are mist- here today, gone tomorrow…so sad to be you) =P

“But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.” (Psalm 103:17-18)