Blogger Small Group

For those of you who may not know, I have recently started a study of the Book of James. Until last week, I was caught up in Amos and Ephesians, but this past week – the Book of James. The start of this study has been rather interesting in terms of connections and discussions for so many reasons. With that in mind, I will name just a few:

• My Tuesday morning men’s group announced last Tuesday that we are starting a study on the Book of James – first meeting this Tuesday
• There is a newly formed blog life group that announced last Wednesday that they are starting a study on the Book of James (http://vagabondrunn.wordpress.com/) – first posting this Tuesday
• Another blog that I look at from time to time posted last Tuesday a verse from the Book of James – “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27″
• A new friend of mine that I met recently said that his men’s group decided last Tuesday to do a short study on the Book of James – first meeting this Tuesday
• A good friend of mine told me that at his LifeGroup meeting Sunday night a couple, who are leading the Foster/Adoption ministry at COR, came to their home to talk to his group about their ministry’s beginnings and upcoming launch. COR’s ministry flows from James 1:27, and is actually based on Project 1:27 that a church in Colorado started — our Christian calling to care (and not necessarily having to adopt only) for the orphans.

Hmmm… the Book of James and Tuesdays are all over the place

With that being said, following is my personal comments regarding the Book of James. Why I chose to post this way – well this is the format set up by the Blog LifeGroup. Plus it gives me a new way of working through James in a little more detail. In the past, I haven’t look at each verse, one at a time, in this thought provoking way. I have been reading to read, rather than reading to listen…more on that later.

So, with that being said, this is James 1 (from New International Version)

1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. = As I understand it, from a friend of mine, the word “Greetings” should be read with a big, booming, loud voice… yell it at the top of your lungs… now we are ready to begin.

Trials and Temptations

2 – 3 = As I start out reading James – the word “joy” is not the first word that comes to my mind when I hear the word trial. But then again, I am taking that from today’s point of view. In addition, I learned from a friend of mine in today’s early morning men’s group that trials can have so many means. We tend to think of trials as negative, but they are positive trials as well. Also, I learned today (and I believe it to be true) that in Greek the word trial is actually “genuine.” I mean who thinks about the word joy and trial in the same breath – but looking at it from the point of view of genuine – it really can be joyful. Then again, looking at it from the stand point of trials, we should still look at it as joyful.

4 = I understand the need, but this is not an easy way through life. I understand the thought that I need this to grow closer to God. To mature in my relationship with Him. Anything worth having is a work in progress…and taking from the previous section – not all trials are negative. Some are fabulous – just look for them.

5 = something I need to work on. Funny – I wrote a song that included the words “Pushing me and pulling me being my personal guide.” I can write this, now can I live this.

6 = How many times have I asked for help, received it, yet wished it was a different way. I have a quote that I love that says, “We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking only to learn that it is God shaking them. –Charles West.” I feel that I am moving away from being a wave moving around hopeless by the wind, and I am trying to be more focused and purposeful in my daily life.

7 – 8 = the need to trust… trust… trust; the need to grow…grow… grow…

9 -11 – This verse catches me in that when I have a lot those are the times that I feel I don’t “need” God as much. When I am hurting, tired, scared, I am begging for Him. When I have a lot – how easy it is to fall into the trap of boasting and being proud… feeling superior to my fellow brother. On the other hand, how easy it is to blame God for our problems, to loose faith when we have nothing…to feel abandoned by God in our darkest hour. Yike, I really need to careful on both sides of the line.

12 = What it is all about…

13 = I have never said this, but I have said “God is testing me…” Is he testing me through my daily trials, I know that he is always there when I stumble and look for help. Trusting and growing are part of my life.

14 – 15 = Like so many other things in life, it all starts out so little and continues to grow exponentially. When the little things grows, we loose our life and we start to die… basically they become a cancer of our soul. One little white lie, one little deception. This is not the life I want, nor is it the life I choose to live…but I know it is out there and just waiting to pounce.

16 = It is hard not to be deceived… Who to listen to? What version of the bible should I read? What advisory do I seek out? What makes this person right and that person wrong? I know that God is talking to us daily, but I also know that the devil is doing the same. I struggle with this verse every day.

17 – 18 = – Thank you… time to say thanks in light of our trials, and for our trials. God is there and our blessings flow from Him…

Listening and Doing

19 – 20 = Stop, look and listen… Anger pushes “my” will onto others…not God’s will… this is my interest, not His interest.

21 = Push out “my” thoughts and open myself up to “His” thoughts

22 – 25 = Reading is probably one of the easiest things we can do once we master our language. Comprehending is another matter. There are people who can read tons of pages in a day, but retain very little, while others can read tons and retain tons. In addition, “understanding” is hard, “acting” on what we have heard is hard. We cannot just read to read, we cannot read while looking to see how many pages are left, we need to study and understand. We need to act on what we have heard. We need to live what we have heard. That is doubly hard in a world that is so fast paced. It is easy to not stop and understand what God wants us to hear and see.

25 = Stop, look and listen again. Live in the word don’t just read it. If you do, you will be blessed in so many ways.

26 = Repeating, this is not about me, rather this is about God. Seeing a pattern here… ugh…

27 = Look beyond the four walls of my room, my office, my house, my city, my county, my state, my nation…rather look everywhere and help all of God’s children…not just mine….young children tend to think of me…me… me, as we mature, it is time to think of them, them, them.

74 degrees and a deck chair

This is one of those evening where I can sit back and relax on the deck my dad and I built last summer. I am enjoying 74 degree weather, the sun set, the neighborhood kids playing on the tree swing, birds singing, dogs barking, and my daughter doing homework beside me. Hearing the kids play makes me reminisce about my childhood…all the games of kick the can, freeze tag, kick ball, hide and seek…the nights when I had to be in by the time the street light turned on, riding bikes with no hands, sleeping until noon, staying awake until a time way past 10… boy scouts, family vacations, Zarda ice cream, life was good…but then again, life is good now…a wonderful wife, two wonderful daughters, a rewarding job, a loving family, and some great friends. I am just taking a moment to say a word of thanks… I feel that God has truly blessed me at this moment in time, and I tend to forget to say thank you and enjoy the moment. I really cannot ask for much more in life during this small moment in time.

Thought for the day – are you in the play or the game?

Okay new thought for the day… Are you in the play or are you in the game?

I read recently about a coach who told his team…”Boys…this is how the play works, stick to the play…and if the play isn’t working…play the game and remember…don’t let the play get in the way of the game.”

I always wonder if I am getting too caught up in the “play” to see that we are all part of the “game.”  It is so easy to think small without realizing the impact we can have if we think BIG… what if I approached life thinking in a BIG way… what if I approached life with the thought that, “I can help change the world…”  This obviously would not be me by myself, but I would have a role, a place in this process.  And most importantly, what does God want me to do?  But I must say that thinking BIG is hard to do. Getting out of our comfort zone is hard to do.  Listening is hard to do.  Actually hearing is hard to do.  Acting is hard to do. It is all hard to do sometimes.  And I hate to admit it, but there are times I think about the “play” more than the “game.”  Ugh… 

Where are you in this process… thinking about the “game” or thinking about the “play?”

Where to begin – I guess at the end

I really don’t know where to start this message other than right here at the end of another chapter and step in this journey.  For those of you who have not been along for the entire ride, my dad was diagnosed with squamous cancer on January 20th and confirmed on January 24th.  What followed was a series of 35 radiation treatments, 7 chemo treatments, somewhere around 5500 miles driven, numerous doctor visits, a life of living a normal life even at the beginning of the treatments to one that came to being feed by a feeding tube because it was to difficult to take very much through the mouth.  In short, this was a disruption in the life of an amazing man, and a disruption in the life of an amazing mom who was along for this entire ride.

As I reminisced about this journey the past couple of days, I thought about how I have raised money for cancer research and clinical care, yet I did not truly understand the impact this dreaded disease has on the lives of those living it until I actually lived it (at least in my own little way).  My mom and dad LIVED this life for seven weeks – day in and day out – 24/7 as they say, and they will continue to live it for years to come.  The past seven weeks encompassed times when they were feeling physically worn out, emotionally worn out, and yes even financially worn out.   At times – they were feeling every possible thing you could feel all at once. Yet, they made it through.

So I am happy to report that on Tuesday, we had the opportunity to celebrate another step in this journey.  Dad climbed his mountain (as a side note – with very little pain medicine to boot) and made it back down again.  The treatments are done.  It was an extremely grueling journey.  Painful eating, feeding tube problems, physically being worn down, weight loss – you name it my Dad dealt with it, but he made it through.  Near the end he was willing to step aside and ask for help – whether that request was of God, the prayer chains and prayer warriors that never stopped, or the family and friends who were present throughout. Each played a critical piece in this journey.  

As I conclude this email, a few final thoughts come to mind – Now the recovery begins, now the waiting begins, and now the next round of prayers begin.

Please take care, and accept our special word of thanks for your help in this journey.

Special Prayer Request Day

I feel compelled to write for others rather than myself and my needs today. I know that I need prayers, we all do, but there are others out there that need them as well – and in some cases I feel that they need them more. So, in no particular order, please pray for my mom and dad. Dad is finishing his cancer treatment today and the financial, emotional, and physical recovery will be long and difficult. Please pray for a friend who is still struggling with her health and emotional state, but continues to seek out God. Please pray for a friend who lost his battle with cancer and for the young family he left behind. Please pray for the friends who are still struggling following the loss of their child. Please pray for the friends who lost their unborn child. Please pray for friends who are working to adopt two wonderful children, but slow moving governments and multiple chance scenarios continues to slow the process. On a special note, please pray for all of God’s servants who are struggling today and need support as they continue to carry out his word.

This prayer list can go on and on for a very long time. There are so many hurting and in need of prayers right now. It is hard to list them all. If you want to add one, feel free.

Thought for the day.

In a recent blog that Anne Jackson from Oklahoma posted, she started a discussion regarding raising children in the US vs. Uganda.  From that blog there has come some very interesting dialogue.  For me, it got me thinking again about some of my recent blogs and how they relate to this very thought.

Mainly, my thoughts keep drifting toward how “easy” it is to think we can rely on ourselves vs. God.  How there is a tendency to coast through life from time to time, before we “wake up” or have a “life moment”  and all of a sudden we need God again – on our terms – NOW.  How sad and unfortunate it is to live life this way.  Do I do this from time to time?  I would be lying if I said no.  Am I embarrassed about admitting this? Yes.  

I remember reading not long ago that there’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when it’s convenient. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses… To connect that back to Anne’s blog, in my mind, regardless where you live, there are individuals who are interested, and there are individuals who are committed. 

Where am I today? I am committed!  Where are you?  Interested or Committed?